I grabbed my boots, laced them up, and pulled my warmest jacket on. It wasn’t a heavy one by any means, but it was better than nothing. I grabbed the bucket and glanced back at the secret passage. I could exit there, but then the others would know about it. Instead I headed for the door, but my fingers hovered over the lock. If Colt, Daniel, or anybody else were out there, I’d be bombarded immediately. They’d knocked on the door several times, talking through it, trying to get a response, but I’d remained quiet. They knew I was in here or they would have broken the door down, besides, I’d heard Colt in the passageway, but I’d made it impossible for him to enter, at least impossible without his powers.
The lock clicked, and before I had time to move, it opened, knocking me back. I looked up into very worried blue eyes.
“I didn’t think you’d ever come out,” Daniel said and grasped my arms, pulling me into a hug. The metal bucket clanked against the doorframe.
He drew back. “You hungry?”
A number of replies flew through my mind, ways to get rid of him, but this was Daniel, and he was already an anxious mess.
“Yes,” I replied.
“I’ll make you something then,” he said. A faint smile appeared, and he grasped my hand, pulling me down the hall. “Lilly made dinner last night. I’m sure there’s leftovers.”
I knew Lilly had cooked last night. The smell had drifted upstairs and prompted my stomach to growl in protest. No one had come to the door either. Lilly was probably trying to get me to come out on my own, and it had finally worked, but only because I was cold.
We made it to the top of the stairs when I heard voices in the great room. I paused, listening.
“He’s gone,” Brogan said. “He’s gone and doesn’t want to be found.”
I didn’t need a name to be said for me to know who they were talking about: Callon.
“We can’t just give up,” Lilly pleaded.
“We don’t have a choice, Lilly,” Maes replied.
“We always have a choice!” Nakari shouted. “Let me go. Let me bring him back.”
“No,” Brogan replied, his voice growing gruff. “The more we search for him, the more chances we create of exposing our location, not to mention that Marcus will find out that Callon’s abandoned us.”
“He hasn’t abandoned us!” Nakari said.
“Then what do you call him wandering off into the wilderness, Nakari?” Brogan growled. “He left us when we needed him most. We needed his leadership, but instead he’s wallowing in his hurt, and he left us with her!”
“He was hurt,” Nakara protested. “He needed time to heal away from her, but I know I can find him!”
“We need you here with us,” Dex said. “If you leave us, we’re vulnerable. Your powers make a difference, Nakari.”
“If she hadn’t given away Daniel’s powers…” Nakara accused.
“What’s done is done. We can’t change—” Dex was cut off.
“I can’t believe you’d forsake him so easily. After all he’s done for all of you over the years, all the leadership he’s provided, and the one time he’s hurting, you do nothing! He didn’t abandon us, we abandoned him!” Nakari cried.
It grew strangely quiet; I heard footsteps and then the creak of the front door.
“Nakari!” Andre called, her voice fading.
Daniel’s fingers tightened over mine. I turned, trying to return to my room, but Daniel stopped me.
They were giving up the search for Callon because they’d lost hope. He didn’t want to be found, and it was my fault. Daniel tugged me down the stairs unwillingly, forcing me to face the crowd now, rather than later.
I wasn’t going to pass through without being seen, not after this last conversation. But what did it matter? I didn’t need their approval, but I did want Nakari’s forgiveness, as pathetic as it sounded. I never meant to wound Callon, and the fact that she thought I purposely ripped out his heart and ran to Colt hurt. And now with the search being halted for Callon, it only made matters worse.
We paused at the bottom of the stairs so I could drop my bucket and jacket, and the low murmurs began. I decided it was best to keep my head down and eyes focused on the ground. I’d read too much in their eyes over the past few months, too much that I couldn’t ever forget.
Daniel and I made our way down the long corridor and stopped in the kitchen. I sat on the stool while he moved to the fridge.
“I can make you a meatloaf sandwich?” he suggested as he peeked around the old metal fridge.
“Sure,” I replied and fiddled with a towel that had been lying on the counter.
Heavy footsteps moved down the hall, and I didn’t need to look up to know that Colt had arrived. He pulled up another stool, moving closer, and sat down. He’d straddled it so he could face me.
I caught Daniel’s worried glances as he prepared a sandwich on the other side of the kitchen island.
Colt’s hand reached out to stop me from playing with the towel, his fingers wrapping around mine.
“Nakari didn’t mean what she said, Cheyenne,” Colt said. “I’m just as much at fault as you are, she was angry.”
I pulled my hand away and placed it on my lap. She’d meant every word she’d said, both earlier and now.
“They’re all angry, Colt, and that’s not going to change.” I clasped my hands together in my lap. “What Nakari said was true. I crushed Callon, and I can’t ever take it back.”
“But he’s the one who abandoned us, Cheyenne. You’re still here.” The muscles in Colt’s neck tensed. He was angry about it now.
Daniel slid the plate in front of me, his gaze downcast. He fiddled with the towel I’d held in my hands earlier. He was torn. I was the one to blame for Callon’s departure, Colt was angry about it, and now Daniel didn’t know which way to turn. I picked up the sandwich and began to eat. Daniel and Colt watched.
“So are you going to hide in your room now?” Colt asked. “You’re going to let them win and have control over you? Where’s your fight? Where’s the Cheyenne I know and love?”
I finished the last bite of my sandwich and pushed the plate away.
“Thanks, Daniel,” I said and rose from my stool.
Colt grabbed my arm as I tried to leave.
“You can’t keep hiding, especially from me.”
He was right. I couldn’t keep hiding, but neither could my family. They were the ones cowering in the Canadian wilderness; they were the ones who were holding me back from freeing myself. It had to end.
“You’re right, Colt. I can’t.”
I pulled away and headed for the great room. Callon wasn’t here, nor was he coming back, but he’d taught me one thing. I was going to hit this thing head on, like he would have in the past. He still gave me strength in his absence.
Daniel and Colt trailed behind me. I stopped near the entry, pulling my jacket on and picking up my bucket.
“Where are you going, princess?” Brogan asked as he came up behind me.
“To get wood and train.”
“We’ve already talked about this, Cheyenne,” Dex said, joining the conversation. “It’s not safe for you to use your powers. You’ll put us all in danger.”
“You put yourselves in danger the moment you took me from Marcus, Dex,” I replied and turned towards them. “And I never said I was going to use my powers.”
“No.” Brogan crossed his arms and leaned against the steel doors.
“I’m tired of sitting here and doing nothing. Callon’s not coming back. I have to prepare. What you choose to do is your own choice. Now move, Brogan.”
“If you go out there, Cheyenne,” Maes said, “you open yourself up to another Tresez attack.”
I crossed my arms. “Have you seen any Tresez since my last attack, Maes? Have you seen any signs of Marcus’s army even moving?”
I’d paid attention to their conversations whether they knew I was listening or not. Marcus wasn’t doing anything but waiting. Maes’s jade-ri
mmed eyes grew dark. He didn’t like me questioning him.
“That’s not the point, Cheyenne,” Dex stepped closer, his jaw firming. “We can’t have an accidental release of power. You could cause someone serious harm.”
I knew what Dex was really saying…they were afraid Marcus could control me.
“I wasn’t planning on doing it here, and nobody will be coming with me.”
“Cheyenne, no…” Daniel said.
I turned on Daniel. “I’m more than capable of protecting myself, Daniel. I don’t need you, Colt, or anyone else to babysit me.”
“You’re not going alone,” Colt protested.
I headed for the door and Brogan surprisingly moved aside. “Have it your way, princess. It’s not going to make a difference if you come back or not.”
I ignored Brogan’s comment and pulled open the heavy steel door. Colt tried to come after me, but as I closed the door, I saw Maes and Brogan stop him.
“Let her go,” Maes said. “She won’t go far.”
I dropped my bucket on the stone steps and headed towards the meadow. I’d actually been surprised how easily they’d let me leave. I’d expected more of a fight, but maybe they’d given in because they had other ideas…like I wasn’t actually going out alone. It was pretty obvious to me that Marcus wasn’t coming.
I glanced back at the building as I made my way further into the meadow. Maes would probably try to follow me later, but I wasn’t about to make it easy on him. I headed straight for Mandi. It had been a while since we’d ridden, and I needed to create some distance between this family and me. I was growing tired of the mistrust.
Mandi began whinnying the moment she caught sight of me. At least someone was happy to see me. I grabbed her tack as I entered the small outbuilding and quickly had her ready to go. I didn’t hold back once we left the corral either. I let her take off in a gallop.
She headed straight for the trees at the far end of the valley. Once in the forest, I allowed her to lead me where she wanted to go. She needed a release as much as I did. It’d been ages since we’d run together freely, ages since we’d be given any freedom.
In my heart I knew I’d never be free until Marcus was dead. He had held me captive for years, first when I was forced to hide from him, then after I found him. I was back to square one…hiding. But not for long. I had no intention of sitting out and letting others fight for me. This was my battle, and I was going to fight. I was going to win—I had to.
The trees flew by with even more speed as the forest thickened. But Mandi didn’t slow; she knew how to weave in and out of them. I sat lower in the saddle as she leapt over a fallen log. Wind whipped against my cheeks, and I loosened my hold on the reins. She’d stop when she wanted to, when she was ready. There was no trail here, only her heart leading the way.
I too had let my heart lead me in the past. I’d trusted it to be faithful and true, but in the end it only caused me grief. It only caused those around me misery.
Mandi’s fast pace began to slow until she finally came to a walk. Just ahead, the forest opened up into a valley, the valley I’d visited before. How she’d known this is where I wanted to go, I had no idea, but my fingers drifted to her neck and I thanked her.
She shook her head up and down and came to a stop amongst the wilted flowers. I dismounted and let her roam freely. The wildflowers had yellowed, and they crunched beneath my feet as I wandered further into the field. The same slow moving mountain river lay ahead, with the canvas of steep mountains ascending behind it. Snow was now thoroughly etched into the crevices, its white glove reaching further down towards the valley floor.
The cool breeze caused me to shiver, and I pulled my jacket up tighter around my neck. Any day now the snow would arrive, and dark clouds hovered behind the peaks. This would be my last chance to come here and admire the simple beauty till spring. My last chance at freedom till the rain broke through the deep snow.
I moved towards the stump of a decayed tree and jumped on top. I didn’t have another person to train with, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t go through the movements just the same. Reminding myself of the actions would work wonders later.
I closed my eyes and let my memories of all the training I’d had at the estate take hold. Skylar’s dancing moves, Brogan’s brutal frontal attacks, and Maes pouncing on his enemies without warning. They all had a place here; all could be used against Marcus’s army, but what about Marcus himself?
He hadn’t come for me yet, but he’d come. He wouldn’t give me up so easily, not after he’d battled so hard to win his trophy. Where was he now? What was he up to? Was he nearby in the background or was he waiting for me to screw up and then he’d swoop in and wipe us all from the face of the earth? Or was he training with his army, plotting to bring the battle here?
The sound of a crow cawing reached my ears. Moisture touched my cheeks and I opened my eyes to see snow falling…but how? I glanced around and realized I wasn’t in the meadow anymore, but elsewhere. A mountain lake was nearby, and I walked towards it. Why was this familiar?
The icy cold surface was placid, in spite of the snowfall. It was as if the weather didn’t affect it. Not a snowflake touched the surface. I stepped closer, and bent to see if it was real.
The icy cold water stung my fingers, and I yanked them back. A small ripple began to emerge and grow. I stared at the crystal clear water as a dark shadow developed beneath it.
The water began to swirl, and I stepped back further. Soon a water funnel materialized, like I’d created in the past with my powers. My fingers tightened, but this time I wasn’t the one creating it. No power ran through my veins, not even the slightest breeze ruffled my hair…this wasn’t me.
The water funnel grew until it was tall and lanky. It danced before me like a ballerina, performing graceful leaps and bounds. I moved closer and touched the watery surface, and without warning, the funnel disappeared.
I stared at the surface of the water, confused, when the water once again began to rise, but this time it was as if an image was pushing itself out of the steady stream. A face appeared and then disappeared as the water swallowed it.
Was this the dark shadow I’d seen beneath the water’s surface? Was there an enchantment in the water causing this image to come to life? Again I moved closer. How was this happening?
The water funnel spun before me, but this time it didn’t dance. Instead, it began to lose the choppy exterior and a smooth surface developed. An image grew before me. My eyes widened as I recognized it; it was Marcus.
But how? How was his image being projected through the water? Could he see me? Or was this a figment of my imagination?
Without warning, its mouth opened and swallowed me. The force of the water crushed me to the rocky valley floor. I thrust my hands out, trying to force it back, but it continued to pound me. It was as if the very life was being choked out of me. Never had I felt such intense pressure against my chest. Like the weight of the world was thrust upon me and I couldn’t even save myself.
I forced my eyes open to see a murky shadow running around the sides of the funnel…what was out there?
Powers, I had powers and could use them…I opened my palms and summoned the force riding in my veins to blast the watery funnel away. My water prison suddenly vanished.
I rolled to my side, coughing. I took slow breaths, trying to calm my racing heart, and sat up, pulling my legs to my chest. What happened?
I looked up towards the water, but it was gone. I stumbled to my feet and took in my surroundings. I was back in the meadow. I inspected my clothes, touching my hair…I was dry.
Had I imagined it? I couldn’t have…one minute I was in the meadow and the next I was near a mountain lake with snow falling. I swiveled on my feet, my eyes scanning the nearby river. No, it wasn’t this waters edge that I’d been at; it was another, but where?
I shook my head and pressed my hands to my temples. I couldn’t have imagined something like that, a water funnel
with Marcus’s face implanted in the middle? It had been as clear as day. It had been Marcus.
Had I used my powers to create this? But how? How could I have taken myself someplace else with my powers? And why would I want to cause myself harm? If I’d been the one to do this, then I’d tried suffocating the life out of myself…like the weight of the world—the Timeless clans—was upon my shoulders. And I’d used my powers to free myself from this prison, that much was real. My fingers still tingled from the release.
Then there was the shadow I’d seen lurking in the background. Was that real or my thoughts running wild? I’d had so many dreams, nightmares, and memories whirling around in my head, but it still didn’t make sense. This had come from out of the blue…was this another vision?
I sat down on the stump and stared out into the meadow. The flicker of a dark shadow caught my attention and I blinked, rubbing my eyes. I wasn’t going to allow my imagination to run wild again. There was nothing out there; Maes wouldn’t have let me out of his sight if there were a threat of a Tresez attack. And if it were wildlife, I would scare it away. I could talk with animals, after all; surely taking to them wouldn’t constitute a use of power. It was done in my thoughts, just as Maes and I communicated, and he’d talked to me since our arrival.
Mandi snorted, and I glanced up to see her moving closer to the river, to better grazing. She’d have alerted me if something were up. I needed to calm down.
I closed my eyes, pulling my legs to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. A cold breeze drifted over me, and I shivered. I should have put more layers on, but I hadn’t planned on departing like I did. I was only going to get firewood till Colt and the others stirred the embers in my heart. We couldn’t sit back and wait for Marcus; we needed to prepare…I only wished I knew how to prepare for the unknown.
A tickle in my nose caused me to sneeze. I looked up to see amber-rimmed eyes staring at me through the grass. I blinked. This wasn’t real. This was my mind playing tricks on me again. I tilted my head to get a better view; the creature crouched in the grass, but didn’t advance.
Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four Page 11