by S C Thomas
“He’s okay. You got him to hide in time before the worst hit the middle. Emma,” he hesitated before letting it pool from his lips. “Are you part of the resistance? You didn’t exactly seem shocked when things started, and you went straight for Mr. Hinley to try and save him.”
Emma looked at him slyly and shook her head. “I was just trying to save him. I couldn’t help myself running for him. He makes me feel a weird way inside.”
He swallowed but nodded in understanding. Still, he eyed her suspiciously, not fully believing her. She couldn’t blame him. Her heart sank and she looked away, towards a single window off to her right. The blinds were closed, blocking the sunlight from entering her room. There was nothing in the room to tell her that anyone had bothered sending anything for her to get well. Her so-called friends in that group were no doubt anything but that. She had no right to call them friends. They’d just used her. In a moment of confusion, that they probably had known would happen to, they started the fight. They hadn’t care she had been right smack in the middle, right in the pathway of possibly being killed. If she was killed, she doubted they would’ve given her much thought. She had been a tool to them, a pawn in their game of chess.
“I want to move you to fourth year next year.” Marcus stated, pulling her attention back to him. “You aren’t well versed yet though, so that’s going to be hard to pull. But I will push for you to join your classmates in your fourth year if you make me a deal.”
She blinked at him, frowning, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “What kind of deal?”
“I want you to do medical testing. To help you to. It can help you understand yourself better.”
She started to shake her head. “You just said they wanna lock me up.”
“I won’t let that happen. We’ll make a deal. You do test on a biweekly basis or something. But otherwise, you stay at school and be a normal teen. Do your classes, be part of the world still. I won’t let them lock you up.”
She stared at him reluctantly. “I don’t know.”
He sighed, rubbing his face. “I’m only trying to look out for you Emma. I swear, that’s all I’ve ever done. I love you sweetie, you’re my niece. I just want the best for you and I truly believe this could help you.”
She stared at him for a long moment, refusing to say anything for the time being as they stared at one another. “Can I see Josh?”
He let out a heavy sigh. “Tomorrow. You need rest today.”
She stared at him again, taking her sweet time before replying. “Did you sleep in here?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t sleep, I was waiting for you to wake up.”
She looked down at the tail that curled on top of her legs. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She repeated, her voice cracking. “Even if it hadn’t happened, I deserved to know. You should’ve told me.”
“I know.” He agreed, surprising her and Emma looked up at him in shock. “You did deserve to know. But you didn’t know anything. I didn’t want to overwhelm you with more.”
She shook her head but didn’t say anything else. She wasn’t sure what else she could say at this point. Sleepiness surged over her, drawing her slowly towards her pillow. She laid her head down and turned her head towards her uncle. She watched him for a few minutes as he drank his coffee, tired eyes watching her. Hesitantly, she reached out, holding her palm upwards. He instantly reached forward, clasping her hand in his and gave it a squeeze.
“You need to rest Emma.” It wasn’t a question, but she nodded tiredly anyways.
He hesitated and rose to his feet, bending over her to press his lips to her forehead. She closed his eyes at his kiss and opened them again, watching him gather his items.
“Uncle Marcus,” she said quickly, stopping him before he could leave. “Will you tell me more about my mother, if I say yes to the testing?”
He turned back to face her, looking at her curiously. “I said I can pull strings to fourth year for you.”
She shook her head. “I wanna know about my mother.” She demanded.
He hesitated, then gave in, nodding to her request. “If you say yes, I will tell you more.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, not quite believing him, but wanting to put her faith that he would keep his promise. “Will you make sure Josh is told to come see me tomorrow? I need to see him.”
He hesitated, but again, Marcus nodded. “Alright. I’ll see to it he knows. I promise.”
“I don’t like this.” She whispered, motioning at the tail on top of her legs. “I really don’t. It hurts.”
“It’ll get better,” he stepped to her again and covered the blanket up to her chin, pressing his lips back to her forehead. “Get some rest Emma, feel better. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, he left, and this time she didn’t stop him. Her heart dropped into her stomach. She knew now that she had been played by the Resistance – used for a tool just to get under the skin of the mages. As for the mages, while her uncle truly did care for her, she was still used with them as well. She couldn’t trust any of them. She couldn’t trust anyone at all.
Except Josh. The little voice whispered, and she knew in her heart that was true. The only person who was being real with her, who had this entire time been real with her, was Josh Hinley. And possibly even Sherice and Drake, but they had shown their true colors. It was no surprise they had got what was coming to them. Kelyn though? Using her and in her heart, once again she knew she was right. She had just been used by her to. That hurt the worst, knowing that the girl who was supposed to be her best friend had used her. Maybe it would’ve been better for her to not have had any friend, but it was too late now.
Her eyes closed and she saw Josh behind them, swimming in front of her vision. He was the only one real with her. He struggled to accept the world as she did and to fight for what she did. He just wanted to be a good son to his parents and to protect them from more disappointment. That was all there was about him and it was one-hundred percent real. Her heart knew it and she knew it.
At least now the jigsaw puzzle within her mind was beginning to piece together.
Pain ignited through her as her tail recoiled, drawing inwards. She let out a cry of pain, one she didn’t doubt could be heard through even the closed door. She let out a sob, the tears rolling down her cheeks, shaking her shoulders.
Thirty-Two
“Emma?” His whispered entered her ears.
She groaned, swatting weakly at the hand, mumbling beneath her breath incoherent words even she couldn’t understand. The voice chuckled and a soft shake wakes her. Her eyes flutter open, seeing Josh standing above her. She smiled crookedly at him, yawning. “Hey.” She mumbled, then yanked the blanket up. “Five more minutes.”
He laughed, his fingers brushed against her temple, pushing stray strands of hair behind her ear. She shifted, twisting slightly and then the image of a curled tail entered her memory. Her eyes shot open and she jolted upright, hands patting at her legs. But the phoenix legs and tail were gone, replaced with normal human legs. And no tail. A breath of relief escaped her mouth and she dropped back to her pillow with a groan of exclamation, rubbing her eyes.
“Well, good morning sleepy head.” Josh smirked.
Emma’s eyes shot up to him and her hand shot up, fingers curling into his collar. Surprise flashed on his face, twisting his look but she moved to quickly for him to react any other way. He stumbled when she pulled him down, smashing her lips to his. Her fingers released his collar and shot up into his hair, curling into his locks, holding him captive to her lips. But after a moment, he didn’t seem to mind and his shoulders slumped, pressing into the kiss. When he pulled up, a dazed look over his eyes, he blinked, taken aback by what had just happened.
She grinned sloppily and dropped her head back, reaching up to rub the crust’s out of her eyes.
“Well, now I don’t mind having that every morning.” He half teased and incited a giggle from her.
She tried to hide a
yawn behind her hand, but didn’t do so well and he laughed, shaking his head.
“Morning.” She grumbled, twisting onto her side and slid an arm beneath her head, looking up at him. “I can definitely wake up to that too.”
He grinned and took the chair her uncle had sat in the day previously. “Sorry for waking you, I thought you would’ve been awake by now. I waited as long as I could.”
She blinked. “What time is it?”
“Almost two in the afternoon.”
She let out a moan, shaking her head slightly. “I guess I was really tired.”
He reached over again, brushing stray strands of hair out of her face. “You’re beautiful when you sleep.” He murmured.
She smiled and pulled herself to a sitting position, her mind on what her uncle had told her the previous day. “I need to talk to you, Josh.”
He withdrew his arm, worry creasing his eyebrows together.
“We’re honest with each other, right? That’s what boyfriend and girlfriend’s do. Is be honest with each other.”
He nodded, then got up and moved to sit on the empty part of her bed next to her, taking her hand in his, giving her his full attention. “You can tell me anything, Emma.”
She nodded, looking up into his eyes. “I’m scared.” She started and took in a deep breath. “I was part of the resistance, but I realized they were just using me. They didn’t care about me. Neither did Kelyn. I didn’t know, I swear. I was just so angry at the way Drake got away with the way he treated Kelyn. Just because his parents are donors of the school. That’s why I said yes to joining. Because I thought I was helping. I didn’t know anything about the phoenix part, I swear. When I changed, that was the first time I found out. It sucked. My uncle said he was protecting me. My mother took me so I wouldn’t have medical tests done or whatever.” She took in a large gulp of air, trying to steady her voice, but miserably failed. “I’m so confused about everything. And so scared because my uncle said the only way, I’ll be allowed to continue to fourth year is if I agree to have medical testing done next year. If I don’t agree to it, I go back to my foster homes. Where I’m not welcome. Where it was miserable, I hated it so much. I hated those places so much. I don’t wanna go back there, but I don’t wanna have testing done on me either. I don’t know, I’m so confused about it all and I don’t know what to do. Either situation just sucks. It’s one or the other and I’m just so damn confused.”
His eyes searched hers and when she was done talking, he reached up, swiping at the tears on her cheeks with his thumbs. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. “Hey, look at me.” He whispered and her eyes flashed up to his instantly. “It’s gonna be alright. I promise. You trust me?” She nodded without hesitance and he smiled softly. “Good. I’m gonna stay with you, no matter what. It’s gonna be alright.”
She nodded and pulled slightly back, holding up her pinky. He smiled at her and held his up, interlocking their pinkies in their famous pinky promise. He reached up with his free hand, cupping her chin and drew her face forward. His lips pressed back to hers, softer than before, and she gasped at the tingling that shocked between their mouths. Her lips parted and she drew slightly back, eyes wide.
“Wh-what was that?” She gasped, lifting her free hand to press her fingers to her lips.
He blinked, looking at confused as her, but also mesmerized, a dazed look glazing over his eyes. He opened his mouth and shut it again, shaking his head. “I dunno, I think – I think, did we just bond?” He breathed out.
She blinked, shaking her head as she shrugged. “I dunno. Is that bonding?”
He shrugged, shaking his head as well. “I dunno.” He echoed, then leaned in, capturing her lips with his again.
The tingling reignited, shooting zaps of electricity between their mouths. She gasped, pressing into his lips, reaching up to her locking her fingers in his hair. When he pulled back, they were both gasping for breath.
“I think so.” She whispered, leaning for his lips again, but stopped when he pulled slightly back.
“Try some magic then. It should work better than before if we truly are.”
She bit her lip, then nodded and leaned back, looking to her side and reached over to grab hold of the box Marcus had left behind. She hadn’t even seen him set it down the day before. She set it in her lap and drew herself up to a better sitting position. She held her hand out, concentrating on the box and then drew her hand upwards, watching as the box lifted gently into the air, almost at ease.
She squealed and lost concentration, the spell breaking. The box dropped to her lap and she gasped, giggling as she clapped her hands excitedly, looking up at him.
He grinned and kissed her forehead. “You’ve got it. You really got it.” He praised, taking her hands in his, raising them to his lips.
A clearing of a throat drew their eyes up to the doorway. Her fingers gripped tightly to Josh, pulling him back to her side. She felt stronger than before, renewed in a way at the bond being sealing between them. But she wasn’t about to do this alone.
“You can come in.” She told the figure, refusing to let Josh go.
Thirty-Three
Alexi Tokoya stepped over the threshold, eyeing Josh.
“He stays.” She said quickly before he could ask Josh to leave. “I told him everything. We’re bonded now, he deserved to know. So, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of him.”
Alexi shot her a look of annoyance and looked at Josh in hesitance, sighing. He shook his head and stood behind the chair, clasping the frame with his fingers. “Alright, fine. I can handle that.”
Emma stared at him, realizing this was the first time she had seen him since the night his group had kidnapped her. He looked far more tired than her uncle had the previous day. His hair was shaggy, reaching down to his shoulders, and his eyes dropped, dark circles tugging them down.
“We need your help, Emma.” His voice shook, but she couldn’t tell if it was from exhaustion or a plea in his voice. It could’ve been both. “Please.”
“With what?”
He rubbed the scruff on his face. “To free our leader.”
“From prison?” She shook her head. “I can’t do that. Why’re you asking for my help?”
“Because you’re the only one who can help.” He pressed, gripping the chair tighter. “You’re the only one capable.”
“I’m one person.” She choked out. “I can’t do it by myself.”
“We need your help. Now. We need to get him free, to get this war really truly going.”
She was silent, staring at him and then shook her head. “No.” She whispered. “I can’t. If I help, it’ll just make shifters and mages hate each other even more. It’ll be worse than it is now.”
“Shifter can rule over – “
“NO!” She shouted and both guys flinched at the loudness of her voice. “I don’t want there to be a war. I won’t be part of it.” She said stubbornly, her lips wobbling. “I can’t be part of it. I won’t. I want equality, not more fighting. I refuse to be in the middle.”
“You’re the only one – “
“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to help. You guys used me. I can’t do that again.”
Lex’s face fell. “I am sorry about that.”
“No, you aren’t.” Emma shook her head, glaring at him. “My uncle is sorry for a lot of things, some of which I don’t believe. Besides him, Josh is the only one I believe on being sorry for things. You? I don’t believe you. You’re lying. You aren’t sorry. You want to create a war. I can’t do that. I won’t do that.”
Panic flashed in his eyes. “Emma, please,” he croaked, walking around the chair.
Josh shifted in his seat, putting out an arm to protect Emma if he tried going at her, glaring at him – daring him to try anything with him right there. Lex held up his hands in surrender, stopping halfway around the chair.
“I won’t hurt her, I promise.” He said calmly and fini
shed his round, taking a seat in the chair, folding his hands in his lap. “You don’t understand, it’s our only hope of survival.”
Emma shook her head violently, reaching up to clasp Josh’s arm, pulling him back. “Mages respect power, Lex. That’s the only way they’ll ever treat shifters with any respect – is if they suddenly have power as great as them. My uncle is the most powerful mage there is. He forced me to change back to human in my phoenix form. Not many can do that.”
Lex’s eyes widened. “That’s powerful.” He said softly.
She nodded. “You need power, but a war isn’t going to get it. You have to get to my uncle, make him see that equality does matter.”
Lex swallowed. “But – how’re we supposed to do that? He doesn’t care.”
“He does. But he also cares about the school. He can’t just go about willy-nilly to do things to help get equality. It’ll ruin the school quicker than you can snap your fingers. He doesn’t want that happening. Its why he couldn’t do anything to Drake Caulderon for harming Kelyn. Because it would’ve ruined the school.”
Lex stared at her for a moment. “Then what do we do?”
“You?” She shook her head. “Nothing. I need to get to my uncle. I’m the only one he will really listen to. He won’t hear anyone else out.”
Lex’s eyes lit up. “So, you’ll help?”
Emma shook her head again, his smile faltering. “Yes and no. I’m not doing things your way though. I’m gonna do it mine and either you allow it, or you don’t need my help that badly.”
Lex lifted his head, contemplating her negotiation. A new kind of power surged through her. Before, she had adapted so well to her surroundings. Moving around had made it easy to learn how to blend in and be part of the crowd. So, when she left, no one remembered her name. She had been able to weave in and out like a ghost. But now, she was more than a ghost. She was a solid being and making her footprint in the ground. People would notice when she left this time. She would make her call and refuse to be used ever again.