I, slowly, get to my feet, making sure I won’t fall over. I really don’t want to deal with a head injury on top of this. I probably already have a concussion. I don’t know if this monster is going to take my energy with it or not, and I’m a little nervous about it.
While I want my illness the past day and a half to just be a cold, I have been introduced to a whole new world and I have no idea what to expect. All I know, is I don’t want to go through that again. I hate relying on others to do menial tasks. I’ve been independent since mom passed and I like it that way.
“Ms. Kingsley,” I call, waving to her. “Are you alright?”
“Uh, yes!” she hesitates a moment before she composes herself.
She looks like she’s back to her normal laid-back self. She wears a strange green outfit all the time, and carries a cane even though she doesn’t need it. Oddly, she had the exact same clothing on when I left the shop only yesterday.
Ms. Kingsley makes her way towards me down the alleyway as I’m eyeing her. I’m not sure why she doesn’t just have me meet her at the entrance, but I take her lead. I brush off as much of the dust-like particles that I can sticking to my clothing and walk towards the shop owner, meeting her halfway.
It’s only polite, right?
There’s nothing in here with me besides the cremains of a Malighost. I don’t want to think about what she might want that for. From what Degory has told me, Ms. Kingsley likes to experiment with different ways to help Reapers while in the Living World and/or kill Malighosts to make it easier for Reapers.
“Did you see what happened?” I ask, curiosity almost making my eyes bulge out of my skull.
I have to know if she saw what caused the fire.
“I had my eyes closed, so I didn’t see who saved me from the Malighost,” I admit. “Did you create that fire?”
“I did see what happened,” she starts, hesitantly, “but it wasn’t me who saved you. I was about to help you when I turned the corner and saw the Malighost on fire.”
“Well, thank you for coming to my rescue!” I cheer.
I’m not as enthusiastic as I want to be though, because I still have no idea who – or what – saved me.
“It was my pleasure,” she smiles, bowing slightly, humor back in her every movement.
It’s ever-present in her stride and aura.
“Tell you what: let’s go inside and get you some coffee,” she offers. “I’ll heal you up a bit so you can relax.”
“Sounds good!” I say, walking towards her.
I have a bounce in my step – I wanted to thank her anyway, why not get some free coffee out of it?
She wraps an arm around my shoulders, like a grandparent would do with a grandchild, and leads me to her shop. She doesn’t stop chatting randomly the whole time. First, it’s about the weather, then bounces around until she asks me about how I’m feeling.
We enter through the front, but she takes me through the main floor and into a room behind the shop on the first floor. It’s about the same size as the room I stayed in upstairs, but it’s more open and intimate for a group of people. It’s sort of like a very small conference room, but I can’t imagine what Ms. Kingsley would use it for.
There’s a medium sized, round table in the center of the room, with six chairs situated around the outside of it. I’m guessing this isn’t for the employee’s use, more for private meetings like this. Or debriefing meetings when Reapers use her assistance in the Living World. My host gestures towards the table, silently asking me to take a seat.
I pick one near the back of the room so I can see the door clearly. I like to people-watch, and I like knowing who is coming in or out of the room. It gives me a little control and stability in my life, since I lost a lot of that when mom died. It’s small and a bit silly, but it always makes me feel less anxious.
“I shall be right back,” Ms. Kingsley smiles, bowing slightly. “I’m going to go make our coffee and ensure that the shop is tended to, and I will return.”
I nod, and she exits the room in one swift motion, shutting the door behind her. I become a bit nervous waiting. It’s really strange being here without Degory, as I knew it would be. I feel really out of place so it’s strange sitting in this room alone.
My knee begins to bounce while I wait, absentmindedly listening for the shop owner’s return. I hear her footsteps walk towards the shop entrance after leaving the room, then hear her walk past the door again. I smell coffee brewing within seconds of her passing.
I twiddle my thumbs while I continue to wait as patiently as I can manage. I haven’t met her workers or the people she lives with, they may even be one in the same, but I know that three other people help her with the shop. Two are pretty young; they are about fourteen or fifteen – a boy and a girl. I think they are brother and sister, according to what Degory has told me.
There’s, also, another tall, older man that is very loyal to Ms. Kingsley, and he manages the shop. He keeps the kids in line, and does most of the cooking. I’m sure they all have other duties, too, when it comes to helping Reapers, I just don’t know about them.
Either way, it seems like they are more of a family than a random group of people. A small family running a shop as a cover to help Reapers in their work. I haven’t met them yet, but I want to. Degory has told me stories of these people and how they are always really strange. It intrigues me.
The door opens and Ms. Kingsley walks back in with the older man following behind her, a small tray in hand. Well, small compared to his hands. On the tray sits two mugs, a pot of coffee, milk, creamer, sugar cubes, and even coffee cake cut into rectangles. A few homemade chocolate turtles are situated there, too.
I know they’re there especially for me. Degory must have let it slip that they are my favorite. The man sets the tray on the table, and leaves without a word. He doesn’t seem intimidated or very intimidating, but he doesn’t look at me the whole time he is in the room. I can’t tell if it’s out of respect, or something else.
When her companion leaves, the shop owner takes a seat next to the door, so there are a few chairs in between us. She allows me some space, but doesn’t want to be so far apart that we can’t share the goodies her employee, or lover, had brought for us.
She grabs one of the cakes and takes a bite of it before going for one of the mugs. She rearranges everything so the food is closest to her, and the coffee closest to me. I can’t help but smile noticing her sweet tooth.
The only words she utters while preparing her coffee are telling me to go on ahead and not be shy about having my share. She takes her time and seems relaxed. It almost seems forced, as to not alarm me and help me feel comfortable.
She fills her cup with black coffee and three sugars, while mine consists of mostly coffee, with some creamer and two sugars. Ms. Kingsley takes a sip of her coffee, breathing in its bitterness, before turning to me.
“Sunny, what do you remember about what just happened?”
That seems like an odd question.
Hadn’t she seen what had happened? Why does she want to know what I saw?
Maybe she’s just curious like me. Either way, it’s still a really weird question to ask. It feels like she’s talking to me like a traumatized child almost.
“I remember it pretty clearly,” I admit, slowly.
I’m a bit suspicious of her intentions.
Still, I explain exactly how it all happened, as if telling a movie frame by frame. I tell her how I went into the alley because of the sound by the dumpster, how I was worried someone might have been hurt and became cornered by the monster. I tell her about how I closed my eyes out of fear, and only opened them because I heard the Malighost’s screams.
However, I didn’t tell her about how I can still see the fire before me, and feel the heat of the flames as I describe what happened to her. It’s only a memory, so no need to worry her or make her think that I’m completely insane.
“Hmm…” Ms. Kingsley contemplates.
“So, you have no idea where the fire might have come from then?”
“No, why?” I ask.
I already told her that I have no idea, so I’m not sure why she’s asking me. She’s starting to creep me out. She must have produced the flames, that’s the only logical explanation.
“Well, Sunny,” she hesitates, pausing while she ponders the right words to say.
I can see in her face, her expression, that she isn’t sure I will be able to handle what she’s about to tell me.
What could be so worrisome that I won’t comprehend it?
I’m glad that I’m stronger than everyone around here seems to think, but it still makes me nervous about what she’s going to say. I’ve seen Degory produce ice out of thin air, this woman being able to produce fire won’t come as much of a surprise to me after that.
Still, I tense up my limbs in anticipation for whatever is going to come out of this woman’s mouth.
“The fire…” she continues, “came out of your hands.”
Chapter 10
“That’s impossible,” I reply, breathless.
“If you had asked me if it were possible a half an hour ago,” Ms. Kingsley explains, with a hint of amusement in her tone, “I would have told you the same thing. Humans aren’t supposed to be able to use those sorts of powers at all. Of course, it’s extremely rare for humans to be able to see spirits as well.”
I just stare blankly at her. There’s no way the fire came from me. I would have been able to feel it. I would have known – felt it coming from me. Something.
“What I can tell you,” the shop owner continues, briskly. “Is that you should keep the fire abilities under wraps as much as possible.”
“Why?” I query, genuinely concerned.
I still don’t believe that I saved myself, so I have no idea how to control it. Still, if I do somehow have an ability to help keep the world safe from Malighosts, then why wouldn’t I want to use it?
The news slowly sinks in while she ponders how to respond to my question. I have gone through a lot the past few days, and learned so much that this news isn’t entirely unthinkable that a human could possess the ability.
It’s the idea that I, of all people, would be able to create fire out of nothing.
Why me?
That’s the strange part that I can’t quite wrap my head around. The realization starts to spread through me like kindling catching fire, but it still seems so surreal.
“Well,” she starts, rubbing her chin. “Eden doesn’t do well with change. If they hear of a human with the ability to control fire, they will not hesitate to detain you in the Living World and take you back to Eden.”
“They will question you,” she continues, “most likely not believe a word you say, imprison you, and then either put you to death or give you to their research and development Division. I don’t mean to scare you, but I don’t think you understand the extent of the situation you are in.”
She’s right about that, I didn’t know. Now, I’m terrified.
“How would they find out?” I ask. “Would you tell them?”
It suddenly feels really cramped, not only in this room, but in the entire shop. My whole body is telling me to run, and fast. I hold my breath in anticipation of her response.
“No, no, no,” she reassures me.
The breath I exhale is audible, obvious that I had been holding it. Ms. Kingsley chuckles at my reaction.
“I’m not that loyal to Eden,” she giggles. “Yes, I like to help out the Reapers here in the Living World, but I’m loyal to the living people, not Eden. However, if the Reaper assigned to this town sees you, then he or she will definitely report you.”
“Eden does not watch spirit activity all the time, so if you keep to yourself, you’ll be fine, but don’t use it in public against a Malighost again,” she warns. “They track spirit activity during Malighost attacks for their research. If they notice something strange about the activity, they will investigate the anomalies and find you. Do not use those powers again.”
“How in the hell am I supposed to do that?” I inquire, feeling flustered and completely overwhelmed. “I didn’t even see myself do it, nor did I even feel the fire come from me. So, how am I supposed to stop it?”
“Honestly, I have no idea,” she admits, somewhat bleakly.
I can see sympathy in her eyes for my situation as she speaks.
“I’ve never seen a human with abilities, so I have no idea how to help you…”
“What am I supposed to do?” I practically beg. “I can’t go home! I might accidentally burn down my house and kill my whole family…”
“I think you’ll be okay as long as you calm down.”
“What?”
“Just calm down,” she clarifies for me.
She has her hands raised, gesturing for me to calm myself. There’s still that spark of amusement in her gaze, but now it’s annoying me. I’m desperate and don’t want to hurt my family – this is not the time for humor!
“The fire didn’t happen until you were in a near-death situation,” she explains. “So, as long as you stay away from Malighosts, and other deadly things, you’ll be fine.”
“I guess that’s logical,” I agree, taking deep breaths to calm my anxiety.
It isn’t working like I hoped, but she does make sense.
“Go home tonight and see if anything else happens. If it does, I think I can find a place that will keep you safe so you don’t accidentally kill anyone.”
“That’s reassuring…” I respond, sarcastically. “How did this even happen?”
“The only thing I was able to think of, is being so close to Captain Alden. His immense spiritual energy must have had some sort of effect on you.”
“That’s a scary thought…”
“Well, it’s all I can give you right now,” Ms. Kingsley concedes, apologetically.
I sigh.
“Sorry,” I confess.
I seem to be doing that a lot lately. She’s right, I need to learn to control myself and not let my emotions rule my actions.
“I should be, and am, very grateful that you’ve been so much help for me already, especially when I was first attacked,” I continue. “Thank you for everything. I’ll let you know if anything happens at home.”
She nods and we stand up, ending our meeting. Ms. Kingsley walks me to the front of the store, and shows me out. She feels so bad that there isn’t more she can do for me that she even gives me a small bag of free chocolate to take home with me. I wonder how she keeps her store running if she is like this to everyone.
Maybe she only gives free chocolate to Reapers and living friends, if they have them? A sensation in my gut tells me she’s a kind and quirky woman, but not usually so kind to people as she is with me. Maybe she’s only being kind to me because I have somehow won the heart of a Division Captain? I have no idea, and I don’t feel comfortable asking her.
I take my time walking home, kicking gravel out of my path as I go. I munch on the delicious homemade chocolate turtles Ms. Kingsley gave me while I think more about the Malighost that attacked me.
If there’s going to be more of them turning up out of nowhere seeking souls to torment, then how am I supposed to avoid them? I’m surprised I haven’t seen any before now. Then, how am I going to avoid setting them on fire?
I really need to learn how to control whatever powers I possess, but I have no idea how to do that. Not without trying to use them anyway, and that would just put me in danger, according to Ms. Kingsley. I would rather not be locked up as a lab specimen.
Thankfully, I make it home in one piece, and without setting anything on fire again. I don’t see or hear anything suspicious, so I don’t even have to take a detour. I get home just after lunch and go straight to my room like I usually would, so no one is suspicious of my actions or asks me any questions.
Maybe if I hid
e in my room like I used to, instead of going outside, then things will go back to normal. I highly doubt it, but the thought is still somewhat comforting, which is what I need right now.
Being back in my bedroom with all my familiar items is normal and safe. I curl up in my bed, pulling back the covers, and lay down with them pulled up to my neck. I’m not tired, but I love being snuggled under the warmth of my blankets.
That is where I spend the rest of my day. Even when dad comes upstairs to ask if I want to eat dinner, I say no and stay under my covers, staring at the wall. I’m grateful he doesn’t question it. He probably thinks I pushed myself too much after being so sick.
Really, I’m too afraid that any of them being anywhere near me will cause my family to burst into flames. Today I am safe, but what about tomorrow? I still have to get up and go to school. Will it only take being startled to set the whole building on fire?
I may not have very many friends there, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to let anyone die because of me. This circular thought process is all I can focus on while confined to my comfort zone. It makes for a long day.
I’m not sure what time I finally fall asleep, but it was definitely dark outside. If I have to take a guess, I would say it was around ten. I hear dad and Lana go to bed, but Ian always stays awake playing video games until at least two in the morning. I can hear guns blasting from the TV downstairs, so I know Ian is still up.
At least I’m not up too terribly late.
When I drift to sleep, I have very vivid dreams of being scared by the smallest things, and burning the house down with everyone inside. I may be the black sheep of the family, but I still love them. I don’t want them to die.
I’m happy when my alarm goes off the next morning to wake me for school. I’m drenched in sweat from all the nightmares, and wake in a panic. I, immediately, scan my room for fire. Thankfully, the house is still intact.
However, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still extremely paranoid and scared to go to school after yesterday. I groan, remembering I don’t get to stay home today. I get dressed slowly, taking my time hoping that dad will come in and say that school has been canceled and I can do whatever I want.
Waiting a Lifetime (The Waiting Series Book 1) Page 9