by Willa Alders
“Not really. Thank you. I’m going to go work on swooping and maybe find Avery.” I smiled.
“Ok, be careful please.” Carmina said with pleading eyes.
“I will.” I smiled grabbing a jacket and closed my eyes and pictured Avery, and twirled.
Within a few moments I was in front of Sam’s behind one of his big fir trees. I looked around for Avery’s Ducati. It was there like I suspected but I didn’t see Avery or Sam. Who I did see wasn’t who I was wanting or expecting. I saw Archer.
I blinked, because I was far enough away to make sure I was seeing correctly. I was it was Archer, not Sam or Avery. What was he doing here I wondered. Why was he even there to begin with? I could have sworn I swooped to Avery not Archer. Thank god I was a girl, and I could play it off as I had a boyfriend who made me mad, and I took a walk. Or I was in trouble and took a walk or got into a fight with someone like Avery. It all worked whatever I chose. Really the fight wasn’t a lie. I did fight as part of training. I just hope he hadn’t seen me swoop in because then I would never hear the end of it from Caleb and Carmina.
“Hey I met you at the party. You’re Avery’s sister Aralynn?” Archer asked walking up to me as I headed up Sam’s sidewalk.
“Yeah.” I smiled hoping he really didn’t want to make small talk, because it was hard to ignore him once you saw him in the light. He was extremely adorable but I focused on trying to ignore that.
“Did you walk?” He asked walking with me.
“Obviously, is Avery here?” I responded to him.
“Yea he’s in the house. He’s pretty mad. By the way it looks it was about you or something like that. Maybe you should sit out here a bit.” He smiled a small corner smile. His looks were nearly impossible to ignore.
“Ok maybe I should. For just a moment then we have to go in.” I said sitting down near the edge of the water.
“So you rushed off the other night why?” He asked.
“Curfew.” I lied as he looked me in the eyes.
“Oh got ya. I know how siblings and parents are. They suck.” He smiled. “Plus I was going to ask you something the other night before you took off. I was going to uh well ask if you wanted to go out to the lake or something with me sometime.” He smiled tossing a rock into the water.
“Oh, well. Why not gives me something to do. No offense to Avery and Sam but they do get quite annoying after a while together.” I smiled back.
I was trying not to look at him or gawk, because I did not want to be rude but at the same time I did just say yes I would go out with him. So I guess I was entitled to gawk a bit. Archer was fairly hot well actually very hot. He looked like a fighter, well a cross between two fighters that I loved. He looked like my favorite fighter, who used to be a champion in the MMA division CUF. He had long sandy blonde hair like the fighter did. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown, he flawless tan skin, and he was smooth and buff like the fighter I liked. The only physical difference is that he was a tad bit taller he stood only 5’9’’, which was three inches taller than the real fighter, and three inches taller than me. I guessed he was about the same weight as my favorite fighter about 135.
The main big difference is he didn’t dress like how my fighter did; he dressed like the champion who he hated. Archer wore jeans and a nice black button down collar shirt which looked good on him. What wasn’t to like? I thought, he was the definition of perfect looking in my book. My two fighters in one guy not much more I could ask for.
“That was easier than I thought.” He smiled at me again. Which he really needed to stop because I knew what would happen. “So why are you single?”
“What makes you say that?” I asked picking up a stone and staring at it before tossing it into the river.
“You said yea.” He smiled.
“Doesn’t mean I’m single, I didn’t say it was a date. To answer you I’m not with anyone. But don’t think….” I was saying, and before I could finish that statement he leaned in and put his lips to mine.
They shocked mine which had never happened before and I felt the heat come from them more than what it would if I was a normal human or if he was a normal human but who knew. Anyways his face was locked with mine, and he rubbed my cheek with his hand, while just barely slipping some tongue in, making me gets lost in him.
I didn’t get to get too far or before I could get too lost, I became frozen, I saw the bears, and the couple again, the back of them. Not their faces, this time the bears were charging at the couple. Before I could see anymore, Avery and Sam were out in front of us.
“Get off her bro.” Avery said puffing his chest out like a testosterone idiot.
“Sorry, man. It just happened.” Archer said standing up and brushing his legs off.
“ Yeah just happened.” Avery snorted.
“Avery its fine I kissed him. Calm down he’s good.” I said pushing him back off Archer.
“Oh, ok, thought he forced it. Sorry. I’m protective over her, and just so you know I don’t like anyone who tries to go out with her.” Avery snorted at Archer as his tone eased up a bit as he looked at me.
“It’s fine, and besides Avery, I don’t think I want you after me too.” Archer smiled back.
It’s fine. Hey text Carmina for me. Tell her it happened again. This time I was awake. I stated in my mind to Avery.
That was another trick all of the societies had, when around humans we could talk to each other through mind speak is what Kintana called it. We’d think of what we want to say and to who we wanted to say it to. Then the words and whatever tone was supposed to go with it would travel to that person. It was a pretty neat thing to do especially when you wanted a private conversation between one of us that you didn’t want to say out loud or have any trace of it anywhere.
Avery communicated back. WHEN…..
I just looked at him and stated back When do you think….. He shook his head and texted Carmina. I went back to talking to Archer, and Sam.
“Sorry about that, Avery is a bit big headed, still thinks I’m four.” I smiled at him to be nice. Truth was I was a bit freaked out that I saw the couple.
Especially since it was the second time I was around Archer it happened. Plus I was dazed from the kiss, it was strange, and right, but something was off with him but I was intrigued by it. Probably shouldn’t have been but I was.
Avery came up then and said to all of us. “Ara and I have to go. Turns out, my mom is pissed at us because we missed dinner. It was family night. Aralynn we have to go.” He said pulling me toward the bike. “Catch ya later. Sam.” He said as I got on the Ducati. Archer bent down and kissed my cheek and we were gone.
Thanks…. I mind spoke again.
“You’re welcome. No problem.” Avery said as we pulled up at the house. Carmina was waiting outside pacing for us. We swung off the bike.
She looked at us like what happened, and the five W questions. I could see the who/ what/ when /where and why’s coming any minute now. She didn’t get to say anything though because Caleb cut her off before she could. Thank goodness for Caleb he could Carmina down.
“Chill, Car. We’ll figure it out.” Caleb said coming up besides her kissing her cheek.
“What happened Aralynn?” Caleb asked popping a top to a can of Pepsi.
“Nothing I saw the couple, again, not their faces, and the bears charged at them.” I shrugged.
“When did you see this?” He asked, he was starting to sound like a dad again.
“When she was sucking face with some guy.” Avery snorted slamming the door. He was acting like a jealous idiot.
I picked up a brick and Caleb took it from my hand and put it down. “Stop, this is the second time this has happened since you have been near him. You should stay away from him. “Caleb said sternly enough which I knew meant stay away no date. That stung, but I was hoping I was able to convince him otherwise.
“Yeah, you’re right but what if he has something to do with the bears. How are we going to k
now unless I continue to be nice to him?” I said batting my eyes at him as Caleb’s face softened.
“Point proven, fine get close, see if there is anything we need to be worried about or destroy.” Caleb said, and I nodded and headed upstairs.
God I hope Archer had nothing to do with this, but something told in my gut told me that he did…………………
CHAPTER 4-ARCHER
FOUR MONTHS EARLIER
After that day, two months earlier, when Kilyn had come into my room and told me of her job her attitude had kind of changed. She had begun letting me of my room more than I had been in two years. She even let me shower in her bathroom which was nice because it had 10 jets. She had even waved her hands to create a place down the road that if it came to it I could take Aralynn too. Kilyn was taking to this idea of grooming me and making sure there was no visible proof that she hadn’t beat me or choked me out in a two month time frame. That didn’t mean that she didn’t slap me once or twice every week. Which sometimes was a bit more, but it was better than what it had been. She had even kept her partner Carter off of me as much as she could. However when he could he still would knock me around as well. I had to try to watch what I was thinking around him, because if he thought I was weak he would let Kilyn know then my shot of freedom would be gone and I couldn’t risk that. I wanted FREEDOM too bad.
I was enjoying watching cable and playing all the game stations we had in the big screen room versus in my room. Kilyn even went as far to buy a whole new wardrobe which I got to pick out which was strange. She even got me a 1970 Chevelle with a 454 big block. All just to make me more desirable. She had said she bought it but I figured she created it out of pity, which I didn’t care I was in love with it. It was my dream car and I would take it any way I could. I made a note to try to keep it if I earned my freedom as well. Even with all the gifts she was quick to lay down rules in a heartbeat.
“When you’re not with Aralynn or studying her - you’re here, in the house in your room understood? Now I want you with her as much as possible, but if you let her know you’re dead.” She boomed through the house. Her breath was hot in my face when she said this.
“Yes ma’am.” I grunted as she left me alone.
Great just how I am going to figure out how to leave, and let Aralynn know of Kilyn’s intentions without getting her or myself killed in the process? I thought to myself. This was definitely not going to be easy. It was going to be the hardest thing I’d ever done. To save my life and someone else’s life that I barely knew. This definitely was going to be an adventure. I knew more than likely it would be a painful one.
2 MONTHS EARLIER
At two months left before her diabolical plan was to start taking effect she let the bears lose two states away to create havoc. Then she let me out to see Sam and befriend him. Sam was extremely easy to gain his trust. All I did was play a game of darts at a bar. Ten games later we were friends. He began inviting me over to his parties he held at his house. Which I began to hope that one of the parties would open the door for me to get in with Aralynn. At least that was what I hoped would happen.
I knew she was going to be harder to get to trust me than Sam was regardless. Sam had asked if I was single. I told him I was and he smiled. He said he had a girl he wanted me to meet a girl that was like his younger sister. When he said her name it clicked. He had said Ara which I figured was short for Aralynn. That was my in my way to earn my freedom, and spare her somehow hopefully. It didn’t matter, I found my way in the rest I would just have to figure out.
2 NIGHTS EARLIER SAM’S PARTY.
Sam had invited me to a party that night, in hopes he could introduce me to her, he thought we would hit it off. He had told me she was high strong, and very stubborn and all I could do was laugh. If he only knew who I lived with I thought to myself. Before he could point her out though I had already seen her at the middle of the party doing some fire show with some guy that Sam had said was her brother. From what I could see she was extremely gorgeous. It wasn’t until later when I realized how hot she was.
Later on that night Sam had brought me to Aralynn, while she was sitting out back watching the ripples in the water in the lake behind his house. Sam introduced us briefly then walked away. I approached her, and offered her a drink of my drink but she ignored it. So I attempted small talk.
I jerked my thumb up at the crowd behind us when I asked: “Hey. So why are you not up there with all the others?”
Without looking up, she answered: “Not big into crowds, I just come because I have to keep appearances up.”
I smiled, thinking to myself what’s up this girl is drop dead hot, why wouldn’t she be up there. She looked like an angel for the most part. She was a tiny girl with smoking hot curves, and a gorgeous body, perfect in every shape and form. Perfect height two inches shorter than me at about 5’6’’ her pale skin was gorgeous. Her long blonde hair to the middle of her back was absolutely sexy, and her blue eyes one could get lost into especially since they were almost gray. Her holy jeans and tank top suited her well. She was gorgeous and I wanted nothing more than to take her away and consume her, so Kilyn couldn’t follow through with her plan but I didn’t quite have that part figured out yet. So for now I would settle for kissing her.
“Yea, well I guess I am not most girls.” She said seeming annoyed. Then her tone lightened. “Thank you for the compliment though. I have to go.” She said standing up and leaving and jetting off in her Corvette. I couldn’t keep up. I attempted to jump my way to wherever but she was gone before I could think of what to do so I went home.
Kilyn was sitting there waiting for me. “So brother did you get her yet?” She jumped up a little over excited.
“No Kilyn, she had to go. She’s going to be harder than what I thought.” I said taking my coat off.
“Can you not handle her? She’s not that hard you’re a guy seduce her.” She said grabbing my neck and slamming me against the wall. With one twitch of her finger she slammed a chair at my head. The chair missed my head but it was enough to get the point across that she wasn’t messing around.
I promised that the next time I saw her I would do better. She reminded me of the cost again if I failed –MY LIFE!!
CHAPTER 5 ARALYNN
The rest of the weekend was slow; I had spent the majority of it which was only one day training for the menacing bears in the water with Carmina. She wanted to protect me and from what they had learned about the bears they couldn’t sense abilities if we practiced in water. So that meant we were stuck practicing in the ocean, until Avery and Caleb could manage to find a chant to block the house so no one or no creature could sense abilities being used or a chant being cast.
So until they found one all training would be done in the water. Which was fun but the ocean water dropped ten degrees from yesterday so it was like 50 degrees and freezing. I loved Carmina but she was too easy to train with. She liked me to practice only swooping and nothing else definitely not fighting. Swooping was supposed to be easier in water because water would help free your mind, but for me it was more difficult because the water only clogged my mind making everything a mess. To make matters worse Carmina wouldn’t talk under water, she would only mind-speak to me and that too was mumbled most of the time. So I typically couldn’t process what she was saying and even if I did I got it wrong most of the time.
Swoop to the cave two miles here. I’ll go ahead after you to see where you go. I nodded as she mind spoke. I thought of the cave, the nice dry pavement. That was where I wanted to be. But a wave crashed into my brain and the thought was gone. Great! I thought to myself.
Again try again…… She spoke again and again I closed my eyes, the dry dirt pavement, seashells surrounding the entrance. The mermaid cave is where I wanted to be. I wanted to be there. Mermaid cave two miles, I thought, and it was not working because another wave broke my train of thought.
I let out a hiss and a school of fish that were swimming near me dropped
dead it looked like. I looked at Carmina she shrugged and spoke again. Again try harder please. She smiled and I thought not like I wasn’t trying. All I could think about now was Archer. No I said to my head the Mermaid cave not him. I pushed the thought of a mermaid sitting on the pavement floor of the cave combing her hair, and putting shells in her hair, and sipping out a shell cup.
With that my body swirled around and I saw water twirl around me. So I kept repeating the mermaid I saw and next thing I knew I was in the deep part of the cave being thrown out of the water. My landing sucked I hit the cave wall and I saw stars as I started coughing up some blood and salt water. Carmina was right behind me. She landed on her feet smiling as she shook her hair out removing a piece of seaweed from it.
“Good job. It will get better, it’s not perfect but it was good considering you’ve only done it once in water. You alright though? You thudded the wall pretty hard. I heard it in the ocean the ripples.” She smiled touching my head.
“Yea I’m fine. Are we done?” I asked I was annoyed with training today majorly and hitting my head didn’t help matters.
“Almost, just swoop two more times today and were good. Swoop to the mountain by our house and then to house that’s all. Only thing is you have to start in the water.” She laughed.
“Ok, then I am going to go to bed, got to keep appearances up at school.” I smiled at her, and she nodded.
I jumped into the water and swam out of the cave. Once in the openness of the ocean I thought of the mountain in front of house, and how I wanted nothing more than to be out of the ocean up on the mountain then in my house. My body twirled again and I thought of the mountain and dryness. The water twirled too and I landed on my feet this time but this time I didn’t land on the mountain like I had wanted. I landed in the kitchen flooding it with water. Carmina was right behind me.