“I think that’s a great idea. I’m sure you have many more questions that she can answer that I can’t.”
I yawned. I was completely wiped from the roller coaster of the night. Up and down, in and out. My mind was starting to shut itself down without my permission.
“Let’s get you to bed, little one,” he said with a smile.
“I’m not that little you know,” I said indignantly. “I’m quite tall for a woman.”
“But you are little compared to me. Are you not?”
I looked at him holding me in his arms and yes, I had to agree he was massive. “Whatev!” I said with a laugh. “I’m tired, but I don’t want to go home yet.”
“You can stay here with me. This is your home now also.”
I didn’t know how I felt about that, but I was too tired to even really focus on what he was saying. “Oh. Jaxx,” I said, recalling my letter. “In the letter that was left for me, my mother said I was a twin.” I yawned hugely, again. “A soul twin was what she called it. What does that mean, a soul twin?”
“We will talk about it in the morning, little raven. You are too tired to even remember if I were to tell you what I knew.”
My eyes started to close as I snuggled deeper into Jaxx’s arms. I felt all floaty again and the next thing I knew my head was hitting a very soft pillow and Jaxx was whispering sweet things in my ear. I fell asleep with a smile on my face and dreamt of ice blue eyes.
Chapter Six
Shedding of Old Skin
The sun shining through the cracks in the curtains woke me. The first thing I noticed was that my head was lying on something rock hard, it was thumping in my ear, and there was something heavy thrown over my hip. I froze trying to remember where exactly I was. I remembered my date with Jaxx. Something shifted underneath me.
“Good morning, pretty eyes.”
“Holy shit! How did I get in your bed?” I shouted.
Jaxx chuckled at that.
“Ella, calm down. You passed out on me while you were still standing last night. So I tucked you in. Plus, I wanted to hold you in my arms.”
I blushed at that. I hadn’t even had my first kiss and here I was sleeping in a guy’s bed. Ugh. I bet I looked like a hot mess.
“You look enchanting when you sleep. Relax babe, everything is going to be fine. Let’s get you up and showered and I’ll make us breakfast. We need to get you home soon so you aren’t late for school.” Jaxx left the bed and I assumed he was heading for the kitchen.
I got up and hunted down the first bathroom I came to and found an unopened toothbrush. After scrubbing my teeth I took the quickest shower known to man. I found Jaxx in the kitchen already showered and making toast and jam with glasses of OJ. “This looks good.”
“Yeah, I’m not much of a cook so this is the best I could do.”
We sat down at the kitchen bar and I started devouring my toast. I guess I was hungrier than I thought. “Jaxx, when are you going to finish explaining everything to me? I have so many questions. You said that most of our kind have had guidance since they were born. I feel like I’m playing catch up and I don’t even know the rules.”
“Ella, relax. Take a deep breath. We have all the time in the world. We have each other and eventually you will know all that I do and more. I was thinking that maybe you would like to meet my uncle after school today. He is kind of a historian for our people. He keeps our histories. You can ask him all the questions you want. I can promise you he will be excited to meet you. I swear he missed his calling to teach.”
I chuckled. “What’s your uncle like? I feel like I know so much about you, but then again I know nothing at all. I’m really out of my depth here.”
“I promise this afternoon all your questions will be answered. Now we have to book so I can get you home. Do you want me to drive you to school?”
“Naw, I bought some new transportation yesterday. I can’t wait to drive it.”
We got up from the table and Jaxx took our plates and glasses to the sink. I grabbed my purse off of the kitchen counter and we were out the door in a hurry. Sheesh, I hate being late. I thought. When we got to my uncle’s house, I reached over the console and gave Jaxx a quick peck on the cheek which earned me a smile.
“What was that for?”
“Just for being you.” I smiled at him before I threw myself out the car door and ran up the walk and through the front door. I quickly made my way up the stairs to my room to search for something to wear for the day. Pants. Yes pants since I was riding my new baby this morning. I looked around for the shopping bags that I’d dropped on the floor the night before but they were nowhere to be seen. I turned to my closet and saw that all of my new things were hanging there with a note attached to one of my new shirts.
You better love my ass, beyotch!
Yes, Yes I do. I thought with a grin. I quickly dug through my closet and found some new leather leggings, a Kelly green tunic top that hung off one shoulder and a silver chain belt. I paired them with a pair of biker boots that came up to my knees, had a four inch heel, and buckles running the length of them. I loved those boots. Today was a new day. A new me. No more hiding. If someone doesn’t like it, fuck ‘em all. That’s my new motto. I didn’t need to try and be normal anymore. Because I wasn’t, not even close. I was abnormal and damn it, I was going to rock it!
I ran a brush through my hair a few times to make sure it was tame. I had never bothered with much makeup before since it wasn’t allowed in my parentals home. So today I decided to go all out. A nice smoky eye, some bronzer on my cheeks, and some slut red lips and I was ready. On my way out the door, I grabbed my new leather riding jacket and helmet and headed for the garage to greet my precious. Yes, I know. I’m annoying with all the pet names for my Harley, but I have wanted this thing of beauty for what seemed like forever.
I walked over to it swung my leg over the seat and kicked the stand loose. I started the engine and it rumbled to life. Yes, it was a thing of beauty. And it rode like a dream. The looks on the faces of everyone I knew when I pulled into the school lot were priceless, even Jaxx was transfixed. Jessa just looked smug. I parked my Harley beside Jaxx’s car and swung my leg free. Before I could even get my helmet off my head, he was there pulling me free of it.
“So this is your new ride, huh? I have to tell you baby, it’s super, fucking hot!” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close for a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead. I looked over his shoulder and saw Jessa and Devon walking over to us. I pulled out of Jaxx’s arms just in time for Devon to tackle me.
“WTF, Bitch? You buy an industrial vibrator and don’t tell me?”
I just chuckled because my friends were always saying something crass. Jaxx’s cheeks are a little pink though. I wondered what was going through his pretty head. “I just bought it yesterday, I would have called you, but I figured you were still on lockdown because of the packages from Sabrina.”
“Yeah that cunt has been spewing shit all morning. Enough about her. Look at you! What happened to my meek little kitten? You look like sex on a stick.”
“I decided to shed my old skin. There isn’t any reason to pretend anymore. So why try?” Jaxx wrapped his arms around me from behind. Jessa was practically jumping up and down with something to say. “Okay Jessa what was it?”
“Sabrina has been telling everyone that will listen that she got into Jaxx’s pants last night.” She blurted it out like it had been fighting to get out of her mouth all morning.
I felt Jaxx stiffen at that news. I just shrugged and snuggled back into his embrace. I knew where he’d been all night. I didn’t have anything to worry about, so I just grinned.
“Okay. Why aren’t you foaming at the mouth?” Devon asked.
I shrugged again. “I know where Jaxx was all night last night.” Oh shit. That came out wrong. I’m pretty sure I resembled a tomato right then. I could feel Jaxx chuckling behind me while my besties stared at me blankly. “Okay that came out wrong.
We just slept. I was tired.” With that I turned and grabbed Jaxx’s hand firmly within mine and started heading toward the front doors of the school. As we passed the last line of cars in the lot, I noticed Sabrina surrounded by her usual fembots and she was shooting me one hell of an evil eye. I just smirked at her and walked on.
When we got to our locker, I turned to tell Jaxx that I would see him in English Lit and started to dig through my open locker for my book. All of a sudden I was shoved head first into my locker from behind. I turn and saw Sabrina standing there smiling sweetly at me.
“Sorry, hun. You know how clumsy you are.” She giggled. “Ella I always knew you were pathetic, but taking up with my leftovers only the morning after is a new low for even a bottom feeder like you.”
I leaned in close to her and looked her in the eyes and let her see just how pissed I was, but I kept my face carefully blank. I whispered my words so only she could hear. “Sabrina I know exactly where Jaxx was last night. He was in his bed with me. And if you ever touch me again, I will personally make sure you won’t be walking up right for the rest of your retched life. Get me? Hun.” She looked scared for a split second before she started laughing really loud and sauntered away. Her clones trailing behind.
“Ells, did you have a lobotomy? What was that?”
“Devon I’m tired. Just so fucking tired of her shit. I can’t stand to play her victim. I already told Jessa. I’m done.”
“Chill, baby girl, I get you!” Devon reached over, hugged me, grabbed his Lit book and trotted down the hallway to our first class of the day. He really was pretty for a guy. Everywhere he went eyes followed him. From both sexes. It was hard to believe he was perpetually single.
“Whew! What a way to start a day, but serious props, bitch. I couldn’t have done that better,” Jessa said as she high-fived me.
I just shook my head feeling really exhausted all of a sudden. Jaxx suddenly pulled me to him from behind and I felt a jolt of energy swarm me from his touch.
“Heard your conversation with Sabrina,” he whispered. “Proud of you, pretty eyes.”
I looked over my shoulder and smiled at him. We linked hands and made our way to class. I didn’t feel so tired anymore. I wondered if that was what he meant when he said it would be difficult for us to be away from each other. Just another question for me to add to my growing list.
English, and the rest of my morning classes, rushed by like fast moving water. When I wasn’t with Jaxx I felt sluggish and when I was with him I felt like I was hopped up on a crazy caffeine high. There had to be a happy medium somewhere in there. When I got to the Caf, everyone was already at our table talking smack and gossiping. Main topic was my response to Sabrina’s attack earlier that morning, of course. Jaxx was sitting over to the side looking a little pale. Well paler than what he already was, which was saying a lot. I guessed the separation had been hitting him too.
I sat down next to him feeling too sluggish to even have an appetite. I leaned my head on his shoulder and wished I could just sleep right there.
He turned and looked at me and his eyes widened. “You are drained aren’t you?”
“Yes, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Does it have something to do with us being separated from another?” I asked quietly.
“I would assume that’s what this is, but I just don’t know. I haven’t ever been through this before. We will have to ask my uncle as soon as school’s out.” Our conversation was completely private since everyone at our table was still yakking about what Sabrina would do next to get at me. “I don’t know if I told you this morning, but you look really stunning today, little raven,” he said, caressing my cheek.
“I have to. I have to keep up with my gorgeous soul mate.” I smiled, closed my eyes, and leaned in to brush my lips across his. When our lips touched, I felt a jolt of energy that ran the length of my body. Lights, the color of jade mixed with moonlight, exploded behind my eyes. I pulled back in astonishment and looked into Jaxx’s eyes and saw that he was just as stunned as I was.
“Is that normal?” I whispered in awe.
“I wouldn’t know, pretty eyes. Our kind stays celibate until we find the one that completes us,” he whispered softly.
We were both jolted out of our private bubble as the bell rang to signal the end of lunch. I started to sulk because we were going to be going our separate ways again. “We are going to have to find a way to deal with this. It hurts to be away from you,” I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tight. He pulled me into his massive chest, holding me just as tightly as I held him. MMMM! I don’t think I will ever get over how lucky I am, I thought.
“We’ll figure it out. My uncle will know what to do. I promise we can make this work.”
We got up from the table and followed my friends out the door. As we separate to go to our different lockers, I detoured to the restroom. After I took care of business, I crossed to the sink to wash my hands. I jumped when the bathroom door was thrown open so hard that it banged into the wall, and I looked up to see Sabrina walking in alone for once and she looked furious.
“Awww if it isn’t the little bird. And all alone, too. I bet you aren’t so tough when you don’t have your band of freaks with you,” she sneered as she sauntered up to me.
I tried to ignore her and finish washing my hands, because I was already feeling the drain of being away from Jaxx. I just didn’t have the energy to deal with her. As I reached for a paper towel to dry my hands, she grabbed me by the back of my head and clenched her hand in my hair. The next thing I knew my head was heading toward the sink.
My forehead made contact with the rim of the sink, and I saw stars and blacked out for a moment. When I came to, my vision was graying around the edges.
“I warned you, bitch! No one takes what’s mine and gets away with it.”
Since I was still doubled over, holding onto the sink, trying not to fall over, it made me an easy target for her to shove her knee into my stomach. When her knee impacted I slipped to the floor and lay there dazed. What the fuck just happened?
I felt a surge of anger, so black and deep, that I couldn’t control it. I felt myself flowing to my feet, as if I were another person standing up. The black void that was swirling inside me continued to grow. Mirrors started shattering and someone screamed as glass exploded outward. I just stared and couldn’t comprehend what was happening. The stall doors started to slam on their own, the sinks started to rattle, and glass from the broken mirror was swirling around me like a sphere of refracting light. I heard screaming, but it didn’t register until I looked down and saw Sabrina on the floor with blood streaming down her arms and legs. The broken glass from the mirrors had cut her as they’d imploded outward. It had all taken place in a matter of seconds. As fast as the surge came on, it was over. I slumped to the ground, not far from where Sabrina was struggling to get to her feet.
“You fucking freak! What are you? I’m going to tell. Don’t think that I won’t! You will never be able to show your face in this town again you…You…Witch!” With that she stumbled her way out of the bathroom, trailing blood in her wake.
I didn’t know how long I sat there, just blank. I didn’t know what happened. I had never hurt anyone in my life. There were so many thoughts and feelings running rampant through me that I couldn’t cope. I started to shake and couldn’t stop. I felt so cold all of a sudden. I scooted backward until I could cocoon myself in a corner as I wrapped my arms around my knees. I rocked silently, trying to come to grips with what had just happened.
Jaxx busted into the bathroom and stopped short at what he saw. There were splashes of blood on the floor, shards of glass scattered about, and me rocking pathetically in a corner like a toddler.
When I saw him I started to sob. The shaking got worse with each sob, but I was still numb. I felt nothing but the cold that was spreading inside me.
He strode quickly over to me, slid down the wall and gathered me into his arms. He held me tightl
y and rocked me until I started to calm down.
I could feel the warmth from his skin leaking into mine. An eternity later I started to hear the words that he was murmuring to me.
“Baby, it’s okay. Just try and breathe. That’s right just breathe. I’m here now. Nothing will ever hurt you again. I swear it. I’m so sorry, little raven. So sorry,” he murmured.
I looked into his ice blue eyes and believed him. I didn’t know what had happened exactly, but with him I was home. I was safe. I slowly started to come back to myself. The shaking stopped along with the numbness leaking out of me.
“Can you tell me what happened, pretty eyes?”
“I don’t know, Jaxx. I was washing my hands one minute and the next Sabrina stormed in and started to bang my head against the sink. She was screaming about me stealing what was hers. Then she kicked me in the stomach. I think after that I blacked out. When I came to it was like I wasn’t even in my own body. Just this anger. This huge pit of black anger had taken over. Everything went crazy after that,” I said. I told him about the shower of glass, the doors and sinks shaking and moving on their own, and what Sabrina said as she left.
“Okay first let’s get you cleaned up. Then we will figure everything else out. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I thought for a moment, assessing myself, and then nodded. “Surprisingly, yes. Nothing hurts now. Every time we touch I feel nothing but comfort.”
“That’s part of the mating bond,” he said with a smile. “We are each other’s other halves.”
“Mating bond?” I started to ask, but then thought better of it. “You know what? Never mind. We’ll just talk about it later when we get this shit sorted.”
“There is that fire that I love so much.”
I looked up at him at that. Startled slightly at his choice of words. “Do you?”
“Do I what? Love you? Yes. With all that I am. I was waiting to tell you. I sure as hell didn’t want to do it in a destroyed bathroom. Not the most romantic setting is it?” he chuckled to himself and pulled me into a firm hug.
Fated Truth (The True Witch Saga) Page 7