I rolled my shoulders and stretched. The buzzing hum of energy was rippling through my muscles, begging to be let loose again. “I suppose that wouldn’t be so bad. When I’m ready.” I added.
Professor Turner finished his notes. “You are an excellent student, Bianca,” He said. “You’ve been working hard and overcome a lot of challenges during your short time at the Psychic Academy.”
“Thank you Professor Turner,” I said as I adjusted my ponytail to avoid looking too awkward. He was standing so close to me. His cologne was the perfect blend of musk and spice.
“I told you, call me Jack.” He said with a smile that oozed charm.
I let out an embarrassing giggle and then turned away and pretended to cough. I had never in my life felt comfortable enough to use a teacher’s first name and I sure as hell would not start with Professor Sexy. “Sure,” I said. “So, uh, where were we?”
“I was going to suggest that we let you train with the group.” Turner said.
I swallowed hard. I hadn’t sparred or trained with anyone before, unless I counted the incident at prom and I single-handedly ruined that.
“No need to be nervous,” He added.
Wow, it was that obvious. I could never hide my emotions well. “Sure.” I wiped my sweaty hands on my leggings. “Let’s do it.” My voice cracked with fake enthusiasm.
I followed Professor Turner through the narrow passages between the accordion walls into a larger room. There were half a dozen students training with various objects. Along the wall were more weights, rubber balls, and plastic orbs, among other standard exercise equipment.
“This group all have telekinetic powers. I was training them myself until the incident with Ms. Blackwell. Since then, they’ve been using this time to hone their skills until we find a replacement teacher.”
“Replacement?”
“Only temporary. I assure you. Ms. Blackwell’s recovery has been slow.” His voice was void of sympathy.
I didn’t reply, watching the six students working in pairs. They were tossing metal weights back and forth as if they were as light as air. They operated in perfect unison, their psychic bonds grabbing hold and letting go in some sort of game of catch. It was impressive, there was no doubt about it.
The students did not break concentration as we watched them and only stopped when Professor Turner snapped is fingers. “Alright class, I’d like to introduce you to our newest telekinetic talent.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “Bianca Hernandez.”
I recognized the faces from the cafeteria and the hall but I didn’t know any of them by name. There were two girls and four guys, all dressed in black training gear. The weights they had been using slowly sank to the floor as they looked me up and down.
“Hi,” I said meekly. “Nice to meet you.”
“Who would like to practice with our new recruit?” Turner asked.
No one stepped forward immediately, seeming very secure with their usual partners. Finally a tanned boy with brown and blond spiked hair raised his hand. “I’ll give it a go, sir.”
“Qadir, thank you for volunteering.” Turner said. “Be careful now, she is very talented.” He beamed with pride and I prayed that I didn’t totally screw up.
Qadir stopped at the middle of the mat and the other students backed away. “Ok, let’s see what ya got, new girl.” He smirked.
I already didn’t like him. He was skinny and cocky and, if is ego was as big as his hair, totally not my kind of guy. I shook my hands out and stood in front of him. I did my best to ignore the other pairs of eyes that were watching us. I was determined not to make a fool of myself.
“Let’s start with something simple.” Turner picked up one of the plastic orbs and tossed it to Qadir, who didn’t catch it with his hands, but with his mind.
If I wasn’t so nervous I would have been amazed. Qadir caught the orb mid flight, and it hovered above the ground, rotating slowly on its axis.
“Ready, new girl?” He smirked.
I bristled with anger. Wow, he was as annoying as I thought he’d be. “Ready.” I said, but I felt nothing that could be remotely described as ready. I gasped as the orb flew towards me like a baseball. I flicked my wrist, and it flew off at a different angle.
“You’re supposed to send it back to me. Not shoot it across the room.” Qadir raised his hand, and the orb stopped. He flicked his fingers back towards me and the orb changed direction. It was moving at incredible speed. He was trying to get me to flinch.
I rooted myself in the ground and raised my hands. With my stance steady I was able to catch the orb this time. I extended my energy out and around the hard plastic. It hummed and vibrated but stayed still. I suppressed an excited shout and adjusted my power so the orb came directly in front of me.
“Boring,” My opponent drawled, and I felt a tug on my psychic connection. He was also connected to the orb, trying to pull it out of my invisible grasp.
I clenched my teeth and dug my heels into the mat. He was strong and my connection was slipping. I clenched my fists as if I could hang onto the orb with them. The plastic trembled and shook, flowing back and forth between us.
Qadir wasn’t even straining. He slammed is foot down. The shock rang through my system and I lost control of the orb; it floated to him effortlessly. He caught it in his hand and shook his head.
“I thought you were powerful.” He scoffed.
I bit back my response. I would not be embarrassed like that in front of my peers. Stretching my hand out, I regained my connection on the orb and tugged. I nearly pried it out of his hand.
Qadir laughed. “Nope, still not good enough.” He wrenched it back from me.
“Screw off!” I shouted and a deep hum rolled through my body. The surrounding walls trembled.
I heard Professor Turner suck in a breath.
“You’re not so great!” I summoned all of my strength and pulled the orb away from him and sent it flying in the air.
Qadir’s expression was priceless.
Suddenly, all the plastic orbs began to tremble on the floor. I was losing my cool and my connection was flickering. I felt a jolt of panic run through my body but it was too late. There was a crackling sound and all the clear orbs shattered, sending pieces of plastic all over the room and raining down on us.
My heart sank before fear flooded my senses. I glanced at Turner, who looked as shocked as his six star students. The quiet settled around me. It was heavy and uncomfortable. They all looked at me as if I were a freak.
Holding back tears, I ran out of the training facility before anyone could stop me and didn’t look back until I was in the garden. Alone at last.
I collapsed down on the bench, wiping hot messy tears from my face. My chest heaved, and every breath came out as a shudder. This was my “ugly crying” that only Daniel and Jessica knew how to deal with. In that moment my heart ached for them. I missed my friends so much it was unbearable. Being alone like this sucked.
My Disney-princess-style pity party was cut short by the sound of footsteps on the garden path.
I bolted up, wiping the tears from my face with my sleeve. Thank goodness I didn’t wear makeup tonight or else I would have looked like a half-melted panda.
“Bianca.” It was Professor Turner. He looked softer, almost boyish with his hands in his pockets, leaning on one hip. “I’m sorry, that shouldn’t of happened.” In all the excitement, his usual slicked back hair had come loose. Strands fell into his eyes and he flicked them back.
I shrugged. “Whatever.”
“It’s not whatever.” He gestured to the bench. “May I?”
I edged over to the other side to make room for him, but said nothing.
“I didn’t mean for that to happen.” Turner continued. “I thought you were ready to train with others.”
“Guess not,” I muttered.
“No, you are,” He insisted. “But the choice of partner was my mistake. I underestimated Qadir’s obsession with proving himself.
I shouldn’t have let you work with him.” He paused. “I hope this didn’t dampen your spirits too much.”
I let out a harsh chuckle as I wiped more tears from my eyes. “I don’t think anything could make me feel more self conscious than everything that’s happened to me over the last few weeks. I’m trying. I really am.”
“I know that.” Turner put a hand on my shoulder. His grip was tight but comforting. “Trust me, Bianca, you’re going to be great. Just keep at it. You need to believe in yourself.”
A warmth blossomed in my chest. “Do you really think so?”
Professor Turner touched my cheek and turned me to face him. “I know so.”
My heart skipped a beat, sending me into dangerous territory. He was nearly twice my age. He was my professor. He was so off limits. Why did I want to fall into his arms? I had never ever had a thing for older guys, but he was different somehow. I lowered my lashes and looked away.
“Bianca,” Turner said. “I know that we have a professional relationship, but I need to tell you something.”
I held my breath, unable to look him in the eye.
“You will be amazing. Trust me. I know that you’ve had a rough time with this, but believe me when I say that you are exceptional.” He wrapped his arm around me and held me close.
I didn’t budge. I wanted to feel his strength. I wanted to surrender to him and just feel safe for a moment longer.
My bliss was cut off by the sound of the dinner bell. My heart pained as he let me go. “Thanks,” I said without being sure what exactly I was thanking him for.
“Don’t mention it. We’ll try again tomorrow,” Turner said. “And as soon as the Major lifts the teleportation ban, we’re going to see what you can really do, Bianca.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Thanks to the quasi-abandoned expanse of old warehouses that littered the edge of the Detroit River, we didn’t need to go far from the academy to get some field work in. In fact, much to my relief, we didn’t even teleport.
We, Professor Turner, myself, and Ryland, arrived at an old shipping yard. The warehouse looked like it hadn’t been used in years. The enormous shipping containers sat stacked in neat piles, as if waiting for a ship that never arrived. The bright security lighting gave it an eerie feel.
“What if someone sees us?” I wondered out loud.
“Don’t worry about that, these cameras have been dysfunctional for months.” Ryland said.
I whipped my head around to look at him. “No offense, but why are you here?”
Ryland scoffed and crossed his arms. His twin daggers dangled at his sides. “Security, obviously. Teacher-student pairs need a third wheel until the Major loosens his ban on traveling outside the academy.”
And of course he had to be partnered with me. I was itching to repair what had gone wrong that night in the gym, even though I was more focused on building a relationship with Luke. That was easier said than done with his intense schedule. With Ms. Blackwell out, that left only one qualified teleportation professor, and Luke had been called in to pick up the slack until they could find a replacement. I hoped they were paying him at least.
“Alright, why don’t we get started?” Professor Turner said. He waved Ryland back. Turner did not seem happy to have a third wheel either. He looked at Ryland with contempt. “Young man, just try to stay out of the way.”
Ryland gritted his teeth and his jaw flexed angrily. “Fine.” He spat.
Turner motioned for me to stand in front of him. We were enclosed in a clearing between the shipping containers stacked three high, shielded from any curious onlookers who were very unlikely to be around in the first place.
The moon shone bright and full above us. I wished we didn’t have to go train at night. I shook my hands and let the tension unwind from my shoulders and back. This was no time to be worried about being caught. I was with one of the academy’s best teachers and one of the best students. I was in very capable hands.
Turner looked handsome in the glowing moonlight. I forced those thoughts away; he was my teacher. He was only my teacher. I couldn’t harbor these childlike fantasies if I was going to get control of my powers. I couldn’t be distracted by anything.
“Tonight, we’re going to release the power you’ve been holding back.” Professor Turner said. “Let go of your fear and use the powers the flow within you.”
I heard Ryland suck in a breath, but I ignored him. He too, had told me how powerful I was, despite being barely able to move a ball until recently. I didn’t believe him then, but lately I was realizing that maybe my skills far surpassed my low expectations. I had never really been good at anything before; this new realization gave me hope that just maybe I would be someone who was better than average at something — anything.
“Bianca, can you tell me about the first few times your powers revealed themselves?”
I hesitated, gathered my thoughts, and nodded. “I was in dangerous situations or feeling anxious. Anger and fear seemed to be my triggers. Now I’m much more in control.”
“I want you to let go of that control. No one can get hurt here. No one can see us. I need you to let go and feel your power. It’s in there, hiding and suppressed. You’ll do no one any favors by ignoring your potential.” Turner raised his hand and a large piece of twisted metal skidded between us. “Glass was too easy. Let’s try something a bit more challenging.”
I looked down at the metal sheet. It was warped as if it had been held in the fist of a giant. The sound it made when it dragged along the asphalt emphasized how dense and heavy the materials were.
I held out my hands with my palms facing the metal. I twisted my heels into the ground and breathed deeply. I could summon the feeling with ease now; I let the powers trickled from my head, down my spine, through my arms and to my fingertips. My hands twitched with energy. My powers were an extension of myself. All I had to do was focus on what I wanted to do, and my psychic energy would obey. The familiar tingle at the base of my head returned.
I sucked in a breath, braced my body and flung my energy at the metal. The sheet rose into the air and groaned under its own weight. I strained, psychically feeling the heaviness in my mind. My hands trembled.
“I want you to twist it,” Turner said.
I clenched my fists as if I were wringing out a towel. With a creak, the metal bowed to my command and twisted as easily as tinfoil. I gasped, and the metal fell to the ground with a bang. I slumped down to the ground, my vision blurred and my stomach knotted.
When I recovered from the wave of exhaustion, I looked up to see Professor Turner smiling at me. “Excellent work. Next time, try not to drop it so suddenly. You need to control when you get tired; don’t panic. Your body can endure more than you think.”
I smiled back and fell backwards onto my butt. I stretched out my legs and wiped the sweat from my forehead. “I can’t believe I did that.”
“Catch your breath, and you’ll do it again,” Turner said. He walked over to the metal plate to take notes.
Ryland sat down beside me. “That was cool,” He said. “I’m actually impressed.”
I guess that was his way of complimenting me. “Thanks,” I said with a shrug. My body was drained from the effort it took to twist hundreds of pounds of metal.
“Bianca, I,” Ryland started. “I wanted to apologize to how I’ve been towards you. I really like you. You’re amazing and I want you to know that I never — ” He was cut off by the sound of cackling.
The voice was all too familiar to me. It was that greasy Rogue that just couldn’t seem to stay away from me. I bit down on my cheek and looked up. He was standing on the double-stacked shipping containers, dressed in a tattered trench coat. Seriously, was he trying to look like a one-bit DC villain? (Daniel would have been proud of that comparison.)
“Hello, little girl. We meet again.”
Yep. This guy definitely read too many comics.
“Leave me alone!” My voice surprised me. I wasn’t sca
red anymore, not with my increased skill and with Ryland by my side. I jumped to my feet; I forgot my exhaustion after the rush of adrenaline.
Ryland was at the ready, both daggers in hand. “I’m not letting him escape a third time,” He said through gritted teeth.
“Who are you?” Professor Turner shouted.
“Don’t worry about me, Professor,” The Rogue psychic laughed. The ground rumbled beneath our feet and the shipping containers vibrated against the asphalt.
For a greasy loser, he sure was powerful. But it was three against one.
“Bianca, we need to tire him out so he can’t teleport away. That’s the only way we’re going to stop him.” Ryland whispered.
I nodded. “Ok, let’s do it.”
“My head is telling me you should sit this one out, but we don’t have an option. We need all the power we can get. So, just, don’t get hurt, alright?”
Ryland needed to work on showing how he cared. I knew what he was getting at, but why did everything need to sound so back-handed? “Don’t worry about me,” I insisted. “This guy has bothered me for the last time.” I clenched my fists and let my energy surge forward.
The man threw his hands forward, and the ground trembled beneath us with enough force to leave cracks running through the asphalt like a dark spiderweb. “Come on, kids, let’s have some fun.”
“Bianca! Ryland!” The professor shouted over the sounds of the ground cracking beneath us. “Be careful, he’s not going to go down easy.”
“No kidding,” Ryland said under his breath. He narrowed his eyes. “There’s something blocking my ability to read his mind,” He said, visibly frustrated. “You and Turner are going to have to trap him.”
I threw up my arms and sent the twisted metal sheet flying towards the man. He disappeared and reappeared to dodge it. I grunted, lassoing my powers on the metal mid-flight and sending it back towards him. He barely dodged that one. I held onto the metal like some sort of psychic ball and chain. Sweat ran into my eyes as I forced the sheet towards him one more time before losing my connection. It crashed to the ground.
Psychic Secret: An Urban Fantasy Academy Romance (Psychic Academy Book 1) Page 12