Promises

by Lisa L Wiedmeier

  “As for you leaving.” His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed. “You promised me you wouldn’t try until you were transformed. I’ll hold you to that. When you’re Timeless, you can go ahead and give it a shot.” A crafty smile grew. “It should be fun. I won’t have to be so careful with you.”

  I pushed back and scowled. “You’ve been careful with me up until now? Ha!”

  “Just wait and see, Cheyenne,” he said.

  “Indeed, we will. Now let go of me!”

  He released his hold. I eyed him for a moment before I turned and walked away. I’d been stupid—ruining everything I’d done to protect myself. I couldn’t let it happen again; not ever. First, though, I had to deal with this new mess. I needed to protect my new secret—whatever the cost.

  Chapter 9

  It was official. I was Timeless.

  There wasn’t any other explanation. I’d replayed my walk with Daniel over and over, and it was the only thing that made sense. Daniel had said he’d felt a presence about him when he changed; I felt one too. But more importantly, my first power seemed to have shown itself. Daniel was wrong—I wasn’t able to jump. What I’d done was borrow his powers and use them myself.

  It was also official: I’d clearly made a mistake trying to distract Callon and Colt. I hadn’t been prepared for their reaction—the reaction I’d had, too. It was a constant struggle to push thoughts of their kisses, the warmth of their embraces, and the comfort I’d felt with them to the back of my mind. They’d dug their claws in deeper, and they weren’t letting go any time soon.

  However, there was still some good from my discovery. I needed to develop this gift of borrowing powers further. Once I became stronger, I could finally leave. Before it was too late.

  A chilly breeze sent goosebumps down my neck as I waited for Daniel on the front porch. Maes was near the edge of the forest in his human form, his jade-ringed eyes searching the trees. It had taken a lot of begging to convince Callon to let me go on these walks, but it had been more than worth it. Now that I had a power to work with, I needed as much freedom as possible to practice, to give me that edge when the time came to make my escape. It also helped spare Daniel from his brother’s questioning, which had been almost nonstop since the incident with the hares. However, what neither Colt or Callon had bet on was that I hadn’t told Daniel everything. It wasn’t that I was lying, so much as avoiding the truth.

  It was about time Mr. Evasive had a taste of his own medicine.

  That also meant I had to be very careful not to let my daily routine slip, in case they noticed any physical changes. I’d make sure I’d eat, sleep and behave like I normally had—but it was getting harder as the days passed. Something was growing stronger inside of me—something cold and unsettling. It scared me, especially when I was resting. It was like a cloak of gloom that could suffocate me if I didn’t keep an eye on it. I wished I could share my worry, but I couldn’t without also revealing I was no longer human. I was pretty sure my guardians wouldn’t understand, anyway.

  Maes suddenly shifted and disappeared into the forest.

  I froze.

  He’d been acting edgy for the past couple of days; even the slightest noise in the forest would set him off. I couldn’t blame him—I felt the same. It would only be a matter of time before our pursuers caught up, and we’d have to move.

  Except I wasn’t planning on moving with them…

  Maes returned and shifted back to his human form. He turned, his gaze unwavering.

  “Mon espoir,” he whispered. “It is clear.”

  I could only nod in response. My hope…Maes had been calling me that more often after I’d overheard his conversation with Callon that night. I hated it. I didn’t want to be anyone’s hope—yet another reminder that I was stuck with a life I hadn’t chosen. Even before I was born, everything in my life had been planned out: who my friends were, what schools I attended, what house I lived in—who I’d marry. I’d never get the opportunity to grow old with my friends, or to marry someone I chose. I’d never get to attend college, get a job, heck, even own a dog. Even if I left my guardians, I’d still be tied to destiny. I’d never be free.

  Maybe Callon was right…

  “Ready?” Daniel’s voice jerked me back to the present.

  I nodded. I wasn’t going to ruin my walk with pessimistic thoughts. I was going to get out of here…just not yet.

  We stepped off into the frozen wilderness of what was now my life.

  We walked in silence, only the snow crunching beneath our feet. Maes remained behind us, his jade-rimmed eyes closely watching my every move. I sighed. It was going to be tricky to test out the extent of my borrowing powers under Maes’s scrutiny. But I still had a few tricks up my sleeve.

  Despite the cold weather, I’d purposely not worn gloves. I needed direct contact with Daniel to take his powers. That was the other thing; when we’d practice indoors, I’d figured out that while I gained his jumping ability, Daniel lost it. Eventually he’d get it back, after it had worn off on me, but it was interesting to see the effect. It definitely would become useful once I’d fully gotten the hang of it.

  I stepped closer to Daniel, my fingers lacing in his. A cold sensation ran up my arm, as if icy water was flushing through my veins. His powers had transferred to me. Resting my head on his shoulder to avoid Maes getting suspicious, I glanced ahead, and we jumped. A smug smile began to spread on Daniel’s lips. He knew I was in training mode.

  Maes’s footsteps changed to a patter, intent on keeping pace.

  “Concentrate,” Daniel murmured; he’d felt me stumble. “You need to pay attention on landing too.”

  I focused on a nearby tree, and we jumped, this time landing a few steps off the road.

  “Chey!” Daniel hissed, and I made the adjustment before Maes rounded the corner.

  Daniel and I glanced back.

  “Crap! We’ve left footprints in the snow!” My hand flew to my mouth. How was I going to fix this? I couldn’t run back and cover my tracks…

  Suddenly a deep groan reverberated off the trees and a large pine tree began to topple over. I stood, mesmerized by my good luck. The tree was crumbling to the forest floor precisely over our tracks. Did I do that?

  “Chey!” Daniel yanked my arm, and we tumbled to the ground, a sharp branch catching my cheek in the process.

  A fierce roar boomed, and seconds later Maes was racing at us. He pounced, shifting in midair, then landed beside me, scowling.

  “Daniel! Why didn’t you jump her?” He pulled the snowy branch off and dragged me to my feet. I fought not to fall over. Warm blood began running down my cheek. “Get her back now!” He shoved me towards Daniel, and I kept my head down. I couldn’t tell if Daniel had his powers back or not.

  “I’m sorry, Daniel,” I whispered. He gripped my hand, and we disappeared down the road. His powers were back.

  “Why didn’t you jump us?” Daniel asked.

  “I think I was in shock at our luck.”

  “You can’t keep doing this, you know. They’re pestering me all the time. They’re convinced you’re hiding something.”

  My heart sank. Daniel was keeping our secret even though it meant lying to his own brothers. How was I any better than Colt and Callon now?

  We stopped abruptly on the porch. Dr. Callon stalked out the door, Colt directly behind. I’d screwed this up big time. Maes was snarling as he caught up. Callon was glaring at Daniel with a face so volcanic it could have melted stone.

  I pushed forward, pressing my back to Daniel in defense.

  “This isn’t Daniel’s fault,” I said. “It was an accident!”

  Daniel stiffened behind me. His brothers were already ganging up on him.

  “Don’t!” I pushed my finger into Callon’s chest. “Daniel was about to jump me when I tripped and broke his concentration. We jumped, but not far enough. Don’t you dare accuse him of not keeping me safe!”

  I was ashamed for being able to lie so e
asily. Guilt washed over me in waves, and my cheeks grew warm.

  A dead silence settled as Callon peered into my eyes. I shivered, and not just because it was cold. Why did I always feel like he was staring right into my soul? For a while, I couldn’t break his gaze, but my cheek started to throb. Broken from the trance, I stared at the ground.

  “Are you all right?” Colt asked. “It looks like it’s just a scratch. You’re not hurt anywhere else?”

  “I’m fine.” I pushed past him and headed for the bathroom, not looking back.

  I didn’t want confirmation that I’d just set another lock on my cage.

  Daniel paid the price dearly for our little adventure. The others rarely allowed us to be alone. I felt terrible. They couldn’t even trust their own brother…because of me. I really was driving the family apart. About the only time I had to myself was the few minutes I spent in the bathroom. I was under constant watch, with Dr. Callon, Colt and the Hound taking turns, and it was driving me insane.

  Daniel informed me later that I’d held on to his power for about five minutes. I was disappointed; if I was going to escape, I needed it to be longer. But I wasn’t about to give up. I’d find another way.

  However, when March rolled around, everything came to a complete stop. The loneliness and heavy weight upon my shoulders that had been building all year were suddenly much more intense. It was the one-year anniversary of my adoptive parent’s death, and with everything that was going on, it hurt more than ever that they weren’t around to talk to.

  My guardians were aware of this, and they made attempts to distract me, but all it did was push me further into despair. I made no effort to hide my depression as I remained in bed. My mind was a whirling vortex of memories, some good and others painful. That heavy hopelessness I’d noticed had grown twice as strong, and it was all I could do to keep my head above the inky void.

  Callon came to sit beside me while I lay in my pillows, not wanting to move. His fingers brushing my hair aside, his hazel eyes meeting mine as my mind began to wander to the past.

  I was sixteen, and my parents and I had been walking in the forest near our home in Idaho. That was when we stumbled across a beautiful creation of nature—my mom’s meadow.

  “Cheyenne!” Mom breathlessly called out as she reached the top of the ravine. Her long brown hair had glistened in the summer light. “You and your father need to see this!”

  Dad and I quickly climbed the hill and stopped in our tracks, as together we saw the splendor unfold before our eyes. Before us was a meadow filled with the most brilliant colors of nature. Vibrant red poppies, crisp yellow and white daisies, and brilliant varieties of mountain flowers all swaying gently in the summer breeze.

  “Alexis,” Dad whispered as he moved beside Mom and took her hand. “It’s like God created it just for you.”

  Mom’s smile brightened. “He created it for us, love, all of us.” She reached out and took my hand, drawing me close. I could still smell her perfume; her favorite one, which I bought for her every Christmas…

  The vision vanished as suddenly as it came, and tears welled in my eyes. Callon had turned away, distracted by a noise outside the bedroom window. I held my face in my hands, trying to hold back my sobs. I missed my parents so much. Callon remained quiet, gently stroking my shoulder. He didn’t pull me into an embrace, but I didn’t want him to. I didn’t need any more turmoil in my heart.

  I forced myself on, and within a few days, they allowed Daniel and me to go on our walks again. They knew I wouldn’t speak to anyone else, and it was the only way I’d crawl out of bed.

  “Chey,” Daniel spoke softly as we crossed over a puddle of melting snow. “You’ve hardly spoken over the last few weeks. You’re scaring me.”

  I sighed.

  “I’ll be all right, Daniel,” I replied. “It’s been hard. That’s all.” I wasn’t about to tell him about the dark feeling growing inside me, even though it terrified me.

  “It’s just that…well, we know it’s been a year since your parents were killed, and we’re worried.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, touched by his words. “I’ll get through it.” I stared out into the forest, watching the greenery emerge from its winter coat. I needed to change the subject. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Do you feel it when I take your powers? I mean, I feel it when I do it, but what about you?”

  Daniel sighed.

  “Well, at first I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I think I do now. The only way to describe it would be a slight sensation around the area you touch. Like if I had a fly or something tickling me.”

  “Can you block it?” I glanced back, checking on my entourage—Callon’s idea, of course. Maes and Colt were following behind. Colt’s eyes met mine; he was worried for me. I tore my gaze away before my heart started pounding. I couldn’t help it—he still had a strong effect on me. I just couldn’t let it get any stronger.

  “Yeah, but you know I won’t,” Daniel said, drawing me back.

  My lips twitched, wanting to smile. “I don’t deserve you, Daniel.”

  “Nope, you don’t.” A quick wink followed, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. I smiled for the first time in a long time.

  We rounded the corner, and I decided it was time to test out some theories. Reaching out, my fingers grazed his hand, and the transfer occurred. Daniel shot me a sidelong glance.

  “Don’t jump!” he hissed.

  “I want to see how long I can hold onto it,” I whispered.

  “They’re watching!”

  “Just time me.”

  He gave a quick nod, and I waited as we walked on. More than five minutes had passed, I was sure, but I was unsure if I still held his powers or not. They only way I ever knew was if I tried to use them and they didn’t work.

  “Fifteen,” Daniel murmured and took an awkward step. He had his powers back.

  I raised my brows in surprise. This was my best time yet.

  As I practiced more and more with these stolen touches, I grew more and more confident. I was able to hold onto Daniel’s powers for up to half an hour, but that was without jumping. I didn’t know if using the power made it run out more quickly. I’d also determined that I could only borrow one power, his jumping abilities. The telepathy between the brothers was special—something beyond my reach—something just between the trio.

  Still, now that I was comfortable with Daniel’s power, I needed to set my sights on something else.

  That came sooner than expected, as one day an opportunity came to test my ability out on one of the others. Callon was standing in the far corner on the porch when I stepped out for my morning walk. He and Maes quickly ended their conversation once they spotted me approaching.

  “Everything all right?” I asked. Callon turned towards me, his face a neutral mask, but Maes’s stare raised the hair on the back of my neck.

  Callon nodded at Maes, and he departed. I watched him go, more to avoid looking at Callon than find out what he was up to.

  “They’re coming closer,” Callon said. “We’re going to have to move locations soon.”

  “Trackers and Tresez?”

  “Yes.” He rested his hands on the porch rail and stared out into the forest. He was being more forthright with me. It was a refreshing change, but why?

  “Why now?” I moved closer. He didn’t turn towards me. He knew what I was asking.

  “I told you one day you’d know everything. I figured this was a start.”

  He was deep in thought. Now was as good as time as any. My fingers hovered close to his elbow. Just a simple touch should do it. Unfortunately, at the last second, he turned towards me, his gaze lingering on my hand. I swiftly pulled it back. He glanced up, but instead of questioning, his eyes were filled with warmth.

  “You seem to have regained your strength, Cheyenne.”

  “Ah, yes,” I replied quickly, trying to figure out what was going on now. Did he thin
k I wanted to touch him for other reasons?

  “Your appetite seems a little off though.”

  I held my breath. Had I not been careful enough?

  “But then again, you’ve always eaten like a bird.”

  He was digging for information, trying to get me to open up.

  “I eat when I’m hungry and not otherwise,” I replied calmly.

  He nodded and turned away again. “I’d like you to rethink leaving us. It’s too dangerous out there alone.”

  Heat rose in my cheeks. “Like I couldn’t take care of myself,” I muttered.

  Callon didn’t answer, and we watched the forest in silence. Even though this was as good a time as any, I decided not to test out my borrowing powers. I assumed he would feel something, just as Daniel had, but he wouldn’t know its significance until later. I would be able to get away with it only once. After that they’d know and find a way to stop me. And even though he’d been so supportive, Daniel wouldn’t help me if he thought I was using his powers to leave. This was my trump card; I couldn’t play it too soon.

  Guilt rose in my throat, and I swallowed. I was using Daniel. I didn’t like it, but I would have to exploit his powers to leave. My guardians would be furious, both at Daniel’s vow of secrecy and his loyalty to me over them. They would rip him apart with their words. One day I’d have to make it up to him somehow—I had to.

  This wasn’t the only problem, either. I had a time limit; just half an hour to borrow their powers and escape. It would be cutting it very fine. I didn’t even know if I could hold on to more than one power at a time, anyway. There were so many things that could go wrong…

  But I’d run out of time. Soon the Trackers would be here, and if I let them take me, I’d never get another chance.

  I had to try.

  I waited until the last of May to make my move. I wanted warmer weather, as I still wasn’t sure where to run to, and I wanted to be as confident as I could be with jumping. I couldn’t afford to stumble or make mistakes—it would all have to go smoothly. Unknown to Callon, I had stashed some clothes in my pack, just enough for a couple of days. I charged my cell phone, even though I knew I’d be exchanging it for a new one. There was no doubt it had a tracking device in it, and I wasn’t going to let them follow my trail. My laptop was stuffed into my pack, and I was ready.