Windy (Manipulators Series Book 1)

by A. Kennedy

  I put on my new black spaghetti strap dress that I bought a month ago. Excitement swelled inside my chest because I finally had the opportunity to wear it out somewhere. I studied myself in the mirror. Truth be told, I wasn’t all that curvy. My hips were just barely wider than my waist. That didn’t bother me much. What bothered me the most was the baby fat that never left my stomach. Fortunately the dress hid the unwanted bulge and made my chest look like I had a cup size bigger than what I actually had.

  My hair came down past my shoulders. I decided leaving it down with a few curling iron curls would frame my face the best. While looking in the mirror, I noticed the bags that made their home under my eyes. Evidently, they were caused by my lack of sleep. I pulled out my makeup bag and went to town with the concealer and foundation. As I applied the last touches to my face, the knock on my door I had been waiting for echoed through the apartment.

  Butterflies began to flutter in my stomach just from hearing the knock. It amazed me that after a year, this man could still create such emotions in me. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves then opened the door. Dressed in khaki slacks and a blue polo shirt, Zac smiled and handed me a bouquet of roses.

  “Awww. Thank you. They’re beautiful!”

  “Not as beautiful as you, my dear. Mmm, and that dress.” He paused and looked me up and down. “Wow,” he whispered as chills danced down my back. “You look amazing.”

  I gave him a quick peck on the lips and wrapped my arms around him. I released my grip on his neck and took the roses to the kitchen. After putting them in a vase, I placed them in the center of the kitchen island. Before I could turn around, I felt Zac press up behind me. He softly kissed my neck. Between his kisses, he got out “I’ve never seen you look so beautiful, Windy.” His tone was seductive, and it caused excitement to course through my body.

  Like a light switch, Zac stopped his seduction and spun me around so I was facing him. “Let’s continue this after dinner.” I smiled and nodded, trying to catch my breath. With his hand placed on my lower back, he guided me toward the door.

  I wasn't sure where we were going to eat. Zac wouldn’t tell me anything except that a dress and heels were necessary. After I locked up the apartment, I turned to head toward his car. Zac stopped me by wrapping both arms around me and placing an inviting kiss on my lips. After he released me from his spell, my lips continued to tingle. He grabbed my hand and escorted me toward his car.

  “You know, you’re a big tease, mister.”

  Leaning down to whisper in my ear, he said, “We’ll see who is a tease when we get back tonight.”

  In the car we didn't talk. We just listened to the radio and enjoyed each other’s company. I felt like a queen sitting next to him, and I could hear wedding bells ringing. With that thought, I felt myself smile even bigger than usual. When I was younger, I never saw myself getting married. I never even planned my wedding like most girls did. But here I was, thinking that I might actually marry this man.

  I hadn’t told him about my ability to manipulate the wind. Ever since my dad passed, I preferred not to use my powers. I didn’t even know why I had to practice when I was little. My powers were useless. However, if I decided to say, “I do,” I felt that Zac needed to know everything about me. The worst that could happen is that he didn’t believe me, and I could play it off as a joke.

  “Zac?”

  “Yes, beautiful.”

  “I have to tell you something about me.” I paused, not knowing how to make sense of the thoughts in my head. “Something that might be hard for you to accept.” He laughed at me. “Hey, it’s not funny. I’m being serious.”

  “I’m sorry, Windy, but I already accept everything about you. Why do you think I would not accept whatever it is you have to tell me?” His eyes sparkled when he glanced over at me. “Unless, maybe, it’s something like you’re leaving me. Then yes, I would have a hard time accepting that.”

  I shook my head. “You know I’m not leaving you.”

  “Okay, then I will accept whatever you have to tell me.” His fingers laced with mine and he squeezed.

  We pulled into the restaurant parking lot. As Zac tried to find a spot to park, I tried to find the right words. “I … um, well ever since I was born—”

  Zac’s phone started to ring, cutting me off. When he looked to see who the caller was, his face hardened, and I could tell he wasn't happy to receive this call.

  “Windy, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay, go ahead and get it.” No, it’s not okay, I wanted to scream.

  “This is Zac … no … I really can’t at the moment.” He looked at me and mouthed work.

  Once again, the stupid, mysterious job of Zac’s was getting in the way. He glanced at me again and gave me an I’m sorry look as he told the person on the other line, “Okay, I’ll do it. I just have to make it quick … Where? ... Okay, I’ll be there.” He hung up the phone. From the part of the conversation I heard, I could tell the dinner date was already over.

  “Windy …”

  I couldn’t handle our date being canceled. Fury replaced my prior feeling of possible long-term commitment. The stress of knowing that he kept a big part of his life a secret from me made me feel overwhelmed and hurt. With my earlier thoughts gone, I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and let the anger take over. “Just spit it out Zac, you're canceling our date, aren’t you? All so you can go do your stupid job. A job you can’t even give me one little bit of information about. It’s like you’re working for the CIA or maybe the Mob, so which is it? Or maybe, it isn't even a job. Is it another woman?” I covered my mouth with my hand. I didn’t mean to say all that.

  “Windy, please listen. And what is up with this stupid AC?” Zac messed with the AC controls, turning it up and down.

  “The what?” I realized that I was making the air in the car move. I looked down at my hands. They were clenched together. My hands weren't moving, but I could feel the power that pulsated through me. I took a deep breath. The tension left my body and the air died down. With that moment of composure, I decided I wouldn't tell Zac about my powers. I would completely open up to him once he completely opened up to me.

  “Windy, please listen to me. I have to do something for work, but I can’t take you. I’m going to have to drop you off, and then come back to pick you up. Then we can finish our dinner date. I promise.” He moved his hand toward my cheek, but before he could touch me, I swatted it away.

  “Don’t touch me,” I hissed. “And drop me off? Just where the hell are you going to drop me off? We’re in the middle of Atlanta. Drop me off and you may find me dead or bein' raped!” He glanced up at the roof of the car considering what I said. “I’m going with you. That way I don’t have to be dropped off somewhere. I can sit in the car and I won’t interfere.” He didn't respond, so I continued, “and if I’m in the car with you, we get to spend those extra minutes with each other. Please, Zac, we never do anything together anymore, and I miss you.”

  Zac took a deep breath and looked at me with soft eyes, full of love. “Windy, if you go, you must stay in the car no matter what. Do you understand?”

  I nodded, not sure if I truly trusted myself to stay in the car. I was curious about Zac’s job, and this might be my one chance to find out more.

  We were quiet the entire fifteen minutes it took to drive to our destination. The radio wasn't even on. Besides my own thoughts, the only thing I heard was the tires that roared over the pavement and Zac, who mumbled to himself. While he continued with his disconnected words, I realized I couldn't trust him. Maybe I was ignorant as to what love really was. Maybe I was scared to commit to someone who wasn't going to completely commit to me. Either way, I felt I needed time to think.

  We pulled up to a Citgo station. I felt my jaw drop in disbelief.

  “Stay in the car no matter what you hear or see; do not get out.” He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on my forehead while placing a small object in my hand. “And if I’m
not back in twenty, leave and do not take a direct route home.”

  I was too shocked to say anything in return. What was secretive about working at a gas station? After he got out of the car I looked down to see what Zac put in my hand. If I were confused about us a minute ago, I was really confused now. I held a gold band with a little diamond that sparkled. Not too big, but big enough to let me know he spent too much money on the ring. My stomach started to turn and my heart began to beat faster.

  I looked up from the ring just in time to see Zac walk around to the back of the store. I sneered at the man who intended to propose to me. If he intended on making me his wife, he was going to have to fess up at least some detail about his work. My thumb traced the warm metal that sat in my hand. I felt the pit in my stomach drop lower and my hands began to shake. If Zac didn’t come back in five minutes, I was going in. What could it hurt if I went in to go to the bathroom? He did walk around to the back of the store. What if he was a drug dealer? I laughed. I could never see Zac doing anything with drugs.

  Five minutes had passed, and my anxiety grew with each second. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I placed the ring in the cup holder and walked into the store to ask the attendant where the bathroom was. The guy stared at me, not saying a word and then he handed me a key and pointed outside.

  “Outside?” I asked.

  He nodded and said, “Over around the corner.” I looked in the direction he pointed and realized it was toward the same direction Zac went. Oh well, was all I managed to think. When nature calls, nature calls. There is no way to stop it. How mad could Zac get because I had to go to the bathroom?

  I walked toward the corner of the gas station. I thought about the ring and hoped that Zac would forgive me for getting out of the car. I heard rustling movements coming from the back of the store that made me stop. Before I took another step, I strained to listen. A stressed males voice said, “You will never kill us all … you may have killed two of us the other night, and I have …” the guy coughed as if he was being choked, “… no doubt you will kill me, but someone will eventually take you and …” The guy gasped for air and coughed again, “take you and your clan down.”

  If the guy’s words shocked me, the laugh that replied to him scared me even more. I knew the laugh belonged to Zac, but not the Zac who drove us here. Zac replied to the guy in almost a whisper, “I doubt anyone will ever kill me because I will kill all you demonic freaks before anyone has a chance to touch me.” Zac laughed again before I heard a loud crack that I could feel in my bones. Somewhere in the distance, I heard a loud scream that pierced the night. A scream that sounded like it belonged to me.

  Chapter 3

  “Windy, if you would concentrate on your powers instead of wanting to play all the time, you would have mastered them by now and we wouldn’t have to stick to the basics.” My dad took a deep breath, trying to control his temper. “Now, try manipulating the wind without moving your hands, please!”

  “But Daddy, I like moving my hands. It makes me feel like a magician, see.” I tried to move my hands but they wouldn’t move. They felt as if they were tied down.

  I woke up in a panic. I couldn’t move. Looking at my hands, I realized that a rope bound them to a bed I was laying on. My mind was still foggy and I couldn’t seem to recall how I got here. The last thing I remembered was going to Zac’s work. Then I heard his crazed laugh and watched him kill a man with his bare hands. Zac killed a man. My mouth was dry, and I could feel the blood that pulsated throughout my head.

  Why would Zac go to the extreme to bind my wrists and ankles up so that it hurt? Why would Zac kill someone? Who was this man I thought I loved? Did he really want to take my hand in marriage?

  I felt like I was about to have a panic attack. I took deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out. I looked around the room. The only piece of furniture that occupied the space, besides the bed, was an antique dresser. There was only one door in the room and only one window. Unfortunately, I wasn’t close enough to see if jumping out would be an option. The walls were treated wood planks, like those in a cabin. They were empty with no photo or shelf to line them.

  Footsteps came from the hallway. I closed my eyes and pretended I was still asleep. The door slowly opened and by the sound of the footsteps, there had to be more than one person. I heard a male’s voice, strong and deep. “I thought I heard some movement, but it looks like she is still out.” It wasn’t Zac’s voice, nor a voice I recognized.

  The voice that responded was female. She spoke in a soft tone and I had to strain to hear her. “Just how hard did you hit her Doug? She’s been out for more than twelve hours.”

  The man replied with agitation. “Well, I was going after Zac. But after I heard him snap,” he took a deep breath, “Brad’s neck, she started screaming. Her screaming was unexpected and in order to get her out of there fast I had to do something.” He was quiet for a moment. “I guess I used more force than I thought I did.” He sighed. “Zac probably would have killed us both.”

  Bile formed in the back of my throat. Would he have killed me? I tried to calm myself. I swallowed a hard gulp. My body stiffened in fear that they heard me, but they didn’t seem to notice, thanks to their discussion.

  “Why would Zac kill her? Wasn’t she with him?’’ the woman whispered.

  “By the way she was screaming, I doubt she had any idea what Zac is capable of. And if she is valuable to Zac, maybe, just maybe, we can lure him and his clan here and take care of them like they are trying to do to all of us.”

  “Doug,” the woman hissed. “What if Zac calls the cops? You know he has ties to them. He could say that we kidnapped her.”

  “It’s a risk we’ll have to take.”

  “I guess we either wait for the clan to show up and kill us or the cops to show up and arrest us.” The woman inhaled. “I better go get her some food. Poor thing will need to eat before one of the two arrives.” Judging by the lightness of the footsteps, I assumed the woman left the room.

  I heard Doug’s heavy footsteps as he came closer to the bed. My breathing became harder and harder for me to control. If my breathing didn't give away that I was awake, I’m sure he could have heard my racing heart. His shadow moved in front of the light and his coffee breath tickled my face. My whole body was tense. What exactly would he gain from being this close? Would he hurt me? What would he do if he found out I was awake? He was only there for a minute before he took in a deep breath and walked away. I didn't open my eyes or take a controlled breath until I heard the footsteps disappear from the hall.

  I concentrated on taking deep breaths to stabilize my heart rate. Finally able to think again, I wanted to scream. Zac's job must have been secretive because he was in some kind of clan, which to me is close enough to the mafia. Moreover, these people, for some reason, saved me. Yet, they wanted to kill Zac. Zac. He was a monster. Then I heard his words again, demonic freaks. What if he wasn't the monster after all? What if the people here were the monsters?

  I tried to squeeze my hands out of the ropes, but they cut into my wrists, I felt the warmth of my blood trickle down my arms. I fought with the ropes for what seemed like a lifetime, but I knew only about ten minutes had passed. I sighed. They were tied exceptionally well. I had to loosen the knots before I even had the chance to slip my hands out. I heard heavy footsteps coming back down the hall toward the room. Before I had time to even try to pretend I was sleeping, a tall man, about 6’ 2” with a solid structure, walked into the room.

  “Well, well, well. Glad to see you’re not playing possum anymore.” I didn't respond. Instead, I took in as many details as I could. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. His hair was red and cut short. It reminded me of copper reflecting the sun. He sported a five o'clock shadow and had a scar above his right eyebrow that went all the way to his scalp. His eyes were blue, a dark blue like the night sky. I was mesmerized until my fight or flight kicked in.

  “Who the hell are you, and why am I tied up?” I said in th
e most threatening voice I could muster up.

  “For starters, ma’am, you are not in a position to ask the questions, and I also suggest you rethink how you talk to me.” He grinned before he added, “I might just leave you tied up so you can continue to struggle, and maybe, who knows, bleed to death from the rope cuts.” By the look in his eyes, I could see he meant what he said.

  I glared at him until I finally asked in almost a whisper, “All I want to know is who you are, and why you have me tied up.”

  For a minute, I feared he may not answer me, but then his grin widened from ear to ear, letting me know that he was enjoying this game. “Before I answer any of your questions, dear, you must first answer mine.”

  I clenched my hands tighter before I replied, “Okay, start asking.” The words came out sassier than I expected, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  “What’s your name? First and Last.”

  “Windy.” I paused for a moment and wondered if I should give my real last name or not. Finally, I responded, “Gale.”

  A surprised look crossed his face. “Why were you with Zac last night, Ms. Gale?”

  I closed my eyes and with pain written all over my face, I answered, “I was with him … I was with him because we were on a date …” I swallowed the pain that tried to encase me. “Well until we had to run by his work.” The answer wasn’t long but it seemed like forever for me to get the words to come out right. Just talking about Zac made my heart feel like it was in a vise grip.

  His face turned aggressive and made his scar look more menacing. “Do you know what Zac does at his job?”

  “No,” my voice croaked. “I didn’t even know he had a job until a month ago, and every time I bring it up, he shuts me out.” I didn’t know why I just confided in this complete stranger, but I did.

  “Did you realize that his job was killing innocent people? Not just men, but women and children too.”

  I felt my throat become drier as I finally managed to rasp out “No. Well yes. I didn’t realize until … until … that's part of his job?”