He chuckled and leaned against a tree. “Pick a tree, any tree.”
“Um. Okay.” I looked around and pointed to a tall one next to him.
He smiled and reached up to grab one of the lower branches. “Watch the branch.”
The green leaves were mostly replaced by small white flowers, which then became bright red apples. He picked one and tossed it to me. I took a bite and swooned at the taste of a perfect apple. Unfortunately, Daris took the apple away from me and ate the rest of it while I was forced to resort to pouting. I reached for another, but he released the branch and it shot up just out of my reach. “If you want breakfast, you have to grow it yourself.
I crossed my arms. “I don’t like you right now. You took my food.”
He tilted his head towards the rest of the trees. “An advantage of being a Luxator and having such a strong connection with nature is that we can maintain any tree. For example, that tree over there can’t survive the winters here, but I can make the environment hospitable enough so I can have banana milkshakes all year. I also have pomegranate, dragon fruit, orange, lemon, cherry, apricot, peach, mango, grapefruit, and star fruit. In the corner over there, the one opposite of the pond has a variety of bushes and plants ranging from strawberries and blackberries to watermelon and grape. Closer to the house, I have some vegetables. Most of the smaller plants are the herbs, but there are some lettuce and potatoes and carrots. The list can go on. The point is that I keep the plants in the yard from bearing food until I need it so none of it goes to waste. My challenge to you, Blossom,” he smirked, “is to grow your breakfast.”
“You’re not going to feed me unless I do this, are you?”
Daris shook his head.
“Can you at least explain it?”
He looked like he was seriously contemplating telling me that I would be left to figure it out on my own, but my growling stomach voiced its complaints at the idea.
“Alright. You can’t just force the plant by telling it what to do. We don’t control nature. Nature controls us and gives us what we need. We take the rest, robbing nature of its beauty. Persuade the plant; ask it to give you what you want. Connect with its energy.” He took my hand and placed it on a nearby trunk. “Just relax.”
I took a deep breath and cleared my mind, trying to find the energy Daris described; but all I felt was the rough bark. My stomach growled. I pulled my hand back but Daris grabbed it, pressing it back against the tree, this time leaving his hand there. His voice whispered in my ear.
“Focus. Feel the energy from the Earth and channel it.”
It’s kind of hard to do that when you’re distracting me. I took a deep breath and tried again, attempting to mimic what Daris had explained, but still, nothing happened. I slumped in defeat.
“I give up.” I swiveled out of his grasp but he didn’t let me get far.
“Oh, no you don’t.” He pulled me back to him and I slammed into his chest.
“Daris.” I gasped, looking into playful sapphire eyes.
“One more try? Come on, Blossom.” He took my hand and pressed it to the tree again. “Pay attention to the sound of my voice, alright? Don’t think about it. Feel the connection.” My eyes closed and my stomach growled. I groaned and he chuckled. “Don’t think about food yet. Just think about the Earth, on the sound of my voice.” One more deep breath and I replayed his words in my head, mixing them with the soothing sounds that surrounded me. I was flooded with his pine scent and it mixed with the blossoms of the plants around us. It was peaceful. “Open your eyes, Skyler.”
The green branch was littered with small flowers. I watched as the buds sprouted and blossomed, eventually forming into fuzzy peaches. I grabbed one and when I took a bite, the flavor was sinful. My stomach filled with each bite of fruit I ate and the juices made my taste buds rejoice. I sighed when I finished eating and looked at Daris. He was trying so hard not to laugh at something.
“What?”
“Nothing.” His eyes crinkled at the edges and he was biting his lip.
“What?” I threw the pit at him.
He started laughing. “You’ve got a bit a juice right here.” He gestured to the bottom half of his face. When I felt my chin, sure enough, it was sticky with juice. I wiped it with my sleeve and slumped against the tree.
“Full?”
I nodded.
“Good. Why don’t you go get set up in your room while I get the yard ready for practice?”
I nodded again, wondering how he was going to turn this magnificent garden into a clearing.
I went into the house and found the room Daris had pointed out. The bed was across the room in the corner where I liked it, the fluffy comforter decorated with leaves and vines. There was a small dresser I was sure I wouldn’t be using much. I unpacked my backpack and put the clothes away. There was a small nightstand next to my bed, and I was relieved to see an outlet to charge my phone and e-reader. I finished putting my stuff away and fell onto the bed. When I sat up, I also noticed that I had my own bathroom with a tub. It wasn’t home, but it was definitely nice. I slipped my shoes off and curled into a small ball with my e-reader.
Daris chose to knock on the window that overlooked the backyard when I started reading. I shot him the most annoyed face I could muster, but he just waved at me to come outside. I could not have been more surprised at the changes.
The trees had somehow been moved off to the sides to line the fence and give us the feeling of being in our own little world. The sun shone brightly into the center of the courtyard that had been created. In the corner, however, I still heard the soothing sound of the waterfall.
“You never cease to impress me,” I mumbled.
“I try.” He looked so arrogant, but I was too amazed at the fact that he had somehow moved the trees to even care.
“Just like we can ask for food, Luxators can also ask other favors from nature.”
“Can Luxators read minds, too? Or are you just that good at guessing what I’m thinking?”
“I’m just that good.”
“You’re just that cocky, is what you are.”
“You love me anyway.”
I blushed and turned away, clearing my throat. “So what are you going to teach me?”
He smiled as if he knew why I was changing the subject. “Target practice.” A few yards away, some weeds grew and tangled until three targets had formed. I was left staring with an open mouth.
“I’ll teach you eventually, assuming you don’t figure it out on your own first. For now, you’re just going to turn the energy that is resting inside of you, the energy you draw from nature, and turn it into something dangerous.”
“Can you translate that into English please?”
He laughed. “Remember when your dad hit me with that green beam?”
How could I forget? Seeing Daris sprawled out on the ground, barely any sign of life, leaving me alone to face my dad, was not something I wanted to remember, but was something I couldn’t forget. I just nodded my head silently.
“That was comprised of the negative energy he feeds from. Luxators have something similar. We’re able to manipulate nature into the weapon it can be hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, blizzards…you name it. Luxators possess the capability to call upon both the destructive and healing forces of nature. We’re going to go through each of the natural disasters, harnessing the energy they have and turning it into a concentrated attack. First, the hurricane, which will probably be a bit easier since you were able to take control of my little storm cloud last week.”
I smiled at the memory, giggling.
Daris moved behind me and moved me to the side. He moved his feet slightly apart but kept his left foot in front. He hands came up and fisted right beneath his chin. His expression turned serious and his eyes darkened. For a moment, I thought he looked like a predator eyeing his kill; and in a way, he was. This was a Luxator’s method of self-defense. This was an attack. Daris moved h
is arms in a circular motion, crossing and uncrossing them in front of his body, before thrusting them outward and towards the target. Some of the water from the pond shot out and joined the violent breeze. The target was forced backward, but the vines in the center of the target were shredded, eroded away by the violent winds and dripping with leftover water.
Daris took a breath and the light came back in his eyes as he exhaled. “Got it?”
“Maybe?”
“The most important thing to remember when harnessing the violent aspects of nature is to keep yourself planted because nature is unpredictable. For all you know, the attack can go off in another direction if you aren’t focused.”
Some of this was beginning to scare me. I hated losing control on a daily basis and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt Daris or destroy the backyard.
“Just relax. You can do this.”
“You’ve been saying that a lot lately,” I mumbled as I got into the stance Daris had shown me.
Slowly, I guided myself through the motions before attacking like Daris had done. I had been hoping for something to happen. A gust of wind, a splash of water, the wrong attack, anything, but nothing happened and I was holding my arms out like an idiot. I tried again and got the same result. Daris even showed me the steps once more, going through them right alongside me until I had them perfect. Unfortunately, every attempt ending with me staring at perfectly formed targets that mocked me across an untouched yard. I cursed under my breath.
“Not as easy as it looks, is it?” His mocking voice cut through my concentration.
“I’ll get it.”
“I know you will, but watching you, the girl who was figuring everything out on her own, the struggle is kind of entertaining.”
“How long did it take you to get to this point?” I snapped.
“Too long, which is why I know you can do it. Here.” Then, his chest was against my back, his hands were gripping my wrists, and I felt his breath tickle my ears.
Gently, like I was made of glass, he led my body through the motions, explaining little details and tricks along the way. By the end of it, I was smiling, and I could tell from his tone that he was too.
I took a step away from Daris and got back into the position he showed me. I closed my eyes and slowly moved through the motions, repeating them without any power until I got the feel of it. The movements were weird, combining in repetitive motions I had never thought of doing before now; and yet, it still felt normal. I could sense the power of the Earth around me, its energy flowing alongside the blood in my veins.
With each movement, I added more power into my movements. I made each move more deliberate until I was envisioning the target Daris had demolished. I tried to convey that want, that destruction, into the hurricane. The power continued to build with each breath that circulated through my body until it was reaching a building point. I opened my eyes and as my body retraced the movements once more before I saw the sky. I heard a rush of wind and the sound of something breaking while I caught my breath.
Slowly, I sat up, my exhaustion seeping through my bones and weighing me down. A hand descended into my vision and I grabbed it, allowing Daris to pull me to my feet. I swayed before looking towards the targets, seeing that the one I had been aiming for was gone.
“Okay.” Daris said, “Before we continue going through the rest of nature’s dangers, you’re going to eat something, and learn how to stabilize yourself.”
I rubbed my butt. “Yeah, my butt hurts.”
“I don’t just mean physically, Blossom. You didn’t shoot wind and water at the target. Come here.” He went to where the target was and I followed, my eyes widening when I saw the attack’s path. The grass was singed and the ground was a bit uneven. Daris smiled. “See what I mean. Water doesn’t burn grass.”
“Oops?” I watched as the grass grew back and the target reformed.
“It just takes practice. For now, let’s just focus. You were already able to get some peaches, so now try a different plant.”
I went to one of the smallest bushes and focused.
“You have to touch the…” His voice faded away as small white flowers developed into bright red berries. I picked a few and put them into the fold of my shirt before walking under the mango tree and enjoying the strawberries. Daris just watched me as I rested my head against the tree and enjoyed each heavenly bite.
“Stop staring at me while I’m eating. It’s weird.”
“I can’t help it.”
I blushed.
“You should have had to touch the plant. Why didn’t you?”
“It asked me not to.”
Daris gaped and went to the same strawberry plant and stared at it before glancing back at me. “Amazing. You’ve gained the Earth’s respect.”
“Meaning?”
“Just as you can ask nature to help you, nature can ask you to help it. The ability is almost as rare as your mark.”
“So why did the plant not want me to touch it?”
“Ask for yourself. Then, try to fix the problem.” He moved out of the way and I knelt to the plant and attempted to communicate with it. Asking for something physical versus requesting information was much more difficult, though; and it took me a few tries before I was able to understand what the bush wanted.
“It’s uncomfortable. It doesn’t like where you moved it. It wants a bit more space.”
“Give it what it wants. Focus your mind. This isn’t an attack that has to do damage; this is respecting another living being and making it as happy as you and I have the right to be.”
I stared at the plant and watched as its leaves brushed against those of the bush next to it. I took a deep breath and looked to the other plants, watching as the stems slowly started sliding away. I kept my attention fixed, watching as the bush obeyed me and moved ever so slightly to the right. Then, it was like I had been snapped out of a hypnotic trance. I returned my focus to the strawberry bush and giggled as the plant seemed to dance in happiness.
“Did you make a new friend?” The apple tree hit him.
“Hey!” He glared at the tree before glaring at me. “I told you to be friends with nature, not use it to hurt me!”
“Not my fault your garden likes me better than you. They just want to help me.”
He smirked. “They can’t help you much if you’re in the air.”
“No, Daris.” I backed away slowly, but I should have run into the house because I was in his arms and in the air. I wrapped my arms around his neck and looked down. I usually loved being in the air, but that was when Daris was on my side. When I looked at him, his grin was still there and his eyes were dancing with mischief. Had I not been so high and afraid of him playing Catch with me, I could have just enjoyed watching the emotions play on his face. But I was this high and Daris released his grip so the only thing keeping me from falling was my bear hug. I locked my legs around him and buried my head in his neck.
“You’re kinda killing me, Blossom. Can you let go?”
I heard the smile in his voice and felt it against the side of my head. I shook my head.
“Not a chance. I am not falling.”
He exhaled and his breath tickled my neck before his fingers started tickling my sides.
“No! Daris stop! Stop!” I’m sure I was hurting his ears, but I couldn’t have cared less. He moved his hands higher and starting tickling me under my arms. “Dammit Daris! Stop it!” His hands stilled and I caught my breath, inhaling the scent of pine. I smiled.
Daris poked my side and I gasped. My hands went to wrap around my sides, my legs loosened, and I screamed.
“Daris!”
I tucked into a ball, watching as the ground started quickly rising to meet me. I shut my eyes tightly and tried to focus, tried to manipulate the air like Daris was, but the ground just got closer. I tensed for the impact, going so far as to hold my breath, but it never came.
When I was caught, I heard and felt Daris’s deep laughter. When
I looked down, the ground was just four feet below me. I felt tears well up. When Daris threw me the first time, he caught me soon after and I didn’t know what was happening. Knowing I was falling because he dropped me was nowhere near as fun. Daris was still laughing, though, and I was still cradled in his arms. I shoved against his chest hard enough that he was forced to drop me. I was able to catch myself because of the little training I had done before I was forced away from my apartment.
“What was that for?” I shrieked.
“You wanted to learn how to fly.” Daris trailed off, clearly not understanding.
“You said you wouldn’t drop me!”
“Technically, I said I wouldn’t push you off a roof or out a window. And I did catch you. You should have been able to—”
I glared at him and he stopped.
“I should have been able to what, Daris? Catch myself? Fly? From that height? With no practice? Without even knowing what you were going to do?”
“You were fine with it when I was throwing you the other week.”
“You caught me before I knew I was in the air.” I shot back. “I trusted you not to drop me!”
“You could have gotten Nature to help you.” He crossed his arms.
“With the powers I’ve had for less than a couple of months? Those?”
“Yes! You figure everything else out quickly. Why is this any different?”
“Because I usually have an idea of what’s happening!”
“You’re not always going to have time to think, Skyler! You need to trust your instincts!”
“I know that!”
“Then act like you do!”
My long-term conditioning was the most helpful as I got up and ran into my room, all the while asking the foliage to keep Daris away from me. Based on his sounds of protests, I assumed they listened to the terrified teenager as I curled up in bed, holding the pillow in one hand and the dagger in another as though they were my only lifelines. I followed my instincts like he told me; I ran away from the threat to my body, my mind, and, what I feared most, my heart.
The entire night, I heard Daris struggling against the restraints. I heard his frustrated screams and the apologies; at least I did until it got too late for even him to stay awake. As for me, I couldn’t close my eyes. When I tried to sleep, I just saw the ground. As I fell, I heard Daris laughing, but it wasn’t the one he used when he was messing with me. This one sounded far more sinister. When I looked up, Daris was standing next to Travis and my father, his eyes black. When I looked down, the ground spun. I always woke up before I hit the ground. I must have had the same dream at least three times before I gave up on sleeping. Luckily for me, the sun was rising anyway.
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