13. Thalia’s POV
Chapter 13
Thalia’s POV
I wandered deeper into the trees, seeking a moment of solitude away from the prying eyes and whispers. But that damn unsettling sensation of being watched crept over me, a prickling at the back of my neck that I couldn't shake off. I tried to dismiss it, to convince myself it was just paranoia, the result of too much stress and too little sleep. The usual.
But the feeling persisted, growing stronger with each step I took. It was like a prickling at the back of my neck, an itch I couldn't scratch. I stopped in my tracks, my senses on high alert as I scanned the surrounding forest. Then I saw him, leaning casually against a tree with a mischievous glint in his amber eyes—Zarek.
"For someone who says they don't want to play games, you sure do," he drawled, his voice laced with amusement. "Enjoying a little game of cat and mouse, are we?"
I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "So you are stalking me," I accused, my voice sharp with annoyance. "What the hell, Z?—"
Before I could finish my sentence, Zarek closed the distance between us in the blink of an eye—his movements a blur of speed that left me reeling. With a swift, effortless motion, he hoisted me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing, his strong arms securing me in place.
"I swear to the gods, Zarek, put me down!" I snapped, my voice echoing through the trees. I squirmed against his shoulder, but the movement only seemed to tighten his grip—his fingers pressing into my side just enough to send a shiver down my spine.
"Nope, I'm good," he replied, the laughter in his voice infuriatingly clear.
I huffed in frustration, my heart pounding in my chest. The world spun around me as Zarek moved with inhuman speed, his footsteps silent against the forest floor. I could feel the muscles in his shoulder shift and flex beneath my body—a blunt reminder of the raw power he possessed.
"This isn't funny, Zarek!" I protested, pounding my fists against his back in a futile attempt to break free. "Put me down right now!"
"Relax" he said, his tone light and teasing. "We're just taking a shortcut."
"You know, you could have just asked nicely," I grumbled, my annoyance giving way to a grudging amusement.
"Oh, but I did ask nicely," he countered, a playful lilt in his voice. "But you... you just have to make it difficult." He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into mine, and I hated that it made me smile. There was something undeniably charming about him, the way he seemed to know exactly how to push my buttons, how to make my heart race when I least wanted it to.
I sighed dramatically, letting my body go limp in an attempt to make it more difficult for him to carry me.
"Really, Firefly?" he asked, his voice low and amused. He didn't miss a beat, continuing on as if I weighed nothing at all.
"Yes, really," I insisted. "And stop calling me that. It's bad enough your little girlfriend wants to murder me. Word's going to spread about this little kidnapping situation, and hopefully, she'll kick your ass."
He tensed for a moment. "She's not my girlfriend, Thalia," he corrected, his voice firm. Then, with a teasing lilt, he added, "But is that jealousy I hear in your voice?"
I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn't see it. "Jealous? Me? Please," I scoffed, trying to sound nonchalant. But I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, and it was taking everything I had not to let it show in my voice.
"Uh-huh, sure. Keep telling yourself that," he teased, his voice laced with a knowing edge. "But I can definitely hear it. You're blushing, aren't you?"
"Oh, please. You're not that charming," I retorted, my tone light but playful. "I mean, you are—but I'm not affected by it."
His laughter echoed through the trees, and I felt the warmth of his body against mine. "Is that so? Because you seem pretty affected right now."
"Hardly," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. "You're just another pretty face in a sea of chaos."
"Pretty face, huh? I'll take that as a compliment," he said, his voice a low purr. "Face it, Firefly, I'm growing on you."
"You're delusional," I retorted, but my voice lacked conviction.
He finally set me down once we reached the clearing, the silhouette of that familiar house sitting before us. His hands lingered on my waist for a heartbeat longer than necessary. His eyes met mine, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips, as if he knew the effect he had on me.
"Is your pet beast under control this time?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I glanced into the forest, attempting to diffuse the tension that crackled between us. I studied the very house I had practically crashed into—the place where I had come face-to-face with their enormous guard panther, who had decided that my presence in the woods was an affront to its very existence.
The shadows danced at the edge of my vision, their movements mimicking the unease swirling within me.
"Yes, our pet beast is under control," he said with a chuckle, shaking his head at my attempt to deflect.
We stood in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sounds the rustling leaves and the distant calls of birds. But eventually, Zarek broke the quiet, his voice gentle yet curious.
"What do you see when you're out here?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. "In the forest?"
I hesitated, unsure how much I wanted to reveal. My connection to the shadows felt deeply personal—something that belonged only to me. "Shadows," I replied, glancing back at him with a slight shrug.
He hummed thoughtfully, studying me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. "Shadows, huh? They seem to like you," he observed, his voice laced with intrigue. "I've never seen anything quite like it."
I arched an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on my lips. "And how exactly would you know that?" I asked, my voice light. "Are you admitting to following me?"
Zarek smirked, his eyes a darker shade of amber, meeting mine with a heat that made my cheeks burn. "Maybe I have," he admitted, his voice a low purr. "Or maybe I'm just good at noticing things that others miss."
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Well, congratulations on your excellent observation... or stalking skills," I conceded.
"Do they speak to you?" Zarek's question was softer this time, almost hesitant, as if he were worried he might break some invisible barrier by asking.
I considered his words. I couldn't hear them, not in the traditional sense. But they weren't just darkness; they were alive, a presence that seemed to understand me in a way nothing else did.
"They don't speak," I answered, my voice barely above a whisper. "But they guide me. It's like they know where I need to go before I even realize it."
Zarek fell silent, and when I glanced at him, I saw an expression of wonder on his face. He looked almost... fascinated.
"Well, the shadows seem to always lead you back to this house," he said with a smirk, a glint of mischief returning to his eyes. "Seems like they want you here."
"Yeah, I'm not quite sure why they always lead me here," I admitted, tilting my head in contemplation. Then, with a playful glint in my eyes, I added, "Or why I seem to be so drawn to your... territory." I paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "Plus, let's not forget that they were basically responsible for my death at the paws of a glorified house cat."
Zarek threw his head back and roared with laughter, the sound echoing through the clearing like a melody. My heart tightened at the sound—a strange mix of joy and something deeper, something akin to warmth, swirling within me.
"So, are we going to train, or did you just want to kidnap me and bring me to my potential doom?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow at him, my voice dripping with mock seriousness.
"Kidnapping was definitely on the agenda," Zarek replied with a smirk, his eyes twinkling. "But alright, let's focus. I want you to concentrate on what you feel when you're out here. Focus on those shadows."
I took a deep breath, the levity of our earlier banter fading as I tried to center myself. The clearing thrummed with energy, and as I closed my eyes, I attempted to tune out everything except the whispers of the shadows that surrounded me. But instead of feeling empowered, a wave of uncertainty washed over me.
"What do I do?" I murmured, glancing back at Zarek, who was watching me intently.
"Imagine the shadows as an extension of yourself," he instructed, his voice calm yet firm. "They're not just darkness; they're your allies. Let them guide you, but remember, you're the one in control."
I nodded, but more doubt crept in as I concentrated. The shadows seemed to shift and swirl around me, but I struggled to connect with them. Instead of flowing, they felt chaotic and disjointed, like a wild river refusing to be tamed.
"What do you see?" Zarek's voice was so gentle that I almost felt guilty for the frustration bubbling inside me.
I furrowed my brow, my voice snapping with irritation. "I don't know! It's like they're dancing away from me. I just can't catch them."
"Can't catch them?" Nox's voice, cool and detached, cut through the air. "Maybe they sense your hesitation."
I opened my eyes to find Nox standing beside Zarek, his expression unreadable, as if he were a statue carved from stone. Zarek shot him a warning glance, but Nox remained unfazed, his gaze fixed on me. "Fear can be a powerful deterrent, Thalia. If you're not confident, the shadows will only mock you."
"Thanks for the pep talk, Nox," I retorted, sarcasm dripping from my voice, though inside, anxiety gnawed at me. "I didn't realize this was a motivational seminar."
Zarek stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You're doing fine. It takes time to build that connection. You just have to keep focusing."
Nox's lips curled into a slight smirk, but his expression remained impassive. "Focus, huh? You can't just wish them to obey you. The shadows will test you, like any other opponent. They need to know you're serious."
My frustration mounted, my confidence crumbling. "I'm trying!" I shot back, my voice rising in exasperation. "I don't know what I'm doing!"
"Where's Damon? Maybe he can help," Zarek suggested, tightening his grip on my shoulder reassuringly.
Nox raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading slightly. "Damon? He's not exactly the hand-holding type, you know that."
Zarek didn't back down, his gaze steady. "Maybe not, but she needs to understand her connection with the shadows—and he knows more about them than anyone. If she's struggling, he might be able to help."
Nox sighed, clearly unenthusiastic about the idea. "I'll talk to him, but don't expect any miracles." With that, he turned and started towards the house, his movements swift and silent, like a shadow melting into the night.
The moment he was gone, I let out a long breath. Zarek's hand remained on my shoulder, anchoring me in the midst of my rising anxiety.
"Damon?" I asked, my laugh bordering on hysterical. "I'm definitely screwed."
Zarek's lips curved into a gentle smile, his eyes warm with understanding. "He can be intense, sure. But he understands these shadows better than anyone. If anyone can help you push through, it's him."
I swallowed, a wave of dread washing over me. The thought of Damon watching me struggle—judging my every move—twisted my stomach into knots. I closed my eyes and tried to focus again, honing in on the shadows that seemed intent on taunting me. Now that I was finally acknowledging them, they chose to play coy, swirling just out of reach. It was infuriating.
My entire life, they had been my silent companions, dancing around me, weaving in and out of my periphery, wrapping me in their embrace like a protective blanket. As a child, I had lived in their presence, finding comfort in their dark, gentle caress. They had always been there during my moments of isolation, flickering playfully in the corners of my vision, but I had never understood their significance until now. Now, they felt both familiar and elusive, their movements almost mocking, as if they were aware of my struggle to connect.
This could be my chance to discover what they are—what I am—how I'm connected to this gifted world. I needed this more than anyone realized. To finally not be an outsider, perpetually on the fringes, looking in. I wasn't welcome in Nyvorthia, cast out like a stray. And I wasn't entirely welcome here at the academy either, not yet. Maybe this strange, swirling darkness held the key to finally belonging—to finding a place where I wouldn't have to constantly hide the strange whispers that echoed within me.
I could feel their energy pulsing, a living entity just beyond my grasp. The way they danced around me reminded me of fireflies on a warm summer night—beautiful, mesmerizing, but frustratingly unattainable. Every time I reached for them, they would shift away, refusing to reveal their secrets.
I breathed in the stillness of the forest, letting go of the fear and frustration that had been building within me. I focused on the memories of comfort the shadows had always offered, the sense of belonging they gave me in the quiet moments. I reached out to them, not as a master seeking control, but as a friend seeking connection.