Chapter 33 #3
Evelyn sighed in relief. She’d never struggled with this aspect, but she’d also never allowed herself to see what she was doing the few times she’d deliberately taken energy from objects. Shame had blindfolded her. Now that she could focus on the process, it didn’t feel half-bad at all.
She just had to try doing something with the energy. Letting it build up in her system would only lead to destruction.
Evelyn focused on the sphere, gently nudging it toward the open jar. It started floating instantly until it was floating over the opening. It just seems happy to be included. Evelyn nudged the sphere into the jar, but it bounced back against her gentle pressure, not wanting to be contained.
She clenched her jaw and increased the intensity, demanding the energy slide down into the jar.
The energy bobbed against the rim, not wanting to leave her.
It’s like trying to convince a five year old they need a jacket in the snow.
Evelyn pressed harder, but the sphere still resisted her pressure.
The pickle jar shattered, glass scattering around her control room as the energy bounced near her head.
“Fuck,” she said, shaking her hands to ease the sting.
She opened her eyes. Mathias had a finger tucked into the book. He’d made decent progress. He nodded at her and flipped the pages back open, content to let Aiden handle her possible emotional fallout.
Aiden was hunched in his chair, elbows resting on his knees as he gazed down at her. She had the impression that he’d been watching her like that since she’d shut her eyes.
“You okay, dollface?” The concern was evident on his face. “You flinched pretty hard there.”
She felt her cheeks heat. She didn’t know which was the more alien experience, talking about her siphoning or sharing a failure voluntarily. Her pulse thumped in her ears.
“I broke a pickle jar,” she admitted.
“Sounds reasonable. Fuck pickles,” he said. “I’ll ban them from the ship immediately.”
Stars above, he was adorable when he tried to cheer her up.
Evelyn smiled up at him. “I need to figure out a better storage system but now that I can see what I’m doing, it’s going better.” Evelyn bit her lower lip and looked away. “I mostly just feel dumb.”
“Hey, not dumb, dollface,” he said. “No one runs a flawless gig without all the data.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“Yup. Even very experienced thieves get talked into impossible gigs and have to go bowling with hot blondes to save their skins,” he said.
Across the table, Mathias tried — and failed — to hide his confusion behind the book in his hands.
Aiden smoothed a hand over her hair. “Now, close those pretty eyes and pick yourself out a sturdier container. Something plastic. Work yourself up to breakable storage.”
She snorted and closed her eyes.
The energy was now bobbing up and down on the table. Evelyn went and grabbed more jars. Stubbornly, she’d selected another glass jar, but out of a concession to practicality, she also found an empty jar that looked like it had housed nut butter and brought it back with her.
She glared at the energy ball. It bounced happily, waiting to be directed.
Evelyn cracked her knuckles and directed the energy into the next jar.
Again, it resisted. She nudged more gently.
It bounced back against her, caressing her mind like a naughty cat winding its way around her ankles, begging for tuna.
This is not a game, little ball.
The ball bobbled in the air, undeterred.
Evelyn shoved the energy against the rim of the jar. It shattered. The ball bounced higher in the air, gleefully circling her head.
I suppose this is more fun for you than timing eggs.
Sighing, Evelyn opened the plastic jar. She coaxed the ball toward it, hopeful as it descended toward the opening.
Pressing gently with her mind, she encouraged the ball to make its way into the jar.
Maybe it just needed lube? She felt a gentle pop as the ball passed the lip of the jar, and as it flowed down into the new container, the ball’s form collapsed to fill its new home.
Picking up the plastic jar, she felt the energy’s heat gently warm her hands, but she somehow knew there was no threat of the container melting or warping.
A knock at the door startled her out of her mental workspace. Tariel stood there, a more serious expression on his face than Evelyn had seen. Aiden turned in his chair and rose as he saw it, no questions asked.
“Comm call bad?” Aiden asked, brushing his hand over Evelyn’s shoulder as he walked to the door.
“I’d like to discuss it,” Tariel said, his lips set in a firm line. “And we should include Mathias, if Evelyn can spare him.”
“I’m fine practicing alone for now, I think,” Evelyn said. “Thanks for putting a crack in the mental block.”
“Easiest job I’ve had in months. Thanks for letting me slack off and read.” Mathias patted his pocket and found a scrap of paper to mark his place in the book. Evelyn smiled at that small consideration.
As the men left, Evelyn levered herself off the floor to grab more gadgets to practice draining and containing. She allowed herself another moment to berate herself for not considering compartmentalization before settling back into her mental workspace.