Interference: Book One

by A. F. Presson

  “Then, I remembered you guys. Tucked in that little corner, making out. Arms wrapped around each other. Lips and tongues locked. I’m getting hot just thinking about it.”

  Fear kept me from looking toward Drake, but I could feel his emotions—the rage and jealousy transformed into pain. The two men fell on their backs, slamming their heads against the boardwalk. Drake leaned over them, narrowing his eyes.

  “It’s amazing how easy it is to take the feeling from your legs. Do you think you could swim that way? Let’s find out.” He kicked both men into the water as if he’d kicked a rock. As he turned back toward us, his eyes were once again tinted red. “Let’s go.”

  Ren looked over at me, concerned.

  “We’ll explain it to him. He’ll understand, Ren.”

  “I hope you’re right. I can’t swim without my legs, Mercy.”

  Ren’s father, Mr. Williams, met us on the pier. “Did everyone make it?”

  “This is it, and Nora should have arrived earlier.”

  He shook his head. “You guys are the first. I started getting worried.”

  “Wait, Nora never arrived?” I pulled my phone out, texting Fitz. The phone pinged quickly, stating that they had lost her taxi during the storm. No, no, no. We can’t lose Nora. Where could she be? My phone rang as if Fitz knew my mindset.

  I answered, “You lost her? I’m not leaving her behind!”

  “You don’t have a choice. If you don’t get out of the city, you may not get another chance,” he explained.

  Neela put her arm around my shoulders, urging me forward as the phone disconnected.

  I shook my head. “No! You can’t expect me to leave her behind. I won’t.”

  Neela whispered, tearfully, “She would want you to go while you still can.”

  “We need to get out of New York.” Mr. Williams pushed me forward, forcing me to board the massive cargo ship, where large cranes hung over our heads and shipping crates piled high on top of each other.

  Several men were on the top deck, securing the shipments and preparing for our trip. The inside of the freighter was simple and clean. Two rooms were side by side with bunk beds and a small square window looking out toward the water.

  Mine, Nora’s, and Neela’s bags were in one room, Drake’s and Ren’s in another. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Ren—sharing with Drake wouldn’t be easy.

  “You guys get settled and I’ll send for you when it’s time for dinner. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s food.” Mr. Williams clapped his son on the back and gave us privacy.

  We went our separate ways without a word and I crashed down face first on the bed, groaning. I turned my head to the side, absorbing the sight of Nora’s suitcase. My heart ached and I wanted nothing more than to go find her.

  “We’ll find her, Mercy. There are tons of reasons she didn’t make it to the port—especially in this city.”

  I didn’t respond.

  “You wanna talk about it?” Neela asked.

  “No.”

  “Well, tough. You kissed Ren? You better explain yourself.” Neela was angry for Drake.

  I rolled over, staring at the ceiling, annoyed.

  “I hate how everyone assumes we did something wrong. You don’t even assume we might have had a reason? Because Nora would have. She, at least, has faith in me.”

  Neela’s face fell. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I worry about Drake right now. Something isn’t right with him.”

  “A couple of Custos were on our train, and we were trying to blend in, hoping they’d overlook us. Ren grabbed me and started kissing me. And it worked, but. . .”

  “But what?” she asked.

  I exhaled, annoyed. “I know that it meant something to Ren, and I’m not sure how to address that.”

  “What about you? How did you feel when he kissed you?”

  “It shocked me at first. When I realized his plan, I pictured Drake. That was the only way I could get into it.” I wrinkled my nose at how horrible it sounded.

  “Drake is your man, girl. That’s how it’s supposed to be, and Ren knew that before he kissed you. The only person you need to worry about right now is Drake. He’s your priority, not Ren.”

  “You’re right. I’ll talk to him.”

  We unpacked, and I decided to take a shower before dinner. A shared bathroom was across the hall and surprisingly empty. Everything I needed had been stocked, and I stood under the hot water much longer than I intended. My body, a constant state of pent up stress and fear, relaxed under the hot spray. When I turned the faucet off, I stood in the shower, my safe space, not wanting to return to reality.

  I wrapped a towel around my torso and tucked it in tightly. Upon opening the door, I came face to face with Drake, apparently having the same idea. He took in my current state, wet and wearing his necklace, and his eyes heated. I didn’t know what to say. He tried to step around me, but I reached out and put my hand across his waist to stop him. He paused but didn’t turn to look at me.

  I hated the tension between us. “I want to explain what happened.”

  The muscle in his jaw clenched tight. “You don’t have to—Ren already did.”

  “You’re still angry with me.”

  “I’m struggling with the image of another man’s tongue down your throat. Give me a few minutes to get that out of my head, okay?”

  I leaned toward him, pressing my body against his chest as I whispered in his ear, “You need to know that I couldn’t kiss him. When I figured out what he’d planned, the only way for me to go through with it was to picture you. You’re the only one I want.”

  He took a deep breath and leaned toward me, losing the battle within. Needing the contact as much as I did, his feet shuffled forward. My back hit the door frame as the towel slid slightly lower. I fisted his shirt, pulling him closer.

  “Would you like some company in the shower?” I asked. Standing on my toes, I kissed underneath his chin as he closed his eyes. His hand snaked around my waist and his head lowered, looking me in the eyes. As soon as my lips grazed his, a voice interrupted us.

  “Hey guys, is the bathroom empty?” Ren called out.

  I jerked my towel up higher, covering as much as I could.

  Drake leaned back, growling deep in his throat. “I’m grabbing a shower, then it will be.”

  Ren came closer, and his eyes widened at the sight of me in a towel. Drake seethed, staring a hole through Ren. This didn’t help anything.

  “Mr. Williams sent me down to see if you had everything you needed,” an unfamiliar voice called out.

  I turned to see a beanpole of a man, maybe early twenties, with wavy blonde hair and a genuine smile. He stopped in his tracks when he saw me standing there half-naked.

  “Wowza. One of the crew members told me about you. He wasn’t lying.” His gaze took me in from head to toe.

  I crossed my arms in front of my chest, standing awkwardly between the three men. I eased behind Drake, attempting to shield myself. “I, um. I think I’m going to put on some clothes.” I spun toward my cabin.

  “I think that’s smart,” Drake muttered.

  The poor guy swallowed and excused himself. “Just let us know if you need anything. I’m David.” He bashfully waved once more, but as soon as he saw the look on Drake’s face, he tucked his tail and ran.

  . . .

  I thought my day couldn’t get any worse. It wasn’t possible, right? Wrong. I’d messaged Fitz twenty times for updates on Nora. Still nothing. Mr. Williams sent his assistant down to escort us to dinner, which happened to be Alexa, the blonde Swedish assistant with legs up to her neck.

  I walked behind her, my face scrunched up as if I’d eaten something sour. She had an obsession with Drake’s arms and liked to graze them while talking. I’d considered breaking her hand—her slim, smooth hand with the perfect fingernails. . .

  “After dinner, I must take you on a private tour,” she told him. “Show you all of my favorite, more hidden spots on the shi
p.” She winked toward Drake.

  The loudest crack of thunder I’d ever heard struck over the freighter, and all heads spun toward me. Drake looked pleased with himself.

  “You know, Alexa, that sounds nice,” Drake answered.

  I hope Alexa can swim.

  “Oh, I didn’t realize it was going to rain. Maybe it will be a quick shower,” she said.

  “I doubt it,” I mumbled.

  “Well, you guys have a seat here, and someone will bring your food. I hope you don’t mind eating with the crew. I’ll see all of you soon.” She smirked at Drake as she walked away and. I had a fleeting vision of throwing her overboard.

  We sat down together, Neela and I on one side, the guys on the other. Four men brought dishes and cups toward our table, showering Neela and me with affection. David went to extreme lengths to straighten my fork beside my plate and place my napkin in my lap. I was a little afraid to move. Drake and Ren glared. I wondered if he planned to feed me as well.

  “Is this the one you met . . . you know, in the hall?” One guy asked.

  I turned toward Neela with wide eyes and she bit the side of her lip, fighting a smile.

  “Yes, this is her. Isn’t she fantastic?” David beamed.

  Drake twirled his knife around his fingers, watching.

  “Guys, sit down and leave my guests alone,” Mr. Williams called out. “Sorry, ladies, they don’t get a lot of interaction with women. All except Alexa, and they don’t seem to care for her.”

  Well, I liked them already.

  The crew finished bringing out plates of pasta, and everyone ate in silence. My attention bounced like the fake boobs on Alexa’s chest, all over the place. Thoughts of Nora, Fitz, my relationship with Drake, and the mystery of Marley haunted my quiet dinner. The weather worsened, and the ship rocked from side to side.

  “Mercy, if this is you, please get a grip. I’m getting sea sick.” Neela’s face paled.

  My eyes drifted over to Drake, and his wall quickly covered his concern.

  “I’m finished. I’m going to take a walk.” I threw my napkin on the table and stood.

  They didn’t argue, just silently watched as I walked the wrong direction—into the kitchen—then turned to exit the correct door.

  I made my way to the deck as the rain poured steadily. My fists held tight to the railing as the ship rode the giant waves of the ocean. My body felt like a tea kettle, ready to blow from the pressure. I took a large breath, filling my lungs with salty air. As I exhaled, tears came with it. I bent, resting my forehead on the railing as I let the emotions take control.

  The problem lied in the fact I still couldn’t control it. Drake was right. The more I let loose, the worse the water became. Large swells of blue and white smashed into the boat as rain swept sideways against my face. The side of the freighter tilted up, forcing me to grip the railing with both hands—then crashed down after the wave rolled by, similar to my emotions.

  A sense of peace had built inside my chest, and the thought occurred to me, maybe this release would calm the storm inside my heart—until the sight ahead took my breath away. A rogue wave, rolling fiercely toward the ship, threatened to overturn the vessel, putting everyone onboard at risk.

  The turmoil that churned within my heart and mind continued to put people’s lives in jeopardy. I reached out with my mind, using elemental interference to battle the devastation my own feelings had caused. The wave slowed, but continued toward the ship. I took a deep breath and placed my palms out in front of me, begging psychokinesis to combine with the magic of elemental interference.

  The wave stalled a couple of feet in front of me, and at least thirty feet over the ship. Moonlight shone through parts of the water, with shadows of sea life swimming leisurely. It was as if time had slowed for everything around me. I lowered my hands gracefully, and the wave followed suit. The size of the swell rocked the cargo from side to side and nearly knocked me from my feet.

  “Very good, Mercy.” Mr. Williams stood behind me, bracing himself between two shipments.

  When the vessel settled, he stepped toward me, leaning on the rail in front of me. Water drenched every part of my body, and I shivered in the night air. “Don’t worry, if you hadn't figured it out, I would’ve helped. Fitz talked to me about your predicament. Hell of a life you’ve had, but you’re doing it. You’re learning to control a multitude of gifts in a short amount of time. That’s impressive.”

  “Why can’t I do it anytime? People have died in front of me, and I can’t seem to pull from my source to help them.”

  “That, my dear, is a question only you can answer. Something is holding you back, whether it’s fear, confusion, lack of self-confidence, I’m not sure.” He placed his hand on my shoulder sympathetically. “Plus, sometimes things can’t be altered. People die everyday, Mercy. Nature is stronger than we'll ever be.”

  “I don’t want anymore suffering, Mr. Williams. I want to help.”

  He smiled. “Your parents were good people, and you are too. You’ll figure it out, but you need to take some time for yourself, instead of trying to fix things for everyone else.”

  Mr. Williams walked back toward the door. Basically, I stood in my own way. I cared too much about those around me and didn’t pay attention to what my heart and mind needed. So, what? Should I shut myself off from everyone around me for a few days? Focus on my strengths and control? Something told me that was exactly what I needed. No distractions.

  “Mr. Williams?” I called out.

  “Yes?” He asked as he opened the metal entrance.

  “I think I need a private room. Away from everyone this week.”

  He nodded. “I’ll take care of it.” He smiled and left me with my thoughts.

  I stayed out less than an hour, meditating in the salty night air. I knew I needed to rest, so I made my way downstairs to grab my bag. Surely he’d arranged for a private room by then. I walked around the corner and stopped, stepping back behind the wall.

  “Where are you going with Mercy’s bag?” Drake asked.

  “Mr. Williams asked me to fetch her things. She moved to a different floor,” David announced.

  “Where exactly would that be?” Drake sounded pissed.

  “I’m not at liberty to say,” David responded in a shaky voice.

  Drake’s voice deepened. “I’m not going to ask again.”

  “Drake, this must be for a reason, it’s not the guy’s fault,” Neela interjected.

  Doors slammed, and the hall went silent. I crept around the corner and came face to face with Neela.

  Her brows raised. “You suck at hiding. What’s going on?”

  I sighed, “I’m struggling with control.”

  Neela scoffed. “This is nothing new.”

  “Exactly. I need to make some changes and try to concentrate. I think a few days alone might help.”

  Neela nodded and gave me a half-smile. “Whatever you need, but just so you know, Drake isn’t going to handle this well.”

  “Maybe it will be good for him too.”

  16

  ⥈

  It had been five days since I’d seen Drake, Ren, or Neela. Ren’s dad told me to call him Marcus, and I learned all about his wife, Anzu. He moved me into the spare bedroom in the master suite since he never used it. Attached to the suite was a weight room that overlooked the sea, an excellent way to expel energy build-up from exercising my gift. He created a plan consisting of meditation, exercise, and eating—along with practicing control. All day long, I repeated the schedule. I ended up in the gym twice a day, and he had me running on the top deck during the evening when the others were at dinner.

  I’d never felt stronger, mentally, or physically. His staff prepared high protein food for me daily, and Marcus even taught me basic hand to hand combat. I couldn’t imagine how I’d feel after a month with him. The progress that week had been startling. I’d lost down to less than fifteen percent in body fat and had increased muscle definition in my ar
ms and legs. Energy buzzed through me, always at the ready.

  More than that, I had control and balance. Marcus’s tactics were brutal, but effective. He’d use his elemental gift to attack at any given moment, forcing me to pull from my source on demand. I learned to use one gift while backing another off. The clarity and conciseness in my gifts made so much more sense. It wasn’t that I couldn’t use two at the same time—it was about learning to balance them. Give and take for the better of those around me.

  Drake. My heart ached to see him—to touch him. He had no idea how much I needed his presence around me. When he looked at me for the first time in five days, I wanted him to see the transformation. Not only on the outside, but the inside as well.

  Fitz messaged me with updates every day, but there was still no sight of Nora. He didn’t have to tell me what I already knew—he was losing hope. I refused to give up on her.

  I pulled my favorite sleeveless romper from the bag and applied more makeup than usual. I knew we’d be traveling, so I fixed my hair in a bun on top of my head and wore the necklace he gave me.

  “Mercy?” Marcus knocked twice before easing the door open. “I have something for you.”

  “Please, come in.”

  “Listen, I hope this doesn’t upset you, but I confided in Anzu about your issues.” His eyes held an apology I didn’t feel like he owed.

  “I’d never expect you to keep anything from your wife, Marcus. That wouldn’t be fair. Especially since you’ve spent so much time with me.”

  “Well, Anzu isn’t gifted, but she’s very intuitive. Her culture believes the signs from above are here to guide us. She had a dream about you last night, Mercy. She didn’t go into great detail, but fire surrounded you. Not to harm you, but to protect you. She goes on these trips with me now and again, and she always keeps a few belongings on the ship. She asked me to find these earrings and give them to you before you left. They’re firestones.”

  The square diamonds radiated a reddish-orange hue that changed with the light—they were exquisite. “Marcus, I can’t accept these. It’s too much.”