Justin twisted and landed on his stomach. I went right into the high leg, grabbing his wrist and pulling it under him, then hooked his leg and stretched his arm across his back.
Justin grunted.
“You good?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
I pushed myself off and we went through it again, switching off.
The third time, I went for the pin.
I stretched his arm across his back and kept pushing until he rolled over, then hooked his head and used my weight to pin his shoulder. I nailed it. Too easy.
After helping Justin up, I rested my hands on my hips, catching my breath. Against the wall, off the mat, a dozen or so people stood. Some parents watched, some students talked in the corner, but one person in particular had her eyes on Justin. I tipped my chin up, showing Justin the girl in the corner.
He looked over his shoulder just long enough for the blonde girl to wave to him. He rolled his eyes at me and shook his head.
“I’ll let you pin me next time,” I teased. “It’ll make you look good.”
Justin leaned in to push me, but I stepped out of his range and shoved him away.
“Next guy! Let’s go!” The coach’s voice filled the practice area.
I already knew who my next round was with, and I couldn’t stop the tension from dripping down my spine.
Right on cue, Dirk gave me his usual cocky grin.
“Oh, good, it’s you. I needed a rest,” he said, shaking out his arms.
I crouched low and planted my back foot, keeping my mouth shut. He wasn’t worth running laps for.
“Bet you $50 bucks I can get Dani to go to the dance with me,” Dirk sneered.
He wants what is yours.
“What?” I started to straighten, but sunk back down when I realized who—or what—it was. It was unnerving to have that voice come out of nowhere. Sometimes I couldn’t tell if I was talking to myself or if Maksim was saying something. Either way, it was annoying when what the voice said was pointing out something obvious. Like now. I knew Dirk wanted Dani. I’d known that for a long time. Just because he had money, Dirk thought could have anything he wanted. But not this time; Dani was mine. I took a quick glance at the coach, who was busy working with a freshman on the other side.
“Hey, but that’s not very fair of me, is it?” Dirk taunted. “You won’t have $50 to pay me when you lose, will you?”
Show him how powerful you are.
I never felt it coming. My muscles coiled a split second before I lunged, ducking low, wrapping my arms around his legs. I had dumped him on his back before either of us realized what was happening.
Dirk let out a harsh humph as he hit the floor.
“I don’t remember giving the signal, Mr. Thompson.” The coach’s voice blasted across the practice mat.
Dirk smirked, throwing his hands back in surrender.
I knew what was coming next, but I didn’t care. It felt good to knock Dirk on his ass.
“That will be ten laps after practice, Mr. Thompson.” The coach glanced at the others. “Okay. Begin.”
I went through the motions of the high leg, getting myself face down on the mat, with Dirk sprawled on my back.
His breath was hot and stale against the side of my face. “Give it up, Thompson,” he murmured. “You don’t have what it takes. It’ll just be a matter of time before Dani sees it, too.”
My peripheral vision clouded and darkened, like a fast moving storm, and my focus fixated until all I could see were pinpoint red spots on the mat. But even from that narrowed vision, images exploded in front of me of Dani and Dirk, wrapped around each other, hands everywhere, Dirk with his freakin’ smirk, and Dani loving every minute of it. My lids snapped shut.
Use me. I am here for you.
Beginning in the pit of my stomach, shooting to my hands and feet, a tremor flashed under my skin and fire shot through my veins. If I could give it a color, it would be black, an inky jet of bad vibes, and they were strong. And fast. Too fast for me to stop them from erupting. I arched my back and swung my feet over Dirk, wrapped my arm around his waist, and leaned in hard, pinning his shoulders against the mat.
“Finally, you’re getting some balls.” Dirk grunted.
“Say anything else about asking Dani out and next time I won’t hold back,” I hissed. I let him up and we stood toe-to-toe for a few seconds before he shrugged and walked away.
He didn’t look back. No smart-ass remark this time. Huh. I was beginning to really like this angel of mine.
# # #
As soon as practice was over, I booked it over to my truck. I slouched a little bit in the driver’s seat, hoping no one would see me. I couldn’t talk to anyone. I was still too fired up—even after pinning five more guys to the mat, even after the ten laps. I needed to go home and work out again. Maybe that would help me settle down. I grabbed my cell phone from my pocket and called Dani’s phone.
“Come on, come on. Answer.” My fingers drummed against the steering wheel.
“Hi, Seth!”
I let out a breath of relief.
“Hello? Are you there, Seth?”
“Yeah, sorry.” I rubbed my hand over my face. “How’s it going, Dani?”
“Good,” she said. “How was practice?”
“The usual. Hey, will you go to the dance with me?”
There was silence on the other end. My hand tightened over the phone. Had Dirk already asked her? Why was she hesitating?
“Um… Yeah.” She sounded confused. “Of course I will. You didn’t have to ask.”
“I know,” I said, breathing easier, “but I just wanted to make sure.”
I could hear the smile in her voice. “I love you, Seth. Forever.”
“Me, too. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay. Goodnight, babe.”
# # #
I pulled into my driveway and turned off the engine.
Okay, I felt a little stupid for asking her to the dance, but I had to make sure she’d go with me.
I got out of my truck and stood beside it. I was good enough for Dani. And this neighborhood wasn’t a bad area; not like Dirk’s side of the tracks, but still pretty nice. It was older, tucked in a corner of town, right down the street from the hospital. And we had good neighbors. There was nothing wrong with it at all.
I grabbed the mail before going inside. Crap! Who was I kidding? We didn’t have much money and the neighborhood wasn’t that great. I hated feeling so damn insecure.
Dad was setting up a stool under the light in the kitchen when I walked in. “Hey, Seth! How did school go today?”
“Good,” I said, leaning against the counter. “Dani said she’d go to the dance with me.”
Dad grabbed a light bulb off the counter and stepped onto the stool. “Yeah? You didn’t think she would?”
I shrugged.
Dad looked over his shoulder at me. He didn’t say anything, though I could tell he wanted to. After a moment, he turned towards the ceiling and twisted in the bulb. “You had practice today?”
“Yeah.” My forehead compressed into a frown. I pushed off the counter and swung the refrigerator door wide open, staring into its depths.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Dad chided. “No snacking. I have dinner in the oven.” As he pointed towards the oven, his heel slid off the edge of the stool.
I spun around just as he lost his balance. I knew I wasn’t close enough to catch him, but my hands came up instinctively anyway. The air around me crackled like fireworks for a few seconds before going completely still, as if someone flipped a switch to silence it. The kitchen felt weighed down with a thickness that pressed against my ears and squeezed my body; yet, I moved easily, as if there were no gravity, nothing holding me back. I was behind Dad in an instant, holding him up; breaking all the rules I’d ever learned in physics. He was no longer falling… and the image of the hovering keys flashed across my mind.
Then everything stopped, including my breathing.
My gaze dragged across the kitchen and I did a quick check of the appliances. The refrigerator motor had cut out and the second hand of the clock was suspended at a little past the four. I supposed it’d be no big deal if it ran on electricity, but it was battery operated and I’d just replaced the batteries last month.
Something like panic squeezed my throat.
Something like satisfaction forced the corners of my mouth up.
Time had stopped.
Only trying to help.
Before the sound of the voice faded, my dad’s back pressed against my palms and the clock above the sink ticked away the seconds again.
“Whew! Thanks, Seth,” Dad said, stepping carefully off the stool and slapping my shoulder. “For a second there, I thought I was going to fall.”
I could only stare at him. Holy shit! He had no clue what had just happened.
But then again, neither did I.
~ ~ ~
“Here,” Silura invited, patting the stone bench on which she was seated. “Sit with me.”
His steps were swift.
She welcomed his excitement and brought his energy close, melding it with hers. She would gladly share her secrets with this man if it brought him happiness, for what he had done for her, to her body and soul, was beyond ecstasy.
“Today we begin with the elements. Fire, air, water, and earth,” she said. “It is all energy, all matter that can be manipulated. Each element intertwines with the others and we with them. Everything is connected.”
Her slender hands cupped the air before her and she shifted her gaze to her palm, encouraging him to look as well.
His gaze flitted across the space above her hands, as if looking for something he had missed.
Seconds passed. Then the air above her hands visibly shifted and swirled, slowly at first, then twisted like small ghostly serpents, the air sliding silently against itself, rolling around until the joining was complete. The center mass radiated its brilliant light outward into spiked tendrils, until the tips faded into the evening air.
His eyes widened, reflecting back the now white glow of the orb she’d placed in his hand. She had never seen him quite so filled with awe. It was wonderful to share her world with him! Having lived the life of a sorceress since learning to speak her first words, she had forgotten how much wonder and beauty there was in magick.
“See? It is really quite simple,” she murmured, watching him closely.
“But where did it come from?” He held the orb as if it would shatter.
“It is all around us.” A graceful arc of her arm brought his attention to the grass and trees that were bathed in dusky reds and yellow from the setting sun. A gentle breeze startled the blades of grass beneath their feet and shifted strands of glossy black hair across his face.
“We need only to turn our focus inward before turning it outward, allowing us to harness the energy that is ever-present.” She closed her eyes briefly before reopening them and focusing again on the orb. With one pass of her hand, the light burst into flame.
“Ahh!” Quickly dropping it, he looked at her in disbelief.
She laughed, taking his hands in hers. She blew upon the seared skin of his palms, and the flesh healed instantly. “Very simple.”
He looked upon the flawless skin of his hands. Slowly, he smiled and snaked his arms around her waist. Leaning close, his whispered, “It appears, Mistress Silura, that I have much to learn.”
~ ~ ~
I breathe easier knowing the boy’s acceptance has taken root. I am firmly anchored, though I am still a mere shadow behind his will. But a shadow is a beginning. A shadow can obscure and cloud. It can kill the brightest of lights. There will be no denying me now.
~ Maksim
Chapter 7
“What’s the matter, buddy? Come here, boy.” I pulled my hand back when Max shied away. I patted my thigh, inviting him to come to me.
Each paw stretched behind him until his body pressed against the wall of the kennel, a whimper quivering in his throat. He crouched low, and the hair on the ridge of his back began to rise.
“Aww, Max, come here.” Dani stood next to me and reached her hand out. “What’s the matter, boy?”
He skirted a wide perimeter around me, edging around to the other side of Dani, then sat next to her, still eyeing me.
I’d been dissed by a dog. Ouch.
Dani looked first at me, then at Max. She leaned over and cupped his ears in her hands, giving him a good scratch. “Hey, Gracie?” Dani called over her shoulder. “Is Max not feeling well?”
Gracie looked around the corner, a phone cradled against her ear, and mouthed, “Hang on.”
Dani nodded and turned back to Max, giving him a reassuring pat on his back. “It’s okay,” she murmured.
Max was fine around Dani. It was me he was reacting to; that much was obvious.
Max looked scared and, at the same time, ready to rip my face off. Like Blaze, he wasn’t about to let his guard down.
“You know,” Dani said, still soothing the dog, “animals can sense things about people, like their emotions.” She turned towards me. “Are you okay with coming here, Seth? I mean, you do like it, don’t you?”
I forgot the dog for a minute because Dani was staring at my hands. I hadn’t noticed but they’d clenched themselves into fists. I slowly uncurled my fingers, releasing the tension that had built up. The uncertainty in Dani’s eyes pulled me back to the moment.
“He sure is keeping his distance, isn’t he?” Gracie walked up behind us, reached down, and gave Max’s fur a jostle. “He’s fine. Maybe he just doesn’t recognize you today, Seth?”
I stood and faced her.
She squinted, scrutinizing my face. “Did you change something about yourself? Your hair? You look a little pale. You feel okay?”
My jaw clenched, I sucked in a deep breath, then pushed it from my lungs. “I’m just getting over the flu.” I crouched down beside Dani and turned her face towards me and waited until her eyes finally looked into mine. “I’m totally good with being here, Dani, really.”
I could see by the way she searched my eyes that she wanted to believe me.
Then I reached across the front of her and held my hand out to Max. “Friends?”
Max growled low in his throat.
“Maybe you should get completely well before coming back,” Dani said, gripping my arm and pulling it back. “I don’t like the dogs—especially Max—acting this way towards you.” She shook her head. “It’s just so weird. I don’t understand it.”
I’d never given her reason to doubt me. I’d never lied to her.
But when she looked at me with just a little bit of doubt, I felt what would be the first crack in our relationship. I couldn’t do anything to stop it. All I could do was try to keep it from getting bigger.
# # #
It was quiet that night. No calls or texts from Dani. Maybe she was a little upset about what happened at the shelter today. Justin had called after I’d gotten home, but it wasn’t enough of a distraction, so after we talked, I pressed the weights to the point of exhaustion, trying to wear myself out, trying to work out the tension that had returned. So far it hadn’t helped
My cell phone rang. It wasn’t Dani.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, Seth. How are you feeling?”
I flopped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“I’m good.”
I lied. I wasn’t. I was beginning to feel a dull ache inside my stomach. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was like there was just too much inside of me for my skin to contain it all.
Sometimes it hurt, like tips of knives stabbing everywhere all at once. I felt as though my bones and muscles were being crushed and kneaded, then molded into something they weren’t meant to be. Other times I felt… good. Like a new life was growing inside me.
Dad’s voice filtered through my thoughts. “Glad to hear that. You’re a strong boy. Ever since you were littl
e, you’ve always been able to fight off sickness like it was nothing.”
I rested my arm over my eyes. Not this, whatever it was, I thought. I can’t fight this off. I wondered if angels healed this kind of sickness.
“So,” Dad went on, “what did you end up getting Dani for her birthday?”
I sighed. “Nothing yet.”
“I’ve been thinking about this. I know she means a lot to you. Go ahead and get her something special and I’ll cover it for you. Okay?”
Guilt slapped me hard across the face. Dad was always making sacrifices for me, and he never complained. He was right, though. This was important.
“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. I’ll pay you back, I promise.”
“Don’t worry about that right now. Well, I’d better get some sleep before I hit the road again. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
I looked at the clock. It was late. “Okay, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Good night, Seth.”
I hung up.
What the hell was happening to me? I shook my head and raised my hands above my head, stretching out the tightness that cramped my body.
I’m here to help you, whispered the voice in my head.
Bolting upright, my hands came down instantly, and I wrapped my arms around my chest, as if I could protect myself from something I couldn’t see.
“I still don’t get it,” I said. “Why me?”
We’ve discussed this already. You asked for me.
“I don’t remember asking for any angel.”
I am watching over you. Maksim said. I am helping you.
“Helping me with what?” I slammed my fist into the bed. Damn! None of this was making any sense.
There was no way I could ask my dad about what was happening. I couldn’t possibly tell him I’m not as together as he thought; he’d be way too freaked out.
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