Before I knew it, we were over the bridge and walking through the marketplace. The sound of people chattering and water tinkling into various ponds was like music to my ears; the atmosphere cheerful, even in the rain. Yes, this place was a whole lot better than my school, than our city. I was convinced I would learn to love living in the village. We made our way through the small valley of overgrown ferns toward Arriana’s cottage. The small gate stood open and as I was the last to enter, closed it behind me. I stared at the adorned hinges, the small handle embellished with Minoan filigree and twirling symbols, a sliver of light bouncing from the small gems before I turned. I didn’t know it then, but there were signs all around me, warning me, guiding me. Magic was not my only savior. Arriana sat on the small porch spinning her pottery wheel when we arrived. The dull, cold pain in my legs had returned, milder than before, but not mild enough to be ignored. Anaya saw the distressed look on my face.
“Let’s get her inside so she can rest, Tatos,” she said.
Arriana followed us into the sitting room where a warm fire heated the entire cottage, engulfing the sitting room in a red, hot haze. I sat down on the large, blue sofa while she brought me a cup of ginger and lemon tea; a tonic.
“Maya should be up shortly, dear.” She stroked my face as she spoke, her milky blue eyes looking past me and into the fire.
I felt happy and at ease for a while, the warmth seemed to calm the dull ache in my bones. It wasn’t due to the fire though – it was the healing properties of the ancient healing family, and the magic enchantments laced in just about every object in the village. Since the slow return of their powers, the failure of good protection against the dark magic, every precaution was being taken – even if that meant stealing time from the lives of the enchanted; from Arriana.
“Where is Enoch?” Anaya hung her coat over one of the gray wooden chairs. I did notice that the wood was from a silverwood tree, but as the trees die, so do their shimmer.
“He’s gone with Willard to see Kronan as they need to gather up more plants for our potions.” There were hints of sadness and bitterness in Arriana’s voice.
“How is she?” Anaya asked as she came closer to warm her hands on the fire.
“Her wound is deep, but the infection has subsided,” Arriana replied.
Arriana sat next to me and put a warm hand on my knee. She looked down at me as if to meet my gaze. Probably reading my mind again, I thought.
“Maya has taken a fall and I’m afraid she has broken her leg. She has a big cut on her thigh, so she won’t be doing much of anything for a while.”
“What happened?” I interjected. “Don’t tell me there’s been another…” I started to say, my throat already in a nervous knot.
“Well, she is experiencing the same symptoms as you are, but because she is younger her body is resisting the changes even more than yours is. My guess is that when we transfused her blood into your bloodstream it somehow sparked the ‘Change’ in her too.”
I looked at her as if to say that she had forgotten something.
“She will be just fine my dear, the blood magic in your blood does not affect her by any means.” She smiled dryly.
Just thinking of the pain made me feel nauseous, but I knew that the pain deep inside of her mind would have been far greater than that of the broken leg. There was an awkward silence, mostly from my side. No one should have to hurt because of me.
“Ava! You’re finally here!” Maya’s voice broke through the silence.
Maya struggled to walk on her crutches and I immediately jumped up to assist her, leaving the rest of my medicated tea on the small barrel table near the fire. Her eyes were puffy, but still sparkled when she looked at me with a gentle smile, a smile so overpowering that all I could do was smile in return. As I helped her to her seat, I was overwhelmed by how excited her presence made me feel.
“There is so much to say, I know.” Maya said, before rubbing her eyes and stretching out a long yawn.
She leaned toward me and we hugged, the knowledge of us being sisters seemed to have deepened the meaning of our hug, but I was also immensely grateful that her blood had saved me from the blood magic.
We didn’t want to let go of each other. The pain struck once more, tearing through my core, making me yell out in agony – I had not finished my tea. Unwillingly, I pushed Maya off the sofa with such force we both crashed to the floor. I coiled beside the fire; still, the pain would not leave.
“Tatos, bring me some of that elixir from the kitchen!” Arriana commanded.
Anaya immediately started a chant.
“What volume?” Tatos asked.
“The highest.”
“It will kill her,” he spat.
Arriana chuckled. “Just trust me Tatos.”
“What’s going on? What’s happening to me?” I managed to sputter the words out just loud enough for Maya to hear. I felt my veins ignite from the inside out, my muscles tearing almost audibly in conjunction with the drumming of my heart.
Maya came crawling toward me, her bandaged leg dragging behind her. I would have laughed at the sight of us if I weren’t in so much pain.
“We are going to have to inject it.” I heard Arriana’s timid voice coming from above me.
I felt the sharp prick of a needle in my hip and just before I lost consciousness, the cold fluid tingled over my skin, into my pores and finally my head.
Gradually, I woke to a warm hand resting in mine. The roar of thunder outside shook me to full alert. The change in seasons could only mean one thing – it was happening. I was changing, the prophecy had begun. I looked over; Maya was sleeping next to me, but on her bed. I was under the blankets while she lay half slumped on top of pillows, to keep her leg up. Her sweet face brought on a much needed smile. The wind howled past the house and hustled through the branches of the trees. Flashes of light danced among the clouds. I sighed at the sheer beauty of the storm and wished I could be on the ocean where the storm would surround me in all its glory. Early morning confirmed that I had made it through the night. For a moment I had thought I wouldn’t. I slowly withdrew my hand from Maya’s in order to sit up straight, twisting the crick out of my neck. Running my hand over my shirt to wipe the moistness from holding onto Maya’s hand the entire night, I noticed that I had been changed out of my clothes and into some kind of sleepwear that was fit for toddlers. Frowning with disgust, I removed my cold feet from the bed and placed them on the carpet. I curled my toes as I welcomed the heat that the fluffy carpet provided. Looking around for my clothes in the dimness of the early morning light, I heard the slow screech of the door. A soft, golden glow entered the room. First, I saw his shadow and then I stared into his face.
“Oh, I didn’t think anyone would be awake,” he whispered.
I quickly pulled the blanket from the chair over me in one swift move. He turned away, embarrassed.
“Sorry, Ava,” he apologized as he backed out of the room and closed the door behind him.
I did not reply, stunned and engulfed in a scarlet blush. I swallowed the humiliation. I couldn’t believe that he had seen me in those hideous pajamas or whatever they were. I tiptoed over to the door, making sure to close it properly, the floor boards creaked beneath my bare feet. I turned to see Maya still asleep. I went over to draw the blanket over her. It was the most amazing feeling taking care of my sister. Searching on the floor for my jeans, I eventually spied them hanging on the handle of Maya’s wardrobe. I noticed the closet for the first time. Layers of blue, white and golden wood; antiquated patterns of Minoan symbols carved into the edges of the panels. Carefully, I unhooked them from the golden-leaf handle and pulled them on while searching for a shirt. I could only find one that belonged to Maya, but I changed into it anyway. The thirst drew me from the room, hoping with my life not to bump into Enoch. I should have been used to awkward moments by now as they happened to me more than I wanted them to. Turning to the window to check my reflection, I made sure that if I did bu
mp into anyone, my appearance wouldn’t embarrass me. Treading lightly, I cleared the short passage. The early hour of the morning gave me hope that everyone would still be fast asleep, but the burning fire coming from the sitting room should have told me differently.
“I’m in safely,” I said to myself, not finding anyone in the kitchen.
“Who are you talking to?” His voice came from behind me.
I almost shrieked with fright, my free hand about to meet Enoch’s cheek. He caught my wrist letting out a goofy laugh, and as he made his way past me his hands rested on my hips. My body stiffened at his cold touch on my bare skin. I cursed myself for not wearing a longer shirt over the low riding jeans.
He chuckled again. “Sorry. My hands are cold.” He shrugged. “I’ve just come from outside. The rain has brought some icy winds with it.”
Looking down at my feet, I started to retreat. I wasn’t ready for his mind-games, pretending that nothing had happened was not like me. Regretfully, it was hard to keep my emotions at bay lately.
“Where are you going?” He looked back, his glacier eyes meeting mine.
I weakened, biting down on my lip. “I just need a glass of water, please, if you would be so kind,” I said softly, trying very hard to distance myself from him and avoid meeting his gaze again.
“You don’t have to play shy with me. It’s not like we’ve just met.”
“Sure,” I said, not really sure of how to react. I kept my eyes locked on the floor, my bare feet feeling the heat all the way from the kitchen entrance.
“How are you feeling, babe?” he said.
I felt a pinch of anger at that and couldn’t keep the flush at bay.
“My name is Ava, thank you very much,” I said, surprising myself. My words made me smile inside.
He ignored my comment and handed me a glass of water, but kept it in his grasp until I looked at him. I stared into the blue glass, gold crystal filigree around the edges made gripping the smooth glass easier. I could feel the tension between us. I smiled falsely at him, hoping that it would reinforce the wall of ice I wanted between us. It didn’t work. Frustratingly, it only provoked him.
“Playing hard to get I see.”
I shot him an annoyed look. “Thank you for the water,” I said impatiently and turned to leave.
“We don’t have to talk about it.” He said plainly.
I froze.
He flashed a sinister smile.
His eyebrow rose, his icy stare intensified, “You’re not going to have some of my mom’s homemade cookies then?” he asked as he turned back to the kitchen.
My stomach rumbled – power of suggestion. He turned toward me, a cocky smile on his face. The glow of the fire illuminated his ice blue eyes, threatening to pierce right through me. And I found myself slipping.
A part of me knew he was manipulating me, but I ignored my instincts as usual. My feet carried me through the kitchen while my heart thumped through my chest. I gulped the water down in one go as I stood before him, thankful for the temporary distraction as he kept his eyes locked on mine. I wondered why I liked him and why he had this effect on me when he was near. I should have known – the signs were there. It wasn’t right for me to have those kinds of feelings about him. I still didn’t listen to the voice of reason in my head, warning me against the blindness. Enoch cleared his throat and grabbed my hand to get my attention. Startled, I looked at him. I breathed in deeply, trying to clear my head of the fog moving over my mind. Troy and the gang don’t trust him, so maybe I shouldn’t trust him either. His grip tightened around my wrist. I thought about the night I had fallen, the way that girl had wrapped herself around Troy like she was an accessory of some kind. I realized that I might not have forgiven him after all. Maybe she is just an accessory and maybe she isn’t, either way, I shouldn’t waste my time on him, I reflected. He is only going to hurt me and not in a good way, because we all knew what a sucker for punishment I was. Pain made me feel alive, but not the kind of pain someone like Troy could inflict on me. I had no safeguards against him – none! Enoch let go of my wrist, the blood slowly returning to my fingers. I stood almost numb and confused at what had just happened.
“Are you just going to stand there the whole day?” Enoch said bluntly, pulling me back to the present.
He started stuffing his face with the freshly baked cookies which smelled delicious. It looked so cozy near the fire. I noticed that he still kept his gaze on me. What is it about this guy that sucks me in? I wondered. I had to forcefully and consciously restrain myself from tumbling down the rabbit hole. He smiled a crooked and mischievous smile. With my free hand, I hugged my bandaged arm and wondered when it would heal.
“I won’t bite,” he said, patting the seat next to him.
I headed toward him slowly, trying to resist the invisible magnet that kept on pulling me in, using my attraction to danger as bait. An image of Troy and that slut flashed before my eyes again. Why not me? I thought angrily. Troy has forgotten all about me. I don’t need him. It’s not like I had great dreams of us being together. It’s not like I felt that Troy was the answer and that he was the only person who, without any effort at all, brought me to life. I don’t need him anymore. Tit for tat, right? My grief empowered me to leap. I sat down on a chair across from Enoch. I could feel the energy between us start to vibrate, pulsate, pushing and clawing its way through my veins. It was scary and exhilarating. His hand brushed mine as he handed me the jar of cookies. I grabbed two, placed them on my lap and stared into the fire. I could feel his eyes on me. I didn’t know if I could handle the pressure any longer. Say something, I silently ordered.
“You are very beautiful, you know that?” he said.
That was the moment I should have got up and exited the room, but I loved the attention way too much and lapped up as much of it as possible. That shallow part of me returned without any resistance. Doing the wrong thing was always so much easier and so much more alluring than doing the right thing. I often got involved with people I expected to hurt me, because it hurt less. As crazy as that sounds, it made perfect sense at the time. Enoch and I talked about nothing in particular for a while, just keeping each other company, testing each other’s boundaries; mine easier to penetrate than his. I did pick up on the anxiety regarding coming events that plagued our minds. It felt good to have someone to talk to, without being judged. And, the flirting sure boosted a girls’ ego. I knew I was heading straight into the danger zone, but it was also an enthralling one. I loved every second of our time together. I shouldn’t have, because I knew all the attention I was receiving from him wasn’t real. I knew it was just a game and that it could only lead to heartache. I wanted the heartache. I didn’t care that it felt wrong. I was letting go for a change. I welcomed the fact that my life would change with every breath I took in this village. I decided that it was time for me to get what I wanted and to stop thinking of what others might say. I wanted him, the danger of losing my heart, of breaking my boundaries, of shattering my existence – I wanted it all. I decided it was my turn. I let the blindness fold over me and felt myself slip into his crystal eyes, forgetting every negative thing about him. I had to, if I was going to use him as a beautiful and intoxicating distraction. The blindness crept in.
CHAPTER NINE
The Fall
A knock on the door woke me. I had fallen asleep talking to Enoch earlier that morning. Keeping my eyes closed, I pretended to sleep. The guilt was setting in. As per usual, I ignored those feelings hoping that they would disappear with time.
“Good morning, young lady. I found something outside.” I heard Willard say. He obviously knew I was awake.
“Hellooo!” I heard Sam’s familiar voice shout. A grin crept across my face.
I jumped up and immediately fell down again – someone had the gall to laugh. I was up again in an instant and flushed with embarrassment as I tried to untangle the blankets wrapped around my legs.
“Hi, Sam,” Anaya greeted as she en
tered the room from the passageway.
Sam giggled all the way through the living room, where she assisted me in unwrapping myself. Enoch must have covered me up. The thought made me smile. Willard made his way to the kitchen, looking for something to eat no less. My eyes followed him as he pretended to look the other way.
He dipped his hand into the pot of cookies. “Want one?” he asked, pointing the blue clay pot toward us.
Sam nodded eagerly. “I’m starving!”
“Sam, you’re always starving.” I joked.
I excused myself to go and freshen up. Soundlessly, I grabbed my utility bag from Maya’s room, being careful not to disturb her. Long, dark hair was sprawled over her lilac pillow and the usual rosiness had returned to her cheeks. A faint light crawled through the bedroom window, its position telling me that it was almost noon. With one hand, I pulled and tugged at my very creased shirt, wondering how long I had slept for, and how I could have possibly fallen asleep talking to Enoch? Mulling things over, I looked down at my feet as I walked, staring at my white toes when they hit the dark, wooden floor. I felt a tiny bit guilty for pursuing things with Enoch when I knew I shouldn’t have; every fiber of my being telling me so, but of course, I didn’t listen. At the end of the hall, I slammed into something which caused me to drop my brush on my toe. I almost swore, but on noticing Enoch standing so close to me, bare chested, took my breath away and my heartbeat accelerated. His broad, tanned shoulders towered over me, blocking out any light from the passage window.
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