My eyes slowly opened as my spirit returned. I sat while the numbness went away. I learned the hard way to not walk much when I was in such a state. It made for some bruises and broken bones. The first time I espied, I hadn’t realized I needed to take things slowly. I stood too quickly and tripped over a chair, breaking my arm in two places. That had been enough of a lesson for me to take my time ever since. I stood cautiously and walked toward the bookcase. I searched for the family history book I looked at yesterday. I located it and flipped to the index, searching for red sorcerers. I knew there was something in here about them, I just couldn’t remember where. I recalled seeing the pages when I was younger. Maybe it was my nerves, or maybe it was lack of concentration, but now I couldn’t find anything. I grabbed the book, plus a few others, and called Grandma. I told her I was in desperate need of her knowledge, and I would be there in fifteen minutes. If anyone would know how to help me, it would be her.
Olivia
Sometimes, I felt like someone was watching me. Not in a creepy way, though. I sensed a presence. I couldn’t really explain the feeling. I just knew I wasn’t alone all the time. And occasionally, the impression was so strong that I was convinced if I reached my hand out, I could touch a face. I hadn’t tried to do it yet, mainly because I felt this way when people were around me. Like this morning during my breakfast with Aiden.
Glancing at the clock, I realized there were only twenty-two minutes of school left. Sighing, I doodled on my paper and thought back to this morning. Aiden had been very strange. He wanted me to like and approve of him, almost in a desperate manner. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but something didn’t feel right. In the car, he had been trying way too hard. He said all the right things, but they just seemed…wrong. Well, coming from him anyway. He had a sudden interest in art and all of my favorite movies. The boy was as dense as they come. There was no way he understood art. And I loved chick flicks, but what guy would admit that freely? Breakfast had been easier, because he hadn’t seemed to be as nervous. He was more natural. I still wasn’t sure what to think of it all. I needed to talk to Juniper. Even though she was all Oh, Aiden and swoony over the idea. The bell rang, and I set out to find J.
I hopped up to her locker, hitting the door with my fist. She jumped in surprise and smothered a scream. I couldn’t help but laugh because she got scared so easily. And her reactions made it an easy decision to keep scaring her. “What’s up, J?”
“Nothing, Liv. I’m getting my stuff so we can go par-tay,” she said with a wide grin.
She looked like she had something to tell me.
“Ok, I have to talk to you about something important on the way to your house.”
“Important? Oh, come on, noooooo! Not today. It’s sleepover night. Important can wait,”she said with a wave of her hand, as if she were just wiping the conversation away.
“J, listen. This is really important. Aiden is giving me weird feelings. Something isn’t right and I don’t know what to do,” I said in an urgent whisper. I didn’t want him to overhear.
She looked at me, her eyes wide and confused, and nodded. We walked to her car in silence. I was afraid he would overhear if we talked about it before we were in the safety of her vehicle. I climbed in the passenger seat, waiting until she was in before looking at her.
“Ok, Liv, what do you mean by bad feelings? He makes you want to throw up or there’s some internal alarm system going off?”
“An alarm. I feel like he’s trying really hard to make me like him. But I don’t know why. He just showed up at my house this morning with breakfast. Which was kind of sweet, but how did he know where I live? And he just kind of expected me to fall at his feet because he showed interest in me…” I trailed off. I didn’t know how else to explain letting that I really was kind of unsure about this whole situation. “I told him I would go to the dance with him when he called last night, J.” She squealed at that one. “But now I don’t know if that was the best idea. What if he thinks we’re dating? I barely know him.”
“Liv, calm down. First, I can’t believe you said yes and didn’t call and tell me. Second, I know I was all for Aiden yesterday, but something happened today. I don’t know about this dance either. I overheard him talking outside of the bio lab this morning. He didn’t know I was at my locker,” her big brown eyes looked at me, full of concern.
I didn’t think this was something I want to hear. “What did he say, J?”
“Well, he was on his phone…he kept saying ‘She is the one. And she will be the one to free Delana.’ Now I don’t know who in the hell Delana is, but if he likes you, he needs to move on from this chick.”
She was getting into her overprotective mode. Now I was really worried. J didn’t act like a guard dog unless things were serious. And she thought this was.
“Delana…do we have anyone at the school named Delana?”
“No, I already checked. I can’t find anyone by that name on his friend pages, the yearbook, or anywhere. The name is just up in the air. I don’t want him to hurt you, though, Liv. You deserve so much better than someone hung up on another girl,” she threw her hands up in defeat.
“Let’s just go to your house. We can talk about this more. I think he’s watching us.” And he was. I could see him in J’s mirror. We were sitting in her little BMW. Did I mention her parents are very generous? He was standing two rows away from the parking spot. He was slouched against his Jeep, just staring at Juniper’s car. It almost felt like he was staring right at me. But I was in the car, so that was a little impossible.
“Let’s get far away from Mr. Popular/Stalker/Potential Creeper,” she said as she put the car in reverse.
“J, I don’t know what to do,” I said as I glanced in the rearview mirror. I was worried he may follow us. Not that it mattered. He already knew where I lived. So I doubted it would be difficult for him to find Juniper’s house, considering she was just two streets over.
“Well, I’m going with you. Mark and I will double date with you. I don’t want you alone with him.”
Mark was her guy friend/guy she liked. He was a geeky type, on the debate team and loved Star Wars. He was tall with dark hair and green eyes. He was also very muscular, like he worked out a lot. I personally thought he was really attractive, and J needed to just date him already. But she was worried about ruining friendships and awkward moments. I was hoping the dance would change that for them.
“Wait a minute…you and Mark,” I asked with a sly grin.
She blushed and nodded. It took about two seconds for me to start jumping up and down in my seat, squealing with delight. It took about two more seconds for her to do the same.
“Details. Now.”
“Ok, ok. He came over to study last night, and I just casually mentioned that I wanted to go and didn’t want to go alone. He was quiet for a few minutes and then asked if I wanted us to go together. Ohmygosh, Liv, he seemed nervous! Maybe he does like me,” she said, her voice rising with excitement.
“I’ve been telling you that for forever now, J. If you’d only listen to me,” I said with a punch to her arm.
“Hey! No hitting, I have to look rockin’ for the dance.”
“Oh, like that did anything to your arm,” I said with another punch.
“Stop it, Olivia Myla Whitehead,” she shouted at me.
We burst into giggles. She sounded like a parent using my full name.
“Ok, ok. You win. I’ll let you look hot and stuff for the dance. Are you going to tell him you like him?”
“Maybe. Depends on what happens. I want him to tell me first, Liv.”
“I get that. I think he will,” I said with a genuine smile directed at her. I thought Mark had the hots for her since last year, but she wouldn’t listen to me.
My phone rang, distracting me from the moment. I looked down and saw it was Aiden. We were pulling into her driveway, and I declined the call. I wasn’t even sure what to say at this point. I sent a quick text saying I was w
ith a friend and couldn’t talk, just so I wasn’t rude. I glanced around as I stepped out, expecting him to be waiting behind one of the bushes or something weird like that. “J, he just called.”
She looked as worried and confused as I felt when we walked to the house. Something about this whole situation felt wrong. I kept saying and thinking that, but I had no idea why. We went to the kitchen and made a snack, crackers with grapes and cheese. I looked at J. Today, she was wearing glasses, but they were clear lenses. She thought they made her look smarter. Her hair was pinned back on the sides, and her earrings were her signature quarter notes.
I knew I needed to decide on what to do about Aiden. But either way, I was going to the dance. I wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. I also needed to talk to Aiden about his creepiness. Living in a small town made information readily available, but I wanted to know that he wasn’t thinking there was more to this than simply a school dance.
Juniper interrupted my thoughts. “We need to buy dresses,” she said with a mouthful of grapes.
“Tomorrow. We’ll go to Anna’s tomorrow. You have to get something totally sexy for your night with Mark,” I said with a wink.
She threw a grape at me, her mouth wide in shock.
“We won’t be doing anything like that, Olivia,” she shouted.
“J, I know that. I’m just playing. Anna’s tomorrow. Sexy dress so you can drive him crazzzzzy.”
Our giggles were back, and I knew it was going to be a great sleepover.
Anna’s was the dress shop in the next town, Loudon Heights. Anna was an older lady, about fifty or sixty, and the sweetest person ever. I loved going to her boutique because she always had some sort of baked good for customers. And we knew we could find the perfect outfit for any occasion at her place. I had to remember to call and ask my dad for some money when he got home from work.
Scott
Aiden was evil. If Grandma was right, and I was guessing she was, he had been around for a very long time and possessed a bad record. In all of our sorcerer books, there was only one story of a sorcerer with a completely red aura. The Crimson Calamitous. Born over a thousand years ago, he had destroyed over 200 sorcerers and two counsel homes. Our counsel was between ten to twenty older sorcerers. They lived in a discrete location, only accessible with passwords and permissions. There were protection wards, curses, and a plethora of other entry measures surrounding the home. It was almost impossible to get in the building, but it had been accomplished. Twice. The members had rebuilt on the same land. The red sorcerer was dangerous. And now it was possible he was here and after Livvie. My head hurt thinking about it.
The Crimson Calamitous never had an actual name in the legends, but he did have a lover. Delana. She was killed by one of the family members of a sorcerer he murdered. This powerful and evil sorcerer could conjure anything he wanted, withstand the powers of a whole clan, and change himself into any form. He possessed a multitude of powers, and after Delana was murdered, he went crazy. He vowed revenge and after killing everyone he could, he disappeared for quite some time. He hadn’t been heard of in years, but now here he was. And I was seeing him.
The clock said it was almost midnight. Livvie should be sleeping soon, so I needed to get ready to go to her. No talking tonight. She asked way too many questions last night. I decided to espy her first to make sure she was asleep. Relaxing on my bed, I leaned my head against the wall and breathed in deeply, concentrating on her bright green eyes and wavy red hair.
“Juniper, stop.”
Livvie was shouting at her friend, who had a camera in her hand. Livvie was in pajama pants with horses on them and a tank top. They apparently were having a sleepover and decided to put that green stuff on their faces. I deciphered Juniper was trying to get pictures for future blackmailing purposes.
“I won’t show anyone. I just need it for…ya know…fond memory purposes,” Juniper said as she moved quickly.
In seconds, she was in Livvie’s face and clicked the camera twice, blinding her eyes and stopping her from turning away.
“Juniper Grace Parks, I can’t believe you just did that,” Livvie yelled as she dove at her, trying to grab the camera.
Getting to see Livvie in this environment was entertaining. The doorknob turned and a young face snuck its way in. The girl looked a little like Juniper, with longer hair. She was probably thirteen or so, I guessed.
"Guys…mom is going to wake up if you don’t be quiet,” the girl said.
She looked around, trying to figure out what caused the commotion.
“Chelsea, why aren’t you in bed?” Juniper asked in a bossy voice.
“Because you two woke me up.”
Silence. Livvie looked uncomfortable and Juniper annoyed. Livvie started toward her, putting her hand out to Juniper in a way that said: stop, I’ll handle her. “Sorry, Chels, we didn’t mean to wake you up. We’ll be quieter from now on, ok?”
Chelsea nodded. She gave one last look around. It seemed to me she wanted to be included, but knew she was too young. She closed the door softly behind her.
“She drives me crazy, Liv.”
“Oh, J, she just looks up to you. Stop it. We should include her next time.”
“We’ll include her when she stops running to tell my parents every single thing we say or do.”
I decided this was a good time to leave. My spirit slowly returned to my body. I forgot about leaning my head back and bumped it against the wall with a thud. Rubbing the spot with my hand, I picked up my textbook to study a bit before Livvie went to sleep.
###
Two hours later, my brain hurt from studying the history of Spain. Frustrated with the classes I was taking, I promised myself to decide on a major this semester. I closed my book, throwing it in the floor beside my bed. I flipped the light switch and lay back, exhausted and wanting to see Livvie. I said the spell allowing me to dream walk:
In a state to not be disturbed
I walk and exist as I am in life
Take me to the land of her dreams
Where things stay the way they seem
My eyes began to close. The spell put me into a deep trance. I could feel myself in Livvie’s room. She was lying in her bed in a blue nightgown. I lay beside her. Her wide green eyes opened, and a smile spread across her lips. I leaned in and kissed her softly, my teeth tugging at her lips and my tongue exploring her mouth. A low moan escaped her and sent my mind reeling. My hands caressed her thighs, and she grasped at my chest. Heat flooded my body as my need for her grew stronger and stronger.
“Livvie,” I whispered softly in her hair.
Soft hands tugged at my pants, trying to free my body of them. Eyes full of need gazed deep into mine and I knew I must stop her. I couldn’t make love to her like this. My lips found her neck and kissed and sucked on velvet skin. Sharp nails suddenly sunk deeper into my shoulder muscles, and teeth bit down on my lips. When she released her grip, my lips trailed my way to hers. She kissed me deeply. I knew I had to go now. The need for her was too much. I took one last longing look at her.
I came out of the trance slowly. My surroundings fuzzy at first, but my room gradually became visible. I woke up in the floor. I always came to in different locations within my apartment after our expeditions. My body was still aching for Livvie. Her touch had lit every inch of me on fire. I glanced at the clock, noticing I was in the dream for almost two hours. It felt like five minutes. I walked to the bathroom, rubbing my shoulder along the way. She really dug her nails in. After turning on the light, I pulled my shirt off to look. Deep scratches started at my shoulder blade and went up to my neck. Those were gonna hurt when I showered. I stripped off the rest of my clothing and turned the water on cold. I needed to relax my mind and reduce the heat simmering inside me. A cold shower was the perfect way to relax, and hopefully the cool stream of water wouldn’t burn my love wounds.
Olivia
Sleepovers with Juniper felt like wild parties. We watched movies, ate
a lot of food bad for us, and talked non-stop. Last night had been a night of facials, music, and musicals. We talked a little about the Aiden situation, but I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do. The conversation consisted mostly of Mark. Juniper had liked him since we were twelve or so. He was in our class and became friends with us during an assembly one day. There was a kid in our class--Rob--who was always picked on by the popular kids. He was really small then. Scrawny and pimple faced. But at twelve, most kids were. At the assembly that cold, winter morning, Rob sat in the far corner of our section. He tried his hardest to ignore the bullies. The most popular guy in the class, Kevin, walked up to Rob’s seat and started picking on him. Juniper and I moved closer to him, trying to deflect the attention, but it didn’t work. Kevin kept on and on, making fun of everything from Rob’s face to his parents’ vehicles. That’s when Mark stepped in. He was still new. He had just moved to Arrow Rock that previous fall. He sat beside Rob and looked Kevin straight in the eye. His voice didn’t waiver at all when he said, “That’s enough. There’s no need to make fun of someone else to make yourself feel better.” We all were friends after that. And Rob? Well he wasn’t scrawny and nerdy anymore, and most of the kids who bullied him wanted to be his friend now.
The White Aura (The White Aura Series) Page 4