Chapter 26
Stella
T he wood creaks with our footsteps as we head to the dock.
Today, we’re racing each other . . . by kayaking.
I join Isa and Layla in the little storage room.
I smile as I watch Isa look around with flames flaring to life in the palm of her hand.
I can’t help but find using magical powers in a casual setting so .
. . peaceful. Soothing. Comfortable—like a warm blanket.
It’s unique in a way that I can’t quite put into words because even if I tried, I wouldn’t do it justice.
“Well, let’s get these kayaks out, shall we?” I call out.
The kayaks and canoes are all in the water, tied by ropes onto the boat house, so they don’t drift away.
Layla heads to the front, pulling the garage-looking door so we can push the kayaks out.
As I start untying one of them, I can’t help overhear Isa speaking to herself. “This place is so different from what I remember,” she murmurs, gliding her hand on the wall.
“They probably did some renovations.” Layla laughs as she unties the kayak next to mine.
Isa grins as she heads our way, sitting down to free another one. “You’re probably right.”
We quickly untie the eight kayaks we need, pushing them out to Hazel and Nate.
As the girls leave the room, having finished their task, I can’t help looking at the two of them.
How am I the only one whose eyes seem glued to them?
They seem to be so in their own world that—
“No, Nate.” Hazel giggles. “Don’t you dare push me in the water! You know I’m serious about this. I’ll knock your kayak over later if you do!”
“Is that supposed to be a threat?” He laughs.
“No, it’s a fact. It’s the repercussions that will affect you if you dare to—”
Fast as lightning, his hands are at her sides, tickling her.
Hazel’s laugh echoes all the way here and I can’t stop the amused grin from spreading across my face.
“Stop!” She giggles uncontrollably. “You’re not . . . playing . . . fairrrrr!” she says in between laughter.
Laughing to myself, I head out of the cabin, joining the girls at the dock.
When I look back, Hazel and Nate are back to their task, both of their faces lit up by their smiles.
I turn to Isabella. “So, where’s the finish line, Isa?” I ask her, trying to map out the path I’ll have to take. At the beach in town, I could see the city’s distant shape. But here? This lake seems to be endless water and it’s as intimidating as it is soothing.
“There’s a pretty nice spot where Jay and I used to race.
It’s between two islands, a bit away from here.
We’ll all start at the beginning of the path and the finish line is the dock of one of the islands.
” She pats my arm with a smile while anticipation is thrumming in my veins.
How am I supposed to prepare if I don’t have any idea where to go?
Going through a race without any kind of plan is foreign to me and it makes me feel like I’m doomed to lose.
“Don’t worry, Stella.” Layla walks over to me, draping an arm over my shoulder. Her presence soothes away a bit of the stress. “I won’t let you win, therefore you don’t have to overthink where the finish line is.”
Laughing, I push her away. “Stop it. What happened to not letting the tension between these two spread between us , huh? You know, your words from this morning as we came here.”
Layla giggles softly. “At least it worked. Your shoulders aren’t tense anymore. If anything, I erased the tension between us,” she replies with a wink.
She’d noticed. She saw I was worried and joked to ease it.
I smile at her as my heart warms. These people . . .
“We’re all done over here!!” Hazel calls from the other end of the dock as she and Nate walk to join us.
Everyone gets ready to settle in their kayaks.
Taking a deep breath I step in the kayak and—
Oh shit, I’m about to fall.
I expected the kayak to be unsteady, but the way I lost my balance with barely a foot in makes my heart race.
I quickly glance around me, the others all settling in.
How are they doing it?
“Need a hand?” Adrian asks me from next to me. He and Hazel are the only ones who are not already settled in.
My pride is screaming at me to do it myself, but I know none of the people around me will judge me for needing help.
Which is why I smile with relief at him. “Yes, please.”
Gosh, who is this woman?
The person I was barely a month ago would have a heart attack knowing I asked for help for something so simple.
Adrian chuckles as he gets on his knees, holding out a hand for me to hold on to.
Grabbing it tightly, I push my weight on the foot inside the kayak and it starts shaking uncontrollably.
Deep breath, deep breath, deep breath.
I hold on to Adrian’s arm more tightly as I push myself off the dock.
Shit, shit, shit, shit.
I’m going to fall, I’m going to fall, I’m going to fall.
Adrian’s arm follows my movement, supporting most of my weight, which I’m grateful for because I would probably knock the kayak over without his help.
I start crouching to sit inside and can finally breathe again.
You’re fine. You’re fine. You’re fine.
I turn over to Adrian, who’s still holding onto my hand, and shoot him a grateful smile.
He smiles back warmly and lets go of my hand. I hate how much I want his hand back in mine.
Water splashes around as he and Hazel settle in their kayaks.
Hazel is next to me in a heartbeat, holding out a hand with a sparkling smile.
I grin back as I high-five her, although what I did hardly deserves a high five.
“Step one done!” she tells me warmly.
“Yeah,” I tell her, holding on to the paddle, wondering how the hell I’m going to be able to move at the speed the others are going. They’re already a mile in front of me and I haven’t even moved yet.
Sam and Hazel are still behind. Sam’s confused expression makes me smile, grateful not to be the only one who’s just now learning how to kayak.
Hazel quickly explains to us the basics as she demonstrates each movement.
“. . . But don’t stress about it. You’ll get the hang of it quickly.”
Saying “don’t stress about it” when someone’s worried rarely eases the worry, but I push the paddle in the water in an attempt to move forward.
Except I start spinning in circles.
Because of course I had to start spinning in circles! I rarely get things right on the first try.
Still, I refuse to give up after thirty seconds. So, I try again, but this time I move backwards.
Are you kidding me!?
Exhaling an annoyed breath, I look around, hoping to see what I’m doing wrong.
If I do the opposite, logically, I should move forward .
With more force than necessary, I try again and I’M MOVING! FORWARD !
It’s still extremely slow, and there’s no way I’ll finish first, but it’s progress.
Repeating the same movement, I move over to Hazel, who’s waiting for me with a proud smile.
“Yesss! You got it, girl. I knew you’d get the hang of it.”
I turn behind me, finding Sam’s eyes gleaming with understanding as he starts moving forward.
“Go, Sam!” I call out. “We’re getting the hang of it!”
He shoots me a smile and I turn back to Hazel. “Let’s go win this,” I say with more confidence than I actually feel inside.
She laughs and we join the others.
Adrian
Once we’re all at the starting line, Isabella starts explaining the route.
The path is not large enough for all of us to fit, since it only allows for three to four people to kayak next to each other.
So, we’re lined up a little behind the two islands, waiting for the start.
“As you can see, if you have eyes, unlike someone I know,” Isa starts.
Jay chuckles and leans next to me. “She never stops, does she?”
I laugh. “No, and she probably never will.”
We both laugh and Isabella turns in our direction, an angry gleam in her eyes.
“As I was explaining before I was so rudely interrupted, the path is between those two islands. There’s a dock with an orange flag over there—that’s where the finish line is. Oh! And we’re allowed to use our powers.”
I sigh heavily. We’re allowed to use our powers.
I can control the storms, but the sky is clear which means there’s nothing I can do.
Stella lost her powers, so she can’t do anything either.
Nate and Hazel can control flowers and trees, so there’s not much they can do.
Isa can manipulate fire, but she shouldn’t do anything for risk of starting a serious fire or injuring someone.
Sam is a healer, but he can’t do anything in this context.
So, it only leaves Jay and Layla, with their powers of wind and water.
My sister is the most competitive person I know, so why the hell is she putting herself in a situation where she’s almost certain to lose, since Jay and Layla are both on her opposite team?
“And of course, we have to stay on the determined path, otherwise that’s cheating,” Jay adds with a cocky grin.
My sister shoots him an annoyed smile. “Unlike you, I don’t need to cheat to win , asshole. I win fair and square.”
Jay smirks. “Which always works out great for you, doesn’t it, fireheart? ”
Isabella ignores him.
“Ready, everyone?” she calls out.
This is about to get messy.
“ Go! ” The word echoes across the lake and an explosion of noise follows, everyone starting the race.
Stella
Oof. This is bad. This is really, really bad.
I’m so far behind and I’m losing control.
I can’t move anymore and everyone’s so far ahead.
Come on, you can do this , I try to cheer myself up.
You never do everything right.
Maybe, in twelve years, you’ll be able to get the hang of it. Just like you did with the tournament.
It always takes you so long to catch up, even on the smallest things.
I’m about to have a mental breakdown in the middle of this lake.
Until, out of nowhere, a giant wave comes from behind, pushing my kayak at the speed of light, only to disappear when I’m back with the others.
Layla grins at me and my mental crisis is averted. “You’re supposed to be on the opposite team,” I try to joke as I get back on track.
Layla giggles. “What’s the point of winning if you’re so far behind I can’t see your heartbroken face because Jay won?”
I huff out a laugh. Only Layla would make jokes like that to cheer me up in the middle of a race.
“Hey! Stop it, you jerk!” Isa calls from in front of us, her kayak almost flying backwards next to her.
She groans next to us and Layla’s kayak practically flies as the water pushes her forward, leaving me and Isa behind.
“I swear this man exists for the sole purpose of annoying me,” she mutters as she picks up speed.
How is she so fast?
I join Hazel and Nate, who have wicked grins on their faces.
“Uh oh. What’s going on in those heads of yours?” I ask with a laugh.
Hazel and Nate’s eyes clash. Then, they turn in my direction, so full of determination it makes my heart freeze. What do they have planned?
“Let’s show them what a race really means,” Nate says and as he does, the trees from the islands start moving.
Oh. We might have a chance at winning after all.
I grin wickedly at them. “Let’s show them.”
Adrian
We’re getting closer and closer to the finish line.
But . . . It feels wrong.
The other team had very little chance of winning because none of them could use their powers to their advantage.
Jay’s close to the finish line, with his ability to control the wind pushing us close to the end. Although, he could barely use his magic to help us because Isabella was always close to us.
I sigh internally at the reminder. These two really do everything to make sure not to help each other. Sometimes, it drives me crazy. How did their animosity get so strong?
Sam’s right behind me when he suddenly stops moving. I stop along with him.
“Pass me your paddle,” I tell him.
He looks at me with confused eyes.
“Extend your paddle to me and I’ll push you forward.”
He smiles a small smile and extends it.
But before I can grab it, trees suddenly grab a hold of both extremities of our kayaks, effectively locking them in.
What the hell?
We both get up and try to free our kayaks.
“What is this?!” a scream from far ahead rings.
Jay.
So it’s not just both of us stuck.
Looking behind me, I see Hazel, Nate, and Stella quickly approaching.
Understanding dawns as I see branches from trees around the island dragging their kayaks across the water.
I can’t help the honest laugh from escaping me. I guess I was wrong. They can fight back .
A proud smile lights up my face when I see Hazel’s joyous face, the relief in Stella’s smile, and the proud gleam in Nate’s eyes as they speed by me.
In a second that seems to last a minute, I notice that Stella’s hands have a death grip on her kayak and her eyes meet mine. She waves at me with a finger and I chuckle.
She grins and poof she’s speeding away.
Sam laughs from behind me and I turn around. “And here I thought we had an advantage.”
I smile at him. “Yeah. We won’t underestimate them again, that’s for sure.”
He pushes forward, still trying to free his kayak. “Yeah. That’s for sure.”
I turn back at the finish line and I can’t help thinking of Stella.
She’s never been as powerless as she thinks.