“What's the time?” I asked, stretching and then moving closer to him.
“Eleven thirty,” he said, brushing his fingertips along my arm and making the hairs stand up.
“We better get down stairs to try to figure out what happened last night,” I suggested, looking at him a bit frightened, remembering the feelings I felt last night.
“You're right,” he said.
He sat up with difficulty this morning and I could see he was way too tense, he could probably feel the pain from last night as well.
I sat up next to him and wrapped my arms around his warm waist, noticing on his shoulder there was a big green bruise at least the size of my whole hand. He pulled me into him more by wrapping his arm around my legs at the knees.
“What are you thinking?” I asked quietly, kissing his shoulder blade where the bruise was.
“I'm thinking I do not take good enough care of you. You could do so much better than me.”
“Don't,” I whispered, kinda hurt. “You're blaming yourself again, you didn't do this, I did. So just… please stop,” I mumbled against his shoulder, agonized.
I couldnt stand him taring himself up like this, he does it every time something bad happens. I know it's a part of his nature but he shouldn't have to put himself through torture on my behalf. Even as I held him he seemed so distant when he was like this.
“Lays... you dont understand. If I had never met you, never seen you… you would have been safe. Now that my enemies know I value you they will try to attack you, in the process, killing me,” he explained, not meeting my eyes.
I wouldn't listen anymore, what he was saying sounded absurd beyond all reasoning.
“You're being ridiculous,” I said, making him look at me.
“No I'm not,” he said slowly, his voice low.
His voice was agitated and I could tell he was on the break of snapping.
I waited for his temper to cool off, then got out of bed when he didnt make a move. I walked around the bed and I saw his eyes follow me. I stopped right at the foot of the bed and crossed my arms.
“Sam, I… I…” I trailed off.
I really didn't know what to say, what would I say? Oh, Sam you're right. I should just leave now and forget that I ever met you. No, I would never say that, it would nearly kill me.
His face softened, he stood up on the bed and walked over to me, jumping off the foot of bed and kneeling before me.
“I'm sorry, I am just being over-protective but I keep hurting your feelings. Please forgive me?” he said, taking my folded hands in his.
I sighed. “I just don't want you to be hurting yourself like this. I forgive you but... you have to promise me one thing.”
“Anything,” he said, his glistening eyes on mine.
“Stop blaming yourself,” I said.
He looked at me for a moment before speaking. “You have my word that I can try,” he said, earnest after a minute.
“Thank you,” I said, a little relieved.
He kissed my hand, stood up and folded me in his arms. “I keep saying all the wrong things, don't I?”
I shook my head. “Not at all.”
I was intensely aware that he had no shirt on and it sent a chill through my body. I had to focus on something else, his very presence was overwhelming my mind.
“Come on, let us go downstairs,” he said, after he released me.
I nodded and went to go get dressed.
When I was in the bathroom I realised my singlet was on backwards and laughed. I must have done that from being so tired last night, I thought to myself when I was dressing in my jeans and shirt.
“So what do you reckon it was? A coincidence or an attack?” Fredric asked, walking over and sitting next to me.
Everybody was putting in their best effort to come up with ideas for how and why the stairs collapsed. The house was practically brand new so there would be no reason for the wood rotting.
“It was an attack. No trench that deep could have ever been under there in the first place. What I do not understand is why Elane couldn't see it?” Sam said, his face was full of concentration and confusion.
“I told you Sam, my sixth sense is not flawless. The only way they would have got past me is if they knew I hadnt seen them before. I won't be able see what they are doing,” Elane said, deeply confused.
“Or you were distracted,” Sam said, acid leaking into his tone as he looked between Fredric and Elane.
“Sam,” I roused him.
Elane shot him a fiery look. “No Layla, it's alright. I'm sorry if I get a little distracted sometimes but I am only part human!”
“Layla could have died Elane! And it doesn't even seem like you care!” Sam yelled back.
This wasn't the first time I had seen them fight, but it still shocked me that they would, especially now.
“Of course I care, maybe if you stop being so selfish―”
Sam cut her off. “Maybe if you stop drooling over men who―”
I cut Sam off. “Stop it alright, just stop. This isn't the time to be fighting.”
“We are not fighting, we are simply having a heated discussion,” Elane said, death staring her brother.
“I don't care. We have to figure out who did this okay. No more fighting, or arguing, or heated discussions.”
I looked back and fourth between Sam and Elane and they both looked pissed at each other, but stopped arguing. Yay, I accomplished something, I thought to myself for a split second.
Everybody was having a hard time with this, but until now I think I was the only person who wasnt annoyed by the whole thing.
“Well if it wasn't the Warrigal, then who?” Hunter asked, he was sitting on one of the couches in the office after watching Sam and Elanes feud.
“Maybe someone new has come?” Fredric suggested after a few minutes of silence, looking unsettled.
“It could be, but they wouldn't exactly know where to come and find us,” Sam finally spoke, his brow still furrowing in confusion as his temper cooled.
I listened closely to try to make my own analysis of the situation. It couldnt have been the Warrigal coven because Elane would have seen anything they would have done within a 50km range, but it could have been outsiders who wanted any one of us.
As I was thinking something struck in my head; Tobys message at the cinemas around three months ago. He said they wanted me and they would wait, maybe they had… hired someone else to do this, someone the Archers had never met before.
They were somehow all arguing now so it was hard to get them to pay attention to my theory. “Guys,” I said, trying to get them to listen.
None of them had stopped squabbling with each other and it was getting on my nerves. Hunter was arguing with James, Jane was arguing with Sam, and Elane was arguing with Fredric.
I shook my head and looked around me for something that would claim their attention. I went over to the huge oak desk and jumped on top of it, then I stood up.
“Guys, listen!” I shouted over top of them, cupping my hands around my mouth in hopes to amplify my voice.
Still nobody stopped to pay attention. How was this possible?
“Yoo-hoo, anybody! Jane, Sam, Fredric, Hunter, James, Elane, anyone?” I waved my hands in front of them but nothing changed.
I didn't notice that I had been too close to the edge of the desk and I started to lose my balance and footing.
“Help!” I squeaked out.
I started to fall, my arms fumbled around to grab something, but there was nothing but thin air. For my sake everybody noticed and they all shouted my name in concern. Little luck shouting would do.
I fell but was caught by Sams ability and James helped me down.
“What were you doing, Lays?” Fredric asked while holding back a laugh, his hand over his mouth.
“Trying to get your attention. Realise it or not, but you were all fighting for no reason. Now I've got your attention, I think I have a theory,” I said, sitting
down on a chair after my near heart attack.
“Explain,” Jane said. “I'm sure it would get us a lot further than arguing.”
It took me a minute to arrange my thoughts, but everyone waited patiently. “Elane, do you remember what you said about your sense having flaws?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“Well what if the Warrigal knew your flaws?”
“Yes that's probably true, but if they had done this I still would have seen them,” she said, trying to understand what I was trying to explain.
“I know, but what if they had hired somebody or made an alliance with another Dark coven? Someone youve never met before who could get through your flaws.”
There was stunned silence. Everybody in the room went ridged because they knew it was possible and plausible.
“Of course. How could I miss something so obvious?” Sam asked himself aloud.
“But who have they made an alliance with?” Jane asked, horror struck by the theory.
“The Eonlin?” James finally spoke.
“Possibly. But let us think of what abilities could have done that,” Sam said, gesturing with his chin towards the stairs.
“Well, there was a big hollow trench under the stairs. That could only be done by an earth element or someone that can puncture the earth or something. And the stairs collapsing would have either been weakened by an ager, or someone who could break the supports, but they would've had to be there at the time they collapsed,” Jane tried to reason out. “And we had the door under tight security, I knew everyone who came.”
“The Sephil coven,” Sam murmured in horror.
“You're right, Izzy Derris and Reign Nomac,” Elane said.
“Who are the Sephil coven?” Hunter asked after a minute.
I stood up and went over to Sam who was sitting on a couch, he opened his arms for me and I sat down, wrapping my arms around his waist and placing my head on his chest. He put his arms around me in return, encircling me in his warm embrace.
“The Sephil coven have been around for decades, but they have never actually caused big trouble for the council. People thought they didnt actually fend for Dark or neither Light, but I guess things change,” James answered, sounding distant, like he was remembering.
It seems like I hadnt heard him speak in ages.
“Are you sure it was them?” I asked when nobody else spoke.
“They are the only ones who have that sort of ability to do something like this,” Sam answered me, stroking the side of my face soothingly.
I heard his soft voice flow through his chest with the beating of his heart; no ones heartbeat was like his.
“If that's so, were going to have to contact all the guests who said yes last night, and ask them if they can come earlier than planned,” James said, surely.
“Yes, we will have to ask them to stay here if there is going to be another confrontation. I know for sure the Warrigal coven have planned something, and until we find out what, were going to need all the back up we can get,” Elane said.
“Alright, let's get to work. The sooner the guests come the better chance we have of being ready for anything,” Jane said, getting up and walking over to the desk.
She pulled out an A4 black book and came over to the rest of us with it in her hands.
“We will split the guest list from last night. The ones that have said yes, have a tick next to them. Remember, we have to ask them very discreetly if they could come out sooner. Has everyone got the plan?” Jane asked, looking at everybody.
Everyone nodded, Jane ripped out pages for everyone to take and we all split up to make our calls. Our lives may have very well depended on it.
16. Collision
By the time we had gotten a hold of every one of the guests, it was Monday; time for school. I went over to the Archers house after I had gotten dressed, had something to eat and said goodbye to dad. Then we went to school at 8:20am to meet Hunter and Fredric in the school car park, this was becoming routine though.
Today everyone tried to act as normal and happy as possible, but it just wasn't the same. Everyone was exhausted and stressed, but we agreed that if we didnt split up we should be fine.
At lunch I was sitting with my family when Venessa came up to me.
“Hey Lays,” she greeted me.
“Hey, what's up?” I asked.
I had noticed that she was alone, but all the other girls were watching.
“Ah, not much. I was just wondering if we could borrow you for a minute.”
I blinked, confused. “Sure, I guess,” I answered slowly.
I went to get up but Sam grabbed my hand, I leaned down so he could whisper in my ear.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
I pulled back so I could read his face and he was intently aware of our surroundings.
I nodded and kissed his lips gently, he let go of my hand unwillingly and I walked towards my old table with Venessa.
“So… How have you and Robbie been going?” I asked slyly.
“Good, I guess. He dyed his hair goldy blonde the other day, he looks like a girl now,” she said, laughing.
I laughed too. “Yeah but he's a great guy Ness, don't ever lose him,” I said lightly.
“Yeah, he is and I don't plan on losing him,” she said, smiling exceptionally.
We sat down at the crowded table and I waited for someone to speak.
“Hiya Lays,” Liz said.
I smiled and noticed she was still hyperactive; it was apart of her personality though.
“Hey guys,” I said, giving a little wave.
I heard a few heys and his in response.
“So what did you wanna talk to me about?”
“Well we just wanted to know what youve been up to,” Evie said conspiratorially.
“Not much, why?” I asked slowly, a smile spreading across my face.
I knew what they were getting at, but still, I didn't want to gossip. I have never been the one for that type of stuff.
“Come on Lays,” Liz whined. “We saw you kiss that hot guy.”
I smiled embarrassed, I don't know why. “So,” I said.
“So how did you get a posh guy like that?” Mara asked, a big grin on her face.
“Posh?” I asked.
“You know, they act so… so much different to us,” Evie explained.
“Huh, I thought posh meant someone who is totally stuck up and doesn't care about anything except for money and themselves,” I pointed out, a tiny bit insulted.
“Well, that's one definition,” Whitney said, trying to calm me.
“Yeah, I think Mara means theyre the nice posh,” Kytia said kindly.
I narrowed my eyes but let that one slide.
“So how did you get him?” Mandy asked.
“I don't know, I guess I just did,” I said quietly.
“Well I'll tell you one thing, he is damn sexy,” Sandy said, practically drooling over him.
I got a bit annoyed that she was thinking about my Sam so I changed the subject.
“What about any of you guys then?” I asked.
Maybe someone else besides Venessa, had found a boyfriend.
“No, still single,” Most of them said.
“Alright,” I said. “Is that all you wanted to know?”
“Yeah, basically,” Venessa answered with a grin.
“You are a bunch of little girls, you know that,” I said jokingly while getting up. “I'm going to eat my lunch now, I'll talk to you guys later.”
“See ya Lays,” they all said.
I smiled as I walked away towards my usual table.
“What was that about?” Sam asked, wrapping his arm around my waist when I sat down.
“Girl stuff,” I answered.
“Oh,” he said, surprised.
I smiled and picked up my chicken wrap, taking a bite.
It tasted so good, it felt like I hadn't eaten in so long.
I thought I should tell him w
hat they think of him, just so I could laugh. “Apparently you're damn sexy,” I said with a giggle.
Sam grinned lopsidedly and leaned closer. “What do you think?” he asked playfully.
I bit my bottom lip. “I think you are very sexy,” I said close to his face. “Just don't get a big head about it,” I added with a laugh, making him grin.
“Bells going to go in five minutes,” Jane said, putting her mobile phone away.
I groaned. Why did I leave my food until the end of the bell? I asked myself. That's right, because I was talking to Sam all lunch.
I walked to Biology class with Sam slowly after the bell had gone. I felt like we only had so long to be together, I could just feel something bad was going to come out of this.
We entered the class room without a word and took our seats.
“When are the first covens arriving?” I asked Sam.
“Tomorrow. We're going to have to leave the school early,” he said, drawing in his book yet again.
“Who's we?” I asked, mystified.
“James, Jane, Elane and I. You will have to stay with Fredric and Hunter at school. They will drive you to our house and we will introduce you to all the guests that day.”
“What are the covens called?”
“There are some outsiders, the Resah and Fengral covens also,” Sam started whispering because Mrs. Nelson walked into the room, and knowing her she would give us detentions for talking.
I nodded, meeting his eyes. I could tell he was hiding something and I think he noticed that because he looked away, making me suspicious.
We were in the car after school now and heading home. I was sitting next to Sam and I had noticed it had been quiet between us since Biology class. I wondered what he was hiding from me, or maybe I was just being paranoid and he wasnt hiding anything.
“Can I just be dropped off at home?” I asked Jane.
I didnt feel like training or studying today.
Since I had gotten my ability I had been reading about the Supernatural history in Peters books and been shaping my power most days. It has been pretty exhausting, but I was getting better at learning my limits and how to control it. I was having a little trouble trying to absorb energy from a distance but I was good in the healing department, except sometimes I would get a late wave of exhaustion after I would use a whole lot of energy. Though every time I trained it, I got less and less exhausted afterwards which was a good thing. Though today I might just have a rest or do some studying for school.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 30