Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Lila
My brain was so busy that I went to bed without going to the dining room for dinner. John came looking for me to make sure I was okay, and when he realized I was wiped, he arranged for dinner to be delivered to me along with my mug of Skarrian water.
The water still feels like it has a buzz to it when I drink it, so I guess that’s just its make up, but it makes me feel better than I have all day, instantly revitalizing me and wiping away any residual tiredness.
“Lila, anytime it gets too much for you, just have a glass of the water,” John recommends.
“It can’t replace sleep, but it can wipe away that fuzzy feeling that comes from being tired, both emotionally and physically.
” He pats me on the shoulder. “We recognize and appreciate how hard you’re working, but we don't want you to get overwhelmed. We need to work on those powers, and that’s going to bring its own kind of strain. ”
“What powers?” I grumble, glad that he brought it up. “Apart from that first overload, I’ve noticed nothing.” Except there was that funny reaction to my chip implant, but that can’t have been my powers, can it? Nah. Why would I feel my powers in my shoulder?
His eyes widen slightly. “Really? Not even any random telekinesis?”
I shake my head, and his frown deepens. “That is unusual. That’s the one most people have. Never mind. Get a good night’s sleep, and between the three of us, we will get you sorted tomorrow.”
The following day, I make my way to breakfast on my own, not having seen Dylan around again for the rest of yesterday.
As much as I’d like to see him, I don't have time to track down moody dragon shifters. Now the grandpas have cleared out the arena for us to use, and while I stand there dwarfed by the empty space and the power of their combined attention, my nerves kick in. My stomach is officially in my throat even though they’ve banned everyone for the morning so I can work on whatever I need to with no pressure or scrutiny.
The last thing I need is for everyone to realize I’m a dud who has no right to inherit the circus from these men.
“Lila! Lila!” William must have been trying to get my attention because he looks exasperated.
“Sorry! What did you say?”
“You told John that you haven't experienced any more surges of any power. Is that right?”
“No, nothing. I don't feel any different to what I felt before I drank the water. Though I haven't been getting headaches, so if that’s the only thing that happens, I’m still happy with that.” I tried to go for reassurance, but we all know I’m lying.
I’m going to be gutted if I don't get at least something. What’s the point of finally having family, of having a legacy, if all I do is let them down?
“Okay, from the looks of what happened the first night, you may have some kind of elemental manipulation, but we might as well start out with the easiest. Let’s try speed.
” Eric rubs his hands together and takes a step forward, literally zooming across the arena.
His body just becomes a blur of motion that stops on the other side, only needing mere seconds to cross the distance.
“Now, don't be upset if you can’t go that fast,” John cautions me. “Eric is unusually fast. Neither Will nor I can replicate his speed, though we are faster than an average human.”
“Okay, ready, Lila? Go!” William shouts, and I run as fast as I can toward Eric, but before I get far, I slow and stop.
“I know that was no different to how fast I was before,” I complain with frustration, fighting the urge to stomp my foot like a disgruntled little kid.
Both John and William are frowning, and I can hear Eric cackling on the other side, which totally doesn’t help. “No, that really wasn't fast,” John agrees, him and William exchanging a glance.
“Come back, Eric,” William calls. With a blink, Eric is back beside me.
“Never mind, I’m sure it will come.” He pats me on the shoulder, not even breathing heavily. “Let's try some telekinesis. All of us have that one, and it’s strong.”
Eric and John take a seat on a nearby barrel while William steps up in front of me.
“I’ve never had to teach this, so it’s going to be a bit of a learning experience for both of us.
Skarrian babies just have the instinctual knowledge, so I’m hoping that we can trigger yours.
The last time we spoke to your mom and dad, they said that you had been using telekinesis to move your favorite toys around.
You also liked to telekinetically throw them when you wanted something.
” The grandpas all smile, and a lurch inside my chest triggers a long-hidden memory.
A stuffed purple winged animal flying above my head, the sound of echoing laughter in the background.
“I remember something!” The lurch turns to a thrill of excitement, and William latches on to it.
“Remember the feeling.” He grabs a bucket of balls and holds one out in his palm. “Throw this at Eric!”
“Hey!” Eric complains in the background, but I block it out as my focus zeros in on the ball.
Practically staring holes in it, I concentrate, desperately trying to move it with my mind.
Breathing in and out, I try with everything that I am to move it, but nothing happens.
The ball remains stationary in William’s hand.
A feeling of lightheadedness rolls over me, and I stumble. Eric dashes over and catches me before I can fall to the ground.
“Damn it. Why can’t I do it?” I yell to nobody in particular.
“There, there.” Eric pats me on the shoulder. “We knew there was a possibility it would take some time.”
“Come on, princess! Get up. Let's try again,” William says, probably hoping to goad me. Maybe he’s trying to trigger something because I can feel my anger start to rise as I flip him off, though he just chuckles.
“Let’s keep practicing. Something might just happen,” John suggests, trying to ease the tension.
Eric steps away now that I’m stable again, and the three of them line up, facing me. Each holding a ball in their hand. Over and over, I try to make one of them move until sweat is dripping down my face and my hair is plastered to my skin, but nothing happens.
“Okay, let’s take five,” Eric says an hour later. All three had repeatedly demonstrated how to do it, but I picked up on nothing. No tingling feeling, no electricity in the air, nothing to show me how they were doing it.
John grabs some bottles of water out of a nearby tub and hands us all one. “Lila, have you ever meditated?”
“I’ve tried, but I always have so much going on in my head that I find it hard to switch off,” I tell him, taking a long sip of my water before holding the cold bottle against my overheated face.
“Why don't you go over there and just take ten minutes to clear your mind?” John points to a spot in the center of the ring. “While you do that, we will discuss our plan of attack.”
Sighing, I do as he asks while the grandpas huddle, whispers floating over the open space but not loudly enough for me to make out the words.
Settling down, I sit cross legged and put my bottle to the side.
I close my eyes and try to calm my mind, but it’s virtually impossible.
All the details I’d learned about the various planets and races cycle through my mind like a neverending carousel of information.
Shaking my head, I take some deep breaths, hoping to slow the flow and help it float away, leaving my mind clear.
Breathe in and out… In and out. Clear my mind of everything.
Oh! I should probably call Susie! But what will I tell her? There’s not much I can share. Maybe I’ll tell her about Dylan and what a great friend he’s been.
Focus, Lila! Breathe in and out.
In and out.
……
I cannot believe they have vampires in the circus. Fucking bloodsucking vampires!! I don't know whether to pee my pants in excitement or with terror.
Shit, Lila, get it together.
“Stop, just stop. God, it’s so painful just watching you. Do you ever sit still?” William’s groan has me opening my eyes to see all three grandpas watching me with disbelief.
“You didn't once stop moving. You played with your hair and twitched your fingers. I could practically see your eyeballs moving under your eyelids.” John sounds astounded, but Eric is once again smirking.
“Relax, Lila is obviously a doer. I get it. I am too. I hate sitting still.” Well, that’s nice of him. “So I have another idea. Stand up just in that spot right there.” I shuffle to where he points. “Perfect, just perfect.”
They turn as one, and when they face me again, they all have the rubber balls in their hands.
“Come on! What makes you think it’s going to work this time? My mind didn't clear or anything…” I break off at the look in their eyes. Gone are the concerned grandpas, replaced with the formidable men they must be to protect the orb.
“Sorry, Lila, but sometimes you need to take drastic action.” With those words, Eric hurls the first ball at me. Shocked, I’m unable to stop it before it hits me in the middle of the chest and falls back to the ground.
“Hey!” Before I can voice any more complaints, the balls come flying.
One after another, they hit me like some deranged game of dodgeball.
I abandon the idea of staying in one spot, jumping around, but they’re deadshots.
And they never run out. One of them uses their own telekinesis to retrieve the balls when they get low.
Finally, everything stops, and I put my hands on my knees as I try to draw more breath into my lungs than I’m capable of at the moment.
“Let’s step it up a bit. It’s obviously not enough to trigger an automatic response,” William suggests, and I watch as they paw around the props before John stands up, some long shiny metal things in his hands. Oh fuck.
“Look, Caspian’s swords! I’m sure he won’t mind if we use these.”
A squeak of fright escapes my mouth. When I think about Caspian’s swords, pointy metal ones that might cut me are not what comes to mind.