I brushed my hair and my teeth, got dressed, and headed downstairs to find something for breakfast, or was it brunch? It was nearly noon, but I could eat eggs and bacon pretty much any time of day.
When I arrived at the foot of the stairs, I heard muffled voices coming from the living room. I hesitated and held my breath, leaning it to listen. Two of the voices were undeniably my parents, and the most baritone one was Daniel’s father, Inspector Dolinsky. The fourth voice I did not recognize.
I tiptoed over to the living room and caught a glimpse of my parents talking to Mr. Dolinsky and some other middle-aged woman. She had long blond hair tied into a high ponytail and was dressed entirely in black. I knew from the moment I saw her that she must also be from the academy or the secret division of the FBI. I could sense psychic power radiating from her.
“Yes, you should be very proud of your daughter. She is moving away to an elite college today. It’s her dream.” The woman spoke slowly and evenly.
When my parents repeated her, I realized what was happening. They were in a trance. They were being hypnotized. I stormed into the living room. “What’s—” I stopped mid-sentence. The woman held up her hand and I froze in place. I could not move or talk; I was like a statue in the middle of my own living room.
Mr. Dolinsky looked at me and put a finger to his lips.
I tried with all of my might to move, but I was caught in her powers. Anger surged through me. How dare she hypnotize my parents! And Mr. Dolinsky was in on it. I needed answers now. I pushed against her psychic grip, but I was no match for this woman.
She pursed her bright red lips and narrowed her eyes at me. It was a warning, no doubt. She then turned back to my parents and resumed her soft tone. “You are so proud of her. She is going to a school far away, but you can still see her on weekend sometimes.”
My mother and father, smiled but their eyes were blank and dark.
My heart ached seeing them like this. My parents looked like zombies; their arms hung loose at their sides. My mother was still dressed in her housecoat with her hair wrapped up in a silk scarf. Their unblinking eyes waited for further instructions.
The blond woman sighed and snapped her fingers.
My parent’s heads fell limp to their chest as if they were sleepwalking.
The woman turned on her heel to face me fully. She put her hands on her wide hips. “If I let you go, are you going to be quiet?”
I could only blink. I didn’t want to be quiet. I wanted to run to my mom and dad and shake them out of that trance. I had no idea what kind of weird psychic brainwashing I had walked into, but it needed to stop.
Mr. Dolinsky came to my side. “Bianca, do not panic. No harm has befallen your family.” His voice was gentle and sincere. “We just needed to plant a false memory that you had been accepted into a special college program halfway across the state. It won’t hurt them. It will allow you to train full time at the academy.” He gestured to the woman. “It’s ok, you can let her go Agent Thompson.”
The woman, also known as Agent Thompson, waved her hand towards me and I was released from the bond.
I stumbled and fell onto my knees. I took a giant breath and blinked my eyes furiously. “You don’t have to brainwash them!” I protested. “I don’t want to attend the academy if it means lying to more people.”
Agent Thompson rolled her emerald green eyes and scoffed.
Inspector Dolinsky crouched down beside me and put a hand on my shoulder. “It’s going to be ok, Bianca,” He said. “This won’t hurt them at all. I thought you were looking forward to joining the school full time?”
I shrugged.
“Miss Bianca,” Agent Thompson spoke up so I would look at her. “I promise you that my skills do no short or long-term damage to the minds of people I hypnotize. Sometimes it is necessary to interfere with the thoughts of normal people to prevent them from finding out about us. Imagine how distressed they would be if they found out the truth.”
I slammed my fist down onto the carpet. “So now everything I live will be a lie.”
Inspector Dolinsky and Agent Thompson were quiet, that was all the confirmation I needed. I struggled to my feet and pulled away. “I hate lying. I don’t want my life to be a secret. I didn’t sign up for this!”
“Once you’ve completed training, things will become more normal again.” Mr. Dolinsky reasoned.
What was normal anymore? Would I ever truly be normal again? My heart ached with the thought of having to keep secrets from my parents. Would they end up hating me like Mr. Dolinsky’s ex-wife? Would they feel abandoned or left out like Jessica and Daniel? I wasn’t ready for this decision. Hell, less than a month ago I didn’t even know what I wanted to do after graduation, and now it seemed that the world had it all planned out for me whether I liked it or not.
A hot tear trailed down my cheek as memories from prom resurfaced. I had to do whatever it took to keep them safe, even it meant lying to them. Every night I was here, I put my parents at risk. I let out a long shaking breath and set my shoulders. “I understand. I will not let them be hurt by anyone who is after me.”
Agent Thompson’s eyes met mine and there was a glimmer of understanding beneath her straight face. She nodded and snapped her fingers.
My parents stood back up properly and blinked their eyes a few times.
I stood frozen as their eyes widened and they broke into huge smiles. The memories were false, but the emotions were real.
“Oh, Bianca, we’re so proud of you!” My mother said and ran over to hug me. “Such a wonderful opportunity. See, I told you everything would work out.”
My father joined us and patted my head like he used to do when I was little. He wasn’t much for physical displays of affection. “I know you’re on a full scholarship, too. I’m so proud. Let me know if you run into any financial difficulty though, alright?”
I nodded, tears forming at the corners of my eyes. I pulled them both into a group hug and let out a sob. “I love you, Mom and Dad. So, so much. I promise I’ll make you proud.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
My dorm was better than I could have imagined. The interior of the building was just as modern and well kept as the rest of the facility. I hauled my suitcase along beside me through the white halls up to the third floor of the dormitory building.
I found my door, 310, and swiped the key card. The pocket door opened with a hydraulic hiss and the lights flickered on as I set of the automatic sensor. The room was fairly spacious, with a bed in one corner and a desk opposite it. There was a mini fridge, a closet filled with training clothes, a laptop computer, and a huge TV mounted on the wall. The desk had a land line phone for calling anyone on the outside. Cellular devices were prohibited.
The blinds on the small window were shut tight. The air had a hint of lavender scent to it. There was no kitchenette or washroom. I had found the communal washrooms earlier, which were even more luxurious than the ones I used after training.
I closed the door behind me and flung my suitcase of the pristine white bedding.
The floors were coed, but we each had a private room; I was thankful for that. The last thing I wanted was to get partnered with some girl I didn’t know who snored or talked in her sleep or something like that. Actually, I wondered what sort of psychic things might happen during sleep to someone who levitated or used fire. I’d have to ask Phylicia.
I shrugged off the rambling thoughts and unpacked my suitcase. All of my casual clothes fit neatly beside my black training gear in the closet. I added my favorite photo of my parents and I from last Christmas on the desk.
I kicked off my sneakers and collapsed down on the soft bed. I stared up at the ceiling and let out a long sigh. I wanted to call my parents, but how could I keep up this lie that Agent Thompson had buried into their subconscious. The guilt made my stomach cramp up. Daniel’s words flowed through my mind again and I shook them away.
Just as I found myself beginning to nod off, there was a
knock at my door. I sprang from my bed and pressed the button on the wall. The door slid open and Phylicia appeared.
“Ah ha, so you did move in!” She said. She was dressed casually in sweatpants and a distressed t-shirt that looked so effortlessly chic; they must have been designer. “Why are you here moping in your room? Let me take you on a tour!”
“That would be great,” I said. Anything to get me out of my own head and socializing would be beyond therapeutic at this point.
I slid my shoes back on, checked my hair in the mirror, and then followed Phylicia out.
“The dorm is five floors, everyone has private rooms, there’re washrooms and showers on every floor and co-ed lounges on floors five, three, and one. There’s also a twenty-four-hour gym in the basement.” Phylicia rattled off the stats as we walked down the hall. In another life, she would have been an excellent real estate agent.
At the end of the hall just past the elevators there was a huge lounge. The doors were open and opposite wall was lined with floor-to-ceiling windows to let in the June sunlight. Couches, chairs ,and tables were nestled in groups. There was a giant television, gaming consoles, and a library of books, DVDS, and board games on the far wall.
My breath caught in my throat. “Wow,” I said.
The room was almost empty. A girl I recognized from the cafeteria was sitting curled up in a chair reading a book. She was dressed in an over-sized black sweater and black tights. She wasn’t wearing shoes. She was one of the girls who hung out with the “goth-kids” as I had labeled them.
“Where is everyone?” I asked Phylicia. There were over one hundred students that attended the academy, but this place seemed like a ghost town.
“It’s Sunday, most people go home on the weekend. To be honest, I like the quiet.” She kept walking towards an alcove filled with snack machines.
“You don’t go home?”
Phylicia flinched. I immediately regretted what I said. She shook her head. “No, my parents are too busy for me. They’re entrepreneurs who only know how to show their love with money. Besides, I’m eighteen. I’m no baby.”
That explained her expensive wardrobe. “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said.
Phylicia shrugged it off. “Whatever.” Her face brightened a moment later. “Hey, wanna go see what’s on for lunch? I’m starving.”
“I could eat,” I agreed and made a mental note not to bring up her family life again.
#
I couldn’t sleep.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, even as the other students came back. The cafeteria was packed at dinner time. The lounge of my floor was busy too. I glanced in on my way by, but the tiny goth girl wasn’t there. Phylicia had a room on the fourth floor; 412. I could get down there directly using the stairwell at the end of the hall. I couldn’t help but wonder which floor Ryland and Luke were on.
I tossed and turned for three hours before giving up on sleep. I threw on some of my training clothes, laced up my sneakers tight and stuffed my key-card in my bra. Maybe if I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill for a while, it would tire me out enough to grab a few hours of sleep before dawn.
The halls were dark and empty. Most people retreated to bed before ten o’clock, knowing they’d have to be up before sunrise. I took the stairs quickly and quietly to avoid anyone else who might be up and who might try to stop me from going to the gym at one in the morning.
I swiped my card to open the door. The gym was huge. There was a weight area, countless cardio machines, and a large open floor with yoga mats stacked near the side. It was completely empty. The windows that faced the halls were mirrored for privacy so only someone inside could see out.
Relieved to find the gym empty, I picked a treadmill and random, plopped a bottle of water into the holder and turned it on. The pace increased slowly, and I had only been on for a few minutes when I heard the door open.
“I didn’t think I’d be seeing you here.” Ryland said.
I pushed the STOP button on the treadmill and whirled around. “What are you doing here?” I tried to suppress my breathing. I hadn’t exactly been one for jogging or working out before coming to the academy. To be brutally honest, my cardiovascular skills were pretty much nonexistent.
“I’m assuming the same thing you are.” Ryland shrugged. He waved me away. “Anyway, do your thing. Don’t bother me.”
I scowled at the back of his head as he walked to the weights section of the gym. What a jerk.
I started up the treadmill again, but couldn’t get back to the pace I was running before being interrupted. I wasn’t sure if it was because my legs were tired or if it was because the treadmill I had chosen had a perfectly unobstructed view of the free weights area where Ryland was doing pull-ups.
Ryland’s white tank top and gray sweatpants left nothing to the imagination. He was like a Greek god. He made each pull up look effortless, then as if to spite my amazement, started doing them one handed. His muscles flexed and released in a steady rhythm.
I forced myself to look at the screen in front of me that was counting down how many minutes I had left to finish the mile. Ten minutes and I could leave. I wasn’t about to go early just because his chiseled muscles were enough to make me drool. A girl had to have some dignity.
I pushed a button to increase the speed just a touch. As soon as this mile was done I’d leave, I promised myself.
When I dared to glance up, Ryland had moved from the pull-up bar and was stretching. I groaned inwardly, unable to take my eyes away. From what he lacked in kindness and emotional intelligence, he sure made up for in pure animal attraction.
Ryland’s eyes met mine in the mirror and I looked away.
“Shit,” I whispered. My face was hot and red. I kept my eyes fixed dead ahead of me until the timer chimed. The treadmill slowed to a stop, and I hopped off. The cool water relived the raw feeling in my throat. My legs were shaking.
“Leaving so soon?” Ryland called to me from across the gym.
I ignored him, grabbed a paper towel to wipe off my machine.
“Hey, don’t ignore me.” Ryland was suddenly at my side. His white tank top clung to his chest.
I sighed and tossed the paper towel into the garbage. “What is it?”
“You don’t have to leave just cause I’m here.” Ryland said.
I blinked. Was he trying to be nice?
“I mean, I know I’m distracting, but I can’t help it.”
I frowned. If he was trying to be nice, he just ruined it. What a typical boy. I shook my head. “No, I just needed to burn off some energy. I’m going to bed.”
As I turned, Ryland grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him. “Can’t sleep?”
I tensed for a brief second and then felt my strength melt away when I looked into his icy blue eyes. He was such an asshole. Such a sexy, ripped, beautiful jerk. I was powerless when our eyes met. I couldn’t even be angry at him anymore. My voice faltered as I tried to find an excuse.
“Don’t leave,” Ryland said. “Catching up on some training would be good for both of us.”
I swallowed hard. Why was my mouth so dry? Why did I want him so bad? Before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned forward and kissed him.
Ryland groaned against my mouth, pulling me towards him and enclosing his arms around me.
I shouldn’t be doing this. I knew better than this. But it the moment I didn’t care. I just wanted to feel him against me and his hands running through my hair. This was so wrong. What if we got caught? The worries flickered and faded away as his tongue pushed against mind.
I whimpered. My nerves felt if they were on fire and his strong hands moved down to my waist. “We shouldn’t do this,” I whispered against his mouth.
Ryland pulled away as I looked into his eyes. “We should. There’s nothing wrong with what we’re feeling. I want you, Bianca.”
The icy blue of his eyes was utterly hypnotizing. I ignored the deep hum that was vibrating around us and kiss
ed him again. It was electric; was it the power of two psychics coming together that was creating these waves of energy?
“I want you too,” I whispered as he trailed kissed down my neck. Shivers ran through my body.
“Come up to my room.” He demanded. Ryland’s voice was low and growly.
I snapped my eyes open and froze. That was too much too soon. I gently pulled out of his grasp. “No, I can’t.” I shook my head.
Ryland grabbed my hand so I couldn’t back away. “I know you want to.”
A burst of energy exploded in my head. I shrieked and wrestled out of his grip. “Hold up, are you trying to get into my head?”
Ryland looked offended. “No! Why would I do that? I don’t need to read your mind to figure out that look in your eyes. Bianca, I want you. I’m not playing games. I swear.”
How could I trust someone who could read my mind? The hot desire that was burning inside of me abruptly went cold. “Sorry, I just,” I fumbled over my words. “I can’t do this right now.”
“Bianca, wait!” Ryland called after me as I ran out the gym. He didn’t follow me, but for some reason I wished that he had.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I was not a morning person.
My alarm went off at five o’clock in the morning. I don’t think I had ever been awake before sunrise before in my entire life. I was exhausted. It didn’t help that I had only managed to get a few hours worth of sleep.
I dragged myself to the communal showers, got cleaned up and dressed, and then stumbled out of the dormitories to the main building.
Ryland wasn’t in the cafeteria. I couldn’t decide if I was relieved or upset at this realization.
The first drop of coffee that hit my tongue gave me new life. I ate an omelet and toast for breakfast, alone as usual. Today was my first “real” day of classes. Mentally rehearsed my schedule: first class was Ethics of Psychic Talents, second class was Telekinetic Theory and Methods, and after lunch I had a solid four-hour block of physical training. For the first time since grade school, I was actually excited to get to class.
Psychic Secret: An Urban Fantasy Academy Romance (Psychic Academy Book 1) Page 9