Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four (26 page)

The front door opened and closed again, and the cold air floated around me.

“I found the main water valve,” Jahlem said. “Give the tank a few hours to heat up.”

They were trying to make it comfortable here for us. But we couldn’t stay here for long. Where could we go?

An old clock ticking settled in my ears.
Tick-tock, tick-tock
…I repeated the steady rhythm in my head, trying to forget about all my failures. I’d been useless from the moment I’d met Callon. I hadn’t wanted to follow his directions; I wanted to walk my own path. A path that led me to Marcus, a path I thought I’d understood, but hadn’t at all. And the one person I needed the most had left. No one had been able to find him, because he didn’t want to be found.

I
hadn’t moved from my perch, I hadn’t even opened my eyes, but I knew time had passed. I’d heard it with every chime that sounded. Nakari returned after two loud clicks sounded, clicks that I figured were hours.

Plastic bags crinkled and dropped to the floor. I jumped.

“I think we’ll be safe here for a day or so,” she said.

A plastic bag crunched.

“We’re farther out of town than I thought, but this is a good thing. The chances of anyone coming to these cottages are slim. They’re closed for the winter.”

“Good,” Darrien replied. “The more we can keep out of sight the better.”

“But what do we do now? We can’t keep hiding. We need to return to your family,” Jahlem said. “We need to get Cheyenne to someone who can help her.”

“I’m beyond help,” I said quietly. “
No one forced me to marry him. It was my choice, and I made a mistake.”

Soft footsteps neared.

“If I hadn’t been born, then all this heartache wouldn’t have happened.”

The words came from my lips before I had time to stop them. I
hadn’t meant for anyone to hear them. I’d only just thought them. But it was what I felt right now—I was a failure who’d be better off not existing.

“You can’t say that, Cheyenne,” Nakari
protested. “You don’t get to make that admission now!” She began pacing behind me. “We’d been fighting for a long time, fighting and not going anywhere, until you came along. Then we finally had hope, and even though you haven’t succeeded yet, it’s still something.”

“You have hope in me? Now you have hope in me?” I stood up, the chair squea
ling in protest, and my gaze met hers. I didn’t care if Marcus saw her. “Why now? Why couldn’t you have given me a chance when we arrived at the mine? Why have you been shunning me along with everyone else?!”

I clenched my teeth, the crimson beast rising. My breaths became heavier, and I felt power rising
within.

“You’ve despised me since the moment we met!”

I stalked closer to her, as she backed up. She lifted her hands as if she were going to push me back, but stilled. Why hadn’t she jumped? Tears filled her eyes, and her head lowered. Darrien and Jahlem inched closer to her. My chest heaved from the beast’s anger.

“You’re right,” she whispered. “I—I never gave you a chance. I’m sorry.”

I blinked.

“I couldn’t see beyond my jealousy
. It wasn’t until Andre’s words took hold that I understood what I’d done to you.” She closed her eyes, tears trailing down her cheeks. “You and I are more alike than you know, and I didn’t want to see that. I didn’t want a connection with you. I wanted to despise you—hate you for all that you took away from me, but I can’t.”

She stepped closer, taking my hands in hers.

“My mother, she hated herself, hated fate for bringing her into this world. She hated being Timeless, living for eons only to see those she cared about perish. She abandoned everything—our clan, our home—and then one day I came home to find that she’d killed herself.” She paused. “I was only fourteen. I was alone, abandoned by a mother that never knew how to love.”

She swallowed, and her lower lip quivered.

“I fought back at first, fought to cling to a life, a world, that didn’t want me. Six months after her death, six months of living in hell, six months of resigning myself to be a failure, I decided I was no better than she was. All the failures added up, and I stood atop a bridge, staring into the watery grave below. I was about to jump when a voice stopped me. Koda. He found me, talked me down, and saved me.

“I was Timeless and didn’t know it, just like you. He adopted me into the Silloquize clan, took me into his own home, and
gave me the love of a family. He gave me hope when I had none. He picked me up, and gave me a second chance. He taught me that love has no strings attached, and the love of a family runs deep.

“You
gave us hope where there was none, Cheyenne. You’re family, and the love of a family runs deep. All I’m asking for is a second chance. A second chance to prove to you that we are family, that I believe in you, and that not all hope is lost.”

I couldn’t believe how wrong I’d been
. Nakari wanted to make amends for her past actions. She wanted me to be a part of the family; she and I had a connection. We’d both grown up not knowing our heritage, both wished our lives had been different. She had faith and hope in me.

“I—I’m sorry,” I whispered.

She drew me into a hug, both of us holding on tight. The past was washed away. We were starting fresh. No more jealousy or bitterness.

She pulled back, a faint smile rising. I smiled in return, and for the first time in a long time I felt a burden lift. Nakari and I could work together now
. The past was the past.

“Right,” she said, glancing at Darrien and Jahlem
and wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I got us some dinner, and we all need to get cleaned up and rest.”

I moved towards the front window, staring out at the snowflakes falling. Where
we were going or what we were going to do next was unclear. When Marcus would strike again was unknown, but keeping my attention away from them until I could control my powers was a must.

Jahlem and Darrien moved to the right of me. From the corner of my eye I watched them stare.

“Have you felt your power rising since your battle in the meadow?” Darrien asked.

I lifted my hands, turning them back and forth.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t felt any rise in my powers since leaving Marcus, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t happen at any time. He’d shown me that while at the mine. He didn’t always strike, only when he wanted to.

“No, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”

“He loses power when he controls you, Cheyenne,” Jahlem said. “You saw him collapse in the meadow.”

I stilled
, thinking back to the battle. When I’d gone after him for killing Skylar, he was on his hands and knees. He was winded like he’d just fought the battle himself.

“When he controlled your powers at the mine
previously, how far apart were the episodes?” Darrien asked.

My mind began to whirl.
Yes, the episodes had been placed apart, or they were small spurts. And when Marcus talked to me in my mind… I wouldn’t hear from him again till the next episode.

I turned to face them, hope rising.

“How much does it weaken him?” I asked. “Is it enough to last several days?”

Nakari jumped beside Jahlem.

“You cut him with your whips, Cheyenne,” Nakari said and then faced Jahlem. “He was bleeding heavily. How much time does that give us?”

“He needs to be at full power to control you. I think we’ve got a week.”

“Perfect,” Nakari said. “Tomorrow, we go searching for Callon.”

My eyes grew wide.

“Do you know where he is?”

“No
,” she shook her head. “Not exactly, but I’ve got some scouts to check in with. We haven’t been the only ones searching for him, Cheyenne. We’re getting closer.” She squeezed my hand. “Callon can help you, show you how to block Marcus for good.”

Nakari jumped back to the kitchen while Darrien and Jahlem added more wood to the stove.
Would Callon even want to see me? Would he help? Or would he shun me again?

I didn’t know if my heart could take another rejection from him,
even if it had been my fault in the first place.

Chapter 20

I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror
, my eyes red and bloodshot from the tears that wouldn’t stop. Blood, Skylar’s blood, was on my sweater, neck, and cheek. I could still see the meadow and Marcus’s cold stare. My hands rising, the golden whips lashing out, and Skylar’s limp, bloodied body lying in the snow.

Memories came in waves, flooding my senses, and I pressed my eyes closed.
Skylar had willingly given his time, teaching me how to move about during battle like a dancer. When I told him I didn’t know how to dance for my wedding, he’d been the one to ensure I was graceful. His quietness was enduring. He’d ripped me away from my wedding at the lake. He’d brought me to safety, risked his life as he dragged me through the icy waters.

And he’d been one of the first who admitted he didn’t understand what I’d done, but would support me regardless. But he had no idea it’d cost him his life in the end.

His death was on my shoulders, regardless of the fact that Marcus had used me. My breath caught and tears streamed down my cheeks. I walked away from the mirror and tossed the bloody sweater to the bathroom floor. I stepped under the water and tried to wash away the blood and awful memories of his death. Goosebumps ran over me, and it wasn’t just from the cool water.

Nakari had tried to convince me to shower first, but I’d waited till they were done. Now I knew why she’d prodded
. She knew I’d see the dried blood and the memories would wash over me.

What would Callon see in me now? Would he look at me and find all the failures and faults? Would he turn his back on me again? Would he shove me away?

A knock at the door broke my thoughts.

“Cheyenne,” Nakari
called, “you okay?”

I shut the now
freezing water off, and reached for a towel. A chill ran over me, but it was quickly replaced by the warmth that ran through me.

“I’m fine,” I called out. “Give me a minute.”

She gave no reply, but I caught her soft footsteps walking away.

I dried myself off and glanced to the floor at the clothes Nakari had bought for me. A pair of jeans, a thermal tee, a tank top
, and socks along with underwear were neatly folded in a pile. I quickly dressed, rolling my hair in the towel to remove the excess water.

I opened the door to find her sitting
at the small table. She slid a brush across the table.

“You might need this,” she said.

“Thanks,” I replied.

I didn’t bother returning to the bathroom mirror to brush my hair. I didn’t need to look at myself any longer to remember what I’d done. The memory of Skylar’s body in the snow was more than enough.

I moved towards the front window, the day’s light fading and turning the sky a darker grey. The snow had continued to fall, which was in our favor; our tracks would be harder to follow. However, if it got any deeper, it would make it harder for us to travel. We needed to leave in the morning.

“Nakari,” Jahlem said. “You and Cheyenne take the bedrooms
. Darrien and I will sleep out here.”

Neither Nakari or
I argued, and each of us took a room to rest. I lay on my side, staring at the wood paneled wall. I hoped they were right that I had days before Marcus would recover enough to try and control my powers again. I hoped it was enough time to find Callon…if he would even see me.

I wrapped the blanket tighter around myself. I didn’t need it for the warmth
; I needed it to feel like I could hold myself together for a few more days. I closed my eyes and tried to think of happier times. Days ahead when I’d get to see Daniel’s smiling face and beg for his forgiveness…

A knock on my door woke me from my sleep. I blinked,
but the room was still dark. It had to be the early morning hours.

“Cheyenne,” Nakari said, “we need to get moving.”

“Coming,” I croaked, my throat dry.

I crawled out of bed and slipped my boots on. Grabbing the gr
ay wool jacket Nakari had picked up for me, I headed for the door. Darrien, Jahlem, and Nakari were waiting near the dimly lit entry. I glanced at the clock, which read three a.m.

I followed them out, the blowing snow whipping up around us. Darrien carried a bag containing our old clothes and dinner items. He wasn’t about to leave anything behind for a Tresez to catch a whiff of, although all they had to do was enter the cabin and
they’d know we had been there.

We marched in a single line through the deep white powder, passing cabin after cabin. We stopped at what appeared to be a parking area,
where a lone silver SUV sat covered in snow.

Jahlem pointed a remote at the SUV, and the whine of the engine soon replaced the quiet. We had a ride, and I wasn’t going to ask how we got it. I followed behind Nakari as Darrien popped open the back hatch and threw the trash bag in.

We all helped clear the snow. Nakari and I jumped in the back seat while Jahlem took the driver’s seat and Darrien sat shotgun. I glanced back as we drove down the dark, snowy, desolate road. It wouldn’t take long before our passing was completely wiped clean by the new snow.

Maybe
luck was finally on our side.

I stared out the window, watching the sleepy town pass by. I’d made it through the night without Marcus controlling me, and a small amount of hope rose. Darrien and Jahlem said that
controlling my powers weakened Marcus, and I’d seen how he fell to his knees after our battle in the meadow. We had a few days, but when would he strike again? Would he wait and have me kill Callon when I saw him again? A shiver ran down my neck, and I looked at my hands. I didn’t even want to think about it, but my mind wouldn’t let go.

My hands were weapons, weapons that had destroyed too many lives already. Weapons
that had so far been useless against who they should’ve destroyed.

“Are you okay?” Nakari asked
, touching my arm.

“Yeah,” I replied, but it was a lie. I’d never be okay until this battle was over, but the likelihood of having lasting scars was growing by the moment.

The thought of closing my eyes and resting was appealing, even though I’d just woken up. I shifted in the leather seat, trying to get comfortable. My body ached slightly.

Eventually the dark skies began to lighten, and the snow began to slow its descent. But the roads were treacherous
. I wasn’t sure how much farther we’d be able to travel before we were forced to stop.

“Pull over here,” Nakari said and pointed to a diner in the distance. “I need to make a phone call.”

Jahlem pulled off the road and parked in the diner lot. I was sure to keep my eyes averted, just in case, because the diner’s name was on a large billboard atop the building.

“Wait here,”
Nakari said and crawled out the SUV door.

“Are you feeling alright, Cheyenne?” Jahlem
asked.

He was staring at me through the rearview mirror. Darrien turned to face me too.

“You look tired. There are dark circles under your eyes that I didn’t see this morning,” Jahlem added.

“Did you eat enough last night?”
Darrien asked.

I leaned forward and looked at myself in the small mirror, my fingers tracing the dark circles under my eyes. My skin looked pale too. I sat back, confused.

“Do you feel different?” Darrien asked.

“Tired and achy,” I replied.

“I’ll be back,” Darrien said and then exited the SUV.

I stared after him, confused. What was he going to do? I was tired and achy, probably because of the trauma I’d just been through. He entered a drug store next to the diner and
returned quickly, carrying a package. He then disappeared into the diner, talking with a waitress.

Darrien and Nakari returned to the SUV, Nakari’s gaze studying me.

“I thought it was just me,” she said, “but you’re right, she’s not looking well.”

“Here,” Darrien said handing me a Styrofoam container. “You may not be hungry, but you need to eat.”

“Why?” I asked.

“I don’t know what’s going on right now, but I know you only picked at your dinner last night. You need some protein, to keep your strength up.”

I opened the container and the scent of a grilled burger swirled around me. I wasn’t hungry, but they were right, something was going on. I hadn’t looked this pale last night when I showered.

I focused on eating the burger while Nakari discussed which direction we needed to head. I tried to block out their words, but when she mentioned Edmonton, and that he’d been seen there, my heart sank.

“Do you realize how big Edmonton is?” I asked between bites of my burger. “There are close to a million people living there! How are we supposed to find him?”

Nakari touched my arm. “I’ve got good resources, Cheyenne. They’ve narrowed it down a bit.”

“But we don’t have a lot of time before Marcus tries to control me again. We’re at the northern tip of Alberta. It’s going to take at least ten hours, possibly longer if the road conditions don’t improve.”

“We’re going to make it, Cheyenne,” Jahlem said. “I promise.”

I sighed. He was making a promise that he couldn’t guarantee. And besides that, I’d just officially confirmed where we were heading. I could only hope Marcus wasn’t strong enough yet to pick my brain.

I finished what I could of the burger and set
the container on the SUV’s floor. I slouched in the seat, trying to get comfortable again to no avail. Darrien leaned over the seat and handed me a blanket.

I lifted a brow. I had my own built
-in heater.

“Don’t use your powers, any of them,” he said. “Not until you look and feel better.”

I nodded, taking the blanket and setting it on my lap. It was easier said than done to not use this new element. It was if my body just took over and heated me when I was cold. Maybe if I used the blanket then I wouldn’t need my fire element.

“Here,” Nakari said and pointed to her lap. “Lay your head here and rest
. I’ll wake you if anything changes.”

I stared at her for a moment. This was completely new for her to offer kindness, but we were both starting over. I lay my head down, and she brushed my hair away, her hand coming to rest on my arm. I closed my eyes as the rhythm of the vehicle took over
, and soon found myself drifting off.

“Cheyenne,” Nakari said rubbing my arm. “Cheyenne, you need to wake up.”

My heavy lids opened. I was still in the car, but it was dark now. How long had I been out?

“Come with me,” she said helping me sit up. “We’re stopping for gas
. You need to get up and move your legs.”

I nodded and unbuckled my seatbelt. I opened the door
, and the frigid wind hit me. I pulled my jacket close around my neck and felt the automatic warming tingling my veins. I frowned and tried to push it back down as I followed Nakari inside the small convenience store. But it was as if it was set on automatic, and it wouldn’t allow me to regulate it when I was chilled.

I tripped, catching myself on a nearby shelf. I looked down. I’d managed to step on the hem of my jeans. I pulled them up higher and continued
down the aisle. We entered the bathroom together, and I waited as Nakari used a stall. I glanced at myself in the mirror. A small gasp escaped me.

“What?” Nakari was beside me a second later. Her green eyes widened as she stared.

The circles under my eyes had turned purple, and my cheeks were now sunken. I lifted my hands. They looked frail and boney.

“Good
Go—” she cut her words short as she turned me to face her.

She pinched her brows together, and her posture stiffened.

“This isn’t good, Cheyenne,” she whispered. “This isn’t good.”

She grabbed me, linking her arm with mine
, and we left the bathroom, heading straight for the silver SUV. We climbed inside and turned the dome light on while Darrien and Jahlem studied me.

All three exchanged wary glances, but said nothing. Jahlem started the engine
, and we drove off into the night. Nakari arranged the blanket around me, and I settled in as best I could.

Why had I suddenly grown worse? It wasn’t like I
’d done anything. I’d been sleeping until Nakari woke me…and then I was chilled as I got out of the SUV, and my fire element kicked in without warning. Had that done it? It was as if the use of my powers were draining me, but why?

I couldn’t sleep anymore; too worried that the next time I woke I’d be a walking skeleton.

Nakari squeezed my hand.

“We’re almost there, and we’ll find him. Callon will know what to do,” she said.

I glanced over at her. Even through the darkness, I could see for the first time genuine concern. She really cared, and she was willing to bring me back to the one man she loved, the one man I’d betrayed, all in hopes of making amends, not for herself, but for me.