“Hey, Caid, can you slow down a little. Where are you racing off to?” He doesn’t respond. “Seriously, why the rush?”
He hasn’t said a word since we left his house, but he does finally slow to a semi-normal pace.
“I thought I heard Arianna and Lydia talking about a camping trip this weekend. Why aren’t you going with them?” I ask, trying to break him out of the strange mood he’s been in since yesterday.
“Because I have to train you.”
Ouch. “Hey, don’t do me any favors. You could have gone. We could’ve trained when you got back.”
He ignores me again. Fine. He doesn’t want to talk? I’m certainly not going to force him.
After hiking in strained silence for almost twenty minutes, he stops near an old pot belly stove. It looks like it used to be inside a cabin a long time ago, but the house fell down around it until this and the crumbling foundation were the only things left remaining. Caiden takes a seat on a large boulder nearby and rummages through his bag.
“We’re going to work on your telekinesis today.” He doesn’t look at me as he speaks.
“My teleki-what?”
“Telekinesis. Your ability to move objects around without actually touching them.”
He sounds like he’s giving a lecture, completely devoid of any emotion or feeling. Lifeless. He’s acting like the Caiden I met a week ago — the one I couldn’t stand.
“Alright, Professor. What would you like me to do?” My acerbic tone seems to get his attention and he meets my gaze for the first time since leaving his house.
But he just looks away again and continues speaking in a monotone.
“I’m going to place some objects here, and I want you to try to move them. They’re not as fragile as the mirrors we’ve been working with, so hopefully you won’t blow them up. Try to slide them along the ground a bit, or levitate them. Whatever you can do to get them to move.”
He takes out a blue Patriot’s hat, a silver spoon, a worn softball, and a couple small bar bell weights — looks like a two and half and five pounder — and lays them in a row on the ground.
“Have you seriously been hiking through the woods with weights in your backpack?”
He looks like he’s about to smile, but he stifles it and steps back out of the way. “See which ones you can move. Start with the hat and work your way down the row.”
“How am I supposed to move them?”
Whenever I’ve done it before, I’ve only been acting on instinct. I have serious doubts that I’ll be able to actually levitate any of these things. It seems way too hokey — like a bad rendition of The Craft.
“Just focus your energy on it. Go ahead and try.”
I square my shoulders and take a deep breath. Closing my eyes, I try to center myself. I breathe in and out, feeling my energy stir and glow in response, the way Caiden showed me when I healed him. It seems like a long time ago, though only a day has actually passed.
I open my eyes and stare fixedly at the battered hat. I try to push my energy out towards it, straining, narrowing my eyes in concentration.
Nothing happens.
“This isn’t working.”
“You’ve been practicing for a whole five seconds. Keep going.” He sits down on the leaf litter and leans back against the boulder, getting comfortable.
I roll my eyes and try again. Still nothing.
“I’m going cross eyed over here. Any pointers?”
“No. You probably won’t be able to do anything today. Just keep trying.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I grumble, turning back to glare at the unmoving hat. I try again. And again. And again.
An hour later, I finally manage to wiggle it a bit. I jump up in excitement.
“Did you see that? I did it!”
Caiden calls out from his lounging position, “No, that was the wind. Try again.”
I growl in frustration. “This is bullshit! ‘Try again’? Why don’t you tell me how?! If all you’re going to do is sit there on your ass, then there’s really no reason for you to be here!”
I whip my head back towards the items I’m supposed to be moving, my eyes narrowed in frustration. I hear leaves crunch behind me as Caiden stands up and walks over.
“I can’t explain to you exactly what to do, because I don’t have this kind of power. All I can do is tell you the basics and have you try over and over again until you figure it out.” His icy tone burns through whatever patience I have left and I lash out at him.
“Then what good are you? Why are you the one teaching me this if you don’t even know how to do it?” Harsh, I know, but he’s just so damn distant. He’s been this way since the fight with Sebastian yesterday. I don’t know what his problem is, but I’m sick of it.
His voice is positively glacial when he answers.
“I didn’t volunteer for this. I’m here, trying to teach you to protect yourself, because Caroline asked me to. The world doesn’t revolve around you. I could be out camping with my friends, but instead I’m stuck here doing this and getting shit from you for it. So either grow up and stop complaining when someone tries to help you, or leave. Either is fine by me.”
His response cuts deep, stinging the backs of my eyes. I thought we were becoming friends, but apparently not. I’m just a chore to him, and an unpleasant one at that. My temper ignites.
“I didn’t ask to be here either, you know! In one week, my entire life has been turned upside down! My boyfriend broke up with me to go screw someone else, and my best friend wants nothing to do with me because I’ve been lying to her!
“I didn’t ask to be a witch! I didn’t ask for a pack of wolves to come hunting me! And I didn’t ask you to give up your Saturday to train me! If you don’t want to do it, then don’t — I’m not forcing you! And if it’s Caroline you’re worried about, then grow some balls and tell her to shove it! But don’t stand here and act like I’m forcing you into this!”
His face softens the tiniest bit. “You’re right.”
I step back, shocked at his concession. I expected him to put up more of a fight.
I feel oddly deflated, adrenaline coursing through my veins with no outlet, like a spring that’s wound too tightly. Caiden has the same look about him as he runs his hand through his dark hair in frustration. I take a steadying breath, trying to get my pounding heart back under control.
“Look, let’s practice for another hour and then we can take a break,” he says, eyes still tight, lips forming a slashing line across his face. “There’s a harvest festival in town today, isn’t there? We can go there afterward, forget about all this stuff for a while. What do you say?”
My mouth twists in annoyance, but I reluctantly nod and turn my attention back to my pointless task.
Chapter 7
The whole area is decorated for fall. Garlands of leaves wrap around every light post and tent pole, huge pots of orange, yellow and burgundy mums sit around on display, and carved jack-o-lanterns cover hay bales and wheel barrows.
Caiden and I wind our way through vendors selling everything from apple pies to flowered ribbons for girls’ hair. It looks like everyone from town is here, plus hundreds of out-of-towners. The Fall Festival always draws a huge tourist crowd.
I stop at one of the booths to buy a mulled cider, wrapping my chilled hands around it and inhaling the spicy steam. A little girl with ribbons braided through her dark hair runs past me, nearly knocking me over, running away from the small boy who’s chasing her, howling, his face painted like a wolf.
Caiden reaches out to steady me, his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”
“Fine,” I make a face at the sticky liquid dripping off me. “Have a napkin? I got cider all over.”
He grabs a handful from the nearest food cart and I attempt to blot up the mess all over my sweater. After cleaning up the best I can, we walk deeper into the crowd, neither of us talking.
After our fight in the woods, we practiced for another hour,
which felt like a complete waste of time. I still didn’t manage to move anything. Then Caiden packed up all the items and stored them inside the pot belly stove for our next session before driving us out here.
We’re not snapping at each other anymore, but his distant, taciturn demeanor is really wearing on me. He obviously resents being forced into training me, but no matter what I say, he won’t go against what Caroline wants. I’m about to suggest that he just drive me back home when I hear someone yell our names.
We turn at the same time and see Arianna waving cheerfully, rushing over to us, Ethan and Lydia trailing along behind.
“Hey guys! Whew, I didn’t think we’d find you! Can you believe how many people are here? I swear, it gets more and more packed every year!” Arianna’s long hair swings back and forth as she looks around at everyone, beaming.
“I thought you were camping?” Caiden asks her.
“We were going to, but it wouldn’t be as much fun with only the three of us, so we’ll find another weekend. How long have you two been here? We stopped by your house,” she says to Caiden. “But you were already gone.”
“How did you know we were here?” I’m pretty sure Caiden didn’t tell anyone where we were going.
“Lydia,” Arianna answers, like it’s perfectly obvious.
I glance at Lydia, then back to Arianna. “And how did she know?”
Arianna cocks her head. “Because–”
“Later.” Caiden cuts her off. “We shouldn’t talk about that stuff here.”
“What ‘stuff’?” I ask.
“Later.”
Arianna rolls her eyes at me. “He’s so paranoid. So, who wants to get some food?”
We weave our way through the crowd and join the line for one of the many food vendors. Lydia makes me a little uncomfortable, but Arianna was friendly enough last night, and really, I’ll take any company over the maddening silence that persists between Caiden and me.
I’m just starting to relax, relieved to have a distraction from Caiden’s brooding, when he reaches out and wraps his arm around me. I immediately stiffen and try to pull away, but his hand tightens on my shoulder, stopping me.
Lydia’s eyebrows shoot up and she glances between us, turning away when she meets my eyes.
*What are you doing?* I ask him telepathically.
*We’re supposed to be dating, remember?*
*But, they’re in the coven. We don’t have to pretend in front of them, do we?*
*It’s better to just stick to the same story with everyone. If Caroline wants them to know the truth, she’ll tell them. Besides, look around. Half the school is here.*
He’s right. I glimpse Landon through the crowd with a group of other football players from Hollow High. I growl under my breath, trying to ignore the nervous fluttering in my stomach, but allow him to keep his arm where it is.
Arianna smiles widely and exchanges a look with Ethan. When it’s our turn to order, I get a corndog and another cider and we find an empty picnic bench to eat at.
As soon as Caiden leaves to grab some napkins, Arianna looks at me expectantly. “So, I heard about you and Sebastian breaking up.”
“Yeah, I think the whole school heard about that...” I focus on my corndog, hoping she’ll drop it.
“So? Is it true?” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively.
“Is what true?”
“Did you guys break up because you’re dating Caiden?”
“Arianna...” Ethan says under his breath.
“What? I’m just asking. I mean, you guys seem pretty cozy...”
I sigh deep in my chest, so tired of the gossip and rumors. “No, it’s not true. I didn’t cheat on Sebastian. He thinks I did, but I didn’t.”
“Of course you didn’t cheat on him, but you are dating Caiden now, right?” Arianna grins at me, and as much as I want to be annoyed with her, I can’t. She’s just too damn cheerful.
“It’s... complicated,” I hedge. Despite what Caroline wants, I don’t feel comfortable lying to everyone. Arianna cocks her head and looks like she wants to say more, but thankfully Caiden returns and she’s forced to change the subject.
While we’re eating, Landon and his crew walk by our table. He nods his head at us surreptitiously before continuing on past. I wonder how close he is to Caiden, Arianna and Lydia; if they ever hang out outside of the coven circles. They seem so opposite, it’s hard to picture. I just hope that I won’t have to see much of him.
Arianna smiles slyly at Lydia. “I hear Landon and Sarah broke up again...”
Lydia blushes to the roots of her hair. “That doesn’t mean anything. They’re always breaking up.”
“Yeah, but last night she hooked up with Doug at some party. I don’t think they’ll be getting back together after she cheated on him with his best friend.”
Lydia shrugs her shoulders, her cheeks still pink.
“You should ask him to homecoming,” Arianna persists. “I bet he’d say yes.”
“No – I...” She stumbles over her words. “I couldn’t...”
“But you two would be so cute togeth–”
Ethan put his hand over Arianna’s mouth. “Leave it alone, Ari.”
Arianna narrows her eyes at Ethan’s smiling face. “Hmph. Fine,” she says, her voice muffled by his hand.
“She has a tendency to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong.” He smirks at me, nodding his head toward Arianna.
“I do not!” She tries to say, pulling at Ethan’s arm. He takes his hand away and tweaks her nose, still smirking.
“Jerk.” She mutters, turning away from him so he can’t see her smile.
“Did you guys hear about that guy from Monroe High?” Lydia asks, clearly trying to change the subject.
“What guy?” I ask.
“Dan something. Apparently he got attacked last night by some animal.”
Caiden’s eyes sharpen. “An animal?”
“Yeah. It was on the news this morning. They say he was drinking at a party and when he was walking home he got lost in the woods and was attacked. He’s in the hospital, pretty torn up.”
“Where was this at?” I ask, glancing at Caiden.
“Over near Cedar Hill.”
My stomach drops. *That’s where Bianca lives...* I say to Caiden. *Dan is the name of that asshole who was with Olivia... You don’t think it was him, do you?*
*It’s possible.* He stares off into the distance, a frown on his face. *I wonder what attacked him…*
*What, you think it was the Silver Lake Pack?* I scoff derisively. Ethan, Arianna, and Lydia all look at me strangely. It takes a minute before I realize I made that noise out loud.
Caiden raises an eyebrow at me. *It’s possible they followed us there–*
*But not likely.* I cut him off. *They only found out about me two days ago. There’s no way they tracked me down so soon.*
Caiden nods his head, his forehead smoothing out. *You’re probably right. It’s still strange though...*
A blare of country music interrupts our silent conversation.
“They’re starting!” Arianna squeals, jumping up. “Quick, let’s go before all the good spots are taken!” She darts through the crowd, pulling Ethan along by the hand. Lydia gets up, giving Caiden a half-smile, and slowly follows the others through the crowd.
“Who’s starting?” I ask Caiden as he throws away his trash.
He actually smiles a little, his first all day. “The New England Cowboys.” He rolls his eyes. “Arianna’s obsessed with them. I’m sure that’s the real reason they didn’t go camping today.”
Despite myself, I laugh. Arianna’s a country fan?
“Come on; let’s go before she tries to charge the stage.” Caiden leads the way past the food trucks into a wide, grassy area with a small stage set up at one end. Country music blasts from the speakers set up on either side.
We spot the others near the front. Lydia looks bored, staring down at the grass in front of her. As Cai
den predicted, Arianna is about ready to jump on stage with the band, screaming and cheering like a mad woman.
When we reach them, Ethan turns to Caiden, his eyes twinkling. “This is your fault, you know. If you would have just come camping with us, we wouldn’t be forced to endure this.”
My chest tightens as I recall Caiden’s accusations from earlier. Caiden glances at me, but he doesn’t say anything. I cross my arms in front of my chest and pretend to watch the band. Country music has never been my favorite.
Now that we’re not moving anymore, I start to feel the cold, especially with my shirt still damp from the cider. Arianna’s having a good time, at least.
“I’ll be right back,” Caiden says before disappearing into the crowd. Ethan pulls Arianna in close, wrapping his arms around her from behind. Lydia and I both stand slightly apart, continuing to stare up at the stage blankly.
Then Landon, of all people, walks up to Lydia. I’m too far away to hear what he says to her, but whatever it is, it causes Lydia to blush and Arianna to grin from ear to ear. I’m so caught up in watching them that I don’t notice Caiden’s back until he slips his arm around my waist.
“Here.” He hands me a bright orange hoodie with the words ‘Haven Hollow Harvest Festival’ printed in fancy script across it.
I turn to look at him, my eyebrows raised.
He leans in, his mouth close to my ear. “I know you’re cold. Put it on.”
Surprised, but too cold to argue, I scramble into the sweatshirt. “Thanks.” I look away quickly.
Caiden leans past me and raises his voice so the rest of the group can hear. “I have a blanket. Let’s go find a place to sit, since it looks like we’re going to be here for a while.”
The last was said with a pointed look at Arianna, who grumbles a bit about not being able to see as well, but follows along anyway.
Caiden spreads the blanket on the cold ground, and as I sit down I realize how sore my legs are. In fact, my whole body hurts, like I’ve spent the morning weight lifting or something.
Deceitful Circle (Silent Circle Book 2) Page 5