Talent Storm (17 page)

She rubbed my hand. “Thank you again for sticking up for me. It means a lot to me. He used to bug me all the time in Alliance City. Finally, I gave in to one date, hoping he’d leave me alone, but it just got worse from there.”

I shook my head, scowling. “I have some bad memories of him too. You saw one at the park.”

She squeezed my hand. “I was happy to help get rid of him. Now you helped me back. That’s why you’re the best.”

A smile grew on my face. Everything was as it should be. After her eyes touched mine, a shiver of excitement sprinted through me.

“One sec.”

She reached into a small purse next to her and pulled out a small round tin. After opening it, she rubbed her finger on the inside. Then, as she glossed her lips with the wax, I smiled at the smell of raspberries.

“What’s that?”

“Lip gloss. I make it from bees wax and concentrated raspberries. Want some?”

She wanted to kiss me. All at once, I felt short of breath. “Sure.”

After rubbing more wax on her finger, she gently rubbed my lips. Her touch thrilled me. My heart thudded as my desire fluttered inside me. What if I messed up the kiss? Relax, you’ve been waiting years to kiss her again. Enjoy it.

She was inches from me. I was terrified and excited by her nearness, by the warmth of her body, and the promise it held. I felt my stomach flutter in anticipation. I had only kissed two girls—three if you counted Jasmine—and Lilly was one of them. You’d think it would make kissing her easier, but the memory of it put that much more pressure on me. It had to be better.

I cautiously placed my hand on her thigh. She glanced down, and I almost pulled it away. Then she smiled, making me feel bolder, more confident. I slid my hand up her leg, around her hip, and settled it on the small of her back. She shifted closer, touching my arm and smiling wide. Her eyes met each of mine and then trailed down to my mouth.

I glanced at her full lips and licked mine. She leaned in, closing her midnight eyes, her lips puckered. For an instant, I felt like running, but that would be the stupidest thing I’d ever done. Instead, I placed my other hand behind her neck and pulled her in, her lavender perfume drifting by me.

Her lips were soft, moist, and sweet, tasting like raspberries. The feel of them sent shivers through my body, tingling my skin. I’d kissed her before, but this was something more, something magnificent. I never wanted it to end.

All told, it probably lasted a minute, but it was the best minute of my life. When we pulled apart, our eyes connected. I couldn’t help but smile. She quickly broke the contact, her face reddening.

She took my hand and without meeting my eyes, she said, “
Well
... I like you even more now.”

I smiled broadly, thinking how great she was, lost in the moment. Then my smile faded into a frown as I thought of our future. My uncle had said to be wary of war breaking out. If it did, I could lose her; was it too risky to be with her?

No, I was committed to my training. I’d be able to protect her. Life was a risk, but she wasn’t. Besides, how could I stay away?

All of a sudden, she threw her arms around me, knocking me backward. I grunted as I hit the bed, her body on top of mine. She sat up, then reached down, tickling me furiously. I squirmed, attempting to block her hands while laughing uncontrollably.

“Stop, please,” I managed between laughs.

She tickled me for a few more minutes before stopping. “I think you’ve had enough.”

She lay down next to me, her body brushing against mine. Lying together for a few hours, we talked, joked, and flirted. Finally, as the hour grew late, we stood so that I could leave. After we reached the door, she pulled me into a tight hug. My heart accelerated at feeling her warm body against mine. I didn’t want to let go. Apparently, neither did she.

Eventually, I pulled away, prolonging our contact until our fingers separated. We stood for a moment our eyes locked, with matching smiles.

“Tomorrow?” I asked.

“Tomorrow,” she promised.

I pulled my body away and strode down the hall, feeling warm and tingly. I could still smell lavender on my skin and taste raspberries on my lips.

☼☼☼

I arrived at the indoor training ground, ready for the last semifinal competition, The Ring. I’d finally get another shot at defeating Sid. For weeks, I’d been honing my talent and enjoying my time with Lilly. I felt good and well rested. Lilly’s tea worked wonders. I wished that it could take away my memories too.

Most students milled about or chatted in small groups around the boxing ring. Instructor Deo stood by one of the structure’s indoor pillars.

He waved to me. “Jaden, come here.”

Curious, I strolled over. “What’s up?”

“How are you holding up since Ben’s death?”

At the mention of his name, my mood darkened. “I’m managing,” I said, wishing he didn’t bring it up.

He nodded, his lips pursed. “Although it’s not customary for me to tell a student, I have information about the man we captured.”

I perked up at that. “Yeah?”

“He’s dead. He killed himself with a guard’s knife. We also lost the other man’s trail. For now, it’s all over.”

“Did you get answers out of him?”

“Nothing. Except that he said he was a Wilder, but who knows if that’s true.”

My breath hissed through my teeth, and I stomped away. Pathetic. Now, I’d never learn the full story.

After a few minutes, Deo stepped up to the ring. He eyed me, as if uncertain I was ready before nodding to Sid and me. “Today you will be competing in The Ring.” He picked up two padded staves. “You’ll be using touch telekinesis on these. Often in live combat, you’ll have to fight hand to hand and since telekinesis is most powerful on contact, you can typically do more damage. We have several talent healers ready so don’t hold back, but do wear your protective helmets. The battle ends when either a student is knocked down three times or they can no longer continue. Sid, Jaden step into the ring.”

Sid waddled over to me, his expression grim. Perhaps he knew that I’d been training. “I've been cutting you slack for some time now. I didn’t want to hurt your delicate sensibilities. I hope you're ready for this,” he said.

I raised my eyebrows, glancing around the room. “Ready for what?”

He huffed. “The competition.”

“Ohh, I’m actually not ready. Would you ask the Instructor if we can put it off?”

Sid scowled, rubbing his temples as he often did. He sure was easy to fluster. Sid opened his mouth to respond when the Instructor grabbed his shoulder.

“Into the ring boys and shirts off.”

I stared blankly at the old man for a moment, then lowered my heated face. I knew it was standard practice to be shirtless in the ring, but somehow it slipped my mind. It was always a little nerve wracking to be partially exposed in front of others. But was it really that bad? After all, I had been lifting weights for a while. I had toned muscles and a six-pack. I shrugged and pulled off my shirt. Sid did the same, baring his rounded stomach and flabby chest. Now, if I was
him
, I’d be embarrassed.

I stepped through the ropes, into the ring, then fastened on my protective helmet. My eyes caught Lilly, red faced and smiling as she looked at me. She wasn’t the only one. A few other girls grinned and elbowed their friends. I liked the attention. After walking to the corner of the ring, I raised my padded staff, ready for battle. Sid did the same while the class watched in silent anticipation.

The Instructor raised his fist. “You may begin.”

I stood confidently in my corner, focusing my mind. Touch Telekinesis was one of my specialties, and I’d been training hard for months. Sid stood in his corner, looking pale. Was he worried he’d lose or was that just his typical chalky pallor?

My body flared into a shiny green haze, my brow crinkling in determination. Most of my life I was helpless in fights. I couldn’t count the times that I cowered in fear away from bullies’ fists and boots. I wasn’t helpless anymore. My feet smacked the ground as I charged forward in two bounding steps. Within striking range, the muscles of my chiseled shoulders and arms flexed as my staff sped toward his face. Sid’s eyes bulged, his face and torso whipping backward. The end of my staff skimmed by his head, a hair’s breadth from his nose. He stumbled backward two steps into the ropes and bounced forward. The other end of my staff was already careening toward his legs.

In an azure burst, he jumped, his feet clearing my staff by a couple inches. I swung again, flaring my talent, pushing for more speed. My staff cut upward through the air toward his head. Just as gravity pulled him down, the pad of my staff slammed into his chin. His head snapped back, jerking when it reached the end of its motion. His limp body collapsed on the ground, his stomaching jiggling with the impact.

I stood stunned. One shaky breath escaped my lips. Then another. He flinched, then shook his head. He stood steadier than I would have imagined, likely with the aid of his talent. I readied myself for another attack.

Boom!
A room shuddering bang exploded in my ears.

I grunted as an abrupt force slammed into me, ripping me from my feet. My head crashed against the ground, and the world vanished.

☼☼☼

My eyes fluttered open to see ceiling rafters. I stared up, my mind shrouded in a confused fog. A sharp ringing resonated in my ears, dampening the sound of unintelligible shouts. My head lulled to the side, as if it had its own agenda. Students in the far corner pointed in front of them. They seemed to move strangely, like a movie reel playing too slow.

I found myself in a seated position and twisted to where they pointed. Students ran by, urgency on their faces. Next came thick black smoke and—

“Fire!” someone yelled.

All of a sudden, everything hit me. The world sped up to a furious pace. The sounds of roaring fire and panicked students assailed my ears. I pushed against the ground, and pain spiked through my back and head. I thought of Lilly, and an extreme sense of urgency sprinted through me. She could be in danger. I pushed through the pain and stood, my legs trembling.

A man, dressed all in black, darted out from behind a pillar. Just as he reached the door, a purple whip of energy lashed out and tripped him. Deo stood twenty paces away, his aura glowing brightly. The man in black twisted around, his eyes wide as Deo’s talent enveloped him.

“Help,” a girl screamed.

My head jerked to the sound. Raging flames encircled Danessa, tears streaming down her face. A shiver crashed through me, and I reached for my telekinesis. It darted away like a sparrow. My stomach tightened as I fought for breath. I reached again. She sparkled green, then dimmed.

My hands flew to the sides of my face. “Work, damn it.”

The instructor squinted at me then whirled toward Danessa.

Like water quenching a fire, Sid’s talent cascaded into the flames and blanketed them. Billowing smoke supplanted the extinguished fire. Danessa’s body flared blue than drifted over to us. When she landed, she fell to her knees, coughing. I rushed to her side.

People wheeled on Sid. “You did it.”

“You saved her.”

“You’re a hero.”

Sid smiled as he looked over his adoring fans, then sneered when his eyes reached mine. They were right. He was a hero; I was a failure.

“Are you all right?” I asked Danessa.

She looked at me, her brow furrowed. “Yeah. I think so. Thanks to Sid.”

Her words slammed smacked me in the face. I lowered my head, shame weighting heavy on me. “I’m sorry. I tried.”

She turned away. “I know.”

The medics were now at Danessa’s side, checking her out. I stood and stepped back a few paces.

Instructor Deo walked up to Sid. “Well, Sid. That was magnificent. I think we can consider this a victory for the completion today.”

Lilly approached me before putting her hand on my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go to the medic and get you checked out.”

I shrugged her off. “No. I failed her. All of my training, hard work, and determination have been for nothing. She almost died because of me!”

I was disgusted with myself for not saving her and only thinking of Lilly when there was danger. Danessa was a close friend. I stormed from the facility, fists clenched and my knuckles white. I felt my anger taking over, my control waning. I didn’t fight it. The edges of my vision dimmed, threatening to rob me of sight. Lilly called out, but like I was behind thick stone walls, her pleas couldn’t reach me. Blood boiling, I looked for something to blunt my anger on.

I stomped up to a tall, sprawling oak tree, the ground shaking with my steps. My arm burst into an emerald haze, my talent flowing through me. It felt good and right to give in. Growling, I struck the tree, my fist and arm smashing into its thick trunk. The tree groaned as wood splintered and cracked. I slammed into it again, and this time, it buckled, then tore in half, its great branches arcing to the ground. With a boom, the tree crashed down, the earth rumbling beneath it. A gust of air blew by me, throwing dust and dirt into my eyes and increasing my rage. I leapt at the fallen tree and rained down punches, fracturing it further. Bark and chucks of wood flew out around me.

“Jaden,” I heard dimly, as if underwater. “Jaden,” I heard again and then felt a hand on my shoulder. Lilly. Immediately, my anger faded.

I turned, looking down, red faced and embarrassed. Damn. I really needed to learn to control myself. “I’m sorry,” I said dumbly.

“It’s okay.”

But nothing was okay. I failed Danessa and my anger endangered Lilly. “What if a branch had hit you? What if you’re in danger, and I can’t save you.”

She leaned in and hugged me. “You’ll never lose me. Nothing can keep us apart.”

Despite everything, I smiled. “You’re right. Nothing will, because I’m going to train harder. I need to be better, stronger, faster, and more focused.”

She met my eyes, nodding. “I’ll train with you. We’ll get there together.”

Her words strengthened my determination. “Thanks for being there for me, and for calming me down. You always can. I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t around.”