Unleashed: The Deepest Fears Lie Within (Secrets of the Makai) (13 page)

Tristan opened and closed his mouth. How could he explain? “I just feel a little silly is all.”

“These children couldn’t care less about what you’re doing or not doing, and you’re not even trying. Don’t you see the bigger picture?”

“I guess not.” All he could think of was how embarrassing it would be for Landon and Victor to hear he was failing kindergarten on the first day. What if Shaely showed up early and saw what kind of class he was in?

“You must learn how to control objects in order to make them work for you. It could be a crayon, which is more fun for the children, or an axe, which would be more practical for an adult. The concept is the same once you understand the essentials, and I really don’t want axes and trees flying around with the little ones.”

“You don’t think the scissors are dangerous?”

“They won’t cut more than paper. Take some supplies home and practice on your own. And please, things will get tougher if you start cheating—so do yourself a favor and try in earnest. I expect you to take advantage of my time, so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you don’t understand something.”

“How can you cheat at something like this?”

“If you solidify the air, you can move anything stuck within it.”

Tristan glanced back at the table. How would anyone know? “Why is that cheating?”

“Because, if you have an object frozen in the center of an ice cube, and use the ice cube to move the object, you learn nothing about the object itself.”

“Okay, so, we’re learning about objects, not the act of moving them.”

She smiled politely, settling with a nod. “That’s fine for now.”

Tristan followed her back to the table.

“I think we’re done for the day,” she announced to the class in her singsong, kindergarten voice. “I’ll see you tomorrow, same time, same place.”

Tristan watched the children run to their parents, carrying their art projects with pride.

Angelina cleared her throat, getting his attention. “You could help me clean up if you like.”

“Sure.” Tristan sopped up spilled glue and recapped markers while Angelina re-stacked paper. She handed him a collection of supplies in a plastic bag.

“Ordinarily, I don’t give homework. But in your case, I expect something by tomorrow. No cheating.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“For heaven’s sake, call me Angelina.”

Tristan nodded, then smiled in earnest when he spotted Shaely by the cliff.

11
-
S
UPERVISED
V
ISITATION
-

SHAELY SEEMED TO GLOW with radiant sunshine, wearing a summery white dress. Her golden hair flowed in waves over tanned shoulders. Her face brightened even more when she saw him.

Tristan stuffed the bag of art supplies in his back pocket and hurried to meet her. She pulled items from a basket as he approached, setting up a picnic, and he barely noticed the man standing next to her until he grabbed her wrist.

Tristan glanced at Stanley, curious if he would step in if necessary, if guard duty was strictly for protecting the children in his class, or if he was responsible for everyone’s safety. But Stanley seemed occupied with someone else, quarreling over something.

The man stood a full foot taller than Tristan and had a glare that could likely set the trees on fire. He unloaded the full force of his anger on Tristan. “You harm one hair on Shaely....”

Tristan held up his hands, feeling a little relieved until he thought about it. How much did people know about him? Did he have to explain what happened to everyone he met?

The man turned back to Shaely. “Five minutes to say goodbye. That’s it.”

“You can’t control me. I’ll take as long as I want.” She rolled her eyes and mouthed a silent apology to Tristan.

“This is going too far,” the man hissed, turning his back on Tristan. “We have our proof, let’s get on with it.”

“You don’t know a damned thing.”

The man said something Tristan couldn’t catch, then stomped off to the nearest picnic table.

“I’m so sorry,” Shaely said. “He’s not usually so...rude.”

“One of your brothers?”

“Yes. Just ignore him.” She trailed her fingers down his chest, fingering the poncho. “This is such a beautiful design. What’s it made of?”

Tristan laughed, doing his best to keep still under her touch. “Yarn would be my best guess.”

She glanced up with a confused frown on her brow. “Someone put a lot of time into making this, and you don’t know anything about it?”

Tristan shrugged, shaking his head.

She sighed, then waved him to the blanket. “Have a seat. I hope you like pasta. Or turkey. I have cheese and crackers and lunch meats if that sounds better.”

“You’re...amazing.” Tristan stopped his hand an inch from the side of her face, then glanced at her big brother towering nearby. Before he could step back, she threw herself into him, planting her lips hard against his. His eyes grew wide and he pried her away, expecting her brother to rush to her rescue.

She looked hurt, or embarrassed, and turned away.

“Hey,” Tristan gently forced her to look at him. “I like you. A lot. But your brother would kill me....”

“He wouldn’t—” She stopped short of denying the rest. “You’re right. I guess I wanted to prove that he couldn’t stop me from liking you. Can we start over?”

“Can he go away?”

“I wish.” She rubbed her bare arms and shivered. “I’ll have to dress warmer next time.”

“I think you look beautiful.” Tristan cringed. Did he really just say that out loud?

“Ah, thanks!” She sat down on the blanket and handed Tristan half a sandwich. “So how was your first day in class? Are you the teacher’s aide?”

His heart fell to the pit of his stomach as he considered all the possible answers. “I’m...not the teacher’s aide. Just a student.”

She almost laughed, then must have changed her mind. “Well, you’re either really bad or....”

Tristan dropped his gaze. He should have known better than telling her the truth.

“I’m sorry. Sometimes I just say stuff. Can we start over again?”

Tristan smiled and shrugged. “We all have to start somewhere, right?”

“I suppose. So, what’s the story?”

“I’m not bad. Well, maybe I am.” Tristan raked his fingers through his hair. Why couldn’t they just be friends without asking personal questions? “I’ve just never had formal lessons. That’s why I’m here.”

“Sorry but, how do you grow up and not know this stuff?”

Tristan swallowed hard, debating how bad it would be if he said he had to go. “I didn’t know this stuff was possible until just recently, because I’d never met anyone who could do it.” He risked a look, startled to see her deep blue eyes brimming with tears.

“Is that why Stanley is so protective of you?”

“Stanley?” That shocked him even more. He glanced at Stanley, who was ready to leap into action if necessary. “I just met him last night.” Tristan sighed, then took one of Shaely’s hands in his. “Stanley is...maybe we just shouldn’t see each other.”

“Why?”

“Stanley’s here to make sure I don’t hurt anyone, just like your brother.”

“So, you
are
dangerous? Half the time I think....”

“I’m not—” Tristan took a breath and started over. “Maybe I am. But it’s not because I’m mean, or because I have anger issues. I just don’t know enough to know what I’m doing, or what I’m not doing. I don’t even know what’s really possible yet.”

“Serious?”

He closed his eyes and bowed his head, then whispered in case his history wasn’t as well-known as it seemed. “There was an accident a few weeks ago—some people were hurt.” He didn’t dare confess to murder. He brought her knuckles to his lips and pleaded for her to understand. “I just need to learn the basics, so I can be aware and control all this mental stuff. I don’t want to hurt anyone by accident—especially you.”

She stared at him for an uncomfortable amount of time. “I believe you.”

“Good.” Tristan smiled gratefully. “Can I see you again? Or is that just way too much to ask...?”

“I’ll make you a deal.” She grinned. “Let me wear your poncho for tonight, and I’ll return it to you tomorrow.”

Tristan shook his head before she could finish.

“Please? It’s freezing up here!”

He couldn’t tell if she was joking or not, or where all the sudden bells of alarm and red flags were coming from. “It’s the only warm thing I have, and I live here—”

“But it’s sexy and totally makes me think of you.”

Tristan blushed, but not even that would make him give up the poncho. It was part of him now. “It’s not sexy. It’s itchy and smells like mothballs. It probably hasn’t been washed in decades.”

They both turned to her brother, who’d apparently decided he’d seen enough. “He’s not giving it to you. Let’s go.”

“I told you to stay out of this! I can take care of myself.”

“I should be going anyway,” Tristan said, so as not to be in the middle. “I have homework and I need to figure out my evening class.... Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Sure!” Shaely said over her brother’s, “No.”

Tristan resisted the urge to touch her face, her cheeks flushed pink with anger. So different from Dorian. A pang of guilt tightened in his chest for comparing the two. He glanced at her brother and took a step back. “I’m sorry we didn’t have time to eat.”

“Maybe tomorrow,” she said, smirking. “If you’re lucky.”

Her brother gripped her arm and yanked her back. Tristan felt a stab of pure hatred and almost took a step forward, right before Stanley plowed into him.

Shaely and her brother vanished before he hit the ground.

Tristan spat out grass and dirt, coughing to catch the breath that had been knocked out of him. “What the heck was that for?”

“You were heading for trouble,” Stanley said.

“He was attacking her! Didn’t you see what he did to her arm? He’s a total jerk.”

“Jerk doesn’t mean kill.”

“That’s low. I can’t believe you think—wait. You don’t, do you?”

Stanley didn’t answer, cocking an eyebrow instead.

“I get it.” Tristan took another deep breath, determined not to lose his temper. Everyone in the clearing seemed to be waiting for something terrible to happen. “I’m sorry you have guard duty, and I understand you can’t hesitate. But I wouldn’t have....” Tristan scratched his head and thought about it. “I don’t think I would have....”

“I would’ve considered it.” Stanley cracked a smile and offered Tristan a hand up. “He’s a serious ass. And she has a seriously nice one. But being you’re on probation, you better think about your actions at all times.”

12
-
H
ISTORY
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TRISTAN SPUN THE SICKLY shade of blue crayon against a flat rock to keep its point sharp, sitting on the ground where he’d met Eleonora. He’d tried checking in for a quick visit, determined to forget about Shaely’s brother, Angelina’s class, and Stanley, only to find she wasn’t at home. Or maybe she just didn’t want to see him. Or maybe she was gone like she said she’d be.

The paper Angelina gave him wouldn’t hold more than a single layer of color, and the color itself had no real richness, but he found that pressing in actual flakes of wax helped for depth. He studied his attempt at recreating one of the ghost buildings from the pile of rubble that had once been Darnell.

To the best of his knowledge, he didn’t cheat, though he probably didn’t need to put so much into it. But the art was to prove himself capable. Not only for Angelina, or himself, but for the faith Landon and Victor showed in bringing him here in the first place. Anyone who saw his assignments would know he was taking the class seriously. And luckily, he already knew how to construct a decent picture.

Daylight settled into a dull dusk, robbing the forest of color, reminding him that he really needed a watch if he was expected to be somewhere at a certain time. He returned to his cabin and looked for something to eat, unable to find the form Victor mentioned for groceries, and settled on water before hiking to the trailhead to wait for his classmates.

An hour passed and just when he decided he’d waited long enough, two boys dressed for hiking emerged from the trailhead to Grumpy’s.

“Donovan’s class?” Tristan asked, relieved to see they were at least his age.

“Yep. I’m Travis, this here’s Henry.” They continued onward together, following the trail of small oil lamps flickering every twenty feet. “Guess we all have the same sentence.”

“How’s that?”

“Not only is it history,” Henry explained, “but Donovan!”

“He’s not so bad,” Tristan said, thinking of Landon’s opinions and his own intuition. He still couldn’t recall a time when he’d actually met the man, but there was definitely a connection.

“According to who?” Travis asked. Both boys studied the forest as if someone might be watching. “Nobody likes him.”