Chapter 11 Arabella
Chapter Eleven
ARABELLA
I’d never been one for meditation or yoga.
In fact, if I was caught working out, it was usually in an effort to watch my mates train, so this wasn’t something I was practiced in.
Pretty much the exact opposite. I was always very busy, and my thoughts, if not entertained by something going on, were focused on the men who were currently banished to the other room.
Because let’s face it, there was no way I would be able to focus with them nearby.
The familiar conference room was peaceful and quiet, the lights turned down to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Closing my eyes as I leaned back in my chair, I tried to calm my mind and body.
My ears picked up on the low, rumbled conversation of my mates in the other room, which I had to actively work to block out.
Just another thing, it seemed, that had increased along with my other senses.
I swear, with each mate pairing I made, the more intense the world grew.
After several minutes, I reached a state of concentration where I was only listening to my inhales and exhales, my body now completely relaxed into the chair.
So much so that the exhaustion of the past twenty-four hours began to catch up to me, and instead of meditating, my eyes tightened as a small yawn escaped.
Shifting forward to the conference room table, I rested my head on my crossed arms, trying to get more comfortable. I wasn’t entirely surprised when I fell into a lulled state of sleep…
Unlike the times before, my exploratory travel wasn’t caused by a blast of power, so instead of being pushed into the dream-like state at the speed of a bullet, overlooking a universe of lights, I ‘woke up’ in that state.
I turned, floating easily as lights began to beam up from far below me, covering the land like a map.
Instinctively I knew that many of these lights were traces of power from previous sis metas, so while I enjoyed looking at those, they weren’t really what I was looking for.
I turned my attention forward and willed myself to travel faster, towards a darker section of the land. There was an undercurrent of energy that was calling me towards it, and as I neared, I saw a ripple of energy that had me slowing.
The wall. The wall of energy that had blocked me before was standing as a barrier.
Squinting my eyes, I tried to peer past it, and I thought I saw small beams of light breaking through, so I raised my hand.
I expected a lot when I went to touch the wall—pain, mostly, since it was obviously a defensive measure.
What I didn’t expect? To be wrenched forward through time and space, fast enough that it felt like my brain and body would explode from the pressure.
“Holy shit,” I whispered as I slowed and got a good look around. I was no longer floating in space; I was floating over a town covered in lush jungles, lit only by the stars in the sky. It was absolutely beautiful, and the sound of the ocean crashing on the nearby shore reached my ears.
Then, as if noticing my presence, beams of light began to radiate up through the roof of each of the small homes scattered through the land. Strong, vibrant beams of magic belonging to sis metas that hadn’t been hunted to extinction. They were alive.
Alive and in hiding.
Unfortunately, I was only there for a moment—just long enough for my magic to absorb what it needed to—before I was ripped away violently.
My eyes snapped open. A thin sheen of sweat coated the back of my neck, and I was flushed from the exertion of the moment, my breathing rough.
I blinked, feeling dizzy as Cy appeared in front of me, crouching down and cupping my jaw.
His lips moved, but a buzzing in my head from my magic was the only thing I could hear.
My magic had gathered so much more information about our travel than I would have ever expected. A map made of light beams appeared in my head, and with sudden clarity, I knew exactly where we needed to go.
“There’s a community,” I said, my voice rough and uneven. All of my mates were now crowded in the room with me, each looking on in concern. I could even feel their worry through our bonds.
“There’s a community of them,” I tried again, my brain moving a million miles an hour. “Of sis metas. A remote island off the coast of South Africa.”
Zain whistled, sounding impressed. “That’s a journey.”
“It is,” I admitted, “but I think that’s where we need to go.”
Despite their concerns, my mates agreed. An hour later, after explaining our plan to my dad and Irina, we were preparing to leave.
“I need you to stay here,” I said to the god terrors.
Eros, Keres, Slater, and Eve all stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
“I really need you here.”
“Because you don’t want us involved?” Keres narrowed her eyes. The woman seemed very quick to assume the worst and be defensive, and it only added to my assumption that she’d spent most of her time alone or in the presence of War and Hate.
“The opposite. I understand that War is off licking his wounds right now, but his forces are still at large, and the minute he feels up to it, I have no doubt he will come back here for revenge. I’m hoping to stop him before that happens, but I won’t be able to leave without knowing there are people I trust here to protect my home and my family. ”
Keres’s gaze softened at my words, and Slater nodded as Eve said, “You know we will.”
Eros sighed dramatically in a tone that didn’t match the affection in his gaze. “It’s much more pleasant than I expected here. I don’t mind staying, especially if it means beating War in the long run.”
Drive was sitting nearby, talking to my dad about something, but at Eros’s words he looked up and a bit of relief filled his gaze. Maybe he didn’t want to go back to Chicago. Maybe the solution to their problems would be finding somewhere new to start over? Thoughts for later.
Although it was literally none of my business.
“More sis metas like you would help,” Keres agreed. “The burden shouldn’t be completely on you, so I will stay as well.”
I breathed out in relief. While I didn’t mind the burden being on me, I did understand what she was saying, and more than anything, I didn’t trust my new magic enough to try and fix all of this on my own.
We needed help, and I knew exactly where to get it.
“Awesome.” I looked down when I felt Mykia brush against my leg. I crouched down, running a hand over her head. “Hey, you. Are you going to stay here?”
Mykia growled and shook her head rapidly, making me smile. I wasn’t against bringing her, but we did need to talk.
“You want to come with us?” I asked, and she barked happily. “Okay, I think we need to talk about this. First of all, can you shift, or do you prefer this form?”
She paused at the question, staring up at me for a long moment before barking again and running away—or I thought she was running away. In reality she was just circling around my ankles. My mates were silent, watching our interaction with interest. Everyone was.
“So that’s a no? You can’t shift? Or you can shift?” I asked as she stopped and stared up at me.
Another bark.
I frowned in confusion—
In a gold cloud of mist, Mykia disappeared and was replaced by…
a girl. Not only a girl, but a young girl—well, in appearance at least. Her gaze was old.
Really old. I blinked in surprise as she straightened out her simple white dress, fluffed out her knee-length red hair, and offered me a big smile.
“I can shift, I just have to be asked if it’s possible,” she explained easily. She had an accent that sounded Russian, but I had a feeling her native language was much older than that.
Oh.
“Why do you have to be asked?”
“A curse,” she huffed. “That village I destroyed was not the first one, and one of them had a witch who did not like my choice to destroy her home.”
“Okay…” I tilted my head in amusement, surprised by this turn of events. “So do you prefer this form, or—”
“Both.” She looked around at the others. “Although it’s a bit funnier in the other form because everyone is scared of me. But in this form—”
“You’re like ten? If that?” Saint wondered out loud, interrupting her, looking perplexed by all of this.
“I am almost nine hundred years old, thank you very much.” She flashed a pleasant smile and folded her hands. “Which is why I am the perfect person to come with you. I have experience with sis metas.”
“Good experience?” Razar asked.
Mykia scowled.
“Maybe not the best idea then,” Ashur said, causing her to look more upset.
I didn’t disagree with him, though. I didn’t want to do anything that could possibly upset the sis metas, who would already be naturally guarded.
Plus, I wouldn’t lie, I felt protective over Mykia—even if she was centuries old—so the idea of her leaving these walls concerned me.
Especially since the institute was completely secured, safe and sound now.
“Actually, Mykia, if you’re willing, I’d like to give you a formal assignment,” I said, an idea popping into my head.
“Oh, I would love that! I’ve been so bored.”
“I have a feeling this will keep you busy,” I promised, then looked up to address my mates. “I’m going to bring her down to Nia and the others. I know we still need to pack, though.”
“Got it covered,” Damian said. “We know what you need, cherry blossom.”
His words were reassuring and genuine, but I couldn’t help but feel a flash of heat. They totally knew what I needed. In every way.
“You shouldn’t go around the institute by yourself, though,” he continued. “People are still fairly worked up, especially knowing there are humans here.”
“I’ve got her,” Mykia promised. “I’m super tough, remember? I made that bubble shield on the battlefield, and nothing was getting through that.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the authentic pride in her voice.