“Then you’re sick,” I snapped and turned to let the air guide us out again.
Ben’s hand was so tight around mine, it was a little uncomfortable, but I didn’t release it. It was like his hand was the tether which held me to the real world. Well, in a way.
It took a long time, but finally, the air around us began to lighten. I knew it was simply the curse fading back, but it didn’t matter. Light was as valuable to me as air, water and stones.
“Are you okay?”
I turned my head to look at Ben, still baffled by so many things, but mostly, just embarrassed. “How could I be bad? I just spoke to a psychic, watched you get cursed, pulled the curse from you only to find all I’d done was pull myself into it, then had a conversation with my sister’s biological father, who seems like a psychopath. Best day ever,” I said sarcastically and shook my head as he began to speak. “How did you end up here with me?”
He stopped and pulled me around so we faced each other, both his hands wrapped around mine. “I was holding onto you when you were pulled . . . wherever we were.” He looked hard at me. “Shay, I get it. I know you’re freaked out by everything, but I plan to stand with you. You’re not fighting alone. You, me, Kassia and that Dorian guy will definitely make sure this war doesn’t spill over into the human-world.”
I pulled my hands free and took a step back. “You’re human too, Ben. I’m not going to let you get hurt.”
“I’m only sort of human, Shay. I’m also about as happy to be protected as you would be, if it was you.” He held his hand out between us. “Let me help.”
I looked from his hand, to his eyes and saw only sincerity written in their dark depths. He was a good guy and he hadn’t faltered when Mr. Revenge made his pitch. I clasped my hand around his and nodded, my cheeks a little warm. “Just make me one promise,” I said, my cheeks even warmer.
“Anything.”
“Promise me things won’t change between us.”
He raised his brows, his lips turned up in that crooked grin. “You don’t want anything to change after you kissed me like that?”
My cheeks were so hot, it was uncomfortable. “You kissed me first,” I said, entirely aware that the touch of his lips against my forehead was nothing in comparison to our make-out session a little bit ago.
His hand stayed clasped around mine, but his smile went away. “If all you want from me is to be a friend, I can live with that. I want to be more, but I’ll take what I can get.”
My stomach flipped. Well, wow. I hadn’t expected him to say anything like that. “Let’s deal with this little situation before we . . . do anything else.”
“If that’s what you want,” he said quietly and released my hand.
It’s not. I want to be the most important girl in your life. I couldn’t say that though. There was too much going on around us. We had to save the lives of every human who could be hurt by the coming war. We had to focus on getting back to the human world. Nothing else.
It was surprisingly easy. Once the light had banished the darkness, everything around us just went back to normal. I was in my new Jeep, Ben in the driver’s seat, my hands wrapped in his, Dorian next to us. We were safe. We could do this.
Sixteen
I looked around the parking lot at school a few days later, every part of me trying to find ways to make sure everyone inside it would remain safe. There were around fifteen-hundred people in that building, six thousand people in the town and each and every one of them was under my protection. How could I possibly make sure they wouldn’t be hurt?
I locked the doors of my Jeep and began to walk toward the building. My eyes took in everything. So many entrances. So many windows. So many ways that an elf army could do damage.
“Shayla.”
I closed my eyes for a moment. London’s voice was easy to recognize. There was nothing to do other than find out what she wanted and get away fast. I’d rather pop her one, but that would make me a villain.
She walked over, her boobs practically bursting free of the uber tight, low-cut shirt she wore, her long legs displayed nicely in skin tight jeans. The girl just was not into modesty, that was for sure.
“Oh sweetie, you just—”
I stopped and raised my hands like a traffic cop to get her to shut up. “London, you and I are not friends. We never were. We never will be. I understand that you’re only talking to me to belittle me, show everybody what you have and I don’t. Just say what you have to say and leave.”
She tipped her head back to look down her nose at me. “Ben doesn’t want you. He wants me. Leave him alone,” she said, her eyes as cold as ice.
“Why don’t you let him make up his own mind on that.” I turned to walk away. I tried not to think about those two actually together. They would be beautiful, both of them perfect specimens of teenage attractiveness.
London grabbed my arm and hauled me around to face her. “Listen to me, mini-skank. You may think you’re all hot, but you’re nothing. The only reason the guys are interested in you, is because you’re new. The fragile little flower who can’t remember being kidnapped? Whatever.”
I pulled my arm free, but didn’t walk away. I simply stood and looked at her, waiting for her to finish her little tirade.
London sneered. “I saw Ben carrying you out of Madame Freeda’s the other day. What, Shayla? Did you go to have a reading done and find out the psychic knows the truth about you, that you’re nothing but a liar who—”
“Hey, London!” someone shouted and a group descended on us, Ben in their midst.
London hip checked me out of her way and sauntered toward Ben.
Micah stepped up to take the place she had just vacated, his eyes fixed longingly on what London had put on display. “How’s it going, Shayla?” he asked, his tone sorrowful.
It was the first time he’d ever spoken to me, but I had no real problem with him. “Sorry, Micah. I’ve got to fly,” I said and lifted my hand in a slight wave.
“If you’re flying, I want a ride,” Ben said with a pathetic attempt at a smile as our group stepped inside the school.
London let out a loud cackle and hooked her arm through Ben’s, pressing herself into him. “Oh Ben, you are the funniest guy ever!” she cooed at him.
I almost rolled my eyes, but restrained myself to the best of my ability. It made me want to . . . no. I was the one who had told Ben we should wait. I couldn’t go getting all territorial on him after that.
Micah remained by my side, his eyes fixed straight ahead. “Kind of wish you would fly off somewhere else, Ben,” he muttered only loud enough for me to hear.
And I finally understood the whole convoluted situation. London liked Ben. Micah liked London. Micah and Ben were friends. I didn’t think that friendship would last much longer with the tone Micah had used.
I was not in the mood to deal with petty, high school drama. I just wanted to get away from all of them, but Ben seemed determined not to let that happen. He moved to my other side and shot me a ‘help me’ kind of look.
I smirked at him and shrugged. “Oh, hi Ben. I had no idea you were here,” I said snidely, doing all in my power not to laugh outright at how London continued to hang on him.
He rolled his eyes, but that crooked grin of his came to his face. “Shay, with vision that bad, I’m wondering if you should be driving.”
Micah ignored Ben’s comment. “Your Jeep is cool,” he said, like all he wanted to do was cut Ben out of the conversation.
“Yeah, Jord and I have a very special relationship.”
Ben smirked, though Micah just looked confused.
My slight smile fell away quickly when Ayanna began to walk in our direction. By the look on her face, it was clear she did not have good news. I stepped away from all of them and fixed my eyes on her. That was when I saw Dorian. My heart started to pound. Something was very obviously wrong.
Why would he be in my school? What had happened? Why had I even bothered to come to school
when there were so many things which could go wrong while there.
Dorian took hold of my arm and guided me back to rest against the lockers, his mouth set in a hard line. “Gerik is coming,” he said quietly, his mouth close to my ear so no one else would be able to hear.
My body jerked in shock. No. It couldn’t be. Gerik hated humans. If he was literally coming, he would destroy any mortal he saw.
My body started to shake. It couldn’t be. How would he have even known where I was?
“Gray One, hear me. We need to leave. I can take you somewhere safe, but we must go now.”
“I can’t leave, Dorian,” I said weakly, the wolf brand on my shoulder blade growing hot as though in punishment for some wrongdoing. “You know what he’ll do if he shows up here and I’m gone. He’ll kill every human he sees.”
“You cannot give yourself to him.”
“Yes, I can, Dorian. It’s the only way.”
He groaned, then leaned back against the locker next to me. “I knew you would say something so foolish,” he said, his head bowed. “He will kill you.”
“He will try,” I agreed, my eyes fixed on JJ as he walked down the hall alone. He was my friend. There was no way I would let him be hurt.
Ayanna stopped in front of us, her eyes narrowed. “I assume you decided to stay,” she said, no sign of surprise on her face at all.
I nodded. “Is there something we can do to make sure the people around here will be okay when Gerik comes?” I asked both of them and looked over at Ben as he detached himself from the group and walked over to us.
Ayanna looked at him as well, her arms folded, her expression as unpleasant as London’s was when she saw where he had gone.
Ben ignored them both, his posture ramrod straight and all kinds of combative. “What happened?” His eyes demanded that he be told the whole truth.
I scrubbed my hands over my face. “How do you feel about skipping school with me? I need to talk to Kassia.”
Ben nodded, then looked over at Ayanna. “You don’t like me, I get that. I’m sticking with Shayla though, so you’re just going to have to get over it,” he said in a tone which showed the bad-boy he used to be.
Ayanna looked away from him, her expression a little like a sulky kid. “If we’re leaving, we’d better do it,” she said and looked in the direction of one of the teachers who appeared to be heading in our direction. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll make sure no one will come looking for us. I’ll meet you at Shayla’s house.”
I could feel eyes on us as me, Dorian and Ben walked back out of the school. It would be London and she would likely be plotting my social demise. I couldn’t have cared less, even if there wasn’t a war which brewed between two races of immortal beings that would likely spill over onto the human world.
Priorities. First, I had to make sure the school was safe, then the town would be next. I wasn’t sure how to do it, until finally the idea came to me.
“Ben, will you help me?” I asked as we stopped next to my Jeep.
“What do you need?” he asked without hesitation.
I held out my hands between us. I needed the peace he gave me in order to be able to ask the two elements together to do a favor for me.
He took my hands and linked his fingers with mine, his expression unreadable.
I closed my eyes and called on the air and water. The two came to me quickly, eager to do anything I asked. What I asked was no easy feat though.
My body shook with the power of that request. It wasn’t as difficult as I had expected it to be. The peace Ben gave me made it almost easy . . . almost.
The air and water joined together and rose up into the clouds before suddenly, a hurricane force storm began to slam the town. Rain and wind whipped around us at such high speeds, the few people who weren’t in the school already were almost instantly soaked. They ran flat out to get inside, everybody shrieking to get out of the wet.
“Keep going. Keep the humans inside so they can stay safe and don’t let any immortal inside the building,” I begged my friends and the air and water told me they would.
Ben looked around. He didn’t even appear to notice the fact he was drenched. “Do you really think everybody will be safe while they’re inside?”
I nodded. “The Black have power over stones and the White have it over water. Neither group has magic which can mess with the air other than the Gray. So long as the mortals stay inside, they’ll be safe.”
“Problem,” Ben said and nodded toward the school where London had just slunk out one of the doors.
“What is she, your stalker?” I groaned, unsure how to get her to stay where it was safe.
Ben grimaced, but didn’t respond.
No way! She was. London Jarvis had specifically told me she’d seen Ben carry me out of Madame Freeda’s. She must have followed him, which meant she had followed me too.
Crap. What would she have seen when the curse had taken Ben and I to wherever it was we’d been taken?
Dorian stepped around to stand next to us, his eyes too fixed on London. “Gray One, you have the ability to take memories away. When I tried to work that magic on you, I was aware it would not last long, but had no idea it would fade so quickly. Your magic is astronomically more powerful than mine. You could make the girl forget he ever existed.” He motioned to Ben with a nod. “We must hurry though. There is not much time before Gerik seeks you out.”
I glanced back at London, but it felt wrong to use my magic on her that way. “I don’t know if I should,” I said, though it may be the only way to save her life.
Ben scowled and rubbed at the back of his neck. “I’m not supposed to tell anyone about someone else’s power unless the circumstances are dire.” He sighed deeply and met my eyes. “Her mom is an enchantress. London has a tiny bit of power, but not enough to affect much at all. Basically, all she can do is influence people’s decisions. The problem is, if you use your magic on her, her mom will come at you and she is massively powerful.”
Dorian made a sound of disgust. “Witches,” he said in a revolted tone, like he’d never heard anything which made him want to puke more.
Ben shook his head. “London’s magic is weak, barely even a glow, but she knows I’m not entirely human either. She thinks that gives us a bond and she’s been trying to work some kind of spell to join us together. She just doesn’t have the juice to pull it off.”
“What is with this town?” I opened my car door and pulled the seat up so Dorian could get into the back.
Ben walked around to the passenger side, his eyes fixed on the stormy sky above us. “This town is near a bridge, so lots of non-humans end up here.”
I slammed the door behind myself and clutched the wheel. “What do you mean, a bridge?” I started the Jeep and fiddled with the heater so hot air blasted out at us, then pulled out of the parking lot.
Ben sighed deeply. “The mountains are actually the bridge between the worlds. The town has quite a few immortals living here and about five or six just passing through every day.”
I scowled at the road in front of us. “How is it that I never knew this?”
Ben glanced over at me and shook his head. “It doesn't matter, Shay. The ones who live here are peaceful. If they were a threat to humans, the Chief would throw them out.”
“Does that mean the Chief is a non-human too?”
“He’s human, but he was given the ability to police immortals.”
“Is that why he hates you, because you made a lot of trouble and you didn’t leave town?”
He didn’t answer, didn’t even look at me.
Okay, there was more to the story. Didn’t matter in the moment. We had a war to stop and a bunch of humans to protect. I had to keep that at the forefront of my mind.
It surprised me when we pulled into the driveway at my house, to see Kassia on the porch with the Chief, both of them furious. Speak of the devil and he shows up at your house. Awesome.
Dorian didn’t
look bothered in the least, simply got out of the Jeep and waited, apparently for me to take the lead.
I wished he would do it. Looked like I was in charge, which was so not my idea of a good time. Man up, Shayla.
I squared my shoulders and stepped over to them, still soaked through from my rainstorm, a little shivery from it.
My sister scowled at me, but motioned us into the house, her expression about as happy as the Chief’s . . . not even the tiniest bit. I had a bad feeling it would be a tense morning.
I motioned them all into the living room and began to try and light a fire. My hands were shaky from cold, so I fumbled badly, dropping the box of matches onto the hearth.
Kassia pulled me to my feet. “Go change your clothes,” she told me, though something in her voice sounded wrong.
“You okay?” I asked, my arms wrapped around myself to hold in as much warmth as possible.
She glanced at the Chief, her expression filled by what looked like loathing. “I’ve just been told we have to leave, so I’m feeling more than slightly irritated, since this town is our HOME!” she finished on a shout.
The Chief glowered at Kassia, though didn’t look at me. “It was your home. Now, it’s the town you’re leaving,” he demanded, his hand on the gun in his belt.
“Chief, what’s this about?” I asked, my teeth chattering with cold.
“This is about the King of the Black elves entering my town with a Black elf army, looking for you.”
Ben stared at the Chief for a long moment, his mouth hanging open. “You’re the reason he’s here. You notified him where Shayla was.”
“No one was talking to you, boy,” the Chief snarled. He went so far as to unsnap the guard which held his gun in place.
“Chief,” I growled, the air around me poised, ready to stop him if he moved to attack any of us.
He bared his teeth at me, but raised his hands in a placatory gesture, like I was the greatest threat. “You cannot stay in my town,” he said, sweat on his upper lip as his breath gusted in and out in quick gasps.
“Did you tell Gerik where I am?”
He swallowed hard, then slowly nodded. “You are too powerful. You’re a danger to my town.”
Gray (Awakening Book 1) Page 14