31. Kaia
As I step into the maze, my anger from this morning resurfaces. The shadowy walls seem to dance, reacting to my mood. Great. An obstacle course with performance anxiety.
"Focus, Kaia," I mutter. My shadows swirl erratically, mirroring my inner turmoil.
I round a corner and find myself face-to-face with a writhing mass of darkness. It coalesces into a wall, blocking my path. I reach out, willing my shadows to merge with it, to carve a passage. Instead, they skitter away, refusing to obey.
"Seriously?" I hiss. "Now is not the time for a rebellion."
I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. The shadows on the walls waver, almost taunting me. Fine. If my shadows won’t cooperate, I’ll do this the old-fashioned way. I charge forward, shoulder first, and burst through the inky barrier.
I stumble out the other side, covered in shadow residue that clings like cobwebs. "Ugh, gross."
The maze shifts before me, and I choose a path at random. After becoming hopelessly lost, the maze finally presents a new challenge. A chasm opens before me, too wide to jump. My shadows nudge me, trying to form a bridge, but I resist. I don’t need their help. I’m supposed to do this on my own, right?
"I’ve got this," I mutter, searching for another way across. But as I stand there, indecision gnawing at me, I can’t help but wonder—am I being stubborn, or am I finally taking control?
The shadows go still around me, waiting for my next move.
Suddenly, my amethyst necklace glows against my skin, startling me. A warm, tingling sensation spreads from the stone, and for a split second, I swear I hear whispers—ancient, melodic voices just beyond my comprehension.
"What the hell?" I mutter, grasping the pendant. It throbs again, more insistent this time.
Before I can ponder this new mystery, a familiar voice calls out from behind me. "Kaia! Are you alright?"
I whirl around to find Darian striding toward me, concern etched on his unfairly handsome face. My heart does a little flip, even as my brain screams suspicious timing.
"Darian? How did you get in here?" I ask, torn between relief and wariness.
He flashes that disarming smile. "I convinced Thorne to let me observe. You looked like you could use a friendly face. Besides, you’ve been in here for hours."
I snort, gesturing at the chasm. "What I could use is a bridge."
Then it hits me. “Hours?” I say bewildered. I’ve been in here minutes.
Darian’s expression turns serious. "Thorn’s kept an eye on you. You’ve been walking in circles.”
No freakin’ way.
“But this?” He continues, gesturing toward the chasm, you have the power to cross, Kaia. Trust your instincts."
"My instincts are telling me to turn around and find another way," I grumble.
He steps closer, his gray eyes intense. "Your shadows want to help you. Why are you fighting them?"
I bite my lip, memories of the guys’ warnings flashing through my mind. "I don’t know who to trust anymore."
Darian’s hand finds mine, his touch warm and reassuring. "Trust yourself, Kaia. That’s all that matters."
As if on cue, my necklace hums. This time, instead of resisting, I close my eyes and let the sensation wash over me. My shadows respond, swirling around my feet with renewed purpose.
"You can do this," Darian murmurs.
I take a deep breath and step forward. My shadows surge, forming a solid bridge across the chasm. I cross swiftly, turning back to see Darian’s approving smile.
"See?" he calls. "You don’t need anyone controlling you. You’re incredible on your own."
His words soothe the lingering doubts in my mind. Maybe the guys were wrong about him. Maybe Darian is the only one who truly believes in me.
"Thanks," I say, meaning it. "I guess I just needed a push in the right direction."
Darian’s smile widens. "That’s what I’m here for. Now, shall we tackle the next challenge together?"
As we move deeper into the maze, I can’t help but feel grateful for his presence. My necklace continues to flare with a faint glow occasionally, but I’m too focused on Darian’s encouragement to give it much thought. For the first time since entering this maze, I feel like I might actually succeed.
I nod, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Together it is. Though I’m pretty sure I just proved I can handle myself."
Darian chuckles, his gray eyes twinkling. "That you did. I’m merely here to bask in your glory."
As we round another corner, I catch sight of my reflection in a shimmering wall. My shadows dance around me, agitated. Bob, in particular, seems to be throwing a full-on tantrum, stretching and contorting into bizarre shapes.
"Whoa there, buddy," I mutter. "What’s got your darkness in a twist?"
Darian glances at me. "Everything alright?"
I hesitate, torn between confiding in him and brushing it off. The guys’ warnings echo in my mind, clashing with Darian’s recent helpfulness.
"Just my shadows being drama queens," I say finally, forcing a laugh. "You’d think I’d canceled shadow-palooza or something."
Darian’s brow furrows. "Your shadows seem... distressed. Are you sure you’re okay?"
I bite my lip, conflicted. On one hand, Darian’s concern seems genuine. On the other, Bob’s increasingly frantic movements are hard to ignore.
"I don’t know," I admit. "It’s like they’re trying to tell me something, but I can’t figure out what."
Darian steps closer, his voice low and soothing. "Maybe they’re reacting to the stress of the maze. You’ve been through a lot today."
I nod slowly, wanting to believe him. But a nagging doubt persists. "Yeah, maybe. It’s just... Finn and the others seemed pretty adamant about—"
"About me being untrustworthy?" Darian finishes, his tone carefully neutral.
I wince. "Well, yeah."
He sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. "Kaia, I know they mean well. But you have to ask yourself: who’s actually been here, helping you?"
I swallow hard, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. Trust Darian, who’s been nothing but supportive? Or listen to the warnings of guys who aren’t even here?
Bob stretches impossibly long, forming what looks suspiciously like the word "NO" at my feet. My stomach tightens at the sight, a battle waging inside me. Is it paranoia, or are my shadows truly trying to warn me of something I’m refusing to see? Doubt gnaws at the edges of my thoughts, but I push it down, unwilling to confront what that "NO" might mean.
"Oh, shut up," I mutter, kicking at the shadow. To Darian, I say, "You’re right. You’ve been here. You’ve helped me. I... I trust you," I say, though the words taste like ash on my tongue.
The moment the words leave my mouth, my shadows erupt in chaos. Finnick seems to be having a full-on meltdown, while the others twist and writhe like they’re in pain.
Darian’s smile, however, is radiant. "I’m honored, Kaia. Now, shall we show this maze what you’re really capable of?"
I nod, pushing down the lingering unease. As we continue on, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just made a monumental choice. I just hope it’s the right one.
Another shadow wall looms before us, this one rippling with strange patterns. My shadows coil anxiously around my feet, but I ignore their protests.
"Ready?" Darian asks, his hand finding the small of my back.
I nod, gathering my power. This time, when I reach for the shadows, they respond—reluctantly, like children being dragged to bed. The wall parts beneath my touch, revealing the maze’s exit.
"Impressive," Darian murmurs as we step through. "You’re getting stronger every day."
My necklace flickers once, sharply, sending a cold shiver through my chest. A small part of me wonders why it’s choosing now to act up.
This is the moment I need to focus on the victory, not the unease creeping in the background of my mind. "Thanks to you," I say. "I couldn’t have done this without—"
"Kaia!" Finn’s voice carries across the field. He’s running toward us, the others close behind.
Darian’s hand tightens slightly on my waist. "Speaking of interruptions," he says softly, then turns to face me fully. "Before they get here—would you do me the honor of being my date to the Equinox Dance this weekend?"
I blink, caught off guard. "The dance?" I didn’t even know there was a dance. Although to be fair, I’ve had a few things going on. Somehow Darian was the first to ask me. None of my… nope, not going there.
His smile is warm, genuine. "Unless you’d rather go alone?"
"No! I mean, yes. Yes, I’ll go with you." The words tumble out just as Finn reaches us, slightly out of breath.
"Kaia, are you okay? That maze looked intense and—"
"She’s fine," Darian cuts in smoothly. "Better than fine, actually. We were just discussing the dance."
Finn's face falls slightly. Behind him, Malrik's expression darkens, and Torric looks like he might actually burst into flames.
"The dance," Aspen repeats carefully. "How... convenient."
I bristle at his tone. "Is there a problem?"
"No problem," Darian says, squeezing my hand. "They're just concerned, as always." He turns to me with another heart-stopping smile. "I'll pick you up on Saturday at eight?"
I nod, ignoring the way my shadows twist unhappily around our joined hands. As Darian walks away, I face my friends' worried expressions with a lifted chin.
"Don't," I say, the warning in my voice sharper than intended. "Just... don't."