Chapter 15
Eliane
“Hi, Honey,” he breathes out, his voice raw and lowering as he puts emphasis on the word honey.
My stomach takes a few turns, the tips of my ears turning red.
I have never been happy to hear the word ‘honey’ swim through my mind, but every time it is him who says it, I feel like part of me is getting healed.
I would swear it even hurt less when I heard my parents’ voice in my head, because all I wanted when I heard them speak ‘honey,’ was to find Braxton even more desperately.
He pretends to dislike me, but I know that isn’t how he really feels.
He is just pretending to be the self-centered prick and monster everyone hopes he will be.
I don’t believe it. When Kailey interrupted my fight with Delilah, we came to the conclusion we wanted to stick together.
Only a bit later, I felt Braxton’s presence in my mind stronger than before. I reached out and boom—I got in.
“Where the fudge are you?” I argue, my voice pitching, putting my hands on my hips, letting them fall down as I remember he can’t see me.
“Since when do you say ‘what the fudge?’ You always just say fuck.” He flat out laughs in my head.
God, I have a new favorite sound.
His laugh.
“I am at a waterfall right now. With all those trees you like so much. It is very colorful around here. Very you,” he explains, but I am with my mind stuck somewhere else.
“Can you do that again?” I ask, scrunching my nose up. “Pretty please?” My mind falls silent, and it takes a few seconds before I feel his cold breeze brush against my warm mind.
“What?” he groans, his voice going like sound waves from my ears towards my toes, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind. I curl my toes deeper in my shoes and before I can answer that I meant his laugh he speaks up, putting the puzzle pieces together.
“You mean that animal-ish, raw sound that I made while answering?”
Well, I wouldn’t describe it that way. Kind of weird that if someone asks me what my favorite sound is I will have to describe it as that, but whatever. I keep that part to myself as I go back to his question earlier.
“You mean weeping willows?” I smile, ignoring his answer, picking up the red dread like nothing happened.
“Yes, I just left some kind of tent with clothing and weapons. Have you been there yet?” he answers, following my lead, the tension out of his voice disappearing like it was never there in the first place.
Jeezz, he is chatty. Normally, he answers in short words, but he is giving me whole sentences right now.
Finally acting like the twenty-year-old he is, instead of a toddler.
The tent with clothing and weapons does explain Delilah her outfit and weapons.
Kailey didn’t tell me about it and by her pajamas I can tell she didn’t keep it a secret either.
“Not yet, but I think Delilah has been there, so it can’t be that far away.” I sigh.
“Delilah?” he starts, sounding concerned. “She didn’t fight you, right? I can see him frowning his brows in front of me while holding his lips pint together. I snort because of the image of him in my head, resulting in a weird look of Kailey.
“She hit me hard, but I hit her harder.” I bite back my smile.
“Good girl,” he continues, his voice dark and raspy, like he had just woken up. “But I actually meant, are you okay? I heard you scream when you left. What the fuck happened?” he growls.
I didn’t do anything wrong. He should keep his temper. And how does he mean I screamed. Did I scream? I don’t remember. I open my mouth and snap it close again fast. I should be careful with what I want him to know.
“I don’t remember anything. I have just woken up here in the forest,” I tell him, but as wise as I am, I leave the part of my hurting ribs and swollen face out. He decides to not ask further. Very mature of him.
“I am in a dark part of the forest, I think. I know it is daytime, but if the sun were to be covered with clouds I wouldn’t be able to see anything. It is kind of spooky. A small crook is nearby and if I walk for a while I can see the mountain,” I explain to him.
“Wait a sec, I will climb up a tree to see which direction the mountain is,” he huffs, and I assume he is starting to climb up a tree. “Oh and since you own the sun, don’t let it go away, Honey. I don’t have a flashlight nearby.”
I blink my eyes, making sure I heard him correctly. He has never mentioned my sun signet before. I tap my fist and my sight goes blurry as I wait impatiently.
“What does he say?” Kailey interrupts. I turn my face to look at her. “He is climbing a tree.”
Only after saying I realize how bitchy and stupid I sound.
“Sorry, have you reached my sister yet?” I breathe out.
Sister.
Those words still feel strange rolling out of my mouth. Kailey is paired up with Hazel and we both need to find our duo. Together we are stronger.
“Not yet,” she answers hesitantly.
“That sucks, but it also costs me a while to find him. Braxton told me there is a tent with gear and weapons. Do you think it is smart for us to go over there?” I ask, talking more like myself.
“I see the mountain,” Braxton breaks in.
His energy slips. “It must be at least 12 miles away. It is doable, but since the morning is already almost over, I will think about how we are going to do this. Climbing the mountain will make it feel way more than 12 miles.” He sighs, sounding all grumpy.
Well so much for going to the tent for a small stop.
“Do I get a vote in this or what?” I shrug. One thing must be true. There is another tent or base or something. Delilah could have never walked more than 12 miles already.
“Delilah can’t have walked this far so there must be another base with weapons.” I need to tell Kailey. She doesn’t have anything on her but a bow and arrow. Don’t know how she got them, but alright.
“There is another base camp or something. There must be. You and I need weapons.” I look from her to me and back at her. “And good clothing.”
Kailey doesn’t ask questions, but her frowns betray her of thinking of a plan. Kailey and Braxton tell me the exact same thing at the same time.
“You should go over there.”
“We should go over there.”
I nod my head and talk to Braxton.
“Yes sir. Kailey suggested the exact same thing,” I joke. He needs to get some of this ego off.
“Kailey?” he hisses. “What are you doing with her?”
“Are you going to walk towards the mountain?” I ask innocently, blinking my eyelashes. Before he can answer, I block him out.
Just for a while. Being alone was never for me anyway.
I swing my arm through Kailey’s and we start walking.
“Let’s do this.” I smile sheepishly. She must have noticed that I am limping due to the constant shooting pain in my ribs. She smirks at me. “You know I am a blink, right?”
Before I can count to three, we are standing further than we have walked the past few minutes.
This will be fun.
“You should spare your energy,” I command Kailey, who hides her yawn for at least the fifth time in the past thirty minutes. “Using too much of your signet can make you black out. You can use it up for a while or fall asleep and in the worst case don’t wake up,” I say all serious.
“Calm your tits. I won’t die from using it a few times.
I have had the chance to train for eighteen years.
I know when I need to stop,” she says bossily, but she does listen to me, knowing I am right.
She had just contacted my sister. Hazel told us that she hadn’t come by a tent, but that she wasn’t near a mountain.
She must have been dropped in the same area as Braxton.
A shiver rolls over me. This wind is cold.
I hope we find those clothes soon. Kailey is dressed warmer than me.
She wears a lilac jogging suit. Jogging suit, pajamas or whatever.
“Have you ever tried using your signet with your emotions as stimulation?” I ask curiously. My voice is soft, and I am not even sure she has heard me. She presses her hand across my chest and blocks me from walking further. Her eyes narrow as she speaks up.
“You know that is the strongest and most unpredictable way of using your power, right?” she asks, lifting one of her brows. I shrug my shoulders. Despite her effort to stop me, I walk further.
“Yes, I know,” I continue. “But I think I need to make emotions my main source and stimulus.” She stares at me like I am a psychopath, but reacts as sweetly as she is.
“As I was taught every signet is formed out of emotion. It is the base, but almost everyone is trained to use their power with their mind and focus only. They are scared you can’t control it anymore if you start to wield using your emotions,” she rattles out in one sigh.
I raise my brows in shock of the whole literature study she has remembered.
“Where do you need it for anyway?” She shrugs as we walk.
Should I tell her? I am not sure, though. I can maybe give her a hint.
“I need my signet at her strongest,” I reveal to her in a whisper.
“Your signet to control the sun? What are you planning on doing, Eliane?” she asks, her shoulders are stiff, her face a bit indifferent.
“I can’t tell you yet,” I whimper. “Sorry.” I ball my fist and guilt washes over me. I don’t want to use her. I feel my face frown and Kailey must have noticed too.
“It is okay,” she comforts me, grabbing my hand. “I trust you. Just be careful.”
She shouldn’t.
After what felt like an hour, we reached the mountain.
It felt close as I talked to Braxton, but apparently we were still very far away too, not as far as Braxton, though.
Despite Kailey’s ability to blink us the first bit of time, it took us a while.
We saw a small cave in the mountain and were strolling towards it.
My bra is irritating. It must be because of my hurting ribs.
My hand pushes the band slightly up to release the pain.
A piece of paper falls on the ground. Is it another clue?
It is much bigger than the other one and looks like it isn’t written on the same type of parchment.
I unroll the paper and a beautiful drawing unfolds.
The person on the drawing stares at me. Big brown eyes, and freckles doting over her face.
Her shining hair washes over shoulders. She looks different.
She looks like me, but more stunning than I will ever be. Like she is my pretty twin. The soul of the person on this drawing looks sweet and tears prickle my eyes. Why do I have this?
I put my hand on my head and focus. I must have forgotten why I got it.
Think, Eliane. I think back of the night before. My friends surprised me, but none of them gave me this.
“Kailey, do you know who gave this to me?” I stutter, still impressed by the talent of the artist who drew this. She looks at me with this grin that lifts up her ears, her brown afro curls dancing around her face.
“No, but I do have a surmise,” she says while smirking.
She is talking about Braxton. Then why don’t I remember it? One thing is sure. If he has really given me this, I am going to protect it with my life. I fold it back together and push it in my lace bra. A smile as big as the grin of Kailey’s raises.
This boy really is something else.
We enter the cave and excitement rushes through me.
There really is some other weapon and gear place!
The cave we just entered is full of weapons, clothing, tents, and other handy survival stuff.
Are they really expecting us to stay here for days?
I didn’t have in mind to stay that long.
Chuckle rises in my throat. Did I overestimate myself?
Maybe a bit. The cave is small, but big enough for at least four people to stand straight in.
It has small lights hanging on the ceiling.
I focus on the excitement and try to let the tingle fluid through me.
I can feel it. Come on, make it brighter.
The tingles rush through me, but they don’t feel stable.
My heart starts to beat in my chest. Fuck, I can’t do this.
I contract my muscles and feel myself get smaller, standing inside the cave.
It feels like the walls are coming near me.
I need to get out—I need to get out!
I try to scream it at Kailey, but no words leave my mouth. I am frozen to the spot and my heart rings in my ears. My sight goes blurry and my hands shake like I am having a seizure.
I. can’t. fucking. breathe.
Please, not now.
“Eliane, are you alright?” Kailey moves in my sight. I still can’t see sharp. The words leave my mouth quietly.
“I-I need to get out.” I shudder.
She grabs my hand and leads me out. She stays calm and doesn’t say anything. Oh, I hope she isn’t mad at me. I don’t want to be a burden. My hands are still shaking as we sit down on a rock, next to a pool of water. I hold my knees tight and fold my head over. My hands cover my face.
“I am so sorry,” I whimper, rocking myself back and forward.
“Stt, there is nothing to be sorry about. You just had a panic attack. That is all.” She wraps her around me as we glare over the water.
“I know,” I breathe out. “I hate small spaces. They make it worse.”
“Make them worse? Do you always have them?”
I nod my head slightly in agreement. This is not how I planned my day to go.
“It is because when I was young I couldn’t leave the house I think,” I whisper very softly. She gives me a hand and lifts me up.
“You got this,” she says. I smile thankfully at her. There is only one thing I don’t understand.
“Why are you so nice to me? You entered this thing for a reason, right?” I pursue.
“I don’t know. I just think you’re nice. And I am not here to kill or hurt anyone,” she explains. Her gaze is focused on something and she is fidgeting with her fingers. She stops me from asking more about it. Clearly it is not something she likes talking about.
“Let’s grab out stuff and find Hazel and Braxton.”
So that is what we do. We get dressed in better clothes and take some weapons.
I change into black, tight fighting leathers that look kind of the same as my sparring clothes except they are big and made from leather, but they are both black.
They hug my body. I also put on some better boots and throw some more daggers in my leg belt.
We decide to also take some camping stuff and bundle that together before finally walking out of there.
We’re thinking about what to do next. We come to a conclusion, talk to Braxton and Hazel to discuss where they are.
I try to find Braxton again, but he finds me first. And for the second time today—I let him in.