Gray (Awakening Book 1) (14 page)

My heart started to pound. Ben. He was a good guy, a great friend, he could not be hurt. I wouldn’t allow it.

I dug my phone from my pocket and searched for his name in my contact list with shaky fingers, terrified by how long it took me to find it.

It rang over and over. My heart pounded.
Pick up, Ben. Pick up. Pick up.

He didn’t answer, but his voicemail clicked on. “This is Ben Connelly. Leave me a message or something,” and it beeped.

“Ben, this is Shayla. Call me right away. It’s an emergency,” I said and hung up.

“Gray One, listen to—”

“Dorian, shut up. Ben is my friend, one of the most important people in my life. I will not let the White hurt him,” I said and began to send him a text.

“It is not only the White who could hurt him.”

“I won’t let ANYONE hurt him.”

Dorian continued to look at me before he nodded. “Ayanna can contact him,” he said wearily, like he was entirely frustrated by me.

I turned back to look at him, fury in my heart. “So you sent Ayanna here to keep an eye on me, but when the Dísir showed up to steal my sister’s soul, you can’t be bothered to—”

“What?” he broke in, his eyes wide as he stared at me.

I stared back, unsure what to make of his expression. He appeared genuinely shocked even to have heard that Dísir had shown up.

I told him what had happened in as much detail as possible while my mind continued to spin. Who had sent those servants of Fate? Why did they want my sister’s soul? Why didn’t Kassia appear not to care one way or the other about it?

I looked over at her and all of a sudden, it made sense. Ayanna had said that Mom was kicked out of Álfheimr because of Kassia. The White didn’t want anything to do with me, so why would they care about my sister?

“Kassia, do you know why the Dísir were here?”

She tipped her head back with a groan, then slowly shook her head. “I know the immortal world doesn’t like the fact I’m alive, but I don’t know why. I just assumed they came because of that.”

“What if it wasn’t?” I asked and moved to sit on the couch, my head in my hands. “What if the reason you were attacked, is because your magic is a weapon Fate wants to bind to herself. If she has your soul, she can control every move you make.”

“Why does it matter, Shayla?”

“It matters, because Fate can’t have you. I will not let you be a prisoner.”

She looked from me, to Dorian, then back, her eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t matter, Shayla. All that matters is that I’m your legal guardian. I’m supposed to keep you safe and you are not safe when you’re around me.” She stood straight and looked at Dorian. “You took her when she was little to save her life. I need you to do it again.”

I opened my mouth to speak, to shout, to tell her there was no way she would be left to face that battle alone.

Dorian shook his head. “You are bound together, both by blood and by the awakening. If I take your sister away again, her magic will not thrive. She will crumble.”

Kassia scowled. “How am I supposed to keep her safe?” she asked, her voice more like that of a whiney little girl than a grown woman.

“Your magic will protect you. You two together are a formidable weapon.”

I raised my hands into the air in a sign for them to shut up. “I don’t care where my magic is strongest or whatever. I will not leave here.” I stood up and faced my sister, my arms folded tight to keep my shaky hands from being seen. “Stop trying to get rid of me. I’m not leaving.”

“I’m not trying to get rid of you. I’m trying to protect you.”

“Then stop,” I demanded, relieved when my phone beeped to tell me there was a text.

I pulled it out.
Thank God.
It was from Ben. He was safe. My sister would be made safe as well. Dorian was safe too, but he appeared to be as in the dark as I was. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered other than to make sure those I loved were safe from every form of danger in this world.

What I needed was to figure out precisely what my sister’s magic was. If I could find out who her father was and ask his help to keep her safe, we would have a fighting chance.

My heart skittered in my chest when I saw it. Bright blue. In perfect condition. Convertible, well, sort of. The little Jeep Wrangler had its top down and the thing would not let me walk away.

I ran my hand across the hood, every part of me at peace. It was freedom. It was tough and that thing had bucket-loads of pizazz. I had decided it was my car before even looking at anything else.

Ben smirked at me, his eyes fixed on the description of the car which had been pasted to the window. “You sure you don’t want something newer. This thing’s got a lot of miles.” He moved his eyes over the vehicle in a critical way, the mechanic inside him doing his thing.

I shook my head. “This is the perfect car for me,” I stated and pulled out my phone to send Kassia a text.

The arrangement we had worked out was that Ben and I would find a car, then Kassia would come to do the paperwork and whatever else needed to be done. If she didn’t do her annoying big sister thing and black-ball the Jeep, I was set.

In the last week, I had spent so much time in front of the computer, in search of some small reference to my sister’s birth, my brain hurt. I had found nothing . . . yet. My plan was to go an entirely different route, once I had a car.

Since said car was directly in front of me and was perfection incarnate, I was excited. My license was in my wallet, ready to be used and I was all kinds of ready to do just that.

“So is this your getaway vehicle?” Ben leaned back against the fender as he looked at me, his crooked grin in place.

“No. This is my armored personnel carrier.” I stepped up to get in behind the wheel, a wide smile on my face.

Everything about it felt perfect. Kassia would have a fight on her hands if she tried to tell me not to buy it. I had never wanted anything more than that Jeep.

Ben snickered and shook his head. “It’s only going to fit two, maybe three other people, so maybe you should just call it your armored truck.”

“Shh, we’re communing,” I said with a loving stroke of the dashboard.

He grinned. He appeared honestly amused. “You two do look good together,” he said and walked to the front to open the hood.

I followed, but had no idea what to look for. It looked like an engine to me. “So since I’d prefer not to be reliant on anyone, looks like I’ve got some online videos to watch so I know what to do if something goes wrong,” I said, not very happy about the idea, but it would work.

“Or you could ask me. I’m better than any video.”

“Cocky,” I said with a smirk and rushed toward my sister when she pulled in behind me. My eyes were alight with excitement. “If you say this one is cool, I swear to be nice to you for the rest of your life and I might not even steal things from you anymore.” I snagged her keys and put mine together in a prayerful way.

She took her keys back and rolled her eyes at me, but didn’t look displeased as she began to inspect the car as well. “It’s not what I expected you to want, but I like it.”

Ben chuckled. “Agreed. I figured she’d go for a motorcycle,” he said, his eyes full of mirth.

Kassia let out a derisive cough and walked over to inspect the engine with Ben. “All I know about cars is where to put the windshield washer fluid and gas. Looks like you know something about it, so what do you think?” she asked, her arms folded as she gave the engine a speculative look.

Ben nodded. “It looks good. It’s well taken care of, but you’re going to want to drive it before you make the buy.”

I beamed at them both. “I definitely want to drive it.” I smiled all the wider at the salesman who walked over.

And the Jeep drove like a dream. I got to take it everywhere from side roads, to the highway and it was all it needed to be. I was thrilled by the time the paperwork was signed and the money had been paid.

Freedom. It was mine.

I patted the hood when we got home, suddenly sure my car needed a name. There was no chance such a cool car could go without one. “I think her name is Jord,” I said with a wide smile as Ben and my sister got out of their own cars and walked over. Both of them appeared just as happy as me.

“Jord?” Ben asked, his head tipped to the side in a quizzical way.

I nodded. “The Norse goddess of earth,” I said, pleased by everything at that moment.

My sister snorted out a laugh, then turned to go into the house. “I’m just happy you didn’t go with Nanna, the goddess of joy and peace.” She lifted her hand in a slight wave, then went back inside.

I snickered at the idea of naming my Jeep Nanna. It was not nearly a cool enough name for my fabulous car. “You know, I think I’m going for a drive.” I sent my sister a quick text to let her know.

“You mind some company?”

I motioned him toward the passenger seat, sure he knew my plan.

When we had gone down the block, I glanced at Ben, my brows raised high. “So did you really want to come, or are you running an intervention?”

He looked at me before he shook his head. “This has to do with me too, Shayla. If I’m being hunted because of what I am, there’s no way I’m just going to sit back and there’s even less chance I’ll leave you alone to figure everything out.”

I tipped my sunglasses down to look at him. “I don’t need to be protected, Ben,” I said, disappointed he would have that kind of reaction.

“Neither do I, Shayla.”

I rolled my eyes at him and slid my sunglasses back into place. “The thing is, it would be good to have your help.”

He let out a relieved gust of air. “What are we doing?”

“Talking to a witch.”

He gaped at me, then smirked. “Okay, that is the last thing I would have expected to hear from you,” he said, still chuckling quietly to himself.

I grinned at him, pleased by such a reaction. “Well, she’s not really a witch. She’s listed as a psychic, but from what I’ve been able to find out, she really is gifted, not a fake.”

“You really think a psychic is going to be able to help us figure this out?”

“I have no idea,” I said, unsure what else to do.

Ben laid his hand over mine on the gear-shift and gave it a light squeeze. “We will find the answers we need,” he stated without the slightest sign of doubt in his tone.

It took a little bit and a few wrong turns before I found the place. There was nothing unusual about it in the least. It looked like an ordinary house, other than the fact a sign was in the front yard which read ‘Madam Freeda’.

I jumped down from my Jeep and stepped toward the house. Something inside me cringed back as though in fear. Weird. Why would some psychic who was probably a fraud anyway, frighten me?

I took in a deep breath of air and knocked on the door. My skin crawled. I was desperate to run away, but there was no other way to find the truth.

The woman who opened the door looked just as normal as the house, maybe in her sixties with blonde hair and a friendly face. “I’ve been expecting you,” she said and swung the door open to beckon us in.

I raised my brows, unsure what to make of such a statement.
Hey, I’d come to a psychic. What did I expect other than strangeness?

I stepped in, Ben right behind me. Both of us stayed close to the door.

The woman motioned us further in. “Come on, kids. I don’t have all day,” she said and walked to a couch. She sat down, her eyes fixed on me. “You don’t strike me as being a coward, Shayla.”

I swallowed hard and stepped over to sit on the very edge of one of the chairs. “So if you know my name and knew I was coming, I’m guessing you know why we’re here.”

She sat back and eyed me, then her lips quivered. “You’re Shayla Vincent, which I know because I watch the news. Saying that I was expecting to see you is one of those things which gives the feeling of authenticity.” She looked over at Ben and gave him a stern stare. “And you I recognize from the Police blotter.”

He made no comment about his former infamy, but kept his eyes fixed on the woman. “You’re like me,” he said, his mouth open in wonderment.

She let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head. “I am Madam Freeda, the hag who gives psychic readings. Is that what you are?” she asked sharply.

“But you know what Shayla is,” he pressed.

Freeda looked at me and scowled again. “I’d say you’re a girl who’s looking for some answers,” she said, shutting Ben out easily.

I looked from one to the other of them and lifted my hand to show her the spear of Odin tattoo on its back. “Have you seen anyone else around with this mark?” I asked, since it was glamoured so humans couldn’t see it. Because Ben could, I hoped to trap her into revealing the truth.

“Shayla, I’m a psychic. If you’re looking to contact some dead relatives, or find out your future, that’s why I’m here. Otherwise, you can leave.”

“Why is it a secret?” I asked, entirely sure the woman did have the sight, just like Ben.

“Because I have two sons and an ex-husband who think I’m just a crazy old lady, playing games with people’s emotions. Because that’s better than being hunted, having my boys hunted.” She stood up and waved toward the door. “Your future is bright. Now get out.”

I stood up, but didn’t leave. She was the only hope there was. “Please, all I want to know is who’s hunting my sister, or if that’s not possible, then just who her biological father is. If you can tell me either of those things, it will save our lives, maybe even yours,” I wheedled, my hands clasped together pleadingly.

Freeda frowned at me, but extended her hand between us. “Do you have something of hers?”

I reached into my pocket and took out a bracelet Kassia always wore. I extended it toward her with a prayer it hadn’t been a mistake.

She reached out to take it, but it slipped through her fingers onto the floor, then her body jerked. She spasmed and twitched. Her body fell back, half on the couch, half on the floor.

Ben narrowed his eyes like he thought it was all fake. He crouched down to pick up the bracelet and all of a sudden, he began to convulse as well.

My heart pounded. Ben. What had happened? Was he alright?

I knelt down and took his hand. Tears rose in my eyes. He had to be okay. I couldn’t take it if he was hurt.

Then it hit me. Dorian had the ability to draw some injuries out of a person, into his own body. He had told me I would be able to do that in future, but didn’t have the control which was necessary to do it just yet. It was Ben though. Madame Freeda might be unwilling to help me, but there was no way I’d let her suffer. I would find the right amount of control.

I thought back to the injuries which Dorian had taken from me, to the way I had felt. Peace was the key to my magic. Ben gave me peace.

I closed my eyes and focused on how it felt when he was around. My stomach fluttered. My heart clenched. A feeling kind of like a mental embrace wrapped around me. Being around him made me feel those things. I was around him.

And suddenly, a piercing pain shot through my head. It was like I had been stabbed in the brain with a red-hot knife. My body seized. Something inside me screamed.

The water called out. It wanted to help. It was my friend.

Yes, please. Please help me.

The water in the air came together with the water inside my body. It pulsed and sang until every fiber of my being floated in a sea of bliss. Heaven. Nothing mattered because the water would not let me suffer.

It poured through me until the pain was washed away. Nothing was left other than a profound sense of peace and satisfaction. I felt alive, invigorated and altogether ready for anything.

“Shayla?”

I tried to open my eyes, but they felt heavy. I was comfortable. Why did I need to move?

“Shayla, come on. Open your eyes. Please, Shay. Just let me know you’re okay.”

I knew that voice. It was Ben, but it sounded so strained, horrified in fact. Why would Ben feel anything other than the all-consuming, all-encompassing tranquility which poured off me?

Something touched my forehead and warm breath passed over my face. “Your sister is going to be pissed if you don’t wake up. You DID steal her bracelet when you said you wouldn’t take her stuff anymore.”

My lips twitched. Kassia. I always took things from my sister. I gave them back generally, but not right away. It was too much fun to see the faces she made at me.

My lips twitched again, then slowly, my eyes came open. What I saw made no sense though. Could it be a dream?

I lay on the floor, my torso in Ben’s arms, his mouth pressed to my forehead. All I could see was him. It was such a comfort. He was the peace I needed.

I blinked again. Why was I on the floor? Had I passed out or something?

I reached up to touch my swimmy head, but my hand was captured by a big, light russet skinned one.

“Thank God,” Ben said and stood up with me still cradled in his arms.

That was a strange feeling. I hated being under someone else’s control, but something about Ben holding me didn’t feel so bad. I kind of liked it . . . kind of.