Chapter 18 - Aubrey
Klaus slipped out of bed and kissed my head. “I’m going to go start breakfast.”
I sank against his kiss, feeling like things were so different. In truth, so much was different. I was finally free. I didn’t need to look over my shoulder for Mike. He was gone. I could breathe.
“You’re going to make breakfast? The man who isn’t a morning person?” I teased.
He smirked, giving me a cocky smile. “Don’t get used to it.”
I pulled the pillow closer. “But maybe I will.”
He leaned down, his scent masking over me. “If I’m going to start getting up early, I’m going to want something in return.” I could see the twinkle in his eyes.
I raised an eyebrow. “Like me doing your laundry?”
He chuckled. “I’m not talking about laundry, Aubrey.” He kissed me once more. “I’m going now.”
I sank back into the sheets, watching him walk away. I lay there for a moment, letting myself feel this contentment. I could hear the coffee maker brewing and Klaus moving around in the kitchen.
I smiled, wondering if this would last. I felt something shift inside, like a wall had finally fallen. I felt a tingle run through my body, as if something were pumping through my blood. I looked down at my fingers and watched as they glowed for a moment.
My heart stopped beating as I realized what it was. It was my magic. I had magic.
“Oh my god,” I whispered, rubbing my fingers together. “Oh my god!”
I threw the covers off and hurried down the hallway. I nearly stumbled down the stairs as I skipped a few steps. “Klaus!”
He stood in the kitchen, his head snapping toward me. I could see worry in his voice. “What? What’s wrong?”
I squealed. “It happened! It’s finally happened. Klaus, look at my fingers!”
He looked confused now, his eyes looking at my fingers, but the glowing stopped. “What’s happened?”
I giggled. “My magic. I can feel it. I don’t even know how to describe it, but I can feel it. I have magic. It’s real. I thought maybe I didn’t because nothing was happening, but it did! It finally happened.”
He smiled. “Aubrey, that’s great.”
I jumped a little, giddy with excitement. “Can we go and see the cauldron? I want to see if there is anything I can do now.”
“We can, but breakfast first.” He waved the pan he had, and I hurried over, plopping down on a seat at the island. I couldn’t sit still, my nerves bouncing around with excitement.
I couldn’t help but smile, looking at my hands. “It’s so weird. This feeling.” I glanced up at Klaus. “Is this what it feels like when you first learn to shift?”
He shifted his head around. “It’s been a long time since I first shifted, but it’s possible.
However, I remember it being more uncomfortable than anything.
It was like a strong feeling that hits you that you need to leave.
You feel a sudden heat, and every muscle in your body seems to scream at once. ”
I frowned. “That doesn’t sound comfortable at all.”
“That’s because it wasn’t.”
“Is it like that all the time?”
He shook his head as he flipped the eggs in the pan. “No, just the first time. Your body is learning how to shift, so it’s new. After you’ve done it, it’s not bad. It’s natural.”
I looked back at my fingers, wondering what I would be able to do. I knew that magic was different for everyone, and all the reading explained spells and different abilities.
Klaus slid me a plate of eggs. “Eat and then we can leave.”
“Is this going to interfere with your day?” I asked as I took a bite.
“Don’t worry about my day.”
I couldn’t help but smile. So much had changed.
I changed after breakfast, and I hummed as Klaus drove the SUV. I couldn’t sit still, having so many questions to ask Elize.
We arrived at Riley’s pack and headed to see the cauldron. But there was nothing new, and nothing happened. I frowned, feeling like I was missing something.
“Can we visit Troy’s pack and see the convent again? I have questions, and I feel like Victoria would have the answers.”
I expected Klaus to push back or scowl at the idea, but he did. “Sure.”
My eyebrows went up. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
We headed over to Troy’s pack, but we found a large crowd at one of the parks. I tilted my head. “Do they have something going on?”
Klaus looked outside the window. “Looks like it’s a barbecue.”
“Wait, I see Try and Elize. And Victoria!” I turned to him. “Would it be weird if we showed up?”
Klaus shrugged. “I don’t see why it would. We were just in town, and we were looking for them.” He turned and parked.
We headed across the street, and Elize spotted us. “Klaus! Aubrey!” Troy turned, and his eyebrows rose. “What brings you guys here?”
“We were actually here to see if you would be able to help answer some questions and maybe talk about doing some training with me.”
Elize beamed. “Really? We would love to!” Elize hooked her arm around mine. “Since you guys are here, why don’t you join us? We were just about to start the barbecue, and the kids were getting water guns filled.”
“Yeah, we are down a man,” Troy said, waving two water guns. “How about it, Klaus? Or are you two cool for this?”
Klaus glanced at the group of kids and then back at Troy. “Fine, but I don’t want any whiners on my team.”
My jaw dropped. “You’re going to join them in a water gun fight?”
“Why do you look so surprised by that?”
“Because you’re… well, you’re a very stern person, Klaus.”
“Not always.” He took the water gun, and Elize chuckled next to me. “I’m just as shocked as you are.”
I walked with Elize over to where the others were sitting and watching. Elize sat down next to me. “So what did you want to know?”
“Well, I was wondering how you got your magic out? I finally started to feel it, but I don’t know how to pull it out. How do you use it?”
Elize nodded. “That does take some time to learn. You have to focus. Do one thing at a time. First, pull it to your fingertips and let it dance. Once you can do that, you can start learning to hold it longer. I would start there.”
I nodded and glanced across the space. I watched as the guys divided up into two groups. Klaus walked tall with his guys, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
“I can’t believe he agreed to this.”
Elize nodded. “He’s starting to change, and I’m sure it’s your doing.”
“God no.” I shook my head. “It’s not because of me.”
She chuckled. “I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. You’ve been thrown into a world you don’t know and been placed with Klaus of all people. He’s a little grumpy, but he’s a good guy.”
We both looked across the park as a whistle blew.
The water gun fight began, and I found myself entranced.
I watched as members ran around spraying water at each other.
Troy ran after a young boy, and Klaus hurried after him.
I watched Klaus laugh as Troy tripped. The young boy turned and sprayed at Troy.
It stirred something in me, and I felt my heart melt.
“Do you want to practice?” Elize asked. “Looks like we have the time.”
I swallowed, suddenly a little nervous. “Sure, but I don’t know how well this will go.”
Elize waved her hand. “That’s okay. So, what you’ll do is hold your hands out, palms up.”
I placed my hands out and laid them with the palms up.
“Now, look at your hands and focus your attention on your fingertips. I want you to think about pushing energy out of them. It’s a weird thought, but think about your magic and moving it into your hands.”
I looked at my fingers and did as she stated. I tried to think about pushing my magic there, but nothing happened. I scowled. “I don’t know about this.”
“Just keep trying. It takes a lot of focus to do this, especially when you’ve just unlocked your magic.”
I kept staring at my fingers, trying to pull the magic out. I could feel it underneath my skin, but that was it. I couldn’t tell it where to go or force it out.
I sighed after a while. “I’m not doing anything, and I’m already getting tired.”
Elize nodded. “It takes time. Practice at home when you get a chance.”
I looked back across the park. Klaus was now soaking wet. He was standing with his arms crossed. Troy stood next to him, both of their guns empty now.
I softly smiled, and then it hit me. How much I liked this new life. I wasn’t supposed to. I was supposed to leave when everything was finished, and now.
“You good?” Elize asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.” I rubbed my hands together. “Just have a lot of things to figure out, is all.”