The Chronicles of Winterset: Oracle (6 page)

I ran until I thought my lungs were going to give out, with my heart pounding and my head aching. I was sweating and knew it had to do with not only the vigorous run but also the fever still niggling at me.

I rolled the recent events around in my mind, trying desperately to sort through everything. Had there been flames on my hands in the girl’s bathroom? And what about the strange visions? And Kellin. Oh, God, Kellin.

I winced as I replayed my words to him over and over.

OK, so I did like him. I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but there it was. Lately, though, there was Calix. He was pushing confusing thoughts around my head too. He was mysterious, dangerous in a frightening, quiet way, with an abrasive personality that left me on pins and needles. And the way I felt around him, well, I’d never felt that much of a charge with anyone. Not even Kellin.

What was I going to do about it, though?

Nothing. That was the perfect response. I was just going to continue on like none of this, flame hands included, were happening.

I started my run again along the familiar dirt path, the dull thud of my feet hitting the ground echoing in my ears. Suddenly, my body felt like it was on fire again, and I stopped to look down at my hands. When I saw they weren’t ablaze, I breathed out a sigh of relief. However, I was so warm, I thought I might choke on the heat. I gulped down breath after breath of cool air, but it didn’t help quell the fire raging within me.

I looked around and saw I had made it to the small lake at the edge of the woods, so without thinking twice, I peeled off my clothes, leaving only my bra and underwear on, and practically threw my sweltering body into the cold autumn lake water.

I gasped at the sudden shock, but quickly acclimated to the waters and felt the hotness leave my body. I had no clue if it was caused by my long, vigorous run, or if something else was at work, but whatever it was, I was feeling better.

I floated on my back for a long time, my head aching slightly as I looked up to the darkening sky. I was far from my house, and it would take me a long time to get back, even if I was running full speed. I let out a deep, calming breath and rolled onto my stomach to swim to the shore. I was shocked to find someone on the shore staring at me, a smile on his face.

“Well, look who it is,” Calix smirked at me as I was treading water. He was dressed in dark running pants and a hoodie, both of which somehow made him appear even hotter than I thought possible. I shot him an angry look and glanced over at my clothes lying next to him. I silently scolded myself for thinking this was a good idea.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my body shivering in the lake water.

“Thought I’d go for a run. I can see it was a good idea now that I’m here,” he replied idly, his coal-colored eyes fixed on me.

“You often just decide to go for long runs in the woods?” I snapped irritably.

“What, are you the only one allowed to do that?” he countered, a cocky look on his face. I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh.

“Look, I’d like to get out. Can you please turn around?”

“Oh, you’re not dressed, are you?” he asked bending down and picking up my clothes. He grinned at me and I had the sudden urge to kick him in his perfect teeth. As if he didn’t already know I was only in my underwear.

“I’m serious, Calix. Turn around. I’m cold and I need to get dressed,” I said through my chattering teeth. He surveyed me for a moment before taking a few steps to the water’s edge and dropping my clothes. Without a word, he walked back to where he’d been standing and turned around.

I took the opportunity, and hurried to the shore, where I pulled my clothes on over my wet body. I was now freezing. I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn’t seem to get my body temperature under control, and it was annoying. First, I’m on fire, literally, and then I’m normal, followed by feeling like there was a furnace inside of me, and now I was shivering like I was standing naked in the Arctic.

“May I turn around?” he inquired as I was pulling on my shoes.

“Yes,” I grumbled, standing up and wrapping my arms around myself.

“What are you doing out here all alone when it’s almost night? This has to be a few miles from your house,” Calix commented as he turned to face me. I pushed past him and started toward the trail, not interested in pursuing a conversation.

“Are we not talking?” he pressed, falling into step beside me. “Because it’s a long walk back if we aren’t talking. I think it’ll be uncomfortable.”

“Then don’t follow me,” I replied evenly, quickening my pace.

“I’d feel bad if I didn’t escort you home. It’s getting late and all,” he answered nonchalantly.

“Trust me, I’m OK with going on my own.” I exhaled, my breath visible in the cool autumn air.

“I’m not,” he returned, matching my pace. I rolled my eyes and broke into a jog, but he followed suit. I could feel the strange electricity zinging between us, and I trembled as it flowed through my body, making me want to do things I wouldn’t normally do.

We’d run in silence for about fifteen minutes when I couldn’t stand it any longer. “What were you doing out here?” I burst out, turning to him, my green eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“I enjoy nature. I like to spend my time outdoors,” he replied, his words laced with honesty and his dark eyes wide and innocent. “These woods looked inviting, and I decided I’d check them out. Kevin told me they have a lot of running trails, and running is therapeutic for me, so here I am. I just got lucky and found you, I guess.”

I eyed him and nodded, accepting his answer. If anyone could understand his need for running and nature, it was me.

“So do you go swimming in the cold often?” he inquired, his full lips turning up into a quirky smile.

“I don’t make a habit of it,” I muttered, walking up the trail.

“I’d hope not. You’re going to get sick, and then you won’t be able to cheer,” he replied, burying his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.

“Like I care about that,” I sighed, realizing I didn’t care if I ever put my cheer uniform on again. I hated Courtney and Sasha, and having to face them made my stomach twist. They both thought I was after their boyfriends, if that’s what Calix was to Sasha.

“You should care. You’re pretty good at it,” he said.

“How would you even know? You’ve been here all of a week,” I huffed, feeling all sorts of bitchy.

“I’ve been to your practices,” he pointed out. “Where did you learn to do all those flips?”

“Gymnastics,” I grunted sullenly.

“Well, you look incredible. You’re easily the best on your squad,” he said.

I felt my cheeks grow warm at the compliment. “Thanks,” I said, wrapping my arms tighter around myself. My god, it was freezing out.

“Here,” he said, stopping me and taking off his hoodie. “You’re freezing.”

He didn’t wait for me to protest before pulling it down over my head. I wanted to tell him no, but it smelled like him, and it was warm. I shook the crazy thought out of my head.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling a shiver go up my spine as he adjusted the too-big sweater around me, his nearness making my stomach do somersaults.

“It looks good on you,” he murmured, pushing my long, wet hair away from my face. I stared into his dark eyes, mesmerized. They looked like they had seen so many things, things I wanted to ask him about, but knew I shouldn’t. Not when he was with Sasha. Not when I was trying to get over Kellin. Not when I was bursting into flames or hallucinating, neither a desirable quality in a person.

I turned and started walking again and heard him chuckle before catching up to me.

“I heard you don’t have a date to homecoming,” he started.

“I’m not surprised. It’s all over school. That and my lack of a love life,” I groaned, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“I don’t understand why you’re embarrassed about it.” He shrugged. “I think it’s a turn-on.”

My cheeks burned a deeper red and I hung my head to hide my face. He thought inexperience was attractive? What the hell was he doing with Sasha then? God knows how experienced she was.

“It’s embarrassing because I’ll be eighteen soon and I haven’t even been close to it,” I murmured, not knowing why I was divulging any information to him. We weren’t friends.

“I thought you said you’ve been on dates?” he inquired, calling me out.

“I went out on one sophomore year with a guy named Andy Harris. He never called me back, and then I saw him out with Courtney a few weekends later,” I said softly. That wasn’t my crowning social moment, and it was probably right around that time when Courtney and I became bitter with one another.

“I figured I wasn’t dating material,” I continued softly. “I basically stopped trying after that.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” Calix snorted with a shake of his head. He caught my look of irritation quickly and gave me a reassuring smile.

“What I mean, Ana, is you shouldn’t let one bad experience stop you from being happy. The guy wasn’t worthy of you anyway,” he added knowledgeably.

“And how would you know about his worthiness?” I asked tiredly.

“Anyone who would take you out and not call you back, not kiss your lips, is a damned fool and doesn’t deserve you,” Calix stated fiercely.

My heart skipped a beat at his words. He seemed to have so many personalities. He was the most confusing individual I’d ever met.

“Whatever. No one has asked me since. I attribute it to me just not being datable,” I said with an indifferent shrug. “I mean, I guess I could just go out and be one of those girls who makes out with every guy. That would probably get the vast majority of my enemies off my back. I think it’s what everyone expects me to do.”

He grabbed my arm abruptly and turned me to face him, his dark eyes serious as he gazed down at me. I gulped as he took a step closer, my heart beating unevenly in my chest.

“Never, ever, sacrifice what you want for what is expected of you. You’re better than that, Princess. Doing what everyone else wants and what is expected makes you live a life that isn’t yours, and you deserve to have everything you want,” he murmured, brushing my cheek gently with the back of his warm hand, sending familiar zings of energy through my skin.

“Why are you being nice to me? You don’t know me.” The words popped out of my mouth before I could think them through.

“Is that what I’m doing?” he mused softly, his eyes sucking me in. “Maybe I should get to know you.”

Butterflies danced in my stomach as I stared up at him. His shaggy black hair fell into his eyes and a muscle tensed along his jaw like he was trying to control himself. And his tattoo. I hadn’t noticed it before, but I could now see it barely peeking at me from beneath his black undershirt. I followed his cotton-clad arm down to his wrists and saw the hint of it disappearing beneath the sleeve.

I envisioned it wrapping itself around his torso like a snake, then frowned as I saw a flash of it in my mind. I took a step away from him, frightened to know if I was correct about it.

I started running again, and he fell into step beside me, the electricity bouncing between us as we huffed and puffed down the trail.

It was nice running with him, I had to admit. It sounded crazy, but I didn’t feel as tired or worn-out as I pushed myself down the trail. Almost like we were eating one another’s energy. I pushed the ridiculous thought out of my mind and pressed on.

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” he asked as we slowed to a walk. The clearing to my house was just ahead, and I guiltily wanted a few more moments with this enigmatic man.

“No,” I answered, staring straight ahead. I’d always wanted a brother or sister, but it wasn’t in the stars it seemed.

“Spoiled only child? That explains a lot,” he said, the all too familiar mischievous glint in his eyes.

“What about you?” I snapped, immediately coming unglued because of his ridiculous assumptions. I knew this nice moment between us wouldn’t last. “Where do you live? What do your parents do? Are you an only child?”

“I live nearby. My mother is dead, I’m not close to my father, and I am an only child now since my brother was murdered.”

“Oh,” I said feeling my face burn. “Sorry. I-I didn’t realize . . . ”

“What? You didn’t realize my mom was dead and my brother was murdered? I wouldn’t expect you to know that. We only just met.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, dumbfounded. I didn’t even know what to say to him. I guess it was easy to figure out where his attitude stemmed from. He didn’t seem to have a very bright past.              

“I see what you’re doing there behind those beautiful eyes, Princess. Don’t. Don’t feel sorry for me or try to figure me out. It is what it is.”

“Why do you call me Princess?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.

“Because I like it, and I’ve seen where you live,” he said through a forced smile.

“I didn’t earn any of it. It’s my parents’ place. I just live there. I’d be perfectly content with a small house or whatever,” I stated, knowing it was the truth.

“Mhm. I can imagine you in generic clothes, a small house with one bathroom, and walking to school every morning.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “You don’t know me,” I said, holding my chin up. “I’m not like you think I am.”

“You’re right,” he agreed. “You are surprising. Unexpected, in fact.”

He reached out and touched my face gently with his warm fingers, sending a buzz of electricity through my body.

“Do you really not have a date to homecoming?” he asked softly.

“I don’t,” I answered, drawing in a shaky breath.

My phone rang then, effectively shattering whatever moment we were having. I fumbled for it quickly.

“Hey, Mel,” I breathed nervously into the phone.

“Hey, wanna hang out tonight?”

“Um, yeah. I guess,” I replied, turning away from Calix.

“Good, because we need to talk,” she continued. “I’ll be at your house in ten, OK?”

“Yeah, see you then,” I answered, wondering what she wanted to talk about. My stomach twisted at the possibilities. Maybe there was some new rumor about me floating around.

“Plans?” Calix asked, jolting me from my thoughts. I looked up at him in surprise, having forgotten he’d been standing there the whole time.

“Mel is coming over,” I answered. “I . . . uh . . . better go. She said she’ll be here in ten. Thanks for your hoodie.”

I took it off and handed it to him; he took it from my hands and smiled sadly at me. He wasn’t the same snarky person he had been, and I wondered how often his personality changed.

“I guess I’ll see you in class tomorrow,” he said, backing away from me. I nodded and watched him as he turned and jogged away.

The way his shoulders slumped forward made me think he was sad. I wasn’t sure why that bothered me, but it did, and I couldn’t shake the feeling as I walked into my house.

There was something about Calix Night that I was drawn to, whether I wanted to admit it or not. Something that frightened and excited me.

And that’s why I needed to stay away from him.