Gray (Awakening Book 1)

by Shannon Reber

  Gran’s house had been around for more than a century and so far as I knew, a Vincent had lived in it since it was built. That was only an impression though. No one had ever said it outright.

  If there were records, it would either be in the office or in the workshop. The office seemed like the best bet, so that was where I headed.

  A lump rose in my throat as I stepped in. It was heartwarming to remember how Gran had sat behind the ornate old desk, her dark eyes crinkled in a smile as she saw me. She had always made me feel as though I was the most important person in the world, like anything she did could only be made better if I was there by her side.

  I sat down in her chair and leaned back like Gran did when she saw me. A smile came to my lips as I ran my fingers over the wolf which had been carved so intricately into the side of the desk next to a carving of an eagle. Each one touched the edges of a spear of Odin, the three symbols entwined together.

  Those three symbols had always fascinated me when I was little. As I looked at them in the moment, dread filled me. That spear of Odin . . . I had seen it somewhere else, somewhere . . . important. My vision went out of focus for a moment and I saw a tattoo on the back of my hand. It was a Norse runic letter, of a square on its point with an X over its top. I was of the house of Gungnir. How had I forgotten? I blinked, startled to see it there . . . but it wasn’t. The back of my hand was the same pale color it always was. No mark at all.

  I shook my head as the image of a guy with dark hair and pale skin came into my mind. It was nothing but a dream. I wouldn’t allow myself to live in a dream world. Reality was all that existed.

  I nodded as though to convince myself and turned my attention to the desk again. I had never been allowed to poke through the drawers. It had become vitally important to find out every detail. I had to know who my family had been.

  I took in a deep breath of air, then opened the bottom drawer. My stomach lurched like I was going to be sick. The drawer was as empty as my heart felt. I opened the next, then the next, but all of them were empty. Was there truly no information on my dad’s family, or had it been hidden from me?

  I ransacked the office, though didn’t find even the tiniest shred of information. There were no pictures, none of Dad when he was little, none of Gran and Dad when he was a baby, as though none of it had been real.

  I was alone. There was nothing. I was a prisoner of my own lack of knowledge.

  Tears filled my eyes, then started to flow down my cheeks like water from a faucet. Who was I? Who was my family? What did the eagle, the wolf and the spear of Odin mean?

  All the tears that day made me feel even more hollowed out and raw than I did before. It was like everything had fallen in around me all at once. I couldn’t breathe through the pain.

  I should clean up the mess in Gran’s office, but didn’t care in the moment. All I wanted was to be outside, to be free.

  I ran outside and stood, my eyes fixed on the trees. The air around me pulsed. The moisture within it called to me. It wanted to help me, to soothe my anxiety.

  The moisture in the air condensed into droplets, then began to whirl. It danced for me, like the water wanted nothing more than to bring joy to me.

  I stared. It was me. The water had answered my call. I had asked its help and it had answered me happily, like an old friend.

  “I am the Gray One,” I whispered, my mind and body in perfect accord with the earth.

  How could I have forgotten something so wonderful? Water, air and stones were my friends. I had missed their company.

  What other magic did I possess? Why had the memory of it disappeared from my mind?

  You must forget, Gray One. You will know later, but now is not the time for you to remember.

  And my mind went blank. I was left alone in Gran’s yard, hollowed out for no reason I could recall.

  Eight

  I felt like an idiot, but we laughed so hard, it didn’t matter anymore. Some of the store’s clerks looked annoyed as we stood there, howling with mirth, but several of them looked amused, apparently enjoying our stupidity.

  “Wait, wait . . . this is the one.” I handed Francis a mermaid costume complete with seashells to cover parts he didn’t have.

  Francis blushed a deep red as he handed the mermaid costume back to me. “This would look cool on you, really,” he said, in an oddly sincere tone.

  I put it back. “I’m way too scrawny for something that pretty.” I scanned the rack and finally pulled out a Robin Hood costume with a nod. “You have to wear this one, or I will never speak to you again,” I said, the green of the tunic a perfect match with his eyes.

  He took it with a satisfied nod and gave me a courtly bow. “Does this mean you’re going to be Little John?” He raised his head to give me an impish grin.

  “I think I’d rather be Friar Tuck,” I said with a fake hiccup. I didn’t want to have matching costumes with Francis, so stepped to the end of the row and took down a huge foam boa constrictor. “I think this and some fake blood is what I’m going to go with.” It made me chuckle as I found a package of plastic bugs as well.

  Francis snickered, but his smile faded as he looked at something over my shoulder.

  I turned to see, though it seemed clear who would be there. I rolled my eyes when Paul, London, Micah, Ben and the rest of the group which seemed attached at the hip, all trooped into the costume aisles.

  “Shayla, it’s so good to see you, sweetie,” London said, her voice slow and loud like I was too simple to understand her words.

  I didn’t respond, just turned to walk away.

  Unfortunately for me though, Paul seemed to think he’d found the perfect opportunity to pay me back for whatever made him hate me so much. He stepped in front of me, his eyes narrowed. “Get out of my way, Lindbergh loser.” He stood way too close to me for comfort.

  Not intimidated in the least, I didn’t move. “There’s a whole store around us, brainless. Feel free to get lost,” I said, my voice as sharp as a blade.

  Paul’s nostrils flared as he began to crack his knuckles, like he wanted to punch me or something. “Heard all about your little breakdown at school,” he said, his lips curled back in a snarl. “I hear there’s a mental hospital in Weston you should try out. It’s great for crazy people.”

  Anger rose inside me, then started to bubble over. Was the whole school talking about what had happened in Human Geography? I did my best not to look annoyed in the least, so turned my lips up in a wide smile. “Is that where they sent you when you realized what a tool you are?” I probably shouldn’t have spoken, but the anger had made it impossible not to.

  Paul swore at me, but it was like all the curse words only made him angrier. He stepped forward, his hand wrapped around my arm so hard, it felt like it would snap under the pressure.

  I was furious by that point, though the aisle we stood in didn’t leave much room to maneuver. I wasn’t sure if it would be better to get out of the way, or to attack, which was my first instinct.

  “Paul, let go of her, now,” Ben said, his voice deeper than usual. A vein next to his eye pulsed visibly like there was someone inside his head who beat their fists on the wall to get out and attack.

  Paul ignored Ben, his grip on my arm so tight my fingers started to fall asleep. He continued to swear and actually shook me, his curses making less and less sense.

  “You know, there’s something I really should tell you.” I interrupted his tirade, my mind eerily calm. “I recently remembered something about myself.” I took a step forward so my foot was between his legs. I brought my arm up around his neck, then turned my back foot and flipped him over my shoulder so he landed hard on the floor. “I don’t like being touched by a Fafnir like you,” I said in a calm voice and turned to walk away.

  Paul swore. He jumped up, his fists raised.

  Ben placed himself between Paul and me.

  “One more fight and you’ll get expelled from school, remember, redskin,” Paul sneered,
his legs planted wide as sweat popped out on his top lip.

  Ben stood for a moment, then snorted and shook his head as he turned away. “Accuracy has never been your thing, has it, Paul? Half Shawnee, half Irish, so if you were a little smarter, you could have gone with half-blood,” he shrugged. “But after what I just saw, I could handle being expelled if it means I don’t have to see you every day,” he said with a nod to me as our eyes met.

  I nodded in return, but took his arm to pull him forward and to the side as Paul took a swing at the back of his head. “You really are dumb as a brick, aren’t you?” I asked Paul, and turned to walk away. A store was no place for a fight and if I stayed there even one more moment, there would most definitely be a brawl.

  The rest of his little group muttered together, but since none of them had come to his aid, they didn’t seem to be a threat. Then my eyes met London’s and it was clear the threat would come from her.

  She had herself wrapped around Micah, clinging to him like she was afraid or something. He looked thrilled by the attention from her. He paid no attention to anything other than her.

  I rolled my eyes, as irritated as much by her as by Paul. He looked ready to throw down, so had to remain my top priority. I would not let him do damage to either Ben or Francis, so kept myself between them.

  Paul glowered, but didn’t attack. It seemed he didn’t have the nerve to attack all of us at once.

  I wasn’t sure why Ben would stick around after my behavior toward him at school. He didn’t look bothered at all. It was like maybe he could be a real friend after all.

  Francis cleared his throat. “Uh Shayla . . . what’s a Fafnir?” he asked, though wouldn’t meet my eyes.

  I smirked. “The son of a dwarf King who was turned into a dragon.” I shrugged. “It was the best insult I could come up with on short notice.”

  Francis didn’t acknowledge the fact I’d spoken, his hands a little shaky as he set his stuff down next to the register. “You know you’re a little scary, right?” There was something different in him, something I couldn’t identify.

  I shrugged, the anger which had come to life inside me having settled back. “I don’t really remember anything. I just acted on instinct. Granted, instinct wanted me to do more than just flip him, but it seemed like I should draw the line there,” I said quietly, aware that Paul would be determined to make me pay.

  Ben grimaced as he looked back over his shoulder to where that group still was. “Your arm alright?” he asked me, but his eyes remained fixed on them.

  Oh, right. I tugged my jacket off my arm and pulled the sleeve of my shirt up. There was a bright red handprint just above my elbow. Anger rose inside me again. Wasn’t I marked up enough without adding bruises from some idiot guy?

  Ben turned his eyes down to look at my arm. His breath whooshed out as he flexed his fingers. He balled them into fists and turned around like he planned to give Paul a beat-down for leaving that mark on my skin.

  I patted his arm and shook my head a little bit to tell him just to leave it.

  “I saw the whole thing,” the clerk behind the register said. He gave me a look of sympathy. “I can call the cops for you if you want.”

  I shook my head. I didn’t want to use my connection with the Chief to make that idiot boy even angrier with me. “It’s alright. I’m pretty sure his shoulder and his butt are going to be just as sore as my arm tomorrow, so I say that’s payback enough,” I said, doing my best to smile, but it was hard with the ferocious anger which bubbled inside me.

  Ben rubbed his hand over his eyes. “I’m sorry, Shayla . . . again. I’m sorry I didn’t keep him from hurting you.”

  I pulled my arm into my jacket, then tipped my head back to look into his eyes. “Ben, you aren’t too bright, are you?” I asked with a smile. “I was mad at you the first time because you didn’t say a word when he started on me. I’m not mad at you this time. I’m furious with him, but you proved yourself to be a good guy.” I held out my hand to him. “So since you look like somebody I’d like to be friends with, I apologize for snarking you out and giving you the stink-eye every time I saw you at school.”

  He stared at me for half a second, then turned one side of his mouth up in a crooked grin as he shook his head. “First you say I’m not too bright, then you want to be my friend? How could a guy resist?” He wrapped his big hand around mine lightly like he was afraid he’d crush it.

  I chuckled. It made me feel good to have another friend, one who seemed to have a pretty good sense of humor as well. “What about you, Francis? You still up for being friends with scary old me?” I asked with a smirk at him as he glanced back at us with a strangely sour look on his face.

  “No. I’ll be friends with your boa constrictor though,” he said with a smile which didn’t reach his eyes.

  I looked at the foam snake and ran my finger over its head. “Jormungand is flattered, but I’m a little depressed.” I sniffed as though fighting back tears.

  “Jormungand?” Ben asked bemusedly.

  “You people need to learn about mythology.” I rolled my eyes at both of them. “Jormungand was a sea serpent that Odin threw into the great ocean which surrounded Midgard and he grew so large, he could surround the earth.”

  “Right. Now it all makes sense.” Ben smirked at me.

  I chuckled and placed the foam snake, blood and bugs on the counter. “Are you going to the school’s Halloween party?” I felt bad that he hadn’t gotten a costume because of me.

  He shrugged. “Are you?” he asked, his hands leaned on the counter next to me.

  I nodded. “From what I’ve been able to tell from the half of the conversations I hear, Kassia is planning on having a date over Halloween night and since she hasn’t been on a date once since I got back, I’m going to stay away as long as possible.” I handed the clerk cash.

  Ben chuckled, his brows arched in question. “You determined to go to the one at school, or you want to skip it and come to one at my house?”

  I smiled and nodded. “My only stipulation is that I cannot be at my house.” I glanced over at Francis. “Think everybody would be cool with going to Ben’s rather than to the school party?”

  He shrugged, not looking very happy about the idea. “Sure, whatever,” he said, his arms folded.

  “Great,” Ben said with a nod. “Want to ride over with me after school?”

  “Sure,” I said, but wasn’t. What was with his sudden desire to hang out?

  Ben opened the door for me, his expression still cheerful as the three of us stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Want a ride?” he asked with a motion to a very cool old Chevy pickup that looked tough as nails and had been beautifully restored to look almost new.

  “No thanks. I’ve got to run.” Francis lifted his hand in farewell, then jogged off to his own car before either of us could say a word.

  “You?” Ben asked, his eyes not having left me once.

  I nodded. “Yeah, if you don’t mind,” I said with a shrug. “I promised my sister I wouldn’t go anywhere alone.” I felt betrayed that Francis had run off when we’d been having such a good time before Paul and company showed up.

  “You and her get along?” Ben stepped over to open the passenger door of his truck for me.

  I felt my cheeks warm. I didn’t know guys actually did stuff like that. Looked like I’d been wrong. “She’s so much different than I remember her, far harder. She doesn’t laugh nearly as much as she used to and doesn’t even laugh at MY jokes as much,” I said with a roll of my eyes as he closed the door behind me.

  I watched him as he walked around the front of his truck. Would I even be there if it wasn’t for the conversation with Mrs. Connelly a few days before? Would I still be furious with Ben?

  “It’s pretty tough on you when people don’t laugh at your jokes, isn’t it, Shayla?” he asked as he slid into the driver’s seat, his smile impish.

  I sighed loudly and nodded, pointing him in the right direction to get to m
y Gran’s house. “Okay, yes it is. Humor is all I’ve got, so when people go serious on me, I get a little uncomfortable.”

  He glanced over at me, his lip quirking up in that same crooked grin. “You trying to get me to compliment you or something?”

  “Why would you think that?” I asked, entirely baffled by such a strange question.

  He shook his head, chuckling quietly to himself, but didn’t answer.

  I narrowed my eyes at the strange turn our conversation had taken, but chose not to probe him further about it. Instead I changed the subject to something much less confusing. “Please tell me you’re going to have both food and a lot of candy at your party, that way I don’t have to carry a purse with a pizza stashed inside it,” I said, my hands clasped together as though in prayer.

  “I’m a guy, Shayla. Everything I do revolves around food and a couple other things,” he said, that grin still in place.

  “Thank you. A purse just would not go with my snake.”

  Ben glanced over at me. “Glad to hear you’re not one of those girls that only eats salads.” He made the word salad sound like a curse.

  I shrugged, enjoying the pointlessness of our conversation. “I do eat them, since Kassia considers dinner made when she tears open a bag of spinach and pops some garlic toast in the oven.” It made me a little sad as I directed Ben into Gran’s driveway. I didn’t want to give up his company just yet.

  “Looks like you and me are in the same boat, but I don’t get the garlic toast. I get chickpeas and raisins, just what a growing boy needs.” Ben rested his arm on the back of the seat as he looked over at me. “I do have a stash of frozen pizzas though, so it’s not all bad,” he shook his head disgustedly.

  I picked up my bag from the floor next to my feet. “Oh, I have a stash which I make a point to eat in front of Kassia so she sees that not everyone can live on greenery alone.”

  We got out of the truck at the same time, but Ben walked around to my side and leaned back against the fender. “We skated around it pretty well,” he said, his eyes turned down.