Her friend was right. There was nothing funny about what happened. But she could not deal with the gravity of her situation at the moment. She’d needed exactly what had happened. She’d needed a release that did not involve wallowing. She’d needed a distraction. She’d needed a friend, a good friend who knew her well enough to let her be herself and hurt in her own way, in her own time.
“Thanks, Beth.” Arianna said.
Beth’s eyes settled on hers and the faintest bands of pink tinged her cheeks. “What?” she asked uncomfortably.
“Thanks,” Arianna said again with a shrug. “Turns out, you’re pretty good at all this friendship stuff. No slobbering. No coddling. You were pretty perfect.” Arianna offered a half-smile.
“If you say so,” Beth raised her shoulders then dropped them. But her eyes shined a bit brighter and her head tilted a little higher. “Just don’t try to make out with me or anything,” she furrowed her brow and nudged Arianna’s leg.
Arianna shook her head and Beth winked. “Try and get some sleep. Everything will be here in the morning. No sense in dealing with it when you’re exhausted,” Beth said and stood.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Arianna agreed.
Beth turned and made her way to the door. She placed a hand on the handle and stopped. “You deserve better, Arianna, you know that right?” She turned halfway so that she watched Arianna from the corner of her eye.
“I don’t know anything right now,” Arianna said in a near-whisper.
“You will get through this and you’ll know then,” Beth faced her fully before turning with jerky, robotic movements to the doorknob. Without another word, she turned it, opened the door and stepped out into the night.
Arianna watched Beth disappear. She still could not believe what had happened. And no matter how hard her mind tried to grasp the reason for Desmond’s deplorable behavior, it held to strands as insubstantial and elusive as the threads of a spider web, collapsing and slipping through its grip. It all seemed unreal, nightmarish.
She dropped against her pillow and closed her eyes. Exhaustion enveloped her, cradling her with warm arms and the promise of velvety oblivion. She succumbed to it and was instantly carried on a blackened wave that swayed slowly and rocked her into a deep, dreamless slumber. Blissful, blessed sleep found Arianna.
Chapter 11
The last warm rays of day dissolved behind a periwinkle-blue sky. Arianna had just completed a lengthy training session and was making her way back to her cabin flanked by Beth and her brother, Dane, while Jason walked a few steps behind them.
“You are coming out with us tonight,” Dane announced.
Arianna was not sure of whom he’d addressed but assumed it was not her. Even he knew better than to command her to do anything, least of all a night on the town.
“Arianna, you hear me?” he asked and she bristled.
“Yeah, okay. That’s funny,” she dismissed his ridiculous attempt at an invite. “Take Beth with you. She could use a night away from this place.” And by “this place” Arianna had meant her depressed self. Weeks had passed since her confrontation with Desmond. She’d forced herself to keep busy, focusing on meditating with Briathos and sparring with the rest of the novices during the day. But most nights, she’d stayed holed up in her cabin. Beth had spent the majority of those nights with her, playing cards sometimes, but mostly just talking. And almost every conversation reverted back to Desmond. Beth deserved a break from listening to her whine.
“Oh she’s coming too,” Dane promised. “Especially since this was all her idea.”
Arianna stopped walking and spun to face Beth, who’d been unusually quiet during their return to the compound. “You’re in on this?” she asked accusingly. Surprise and a hint of fear flashed in Beth’s eyes when she’d turned on her suddenly. Everyone froze and exchanged furtive glances. “Oh calm down people, I’m not going to melt down or anything. There won’t be a tornado of trees if that’s what you’re worried about.” Arianna cocked her head to one side and splayed her hands out in front of her in mock surrender. “Really, I promise.” She poked fun at herself and everyone visibly relaxed. “Jeez, where’s the trust?” she muttered under her breath.
“For the record,” Beth spoke. “I did not think you were going to uproot trees and make a tornado. I was just a little afraid you’d freak out, you know, in the traditional, pissed-off sense.”
“Well that isn’t coming either. My answer is no, plain and simple.” Arianna shrugged and started walking again. When no one followed, she looked over her shoulder. Beth remained where she was and so did Dane and Jason.
“Hello? Are we going back to camp or what?” she asked impatiently.
Beth and the others ignored her and she contemplated going back by herself. But a quick glance at their faces made her reconsider. She doubled back to where they stood stubbornly.
Arianna folded her arms across her chest. “Okay, out with it” she encouraged them to voice their grievances.
Beth looked between her brothers then spoke. “We reject your answer,” she said in a strong clear voice.
“Excuse me?” Arianna’s asked, her eyes narrowing and her brow furrowing.
“We reject your answer,” Beth repeated.
“Okay, Good for you,” Arianna said. “But that doesn’t change anything. I’m still not going.”
“Why?” Beth asked without the slightest trace of combativeness.
Arianna jabbed a hand through her hair. “Well, I’m just not, you know, up for it. I’m not in the mood,” she fumbled.
“Lame!” Dane bellowed. “That is a lame-ass reason.”
Arianna’s hands flew to her hips and she leveled a deadly gaze at him. “Anyone ever tell you you’re obnoxious?”
“At least once a day,” he grinned proudly and displayed the deep dimples at the center of both his cheeks. “But that doesn’t mean that your whole I’m-not-in-the-mood-to-go-out excuse isn’t lame.” He shadow boxed and danced around her. “You need to put on something other than those ratty sweats you sit around in all night and get out. Live a little! I mean, damn girl, you can get back to the whole mopey routine tomorrow night.”
Arianna twirled to follow his movements and found that she was having a tough time maintaining her hardened expression. A smile teased and bent the edges of her lips upward.
“Ah, see? You know I’m right,” he bragged with exaggerated bravado. “It’s all right, mama. It’s all good. You can thank me in the morning when you wake up and realize you had actual fun the night before.” He trotted and did an irritating victory dance.
As he did, Beth leaned in and whispered in her ear. “He’s like a dog humping your leg. You never know whether it’s best to whack him with a rolled newspaper or just let him finish.” Arianna faced Beth whose expression was deadpan, but not for long. An enormous smile split her face and she snorted then chuckled. Arianna laughed as well.
Dane stopped dancing and looked at them with childlike wonder. “What?” he asked. “What’s so funny?”
Neither Arianna nor Beth could answer. They were doubled over with laughter. Above the gasps and giggles, she heard Jason say to his brother, “Nothing, man. It’s cool.”
“So the A-bomb is coming?” Dane asked and called her an annoying nickname he had coined after hearing of her showdown with Desmond.
“Hey!” Arianna choked out a protest. Visions of Dane with floppy ears and a tail clutching a giant leg and pumping away softened the edges of her annoyance and kept her from forming an entire sentence. She nodded to affirm she was going.
Dane shook his head and stopped showing off once he’d apparently realized he was no longer the center of attention. Arianna dabbed her wet eyes with the back of her sleeve. “Oh man,” she breathed. Her abdominal muscles ached as well as her cheeks. “I guess you can count me in. I can’t believe I am agreeing to go.” She rolled her eyes and wondered what she was committing to.
“Don’t worry, we’ll go easy
on you,” Dane patted her arm lightly. “A little beer, a little pool, we’ll see what happens from there.”
“Whatever you say, Dane,” she said and gave him a light shove.
“That’s right!” he said and was suddenly revitalized. “Race you back,” he smiled and tore off toward the camp.
Arianna watched him go. Jason sidled up next to her. “How long before he realizes she’s not behind him?” he asked Beth.
“With Dane, it might not be until he’s standing on the steps of his cabin,” she said and closed her eyes while nodding.
“Thank goodness he’s pretty,” Jason said.
Beth paused a moment then laughed again. “He is, isn’t he,” Beth agreed.
Arianna felt uncomfortable mocking Dane too much. His loyalty during the hours after Desmond’s infidelity was revealed had been unparalleled. She had a sneaking suspicion he had orchestrated the rally of defense that was offered to her.
Desmond and Amitt had left just a day after their confrontation, and Arianna was thankful for the overwhelming, unanimous support she’d received from the camp. They’d shunned Desmond and Amitt in the hours before the elders politely invited them to get their asses off the property. Dane had been the most vocal during their period of condemnation and was rumored to have encouraged the others to assemble in the clearing with lighted torches, pitchforks and small stones. Clearly, he had a more medieval idea in mind for their send-off. According to Jason, the response to Dane’s request had been a difficult one to witness. Arianna appreciated his enthusiasm, nevertheless, and would have liked to have seen his imagined scenario come to fruition. It did not, of course. Desmond and Amitt left and hadn’t been seen since. Arianna imagined they were living their happily-ever-after, the incestuous kind, not the fairytale kind, somewhere far away.
Regardless of where they were and what they were doing, Arianna was grateful for Dane’s allegiance. And for that reason, she forced her already-exhausted muscles to life and took off after him.
“Arianna, don’t egg him on!” Beth called out then howled with laughter again. But the sound grew faint as cooler air rushed into Arianna’s lungs. She pumped her arms and pushed her legs to their limits, gaining ground faster than she ever dreamed possible. She’d gained considerable strength and stamina, and in a short time.
Thin pine branches lashed at her legs and a few whipped her in the face as she raced through the forest. When Dane’s broad back was in her sights he turned and did a double take. She did not know who was more surprised by her speed, him or her. She paced him, her newly minted competitive streak sparking alive.
“Ah hell no!” he grunted and propelled himself forward.
Arianna slowed her pace for a split-second and an idea dawned on her. She stopped abruptly and closed her eyes. She envisioned Dane’s cabin and more specifically, her standing in front of it. The air around her shimmied for a moment and resembled heat radiating off pavement on a scorching summer day. It pulsed, a brilliant shade of blue, briefly then she felt herself fade. She materialized at Dane’s doorstep and just in time to see him blazing through the brush and nearing the clearing. She leaned against his door and forced a bored expression on her face.
He burst through the bushes, panting and sweaty, and his eyes widened. “Cheater!” he yelled good-naturedly. “You are a cheating cheater! I can’t believe it.”
“Aw mama, come on,” she mimicked his word choice and speech pattern. “Don’t be a hater.”
His lips twisted to one side and his eyes were slits. “Hate the game, not the player,” she ribbed him and he smiled, wide and genuine.
“All right, all right, you got me,” he conceded. “Now move out of the way, woman. I need to get inside and make myself pretty.”
Typically she would have locked horns with him for calling her woman, but Arianna was too busy biting her lower lip to keep from laughing at the comment Jason had made minutes earlier.
He looked at her quizzically and held her gaze for a beat. His eyes sank to her mouth and examined her lip between her teeth before returning to her eyes. A strange expression clouded his features and Arianna arched a defiant eyebrow at him. The haze lifted and he drawled, “See you in a bit, A-bomb,” and bounded inside his cabin. She smirked and shook her head before making her way to her cabin.
Two hours and a quick nap later, Arianna felt as if her belly were filled with a swarm of bees buzzing at once. She’d showered and dried her hair, applied makeup and was now faced with the off-putting task of inspecting her sad wardrobe. She did not have a ton of clothes to choose from and started first with her favorite pair of weathered motorcycle boots which she promptly paired with a sundress that still had tags on it. The material was soft and silky and skimmed her body in all the right places. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t dressing up for anyone. Still, she did not hate what she saw in the mirror, which was a small victory given the nasty string of incidents recently. She grabbed a cropped denim jacket from her duffle bag and slung it over her arm then headed for the door.
As her fingertips grazed the doorknob, doubt seized her. Her hand began to tremble and her stomach roiled anxiously. What was she doing? She wasn’t up for a night out. She glanced down at her dress, a feminine number she’d bought with Desmond in mind, and the sudden urge to run back inside and yank it from her body goaded her. “What was I thinking?” she muttered aloud. Why she’d agreed to go out with Beth, her brothers and a few others was beyond her. She’d caved to peer-pressure; an unprecedented occurrence she’d never dreamed would happen. She’d actually surrendered to juvenile taunting that had included being called “lame.” She took a second look at her sundress. Desmond would have loved it, though she didn’t fill it out the way Amitt would have.
Amitt. Just thinking her name sent Arianna’s heart falling to her feet like a boulder. She turned and gripped the hem of the lightweight fabric and was about to yank it up over her head, but stopped when she heard Dane’s loud voice in the clearing, laughing and chatting. She peeked out her window and saw him standing with Lance, Ewan and Clint, all high-ranking students from the camp. She also saw that Jason and Beth were approaching their group.
Arianna swallowed hard and let go of the edging. She took a deep breath and pushed back her misgivings and profound sadness inasmuch as she could and stepped out of her cabin. The sun had fully set hours earlier. Day had surrendered to night and stars twinkled like brilliant jewels overhead. The woods hummed all around her as if the forest had come to life, abounding with the hoots and calls of nocturnal predators that had awakened and sought a meal to devour.
“There she is, finally,” Dane boomed. He stood in front of a small, faux-lantern light mounted outside one of the cabins and she saw that he wore relaxed-fit jeans and a fitted T-shirt. It was odd to see him out of his typical baggy clothing. A fit physique had come out of hiding. “We thought you were punking out on us.”
“No we didn’t,” Beth said as she joined the group. “I didn’t, at least,” she added quickly. She then sniffed the air and crinkled her nose. “Okay, who dumped, like, a bottle of cologne on himself?”
No one answered at first, but Arianna noticed that Dane took a small step back, away from Beth.
“Okay, no one will cop to it,” she said and pursed her lips. She started smelling all the guys that were gathered.
“All right! Fine! It’s me, okay!” Dane admitted. “Jeez! Can’t a guy smell good for the ladies?”
Even though it was dark and Arianna could not see Beth roll her eyes at her brother, she swore she could feel it happening. “Dressed up and smelling like a male escort, I guess you really are on the prowl tonight,” Beth said.
“You know it! Bring on the girls!” he said and pumped his hips.
“Whatever, you’re so gross,” Beth mumbled.
“Oh so it’s okay for Arianna to get all dolled up, but not me?” he replied.
“What the hell do I have to do with any of this?” Arianna asked heatedly but did not wait for
an answer. “And for the record, I am not dolled up.” Her cheeks blazed at the implication.
“Can we go already?” Jason said with a hint of annoyance.
A few comments flew between the other guys that had gathered, mostly agreeing with Jason that they would rather leave than stand around listening to Beth and Dane bicker. Fortunately, neither Beth nor Dane was interested in pursuing their spat and they sifted into a nearby town.
The trainees did not possess powers that had matured enough to allow them to sift, so the three of them had linked hands with Beth, Jason and Dane. Not one of them had seemed comfortable making eye contact with Arianna, let alone touching her. She hoped that a small block of time spent away from the compound would loosen them up.
They arrived in front of a squat stucco-faced structure. Faint music seeped from it and the windows glowed warmly. A moment of panic made Arianna want to sift right back to her cabin and forget all about bars and music and people in general. But Beth, as if sensing her dread, nudged Arianna’s arm with her shoulder. When her gaze went to the bump, they were met with Beth’s large, dark eyes. Her friend did not say a word. She did not need to. She pleaded with her eyes for Arianna to relax, to try to have a good time. Arianna blew a tiny breath of air out and followed Jason as he led the way, opening the door and stepping inside.
The aroma of fried food and liquor greeted her immediately, along with a few leering stares that were quickly reverted back to whatever they’d been looking at moments earlier when Dane, for reasons that were unclear, placed himself between Arianna and Beth and draped an arm across their shoulders.
“Come on, Dane,” Beth whispered. “What if I am looking for love tonight, too?” She shrugged his arm off her shoulder.
Dane’s other arm dropped immediately and his features turned to granite. He growled.
“I’m not a little girl anymore, in case you haven’t noticed. I have boobies and everything.” Beth smiled sweetly.
Dane’s cheeks turned bright red. He opened his mouth to say something, but Jason turned and spoke first. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving. Why don’t we get some food then shoot some pool?”
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