“You’re reckless and injured.”
“And you’re tired and don’t know where everything is.” He started to get up and I went over to him.
“I’ll figure it out.” I glared at him and he shrank back into the seat. I put my hands on his stomach and started to channel my energy and watched as the bruise faded a little bit and the redness went down. “When I get hurt and want to be the stupid one who tries to keep moving, then you can tell me what to do.”
“I’m your trainer! You’re supposed to listen to me no matter what.”
“And you can go back to training me as soon as you can move without pain. For now, though, you’re the one not moving.”
He sighed. “Bossy.”
“Ignoring that. Where are we going and what am I packing?”
He smiled and glanced behind me.
Following his gaze, I saw the bags behind me. I scoffed, turning back to him with my arms crossed. “Seriously?”
While we had been going back and forth, he had been using the wind the same way he did when he was the one in the air. Next to the bags, in two organized piles, were all the supplies I assumed we were going to need. Two sleeping bags fell on my head and I threw one at him when he started laughing.
“Hey!” he groaned. “I’m hurt. Is that how you treat someone who got stabbed? Twice?”
“You’re fine if you can pack without getting up. Your recovery rate is astounding. With the speed and ease you did it, I would even say that you are more than ready to move.”
His smug look and glinting eyes fell as my sarcasm dripped. “Oh, uh, well,” he coughed and stammered, “I could use a few minutes.”
I smirked. “Of course. After all, you fought hard.”
He looked confused and I smiled.
“I can’t tell if you’re still being sarcastic or if you’re being honest.”
I settled into one of the smaller sofas and felt the exhaustion numb me. I yawned and unconsciously snuggled deeper into the cushions.
“You’re just trying to be a pain, aren’t you?”
“I thought it went without saying that I’m a pain?” I muttered into the pillow.
“It does.” He laughed and it just served as a lullaby, but I had to try to ignore the sudden sleepy feeling. I got up and started moving. I worked on packing away what Daris had stacked, trying to keep myself busy.
“Blossom, what are you doing?”
“Trying to stay awake. They could come back and since you can’t do much—”
“Skyler, it’s fine.”
“Focus on healing yourself so we can get out of here.” I slipped packets of seeds into the front pocket of our bags and my fingers shook when I tried to close the zipper. “I’m not making the same mistake. Last time, my father showed up and, once he was gone, we only had a few days before Travis made his appearance. Now shut up and start healing.” There was some shifting behind me and then Daris was pulling me to a stand and turning me to face him. I saw him wince and I scowled at him.
“Sky, if we go with that logic, then we have a few days. You’re stressing yourself out.”
“But they can still come.”
“After that performance, I think we have about a week before we see another Acerlum. There’s a big flaw the Acerlums have been trying to fix for who knows how long, and that’s the distribution of power. Unlike us, who can fight individually, they can only divide it so much. Because they take it from others, the Acerlums can only use Malicis in large amounts by only a couple of people at a time. Their power is based on strategic selfishness instead of cooperation.”
“You know you’ll probably end up explaining to me again, right?
“That tired?”
“Yes, and I’m apparently going to need my energy for tomorrow.”
“What for?”
“I don’t care if we have a few days or a few weeks; I don’t want to give them the chance to find us again.”
He raised an eyebrow at me and his eyes were shining again. He smirked. “While you have a point, what’s your real reason?”
“You have to get rest, too.”
“Answer the question. Are we going to play 20 Questions again?” At my nod, he added, “Why don’t you just ask now?”
“Because I’ll fall asleep before you actually answer my questions.” I collapsed where Daris had just been sitting and threw my arms over my eyes. As I sank into the cushions, I finally felt my energy drain out of me and the soreness seep in.
“Well aren’t you dramatic?” he asked.
I groaned, “How are you still talking? You took more of a beating than I did. You should be struggling to even sit up and yet you’re the one standing.”
“You’re tired because of how much power you used. I’m awake for the same reason.” I’m sure he kept talking, but my eyes closed, my breathing slowed, and my muscles relaxed. In the background, Daris’s voice was a deep rumbling that sounded more like muffled thunder than words. The thunder eventually silenced and my world became soft and warm and dark as I slipped into a dreamless sleep.
About the Author
Victoria grew up in Miami, Florida and has always had her nose in a book. As a kid, her favorite stories were written by J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan. Inspired by the authors she reads, Victoria started writing and creating fictional stories of her own whilst also pursuing degrees in Creative Writing and Classical Civilization. She enjoys reading, writing, and playing volleyball on the beach.
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Marked by Time (The Mark Series Book 1) Page 24