by Evie Del Mar
CHAPTER TEN
Pink and orange colors were starting to show above the skyline as the sun began to rise the next morning. I stared out of my window, where I’d been for who knew how long, yawning. I didn’t sleep well last night from tossing and turning. I kept replaying my conversation with Mom, just to see her smiling, beautiful face again and hear her soothing voice. The way her brown hair shimmered in the water, like she was swimming right next to me. Her bright smile that always comforted me. I missed her so much.
When the sun was over the horizon and its rays shined on me like a spotlight, I got up from the bench and started gathering clothes, organizing them together for our trip. I grabbed my phone and checked the weather for all the places we were visiting so I could pack accordingly.
Once I felt like I’d packed enough, in two different size suitcases, I headed out of my bedroom and toward the staircase. My suitcase made a loud THUD as I hauled it down the first step, too heavy for me to carry.
“Oh here, let me grab those for you,” Cole offered behind me. He reached down and slung one bag across his chest and carried the other with one arm. I watched, mesmerized, as the muscles in his arms bulged underneath his t-shirt with the weight of my luggage. The strap from the other bag crossed over his chest, his pecs poking out on either side of the strap. I marveled at his incredible strength. I shook my head. Pull yourself together, Melody. I followed him down the steps when a stranger walked through the door.
“Uncle Colin!” Cole shouted, smiling. He sat my luggage down at the foot of the stairs and embraced the stranger.
“Hey, Cole!” the stranger replied, patting Cole on the back. “Dang, kid, how long has it been?”
Cole leaned out of the hug, laughing. “Too long. I’ve missed you!” Remembering I was standing there, Cole turned toward me. “Melody, this is my uncle, Colin.”
“I’m not really his uncle,” Colin stated, sticking his hand out for me to shake. “I’ve been around since he was young, so that’s just what he prefers to call me.” I took his hand, shaking it. “So, you’re the final member of The Secret Six? You must have the water elemental abilities.”
I suddenly became still, looking at Cole in alarm. I had thought no one was supposed to know of our existence, so why did this man know? I quickly took back my hand.
“Oh, don’t worry, Melody,” Cole reassured. “He’s my father’s most trusted friend, so he knows everything. He witnessed first hand what my abilities can do when I was younger.”
Colin belted out in laughter. “Kid scared the shit out of me when I saw him playing with his kite one day. He was upset that it wasn’t flying, so what does he do? He blows a huge gust of wind, and up it goes! He was laughing, without a care in the world, while I ran inside the house, freaked, shouting for Tony.”
“In that case, yes, I am the water elemental. Nice to meet you.” I gave him a welcoming smile. Colin was a bit smaller than Cole, but not by a lot. The top of his head met just above Cole’s eyes. His olive-colored face was scruffed with dark brown facial hair. Deep, purple circles stood out underneath his green eyes, like he hadn’t gotten any sleep lately.
“It’s very nice to meet you, too,” Colin smiled. “I can’t believe the Secret Six is united again and is now in search of the crystal. It’s the best news I’ve ever heard.” Something in the way he said that bothered me a little, and I didn’t know why. I looked at Cole, curious to see his reaction, but he was looking at his uncle with a sense of awe, like Colin was his hero. I shrugged off the thought. If Cole trusted this man, then so should I.
“So, Uncle, not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here? We’re all about to leave for a trip.”
“I know. Your father called and told me everything. I’m here to fly you all to California!” Cole’s face became pale, his eyes suddenly big. Colin draped an arm over Cole’s shoulder, laughing. Come on, are you still afraid of flying?”
Cole shrugged his uncle’s arm off of his shoulder. “Only when I’m not in control.”
Colin rolled his eyes and headed towards the kitchen, calling out over his shoulder, “Well, get used to it because it’s about a five hour flight!” Cole groaned next to me. I was about to ask him why he was scared of flying when Drake trudged down the stairs, one bag across his shoulders, and a suitcase in each arm.
I giggled as he heaved his entire luggage down each step. “Drake, why in the world did you pack so much? You packed more than me.”
As he reached the final step, he dropped the bags under his arms with a grunt and slipped the bag off his shoulders. He stood up and raked a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his face. I spotted little specks of sweat covering his forehead. “With as many places as we’re visiting, you never know what type of attire you’ll need for any occasion, whether it be a swimsuit in California or nice clothes in Vegas. You know how the saying goes, ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.’” He winked.
“For example,” Drake continued, picking up one of the larger bags, “this is my Alaska bag, and the other two have the rest of the clothes.”
Cole shook his head, crossing his arms across his chest. “Dude, why do you need a full bag for just Alaska?”
“I don’t know how many layers I’m going to need! I mean, it’s near the Arctic Circle, for crying out loud.” Drake’s face turned serious, all traces of his funny demeanor gone.
“It’s summer, so it’s not going to be that cold, but whatever helps you sleep at night, my friend.”
Blair and Lily both came down the stairs with their luggage, Blake following behind, not looking up. His face seemed tense, like he was deep in thought, but afraid of whatever he was thinking. I let him finish descending the stairs and tapped him on the shoulder, breaking his concentration. “Hey, are you ok? You seem worried.”
He didn’t say anything at first, just looked down at his feet. “I guess I’m just concerned about the fact that the place that holds my crystal seems to be linked to death. Just because I have power over shadows and darkness, it doesn’t always have to involve terror and death.” His shoulders dropped.
I felt so bad for him. He was absolutely right. After hearing the stories he had shared when he first learned of his abilities, both had involved some sort of panic or terror: the worry from Blair when she couldn’t find her brother after he hid himself in the shadows, and at their school when the bully was blinded into darkness.
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, hoping to alleviate some of his pain and worry. “I know I speak for everyone when I say that you are a kind and generous person. Your abilities don’t dictate the type of person you are.”
He pulled back from the hug, giving me a small smile. “Thanks, Melody.”
Tony and Colin walked out of the kitchen and joined us all in the main foyer. Tony clutched what looked like a small, metal storage case.
“Are you coming with us, Tony?” Lily asked.
“Oh, no,” he stated. “I need to stay here and keep an eye on the academy, but you all are going to need this to keep all the pieces safe.” He gave the case to Cole, placing it in his open hands. Once it was settled, he grabbed a key from his pocket and opened the case. It looked like some sort of locking case. The case was lined with Styrofoam, allowing us to place each piece safely inside.
“Now, son,” he looked Cole straight in the eyes, “please don’t lose this case or the key.” Cole nodded, closing the case and tucking the key safely in his pocket. “Also, I’m going to need you to check in every now and then to make sure everything is going ok and to update me on your progress.”
Cole gave his father a hug. “Dad, don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine.”
“Son, I’m always going to worry.” Tony hugged him back. “When you guys land in California, there will be two cars waiting for you. I’ve also booked some rooms at one of the local lodges right inside the park.”
Drake’s head popped up. “What kind of cars?” I felt an electric wave of excitement r
adiating off him from where I was standing, three feet away.
“I promise you’ll approve, Drake,” Tony reassured him. Drake rubbed his hands together in anticipation, smiling to himself.
Blair grabbed Drake by the arm and dragged him outside. “Come on, Mr. Hotrod. Time to load up the plane.”
Load up the plane? Doesn’t she mean car? Don’t we have to drive to the airport first? Curious, I turned to Cole. “What did she mean load the plane? The airport is about a thirty minute drive from here.”
Cole looked at me strangely. “Oh! I forgot you didn’t fly here in the jet. Come on, follow me.”
He led me outside to the back yard. Past the beach and hidden from view behind some trees was a private landing strip, with a long, sleek, black jet. There was a small staircase connecting the door of the jet to the ground for people to board. My jaw dropped. First, the large mansion, then the large cabinet filled with stacks of cash and credit cards, and now a private jet?
“Geez, this would put Air Force One to shame!” I exclaimed, laughing sarcastically. I made my way to the jet and saw Mr. Marshall standing beside the stairs, ready to take everyone’s luggage.
“Thank you, Mr. Marshall,” I said, hoping to get something out of this grumpy man. He grunted in response, and I internally sighed, defeated.
I walked up the steps and into the jet, knowing that the inside would more than likely be just as luxurious as the outside. Boy, was I not disappointed.
Rows of leather, reclining seats lined up each side of the jet, one facing another, separated by a table containing glasses of water and small bowls of almonds. A little ways down, in the next cabin, sat a long leather couch, facing a large plasma screen TV. I walked over to the TV and crouched down near a mini fridge, and opened it to find a variety of soft drinks, plus bottles of water. I rolled back onto my rear end, unable to keep myself balanced on my toes any longer. I was finding it almost hard to accept the fact that this luxurious life, with the fancy jet, fancy new living place, and all the money, was my new life now. It was mind-boggling, trying to wrap my head around it. Growing up, we never struggled for money. The bills were always paid, I had new clothes every new school year, and I was gifted a car on my sixteenth birthday. But we didn’t have large stacks of money just left around, at least I didn’t think so.
“Pretty cool, right?” Lily crouched down next to me.
“Definitely, but also a bit overwhelming.”
Lily put her arms around my shoulders, giving me a little squeeze. “Don’t worry, I was the same way. You’ll get used to it. The Secret Six risks its life everyday, protecting the crystal and avoiding The Brotherhood, all the while keeping everyone’s abilities a secret from the rest of the world. The gods and goddess don’t want us worrying over anything monetary.”
Lily stood and offered me her hand, pulling me up with her. I gave her a small smile, then she walked to the couch, plopped down with a contented sigh, and closed her eyes.
Drake was already reclined in a chair, sleeping. His hands were behind his head, resting on his neck while the steady rise and fall of his chest, and occasional snore, suggested he was already in a deep slumber.
I walked back to the main cabin and sat myself down in a chair next to a window, instantly relaxed by how comfortable it was. The leather cushioned to the shape of my body, like it was hugging me. I leaned an elbow on the armrest and closed my eyes, giving in to the comfort when the seat next to me shifted with the weight of its occupant. I opened my eyes and saw Cole, with an unusual, pained expression. I opened my mouth to check on him, but Colin’s voice on the intercom interrupted me.
“All right, guys, buckle up. The ride will take approximately five hours, give or take, so make yourselves comfortable. I’ll let you know when you can get up and walk around once we hit a certain altitude.”
The sound of the engine turned on, causing Cole to jump in his seat. I noticed him gripping the arm of his seat so tightly his knuckles turned white. I leaned into him. “I know you mentioned that you’re afraid of flying when you’re not in control. Does this mean you’re a pilot, as well, and only enjoy flying when you’re navigating?” I hoped I could help shake the edge off of him and get him to think about something else.
He gave me a sly, albeit small, smile. “Something like that. I’ll have to show you sometime.” At that moment, the jet crawled forward. Cole’s eyes shut and he grasped my hand in his, gripping it tight. I was too stunned by him touching me to tell him to ease his grip a little. Afraid my voice would betray my thoughts, I squeezed his hand in return, hoping it gave him a little comfort.
I cleared my throat a few times. “Cole,” I whispered, “Where are we?” The jet began ascending.
His eyes remained closed, and his breathing accelerated a bit. “In the jet.”
Scared that he was going to have a full-blown panic attack, something overtook me as I placed my hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at me. I didn’t bother questioning the newfound courage that enabled me to reach out and touch him. His eyes opened, revealing the mesmerizing blue I loved so much, but filled with panic, quickly darting from one of my eyes to the next. I continued to stare at him, focusing on maintaining a steady rhythm of breathing, which was extremely hard to do with him staring back at me. Slowly, his breathing returned to a reasonable pace, matching mine, and his eyes no longer showed panic.
“And where is the jet?" I asked him.
“In the sky.”
“If only we knew someone who could control the air and save us if anything went wrong.”
He laughed and relaxed a bit, releasing the death grip on my hand, but not letting go completely. “I guess I never thought of it that way. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He reclined his chair back a little and adjusted his posture to a more comfortable position. He gave me one more look, causing my insides to melt, before closing his eyes.
How was it I was able to control my breathing when he was panicked, yet every other time he looked at me, I felt like I was having an asthma attack? Was it because I was so focused on making sure he was ok, that I put my own fears aside to help him? I smiled to myself, with a sense of accomplishment, and looked down at our entwined hands, marveling at the thought that something so simple, and yet so sweet, could bring a sense of comfort and security. I reclined my seat to match his, and fell into a peaceful slumber, not ever wanting to let go of his hand.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
When the jet’s wheels touched the ground, causing my body to bounce in response, I was jostled awake, unsure of what time it was, or how long I’d been asleep. The first thing I saw was a pair of legs, that weren’t my own, bent at the knee. I noticed my head slowly being lifted up and down by whatever I was laying on.
Oh. My. God.
I tilted my head up, wanting to confirm my suspicions of where I had fallen asleep, and, sure enough, saw Cole’s gorgeous face, sleeping peacefully with an arm wrapped around my waist, as if he was protecting me by holding me close to him. I hadn’t even realized I fell asleep on his chest. I slowly lifted myself off of his chest, not wanting to disturb him. My cheeks burned with either embarrassment or desire, I didn’t know.
“All right, guys,” Colin said over the intercom. “We’ve touched down in California. Grab your stuff and get ready to go.”
Cole stirred, slowly opening his eyes, and looked at me with a warm smile. “Hey, you. Did you have a nice mid-afternoon nap?” Once the jet came to a complete stop, Cole got up from his chair and reached for his luggage in the row in front of us.
Still thinking about me sleeping on his chest, I nodded my head and smiled, with a little more enthusiasm than I wanted. “I did. Um,” I shook my head, embarrassed by the giddy, childish reaction. “How about you?” I wondered if he knew I fell asleep on him and wanted to savor the moment like I did, or if his arm around me was just an involuntary reaction that he couldn’t control while asleep?
Before he could respond, Blair wa
lked down the aisle and stopped next to Cole, stretching her arms above her head. “I don’t know about you guys, but that was the most boring ride ever,” she pouted. “Everyone was pretty much sleeping, so I couldn’t talk to anyone. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone can sleep when it’s so bright and beautiful outside?” She shrugged her shoulders and continued down the aisle to exit the jet.
“Do you need help with your bags?” Cole offered. “If you give me a minute I can go put my stuff outside and come back and help you with yours?”
Mentally cursing Blair for not letting Cole answer my question, I shook my head. I really wanted to know if our “intimate moment” fazed him as much as it did me, even though nothing happened, but I didn’t see a point in asking again if he wasn’t going to mention it. “Oh, no, that’s ok. I think I can manage it.”
He looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You ok?”
I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I’ve got it. I’m good.” I gave him a small smile, hoping it was believable. He nodded in response and, with his bags in hand, headed toward the exit. I watched as he walked out the door and descended the stairs. I rolled my eyes and covered my face with my hands, groaning with frustration. I reminded myself that this trip was strictly to find the crystal pieces and not about trying to form a relationship, especially with someone as perfect as Cole. That wouldn’t be too hard, right? I scoffed.
“WHAT?! NO WAY!” someone shouted. I quickly stood up and looked up and down the aisle of the plane, trying to find the source of the shout, but noticed that I was alone. I grabbed my bags and hurried for the exit.
After I stepped off the stairs, I saw two of the fanciest SUVs I’d ever seen parked next to each other. One was cherry red and the other was charcoal black. Drake was leaning over the red one’s hood like he was hugging it, but when I walked closer, I saw that he was actually petting it.
“My little fire ember! Are you ready for a little road trip?” he said, delicately. Upon closer observation, the red car was actually a Lamborghini Urus SUV, without a single speck of dirt to be found. The other one was a Bugatti SUV, the paint so sleek you could see the shimmer settled into it. Both cars had wheels that looked like they had never seen a gravel road before. They could’ve easily been taken out of a Fast and Furious movie—my dad was a huge car fanatic, so any movie involving cars was always on at my house.