Chapter 15
Chapter fifteen
Jack
My knee bounced where I sat in the library across from Tabby the next night. She was talking about something to do with the history of vampire powers. Honestly, I wasn’t really paying attention.
It was hard to think about my powers when all I could think about was what Tate was doing with my note. Had they found who wrote it yet? If so, did they go after them, or did they report it like he promised they would?
Picking up my phone for what seemed like the hundredth time, I checked for any messages from the guys.
Nothing.
Should I check in with them? Would that make me seem like I didn’t trust them?
Maybe they needed me? Maybe they’d hit a dead end and weren’t sure which direction to go on their own.
Though, with Weaver there — I cringed internally — they had all the information of the Hunter’s Guild and likely the academy at his skinny fingertips.
“Jack?”
I chewed on my thumbnail, staring off to the side at the unlit fireplace.
I didn’t want to down the importance of our techs, but they didn’t go into the field.
They didn’t know what it was like to be in a life-or-death situation, to have a split second to make a decision that might be the reason you lived or died. Or your comrades lived or died.
Plus, they read everything as black and white data on a computer screen. The world didn’t work that way. People didn’t work that way.
“Jack, are you listening?”
No, I should be there. They attacked me.
If we wanted to have a chance at catching them, then we needed bait.
We wouldn’t get that with me hiding here in my parents’ house.
Though trying to convince any of them, let alone my parents, or Tristen to let me back on campus for this was going to be tricky.
A book slammed against the table, jerking me from my thoughts.
My eyes darted to the sound where Tabby removed her hands from the large tome she carted around, an irritated expression on her face.
Giving her a sheepish smile, I sank down into my seat. “Sorry, did you ask something?”
Untying her hair, Tabby shook her head as she re-wrapped her hair into a bun, shoving a pencil through the center of it.
“Should I come back tomorrow? Obviously, you’re distracted by something else.”
“No, no.” I waved her off with an apologetic look. “I’m good. My mind just wandered is all.”
“Are you sure?” Tabby blinked at me, her one black eye giving off a menacing glint. “I can come back. We don’t want to try to use your powers if you’re distracted.”
“I’m fine. Promise.” Pushing up to the edge of the chair, I tried not to focus on the black eye and only look at the blue one. “We can try.”
Tabby paused for a long moment, her lips pursed.
Then she clicked her tongue. “Alright, if you’re sure.
” She picked up her notebook once more. “Like I was saying, most vampires don’t have any additional abilities the way your dads do.
It’s actually pretty rare for so many vampires with powers to be in one house together.
It’s no wonder that their offspring would have those powers, too.
Especially, since you aren’t actually blood bound to Antoine. ”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that conclusion, but I wasn’t about to argue with her.
“So your dad, Antoine’s, powers. You said that he can control people with his voice and then something about crows?” She glanced down at her notes before looking to me.
I swallowed then croaked out. “Yes.”
Talking about my powers still made me feel uncomfortable. Any other human who woke up and found that they could make anyone do anything they wanted just by commanding it might have been overjoyed. Running out into the world to right the wrongs or even get a bit vindictive about it.
If they knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of that power — how it could rob you of your very self — then they might not be so quick to jump to use it. Especially, not knowing how to control it.
Last time, it was crows that died. Then I almost killed Tate. I was in no hurry to use my powers again.
Unfortunately, if I didn’t use them, then I couldn’t learn to control them, and I could accidently get too emotional and actually kill someone.
Tabby lowered her notebook for a moment, her expression changing from researcher to comforting friend. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here to help you. I know how scary it can be having powers you can’t control.”
She let out a self-depreciating laugh. “Not that I have any, but I have so many witch friends who came into their powers out of the blue and caused all kinds of havoc before they figured out how to control them. We’ll get you there, I promise.”
I blinked rapidly, nodding, unable to get any words out from the emotion overwhelming me.
“Alright then.” Tabby turned back to her notebook. “Since you came into your powers, have you discussed them with Antoine?”
I grimaced. “Not in so many words.”
Honestly, we’d only talked about it once — when he’d showed up at the academy and ripped everything I held dear out from under me in the name of protecting me. Since then, I’d pretty much avoided him.
Yeah, I knew it wasn’t just his decision, but a part of me still blamed him for my suspension from the guild and pulling me out of the academy.
I knew it was his duty as the head of the household to make the hard decisions and even dole out punishment when needed.
He was probably used to being hated for his decisions, even if they are good ones.
Still, I’d stayed away, which meant that we haven’t talked about my new powers that he’d so generously given to me through my mom and Darren.
Tabby stared at me for a moment, no doubt studying the implications of what I’d said.
“It really would help if you would get with him and find out how exactly he controls his powers. Is it a mental thing? Or more of an emotional thing? Is it something else altogether?” She leaned back in her chair as she watched me.
“You said both times you used your powers you were pretty emotional, right?”
I thought back to the time I’d killed the crows.
How I’d been so overwhelmed by everything that I had lashed out at them.
I hadn’t really meant for them to drop dead.
I just wanted them to leave me alone. Because every time I saw them, I thought of my parents watching me, not trusting me to be on my own.
It had all just been too much.
Almost immediately afterward, Tate had come into the picture and made everything ten times worse. So, yeah, I’d say I was pretty fucking emotional.
“I don’t know if it’s emotional for him,” I began, thinking to any time I’d seen him use his powers.
“If it started that way, it’s not now.” I shifted in my seat, eyes flicking toward the library door.
“Though hardly anything breaks his mask. I can count on my hand the number of times I’ve seen him genuinely smile. ”
Nodding, Tabby scribbled in her notebook. “A cool customer. Gotcha. Still, it would be helpful to get his point of view. If you don’t want to talk to him alone about this, we could always bring him into one of our sessions—”
“No!” I cleared my throat and tried again. “No, it’s alright. I can talk to him on my own. Is that all for today?”
Humming to herself, Tabby tapped her pen on her notebook several times before setting it aside. “Okay, now, don’t freak out. But I want you to try to use your powers on me. Ask me to stand up and hop on one foot.”
“What?” My brows rose. “No. I’m not going to use them on you.”
Sighing, Tabby shook her head. “What did you think this was all for? If you don’t practice, then you’re not going to be able to control them. I’m giving you my consent to use your powers on me. So…” She gestured at me. “Go ahead.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, holding it for a moment.
Everything in me screamed not to do this. I didn’t know what I was doing. How this could go wrong. And then I’d have another person’s blood on my hands, something I’d been adamant about not doing since I started hunting.
“Jack,” Tabby drew out, watching me expectantly. “You can do this, Jack. I know you can.”
I blew out the breath and rotated my shoulders then my neck, wiggling my fingers just for good measure before I focused on the witch in front of me.
“Stand up and hop on one foot.”
The words echoed through the library. A bit flat and unextraordinary. And to be expected, Tabby did exactly nothing.
“Hmmm.” Tabby grabbed her notebook again, writing in it. “So you can’t just say it. There has to be more to it.”
“Did you feel anything at all?”
“No,” she replied, a bit dejected. “Though it wouldn’t be any fun if it was easy, would it?” The witch offered me an encouraging smile.
I snorted. “I don’t know about that. I don’t exactly want it to be fun. I just want it to go away.”
The witch bobbed her head. “I can understand that, but better to be prepared than surprised, I always say.” She put her book and notebook back into her bag and stood.
“Well, I promised to lead the circle tonight, so I’m going to head out.
Next time, we’ll see if making you emotional will bring out the power in you. ”
“Alright,” I said, swallowing a thick ball of anxiety in my throat as I walked her to the front door.
Before she stepped out, Tabby looked at me pointedly. “And don’t forget to talk to your dad. His input could be vital.”
“Right, yeah.” I coughed, glancing off to the side. “I will.”
“Promise?”
I blew out a breath and met her gaze again. “I swear you and Xinyi are sisters in another life. Okay, I promise.”
Tabby giggled. “I don’t know about that, but I know enough about wanting to avoid one’s parents to know that it’s not an easy thing to agree to. Anyway, you’ve got this. I know it. See ya.”
I waved Tabby off, shutting the door behind her and leaning on it.
The witch had been right about one thing. I did not want to talk to my dad. Not about my powers. Not about the weather. Nothing. Seeing him would just bring up feelings of betrayal again, I just knew it.
“Jack.”
My eyes lifted from the floor of the foyer to meet the dark gaze of Marcus, hovering under the stairs. “Hey.”
“I know you do not wish for advice from such an old man.” He began, moving out of the shadows to stand before me, a good head or so taller than me, his cargo pants were a deep green that he had tucked a tan t-shirt into. Work boots covered his feet shined to perfection.
Marcus might not be a knight any longer, but he wouldn’t stand out in a military base. He had a quiet strength about him that made him a good leader and a good dad. Even if we didn’t always agree.
I gave him a weak smile. “Had about all the advice I can take for one day, but go ahead, lay it on me.”
He placed a large hand on my shoulder, peering into my gaze as he spoke. “A wise man knows when to disregard his pride and ask for help.”
I let my head hang. “I had a feeling you were going to say something like that.” Not letting myself wallow in my self-pity, I drew in a breath and puffed up my cheeks.
“Fine. Where is he?”