I giggle. Sorry about her, Taylor. That’s how she is until she’s comfortable with you.
No need to apologize. She probably thinks I’m trying to take your friendship or something. But you’re my sister, replacing the one I lost.
I smile. Yes, I am.
Glen, Taylor, and Justin hang around the kitchen preparing a meal for everyone. I leave in search of Little Nathan, wanting to make sure he’s holding up okay after this morning. Finding him in the living room lying on the couch with an oversized book braced against his propped up legs, I ask, “What are you reading?” I plop onto the love-seat across from him.
“World map. I can study this thing over and over, but I never seem to pass my geography test with an A. It’s not like it changes,” he gripes, closing the book. “You okay?”
“Not really. But I’ll be fine. How are you?” I ask, concerned, watching his eyebrows furrow then relax.
“Fine for now. I have a few things going on. I’m going through a few changes.”
“Like what?”
He clears his throat. “My new defense shield is coming in. Hopefully, this one is permanent.”
“It changes?” I ask, pulling my legs onto the seat.
He cringes, gritting his teeth. Rising the book, he hides his face, taking a few seconds to pull himself together. I patiently wait. Minutes pass before he says, “Yeah, until you’re finished growing. It’s like going through a painful puberty over and over.” He winces. “But at least I’m not Burdened. It would be so much worse.”
“You okay about what happened this morning?”
“I am, but I think Nathan still thinks I had something to do with it. He’s funny like that with his trust issues.”
I lean forward, interested in knowing more. “How do you mean?”
“Nathan’s hard to read when he wants to be. I’m sure you’ve figured that out.” He half-chuckles, seeming pained by doing so. “He’ll make it seem like everything’s okay, but he’s not. He’s just trying to get a read on you. I just don’t want him to blow up.”
“Want me to talk to him for you?”
“No. No.” He waves his hand. “I’ll talk to him when he’s cooled off.” He props his book back up and leans back on the couch. “What’s up with Scott’s girl? She seems out of tune with everything.”
“She is. I’m not sure how much she does or doesn’t know. Just don’t mention anything to her; Scott’s still working on getting out the truth.” I lean back on the love-seat, looking around the beige painted living room accented with varnished wood paneling like most of the house. A black bookcase covers one wall from the floor to the ceiling. I stare at it, wondering how they’re able to reach the books at the top. Going to it, I look its shelves over, sliding my finger over a line of books. Talk about an in-home library.
I cringe as a shudder scatters over my skin, and an energy drifts through me as if I stepped out of frigid air into a heated room. The hairs on my arm stand up and relax all in the matter of a second. Turning to examine the room, Glen’s entering, eyes filled with wonder.
More than one form of energy crawls over me, making me precautious, and the other admirable.
Little Nathan heads out, leaving the book on the couch. “I’ll talk to you later, sis.”
I roll my shoulders as the energy shifts again, causing me to shudder from the sudden change in the room. When it’s over, the precaution departs. Am I feeling others’ presences? Crossing the floor to Glen, the closer I get the more direct I feel her. Admirable and a hint of confusion.
I’m not going to like this new ability; feeling Nathan was enough, tapping into everyone else is overdoing it.
Glen sits on the love-seat. “There are so many people in this house, it’s hard to keep up with them all. I’m ready to get back to school and dig into the juicy spring break gossip. The girls are going to flip when they find out about Scott and me.”
“I think they’ve already flipped. They were texting me the other day asking about you two. I ignored them,” I say, walking to the couch Little Nathan left. Glen leaves her seat for mine, forcing me to scoot over. “Why didn’t you tell me you gave it up to Scott in the photo lab?” I’ve wanted to ask since Scott said it.
She bursts into laughter. I grin, raising my brows questioningly. “Tracey!” she blurts.
“What?” I’m interested in knowing. Glen is loose, but not that loose. “Tell me?”
“I did do that,” she says, beaming. “But I couldn’t help myself. I needed to have him. I wasn’t sure he would go for it, but when he did, I kept going.” She zones out for a moment, and I know she is about to get into all the juicy details.
Thankfully, Scott already gave me the rundown. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why didn’t you tell me Nathan was sleeping over at your house?”
“I would have, but you were already sleeping with Scott,” I joke. She punches my arm so hard I fall over. “Ouch!” I screech. Rubbing my arm, I lift my wide-eyed gaze, finding everyone in the house staring me down with concerned eyes and balled fists, ready to take out my attacker. Whoever it may be.
“What happened? Tracey, are you okay?” They ask over each other.
Glen sobers and gulps, also taking in the multitude of Newcombs.
Tracey! What the hell is going on? Nathan’s loud in my head.
I’m okay. Glen just punched me. But she didn’t mean to. Well, she meant to but didn’t mean to hurt me.
Please stop letting that girl touch you. You okay? he asks, words urgent and rushed.
Yes.
Good. I’ll see you later.
Short and sweet. Kay.
I look back at patient faces. “I’m sorry. I’m fine. Glen punched me, not knowing her own strength.” They relax and leave, no one responding.
“Wow, what was all that about?” Glen asks, scooting back on the couch.
I shrug. “You hit me like a boxer going in for a TKO.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I don’t know my own strength.”
“Clearly!” We laugh.
“Anyway, I wanted to tell you, Cey, but you were always with Nathan. And I didn’t want you to think I was a rapist.”
My head whips to her, surprised by her term. “What?”
“Why are you moving so fast?”
“You first.”
She rolls her eyes. “I kind of, like, forced him into it. He didn’t not want it. But he didn’t want it either.” She crinkles her nose and shrugs.
It had to be the mating pulling her so heavily to him. I stop myself from mentioning it to take away the guilt, and I just laugh with her.
Catching up on the things we’ve missed, we talk and laugh, enjoying each other’s company. I admire her happiness, watching her smile and open mouth laugh. Glen’s had it hard for years: family life, school, now Scott. I can’t wait to share things with her, talk about my abilities, and discuss her own. We have more to share than she knows. Maybe if Scott just told her, it would be better for them. Whatever he’s afraid of, it can’t be as bad as it has been.
veracity
Hours have passed since Nathan left to find Roehl. With shaky hands, I push my plate across the table, unable to eat. Twelve a.m. has come and gone, and it’s rounding one. None of us has received an update and I’m worried.
“Ay, you and Scott are living here now?” Little Nathan asks Glen, with his mouth full of food.
“Eww, Nathan. You don’t want to wait until after you’ve chewed?” Taylor asks, turning up her nose.
I laugh at his contorted expression. “No. If I did, I might have forgotten my question.” He washes down what’s left with a few gulps from his glass of water. There’s discomfort in his eyes, but he remains upbeat while dealing with his changing.
“Is it that bad?” Taylor asks in a gentle tone.
“Yeah,” he sings sardonically. He points his stuffed fork in Glen’s direction, saying, “Your turn.”
Glen’s eyes widen before they’re troubl
ed with concern. A deep furrow on her brows accompanies the red flushing of her face as her nervous glance shoots across us. In her mind, she’s never talked to Little Nathan before, and Scott isn’t here to tell her it’s okay. Her breathing hastens, and she picks at the cloth of the placemat.
The table rattles violently, sloshing the liquid over the glass’ rims and bouncing silverware atop our plates. We back away, chairs scraping across the tile, eyes glued on Glen. Her hands are clutched so tightly at the table’s edge her knuckles go white.
“Glen?” I call with worry. “Everything is okay.” I try to convince her as I place my hand to her shoulder.
She whips around, deathly daggers in her hazel eyes. Without her moving, I’m shoved from a rib-crushing force.
Feet off the ground, I fly backward. Glass shatters, stabbing into my back. I hit the ground, skidding across the grass on my stomach.
“Agh!” I groan. I close my eyes, taking a fistful of grass in my trembling hands. Where I lie is soft and a perfect place to pass out.
The screaming and banging going on in the house has me hoping they’re not hurting Glen. “She didn’t mean it,” I breathe, but they can’t hear my words. A warm liquid seeps down my sides and soaks the front of my shirt.
Little Nathan kneels at my side. “Tracey, are you okay? Should I help you?” he asks, wide-eyed and hesitant.
I whimper as breathing becomes harder, and the pain worsens. Burying my face in the dirt, the grass wipes my tears, and I grit my teeth. “Please,” I rasp, wishing the throbbing would pass.
The demanding presence surrounds me, and I sigh with relief.
“What the fuck is going on?” Nathan barks.
Little Nathan jumps to his feet, spewing out his words. “Glen lost it. I asked her a question, and she panicked. Then the table rattled. Tracey got up to check on her, and Glen threw her out the window. Didn’t lay a finger on her, but she threw her out of the window!”
Warm hands settle on me, and the pain subsides, even as the pieces of glass ease from my back. Turning me over, Nathan studies me before he presses his hand to my chest and the other against my neck. I suck a giant lungful of oxygen in, grateful I can. “I vow to cherish every breath for the rest of my life.” From morning to now, more than one person has tried to take my last. “Thank you,” I sigh.
Nathan helps me to my feet. “What he said was true? That’s what happened?”
I strip off my crimson soaked shirt for the black tee beneath it. “Yes.”
Nathan’s gaze drops to the ground. “Okay,” he accepts as if someone offered him an idea, and then stalks toward the house.
Oh, crap!
Little Nathan and I run after him.
Nathan makes it to the doorway and Scott’s before him, hands thrown out to his front. “Look, Nathan, I’m sorry. It was an accident.”
Nathan shoves Scott aside. “Move.” Nathan gets a foot in the door, and Scott snatches him by his shoulder, yanking him away from the house.
“Don’t, Nathan.” Scott readies himself for a fight. “I said it was an accident.”
Shaking off his falter, Nathan growls, “Scott, this has gone too far. Did you see Tracey? Did you see what she did to her? And you want me to stop?” Fists balled, Nathan stalks toward Scott. “Or, do I need to go through you to get to her? Because I’ve warned you.”
“Nathan, calm down. Let me handle it. This is my fault. I’ll set it right.”
A foot away from Scott, Nathan barks, “Damn right! This is entirely your fault!” violently shoving Scott, forcing him to slide backward into the brick of the house.
I catch Nathan as Little Nathan’s halting Scott’s counter. “Nate, wait,” I beg, taking his hands. “Calm down.” His night-blue eyes swirl brown as they meet mine.
“She hurt you,” he half-growls.
“It was an accident. Let me explain further.” He doesn’t look the least bit interested with his vacant expression, but he doesn’t object to my explaining. “She doesn’t know what she did. It’s her advancing. Little Nathan asked her a question, and she couldn’t answer without Scott giving her the okay.”
“Okay?” he says, mild-mannered.
“She panicked, and I guess being able to throw people is an ability she has. If it wasn’t for her being blind to everything, it may not have happened.”
Flustered, he shakes his head, pointing past me. “This still brings me back to Scott.”
“Nathan, if you have a problem with me, let’s handle it!” Scott shouts by the house.
Glen runs out to meet him. She wraps her arms around his neck, and he kisses her cheek. Unfazed by the event, Glen wears a smile as she starts to us, but Scott grabs her before she can. He leers at Nathan with a warning eye.
Nathan ignores the warning. “Scott, you know I have a problem, and to be honest, if it weren’t for Tracey being here, I would have handled it already.”
Taken aback by his words, I mutter, “Babe, that’s your cousin. You don’t mean that.” He acknowledges me but says nothing.
“I told you it was an accident,” Scott starts, “Let me handle it.”
“Handle it how?” Nathan shouts. “This shit has been going on for too long. It’s old and bound to get worse. As if it wasn’t bad enough this morning. Now, this! She could have killed her! Then what? Oh well,” he mocks with a shrug, “fuck Tracey and Nathan. Scott’s good!”
“No, it’s nothing like that, Nathan. But before you go spazzing out, let me do something about it,” Scott says.
I cut Nathan off, fisting his shirt and pulling him down to my eye level. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“Tracey―”
“Let’s go for a walk now,” I order.
He straightens and looks over my head. His teeth grit and the muscle in his jaw jumps, but he follows by a single tug to his arm.
On our stroll alongside the beach, I wrap my arm around his back. The night air is chilly and blustery, kicking up the sand. The half-moon is bright; its reflection off the water illuminates the evening. When the hardness of Nathan’s back relaxes, I say, “Hey.”
He smiles. “Hey, beautiful.”
“How was your evening?”
“Tiring.”
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened with that?”
He drags out a breath and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t kill him. He didn’t want to tell me what I wanted to hear. He smelled like you. I wanted to kill him, but couldn’t. He made his threats, and I made a few promises.” Nathan shrugs. “He’ll try to get you, take you―whatever―and when he does, I’ll do my part.”
“Doesn’t seem like you are too angry about that.”
“Oh, I am,” he says, just as calm.
“Is it a good or bad thing I can’t tell?”
“It’s good for you.”
“You want to talk about what happened back there?”
“This Scott and Glen shit is messing me up. All in one day, Scott nearly kills us, and because he’s too stupid or negligent to tell Glen what’s going on, she can’t control herself.” He grumbles and continues, “If Scott would’ve just been open with her, this likely wouldn’t have happened. They’re living here now! Why wouldn’t he introduce her to everyone, knowing she may run into someone, considering it’s a house full of people, both men and women? It’s like he’s not thinking anymore.”
I rub his arm, keeping him down. “What should we do?”
“It makes it hard because Glen is your friend.”
I snort. “And if she wasn’t?”
“I’d kill them both.”
Struck by his words, I stumble in the sand. “Nathan, you cannot be serious! That’s your family.”
“My family, huh? Multiple times my family has tried to kill you―knowingly and unknowingly. We’ve removed two of the knowing ones. What do we do about those who don’t know?”
“Nathan, we have to help them. Scott needs t
o tell Glen everything. She needs to know, even if that means the four of us sitting down to tell her. Scott’s weaker than you are with this. You need to be there for him and help him through it. Glen hurting me was an accident. Scott hurting us was also an accident.” I pull him to a stop and make him sit in the sand with me. We recline, my back to his chest, and his hands held in mine, resting in my lap. “We’ll help.”
Tracey, is Nathan cool? Glen and I are coming over.
Throwing a glance over my shoulder, I meet Nathan’s eyes. “Scott and Glen are coming. You ready?” He hitches an inquisitive brow. “He just told me. I’ll tell him you’re calm and they can come over. Okay?”
“Okay, love,” he states, looking past me.
Yeah, Scott, he’s good. I grab Nathan by his jaw and pull him to me. “Stay calm,” I say and peck his cheek.
His left eyebrow arches. “Maybe.”
“Nathan?” I squeal.
“Tracey,” he mocks.
Glen and Scott come over and sit a distance away from us. “Hi, Nathan.” Glen greets with an ear-to-ear smile.
Not hearing a response, I scowl at him. “Wassup, Glen,” he modulates without looking in their direction.
Nathan, you’re being such a child, I state.
Scott sighs obnoxiously. “Look, you two. I’m sorry. I really am. About earlier, and just now. I realize everything happening has been my fault. Glen, it’s time I fill you in about a lot of things. Sorry it’s taken me so long.”
Nathan and I sit back as Glen and Scott’s discussion turns into an argument. Scott begs Glen to listen and to calm down and Glen shouts, calling Scott a liar and hitting him when she gets worked up.
I’m tired of the lies and secrets. And the constant fighting and bickering. God, the fighting. I can’t take another beating, it hurts, and I hate battling my friends. But I’m glad Scott’s speaking up.
After the water washes up to the shore for the fifteenth time, Glen calms down, and Scott goes over them being Burdened, Sephlems, their family, and events that have taken place between them. Before he can finish, Glen’s yelling again.
Plight: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 1) Page 40