He grins. “And I’m happy you feel like the old you too.” He kisses me again for good measure before he continues. “I don’t want to ruin the mood. but with your birthday only a week away and without any plan to prevent you from losing your memory, we may have to consider running.”
The thought of running feels instinctually wrong to me. “Let’s not give up yet. If we run, we will always end up running. We’d be considered a threat to all Celestials. It’s not a solution.”
Easton’s energy tightens as he replies angrily, “They already know who you are, and they’re not going to wait before they try to kill you. We have no other plan.” I can tell Easton’s fear is overwhelming him, so I try to think of a solution to our problem.
“What if we combined our energy? Would we be able to withstand the procedure together?”
“I’m not sure. It may work, but it could fail too, and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
My mouth twists as I continue to think of possible solutions. “What happens to the memories after they’re taken?”
“I’m not sure, and we don’t have time to find out. We need to leave tonight before it’s too late.”
Anxiety springs from me at the mention of tonight. I decide to bring up an uncomfortable subject for both of us. “I can’t tonight. It’s James’ birthday celebration, and he asked me to go.”
I feel rage shoot from Easton as his overpowering dark energy almost stops my breath. I grab his hand, trying to help balance him. His energy is stifling and hard for me to calm. He takes a deep breath as he sneers, “What did you say to him?”
I hesitate to answer, knowing the darkness will react negatively. “I said I’d go….” A long pause stretches out between us.
In the silence I chose to rip off the bandage, telling him the other bad news. “There’s something else. He’s scared about the memory eradication and asked if you’d stay home. I think your presence sets him off.”
Just as I expected, Easton’s energy becomes out of control, but this time he stands up to pull away from me. His words come pouring out as I see him fight to maintain control. “He kissed you the other night. You were influenced by darkness, but he knew we were together and still kissed you. I don’t trust him, and I’m usually right.”
“I understand why you’d feel that way, but I led him on. I made James think I wanted him before I stopped it. If you want someone to blame, blame me.”
Easton looks at me intently, dropping his anger and grabbing my hand. “I don’t trust him, but I trust you. I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done.”
Now that I understand how the darkness works, Easton’s ability to keep it at bay amazes me. “Thanks. You’ve got to show me how you manage to win the battle.” Easton gently grabs my hand and leads me into a clearing in the woods, where he first taught me how to move objects with my mind. The area has changed, with several large trees blackened. I point to one of the dead trees. “What happened here?”
He confesses, “After taking a large chunk of your darkness, I had to get rid of it before it consumed me. I released as much as I could into the trees, but I couldn’t get rid of everything.”
I look at the darkened trees and ask, “How did you do that? Does the infection spread from the trees?”
“I don’t think it spreads.” The uncertainty of Easton’s answer scares me. “I encase the darkness in light and shatter it into a million tiny pieces, while attaching it to something else.”
“Then what?”
“I use my positive energy as a force field that protects the pieces from coming back.” Easton nods his head as he continues, “Energy is a part of our souls, not our body. So, everything needs to be done by your mind. You have one of the most powerful energies I’ve ever seen, and you aren’t even working with your full reserves yet. Your energy is limitless, but if your mind doesn’t believe that, it will put a restraint on your capabilities.” I understand what Easton’s telling me, but it’s a hard concept to implement. How am I supposed to convince my own mind I’m powerful when I feel weak and powerless?
I try to lighten the mood. “You’re really reminding me of Yoda these days.” Easton chuckles at my reference. He really enjoyed the Star Wars movies, and has quoted Yoda to me multiple times after watching the series on our flights to and from Bermuda.
“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Easton’s quote makes me smile, thinking about how happy my dad would be to know I found someone else who appreciates Star Wars. Easton returns to his normal voice as he continues to instruct me. “I’m going to send a negative wave towards you, and I want you to block it.”
I re-focus. “Okay. I’m ready.” I face Easton head on and brace myself for an attack, putting up a light shield and praying it protects me. Easton sends negative energy my way as I feel it try to break through my protection. I imagine strength and push light outwards to encase the darkness—successfully breaking up the attacking force. I move the darkness to a nearby tree, which dies instantly. “It’s just like fighting an energy bolt.”
“And we all know you can send a mean energy bolt.”
I smile at Easton, happy to have him in my life. “You know who came to see me early today?”
Easton’s eyebrows furrow and his lips tighten. “Who?”
“Wayward. He says he was checking in on me, but he seemed focused on our relationship. He wants to see me once a week.”
I feel panic rise inside Easton as his energy becomes erratic and twinges with regret. “You can’t see him again… I’ve been meaning to tell you something for a while, but I’ve been afraid of losing you. Please listen to everything I have to say before reacting.”
Time freezes as I debate what to say. I feel a crippling anxiety and fear that whatever he has to tell me will change us forever, and I don’t want that. I love him and don’t want that to change. I place my head in my trembling hands debating if I want to hear what he has to say or if I should just change the subject. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
Easton grabs my hand as we sit on the dirt ground surrounded by dead trees. “Before you got here, I was told you were coming. That I had pure darkness inside of me and because of that God would send down someone to combat that. He told me you’d kill me, and in order for me to survive, I’d have to make you fall for me and infect you with darkness. I agreed, before I’d met you. I didn’t know anything about you and the first moment I saw you, we connected, and I’ve been trying to fight it ever since.”
My body shakes after hearing Easton’s words. I shouldn’t have trusted him. How could I have been so stupid? A million thoughts fill my mind, and although it hurts me to do it, I pull my hand away from his. “Is our connection real?”
Easton’s eager to answer, rushing his words. “Our connection is 100% real. I tried to fight it at first, but you were meant for me. We were meant for each other. It’s something he doesn’t know about and didn’t properly prepare me for. It’s an advantage.”
He’s known all along I’ve been in danger. He’s been working with someone and keeping me in the dark. “Who is He? Who have you been working for?”
Regret crosses Easton’s face as he answers, “Wayward. He’s pure darkness and can’t be trusted. You can’t meet with him.”
Disbelief and rage bubble up within me as my voice raises to a yell. “Wayward is pure evil and you never told me until now!? Why? I trusted you.”
My mind shoots to all the times he could have told me—all the horrible things that have happened to me because I wasn’t told who the enemy was. I throw an accusation out, praying his answer was no. “Were you a part of my coma?”
“I didn’t tell you because I was protecting you. I stopped helping him, and I’ve been feeding him bad information. He knew something was up after we broke into his office, so he must have attacked you when he knew your defenses were down. I knew he was going to try something, but I couldn’t get to you in time. He had me held and questioned in hi
s office while he was attacking you. I had no idea, until I found you laying outside my bedroom. I would never hurt you, never.”
Rage consumes me as I continue to question his motives. “Have you been stringing me along this whole time? Do you know how to stop memory eradication?”
Easton’s energy’s ache matches my own. “Lili, I would do anything to help you. I don’t know how to stop it. I’ve been learning things as we go together. I made a huge mistake, and I’ve been trying to fix it.”
I look up at him and see real pain there. My stomach hurts, my head throbs and my heart’s raw. I just need step away so I can breathe. I should have trusted my prediction and stayed away from Easton from the beginning. “I need some time to think. I need some space.”
I get up and start to walk away, but Easton stops me dead in my tracks with the words I’ve been waiting to hear. “Lili, I’m so sorry. Just know that I love you.” I feel love spilling from his energy, overpowering all of his darkness. My heart flutters, trying to pull me back to him, but my fears keep my heart captive.
Before I escape, I turn towards Easton and say, “I can’t trust you. Everything is ruined.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Distress
Easton - Showdown
Until Lili came into my life, I hadn’t realized the Darkness was using me in its game. But she changed the way I saw things—the way I saw myself. I need to fix this mess and ensure Lili’s safety regardless of the consequences to myself. In the end, Lili was my downfall, but not in the way I was expecting. She taught me to love, all but guaranteeing my battle with the Darkness.
I storm into Wayward’s office, determined to end him once and for all. I push his office door wide open and walk towards him, hiding my true intent.
Wayward’s voice is silky smooth and unbothered. “Easton, this is a surprise.”
“I heard you paid Lili a visit today.”
He answers like he’s toying with me. “I did. I needed to be better informed. To see for myself where her heart really lies.”
“I’m doing the best I can. I’ve told you everything I know.”
Wayward’s dark energy starts to expose itself as he fumes, “So you keep saying. You still have no idea who broke into my room?”
“Like I said, I don’t have a clue. Lili had too much to drink, and I was trying to wrangle her.”
Wayward lets out a sarcastic HA, then breaks his charade and admits his true thoughts. “I think you’ve been lying. I think she loves you and has corrupted you. But the real issue here is I think you love her.”
I hide my true feelings for Lili down deep. “We are incompatible, neither of us loves the other.”
He snarls at me. “LIES. I see her in your energy. You can’t hide the light from me.” I look him dead in the eyes and fire my energy at him. He is caught off guard, allowing my force to hit him straight in the chest. The papers on his wooden desk float in the air as Wayward picks himself up, a malicious look on his face. “You sure you want to do this? We are both dark. We should be fighting together.”
I fire at him again, and he successfully blocks my blast. “I’m nothing like you. I won’t be a part of your plan to turn her dark.”
Wayward shrugs his shoulders, firing a strong shot across the room that knocks a hole in his office wall. “Who cares, I don’t need you.”
I wipe stone dust from my eyes while firing another shot at Wayward. He catches my energy, encasing it in darkness and sending it back to me. It hits me hard—knocking me over as I feel Wayward’s darkness enter my energy. I fight back hard, yelling at Wayward as I struggle to win internal control of my energy. “Lili is stronger than you. She’s stronger than Mary. Your decision to infect her failed. You will always lose against her.”
I see a small glimmer of fear rise in Wayward. “Easton, you were sent here as Lili’s opposite and I was sent here as Mary’s. We are exactly the same. Difference is, I was strong enough to be successful in Mary’s demise.” We exchange blows back and forth as rage fuels us both towards destroying the other. I land a lucky shot as Wayward crumbles to the floor. I quickly approach him, trying to end his energy and ensure Lili’s safety. As I move around his desk a shot unexpectedly fires at me, knocking me to the floor.
I struggle to escape his energy rolling under his desk, while blast after blast hammers me. As my physical battle continues, I start to lose concentration on my internal battle against Wayward’s dark energy, collapsing to the floor in pain. With my guard down for a second, he pins me to the floor. Wayward cruelly laughs, filling the room with darkness as he watches me struggle for freedom.
He’s bound my body with his energy and lifts me into a desk chair. He dusts himself off and takes a seat across from me. “What do I do with you now?”
I fell anger coursing through me. Anger at Wayward for hurting Lili and anger at myself for failing her, but I muster as much strength as I can. “She knows all about you. Your plan won’t work anymore.”
“She only knows a small part of a much bigger plan. I’d never trust you with everything.”
Wayward’s words worry me, spiking fear for Lili’s safety. “The darkness you infected her with increased her awareness. She’s not as trusting as before. You removed her blindness and made her stronger, not weaker like you thought.”
Wayward’s lips twist. “How did she get rid of the dark energy so quickly? How did you help her?”
Refusing to tell Wayward anything that could hurt Lili, I refuse to answer. Wayward’s rage intensifies as he pointedly threatens me with bared teeth. “Silence only lasts so long. Everyone breaks.” He increases his hold on my body as I try to stop myself from screaming in agony. He begins to talk again, this time with more strength behind his words. “Does she love you too? What are her weaknesses?” Once again, I remain silent—determined to protect Lili until my last breath.
Wayward squeezes my body again, popping my arms out of socket and making my pain nearly unbearable. He sneers in enjoyment as his voice slithers inside of my mind. “I think she does love you. I can work with love.”
I fight to speak through my body’s pain. “She doesn’t love me. We broke up before I came here.” As Wayward begins to squeeze my body again I try to locate Lili within the school, finding her at James’ party. I push through my pain and try to contact her. I quickly form a weak connection to Lili’s mind while Wayward continues to crush my body again. “Lili, I’ve been captured. Run.”
Lili - Birthday Blues
James’ party feels odd. I’m surrounded by Celestials who are unaware of the darkness within the school. Happy faces surround me, making me feel lonely and isolated after my fight with Easton. I search the party for James so I can show him support then slip away to my room to wallow in my sorrow. I find him by the nectar fountain talking to Nora and I cautiously approach, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.
Nora looks directly at me, extending me a warm greeting I so desperately need. “Now the party can begin! Ab-Bi has arrived! I was afraid I’d have to talk to a Norma or a Norm all night.”
My fake smile spreads as I reply. “Sorry I’m late. It’s been a long day.” Nora questionably stares at me. She always sees through my falsities, making me feel seen. James doesn’t notice my bad mood and hands me a nectar drink which I immediately refuse. “I think I’m going to pass after the last time.”
James face doesn’t match his response as he sets my drink down. “No problem, I’m just happy to have you here.”
I see Gwyneth across the room staring at me with thin lips and a cocky look on her face. I wonder if she’s been in on the Darkness’ plan from the beginning, and I fight the urge to scream at her.
Then out of nowhere I feel bombarded by Easton’s energy as his weak voice enters my mind, terrifying me. “Lili, I’ve been captured. Run.” Easton’s connection abruptly ends as I desperately try to reconnect to him.
James looks at me with confusion. “What just happened? Are you okay?” he asks.<
br />
I try to hide my terror by replying in a light dazed tone, “Yes, I’ve just got to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I quickly make a beeline for the girl’s room and pass by Harper, who stares at me with concern.
The all white bathroom reminds me of an asylum, and I honestly feel I may need to be admitted after the emotional swings I’ve had today. I desperately extend my energy out searching for Easton. Our usually strong connection is frail, and I have a difficult time connecting to him. Every time I think I’ve found him he vanishes, creating a whirlwind of confusion and worry inside my mind.
I sit down on a closed toilet seat debating my next move. After earlier today I can’t be 100% sure that this isn’t a trap, but the thought of sitting by while Easton suffers makes my head pound and my stomach tighten. I need to stop doubting myself and start listening to my intuition, which is telling me that Easton’s warning was legitimate and he’s in danger. With time working against me, I work up the courage to rescue Easton, regardless of the danger.
I fling the stall door open with determination, but unfortunately, I stumble into Nora. She’s out of breath as she pushes me back into a stall with her. “Lili, Wayward just arrived at the party and made an announcement that he’s looking for you. I have a bad feeling that something is wrong. I think you may be in danger.”
Panic overrides my rational mind as I search for an exit to escape. Wayward is pure evil, and if Easton’s been captured, I’m bound to be next. The bathroom is made of white stones with only one door in and out, limiting my escape routes. I turn to Nora and fill her in as quickly as I can. “I need to escape. Wayward is the Darkness in the school, he’s captured Easton and I think he’s going to do the same to me. I’m in real danger, and I don’t know what to do.”
Nora looks at me with shock as she takes a second to process what I told her. “Okay. An evil maniac is after you…best plan is to escape and figure out how to rescue Easton once you aren’t in immediate danger.” She pauses, then continues with a plan forming in her head. “Hold on, let me go ask James for help. I’ll be right back.” Nora quickly exits the bathroom, leaving me surrounded by silence and my overwhelming fear. Easton keeps entering my mind, concern for him running rampant as I think of worst-case scenarios. Nora returns, talking in a rush. “Okay. James will meet you outside the room. I’m going to create a distraction as you escape. Come out in ten-seconds, then find James in the hall. He will take you to safety, and I will meet you there in a little bit. Everything will be okay.”
New Celestial : A teen paranormal romance series (The Celestial Series Book 1) Page 18