by Willa Alders
“I can’t help it, she wanted it too or else I wouldn’t have done anything. By the way you know she’s not four right?” Archer said just as casual back and I saw the corner of his eye twinkle. I knew he was messing with Avery and that wasn’t a good thing right now. Especially not with the way Avery was acting tonight.
“I don’t care! I said slow it down.” Avery hissed ripping his shirt off exposing all his tattoos. There were more tattoos now, so I knew he must have gotten more recently. All of his arms were completely covered and his ribs.
“Well Avery I hate to tell you this, she's a big girl and we will do as we want. You just need to accept that. If you want me to fight you it’s not going to happen.” Archer smiled.
Before Sam or I could step in at this point, Avery punched Archer square in the face. Archer grabbed my hand as we started walking down the hill. We only got about five steps because Avery blocked us from going any further. I realized now there was no stopping what was going to happen because Avery had completely lost all control. I had seen the wild eyed burning look in his face many of times to know what was coming next. Sam didn’t even have a chance to stop it because the next thing I knew Avery hauled off punching Archer square in the face. I expected Archer to move or shake his head but he didn’t. He just stood there still the same, it didn’t even rock him. He made the punch look weak. I caught Avery’s eyes flicker then and I knew what he was going to do next would hurt Archer because it hurt me in training. All he did was sucker punch Archer, and normally that would make a human at least double over, but when you combined Avery’s unnatural strength with that of punch it would be enough to make anyone fall to the ground out cold. Archer fell instantly –he shook his head as he stood up and flashed a smile my way. I definitely did not like where this was heading because Avery would have the upper hand if he chose to fight unfair. Archer motioned with a hand to come on and Avery went full blown into Archer. Archer got hit a couple more times but just like that the brawl changed again. Archer was now throwing his own sets of punches, and elbows all of which were connecting with Avery’s face. In fact one of the elbows had already cut Avery’s cheek some. Avery wasn’t letting up either and I was sure both of them were going to end up in some hospital before it was all said and done with. Neither one of them had the upper hand right now it was a pretty even fight, but the intensity got turned up when Archer must have gotten tired because he did a spinning back kick knocking Avery clear to the ground. Avery was laying there stunned and before he could recover Archer dropped down punching Avery one more time then came back to me simply shaking his head.
“Sorry Sam, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Archer said to Sam as we walked past him.
“No problem man, you both are cool with me.” Sam said as we headed down the hill.
I walked next to Archer as we got to his car shortly afterwards. We stopped; he touched his lip wiping it off because it was bleeding a little bit. He spit out some blood and then wiped his mouth off again.
“I’m sorry beautiful I’ve had enough of him walking all over you and me. He needed to be put in his place. I really hate fighting.” He said as his hair fell around his face which made him look all that much hotter.
“It’s alright. Avery had it coming to him. It’s funny that he lost. He never loses a fight. You definitely wounded his ego if nothing else which could make him want to fight you again or it may make him back up. Either way I think it’s pretty awesome because I’ve never seen him lose let alone so bad before.” I laughed at the thought of Avery wallowing in his loss.
“Yeah, well I’m ready for it either way.” He laughed back. “Bring it on.” He had pulled his phone out and grunted then put it back.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
He spit blood out again. “Nothing beautiful other than my night just ended. I got a text from my sister saying get home now. I don’t want to make her any madder than what she already is. I am sorry beautiful you didn’t get to tell me what you wanted. I was hoping you could and I was hoping to spend some more time with you alone. Hopefully we will get the chance tomorrow maybe. I can’t wait for Saturday either. I got to go.” Archer said kissing my cheek.
“It’s ok. Please don’t let her hurt you.” I said sadly back.
“She can’t beautiful. Not as long as you wear that.” He said pointing to the amulet hanging around my neck.
“Ok, I won’t take it off.” I smiled at him as he leaned in to kiss me again. I kissed him gently.
“Love you beautiful. I have to go. I’ll text you if I can, see you tomorrow beautiful.” He said starting his car and driving off.
Once he was out of sight, my mind still pondered what he said because he had said as long as the amulet was on it would protect him. I thought about what the significance was, or maybe he was just trying to be nice and keep me from worrying. Whatever it was it wasn’t working so I switched my focus to someone else –Avery. He definitely needed to hear it after the stunt he had just pulled with Archer. I took off through the crowd, my anger returned instantly from earlier and I went to find him. I found Sam; he pointed to the house. He knew who I was looking for. I walked in looking for Avery. He wasn’t in the living room, or the kitchen or the bathroom. I went to the room where Avery typically stayed in and the door was shut. I went up and knocked on it. No one responded. I knocked again no one answered still. I blinked turning the knob with my hand it wasn’t locked.. I cracked the door a bit at first just to be safe in case Avery was waiting on me. He didn’t charge at me so I flung the door open it open. Sure enough Avery was in there but not waiting for me like I thought. He was lying on the bed with his back turned to me in nothing but his boxers with Madison who was indecent as well. Ugh, I shuddered at seeing them like that. They didn’t notice I was in the doorway so I walked in the room hoping that would make them stop. This was the last thing I wanted to see. Avery and Madison didn’t stop what they were doing so I flipped the light on and tapped Avery on the shoulder. He stopped instantly and pulled the covers over her.
“What Ara? Seriously you can’t knock? Get out!” He yelled making my ears ring.
“No! I cannot get out I need to talk to you now.” I said calmly back.
“Uhm sweetheart get out. I’ll send him to you when I’m done.” Madison said in a snotty tone as she started kissing him again.
“No, I need to talk to my brother now. I take precedence over you.” I said back to her in the same snotty tone she had answered me with.
“No you don’t. I’ll find you later. I know you were behind the beer can. Now get the hell out!” Avery yelled as he got up pushing me out of the room.
I grunted as the door slammed in my face. That’s ok I thought. I blinked and mind-spoke to Avery. You’ll pay for forcing me out the room. I said as he responded back. Whatever! That came back loud and clear so I snorted and blinked again. I casted a chant in the bathroom then headed outside.
I found Sam sitting on the step. I sat down next to him. He offered me a beer and I shook my head. He popped a top on his beer and took a sip of it. He was shaking his head at me. I looked at him and put my hands in what position. He just laughed at me like he knew what I had just done to Avery.
“You shouldn’t antagonize him. He just got his ego shot, and we all know you’re more powerful than he is so it wouldn’t be fair. All I’m saying is you know he is going to be pissed as hell at you, and I hate to see what revenge he has planned for you.” Sam said shaking his head.
“I want him to be. You know I welcome it.” I laughed.
“Well count on that. In all my years I have never seen him beat, never lose a fight beaten nothing. Except for when Carmina does her mind thing, but that doesn’t count really. So I’ve never seen him served like that. Remind me to tell Archer good job.” Sam smiled.
“Ok will do.” I said laughing at him. “Hey Sam, I got a question.” I asked him looking at him.
“What’s that Ara?” He asked crushing the can and opening another o
ne.
“I should tell him shouldn’t I?” I asked looking at him.
“Tell who, Archer? What your secret?” He asked puzzled and I nodded yes. “Well I can’t answer that for you, Aralynn. Only you can answer that, but I will tell you this: if you don’t it could make it harder on you in the long run. Trust me I’ve been there once. I didn’t tell her, and then when I did it was too late. She was….” He trailed off as his tone changed to sadness.
“You did what with whom, and too late for what?” I asked completely baffled.
“There’s a reason why I don’t find anyone. There’s a reason why you’re family doesn’t want me alone with the bears. There’s a lot more to me like I told you before.” He said taking a drink of his beer.
“Yeah but what does that have to be with it doing too late?” I asked him.
“It’s just that you should be prepared either way. You should know what can happen to you both if you don’t tell him and you should know what could happen if you do tell him your secret. Either way each choice has consequences of some sort and each has a different outcome. Trust me, I would know. I made my decision a long time ago and it cost me so much. He said quietly.
“Sam, what decision did you have to make?” I asked.
“I’ll tell you. I guess now is just as good of time as ever. I told you people aren’t always as they seem right?” He said and I nodded. “Well that includes me. I told you I’ve seen futuristic battles, and past battles. I told you I am kind of an angel sort of. That was all that I told you I left a lot of my past out. There is a reason I’m here and that I look the same as I did so many years ago. I haven’t always been 122. I was actually young once. You see when I was born I was born magical. I didn’t come into my abilities until I turned 17. Then just like that they came on overnight. All of a sudden I could throw fire, freeze things like you, but the most important one what I could do with battles. I could alter battles’ outcomes. I knew when a futuristic battle would happen, and what the outcome would be good or bad. If it was bad I was able to train those who were supposed to fight to tip the battle for good to win. I was assigned to one in particular. I was to tip the battle, I succeeded, and I was good at what I did. I would succeed at everything. I made the future better for gifted ones like you. As a reward I was granted a chance to find love. I did find it.” He sighed and stopped.
“What happened?” I asked as a group of kids walked by.
“Vida…” He paused as if he was remembering her. “She was gorgeous. She was so little and perfect. She too was magical. I just didn’t know it at the time. She thought I was human as I did her. We fell in love and became inseparable. Just like you and Archer in many ways. Anyways back to my past. The Kintana eventually heard of a new threat trying to overtake someone, that someone was Vida. I had to tell her who I was. I knew I had to risk everything. Well the night I told her she was disappointed, but she understood because she told me what she was too. She was the gifted one that the threat was going after-at the time just like you are now. Anyways she had been waiting to tell me. That night we made love as one for the first and only time. After that, the stars turned dark I told her I was supposed to alter the battle, but it was too late I couldn’t stop it. The bears came from nowhere they went to attack her. I stood there then jumped in the way protecting her. They got me instead. My spirit floated above my body; however my abilities were already possessed in the bears. Vida said a chant to save my spirit but she couldn’t save my abilities. I became normal like a human with no abilities, no nothing. Vida begged the Kintana to take me and protect me. They did save me, and they tried for many years to get my abilities back but in the end they were unable to. So I stayed and got well with the Kintana as a protected human. Eventually they sent me down here with your family to be with you. Hoping my abilities would come back. Well that was 105 years ago and nothing as of yet.” He sighed opening another beer.
“And Vida?” I asked.
“I don’t know. She did what she did to protect me, and I assumed she eventually passed away .She wasn’t Immortal like I was I don’t think. Only a few were truly Immortal back then and never dying-most did. I was one of the ones who didn’t. The point to this is that you tell him so he knows. Secrets are not good, and trust me, he will understand. Don’t wait too long like I did! Don’t chance it. Don’t let your love be taken away from you like I did, and if you are like me then it won’t be just Archer you will lose. You will lose more than what you know.” Sam said as he caught a tear fell out of his eye.
He hurriedly turned his head wiping the tears away. As long as I had known Sam which was practically forever, I had never seen him shed a tear or cry. Avery I had a few times, mostly when Carmina laid down the law. But never Sam; Sam never cried. If he had I never saw it. He showed emotion just not that much before ever. That was strange, I knew what happened must have been very painful and hard for him to bear for all those years. I know I couldn’t imagine losing my abilities or losing Archer ever. Let alone losing both at the same time. That was too much to think of I didn’t know how Sam did it and went on living. There would be no way that I could.
“I won’t wait. I promise.” I said laying my head on his shoulder. “You loved her didn’t you?” I asked.
“I know you won’t. Yes I did with everything I had.” He answered.
“You ok?” I asked him.
“Yeah I’m fine. Just still bothers me at times. No answers, you know what I mean having no answers to what happened to her? It’s not easy kiddo. Don’t get me wrong, I'm grateful to have you all. I just wonder how different my life could be sometimes that’s all. So if it was me I’d tell Archer.” He said to me.
“Ok I will.” I said sitting up. He looked at my neck and touched the amulet.
“That’s pretty. I gave one to Vida just about identical to that.” He smiled a bit.
“Thank you, Archer gave it to me. He said it was his mom’s.” I smiled.
“Keep it safe, those are said to keep the one you love safe.” He smiled and I nodded.
I got up with him to head back inside to grab my coat, and then to go home. Avery came outside with Madison stopping me before I could walk inside. He kissed her goodbye then she left. He came back to where Sam and I were. He walked past me ignoring as he grabbed a beer.
“How is she?” Sam said to Avery.
“She was good, before and after Ara walked in.” Avery snorted. “I know you were the one who did the beer can, and the one who sent me puking.”
“Your point?” I asked him not really paying attention.
“My point, my point really! Do you have no concern for anyone else?” Avery asked me getting mad I could hear it in his tone.
“Yeah I do, I knocked you didn’t answer, but whatever I’m going home. I’m not doing this in front of humans.” I said in a hushed tone. “Sam thank you for telling me, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I said.
I turned around walking down the steps as I headed toward the edge of the driveway. I was going to swoop home once I was out of sight. I was too mad too, so I decided to walk a bit before I did that way I didn’t end up in a bad situation. I took a back path through the woods to get home, or at least halfway there. This was stupid I had to admit especially with the bears on the loose wasn’t a good idea to be alone right now.
I looked at my phone nothing yet from Archer. So I continued walking, and I didn’t stop until someone came up behind me and grabbed my arm. I jumped and froze whoever it was. It was Avery. I wanted to slide away and continue walking away but I couldn’t. When I had frozen him I froze his arm on me. Great I thought this sucks. So I unfroze him long enough to get my arm free and I started walking again, he grabbed my arm again this time. I froze his legs but not his head and arms.
“Let go.” I yelled at him.
“No, not till you hear me out.” He yelled just as loud back.
“Hear you out what. I know you hate Archer that’s fine. I understand you don’t like him but really what
has he done to you? Other than wound your ego?” I asked throwing my one hand up and a fireball appeared out of nowhere and smacked him in the arm he was holding my arm with.
Avery instantly unfroze and let me go. He grabbed his arm looking at it the flesh was blood red. Next thing I knew he had shoved me against a tree. His face was just inches from mine. I watched his eyes black and bottomless full of anger. Then just like that his eyes flickered to something else entirely. This went beyond him just being angry or jealous there was more. The emotion flooded all over his face then. I could read him so easy now. He was sad and hurt. I was hurting him I realized and as bad as I felt about it I couldn’t change how I felt about Archer. I wanted nothing more than to fix Avery but I couldn’t. That wasn’t the only thing I saw on his face and in his eyes either. What he was feeling went much deeper than that, Avery was being protective because of something he must have found out about Archer too. I could tell that it wasn’t good because of the look in his face and despite everything we were going through I trusted him more than anyone else. I sighed knowing I couldn’t be mad at Avery any longer.
“What is it?” I asked trying to maintain my focus that I was mad but it wasn’t working.
“Nothing.” He said turning around. “Never mind.”
“Avery stop! I’ll freeze you.” I yelled as he stopped turning around instantly.
“Do you remember that you asked me to go back in time and find out if Archer was hiding anything and to find out who his sister was? I assured you he had nothing to do with it. I was wrong.” He said walking with me along the path to our house.
“He does?” I asked in disbelief stopping.
“Kind of yeah although I don’t think he is doing it because he wants too. I’m pretty sure he’s being forced into doing it but I’m not positive. When I went back I overheard a girl I’m guessing is his sister telling him to do things.” He paused. “Archer is supposed to gain your trust by getting close to you. Then he is supposed to make you fall for him so he can weaken you for her. She wants you weakened so she can kill you Ara.” Avery said with pure terror in his voice. “So shoot me because I don’t want you Ara to be with someone that has a hand in killing you.” His voice got hard as he said that.