“Is it hard?” I asked, more than happy to continue ogling.
“It can be hard if I’m tired or distracted.”
“You have to use your eyes though, right?” I asked immensely curious.
He looked at me with a sinister smile, as if to threaten me playfully with his dangerous gaze.
“Yes, my eyes essentially direct the flow of whatever causes the infatuation,” he answered. “I have been working on using my peripherals though.”
He turned and looked away, leaving me a bit confused, but when the familiar feeling of his spell began to permeate my body, and I couldn’t bring my eyes to look away from him, I realized what he’d meant. I tried to fight it, not because it bothered me, but because I wondered how strong a hold he had on me. It was useless. Slowly but surely I sank into the euphoria.
I let my eyes follow the finely structured contours of his cheekbones down to the hard corner of his jaw and traced the edge with my eyes to the tip of his squared off chin. The skin on his face, a light almond color, was smooth and flawless as if it were brand new and freshly exposed. I considered touching his cheek, just a slight brush of my hand to push back the loose strands of hair that had fallen into his eyes. I would have given anything for it.
“Did it work?” he asked, releasing me from his influence. “I didn’t want to look.”
“Yeah, it worked,” I laughed. My head was still not entirely clear. “But you know that isn’t necessary.”
He shot me a perplexed look.
“Oh, come on. You’ve got to know by now that you have me wrapped around your little finger.”
“Good to know,” he teased. “Now I have you right where I want you.”
As soon as William was back in town, it wasn’t long before the whole gang came knocking at my door looking for him.
“We have a new spot,” Rachel chimed.
“Want to come?” Sam asked from my door step. It was still a shock to see him, the new older-looking version of the boy I’d been introduced to.
“Sure,” I accepted for the both of us.
It felt refreshing to be out at night. The yellow glow of the streetlights changed the color of things, and I watched the world in sepia as the group of us headed for the N train. The trees that lined the streets formed a canopy of leaves that made the moonlight scatter on the sidewalk. Nics and Rachel laughed and danced boisterously ahead of the rest of us, while Paul and Sam seemed deep in conversation.
This was what it was like to feel young and alive, to have friends and be happy. I stole a quick glance at William, knowing that it was truly him that made me feel this way. His beauty was sharp in the dull light of the night, like the full moon against the pitch-black sky.
“I wonder where we’re going,” I said as the train took us deeper into downtown.
William shrugged. “No idea.”
“It’s a rooftop in the city,” Paul answered from the seat next to me.
When we got there, the lobby of the building was empty, with only a few security cameras to keep watch. Nics made sure all of us got up to the top floor unseen by any surveillance, and we took the stairs to access the roof. I realized once we stepped out onto the top of the building why this new place was worth the trek. The view was spectacular. The city lights stretched out like the sea.
I hugged my elbows close to my body in the chilly night air. “Wow, this place is amazing.”
“Told ya,” Rachel said with excitement.
“All right, you guys are good to go,” Nics said to Rachel and Paul, and the two of them took off into the air.
Sam leaned an old rusty stepladder under the knob of the roof access door. “At least it will give Nics a warning if someone tries to get up here.” He grabbed four folding chairs from behind a vent and set them out for us.
“So,” Nics said, looking at William. “Have you heard the rumor yet, or should we tell you?”
“What rumor?” I asked.
“I guess that means you haven’t.”
William shrugged and shook his head. “What is it?”
Nics looked at Sam before she spoke. “People are saying Dr. Nickel’s son is dating the last healer.” Her eyes fell on me, searching for answers. “Is it true?”
William looked at me, letting me be the one to decide what to say. “Yes,” I admitted. “It’s true.”
“The dating part or the prophecy part?” William asked with a smirk.
I blushed and had to look away. “Both.”
“What?” Rachel demanded, slamming down next to us.
“Seriously, how could you not tell us?” Nics complained.
“He told me,” Sam added.
William glared at him. “Thanks. That helps a lot.”
“You told Sam but not us?” Rachel scoffed.
“I’m his best friend,” he defended William.
Nics gave Sam a shove. “I thought I was your best friend.”
“You’re my best girl friend.”
“Okay, first, I am not your girlfriend—”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Are you kidding me?”
“Who cares who is best friends with who?” Rachel jumped in. “We’re all friends. He should have told all of us.”
“If I would have known I was going to get a verbal beat-down by the two of you,” William said, holding back a smile, “I might have actually considered it.”
Paul laughed. “You didn’t see this coming, huh?”
“So, what does this mean?” Rachel asked. “Is there going to be a war?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I don’t really know what everyone expects me to do.”
“I think you should get out of here,” Nics said seriously. “You saw what they did to Sam.”
“Thanks, Nics,” Sam scoffed. “She acts like I look like a grandpa.”
“Sam,” she whined. “That’s not what I meant.”
Rachel had to take over. “She’s just saying if The Council finds out—”
“They might already know,” William interrupted. “I told her we should leave, but she doesn’t want to.”
“Why?” Rachel asked.
All five of them were staring at me. “You guys don’t understand.” I couldn’t expect them to. If I were in their shoes I’d probably say the same thing, but Anna needed me, and I wasn’t going anywhere, no matter what any of them said. “Besides, I’m flagged. If they wanted me dead, I’d be dead.”
“She’s got a point,” Paul said as he hovered a foot above the ground. “She hasn’t done anything to prove that she is who everyone thinks she is. Maybe they’re waiting for her to make a move.”
Sam nodded. “Maybe you’re right. Why start a war over someone you aren’t sure is your enemy?”
“You think if she just stays quiet they’ll leave her alone?” Nics asked.
“Well, think about it,” Sam continued. “If she doesn’t do anything to cross them, why instigate it? If they came after her, it would be like setting fire under our feet. People would go crazy, pick sides, start fighting over nothing.”
“They don’t want to be the ones to throw the first punch,” Paul added.
“I’d say they already did,” Rachel said. “We heard about your Evasion test.”
“That was Ryder,” William clarified. “I don’t think Christoph had anything to do with it.”
“So what do you think, Elyse?” Nics asked. “Will you swing first?”
“I guess we’ll see won’t we,” I answered, thinking of Anna. Surely The Council would consider that an offense, even if it was my one and only move against them.
21.
WILLIAM’S FRIENDS AGREED to keep things quiet and to discount any prophecy rumors that may have been traveling the halls. On my first day back at The Institute since the Human Evasion test, I noticed a difference immediately. People stared, and those who intentionally looked away walked on the opposite side of the hallway.
“Just say the word and we’re out of here,” William said,
holding my hand protectively.
“It’s fine,” I answered, brushing it off. Part of me still hoped that in one of my classes I would learn of a way to save Anna without having to die in her place. If it meant tolerating a few looks, so be it.
When I walked into Abilities Defense, Helen greeted me with a smile. “You survived.”
“Barely,” I said, remembering the traumatic event. Had everyone heard about my Evasion test?
“Well, you’ve inspired my lesson for today. It should be fun.”
“I think she confuses the word fun with insane,” William whispered to me as we headed for a giant blue beanbag. “Last time we did something ‘fun’ Nics cracked her head open.”
It turned out William was right. Ms. Stanzic was crazy.
“Today we are going to play Get Out or Go Down,” she announced to the class.
William nudged me with his elbow. “Fun or insane?”
“Each person will have a chance to get out the door of the classroom. I will choose a group of three to try and stop you. Those who make it get ten points.”
“Insane,” I mouthed to William, who smiled to himself.
“I’m hoping this lesson can teach you how to get out of situations when it seems like all odds are against you.” She looked at me with a pleased smile. “Volunteers?”
Nobody jumped up willingly, but this was not an optional assignment, and in the end it was James, the boy who could throw electricity, Paul, and Stan, who’s ability to cause sleep nearly killed Nics the last time—all three of them against Rachel.
“Three boys against a girl,” Paul complained to Ms. Stanzic. “It’s not a fair match.”
She just laughed. “That’s the point of the exercise.”
“I can take them,” Rachel challenged with sass.
The entire battle took less than thirty seconds. As soon as Ms. Stanzic said go, Rachel immediately snapped into a tiny multicolored ball of light. She flitted around the room like a fairy, taunting the boys as James shot off streams of crackling electricity, and Paul chased madly after her. Light bulbs burst, and Stan’s head whipped back and forth as he tried to focus his sight on the illuminated form that zipped around faster than his eyes could move.
After she’d had her fun, the light bulleted for the door and was out before Paul had even changed directions.
“Told ya,” Rachel bragged as she re-entered the classroom in full form.
“Excellent job, Rachel,” Ms. Stanzic said.
The next match-up was a freckly brunette named Penny, who had the power of invisibility, Sam, and Nics, against Stephan, a muscular jock type that was descendant of Eris, goddess of discord.
“At least they aren’t fighting each other,” I whispered to William as we sank deeper into the blue beanbag chair.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” he said, smiling.
When Ms. Stanzic said go, I expected Stephan to make a run for it, but he stood his ground facing the three with a mischievous grin.
Sam glared at Nics. “Do something,” he demanded.
“I am,” she shouted back. “He’s blind. What else to you want from me?”
“Work together,” Ms. Stanzic advised.
Penny had disappeared. I expected her to come up behind her over-confident opponent and block his way, turn him around in the pitch-black space Nics had built around him, but instead Sam went flying backwards into the wall.
“What the hell?” he screamed at Nics.
Her face became enraged. “It wasn’t me,” she spat.
Suddenly Sam was fumbling around in his own world of darkness that Nics must have thrust upon him in retaliation. Then it was Nics who began to stumble and slur, and when they came into contact in their altered states, the two of them wrestled each other to the ground, cursing and screaming. It wasn’t until the invisible Penny began to antagonize the both of them, pulling hair, jabbing ribs, that I realized Stephan was using his ability to cause this conflict.
“This is amazing, Stephan,” Ms. Stanzic praised him as he stood in the exact spot where he started. “William, can you counteract this?”
William sat up, causing me to slouch into the giant hole he’d created in the beanbag. He lasered in on his wrestling friends, but despite his attempts to stop them, the fighting continued.
“I hate you,” Nics screeched.
“Get off of me,” Sam bellowed as they rolled across the floor. “You’re crazy.”
Penny’s invisible hand pulled Sam’s hair hard enough for his head to extend backwards.
William shook his head in frustration.
“Keep trying,” Ms. Stanzic urged. “Stephan, no need to leave the room. Don’t let up.”
It was the screaming that stopped first, then the wrestling, although Sam still had Nics trapped between himself and the floor.
“Wooo,” Paul whooped from a green foam couch across from us. “Kiss her, Sammy!”
They stared at each other—whether it was out of hate or love was the question. Sam’s face lowered slowly toward her. Their eyes closed.
Ms. Stanzic gave a nod in our direction. “All right, William. Thank you.”
Nics’s eyes snapped open as William relaxed back into the cushiony chair, setting them free of his influence.
“Get off,” Nics said with a scowl.
“Oh relax,” Sam said, letting her up. “It wasn’t like I had a choice.” He made sure to raise his eyebrows at William disapprovingly.
“What?” William said with a shrug.
I couldn’t keep from smiling.
The class went by quickly, maybe because today everyone made it through without any injuries. As the students began to shuffle out of the classroom into the noisy hallway, I decided this was my chance to ask about Anna, possibly my last hope.
“I need to talk to Ms. Stanzic about something,” I told William as we headed for the door. “Meet you at the car?”
“Sure,” he said, before continuing his banter with Sam and Nics. I was glad he was too distracted to ask why.
I waited for the last person to leave the room.
“Hi,” I said, approaching her desk.
“Hello, Elyse,” she greeted me. “So, how was the lesson? Did you like it?”
“Yeah, it was great,” I answered honestly. “I have more of a personal question, though.”
She waved her wrist, stopping the persistent tick of the wall clock.
“Go ahead.”
“You were my mom’s best friend, right? I am assuming I can trust you.”
She smiled sweetly. “Of course you can.”
I really didn’t feel comfortable explaining my plans to anyone, but I didn’t see any other option. I sat down in front of her desk, mustering the courage to speak.
“If I want to heal someone with advanced cancer,” I began, but as I broached the subject her mouth closed tightly, and she looked away. I chose not to continue.
“You want to heal a human.” Her words were quiet but sure.
“I didn’t say that.”
“Descendants don’t get disease, Elyse,” she said apologetically. I could see she was sorry for deciphering my secret.
My eyes dropped to the floor. “Is there any way to survive?”
I forced myself to look at her again, and she stared back at me.
“You shouldn’t be asking me this.”
“You shouldn’t expect me to start a war without breaking rules,” I countered.
Her eyes widened, accepting my point.
“Your mom did it,” she said suddenly, “only once. You need a backup, someone to heal you when you’ve lost too much.”
I was hoping she wouldn’t say that. I needed a better option, something I could do on my own.
“There isn’t another way?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Blood out, blood in. That’s the only way. Trouble is, these days you aren’t going to find a Descendant willing to risk their life for a human they don’t know. I’m sorry I can’t help you. I have
children and a family.”
I sighed, disheartened. The only person willing would be Chloe, and she was in the dark about my ability to heal. I couldn’t put her in danger with The Council. “I can’t ask somebody to do that for me, not when The Council would kill anyone that’s involved.”
“If The Council finds out, they won’t just kill your back up. They’ll kill you. They’ll kill your friend.” Her eyes were sad, communicating her worry. “It’s not worth the risk.”
I shook my head, still thinking. “No, we’re flagged.” The Council was aware of what Anna knew. I’d gone to visit her. I told her everything. Nothing had happened.
“How?” she asked in surprise. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would they protect their enemy, and a human?”
“I don’t know why she’s flagged, but she is. My whole life we’ve been friends and no one’s touched her,” I answered. “I’m flagged because I’m the new mother.”
Her lips parted in shock. “I suppose that would be a good reason, wouldn’t it?”
“If I have no other choice,” I decided, “I’ll just go through with it on my own.”
“You can’t.” She nearly yelled the words. “Don’t you realize the moment you die, she won’t be protected? She’s flagged because you’re flagged. Christoph won’t need her anymore.”
“What does he need her for now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s trying to win you over by sparing her, but the minute you’re gone, she will be too.”
Her words knocked the wind out of me. How could I not see that coming? I’d spent so much time worrying about how and when I would do it, what would happen to me, and William, that I had completely looked past what would happen to Anna after she was healed. Still, I wasn’t going to let that defeat me.
“So I’ll tell her to run. I’ll have a plan. Maybe I can do it without The Council ever knowing.”
“Don’t be a martyr, Elyse,” she scolded me. “I know you obviously have grown to love whoever it is you want to heal, but think of how many people are counting on you. Think about what your mother and father gave up to keep you alive. Don’t forget that.”
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