Talent Storm, page 13
I twisted to my left, knowing what I’d see and dreading it. Ben lay still, his face a bloodless mask. Black rings encircled his closed eyes, and his naked chest was gashed and bloody.
“Ben. I’m so sorry.”
His lids shot open, revealing cloudy orbs. I scrambled back along the ground, my body suddenly shaking. He stood, slow and unsteady, as if he just learned how. Heart thumping, I trembled, unable to look away from the horror.
His mouth drooped opened, and he spoke in a thin, scratchy voice. “You killed me; you selfish bastard. I want revenge.”
He stepped forward and teetered like a drunk. I leapt up to run, but before I took a step, something ripped me down. The ground slammed into me, driving the air from my lungs. Through the pain, I lifted my head to see him. He was shaking his glowing, green finger back and forth.
“Look,” he said with a smile. “I finally got talent.”
I reached for my own, so I could escape, but it was gone. I was his prisoner. It felt like an eternity as the bloody zombie stumbled over to me. With each step, the alarm bells in my head grew louder. When he reached me, I cringed back, wishing I were anywhere else. He lunged forward with surprising speed and clawed at my stomach. His fingers dug into my flesh and pulled out chunks of it. I screamed, redoubling my efforts to flee but couldn’t move.
He smiled before stuffing my flesh into his mouth. “Mmm. You should try some.” As he ate, the wound on his chest healed and the color returned to his face.
He licked the blood off his fingers and reached out for more—
I jumped up in bed with a gasp. My hands shot toward my stomach and felt for wounds. I jerked my head around the room, my shirt damp with sweat. A dream. Just a dream. I took a slow, steady breath to calm my heart. Would the nightmares every go away?
☼☼☼
Lilly and I enjoyed the next few days with each other. Each time I saw her, I felt more connected with her and couldn’t wait to see her again. It seemed like we’d been dating for a year rather than a couple weeks.
Together again, we walked away from the park, where we spent our day off. The sun shone brightly, birds sang cheerful songs, and the sweet smell of flowers drifted by.
“Are you all right? You look tired,” said Lilly.
I ran my hand over my face. “I’ve been having trouble sleeping, but I’ll manage.”
“I’ll make you valerian root tea. It should help.”
I smiled at her kindness. “Thanks. I’d like that.”
We walked on, and I focused back on the present—the feel of her soft hand and the meadow of purple flowers that we passed through.
Lilly pointed at them. “Aren’t those pretty. They’re like stars.”
“They’re called May Day flowers. I always liked them too.”
She poked me in the ribs. “You’re so wise.”
I smiled at the compliment. “I’ve been told that.”
We passed an ice cream stand, where two kids licked dripping cones. I reached into my pocket, searching for money. At the clink of a few chits left over from my stipend, I pointed to the stand.
“Do you want ice cream?”
Her eyes lit up as she smiled sweetly. “Sure, I’ll take a small.”
“All right. I’ll be right back.”
After I reached the ice cream stand, I ordered two small vanilla cones from the old man behind the counter. He located two cones before scooping ice cream into them, then mumbled something.
“What’s that?” I asked.
He cleared his throat and met my eyes. “I said you’re going to lose your girl.”
Feeling my heart pound, I wheeled around. A tall, burly man stood next to her. Lowering my eyebrows, I crossed my arms. Who was that?
I quickly paid before marching back to Lilly. When I neared the two of them, my stomach knotted. I hadn’t seen him since he moved to Alliance City, but I’d never forget him. Sven. I couldn’t believe it. Was that his hand on Lilly? Scowling, I hastened my pace toward the two.
She pushed his hand away. “I said no, Sven. I’m not interested. I’ve already told you.”
I exhaled. Good, she didn’t like him.
“Oh, come on baby. You know you want me.”
I growled. “Stop.” Sven jumped the slightest bit, causing me to smile. “Remember me?” I asked.
He turned his huge frame toward me. Squinting, he scratched his head. He nodded. “Oh yeah, you’re that little weakling I used to mess with.”
He shrugged as he grabbed Lilly’s arm. “Come on baby, let’s go.”
“No,” she yelled, pulling away.
I stepped between them and placed my hand on his chest. “She said no.”
He threw his head up, bursting into laughter. “What are you going to do?”
“Stop you.”
The insides of his eyebrows dipped. “I’ll show you.”
He swung at my head. Before impact, his fist froze, and his eyes widened. When his entire body began to glimmer green, his gaze flitted over his body.
Standing a little straighter, I puffed out my chest. “I’m not so weak anymore. The size of my muscles is inconsequential.”
I raised my hand, fire in my eyes, and his feet cleared the ground. I desperately wanted to punish him for all the times he beat and embarrassed me in front of others. It would be so easy to smash him to a pulp, to show him how it felt. I hesitated, feeling my anger bubble inside me. With a flick of my wrist, he could be out of my life forever.
It was wrong to hurt people though. Besides, what would Lilly think? Instead, I slowly pushed him back ten feet before releasing him. Still, it felt good to have power over my bully.
He took a quick step forward, raising his fist, teeth bared.
“Stop,” I said.
He froze, this time on his own accord.
He wasn’t as stupid as I thought. “You’re no match for me. I could crush you, literally, but I won’t. Some victims would make you regret your bullying, but it’s not right. Hurting you back would only perpetuate the cycle of bullying. It would show you that might makes right. It’s not acceptable to hurt and intimidate people.”
He shrugged, throwing his hands up before turning away. “Take it easy. I was just playing around.” The brute meandered away, his head lowered.
“Oh, and Sven... don’t go near Lilly.”
I faced Lilly. She smiled as she looked down. “Thanks for sticking up for me. You’re the best.”
I handed her an ice cream cone. “No, you’re the best.”
Her smile grew, dimpling her cheeks as she stepped close. My body tingled at her nearness. Her big dark eyes found mine, her look radiating warmth inside me. I slowly released my breath, feeling my heart pound. Her fingertips brushed her collarbone, drawing my eyes down. My breathing accelerated as I glanced down at her thin waist and tight shirt. I wanted to tear it off. Looking back up, my eyes lingered on her full rosy lips. I met her eyes again, smiling slightly. Should I kiss her? The answer was obvious. I leaned in, lips puckered.
She jerked back, her eyes darting down. “Oh!”
Streams of melting ice cream ran down her hand.
“I guess I have to eat this quicker.”
I exhaled, slumping. There goes my chance. My eyebrow rose though as she licked ice cream from her hand. I imagined the feel of her tongue gliding along my neck.
“Come by my room tonight,” she said.
I raised my chin. I’d have another chance. “I don’t know. I’ve got a lot going on.”
Her lips curled into a slight smile, and she met my eyes. “I was thinking we could continue our moment.”
“I could probably move some things around.”
Her eyes lit up. “Okay, Cuddle Bug, it’s a date.”
A pet name. Things were progressing.
She stepped close, linking my arm before leading me back up the path. I smiled and rested my hand on hers.
☼☼☼
That night I stood outside Lilly’s dorm-room with May Day flowers in hand. I knocked.
“Come on in.”
I opened the door, and my eyebrows rose. Lilly wore a form-fitting black dress, decorated with embroidered cherries. Her pinned up hair revealed the creamy, smooth skin of her neck. Suddenly, my heart was pounding.
“Hey Pumpkin Seed.” She spun around. “What do you think?”
I loved her dress, but her beauty was an emerald twinkling in the sun. “You’re beautiful.”
She smiled before looking down, face reddening. “I meant the dress.” She playfully pushed my shoulder. Then she eyed my hand. “Flowers. For me?”
I shrugged, my head dipping with the motion. “Of course.”
She flashed me a dimpled smile. “Thanks. That was so sweet of you to bring me my favorite flowers. Let me put them in some water.” She took them from my hand before locating a vase.
I walked over to her dresser and picked up a small round box with a dragonfly on top. The inside was empty. I picked up and put down various other trinkets, examining each for a few seconds.
She tapped my shoulder. “Come on, let’s have a seat.”
I put down a turtle figurine and turned. She smiled, taking my hand.
With my other hand, I waved at her dress. “So, what’s the occasion? I feel a bit underdressed now.”
She shook her head. “Yeah, you look like a slob.”
I looked at her sharply.
She hit me, grinning wide. “Just kidding. You look cute.”
I smiled wide. She thought I was cute. She leaned in closer, adjusting her neckline. My eyes followed the motion to her flaunted cleavage. Catching a scent of her lavender perfume, I felt my desire stir. Talent, she was beautiful.
She rubbed my hand. “Thank you again for sticking up for me. It means a lot to me. He used to bug me all the time in Alliance City. Finally, I gave in to one date, hoping he’d leave me alone, but it just got worse from there.”
I shook my head, scowling. “I have some bad memories of him too. You saw one at the park.”
She squeezed my hand. “I was happy to help get rid of him. Now you helped me back. That’s why you’re the best.”
A smile grew on my face. Everything was as it should be. After her eyes touched mine, a shiver of excitement sprinted through me.
“One sec.”
She reached into a small purse next to her and pulled out a small round tin. After opening it, she rubbed her finger on the inside. Then, as she glossed her lips with the wax, I smiled at the smell of raspberries.
“What’s that?”
“Lip gloss. I make it from bees wax and concentrated raspberries. Want some?”
She wanted to kiss me. All at once, I felt short of breath. “Sure.”
After rubbing more wax on her finger, she gently rubbed my lips. Her touch thrilled me. My heart thudded as my desire fluttered inside me. What if I messed up the kiss? Relax, you’ve been waiting years to kiss her again. Enjoy it.
She was inches from me. I was terrified and excited by her nearness, by the warmth of her body, and the promise it held. I felt my stomach flutter in anticipation. I had only kissed two girls—three if you counted Jasmine—and Lilly was one of them. You’d think it would make kissing her easier, but the memory of it put that much more pressure on me. It had to be better.
I cautiously placed my hand on her thigh. She glanced down, and I almost pulled it away. Then she smiled, making me feel bolder, more confident. I slid my hand up her leg, around her hip, and settled it on the small of her back. She shifted closer, touching my arm and smiling wide. Her eyes met each of mine and then trailed down to my mouth.
I glanced at her full lips and licked mine. She leaned in, closing her midnight eyes, her lips puckered. For an instant, I felt like running, but that would be the stupidest thing I’d ever done. Instead, I placed my other hand behind her neck and pulled her in, her lavender perfume drifting by me.
Her lips were soft, moist, and sweet, tasting like raspberries. The feel of them sent shivers through my body, tingling my skin. I’d kissed her before, but this was something more, something magnificent. I never wanted it to end.
All told, it probably lasted a minute, but it was the best minute of my life. When we pulled apart, our eyes connected. I couldn’t help but smile. She quickly broke the contact, her face reddening.
She took my hand and without meeting my eyes, she said, “Well... I like you even more now.”
I smiled broadly, thinking how great she was, lost in the moment. Then my smile faded into a frown as I thought of our future. My uncle had said to be wary of war breaking out. If it did, I could lose her; was it too risky to be with her?
No, I was committed to my training. I’d be able to protect her. Life was a risk, but she wasn’t. Besides, how could I stay away?
All of a sudden, she threw her arms around me, knocking me backward. I grunted as I hit the bed, her body on top of mine. She sat up, then reached down, tickling me furiously. I squirmed, attempting to block her hands while laughing uncontrollably.
“Stop, please,” I managed between laughs.
She tickled me for a few more minutes before stopping. “I think you’ve had enough.”
She lay down next to me, her body brushing against mine. Lying together for a few hours, we talked, joked, and flirted. Finally, as the hour grew late, we stood so that I could leave. After we reached the door, she pulled me into a tight hug. My heart accelerated at feeling her warm body against mine. I didn’t want to let go. Apparently, neither did she.
Eventually, I pulled away, prolonging our contact until our fingers separated. We stood for a moment our eyes locked, with matching smiles.
“Tomorrow?” I asked.
“Tomorrow,” she promised.
I pulled my body away and strode down the hall, feeling warm and tingly. I could still smell lavender on my skin and taste raspberries on my lips.
☼☼☼
I arrived at the indoor training ground, ready for the last semifinal competition, The Ring. I’d finally get another shot at defeating Sid. For weeks, I’d been honing my talent and enjoying my time with Lilly. I felt good and well rested. Lilly’s tea worked wonders. I wished that it could take away my memories too.
Most students milled about or chatted in small groups around the boxing ring. Instructor Deo stood by one of the structure’s indoor pillars.
He waved to me. “Jaden, come here.”
Curious, I strolled over. “What’s up?”
“How are you holding up since Ben’s death?”
At the mention of his name, my mood darkened. “I’m managing,” I said, wishing he didn’t bring it up.
He nodded, his lips pursed. “Although it’s not customary for me to tell a student, I have information about the man we captured.”
I perked up at that. “Yeah?”
“He’s dead. He killed himself with a guard’s knife. We also lost the other man’s trail. For now, it’s all over.”
“Did you get answers out of him?”
“Nothing. Except that he said he was a Wilder, but who knows if that’s true.”
My breath hissed through my teeth, and I stomped away. Pathetic. Now, I’d never learn the full story.
After a few minutes, Deo stepped up to the ring. He eyed me, as if uncertain I was ready before nodding to Sid and me. “Today you will be competing in The Ring.” He picked up two padded staves. “You’ll be using touch telekinesis on these. Often in live combat, you’ll have to fight hand to hand and since telekinesis is most powerful on contact, you can typically do more damage. We have several talent healers ready so don’t hold back, but do wear your protective helmets. The battle ends when either a student is knocked down three times or they can no longer continue. Sid, Jaden step into the ring.”
Sid waddled over to me, his expression grim. Perhaps he knew that I’d been training. “I've been cutting you slack for some time now. I didn’t want to hurt your delicate sensibilities. I hope you're ready for this,” he said.
I raised my eyebrows, glancing around the room. “Ready for what?”
He huffed. “The competition.”
“Ohh, I’m actually not ready. Would you ask the Instructor if we can put it off?”
Sid scowled, rubbing his temples as he often did. He sure was easy to fluster. Sid opened his mouth to respond when the Instructor grabbed his shoulder.
“Into the ring boys and shirts off.”
I stared blankly at the old man for a moment, then lowered my heated face. I knew it was standard practice to be shirtless in the ring, but somehow it slipped my mind. It was always a little nerve wracking to be partially exposed in front of others. But was it really that bad? After all, I had been lifting weights for a while. I had toned muscles and a six-pack. I shrugged and pulled off my shirt. Sid did the same, baring his rounded stomach and flabby chest. Now, if I was him, I’d be embarrassed.
I stepped through the ropes, into the ring, then fastened on my protective helmet. My eyes caught Lilly, red faced and smiling as she looked at me. She wasn’t the only one. A few other girls grinned and elbowed their friends. I liked the attention. After walking to the corner of the ring, I raised my padded staff, ready for battle. Sid did the same while the class watched in silent anticipation.
The Instructor raised his fist. “You may begin.”
I stood confidently in my corner, focusing my mind. Touch Telekinesis was one of my specialties, and I’d been training hard for months. Sid stood in his corner, looking pale. Was he worried he’d lose or was that just his typical chalky pallor?
My body flared into a shiny green haze, my brow crinkling in determination. Most of my life I was helpless in fights. I couldn’t count the times that I cowered in fear away from bullies’ fists and boots. I wasn’t helpless anymore. My feet smacked the ground as I charged forward in two bounding steps. Within striking range, the muscles of my chiseled shoulders and arms flexed as my staff sped toward his face. Sid’s eyes bulged, his face and torso whipping backward. The end of my staff skimmed by his head, a hair’s breadth from his nose. He stumbled backward two steps into the ropes and bounced forward. The other end of my staff was already careening toward his legs.
