I could hear the hum of the air conditioner and the warm comfortable presence of Kevin beside me. I tried raising my hand and my muscles trembled with the effort. I tried speaking and a small croak emerged.
Earlier today, it had been hot and muggy with clouds hiding the sun. In retaliation the sun had later splashed heat across Sydney in spiteful glee with everyone paying the consequences if they didn't have air conditioning.
That night, I looked around the table at my family. It was a sombre affair. Although they tried to hide it, their eyes told me another story. So, to help them get over their funk, I suggested that we go see the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Dad readily agreed and I even managed to drag Elsa, Gram's old companion into coming.
My head was still spinning. I watched as Mother Earth raised her hands and the frozen faces of my school mates spun around me. I had looked down at the grass to stop the sense of vertigo from over taking me only to see that outside of the diamond.
I was saved from having to contact the Winter Crone. There was something waiting for me in the woods close to our house. The Crone's power awoke me at an ungodly 5 am and I grumbled as I moved from the warmth of Kevin's arms. I wasn't a happy camper.
I awoke, gasping for breath, as the sound of an angry cry wiped the fog of sleep from my mind. I shuddered as the dream came back in full Technicolor with the evidence of two babies in my arms.
Telekinetic knives swirled around me, while I held the telekinetic rapier in my hand. Kevin moved in with a shout, slicing downwards towards my head. His sword moved gracefully around his body.
That stopped me cold. I puzzled over how I could have fairy blood flowing through me. I could feel an ache build in my throat as all those eyes promised death. It dawned on me what it could be.
I felt my warrior come to the fore. Everything seemed to be in hyper focus as I stared at the approaching blast of Fae power. Time slowed as thousands of possibilities raced through my head.
I woke up at 6am slightly groggy, but my mind filled with the aroma of sex that lingered from my dream. Outside was a beautiful clear blue sky. I needed to go for a run and clear my head; a habit I had picked up after I left the hospital, which seemed like a long time ago. In actuality it had only been six months.
One of those obstacles was a note to meet Sam behind the gym during sixth period. He was lucky that it was close to the end of the year, and therefore, exams. Our class year had sixth period as a study incentive. We were supposed to `study' and complete any homework that was due. It was basically a mess around period.
Summer time was thick and heavy with heat. Cicada's called as a blistering wind blew past. Temperatures had reached up to 40 degrees Celsius and the grass had turned brown from lack of water. It was a normal Australian Summer. I walked quickly into Sam's house. His mother saw me and greeted me as if I had been one of Sam's oldest friends.
I awoke three hours later. Something kept bugging me, even in my sleep. I slipped out of bed. If I stayed in bed and tried to sort out my thoughts, Kevin would distract me. I needed to concentrate.
I was in a sensual world of soft kisses and gentle exploration. Wet tongues and lush lips slid everywhere, and I returned the favour touching any piece of skin I could reach.
I was staring down at the scene from above. Lucifvar was only an inch from me and Simon was a few paces back with a look of dawning realization. Time was frozen and I stared at my face. My light brown eyes were shinning like a candle through amber, and a look of fierce determination made me look older. I looked a lot like my mother and I felt a lump of grief lodge in my throat.
I screamed and fell out of my bed. I looked around the room and felt relief pool inside me. With shaky hands I got back up and went to open my door. It was locked. I tried unlocking it, but my key didn't work. I pulled on the door handle and banged on the door.
It was unnerving to watch the trees around me. They actually moved out of the way, and even the track we were following disappeared behind us as we passed. Henry looked fascinated by the entire thing, but my older cousins looked petrified. I grabbed hold of their hands and sent soothing energy into them. They smiled at me gratefully.
I opened my eyes, panting and out of breath. My group was around me, faces turned outwards on guard duty; except, Pounamu, he was staring at me intently.
I smiled back. The Shack was a burger bar that was a frequent gathering place for many students, and this was the first time I had actual friends that would be with me when I went there.
Leon looked at me as I stood at the end of his bed. "I should be angry at you, the way Leila is, but I'm not. Truth to tell, I don't know what I feel right now," he turned his stare back towards his ceiling. "This trial has changed me, deeply." I nodded my head but kept my silence. I watched as his expression became serious.
His warrior sensed the trap and did something unexpected. It tapped into the barrier and ripped it open. The nether realms were about to invade our world.
I snarled in anger at the unfortunate turn of events. I was running out of time. I pulled hard on Simon, sucking the energy out of him for all he was worth. Simon's warrior was impressive to behold as he braced himself and moved forward, even as I weakened him.
I was exhausted and replete and, in all honesty, my ass hurt like hell. I was still unhappy about the fact that I couldn't heal just yet, but I wouldn't have changed anything we had just done for the world.
I closed my fingers and pushed the power back. I had no right to do this. Those scars helped shape dad into who he was today, and I wouldn't change him for anything. "Not this time" I whispered to my power. It receded back inside me.
Over the next couple of weeks we got into a routine. I went to school from home. In the afternoons, Elsa would pick me up, and I would study with grams for two hours, and get dropped off home. The only time the routine changed was when I was rehearsing for the play. There was one more week, and we were performing.
The last bell rang and everyone rushed out of school. My face looked calm, but there was turmoil going on inside my head. I realised that Cousin Simon had deliberately side tracked me in my interrogation. He never once told me about his sister and why he had never approached her. There were too many unknowns around him, and I didn't like it.
I snuck around to the gym. Mr. Fenton, our Gym teacher, was one of the drones, and my warrior assured me that it was only the manticore spirit inside him that we would be destroying. I was quietly surprised to see this new side to my warrior but I didn't want to delve too deep. He was working with me, and making a lot of sense, so I went along.
James's power is starting to turn feral, he is losing control and its affecting his personal life and the new life he was creating at school. What else could go wrong? James is about to find out!
Truth and lies. Love and hate. James is changing so fast he can hardly take it all in. Yet there is something that his father is keeping from him. Darkness calls. And Kevin... well the opposite side of the coin for love is?