“Now,” Hunter breathed in my ear, sounding amazed.
I opened my eyes and I saw he was standing right next to Fredric who was looking at the ground. I could see he was tensed, bracing himself for what ever pain I was to inflict on him, but in my mind I was feeling sane.
I hesitantly reached my hand out towards him and touched his arm lightly. I started to feel the spark of a warm energy flow entering my body, it felt good... I felt powerful.
I looked up at Fredrics face and he had turned a white shade of pale, and veins in his face became prominent. He started making that same choking noise I heard Sylar make, and that was when I snapped myself out of my power-hungry craze.
I gasped and fought a battle to pull my hand away from his arm, and I succeeded after I put all my strength and willpower into it.
“Hunter,” I gasped out.
I felt the craving for more power start to over-take my mind again and Hunter had to stop me before I lost all control.
“On it,” I heard him say.
I waited and tried to calm myself with the breathing techniques Jane had taught me. I squeezed my eyes closed as tight as possible, bracing myself against the piano as I shook with need.
I felt the space around me get smaller and I knew Hunter had concealed a barrier around me, especially when I looked up and saw a light blue barrier full of millions of particles around me. It was beautiful, yet disturbingly uncomfortable. I sort of felt claustrophobic.
“You alright Fredric?” Hunter asked, keeping his black eyes on me.
“Yeah,” he gasped out in a huff, coughing dryly.
“What happened?” Hunter asked.
“I could feel her absorb my… my power from me, it felt like she was taking it away,” Fredric said, he had already started regaining the colour back in his face and the veins faded.
“I'm so sorry Fredric,” I whispered with my eyes closed again.
“It's alright, we need to see what you can do with that power. Hurry, it might not last long,” he rushed out, struggling to breathe.
“What do I do?” I saw the barrier around me disappear in an instant. “Wait, what are you doing?” I asked Hunter, panic stricken.
“Attack me,” Hunter said quickly.
“What?”
“Attack me, use those same feelings and aim your power against me this time. Don't absorb, push the energy out towards me,” he ordered, gesturing with his hands for me to attack him.
“I'm not going to attack you Hunter,” I said, confused.
“Attack me!” he shouted.
I had never heard him shout before, he always used a calm voice so I jumped when he did.
“Okay,” I said quietly.
I dug up those same feelings, feeling a repercussion of power build up deep within myself. I aimed my hands towards Hunter, watching a force of blue ray particles being released from my hands at the speed of lightening. It actually looked like blue lightening.
I looked at Hunters surprised face and I saw him fly backwards and drop to the ground shaking.
“Oh, no!” I said in horror, my hand covering my mouth.
I ran over to Hunter the same time Fredric got to him.
He was on the ground, shaking still like he was… tasered. I couldnt have done that to him, could I? That was Fredrics specialty.
“Hunter, can you hear me? Shit... Hunter I am so sorry,” I said, terrified by my own actions.
I knew I was going to regret this.
I heard him groan in pain.
I breathed out deeply with relief. “Thank goodness,” I whispered. “You're okay.”
He coughed, looking up at me. “Yeah,” he groaned. “It looks like whoevers power you absorb you can use it against them. Lucky I had just enough time to sort of shield myself, or that could have been a lot worse,” he strained out, sitting up slowly.
I laughed shakily. “Yeesh, you two are crazy. Helping me when I could kill you both.”
“Yeah, but what are family for?” Fredric asked rhetorically. “Doing this once a day for a few months is going to be great training.”
He wrapped one arm around the back of my neck and pulled me closer. All three of us sat on the floor laughing, not at anything particularly, just laughing for the joy of it.
****
It was a short ride to school on Monday. It had been officially one week since the forest incident and I had only briefly talked to most of my friends last Friday, but not about that of course. Peter and Summer had still not yet returned with Rosetta, and her parents still thought she was on an over seas trip that was run through the school. After Sam and I had come out of hospital, Jane had explained to us that the Warrigal had got away and that Sylar was still living, he is just very weak. When she had mentioned his name my blood boiled and I almost lost it, but Sam was there and he managed to calm me down. Ever since I had begun using my ability, my temper had become more fiery than usual, and I could lose control easier.
We pulled up at school and I got out of the Mustang and went over to the SUV. “You think we'll be good?” I asked James since he was the first one I reached.
“I don't think they will show their faces around here for a while,” James answered while looking around the parking lot.
I nodded and went over to help Sam out of the back seat of the SUV. He was still very wounded and weak, he still couldn't stand properly because he was always holding his chest. But, against my better judgment, he came to school. He chose to stay weak though, he wouldn't let me heal him for some ridiculous reason, probably because he didnt want me using all my limited un-exercised energy on him again. We are very powerful, but when youre young, you can use all that power easily unless you train yourself, and I was still learning my limits.
He wrapped his arm around my waist as he closed the car door so it would look natural. I helped support him and we walked slowly through the front gates. Sam and I were in the middle with Elane, Fredric and James on our left, and Hunter and Jane on our right, crowding our sides. It was kind of funny if you looked at us and didnt know what was happening, but at the same time it was terrifying knowing that anything could happen, anywhere, anytime. We had to be prepared.
Everyone left Sam and me at the cafeteria and we walked slowly to my math class.
“You shouldn't be at school,” I murmured, looking at the ground.
He sighed. “Don't be ridiculous, I would never let you be on your own at this point in time,” he replied, sounding agitated.
“Sam, you almost died. And I wouldn't be here alone. Hunter, Fredric, Elane, James and Jane would all be here,” I said.
We had stopped walking now and it was slightly drizzling.
“I did die… and I would have stayed that way if it wasnt for you. What I mean is… I won't break another promise,” he said, his voice low as his frustrated mood dissolved.
I looked at him tenderly. “You don't have to kill yourself for me, I want you to get better.”
The bell rung and we both looked around us.
“Come on, I better get you to class,” he said while pulling me towards K block.
I think I was the one suppose to be pulling him, but instead he dragged me.
“Alright, just promise me one more thing,” I rushed out.
If he was going to be with me a lot, he still had to take care of himself too.
“Depends... what is it?” he asked suspiciously, slowing his pace.
“Take it easy for me, and let me help take care of you,” I explained.
I looked over at his face and he was looking straight ahead.
I stopped dead in my tracks and waited until he faced me.
“Please,” I murmured.
He searched my face and nodded.
“One more thing,” I added.
“And what would that be?” he asked.
I reached up and kissed his cheek.
“I'll see you at lunch.”
I smiled when I saw his dazzling smile appear on his face. It was so
rt of weird how we could be so normal when we knew whats really out there in the world. There are things that could hurt you worse than man made weapons.
Math passed quickly today, I don't know why exactly, but it did. Before I knew it, I was on my way to C block for English and entering my classroom where I sat in my usual seat between Megan and James. I hadn't noticed that Megan had never talked to him before. Maybe she was scared of him, after all he was pretty big.
Again after English, James walked me to my Spanish class where he left me to Elane. It was quiet in Spanish today, maybe Elane had nothing to say or she had something on her mind. While she was thinking so was I, mainly about Sam, but also in the back of my mind about the Warrigal coven. If they came back I didn't know what I would do, but I knew I would never let them hurt my family again. I knew what I could do, so now I didnt have to sit on the side lines and wait in suspense to see who comes back and who doesn't.
I walked over to sit at our lunch table with the Archers and Bales. It is always peaceful when we're not worrying about anything Supernatural for the time being. Of course it will still be out there but we had to try to act normal, and part of that is blocking out the bad stuff.
I took my seat next to Sam who slid me closer to him in a second. I looked around and Elane, Jane, James, Hunter and Fredric were all inconspicuously searching around the area with their eyes, eating at the same time. I guessed they were all on guard after what had happened, so we sat quietly at our table today.
A bunch of girls from my normal table came up to me, that only made Sam pull me even closer to him and put his arms around me, like he was shielding me from them. I noticed all the others had gone ridged and had their eyes on the group of girls.
“Hey guys, what's up?” I asked them, and squeezed Sams hand reassuringly.
“Well were planning to go to the movies tomorrow night,” Ria explained.
“Yeah, and were wondering if you want to come with?” Liz asked.
I swear she was bouncing up and down when I looked at her, she must have had caffeine or energy drinks today.
“Ah, who's going?” I asked.
“Whitney, Venessa, Mandy, Lily, Ria, Annie, Kytia, Evie, Megan, Mara I think, Sandy and myself. Basically all the girls at the table,” Liz said really fast, counting all the girls on her fingers.
I couldn't keep up, but it sounded like basically everyone from my old lunch table.
“Umm.”
“Oh, it's a girls night out so obviously you can bring your friends, ah... what's your names again?” Liz asked.
“Elane,” Elane said.
“Jane,” Jane answered.
“Nice to meet you two. You can come if you like,” Liz said curtly.
“No, thank you,” Elane said politely.
“Thank you, but I'm going to have to decline,” Jane said kindly with a smile.
“Okay, how about you Lays?” Liz said.
“Ah… I'm going to have to think on it. I'll call you tonight okay?”
“Alright, I'll be waiting. I hope you can make it,” Liz said.
“Yeah, I'll see you later guys,” I called when they were heading back to their table.
Hmm, what was I supposed to do?
“It is solely up to you,” Elane said to me.
I was sitting on one of the white couches in the Archer living room downstairs with Elane.
“I know, but do you think I would be alright?” I asked again, more specifically this time.
Elane was perched on the edge of the couch facing forwards, and when I asked her again she swivelled around to face me, the look on her face was thoughtful.
“I think you should be okay, they are still too weak. And plus, you will be with a big group of people and they would not risk getting their cover blown. I do suppose you need to get a night away from all this mess,” she said lightly. “Just in my opinion.”
“Yeah, but you're always right,” I said quietly.
She shrugged. “Still, it's just an idea.”
“Why aren't you coming again?” I asked after a minute.
“Because my duty is here,” she simply answered.
“What? Watching TV?” I joked.
She grinned but didnt say anything.
I sighed, got up off the couch and walked up the spiralling staircase. I made my way up the hallway and through the upstairs living room to Sams door. I knocked on the door quietly, hoping he was resting in bed, and it opened. I stuck my head through the door and Sam was at his desk, bent over something.
“Shouldn't you be in bed?” I asked with smile.
I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms and looked at his figure.
“Shouldn't you be over here in my arms?” he asked innocently.
I knew without seeing his face he was smiling cheekily.
“Probably, but not until you get into bed,” I bartered.
“Umm, I have a better idea,” he said.
“I'm sure you do, but Im not moving,” I said intently.
I really thought he shouldve been in bed resting so he could get his strength back up. Though it was sweet how he went to school with me, even though he could barely stand without pain. I knew it was in case he needed to protect me, which to him, that was every minute of the day.
“Don't worry, you wont need to,” he said.
He got up and walked over to me until my back was against the wall.
“Are you going to move now?” he asked when his nose was touching mine and his arms were by his sides.
I smiled. “Not a chance,” I said slyly.
“Okay, your choice. I cannot be held responsible for what might happen next.”
“Oh wow, Im scared,” I said sarcastically, moving my face closer to his, calling what I thought was his bluff, but I really should have known better.
“You should be,” he whispered, a small smile playing on his lips.
I couldn't detect any hint of joking and I was starting to think he wasnt joking.
“What are you up to?” I murmured suspiciously.
He smiled darkly and put his hands against the wall on either sides of my head. He then slid them down the wall, never breaking eye contact, but I could hear his hands move along the wallpaper.
I heard him stop and my breath caught. What was he planning to do? His hands suddenly flew to my waist and picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder.
“Oh no you don't, put me down,” I said, pathetically attempting to escape his hold.
“Oh yes, I do,” Sam said slyly.
He carried me over towards his bed and plopped down. Then he slid me off his shoulder gently and laid back.
I smiled and laid on my side next to him, propping my head up with one hand so I could see his face clearly.
“I hear you are going out Tuesday night?” he asked conversationally, sweeping my hair away from my face.
“I don't have to go, not if you don't want me to,” I said quietly.
“No, you should go. If anything starts to go wrong, Elane will see… hopefully. You deserve a normal night out with normal people after everything that has happened,” he said, suddenly frustrated.
I looked at him dubiously. “I don't need to go if you need me here.”
“No, don't be ludicrous. I'll just be sleeping all afternoon and night anyway,” he said, rolling his eyes and smiling. “But I do need you now,” he said adorably.
He pulled me closer and pressed his lips under my jaw gently.
I laughed. “Get some rest Sam,” I said, trying to push him away.
“Ah huh, but after I get something,” he murmured, pressing his lips along my cheekbone.
My heart thumped twice as fast, I was ecstatic. Damn him.
I pulled his face to mine and kissed him back, his lips werent rough and urgent. Instead they were soft and enthusiastic, so I continued into this exceptionally peaceful moment until I had to go home, leaving him to rest.
12. Message
I got home, walked through
the living room and headed for the stairs. I got halfway up the stairs before I heard a noise from the kitchen. I stopped and walked back down slowly, I was slightly trembling but I kept my feet moving forward, hoping it wasn't anything bad.
My throat felt tight and my legs felt like jelly, but I stuck my head through the doorway and saw dad was getting pots and pans out of the cupboard.
I breathed out a sigh of relief. “Dad, what are you doing home so early?”
He jumped and dropped some cookware that hit the ground with a noisily clatter. “Lays, give me a heart attack,” he said while picking the pot up and turning around.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
“No, it's alright. When did ya get home?” he asked, going over to the stove.
“Just then. How come your cars not in the drive?” I asked suspiciously.
“I parked in the garage, why?”
“No reason.” I looked at him questiongly. “I'm going upstairs to have a shower,” I rushed out.
I turned and headed for the stairs before he could answer.
“Dinner will be ready in half an hour,” he called behind me.
“So... how was school?” dad asked, he picked his fork up and started eating.
Dad had finished cooking dinner and we were at our small dinner table. Just the two of us.
“Alright,” I said, pushing the food around on my plate.
It's not that dad was a bad cook, though he wasn't exactly great. It was just... I didn't feel that hungry tonight.
School, that reminded me. “Dad, I got invited to the movies by a bunch of girls at school tomorrow night… and I just wanted to tell you that I decided to go,” I said.
“Oh.” He sounded surprised. “Okay, sure. Do you need me to pick you up and drop you off?”
“No that's alright, I already have a ride... Thanks though.”
“Well, do you need any money?” he asked.
I think he was more excited than Liz would be when I call her.
“No, I still have some savings,” I reassured him.
After I had brought my commodore with my savings from since I was a kid, I still had some extra cash so I kept on saving that.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 24