She Rises, page 9
It feels like I jump ten feet in the air as I squeal and spin around. How the hell did Ned sneak up behind me so close without me hearing him?
With a shit-eating grin plastered on his face, he continues, "Well, I guess your Fae hearing hasn't shown up yet." He chuckles. "I really hope it does soon, though, because only having human hearing will be a colossal disadvantage."
I still have my hand clutching my sweatshirt like I can calm my heart with my hand when he asks again. "What are you two talking about?"
I drop my hand and as I stride past him, I don't even try to miss Ned's shoulder, slamming it hard. "Maybe you should have eavesdropped a little longer. You could have found out on your own."
I'm almost to the alley into our training room when I hear Ned snap behind me. "I was going to go easy on you today, but now we'll have to work that attitude out of you."
I huff and turn around, running past Ned as I shout back at him over my shoulder, "Fine. How many laps around the compound?"
"Just run." I jump a little again because somehow Ned caught up with me and is running right next to me.
We don't say a word the entire time we run. It takes ten laps up and down the entire compound, not using the elevator, before Ned tells me to run to the training room. I run inside and bend over at the waist with my hands holding onto my knees. I hear Ned's footsteps behind me, and then I'm shoved from behind, and before I know it, I'm sprawled out face-first on the mat.
I push up on my arms and snarl. "What the hell?" Why do all of my teachers insist on throwing me on the ground?
Ned ignores my outburst and walks to the back wall where, above our table with our pitcher of water and two cups, are now training swords and daggers. I study the swords as he walks, thinking they must be the same ones the military uses to train.
Two sets of weapons hang from the wall. Two wooden and two blunted metal ones. Ned walks toward the wooden swords, my focus zeroing in on them. The swords themselves are just smooth, dark wood with a wooden handle and cross-guard. He grabs one and chucks it over his head without even looking back. It soars through the air, and I catch the wooden sword clutching it tightly.
As I stroke the smooth worn grain in my hand, I'm hit with a sharp slam across my gut. I double over and fall to my knees. I clutch my stomach hard, hoping the pain will go away if I put more pressure on it. I tip over on my side and when I open my eyes, Ned is standing over me leaning on his sword.
"Don't ever lose sight of your opponent. Not even for a split second."
I glare up at him. "Did you get back at me good enough yet?"
Ned smiles down at me and almost giggles as he answers, "Pretty close."
A huge smile cracks across his scarred face, and he leans down and holds his hand out to help me up. I glance from his face to his hand and back again before I take his hand and let him help me back to my feet.
As I get up, I pull my wooden sword up with me, pressing my body right against his. I shove the tip of the sword between us, under his chin, and watch as Ned's eyes widen.
"I am to be your queen; you will show me a measure of respect." I take a step back, drop my sword to my side, and continue, "Even if it's a small measure."
Ned cocks his head, crosses his arms over his chest, and smiles. "Damn, girl. I didn't think you had it in you." He steps back to the wall of weapons, places his sword back, and turns around, staring at me. "You know I was simply proving a point. I kinda need to do those sort of things to teach you."
I shift my features from a glare of anger to one of happiness in an instant. "I know." I wink at him before tossing my sword to him. "I assume we're done with these?"
Ned catches my sword mid-air without ever taking his eyes off of me, always proving a point.
"Yes, you impressed me, so we'll go back to my original plan for today. We're going to work on figuring out your powers."
After he turns to hang up my sword, he walks past me and sits cross-legged on the ground. I join him, sitting on the floor.
"I need you to explain your powers to me. What you sense, what happens, anything you can think of."
I sit there for a second and think back to every time my powers got out of hand. “Well, let’s see. I had objects flying around my room in the beginning, but the first time I can remember them manifesting in a big way was after I started training with my father.” I glance over to where Raven’s head is usually sticking out of her cubbyhole, but now she's gone, of course, this is the conversation she chooses to miss out on. “Raven had said something which infuriated me. Father and I were sparring, and I felt a warmth spread to my hands and my arms turned red and the wraps on Father’s hands burned off.”
“Okay. Was that it?”
“No. There was the time I shot an arrow through a bulky, solid tree branch. I felt the same warmth through my chest and arms. Of course, there was the thing with my mother, and I told you about my breakdown with Raven. Also, since I’ve been here, things have been moving around sporadically. Nothing big, just cups, plates, and such, but with those, I didn’t feel any warmth, it just happened.”
Ned puts his elbow on his knee, drops his head onto his fisted hand, stares at the mat, and just sits there. He must be thinking because I hear him making small noises to himself as we sit there in silence. When he wakes out of what I can only explain as a trance, he gazes up at me and holds my stare. I’m almost scared to hear what's going to come out.
“My powers are very different from yours, so this is all new to me too, but I know we can figure this out."
“Can you do anything besides read minds?”
Ned puts both of his elbows on his knees and steeples his hands in front of his mouth. “No, but I’ll explain more about it after. But let's go over those one by one. The burning of your father's hands would be fire. Shooting an arrow through the tree branch is simply your Fae strength coming to the surface.” He waves his hand through the air dismissively. "The warmth is probably your body getting used to your new power and strength, which would explain why you don't notice it anymore." He takes in a deep breath. "Moving things around though could be part of your ability to move air, you push enough air the right way and things move."
I tilt my head as he continues. “To me, it sounds like you got your mother’s and grandfather’s powers with your own mixed in. "
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the fire is Henrik. His nickname is ‘The Dragon’ for a reason.”
“Wait. What? I’ve never heard him called that before.”
“Oh well, the Fae call him The Dragon obviously because of his ability to control and create fire, but also because he has red eyes.”
“Like my mother.”
Ned nods. “Yes and his ferocity in battle, he never takes prisoners, and because he hoards power like a dragon hoards treasure. Honestly, Henrik will probably see your ability to control fire as you stealing his power, which puts an even bigger target on your back. Then your mother’s powers were weather manipulation, which air is a part of. And your mix into all of that is controlling the other two elements, earth, and water like you did during your meltdown with Raven. But maybe I’m wrong."
“You’re just pulling things out of your ass.”
Ned’s eyes widen and he chuckles. “I really am. My powers are nothing like this.”
“What are they exactly?”
Ned inclines his head, peeking at me under his brow, a wicked smile cracking his face. “I can hear people’s thoughts.”
I lean away from him and my eyes widen to saucers. “You can what?”
Ned sits back up straight and his face goes back to normal. He takes a big intake of breath before answering.
“I thought I made that clear the other day. I can hear people’s thoughts. It’s helpful but not as helpful as you think. Pure-blooded Fae who have powers like mine can also control people around them with their minds and prevent others from listening in on their thoughts. Being only half-Fae, I can't. So you see, I didn't need to eavesdrop on your conversation with Raven. I already know what's going on with you and that boy."
I glance down at my crossed legs and I think back to when I first met Allister and how I could actually see through his eyes.
“That’s something else,” Ned says.
My eyes widen as I peer back up at Ned. “You really can read thoughts. What was that between me and that Fae then?”
“You can just use his name, you’ve thought about him enough around me.”
That surprises me. “What are you talking about? This is the first time I’ve thought about him around you I can remember.”
Ned cocks his head. “Interesting. So you don’t even realize you’re doing it most of the time. You think about him almost daily.”
“No I don't!” I snap, but then heat rises to my cheeks which must take the bite out of my words because Ned just smiles. Then Ned puts his hands up in a surrendering motion and bows his head.
“Sorry, my queen, I speak only the truth.” He chuckles out.
I cross my arms and roll my eyes. “Let’s get back to training.”
Ned stands and walks to the back table, picking up a cup and returning with it. “You’re right we can talk about this later. Let’s take this one at a time.” He sets the cup down on the floor between us and squints down at me. “I want you to think of that warmth gliding along your body like it did those times your powers came out. If and when you notice that warmth, I want you to knock over this cup without using your hands.”
I glare at him. “You’re making it sound easy. What’s the catch?”
“The catch is I have no idea if this will work.”
“Well, how do your powers work?”
“With my powers, I don’t even have to think. I’m simply bombarded with noise from other people’s heads all day. I have no real control over it.”
“Oh. That must be miserable.”
“I’ve learned to deal with it. When I first came to Sanctuary, I’d never been around anyone but my mother and father. Being bombarded by so many thoughts non-stop almost drove me crazy. Commander Demarco truthfully kept me sane, if you can believe it. In my crazed state, I confessed to him, my one friend, what I truly was, and he's kept my secret ever since. He even taught me some breathing exercises and made sure I had my own private room.”
“Most people don’t have their own room?”
Ned leans back and roars out a laugh. “No, Attina. Most people in Sanctuary have two to four people in their room with them. I knew you were Fae and didn’t know what your powers were or if you had control over them, so I cashed in another favor with Commander Demarco and got you your own room across the hall from my room just to be safe.”
“Oh.” I drop my head. “Thank you. You’ve been taking care of me from the start.”
Ned puts his finger under my chin and lifts my head, locking eyes with me. “It’s an honor, princess. Now let’s get back to training.”
Ned takes his hand out from under my chin and it drops to my chest. I take in a deep breath and focus my attention on the cup between us. I close my eyes and try to block out everything. I try to imagine that warmth spreading over me but instead of warmth, I notice something like a feather being dragged across my arms. I'm not sure what's going on, but it doesn't matter because nothing changes.
I try over and over, but nothing happens. Time slips away as I sit there, one moment blending into the next. It seems like I’m working only ten minutes before I hear Ned’s voice.
“Okay, that’s enough for today, Attina. We can work on swords tomorrow, and I’ll think of some other way to try to get your powers under control.”
“But wait, I’ve only been trying for ten minutes. Let me try some more.”
Ned stands. “No, it's been four hours, Attina.” He cocks his head and sticks out his hand to help me up. “You must have been concentrating very hard. It’s time for dinner and you need some rest.”
I gaze up at him. “Oh. I didn’t realize. Sorry for making you wait so long.” I grab Ned’s hand, and he helps me up.
“Don't worry about it. Give me some time to think. You won't need your powers on this next mission anyway. I found out we’re only searching for supplies, so it’ll be a walk in the park.”
I drop my gaze to the mat, embarrassed I lost so much time just sitting there with my eyes closed while he watched. He turns and walks over to the table, lifting the pitcher and pouring some of the liquid from it into a cup. He brings it back over and holds it out to me. "Here, drink some Restore, go get some food, and get to bed."
I dip my head as I take the cup and down its contents in one swig. “All right, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I walk out of the training room, without even saying goodbye to Raven, and head straight to the cafeteria.
Nathan is already there waiting for me when I get there. He follows me through the dinner line and to my seat, gabbing the entire way about his day. I try to be nice and sound interested, but I have too much on my shoulders right now, small talk is difficult. Luckily when we sit down, he stops talking long enough to eat. He finishes right before I do, and as soon as he finishes, he peers up at me.
“What are you and Ned doing all day in that room?”
“Training.”
He raises an eyebrow. “For what? You’re not a soldier. Are you?”
I smile over at him. “I’m training to be one.”
His mouth drops open, I've actually managed to render Nathan speechless, so I take the opportunity to leave the table. As I rise, I reach across the table and cover his hand with mine.
“We need to talk more. I've changed a lot since Daruk.”
Nathan closes his mouth and sets his jaw before nodding his head. I take the silence as a dismissal. I turn and leave.
15
Attina
That night I dream of the night of my Awakening again. I try over and over, but nothing I do changes the outcome. By the end of the dream, I’m left calling out to Father as Raven runs us away.
This time though, before I see the blinding streak of lightning streak across the sky, I hear loud knocking. My eyes slam open and I sit up straight in bed. For a second, I think I must have dreamed the knocking but then I hear it again.
Bam bam bam.
Over and over with increasing force until I jump up and fling open the door.
As the door opens, I hiss out, “Who the hell...” but my words are cut off as I take in the person in the doorway.
James... great.
“Can I come in?”
I stand there blocking the doorway and just stare at him for a second. I might as well deal with this now, I guess. I step away.
“Yes, go ahead.”
James walks in and heads straight for my bed, popping on it like he owns it. I walk away from the door toward my bed but I stop, keeping my distance, and stand defensively with my arms crossed.
“What do you want, James?”
James doesn’t answer me. He just pats the bed next to him, inviting me to sit down.
I shake my head. “No, I don't expect you to be here long. It’s the middle of the night, and I have to be up early for training. What time is it even?”
“Around three in the morning. Training is what I came here to talk to you about.”
“Oh?” I tilt my head, genuinely interested in what he has to say. “Go ahead.”
“Well, first off, I’m sorry for the last time we talked. Things got out of hand. I never should have let things get so heated.” He throws his hands up in exacerbation, and I take a step away from him. He doesn’t even notice and continues. “I’m in love with you, Attina. The thought of you training and going back out in that harsh world scares the hell out of me.”
“You can’t keep me locked up forever. If you truly love me, you will support me whether you agree with what I’m doing or not.”
James stands. “I won't support you while you go off and get yourself killed!”
I back away from him. I’m not about to expose my back to him, and back to my room door, putting my hand on the doorknob. With the way he's been lately, I'm not giving him the chance to become violent.
“I think you should leave. This is not going well, you need to cool off.”
James races to me and grabs on hard to both of my arms. “No, please let me finish. I lost my entire family. I can't lose you too.”
I jerk out of his grasp, back away, and open my door. James just stands there and glares at me with his jaw clenched. The intense, fevered look in his eyes is one of hatred but that can’t be true. James just told me he loves me. He can’t jump back and forth so quickly, can he?
“Fine, I’ll leave. Don’t bother training for your mission though, you won’t be going.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll talk to Commander Demarco and stop this.”
I roll my eyes, gesturing toward the door. “Go ahead and try.”
He walks toward the door opening and then dives at me. His lips pressing hard on mine. His tongue parts my lips and he deepens our kiss. I pull away, but he doesn't move, he keeps his face mere inches from mine as he whispers, “You’re mine. You will be my wife and you will never go back out into that dangerous world.”
I narrow my eyes. Who is he to tell me how my life is going to play out? I won't let him imprison me. Then I realize—I will never marry this man.
* * *
After James leaves, I try to get back to sleep but it's impossible. I give up and get dressed, head to the cafeteria for a quick breakfast, and make my way down to the training room. When I get to our training room, Ned is leaning on the wall next to Raven, who has her head sticking into the room. When Ned sees me, he steps away from the wall and turns to face me.
He throws his hands up. “What the hell did you say to James?”
I shake my head confused, “What? How did you know we talked? I know I wasn’t thinking about it just now.”
Ned crosses his arms. “No, you weren’t, but I already got a letter from Commander Demarco this morning telling me James is making a stink about you leaving on a mission and is giving him a real headache.”
