Touched (Sense Thieves)

by Corrine Jackson

  “Lottie, tell him!” Asher’s deep roar had me jumping out of my skin. “Tell the truth, Lottie, before we can’t take this back!”

  Lottie turned away, crying openly now. Gabe paused, staring at her, and Asher used his distraction, pinning him to the wall. “Now, Charlotte! I was in Remy’s head. I know that she didn’t hurt you. She would never hurt any of us.”

  “Lottie?” Gabe asked, confused.

  “I felt you, Gabe,” she bit out. “My hand on your shoulder. She did that. She’s making us human again.”

  Asher had been wrong. There was no mistaking the hate in his sister’s eyes as she swung toward me.

  Asher slowly loosened his hold on Gabe. “I told you before. She’s not like the others.”

  Gabe watched Lottie race out of the room in tears, his expression thoughtful.

  “Remy? You okay?” Asher touched my arm, and I observed it shook.

  “I’m sorry,” I blurted out. “I didn’t mean to do it. I thought how awful it would be never to feel you, and I wished I could help somehow.”

  He pressed his hands to my cheeks. “You did nothing wrong.”

  “Asher.” For the first time since I’d met him, Gabe’s voice thickened with emotion. “Your Healer has powers she hasn’t even tapped into yet. If the others find out what she can do, there will be no protecting her.”

  Asher looked more determined than ever. “We’d better find a way. Remy is our best hope for a cure.”

  We left Gabe in the living room, and I followed Asher up the stairs, leading me to the room the family used as a gym to begin my training. On the second floor, I trailed behind peering through doorways. My attention caught on a large, framed black-and-white photo that hung on the far wall of a masculine bedroom. Asher followed slowly when I moved inside the room to get a better look.

  It was me, sitting on a log the first day I’d met Asher at the beach. Except it wasn’t a me that I recognized. Sadness lingered in the clear eyes of the girl who stared off into the distance and frailty settled about the shoulders that hunched against the cold. What surprised me was the strength in her features, the firm resolve in the set of the jaw. This girl—this woman—was a survivor. My fingers traced the long strands of hair that danced in the wind. Unbeknownst to him, Asher had captured the moment I’d decided to stay in Blackwell Falls instead of returning to New York, a decision that had most likely saved my life and had brought me to him.

  “I’m beautiful,” I whispered in shock. “You made me look beautiful.”

  “You are beautiful.” Asher’s voice sounded reverent, and I tore my gaze from the photo. He stared at me and not the picture. “I’ve been dying to take your picture again since that day, but I didn’t dare ask after what happened.”

  I smiled, remembering. “You mean when I tried to destroy your camera? I told you why I was upset. I thought you were taking pictures of the poor little abused girl.”

  He whistled. “Yeah. You should see those pictures.”

  Curious, I asked, “Where are they?”

  He pointed to another wall where three smaller color photos were framed together in a series. I had always thought myself a gawky, awkward girl who’d never grown into her height, but as I studied his pictures, I saw myself as Asher did. In each one, the sky shrank and I grew larger as I stormed closer, intent on taking the camera from Asher. True, I looked tall, but in the midst of my passion, I was a confident warrior.

  “Wow. I’m amazed you didn’t drop the camera and run screaming.” I tossed a rueful glance his way, and then turned in a slow circle. This had to be Asher’s bedroom. There were few furnishings aside from the massive bed with a dark wooden headboard, stretching halfway up the wall, carved with intricate designs. With heat flushing my cheeks, I scanned the rest of the walls and discovered dozens of photos, some of his family, but most of strangers in foreign, exotic places I’d never been. I remembered someone saying on my first day of school that Asher was a talented photographer. It was easy to see why. “These are really good, Asher.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve had decades to refine my skills. It’s one of the few pleasures left open to us. To be able to appreciate the beauty in the world. For Lottie, it’s music. Gabe likes books and poetry. We’ve studied under some amazing teachers through the years, though never with the same one for too long.”

  “It must be hard to start over so often.”

  Asher gave a slow nod. “I’ve come to accept it over time. Shall we?” I followed him from his room and down the hall to the gym. Expensive equipment lined the walls, but the center of the room held only a large, blue mat.

  Asher grinned. “Gabe and I like to spar to stay loose. Take off your shoes.”

  I pulled off my boots and socks and tossed them aside, while he did the same. Rising, I faced a barefoot Asher, both of us in jeans and tees. He circled me, and I spun on the balls of my feet to keep him in sight.

  “What happens now?”

  His eyes narrowed. “I attack, and you defend yourself.”

  With no more warning than that, he sprang at me, too fast to evade. My single other option to defend myself would be to use my ability to hurt him, and I couldn’t do that. I let myself fall with him to the mat where he cushioned my body.

  Flat on our backs and out of breath, we stared at each other, knowing this was a futile exercise.

  Gabe seconded our thoughts from where he leaned against the wall watching us. “It won’t work. You’re trying too hard to protect her and she’s unwilling to hurt you to protect herself.”

  Asher helped me up. “Go away, Gabe.”

  Something had changed downstairs with Lottie’s confession. For once, Gabe didn’t look quite so evil. I heard myself asking him, “What do you suggest?”

  He pushed away from the wall. “Train with me. Asher can watch and give you tips. That way you’ll know what a real attack will be like.”

  Asher’s protest went ignored as I stared at his brother. “And what if I hurt you defending myself?”

  Gabe’s eyes flashed with arrogance, and he shrugged. “I’ll take that chance.”

  I studied his handsome face and didn’t see another option. Asher had convinced me I needed to know how to defend myself, and Gabe appeared willing to teach me. “Fine. Let’s do it.”

  Asher stepped between us, his jaw tight with anger. “No. You could get hurt, Remy.”

  My fingers traced his lips. “That’s kind of the idea, Asher. You know this is the right thing to do. This will never work if you’re going easy on me.” Asher wavered, and I went in for the kill with a teasing smile. “Besides, Gabe knows you’ll rip him apart if he does any permanent damage.”

  Gabe’s brows rose at the last, but Asher finally smiled. He turned to his brother, and a dark warning passed between them before Asher stepped to the side of the room. Gabe took his place at my side. He didn’t circle me like Asher had, but stared at me with a blank expression. The next instant I lay flat on my back, and the air had been forced from my lungs as he pinned me to the floor.

  I felt his energy coming at me, but my walls held strong. Before I could retaliate, Gabe’s weight disappeared. Gasping, I rolled to my side to see Asher lifting Gabe off his feet with a fist gripping his shirt, while his brother readied himself to fight back.

  “Asher, stop!”

  Through gritted teeth, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  In a stronger voice, I insisted, “Yes! Let him go. He was only doing what we asked.” I stood and went into a crouch. “I’m ready to go again.”

  Asher loosened his hold and faced me with a desperate expression, his hands balled in fists. “I can’t, Remy. I can’t watch this.”

  “You were the one who told me I needed to be prepared. This is me preparing. Now tell me what I did wrong.”

  He took a deep breath and finally said, “You were only using your eyes. We move too quickly for sight to be of use to you. You need to open your other senses.”

  I remembered the night at the
waterfall when I’d felt the air shift and smelled Asher’s scent when he closed in. I faced Gabe and braced myself. His face remained expressionless when I ordered, “Again.”

  Seconds later, I lay flat on my back when Gabe knocked my legs out from under me. He didn’t help me up, but eyed me from several feet away, while I gasped and struggled to regain my feet. Determined, I glared at him. “Again.”

  For the next half hour, Gabe attacked wordlessly, and I tried to find a weakness. Asher offered advice through gritted teeth, and I could tell it killed him to watch Gabe striking at me. Sometimes, Gabe would land a blow to my ribs or back instead of knocking me to the ground, but he always danced out of reach before I could retaliate. He simply moved too fast.

  Then he began to taunt me.

  “Why don’t you stay down, Healer? We all know you’re dead the second a Protector gets his hands on you.”

  Another blow.

  “I thought you were going to hurt me. You’re the only one in pain here.”

  An arm struck me across the middle and sent me flying backwards. I hit the ground with a jarring thump that made me see stars. This time, Gabe gave me no time to recover. He flipped me on my stomach and twisted my arm behind me, while he kneeled with his knee in my lower back. It took everything I had not to cry out when he pulled my arm up higher.

  “Enough, Gabe.”

  Gabe ignored Asher’s warning as he leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “You’re weak, Healer. Incapable of fighting back. You’re going to get my brother killed for nothing.”

  With a sickening pop, my shoulder slipped from its socket in a familiar explosion of pain. It was the moment I’d been waiting for. Rage consumed me, and I lowered my shield to strike back at Gabe with everything I had. He dropped to the mat beside me, clutching his shoulder. His beautiful face contorted in pain, and I experienced a surge of grim satisfaction to find all traces of arrogance erased.

  Asher rushed forward to help me sit up. His eyes looked bleak, and I reassured him, “I’m okay. We’re both okay.”

  I crawled over to Gabe. He glared at me, and I smiled back, feeling mean. “Hurts like hell, doesn’t it?” He didn’t answer, but his energy swirled as if to protect himself from another attack. I rolled my eyes. “Cut it out. I know what you were trying to do, Gabe. I get it, okay? Now, let me help you.”

  “Don’t bother. It’ll heal on its own.” His cold tone had no give.

  “You mean in a few days? Shut up, you ungrateful jerk, and be still. Pain makes me irritable, and I might decide to break something while I’m in there.” I turned to Asher who looked ready to carry me out of the room. “If you feel his energy come at me, you have my permission to give his shoulder a good yank.”

  Asher’s voice sounded grim. “I don’t like this.”

  “Gabe won’t hurt me. He was trying to help me, even though he does a great impression of an evil jackass.” I twisted back to Gabe and placed my good hand on his cheek. He froze at my touch, and I closed my eyes to lose myself in the healing. It was difficult to ignore my own pain, but soon the humming took over. Gabe’s internal workings resembled Asher’s, and it took a concerted effort to heal his dislocated shoulder. Out of spite for the numerous times he’d thrown me to the ground, I considered leaving the bruises covering his arms, back, and side, but healed those, too. Green sparks lit between us when I pulled away.

  I sank to the floor beside him, beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

  Gabe studied me with a bemused expression. “You’re not very smart, are you? Now you’re weak and injured. You couldn’t hurt me if you tried.”

  I raised one brow. “Couldn’t I?”

  His glance strayed to my dislocated shoulder and he grimaced. “Stupid, Healer!” he spat.

  “Shark!” I stuck my tongue out at him and smirked. He was in a snit because I’d managed to beat him.

  In a single fluid movement, he stood. “You waited too long to defend yourself. Next time we train, be prepared to take me out sooner. Now that I know what you can do, I won’t make it so easy for you.”

  He walked out of the room without a backward glance.

  “I really dislike your brother, Asher, but I have to admit he’s growing on me.”

  “I think he likes you, too. He’s not usually that nice.” Asher’s hand stroked my back, and he stretched out beside me with his face inches from mine. “You ready?”

  I nodded and felt Asher’s energy spreading through me. As I had in the car, I used his energy to aid me in healing myself when I found my own energy depleted. Long minutes later, I sighed as the pain disappeared. Feeling a thousand times better, I sprawled on his chest while he ran a hand from my shoulder to my hip, leaving little sparks of heat behind with each pass.

  “He’s not wrong, you know. I’m afraid of my new power. I wasn’t willing to use it on him until he pissed me off.”

  Asher kissed my forehead. “I figured that out, or I wouldn’t have been able to watch without beating him to a pulp. He was right to step in. I couldn’t have pushed you that far.”

  “I know. Gabe’s smarter than I gave him credit for.”

  Asher’s laugh nearly toppled me off him. “Please don’t tell him that. His ego is swelled enough already from the world telling him he’s beautiful.”

  I snorted. “Ha. He’s got nothing on you.”

  “You just like me for my scar,” he teased.

  “Hmm. You never told me how you got that scar.”

  He slid me off him, and we faced each other on our sides with his arm cradling my head. After a long hesitation, he said, “It was a long time ago. After the War, we returned to our home. It took a while for us to realize we would have to leave everything we knew behind or risk discovery.”

  “Every few years—when people might notice we never aged—we moved, changed our names, and set up a new home. Made new friends. But when you watch everyone around you die year after year, something inside you dies, too.”

  He paused and his memories filled the silence. “It killed me a little at a time, the numbness and the death and watching every dream I’d had die. This”—his finger traced the scar on his temple—“was a mistake. I jumped off a cliff, almost decapitating myself on the way down. I wanted to feel anything, even pain, but in the end . . . nothing. Six months to heal all the injuries and broken bones, but I didn’t feel a thing.”

  “Is it so bad?” I whispered.

  A corner of his mouth lifted. “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”

  His words acted as a vise constricting my heart. We’d never be normal, never be free to dream like everyone else. “What if I can heal you? You don’t have to fight so hard to be around me anymore. What if you could be mortal again?”

  Asher’s arm curled under me, hooking around my neck to pull me closer. “Not while there’s a chance you could be hurt.”

  I couldn’t let go of the idea. My body had already tried to heal him. Neither of us knew what would have happened if I hadn’t stopped it. My mother said the possibility existed. Maybe . . .

  “No.”

  “But—”

  He touched the corner of my mouth with a gentle finger. “I’ll give you anything you want. My heart is yours as long as you want me, but don’t ask me to risk losing you.”

  Words disappeared again. I placed his hand over my heart, and we stared at each other, falling more into each other. I would stop fighting him for now, but I wasn’t giving up. There had to be a way to make him mortal again because if there wasn’t, he’d lose me anyway. There was one thing we could all agree on.

  Healers had a short lifespan once Protectors discovered their existence.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Everything I’d learned about Protectors had made one fact undeniable: My abilities put everyone I cared about at risk. Being a Healer wasn’t something I could shut off, so training with Gabe and Asher became my top priority. Over the next couple of weeks, my life settled into a new routine. School, homework, dinn
er with the family, and when I could get away, evenings spent in the Blackwells’ gym getting thrown to the mat by Gabe. The abuse continued until he wore me down, and I retaliated by wounding him.

  Patience developed into one of my greatest assets—I only needed to touch him once to end the fight, but it grew difficult to take blow after blow while I waited for my chance. The pain made me ill-tempered, but we all knew it would be my prime weapon.

  Asher gritted his teeth through the whole process and helped me understand more about how the Protectors moved (fast) and what to expect when they came for me (death, unless I managed to get away). He and his brother drew up multiple escape plans with various rendezvous points to meet up in case an attack came while I was at school, at home, en route from school to home, at the pool.... The list went on and every strategy had a contingency plan. I had no illusions that Gabe helped me out of the goodness of his heart or a newfound liking for Healers. I’d accepted that, if the Protectors showed up, I’d need any help the Blackwells were willing to give. My life wasn’t the only one at stake anymore.

  Despite our preparations for danger, I think we all sensed a storm brewing. It festered in the rare glimpses of worry on Asher’s face, and the militant way Lottie avoided any contact with me, keeping to her room when I visited. It lingered in Gabe’s tense voice when he snarled at me during training, cursing me for my weakness that could destroy his family.

  Then Gabe heard a rumor that some Protectors were planning on visiting.

  “Visiting? Are you kidding me? I’m going through all of this, and you’re inviting them to town for a slumber party?”

  Gabe had made his announcement after knocking me flat on my back and promptly left the training room, not caring in the least how his announcement affected me. Asher touched my arm, drawing my attention away from staring daggers into Gabe’s retreating figure.

  “Remy, look at me. It’s the way things work in our world. If we turned them away, there would be questions.”