34. Willa / Greer
CHAPTER 34
WILLA / GREER
Q uaid stands in front of a considerably smaller class today. David and Talia aren’t here. Neither is the older gentleman whose name I can’t recall. Of the six who evaded Quaid the first day, I’m the only one left. Apparently, a dud who can barely use her powers doesn’t get invited to join the war.
Quaid’s amber eyes settle on me, and for a second, I’m lost in their depths, but thankfully, anger comes to my rescue. Screw them. I’ll figure out a way to take care of myself. First, I have to learn to use my powers. Clenching my jaw, I wait for Quaid to give us instructions.
“I’m a pryo,” he begins telling the class. “I’m going to light my arm on fire. You’re going to put it out. If possible, use your powers. Look around you. Be creative. This exercise is about thinking fast on your feet when presented with a challenge. Got it?”
Everyone looks nervously at each other, but not me. I’m ready. A grim smile stretches across my face. Water beats fire, right?
Whoosh! Fire flares around Quaid’s outstretched arm. Heat blasts us, and I wince. For some reason, I didn’t expect to actually feel the fire burning against my skin. Watching him use his powers. Something inside me wakes, reaching for him as if it wants something, and for a second, I’m distracted, but when I see him motion to someone, I shake it off.
Up first is Tessa, a quiet teenage girl. She nervously rubs her palms down her legs, then steps forward. Turning in a circle, she smiles when she notices a towel on the gym floor. Her hand does a lifting motion, and the towel drops on Quaid’s arm, then winds around the corded muscles until it’s tight, smothering the fire.
Quaid flashes her a wide smile, and I stare at him in disbelief. Where did that smile come from? I thought all he did was scowl.
“Very good!” he exclaims. “Next time, try to do it without moving your hand. Using only your mind gives you a bigger advantage. You don’t want to give the enemy any clues regarding your ability or next move.”
Next, a young man moves forward. His scowl rivals Quaid’s usual demeanor, and it makes me want to laugh. I can’t remember his power, but I like him already.
A hole opens up beneath Quaid, and he barely jumps out of the way. The fire goes out. “We’ll pretend I didn’t jump out of the way. Burying me. Good choice. See me after class.” His gaze is speculative as he watches the young man walk back to the line.
“Greer!” Quaid calls out.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I tell myself I’ve got this. This morning, the water flowed to me when I needed it. I’m hoping it does the same now. Moving closer to Quaid, I almost have to raise my arm to ward off the heat. My eyes lock on his. There’s a glint in them I don’t understand. Is that a dare?
I don’t try to use my powers. Instead, I concentrate on how thirsty I am and how much I need water to quench that thirst. It’s unbearable. I’m parched. Nothing happens. Pretending I’m in the bathroom, I bend closer to the fire. Sweat drips into my eyes and down my chin. My eyes lock on a nearby water bottle. It starts violently shaking. I stand up and let the need for water fill me. The bottle dances up and down. Suddenly, the floor opens, and water spews out in a huge wave, heading straight toward Quaid and me.
“Ease off,” he orders.
My pride refuses to let me admit I can’t control it, so I simply smile.
“Damn it, Greer!” His hand reaches for me, but I back away. Seconds later, the water slams into his body, sweeping him off his feet and putting out the fire.
Curious, I walk over and stare into the floor of the gym where a large silver pipe lies with a huge chunk out of the top and more water inside of it. I hope this isn’t the water main for the entire compound. Dread fills me, but I force myself to turn and look at Quaid. I’m sure he’s going to flip out on me.
The entire gym is silent, nervously watching him. Quaid stands up and shakes like a dog. Water flies everywhere. His mouth twitches, and just when I think he’s going to start yelling, he roars with laughter. Hands on his knees, he bends over to try to catch his breath, but the laughter doesn’t ease as his whole body shakes with it.
Minutes later, he wipes his dripping face, stands, and looks at the class. Fire erupts across his body, drying every little drop, even the clothes he’s wearing. I’m so jealous.
“A little forceful, but you did awesome!”
Wait. He’s proud of me. Why? I didn’t have an ounce of control. You know what, who cares? My anger dissolves, and my lips curve in a large smile. Hell, I’m proud of myself. I did it. Without someone’s hands around my neck. Without being in danger. Water came because I needed it.
With only a few sessions under my belt, I now know I can use my power. It’s not perfect, and my control is iffy, but it responds to me. Maybe confidence is the key. In school, I had it in spades. Here, it felt impossible. I’ve floundered while everyone else has been using their powers. Not anymore.
Having achieved success, I start taking notes. I’m good at studying. A perfect student. There’s a lot to learn, but I can do it. School is my comfort zone.
Ignoring Quaid’s request to stay, I leave and head straight to the stream Oliver showed me. When I get there, water trickles over the rocks in a soothing manner, and I drop to the ground. My hands automatically reach for the liquid, and it responds, flowing up to meet them. I rub the water on my hands and cup it in my palms, making friends with the element that answers my call.
I still don’t remember using it the night my parents died, nor why I suppressed it. Part of me wishes I’d known, but I’m happy to have had a normal- ish childhood. River had to go on the run at an early age and missed out on all the usual milestones.
River. I asked him if that was his real name, and he laughed and assured me it was. He was teased a lot in school, but it never bothered him. Apparently, his mother loves nature and thought the names fit him and his sister, Lily.
Sometimes I want to tell him my real name, but I can’t. If he were captured by Raven, the only name he knows is Greer, not Willa. Honestly, I’m proud to carry Lionel’s son’s name, though I miss my girly name.
“There you are,” River says behind me.
The water falls back to the stream, and I turn to look at him. He makes a noise and strips off his sweatshirt, then his shirt. Astonished, I stare at his surprisingly cut abs. All our nights together, and I’ve never seen him without his shirt. I’ve been missing out. My eyes trace every line and crevice.
To my dismay, he slips his sweatshirt back on. Crouching down in front of me with his t-shirt in hand, he reaches for my face. “Hold still.”
I rear back. “What are you doing?”
“Your nose is bleeding,” he replies tersely. “It happens when we overuse our powers. A couple of minutes of pressure should help.”
Embarrassed, I take the shirt from him and press it against my nose. “Thank you.”
He sits down. “How long have you been out here?”
I glance at my tablet and wince. “An hour. I’ve been playing with the water and thinking. About the past. The future. You.”
“You told Oliver about my mom and sister,” he says, picking up a rock and tossing it into the stream. “Why did you tell him? I told you that in confidence.”
“Whether you like Phoenix or not, they have the resources to help people. They found us. We’re here and safe. I thought they could do the same for your family,” I tell him, fidgeting restlessly. I knew when I told Oliver I was breaking River’s trust, but I was desperate to find an answer that would let us be together. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you first.”
He tosses another rock into the stream, and I reach over and push it to the side. “It’s blocking the flow.” The water is barely trickling as it is.
“If I asked, would you leave this place and go somewhere safe with us?” His voice is quiet, but I can tell by the intense look in his remarkable green eyes that my answer is important.
I chuckle. “Leave this wonderful facility with its grey sweats and tan buildings? How will I ever cope?” He doesn’t laugh, so I reach out and grab his hand. “Of course. There will be nothing left for me here.”
“They can teach you how to use your powers. Plus, you seem to be getting close to Oliver,” he suggests in a speculative way. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to leave.”
Phantom hands circle my throat, stroking gently, and I almost choke at the thought of Oliver leaving to fight the enemy, but he’s not mine. “He cares about all of us, not just me. It’s why I told him about your family. Oliver needs to save people. It’s ingrained in him. Duty, integrity, dedication. Lionel was like that, and my dad. Must be an Army thing.”
River exhales heavily. “Okay. Let me figure out a plan. The tricky part will be getting back here. I’ve got a general idea of where we are but not the exact coordinates. Maybe Quaid or Oliver can help with that piece. I’ll think about it.”
“How do you know where we are?” I ask, looking around at the trees. Maybe if I knew what kind of trees those were I’d be able to guess, but nothing looks familiar.
River digs his hands into the dirt. “The land. It gives me a general idea. For example, this type of dirt.” He raises his hand with a fistful of it. “We’re not in Georgia. The dirt would have a ton of red clay in it if we were. This has clay in it, but it also has wetlands and Cecil soils.” He looks at the area around us. “Add in the vegetation and trees. My guess is somewhere in North Carolina.”
Impressed, I stare at him. “You’re remarkable.” I smile widely. I’m happy he asked me. The yearning to return to my old life has faded. It’s time to find a new life with River and his family. That’s enough, right?
His smile fades. “Here, let me take a look.” He lifts the t-shirt from my face, then dips it into the small stream. “Bleeding has stopped. Let me wash your face so the others don’t think I popped you in the nose, especially Quaid.” He leans in close. “Personally, he scares the shit out of me.”
Laughing, I tilt my face up and let him clean the evidence. “Me too, but I’d never tell him. He’s already too damn arrogant. It infuriates me.”
River stops washing to look at me, speculation in his eyes. “Hmm. I’m starving. How about you?”
“Famished,” I reply in surprise. “Literally, it feels like my stomach is completely empty. I know I ate breakfast earlier.”
River nods. “When you use your powers regularly, you burn a lot of calories.” He pats his washboard stomach. “That’s how I got the abs you were staring at earlier.”
Sputtering, I shove him away and get to my feet.
He jumps up and grabs my hands. “I don’t mind, you know. In fact, it feels good to have your eyes on me.”
Pressing forward, I put my hands on his stomach and slide them up around his neck. “They’re pretty awesome. If only you weren’t leaving.” We agreed to hold off until we figure out the future, but damn, it’s so tempting.
River’s the perfect height. I don’t have to stretch to reach his lips. They’re right there, waiting for me. Tilting my head, I capture them in a long, remorseful kiss. “Forgive me?”
He shakes his head. “You’ll have to give me at least a dozen of those first.”
“Deal,” I capitulate, giving him the first of many.