The Inferno

Chapter 4 Trapped

“W e don’t have a choice, you know that!”

“I know but… if he finds out, he’ll kill us, he’ll—”

“He won’t. This rune is ancient for a reason, this will work and if it doesn’t...”

My power flares violently at these voices; voices I do not recognise.

I sit up, drenched in sweat and panting into the darkness. My vision takes a second to adjust, my heart thumping loudly in the quiet room: my room.

I wet my dry lips whilst taking in my surroundings and picking out familiar objects. My mirror, the window, a photograph of Alexis and me pinned to the wall, August’s hoodie, my jasmine plant from Ferne… The activity soothes my power, allows it to settle a little deeper as I take a few calming breaths.

Memories begin to filter back, my mark; my ancient rune.

It feels different.

I tentatively run my fingers over the sections I can reach, not sure what to expect but feeling a little deflated when my fingers skim the familiar raised texture.

A small rectangle of blaring light shines like a beacon from my desk. I stare at it, consider getting up, but realise I’m not ready for movement just yet. With the flick of my fingers the phone comes towards me, landing in my palm.

Notifications for missed calls, voicemails and text messages fill the screen. I note the time: 3:15am, before I begin to scroll.

1:16am.

"Alexis: Text me when you wake up. August is freaking out, Brutus had to use his alpha voice to keep him away."

My brows furrow at her message.

Why? Why did Brutus need to keep him away? I remember, unfortunately, everything that happened only a few hours ago. The truth serum, the enforcers, my mark— rune— that darkness… Is that why?

I keep scrolling.

August 6 missed calls .

August 6 voicemails.

Fuck. I’d only been asleep for a few hours if it was 3am, why the sudden urgency?

I click onto the last voicemail.

“Jasmine, I don’t care who they are. If they try to keep me away from you, I’ll kill them. Brutus is keeping me with the pack, my wolf is going insane, it feels what they did and… The second I can, I’m coming for you and we’ll leave, we’ll go as far as we can and if they try to stop us, I’ll—”

I have to stop the message. The distraught tone of his voice makes my body tense and my chest ache. I feel cold; sick. What is he talking about? What who did? The enforcers?

I quickly find August’s number to call him but the line is dead. Knowing Brutus, if he’s for some reason trying to keep him away from me, he’ll have blocked any phone signals from the pack’s cell tower.

And if Brutus is keeping him away… it’s to keep him safe.

From me.

My power doesn’t like that. It blooms, seeping out into the room, reaching into the corners and seeking out more pleasing, more comforting emotions. It tenses and recoils when it realises, we are alone.

My phone lights up again, I glance down and see more messages, more names, Ferne, Javier… They’ve all left messages.

2:30am.

"Ferne: Jasmine, please let me know when you wake up. I did a blood test and I know they made you take a truth serum. I haven’t told them but…"

Good, I want to be the one to tell them. I could only imagine what they’d say when they find out I drank it.

2:45am.

"Javier: Alexis is losing her shit over the barrier. I mean TOTALLY crazy. If you could, like, text her to let her know you’re not actually being tortured in there? That would be great… unless you are? In that case—"

What barrier? I scroll back to Alexis’ messages and press call, the line rings… and rings… but she doesn’t pick up.

I type a quick message:

" What the fuck is going on? I’ve tried to call you. What barrier? Why is Brutus keeping August away? "

Thankfully, the message sends and in seconds, she replies.

"Alexis: Thank fuck, you’re awake."

I begin to type a response but her calling image appears on my screen.

“What the hell is going on, Alexis?” My voice sounds hoarse, my throat is tight and I force myself to swallow in an attempt to soothe it.

“I can’t keep this line for long,” she states, there’s a noticeable strain on her voice which causes my power to flare in anger, “the enforcers have placed a barrier on your level of the club. We can’t enter, we can’t even phone you, I’ve been trying for two days—”

“Two days? It’s only been a few hours since—”

“No, it hasn’t. It’s been two whole days, Jasmine.”

I stare into the darkness before me, the room lightening slightly with the early sunrise, my power bubbles with every new piece of information.

“Listen, I haven’t got long before this spell cuts out. I need you to try and push through the barrier, use my emergency spells, throw everything you can at it, but do not use whatever that power was, do you understand?”

“What power? I don’t—”

“That dark element.” Silence fills the room as I stare at the screen. “You can’t use it Jasmine, it isn’t safe. You’ll want to access it, but you can’t. Not until I get there and I can help you— fuck, I can’t—”

“Alexis?” I stare at the phone as though it will speak back, but the line crackles and inevitably ends.

I stare at the blank screen for a few more moments, expecting the image of Alexis and me, holding each other by the waist as we pose against level six’s kitchen table, to reappear. But it doesn’t.

No new messages appear either.

I try to send them, but they fail, every single one.

More time passes, no new messages.

When I stand, I have to use my coils to keep me upright. Alexis said it had been two days but how could it be when I still felt exhausted?

My power senses my need and flares in warmth, soothing me, allowing my mind to focus .

I quickly rummage through my drawers of clothing and find Alexis’ emergency spells. Tiny vials filled with various concoctions clink together as I pile them onto my bed. I try to remember what the colours represent but my vision blurs and I slump down over the bed.

Overwhelming emotions begin to seep into my aching bones, my power is no longer soothing me, it’s retreating into me.

Alone.

A deep, heavy loneliness begins to build in the pit of my stomach. I desperately attempt to push it away but I can’t. I have no emotions to feed from, there is no one here.

It’s an empath’s weakness; their worst fear. It’s my worst fear.

I’m utterly alone.

Silent tears begin to fall and I can’t remember when they formed. My power lays still, dormant, struggling and unwilling to find what it needs. I begin to stroke my bare arms in attempt to comfort it; to comfort myself.

Heat. That’s what I need.

I force myself from the bed, stumbling slightly with no assistance from my power. I slip into the bathroom, rush past the mirror and turn on the shower. Shivering, lips trembling, I watch the steam begin to build and fill the room. The cloud of warmth causes my coils to shift, just a little.

I push all thoughts aside, immersing myself in the intense heat by turning the tap to its limit, letting the water's burn reach the brink of pain. The heat seems to mask the pain, causing it to thaw somewhat.

Being away from them— that’s what this is. The longest I’d ever been away from them was a few hours.

That’s what my power needs— my family.

The water caresses my tender skin, trailing over my sore muscles as I lean into it and focus upon my next steps, getting out of this place.

When I finally step out of the shower, wrapping a silk robe around me, is when I first notice the difference.

My reflection in the foggy mirror, seemingly the same as always, contains a look of puzzlement as I search it accusingly. Searching my skin, which holds a subtle glow, and my eyes, which are brighter and more intense. I almost look the same, it’s barely noticeable.

But it’s there. As though a piece of me has been brought back. Invigorated. Awoken .

Although I feel utterly alone; I look more alive than I ever have.

That part of my power burns brighter at the thought, begins to come alive too. It’s pleased. It floods my body and fills me with a sudden intoxicating heat that causes me to gasp. I bend over, gripping the sink before me as I pant, staring at the mirror and into the piercing eyes that seem to flare.

It feels him.

My power snaps out so quickly, I nearly fall. It seeks him out immediately, desperate for the contact, eager to feel something.

Alexis’ words spring into action too, and I grip the counter so hard in concentration it cracks. I barely manage to pull my power back; it skims him.

I glare at myself in the mirror, eyes burning, wet hair sticking to my flustered face. “Don’t you dare come out,” I murmur, to myself, to my own power.

I’ve absolutely lost it.

My power bubbles, not liking that I’ve forcefully ripped it away from what it wanted. Who it wanted.

That thought sends terrifying emotions rushing through me.

I hear him knocking, feel his power, and my blood boils. I push the damp hair away from my face and storm out of the bathroom, through my bedroom, and slam the front door open with the flick of my hand, coming face to face with him.

All my vexed chagrin wants to immediately dissipate at the sight of him.

Seeing him in a new light, literally, has caught me, and my power, completely unprepared.

No longer in the darkened rooms of the club, his features are fully on display, courtesy of the rising sun which casts him in a warm, golden glow. He looks like a Greek god carved from the purest ivory, a sculpture that no doubt took the artist thousands of hours to simply perfect the prominent shape of his nose and almond slope of his eyes. Soft curls of dark brown hair frame his face, hitting the tips of his softly pointed ears, and clash with vibrant sapphire eyes.

I swallow.

Sai’s dark grey t-shirt exposes more of his intricate markings which glide along and around his arms. I quickly become transfixed by the variation of intricate designs and the deep blue hue humming along his smooth skin. My eyes trace the patterns up to his throat and along the edge of his jaw, where they gently fade away. It’s when my eyes finally land upon his smirk, noticing the dimple beside his lips, that my brain finally tries to focus.

“What do you want?” I ask, attempting to sound as angry as I felt only moments ago.

Sai’s gaze leisurely takes in every feature of my face. It then slides down over my wet hair, where droplets continue cascading down my chest, over the thin silk robe and along my body. My skin prickles under his scrutiny, and my power twitches.

“Can you be more specific?” His voice is raspier than I remember, then his eyes flicker back up to mine.

My power hums at the contact.

I shift on my feet and tighten my robe’s tie in response, he follows the action— smirking. Only now am I fully aware of the flimsy battle gear I had chosen.

“Here to check I haven’t escaped your barrier, right?” I try keeping my tone as level as possible whilst trying to ignore the way he’s studying me.

His piercing eyes twinkle, his smirk widens. “No, not really…” He moves as though he’s about to cross over the threshold. I instantly step forward, closing the distance between us, making him halt.

“What the hell are you doing?” My voice becomes a pitch higher as he stares down at me. “You are not coming in, you’re leaving, right after you take down your barrier.”

His eyes begin a new perusal of my face. We’re so close that I can see a dusting of pale freckles along his cheekbones. How could a creature so evil have dimples and freckles?

“You’re being very demanding today, Red.”

I narrow my eyes as I stare up at him, feeling my coils slithering all around me. “And you’re always infuriating.”

He bites his lip and my eyes lock onto the action. He’s desperate to laugh, he’s barely holding it back and it only feeds my anger. “I like it.”

I ignore his comment. “Why are you here?”

“Why?” he repeats, regaining his composure as he cants his head above me. “Let me in and I’ll tell you.”

I worry my lip, frantically trying to weigh up my options but he interrupts my thoughts by leaning down, making our eyes level. I’d always worn heels in the club and, even then, I thought their height was impressive. Now, it was all-consuming.

“You know, I could just force my way in, right?” His eyes are utterly intent on mine, until they dip to the lip I’m still biting. “But I’m trying real hard to be a gentleman and trust me, Red, that doesn’t happen often.”

My brows furrow. “I shouldn’t let you in.”

He leans against the door frame. “Why?”

I go to respond but my mouth barely opens before I stop.

‘Why?’ is a great question. Why isn’t my voice as hard as usual? Why isn’t fear coursing through me? Why isn’t my power ready to pounce? Why is it settled beneath my skin as though there is no threat?

Sai notes my inner turmoil, my lack of response, and with a smirk he straightens and simply steps over the threshold. I’m alert enough to ensure there’s no physical contact between us by pushing myself against the wall. A small chuckle emits from him as he strolls past me and down the narrow hallway.

After a brief moment, where I stare up at the ceiling and mouth to the Goddess for her support, I follow him, uncertain what else to do.

My eyes dart everywhere he goes, wary and confused at my power’s response to him being here, which is no response at all.

Sai casually makes his way into my connected living room, trailing his fingers over the sofa’s back, then running them along the large table which we used at the end of every shift. He pauses for a second over one seat, then quickly moves on.

I place myself against the kitchen counter, keeping my distance but ensuring I follow his every move.

Now my panic and the adrenalin are beginning to fade, I realise just how tired I feel. I slowly push myself up and onto the counter’s edge, the ache in my muscles more prominent now I’m seated.

Focus. I need to find out about this barrier, and get it down, before I succumb to sleep again.

“Why did you put up a barrier?” I ask, watching him pick up a picture frame containing a photograph of Brutus, the team and me.

“They put one up first,” he calmly replies, placing the item back, off-centre, and turning to face me. My power hums under his gaze.

“Who?” I frown, watching him take a few steps forward, noting the way his sleeves strain against the muscular bulge of his arms .

“That witch friend of yours,” he answers, now directly in front of me, leaning against the back of my sofa. “It was quite impressive, took me almost a full minute to take it down.” He grins.

Why didn’t she mention that before?

I think back to all the messages, not one mentioned her putting up a barrier first. Sai watches me digest the information, there’s a hint of his smirk there but hardly.

“She was trying to keep you away from me,” I say my thought aloud, eager for his confirmation, “she wanted to keep me safe.”

Sai’s subtle head tilt, the way his bright eyes narrow ever so slightly, how his smirk completely disintegrates, all indicate how that thought really sounded.

“It was to keep you in,” he states flatly, the taunting tone gone, his sight locked with mine, ensuring I hear his words. “To cage you.”

I stare at him and slowly begin shaking my head. “No, no, they think you’re a threat, that’s the only reason, why else would they keep me in here?”

“People often lock up the things they don’t understand,” he murmurs, his eyes flashing darker for a moment. “Things they’re afraid of.”

“Afraid?” I half-laugh, half-gasp. “They’d never be afraid of me…” I shut my eyes, try to focus upon calming my worried emotions, but my power is starting to shift at his words, new feelings of doubt begin to bubble.

“They felt a change in you.” Sai’s voice is soft but it holds a hard edge. Somehow, I know he isn’t lying. “They see it.”

I open my eyes and we stare at one another, the gentle thud of my heart filling the silence as his words linger in the air.

“I feel the same,” I lie, crossing my legs in another defensive move, not ignoring the way he caught that action before looking back at me. “I am the same.”

The intensity of his stare makes my power rumble and a small laugh falls from Sai’s lips. He maintains eye contact as he pushes away from the sofa, stands taller and takes a few steps towards me.

My power pulses in warning, but there’s a hint of something else there and I’m too terrified to say it aloud. I straighten my spine as he stands before me, I tilt my head up and meet his stare .

“It’s subtle, but it’s there,” he says, his open hand rises as he speaks, indicating towards me before stopping at my eyes. “Like a piece of you, a fragment, has awoken. They all feel it and it scares them.”

I want to disagree; I want to tell him how wrong he is, that these people are my family and they would never be afraid, but the words will not form.

“They locked you in here because they’re terrified of what you might do, what you can do,” Sai continues, his voice hard and level, “what you could become.”

My power caresses me like a wave, comforting me over the words I don’t want to accept. I attempt to push it away.

“They know I’d never hurt them; they know—”

“Do they?” The harsh tone of his question makes my breathing hitch, my power halts, he sounds almost angry, bitter. “Did they even try to wake you? Speak to you first before locking you in here? Why didn’t someone stay with you?”

His barrage of questions and the intensity of his voice keeps me silent. I stare up at him whilst my power flows within me in a calming wave of warmth, attempting to comfort me at what he’s about to say next, as though it can predict it.

“Face it, they locked you up: alone. Left you here: alone. You woke up: alone.”

The intense feeling of loneliness, masked by the warmth from the scalding water, and Sai’s sudden appearance, comes creeping back in icy tendrils.

My lips parts as I truly digest his words, try to dissect them and pull— rip— apart the truth.

I glare down at my hands resting in my lap and shake my head gently. Water droplets fall into my palms, sink into my skin. I try to reject Sai’s words but my power shifts uncomfortably inside me, rising, feeling my previous loneliness, confusion and doubt.

It begins to bloom again; it reaches for the surface but I shove it down.

“If that’s true,” I begin, “why did you put a barrier up?” My eyes race to his, noting the gleam which is normally there is barely present. He watches me carefully. “To make sure I couldn’t get out, right? Wait for me to wake then take me to the Council? Have them lock me away instead? Is that why you’re here, to take me? ”

My voice falls away as the irritation, the frustration, the utter disbelief at my family betraying me trickles into the atmosphere and feeds my power, especially the new awoken piece. It hums and, this time, I don’t stop it seeping out.

Sai steps closer, his hand lowering and almost touching my cheek. I should flinch, move, cast a wary glance, but I just stay still. My burning gaze locked with his.

“It stops them getting in,” he replies, his hand not touching my face but almost. My power crackles, desperate to latch onto his. “The difference is: you can leave my barrier.” My brows knit together; his focused gaze never leaves mine as I consider his words.

“Why—”

“It also stops Julien getting in here,” he adds, then rocks his head as though weighing up something. “Well, for the moment anyway.”

My memory of Julien, his arm locked around me and onyx stare, fills my head. In remembrance, my coils form invisibly around my skin. When they try to cast tiny embers, an attempt to gain contact with Sai, I flinch.

“I can feel you holding back.” Sai’s soft tone reminds me of the last time he sounded like that, when his fingers were skimming my bare back. “Why?”

I don’t look at him. I can’t. I’m grasping my coils by a thinning thread which seems magnetised.

“I was told not use it. The dark part.”

Why am I telling him this and why is my body tilting towards his hand?

“Idiots,” he laughs, but the sound is sour and filled with distaste. “They have no idea, you don’t have a choice,” he mutters the last part and the marking which wraps around his throat flares in a deep hue.

I have no idea either. No idea what this power can truly do. Again, the memory of Julien's arm around me, his black eyes intent on mine, flashes to the surface and my coils heat in remembrance.

“Where are the others?” I query, only now curious as to why Sai is here alone, with me. “Why is it just you?”

“Disappointed?” he taunts, his trademark smirk finally reappearing with one dimple joining in, both cause my coils to swirl. He places a hand upon the counter to my right, bringing his face lower and in line with mine. “Here I was thinking you’d be pleased, having some one-to-one with your favourite.”

He smiles, piercing eyes twinkling and my heart races. Thankfully, he doesn’t wait for a response from me.

“The big guy is in no state to be around you right now, probably at some feeding facility trying to get the scent of your blood out of his system.” I try to pretend that isn’t the most terrifying thing to imagine, I also try to ignore the way a slice of something hot hits me... jealously ? “But don’t you worry, Red. You’ll be seeing ‘Dark Eyes’ soon enough, he’s coming tonight.”

“So, why are you here?” He’s too close, my power is unstable, the intense emotions of rage, irritation and longing are flickering through me, all of which are becoming amplified. “Have you come to check on my power, to take me to the Council District or to kill me? Because we both know they’re the only options.”

“Actually, there’s another option, Red,” he simply states, his eyes scanning my face, pausing upon my mouth. “You called to me.” He meets my gaze again. “Because you were alone.”

My skin burns and my power pulses from my chest. My coils stretch outwards, towards him. I feel my cheeks flush as I turn away, pulling my coils with me and force myself to look anywhere but him.

“You called for me .” Even as he repeats the words, I cannot look at him.

My power called out to him because it didn’t want to be alone. The embarrassment those words bring is suffocating.

I want to sink into the ground and disappear.

But my coils flare, desperately urging me to look at him, pleading with me to move, edge towards his body, meld my skin with his. I grit my teeth, tighten my jaw and refuse to remove my sight from the black swirls of my marble counter.

“This… whatever this is, it’s difficult to control,” I manage to say, the strain in my voice matching my tense body. “I...I mean my power didn’t mean to ‘call’, whatever the hell... that means, I just… I need… Can you just back up?”

I’m taking deep breaths now, that’s all I can bring myself to say, all I can manage with the burning inferno suddenly swirling inside of me.

When his hand cups my jaw, his fingers now a delicate touch upon my cheek, the heat and intensity of my power is instantly smothered. Still burning, desperately flickering under his, but content, especially as embers of it slip into his.

I need to fight this, I should be fighting, why is my power allowing this when others have been thrown into walls for merely stepping too close?

But I sigh, it just falls out, the soothing sensation of his touch is an utter relief to my aching muscles and restless power.

It’s blissful.

Eventually, I manage to open my eyes. I peer up at him and his annoyingly smug face. His bright, piercing eyes are intent on mine and that goddamn smirk is stoking the fire inside of me to burn a little brighter.

“Better?” he asks, attempting to hold back his full irritating smile.

He already knows the answer, he’s enjoying this and his eyes gleam in eager anticipation of my reply. I can’t bear to give him the satisfaction of my words, so I simply nod.

He purses his lips, narrows his eyes, clearly dissatisfied by my response. So when he begins to pull away, my power flares in panic. Like an instinct, my own hands quickly reach up and latch onto his, keeping his in place against my cheek.

“Don’t,” I mutter, annoyed at myself for needing this, annoyed at my power for needing this.

“Don’t what?” he teases, his eyes fixated with my hand upon his. Our powers seek one another out but neither cross over. “Don’t stop touching you? Don’t make you beg—”

“Don’t say anything else.”

He laughs, the deep sound causes his markings to hum and my cheeks heat again. I scowl up at him, then soften my gaze.

“Why is this happening?” I ask, concerned and confused. If it felt so alone, why didn’t it reach out for Alexis or August?

“It senses familiarity, seeks connection… it means our powers are similar in some way,” he explains, his thumb now tracing the edge of my jaw. “I don’t know what these friends of yours have taught you, but the most powerful creatures, of the light and dark, need others to help balance them. It seems rather than empower you with that knowledge, they’ve tried locking it away. That’s why it called to us in the first place, to Julien and me.”

“Because he tried to bite me? ”

He smirks. “That and because I altered the rune. It was enough to help it escape, only partially, and it recognised something in us.”

That thought is terrifying.

“Earlier, when it called to you, what does that mean?”

“Well, firstly Red, it didn’t just call to me. It’s been calling to Julien, constantly , since that night. Hence, the barrier,” he adds so dismissively, as though it’s completely expected. “It doesn’t help that you’re practically a virgin in his eyes and you’ve driven him somewhat insane with your scent.” Sai shrugs as he adds that final comment and my eyes go wide.

“You can’t be serious. This is a joke, right? Some sick and twisted joke.” I finally jerk back from Sai but his hand remains on my face. “I don’t want this. I don’t want any of this. How do I stop it? How do I sever the call?”

Sai is no longer looking at me, instead, his sight is fixed upon my hands which cup one another in my lap.

“ Sever .” The one word is coated in an echo. So unlike Sai my coils tense defensively.

I lower my head in effort to make him look at me. “Sai?”

All at once, his markings flare and his crackling power surrounds me. His eyes race to mine, his predatory gaze so intense it causes me to lean back, but not once does his hand leave my face.

My power doesn’t even try to fight back, if anything, it revels in the feel of his against us. He steps closer until my bare legs brush his and the skin feels alight, I stare at the contact.

“Sorry,” he mutters, shaking his head as though awakening from a trance. Our gazes meet again and I realise his teasing smile is back. “It seems my darkness isn’t keen on the word ‘sever’. My name on the other hand...”

Seemingly, this is the only explanation he’s willing to give as his hand finally falls from my face. Embarrassingly, I follow forwards to try and maintain the contact, I only just stop myself from falling off the edge of the counter.

Sai chuckles at my hands clutching the edge and I quietly reprimand myself, pushing myself back upon the counter and upright once more.

“How do we s… stop it?” I rephrase, hardening my gaze with his, ignoring the way my body seems to ache now we’ve lost contact .

He takes up his previous position, leaning back against the sofa, studying me, before replying, “I’m sure the Dark One will know, Red.” He smirks, fingers tapping rhythmically against the sofa as I scowl at him. “I’ve been a bit busy researching that mark of yours, it’s a tricky little thing.”

I look away, trying to understand the magnitude of his words and the reasoning behind them. It keeps coming back to ‘why’. Why are they helping me? If that is what they’re doing. I may be na?ve to the world but I’m certainly not gullible. People, creatures of the dark, enforcers, don’t just help people.

“I’m not sure I want to ask this but I feel like I have to.” I pick at the hem of my robe, frowning at the threads as I speak. “Why haven’t you taken me to the Council?”

I wait for his response, the slow thud of my heart making the wait painful. When I can bare it no longer, I finally peer up at him, noticing he’s fixed upon the threads I’ve been nervously plucking.

I stop and his eyes meet with mine again, his arrogant smirk and gleaming eyes renewed. “Ah, now that would be telling,” he taunts, pushing away from the sofa and dramatically stretching his arms out.

My power hums at the way his stomach muscles pull taut and I turn away, become fixated with the wolf shaped fridge magnet, and swallow.

Out of the three, I know Sai will be the easiest to get answers from but he has no reason to share. I’ve nothing to offer in return. So I revert to the current issue.

“I’d like you to take your barrier down,” I state. I sit up straighter, ignoring the ache it causes, and turn to face him. He’s closer, again. “Please.”

“Oh, really?” he queries, his brows arched and smirk prominent. “If I do, what do I get in return?”

I scoff, until I see the gleam in his eyes which reveal he isn’t joking. My brows furrow. “What would you want?”

The second the question leaves my lips; I realise it was the wrong thing to say. His smirk turns into a slow, salacious smile as his eyes slowly travel the length of my body before landing back upon my eyes.

“Now that’s a very dangerous question, Red,” he says slowly, carnally, his eyes narrowing to match the husky tone of his voice .

My power hums at the sound but I manage to coax it back gently. He doesn’t move any closer as he studies me, my coils continue to softly pulse with my heartbeat.

“Surprise me.” His eyes practically glow as he takes in my unamused impression. Then he’s moving, his thumb, index and middle finger pinching together.

“You want me to surprise you?” I repeat, wary and cautiously watching his hand gesture—fully remembering what he implied the previous time he did this action.

“Yep,” he confirms, the ‘p’ making a popping sound which causes me flinch. “And it better be good, Red. If it isn’t, well… I’m sure Julien could help me with a suitable consequence.” He directs a terrifying smile at me, all teeth and hidden vendetta lingering there, like the first time we met.

“Fine,” I spit, even though I have no idea what I’m agreeing to.

The smile slips back into his regular smirk and his fingers click. The sound somehow creates an echo in the room which eventually dissipates into the air. When it finally dies out, I feel a subtle difference in the air, a lightness.

“You have roughly... five minutes before the witch gets here,” he casually says, taking a few final steps which puts him before me again. “Remember what I said to you, about them caging you in here. Don’t let them lie to you, Red.”

I lower my gaze as my power tightens around me at even the suggestion. “We don’t lie to each other.”

He slowly quirks a brow. “Wow, sounds like they’ve done a great job indoctrinating you.”

I grind my teeth and harden my gaze at his implication. “You don’t even know them.”

“Neither do you, apparently,” he retorts.

My power bristles, his eyes assess me as though he can feel it, and I take a deep breath to settle it once more. “They’re my family.”

“You say that but…” he laughs softly, almost mockingly, head slightly shaking before speaking again, “just ask them all those things running through that head of yours, all those niggling doubts and questions. If they don’t lie, then everything will be just peachy. ”

We watch one another, our powers wrapped around us comfortably, mine no longer desperately trying to reach out for him but clearly content that he’s this close.

“I’ll see you tonight.” He smirks, taking a small step back before levelling his piercing eyes with mine again. “Don’t forget my surprise, Red.”

Gone.

A wisp of dark blue smoke is the only thing that lingers where he once stood. I watch it slowly fade and disappear into the air before finally moving.

I quickly dress, slipping on a baggy hoodie, black joggers and pulling my damp hair into a bun just before I hear her entering. I step into the living room and her violet eyes instantly seek me out, we make quick work of closing the distance and soon we’re embracing each other tightly.

My power goes wild at the contact. I feel it rising and falling, tangling, coiling, slipping back into a wave. I maintain my hold around Alexis and amplify the positive emotions now in the air which eventually causes it to simmer.

“I was so worried, Jas,” she murmurs, her tight grip impressive considering her size. “I had no idea what to do, I felt so powerless, I felt like—”

Her voice is cut off by a sudden sob, I pull back, arms still around her small waist as I watch the tears fall from her eyes.

“It’s OK, I’m OK,” I hush her, brushing her tears away and using my powers to seek out her fears. It grasps onto them easily, takes them in and devours them, amplifying the comfort of my hold once more. “Everything’s fine, Alexis. I’m fine.”

Her face falls into the crook of my neck and her tears continue, I feel their warmth as they soak into the shoulder of my hoodie. I continue to hold her as my power begins to uncoil and seep out, surrounding us both in a comforting wave.

All the while, Sai’s words linger in my mind… and why Alexis’ hold feels different to all the other times we’ve embraced. Why her sobs feel so painful, as though she’s really lost me when I’m standing right here. But before I even consider voicing those thoughts, the door is torn from its hinges and my power flares protectively.

Alexis senses him too and manages to pull herself away from me, the second our skin loses contact I’m picked up by August. My legs instantly wrap around his waist, arms around his neck, face sinking into the nook of his throat, like falling into a rhythm, like the thousands of times we’ve done it before.

But this feels different.

We don’t speak, his grip tightens around me, I hear Alexis still gently crying somewhere and my power… does nothing.

It stays smothering my skin in a protective layer but it doesn’t seek anyone or anything out, it just stays. I bury myself deeper into August, inhale his scent, urge my power to remember this and how we react to him.

But it won’t listen. My own silent tears begin to fall at the realisation.

August feels the tears and tenses, pulling back to look at me. I try to bury my face back into him but he grips my chin between his fingers.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, so gently, so softly, it causes more tears to fall. “You’re safe now, everything is fine.” He brushes my tears away with his thumb and my power bristles in irritation at the contact.

My stomach turns to lead. I feel numb.

This can’t be happening.

He notes my expression and frowns. I thank whatever high power there is that he can’t feel my emotions right now. Instead, I focus on amplifying every single positive feeling there is in this room, to the point my legs can no longer maintain their grip around him and I begin to slip.

August easily readjusts me, folding me into his arms and placing me onto my seat at the large oak table.

I smile up at him in thanks as he goes to take his seat beside me, but before he sits down, he hovers, his eyes flare a vibrant yellow and a deep growl rumbles from his chest.

“August?” I question, searching his face for answers. Alexis comes over too, a scrunched tissue in her grasp.

“One of them was here,” he snarls, nostrils flaring, eyes glowing vibrantly. “He wanted me to know, didn’t even try to hide his scent.”

Alexis places a small hand on August’s shoulder, he manages to flick his sight to her and the look they share, that single look, confirms all my worst fears.

They’re keeping something from me.

I search each of their expressions, careful not to let out my power which is suddenly sparking and eager to cause havoc at the realisation. How dare they? Why would they ?

I’m barely containing it when I hear Javier’s voice from the doorway. “Who the hell broke the fucking door? I’m not fixing it again!”