Talent Storm (44 page)

Barid grunted. “I don’t know Val. I’m pretty good.”

“Sorry,” she said to him, “but she is assuredly more powerful than you; however, you will have an important role. You will determine where she directs her talent and use your ability to counteract the effect of hers. If she attempts to slow breathing, you speed it up. If she disrupts our senses, do your best to give them back. We will aid you by communicating the effects of her talent as quickly and accurately as possible.

“Sofia and Pavel, you will be our main weapon against any support troops that the grand duke has with her. I’ll use my telepathy to disrupt her ability to the best of mine and Jaden will be the executioner’s axe. Your role is clear, eliminate Sharpe at all costs. With her dead, we will be one step closer to achieving a people's revolution. Unlike Nieri, Zoe keeps her location a secret. But thanks to Pavel’s spying the last couple days, we know she’ll be at the primary supply depot in three days.”

Pavel grinned. “Yeah, me.”

Barid glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.

☼☼☼

Zoe Sharpe’s Journal:

Jaden and The Underground will never escape me like they did the other fools. Horn was so naïve to think that Goldwater loved her, as if Goldwater could love. No, he’s too much like me. And Nieri, strong, old Nieri. You were a worthy adversary but don’t think you fooled me for a second. I know you loved him too. You were just smarter about it than Horn. Still, all men are pathetic and you were arrogant and stupid to not hide your location. Now you’re dead. I can’t say I’ll miss you.

As much as I hate having to work for a man, I do it for rewards, for pleasure. It’s much more down Goldwater’s alley. It reminds him of the good old days.

Soon, the fool Jaden and the Underground will walk right into my trap. Then Goldwater will give me as many men as I want to play with. I’ll show them who has the power now. I still can’t believe one ever took advantage of me. The feel of his rough hands on my naked thighs still sickens me. If only I had developed my talent earlier.

☼☼☼

Two days later, I felt refreshed. I sat in my bed in a cross-legged position, meditating. A slow steady breath flowed into me, then glided out. My body buzzed with relaxation. A knock sounded on the door, and my eyes fluttered open to find Sofia standing in the doorway.

“Hey, how are you?” I asked, stretching my back.

“Great. Want to go for a walk around the tunnels? I could use some company.”

When I smiled, she skipped over to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me toward the door. A full, ragged sack hung from her shoulders.

“What do you have here?” I asked, pulling the strap.

“I brought a blanket, torch, and some food. We're going to have an adventure picnic.”

“Ooo, I like adventures.” It was almost like we were living a peaceful life instead of playing the life threatening game of ‘topple the government’.

We departed the room, hand in hand and walked down the hall until we reached a dark tunnel. Sofia smashed together flint and steel, and a spark leapt onto the torch she held. Flames flowed around the oil covered surface, growing bright and lighting the way.

Squinting, I peered down the dark, uninviting tunnel. “Are you sure this is the best place for a picnic?”

“Best, no. Only, yes. There really is nowhere else to go for a walk. It's not like we can leave the underground.” She held the torch out at her side and grabbed my shirt. With a wry half smile, she pulled me close before pressing her lips into mine. Upon pushing me back she said, “Don't worry though. I'll protect you.”

I held up my hands. “What? I'm not worried. Why would I worry with guns like these?” I pulled up my worn shirtsleeve and flexed my cut bicep.

“Oh my,” she said as she covered her mouth with her free hand.

“It's overwhelming isn't it? I'll put it away so that you don't get too excited.”

“Oh, you'll know when I get too excited,” she said before smacking my rear. I jumped, then smiled, enjoying her playful touch.

We walked down the dim, musty tunnel. Our torch sparked and flickered, bouncing light along the dusty walls. The amount of dirt that lined the surfaces worried me. It was surely unhealthy to live down here. I couldn’t wait until we were free to live in the open air and walk in forests. Looking over at Sofia, I noticed her lighthearted smile. It seemed as if she didn't have a care in the world. How did she do it? We nearly died a few days ago, and we might die in the next few days. Anxiety built up in me and weighed me down. I shook my head thinking about how exceptional she was. I always admired people who had abilities beyond my own. Ben’s social prowess, Lilly’s duty and optimism, and Sofia’s strong mind and tough spirit were all skills I wished to possess.

I sighed. “I can’t stop worrying. I just wish this war was over,” I said, throwing my hands up in front of me.

She giggled, making the torch bounce up and down. A cluster of sparks shimmered to the ground. “You get so worked up. Maybe you should try this other technique. It’s important to realize that the past and future are not here, only the present is. All that’s here is a beautiful, intelligent, strong woman.”

“You forgot modest,” I said.

“Ha, how astute of you. The past is gone and will never affect you again unless you let it. The future is yet to exist and therefore can only assail your thoughts. Anywhere I am and anything that I'm doing, I put myself into it completely. I focus only on the present, concentrating on the sounds, sights, and smells of the now. When experiencing only the present, instead of terrible past events or worrisome future events, you can achieve a relaxed focused state where time fades away. Try thought pushing and then refocusing on your surroundings.”

“Hmm, and you can do that all the time?”

“Well, at first it was more difficult, but the longer I practiced, the easier it got. Plus, sometimes I lose focus and give myself up to hurtful events, like Kevin's death for instance. I also never fully learned to control my temper despite all my techniques and talent.”

“You can’t be perfect all the time.”

She smiled, meeting my eyes. “So you think I’m perfect some of the time?”

I matched her smile. “Yeah, I do.”

She leaned in and kissed me slow and sensually.

“Ahh, the feel of perfection,” I said.

She giggled. “So what do you think about the technique?”

“It sounds rather liberating. It's a lot like the meditation that they taught us at the Academy to relax our bodies and increase our talent control. I just can’t do that constantly.”

“Yeah, I look at it like a form of continuous meditation, but rather than focusing on breathing, you focus on whatever is going on around you. When most people hear footsteps, they know they are footsteps and move their attention to other thoughts. I experience things with my senses and then continue to focus on the sensations. It helped me eliminate feelings of anxiety a long time ago.”

“All right, let me see what I can do.” I laid my hands on her waist, holding her at a distance, admiring her toned, but curvy physique.

Behind me, a cool breeze blew through the surface grate, its soft touch soothing me. Sunlight poured in and warmed my back. Besides the tunnel’s mustiness, I smelled a hint of soap from my recent shower mixed with the light aroma of Sofia's vanilla perfume. Everything was tied together by the warm feel of her waist slowly expanding and contracting. For an unknown period, I experienced my present more thoroughly than ever before. I was never someone who focused on the details of my surroundings, but now I gained a new appreciation for the practice.

“See what it can be like?” she asked, her lively voice mingling with the other sounds of the present. “It's not just useful to relax yourself either. Being tuned into the sounds around you makes you better prepared for an attack, like when I heard that mouse.”

I whipped my brow. “Yeah. That was a close one.”

She tapped my arm and rolled her eyes. “You joker. You never know. People who don’t pay attention are the ones who find themselves surrounded by enemies.”

She was right. Even though we were around the same age, she was much wiser, and I admired her for it.

We laid down a red and green wool blanket in the sunlight from the grate, and sat cross-legged on the scratchy surface. Another breeze blew in, bringing in fresh air. It was almost like being outside. I closed my eyes, imagining that I was back at my childhood creek, with the sun warming my skin and the water bubbling before me. When I opened my eyes, the image of beauty didn't fade. Instead, it changed into the breathtaking Sofia. The sunlight illuminated her eyes, making them even more radiant and alluring. I enjoyed the simplicity of the moment until a translucent green bottle in her hands pulled my eyes away.

She held the liquid filled container up before me. “It's a special drink that we ferment. Pavel has been making it for years. I think that he uses potatoes... at least when he can find some. I have no idea what he uses the other times.”

She uncorked it, took a swig, and passed the bottle to me. I thought of Ben by the creek. I shook my head, refocusing on the present, not wanting to diminish its perfection. The bottle was cool and heavy in my hands. I raised it to my mouth and took a healthy gulp, instantly regretting it. The harsh abrasive liquid puckered my face, setting my throat on fire.

“It's good,” I said when I could manage it, my voice sounding like a rasp.

She giggled. “You might want to sip it. Pavel likes a stiff drink.” She took the bottle again and gulped it, her smile unwavering.

Sometime later, we finished eating our assorted dried fruits and hard bread meal. By the time our special brew was half-gone, we lay on the ground like fools, laughing at nothing. I loved it.

After our latest laughing fit, I propped myself up on my elbow. “I need to tell you something,” I said, trying hard not to slur my words. “Before I met you, I was in love, just like now.”

She faced me and beamed a drunken smile. “You love me.” She ran a single finger down my chest.

My skin warmed and tingled under her trailing finger. I glanced down at her hand, smiling, then looked up and admired her caramel-colored thighs that extended from her mini skirt. I imagined running my tongue along her smooth skin, tasting its sweetness. I longed to kiss and nibble her toned stomach, to hear her moan and feel her writhe beneath me.... Wait. I shook my head, scrunching my brow. Wasn’t I about to say something important?

Sofia waved in my face. “Hi.”

My head shot up to meet her eyes, my face blushing. I felt my stomach tense and burn.

“Oh don’t be shy. I like the way you’re looking at me. Touch me.”

Suddenly I felt my muscles relax as if under some spell. Anxiety gone, my confidence soared. I smiled, my shoulders settling. I lived for moments like these. Even if I only had a few, I wasn’t some inexperienced boy. I had talent tricks that would make her shudder with pleasure and beg for more. Wait, how did I just get so relaxed?

I met her eyes. “Did you...”

“Why? You don’t want me to?”

“No, I enjoyed it. Just let me know when you’re going to do it. When I’m relaxed, I feel like I can do anything.”

“I love making people feel good.” Her eyes seduced mine as she traced the tip of her finger down my arm. “Want more?”

Whoa. “Yes.” She leaned in until I raised my hand. “First, I need to make a point.”

She leaned back smiling. “All right. It must be important.”

Talent, I hoped I wasn’t just being a dumb drunk. “It is. Over the last few months, we’ve spent nearly every day together. I’m drawn to your kindness, boldness, loyalty, and sass. No one’s tougher than you, and I admire you for it. I adore everything about you. You’re worth more to me than everyone in Liberty combined. I would leave with you in a second, if you asked, not caring about anything.”

She hugged her hands close to her chin and tilted her head, her curls bouncing. “Aww,” she said.

I smiled. She could be so cute, when she wasn’t slashing people in half. “I know you want to save your people, and I’m glad because so do I. You awakened ideals and morals inside me. I won’t stand by and let innocent people be abused, cheated, stolen, raped, or killed by Goldwater and his men. They need me; they need us. We can protect them all. We’ll win, and then we’ll be free to love.”

“Oh Jaden, I love you too.”

I felt bold, unworried about any consequences. “I don’t believe that’s exactly what I said.”

She furrowed her brow, throwing her hands down to her sides and huffing.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “This liquor’s making me silly.” I took her hand, caressing it softly and gazing into her eyes. “I want to say it though. I love you.”

Her hard stare softened as she smiled. “I could tell. I knew you liked me as soon as you saw me.”

She was good. I barely finished my thought before she kissed me. My desire only intensified when I felt her soft breasts press against me. I reached down and massaged her bare thighs while our lips danced. When she kissed my neck, I shivered, wanting more. She obliged, kissing me until I pushed her on her back. I interlaced my hands with hers and lowered her arms to the ground above her head. She smiled, winked, and then mouthed a kiss. I leaned in before giving her one, loving the feel of her lips caressing mine. She moaned, breathing heavy.

I gasped, when she pushed me back. “Man, you’re aggressive,” she said.

“What... I thought you...”

Her lips stretched into a wide smile and her eyes sparkled.

I shook my head, laughing.

“I enjoyed it,” she said. “And I want more of it. I just think we should take it slow. It will make it more fun.”

“That's
hard
to agree with now,” I said, glancing down.

She laughed. “You’ll find a way.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s go back.”

☼☼☼

Sofia’s Journal:

For so long, my life has been about revenge. I’ve killed, planned, trained, and killed again. It never stops and it has shaped me. When I was younger, I was nice gentle girl. Sure, I had my temper, but I controlled it well. I loved my sister and parents and helped whenever I could. It was about having fun then and being a family, not just killing. Now I’m a killer who has lived underground for years. I want to learn to be more.