ã€ŠGlass Pomegranate: Vol I (2nd edition)ã€‹


 Prologue

    The Academy lay in ruins. Vines climbed the jagged brick and stones. They dug their tendrils into the mortar, dragging the decaying corpse into the soil. The spires that towered for over two-hundred years had crumbled to rubble in only ten. Queen Anne¡¯s lace sprawled across the expansive grounds, fighting for space amongst the weeds in the knee-deep grass.

    Only the headmaster¡¯s mansion remained. After the war, Ivy reclaimed it for herself. Not in triumph, but to remember. She and her loyal Watchers rebuilt it, healing the buildings post-war wounds until it was habitable again.

    They crafted the new Academy beside the freshly deceased body of the one Ivy destroyed. No longer a place to be exploited and used, but a place for young mutants to learn to embrace their abilities.

    Despite the tragedy, the eye-sore and the thousand other reasons to be rid of them, Ivy kept the ruins. Each day, mutant children cheerfully walked to class past what was once her prison turned battle ground, and current husk toward a better future. It was not at the forefront, but rather in the corner of everyone¡¯s eye and in the slight shiver up their spine. The lab in the basement had long since been sealed shut by boulders and chunks of rubble.

    ''This is what humans can do¡¯ - was the death cry of the ruins.

    Ivy knew better.

    When she stood on her balcony overlooking the lake and the endless forest, drinking her morning tea, she heard, ¡®this is what I can do.¡¯

    The others surely heard it too.

    Ivy placed her cup of tea on the side table. Beverages, along with food were no longer necessary, but simple pleasures were all she had. Her slender fingers curved around the handle. They hardly held their shape and form, becoming transparent, shimmering under the early afternoon sun. A blue haze enveloped her body, including the all black Watcher''s garb and cloak she still wore.

    A knock came at the door.

    "Come in," she called. Even the sound of her voice was faint to her ears, yet carried like a specter on the wind.

    The French doors opened.

    Ivy tensed, reactively pushing herself further against the chair. Cold iron dug into her spine. She was still corporeal. That was something at least.

    Watcher Dominic joined her on the balcony. His black eyes squinted to see her fading form better in the light. Silver hair tucked neatly behind his ears, striking against his black Watcher''s attire. A hooded cloak wrapped over his shoulders and drifted across the stone floor, swishing around his boots as he moved.

    The energy emanating from him wafted toward her. She sensed each beat of his heart as it pumped life through his veins. Each cell''s vibration created a kinetic heat. It pulled her forward. Magnetic.

    "Stop," Ivy said, holding up a finger. "No closer."

    "We found him," said Dominic. "However, he already made it back to Portsmouth Island."

    She clenched her jaw.

    "How was that allowed to happen?" she asked through gritted teeth. "It''s nearly impossible to retrieve them once they hide there."

    "He''ll be too afraid of retribution to ever leave again, and if he does, perhaps then we can seek justice?" Dominic suggested.

    Ivy''s silver eyes sharpened.

    "It can''t wait!"

    "I see that you''re fading,¡± he began gently. ¡°Perhaps if you ease off on healings for awhile, you¡¯ll give yourself time - "

    ¡°Impossible. Peace between us and humans is tenuous at best," she said. "If I allow mutants to cause havoc the already thin tethers are bound to snap. There must be balance. Do you want another war Dominic? Isn''t the last one still fresh in your mind?"

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Dominic sighed and extended his hand.

    "Thank you,¡± Ivy said, weaving her fingers through his. ¡°Next time save yourself the trouble and do as I ask."

    In the span of a second, they both dissolved into a swirling black cloud of mist. With the current state she was in, Ivy worried she would not be able to rematerialize, but in the span of a blink she found herself on the island shore. The ocean rolled at her back. Heavy storm clouds drifted overhead as seagulls screeched from the sky.

    The island was home to a small village. After the war, any mutants unwilling to live amongst humans on the mainland sequestered themselves here. Which was why she needed to be quick.

    A decade had passed since she last set foot on the island.

    Has it truly been that long since I lost you?

    It seemed like only yesterday she stood on this very shore, clutching Ember¡¯s egg in her arms. The foolish smile-ly face Ember had drawn on the synthetic shell in marker still grinned, unknowing and innocent as the baby within of his mother¡¯s fate and the war carrying on around them.

    It killed her to let him go, but the island was the only place untouched by the ravages of battle. Most importantly, Ember had begged her to. Taking Angel to the island was all she had spoken of, right until the end.

    Does he look like her? Would I recognize him? It¡¯s been so long since Watcher Liz has sent a report.

    She shuddered at the thought that he might bear witness to what must be done tonight.

    Perhaps he has her tender heart.

    Dominic waited for her on the shore while Ivy wandered the dirt roads between the small wooden houses. Former abandoned shacks were transformed into habitable cabins and homes. Most lawns were overgrown with weeds as high as her thighs. Each block of houses was punctuated by a community garden or small shop. There weren''t any outward signs of life, but she felt them. Heat radiated toward her.

    Ultimately, it was the commotion that led her to the man she was looking for. A crowd had gathered outside of a crumbling brown shack. Quiet settled over the group the moment Ivy was spotted. All eyes turned to her. Searing waves wafted forward. Rage - like fresh blood in her mouth. In her current state, it took far more of her concentration than was comfortable not to pull it in and bask in it.

    There was a time she would have been hurt. Their eyes used to wound her. So she shut herself away. A job needed to be done. There was no space for remorse.

    "Bring him out," she commanded.

    The crowd stood still.

    "Don''t make this harder than it has to be." She took a step forward. The crowd tightened, sealing the pathway to the house. "This won''t end well for you."

    "Go back to the mainland!¡± A man yelled. ¡°We''ll handle our own people, and you take care of yours." He stepped forward, fists clenched to his side. Electricity crackled around his knuckles, bristling the coarse black hair along his forearms.

    He had aged since she had last seen him, but still maintained the same surly demenor and hard brown eyes.

    "Julian, please. We don''t need to make a scene," she said. "This must be done. I can''t allow unsanctioned fight clubs on the mainland. What would happen if I became lenient? More would crop up, then come running to the island when they get caught. No exceptions. Step aside."

    "Tyrannical bitch!" A woman screamed. The crowd dispersed as rocks rose from the earth, quivering and hovering in the air.

    All at once, the stones shot toward Ivy. She raised her hand. A translucent blue shield emerged. The rocks struck it and tumbled harmless to the ground.

    A hush settled over the crowd.

    The woman''s feral scream as she began to levitate the rocks again could not disguise her true emotion. She gasped, suddenly strangled for air. The stones quivered and settled on the earth. Blue light emitted from the woman''s open mouth in a long thick wisp like a gossamer curtain, drifting toward Ivy.

    The woman crumpled to her knees.

    "Ivy please!" Julian cried. "Let her go, she didn''t mean it."

    The woman''s life force had only just begun to intertwine with Ivy''s own, soaking into her barely corporal form. For a moment, she was almost sorry. It was a shame to snuff out such a warm, firm energy. So much life. So much vitality. Her flesh shifted solid again.

    "Please!"

    Julian''s desperation pulled Ivy into lucidity for a moment. He was now crouched beside the woman''s still body. The others gathered around them, staring at her with wide, terrorized eyes. Ivy''s heart wrenched. She released her hold and reversed the process. The curtain of light seeped from herself, trailing backward, reentering the limp woman. Ivy watched herself fade. The woman gasped, her chest heaving in bursts.

    Ivy stepped forward and this time, the crowd parted to allow her passage toward the house. The squat shack seemed to sag into the earth, drooping into the weeds. Their judging eyes pressed on her back. She steeled herself. The energy emanating off the crowd was a miasma of terror and rage.

    She could hardly blame them.

    Ivy climbed the stairs to the front deck. The rotten wood sagged under her weight. When she opened the door, she found the house in darkness. The man sat slouched on the sofa, his head in his hands. Soft sobs reverberated through the room.

    "I promise never to do it again," he whimpered. "Hell, I''ll never go back to the mainland at all. You''ll never -"

    The words choked out. His mouth opened, as though he gasped for air. Blue light poured from him in a thick wave. It was stale and brought her no pleasure. When the man crumpled, folding forward into an empty husk, she returned to her solid form.

 Chapter One - Something to Consider

    Heavy metal blasted from the living-room speakers, trembling the cabin walls with throbbing bass. There were too many people to fit inside, some spilled onto the front deck and yard. Angel sat in his arm chair amidst the haze of smoke. His heightened senses surged in overdrive. Liquor buzzing in his brain shifted him outside of himself to observe how the party became a joyous thing of destruction. Everything swirled together.

    Spilled cups poured sticky drinks onto the carpet. Joints and cigarettes scattered ashes. Conversations and laughter fell lost under the thick guitar riffs, mixing together with the music. It all culminated into noise vibrating Angel''s bones. People danced, bumping into each other and objects, knocking things over, tripping over themselves and furniture. He had tucked anything of value away in his bedroom. Which wasn¡¯t much, just his guitars. Everything else could be fixed or cleaned in the morning.

    All manner of mutants gathered in his living-room, laughing and drinking. It seemed like half of Portsmouth island was crammed into his tiny cabin.

    A man with horns peeking out of his short red hair leaned against the archway, flirting with a woman with bright red eyes. People so drunk or high, or both, crowded onto the threadbare couch. They sunk into the cushions and against each other, staring up at the ceiling with half-closed eyes. The rest of the living-room was treated as a dance floor. Bodies writhed together in time to the music. Drinks splashed out of clumsy hands to slurred laughter.

    Angel scanned the crowd for Nyx. There was no guarantee she¡¯d come, but he held out hope. Her sister Cassie had already come and gone. The third triplet, Alistair, was around here somewhere.

    I don¡¯t need to be lectured all night anyway.

    Still, his heart sank with the realization she wasn¡¯t going to appear suddenly in the crowd.

    Figures. She never comes out anymore.

    Restlessness got the better of him. Angel took a final drag off his cigarette and tapped it out in the overflowing ashtray on the side table. He got up and squeezed his way through the writhing crowd, trying to make his way to the kitchen. Some part of him still hoped to find her.

    She¡¯d probably take one look around and leave anyway.

    A firm hand clapped him on the shoulder, breaking his reverie.

    Fuck.

    He cringed and turned around, finding exactly who he dreaded it would be. Timmy scowled at him with beady brown eyes. Shaggy brown curls pasted to his forehead with sweat. Blotchy freckles stood out against his pasty skin.

    ¡°Where¡¯s my money?¡± he demanded. ¡°It¡¯s been a week already.¡±

    Angel plastered on a smile, digging in his pocket for another cigarette. ¡°Who invited you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like you can¡¯t see the party from a block away. You can¡¯t keep dodging me, so where is it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have it.¡± Angel shrugged, putting the cigarette in his mouth. ¡°Sorry Tim, you can¡¯t bleed a turnip.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a fucking turnip alright. You owe me, so cough it up. I don¡¯t care if you sell one of your damn guitars to do it. Figure it out.¡±

    ¡°Not gonna happen.¡± Angel exhaled a plume of smoke, trying not to laugh. He¡¯d sooner sell a limb. ¡°Look, how about this. We¡¯ll fight for it.¡±

    ¡°Fight for it?¡± Timmy exclaimed. ¡°Face it, you lost the bet. You owe me, I¡¯m not gonna fight you.¡±

    ¡°You scared or something?¡± Angel teased. ¡°Tell you what, If you lose, we¡¯ll call it even. If you win, I¡¯ll still owe you, plus you get the pleasure of kicking my ass.¡±

    ¡°Alright then,¡± Timmy said. ¡°Deal.¡±

    Angel popped the cigarette in his mouth and extended a hand to shake. The two men pushed through the crowd in the small living-room and out the front door onto the deck. The balmy night air cooled the sweat on Angel¡¯s skin and blew his long black hair around his shoulders.

    Some party guests milled around on the lawn, smoking and laughing. The music was so loud they could still hear it out here. The scent of brine carried in from the nearby sea. If one were to look hard enough, it was possible to see a sliver of ocean peeking between the roofs of the other cabins. A low pressure system thickened the wind with humidity.

    Thunder was coming.

    Angel hurried down the sagging wooden steps with Timmy right behind him. They waded through the tall grass and weeds, finding a clear enough space. Anticipation prickled his skin. His pulse quickened. Angel flicked away the butt of his cigarette and stripped off his shirt.

    Scars scattered across his bare skin. Many had faded off into pale white lines while other, fresher markings remained pink and angry. On his back, just between the shoulder blade and spine, extended twin lines like deep gashes where the skin barely touched. To an unknowing eye, these looked like wounds refusing to heal. Instead, they made space for his wings to emerge.

    With a gentle push, and slight pinch of pressure, coal black feathers bloomed from his flesh, blossoming toward the night sky. Angel exhaled, rolling his shoulders back to release tension, spreading his long wings with a flourish.

    A flicker of doubt flashed in Timmy¡¯s eyes before they sharpened again. He wasn¡¯t as tall as Angel, nor as muscular but determination writ ferocity across his sharp, thin features.

    ¡°Wanna forfeit?¡± Angel asked, a smile playing on his lips. He raised his fists, quick blue eyes tracking every hint of movement. ¡°Call it a draw?¡±

    I¡¯ll be kinda disappointed if he says ¡®yes.¡¯

    ¡°You wish,¡± Timmy growled, squaring up.

    Angel laughed.

    By now, the other party-goers had taken notice of the commotion and gathered around to watch  the impending carnage. They cheered, some egging Timmy on while others took Angel¡¯s side. One way or another, all were eager for a fight.

    Timmy rushed forward, swinging. Angel had to give him credit, he was faster than he first suspected. Still, Angel managed to duck, then caught him around the waist. Momentum worked against him. They tumbled backward, hitting the ground. Angel straddled him, spreading his wings for balance. Timmy¡¯s eyes widened in brief surprise before Angel landed a punch to the jaw.

    Heat surged under Angel¡¯s skin. Thoughts vanished, his focus narrowing to pin-prick intensity. Blood pulsed in his ears, throbbing beneath his temples. Timmy¡¯s fist connected to the side of his cheek, filling his mouth with the copper tang of blood.

    Laughing, Angel swung again. Timmy blocked him. Writhing and wriggling with all his might, he finally squirmed free and scrambled to his feet. Grass tore up around them in clumps of dirt and mud. Angel¡¯s bare torso and jeans were already stained with it. Timmy wasn¡¯t much better. The sleeve of his t-shirt ripped away from the seam. Blood and sweat plastered his curls to his forehead.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    They squared up again, catching their breath. This time Angel struck first, catching Timmy in the jaw with his fist. Knuckles crunched. One popped as it broke. Pain brought stars to Angel¡¯s eyes. He blinked them away in time for Timmy to drive his knee into Angel¡¯s diaphragm. The air whooshed out of his lungs in a strangled gasp. He flapped his wings to stay steady, but failed and doubled over. Timmy used the motion to connect his knee to Angel¡¯s nose in a burst of blood and broken cartilage.

    Fireworks burst behind his eyes. Despite the pain, exhilaration surged within his chest. His heart raced.

    This is it.

    As his vision blinked out, only for a moment, the gnawing emptiness under his ribs finally dissipated. Adrenaline brought sweet relief. There was no care in the world outside of second to second survival, the gnashing of teeth and blood on his tongue. Every burst of pain a reminder he was truly alive.

    Timmy lunged forward, practically feral at this point. Angel welcomed the impact, blocking his fist with a forearm. Fully in the zone now, he anticipated action like an owl hunting a mouse. Quick reflexes allowed him to block blow after blow.

    The crowd melded into a faceless blur, their cries and cheers morphed into a cacophony unable to be heard through the pounding blood in his ears. Dancing and dodging away, he laughed, even at the punches Timmy managed to land.

    A warmth like sunshine slid under Angel¡¯s skin and for a moment, there was no pain.

    Bliss.

    Odd, but he didn¡¯t question it.

    Must be the adrenaline.

    Snarling in frustration, Timmy landed an elbow to Angel¡¯s temple, snapping his head to the side. Pain zinged another explosion of stars behind his eyes. Reality came to the forefront again just as Timmy tackled him to the ground.

    Sweat blurred his vision. Angel hardly recovered from the initial impact before cold metal pressed on his hot skin. With barely enough time to register the situation, Timmy had pulled his pocket knife from his jeans, driving the blade into Angel¡¯s shoulder, tearing it out again. Fire ripped agony across Angel¡¯s chest and into his arm.

    ¡°Fuck you, I want my money,¡± Timmy snarled, his breath ragged and desperate. Sweat, dirt and blood coated his face and chest.

    The ecstatic warmth completely vanished, replaced by cold rage.

    You cheating little fucker.

    Angel¡¯s vision narrowed Timmy¡¯s busted face into hyper detail before it clicked out, flickering from red, to black. Blinded in fury, he blocked the next thrust of the knife with his forearm, the blade sinking into his skin, slashing it open.

    Angel pushed Timmy off, flapping his wings for momentum and pinned him. A rodent in the talons of a hungry hawk. He pulled back and punched, catching him in the jaw.

    ¡°You fucking cheater!¡±

    When he drew back again, someone caught him by the wings, hauling him off and away from the other man. Startled, he turned to see Alistair towering above them, his emerald eyes hard and lips drawn into a strict line.

    Shit.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough,¡± Alistair said, still gripping Angel firmly by the edge of his wings. ¡°Fight¡¯s over. Come on.¡±

    Timmy got to his feet. Adrenaline faded and the realization of his injures crept in. Blood poured down his chest and from his forearm. The crowd looked on, though some started to disperse.

    ¡°Party¡¯s over too,¡± Alistair called to the lingering on-lookers. He waved his arms in a shoo-ing motion for emphasis. ¡°Get.¡±

    ¡°What about my money?¡± Timmy demanded, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ¡°I won.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t win!¡± Angel yelled. Wrestling away from Alistair, he turned toward Timmy with raised fists. Fury still bit at him as the wounds stung and throbbed.

    Alistair pulled him back, gripping his biceps. ¡°Knock it off! It¡¯s done.¡± He turned to Timmy. ¡°How much to get you to fuck off?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°How much does he owe?¡± Alistair fished around in the pocket of his jeans for his wallet. ¡°I¡¯ll pay it, then get the fuck out of here.¡±

    Embarrassment flushed Angel¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Alice¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it Grub, I¡¯ll put it on your tab. What¡¯s a little more?¡± Alistair sighed. ¡°So how much?¡±

    ¡°One-hundred.¡±

    Alistair¡¯s eyes widened, but shaking his head, he dug the cash out of his wallet and passed it to Timmy. Satisfied, Timmy took it and staggered off, limping his way out of the yard.

    Angel was glad to see the back of him. Blood loss and liquor churned his stomach with nausea. He struggled to stay steady. By now, the crowd was gone. Only the two friends lingered in the yard. Crickets and peep-toads chirped in the warm night air. He couldn¡¯t meet Alistair¡¯s eyes as they wandered back into the house.

    I¡¯m such a piece of shit.

    Alistair ushered him into the darkened cabin. They moved from the porch to the living-room. Flicking on the light, they were met with a scene of destruction. The coffee table was over turned. Red plastic cups littered the carpet, creating stains. Smoke still lingered, stale, in the air.

    His wings were heavy. Long primary feathers drug across the floor. Angel groaned, not only from pain, but dreading tomorrow¡¯s clean up. As much as he enjoyed creating the mess, he could not tolerate it. Heightened senses made every crumb, and foul scent unbearable.

    Blood oozed from his gaping wounds. They rounded the corner to the bathroom tucked under the stairs. Alistair held the door open.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to stay,¡± Angel grumbled. ¡°I can take care of it.¡±

    Alistair shook his head, his floppy blond hair swished into his eyes and he pushed it away with a heavy sigh. His shoulders sagged.

    I wish he¡¯d just go, but I don¡¯t want him to leave. Fuck.

    Angel leaned against the sink, blood dripping onto the white porcelain. He cranked open the medicine cabinet before he could catch his own reflection in the mirror.

    ¡°Let me help you,¡± said Alistair, stepping toward him from the doorway. Angel stepped aside so he could reach across to rummage for the first- aid kit.

    Retracting his wings to make space in the small room, he perched on the edge of the tub. His wounds throbbed and the room spun. He tucked his head between his knees with a groan.

    The bleeding had finally stopped. Alistair approached with a wet wash cloth. He stooped low to push Angel¡¯s shoulder into leaning back.

    The ceiling danced and swirled above him. ¡°I¡¯m gonna throw up,¡± Angel complained.

    ¡°You better not. At least aim for the tub.¡±

    He winced as Alistair pressed the cloth to his open wound, sucking air through his teeth.

    It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t deserve it.

    ¡°Where was Nyx?¡± Angel asked, words slurring. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find her.¡±

    It¡¯s not like that would have changed anything.

    Alistair raised an eyebrow. His silver piercing glittered under the harsh light. ¡°She worked late, and it¡¯s a good thing too. You think she should have seen that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she would have finished the job,¡± Angel mumbled, his heart twisting. ¡°Fuck. Please don¡¯t tell her.¡±

    ¡°Like she¡¯s not gonna notice a gaping stab wound in your shoulder,¡± he laughed, still dabbing at the gash. The rough fibers scraped against tender flesh. ¡°Well, she won¡¯t hear it from me at least.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m never gonna hear the end of it.¡±

    Alistair went back to the open first-aid kit to grab some gauze and a bandage. The soiled wash cloth hung over the side of the sink, dripping onto the floor. He pressed the gauze to the wound, then Angel held it in place while Alistair wrapped the bandage around his shoulder.

    ¡°When are you gonna cut the shit?¡±

    ¡°Not now man, I¡¯m so sick,¡± Angel groaned.

    Alistair tied off the bandage and sighed. ¡°Your dad is gonna be pissed.¡±

    Angel clenched his jaw but his chest cinched. ¡°Who gives a fuck. He¡¯s so paranoid. Ivy isn¡¯t going to come to the island over a little tussle over a-hundred bucks. Not when there¡¯s full on fight clubs going on.¡±

    ¡°That you bet on, participate in, etcetera, etcetera." Alistair rolled his eyes. "You gotta knock it off, man. The last thing anyone needs is for Ivy to roll up here and you get caught up in it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Angel pulled his last cigarette from his pocket and fumbled with the lighter. He inhaled, bracing himself against the pain in his shoulder. His heart quickened, grinding his teeth at the thought of it.

    I¡¯m too fucking drunk for this.

    Part of him wondered if Alistair was as sick of him as he was of himself.

    ¡°Just something to consider,¡± said Alistair, plucking the cigarette from Angel¡¯s fingers to borrow a drag.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to stay here,¡± Angel grumbled. ¡°I got it.¡±

    It didn¡¯t need to be said. He wasn¡¯t going anywhere. It had been that way since childhood.

    He¡¯s bound to be getting tired.

    Alistair joined him on the edge of the tub. Blood streaked across his white t-shirt. He leaned forward, resting his head in his hands. A thin wisp of smoke trailed from the end of the cigarette.

    ¡°Happy birthday by the way. I hope it was a good one,¡± he muttered, flicking ash into the bottom of the tub. ¡°Cheers to another year.¡±

 Chapter Two - A Quiet Night In

    Nyx sat alone in the overstuffed staff room, savouring the silence. The ancient fridge hummed. A mouse had died somewhere. No one could find it, so they were stuck with the sickly sweet scent of rot until it decayed to nothing. The clanking fan on the countertop did its best to circulate the humid air, but only served to swirl around the stench.

    God, I need a cigarette.

    The thoughts circling in her head dragged her body down. The day had seemed as if it would never end, but now it was over, she didn¡¯t want to go home either. Even the green flannel draped around her elbows was too heavy.

    What on earth was Angel thinking last night? Probably nothing at all as usual.

    Sighing, she got up from the small Formica table. The overhead fluorescent light flickered. Ticking. Nyx went to her locker and pulled off the flannel, then looking over her shoulder at the empty room, just to be sure, she yanked her crop-top up over her head, then stepped out of her cargo shorts. She stuffed the bundle of clothes into the locker.

    A sharp ripple tip-toed up her spine. She gasped a delicate exhale as the sensation tingled through her limbs. A lit firecracker ignited each vertebra. Nyx folded inward. Dissolving. Her human form faded away. It dissipated in glittering sparks, disappearing like mist, leaving a lithe red fox in its place.

    In this new shape, the stench of death worsened. The colour was all but drained from the world, leaving it in greying hues of faded green and a palette of white and grey. Instead, it came alive through sound and scent. The incessant roar of the fridge and clanking of the fan became a crescendo.

    Nyx¡¯s senses only altered when in her fox body. She didn''t know how Angel tolerated the onslaught of sensations on such a constant basis. No wonder it was hard for him to focus if he were being pulled in so many directions at once.

    Now to get that mouse.

    She followed the scent behind the fridge, her little paws clicking on the linoleum. It led her to the back of the fridge. Scrunching up the best she could, she compacted her body until she could fit through the gap. The smell was at its worst here. Then she saw it. A small grey body hung limp over the coils. She pawed at it until it came loose, scrapping it across the floor, backing up until they were both out in the open.

    There. I¡¯ll pick it up tomorrow. No way I¡¯m putting that thing in my mouth.

    Nyx didn¡¯t bother to shift back. Instead, she nosed the break room door open and padded through the darkened market. All the display cases and shelves of produce towered above her. The main doors would be locked, but a window near the back was propped open a crack with a chunk of wood.

    She hopped up onto a stack of boxes until she could reach, then slipped through the window into the alley. The evening air was brisk, the nearby ocean brought in a slight cold snap. Nyx padded out toward the road. She emerged into the village-core; A single street with shops, including the market, and public service buildings lined either side. The centerpiece was the gas station on one side, and the town hall on the other. The buildings were all made of wood, almost resembling cabins themselves. This time of year, all the flower beds under the shop windows were in full bloom, inviting butterflies and bees. Mutants hurrying to and from the buildings shuffled past her. Some nodded or waved at her in acknowledgment.

    The shift had taken the edge off, but her chest still ached. Earlier that afternoon, Timmy had come in to buy some ice packs and aspirin for his black eye and busted lip, gladly telling her how he had acquired them. When he told her what happened to Angel, her heart had sunk. Every vein in her body ran cold.

    Why he¡¯d brag about cheating at a fight is beyond me. The idiot probably thought I¡¯d be impressed. What an asshole. I wish Angel would stop this nonsense. Would it kill him to have a quiet night in? To keep his head down for a bit?

    If she were to be honest with herself, she actually thought it might. She¡¯d never seen him be still.

    No, that¡¯s not true. Not quite.

    Whenever he played guitar, he¡¯d become so quiet. A calm would overcome him. Something so magical and precious to witness like a butterfly on the tip of a finger. She¡¯d almost forget to breathe.

    Nyx turned down a side street to the more residential section of the village. She bounded through the community garden and sprinted through shortcuts, weaving around brightly painted cabins. Grasshoppers scattered. She sprinted through backyards, accidently disrupting chickens in their runs and startled dogs. Eventually, she reached home.

    Her parent¡¯s squat grey cabin slouched into the tall grass. She waded through the weeds and padded up the rotting deck stairs, and slipped through the puppy-door. Immediately, the raucous laughter of a sitcom greeted her sensitive ears along with her father¡¯s boisterous laughter. Dishes sloshed around in the kitchen at the end of the hall where her mother washed them in the sink. The warm, greasy scent of rotisserie chicken clung to the air and she was sorry to have missed it.

    Nyx poked her head around the archway. Her father, Jay, had his long legs stretched out, feet up on the coffee table. His blond hair kept shaggy around his ears, sprigging in multiple directions. Jay smiled when he saw her. Crows feet crinkled around the edges of his sparkling emerald eyes.

    ¡°I was just about to send out a search party when you missed supper,¡± he said.

    She wagged her tail in acknowledgment, unable to properly answer.

    ¡°Nyx? That you?¡± Her mother, Molly, called from the kitchen. ¡°I saved some leftovers for you.¡±

    She trilled a response, but more than anything, she craved peace and quiet. She bounded up the stairs to her bedroom, away from the noise of television. Nyx nudged the bedroom door open, slipped inside then snapped it closed.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    The walls had been painted salmon pink when she was five and stayed that way. Glow in the dark stars lined the wall across from her bunk bed. They soared over Cassie¡¯s collage of polaroid''s stuck to a corkboard. They displayed landscapes, wildlife, random pets and candid shots of Nyx, Alistair and Angel.

    Nyx shifted back into her human form and rummaged through her dresser for something to wear. The white paint had begun to chip and it was still coated in the random assortment of stickers she had collected over the years. Humidity made her tan skin shimmer with sweat, making her short pink hair hang limp around her jaw.

    She slipped on a pair of green cotton shorts. The bedroom door creaked open and Nyx quickly covered her bare chest with a squeal, before noticing it was her triplet sister.

    ¡°Holy fuck, Cass! How many times do I have to tell you to knock first!¡±

    ¡°Why? It¡¯s my room too,¡± she said, flopping onto the bottom bunk. Her long green braids draped over her shoulders. They¡¯d begun to come loose in soft wisps.

    ¡°Because it¡¯s the polite thing to do you maniac.¡± Nyx pulled on a graphic t-shirt she¡¯d stolen from Angel, then glared at her sister.

    Cassie now sat on the edge of the bed, crossing her legs. Her cropped white camisole exposed her belly-button ring. Body glitter shimmered on her upper chest and stuck on gems decorated the outer edges of her eyes. Nyx immediately recognized her shade of red lipstick.

    ¡°Wait. Is that mine?¡± she demanded, her hands on her hips.

    Cassie batted her false eyelashes. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°My lipstick?¡±

    ¡°I just borrowed it a tiny bit. I don¡¯t smear it on like you do. I¡¯m dainty.¡±

    ¡°Dude, it¡¯s almost gone. Stay out of my stuff!¡±

    ¡°Girls!¡± Molly yelled up the stairs, ¡°Quit fighting!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, quit it,¡± Cassie grumbled, narrowing her green eyes. She tilted her head back then yelled, ¡°Mom! She¡¯s picking on me!¡±

    ¡°Nyx! Be nice to your sister!¡±

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Nyx exclaimed and marched out, slamming the door behind herself and stormed down the stairs.

    I gotta get the fuck out of here.

    Nyx barged down the hall, through the kitchen and out onto the back deck. Cricket song greeted her. The fresh salt air soothed her if only a little. The sun was nearly gone now, leaving a clear navy blue sky. Moths swarmed the dull porchlight. She slumped into one of the patio chairs.

    This is getting ridiculous.

    The patio door slid open and Alistair stepped outside, a cigarette already pressed between his fingers. He held the pack out to her in his other hand. ¡°I figured you¡¯d need one.¡±

    ¡°I knew there¡¯s a reason you¡¯re my favorite brother.¡± She grinned up at him, slipping a cigarette out of the box.

    ¡°You don''t have a choice,¡± he said, sliding into the seat beside her.

    Nyx lit her own cigarette then passed him the lighter. They sat in silence for a long while. Alistair leaned back, his long arms draped casually over the side of the chair as he puffed out smoke rings. Eventually, the stars appeared in the darkening sky. Alistair dug around in the pocket of his jeans and retrieved a plump joint. Twisting it between his thumb and forefinger, he held it out to her and she took it.

    The thick smoke choked her for a second, she coughed, eyes watering. Alistair laughed.

    ¡°Been awhile?¡±

    ¡°Too long,¡± she gasped. Gradually, her body relaxed and she passed the joint over. ¡°How bad was it? The fight?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen worse.¡±

    ¡°Alice, come on. He got stabbed for glory¡¯s sake,¡± she said, trying to keep her voice low so their parents couldn¡¯t hear. They¡¯d since moved into the kitchen for a game of cards. It was only a matter of time before word really got around anyway, especially considering Timmy¡¯s big mouth. As a squirrel shifter, the boy sure could chitter.

    Alistair took a hit off the joint. ¡°It wasn¡¯t great, but he¡¯s ok. Honest.¡±

    ¡°Maybe next time he won¡¯t be so lucky. This has to end.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°Well what do we do?¡±

    ¡°What can we do? He¡¯s his own man. We can¡¯t stop him.¡±

    ¡°We can stop enabling him,¡± she grumbled, folding her arms. ¡°Maybe he has to fall on his face for a second.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be cruel,¡± Alistair said, fidgeting with one of his earrings.

    ¡°I said for a second. He¡¯s out of control.¡±

    ¡°What else is new?¡±

    Nyx narrowed her eyes. A lump formed in her throat, the heaviness in her chest thrusting it forward. ¡°What if he dies, Alice? What then, huh?¡±

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s not gonna die.¡± Alistair waved his hand, but the flicker in his eye told her that he may not be so sure.

    You¡¯re scared too. This is as bad as it¡¯s ever been.

    Picturing life without him was too much to bare.

    ¡°Maybe I should move in with him? Maybe then I could keep him on track. He might settle down a bit if he can¡¯t just do whatever he wants all the time.¡±

    Alistair burst into laughter. ¡°Are you insane? He¡¯d just take the party elsewhere. Face it, you¡¯d go nuts living with him.¡±

    Nyx drummed her fingers on the glass surface of the table. ¡°I¡¯m going nuts living here.¡± She sighed and took the joint back from Alistair. It was burned down to the filter, but she pulled out what she could. ¡°When he moved out three years ago, I thought he¡¯d take me with him then, but we were so young, ya know? So I understood why he didn¡¯t ask me, but I¡¯m getting sick of waiting.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to,¡± Alistair said. ¡°Look, you might have to -¡±

    ¡°No, not for real. Not forever.¡± She couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Maybe if I tell him to get it together or I¡¯ll leave, then maybe he¡¯ll -¡±

    ¡°First, it won¡¯t work and you know it. You¡¯ve gone on how many breaks and he hasn¡¯t ever actually changed. It has to be for real. Second, you can¡¯t fuck with him like that. You said so yourself, he¡¯s gotta fall on his face, but you wanna know what really scares me? That he¡¯s gonna drag you down with him.¡±

    She clenched her jaw. Alistair wasn¡¯t wrong, but she couldn¡¯t bear to agree.

    ¡°Does Angel ever talk about me?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Of course he does.¡±

    ¡°No, like, talk about me.¡± Her cheeks burned and she hoped it was dark enough for Alistair not to notice. ¡°Does he tell you how he feels about me?¡±

    ¡°Nyx -¡±

    ¡°Please.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± she hung her head. Pressure formed in her throat and she swallowed around it.

    Why did I ever think he¡¯d want me to move in with him? He¡¯ll never be serious.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally.¡± Alistair reached out and gently took her hand. His calluses were comforting. They reminded her of their father. ¡°I¡¯m sure he loves you as much, if not more than he¡¯s capable of ever loving anyone. He just doesn¡¯t talk about that sort of thing. Look, if you want to move in with him, you gotta be the one to ask. I think it¡¯s a bad idea, but I support you. Hey, you never know, you might be right. Maybe it could be a good thing? It''s worth a shot, and you can always come home.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she muttered. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll try.¡±

 Chapter Three - Just One of Those Days

    Kismet sat behind the desk in the corner, swallowed by the stacks of books. Now the store was closed, she could put a dent into organizing before her boss came in tomorrow morning. She carefully sorted them into stacks by genre, then smaller piles by author. Kismet listed them all in order on a clipboard.

    The store seemed lonely, yet content. With dimmed lights, the shelves of books took on an ancient quality. Their knowledge now existed in shadow. There was little space to move without stumbling on a teetering pile. No matter how cramped the shelves were, Kismet could not say no to a stray book when it was abandoned on their doorstep. Where else would they have to go?

    Kismet was well aware what happened to strays. On the day she was born, her mother left the hospital without her. She bounced from home to home, some fit to bursting, but was always alone. When her powers manifested, she knew better than to express the full spectrum of her inner experience. They already thought she was weird, what did it matter if they thought she was crazy too?

    Outside the window, the city of Happsburg had gone dark, illuminated by street lights and restaurant windows. Still, people rushed along.

    Their thoughts slipped into her own mind like water through cracked pavement. Kismet grit her teeth and popped on her headphones, blasting music to keep them at bay. Heavy metal riffs still struggled to drown them out.

    She focused on the books, the way the glossy jackets felt under her hands, the scent of freshly pressed paper, how the spines cracked a little when opened.

    ¡­ I don¡¯t wanna lose my job¡­. Gotta pick up the kids from day care¡­ maybe I should just jump, nobody likes me anyway ¡­ Liam is so in love with me ¡­ I wish Susan would help with her end of the project ¡­

    And on and on and on¡­.

    Each fluttering thought sent a shock of emotion, an invader into her own body. They flowed like colourful ribbons, trailing through the air or clinging to surfaces. Some faded to pastel, while others remained vibrant neon swirls. She couldn¡¯t avoid them, having to phase through feelings like a phantom. Some were like static, clinging to her no matter how hard she tried to fend them off. At the end of the day, she became a loaded fly trap of other people¡¯s feelings and desires.

    Kismet cranked up the volume on her CD player until the headphone speakers distorted. Mouthing the lyrics helped until the hive of thoughts simmered to an incessant hum at the base of her skull. Finally, she heard herself think again.

    I should go home.

    A familiar aura slipped into the shop. A maroon miasma. She looked up with a smile to see her boyfriend Kevin weaving through the bookshelves toward her. His normally fluffy red hair looked matted and damp from the heavy fog outside. He smiled, but his brown eyes were clouded. It took what strength she had remaining to shut out his thoughts as he approached. It was hard to read facial expression and body language alone, but she tried, still unable to discern his mood. Uncertainty twisted anxiety into her stomach.

    Kismet clicked off her CD player and dipped her headphones. The swarm of voices surged and she grimaced, shoving them down, then forced her expression back to normal.

    ¡°You gave me a key, remember?" he said. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be happy to see me? Most women would be overjoyed to have their boyfriend come to walk them home.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just not feeling well tonight,¡± she explained and looked down at the book in her hand. A pirate adventure, or on closer look, it was a romance. There was a hint of pink in its aura amidst all the swashbuckling danger. ¡°Just one of those days, I guess.¡±

    Kevin leaned against the counter and rolled his eyes. ¡°I keep telling you, it¡¯s all in your head. You just gotta try harder to get over it.¡±

    The trying might be killing me, but what else can I do?

    She bit her lip, darting her sharp hazel eyes around the room, soaking up the books instead.

    Kevin snapped his fingers at her. ¡°Hello, earth to Kismet.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°You went on another trip to space,¡± he laughed at his own joke. ¡°You ready to go?¡±

    ¡°Oh, sorry. Yeah, I am.¡± She put the unsorted books off to the side and set down her clip board, climbing out of the hoard.

    Kismet¡¯s hoodie sleeves drooped over her hands, and she nibbled the cuffs. The fabric was already tattered from chewing. She turned out the rest of the shop lights, and made sure the alarm was on. Kevin led the way out of the store, the tiny bell tinkling as they pushed the door open. It shut behind them. She tested the door handle to be sure it locked.

    ¡°It locks every night, come on,¡± he grumbled, already turning to go down the street.

    ¡°I know but -¡±

    He started to walk away and she hurried to follow. The ribbons of colour rippling along the sidewalk contrasted bright against the evening darkness. She was careful not to let anyone even so much as brush against her as they passed. It was much too risky in this state of mind.

    When she caught up, Kevin reached for her hand, instinctually, she pulled it away. He glared at her.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I - I just can¡¯t right now.¡±

    ¡°When can you ever?¡± he grumbled, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kismet muttered. A sob rose in her throat, but she stuffed it down. She stared at her sneakers as they walked. The sidewalk was filthy, littered with cigarette butts and bits of garbage.

    Her heartrate accelerated. The voices rose up like white static, all clamouring to be heard. They pressed against the confines of her skull. The ground took on a rippling quality. When she blinked, she saw a different life through the eyes of another passerby. She saw the street from all angles until she was dizzy.

    Kismet stopped in her tracks, leaning against the nearest building. The damp brick was cool against her clammy flesh. Her chest rose and fell in rapid heaves. Fingernails dug into the mortar, clinging to reality.

    "You gotta be kidding me,¡± Kevin turned and stood in front of her, hands on his hips. ¡°So dramatic.¡±

    She pressed her hands to the side of her head and slid to the sidewalk before it could come up to greet her. Kismet wove her fingers through her dense curls, desperate for any type of physical sensation to keep her present. A scream welled up to be held prisoner in her throat.

    ...What is this girl¡¯s problem¡­ so sad¡­ another crackhead¡­ junkie¡­ Is she ok¡­ drama queen, always has to ruin my night¡­ Shouldn¡¯t she go to a hospital¡­ Why are they just standing there¡­ Why am I still with her? She¡¯s useless¡­ Always making a scene¡­

    Kismet saw herself from the eyes of all the onlookers, feel their concern, their judgement, their need to hurry along, it wasn¡¯t their problem. Her face tucked behind her knees with her arms up, fingers locked behind her head.

    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Kevin assured anyone that could be bothered to stop and ask.

    After a moment, she gradually returned to herself. She opened her eyes and they were finally her own again. Breath flowed through her lungs. In and out. The small crowd had dispersed at Kevin¡¯s insistence, and for that she was actually grateful.

    I don¡¯t need anymore embarrassment.

    ¡°You done?¡± Kevin asked.

    Kismet nodded and got to her feet. Her stomach rolled, but she was more stable than a moment ago.

    ¡°What was that all about?¡± Kevin demanded as they began to walk again. ¡°Are you ever gonna get this sorted out?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to.¡± Her voice was so low it was nearly a whisper.

    I don¡¯t know who could help me.

    The Academy was an option, but Ivy was like a myth. An urban legend to tell the kids to act right or else. They told stories of a friend of a friend, some other kid that had their life-force sucked right out for not eating their green beans.

    Not to mention the Watchers she saw on the news, raiding mutant night clubs and hauling them away. They¡¯d come for humans too, but it would have to be for something quite egregious against a mutant.

    I can handle it. I¡¯ll figure something out.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you take pills for this or something?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve tried.¡±

    More like her foster families tried. It would only last for so long before the voices would surge forward, and she¡¯d max out her dose. There would be nothing anyone could do. She spent a stretch of time between eight and ten in a total fog, simply shuffling on autopilot, but the problems persisted. They threatened to have her committed until she discovered the key was not to cause issues for others. If she stayed silent, they considered her cured.

    I¡¯m better off alone.

    Despite herself, a thick tear slid down her cheek.

    They turned down another side street, getting closer to their apartment in the art district. They waded through the fog drifting in from the nearby harbour. Graffiti decorated the dilapidated buildings, infused with the emotions that made them like flashing neon lights in the night.

    ¡°Guess what happened at work today,¡± said Kevin. ¡°We found out Helen in HR is  a mutant.¡±

    Kismet tensed, digging her fingernails into her palms. ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I mean we suspected for a bit, but now it¡¯s for sure. Can¡¯t fire her or anything thanks to Ivy, but it¡¯s not fair to the rest of us. You know what her power is? Guess.¡±

    Kismet bit her lip, tasting the tang of blood. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°She can predict five minutes into the future. I mean, how can we compete with that? They shouldn¡¯t be allowed to work with us. I¡¯m never getting a promotion.¡±

    ¡°Helen isn¡¯t even in your department,¡± said Kismet.

    Kevin glowered at her. ¡°Like that matters. It just shows the market place for employees. Us regular guys don¡¯t stand a chance when the Helens can just saunter on in.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see what her abilities have to do with her job -¡±

    ¡°Do you have to argue with me over everything?¡± Kevin snapped.

    ¡°No, but -¡±

    ¡°But nothing. It isn¡¯t fair, plain and simple. Mutants should stay on their own side of things. Keep to themselves. Those ones on the island have the right idea. They should all move over there.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, maybe they should,¡± said Kismet. ¡°Especially if you so called regular guys are gonna be such jerks to them all the time. She¡¯s just living her life.¡±

    He stopped to glare at her. ¡°What do you care? You should be more concerned about me, and my job. What if they replace me with one?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s unlikely. You¡¯re good at your job, and it isn¡¯t like there¡¯s a mutant out there with the uncanny ability to enter data.¡±

    ¡°Why do you have to be such a bitch?¡± He demanded and stormed ahead.

    The street was close to empty with only swaying oak trees and brownstone townhouses for company. An orange cat scurried across the road, its tail high in the air. Kismet also wished to run. He¡¯d certainly be in a foul mood for the rest of the night.

    She hurried after him. Bracing herself for contact, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    He kept walking, practically dragging her along.

    Please just look at me.

    Finally he stopped. She buried her face in his side, feeling the warmth of his body heat, the ferocity of his sullen maroon energy. She couldn¡¯t bear to be alone. Touch became too much, and she pulled away before her mind could slip again.

    At least we¡¯re nearly home.

    Some rest and food on her belly should put her right again, shrink the voices down to an incessant whisper.

    I¡¯ll be better in the morning.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try to be better,¡± she murmured. The promise became like a mantra. For as long as she could remember, she¡¯d always tried to be better, but never content.

 Chapter Four - Broken Plates

    Angel landed on the lawn, folding his wings at his back. The overgrown grass came up to his thighs. The sun already set, casting everything in the blackish blue light of dusk. He pulled in his wings, the pressure stung for a second as they separated his skin, sliding inside.

    The light brown cabin seemed to sink, lopsided into the lawn. Shingles blown off the roof, scattered amongst the grass. The crack in the front window twisted a jagged diagonal trail from bottom to the top. Packing tape patched it like scattered bandages.

    He took the black shirt from the back pocket of his jeans and slipped it on, hastily fastening the buttons. Angel approached his childhood home. The still fresh wound in his chest panged and the weight of dread sat like a stone in the pit of his stomach.

    I hope he hasn¡¯t heard yet. Maybe there¡¯s a chance we could have a nice dinner, but what are the odds?

    Angel steeled himself. The pealing white door opened with ease and he stepped inside. Though all the lights were on, a sort of darkness lingered, deepening the shadows. The warm, spiced scent of steak frying on the stove wafted from the kitchen. Fat crackled and spat in the pan.

    ¡°In here,¡± Julian called.

    Angel obeyed, walking through the living-room to get to the kitchen. The curtains over the broken window were drawn. No one sat on the sunken brown couch, but the television displayed a black and white war documentary. Old timey guns popped off through the echoing speaker.

    Julian stood at the stove, flipping a steak over in the pan to a loud hiss of oil. He turned to look as Angel entered the room, hard brown eyes evaluated him. His lips pursed into a thin line beneath a coarse dark beard.

    ¡°Sorry it took so long for me to come over,¡± Angel said, examining the buttons on the front of his shirt. ¡°I was busy cleaning from the party. Time got away from me.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh.¡± Julian turned back to the stove. His shoulders raised. Each movement and shuffle of the meat in the pan was stiff and measured. ¡°Nothing you want to tell me?¡±

    Electricity snapped around Julian like a hum in the air, bristling the hairs on Angel¡¯s forearm. His heart quickened.

    Angel smiled, though his voice faltered. ¡°Depends, what have you heard?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be cute,¡± he growled, rounding on Angel. His eyes bored a hole. Angel shifted in place. ¡°Stabbed? Angel, really?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t so bad -¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that, then?¡± Julian pointed to the bandage coiled around Angel¡¯s left forearm.

    Angel rolled down his sleeves. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a little disagreement. It¡¯s been resolved.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure. Alice cover for you again?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯ll pay him back.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. It never ends with you.¡± Julian gripped the edge of the stove, hunched up and knuckles whitening. Rage hardly contained in muscles strung tight with tension.

    Angel¡¯s heart raced. Sweat pooled on the back of his neck. His fingernails dug into his palm.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Not good enough!¡± Julian bellowed, whirling to face him again with eyes ablaze. The spatula flew from the pan in a hale of grease and meat.

    ¡°What do you want me to do then? Grovel?¡± Angel snapped. ¡°I said I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s not like I died or something, what more do you want?¡±

    The burly man approached like a boulder shifting. Angel caught a whiff of beer on his breath and pressed close to the counter, feeling the hard lip dig into the base of his spine. Blood pounded in his temples. Every ounce of concentration was spent on maintaining eye contact.

    Don¡¯t look away.

    ¡°Grow up,¡± Julian demanded. ¡°You can¡¯t keep living like this forever. Do you have a death wish? What if Ivy heard?¡±

    Not this shit again.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t care what happens here so long as we don¡¯t make trouble on the mainland,¡± Angel insisted. ¡°I doubt she gives a fuck if some asshole stabs me over a-hundred bucks. I¡¯m sure she has much better things to do.¡±

    ¡°A- hundred dollars?¡± Julian exclaimed, his eyes widening. ¡°What the fuck were you thinking gambling that much when you can¡¯t even buy groceries?¡±

    ¡°I thought it was a sure thing.¡± Angel shrugged, shifting his weight. ¡°I figured I¡¯d make it back.¡±

    "You wouldn¡¯t need to gamble for a quick buck if you¡¯d stop drinking, pissing all your money away -¡±

    Angel clenched his jaw, curling his fist at his side.

    Julian laughed. ¡°You think you¡¯re going to hit me?¡± He stepped closer and Angel flinched. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not the only one that¡¯s been drinking,¡± Angel said, looking toward the empty cans on the countertop.

    ¡°I get to!¡± Julian snarled, jabbing a finger at Angel¡¯s chest.

    Angel flinched away from each prod, the edge of the counter burrowing further into his back. Each push throbbed pain into the stab wound through his shoulder. The bandage became moist, new blood dampening the material beneath his shirt.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°There¡¯s never a moment¡¯s peace with you. Ember and I had plans for this place.¡± Bitter tears shimmered in Julian¡¯s eyes.

    This was the only time Angel ever heard Julian speak of his mother - when he was absolutely piss drunk, but still, he clung to every word. The steak sizzled in the frying pan, the fat withering away into a hardened ball of charred meat. Smoke began to rise.

    ¡°If only she could see you now,¡± Julian continued, eyes narrowing to pin pricks of accusation.

    Angel''s heart lodged in the bottom of his throat, choking him. Burnt meat permeated the air in a scent of blackened gristle. Julian''s energy filled the room. Cold disappointment and dark pits of dejection. He''d heard it all before. Julian usually apologized later - but this time, Angel felt his father meant every single word.

    ¡°Fuck you,¡± Angel spat. The edges of his vision darkened. ¡°How the hell am I supposed to know what she would think? You won¡¯t tell me a damn thing about her.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re too much like her. Reckless and selfish. Never appreciating a damn thing I do for you.¡± Julian reached into an overhead cabinet to grab a pair of blue and white plates. He plunked them onto the counter with a hollow clatter.

    What have you ever done for me you drunk piece of shit?

    ¡°Hmm,¡± said Angel, feigning amusement and examined a silver ring on his finger. ¡°In that case, it sounds like we¡¯d have gotten along great.¡±

    Julian turned back to the steak. It was charred and shriveled to a husk. ¡°Fuck, now look what you¡¯ve done!¡± He ripped the pan from the burner, thrusting it to the back of the stove.

    ¡°Me?¡± Angel demanded. ¡°You¡¯re the idiot that turned away from it. How¡¯s that my fault?¡±

    ¡°You should have warned me.¡± Julian turned the burner off. The coils were still red hot. ¡°Now what?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Angel moved toward the archway. ¡°I¡¯m going to see Nyx, that¡¯s what.¡±

    ¡°Sure, sure, run away,¡± Julian chastised, voice rising. ¡°Go on. You think she hasn¡¯t heard? You think she¡¯s going to put up with your shit forever?¡±

    Angel stiffened, heart pounding. A terrible voice told him that his father was right. He stopped and turned to face him.

    Trembling from head to toe, Angel clenched his fists, bracing himself against his own heart beat. Boiling rage flooded a warmth into his chest like fire, the same as when he had been fighting Timmy the night before, but he still could not place the feeling. It was different from the usual anger gnawing away from the inside. This was something else.

    ¡°Maybe not forever, but I think tonight should be fine.¡±

    What is this strange feeling? It can¡¯t just be adrenaline¡­

    A plate hit the wall beside him, showering glass onto the floor. Angel flinched out of the way before his brain could even process what had happened. Heart still in his throat, pounding blood into his temples, he looked at his father.

    The shattering of glass had been so loud the silence between them now was thunderous. Chunks of blue and white ceramic shards scattered at Angel¡¯s feet. A chill settled into his body and he trembled, shivering like he could never be warm.

    Julian¡¯s ruddy face had gone pale, starring at him with wide, horrified eyes. ¡°Angel I¡¯m -¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± He kicked a thick ceramic shard out of the way and headed for the door. His hands shook. Warmth returned and his vision throbbed, darkness nearly eclipsing his sight.

    It wasn¡¯t the first plate Julian had ever thrown at him, not even close, but his words stung.

    I deserve it. He¡¯s right. I¡¯m useless.

    Julian followed, grabbing Angel by the elbow once they reached the porch. The war movie played on. He wrenched his arm away, rounding on him.

    ¡°Fuck off, just let me -¡±

    ¡°Angel, please, I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± He looked up at him with tears pooling in his eyes. ¡°I - I lost my temper. You know how I get when you push me like that.¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Angel said, his voice even and dark.

    Oh yes, I do.

    ¡°I care about you. I wouldn¡¯t have to be so harsh if you¡¯d just -¡±

    ¡°I need to go,¡± Angel whispered. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. Nyx will wonder where I am.¡±

    Julian dropped his eyes. ¡°Yes, you better go then.¡±

    Angel didn¡¯t wait any longer and marched outside, his body quaking. He ground his teeth. Now outside, the brisk night air cooled his cheeks. His chest heaved. Pain throbbed into the wound with each breath. The bandages were wet and cold with old blood now. He stripped off his shirt to spread his wings. The tension in his shoulders released as they unfurled.

    With a few flaps, the air embraced him. The brisk wind rose goosebumps along his exposed skin. He spiraled higher until the island was laid out beneath. The lights of Happsburg sparkled across the other side of the water. The distance between the island and the mainland was covered by an afternoon ferry ride. Usually, the view would ease his mind, but the thoughts raced on.

    The village below seemed so tranquil. At one time it was a thriving fishing village, before it was abandoned. Then it became a beacon of hope, almost a thing of myth, for mutants seeking refuge from the exploitation of the old Academy. After the war, more mutants uninterested in living amongst humans found their homes here too until the once dilapidated shacks and cabins had been completely resurrected.

    The cabins gathered in clusters along the eastern shore. Some formed a warren of interlaced streets punctuated by community gardens, while others lined the beaches with long wharfs extending into the sea.

    Farmland and dense boreal forest sprawled out in the south. The beaches and port lied between the nest of cottages and the village-core.

    It was tempting to land by the sea in the usual spot behind the rocks, hidden from the road and the rest of the public beach. He and the triplets spent many days and nights there, telling their darkest secrets and every worry on their shoulders. Everything seemed to wash away with the waves. Not this time.

    I keep fucking up, and now even Nyx is fed up with me.

    Angel spiraled higher until he skated above the clouds. No longer obstructed, a multitude of stars dazzled above him. No matter how many times he¡¯d seen them, he¡¯d never grow tired of it. He wanted nothing more than to share this view with her.

    Nyx claimed to hate flying this high, but when she¡¯d agree to it, her eyes lit up with wonder and fear. Her arms would tighten around his shoulders, burying her face in his neck, but she¡¯d still peek out, squealing with delight. He¡¯d promise never to let her go.

    I always let her down.

    Gradually, he sunk lower. His cabin came into view and he circled, preparing to land. The wind whistled in his ears, whipping his hair back. The earth came up to greet him. His feet hit the dirt with a thump and sharp exhale of breath. It was never a delicate process.

    Angel pulled his wings in, not bothering to tug his shirt back on. The little blue cabin was dark. He made his way inside to get his guitar. The emptiness inside was a far cry from the bustling party from last night. It had taken most of the day to get the cabin back in order even with Alistair¡¯s help.

    Now the house sat in silence - or as close to silence as it could ever be with the electricity zinging in the walls. It crossed his mind to trip the breaker just for some true quiet. Even then, that would be impossible. Something, somewhere, was always making a sound.

    He climbed the steep stairs to the bedroom. The only one in the house. The space was so small, the double bed took up most of it, leaving only enough room for his dresser and guitars. Three acoustics propped up on stands, while two electrics hung on the walls. The only other decoration being a string of polaroid''s Cassie took. They showed himself with Nyx, Alistair or both. Most were taken by surprise, so they were less than flattering, but he kept them all.

    The ruby red guitar glistened in the soft light from the window and he plucked it down, taking it into his arms. He pulled the strap over his shoulder then left to find Nyx.

 Chapter Five - Look Away

    Nyx and her siblings, along with Angel, had turned the empty shed in her parent''s yard into their club house. They had used it as a not-so-secret lair ever since. The single bare light bulb dangled over head. Fading sunlight struggled to make its way through the grime coating the windows and stapled pillowcases that served as curtains.

    They had furnished the small space with a collection of questionably acquired lawn chairs around a wobbly round table. An ancient mattress lay in the back corner with a single pillow and a blanket tossed on top. A narrow bookshelf made of stacked cinder blocks and wood planks rested against the side wall. It was stuffed with crusty paperbacks, board games with missing pieces, comics and magazines.

    The knock at the door drowned under the pounding of the drum set. Sweat formed on Nyx''s brow and the nape of her neck as her arms moved in the familiar rhythm, clearing her mind. She worked through the song, quick and loud, until her biceps hurt, only stopping when the door to the shed opened.

    Angel stepped inside. His red guitar slung over his shoulder, and a sheepish grin on his face. Nyx slid off the stool and tucked her drumsticks in the back pocket of her jeans. Her breath tightened in her chest, caught somewhere between festering frustration and instinctual happiness at the sight of him.

    "You''re not mad at me are you?" he asked.

    "I was," she said, "but I''m not anymore. Not really."

    He quirked an eyebrow.

    "I just wish you''d cool it." Nyx stepped around the drum kit to sit at the wooden table.

    Angel propped the guitar against the wall. He joined her at the table, then fished a joint out of his pocket. His bright blue eyes narrowed a moment to focus as he lit it. Then they landed on her graphic t-shirt.

    "So that''s where that went," he said, gently plucking at her sleeve.

    "Hands off Grub." She tugged the cloth away from him. "It was mine in the first place. I simply stole it back."

    "Whatever, we''ll share."

    "Easy for you to say. It''s not yours." She playfully snatched the joint from him and took a long drag. "I''m sorry I missed your birthday.¡±

    "You gotta work," he said, but she heard the twinge of sadness in his voice. A pang of guilt twisted in her guts.

    Angel took the joint from her again, twirling it between his fingers.

    ¡°Maybe if I had come, things would have worked out differently,¡± she said.

    He took a hit, exhaling smoke. ¡°I doubt it. Timmy was pretty keen on getting his money back. What could you have done?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± she sighed. ¡°From what I heard, you instigated it.¡±

    Angel tensed and averted his eyes. The assortment of rings on his fingers suddenly became quite interesting. ¡°Well, it would have gotten there eventually.¡±

    Nyx clenched her jaw, biting her tongue. After a breath, she said, ¡°If you didn¡¯t gamble with money you don¡¯t have, you wouldn¡¯t get yourself in these scenarios.¡±

    ¡°Do you have to do this? You think I¡¯m not pissed about this too? I don¡¯t like getting stabbed.¡±

    Sometimes I wonder.

    ¡°Timmy is a psycho,¡± Angel continued. ¡°If the fight had been fair -¡±

    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t have been a fight in the first place!¡± she snapped. ¡±Do you have any idea how scared I am for you? Does that even cross your mind?¡±

    ¡°Not in the moment,¡± Angel confessed, putting the last of the joint in his mouth. He flicked the lighter, touching the flame to the end.

    ¡°So I¡¯m an after thought then?¡±

    ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s just, I dunno.¡± He crushed out the filter in the ashtray. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Angel, if apologies were pennies I¡¯d be a very rich woman,¡± she said, chest cinching against her throbbing heart. ¡°For once in your life, please put your money where your mouth is.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± he sighed.

    Their eyes met. Sadness softened his usually crisp irises. Butterflies danced in her stomach. They had known each other since a time before memory. The warmth of his easy smile was as familiar to her as turning toward the afternoon sun, but now, his lips turned down in a brooding grimace.

    ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking,¡± she said, softening her tone.

    At least for now.

    ¡°How was supper with Julian?¡±

    He fidgeted with a ring, wiggling it between his thumb and forefinger. ¡°About how I expected it¡¯d go.¡±

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Nyx¡¯s stomach churned. She hated to pile on to whatever Julian must have said to him. She left the table to take up the drums again. Angel followed her lead, getting the guitar from its place against the wall and hooked it up to the amp. They''d never officially come together as a band or even tried to play on stage anywhere. It was just something they always did together. Some nights, they hardly talked at all.

    While they played, Nyx studied his face; the serious squint of his azure eyes as he focused, the angles of his delicate bone structure and the gentle curve of his lips pulled down in concentration - so used to smiling, it was striking to see him so intent. Deft fingers strummed the guitar. His tendons were as taunt as the strings he plucked. She skipped a few beats, and his eyes flicked in her direction, the intensity in them momentarily lost, replaced with an amused glimmer. A slight smile. She blushed, eyes returning to her drums. Electric chords reverberated through the tiny shed.

    When the song ended, they switched to a familiar ballad. Angel started to sing. It was as if a crow became a song bird and Nyx wished she could bottle the sound. His voice was low and deep. It mesmerized her how it could resonate yet remain so light and elegant at the same time. The way he varied his range with ease captivated her. She could listen to him for hours.

    She would give anything for Angel to stay this version of himself. This version emerged in his trickster smile and gentle kisses, the way he played with her hair even after she''d fallen asleep, but that version was fleeting and tangible as steam.

    The ballad trailed off. Nyx stopped to catch her breath. Sweat dampened the back of her neck. The blisters beneath her thumbs throbbed. Standing up to stretch, she tucked the drum sticks into her back pocket again.

    Angel propped up his guitar and slumped into the nearest chair. A red stain blossomed on the left side of his breast.

    ¡°You¡¯re bleeding,¡± Nyx exclaimed and hurried to his side.

    ¡°Fuck. Sorry, it¡¯s been doing that off and on all night,¡± he muttered and tried to fumble with the buttons on his top.

    Her heart raced, and her hands quaked as a sort of cold nausea set in.

    ¡°Here, let me,¡± she gently pushed his hands aside and unbuttoned his shirt, guiding the fabric over his shoulders. He winced as it brushed past the bandage. Bright, fresh blood mingled with the darker dried patches, soaking the wad of gauze. Her heart twisted. Nausea made the room spin before she collected herself again. She gently touched the edge of his wound like a whisper across his torn flesh. ¡°You¡¯re a mess.¡±

    ¡°I know, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    She peeled the bandages away to reveal a scantily formed scab. ¡°This probably needs stitches. Angel, maybe we should go to the clinic? Alistair could drive -¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary,¡± he said, catching her wrist. They locked eyes. Supplication clouded his irises. ¡°They might report it to Watcher Liz. It¡¯ll heal quick. It always does.¡±

    What have you gotten yourself into?

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    Nyx left the shed hurrying for the first-aid kit inside the house. The night air was cold and brisk against her clammy skin. The house was now in darkness with everyone else gone off to bed, so she was careful to be quiet climbing up the back deck and slipped through the patio doors.

    After gathering the first-aid kit from the bathroom, she went to her bedroom to grab a fresh t-shirt and returned to the shed.

    Angel had moved himself to the mattress on the floor. For a moment, she held her breath. He was so still.

    It wasn¡¯t that deep. Was it?

    When she tugged the shed door closed, he raised his head, squinting at her.

    ¡°Nyx, I¡¯m -¡±

    She crossed the room and climbed onto the bed beside him. Angel propped himself up, blood dribbled from the split scab. It trailed a red line down his chest.

    Nyx rummaged through the first-aid kit for alcohol wipes and began to clean the wound. Angel winced at the soft touch.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to,¡± he began, shifting away. ¡°I can do it. It¡¯s late. You should probably go to bed.¡±

    ¡°I want to.¡±

    She fixated on his wound, wiping dried blood away with firm pressure.

    ¡°Nyx -¡±

    ¡°Will you please just shut up and let me help you?¡± she snapped.

    Why do you have to make things so difficult?

    Nyx pressed the gauze to the wound, then twisted the bandage around his shoulder. Her fingers grazed his skin. Pressure formed at the base of her throat. It became hard to swallow. She softened.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be so hard on you,¡± she said, dropping her gaze. ¡°I can¡¯t stand to see you like this.¡±

    ¡°Then look away,¡± he muttered.

    Then what would you do? Where would you be if I turned from you?

    She handed him the t-shirt and he tugged it on, but not without wincing when he raised his arms up. The sea air permeated the cracks in the old shed, causing a damp chill to settle into the room. Nyx snuggled against him, finding solace in the warmth of his body. He pulled the threadbare blanket up around them and laid back. The bare light bulb swung overhead, dust motes dancing in the thin beam. Such a comforting, familiar view. The scent of old wood and brine mingled with their own sweat and the dust in the blanket. She wished to stay here forever, for everything to remain just as it was. A place outside of time, with the heat of his body beside her into eternity.

    When I die, this will be heaven.

    ¡°I think - I think I should move in with you,¡± she said, looking up at him.

    ¡°I uh - I don¡¯t think that¡¯s such a great idea,¡± Angel said, scratching the back of his head.

    "Why not?" She had expected some resistance, but it still stung. "There''s no sense in me taking up a whole other cabin from someone else when we spend all our time together anyway."

    "You''d hate living with me," he said finally, and seemed self-satisfied with the answer. "You like your space."

    Nyx scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Like I have so much space living here."

    "You have this shed," said Angel.

    "Oh wow, a shed. Amazing." She wanted to keep her voice casual, but there was no way he couldn''t hear her heart thundering in her chest. At least she could hide her tears from him, resisting the burning sting at the rim of her eyes. She turned over on her side.

    Angel sighed, rolling after her, he wrapped his arm around her waist. Tugging her closer. Against her instinct, she stiffened. Everything in her wanted to melt into the embrace, but she resisted.

    "C''mon," he pleaded, letting her go. "Don''t be like that. Can''t I think on it a bit?"

    "How much longer do you need?"

    "I dunno," he said. "Let it sink in a bit."

    It shouldn''t be this hard for him to decide. Hasn''t it been on his mind all this while?

    She nodded, but wouldn''t look at him. "Fine."

 Chapter Six - One Of Them

    The commute from the bookstore to home was not long, but it wiped Kismet out even still. She chewed the soggy and torn ends of her sweater cuffs as she reached her apartment building. It was a former warehouse, shaped like a plain brick square. The windows on the upper floors housing the apartments were small and narrow. The art gallery on the bottom floor had windows that spanned floor to ceiling, granting a glimpse of the alternating exhibits within.

    Sometimes when Kismet was in a better mood, she liked to go and see what was on display. The best pieces hummed with lingering intent and passion with subtle notes of brewing emotions; anything from betrayal to lust. It formed an energetic fingerprint; something left behind by the creator that was unique to each piece.

    At times, she and Kevin would wander the exhibits together, and he¡¯d point out pieces he¡¯d recognise from magazine articles. He¡¯d talk for ages about each one. She¡¯d soak up the brilliant green of enthusiasm bursting through his aura.

    In this state of mind, it was best to avoid it all together and dash directly to the loft. All she wanted was to hole up in bed under the covers until she could muster up the strength to think straight again. Kismet twisted a strand of curly brown hair with her right index finger and nibbled on her left sleeve. She trudged up the iron staircase.

    Nearly to the top, her CD player stopped. Thoughts sucked into her mind through the silence like a vacuum. A cacophonous roar ripped into her skill. She fumbled for a second then clicked play. The solace of heavy riffs began again.

    Finally at her apartment, Kismet twisted the heavy iron knob, glad it was unlocked so she didn''t have to fumble with the keys. She clicked off her CD player and placed it on the kitchen counter next to a pile of unopened bills and credit card statements. Her gut lurched and she looked away.

    We gotta get the spending under control, but I can¡¯t bare to look at it. I don¡¯t have the energy for this.

    The pendulum lights were on, illuminating the industrial style space. The black metal contrasted against the russet masonry. Fully open concept, even their bedroom was in the same room, separated from the living-room side by a long partition.

    "You''re home," Kevin said from the sofa.

    "I''m going to bed," she said, hurrying to cross the room.

    ¡°Stay up a little while longer? I haven''t seen you all day," he said and looked around at her. His hard blue eyes spoke over his otherwise soft tone. "It''s only six o''clock. You haven''t even cooked dinner yet."

    "I shouldn''t. My head is - I''m having one of those days," she said, in a light, airy way, almost laughing at herself. This was utterly embarrassing. The alternative was to completely fall apart..

    He actually asked for once.

    "Maybe watching a show or something will help?¡±

    ¡°Ok, I''ll stay up for an episode."

    "There," he said with a grin. The smile softened the hard edges of his face.

    Kevin sat up and scooched over to make room for her, but she sat at the other end of the sofa. She pulled her legs up and scrunched.

    "Ok, pick something," Kismet said. It needed to be quick. She didn''t want to scour the cable-guide channel forever.

    He groaned in exasperation. "Why do you have to be like this?"

    She blinked, surprised. Satin curtains of mud-purple disdain wafted from his body. It drifted toward the ceiling like fading smoke.

    "Well!" he snapped. "Don''t just stare at me. I hate when you look at me like that."

    "Like what?" Genuinely confused, she looked away, unsure of what to do with her face or her body anymore.

    How can I arrange myself to make it better? To disappear?

    "Maybe I should go to bed if I''m bothering you."

    "No, I want you to stay. We never spend any time together," he grumbled and moved closer. They didn''t physically touch, but the pressure of his presence pushed in. Even seated, he loomed over her. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be over this by now.¡±

    Reflexively, Kismet leaned closer to the arm of the sofa.

    "See, this is exactly what I''m talking about.¡± Red fireworks sparked through his churning maroon aura. "Can''t you be normal? All I want to do is hold my girlfriend. I¡¯ve tried everything. I don¡¯t know what else to do with you."

    All at once, a tidal-bore of thoughts rushed Kismet¡¯s mind. Awareness of her body became a  distant note, unable to even feel the couch beneath her. The voices of her neighbors spanning a block over flooded in, deafening her into an unintelligible swarm. Their hopes, fears, desire and pain all became hers. Untangling herself from them all was near impossible.

    Kevin''s muffled speech escalated, growing louder and more urgent, but she still couldn''t understand. There was no way to make sense of what he was saying through the crushing waves of voices dragging her under.

    She sat frozen, screaming within her own mind to simply say something. Do something. Instead, the pain, joy, fear and ecstasy of the city consumed her.

    A sharp slap to the cheek brought her living room to stunning clarity. Kevin towered over her, but the previous anger and annoyance written across his face was replaced with concern.

    "I had to do it, you were totally catatonic,¡± he explained. ¡°What the hell was -"

    You didn¡¯t need to. Is it too much to ask for someone to just sit beside me?

    Nausea overwhelmed Kismet and she burst from the couch, running for the bathroom. Her whole body shook. A chill settled into her bones like she''d never be warm again. Kevin stood in the doorway as she vomited in the toilet.

    "I think we should go to the hospital.¡± He shifted his weight from foot to foot. "Something is seriously wrong with you."

    Kismet plopped on the cold tile floor.

    "I''m fine," she said and forced herself onto wobbling legs. Numb. She couldn''t stand being in her own skin. "I just need to go to bed."

    He blocked the door, arms folded across his chest.

    ¡°Please, I¡¯m so tired¡­¡±

    ¡°What the hell is going on with you? What¡¯s with these episodes?¡±

    ¡°I told you -¡±

    ¡°A mysterious illness?¡± he grumbled, rolling his eyes. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not all in your head? Some attention seeking -¡±

    Heat flared in the base of her gut, boiling the blood to vapor in her veins. The skin on her cheek still buzzed.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Attention seeking?¡± she screamed. ¡°All I do is make myself invisible, why on earth would I do this to myself? I¡¯d do anything just to curl up and vanish, let alone be looked at like some kind of freak.¡±

    Kevin¡¯s eyes widened, staggering back a step.

    Why can¡¯t you understand?

    ¡°I never said you were -¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to,¡± she snapped, fists curling at her sides. ¡°I can feel it. If you¡¯re so sick of me then you won¡¯t mind if I go.¡±

    She took another step forward, but he stood firm, blocking her way. The light from the kitchen bright at his back, casting him into a silhouette.

    ¡°Kismet -¡± his voice softened.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want me.¡±

    For all of my trying, it hasn¡¯t mattered an ounce. Why won¡¯t you let me leave? I don¡¯t belong here.

    ¡°Just let me go,¡± she sobbed. ¡°I ruin everything.¡±

    Kevin braced his hands against the door frame, sealing the gaps. ¡°You¡¯re all I¡¯ve got. Who would take care of you? What if you collapse in the street? A car will run you right over. You don¡¯t even have any money.¡±

    Because you take all of it.

    She grit her teeth.

    ¡°Where would you even go?¡±

    ¡°The island,¡± she said before she could stop herself. ¡°You said so yourself yesterday. That¡¯s where we should all go. I¡¯m doing you a favor.¡±

    He gasped, eyes widening, then his brow furrowed. ¡°You¡¯re bluffing. I¡¯d have known if you were one of them.¡±

    Kismet couldn¡¯t help it and laughed, exhausted and on the verge of tears.

    ¡°You¡¯re just dumb enough to think you¡¯re the smartest person in the room. You can¡¯t fathom I''d have a mind outside of you.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your power then? Hmm?¡±

    ¡°Guess it.¡±

    Something in Kismet¡¯s tone made Kevin take pause, but he refused to give any ground. ¡°Alright then. Use your power to make me move. Then you¡¯ll be more than welcome to leave.¡±

    You¡¯re such a fucking asshole.

    Tension squeazed her core into a vice. Unable to take a full breath. She closed her eyes. A fat tear rolled down her cheek, so hot it almost burned. Her heart hardened.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    First there was darkness, then the world erupted into a kaleidoscope of neon colour, painting over the previous dim cast to the bathroom interior. Kevin took on a solid maroon shape, still filling the doorway. Words transformed into burbles - like her head was somewhere deep underwater. Blood whoosed in her ears.

    In legends, all thresholds have guardians to defeat. I have to be brave.

    Her mind reached for his. She slipped inside with an ease akin to exhaling. The release from holding back was a relief. Kismet scoured for something to sink her teeth into, something to curdle his blood, something to make him move.

    Everyone has something.

    After rifling through vignettes of memories, minor indiscretions and twists of shame, she finally found it.

    He sat in his work cubicle, fiddling with sticky notes and grinding his teeth. Track programs and race results sheets heaped in the corner next to the ashtray. He¡¯d missed another deadline. Harold was bound to come barreling in, demanding an explanation.

    Then he was chatting with Jane in the breakroom. The woman smiled, tilting her head and tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear. A delicate hand touched Kevin''s as she giggled. Kismet felt the stirring inside of him.

    Kevin and Jane squashed into the supply closet.

    Kismet wanted to scream, but her voice was trapped. This was not her body.

    He pressed Jane against the shelves. Their mouths were all over each other. Through Kevin, she tasted the salt on the other woman''s skin, the scrape of her teeth against the soft flesh of his throat. Kevin inhaled the faint scent of her lingering perfume. Mango, or maybe passion fruit. Jane¡¯s body was familiar beneath his hands.

    Lust over shadowed the sting of betrayal, dulling the pain at the base of desire. She became only an echo against the onslaught of feral longing.

    With a churning stomach and shaking hands, Kismet thrust herself back to reality. The white, hot, heat of betrayal roared to the surface.

    ¡°I really wish you hadn¡¯t made me do that,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°Do What?¡± Now his eyes had taken on a cautious quality. He was on the cusp of believing her. Burgundy ribbons of fear coiled around him.

    Did I mean anything to you at all? Being with me can¡¯t be easy, I know that.

    ¡°Jane,¡± she said.

    Kevin paled, then tried to neutralise his expression. Too late. A flare of magenta anxiety and plumb deception already pulsed through his aura.

    ¡°What about her?¡±

    ¡°You two meet up in the supply closet every lunch break since you started this job,¡± she said, her voice hollow. ¡°Don¡¯t try to deny it. I can still taste her perfume. Mango, passion fruit, something like that. Now, please, will you move?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been a telepath all this time?¡± Kevin spat, face turning crimson. ¡°Your abilities could have made us richer than our wildest dreams, and you¡¯ve let us be broke. The way I¡¯ve toiled -¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t use them,¡± she exclaimed ¡°Just let me go!¡±

    ¡°You think you can walk away and leave me high and dry?¡± Kevin stalked toward her. ¡°No. Not a chance. You and I are gonna cook up some way to sell your powers.¡±

    He¡¯ll never let me leave now.

    ¡°Fine,¡± she sighed.

    ¡°There, that wasn¡¯t so hard,¡± Kevin smiled. Finally, he stepped to the side. She could see the kitchen and the front door just beyond him. ¡°It¡¯ll be like it was before. You¡¯ll see. We can be happy again.¡±

    As if on autopilot, Kismet steeled herself to walk past him, stepping out of the bathroom. He brushed the back of her hair as she moved. It was meant to be a gesture of comfort that only left her cold and empty.

    Kismet didn''t respond. All of her energy was used to drag herself from the kitchen to the bed across the apartment. She flopped onto the mattress fully clothed and crawled under the duvet. Closing her eyes, she didn''t sleep. The images she¡¯d gleaned from Kevin¡¯s mind came in flashes and flickers through the darkness.

    Kevin stood at the bedside, trying to formulate a plan, but she could not hear a word he said. All of his words melded together into a jumble. The less she responded, the more frustrated he became, but she could not bring herself to speak.

    There¡¯s nothing left to say.

    Eventually, he stomped away to slump on the sofa, the television blasting.

    How does he plan to hold me here?

    Unbidden, flashes from Kevin¡¯s mind flared behind her eyes. He didn¡¯t even know. Never in a million years had he suspected her to be a mutant, let alone gather the nerve to try and leave.

    ...She can¡¯t leave. Where would she go? Even if she tried to get to the island, she¡¯d turn right around and come back. There¡¯s no one there for her. She needs me. I hope it doesn¡¯t come down to force but if that¡¯s what it takes¡­

    Kismet clenched her jaw. Her hands curled around the sheets, clutching them in a bundle.

    I don¡¯t need him. I don¡¯t need anyone. He can try to keep me here, but even if he does, he¡¯ll never be able to make me use my abilities. I¡¯ll never tell him the truth.

    The night moved on. Her heartbeat pounded under her temples, sloshing blood in her ears. The voices murmured like waves on the shore. She busied herself mind hopping, sliding from one life to another. Anywhere but here.

    A mother tucked in a young son with a soft kiss to the forehead, a man brought his boyfriend flowers, a woman fed racoons on her porch, a boy had his first kiss at the park around the block and a girl saw a shooting star, clutching her best friend¡¯s hand with eyes full of wonder.

    Kismet latched on to all the good in the world until the bed shifted, Kevin crawling in beside her. She waited. Soon his mind turned into dreams.

    Anxiety pinned Kismet in place.

    I can¡¯t leave. I can¡¯t live like that again.

    Bile rose in her mouth.

    Stealing herself, Kismet slipped out of bed, and padded into the kitchen to grab her CD player from the counter. Whispers swarmed, distracting as she tried to creep across the apartment. Kevin stirred. She paused, capturing her next breath in her throat. The mattress creaked as he turned and snorted. She continued, scooping up her CD player and headed for the bathroom.

    The window to the fire-escape was narrow. She pushed it open, wincing as the old wood pane grinded against the frame. Ancient paint chips scraped and pealed away, flaking on to the top of the toilet tank.

    Ok, ok, I can do this.

    Kismet hopped up onto the top of the toilet and hoisted herself through the window. Her bare feet jerked away from the cold grated metal.

    Oh, fuck I don¡¯t have shoes.

    She peaked over her shoulder at the bathroom below, then turned away to see the city lights sprawled before her. An aurora of colours evaporated upward into the night sky. A cold wind whipped her curls around her shoulders. Her hands trembled and she slid all the way out. The metal chilled her feet, but there was no going back.

 Chapter Seven - You Cant Party Forever

    The abandoned barn bordered the edge between the forest and sprawling pastures. Trees had begun to overtake the clearing while vines claimed the sides of the sagging gray wood. The building slouched to the side like a propped-up hip. Pick-up trucks and rusted out cars packed the small dirt patch serving as a parking lot.

    Angel circled overhead, lowering with each turn. A stinging ache throbbed in his shoulder. each time he flapped his wings. It had opened again a few times that day during work. He was nearly out of fresh bandages.

    He landed on the overgrown weeds near the front entrance. Already, he could hear music blaring from the inside. In fact, he was surprised the heavy drums and bass didn''t bring the whole place down around their ears. If the older island inhabitants were to be believed, Jenkin''s barn had stood here just as lopsided and decrepit then too.

    His wings pulled back, moving almost as separate entities, and slipped through the slits under his skin. It hurt only for a moment as they writhed, eventually getting comfortable. No new blood stained his bandage at least. Perhaps a scab had finally formed. His muscles were still sore from a long day at the dock. A new supply ship carrying dry-goods from the mainland was set to arrive tomorrow morning. He had spent the majority of the afternoon loading crates onto trucks headed for the market.

    Angel stepped into the side door of the barn. The heavy guitar riffs of the live band rattled his bones instantly.

    A ring of stacked hay bales took up a large portion of the open space. Two men squared off against each other to the raucous drunken cheers of the crowd of bystanders. One of them had fists made of steel. They flashed, reflective, under the multicolored lights. They made the man glitter like a disco ball as he shifted flesh to metal to deflect the impact of his opponent''s blows.

    The dirt floor was tramped down under thousands of feet over the years. Angel pushed through the crowd toward the bar, eager for a drink. By some miracle, he found an empty stool.

    Cassie was bartending tonight. Her long hair was twisted into two braids of twining black and green strands, matching her emerald eyes. Glistening sweat fixed the white tank top to her tan skin and the denim shorts sat low on her hips, exposing her stomach and belly-button ring. Glitter and stick-on gems decorated the round features of her face.

    She pretended to ignore him when he flagged her over. "No shirt, no service. Sorry Grub."

    "Come on Cass."

    She stooped below the counter and grabbed a bottle of beer out of the mini-fridge and slid it over.

    "On the house," she said when he reached for his wallet.

    "I need liquor, not pity," Angel grumbled.

    "Then I suggest you stop being so pitiful," said Cassie, leaning forward on her elbows so they could hear each other. "Better enjoy it now. I''m only on the bar for a little bit longer. Once the band''s done, Blossom and I are fire-spinning tonight."

    I wish I had half as much energy as Cass.

    She was always dancing; hula-hooping, fire-spinning or aerial-silk - it didn''t matter so long as she was moving.

    "I hope you''re not here to fight," she said. "Ever since Jeff got Aluminum Carl in here from the mainland, he''s been hogging the ring. No one can beat him. The pot is ten thousand dollars already."

    It''s never gotten that big in such a short time. I''ve only ever seen a thousand for the really good ones. I''ve barely ever gotten two-hundred. This is nuts.

    A fighter could wrack up a lot of money so long as they kept winning. If they decided to step away before losing a fight, the pot was theirs, but if they lost, they were out.

    "Nah, I''m good," Angel said, but it was tempting. "Have you seen Nyx?"

    I hope she doesn¡¯t talk about moving in again. Why can¡¯t she just be chill for once?

    "She''s over there somewhere," Cassie said, pointing to the distant corner of the room. It was as far from the amassing crowd as one could get. "That was the last I''ve seen of her."

    "Thanks."

    Angel took his beer and hopped off the stool. The crowd had thickened, and the raucous clamoring as the fights raged on roared over the music. A thick haze of smoke hung in a fog. He wove through the people, smiling and nodding at those that recognized him, but didn''t risk stopping to chat.

    He scanned the groups huddled together to see if he could spot her. Angel perked, shaken from his tired mind by Nyx''s mischievous smile and the way her eyes glistened in the changing strobe lights. Chocolate eyeshadow was smeared on her lids by a hasty finger beneath a ring of black eyeliner.

    A joint pressed between her smudged red lips. Just enough of her dark roots showed through her short pink hair. She kept it messy on purpose. Angel adored how much effort she put into creating the illusion of casual indifference.

    Nyx embraced him, careful to keep the joint in her hand well away from his hair. She pressed her lips to his and for a moment, all thought ceased to exist.

    When they let go, she handed him the joint. He inhaled the earthy smoke before passing it back to her.

    "No Alistair tonight?" he asked.

    "He went to the mainland to load up the ship," she said. "I almost thought you''d have to."

    "I probably should have. I''m fucking broke."

    ¡°I would have understood if you wanted to cancel,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯d rather be here with you.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s your shoulder healing?¡± Her eyes danced to the bandage and he regretted not putting a shirt back on.

    ¡°Well enough. It doesn¡¯t take long.¡±

    ¡°Not unless you keep cracking it open,¡± she said, flicking ashes onto the dirt floor.

    They spent the night dancing together. Nyx was gracious enough to buy his drinks, warning him not to get used to it. It was a belated birthday gift for tonight only. Still, guilt kicked his pride in the teeth.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    "What do you want for your birthday?" Angel asked. By now, his words slurred. "Name anything."

    He wanted to promise her everything, yet nothing at the same time lest she set her expectations too high.

    What can I offer but disappointment?

    "Anything?" She quirked an eyebrow and smiled over the rim of her shot glass. Her grin was sly, perhaps the only indication of her fox shifting nature. They clinked glasses and took the shot. Nyx grimaced, squeezing her eyes shut. "Did you think any more about what I asked last night?"

    She looked up at him. The hope in her eyes was gut twisting.

    "Not yet," he said, tensing. "I haven''t had time."

    "We could pool our money together. It would make it a lot easier to save up."

    "For what?"

    "We should start thinking more seriously about the future."

    "Do we have to do that right now?"

    "You can''t party forever," she said.

    "Why can''t I?"

    "It''s time to stop goofing off and really consider what we''re doing with our lives. I''ve never heard you plan beyond the next weekend adventure. Now look at your shoulder -"

    "C''mon," he groaned. It was suddenly difficult to catch his breath. He struggled to remain casual. Angel crushed out what was left of the joint and slipped the remains into his pocket. "I''m gonna get a drink. You want one?"

    "I thought you said you were broke?"

    Angel rolled his eyes and headed for the bar. Nyx stayed where she was, still pressed against the wall, her arms firmly crossed.

    The Barn was full to bursting with people. The metal man was still fighting. Now sweat glistened on his bare torso. Muscles rippled with exertion. Angel thought of a glazed ham and tried not to laugh.

    Cassie wasn''t at the bar, so he paid, scraping the lining of his wallet for change. A pit dropped in his stomach, wondering if he had saved enough leftovers in the fridge to get him through the week.

    He took the drinks to Nyx. She was rigid, feigning apathy. A pang, like panic, seized him by the ribs.

    Can''t she yell instead?

    Angel passed her a beer like placing an offering on an altar. "I need a little more time is all."

    Her shoulders slouched, slowly sipping her drink. Green eyes hard as stones.

    Angel pecked her cheek, like kissing marble. "I promise, I''ll put my two best brain cells on it. I''ll answer you... sometime."

    "I mean it," she said. "I''m going stir crazy at home. I gotta get out one way or another. I love ''em but -"

    "What?" Angel gasped. "Alistair and Cassie get on your nerves? Never. I don''t believe it. I won''t hear your slander."

    ¡°Angel, I¡¯m serious,¡± she exclaimed. ¡°I really can¡¯t take it anymore. If you won¡¯t let me move in with you, I¡¯m gonna have to do something -¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡± His tone sharpened. ¡°Find someone else?¡±

    ¡°No! I can live alone you know,¡± Nyx said. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m starting to think I might prefer it.¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± he said, attempting to remain casual, but his voice tightened in his throat, ¡°but there¡¯d be no one to nag half to death, so you might wither away instead. You¡¯d have to lecture yourself in the mirror or something for survival.¡±

    Her eyes narrowed to slits, grip tightening around her glass.

    Fuck, now I¡¯ve done it.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to find Cassie,¡± she said through carefully restrained frustration. ¡°Come find me when you¡¯re ready to talk like an adult. Until then, I don¡¯t even want to look at you.¡±

    Shit.

    Nyx disappeared into the crowd. His heart beat so loud in his chest it hurt. He contemplated going home, but settled for stepping out for fresh air instead.

    Maybe she¡¯ll cool down. She always does.

    Angel pushed through the throng toward the door. The crowd erupted as the metal man threw a left hook, catching his opponent on the chin, tossing the smaller man backwards to land flat on his back.

    The unconscious opponent was dragged up and out of the ring by his group of friends while the referee raised the metal man''s arm high in the air.

    "Aluminum Carl does it again!" The referee, Jeff, cried. His voice was abnormally loud and carried itself easily through the space. "A new record folks, five straight rounds undefeated. Which unlucky soul is next? Ten thousand dollars is on the line!"

    The crowd hushed as mutants murmured amongst themselves. It seemed everyone willing to take on Aluminum Carl was already unconscious. The metal man roared his victory.

    Five fights in a row? How is the man still standing? A feather could probably knock him down...

    The idea and the action occurred all at once. Angel cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice the best he could.

    "I''ll do it!"

    "We have a taker!" Jeff cried. He squinted with a hand over his eyes to see better - pointing when he spotted Angel. "Get up here Grub! Get ready to be flattened!"

    Angel walked through the crowd to the hay bales. The pain in his left shoulder throbbed, feeling the blood soak the bandage. He flexed his fingers to get out all the jitters. Already, people were taking bets. Shouts from loan sharks barked out, adding to the din. He hopped into the ring.

    Aluminum Carl looked a lot bigger up close and despite himself, sweat began to bead on the back of Angels'' neck.

    Jeff bellowed out the count down. "1... 2..."

    Angel shook out his limbs, shifting his weight from foot to foot. His heart pounded under his temples. Sweat blurred his vision. The bright multi-coloured lights were vibrant and for a moment, his sensitivities worked against him. All colours and sounds swarmed into one. He took a second to center himself.

    "Go!"

    Carl swung and Angel ducked, relieved to find he was at least more nimble than the larger man. As Angel popped back up, he threw his elbow into Carl''s right temple. The man stumbled back, then rushed forward. Angel danced out of the way, laughing. A metallic fist caught him in the jaw.

    Angel''s head snapped to the side. He spit blood. Heat flared in his chest, and when his vision cleared again, he honed in on Carl. All edges sharpened. Nothing else in the world existed. The sound of the crowd and the music faded to a mumble in the background. Every cell in his body roared to life.

    Angel rushed forward, stooped low and tackled Carl, taking him to the ground. Carl tried to get him off, but Angelus gripped him closer. Thick fingers coiled through his hair as Carl yanked him away, tossing him to the dirt.

    A metal clad foot caught him in the ribs. Pain flared and he couldn''t see. A rib splintered as the air whooshed out of him. He clutched his chest and staggered to his feet, gasping for breath like a fish out of water. Each inhale twisted like a spear through his chest. He swayed.

    Maybe this wasn''t such a great idea after all?

    "You done?" Carl asked, his fists raised in defense.

    "Not even close," Angel rasped.

    No way am I giving up now. Maybe I can hang on a little longer...

    He stepped forward, biting off a scream. Pain zinged through his body. He swung his fist, entirely missing Carl''s head by a few inches.

    A metallic gut punch sent Angel backward, coughing another spurt of blood. The only sensation more vivid than pain was anger. This was what he was after - electric heat flooded his veins. No thoughts, just movement. No gnawing void, just rage.

    The now familiar warmth returned. He didn¡¯t have time to analyse it.

    Angel rushed forward. Carl easily side stepped him, swerved and smashed his elbow into the side of Angel''s head.

    The crowd swam and the lights swirled. He tasted the copper tang of blood. Every beat of his desperate heart reminded him he was still alive.

    Angel took another swing and hit the side of Carl''s jaw. His knuckles shattered against the metal. The already broken finger singed pain on contact. He swung with his other fist, only for that hand to meet the same fate.

    Carl''s fist crashed into Angel''s head. His vision blinked out for a moment then returned. Nausea flipped his guts. He lost his center of gravity. Another punch from Carl landed square on the center of his nose. The cartilage burst in a gush of blood. The force took Angel off his feet. He hit the ground, cracking the back of his head.

    The world went black.

 Chapter Eight - The Heart Of A Flame

    Nyx didn''t waste time and hurtled over the hay bales before Jeff even had a chance to announce the obvious results of the match. Shock sobered her, but her thoughts were still fuzzy at the edges.

    Never before had she seen such a mess. Blood covered Angel''s bare torso. She took a quick survey of his condition; his nose was smashed in and his ribs were broken. His fractured chest rose and fell in a jarring rhythm.

    Panic choked her. Nyx swallowed the nausea rising within. Now was not the time. Not taking more than a second, she looked up, desperately scanning the crowd for her sister, but was unable to find her in the sea of cheering faces. No one was paying attention to them. Jeff raised Aluminum Carl''s arm to announce victory.

    "Hey!" Nyx screamed. "Hey! Jeff! I need your help. Can''t you see -"

    They didn¡¯t pay her any mind. She was unsure if they could even hear her. Nyx shot to her feet and rushed to the two men, shoving herself between the sweating mass that was Aluminum Carl and the smarmy little weasel Jeff.

    The crowd fell into a hushed silence. Some leaned, whispering to each other, while others stared on with morbid curiosity. Aluminum Carl stepped back, unsure what was going on or what to do about it.

    "What the fuck is wrong with you?" she cried, shoving Jeff for good measure. ¡°He¡¯s going to die if one of you don¡¯t help me -¡±

    "Do you want me to -" Carl asked Jeff.

    Jeff held up a finger, a smirk on his narrow face. ¡°Don¡¯t make a scene," he hissed at her.

    ¡°A scene!¡± she screamed. ¡°I¡¯m gonna yell so loud Ivy¡¯ll hear all the way on the mainland.¡±

    ¡°Look little girl,¡± Jeff growled. ¡°This is the nature of the beast. Ya win some ya lose some. If I catch so much as a whisper you¡¯ve reported this -¡±

    ¡°Cool it Jeff, she¡¯s not gonna say a word.¡± Cassie stepped out of the murmuring onlookers and hopped over the hay bales to join her sister in the ring.

    "We have to help him,¡± desperation softened Nyx¡¯s tone, pleading. ¡°He¡¯s dying.¡±

    Fear flashed through Cassie¡¯s eyes when they landed on Angel¡¯s body. He gasped in the mud, blood still oozing from his broken nose and the wound on his shoulder.

    ¡°We¡¯ll get him out of here,¡± she said with a frim pat to Nyx¡¯s arm before darting over to Angel.

    Nyx hurried after her, and crouched at Angel¡¯s side. She tried to lift him, or drag him, or something, but he was heavier than he looked. Cassie lifted his legs and finally, his dead weight shifted when she pulled on his shoulders. He groaned, coughing up another spurt of blood. They hauled Angel¡¯s limp body out of the ring, pushing through the crowd.

    The crowd shifted, thinning as some began to leave. They muttered amongst themselves, shuffling uneasily. No one wanted to meet her eyes.

    They don¡¯t want to get involved. Self-centered pricks.

    At least the spectators stepped out of their way so they could leave unimpeded. Gawking eyes followed them toward the door.

    Once outside, they hurried across the yard. People lingering around who had missed the fight gawked at them in a mixture of curiosity and concern. They whispered questions and speculations, but still, no one made a move to assist.

    "Please tell me you brought Alistair''s car," said Nyx. She struggled to keep steady while supporting Angel''s weight. It was all so surreal. Everything looked distant.

    In this moment, she wanted her brother more than anyone in the world.

    I can hardly think straight. He¡¯d know exactly what to do.

    "I did." Cassie had gone completely pale, with wide doe-eyes. Panic crisped her irises. "Do you think he¡¯ll be alright?"

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Can¡¯t you see he¡¯s dying? Stop asking stupid questions. Don¡¯t make me say it.

    "I dunno," Nyx snapped, then was immediately sorry for her tone.

    How can I tell Alice? It¡¯ll destroy him. Angel has to be ok, there''s no other option.

    Nyx opened the car door so they could slide Angel¡¯s body inside. She crawled in after him. In the cramped darkness of the backseat, he looked even worse than when she first saw him. Dried blood coated his face and chest. The bandage across his shoulder came loose, the wound totally reopened, mingling with the rest of the mess. His breath rasped with every strained inhale, gurgling blood.

    She cradled his head on her lap, carefully stroking his hair. Tears trailed over her warm cheeks. Blood seeped through her fingers, staining her hands. Their last conversation still echoed in her mind.

    I wish things were different. Why''d I have to go and say anything at all.

    Once Cassie was in the driver''s seat, she threw the car in reverse and peeled down the dirt road, out of the woods. Dirt kicked up behind the tires.

    "Where do we go?" Cassie asked. "Do we take him home? To Julian?"

    Stop asking me so many damn questions. I don¡¯t know anything!

    "What''s Julian going to do for him?" Nyx couldn''t take her eyes off his face. "He''d find a way to berate Angel''s corpse if he could."

    "The clinic? They could do something? Right?" Desperation tightened her voice. "We don''t have enough time to get Aiden to send us to the mainland."

    They¡¯ll report this to Watcher Liz for sure.

    "What other choice do we have?¡±

    Fuck, I hope Jeff doesn¡¯t make good on his promises.

    A shiver crawled up her spine.

    ¡°Jeff never should have let him fight Carl. That was ridiculous," said Cassie.

    "They have no fucking sense," Nyx muttered. "He¡¯s a greedy piece of shit. Honestly, I can blame Jeff all I want but Angel put himself in there. I don''t know what goes through his head sometimes."

    She imagined an alternative evening. One where she hadn¡¯t brought up moving, hadn¡¯t snapped and stormed off. When he¡¯d asked her what she wanted for her birthday, all she¡¯d say is, ¡®you.¡¯

    He¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever wanted.

    Their high-school¡¯s final dance came vivid to her mind. She¡¯d thought he wasn¡¯t going to go. He¡¯d complained for months how lame it¡¯d be, he¡¯d hardly graduated to begin with and there were far better parties to attend, but he showed up anyway. He had looked so proper in a suit, she could hardly believe it was the same person. Angel danced with her until they decided to slip out and spiked some punch with the flask he¡¯d snuck in. They left Alistair and Cass on the dancefloor and crouched under the bleachers outside in the field. She didn¡¯t mind the dirt on her dress.

    Every bump of the dirt road jostled the car and Angel groaned in pain. At least he was still alive, and for that she was grateful. Nyx intertwined her fingers with his, but his hand was limp. The road was so dark, she couldn''t even see the trees. Their headlights lit a narrow strip of dirt road. Cassie drove far faster than she had any right to on these back roads.

    Angel gasped. He coughed, blood pouring from his mouth. His chest stopped rising. Nyx leaned forward, listening closely for his breath. Every crunch of gravel or gust of wind against the vehicle deafened her.

    "Fuck, he isn''t breathing!" Nyx exclaimed. Her voice trembled like the words were spoken by someone else.

    "What do we do?"

    "Just keep driving."

    Paying no mind to Angel''s injuries, Nyx leaned forward, locked her arms and put her hands on his sternum. She pressed in with all her weight, pumping compressions. It had been years since she had taken the course in high school, but she figured something would be better than nothing.

    "How long can you keep that up?" Cassie asked.

    "I don''t know." Nyx''s arms were already heavy. Sweat coated her chest and back. "Please hurry Cass."

    Each thrust was weaker than the last. She panted with the effort, refusing to give up. Her muscles burned.

    Don¡¯t die. Don¡¯t die.

    Life flashed before her eyes, a mixture of memories gone melding with a wave of longing for a future he may never see. All the hope she¡¯d woven through the years unraveled into a tattered disillusionment. The Angel she yearned for was lost under a tidal-wave of self-destruction.

    Don¡¯t let it be too late. It¡¯s not too late.

    Angel lurched, gasping.

    A flare of blue light glowed in the center of his chest. Nyx yanked her hands up and away.

    "What the fuck?"

    Cassie jerked the steering wheel, pulling over to the shoulder of the road. The light grew and expanded throughout the rest of Angel''s body, washing him in electric blue waves.

    "What''s going on?" Cassie exclaimed.

    The blue fire reflected in her eyes.

    "I dunno." Nyx''s heart sat in her throat, throbbing. Her fingernails dug into the fabric of her jeans.

    The light continued to expand, swallowing them all. There was only warmth and weightlessness. A sense of dreamy calm washed over her. Eternity passed across minutes within the light. It enveloped her vision and swallowed her up. Angel glowed azure in the center like the heart of a flame.

 Chapter Nine - The Fox Made Me Do It

    Kismet''s eyes watered, so dry from hours of wandering. The brick buildings were pressed too close together and stretched toward the sky. This part of the city was often still this late at night. The pavement was rough and cold on her feet, splashing in shallow puddles. Kismet descended into one of the metro tunnels, imagining herself heading into a darkened cave.

    She clamped her noise-cancelling headphones tight over her ears and cranked the volume on her CD player up as loud as it would go. Death metal blared, screaming vocals and shredding guitars, but not nearly loud enough to shut out the voices. The train arrived with a whoosh of air through the tunnel, and she climbed aboard. Something sticky tacked on the bottom of her feet. She tried not to think about it too hard.

    The metal pole was slick under her sweaty palms. She clung to it. Not just to keep from wobbling as the subway train rattled down the track, but more as a tether.

    Every brush against a person sent their thoughts screeching into her head. Luckily, the time of night left the train sparse. Still, she tried to be cautious as the odd person got up to leave or stretch their legs. When Kismet braved opening her eyes, neon-bright colours swirled around the train car in ribbons. Pastel trails whispered of commuters long since gone. The ribbons spiraled upwards, conjoining in a swirling whirlpool at the ceiling.

    Kismet''s breath came in short, rapid bursts. She counted the people, the lights, the seats - blinking until the colours flickered and faded. The music pulled her in and she tried to focus on the words instead. If she couldn''t stay present and grounded, at least she could be lost in her own mind.

    When the train reached Kismet''s stop, she got off, moving on autopilot. Almost nothing of the real world was comprehensible to her anymore. One foot landed in front of the other. At least her body was reliable. Snapping in and out of reality, she was able to guide herself along once she made note of any landmarks to regain her bearings.

    The messy graffiti on the subway station walls faded behind the glittering hues shading the full spectrum of human emotion.

    Almost there.

    Kismet trekked along, weaving around people on the sidewalk. She played the same CD five times already. Her only regret was leaving her collection behind. Shelves and shelves of CDs, now gone forever.

    No doubt Kevin will make quick work of selling them, or toss them out. The art gallery once displayed a mobile made of CDs. Maybe he''d do something like that.

    Then there were her books. Their walk-in closet had no clothes. Instead, it was end to end bookshelves, stuffed so full some were stacked in piles on the floor.

    Kevin will surely burn them. He''s certainly threatened it often enough.

    She twisted the ends of her sweater sleeves, finding them damp from chewing.

    Her mouth moved silently to the music. The lyrics were so familiar to her now, she could recite them in her sleep. The sidewalk was nearly empty at this hour. Kismet imagined an apocalypse had wiped everyone out but her and the few other stragglers passing by.

    How will I ever survive the wasteland?

    The streams of colours were cosmic against the bleak city backdrop.

    A torn poster advertising The Academy was tacked to one of the brick walls promising a haven for mutants. She pictured Ivy like some sort of Vampire, sucking the life-force out of all who dared to oppose her.

    Though Kismet had also heard of the headmaster''s immeasurable healing abilities. Perhaps even more than her wrath, Ivy''s mercy was renowned. Even now, after the war, she healed all who asked. She traveled Gleodem and the rest of the world to tend to as many people as she could.

    Some people, mutant and human alike, had even deified her.

    Maybe The Academy wouldn''t be so bad? Who would I even talk to? How can I approach a living-Goddess? Would she smite me?

    Kismet wished she knew another mutant, someone who could tell her how to navigate that world. She didn''t dare reveal herself to any humans in order to ask.

    Besides, the Academy was all the way in Applegate on the other side of the country. Despite the posters and pamphlets boasting of its accolades, it couldn¡¯t erase the fact merely twenty years ago, before Ivy''s reign, the school served as a R and D branch of the government. Any mutants below the age of twenty had been swiftly captured and imprisoned there to have their skills exploited or experimented on. Some were deemed too dangerous to be left alive. Students either outlived their purpose, or became Watchers.

    Then and now, Watchers worked for The Academy. At least these days, students had the option to leave and carve out their own lives. Most who graduated The Academy went on to blend in with human society, or stuck to themselves in mutant-only districts.

    Kismet wandered under an overpass. Buildings became spaced further apart, making way for squat bungalows. The air smelled of brine. Waves rolled against the rocky shore. Somehow the sound was more threatening at night.

    A lump of hardened certainty sat in the core of her gut, telling her where to go.

    She followed the narrowing road, getting closer to the sea. The stars here were already brighter than they had been deeper in the city. The sign stretching across the toll booth read Portsmouth Ferry Terminal. It wouldn''t be open until eight o''clock in the morning. She''d have to wait.

    Kismet pressed play on her CD for the seventh time and doubled-back for the overpass. There was a dry and fairly litter free patch of cement against the concrete wall. She scuffed some dust out of the way and sat down, hunkering into herself to close her eyes.

    When she settled, the hum of buzzing voices swarming at the base of her skull grew louder and more incessant. Rather than sleep, each thought carried her away to a new life and scenario. Too tired to fight, she slid along in an astral roller coaster. The tension of her own arms wrapped around her trembling body was the only thing keeping her together. Her feet throbbed.

    Movement across the street brought her to reality again. Or at least so she thought, but couldn''t be certain. She squinted at the shape trotting around the opposite sidewalk. A silver fox nosed around at the litter, tail high in the air. The dim street light illuminated their emerald eyes. They stopped. Sniffed the air. An ear tilted in Kismet''s direction before they turned to look at her entirely.

    Kismet clicked off her music, caught in the liminal awareness of being both prey and predator - fearful that the fox might attack, or that she may scare them away. Instead, the fox perked and bounded across the road toward her. Their bushy tail curled, swishing in the air. She held herself still, too nervous even to breathe. The fox sniffed around her body. Satisfied, the creature sat down and stared at her as if expecting something.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "What do you want little guy?" she asked.

    The fox blinked.

    "Please don''t give me rabies," Kismet said and slowly reached out to pet the animal''s head. The fox squinted in contentment, so she scratched between their ears and marveled at how tame they behaved.

    "Are you someone''s pet?"

    The fox crouched out from under her hand. Offended, their fur ruffled and puffed.

    "Ok, ok, I''m sorry. Maybe you''re not a pet, just a really nice little fella."

    The fox bounced in place, bounded away a few steps, then turned to look at her, tail wagging.

    "Do you -" She hesitated, unable to believe what she was about to say. "Do you want me to follow you?"

    Ok, this is it. I''ve officially lost it.

    They crouched and sprung, looking in the direction of the road then back to her.

    "I can''t believe I''m doing this," Kismet muttered and got to her feet. The fox scuttled forward and she went after them.

    She followed them out from under the overpass and through the residential streets. Rows of apartment buildings that were once single family homes sat in stillness.

    The occupants left piles of garbage bags stacked next to the outdoor bins. Rotten bits of broken furniture on the curb were heaped on the side of the road. A decaying mattress slumped in the grass next to the sidewalk.

    The fox paid no mind to the trash and kept their mind on whatever mission had possessed them. They trotted forward, tail in the air.

    Eventually, one side of the road gave way to a rocky cliff held together with mesh netting to keep the erosion of the ocean below at bay. The moon reflected in the water as the waves sloshed against the shore.

    The homes on the other side of the street became grander in nature. At one time, they must have been glorious manors. They had since been chopped into apartments. Normally, waterfront views would surely cost a small fortune, but this section of town was far too industrial and decrepit. Overlooking a harbour and congested port almost made it so the ocean didn''t count.

    The fox turned and trotted down the driveway of one of these large homes. The blue house towered three stories tall. Two turrets framed it on either side with regal cones for roofs. A veranda wrapped around the front along the side of the home toward the back. Porch lights illuminated the navy siding and white trim.

    Kismet hesitated to follow the fox, unwilling to trespass on the whims of a wild animal. The fox stopped and waited, tip-toeing urgently in place until she gave in. She scrunched up as she crept along, hoping no one would spot her lurking about at this hour.

    Somehow I doubt, ''Sorry officer, the fox told me to do it,'' is going to fly as a defense.

    The driveway led to a small gravel parking lot packed full of vehicles. The backyard was neatly groomed and home to a blooming flower garden. A stone pathway wove between the flowerbeds, underneath archways teeming with roses. Others were laden with fat grapes shining silver in the moonlight.

    The fox led her through the garden. Their black and silver flecked fur was difficult to keep track of in the dark. The white tip of his fluffy tail was the only beacon.

    The yard was much larger than she would have suspected just looking at the manor from the road. The estate must have been something to behold in its time. A small shed was tucked neatly at the back. It was decorated with red siding and white trim that crisscrossed along the window shutters.

    One of the wide doors was propped open with a rock. She frowned, finding it odd someone wouldn''t lock up their shed for the night, especially in this neighborhood. The fox slipped through the crack, disappearing inside.

    Kismet waited, wringing her hands. It was one thing to be caught out in the yard, and another to actually cross a threshold uninvited. That was certainly asking for trouble. She nibbled the cuff of her sweater sleeve, uncertain what to do next.

    Maybe I really have lost it this time? Maybe the fox isn''t trying to communicate and I followed a random animal into someone''s backyard for no reason.

    She''d have to find her way back through the maze of a garden again all on her own - The shed door shifted, pushing the crack open wider and she froze.

    A man emerged, shirtless and still fiddling with the belt buckle holding up his torn jeans. The man was so tall he had to stoop a little to step out.

    "I''m sorry, I was - I was -" she stammered, ripping at the frayed ends of her sleeves.

    The man smiled, emerald eyes gleaming in what little light managed to glow from the porch. He shook out his shaggy blond hair and extended a hand.

    Uncertain what else to do, she took it. His calloused fingers were rough against her smooth palm as they shook. Warmth, like heated caramel radiated from him. She relaxed a bit despite herself. His transformation had startled her, but considering the fact she could read minds, it wasn''t so strange in the scheme of things. Though she had to admit, it was still a touch disorienting.

    "I''m Alistair," he said. "Sorry about that. It''s a little hard to talk in my other form, ya know? But It isn''t like I could shift right in front of you." He flushed, ruffling his hair. "You seemed a little lost."

    "I wasn''t lost. I meant to be there."

    "Oh, sorry." His blush deepened. "I thought you were. It''s so late at night, and most of us know to come here, so I supposed where you were sleeping out in the dirt and all that maybe you didn''t know where to go."

    "Most of us?" she asked.

    "Mutants?" He tilted his head slightly. "You are one of us, aren''t you?"

    "No, wait, I mean, yes - I guess I am." Kismet shuffled in place.

    "I knew it," he said grinning, and tapped the side of his nose. "I''m never wrong. Are you new to town or something?"

    "No, just new to all of this kind of stuff," she said. Now she was the one blushing. "It was really kind of you to help me. Sorry to interrupt whatever you were doing."

    "Nothing important. Just out for a nighttime scuttle." He headed toward the path. "Did you want to come inside?"

    Not seeing many other options, or a real reason not to, she agreed and followed him. "What is this place anyway?"

    "It''s a hostel for mutants visiting the area, so we have some place to stay out of the way of humans. Better yet, it''s free."

    Kismet scrunched her brow.

    That sounds too good to be true. Everything has a price.

    "How is that possible?"

    They stopped when they climbed up on the veranda. Alistair took a half-finished cigarette out of his pocket. He offered a fresh one to Kismet, but she declined.

    "Ivy covers it," he said. "She still makes a ton of money healing all those billionaires and the Watchers have to donate their service fees too, but they get to live for free, so what''s it to them? If they wanna devout their lives to Ivy''s cause, all the power to ''em."

    "I thought Ivy wasn''t healing the politicians anymore?" Kismet asked. "The people on the news complain all the time."

    Alistair leaned forward on the railing, twirling the cigarette between his fingers. "Of course she isn''t. She''ll heal pretty much anyone but them. She hates their guts, and I don''t blame her."

    "What makes them so different from all the others?" Kismet asked.

    "They were the ones orchestrating the structure of the old Academy. The elite outside of Gleodem are another matter though. She''ll help them so long as their background checks clear and they can pay up, of course. She also ends up with a lot of say in international legislation that way too. Anyone wanting her help has to play by her rules." He exhaled a cloud of smoke. "You never told me your name?"

    "Oh, sorry. It''s Kismet," she said and shook his hand again. The night had been so disorienting and surreal, she had completely forgotten to introduce herself.

    "A pleasure," he beamed and tossed the butt of his cigarette into the garden below. "What do ya say we head inside and get you a room?"

 Chapter Ten - The Light

    There was a light on the horizon that wasn¡¯t the sun. The sand scratched at the bare skin on Angel¡¯s back. Waves rolled in on the shore. He held up his hand to shield his eyes from the brilliance. There was something he was supposed to do. Somewhere he was meant to be, but couldn¡¯t remember.

    He sat up, brushing the sand out of his shaggy hair.

    Weird. I haven¡¯t had short hair since I was ten.

    Angel blinked, finding that an odd thing to think considering he was still a kid. He turned to see the make-shift tent he¡¯d spent the afternoon constructing. A bright blue tarp was slung over some driftwood logs stuck in the sand. Rocks piled around the base held them steady. It wasn¡¯t much, but it would be home until he could claim a cabin of his own in a few years.

    He wouldn¡¯t have to put up with Julian another minute.

    What were we fighting about? How did I even get out here?

    ¡°There you are Grub!¡±

    Angel turned to Nyx¡¯s voice as she trudged down the beach. Her long chestnut hair swished in a high pony-tail. Freckles dusted across the bridge of her nose beneath stern green eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking all over for you,¡± she exclaimed.

    He groaned and ducked into the tent, peeking around the side of the tarp. ¡°Go home, Nyx.¡±

    ¡°No, why should I?¡± She plunked in front of the entrance. ¡°It¡¯s a public beach.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± he sighed and scooched further toward the back.

    ¡°Are you gonna live here now or something?¡± she asked, eyeballing his craftsmanship.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Angel!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The tide is gonna come in and sweep you away,¡± she exclaimed. ¡°You can¡¯t live inside some sticks and a hunk of plastic.¡±

    ¡°Sure I can,¡± he said, scooping up a handful of sand, letting it slip between his fingers.

    ¡°Well then I¡¯m gonna move in here with you.¡±

    Before he could stop her, she crawled in beside him. Squeezed in together, the tent didn¡¯t seem as large. Light beamed in through the tattered holes in the top and sides. There was no wind to ripple the fabric. It remained eerily still. The colours were oddly saturated, even for his sharp vision. The blue plastic stood stark and crisp against the beige sand and pale grey rocks. There was no heat nor cold to the air. Nothing seemed connected to another.

    Even Nyx looked¡­ off. There was this feeling in the pit of his gut that he had upset her somehow, that he had wronged her deeply but couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it.

    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± she asked, tilting her head to the side.

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± he said. ¡°You should go home. Molly and Jay will be mad if you¡¯re late. They''ll blame me.¡±

    Nyx shrugged and laid down with her arms behind her head. ¡°If you can live on the beach, so can I.¡±

    ¡°No you can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    Because people back there love you. They¡¯ll miss you.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re a girl. You can¡¯t eat crabs and snails.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve eaten crab before,¡± she laughed.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Not raw ones.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll build a fire.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Angel sighed.

    They spent the afternoon digging a pit and gathering driftwood. Gradually, the sky changed, the only signal that any time had passed at all. It was not something he felt within himself. Though the sun had set, the white light remained on the horizon. Every so often, he¡¯d eye it nervously. Nyx seemed to pay it no mind, chatting away cheerfully the entire time. Restlessness settled into him. There was somewhere he was supposed to be.

    I don¡¯t want to leave. I like it here.

    Angel struggled to ignite the fire with his stolen lighter, while Nyx sat and watched. Urgency made him fumble. He had to get it lit. A chill crept in, and despite the air having no quality of temperature, he was suddenly quite cold. Frigid even.

    The fire rose, dancing in Nyx¡¯s eyes. Stars glittered across the darkened sky. Still the light waited. It sat over the water, just brighter than the moon. There was no warmth in the flames.

    ¡°I think we should go home soon.¡± Nyx hugged her knees, looking around at the pitch dark beach. The only light was shared between the two of them around the fire.

    ¡°I think I should stay,¡± said Angel. ¡°Julian doesn¡¯t want me anyways.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re just gonna let me and Alistair live without you because of stupid ol¡¯ Julian?¡±

    ¡°No, not just because of him. I dunno¡­¡± He hung his head and poked at the fire with a scraggly stick. The sparks spit and fluttered.

    I disappoint people.

    ¡°Please come with me Angel,¡± Nyx pleaded. ¡°Please don¡¯t make me walk home alone in the dark.¡±

    He looked up to meet her eyes. Terror etched in her irises and his heart lurched.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡±

    They stood up. She took his cold hand and together, they walked along the sand. The roar of the waves gradually ebbed into the rumble of an engine.

    Nyx stared at him from the other side of the backseat. Her eyes were full of the same terror he¡¯d seen on the beach. Mascara and eyeliner smeared across her face, mingling with the streaks of blood on her cheeks. Fear gripped him, worried it was hers. The tight crusted layer of blood coating his chest made him realize it was his own instead.

    I''m fine. Better than ever really, so where did all of this blood come from and why does she look so devastated and awe stricken? Why is Cassie peering at me from the driver''s seat like I have ten heads?

    "What the fuck?" he gasped. "Was I fucking dead?"

    "I - I think so," said Nyx. Her voice was low and hoarse. She threw herself against him and he reflexively hugged her, still reeling and numb. Her tears were wet against his bare chest. "What were you thinking?"

    "I wasn''t," he said.

    "Should we - should we still go to the clinic?" Cassie asked.

    Nyx pulled away to look up at his face, her body still pressed close. She pinched Angel''s cheeks, turning his head side to side. "How are you feeling?"

    "Good. Really good actually," he said, squirming away from her grip. Even the dull ache he felt earlier that evening had disappeared. "I don''t think there''s any need for the clinic. I''d only be wasting Dr. McGill''s time."

    "Maybe you should, just to be safe?" Cassie suggested.

    Nyx nodded, wiping her eyes with the heels of her hands.

    "No." Chills settled in and he trembled, cold despite the summer humidity. "I wanna go home. We can figure something out in the morning."

    Cassie pulled the car onto the road and continued toward the village. Respecting Angel''s wishes, she turned down the backroads toward his cabin.

    "Are you sure?" Nyx asked.

    He nodded. Then he noticed how the wound on his chest had disappeared. The skin was completely smooth, without so much as a scar. Only the blood remained. Ice slithered into his veins. His pulse pattered at the base in his throat.

    "I''ve only seen something like that once before," said Nyx. "When Ivy came to the island that day."

    A shiver rippled up his spine. "That''s an incredibly rare ability, and so far as anyone knows, she''s the only one to ever be born with it. How could I have it and not know all this time?"

    "You''ve never been dead before," said Nyx. "How should we know how this works? It''s not like Ivy is a chatterbox."

    "You''re resilient right?" Cassie asked. "Maybe that has something to do with it? Daisy can''t even read your emotions. Maybe energy stuff doesn''t mesh well with your body or something?"

    Angel considered it. Daisy was frustrated to no end that she couldn''t get a handle on him when she easily read everyone else. He was the only one on the island capable of lying to her and that alone was enough to drive her batty. She had mentioned on several occasions that this had annoyed her about his mother Ember as well, so perhaps there was truth to Cassie''s theory.

    They made it to his cabin and parked in the driveway. The small blue house was in darkness, looking lonelier than ever. Nyx and Cassie followed him out of the car.

    "It''s ok," Angel said. "Maybe you two should head home. I''m only gonna go to bed."

    "No way am I leaving you alone after that.¡± Nyx clung to him like a burdock, wrapping her arms tight around his waist.

    The warm wind was refreshing against his too hot skin. He was torn between needing comfort and wanting to be alone. Nyx and Cassie followed him inside through the backdoor. He didn''t protest.

 Chapter Eleven - Learn To Let Go

    When Nyx clicked on the kitchen light, she saw just how much blood covered Angel¡¯s chest. Cassie seemed to be the only one to make it out with minimal damage to her clothing. Blood splatter stained splotches of her white tank top and the top of her chest, hands and cheeks. Other than Angel, Nyx also got the worst of it, she was almost as caked in it as he was.

    Cassie stooped over the kitchen sink and scrubbed off the blood with dish soap anywhere she could reach.

    "I''ll bring you something to wear," said Angel, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion.

    "No, it''s ok," said Cassie. Her shirt was damp from the splashing water. "If it''s ok with you guys, I think I might head home. It might be better if I get out of the way. Unless you need me here?"

    "I got it," said Nyx. "Thanks Cass." She hugged her sister. Both girls sniffled and fought off their tears.

    I don¡¯t know what I would have done without you.

    "You can both go if you want," Angel grumbled "Don''t let me keep ya."

    "I''m glad you''re ok," said Cassie. Her eyes glimmered. The Kitchen''s bright white light washed out her complexion. "I really thought you were -" she couldn''t finish her sentence. Cass turned and hurried for the door. "Sorry, I''ll -"

    "Cass, wait," Angel said, stepping toward her.

    "Yeah?"

    "Thank you. You really had my back in there. I appreciate it."

    "Yeah, well," she said, and smiled through budding tears. "Anytime. Call if you need me."

    Cassie stepped out and shut the door. Angel braced himself against the wall to keep balance. A bloody hand print stained the wood. Without a word, he headed for the bathroom to get in the shower.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get us some clothes,¡± said Nyx, already moving toward the stairs. She could hear the water running.

    Angel didn¡¯t reply, and she crept up the stairs to the bedroom. Her hands shook, gliding up the railing. When she got to the room, the shiny gloss on the guitars glistened under the dim light from the window. She flinched when she saw the red one was still missing, it must have been left in the shed after he spent the night.

    That was almost the last night we ever spent together.

    Despite herself, a sudden sob escaped and she pulled it in. She rummaged through his dresser for clean clothing, trying not to get blood on anything. Luckily, most of it had long since dried.

    What on earth was he thinking fighting with his shoulder injury, let alone fighting someone like Aluminum Carl? Does a single thought or consideration ever run through his head? I stepped away for one second. One second! No. He did this and we¡¯re left holding the bag, like always.

    The image of the pale-blue light consuming Angel''s broken body consumed her mind every time she closed her eyes, even to blink.

    What will we even say to Alistair if anything at all?

    She gathered the bundle of clothing into her arms and hurried down the stairs to the bathroom. Angel was still in the shower. She could see his silhouette behind the curtain as he leaned forward, bracing his forehead against the tile.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    "I brought us some clothes from upstairs," she said.

    "I''m fine. You don''t have to stay with me."

    "You''re not fine. No one is expecting you to be even slightly ok."

    Nyx placed the clothes on the toilet lid and slid the curtain aside. The water turned red at his feet, swirling down the drain. He shivered despite the warmth and steam collecting in the small space. He couldn''t stop shaking. She¡¯d never say so, but was reminded of a frightened bird. So fragile.

    He turned the water off. "Will you hand me a towel?"

    She passed him one from the shelf. He scruffed at his hair with it before tying it off around his waist and stepped out, still dripping.

    It twisted her heart to see Angel staring with such wide, blood-shot eyes. For the first time, she didn¡¯t know what to say to him.

    What can I say?

    They¡¯d certainly been angry with one another before, but there was never this sort of awkward tension.

    "You ruined my shirt," he said, pointing at her blood soaked t-shirt.

    "More like you ruined my shirt." Nyx smiled, grateful for his teasing for once.

    She took off her clothes and stepped into the shower. Angel dropped his towel and followed her in. She shifted position to make room.

    "What was the point of drying off in the first place?" she asked.

    He shrugged and put a glob of shampoo in his hand, rubbing it through her wet hair.

    Nyx caught his wrist. "Why did you fight Carl?"

    Angel gently tugged free of her grip. "I didn''t intend for that to happen. Not like that."

    "What did you think was going to happen?"

    "There was a ten thousand dollar prize. I couldn''t help it. Carl had fought like, five people already, I figured I might have a shot or it''d at least be fun to try."

    "Fun?" She scoffed. "What part of that was fun?"

    "Most of it. Obviously I didn''t think Carl was going to murder me. That part was less than ideal." He reached over and she let him work the shampoo lather out of her hair. Despite his attempts to remain stoic, she felt him shudder. "I didn''t mean to scare you."

    "This has to stop," she said. "I couldn''t take it if anything happened to you. If you -"

    If it wasn¡¯t for that light¡­ whatever the hell it is, you¡¯d be dead, and for what? For some money? For fun?

    Nyx tossed her arms around him. He stiffened, pressing his arms to his sides.

    "What is it?" she asked.

    "I don''t want to hurt you. What if I -"

    "Oh," she said and thought for a moment. "I don''t think it works like that."

    "How could we know?"

    She put her hand on his cheek. He tensed, but didn''t stop her, leaning into her touch instead. A crackle of energy was warm beyond his usual body heat. It was like grazing over the surface of a star. After the initial trepidation, it was an oddly soothing sensation. It still felt like him, but more. There was a firmness there - an unyielding softness.

    Fear fled from him. He reached out to her. His hands wandered as though he were touching her for the first time. So gentle and curious. Goosebumps rose along her skin following the trails left in the wake of his finger tips. Nyx let him explore. Ticklish, she tried not to giggle even despite the frustration still roiling within her and decided to simply be amazed if only for a moment.

    "See?" She leaned forward until their noses nearly touched. "You''d never hurt me."

    Not physically, not in the way you¡¯re scared of.

    Angel pressed his back against the cool tile and she laced her arms around his shoulders. The warm water cascaded down her back. The beat of his heart drew her closer and she snuggled into him, clinging on with every ounce of will power she had. It felt too much like standing on the edge of a cliff. If only she were strong enough to fix them both in place.

    At least he has wings. Falling is never an issue, but Alistair is right. If he falls, I''m going with him. Maybe I should learn to let go.

    Goosebumps rose up on her arms at the contrast between the heat of their body, the water and the cold of the tile under their skin. Her lips brushed against his and he anticipated a kiss. Instead, she pressed her face to his chest, breaking into wracking sobs.

 Chapter Twelve - Club Sandwiches

    Kismet gawked around at the immense foyer. The grand staircase spiraled up and around the crystal chandelier. Hardwood floors were slick under her bare feet. They glimmered and shone with a fresh coat of wax. The regal, pre-war construction was a far cry from the industrial brick buildings of the inner city.

    She followed Alistair into the parlor on the left. It was now split in two rooms, a lobby and another room, closed off from the public. A wooden desk stretched across the back wall with a woman dressed all in black seated behind it.

    A Watcher¡­ I¡¯ve never seen one in real life before.

    Kismet stiffened. Her heart pattered under her ribs. Ribbons of colour rippled around the room and soft lavender wisps encircled the woman. Kismet closed her eyes.

    Now is not the time. Not in front of a Watcher. What if my powers get out of control and she has me arrested or something?

    The Watcher¡¯s nose was buried in a fashion magazine. Short curly black hair was done in medium length twists. Little wire-rimmed glasses slid to the edge of her nose. She looked up with a bright smile when she heard them enter.

    She doesn¡¯t look so scary.

    ¡°You ok?¡± Alistair asked.

    ¡°Uh, um yeah. I¡¯m fine.¡±

    The hive of voices nibbled the base of her skull. She put every ounce of focus into shoving them down.

    Not now. Not now.

    She fingered the headphones around her neck and instinctually checked her CD player was still firmly clipped to her hip.

    Alistair frowned, but didn¡¯t question Kismet further and guided her to the desk. The arches were carved in intricate vines and leaves. Elegant wallpaper decorated the vaulted walls in pale white and blue flowers. A fireplace was centered on the left wall room adorned with lit candelabras. She trailed behind Alistair. The ornamental red floral rug was soft under her feet.

    I hope I¡¯m not getting it dirty.

    ¡°Hey Kate,¡± said Alistair, leaning against the desk. The way he moved was so fluid, he seemed to drape himself across everything. ¡°I know it¡¯s late, but you wouldn¡¯t happen to have room for one more?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, let me see...¡± Watcher Kate turned to a thick binder open in front of her, flipping through pages. She looked up at Kismet. ¡°Room five is available?¡±

    ¡­it¡¯s not the best, more like an attic¡­

    ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s all we have at the last minute.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s more than fine,¡± said Kismet. ¡°Thank you so, so much.¡±

    Kate passed her a key from a collection displayed on the corkboard behind her. She slipped it into her pocket.

    ¡°It¡¯s on the top floor,¡± Kate explained. ¡°It¡¯s the only room on that level, so you can¡¯t miss it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, you¡¯ve both been so kind,¡± said Kismet.

    ¡°I¡¯m turning in for the night, but if you need anything, I¡¯m staying right in here,¡± said Kate, gesturing to the room behind the desk. ¡°Regardless, you¡¯re in good hands with Alice.¡±

    Watcher Kate dismissed herself, disappearing into the backroom, the binder tucked under her arm.

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you around if you like?¡± Alistair offered. ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, but that¡¯s ok,¡± said Kismet, fiddling with the cuffs of her sweater.

    ¡°Let me show you where the kitchen is at least,¡± he insisted.

    ¡°Ok, if you''re sure,¡± she said.

    Everything seemed to be in a glaze, like a clear fog covered her line of vision. It was difficult to process she was still in the same city she had been born and raised in. The environment in itself wasn¡¯t so unusual, but it was as though she¡¯d slipped into another realm. Everything looked the same, yet she had no idea what the rules were supposed to be anymore. So, she figured it was a safe bet to continue following Alistair.

    I¡¯m just happy he¡¯s willing to help me, but I wonder why?

    Alistair led her into the hall, past the length of the staircase. They entered the back hall, then he pushed through thick double doors. The kitchen cabinets were stained a deep brown to compliment the stone floor and lush green wall paper. A wooden table took up most of the center, draped in a table cloth decorated in apple print.

    Kismet looked up at him with large, hopeful eyes. ¡°I can cook in here?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he sighed. ¡°It¡¯s too bad there¡¯s not someone here to do it. I can¡¯t cook for shit.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to make you something?¡± she asked. For the first time in ages, excitement flared within her. The knot of dread sat in the pit of her stomach eased if only a little.

    ¡­ It¡¯s been a bit since I¡¯ve had a nice meal¡­ but I don¡¯t want to inconvenience her¡­

    ¡°No, that¡¯s alright,¡± he said.

    ¡°If I¡¯m making something for myself anyway, I may as well share.¡±

    ¡°Well, if you put it like that,¡± he grinned and plopped into one of the chairs. His long legs stretched out underneath.

    Kismet investigated the cupboards to see what she was working with. Everything from spices and herbs to pasta, rice and vegetables was fully stocked. Even the fridge brimmed with food and condiments.

    ¡°Are you sure all this is free?¡± she asked, looking at him over her shoulder. ¡°What am I allowed to use?¡±

    ¡°Anything you want,¡± he said. ¡°Help yourself.¡±

    I can¡¯t believe this.

    As much as she wanted to explore and experiment, she decided to keep things simple and set about making club sandwiches.

    ¡°Is there a reason you don¡¯t wear shoes?¡± Alistair asked.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°Huh?¡± She flushed. ¡°Oh. Not really.¡±

    ¡°Would you like some? I think Jack is staying here with Caroline, and she might be a similar size to you. He uses these sort of pocket dimensions, so they travel with everything. I bet she won¡¯t miss a pair.¡±

    Kismet¡¯s cheeks reddened and she fixated on slicing the tomatoes. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You¡¯ve already been more than helpful.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble, really,¡± he said, getting up from the table. ¡°I think they¡¯re up in their room. They owe me one anyways. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    ¡°No, please -¡±

    It was too late and he had already slipped out the door. Her cheeks burned, unshed tears stinging the rims of her eyes.

    I haven¡¯t been here an hour and I¡¯m already a burden. What must they think of me? Maybe this was all a bad idea.

    By the time Alistair returned with a pair of sneakers, the sandwiches were plated at the table. He sat down across from her and passed over the shoes. They were white with a ring of glitter around the sides.

    Kismet tugged them on. ¡°Why are you being so nice to me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the right thing to do for one,¡± said Alistair, taking a bite of the sandwich. ¡°Second, it¡¯s dangerous for us to just wander willy-nilly, especially if you¡¯re unfamiliar with how things work around here.¡± He leaned forward, lowering his voice. The amber aura surrounding him cinched a bit closer to his body. ¡°These hostels aren¡¯t the only place for wandering mutants to end up, and I wouldn¡¯t want you to find yourself in the wrong hands.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she frowned. ¡°I thought Ivy controlled all things mutant related on the mainland?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but not everyone is a big fan of the situation, I¡¯ll say.¡±

    ¡­ Jack and Caroline ¡­ they better steer clear of her¡­ She doesn¡¯t look like she needs their brand of trouble¡­

    ¡°What are your powers, anyway?¡± Alistair asked.

    ¡°Huh,¡± Kismet blinked. ¡°Oh, um -¡±

    Do I tell him the truth?

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to make you uncomfortable, ¡° said Alistair. ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me. It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a telepath.¡± The words rushed from her and she studied the crust on her sandwich, the flowers in the vase, the clock on the wall, anything. Tension squeezed her chest.

    I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever said it like that before.

    ¡°That¡¯s super cool!¡± Alistair exclaimed. He scrunched his eyes closed. ¡°Ok, I picked a number from one and ten, what am I thinking?¡±

    A mixture of tension and relief stirred within her, unsure how to react, she stumbled over her words. ¡°I don¡¯t do it on purpose.¡±

    Alistair opened his eyes again. ¡°Oh. Why not?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not polite,¡± she said, twisting the tattered ends of her sleeves. ¡°Also, I don¡¯t know how. Not really. I can choose to if I want, it¡¯s trying not to that¡¯s the hard part actually. If I were to have answered your question, I may have come back with a lot more information than you initially wanted me to go in for. That¡¯s not fair.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re going to The Academy then? Why wait so long?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No, ideally, I¡¯m going to Portsmouth Island. Ivy kinda freaks me out to be honest.¡± She flushed deeper. ¡°I don¡¯t mean any disrespect, it¡¯s just I¡¯ve heard some scary things, you know?¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t blame you. I didn¡¯t go to The Academy either,¡± he said. ¡°A lot of kids from the island choose not to. Watcher Kate out there was the only one from my grade that went, let alone become a Watcher.¡±

    ¡°Is it true? What they say about Ivy?¡± Kismet leaned forward, her tone hushed. ¡°Does she really suck out people¡¯s life?¡±

    ¡°I saw it with my own eyes,¡± said Alistair, chewing his sandwich. The gold light around him flared and flickered like a candle flame.

    ¡°Really?¡± Kismet gasped.

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± he nodded, swallowing the last of his bite. ¡°Once, when I was about ten, Ivy tracked Bill to the island. I guess he¡¯d been running fight clubs here in the city and she found out.¡±

    ¡°And that got him the death sentence?¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t mess around about matters of reputation. If humans were to see us as a threat, I mean, a real genuine one, it might instigate another war. The tension is high enough as it is, I don¡¯t think Ivy likes anything rocking the boat.¡±

    ¡°So, what happened? You must have been so scared,¡± she said. Even now she could see the burgundy sludge of fear slick through his golden aura as the memory pushed to the surface. ¡°We don¡¯t need to talk about it, if it upsets you.¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s fine. My best buddy Angel and I were told to stay in my room, keep away from the windows. We didn¡¯t listen and peeked through the curtains anyway. She looked like a ghost. Her skin, even her hair, had taken on this sort of transparent glass-like quality. Even her movements were more like a glide.¡±

    Alistair shuddered at the memory.

    Despite her best efforts, the kitchen faded off to be replaced by a small blue bedroom. The floor cluttered with open comics, and action figures. The fear became visceral within Kismet¡¯s body as she watched the pale woman drift down a dirt road past brightly painted cabins. Ivy¡¯s black cloak trailed behind her as her long white hair, now shimmering a clear quartz wafted like the tail of a comet. Something cold, harsh and natural yet from another place entirely. A crowd had gathered on the lawn at the house across the street. Kismet couldn¡¯t make out any words, but there was a lot of frightened shouting. A woman levitated rocks. In response, Ivy pulled a blue thread of light from the woman¡¯s mouth. She collapsed. A man yelled.

    The other child beside her, a scrawny boy with tousled black hair and ice blue eyes stared at the scene, rigid with terror.

    ¡°Dad -¡± the boy squeaked, indicating the yelling man.

    Alistair took his hand and dragged him to the floor so they couldn¡¯t see anymore.

    Kismet blinked, the kitchen wobbling back into focus.

    ¡°... my sisters rushed in, a blanket over their shoulders for us all to hide under,¡± said Alistair. ¡°We huddled together in a little heap until Mom and Dad came to get us. It felt like hours ¨C Hey, are you alright? Sorry if the story is upsetting you -¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± she said, guilt burning a hole in her gut. ¡°I slipped - I saw - I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Kismet braced herself, uncertain what to expect.

    Will he shout? Hit me? Leave?

    ¡°That must be really hard for you,¡± he said. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have told you such an emotional story. I wasn¡¯t thinking it could trigger your abilities like that.¡±

    ¡°I need to control them better. I gotta get a handle on it. I¡¯m so sorry to invade -¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, really,¡± he said. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re ok?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she nodded, still processing his reaction.

    It¡¯s almost more startling than a slap in the face.

    ¡°I¡¯m exhausted,¡± he said, yawning as if to prove a point. ¡°Would you like me to walk you to your room before I go to bed?¡±

    ¡°You really don¡¯t have to.¡± Kismet looked down, watching her hands twist and scrunch her sleeves in her lap. ¡°You¡¯ve already been far too kind. I¡¯ll give the shoes back as soon as I -¡±

    ¡°Forget it,¡± Alistair laughed. ¡°Caroline seriously won¡¯t miss them. Trust me, she doesn¡¯t give up anything she¡¯s not willing to part with. They¡¯re yours.¡±

    Kismet stood up, her feet feeling relieved to be covered. They didn¡¯t quite fit, and she had to scrunch up her toes to keep from slipping around.

    Alistair got out of the chair and stretched, exaggerated and cat-like. He led her into the hall and up the stairs. The gloss on the railing was smooth under her hand as they ascended. They made it to the second floor and crept past the other rooms. Shreds of dreams wafted through the air, wandering through Kismet¡¯s mind and she pushed them away.

    They came to the back hall and another set of narrow stairs leading toward the top of the turret.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re getting the princess treatment,¡± Alistair teased. ¡°They¡¯re putting ya all the way up in the tower.¡±

    Kismet smiled, flushing and looked at the rug on the floor.

    ¡°It was nice to meet you,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll see you around on the island?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, maybe,¡± she said. A pang settled in her chest, not wanting him to leave. ¡°Thank you again.¡±

    Then I¡¯ll be all alone again. I hardly know this guy. I¡¯ve already taken up more than enough of his time.

    He waved good-night and went his own way, leaving her at the foot of the stairs. The events of the night pressed on the edge of her mind, fighting for space with the constant static threatening to rise up. She trudged up the steep stairs to a solitary door and unlocked it.

    The iron-framed bed took up the majority of the cramped room. A circular window let in the lights of the city and she had a view of the harbour. Kismet stripped off her clothing, leaving them in a neat pile on the top of the dresser. She crawled into bed with her CD player in her arms, pulling the starchy sheets up to her chin. Even with headphones over her ears and music full blast, low murmurs and scraps of dreams fluttered behind her eyes. Still, she managed to slip into some semblance of sleep.

 Chapter Thirteen - The Way Things Were

    The scent of lavender from Angel¡¯s sheets surrounded them. The sky outside his window shifted slowly into dawn, paling and swallowing up the stars. Nyx cuddled into the crook of his arm, her head on his bare chest. Her eyes were closed, but he could hear the quick beat of her heart, the rapid, shallow breaths and smell the tang of anxiety in her sweat. The warmth of her body was in layers. There was her usual, familiar body heat at her core like the center of the earth, but a sort of invisible gossamer film drifted off her in a thin cocoon. Enraptured, Angel stroked her arm, trailing his fingers through the tactile hum of her life-force.

    I¡¯ve held you a thousand times, mesmerised your face down to every freckle, and now everything¡¯s changed. Can we ever go back to the way things were?

    ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± she asked, peeking open an eye.

    ¡°Not for lack of trying,¡± he said.

    She reached up, smoothing the hair from his face. ¡°Are you scared?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± He turned, draping his arm over her as he nestled his face in the crook of her neck.

    We can pretend like tonight never happened.¡±

    ¡°You died in my arms Angel, how can you expect me to move past that?¡±

    His chest tightened, choking on the memory of her terrified eyes piercing into him as he emerged from the dreamscape into the backseat of Alistair¡¯s car.

    How could I do that to you? What¡¯s the matter with me? What am I now, can I even die?

    ¡°I¡¯m asking you to.¡± Angel shifted away from her and sat up against the pillows. His molars ground into each other, zinging pain into his temples. ¡°Frankly, it¡¯s none of your business.¡±

    Nyx sat up, glaring at him. ¡°Your business is my business.¡±

    ¡°Please, can we drop it?¡±

    "No,¡± she said. ¡°We don''t know much about Ivy''s powers -"

    "I know what Ivy can do," he snapped. "Everyone knows what she''s capable of. That''s not what I want. I want to go back to how things were."

    "I don''t think that''s possible," Nyx said gently. "I''m sorry. I think we need to learn more about it, that''s all. It strikes me as odd these powers would sit dormant for so long. Why would your body repress it? Where did they even come from?"

    It¡¯s like the whole world is a beating heart and I can feel all of it. How did I miss this all my life?

    Something unsettling slithered into his guts and made a nest, twisting and turning like a hibernaculum.

    "Bodies do weird shit all the time,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Especially mutant bodies. It doesn''t mean there''s anything sketchy going on."

    "You''re not the least bit curious?"

    "Not at all."

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    She looked at him with skepticism, but didn¡¯t press it.

    "Maybe there''s a way to control it?" he suggested, and tried to brighten. "Maybe I could use them to actually win some fights? Even if I only used them to heal, I''d have an advantage."

    "I don''t think you should do anymore fighting," she said. "Revealing your new powers isn''t a good idea. At least not right now. Ivy might hear about it."

    "Why on earth would she give a shit?" he exclaimed.

    "She may find someone having her abilities to be a threat."

    "Ivy is going to find me threatening? I''m flattered, but seriously, that''s ridiculous."

    "If you can flip your powers like she can, you could suck anyone''s life-force out, including hers."

    Angel''s eyes widened. "Yeah, but I wouldn''t."

    "It doesn''t matter that you wouldn''t do it. It matters that you could. Plus, she''d lose a lot of her leverage, especially in international politics if you were to decide to heal the leaders and elite she''s been negotiating with. She might want to get rid of you before she no longer has that option, or best case scenario, she''ll strongly insist you go to The Academy."

    Angel bristled as it finally dawned on him that he would not get much of a say in either situation.

    "Fine then," he sighed. "We won''t say anything to anyone." Angel fixed his eyes ahead, looking toward the window. His jaw twitched. "Do you think the others would hate me?¡±

    "What do you mean?"

    "Your mom and dad, Daisy and Aiden. Julian. They might be scared of me after seeing what Ivy did in the war."

    "That''s not fair," Nyx argued. "You''re not Ivy, and you''re not going to suck out anyone''s life by accident or on purpose."

    He laid down, pulling the covers up. Nyx scooched down and cuddled up close, and they faced each other. Her grip tightened and he relaxed into her embrace.

    What mess I¡¯ve drug you into.

    "Do you hate me?" he asked.

    "Not in a million years," she said, and smoothed her hand across his cheek and hair.

    "Good." He closed his eyes with a soft sigh. "I don''t think I could bear it if you did."

    ¡°I¡¯m worried about you,¡± she confessed. ¡±No matter what happens, I couldn¡¯t stand to lose you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. You¡¯re stuck with me. Even if Ivy comes, I¡¯ll -¡±

    Her eyes hardened. ¡°Don¡¯t fight her. Please. We both saw her that day, you don¡¯t stand a chance even with your new powers. If she takes you to The Academy, maybe she¡¯ll help you -¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be her prisoner,¡± he said. ¡°You said so yourself, I pose a threat to her, real or perceived. You think she¡¯ll let me just go about my business?¡±

    Nyx stiffened, her grip around his waist tightened. ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out.¡±

    ¡°We could always run away together.¡± He was only half teasing. There was something fantastical, almost romantic about it. There¡¯d be no more Julian breathing down his neck, no more having to prove himself, but there¡¯d be no more Alistair or Cassie either. No more beach, or jam sessions in the shed.

    If it comes down to it, I¡¯d lose everything anyway. At least then I¡¯d have her. I¡¯ll have to run. I¡¯ll never work with Ivy.

    ¡°Sure,¡± she laughed. ¡°What would we do out there?¡±

    ¡°Rob banks?¡±

    Nyx rolled her eyes, but grinned despite herself. ¡°We¡¯d live fast and die young I suppose.¡±

    ¡°I always planned to leave a beautiful corpse,¡± he teased, but the words left a sour taste in his mouth the moment they left.

    Their laughter staled, tension settling again into the sliver of space between them. The inevitability of their predicament raked its claws up his spine. Even death itself was no longer a certainty, but Ivy loomed on the horizon as sure as the tide.

    Nyx stiffened. Barely constrained tears made her quiver. She pressed her face to his chest, struggling to manage her breathing. Angel¡¯s lips fell in her hair. He rubbed her back, savouring the softness of her skin. Every moment ticked into eternity.

 Chapter Fourteen - Wishful Thinking

    When Nyx woke, he was gone. The sheets on his side of the bed empty but pulled straight and neat. Sunlight streamed through the window. Squinting, she sat up against the pillows.

    It figures he''d still go to work the day after dying rather than risk continuing the conversation.

    Nyx slipped out of bed and stole another of Angel¡¯s t-shirts before tugging on a pair of jeans she stashed here the last time. He pretended not to notice the items she''d leave behind and in return, she''d try to hide them well.

    He clearly wants space and has no intentions of settling down anytime soon.

    She cleared the dresser of her discarded clothing. Her hands shook, pulling out a few pairs of jeans, a skirt, and three tops then piled them on the center of the bed.

    If he didn''t have that power... I don''t want to think about it. Where did it even come from after all this time? Why is it so much like Ivy''s? Does it have anything to do with her at all?

    That thought in particular dug in its claws and wouldn''t let go. Almost always, children born to mutant parents had at least one of their parents'' powers, or on odd occasions, they''d get a mix of both or perhaps gain some recessive ability passed on from a grandparent. Sometimes even generations later, humans would have a mutant child because some distant ancestor had the genes. Ivy herself was likely one such case as her abilities were considered to be so rare, she was the only person in either living memory or written historic record to have them.

    What are the odds another would be born naturally within twenty years of each other?

    Still chewing on her thoughts, Nyx went downstairs to the kitchen to find a tote bag. The house seemed so empty and quiet without him. It was hard to believe only two nights ago, a raging party had occurred here. Aside from some stains on the dark blue carpet in the living-room, there was not a crumb out of place. The furniture had seen better days, but at least it was clean.

    The stuffing in the green floral couch had flattened long ago. It was missing its legs ever since the back right one snapped off during a party a few years ago. A wool throw blanket folded across the top of the armchair. The walls were decorated with rock posters, cartoon women and horror movies. All of his records were arranged neatly on the shelf against the back wall, the record player perched on top. Each one placed in careful, alphabetical order.

    It¡¯s not going to take long for him to notice my stuff is missing.

    She went into the washroom, gathering her toothbrush from the cup beside the tap and scrounged for any other items she¡¯d left behind; deodorant, lipstick, elastics and eyeliner.

    He died right in front of me, and he''d do it all over again if he could. I''ve been a fool to wait for so long, but I can''t stand to think of being without him. There has to be some kind of way.

    Nyx found a reusable bag in the kitchen. She snooped around his cupboards and in the fridge, finding them all empty just as she feared.

    It didn''t take long for her to gather the items up and stuffed them all inside of the tote-bag. There had been no sense in picking at it, but Angel¡¯s attitude told her all she needed to know. His reaction was born out of fear, but to her, it spoke volumes.

    Nyx took her stuff and found her skateboard in the coat closet. She''d left it here one day when Angel offered to fly her home instead.

    There''s still room to change my mind. Maybe I should, but if I''m being honest with myself, I don''t want to.

    No more bending. Not when she was this close to breaking. If they were to stay together, even as they were, she had to maintain some distance. Angel would either meet her where she stood... or not.

    She stepped outside with her skateboard tucked under one arm, and the tote slung over the other. The afternoon sun blared in the clear sky and cicadas hummed. Grasshoppers scattered through the long grass as she walked across the yard to the street.

    The asphalt was cracked and pitted, catching up her wheels as she rolled along the road toward home. Her parent''s cabin was only a few blocks over. The tote bag bumped against her hip.

    A stone caught the front wheel, sending Nyx face first onto the sidewalk. Cursing, she got up on all fours and struggled to her feet. The rips in her jeans had grown wider, leaving her skin torn and bruised.

    Nyx brushed herself off and looked up at a squat red house. The boarded windows and decayed siding told her it was still unclaimed. Scraggly black - berry bushes guarded the front lawn from view. The driveway had begun to grow weeds through the cracks in the pavement.

    She approached with caution. Just because people hadn''t moved in didn''t mean racoons hadn''t. The deck sagged under her weight and she was mindful of where she stepped. The boards nailing the door closed had already been pried apart by another nosey investigator.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The layer of dust coating the yellow hardwood glistened as the light from the door hit it. The main floor appeared to be an entirely open concept with a large space for a living-room and dining area, and a kitchen in the back.

    She flicked the light switch, surprised to see it click on. The house creaked as she moved and it somehow looked filthier in the light.

    At least I won¡¯t have to have Julian come wire the place.

    She tensed.

    When word gets around about Angel¡¯s fight with Aluminum Carl, he¡¯s not going to be happy. I hope he takes it easy on him for once.

    The narrow staircase led her up to a half-story. She was cautious of loose floor boards and the wobbly railing. One room to the left could be a bedroom and the other could be for her drums.

    She didn''t waste time staking her claim and brought her items inside. Under Portsmouth law, the house was now hers until she said otherwise.

    When mutants had first arrived on the island, the abandoned Portsmouth fishing village was in shambles. Over the decades, they worked on fixing up the buildings and adding more infrastructure as needed. Any empty cabin was fair game for an island resident in need of one.

    In the beginning, they were gradually occupied by mutants fleeing the mainland in search of refuge. Later, recently liberated mutants from The Old Academy took them during and after the war. These days, the remaining cabins were picked by recent high school or Academy graduates and newly weds.

    At one time, she had imagined that for herself and Angel like some kind of preordained destiny. No matter how long it would take, that''s how things would ultimately end up. She could see it in her mind¡¯s eye so clearly and it made everything worth it, kept her patience in line.

    She¡¯d always tell herself ¡®someday.¡¯

    Now, the picture blurred and faded until she could no longer discern what could possibly be in its place. Angel had agreed to hide his abilities, but she knew it couldn¡¯t be forever no matter how hard he tried.

    If he bothers to try at all.

    Then Ivy would come, and no matter how they responded she would have the final say.

    It isn¡¯t fair. Everything was fine yesterday. I want to go back.

    To When?

    The question she posed to herself startled her at first, but in an attempt to answer, she could not think of a time together when turmoil had not tilted right around the corner.

    Standing in the empty living-room with tote bag in hand, surrounded by dust and creaking wood, her eyes welled up with tears. Disillusionment plucked free the final thread in her heart. She had been holding on to a dream she mistook for a promise for so long it had become difficult to tell the two apart.

    Angel will be relieved to have the pressure off. The houses are close enough together we can visit each other even easier than we can now. I can''t think of a better compromise.

    Nyx choked back the last of her tears, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. She left her bag behind in the living-room to mark her place.

    She took off down the street on her skateboard toward the dock to find him, careful to dodge any more stray rocks. The cabins cruised by, getting further apart. The port became visible, coming up on her right. The ferry would come in later this afternoon filled with supply trucks to unload. In the meantime, crates stacked out on the dock waited to be taken off to the market and other shops in the village. The square brick terminal loomed in front.

    The parking lot was much smoother than the street as she rolled toward the terminal. All the while, she tried to think of how to tell him about the cabin, that she didn¡¯t want to move in with him anymore, that they should take a good, long break.

    She came up to the door and hopped off her skateboard, tucking it under her arm. The dock itself was sealed up behind a chain link fence. No one could enter without authorisation. She went around the side of the building, keeping her eye out for Angel.

    Instead, she found Timmy leaning against the dumpsters, smoking a cigarette. Nyx went over to the chain-link, looping her fingers through the metal, and  jiggled it to get his attention.

    ¡°Hey, Timmy, psst,¡± she called.

    Finally, he looked in her direction and walked over. The yellow stripes on his safety vest shimmered in the sun.

    Timmy approached the fence. His eye was still bruised around the bottom rim. A crusty scab formed over his busted lip. The cigarette dangling from his mouth was nearly burned down to the filter.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Is Angel around?¡±

    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen him since last night. He¡¯s an asshole and everything, but he didn¡¯t deserve that.¡± Timmy whistled through his teeth. ¡°Fuck, if Ivy finds out someone died -¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not dead,¡± Nyx snapped. ¡°I guess I over reacted. His nose bled a lot and it scared me.¡±

    ¡°Well shit. I¡¯ve been telling everyone he¡¯s dead.¡± Timmy tapped out the last bit of ash off the end of his cigarette. ¡°Oops.¡±

    ¡°Why the fuck would you go and do something like that for?¡± Nyx exclaimed.

    ¡°Wishful thinking?¡±

    Nyx kicked the fence and Timmy stepped back, startled. ¡°Asshole!¡±

    Timmy laughed. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m teasing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not funny,¡± she growled.

    ¡°Take a joke, would ya? He¡¯s alright, you said so yourself. What are you so worked up about?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Nyx took a deep breath through her nose.

    I can¡¯t believe this asshole. Now I¡¯m going to have to go around setting everyone straight.

    ¡°So Angel¡¯s not here then?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s part of the reason I thought he croaked.¡±  Timmy tossed the butt of his cigarette to the ground. ¡°For the record, I¡¯m glad he didn¡¯t. That was awful- ¡°

    ¡°Yeah, well, he¡¯s fine now,¡± she said, not wanting to discuss it further. ¡°If you see Angel around, let him know I¡¯m looking for him would ya?¡±

    ¡°Will do,¡± he said.

    Nyx got back on her skateboard. There was one last place she wanted to check, and headed out to the beach.

 Chapter Fifteen - I Would Hardly Call It Luck

    Kismet awoke to the sound of doors opening and closing. The sun shone through the bedroom window. Occupants shuffled around the hostel, getting ready; coughing, clearing throats, and running showers.

    The springs in the mattress dug into her back, then her side. It didn''t seem to matter how she turned.

    The clock on the nightstand read seven a.m. Kismet burst out of bed and clamored for her headphones. She couldn''t risk losing track of things when time was of the essence. She dressed, then hurried down the narrow steps, music blasting in her ears as she raced outside.

    Daylight stripped the garden of its magic. It was also difficult to recognize the streets and the way she had come. Some of the grimy abandoned furniture served as place markers, and the area gradually became more familiar.

    This time when she found the ferry terminal, the parking lot was much busier. The ship already waited in the dock behind the squat white building, letting vehicles board first. She ran toward the terminal, her sneakers pounding against the pavement. Cars trying to find parking spaces honked at her as she cut them off.

    The inside of the building was much quieter, and Kismet risked turning her music off. She raced to the ticket booth where a bored young woman scowled at her from behind a glass panel.

    She chewed her gum the way a cow ate grass. "Ticket or access card please," she drawled.

    "Ah -"

    The woman raised a plucked eyebrow. "If you can''t produce a ticket or an access card, you''ll have to move along."

    Kismet glanced over her shoulder. No one waited behind her. She patted her jeans, already knowing she wouldn''t find anything in her pockets, but was merely buying time.

    "It''s gotta be here somewhere." Sweat pooled under her shirt collar. "Say I lost it, where would I get a ticket or an access card?"

    "Buy a ticket over there," said the lady, jerking her thumb toward a kiosk close to the glass front doors. "To get an access card you''d have to be an island resident."

    "Oh, yeah -" Kismet said. "Guess I better go get a ticket then." She scurried toward the kiosk, unsure what she was going to do. Perhaps running away had been a bad idea altogether. Her bank card was still in her wallet, but the funds were low. Already sunken into overdraft.

    "There you are, you little rascal," said Alistair. He had snuck up behind Kismet, clapping her on the shoulder. He must have been seated in the lobby. She almost didn''t recognize him with a shirt on. She shrunk under his hand, but he seemed to be talking to the ticket lady more than for her sake.

    What is he getting at?

    "She has a card, I swear," he explained to the lady. "My friend here gets a little confused sometimes and probably left it at home."

    Kismet looked around at him, blinking.

    What in the world is he doing?

    "It''s my fault. I should have reminded her."

    "It doesn''t matter whose fault it is," the woman said with narrowed, impatient eyes. "No ticket, no card, no ship. It''s that simple."

    Alistair leaned on the counter, flashing a brilliant smile. "C''mon Carol. Do they pay you extra to be this cruel?"

    "They pay me to do my job, Alice. Pay up or move along."

    "Fine, have it your way," he muttered. "Come on friend, I guess I''ll have to get you a ticket."

    "You don''t have to," said Kismet. If the world could swallow her up, she''d greatly appreciate it. "I can -"

    "It''s not a problem," he said.

    She followed him over to the kiosk where he slid in his bank card and pressed buttons on the screen. Guilt sat like a stone at the bottom of her stomach.

    "You don''t have to do this," she said. "Really. It''s ok. I can find some other way." The only other option was using her abilities, and that was hardly an option at all. Mind-reading for her own personal gain was absolutely off-limits. She would not make that mistake again. "I can figure it out."

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    "It''s fine, truly," he assured her. "Once we get to the island, I''ll take you to meet with Daisy. she''ll help you get set up with a card. I can''t see Watcher Liz finding too much trouble with it. Or at least she shouldn''t."

    "Watcher Liz?" Kismet asked.

    So far, Watchers seemed a lot less scary in real life than the television showed them to be, but still, she was hesitant to take chances.

    I gotta prove I don¡¯t need The Academy to keep things under control.

    "As Ivy''s representative, Liz is head of the council and gets the final say," Alistair explained. He took the thin paper ticket that spit out of the machine and handed it to her. "That being said, she''s never vetoed anything. I''m sure you''ll be fine."

    "What if I''m not?"

    "Well, in that case, we have a tradition where we put rejects on a raft and push them out to sea." He grinned. "I hope you know how to swim."

    "Seriously," she said. "That doesn''t happen."

    Alistair laughed. "I don''t know what happens. I''ve never seen anyone get rejected before. Though to be honest, I''ve never seen anyone come over from the human side. Not as an adult anyway. Most mutants born to human families are sent off to The Academy the minute their powers manifest. So what made you so lucky?"

    "I would hardly call it luck," she said but didn''t elaborate further.

    Alistair got the hint and didn''t pry. Kismet followed him over to Carol. He slid the ticket to her through a narrow slot under the glass. Carol got Kismet to stick out her arm where she attached a green paper bracelet around her wrist.

    "Sorry about Angel by the way," Carol said to Alistair.

    "Yeah, I''m sorry about him too," said Alistair. "What did he do this time?"

    Carol looked up at him with wide eyes and Kismet tensed. Stale yellow ribbons of apprehension spiraled off the woman with accents of navy-blue sadness.

    "You don''t know?"

    "So tell me," he said with a hint of desperation. His jovial tone had vanished.

    "He got pretty smashed up fighting Aluminum Carl last night," said Carol. "I heard he was, ya know..."

    ¡­ No, no, he can¡¯t be¡­ this has to be some terrible mistake¡­

    The image of a young man with a gash in his shoulder sitting on the edge of a tub, blood still dripping from the open wound flashed behind Kismet¡¯s eyes. She felt the pang of anxiety constrict Alistair¡¯s ribcage echoing through time.

    He stiffened. "He gets beat up all the time. With his resilience, I''m sure he''s fine. It always looks worse than it is."

    The memory of a woman with short pink hair came to the surface. She sat slouched at an outdoor patio, clutching a cigarette to her lips. Stars glittered in the sky.

    The woman¡¯s emerald eyes narrowed. ¡°What if he dies, Alice? What then, huh?¡±

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s not gonna die.¡± Alistair waved his hand.

    ¡­ I should have listened to her¡­ she¡¯d call me, wouldn¡¯t she? ¡­

    "Sure." Carol looked at Alistair with pity. "I hope that''s the case."

    Nauseous from bouncing through past and present, Kismet mindlessly followed Alistair away from the booth. He had gone pale, struggling to contain his emotions.

    "I gotta go use the phone." His voice was clipped and strained. "I''ll be right back."

    Kismet sat down in the lobby. The plastic chair was hard and cold beneath her. The clock above the ticket booth read seven-forty-five. They''d be called to board any moment.

    I hope his friend is alright. How can I comfort this guy? I hardly know him. He''s already helped me so much. There''s gotta be something I can do.

    When Alistair returned, he looked even more sullen than before and slouched into the empty seat next to her.

    "No answer," he said. "Not anywhere. No one seems to be home at all. If something awful happened, they''d call me, wouldn''t they? It''s not like they didn''t know where I was staying. Nyx would have called for sure. So he''s gotta be ok. Right?"

    Kismet didn''t have the slightest clue who any of these people were but nodded regardless. "I''m sure it''ll be fine. Once we get to the island, everything will be cleared up. You said he has resilience? That''s like a sort of durability or invulnerability? It''s like you said, he probably looked worse than he is and everyone is jumping to conclusions."

    "Yeah, you''re probably right," he said, but fidgeted in his seat. Magenta sparks of anxiety erupted from him like bullets.

    When they called the walk-on passengers to board, Kismet tagged along behind him. Alistair wasn''t as talkative as before, but he didn''t turn her away either. They found a seat in the main lounge.

    The ferry had one and a half levels available to passengers, and access to the deck. The day was so clear, the sun shining and brisk over the calm ocean it was tempting to go outside, but despite Alistair''s quiet, contemplative demeanor, he was gradually being consumed by magenta ribbons.

    Kismet sat in the chair across the small table. The furniture was bolted to the floor to keep it from sliding around on rough seas. Alistair huddled up on the booth seat, studying the edges of his paper bracelet.

    "Wanna play a game?" she asked.

    He looked up. "Hmm, maybe. What kinda game?"

    "A sort of pretend game," she said. "I like to imagine I''m somewhere else. What if we were actually on a pirate ship? Would we be crewmates or prisoners? Would we be nice or mean pirates?"

    "How old are you?" he asked, but not without a glimmer of humour and perhaps even intrigue.

    "Twenty-three but that''s beside the point," she said. "Do you wanna play or not?"

    "OK, I''ll give. I say we''re nice pirates protecting a treasure. Now what?"

    "Well, now we gotta decide who we''re protecting it from and what is it?"

    They carried on like this, back and forth until the shore of Portsmouth Island emerged on the horizon.

 Chapter Sixteen - Roly- Polies

    The waves rolled into shore, calm and soft against the sand. Angel closed his eyes to feel the world turn. The earth ignited in a new way. The air hummed with a vibration that even his sensitive hearing had not been able to detect previously. It was warm against his skin like the sun in midsummer.

    Even the driftwood log he sat on teemed with life. The wood itself had long since faded, but the bugs currently using it for shelter were like tiny embers scuttling about.

    It was because of this very beach and a similar log that he had been given the nickname ''Grub.'' He had come here frequently as a kid to skip stones or play games with the triplets. Once a particularly gnarly and rotted log had washed up. They were nine years old at the time. It was fresh on its driftwood journey, not yet made hard and smooth by the waves. Instead, it was still rotten and soft. Nyx kicked it, cracking the wood open to expose a haven of roly-polies. The little gray creatures scattered, escaping the light.

    Alistair plucked one up. The roly-poly curled into a ball in his palm.

    "I dare you to eat it," he teased Angel.

    Angel poked the pill-bug with a finger. It curled up tighter. His stomach churned.

    "Ok, I''ll do it."

    "Aw man, not seriously," said Alistair. "That''s gross dude. Let''s put it back. Maybe we can build a sandcastle to fill up with crabs instead."

    Nyx stopped kicking the log and joined them. "You''re seriously gonna eat that dirty ol'' bug?"

    He shrugged. "Sure, why not?" It was a genuine question. He couldn''t think of a reason not to, and the expressions of disgust and horror as well as intrigued excitement on his friends'' faces spurned him forward. Angel plucked the roly-poly out of Alistair''s hand.

    "I was only kidding," said Alistair. His eyes shone, greedy with anticipation.

    Angel dangled the curled-up roly-poly between his fingers, closed his eyes and popped it in his mouth. His friends squealed in disgust and delight.

    "You''re nuts Grub. I bet that guy had a family," said Alistair.

    Alistair called him ''Grub'' for the rest of the afternoon, and it caught on from there.

    Angel couldn''t explain why he ate the roly-poly, or the million other things he¡¯d done over the years.

    To make them laugh? To gross them out? Who knows.

    When he opened his eyes and looked at his hands, a faint blue aura lined the contours of his body. He shook his hand as if to get dirt away. The light disappeared.

    I should have moved in with Nyx. I shouldn''t have fought Carl. Then none of this would have happened.

    "Hey, Grub!"

    He looked toward the familiar voice to see Nyx climbing down the rocks concealing this small patch of sand from the rest of the beach. She placed her feet with well practiced caution, holding her arms out for balance. The wind pushed her pink hair to the side. She wore his shirt again. Remnants of last night''s makeup still stained rings around her eyes.

    "I thought you were at work, so I went to the dock to look for you. I figured this was the next best bet." Nyx hopped off the bottom rock onto the sand.

    "I can''t hide from you," he said and moved over to make room.

    "Then why do you try?" she asked, and sat next to him. "How are you?"

    "How do you think I am?" he sighed. "I can''t stop thinking about it. I wish I could dip my brain in bleach so I can forget about it. You remember when Ivy came to the island that time? When she nearly killed June and actually sucked up Bill?"

    Nyx nodded.

    "What if I get like that?" he asked utterly horrified to speak the words aloud.

    "She does a lot of good things too," said Nyx. "This power isn''t all bad."

    If I have to spend the rest of my life hiding it, it won¡¯t matter.

    "How much good does someone have to do to make up for sucking people dry? Is it one for one?"

    "That''s Ivy, not you. That''ll never be you." Nyx looked him dead in the eye and for a moment, he could almost believe her. "You think I''d let you?"

    "Promise?"

    "Promise," she said, intertwining her fingers through his. Nyx leaned her head on his shoulder as he put his arm around her.

    "I''m serious. If I become anything like her, you gotta do whatever it takes to kill me before I go too far."

    "You''re so dramatic," she said, swatting him. "It won''t come to that."

    I wouldn¡¯t have even made it this far if not for her.

    He sighed. A heavy weight sat in his chest. The ocean waves rushed to shore. Foam raced toward the beach in a stampede of white horses.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    "Isn''t this where we kissed for the first time?" he asked.

    "Yeah, like, when we were twelve," she giggled. Nyx tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We both wiped our lips right after, so I''m not sure it still counts?"

    "It counts," he said. "I was terrified."

    "Really? It was your idea, but I''m glad you asked." She kicked at the sand, burying the toes of her canvas sneakers in the soil. "I have something to tell you."

    "Can I ask you something first?"

    How is this the scariest thing I¡¯ve ever done?

    "Ah, sure. Go ahead."

    "Do you want to move in with me?"

    She froze and scooched back. "That''s sorta what I wanted to tell you. I claimed that empty red house about a block away from you."

    "Yeah, well, you can un-claim it and come live with me instead," he said.

    Nyx sprung off the log. "You are the most confusing man I have ever met!"

    "I thought this is what you wanted? I thought you''d be happy?" Angel got up to face her.

    She crossed her arms and scowled. "I would have been about twenty-four hours ago, before everything. Then you turn around and tell me it''s none of my business. I know how to take a hint."

    "For someone that thinks so much I can see how it''s hard to believe that I don''t think at all, but it''s true," Angel exclaimed. "I really am that stupid, and impulsive, and reckless and whatever else you must think of me. I''m sorry I said it''s none of your business, ok? You can be CEO if you fucking want to."

    "Angel, stop it." Nyx shook her head in exasperation. "Look, I''ve made up my mind. For the record, I don''t think you''re stupid. You''re very smart actually. That''s why I always expect so much more from you."

    "Well don''t. You''d be a lot less disappointed."

    "Angel -" she sighed. "You''re so ready to throw it all away at a moments notice and I don''t understand why. I think it''ll be better this way. We''re still close, ya know? Closer than we are now even."

    His heart pounded like the floor had dropped away from him altogether.

    She''s slipping away and there''s nothing I can do to stop her. I''ve gone too far this time.

    Nyx uncrossed her arms and sighed. She put her hand on his cheek. Pain slithered under his ribs as it wafted off of her in waves. It was utterly nauseating.

    Does she always hurt like this? Is this my doing?

    His stomach churned and this time, the emotion was his own.

    "I''m not leaving. I''m right here," she said.

    His chest squeezed the breath in his lungs.

    "We''ve gone back and forth since we were fourteen. I''m tired. I''m serious about you. I''ve said as much. It was you that wanted space. So I''m gonna meet you in the middle and stay in my own place and wait for you there."

    "What are you waiting for?" Desperation clawed through his chest. "Tell me and I''ll do it."

    "I want you to love me, ok? There. I said it." She huffed and crossed her arms, sticking her chin out in defiance. "Well?"

    Terror rooted him in place as the world spun around him.

    I can fly out of here, but then what?

    "I - uh -" he stammered.

    "That''s what I thought," she said and looked away. Her eyes cast to the sky as if she watched the seagulls instead.

    Just say it. It¡¯s not like it isn¡¯t true. Can¡¯t she see this is for her own good? Get too close to me, she''ll see I have nothing. I am nothing. She''ll come up empty handed. It¡¯s better this way. Believe me.

    Nyx came to him with all she had and he had nothing to give in return.

    At least she could take his bitter heart. That had some sort of substance, something to sink her teeth into. He didn''t want her to fall into the void in his chest. The shame in his stomach and the pain under his ribs was something to hang onto. So he clung to it as some type of proof he had a solid form.

    Say the words idiot, just say the fucking words. That''s literally all you have to do. It''s not even like you don''t mean it.

    He couldn''t will himself to do it. The sincerity was the worst part.

    Can''t Nyx see she has every piece of me? Isn''t that enough?

    The ocean wind blew her hair around her face. The energy surrounding her throbbed in waves. She stared with wide eyes. The intensity in them swallowed him whole.

    "What is this?" Nyx asked. "What are we doing?"

    "I dunno, you tell me," he snapped. "I asked you to move in, exactly what you wanted a day ago, and you said no. The ball really is in your court here."

    She reached for his hand, twisting her fingers between his. "I love you and I know you love me too."

    He opened his mouth as if to say something, then stopped.

    "Are you going to deny it?"

    His eyes met hers, wounded. "I could never," he muttered. The skin of his cheek pulsed. "If you already know, then what''s the problem? Why do we need to talk about it?"

    "Because I need commitment."

    "But I said -" he began, but she interrupted.

    "My worst fear came true last night, and in the blink of an eye, I realized I''d have to live the rest of my life without you. I thought maybe you''d be ready to stop, but the first thing you wanted to do was learn to use your powers to fight. I can''t stand around and watch you throw your life away on drunken whims anymore."

    "What do you want from me?" he exclaimed, tossing his hands in frustration. "You know who I am better than anyone. This is it. There''s nothing else. There''s nothing under this. So you can finally stop waiting for me to change because the person you think you love doesn''t exist. I''m not going to wake up one day and decide to be someone different, so get over it."

    "I don''t want you to be different, I need you to be better!"

    Her words struck him like a bullet to the chest, sharper than any knife, heavier than any fist.

    His blue eyes hardened, sharp as flint. "I hate to tell you this, but this is as good as it gets."

    In a flourish he extended his wings. She stepped back and gave him space. Angel beat his wings against the sky, crouched and jumped, catching the wind under his feathers.

    Angel¡¯s heart pounded even as he disappeared into the clouds. Tension sat like a heavy ball in his chest. The heat rose up under his skin. A faint blue glow enveloped him. He flew higher until the air thinned, straining his lungs to breathe. The weight became too much to bare. Now as far from earth as one could get, a scream ripped from him, tearing through his chest and throat.

    I¡¯ll never be what she wants. I may as well have died last night. Julian was right. She¡¯s reached her limit. I¡¯ve pushed her too far. She doesn¡¯t deserve this and I don¡¯t deserve her. She¡¯s too good for me. It was only a matter of time before she saw it.

    The blue light gradually seeped back into him, even as he ruminated. Angel caught the wind and coasted toward his cabin, thoughts still spinning in his mind until he made himself sick. Dipping under the clouds, his cabin appeared below. Angel spiraled, pulling his wings in, diving toward earth. Not even the gut rush of terminal velocity could alleviate this pain. He hit the front lawn with a knee-buckling thump.

    The usual pang after the impact dissipated immediately. Somehow, that served to frustrate him further. Not even his body could keep up the simplest routine. Furious, Angel marched inside the cabin and slammed the door.

 Chapter Seventeen - Great For A Good Time, Not A Long Time

    Nyx hopped off her skateboard as she reached her parent¡¯s driveway. The lump in her throat was heavy. It stung each time she swallowed. The little grey cabin she grew up in sat amongst the weeds and wildflowers. Butterflies and bees flitted around the clover and daisies. This would be the last time she¡¯d be here as home. Though she wanted to go, something about it felt wrong, and it made her sick, tugging at her insides to make her stay, think things over, but it was high time she left. There''d never be a good time and it''s not like she was going far.

    The back seat of Alistair¡¯s car was open in the driveway with a mop-bucket and sponge beside it. Cassie was inside scrubbing, but backed out when she heard Nyx arrive. Her high green pony tail was a mess, makeup smudged around her eyes. Pink-tinged soapy water stained her white camisole and bare legs.

    ¡°There you are,¡± she asked, hands on her hips. A wet stain spread across her denim shorts. ¡°I hope you had fun canoodling with Angel. Meanwhile, I¡¯m scrubbing this shit and telling Mom and Dad he¡¯s alive for fuck-¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t canoodling,¡± Nyx snapped. ¡°Quite the opposite actually.¡±

    "Oh, did you -¡±

    ¡°Ugh,¡± Nyx grumbled with a sigh. ¡°Who knows. We¡¯re on a break or something. I¡¯m sorry I left you to deal with this shit. What are we gonna tell Alice?¡±

    Cassie shrugged. ¡°Do you think he¡¯d believe it was wine?¡±

    ¡°I doubt it. We¡¯ll end up telling him the truth anyway, but we should still get it clean. I¡¯ll pay someone in town. I don¡¯t think we can get all that blood out ourselves.¡±

    Fuck, I can¡¯t really afford to spend that kind of money right now when I¡¯m trying to move. Angel better pay me back.

    ¡°He¡¯s gonna think the car¡¯s got bad vibes now,¡± said Cassie, plopping the sponge into the bucket. ¡°We¡¯ll never hear the end of it. He won¡¯t let me borrow it again, that¡¯s for sure.¡±

    ¡°if anything he¡¯ll be glad we had it once he learns what happened,¡± said Nyx. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like he¡¯s gonna hold Angel accountable. I call dibs on not telling him. I don¡¯t want to touch that conversation with a ten foot pole.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Nyx sighed.

    It¡¯s not like he actually died. Well, he did, but he came back. So, maybe it¡¯s not going to be so bad?

    ¡°You better go talk to Mom and Dad. They were so upset when they heard, but I set ¡®em straight,¡± said Cassie.

    ¡°What¡¯s the story then?¡± Nyx asked, lowering her voice.

    Cassie stepped closer so they could speak more quietly. ¡°I stuck as close to the truth as I could. It was just a nasty fight and people overreacted. Rumors spread. I mean, it helps that Timmy is such a gossip in the first place since everyone knows he stretches the truth anyway. Still, they¡¯re not happy he was fighting Aluminum Carl.¡±

    ¡°Neither am I,¡± said Nyx.

    ¡°Is that why you broke up with him?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and no, I guess.¡± She scuffed her sneaker around some loose stones in the driveway. ¡°Angel didn¡¯t want to me to move in, now he does, but after last night I don¡¯t think I can do it until he actually changes or at least shows some kind of commitment.¡±

    Cassie quirked an eyebrow. ¡°What makes this time so different?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Nyx snapped.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before you get back with him, isn¡¯t it? That¡¯s how it always goes. He¡¯ll sulk and bat his eyelashes at you and you¡¯ll have forgotten all about last night. I¡¯m exhausted just looking at the two of you.¡±

    I wish she wasn¡¯t right.

    ¡°Look, I love him, but he¡¯s a superficial guy,¡± said Cassie. ¡°If you accepted that, you¡¯d be a ton happier. That¡¯s who he is. I¡¯ve known him just as long as you and Alice have. Save yourself the trouble and find someone who will treat you how you deserve. Angel is great for a good time, not a long time. Sorry to be a bitch about it, but it¡¯s about time someone put it to you like that.¡±

    Nyx wanted to argue, but couldn¡¯t. Until Angel proved otherwise, she actually agreed with her sister. It just hurt to admit it.

    Alistair would have said it a bit nicer¡­ Well, I guess he kinda did the other night in a way.

    ¡°If this doesn¡¯t make him settle down, I don¡¯t know what will,¡± Nyx said.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see that,¡± Cassie said, casting her eyes to the ground. ¡°This must be so hard for you, and I¡¯m just going off, making it worse.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± she sighed. ¡°I claimed my own cabin. I¡¯m tired of waiting around for his say so.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so happy for you,¡± Cassie exclaimed, taking Nyx¡¯s arms, giving them a celebratory jiggle.

    Nyx tried to smile, but the prospect of moving out solo still had a bitter-sweet taste. She parted from Cassie, heading inside to break the news to her parents while her sister took Alistair¡¯s car into town to be cleaned.

    Canned laughter from the small living-room television filled the cabin. Both Jay and Molly were snuggled on the couch together under a throw blanket. Her mother rested her head on her father¡¯s shoulder as his arm lazily draped over her.

    Molly¡¯s chestnut hair fell down her back and shoulders in long, loose curls. Dim sunlight from the bay window behind them cast upon her round face and closed eyes. They looked so content, Nyx hesitated to disturb them.

    They both sat up and smiled when they noticed her come in.

    ¡°Hey Nyx,¡± said Jay. ¡°Sounds like you had a rough day. Angel holding up alright?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s fine.¡± Nyx plunked down in the armchair, swallowed up by the fluffy cushions.

    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± Molly gasped. ¡°He had us all so worried! Julian¡¯s been spinning all day, but can¡¯t find him.¡±

    ¡°Probably for the best,¡± Jay muttered. ¡°He should cool off a bit first before they talk.¡±

    That''s the last thing Angel needs right now.

    Nyx took the remote from the coffee table and clicked off the tv. ¡°Can I talk to you guys about something?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± said Jay, frowning.

    She took a breath, gathering the nerve. It wasn''t too late to change her mind... she could go back for her things like it never happened...

    ¡°I¡¯m moving out,¡± said Nyx in a rush.

    Molly¡¯s brown eyes widened. ¡°With Angel or -¡±

    ¡°No, on my own.¡±

    Both of her parents visibly relaxed.

    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± Molly beamed, clasping her hands together.

    ¡°What would be so bad about moving in with Angel?¡±

    I shouldn¡¯t pick at it, but they both seem so relieved. I wish they¡¯d cut him some slack.

    ¡°Well, nothing, but -¡± Molly began.

    ¡°He¡¯s a bit -¡± Jay continued.

    ¡°We just want what¡¯s best for you,¡± Molly finished, slightly nodding to herself. ¡°You don¡¯t seem happy sometimes. He¡¯s a nice boy but¡­¡±

    ¡°Not good for a long time?¡± Nyx asked, her throat scratched.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± said Jay, smiling. ¡°You got it. He¡¯s just not that type. I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯ve grown out of him.¡±

    Nyx fiddled with her hands in her lap, nibbling her lip. Her father¡¯s words drove into her chest. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re done, done. I just don¡¯t want to live with him, is all. Not right now.¡±

    ¡°Have you spoken to Aiden and Daisy about it yet? Aiden could probably lend you a portal to move your things,¡± said Molly, eager to change the subject. ¡°I¡¯ll take you shopping later this afternoon for anything you¡¯re missing.¡±

    Nyx got up and so did her mother, pulling her into a tight hug. Molly¡¯s white knit sweater scratched against her cheek and the bare skin of her arms. She smelled of fresh detergent and cookies. For a moment, she nearly changed her mind, but told herself her mother would only be down the street.

    They parted and Nyx pulled back her tears.

    How can I be homesick before I¡¯ve even left? I¡¯m right down the road anyway.

    Still, it was strange to say good-bye to the only home she¡¯d ever known. Now that she thought of it, she hadn¡¯t even gotten to stay one more night in her own bed.

    I think I¡¯ll even miss Cass. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever spent a night on my own before.

    There was a sense of freedom, but also a hint of horror. Nyx excused herself to find Daisy and Aiden, worried if she lingered with them any longer, the tears might escape after all.

 Chapter Eighteen - A Few Conditions

    When the ferry finally docked, and the all-clear was given to disembark, Alistair raced for the shore, practically dragging Kismet behind him. Their sneakers pounded on the wooden planks as they ran, weaving in and out of frustrated pedestrians. Some cursed him by name.

    She barely had a moment to take in her new surroundings. Most of the people they ran through looked disgruntled, but average enough. Others had horns, scales or even wings. They glared at them with red, yellow or purple eyes and pupils in the shape of slits or rectangles. Someone whacked her with a thick lizard tail.

    "Watch where you''re going!" The lizardman called after them.

    When they finally reached the shore, Alistair let go of her hand and she had a moment to absorb the view and catch her breath. The air was lighter here; fewer thoughts were floating on the wind compared to the heart of the city and it didn''t strain her as much to shut them out.

    The small terminal was a squat brick structure. Trucks lined up expectantly near the mouth of the dock Kismet had just sprinted away from, their tarps rolled down from the top to allow crates to be stacked inside.

    Forklifts delivered pallets teeming with wooden crates and barrels while workers steadily unloaded them, taking them to the trucks. Some were able to carry the large boxes with apparent ease. One person even levitated a crate a few feet ahead of them as they walked.

    As they approached the road, Alistair lamented letting his sister borrow the car. Now they''d have to walk. Kismet never learned to drive and was much more accustomed to going by foot than Alistair seemed to be.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to Daisy,¡± Alistair explained, huffing for a full breath. ¡°She can help you get settled in. Plus, even if we don¡¯t find Angel along the way, she¡¯ll know what happened.¡±

    ¡­ It¡¯s gotta be a terrible mistake¡­

    ¡°Ok,¡± said Kismet, wringing the loose and floppy cuffs of her sleeves. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to cause you any trouble. I can figure things out on my own if you¡¯d rather go -¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble to bring you along with me,¡± he assured her. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere for you to go otherwise. There¡¯s no hostels or motels or anything here.¡±

    Despite the guilt, there was also a sense of relief. The further from home she traveled, the more over her head she began to feel. Now she could no longer touch ground and struggled to tread water.

    I¡¯m so lucky he found me. I wouldn¡¯t have the faintest clue where to begin. I wish there was something I could do to help find his friend.

    Kismet tucked her hands into her sleeves, wringing the loose cloth.

    I didn¡¯t realize leaving would be so burdensome to others.

    The journey wasn''t far. After leaving the port, they wove through a warren of residential lots with neat little homes splashed with vibrant colours. The shifting colour trails of emotion drifted along the streets and sidewalks, interlacing amongst each other. It seemed no one here ever mowed their lawns. They were all completely overgrown, allowing bees and butterflies to hover around the blooming wildflowers. Some kept more manicured garden beds tucked amongst the long grass and weeds, but they were few and far between.

    Alistair gave a tour as they went, pointing out the houses of people he knew like historical monuments. Magenta swirled through his gold aura. Throughout their walk, he¡¯d tried to keep his composure but seemed to jitter. Despite Kismet¡¯s best efforts, his worried thoughts had drifted into her mind. The fluid ease he¡¯d carried himself with when they first met had all but disappeared. Tension didn¡¯t seem to suit him, though she understood the panic.

    They rounded a corner and stopped in front of a russet house. The lawn was still wild, but kept more in check. The garden under the front window seemed more purposeful. Birdfeeders and little houses decorated the yard.

    ¡°This is Daisy¡¯s,¡± he explained, leading her down the stone walkway across the lawn. He turned and pointed further down the road where it sloped into a hill. ¡°See that grey cabin, there?¡±

    Kismet squinted, following his finger and nodded. It was a bit larger than the house they stood in front of. The grass and flowers were much taller, nearly swallowing the front deck.

    ¡°That¡¯s my house,¡± he said. ¡°Or, my parent¡¯s house really. My mom and dad, Daisy, Aiden and Julian all came to the island together when they were young, right before the war, and they all moved in super close to each other.¡±

    Kismet chewed on the ends of her sleeves as they approached the door. After a quick rap, Alistair let himself in. The scent of sage and sandalwood struck Kismet, and immediately her shoulders dropped as a wave of tranquility swept over her. She breathed in nice and slow through her nose and into her chest. The absence of anxiety left her shaking. Then there was the deafening silence. No longer able to hear the hum at the base of her skull, or even Alistair any longer, there was room in her head. Kismet¡¯s body didn¡¯t know what to do with itself.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s me,¡± Alistair called.

    They turned the corner into the living-room. A woman sat on the sofa with a tea cup in her hand. Her long paisley maxi-dress matched the burnt orange walls and dark wooden accents of the furniture. Gold-hooped earrings decorated her ears. The bangles on her wrists jingled as she stood to greet them with a brilliant smile and warm brown eyes. Her long hair, braided into micro-locks hung to her waist, loose and dyed blue at the bottom.

    Kismet¡¯s eyes darted around the room, taking in the eclectic trinkets on the far bookshelf and ferns dangling from wicker baskets hung overhead near the window. The over stuffed furniture and floor poufs filled the room so completely, she almost didn¡¯t notice the lack of a television.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The woman embraced Alistair. Though he was much taller than her, she pulled him close and he suddenly seemed quite small.

    ¡°Angel is fine, just an idiot,¡± the woman assured him.

    Is she a telepath too? What is up with this place? Why can¡¯t I hear, or feel anything?

    ¡°What happened?¡± he asked when she let him go.

    They followed the woman into the living-room where she resumed her seat on the sofa. Alistair sat in the armchair. Unsure where else to sit, Kismet perched on the edge of a wicker pouf.

    I should be anxious, I normally would be, but all I feel is this serenity, curious and confused.

    ¡°Another fight,¡± Daisy said with a slight eyeroll.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Alistair exhaled, the weight of the world slipping off his shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s good, then. Well, not great, but better than I thought at least.¡±

    ¡°Your sister has finally come to her senses and got her own place around the block,¡± Daisy continued. ¡°That little red one. Aiden¡¯s off helping her move.¡± She turned to Kismet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t introduce myself. I¡¯m Daisy.¡±

    ¡°Kismet.¡± She stuck out her hand and they shook. Kismet had braced herself for the intensity of contact, but was relieved to find nothing but the smoothness of the other woman¡¯s skin and the cool chill of gold rings around her fingers.

    ¡°What brings you to the island?¡± Daisy asked. ¡°Not to be blunt, but we don¡¯t get many visitors.¡±

    Her heart rate accelerated, but the sense of safety persisted. She studied her lap. ¡°I¡¯m a telepath, and I need help with my powers,¡± she confessed.

    ¡°The Academy may be the best place for you,¡± said Daisy.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not sure I want to go there -¡± Kismet began.

    ¡°Can¡¯t she stay?¡± Alistair asked. ¡°Ivy is -¡±

    ¡°Fair,¡± said Daisy, completing his sentence. ¡°I understand she¡¯s not everyone¡¯s idea of a soft place to land, but despite her¡­ flaws¡­ she¡¯s dedicated her life to helping mutants in your exact position. You¡¯ll be better off with her.¡±

    No, no, please don¡¯t send me away.

    ¡°You¡¯re an empath,¡± Alistair continued, ¡°Maybe you could -¡±

    Daisy shook her head. ¡°Uncontrolled telepathy is too dangerous to have on the island.¡±

    The tension rising in Kismet¡¯s chest surged. Tears pressed the inside of her sinuses as she struggled to hold on to them. To her horror, the aura of safety opened a space for her emotions to surface.

    ¡°Daisy, please,¡± Alistair argued. ¡°You can¡¯t send her to Ivy. How is it fair to judge her based on her abilities? What kind of precedence does this set?¡±

    ¡°I know what¡¯s best for this island. It might not seem like it, but this is best for Kismet too.¡±

    Alistair crossed his arms and shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. After everything you guys had to go through to dodge the old Academy, learn your own powers by yourself and you -¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the same,¡± Daisy said, but she looked down at her teacup.

    ¡°I won¡¯t use my abilities, not on purpose,¡± Kismet pleaded. The pressure in her chest mounted. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to learn them, to keep them under control. Please don¡¯t send me to Ivy.¡±

    Daisy¡¯s soft brown eyes were sympathetic, but she would not relent. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll inform Watcher Liz and Aiden can get a portal set up for you in the morning.¡±

    Maybe I¡¯ll just run away before they can send me away¡­ but where will I go?

    ¡°This is so not fair,¡± Alistair argued. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry Kismet.¡±

    ¡°Please understand, it¡¯s too much of a risk,¡± said Daisy.

    Kismet hung her head, wringing her sleeves in her hands. Tears stung the edge of her eyes and burned the back of her throat. ¡°It¡¯s ok, I get it,¡± she whispered. ¡°I know very well how dangerous my powers can be. I¡¯ve spent most of my life trying to control them, but it doesn¡¯t ever seem to be good enough.¡±

    Alistair reached out and took her hand. ¡°It¡¯s ok. This isn¡¯t your fault.¡±

    The gentle touch of his calloused hand on hers pushed Kismet over the edge and she burst into tears.

    I thought I¡¯d finally found a place to at least be accepted for my abilities, but they don¡¯t even want me here. So where can I go? I can¡¯t go to The Academy. I can¡¯t.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Daisy sighed, placing her teacup onto its little plate on the coffee table. ¡°Stay, but on a few conditions.¡±

    A wave of soothing energy washed Kismet head to toe. She sniffled, tears stopping in their tracks. The tension in her chest had jiggled loose, if only a little. Kismet blinked, startled even through her relief to have her emotion altered so suddenly.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to cry,¡± said Daisy quietly. ¡°I can tell you¡¯ve been through a lot and you seem sincere. So how does this sound; I¡¯ll teach you what I know about controlling and using empathic abilities. Keep in mind, I¡¯m self-taught and these methods may not be entirely applicable to you, but we can try.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Alistair exclaimed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited,¡± Daisy continued. ¡°I said there are conditions.¡±

    ¡°Anything,¡± said Kismet, almost too scared to breathe.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone you¡¯re a telepath, just say you¡¯re an empath until we can get everything sorted to avoid any bickering over it. Hopefully, if our sessions go well, you¡¯ll get things under control and there won¡¯t be an issue anyway. Finally, please don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± She turned to Alistair. ¡°I¡¯m holding you personally responsible, understood?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am, you got it.¡±

    Kismet¡¯s throat cinched.

    I really hope I don¡¯t let either of them down. Maybe I should go home and forget this whole thing.

    ¡°The council will meet in a months time,¡± Daisy continued. ¡°We¡¯ll decide then if you¡¯ll get to stay permanently. I¡¯ll get you the paperwork.¡± She got up, headed for the hall with her long dress swishing around her bare feet.

    Relief and exhaustion made Kismet¡¯s bones feel heavy. She slouched in her seat. It occurred to her that Alistair still held her hand, but didn¡¯t pull away.

    How can a total stranger be so kind to me?

    ¡°I hope I haven¡¯t made things difficult for you,¡± said Kismet.

    Alistair shrugged, grinning at her. ¡°Not at all. Since Nyx just got her own cabin and all, I¡¯m thinking maybe you can stay with her until the council makes their decision?¡±

    ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll mind?¡±

    ¡°I doubt it, but if she says no, we¡¯re kinda low on options. There¡¯s Angel, I guess, but you really don¡¯t want to live with him. Maybe the shed?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay anywhere, honestly, so long as I don¡¯t have to go to The Academy.¡±

    Daisy returned with a slim folder and handed it to Kismet. ¡°Fill these out and give them to Watcher Liz at the library. I¡¯ll see you again tomorrow, alright? I think we should start trying to get a handle on your abilities as soon as possible.¡±

    They got up and Daisy led them to the door to see them out. Stepping outside, the incessant hum of thoughts rose up to greet Kismet once again. Tension squeezed itself into her muscles all at once and she grimaced.

    ¡°You ok?¡± Alistair asked.

    ¡°Yeah, I think I will be,¡± she said.

 Chapter Nineteen - Whiskey

    Angel left the lights off, with only the setting sun seeping through the window to illuminate the kitchen. He checked the refrigerator to find a pint of whisky. A bitter-sweet vision. On one hand, he had more liquor than expected, but on the other, it was the only thing left in the fridge. The bright bulb within showed crisp, clinical shelves.

    He poured a shot, and went to hunt for a broom. The conversation he had with Nyx spun through his head as he swept. Cleaning provided a much needed distraction.

    By the time he got down to his fourth shot, he had begun to scrub and scour the bathroom. His stomach twisted, regretting each time he¡¯d lamented Nyx leaving her brush beside the tap, or her shampoo in the shower. She had left these pieces of herself behind like collateral.

    I should have gotten her a drawer or something at least.

    Angel wiped strands of her pink hair out of the sink. It occurred to him that it could be for the last time. They¡¯d broken up before, but this time felt.. different. Something had shifted. Ever since he had awoken to her horrified eyes in the backseat, fear clouded her irises whenever she looked at him. Something existential.

    I have to fix this.

    He washed his hands before moving on to the kitchen. The warm life-force energy no longer seemed as palpable through the fog of liquor. It was as if a thin cotton wall had been placed between himself and that layer of reality. The sensation, or lack-there-of, played tug-o-war within him, unable to decide if he missed it, or was happy to have a break in order to process.

    I can¡¯t do this.

    Angel scrubbed the baseboard around the bottom of the cupboards. Despite the open windows and slight breeze, the summer humidity thickened the air. He had stripped off his shirt, but the exertion from cleaning made him boil from the inside out. Sweat dampened his forehead, sticking the wisps from his messy bun to his skin.

    The lights sizzled and flickered on. Electricity surged and crackled, raising the hair up on his forearms. Heavy foot falls on the front deck made Angel freeze mid scrub.

    Shit. Not now. Fuck. Maybe I can run out the back door?

    Angel sighed and got up, tossing the sponge into the bucket of soapy water. He took his shirt from around his waist and pulled it on to hide his healed wound.

    The front door burst open and Julian barged in, rounding the corner into the living-room. His dark hair was tussled. Blood shot eyes glared in Angel¡¯s direction, but he stayed put beside the counter, bracing himself. His heart thundered in his chest.

    ¡°Where the fuck have you been all day?¡± Julian bellowed. The kitchen light flared as he entered, whistling to extremes. It blared a blinding white. ¡°I spent the morning worried sick about you, and you couldn¡¯t be bothered to come by and tell me you¡¯re ok.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ok, look, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Julian narrowed his eyes, examining Angel from top to bottom. He had a way of making Angel feel two feet tall, despite having to look at him. ¡°What was all this about a fight then?¡±

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Fuck, I don¡¯t look like I¡¯m even a little bit banged up.

    ¡°It was nothing, clearly.¡±

    ¡°Timmy was saying -¡±

    ¡°You believe Timmy? He¡¯s a fucking liar, everyone knows it.¡± Angel tried to keep his expression and movements casual and easy. Inside, his chest tightened, choking him.

    ¡°Watch your tone boy,¡± Julian growled. ¡°Why was he saying you fought Aluminum Carl, then? Where the hell did that come from?¡±

    ¡°Because I did fight him, but I didn¡¯t lose as badly as everyone thought.¡± Angel¡¯s mind spun, weaving a tale that would be somewhat close to believable. His nose had been broken several times in the past, and was already slightly crooked, so that might be a good place to start. ¡°I got cracked in the nose and bled a bunch, then Carl knocked me out.¡±

    ¡°Why on earth would you fight Aluminum Carl?¡± Julian exclaimed.

    Angel shrugged. ¡°Money.¡±

    Julian rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so desperate for cash you¡¯ll risk life and limb, yet skip work because you¡¯re too banged up and hungover to deal with it?¡±

    ¡°That sounds about right,¡± Angel said.

    A sharp slap to the face made his head snap to the side. He blinked away stars, tasting blood in his mouth. Heat rose from deep inside his stomach, but the full sensation was still buffered by the liquor.

    ¡°Grow up,¡± Julian demanded. Electricity crackled around him, causing the lights to flicker and flare. ¡°This same shitty attitude is what got Ember killed, do you understand that? Everything was a game to her. Always pushing boundaries, never listening. She ruined my life, left you as an egg all alone. Is that what you want, to be alone?¡±

    Did you love her at all? Is there anything good in me that makes you think of her?

    Angel clenched his fists, but said nothing. He knew better by now. Rage simmered in the center of his chest, leaving him unable to formulate a coherent thought. There was only the heat.

    ¡°You had us all thinking you were dead!¡± Julian yelled. He stepped closer, his face inches away from Angel¡¯s. ¡°Do you have any idea what that''s like, to worry about you day in and day out? No wonder Nyx has finally snapped and -¡±

    ¡°Then leave!¡± Angel screamed through gritted teeth, resisting every urge to shove him. If he started, he wouldn¡¯t stop. ¡°You hate me? You¡¯re so sick and tired of me? Then walk away. You don¡¯t owe me shit anymore, and I sure as fuck don¡¯t owe you anything either.¡±

    Julian¡¯s eyes widened and he took a step back.

    ¡°Get the fuck out!¡±

    ¡°Fine then,¡± growled Julian, turning around and storming toward the front door. ¡°Have it your way Kid, but don¡¯t come crying to me when you¡¯re all alone and fucking miserable. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡±

    The front door slammed and Angel flinched.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± he cried to the empty house, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes as if he could push the tears back inside.

    This has to be the worst day of my life. I wish I didn''t come back. It seems everyone would be much happier to mourn me and move on.

    His legs could no longer hold him and he slouched to the floor, taking what was left of the whiskey bottle with him, leaning back against the cabinets for support. Angel drank from it directly, suppressing the sensation of life-force even further.

    Normally, he¡¯d go find Nyx, but that was out of the question. Even when they¡¯d fought in the past, he¡¯d been able to find refuge with her. They¡¯d put their differences aside long enough for him to vent at least. No matter if they were broken up or not, she¡¯d always been there as a friend, but now he didn¡¯t dare approach her.

    Not after what I¡¯ve just put her through. I don¡¯t deserve her anyway.

    He stared at the empty bottle in his hand.

    This is what I deserve.

    Nyx would surely comfort him, but he hated the obligation.

    It¡¯s just what she does. Love me. It¡¯s all she ever does.

    A fresh batch of tears came upon him and he tried to hold them back to no success. Instead, he decided to throw a party.

 Chapter Twenty - A Favour

    Nyx lounged on her couch in the living-room, enjoying a celebratory cigarette. She¡¯d spent the afternoon prying away boards from windows, cleaning the cabin and shoving new-to-her furniture through Aiden¡¯s portal. Nearly all of her savings were gone, but it was worth it. There¡¯d always be more shifts at the market.

    Molly had taken her shopping as promised to pick up any missing necessities. There hadn¡¯t been much in her bedroom to pack up except for some personal items like clothes and make-up. Living at home, especially sharing a room with her sister, hadn''t allowed her to collect many belongings.

    I¡¯ll have to get Alice and Angel to help arrange some stuff.

    Nyx¡¯s heart panged, feeling Angel¡¯s absence so viscerally. The house was empty, not even full of knick-knacks or trinkets. It didn¡¯t feel like hers.

    I hope I made the right choice.

    She sat up, tapping her cigarette into the ashtray on the side table. Despite the sting of loneliness, there was a sense of freedom. No more sneaking out onto the back deck in the dead of winter for a puff if she didn¡¯t feel like it. Still, she cracked the window. The night air wafted in, smelling of salt and distant rain.

    I suppose that¡¯s the plus side to emptiness. I can fill it with whatever I want.

    A knock at the door got her attention. Nyx got up, feeling the stiff ache in her muscles from the exertion of the past twenty-four hours. She was definitely due for a long hot bath tonight.

    Before she could answer the door, it opened and Alistair stepped into the porch.

    ¡°Wow, nice place you got here, Sis,¡± he said. ¡°You did a good job cleaning up. Did Angel help?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Nyx grumbled, not without some bitterness.

    She followed Alistair into the living-room. His eyes wandered across the barren space before he plunked down on her couch, long legs sprawled out under the coffee table. Nyx sat in the armchair.

    ¡°You must be pretty pissed to skip out on getting him to clean for you. Is it because of the fight?¡±

    ¡°You heard about that?¡± She watched her hands, picking at the edge of her fingernails.

    ¡°Yeah. I thought he was dead all morning until Daisy set me straight. Probably the worst five hours of my life. He¡¯s alright though?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, he¡¯s living his best life,¡± she said, rolling her eyes. ¡°Blossom told me he¡¯s having a party.¡±

    It was so close to being a funeral.

    A shiver ran up her spine.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Alistair sighed. ¡°You must have been a wreck. I know I sure was. I should have been there to put some sense into him. Do you want me to talk to him?¡±

    ¡°No, please don¡¯t.¡± Nyx¡¯s heart raced. ¡°I don¡¯t need my brother to beg my boyfriend to get his shit together. That¡¯s so embarrassing. Please don¡¯t tell him I¡¯ve said anything.¡±

    There¡¯s so much you don¡¯t know. It¡¯s all so complicated.

    Alistair leaned back. ¡°I can¡¯t make any promises. I won¡¯t tell him what you¡¯ve said of course, but I gotta talk to him about this. You were right, and I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t take you seriously earlier. I guess I just didn¡¯t want to see it. So what happened anyway?¡±

    Nyx shifted in her seat, unsure how much to tell him. ¡°He fought Aluminum Carl, but it wasn¡¯t as bad as everyone thought.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯d you get your own place then? Did he say no?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she sighed. ¡°Well, sorta. He¡¯s fickle. One minute he says no, the next he says I can move in, but I already claimed this one. Last night, we got into an argument about it, then when he fought Carl, I -¡± Her voice cracked as the memory of seeing Angel choking on his own blood in her arms flashed behind her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t do it anymore. I can¡¯t. We argued again, a big one this time. I asked him to love me, and he didn¡¯t say anything. Why should I keep watching him ruin his life when he can¡¯t even say three words?¡±

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    Alistair hung his head, pushing his blond hair out of his eyes. ¡°I wish it were different. I really do. I want you to be happy, and for Angel to be happy too, but it can¡¯t be at your expense.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want it to be this way,¡± she lamented, burying her face in her hands. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t actually change this time, I¡¯ll have to break up for good.¡±

    The humid wind blew in through the window, carrying in the damp scent of rain. Once again, Nyx felt the stillness of Angel¡¯s body, the heat of fresh blood under her hands as she did compression after compression until his broken ribs cracked.

    ¡°I think that may be for the best,¡± said Alistair, nodding.

    ¡°He¡¯s going through so much right now, and he needs me, but I can¡¯t keep going on like this.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not your responsibility. We¡¯re not kids anymore. You said so yourself, we need to stop enabling him.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± she sighed.

    Alistair nibbled his lip, twisting one of his earrings. ¡°Look, there¡¯s no smooth way to ask this. I need a favor.¡±

    ¡°Uh, sure, what¡¯s up?¡± Nyx straightened. It was a rare occasion for Alistair to ask for anything.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bug you with this, but I met this girl, Kismet, on the mainland and she really needs our help. Daisy said she could stay until the council decides for sure at the end of the month. The thing is, there¡¯s nowhere for her to live in the meantime. Since you got your own cabin and all -¡±

    Nyx¡¯s heart sank. She twiddled the edge of her t-shirt.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a good time,¡± she said, not daring to look at him and his puppy-eyes. ¡°I literally just moved in and finally have a place to myself, not to mention everything going on with Angel. I¡¯m sorry Alice, she has to go somewhere else.¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have anywhere else,¡± Alistair exclaimed.

    ¡°Why not take her home? She can stay with Cass. Mom and Dad will take good care of her.¡± Nyx rummaged in the pocket of her shorts for a cigarette.

    Alistair looked at her with wide, hopeful eyes. ¡°Cass won¡¯t give Kismet the time of day and you know it, not to mention how crowded the house is. She¡¯s an empath and can¡¯t handle that many people all smooshed up in one place, coming and going. She needs somewhere calm, and someone nice, and patient, like you my most wonderful, beautiful sister.¡±

    Nyx lit her cigarette, mulling it over, gritting her teeth.

    Why now?

    ¡°Ok, fine,¡± she sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to help, but I don¡¯t think I can be very present at the moment.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Alistair got up and hugged her, squishing her in the chair.

    Nyx held her cigarette up and away. ¡°Ok, ok, get away.¡±

    Alistair straightened, heading for the door. ¡°I¡¯ll go get her.¡±

    ¡°Was she outside this whole time?¡± Nyx exclaimed.

    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t want you to feel pressured to say yes.¡±

    Nyx got up, following him to the door, the cigarette dangling from her lips. ¡°Yeah, no pressure,¡± she muttered.

    They stepped out onto the deck. A wisp of a woman stood on the far side, leaning against the wobbling railing as she looked out over the yard. Headphones looped around her shoulders attached to a CD player clipped to the waist of her jeans. The hoodie she wore came almost to her knees, the sleeves draped over her hands. She blinked at Nyx with large, hazel eyes.

    ¡°This is Kismet,¡± Alistair said, gesturing to the woman.

    The girl seemed to shrink even further into her sweater, letting the fabric swallow her whole.

    ¡°I¡¯m Nyx,¡± she said, sticking out her hand.

    Kismet took it, but her movements were hesitant and she let go as quickly as possible.

    ¡°I¡¯m not gonna bite,¡± said Nyx, laughing.

    Kismet blushed and looked down at her shoes.

    ¡°Nyx said you can stay with her. She¡¯ll help you get settled in.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Kismet smiled, lighting her whole face as she looked up at Alistair. Then, as if she¡¯d realized some terrible mistake, she looked to the floor again, twisting the sleeves of her sweater in her hands.

    What is this girl¡¯s deal?

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not a problem,¡± said Nyx. ¡°I just moved in so I don¡¯t have anywhere for you to sleep though. Is the couch ok?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s more than fine,¡± said Kismet. ¡°Thank you for having me. I¡¯m so sorry to inconvenience you like this.¡±

    Nyx led Kismet inside and Alistair followed. She rummaged through one of the boxes piled in the living-room corner and hauled out the quilt her mother had made. Kismet hovered in the background, practically vibrating with anxiety.

    She¡¯s starting to make me jitter for goodness-sake.

    With Alistair¡¯s help, they arranged the sofa into a bed.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna head off to see Angel,¡± he said when they finished.

    No, don¡¯t just leave me here with this stange girl.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you around?¡± he said to Kismet.

    ¡°Thank you again,¡± she said.

    Are those the only words she knows; ¡®thank you¡¯ and ¡®sorry?¡¯

    Alistair said his good-byes and left the two women alone together. They blinked at each other from across the room.

    ¡°Um, have you eaten yet?¡± Nyx asked, scratching the back of her neck.

    Kismet shook her head.

    ¡°Ok, well, let¡¯s make supper and we¡¯ll go from there,¡± said Nyx, leading the way into the kitchen.

 Chapter Twenty-One: Do Princess Miss Their Towers

    Kismet stood at the counter, fixated on the carrots. After pealing, she lined them up on the cutting board. She concentrated on the sound of the knife slicing through the thick vegetable. Nyx¡¯s dark cherry aura pressed in on her. Not that the sensation was unpleasant, but was rather intense. Something surely troubled her, but Kismet used every ounce of willpower to stop the thoughts from slipping in.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get much chance to get groceries today,¡± said Nyx, pulling apart lettuce leaves for the salad. ¡°I¡¯ll grab stuff tomorrow. Anything you¡¯d like me to get?¡±

    ¡°Oh, um, nothing,¡± said Kismet, flushing.

    ¡°So you don¡¯t have any allergies, or any favorite foods?¡±

    ¡°No, I just love to cook. Get whatever you like, and I¡¯ll make it for you.¡±

    Nyx picked up the salad bowl, mixing the vegetables around. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do.¡±

    They continued to work on supper together. Even Nyx was awkward, rummaging around in cupboards she was not yet used to, maneuvering around a person she¡¯d only just met. They made small talk to avoid falling into an awkward silence. Kismet focused on the food, finding comfort in the familiar routine and rhythm. No matter how new and strange everything was around her, this she could do.

    Nyx stopped to watch Kismet season the chicken.

    ¡°You just know all this off the top of your head?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Once you do it often enough, it¡¯s not hard.¡±

    ¡°Says you,¡± Nyx scoffed. ¡°My poor mom tried to teach me. I¡¯m not cut out for it, I guess.¡±

    She pulled the chair out from around the small dining table and plunked into it. A miasma of magenta, navy blue and grey twinged through her aura. Earlier, while the siblings spoke in the house, Kismet had tried to push their conversation away, but gathered little crumbs. When she finally met Nyx on the deck, she recognized her from Alistair¡¯s memory and despite wanting to keep out of their business, the tension permeated the air to the point it was nearly tactile, prickling her skin.

    What is with this Angel guy? Honestly, I don¡¯t think I wanna know. I have my own stuff to worry about.

    When supper finished cooking, they sat down at the table with their plates. The scrape of forks on ceramic filled the silence. Kismet stared at her food as she ate, struggling against the push of Nyx¡¯s emotions.

    ¡°This is really good,¡± said Nyx, startling Kismet from her reverie.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°So, um, where¡¯s your stuff?¡± Nyx asked.

    Despite the gentle tone, Kismet tensed, unsure how to explain, or where to begin.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have anything,¡± she said, her eyes fixed on her salad.

    ¡°Oh, well then,¡± Nyx frowned in thought, ¡°I can lend you some things?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t -¡±

    ¡°What else are you gonna do?¡±

    Kismet blushed and tucked her face into her hands. The cuffs of her sweater were shredded and torn, scratching against her skin.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok,¡± Nyx said. ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs and pick out some stuff.¡±

    They finished eating and Kismet followed Nyx through the living-room to the stairs. She noted the similar lay-out to Daisy¡¯s cabin. The houses on the island all seemed to have the same sort of structure with little variation outside of amount of bedrooms and colour.

    Floorboards creaked and wobbled under her weight. Some would need to be replaced. Both women watched their step, careful not to slip. When they reached the top, a small square landing where there were only two doors to choose from. Nyx indicated the one on the left led to her bedroom, and the one on the right was a spare room for her drums.

    They entered the drum-room where Nyx had stashed piles of boxes in the far corner. The drum kit rested on the opposite side. Dust lingered in the air along with the scent of pine floor cleaner. Nyx rummaged through the boxes while Kismet hovered behind. A pit twisted in the base of her stomach.

    Nyx handed her a pair of flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt. ¡°Hopefully these will work for now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Kismet could not meet her eye as she took them.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m not very set up yet,¡± Nyx explained. ¡°I just moved in this afternoon, so everything is a bit chaotic right now.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m the one imposing.¡±

    ¡­What is with this girl?...

    Kismet blinked, trying to push away Nyx¡¯s thoughts. All the questions Nyx wanted to ask joined the hive of whispers pressing at the base of her skull.

    ¡°Do you play?¡± she pointed to the drums, trying to change the subject.

    Nyx shrugged. ¡°A bit, but I¡¯m not very good.¡±

    The image of a dimly lit shed slipped into Kismet¡¯s mind. The man she¡¯d seen previously in Alistair¡¯s memory, played guitar while she watched herself play drums through Nyx¡¯s eyes. The man¡¯s bright blue eyes blazed with intensity. Nyx¡¯s heart raced, arms aching as sweat dampened the back of her neck. She easily kept up with his quick, heavy chords. They each fit together, each anticipating the others next move, embellishing and building on what the other created.

    ¡°You ok?¡± Nyx asked, cocking an eyebrow.

    ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± Kismet blinked, rubbing her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just tired I guess. So, you like music then?¡±

    Nyx grinned. ¡°That¡¯s putting it mildly. Who do you listen to?¡±

    ¡°Cosmic Death Bunnies.¡± Kismet couldn¡¯t help but return her smile.

    ¡°I love those guys,¡± Nyx exclaimed, brightening. ¡°Did you want to check out my CD collection? There might be some in there you like. You¡¯re welcome to borrow them so you don¡¯t have to listen to the same old one over and over.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    She returned to the boxes and began to dig until she pulled out a thick fabric binder with CDs tucked inside plastic sleeves. They sat cross-legged on the bare floor and sifted through the collection together. Kismet recognized most of the albums. Bright green flashes of enthusiasm glittered through Nyx¡¯s aura and Kismet was more than happy to listen to her gush over each one. It did a lot to take her mind off of Kevin.

    If movies are to be believed, I should be ripping up photographs. What if this is a mistake? I haven¡¯t been here for a day yet and I¡¯ve already caused so much trouble.

    It struck her as surreal how she could be on the mainland in her own apartment one minute, and scrounging through CDs with a stranger the next.

    A stranger that¡¯s shown me more generosity and kindness than anyone ever has. Well, except for maybe Alistair. If not for him, I¡¯d have ended up back on the street.

    ¡°Oh, this one!¡± Nyx cried, sliding a CD out of its protective plastic. When she held it out, Kismet saw it was a copy of Cosmic Death Bunnies¡¯ second album. ¡°We got this when it came out and listened to it in Alice¡¯s car a million times. He almost banned us from playing it anymore. Angel and I -¡±

    ¡­knew every word¡­ I¡¯d try to sing it with him, but I¡¯d rather just listen¡­

    Nyx¡¯s face fell. Navy blue ribbons slithered through her aura again, tinged with wisps of ash grey. Not meeting Kismet¡¯s eyes, she slipped the CD back into its place and closed the binder. She sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to borrow them anytime.¡±

    ¡°Is everything ok?¡± Kismet asked.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, totally fine.¡± She stood up to put the binder away. ¡°It¡¯s just been a long day.¡±

    ¡°I get it if you don¡¯t want to talk about it, but I heard about Angel earlier.¡±

    A flicker of burgundy fear flashed through Nyx¡¯s aura, but Kismet couldn¡¯t discern why. Especially since Nyx tried to appear so casual.

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad it seems he¡¯s alright now, though?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Nyx sighed, pushing her short pink hair out of her face. ¡°What do ya say we get to bed?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, sure.¡±

    Kismet got up and followed Nyx down the stairs to the living-room. It was much darker than they had left it. After the bustling sounds of the city, the silence was eerie. Peep-toads and crickets could be heard singing through the still open window. Even the faded waves on the shore rolled in the distance. She clutched her borrowed pajamas and ducked into the washroom to change.

    Nyx was a taller, more voluptuous woman than herself. The t-shirt came to her thighs and the cuffs of the loose pajama pants dragged along the ground, so she rolled them up the best she could.

    When Kismet stepped out, Nyx sat in the armchair with her feet tucked beneath her. Now dressed in her own set of pajamas, a t-shirt and cotton shorts, she held a cigarette between her fingers, blowing the smoke out of the open window. She turned when Kismet entered the room.

    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind?¡± she asked, indicating the cigarette.

    ¡°It¡¯s your house.¡± Kismet shrugged, plunking into the makeshift bed on the couch. Finally at rest, her body protested and ached. Her CD player and headphones were where she¡¯d left them on the coffee table. She put them in her lap for comfort.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be invasive, but um, I¡¯m not sure how to put this politely.¡± Nyx looked away, scratching the back of her head. ¡°Why are you here? Why now? Most mutants born to humans get sent to The Academy, hell, most mutants born on the mainland period, are sent to The Academy. So what happened? If you¡¯ve been on the mainland this whole time, why not continue to just blend with the humans?¡±

    Kismet¡¯s chest tightened. She clutched her CD player close to her heart.

    I guess I have to explain myself somehow, but what can I say?

    ¡°I tried,¡± Kismet said, nearly whispering. ¡°I really did for a long time, but it wasn¡¯t enough. My boyfriend, Kevin, cheated on me and then found out about my powers, he tried to - he tried to -¡± It was too difficult to say, the words would not pass through the lump in her throat.

    Wasn¡¯t he supposed to love me? Didn¡¯t I love him?

    Nyx¡¯s emerald eyes glimmered in the faint light coming in from the street. She watched Kismet intently.

    ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have asked-¡±

    ¡°No, you have every right to,¡± Kismet said, a tear sliding down her cheek. She studied her lap, the plastic contours of the CD player, the cord to her headphones¡­ ¡°I¡¯m a stranger in your home and you deserve to know why I¡¯m here.¡±

    I wish I could tell you everything.

    She took a deep breath and continued. ¡°He wanted me to sell my powers somehow. So when he fell asleep, I escaped out the window.¡±

    ¡°The window?¡± Nyx gasped. ¡°Trafficking powers is super illegal. You could report him to Watcher Liz if you wanted to?¡±

    Kismet shook her head. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Ivy, ya know, suck his life out or something?¡±

    ¡°I doubt it,¡± said Nyx. ¡°Especially since he didn¡¯t manage to do it, just planned it, but still. He¡¯d get in a lot of trouble for sure.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want that,¡± Kismet twisted the throw blanket in her hands. ¡°You may think it¡¯s strange, but I still care about him.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not strange at all.¡± She crushed out her cigarette in the ashtray. A grey cloud shifted through her aura. ¡°I get it.¡±

    The sadness wafted off Nyx in navy blue wisps and Kismet felt a kindred spirit in the second-hand heart ache.

    ¡°Does it ever get better?¡± Kismet asked.

    ¡°I wish I knew,¡± said Nyx with a shrug.

    The disjointed images and clips of thought Kismet gathered from Alistair and Nyx had begun to paint a particular picture, but she hadn¡¯t quite figured Angel out yet.

    ¡°What did he do?¡±

    Nyx grabbed her pack of cigarettes off the edge of the coffee table and slid one out. ¡°Recently? Do you want a list?¡± she laughed. ¡°He¡¯s been trying my patience for years, but I love him so much it¡¯ll be the death of me, I¡¯m sure. I could live with everything else if only he¡¯d settle down and be serious for a minute.¡±

    ¡­I just want to matter to him enough that he¡¯ll want to straighten out¡­ Can¡¯t he want a relationship more than he wants his own destruction?... I just want him to love me too¡­

    She leaned forward, cupping her hand around the end of her cigarette to light it. The small burst of flame danced in her eyes for a second before it flicked out again.

    ¡°When we were in school, I refused to fight for his attention. Between all the other, prettier girls, the parties, I¡¯m surprised he noticed me at all,¡± she grumbled. ¡°We¡¯d been friends for so long I thought maybe I¡¯d become more like a permanent fixture, like the sofa or something. So when he finally looked at me¡­¡± Neon pink shot through her aura, mingling with the myriad of other colours. She sighed and it dissipated. ¡°I¡¯ve come to realize taming him is futile. It¡¯s like trying to swallow the sun. Not something anyone should even try to do, but here I am. So stupid.¡±

    ¡°Kevin was kinda like that too, in a way,¡± Kismet confessed. ¡°He wasn¡¯t so charismatic, I don¡¯t think. Kinda sulky and sullen, really. I guess it tricked me into thinking he was smart or something, all broody and artsy, when he was actually only about as deep as a puddle.¡±

    Nyx laughed. ¡°Hope he was at least like one of those pothole kinda puddles? They have some kinda depth.¡±

    ¡°Not even.¡± Kismet flopped down on the couch, tugging the throw blanket up to her chin. ¡°I think he only liked me when he couldn¡¯t have me. At the time, I lived alone. Just me and my books. I wasn¡¯t interested, but he was so persistent. Then¡­ nothing.¡±

    I never should have moved in with him. I should have stayed in my own place. Just me and my books forever. Do the princesses ever miss their towers? They never speak about what happens once the prince takes her home. What does a coveted treasure become when it''s possessed? Never spoken of again. That''s what.

    Nyx crushed out her cigarette. She got up, stretching. Her long, feline movements reminded Kismet of Alistair.

    ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna head to bed and let you get some sleep. Help yourself to water or anything you want.¡±

    ¡­ Angel may be a jackass sometimes, but at least he can be quite sweet when he wants to be¡­ Poor Kismet, she didn¡¯t deserve to go through that¡­ I¡¯m glad Alistair found her¡­

    ¡°Thanks again for having me,¡± said Kismet, hugging tighter to the blanket. ¡°I truly appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s actually kinda nice to have someone other than my siblings to talk to about this sorta stuff. I¡¯m sorry you had such a terrible time and I hope things get better,¡± said Nyx. ¡°Good-night.¡±

    Nyx excused herself to bed, and Kismet stared at the blank wall. Sleep came far faster than she expected. Right before slipping away, it dawned on her that she was not wearing her headphones.

 Chapter Twenty-Two: No Good With Moderation

    The speakers strained against the heavy bass and guitar riffs. All of Angel¡¯s earlier efforts to clean were now completely wasted as people spilled drinks, and dropped ashes into the carpet. A glass broke in the kitchen to the raucous cries of surprise and laughter. Angel slouched into the cushions of the couch, nursing a joint. The life-force generated by the dancing, the laughing, the sexual tension, hung in the air but could not touch him. He buried himself deep inside the liquor and weed until he was swathed inside an energetic wad of cotton. Each thought came slow as cold molasses.

    Timmy bounded up, grinning with a drink in hand and plopped into the empty seat beside Angel. ¡°Very nice funeral you got here Grub.¡±

    Angel exhaled smoke and passed him the joint. ¡°Why are you here? You got your money.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here for a good time,¡± said Timmy, gesturing to the mingling crowd. ¡°Like all these other fine folk. Look man, I¡¯m sorry about the other night.¡±

    Angel glared at him. ¡°You stabbed me, jackass.¡±

    ¡°I said I was sorry. You¡¯re the one that wanted to fight if I recall, and if you¡¯d just paid me when I asked nice, it wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. Plus, look at ya, you¡¯re fine. I knew you healed fast, but this must be some kind of record?¡±

    Angel snatched the joint back from him. ¡°Why were you telling everyone I was dead?¡±

    ¡°I thought you were. That was awful. Seriously, how do you not even have a scratch on you?¡±

    Angel shrugged and passed the joint.

    ¡°You got clobbered into dust,¡± Timmy continued. ¡°And Nyx -¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about her,¡± he snapped.

    ¡°Geeze, ok, ok, snippy pants.¡± Timmy took a hit, blowing out a cloud of smoke. ¡°She was looking for you earlier. Tried to shake me down for info but I¡¯m a steal trap.¡±

    You¡¯d sell out your own mother for a nickel.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t even know where I was,¡± said Angel.

    ¡°True enough,¡± he laughed and tried to pass the joint back to Angel.

    ¡°Keep it,¡± he said and got up.

    ¡°Where ya going?¡±

    ¡°Bed.¡±

    ¡°Alright weirdo, suit yourself. Good-night, sleep tight and all that.¡±

    Angel ignored him and pushed his way through the crowd to the stairs to his bedroom, the only empty space in the house. The red guitar was still missing, left in the shed two nights ago, so he grabbed one of the brown acoustic ones from its stand and sat on the bed.

    The familiar silk of the guitar¡¯s glossed body, the tension of the strings under his calloused fingers brought comfort.

    He sat with the guitar in his lap and played. Each pluck of the string vanquished a rogue thought, but Nyx found her way into every note regardless.

    As he played, Angel became aware of the warm life-force that hovered in the air. It fought its way out of the haze as he generated it from within himself to join the existing invisible mist. It was in everything, everywhere all at once, delicate, like the gossamer threads of a spider web.

    This power was more like an awareness of an already existing element. This new sensation simply was.

    How could I miss such a powerful sensation for so long?

    The energy had its own flow and rhythm. The beating of a heart or the rise and fall of the breath.

    Angel sat with it. Not commanding, merely observing as he continued to strum. He marvelled at the waves of blue light surging as he played. The energy ebbed with the song, responding to his intensity until light trailed from him like fog, then surrounded him in a sphere, hovering at the boundary of his skin.

    He consciously drew it into himself as he played, drinking it into his body like a fine wine until he no longer glowed. It made him almost delirious, adding to his already inebriated state.

    If this tiny amount feels this good, it¡¯ll probably feel even better sober.

    When he stopped playing and put his guitar back, the sensation remained. His body had never been so light. It''s not like he had much pain to complain about anyway aside from the usual aches from work. Even the hollow, empty pang in his chest, the constant gnawing anxiety had dissipated.

    Every cell in his body vibrated.

    I don¡¯t think I can hide this forever.

    He flopped back on his pillows.

    No matter what I do, I find a way to make trouble.

    The bedroom door clicked open. He was about to tell whoever it was to scram, but Alistair stepped in.

    ¡°Mind if I join ya?¡± he asked.

    Angel scooched over so Alistair could plop down next to him. He stretched out his long legs and put his arms behind his head against the pillows.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    ¡°I talked to Nyx. You''re gonna fix this, right?"

    How much does he know?

    Angel recalled the look of horror in her eyes, the way she cried against his chest, the hurt, the rage. His stomach dropped.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can.¡±

    "You gotta stop leading her on," said Alistair. "If you don''t want a serious relationship, that''s fine, but you gotta say so."

    Tension squeezed Angel¡¯s chest into a vice.

    Either way I look at it, I''m gonna lose her. I''ll fuck it all up somehow.

    "That''s not what I want either. I just - I dunno."

    Alistair sighed. "Look, I try to keep out of it and I don''t like to choose sides, but at the end of the day, she''s my sister. It''s pretty difficult to hear her cry and not be mad at you."

    Angel''s heart stung. The frustration and grief in Alistair¡¯s eyes made him want to turn inside out.

    "Everything is so much more complicated now."

    "I think you''re making it more complicated than it needs to be."

    Angel sighed and picked the skin around the edges of his fingernails. He watched it heal again with tears blurring his eyes, glad Alistair couldn¡¯t see in the dark as well as he could. He still hadn''t wrapped his head around it.

    "I really did die last night." The words tasted sour in his mouth.

    It was only for a few minutes. Does it even still count?

    "What do you mean you died?" Alistair sat straight up to face him.

    "I fought Aluminum Carl and he kicked the absolute shit outta me.¡± As Angel spoke, the pain in his ribs recurred, sharp and vivid. "Nyx and Cass pulled me out of the ring and tried to take me to the clinic and... and I guess I died."

    "You guess?" Alistair''s eyes shone with horror.

    "Nyx did the compression thingy and a bright light came... and then I was back completely healed like nothing happened. It seems to be the same power as -"

    "Ivy," Alistair said, cutting him off. "Well shit. What are you gonna do?"

    "What can I do? We gotta pretend it never happened so Ivy doesn''t pitch a fit."

    "Do you think she would?" He frowned. "I mean, loads of people have all kinds of dangerous powers out there, but so long as people use them responsibly, she doesn''t seem to care."

    "Nyx thinks she will.¡±

    "If hiding your new ability is what you want to do, of course I''ll keep your secret."

    The urge to taste more of that power itched under Angel¡¯s skin, nearly impossible to resist.

    "Yes and no," Angel grumbled. "We don''t know how Ivy will respond, but I was experimenting with it tonight. It''s like this whole new world of sensation has opened up to me and I need to explore it. All of it."

    "Careful Grub, you''re not exactly good with moderation."

    There can be no small licks, no such thing as just a taste. Not until I get a better hang of things.

    Angel clenched his jaw. Ivy had sucked up thousands at once during the height of the war. Whole armies. The more she consumed, the more powerful she became. Her range expanded, as did the fear and awe she instilled in all of Gleodem.

    His breath came in quick, rapid bursts and he scraped his fingernails into his jeans. The light flared whenever he closed his eyes.

    Can I even die at all now? I don''t want to ever go back there.

    "Are you ok?" Alistair reached out. The sensation of his warm energy made Angel flinch away. "I''m worried about you."

    "Don''t be.¡±

    "This is a big deal Angel. You might not care if something happens to you, but I do. I was scared half to death. You scared everyone as a matter of fact, and poor Nyx -"

    Angel shifted uncomfortably, but didn''t know how to respond.

    Alistair sighed. Angel''s stomach churned with guilt.

    Maybe I''ll wake up and find this was all a bad dream.

    "For the record, I''m glad you didn''t die. When I heard, I was... I love you dude."

    "Gross," Angel teased, though the lump in his throat made his voice catch.

    "Don''t be a turd," Alistair laughed. "So who else knows?"

    "Only you guys."

    ¡°That¡¯s probably for the best until we figure stuff out.¡± Alistair looked at him with a soft smile, gently punching his arm. ¡°You¡¯re going to be ok, alright?¡±

    ¡°If you say so, man.¡±

    After a brief moment of silence, Alistair broke the tension. ¡°Guess what? I found a girl.¡±

    ¡°About time,¡± Angel said, happy to change the topic. ¡°What¡¯s her name? Anyone I know?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that." Alistair fiddled with his eyebrow ring in an attempt to hide his blush. ¡°You definitely don¡¯t know her. She¡¯s from the mainland.¡±

    ¡°I know plenty of people on the mainland,¡± Angel protested.

    ¡°Jack and Caroline don¡¯t count,¡± he said. ¡°Her name is Kismet. She was lost, so I helped her.¡±

    ¡°You gotta quit being so chivalrous, you¡¯re making the rest of us look bad,¡± Angel teased.

    ¡°Hilarious. We can¡¯t all be stoic cynics.¡±

    ¡°Blossom better watch out.¡±

    Alistair sighed, hanging his head so his blond hair flopped into his eyes and he pushed it away. ¡°That¡¯s going nowhere anyway. She only sees me as Cass¡¯ brother, if she notices me at all. Anyway, Kismet is just my friend.¡±

    Sure. Tell yourself that. The speed of your heartbeat says otherwise my guy.

    They laid together in the quiet, each staring up at the ceiling. The heady scent of approaching rain hung in the air, wafting in from the open window. The party raged on down stairs. The bass was still vibrating the wooden walls, nearly drowning out snippets of conversations melding together. At least he could no longer hear the zing of electricity or appliances anymore beneath it all.

    With Alistair there beside him, it was as if they were children once again. On nights Angel needed to get away from home, he¡¯d head straight for Alistair¡¯s window. The screen had long since been discarded. He¡¯d hover outside, straining his wings and slide it open. No matter what, Alistair would shift over and make space for him. Sometimes they¡¯d stay up, talking for hours under the blankets as if that would muffle their voices, or hide the thin beams from their flashlights. Sometimes they¡¯d read comics, talk until they were blue in the face, hiding giggles behind pressed hands, or say nothing at all.

    Did I return to life only to ruin everything? I have to make things right with Nyx. I can¡¯t risk losing them.

    Eventually, Alistair rolled over and got up.

    ¡°I better get home,¡± he said, heading for the door.

    The thick pang of impending loneliness struck Angel in the center of his chest. It quaked within him with budding panic.

    ¡°Can you stay?¡± he asked.

    Alistair turned, letting go of the door knob. ¡°Alright, move over, Grub.¡±

    Angel shifted, scooching closer to the wall. Alistair hopped into bed and they both climbed under the blankets.

    "No snoring," he said, playfully nudging Angel.

    "I don''t snore."

    "Oh, yes you do. Don''t think i won''t kick you out of your own bed."

    Anxiety sat like a stone at the center of Angel¡¯s chest. If Ivy wanted to come for him, there was nothing Alistair, or anyone, could do about it. Regardless, he took comfort in the presence of his old friend. The throbbing noise of the ongoing party eventually lulled him to sleep.

 Chapter Twenty-Three: Hold Your Breath

    The morning birds trilled, declaring their territory. It was hot out already, even though the sun was barely up over the horizon, but the wind took the edge off. Nyx escorted Kismet to the library to deliver her paperwork to Watcher Liz.

    Kismet trailed behind her, chewing on the soggy cuff sleeve of the hoodie Nyx lent her.

    I wish she wouldn''t. At least it''s not one I care for much.

    Kismet seemed to slip in and out of various degrees of lucidity at a moment''s notice. She''d stare off, sometimes only for a few seconds, then carry on like nothing happened. When they talked, it was as if she looked right inside of her.

    It¡¯s a little bit unnerving.

    After a few blocks of houses, they exited the residential area to find themselves in the village-core; A single street with shops, including the market, and public service buildings lined either side. The centerpiece was the gas station on one side, and the town hall on the other. The buildings were all made of wood, almost resembling cabins themselves. This time of year, all the flower beds under the shop windows were in full bloom, inviting butterflies and bees.

    Kismet''s hazel eyes darted in quick, rhythmic motions. Mutants hurrying to and from the stores shuffled past them. The headphones came out of her sweater pocket and she clamped them over her ears.

    "You ok?" Nyx asked, poking her shoulder.

    "Huh?" She dipped her headphones.

    "Do you need a break?"

    "Uh - no, why?"

    "Your headphones." Nyx said, pointing at them. "We can go sit somewhere quieter or something. All you gotta do is say so."

    "Yeah," Kismet said. "Maybe a break would be kinda nice."

    Nyx led her across the street toward a park where they sat on a wooden bench. Oak trees were planted in each quadrant, divided by stone walkways casting shade over the grass and wildflowers. A gazebo decorated the center, shielding a shallow fountain while pigeons splashed in the water.

    Kismet doubled over, clutching her head between her forearms. "I''m really sorry."

    "Please stop apologizing," Nyx said. "You''re driving me nuts."

    "Sor- Ok."

    They sat for a while. Kismet kept her eyes closed, concentrating on her music while Nyx smoked another cigarette and watched the pigeons wander around, pecking at piles of scattered seed. All of the other villagers went about their business and for the first time, Nyx felt like she was sitting on the outside. Even though she could recognize just about everyone in the park, she felt like a stranger. None of them knew how her life had turned upside down in a single moment. There was no one to turn to without risk. More than anything, she wished she could talk to her parents.

    They would know what to do. They might even have some answers.

    When Kismet was ready, she clicked her CD player off and lowered her headphones.

    ¡°No one has ever done that for me before,¡± she said, fiddling with the cuffs of her sweater.

    Nyx took the cigarette out of her mouth. ¡°Did you tell anyone about your powers?¡±

    Kismet tensed, nibbling the bottom of her lip. ¡°Just one person when I was young, then never again. Not until I met Alistair.¡±

    I wonder what happened? There¡¯s a lot of discrimination on the mainland, but I couldn¡¯t imagine¡­

    She tensed, thinking of Angel.

    I don¡¯t want this for him, but what choice does he have?

    ¡°It must have been hard to hide them,¡± Nyx said, watching the ashes from the end of her cigarette fall to the cobblestones at her feet.

    ¡°It¡¯s like holding your breath all the time,¡± Kismet explained, wringing the life out of her sweater sleeves. ¡°Eventually your chest just gets so tight from the pressure, you¡¯re left gasping. Like anything, you gain a tolerance for it, but you need to breathe and come up for air at some point, or else it really does feel like dying.¡±

    ¡°Was there anything that could make it better?¡± Nyx asked.

    ¡°I dunno. There¡¯s not much anyone else could have done for me, but I think just sitting here like this is helpful. Having the space to catch my breath makes a world of difference.¡±

    Nyx nodded, taking careful note of Kismet¡¯s words.

    I may not be able to change the situation for Angel, but I can at least try and make things easier on him. If he¡¯s willing to accept my help at all.

    They left the park, heading toward the library. This time, Kismet moved with more ease, no longer scanning the crowd.

    They reached the library. It was squashed between the hardware store and a barber shop. The yellow shingle-siding had hardly weathered the storms, stripped bare in some sections. A row of books pressed their faces to the front window, peering over the tulips in the window beds.

    A small bell tinkled as Nyx opened the peeling red door. She was immediately greeted by the familiar scent of dust and mildew. It took her back to school days, spending hours cramming for tests at the last minute, hunched over stacks of books.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    They stepped around the corner to the main room. A desk was crammed in the far corner. A filing cabinet jammed in the back blocked out the other window so the room was dimmed. Bookshelves lined the walls, but there were plenty of gaps.

    Kismet shifted her weight from foot to foot, looking up at Nyx with wide eyes.

    ¡°I was filling out the forms this morning and I couldn¡¯t answer most of the questions,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°What do you mean? I can help you, if you want?¡± Nyx asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Kismet¡¯s cheeks blazed red and she looked away, examining the book shelves instead. ¡°I don¡¯t know who my biological parents are. I don¡¯t even know my real birthday. I did my best to fill out what I could, but what if Liz won¡¯t accept the papers and send me away -¡±

    ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± Nyx rested her hand on Kismet¡¯s shoulder.

    The smaller woman flinched, instinctually pulling away from the touch.

    The poor thing is so sensitive. I¡¯ve never known Daisy to be such a raw nerve, even with similar abilities.

    ¡°The documents are just a formality. Watcher Liz¡¯s opinion is what matters,¡± Nyx explained. ¡°As Ivy¡¯s representative, she has final say.¡±

    Kismet didn¡¯t seem to settle. Instead, she drifted toward the books, tracing the spines with her finger, muttering their names as if taking inventory.

    What a strange girl.

    ¡°Good afternoon.¡± Watcher Liz¡¯s warm voice made Nyx jump as she stepped in from the backroom. She wore the typical all-black attire made up of a puffy sleeved blouse and sleek pants. Her short black hair was thin and cut to her chin, the ends straight as a knife¡¯s blade. Dark eyes glittered, crinkling the crow¡¯s feet at the edges as she smiled. ¡°Is there something I could help you with? I hope you weren¡¯t waiting long?¡±

    Kismet froze, staring at the Watcher with large, round eyes. She seemed to disappear inside her sweater, scrunching the sleeves in her hands.

    ¡°This is Kismet,¡± said Nyx when the other girl failed to introduce herself. ¡°She¡¯s from the mainland and is wondering if she can stay here?¡±

    ¡°I - I have my papers.¡± Kismet reached into the front pouch of her sweater and handed over the small stack of wrinkled documents.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Kismet. Daisy told me to be expecting you. These shouldn''t take long to process.¡± Watcher Liz took the papers from her, scanning them over. ¡±You used to work at a bookstore? I could sure use a hand here if you''d like to join me?"

    "Yes, I''d like that." Kismet¡¯s shoulders dropped in relief.

    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Liz smiled, then turned to Nyx. ¡°Would you mind speaking with me privately for a moment?¡±

    Nyx¡¯s jaw clenched.

    What could she possibly want to talk to me for?

    ¡°You¡¯re not in any trouble,¡± The older woman assured her. ¡°It¡¯s only a chat.¡±

    ¡°Oh, um, ok.¡± Nyx, spared a glance at Kismet. ¡°You¡¯ll be ok to wait out here then?¡±

    Kismet nodded, already distracted by the books, and Nyx followed Liz into the backroom. The afternoon sun lit the space, managing to illuminate the narrow aisles. Nyx wove along between the shelves until they reached the back corner.

    ¡°I heard about the fight,¡± Liz began.

    Fuck.

    Nyx¡¯s heart sped up, beating a rapid tattoo beneath her ribs. She wiped the sweat from her palms on the front of her jeans.

    ¡°How is Angel? I haven¡¯t seen him around. Not that he comes to the library much anyway,¡± Liz laughed.

    ¡°Oh, it was all a misunderstanding,¡± said Nyx, trying to smile. ¡°He¡¯s totally fine.¡±

    ¡°I was quite worried for him.¡±

    Nyx averted her gaze, examining the books instead, finally seeing the appeal Kismet found in their distraction. ¡°Did you happen to, ya know, say anything to Ivy¡­¡±

    ¡°I wanted to check in with you first.¡± Liz gently touched Nyx¡¯s elbow so she would turn and look. The older woman¡¯s dark eyes were serious, yet not without kindness. ¡°If there was a problem, you would tell me, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°I understand the fear this island has of Ivy. Believe me, I do,¡± said Liz, ¡°but she means well. Truly, she only wants to help.¡±

    I appreciate the sentiment, but Liz was already a Watcher at the Old Academy when Ivy took over. She sees her only as a liberator. I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll ever get it.

    ¡°What about when she came here twelve years ago?¡± Nyx asked, trying to keep her voice level. ¡°She almost killed June. She sucked up Bill. How was that helping?¡±

    Liz lowered her head with an exasperated sigh. ¡°The woman heals stadiums full of individuals in need, yet you all cling to this incident so tightly as a hallmark of her true nature. It¡¯s not the power, it¡¯s the person. Ivy dos her best to maintain balance. That event was unfortunate, yes, but Bill broke very clear laws. If mutants give humans a reason to believe we¡¯re uncontrollable or dangerous, they¡¯ll come for all of us again. The lives of many far out-weigh the lives of the few.¡±

    Nyx shuddered at the memory of Ivy gliding along the road, black cloak flowing behind her. The pale blue tint to her skin made her translucent like glass.

    ¡°Why not arrest him? Why absorb him if not to make an example?¡± Nyx¡¯s stomach dropped, a chill running through her veins as a sickening realization seeped in, imaging how Ivy faded under the moonlight like an apparition. ¡°It¡¯s part of her powers, isn¡¯t it? She¡¯ll disappear if she doesn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Liz, ¡°but it¡¯s not that simple. You were born right at the end of the war, your life is so different from ours. The old Academy was a prison. We were captured and exploited. If not for Ivy, we¡¯d still be there, worked to death, experimented on, you name it. When Ivy absorbed Headmaster Vaughn, she freed us, but at a great cost to herself.¡±

    Nyx fixated on every word, too enraptured to even breathe. She was familiar with the story of liberation and the following revolution, but the more nuanced details of Ivy¡¯s abilities were not often mentioned in history class.

    ¡°Certain abilities generate more life-force than others,¡± Liz continued. ¡°Vaughn¡¯s nucleokinesis and subsequent regenerative abilities infused him with a vast amount of it. When Ivy absorbed him, and then the others during the war, she gained immortality but at the price of her corporeal form. So to answer your question, she does need to absorb life-force to stay solid, but I shudder to think what would become of us if she were to disappear.¡±

    A strange sense of relief flooded Nyx despite the darker implications of Ivy¡¯s role of judge, jury and executioner. Becoming a life-force hungry phantom was not an inevitable outcome for Angel.

    Not unless he starts absorbing people. He would never intentionally hurt someone like that, but if Ivy or any Watchers confront him directly, who knows what he¡¯ll do if he feels cornered¡­ Then what if he happens to absorb someone like Vaughn? Or Ivy herself?

    Nyx hated herself for considering that, but he was far too unpredictable. She had to prepare for the worst.

    Maybe it¡¯s possible Ivy will want to help him instead? Either way, somethings gotta give. He has to address this or else it¡¯s only a matter of time. Just look at poor Kismet.

    ¡°Sorry to take up some of your morning,¡± said Liz. ¡°I worry about you kids, you know. When I hear about these sorts of fights¡­ Look, I don¡¯t want Ivy to come here anymore than you all do, so I use my discretion. It¡¯s better these activities are contained here on the island than have them gallivanting about on the mainland. I¡¯m aware you can¡¯t control the goings-on at The Barn, nor can you control Angel¡¯s behavior, but he does listen to you. This can¡¯t continue, understand?¡±

    Does she know something? What has she heard?

    Nyx tensed, nodding.

    Liz patted Nyx¡¯s arm with a warm smile. ¡°Good girl.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Four: Secrets and Expectations

    Each book lit up in a haze of colour, each with an aura that could tell a story in of itself. The feelings Kismet pulled from books were safer, less intrusive than what emanated from people. They were more filtered and less raw. Digestible.

    As Watcher Liz spoke with Nyx in the back room, she strolled idly among the bookshelves, flipping through pages and distracting herself with their colours. Kismet cracked open a sci-fi mystery that splattered dark blue, blacks, and mossy green. There would be no happy endings here.

    I hope it will be different for me.

    Nyx¡¯s anxiety oozed into the room, impossible to avoid. With a deep breath, Kismet forced the thoughts into the hive, not letting a single one barb or catch on its way through. They sifted like water through fingers.

    I don¡¯t deserve her kindness. I¡¯m wretched for not telling her the truth about my powers, but why start now? I¡¯ve been lying about them my whole life. What¡¯s a little more until I can go on my way. Nyx is different though¡­ but if Daisy thinks it¡¯s for the best, what can I do? Maybe once I¡¯m settled I can finally be honest.

    When Nyx and Watcher Liz rounded the corner, magenta and burgundy waves rolled off Nyx hitting Kismet in the chest. She braced herself and tried to keep a straight face.

    ¡°Ready to go?¡± Nyx asked, bouncing on her heels. Magenta sparks flicked through her aura like fireworks.

    Kismet nodded and they headed toward the door.

    ¡°Oh, I forgot to mention something,¡± Watcher Liz said to Kismet as she wandered behind the desk to sit. ¡°Will you please select two references for the council meeting? It can be anyone on the island, just not an existing council member,¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Kismet squeezed the sleeves of her sweater in her fist.

    Who will I pick? They hardly know me, maybe they won¡¯t want to vouch for me

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± said Liz, smiling. ¡°You have a month to choose. If you¡¯d still like to help me with the books, you can come by tomorrow morning?¡±

    Kismet brightened if only a little. ¡°Alright.¡±

    Nyx was already halfway through the door and Kismet hurried after her onto the street. She struggled to keep up with the other woman¡¯s long, purposeful strides. A cigarette was already lit, pressed between her ruby red lips. Her tan skin gleamed in the summer sun, highlighting freckles dusted over her exposed shoulders where the straps of her tank top dug in.

    Now they were outside, the heat became unbearable. Kismet tugged off her sweater, manuvering it around her headphones, and tied it around her waist.

    ¡°Where to now?¡± she asked.

    ¡°To Daisy, if you like?¡± Nyx said.

    ¡°Sure,¡± said Kismet, still hurrying to keep up.

    Nyx was silent as they walked, but her thoughts were loud. Kismet was sure she must be unaware of the volume her presence carried, capable of speaking a thousand words in a glance. She fought to shut her out. The conversation with Liz deeply troubled her... something about a bright blue light¡­ Ivy¡­ Angel especially¡­

    ¡­Why do I always have to be the one¡­ I¡¯m not his keeper¡­

    They left the village core behind them, weaving their way into the side streets. Sea birds called as they sored overhead toward the small restaurants and dumpsters in the shops behind them. A dog barked a few blocks away while cicadas chirped in the tall grass lawns. Nyx hummed a tune, drumming the beat absently against her thigh as they moved.

    "Ok, we''re here," Nyx announced and Kismet snapped to the present. They stood in front of the russet house Alistair had taken her to yesterday. The garden bustled with even more butterflies than the day before. "Will you be able to find your way back alright?¡±

    ¡°Thank you again for your help today. Sor- I mean -¡±

    ¡°No worries,¡± Nyx smiled. ¡°It was my day off anyway. Say Hi to Daisy for me.¡±

    They said their good-byes, and Nyx departed. Now alone, Kismet urged herself along the stone walkway, hesitant to approach the door.

    What if Daisy forgot? What if she changed her mind?

    Even though Kismet''s knock had been a mere tap, Daisy answered immediately. Her smile was warm and sweet as a fresh clementine. Her braids were tied in a high pony tail. A radiant orange aura, much like the halos of holy people Kismet saw in the gallery paintings surrounded the older woman.

    "You came back!" Daisy exclaimed and ushered Kismet inside. Her brown maxi dress swished around her heels.

    The moment Kismet crossed the threshold, anxiety fled from her body. Incense burned sandalwood and white sage. Everything became still as tension fled like an exhale.

    "Would you like some tea?" Daisy asked.

    "Yes, please," Kismet said.

    Daisy led her to the living-room, gesturing for Kismet to take a seat before continuing to the kitchen to get the tea.

    Kismet sat on the same whicker stool from the day before. The rattan crinkled under her as she shifted. She admired the Macram¨¦ baskets swinging from the ceiling near the picture window, dangling spindly leaves from the spider plants and ferns. The afternoon sun bled through the drawn curtains, glimmering through the myriad of crystals on the shelves on the far wall of the room. Other tiny artifacts like feathers and carved effigies crowded in alongside them. She exhaled, listening to the wrens nesting in the bushes outside.

    Daisy returned from the kitchen, placing a tea tray on the coffee table between them. She settled on the couch and poured them each a cup.

    It dawned on Kismet that she couldn''t hear Daisy''s thoughts at all. In fact, Kismet''s mind was completely clear. It was utterly disorienting.

    "So, what are the nature of your abilities?" Daisy asked.

    Kismet frowned, confused. ¡°I¡¯m a -¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know what you are,¡± she corrected, ¡°I¡¯m asking how do they work? What does it feel like?¡±

    Kismet''s cheeks flushed and she wiped her palms on her jeans, taking a moment to gain her bearings. Speaking was harder than she anticipated.

    How do I even begin to describe it?

    She took a deep breath, inhaling the soothing scent of incense. Daisy''s influence wrapped around her like a warm blanket.

    The words rushed from her like a confession. She drew in a shuddering breath. "It''s - it''s too much. "

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    That didn¡¯t exactly answer the question, but it was the best she could muster. Kismet shrunk under the kindness in Daisy''s soft eyes and looked at the carpet. Daisy scooched toward the edge of the couch, reaching for her across the coffee table.

    "Can I take your hand?"

    Kismet nodded and held her hand out to the other woman. The second they touched fingers, Kismet felt Daisy swell with the same emotion; A mingling of hurt and longing, abandonment and desire. Then there was rage and sorrow like a heaving wave.

    "It''s overwhelming, isn''t it?" said Daisy.

    Kismet nodded. Tears pressed behind her eyes. Pressure surged in her chest. She tensed, anticipating slipping away and braced against it. The fingernails of her other hand dug into her jeans. Daisy''s influence kept her firmly fixed in her body. For the first time, she didn''t have to fight. Now she had to sit with it.

    And breathe.

    Is this what it''s like to be inside myself? This is awful.

    Her mind tried to pull back, but Daisy''s gentle grip tethered her to earth.

    Why does it have to hurt so much?

    The lump in the base of her throat ached and burned, swelling like the wings of a bird trying to spread its wings inside a cage that was much too small. She collapsed into tears. Pain throbbed deep in her chest. It shifted and came loose, lessening the harder she cried. After what felt like forever, gradually, Kismet''s muscles relaxed as she exhaled, easing into the emotion, letting it dissipate. She blinked, disoriented.

    Daisy still held her hand, patting gently. "Just breath."

    Crying with Daisy had left her lightheaded, but somehow relaxed. Normally, she would have been mortified to become so emotional, but here, it would have almost been a disgrace not to.

    Still, she expected shame to creep up like a tiger to devour her any minute.

    The older woman''s touch was firm yet gentle as she tightened her grip ever so slightly. Warmth expanded throughout Kismet''s body, tingling across the surface of her skin. She slumped, relaxing.

    "What happened to bring you here?" Daisy¡¯s voice was soft and smooth. The question spiraled through time, an echoing consideration of events concerning what may have kept Kismet away from herself. A feeling of disconnection she could no longer fathom while sitting in the warm acceptance she found here.

    I don¡¯t want to go back out there¡­ back to lying¡­ When can I be who I am?

    At first, Kismet thought she would resist Daisy¡¯s question, but the answer was already on the tip of her tongue, slipping away faster than she could think to catch it. She swallowed, saliva scratching her dry throat, and she pried her lips apart.

    "When I was thirteen, I was sent to live with a couple. Percy and Jade. For a while, things were going alright," Kismet twisted the ends of her sweater sleeves in her fingers. "Then, one day, I slipped up." The horror she had felt in that moment surged inside of her once again and she started to tremble. "I don''t even remember what I said exactly. Maybe I answered something she hadn''t spoken out loud, but regardless, Jade caught me. I remember we were in the kitchen cooking supper.

    "Jade said that it was ok. She wouldn''t tell anyone, but I''d have to do her a favour. I agreed. I didn''t think I had a choice. My life was over." She stopped to take a breath. "I was too scared of The Academy."

    Daisy nodded, understanding. "Ivy doesn''t exactly do herself many favours in that regard. She tries, but it''s hard for people to forget what she''s capable of."

    "All I wanted was to be normal, like everyone else,¡± Kismet continued. ¡°So I agreed to do anything Jade asked of me. We grew close during that time, or at least it felt like we had, but it wasn''t real."

    The pressure in Kismet''s chest gradually released, but it swirled into nausea. She trembled, becoming cold. A wave of tingly warmth emanating from Daisy, brought Kismet back into herself.

    "She made me read people''s minds and dig up all their secrets. Jade took me to parties, her friend''s houses, everywhere. At first I liked it. The more I could tell her, the better. She loved the details. The most awful, horrible things made her happy, and I hate to say it, but I was happy too." Kismet choked on her words and propped her face in her free hand, sniffling. "I saw the worst things. The worst. People''s minds are complex, beautiful places but some are darker than others. Everyone thinks terrible things from time to time, they don''t mean anything by it, it''s human nature, but some people are..."

    "I can only imagine.¡± Daisy leaned close to Kismet, patient and waiting. Concern shadowed the kindness in her dark eyes. "I''m fortunate to not be privy to the details."

    "It''s awful," Kismet said, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand. "But the worst was that Jade collected these secrets and used them against people any way she could. She manipulated them, or pitted them against each other for her own gains. Then she spilled the wrong secret and - and one night the neighbor''s husband murdered his wife because she''d been having an affair.

    "After that, Jade got scared and told the authorities what I could do. Some people in suits came. They waited for me after school, so I ran. I lived on my own for a while. I had to use my powers sometimes to survive, but I tried not to unless it was absolutely necessary. It took me years, but I finally got an apartment and a job. I just wanted to forget it ever happened."

    Daisy continued to radiate warmth and the terrible knot in Kismet''s chest loosened.

    "I hope one day you can see your abilities were not the problem. They''re a very precious thing and I''m so sorry they were never appropriately trained or appreciated."

    "What did you do, you know, before?" Kismet asked once she gathered herself again. ¡°How did you stop it?¡±

    "Well that¡¯s the thing, I didn¡¯t ever stop it. I learned to live with it. I was young when my powers manifested and I tried to keep it to myself, but it slips, as you''re well aware. My parents tried to hide me. I was sent to my cousin''s in the next town over so I wouldn''t be taken to The Old Academy. It worked for a time, until I was about seventeen. Then I was discovered again. This time I ran. I met Ember and Molly first, then we found Julian and Jay, and then Aiden. They told me about this island where mutants could be safe. At the time, we weren''t sure if it was just a rumor, but we had to try at least."

    Kismet imagined young Daisy struggling to hide her abilities under fear of imprisonment or death and shuddered.

    "It took its toll.¡± Daisy¡¯s eyes flashed with memory. "I had to find a way to get them under control, and quickly. I couldn''t afford to get caught. Just one of us being exposed could have put the others in danger too, and ruin everything. We all struggled to keep our abilities under control, but it was harder for some than others. We helped each other the best we could."

    "How did you manage it?" Kismet asked, in awe of her.

    "Mostly meditation," she said. "I read anything about spirituality or managing emotions I could get my hands on. There''s not much written about mutant abilities available to the public, not yet anyway, so most sources I used were based on human experiences. I had to extrapolate and experiment.

    "You''re going to be so sick of meditating by the time we''re done, but it''s necessary. You have to get acquainted with your inside, what it feels like to be you and in your own skin, so it''ll be easier to draw boundaries. Then you''ll come to know how your own energy expands, and learn to establish boundaries in the astral too. It''s like scaffolding. You''ve probably noticed you can''t read my mind?"

    Kismet nodded, spell bound by her.

    "That''s not because I''m particularly immune to your abilities, but because I have such precise control of mine. The barriers I have in place are thick, and I determine when and if they come down."

    "I would love to be able to do that," Kismet said, wistfully.

    Daisy smiled and placed her tea cup on the table. "You will. Be it my way, or your way, or something in between, there will be a way."

    "Thank you," said Kismet. "You''ve all been too kind."

    "We have to look out for each other," Daisy said. "How are you getting along? Are they taking good care of you?"

    "Oh yes," said Kismet, smiling. The hospitality she had found on the island far exceeded her expectations. "They''ve all been lovely, especially Nyx and Alistair."

    "She''s a firecracker, isn''t she?" laughed Daisy. "Angel better play his cards right or he''ll regret it."

    Kismet chewed the inside of her cheek. There was a gnawing in the pit of her stomach she couldn''t ignore, and it bubbled to the surface.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t met him yet,¡± she said.

    ¡°Oh, you will. Give it time.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to expect,¡± Kismet said, finally giving voice to the concern she¡¯d been feeling since first hearing of him. Everything she¡¯d gathered so far was a jumbled up mess.

    ¡°Believe me, you¡¯re better off not expecting anything,¡± Daisy explained. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised if your powers don¡¯t work on him. Mine don¡¯t. I wish they would, honestly. If I could just calm him down for a second.¡±

    The prospect of someone with the ability to nullify her powers was ecstatic.

    If only there was some way to make it permanent.

    Regardless, Daisy had quelled her nerves. Between lessons with Daisy, and Angel possibly shutting her powers down entirely, there was finally a sliver hope to get some lasting peace of mind.

    Even if I have to say I¡¯m an empath forever, if it means I can actually get a handle on my powers, I¡¯ll take it.

    They parted ways, deciding to meet again after work at the library again tomorrow. Kismet stepped outside, the summer sun warm on her cheeks. Even the return of the continuous hum of voices could not break her spirit as she began to walk toward Nyx¡¯s cabin.

 Chapter Twenty-Five: Surprises

    Angel paced around the block, going on lap three. He rehearsed what he was going to say to Nyx in his head over and over, but couldn''t seem to get the words right.

    How hard is it to apologize?

    Though if he were being honest with himself, it was not the apology he was having a hard time with.

    I don''t know what to tell her. I don''t want to hurt her, but I can''t let her go.

    He kicked a pebble as he came around the corner to face Nyx''s cabin once again. The red paint peeled away and made the siding patchy. Clumps of clover, daisies and Queen Anne''s lace filled the overgrown yard, almost hidden behind the scraggly blackberry bushes on the property line. The front porch sagged into the earth, clinging to life by the mercy of a few solid boards that had managed to avoid the moisture and rot.

    This place needs so much work.

    It had taken Angel a year to repair the major faults in his own house, and it still wasn''t completely finished.

    Nyx probably doesn''t want my help. She doesn''t even need it.

    Finally, on the next loop around, he forced himself to approach the cabin and let himself in through the front door. He kicked his shoes off in the porch and went into the empty living-room.

    Nyx''s house was bigger and more open than his own, with no wall separating the living room from the kitchen. The space smelled of floor cleaner and fresh air from the open windows. It had yet to be filled with the bussiness of lived-in clutter and knick-knacks.

    The bare yellow walls waited for pictures and decorations to be put up. Cigarette butts crammed in the ashtray on the coffee table and the skateboard propped against the wall were the only signs of Nyx.

    The rest of the furniture was sparse. A small side table sandwiched between the mismatched armchair and sofa. The circular kitchen table and its ring of dining chairs occupied the corner between the living-room and kitchen, marking the barrier between the spaces.

    Angel followed the sound of rummaging and movement to the kitchen and was surprised to find a strange woman chopping carrots at the counter. Potatoes boiled on the stove behind her. The grey t-shirt she wore hung to her thighs. He recognized it as one of Nyx¡¯s¡­ or perhaps it had even been his own at one point. Acid wash jeans were cinched to her waist by a black belt and rolled up at the cuffs.

    This must be Kismet, the girl Alice told me about.

    "Hey, you''re not Nyx," he said. "Is she around?"

    The woman jumped at the sound of his voice, squealing, in the span of a second, her hand slipped and the knife came down on her finger.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    She jolted away from the counter, clutching her hand to her chest. Blood oozed between her fingers.

    ¡°Oh, shit!¡± Angel exclaimed, rushing toward her. ¡°What did you do?¡±

    Tears swam in her eyes, but she bit them back. She gingerly extended her hand, showing a deep gash in her left index finger. Blood dripped onto the white linoleum floor. Angel sucked air through his teeth.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I didn¡¯t feel you come in - I mean, I didn¡¯t hear you¡­¡± The girl stammered. She stared at the floor, brown curls hiding her face. ¡°I got spooked, I guess. Maybe it needs stitches?¡±

    The blood would not stop. She wrapped her finger in the edge of the t-shirt, pressing hard with the opposite hand. Blood soon soaked it through.

    Angel¡¯s heart raced.

    This is all my fault.

    ¡°Here, can I see it again?¡±

    Kismet brought her hand out. On second sight, the wound was deeper than he first assumed. Without further thought, Angel took her hand in his.

    Her life-force was unlike anything he¡¯d noticed so far. It swirled in dual streams. One was much deeper, and steadier while the other overlapped it in a parallel rush. It spun in the opposite direction, quicker, like the rapids in an overfull river.

    He drew attention to his own energy and tugged it toward the surface, gathering it.

    I gotta fix this, but how?

    He guided the warm energy toward his hands, amazed it obeyed his unspoken demand. They both stared in awe as an azure glow emerged in his palms.

    ¡°What are you -¡± Kismet began to ask, but the tiny spark of light grew into a larger ball, enveloping her hand. She gasped, watching the blazing glow. ¡°Your powers are like -¡±

    Eventually, she withdrew. They both marvelled at the fresh, healed skin. She turned her hand back to front, looking at it from every angle.

    "That''s incredible!"

    Angel released his focus, letting the ball dissolve into the air again.

    The room spun, blurring his vision. He staggered to the side, grasping for the nearest chair before he could fall. Kismet saw his fumbling and took his elbow, guiding him into a seat.

    It feels like I was the one that was bleeding¡­ what the hell?

    Angel braced himself on his knees to keep from throwing up. Exhaustion flooded him, dragging his eyelids down. Consciousness played tag with him as he faded in and out, seeing sparks.

    Kismet hovered.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± she asked, shifting her weight from foot to foot, wringing her sleeves.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know -¡±

    The uncertainty quickened his pulse and formed a sheen of clammy sweat on the back of his neck. This was unlike anything he''d ever felt before.

    ¡°Here, I¡¯ll get you a drink.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, whiskey would be -¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m getting you water,¡± she said, hurrying to the sink.

    Angel focused on the sound to keep himself grounded. He closed his eyes and kept his mind on the chair under him. Kismet pressed the cold glass into his hand. The condensation helped him maintain consciousness.

    What have I done? It¡¯s hardly been three days and I¡¯ve already revealed my powers to a complete stranger. I¡¯m doomed.

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Fuck, I shouldn¡¯t have done that. Nyx will kill me. She¡¯s already mad enough -¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll understand,¡± Kismet said softly. ¡°Just drink your water.¡±

    ¡°I gotta clean up all this blood -¡±

    Kismet nudged the glass toward his face and Angel finally took a sip, his mind still spinning.

    I¡¯m so fucked. Why do I ruin everything?

    The water helped. but he still felt woozy and nowhere near ready to stand.

    Ivy will find me out in no time if I keep this up.

    ¡°I¡¯m Kismet by the way,¡± she said, taking the empty cup away to the sink.

    ¡°Angel,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°I figured,¡± Kismet said, coming back to sit with him at the table.

    He looked up at her, fighting against the ebbing nausea.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell anyone. Only Nyx, Alistair and Cass know about this and we gotta keep it that way. I don¡¯t want to risk Ivy finding out.¡±

    ¡°I completely understand,¡± she said. She evaded looking at his face, hiding behind a curtain of hair as she looked toward the window. ¡°Thank you for healing me anyway. I promise, I won¡¯t tell a soul.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have been hurt if it weren¡¯t for me in the first place.¡±

    ¡°It was an accident,¡± Kismet assured him, finally meeting his eyes. He was surprised to find how sharp they were, boring straight into him and he shifted slightly like a bug under a microscope. ¡°Daisy was right. My powers don¡¯t work on you at all. Normally, I can sense people coming, but you snuck right up on me.¡±

    Angel leaned back, finally feeling more settled. The duality of her life-force intrigued him.

    ¡°What are your powers anyway? Alistair didn¡¯t say.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an empath.¡± Kismet averted her eyes again, fiddling with the cuff of her sweater. ¡°Daisy is going to help me.¡±

    Lucky. I wish I could talk to Daisy about my powers.

    ¡°Are you scared of Ivy too, is that why you didn¡¯t go to The Academy?¡± Kismet asked.

    "Sorta.¡± Angel didn¡¯t want to admit it, though he supposed that¡¯s exactly what he was. ¡°Nyx is right. It¡¯s best to keep it quiet, but ultimately, I think if someone represses an essential part of themselves, it''s bound to creep up one way or another. It''s more dangerous to ignore it."

    He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees to cradle his face in his hands. His cheeks were warm under his palms.

    I wish I could do what Nyx wants, but it''ll kill me to try.

    Kismet nodded, nibbling her lip. "Well, maybe you could find some other way to practice?"

    ¡°How? Maybe you could help me?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea what I¡¯m doing.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you could teach me what you learn from Daisy? Anything will help.¡±

    Kismet stared at the surface of the table, drumming her fingers against the wood. ¡°I dunno -¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡±

    Kismet didn¡¯t respond, instead she got up from the table to clean. Now feeling better, Angel joined her. Blood splattered over the floor and counter. The carrots would definitely need to be disposed of. While he scraped them away into the garbage and set about scrubbing the cutting board, Kismet wiped the counter.

    Angel resigned himself to not receiving an answer while they cleaned in silence.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to help you,¡± she said finally, still scouring the counter top. ¡°It may not be perfect, but we can try.¡±

    The tension of uncertainty clenching a heavy fist in the center of his chest finally let go, if only a little.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    She nodded and moved on from wiping the counter to moping the floor.

    ¡°So, this is what all the fuss is about then?¡± Kismet asked. ¡°Why Alistair thought you were dead, and then you weren¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I guess so. I didn¡¯t mean to get them all worked up,¡± Angel said, and went on to fill Kismet in on the situation. Telling the story again felt surreal, like it happened to someone else.

    ¡°How horrible,¡± she said when he finished. The pity in her eyes made him look away.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t great. That¡¯s why I really need to figure this out before I make anything worse. I don¡¯t know where the fuck these powers even came from, why they¡¯re so much like Ivy¡¯s and I can¡¯t ask anyone about it because they might report me.¡±

    The words poured out of him in a rush, like they had been buried just under his tongue all this time, dying to get out. The stress he¡¯d barely crammed into the pit of his stomach shifted and rose.

    There¡¯s no way I¡¯m gonna cry in front of a stranger.

    Angel straightened up. He continued scrubbing, unable to turn and look at Kismet. He placed the clean cutting board in the dish rack with the others, before starting to dry them and put them away. Why Nyx always left them out afterwards was beyond him.

    It takes two seconds just to dry them and put them in the cupboard¡­

    Kismet¡¯s sudden hand on his elbow made him flinch, nearly dropping a plate.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you, but are you ok?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± He turned and continued to stack the dishes.

    She frowned up at him. ¡°If you say so - and I¡¯m not trying to be offensive - but you really don¡¯t seem like it.¡±

    Oh you know, just the usual existential dread, questions on mortality and doubting the nature of my entire existence.

    ¡°Nothing to be worried about,¡± he said with a reassuring smile. ¡°How are you? What¡¯s your whole deal?¡±

    Kismet pulled up a chair and sat down while Angel continued to organize the dishes.

    ¡°Are you always like this?¡± she asked.

    Angel finished the dishes and took the dishrag to the counters again, clearing up all the sections Kismet had missed.

    ¡°Like what?¡±

    ¡°Well, I dunno, this sort of jittery?¡± Kismet squinted at him. ¡°I can¡¯t see your colours at all. Maybe I could if I tried.¡±

    He tightened his grip on the dish cloth, scrubbing at a stubborn piece of hardened food.

    ¡°How should I know?¡± he shrugged. ¡°You could try to use them if you want to?¡±

    ¡°Oh no,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to do that. It¡¯s just that this has never happened to me before and well, to be honest, it¡¯s kind of interesting.¡±

    ¡°Interesting?¡± he laughed. ¡°Daisy always thought it was annoying.¡±

    Kismet got up and got another batch of carrots out of the fridge.

    ¡°It¡¯s a relief, really.¡± She rummaged for the newly cleaned cutting board again and started to slice.

    Angel cleared away all the green tops and discarded chunks. It was hard to picture how being without one¡¯s powers would be relieving.

    Sounds like a total nightmare.

    ¡°So you don¡¯t think there¡¯s ever a good time to use your powers?¡± Angel asked.

    Kismet tensed. The heavy knife carved through the thick carrot in a steady, thunking rhythm.

    ¡°There are some occasions that call for it, but that¡¯s part of what I¡¯m sick of too. I have to constantly use my discretion, and who am I to make a decision like that? It would be so much easier to just turn it off.¡±

    Take your powers away completely? That¡¯s nuts.

    ¡°Your powers are part of you,¡± he protested.

    Kismet turned away to scrape the carrots into a pot of water while he got the steak out of the fridge.

    ¡°So, you wouldn¡¯t go back to how things were before?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Not a chance,¡± Angel exclaimed. ¡°Well, on the surface level I do. Like I wish I hadn¡¯t found out that way, you know? But I love my powers. They¡¯re the only thing about this whole situation I don¡¯t hate. How could I live without my heightened senses, my resilience, my wings, or any of it. It¡¯s all one in the same.¡±

    ¡°You have wings?¡± Kismet asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s hardly the weirdest thing about me,¡± he laughed, pulling down a mixing bowl from the cupboard. He poured in some cooking oil. Just enough to fill the bottom before tossing in the spices.

    Kismet flushed. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true.¡±

    They continued cooking together, making small talk to fill in enough gaps to avoid talking any more about the larger issues at hand. It crossed his mind to ask Kismet if Nyx had said anything about their argument at all, if she¡¯d said anything about what he could possibly say or do to make it better. Girls talked about these things, didn''t they?

    Nyx told me what she wanted, I just don¡¯t want to hear it.

    To answer Kismet¡¯s earlier question, he would go back if given a chance, but not to the fight, or to the moment his powers manifested, but back to the shed - to the moment they laid on the mattress, staring at the dust dancing in the light and she asked him to move in.

    What if I had said yes instead?

    While Angel cleaned up the cookware they had finished using, he let himself imagine an alternate reality where he¡¯d simply pulled her close and agreed. He¡¯d tell her that he was happy to have her, that he¡¯d only been waiting for her to ask.

    Or maybe he¡¯d go all the way back to their senior dance. Instead of complain about the stuffiness and the formality, he¡¯d just ask her to go. This time, they wouldn¡¯t sneak behind the bleachers, he wouldn¡¯t let her get dirt on her dress.

 Chapter Twenty-Six: Something That Slips

    Thick clouds hung overhead. Dark grey under bellies promised rain. The birds and the bugs must have felt the oncoming storm as not a one made a sound. Nyx ambled up the driveway toward her cabin, bag of groceries in hand. After the chicken Kismet cooked last night, she was excited to see what she¡¯d make tonight.

    She let herself in, the scent of steak and potatoes filled the air. Nyx rested the bag at the door and kicked off her sneakers. Angel¡¯s canvas shoes were already in the porch. Then she heard his laugh and her stomach flipped.

    I don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready to talk to him yet, not unless he¡¯s ready to change.

    Rounding the corner, she saw Kismet setting the table with Angel. The evening sun streamed in from the window behind him, glittering through his messy bun. Loose wisps dangled around his face. He flashed a mischievous grin, lighting up his eyes. The anger eased if only a little. Even Kismet smiled, still giggling over whatever he had said before Nyx came in.

    Angel saw her and put down the plate he was holding, waving her over.

    Like this is his house or something.

    ¡°Hey!¡± he called.

    I don¡¯t want us to fight in front of Kismet.

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing here?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I came to talk to you,¡± he said. ¡°Then I got helping Kismet with supper. I can go if you want?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s fine.¡±

    They got their supper from the stove and sat down at the table.

    ¡°You picked a great cabin,¡± Angel said. ¡°If you want, I can help you fix it up?¡±

    Nyx shrugged, finishing her mouthful of potatoes.

    ¡°How¡¯d your party go?¡± she asked.

    Angel tensed, tucking back into his food. ¡°Fine.¡±

    Rain pounded against the windowpane. Lightning flashed, crashing thunder immediately behind it. The three of them jumped at the sound.

    Kismet looked from Nyx to Angel, wringing her hands.

    I¡¯m sorry she had to come in the middle of this.

    ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Angel began, still picking at his food. ¡°Kismet knows about my powers.¡±

    Nyx clenched her jaw, gripping her fork tighter. Her heart pounded under her ribs along with the storm outside.

    How has he screwed this up already?

    ¡°What?¡± she asked, still holding hope she¡¯d misheard him. Angel had confessed so calmly, that couldn¡¯t possibly be what he said.

    Kismet shrunk back, dipping her head to examine her food, chasing a small carrot.

    ¡°It happened so fast¡­¡±

    ¡°Angel!¡± Nyx struggled to keep her rage from boiling over.

    ¡°I cut my finger and -¡± Kismet tried to explain.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Angel examined his rings. The muscle in his jaw twitched. ¡°It¡¯s not like she¡¯s going to tell anyone, right Kismet?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t, I promise.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bring her into this,¡± Nyx snapped. ¡°I asked you -¡±

    ¡°I know what you asked.¡± Angel¡¯s blue eyes sharpened and for a moment, she thought he was going to bite back. Instead, he sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ok? I wasn¡¯t thinking. She got hurt and I just reacted. How am I supposed to watch someone bleed all over the place, cut finger dangling in the wind, and not help them?¡±

    I hate that he has a point.

    Nyx sighed.

    ¡°Kismet said she can help me. She¡¯s going to teach me what she learns from Daisy.¡±

    Kismet nodded, eager to diffuse the tension.

    ¡°Just be careful,¡± Nyx said.

    Perhaps it¡¯ll be for the best.

    ¡°Also, I made another discovery,¡± Angel continued, sheepishly prodding his steak.

    ¡°What is it now?¡±

    ¡°Alcohol seems to dull my powers, so I was thinking if all else fails -¡±

    The mere suggestion conjured up such an image that pushed Nyx over the edge. Things would only get worse, not better, from here if she did not reign it in. It seemed no matter what, he was determined to crash and burn and all she could do was watch.

    ¡°Like you need another excuse to drink,¡± she snapped.

    Angel¡¯s grip tightened on his fork as he fixated on cutting steak, cheek twitching. The metal scraped against the plastic plate. Wind thrashed rain against the windows, rattling it in place.

    ¡°Am I wrong?¡±

    He scrunched his brow, thinking, but wouldn¡¯t answer. A carrot rolled and he tried to chase it with his fork instead.

    Kismet fidgeted, chewing on the ends of her sleeves and swayed slightly side to side like a sapling in a breeze. Her hazel eyes took on a clouded haze, staring at some fixed point in space no one else could see.

    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m just -¡± Nyx sighed and examined the table. ¡°I dunno. I didn¡¯t mean to upset you Kismet, we¡¯re¡­ I don¡¯t know what we¡¯re actually doing. Are you ok? Do you think a bath would help?¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Kismet nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can -¡±

    ¡°No, no you rest, I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Nyx insisted.

    Relieved to have a distraction and a way to be useful, Nyx hurried away from the table to run the bath.

    Angel didn¡¯t try to stop her.

    The water took a moment to heat up. She sat on the edge of the tub as it filled, eyeing the closed washroom door and taking in the solitude. Rain pounded against the ceiling, lashed against the shingles by the harsh wind. The room filled with steam until the mirror fogged.

    Sometimes I wonder if he says these things just to wind me up? Or maybe I shouldn¡¯t be so hard on him?

    When the water was nearly ready, a quick knock came at the door. Angel opened it and stepped inside, clicking it shut again. She looked up at him. His hair had come loose, dangling to his chest.  From her position on the edge of the tub, she noticed how tall he was.

    When did that happen?

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna go,¡± he said.

    ¡°I won''t send you out in that," she muttered.

    "A merciful Queen.¡± He sat down on the toilet lid. "Where should I sleep? The armchair? The tub? Full or drained, I suppose it doesn''t really matter -"

    "In my bed obviously," Nyx glowered, refusing to take the bait.

    "So I''m forgiven?"

    "I haven''t changed my mind."

    "Me neither."

    Both of them looked at the floor. Nyx intertwined her fingers, and fidgeted. A silverfish scooted out from the grate, skittering across the linoleum to the baseboards.

    "So now what?" she asked and risked a glance at him.

    Angel''s eyes were dark and distant like deep ocean water before a storm. Something desperate lurked like the shadow of a leviathan underneath.

    "A truce," he suggested. "These last few days have been... a lot."

    "Are you saying you want a break then?" Her voice cracked and she steeled herself for his answer.

    "No," he said quickly. "I''m saying I don''t want to fight with you anymore. I can''t do it on top of everything else. Please, I miss you. Can we call it a draw?"

    That was the closest thing to ''I need you''  she''d ever heard him say. Nyx nibbled her lip.  "I can, but under some conditions."

    "Name your demands," he said, a playful glint returning to his eyes, but the lines of his face were drawn in thought.

    "I''m not competing for you Angel," she said. "Not with other women, not with alcohol or any of your other reckless whims. I''m telling you this now, and I''m telling you only once, if you break the terms of this truce then it''s over."

    "You drive a hard bargain."

    Again, he tried to laugh it off but she stared at him.

    "I''m only asking you to calm down, to try and not die in front of me again."

    "Is that all?" he asked drily. Angel twisted his ring. His fingers tense and quick.

    "If you can''t do it, then just say so and we''ll call it quits now instead of wasting anymore of each other''s time." Nyx clenched her jaw to trap the tears in her throat.

    Angel turned his diamond eyes on her. "It''s that easy for you?"

    "You haven''t made any of this easy."

    "I''m sorry loving me has to be so hard," he snapped.

    Nyx touched his arm so he would look at her again. "Loving you has always been the easy part, it''s getting you to accept it that''s difficult."

    "How can I?" He asked, his eyes pleading. "I can''t promise you anything. I''ll only wreck it."

    "I''ll risk it.¡±

    Her heart pounded as if a butterfly perched on her fingertip. One wrong move...

    "Won''t it hurt more this way?" Angel asked.

    "I trust you."

    "After everything?"

    "I''m giving you a chance," she said. "You can''t pretend like the other night didn''t bother you, that it didn''t even matter. If you didn''t have that power you''d be -"

    "Of course it bothers me," he said, interrupting her. "Just a split second impulse, what a way to go, and nothing to show for it."

    Nyx scooched and leaned over and embraced him, feeling the warmth of his body pressed to hers. She tightened her grip. He tensed, then snaked his arms around her, his lips in her hair.

    "I concede," he sighed. "I''ll agree to your terms."

    Nyx thought this moment would be victorious. After all these years of on again - off again dating, there was clarity and commitment. Finally, she had him pinned, but it didn''t seem fair.

    They left the bathroom and Kismet went in for the bath. She seemed to have perked up without them in the room. Nyx¡¯s heart twisted to see she had already cleared the table and did the dishes while waiting.

    What must she think? She¡¯s walked into an awful mess. Maybe she would have been better off with Alistair and Cass after all.

    Angel plopped beside Nyx on the couch, ruffling up the neatly folded blankets. He leaned back, his arm draped over the top. He eyed the stack of boxes in the far corner.

    ¡°I¡¯ll help you with those tomorrow if you want?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± The knot in her stomach tightened. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how you must feel about all this. Did Julian say anything about the rumors?¡±

    Angel rolled his eyes, but turned away. ¡°Oh, you know, the usual.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we should tell him what actually happened?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s insane,¡± Angel said, fear sparked in his eyes, and her gut twisted to have suggested it.

    ¡°I was only thinking maybe he could answer some questions, or at the very least he might be nicer to you.¡± Nyx sighed. ¡°I hate how he treats you.¡±

    Angel didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he grabbed the pack of cigarettes off the side table and slid one out for each of them. He lit hers and then his own.

    ¡°I discovered something today as well,¡± she said and explained the conversation she had with Watcher Liz. ¡°It was just really odd. I understand the concern, but it felt like she knew or she¡¯s suspicious, at least.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see how,¡± he said, furrowing his brow. ¡°Only you and Cass were there in the car when it happened.¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°Regardless, you gotta stop the fighting. Liz knows about that for sure. If you don¡¯t quit it, Ivy will notice, or perhaps she was implying she¡¯d report it herself.¡±

    ¡°Why me specifically?¡± Angel exclaimed. ¡°Why not shut the whole thing down? None of this makes any damn sense.¡±

    Nyx nibbled her lip and looked down at the scuffs in the hardwood floor. ¡°She told me about Ivy¡¯s powers. She said that Ivy didn¡¯t become immortal until she started absorbing people.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not going to absorb anyone when I fight,¡± he grumbled. ¡°That¡¯s cheating.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s also murder,¡± Nyx added.

    ¡°That too.¡± He grinned, but she wasn¡¯t amused.

    The lump in her throat burned a dull ache into the top of her chest.

    ¡°I need you to take this seriously. No fighting. Please.¡± She took his hands, interlocking their fingers. Tears stung her eyes and she looked down, choking against the pressure. ¡°I¡¯m begging you with everything in me, please stop before things go too far, or you get taken  away¡­ or¡­ or¡­¡± Killed was what she wanted to say, but couldn¡¯t bring herself to utter the word. ¡° I¡¯ll never ever be in this position again. I¡¯m only going to grovel once.¡±

    He curled his fingers, tightening his grip on her hands. ¡°You don¡¯t need to. I swear. It¡¯ll suck to give it up, but I will. I have to. I can¡¯t risk getting caught¡­ or seriously hurting anyone.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    Nyx leaned over and Angel wrapped his arm over her shoulder. Rain tapped on the roof, The wind whistled through the gaps in the house. The cabin creaked, groaning as it shifted. She listened to the steady drum of his heart.

    Her heart cinched, hating that he was right.

    There''s bound to be something that slips.

    The room suddenly became even smaller. She pressed in closer, wrapping her arms around him, squeezing tighter. Still, she could not escape the feeling he was slipping through her fingers.

 Chapter Twenty-Seven: Empathy

    The cluster of cabins sprawled out beneath the soft sloping hill. Lumps of broken asphalt and potholes littered the cracked pavement. Kismet struggled to keep up with Nyx and Angel¡¯s quick strides. Her headphones wrapped around her neck for reassurance, but with Angel so close by, she didn¡¯t need them.

    Daisy was right. It was better not to expect anything, but he exceeded the image she had in mind. The relief his presence provided was like placing a cool cloth on a festering burn. Even from a few feet away, the incessant hum of voices settled to a low cacophony of whispers.

    Though Angel¡¯s presence blunted her abilities while in the same vicinity, Nyx¡¯s turmoil was still evident, but the colours appeared like a haze behind frosted glass. Even now, the other woman¡¯s anxiety pressed in, sparking magenta through her aura.  She could not feel or hear Angel at all, a small relief, but she¡¯d take it.

    But why does he have powers like Ivy?

    Kismet wrung her hands as she walked. That question was not one she wanted to dwell on.

    Nyx and Angel playfully jostled each other while they walked, a far cry from the tension at last night¡¯s supper. They needed to always be touching somehow. He¡¯d grab her hand for awhile, or she¡¯d poke him in the side just to get a glance.

    They neared Nyx¡¯s childhood home. Her parents were putting on a barbeque and she suggested it would be a good opportunity for Kismet to meet everyone before the council meeting. Since it was the weekend, and Kismet wasn¡¯t needed at the library, she could find no way out of it.

    Anxiety gnawed at the pit of her stomach. If she had her way, she¡¯d claim a cabin far from the village, perhaps one by the farms and only come out for necessities. She¡¯d keep to herself and be done. It was a shame the whole process had to be so political.

    I hope I don¡¯t do anything weird to turn them all against me. This could backfire so easily.

    They arrived at the grey cabin and Nyx led the way up the deck to the front door. Kismet twirled a ringlet around her finger as they pushed inside. The narrow porch could hardly contain the three of them, competing for space with the staircase and the pile of shoes and boots beside the closet.

    The sound greeted her first. With the TV blaring and someone rummaging in the kitchen, it was loud in the house in a way that was familiar.

    Kismet had lived in crowded houses before, however, the tone here was much lighter and jovial than the places she had known, where people had argued and elbowed just to carve some space. The energy was light, though there was a lot of it. Thankfully, the wave of emotion was blunted by Angel¡¯s influence. Kismet walked behind him like a shield as they entered the kitchen.

    A woman stood at the counter, stirring a large bowl of punch. She smiled wide and bright as they entered, lighting up her soft brown eyes. Long dark curls tumbled over her shoulders across her knitted white sweater. She pulled Nyx into a hug, planting a kiss on her cheek.

    ¡°I¡¯m so happy you made it,¡± she beamed, and pulled Angel in for a quick hug. When she let him go, she stood back and squinted, reaching up to put a hand on his face. ¡°You don¡¯t have a scratch on you. Here I was, worried sick. From what Timmy was saying -¡±

    Angel shifted uncomfortably. ¡°I heal quick.¡±

    ¡°I told ya Mom, It wasn¡¯t so bad,¡± said Nyx. ¡°This is Kismet, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry dear,¡± said the woman, turning to Kismet. ¡°I¡¯m Molly, it¡¯s nice to finally meet you. Alistair has told us so much.¡±

    She hunkered into her hoodie, preparing to shake Molly¡¯s hand when the patio door slid open.

    ¡°All good things,¡± said Alistair, stepping in from the deck. His smile glittered in his emerald eyes. The sunlight at his back reflected off his silver piercings, and shimmered through his blond hair. ¡°You guys coming out?¡±

    They followed Alistair out onto the back deck. The greying wood sagged in some spots where she stepped. Lichen covered knotted boards. The deck looked out across an overgrown lawn and dilapidated shed.

    Two men chatted at the grill. They exchanged opinions on how one of the burgers looked. One stooped to inspect it further, his blond hair flopping into his green eyes. A deep orange aura wafted around him.

    A maroon aura emanated from the other man. He leaned against the side of the cabin, a beer clutched in his hand. Shaggy auburn hair curled around his ears.

    Nyx introduced the blond man as her father Jay, and the other man as Daisy¡¯s husband Aiden.

    A girl with long green braids sat with Daisy at the patio table in the back. They picked at a charcuterie board in front of them, each with a glass of wine within grasp. The girl¡¯s round sunglasses concealed her eyes as she talked and laughed. Her lips painted a brilliant red, complementing her golden tan.

    Daisy flagged them over and they sat in the three remaining patio chairs. The lopsided umbrella cast them in shade, but did little to block the heat. The sun blared on her back, making her swelter. Kismet thought about taking her hoodie off, but couldn¡¯t bear to be so exposed. If anything, she¡¯d rather sink further inside.

    Sitting next to Daisy instantly put Kismet at ease.

    Daisy smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯m glad you could come. Help yourselves to the snacks please, before I eat them all by myself.¡±

    ¡°You must be Kismet,¡± called the other girl with a grin. She reached across the table to shake hands. ¡°Cassandra, but you can call me Cass.¡±

    ¡°Cass is actually short for casserole,¡± Angel teased. ¡°Everyone knows it. Don¡¯t be embarrassed.¡±

    Cassie glared at him, but Nyx and Alistair laughed. Even Daisy chuckled a little.

    ¡°Are you ever gonna let that go?¡± Cassie grumbled.

    ¡°Not a chance,¡± Angel said with a playful grin.

    Kismet felt like there must be some joke she was missing and she looked at each of their faces, confused.

    ¡°This idiot,¡± Cassie said, pointing at Angel, ¡°spread a rumor in fifth grade that my name was actually casserole and I just didn¡¯t want to tell anyone.¡±

    ¡­This is what I get for saving your ass¡­

    Kismet blinked, and grimaced, trying to squeeze the thoughts out. Daisy put a hand over hers and though the muttered voices persisted, a sense of ease overcame her.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Stick close to Angel so you won¡¯t get too overwhelmed,¡± said Daisy.

    ¡°I¡¯ll trade spots,¡± said Nyx.

    Kismet flushed but didn¡¯t argue and swapped seats with Nyx. Immediately, even the dull whispers vanished and she could breathe again.

    ¡°So you¡¯re an empath right?¡± Cassie asked. ¡°Why''d you come to the island after all this time?¡±

    "I wanted to learn more about my powers," said Kismet. It was the simplest explanation. There was no need to dig into details.

    "Why didn''t you go to The Academy as a kid or something?" asked Cassie.

    "Alright, enough with the interrogation," said Nyx.

    "What? I''m just asking," said Cassie with a slight frown. "There''s plenty of mutants who live on the mainland, so I wanted to know why the island? Especially after all this time. It''s so cruddy here. There''s nothing to do."

    "It''s not cruddy," said Alistair.

    "Of course you''d say that," Cassie teased. "You''re boring."

    "It''s difficult to explain," said Kismet. "It seems that abilities are ok if you''re useful and quiet about them. There are plenty of mutants who work and live alongside humans that get along alright. Just be productive about it, don''t make it overly noticeable, and definitely don''t become a problem."

    Molly came out with the punch and a few extra chairs. When the burgers finished at the grill, Jay and Aiden brought them over with the condiments and they all squeezed around the patio table. Kismet sandwiched between Nyx and Angel, unable to move her arms without bumping either of them.

    Kismet never thought she¡¯d be so thankful to be so close to another person, but being near Angel was the only thing making the small crowd bearable. As they ate, Kismet focused on her food, but observed the easy way they all engaged with each other. Their ribbons of colour extended, melding together in a pastel haze. She nearly had to squint to see it.

    As the supper wound down, Kismet got up to help Molly and Nyx clear the table. They stacked the dishes on the counter next to the already full sink.

    ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to come back?¡± Molly teased Nyx, gesturing to the mess. ¡°Don¡¯t you miss all this?¡±

    ¡°Not in the slightest,¡± Nyx laughed, putting an armload of condiments back in the fridge.

    Kismet started organizing the dishes to be done in order from plates and cups to cookware. The hum at the base of her skull gradually grew louder. She dug her fingers into the palm of her hand, scratching at the skin to try and ground herself. She looked out to the deck and saw Angel was gone, walking with Alistair and Cassie toward the shed.

    Before she could say anything to Nyx, the buffer disappeared and all the emotions and thoughts that had been just out of mind¡¯s reach came rushing toward her at once. The plate she held clattered to the floor and she went with it.

    Kismet hit the hardwood as the room ignited into neon colour. Molly and Nyx morphed into shapeless blobs. The cherry-red blob version of Nyx and the creamy-white blob Molly approached her and there was nothing she could do to warn them.

    She struggled to regain some semblance of control, but the thoughts of the village flooded into her brain all at once. There was no longer any sense of physicality. The world ripped away from under her into a kaleidoscope of colour.

    Flashes of disjointed images streamed across her mind¡¯s eye and she fell into them, experiencing one after the other until one seemed to stick.

    It took a moment to gain her bearings and figure out she was in Molly¡¯s mind. The tension within the older woman¡¯s chest became her own. Guilt and rage swirled together. She sat beside Jay on the couch in the living-room. A stout, burley man slouched in the armchair at the other end. A scraggly black beard covered the bottom half of his face. He glared at them with hard brown eyes.

    ¡°Clearly, some type of ability has manifested,¡± Jay said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that,¡± grumbled the other man, his eyes darting off to the side.

    Molly nibbled her lip and fidgeted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t track. On one hand we have Timmy telling everyone how horrible the fight was, then on the other, Angel is walking around without a blemish. You said so yourself.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps the fight truly wasn¡¯t as bad as Timmy is making it out to be?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯d at least have some kind of injury,¡± said Jay. ¡°He¡¯s resilient, sure, but I¡¯ve never seen him heal this fast. He doesn¡¯t even have a mark from the fight with Timmy. Didn¡¯t he get stabbed?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Julian, but it¡¯s sounding a lot like Ivy -¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Julian crossed his arms. ¡°How could that be?¡±

    ¡°You have to tell him the truth,¡± Jay insisted. ¡°If he does have Ivy¡¯s powers, you gotta talk to him before something bad happens. You should have told him years ago, honestly.¡±

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t need to know,¡± Julian snapped. ¡°What good would it do anyway? We don¡¯t know anything about Operation Pomegranate, why that lab created him or what they did to him down there, so what is there to say?¡±

    Molly took a breath to ease the mounting anger in her chest. She reached for Jay and he took her hand, squeezing her fingers until her wedding ring dug into her skin.

    ¡°You¡¯re being selfish,¡± said Molly. ¡°He¡¯s so lost Julian. The truth, no matter how little we know of it, could save him. When there was no clear signs, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but now something has manifested. Whether it¡¯s something like Ivy¡¯s powers or not, the boy deserves to know where he came from. Frankly, I¡¯m so sick of watching him fumble around and I can¡¯t -¡± she choked on a rising sob and Jay rubbed her arm.

    ¡°When Ivy gave him to you as an egg, we agreed to keep it secret for your sake, but we can¡¯t do it anymore,¡± said Jay. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell him before the end of the month, we will.¡±

    Julian got to his feet, electricity sparking around him. The hairs on the back of Molly¡¯s neck stood up, but she and Jay did not relent.

    He is not the man we came here with. That man died with Ember. The old Julian would never have allowed this.

    ¡°He¡¯s my son, and I¡¯ll decide -¡±

    Jay got up and glared down at his old friend. ¡°Then do the right thing for once in your life. You couldn¡¯t save Ember, but there¡¯s still a chance we can do something to help Angel. We can¡¯t undo the years of lying, but -¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you both just mind your own damn business?¡± Julian snapped.

    ¡°In case you¡¯ve forgotten, our daughter might be tangled up in this mess if we¡¯re not careful, and It¡¯s not just us Jules,¡± said Molly. ¡°Daisy and Aiden agree. We¡¯ll get Watcher Liz involved if we have to, but that¡¯s our last course of action. She¡¯s already asking questions. We¡¯ve brushed it off the best we could, but we can¡¯t keep it up. Liz is duty bound to report any changes with him to Ivy.¡±

    Julian glared at them. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±

    ¡°This could get dangerous,¡± said Jay. ¡°Now Nyx is involved, you don¡¯t get a say anymore. This has gone on long enough.¡±

    The scene wrenched away as she was ripped from Molly''s mind, falling back into her own. Kismet¡¯s eyes opened to see salmon pink walls decorated with stick-on stars. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath and orient herself into reality. She laid on top of the bottom bunk-bed. Sweat soaked through the back of her shirt.

    Angel sat on the edge of the bed, his hand on hers. His crisp blue eyes had been darkened with concern, brightened to see her eyelids fluttering. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said, trying to sit up. The room spun and she collected herself.

    Guilt churned in her stomach and she tugged her hand away from him. Pressure formed at the base of her throat and she struggled to contain her tears. Molly¡¯s turmoil still lingered, tangled up with her own.

    Ivy brought him here from some kind of lab¡­ How much, if anything, do I tell him? How much does he know? Maybe Julian will do what they asked and tell him before I have to.

    She felt dizzy and sick.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d still be ok if I just went into the shed for a smoke," Angel explained quickly, as though he expected her to start yelling.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± She pushed her damp hair out of her eyes. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have to stick near me all the time. The sooner I can get control of my powers the better. I think it just hit me so hard because it kinda came all at once. It was sort of a perfect storm.¡±

    How can I look him in the eye? But if I tell him, what then? I¡¯m just some random girl. He doesn¡¯t even know I¡¯m a telepath. Fuck. The council will kick me off the island for sure once they find out¡­ but if I keep this secret from Angel and Nyx, they¡¯ll be mad too. What should I do?

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s alright,¡± said Angel as softly as he could muster. Even without reading his energy directly, it was obvious comforting others was not his forte. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out. Being an empath must be pretty overwhelming sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you could say that,¡± said Kismet.

    She followed Angel back downstairs, the events of her vision still swirling in her mind. As they walked back to Nyx¡¯s cabin together, she kept her eyes to the pavement, chewing on her thoughts.

    What on Earth is Operation Pomegranate?

 Chapter Twenty-Eight: Control and Choices

    Sunlight crept through the gap in the living-room curtains. The song birds outside chirped, talking with each other. Electricity zinged under the drywall and the fridge in the kitchen¡¯s squealing gears cried out into the otherwise quiet cabin. The scent of cigarette ash still lingered in the empty pop can on the side table. Angel tried to draw his attention away from the noise and center himself.

    He could even hear Kismet¡¯s gentle breath from where she sat cross-legged amongst the blankets on the sofa. Peeking an eye open, he saw her pouring over an open book in her lap. Finally, a sense of serenity had overcome her usually nervous features. He noticed how books seemed to settle her quick, ever searching eyes.

    Angel tried to focus on his own breathing. Each push and pull timed along with deep inhales and exhales. Life-force energy ebbed and flowed around him in warm, pulsating waves.

    Ever since he¡¯d started learning with Kismet a week ago, he became more comfortable sitting with himself. At first he had fidgeted, letting his senses and his mind wander, but the repetition of coaxing his focus back over and over began to expand the moments of stillness between thoughts little by little. It was like stretching the morning after a fight. it hurt, but felt good and got easier every time.

    The better he got at it, and the more comfortable he became, the greater his frustration bubbled under the surface.

    Why can¡¯t I be like this all the time? Why do I have to hide this part of myself when I finally feel so good?

    Angel gave up. Sighing, he opened his eyes fully. The dim light of evening filtered through the picture window and reflected gold through the dense curls piled on Kismet¡¯s head in a high pony-tail. Nyx¡¯s hoodie draped over her slender frame in bunches and folds. The cuffs hanging over her hands were shredded and damp from chewing. He could only imagine how much Nyx must hate that.

    ¡°Can¡¯t focus?¡± Kismet asked when she noticed him looking.

    ¡°I can,¡± he said. ¡°You?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to shut it out today,¡± she sighed. ¡°Even with you here, it¡¯s like a constant prickling on my skin. Like being touched all over.¡±

    Angel grimaced, unable to imagine how he would feel if his ability to sense life-force was oppressive rather than euphoric. It was holding it back that was the painful part.

    I wonder if it¡¯s the same for her? Maybe if she¡¯d stop trying to reign it in all the time, she¡¯d feel better?

    ¡°Do you want some help?¡± he asked.

    She dipped her head, fiddling with the loose thread on a blanket. ¡°I can¡¯t keep relying on you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Angel got up and sat next to her on the couch. He extended a hand. Slowly, she reached out and took it. Relief softened her features, almost dreamlike. She relaxed her shoulders with a soft exhale, gripping his hand tighter, easing into the feeling. It reminded him of the look some people got after taking a sedative.

    The vicious swirling and rapid rush of Kismet¡¯s energy pressed in on him. Gradually, the pulsing steadied. It still did not fully align with the deeper stream beneath, but the two no longer grated against each other so heavily. Angel had yet to find anyone with such a duality, and it intrigued him.

    She took her hand away, but wouldn¡¯t look at him. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t get too used to that.¡±

    Angel flopped back, getting comfortable into the cushions. ¡°So don¡¯t. You could always try to get control of your powers so you can use them instead of shutting them out? You¡¯re lucky, you don¡¯t have to hide them when you¡¯re here. Look at Daisy, she uses them all the time. When we were kids, she was the first one the triplets would run to when they hurt themselves.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Her cheeks turned bright red all the way to her ears.

    ¡°I¡¯m not used to all this secrecy about it,¡± Angel grumbled. ¡°I get it, shutting it out is important, but that''s just one part of it. It''s like how I can choose to filter some noises or see closer or further away. It''s about control and choices, but to keep yourself from it entirely is like a sort of death I think."

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Finally, I can touch this piece of myself I thought was missing all these years.

    Kismet looked at him with those piercing eyes of hers. Every bit of her seemed so soft and fragile. All but her eyes. They were the truth of her.

    ¡°Sometimes killing off parts of ourselves is the only path to growth."

    "Stifling your abilities isn''t the same thing as pruning off a few bad branches. Don''t you want to feel alive?"

    "Not especially."

    "Don''t tell me you came all this way to be normal?" he asked.

    "That''s all I''ve ever wanted."

    I wish she could see how wonderful her abilities are.

    "What if we found a spot where you could tune out the emotions and relax a bit easier?" Angel asked.

    He got up and stretched, still feeling the energy flowing under his skin. He could run a mile, fly for ages, fight forever.... Angel never wanted to be without this feeling again.

    "Where are you thinking?" Kismet tossed the blanket aside and got up.

    "The woods might be a good spot? It''s far enough away from the village, but not so far we can''t make it back in time for supper."

    "Ok, I''ll leave a note for Nyx so she won''t get worried."

    While Kismet went to the kitchen to write the note, Angel decided to wait outside. The early evening heat began to dissipate as the cool ocean breeze rolled in. He could smell the sweet nectar from the nearby clovers. Butterflies danced, flitting between blooming flowers.

    When Kismet stepped outside, she hurried down the deck stairs to join him on the lawn.

    "Ok, let''s go," she said.

    "Are you sure you don''t wanna fly?" he teased.

    "I''m good," she said and led the way down the sidewalk.

    The wind whipped her curls loose from her pony-tail.

    "Ugh, but walking is so slow," he complained, quickly catching up to her.

    "That''s fine. I like to walk. There''s lots of time to think."

    "Well, what are you thinking about?"

    She fixed her eyes on the sidewalk ahead of them, nibbling the frayed ends of her hoodie sleeves.

    "The council meeting," she said.

    "Are you nervous?"

    Surely, Watcher Liz will approve. Kismet''s been working with her at the library all this time, there''s no way she''ll say no.

    "Where will I go if the council says I have to leave?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll put you in the attic or something. Or, if it turns out you like the woods after all, we can hide you out there.¡±

    She glanced over her shoulder, but her eyes remained distant.

    ¡°I¡¯m kidding, of course,¡± he said, hoping to coax a smile.

    Still, she remained tense and turned away. Her shoulders slumped forward.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the mainland again,¡± she said. ¡°If there was a way to bottle your resistance, I¡¯d take it in an instant.¡±

    Angel frowned, unsure what to say. He hated to see her in such turmoil. No one on the island had ever expressed such a dissonance with their abilities before.

    ¡°If I can¡¯t get control of my powers before they toss me out -¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t.¡± Angel caught her elbow and they stopped walking. ¡°They don¡¯t have a reason.¡±

    Kismet dipped her head, staring a hole in the sidewalk. Mourning doves called in the silence between them.

    ¡°Even if they try, I won¡¯t let them.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t do anything crazy on my account,¡± she said.

    ¡°I only do crazy things on my own account,¡± he assured her.

    She looked up, catching his eyes. ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Fine.¡±

    She started walking again, kicking at a pebble. Angel stuffed his hands in his pockets, whistling as they turned the corner, further from the village and residential zones. The walk was much longer than he¡¯d anticipated. Flying to walking conversion always threw him off. They¡¯d passed the last house about a mile ago. Nothing but tall grass pastures sprawled out on either side. The edge of the forest came into view beneath the hill.

    After poking around in the underbrush, they found the overgrown trail. Angel led the way over some up turned roots, deeper into the trees. The trail was shallow. Branches dangled in the path, grabbing at their clothes as they moved.

    Angel marveled at the intensity of life-force around him. The air had a sort of fuzz to it, like walking through static. It was electric.

    Eventually the trees thinned and they stepped into the clearing. The setting sun filtered through the canopy of leaves, casting mottled shadows on the moss.

    ¡°This place is great,¡± said Kismet.

    ¡°It¡¯s fantastic.¡± Angel laid down on the ground, letting the feeling of giddiness seep into him.

    Kismet laid next to him. She looked straight up toward the sky. There was something behind her eyes he couldn¡¯t name. Something that stung.

 Chapter Twenty-Nine: Sink or Swim

    The coarse sand scratched at the thin skin on the top of her feet. Nyx stretched out, burying her toes in the warm sand. The large rock under her back radiated a soft heat, soothing against her bare skin. She tied a flannel shirt around her waist. The t-shirt she had worn to the beach sat crumpled in the sand between herself and Angel.

    She closed her eyes to listen to him play guitar, singing softly to the sound of the waves and wind. The sun turned the back of her eyelids a blazing tangerine.

    The past two weeks had gone by quietly. She could almost believe nothing had happened at all. Everything was normal, or better than normal actually. Angel had stuck true to his word, genuinely trying to get his powers under control. After work, he¡¯d go with Kismet to the woods, then come to the cabin in time for supper. Which also meant he no longer had time for The Barn.

    Today was the first time in a while they were able to go off on their own. Under cover of the rocks, the secluded beach allowed them both solitude.

    Nyx opened her eyes to look at him. Angel¡¯s black wings slouched behind him, lazily folded, half spread so he could lean against the rocks. He cradled an acoustic guitar in his lap, strumming gently with such well practiced ease it appeared effortless. Almost like an act of magic. A soft blue haze glowed around him as he sang. So close, she could feel the heat. The waves of life-force emanating from him tingled her skin from head to toe, prickling her scalp. Any tension left lingering in her body melted away.

    Her heart ached deep in her chest to see him for everything that he was, everything he hid from the world and she loved him for it all. Despite everything, this was who Nyx knew Angel to be.

    I can¡¯t ignore the other pieces either. Those are the parts of him that need love most of all, but I wish he could always be this way. I wish he didn¡¯t have to hide his powers.

    The song ended and he propped the guitar against the rocks. Nyx took a cigarette out of her shorts and lit it. Angel scooched closer and she passed him the cigarette so she could lean into him. Even though the glow had dissipated, the life-force he had absorbed still radiated, similar to how the sand under her bare legs remained hot from the sun.

    Nyx cuddled close, pressing her skin to his, practically sliding into his lap. He snaked an arm around her shoulders, tugging her closer and kissed the top of her head, then forehead, her cheeks, and lips. The life-force flowing off him enveloped her in a soft, euphoric cocoon. She melted into the embrace, caressing his chest, feeling the taunt muscles beneath her hands. There was no yield. His fingers carefully stroked her back, while he hungrily explored the crook of her neck with his mouth. Teeth gently grazed and nibbled at her skin. Heat escalated between them, and so did the sense of bliss until they both softly glowed.

    Eventually, she pulled away. Still, he kept his arm around her and relit the cigarette he¡¯d tucked in the sand. She rested her head against his shoulder as the energy dissipated or Angel absorbed it, she couldn''t tell which. It all took so much getting used to, but she had to admit, this part was nice. Being close to Angel had always given her a sense of ease and comfort, but this was something else entirely.

    ¡°I love you,¡± she whispered. The words made her chest feel tight, but it was worth a shot.

    He ran his fingers through her hair, briefly stroking her cheek with his thumb and passed the cigarette. It frustrated her that he would not respond, but she chose not to push the issue and ruin the moment.

    She took a drag and blew the smoke into the wind. ¡°How¡¯s training with Kismet coming along?¡±

    ¡°She seems to be getting better adjusted to her powers,¡± he said.

    Nyx nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed. She¡¯s a bit more relaxed lately, or at least she seems to be. It¡¯s not like she says anything about it. But how are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Better. I think I¡¯m getting the hang of it, or the basics at least,¡± he said, plucking the cigarette from Nyx¡¯s fingers. He exhaled a plume of smoke. ¡°Living beings seem to emit life-force like steam, or smoke.¡± Angel gestured to the dissipating cloud. ¡°I can gather that up and use it. It¡¯s different from pulling at the core of a being, that¡¯s like tugging out the root of a hair rather than the piece ready to be shed. When I healed Kismet that time, I took it directly from myself and I think that¡¯s why it made me so sick. If I pull on the loose life-force floating through the air, it¡¯s infinite, but less concentrated. Especially since I¡¯ve started to gain a tolerance for it.¡±

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad it¡¯s going well,¡± said Nyx. Which was an understatement at the relief she felt. Every ounce of control he could muster would keep him safer. ¡°You haven¡¯t been drinking either.¡±

    ¡°It blocks the sensation too much,¡± he said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to work with it when we went out to the woods, so I figured I¡¯d better cut back.¡±

    ¡°This can¡¯t be easy.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not dealing with my powers that¡¯s hard,¡± he sighed. ¡°The more I work on it, the less I want to hide it. I understand the risk. It¡¯s just not fair, is all. I can¡¯t seem to control how or when I heal an injury. Even if I¡¯m careful, accidents happen. Then to top it off, if I do anything I enjoy, like even playing my guitar, I glow. Someone is bound to notice something eventually. It feels kinda futile.¡±

    Nyx sighed, digging her feet further into the sand. There wasn¡¯t anything to say. She couldn¡¯t tell him that he¡¯s wrong. All she could do is hope Ivy would have mercy if, no, when, the day came.

    Maybe she won¡¯t be as bad as we think. Maybe Watcher Liz is right.

    ¡°I can stop it eventually by pulling it back in,¡± Angel explained, ¡°but I can¡¯t stop it from happening in the first place. I don¡¯t really even go out anywhere anymore.¡±

    She looked up at him. ¡°I thought that was because you were busy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m no stranger to a late night,¡± he said. The cigarette had burned down to the filter and he crushed it out. ¡°I¡¯ve been staying in to reduce risk. I¡¯d fight Carl again if I could. Alice says the pot is up to forty-thousand now. If Ivy comes, I could really use that kind of money in a pinch.¡±

    ¡°Then what would you do Angel?¡± she asked, unable to keep the heat from her voice. She dug her fingernails into the sand. ¡°Where would you go?¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°The mainland I suppose. I¡¯d figure something out.¡±

    Nyx clenched her jaw and he took her hand.

    ¡°It¡¯s not something I want to do,¡± he said. ¡°I want to stay here, with you and Alice, and Kizzy, but if Ivy or her Watchers come, what am I supposed to do?¡±

    ¡°Go quietly. Co-operate. Anything but that.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t be her prisoner,¡± said Angel.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know for sure -¡±

    He met her eyes. ¡°Be real Nyx.¡±

    She chewed the inside of her cheek.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to run. That¡¯s the only alternative to direct confrontation.¡±

    Nyx grabbed her t-shirt and tugged it back on. ¡°I don¡¯t want it to come to that.¡±

    ¡°Me either. I¡¯m being careful, really, I am. I just don¡¯t know how long I can keep it up.¡±

    One way or the other, I can¡¯t imagine life here without him. Would I go with him if the time came?

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not inevitable,¡± Nyx said. ¡°You¡¯ve only been practicing for a few weeks now and you¡¯re already doing so well. Maybe it¡¯s possible you¡¯ll get so good at it that hiding it will be no problem. You can still feel it, and enjoy it, but maybe glowing won¡¯t be an issue.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate your faith in me, but I¡¯m not so confident I won¡¯t fuck this up.¡±

    ¡°Angel -¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s also not beyond me that there¡¯s gotta be some kind of connection between me and Ivy. I don¡¯t know what it is, but there¡¯s more than coincidence going on here.¡±

    Nyx wrapped her arms around him. She¡¯d do anything to keep him here, away from Ivy¡¯s grip or from running off - whichever came first.

    No matter what I do, he¡¯ll be lost to me. What can I do to tether him, to keep him with me? If I¡¯m up against Ivy, or Angel¡¯s own will, both are forces of nature I have no hope of competing with.

    ¡°Maybe we should say something to Daisy, or my parents? I was stupid for suggesting Julian earlier, but there¡¯s a chance one of them must know something.¡±

    ¡°Sure, there¡¯s a chance, but they won¡¯t tell me. I used to ask about my mother all the time, but no one would tell me anything. They just say she died before they got to the island. Julian has them all on strict hush orders. I don¡¯t know why they all listen to that asshole anyway.¡±

    ¡°If we tell them what happened, maybe -¡±

    Angel withdrew his wings and leaned back against the rock, folding his arms behind his head.

    ¡°We can¡¯t guarantee they won¡¯t report me,¡± Angel said.

    ¡°Mom and Dad -¡±

    ¡°Have never taken my side. I¡¯m sorry. Molly and Jay are great. They¡¯ve been there for me a lot when I needed them, but I¡¯m not stupid. They won¡¯t give me the benefit of the doubt. Not with this.¡±

    Nyx¡¯s heart broke to realize he was right. Her parents cared for Angel, but they also didn¡¯t trust him. They were on their own with this.

    Angel pulled her closer, hugging her tight. He stroked her hair gently as if she might break. Nyx closed her eyes against the soft touch. He caressed her cheek, cupping her face.

    ¡°You¡¯re all I have.¡±

    Her heart twisted. At one time, she may have been thrilled to hear him say those words, but now they only made her realize how alone they truly were. Angel was adrift in open water with only her to cling to for a raft.

    It had always been this way and she was so tired of treading water, but if she were to stop, he would surely drown.

 Chapter Thirty: Fog

    Books piled up on the desk, surrounding Kismet on all sides like the pillow forts she''d used to make. They smelled of dust and mildew. The scent brought her comfort, like how she imagined it feels to come home. Despite the dry, academic content, the author¡¯s passion for the subject stained the pages in ribbons of deep crimson. A red so intense it nearly veered into purple. Kismet remarked how similar the colour could be to the nearly neon red of rage. While other books had almost no colour or sensation at all.

    Over the past three weeks working at the library, Kismet had taken to reading any books she could find relating to energetic abilities. She couldn¡¯t be picky about the type. Now she was down to the last one, a short text book on manipulating kinetic energy. It didn¡¯t do much to help her, but she figured Angel might be able to get something out of it.

    I¡¯ll bring it back with me, but I doubt he¡¯ll actually look at it.

    Angel hardly glanced at the books she brought to the woods. He seemed to prefer the practical side, experimenting through trial and error rather than cementing any kind of theory. For his sake, she read the relevant passages and gave him the notes.

    Daisy¡¯s lessons also proved to be quite useful for both of them. Since learning with her every morning before work, it got easier to shut out the voices and create a barrier between herself and the emotions of others. Going to the woods with Angel offered her the peace and space to put the lessons to practice without interruption. However, teaching the exercises and meditations to Angel was another challenge all together, but he¡¯d been getting a lot better lately.

    I just wish I could tell him the truth. It¡¯s not fair that he¡¯s been so honest with me about his abilities, and I haven¡¯t returned the favour. Maybe once I know more about whatever the heck Operation Pomegranate is, I can decide what to tell him.

    Watcher Liz emerged from the back room, heading for the door. The library had closed an hour ago.

    ¡°Will you be ok to lock up?¡± Liz asked.

    Kismet looked up from her book. ¡°Sure.¡±

    Maybe I could read her mind? If anyone on the island would know about Operation Pomegranate and how Angel got his powers, it would be Liz¡­ No. It¡¯s not right, no matter what the reason is. Molly was an accident and look at the trouble I¡¯m in. No way I¡¯m making the same mistake on purpose.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something,¡± said Kismet.

    Liz stopped, her hand on the door knob. ¡°What can I help you with?¡±

    ¡°Are there any more books on energetic abilities? Or do you know where I could get any?¡±

    Liz frowned in thought, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear. ¡°Sadly, that¡¯s all we have. The Old Academy didn¡¯t publish any of the findings from their experiments, and what they had was destroyed during the war. There may be more books at The Academy. Ivy has permitted new studies to take place with willing participants. If you¡¯d like to advance, it seems you¡¯d have to go there.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Kismet couldn¡¯t hide her disappointment, slouching back into the chair.

    It seems all roads to Operation Pomegranate also lead to Ivy. There¡¯s no way around her.

    ¡°It¡¯s not such a bad place,¡± said Liz. ¡°You¡¯d do well there. Maybe you¡¯d even become a Watcher someday?¡±

    Kismet flushed, imagining herself wearing all black, dragging along the signature cloak. ¡°Oh, no, I couldn¡¯t possibly -¡±

    ¡°Never say never,¡± Liz chuckled.

    They said their farewells and The Watcher left Kismet alone in the library.

    She returned to the book, pouring over its pages and taking notes on a thin scribbler. The window behind her darkened. Kismet started to squint, not breaking concentration to turn on the light.

    Ever present, the cold nausea of guilt churned in her guts, gnawing on the back of her mind. No matter how much she tried to help Angel, it wasn¡¯t going to make up for sitting on this secret.

    Maybe I should just bite the bullet and tell him. Then we can work together to figure this out.

    A heavy knock on the door made her jump.

    Did Liz forget something?

    She looked to the door and saw Alistair waving vigorously at the front window. The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in a tangerine and salmon pink glow behind him.

    Shoot, I lost track of time.

    Kismet hurried to the door and let Alistair inside. The faint glow of his golden aura was a light in the dim library. Mist from the dense fog outside dampened his floppy hair, sticking his shirt to his skin.

    ¡°What are you doing out here?¡± She flushed and looked at her feet. ¡°I mean - not that I mind of course, but -¡±

    ¡°I stopped by Nyx¡¯s and you didn¡¯t come home in time, so she sent me after you,¡± he said.

    ¡°Oh, sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to upset anyone,¡± Kismet apologized. ¡°I got caught up reading.¡±

    ¡°Find anything good?¡± Alistair wandered over to the desk and examined the haphazard pile.

    She gestured to her scribbler. ¡°I wrote what notes I could, but I¡¯m kinda at the end of the line now.¡±

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can find you some books when I¡¯m on the mainland next? Their shops would have more variety,¡± Alistair suggested.

    ¡°Liz says there isn¡¯t much. I don¡¯t want to send you on a wild goose-chase.¡±

    ¡°Regardless, I¡¯ll keep my eyes open.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that,¡± Kismet said, twisting her sleeves.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not being entirely altruistic. You¡¯ve helped Angel a lot. Seriously. I know this whole situation with his powers isn¡¯t ideal, but it seems he¡¯s turning things around. Nyx seems happier too. So, thank you.¡±

    Kismet winced and bit her tongue.

    ¡°I can¡¯t take much credit for that,¡± she said, her cheeks burning.

    I fear I¡¯m doing more harm than good at this point. I gotta tell him, but when? How? What if it all blows up?

    ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll give you a ride home,¡± Alistair said, heading to the door.

    She followed him outside to where he¡¯d parked his car along the side of the street. The cool evening air chilled her warm cheeks. Fog had encroached on the village, flooding the streets in an eerie mist that made her think of werewolves and vampires lurking around every corner.

    I¡¯m the real monster.

    The car had been thoroughly cleaned, but a slight stain lingered in the upholstery. Alistair had placed a throw blanket across the backseat to hide it, but dark speckles persisted across the head rest.

    She buckled up in the passenger seat and Alistair got in on the driver¡¯s side, putting the keys in the ignition.

    ¡°Have you picked your references yet?¡± he asked, pulling the car out onto the road.

    Kismet chewed the ends of her sleeves and shook her head.

    I don¡¯t have the right to ask any of them to speak for me.

    ¡°In that case, I volunteer if you¡¯ll have me?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± she squeaked, wringing her sleeves tighter. Saying ¡®no¡¯ would be suspicious, and the fact still remained, she needed references if she wanted to stay on the island.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous,¡± Alistair said, misunderstanding her squeamishness. ¡°You¡¯ll do great. Do you think Daisy will let you be open about your telepathy once it¡¯s all said and done? I may be wrong, but you seem to have gotten better at controlling things.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what she¡¯ll decide. I haven¡¯t asked her. Either way, I¡¯m willing to just be an empath so far as anyone else is concerned. The only thing is, I wish I could tell Nyx and Angel at least. I feel so grubby about hiding it from them.¡±

    At least she could be honest with him about that part. A slight weight lifted from her shoulders, though bottling the full truth left her feeling like her body was dipped in tar. Her own turmoil flooded in to replace the energy and voices she¡¯d worked so hard to rid herself of. All she was left with now in the silence was herself and she was perhaps the most uncomfortable she¡¯d ever been.

    I wonder what Kevin would think if he could see me now? Would he be happy I¡¯ve finally gotten on the path to getting better or would he hate me even more than he already does?

    She rubbed the exhaustion from her eyes, hating herself for still caring about what he might think.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be safe once the council meeting is over,¡± said Alistair. ¡°I¡¯m sure Daisy won¡¯t mind telling them then.¡±

    The car turned up the gentle hill past the colourful cabins. The balmy evening seemed to draw people outside. Some sat on their porches or in lawn chairs. Kismet had not gotten used to the vastly diverse appearance of mutants on the island yet. Horns and tails still managed to turn her head, but she¡¯d quickly avert her gaze, not wishing to offend.

    ¡°Who are you gonna pick for your second reference?¡± Alistair asked.

    ¡°I dunno,¡± she said. ¡°I can¡¯t choose. As much as you say I¡¯ve helped Angel with his powers, he¡¯s done a lot for me too. It¡¯s hard to be self conscious about my abilities around someone so confident with theirs. Then Nyx has been so gracious to let me stay on her couch all this time and she¡¯s been a great friend.¡± The sudden sting of tears burned in her throat, taking her by surprise. ¡°Really, you guys have been the best friends I¡¯ve ever had.¡±

    More like the only friends I¡¯ve ever had, and all I can repay them with is lies.

    ¡°You¡¯re not too bad yourself,¡± said Alistair with a smile. The street lamps, glimmering through the misty haze of fog, reflected off his silver piercings. His emerald eyes sparkled.

    Kismet looked away, digging her fingernails into her palms. She stared out the window instead, distracting herself with the scenery. The community gardens and cabins sat in stillness. A group of young children chased a soccer ball down the sloping hill, laughing and racing each other. Alistair slowed the car even further, careful to avoid them.

    Nyx¡¯s cabin came into view and Alistair pulled into the driveway.

    ¡°Thanks for picking me up,¡± she said, reaching for the door handle.

    ¡°Of course,¡± said Alistair. ¡°Are we still getting coffee tomorrow?¡±

    She nodded, popping the door open. He gently reached out to her, nearly touched and pulled away at the last second.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± She forced a smile.

    Alistair frowned. ¡°You know you can talk to me, right?¡±

    The truth burned on her tongue. She longed to tell him what she had seen in Molly¡¯s mind. Perhaps he could offer some kind of insight into how to proceed, especially concerning how to handle Angel¡¯s reaction.

    Her heart quickened. The mist outside congealed into water droplets on the car window, sliding down the glass like rain.

    She recalled the night Jade told her of the murder. Rain thrashed against the bungalow as she hunkered in bed and her foster mother rushed into the room. The look of horror and disgust on her face. They could hear the sirens coming from across the street. Jade drug her into the living-room, pressing her to the window. The lights of the cop car distorted in the storm.

    It¡¯s all my fault¡­ if I hadn¡¯t opened my big mouth. I can¡¯t spill any more secrets. Nothing good ever happens.

    ¡°I know, thank you.¡± Kismet looked down at her lap, scratching her fingernails across her jeans.

    If I tell them, Angel will be destroyed. I couldn¡¯t imagine being lied to like this my whole life. I¡¯m just one more. A shiver ran up her spine. Why did I have to see that? I can¡¯t do this to him. I can¡¯t be the one to rip him apart¡­ but sitting on this could be worse¡­ They¡¯ll hate me.

    Alistair didn¡¯t push the issue and after their final good-byes, she hopped out of the car. Nausea swirled in her stomach as she approached the cabin. Her hands balled into fists.

    Maybe I should just run away? But there¡¯s nowhere to go except The Academy. Then what would the others think? I can¡¯t leave them without an explanation¡­ but I can¡¯t keep lying either.

    Kismet lingered on the porch and took a breath. Now the sun had fully set, casting everything in a monochromatic pallet of blues, black and purple. Moths clustered and fluttered around the dull porch light. She could hear the muffled sounds of Angel and Nyx laughing alongside the dull murmur of the television.

    The council meeting is only one more week away. After, I¡¯ll tell them about my telepathy, and maybe I¡¯ll tell Alice what I saw and he can help me decide what to do. Angel might take it better coming from him or he can at least help me figure out what to say. Maybe there''s a chance Julian will tell Angel after all. That would be the best thing.

    After a few more breaths, she steeled herself and went inside.

 Chapter Thirty-One: Splinters

    Even after hours of scrubbing, Angel wasn¡¯t tired in the slightest. He had to admit, without the parties contributing to a constant cycle of destruction and reparation, it was much easier to keep on top of things.

    He pulled loose life-force around him along with his breath, creating an equilibrium that came as naturally and automatic as breathing itself. Over the past month, he managed to build a sufficient resistance. Sipping slowly at the energy no longer intoxicated him. Instead, it became a natural state of being, and for once in his life, he finally felt whole.

    After Angel finished cleaning, he moved into the bathroom to get ready to go. They were all supposed to have supper together at Nyx¡¯s in anticipation of tomorrow¡¯s council meeting. His gut twisted, unsure what he was going to do if they decided to send Kismet away.

    Is there anything I can do? Do we appeal? Riot? There''s no reason for them to say no. She''s probably the sweetest person I''ve ever met.

    Angel carefully brushed his hair and tied it up, put jewelry back on, and prepared to leave.

    A knock at the door caught his attention, but before he could go to open it, he heard someone let themselves in. The heavy footsteps were instantly recognizable, setting him on edge.

    ¡°Angel? You home?¡± his father called.

    They hadn¡¯t spoken since the confrontation a month ago, and Angel had hoped to keep it that way.

    He sighed and stepped out of the washroom and met Julian in the hall dividing the stairs and living-room. The older man jumped as if Angel had just snuck up on him.

    ¡°I¡¯m here, what do you want?¡± said Angel.

    His father regarded him with bloodshot eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve come to talk,¡± he slurred.

    The scent of sour wheat wafted from Julian¡¯s breath. Angel tensed, grinding his teeth. His heartrate quickened, wracking his brain for anything he could have possibly done wrong, but for once couldn''t think of anything. In fact, he''d been careful to be on his very best behavior over the past few weeks.

    I haven¡¯t given him anything to complain about, so what''s he doing here?

    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s talk, but make it quick,¡± said Angel. ¡°I have somewhere to be.¡±

    They moved over to the living-room where Angel perched in the armchair, arms crossed. He tightened the grip of his arms around his body as if to hold his temper inside. Julian plunked on the couch. The springs groaned under his weight. He slouched, propping his elbows on his knees, to cradle his chin in his hands.

    ¡°Well?¡± Angel asked, bouncing his leg with impatience.

    ¡°Where do I even begin¡­¡± Julian rubbed his exhausted eyes and when he looked up, a spark of sincerity caught Angel off guard. "Look Kid, I came to apologize. The last time we spoke, I was hard on you, and I''m sorry."

    "It''s fine. Nothing new," Angel grumbled, examining the floor. It was strange to receive an apology so distant from the incident. Normally, they''d both just pretend it had never happened. He was supposed to be grateful for the calm and move on.

    "I''m sorry," Julian sighed. "I wish I could have... I wish I knew what to do with you."

    Nothing. You could have just left me alone.

    "I dunno, play catch? Ride bikes?" Angel quipped. "That''s usually what fathers and sons do, or at least that''s what TV says. How would I know?"

    "Angel please, I''m trying here." Julian looked at him with desperation.

    Angel sighed, gritting his teeth and shifted his weight to get comfortable. A tug-o-war battled in his chest between the tension and grudges still bottled up within, the visceral need to get his back up and stay guarded, and the inclination to lean into the apology. The watery sincerity in Julian''s eyes made something shift inside him.

    Maybe he means it this time.

    "Ok," Angel said. "You, um, want a beer or something?"

    "Sure, that''d be great." Julian sagged in relief, sinking into the threadbare cushions.

    The kitchen offered a brief reprieve as he rummaged in the fridge for a couple of beers. Angel couldn''t shake the feeling Julian had come here for something bigger than an apology for one slap out of the many he''d doled out over the years. There was something on the tip of his tongue, and Angel wasn''t sure if he was ready to hear it.

    Or maybe he''s really had a change of heart? Maybe things can finally be better. He''s noticed that I''m trying to change and has come to set things right.

    Angel returned to the living-room and handed a can of beer to his father and kept one for himself, plunking into the armchair. They both cracked the cans open with a hiss of compressed air.

    "So, um, what did you want to tell me?" Angel asked after taking a sip.

    Julian seemed not to hear the question, instead his eyes lingered on Angel''s red guitar. It was propped up in a stand next to the record player.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "I''m glad to see you''re still playing," said Julian. "Nyx plays bass, right?"

    "Drums."

    "Ah." Julian nodded, swallowing a sip of beer. "Any good?"

    "She''s incredible."

    "Why don''t you two ever make a band or something?" Julian asked.

    Angel drummed his fingers against the aluminum side of the can. His silver rings tapped against the metal. It wasn''t like he and Nyx had never talked about it, but when push came to shove, he couldn''t see himself playing for anyone but her.

    "Are you still singing?" Julian asked. "I don''t think I''ve heard you do it in years."

    Because you always told me to shut the fuck up.

    Angel tightened his grip on his beer can, but said nothing.

    "You had an amazing voice," Julian continued. "Just like your mother. If only you could have heard her."

    That was the first time he''d ever heard anyone mention that Ember used to sing, and something stirred inside him.

    "Really? Mom could sing?" Angel asked, hope twinging his voice. Finally, there was something about her that he could cling to, something about her that he could see in himself that wasn''t considered selfish or reckless.

    Julian nodded. "Oh yeah. Beautifully. She used to do some busking, or little shows in bars. Why haven''t you tried that?"

    There was no way Angel would ever sing for a crowd. Sure, he could playfully belt along with his favorite songs in the car, but actually singing was too... intimate. He''d sooner walk outside naked.

    "I dunno..." He flushed, studying the stains in the carpet.

    "I wish you had spent more time on your music than gambling and goofing off," Julian grumbled.

    Heat flared in the center of Angel¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s funny. If I recall correctly, you broke the first guitar I ever bought," said Angel, suddenly struggling to breath. He could still hear the sound of the wood splintering against the wall.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s -¡± Julian shook his head, then sighed. ¡°You¡¯re such a willful boy. It''s so hard to get through to you. I had no choice but to take drastic measures so you¡¯d just listen for once.¡±

    ¡°Cut to the chase Julian," Angel snapped. "What did you come to tell me?¡±

    ¡°You know I love you,¡± Julian said, the echo of a sob catching in his throat. ¡°No matter what happens, please remember that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to write it down,¡± Angel grumbled.

    ¡®I love you¡¯ meant nothing, not when it rang so hollow. He heard the excuses a thousand times, and it only served to confuse him further. Everywhere he looked, this was not what ''love'' was for other people. Jay and Molly loved the triplets without throwing things at them, or screaming or setting conditions; If you could only be good, if you could only be quiet, be still... And he knew he loved Nyx as certainly as he knew the sky was blue and he swore to never make her feel afraid....

    But I do.

    A sudden rage burned within him, building a heat under his skin. He fought to keep himself from glowing, taking in slow steady breaths, absorbing life-force energy as he created it, but made sure to release on the exhale to avoid building too much.

    ¡°Do you have to be so difficult?¡± Julian asked, but his voice had no edge.

    ¡°How should I be?¡± Angel snapped.

    Julian groaned in frustration. ¡°Why do I even bother with you?¡±

    ¡°I dunno, why do you? I didn¡¯t invite you here.¡±

    ¡°Angel, I¡¯m trying to talk to you. For once in your life can you try -¡±

    ¡°All I¡¯ve ever done is try!¡± The heat rose under Angel¡¯s flesh, prickling across his skin despite his best efforts and he struggled to pull it in.

    Not now.

    ¡°It¡¯s never been good enough,¡± he continued.

    Now I¡¯m trying in spite of you, not because of you.

    Julian frowned. ¡°Angel -¡±

    ¡°Why should I give a shit when nothing I do is ever enough? I might as well do whatever the fuck I want. You keep trying to drag me into your pit of misery, while you wallow over Mom for all eternity. Well, I have a life to live and I¡¯m not going to spend it moping around no matter how bad you want me in the gutter with you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re doing a fine job of putting yourself there. I don¡¯t have to do much of anything but let you spin.¡± Julian glared at him. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to protect you from yourself, and the memory of her most of all. She wasn¡¯t so great, you know. We practically broke up the night -¡± Julian caught himself. He buried his face in his hands. ¡°God I loved her.¡± He looked up again. ¡°You¡¯re so much alike.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck is that even supposed to mean?¡± Angel exclaimed.

    He could not contain himself much longer and got up to pace. Julian flinched at the sudden movement, but didn¡¯t move otherwise.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know a damn thing about her, so how am I supposed to take that?¡± Angel continued. ¡°One minute she was the light of your life and the next, you hated her guts. You can¡¯t make up your mind.¡±

    ¡°Both things can be true,¡± Julian said softly. ¡°I tried my best. Everything was a big mess. Then you came along¡­ You were so difficult¡­¡± he hung his head, shaking it slowly. ¡°What a mistake.¡±

    Angel stopped mid-pace, his heart thudding at the base of his throat. The pendulum of rage swung into cold logic.

    ¡°I think you should go.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way,¡± Julian tried to explain, but Angel just shook his head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care anymore. I don¡¯t.¡± Angel turned to look out at the window instead, unable to face his father any longer.

    If I turn around, I don¡¯t know if I¡¯d cry or scream.

    He heard Julian shift and get up. Angel tensed, looking out at his lawn and the street beyond. All the lights on in the little cabins beyond - happy families sitting down to meals.

    ¡°Angel, I didn¡¯t tell you -¡±

    ¡°Just go,¡± Angel said. ¡°I have to get to Nyx¡¯s. She¡¯ll be wondering where I am.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll understand someday,¡± Julian sighed.

    Angel still refused to look back. He trembled with undefinable emotion. A storm of chaos reigned in his mind. Every ounce of his concentration focused on gently releasing the energy inside like slipping the lid off a boiling pot.

    He heard the front door open and shut again, then let his body sag. He made his way back to the armchair and plunked down, no longer attempting to reign in his abilities. A blue haze surrounded the contours of his body as rage and grief mounted within him.

    I need to get it together before I see Nyx.

    The usual sounds of his cabin comforted him. The zing of electricity in the walls, the tick of the clock and water sifting through pipes brought him into his body.

    I wonder what he wanted to tell me? It couldn''t have been that important.

    After a moment more to collect himself, Angel got up to leave. Ensuring his glow had fully dissipated, he stepped out onto his deck, stripping off his shirt to unfurl his wings. The evening fog dampened his skin. He waded through the tall grass in the lawn and took off into the air.

 Chapter Thirty-Two: Three Words

    The scent of pork roasting in the oven filled the small cabin. Carrots sizzled in a thin pool of butter on the burner, caramelizing in sugar. Kismet stood at the stove, mashing potatoes with a fork, having to stand on tip-toes to apply force. The kitchen was longer than it was wide, so Nyx had to manuver around Kismet with the plates in one hand and cutlery in the other.

    They decided to take the opportunity to dress up. Nyx wore a red dress that hugged her curves, flaring slightly at the waist and ended just above the knee. Slender spaghetti straps held it to her shoulders, stopping the low neckline from plunging any further.

    Kismet had managed to buy some clothes of her own over the past month, though had yet to get anything remotely formal, so Nyx had taken her shopping to pick something out earlier that afternoon. They figured it would be a good idea to grab something for tomorrow¡¯s council meeting as well.

    It was odd to see Kismet out of a hoodie and jeans, and in a floral sundress instead. The teal colour complimented the tint of green in her eyes and sun-bleached strands in her light brown curls. Even still, she avoided makeup, claiming the goopy texture bothered her skin. The cuffs of her white knit cardigan were already frayed and damp from being gnawed on all day.

    Nyx laid out the plates and cutlery along the table.

    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Kismet placed the bowl of potatoes on the table then shuffled back to the stove.

    ¡°Sure, what¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Would you mind being a reference for me tomorrow?¡± Her cheeks blazed red and she hid her face, turning away to get the carrots off the burner as quickly as possible.

    ¡°I¡¯d love to.¡± Nyx smiled at her, but it broke her heart to see how the other girl tensed, curling into herself as she scraped the carrots into a bowl. ¡°It¡¯s been great having you here.¡±

    I wish she¡¯d see I really mean it. It''s been nice having someone to talk to other than my siblings, and she''s helped Angel with his powers so much.

    ¡°Do you think Angel will feel left out I didn¡¯t ask him?¡± Kismet asked.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Nyx laughed. She scooched behind Kismet again to grab the glasses from the cupboard over the sink. ¡°He¡¯s a bit shy about that sort of stuff.¡±

    ¡°I noticed," Kismet nodded. "I have to admit, he¡¯s hard to wrap my head around sometimes. I never thought I¡¯d miss being able to use my powers. It¡¯s difficult to read him without them. It¡¯s not that he¡¯s not expressionate, but -¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean,¡± said Nyx, arranging the wine glasses beside each plate. ¡°I wish I had telepathy or something. If only I could read his mind, life would be so much easier.¡±

    Kismet stumbled, dropping the fork onto the top of the stove with a clatter.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Nyx. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to be insensitive. I imagine being a telepath would be quite difficult. Empathic abilities must be kind of similar to reading minds right?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Kismet muttered, bringing the bowl of carrots to sit beside the potatoes.

    ¡°Did I hurt your feelings?¡± Nyx flushed. ¡°I keep putting my foot in my mouth, don¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re fine,¡± said Kismet and she flashed a smile, but her eyes seemed miles away.

    I may not be a telepath, but something is definitely on her mind.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re ok?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just nervous about the council meeting, is all.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll do great.¡± Nyx pulled out one of the chairs and sat down. ¡°Watcher Liz seems to like you and it¡¯s her vote that really counts, and you know Daisy will vote for you. Mom and Dad like you too, so far as I¡¯m aware. They¡¯d have to risk us never speaking with them again if they didn¡¯t let you stay.¡±

    ¡°What about Julian? I haven¡¯t even met him yet,¡± said Kismet, plunking into the chair beside Nyx.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him,¡± Nyx scoffed. ¡°Even if he says no for some reason, he¡¯s out voted.¡±

    Kismet kept her head dipped, hiding behind the wall of curls shielding her face. She plucked at a loose thread on her sleeve, tugging until it began to unravel a little.

    The front door opened as Alistair let himself in. He came around the corner with a bottle of wine in his hand. When he saw Kismet, his eyes lit up as he smiled. She stopped fidgeting and looked at him, a grin brightening her face, and hopped off the chair to greet him.

    He¡¯d also gotten dressed up in a white linen shirt, the sleeves rolled over his forearms, and a dark pair of jeans. A silver necklace dangling through the open neckline matched his piercings.

    Alistair passed the bottle to Kismet. ¡°I know you don''t drink much, but I figured since it''s such an occasion, I got this for you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. You really didn¡¯t have to.¡± She turned the bottle around to read the label. ¡°It¡¯s my favorite, how did you know?¡±

    ¡°You told me a while ago, remember? You mentioned it when we went out to the beach that time.¡±

    Their eyes met and Kismet flushed.

    Nyx felt like she might as well be another chair. Though she had to admit, it was nice to see them getting along so well. Since Kismet¡¯s arrival, Alistair had frequently stopped by to visit. So often in fact, Nyx began to wonder why she even bothered to move away from home in the first place.

    Nyx cleared her throat. ¡°No Cassie?¡±

    Alistair looked over as if seeing her for the fist time. ¡°Oh, no, sorry. She and Blossom are fire-spinning at The Barn tonight. It¡¯s just me.¡±

    The front door opened again, letting in a gust of evening wind as Angel stepped inside. He¡¯d only just pulled his black shirt back on, still in the midst of buttoning it up as he walked.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m late,¡± he said, joining them in the kitchen. He greeted Alistair and Kismet before stooping to peck Nyx on the cheek. Though he smiled, his eyes were distant. He slid into the chair next to her, slouching. The wind had tugged hair loose from his already messy bun.

    ¡°Everything ok?¡± Nyx asked.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, I¡¯m good,¡± he said. ¡°Just got held up a moment, is all. Smells super good in here, what are ya cooking, Kizzy?¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    What isn''t he telling me?

    ¡°A roast,¡± Kismet replied. ¡°It should be just about done now.¡±

    After getting the meat out of the oven, they all sat down at the table to eat. Angel poured the wine and Nyx noted this was the first time she¡¯d seen him drink in nearly a month. She didn¡¯t remark on it and sipped her own glass.

    The meal was one of the best she¡¯d had since moving out. Not even her mother made dinners like this outside of Christmas. Kismet insisted on cooking every night, and truly out did herself this time.

    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot,¡± Angel said, reaching for his pocket. He brought out his wallet and handed Alistair a-hundred dollar bill.

    He took it with a frown, turning it over like he wasn¡¯t sure what he was looking at. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡±

    ¡°Stop twisting it around, it¡¯s not counterfeit. I¡¯m paying you back for covering me with Timmy,¡± Angel said.

    Nyx nearly dropped her fork, almost choking on a carrot, and Alistair¡¯s eyes widened. Kismet looked from one to the other.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Alistair asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been saving up some,¡± said Angel, ¡°and I thought I¡¯d better start paying you back. It¡¯s not a lot but it¡¯s a start.¡±

    "Really?" Alistair asked.

    ¡°Seriously, I insist.¡±

    Alistair shrugged and tucked the money in his pocket.

    Nyx smiled at him, finally allowing some of her initial hope to creep back in. She tried to warn herself to be cautious, but couldn¡¯t resist.

    Maybe Angel really is ready to change.

    After supper, they crowded into the living-room for a movie. Nyx had finally gotten a small television propped up in the corner. They¡¯d rented a horror movie on tape from the corner store and Nyx slid it into the VCR.

    Kismet squashed on the couch next to Alistair while Nyx and Angel occupied an armchair each with the side-table between them. The wine bottle had been emptied during supper so they brought out the beer from the fridge, and put the case beside the chips and dip on the coffee table.

    Between Alistair and Angel, the beer didn¡¯t last long. Nyx even had one herself, but Kismet abstained, opting for water instead. They¡¯d hoped a movie would distract her from tomorrow¡¯s meeting, but it didn¡¯t appear to do the trick. Kismet watched the television with vacant eyes, twisting the ends of her sleeves.

    When the movie finished, Nyx and Angel were the only ones left awake. They got up carefully to avoid waking Kismet and Alistair who had fallen asleep on opposite ends of the couch. The soft blue light of the television reflected off their faces.

    Nyx gently tossed a throw blanket over them.

    I don''t know what I''ll do if they tell her to leave tomorrow. They have to let her stay.

    Angel was already in bed when she got up the stairs to her room. She undressed in the dark then slid under the sheets beside him. This close, she felt the heat emanating from his skin and the soft rise and fall of his ribs. She pressed an ear to his chest and heard the steady beat of his heart.

    ¡°I¡¯m alive,¡± Angel said, peeking his eyes open and stroked her hair.

    ¡°I just like to listen,¡± she muttered. ¡°I never want to forget what it sounds like.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±

    She looked up at him. The soft moonlight from the window was enough to illuminate the contours of his face, capturing all the sharp angles and the bend in his crooked nose. The mischievous glint in his eyes could not conceal the brooding shadow that had been growing since he arrived.

    ¡°Are you sure everything is alright?¡± she asked. ¡°You seem upset.¡±

    Angel smiled, but it was not the one she was used to. There was no spark of laughter in it, but a bitter-sweetness instead. He gently smoothed the hair away from her face.

    ¡°I¡¯m not upset.¡±

    ¡°Then what is it?¡± she demanded.

    ¡°It¡¯s stupid,¡± he muttered, trying to shift away, but she held on tighter.

    ¡°Well, tell me anyway.¡±

    Angel wriggled away from her, scooching closer to the wall. The growing silence only made her heart beat faster, so she pressed in closer, not letting him get away so easily. He scrunched his face, struggling to find the words, and she could almost hear him thinking.

    She prodded him in the ribs. "You''re freaking me out. Just say it."

    ¡°I love you, ok?¡± He said it so fast it took her a moment to decipher the words. ¡°There.¡±

    She blinked, still processing. Her heart beat so fast it came to a stand-still like the wings of a humming bird. When the words finally sunk in, she grinned and pressed closer to him again so that he was pinned between her arms and the wall.

    ¡°You do?¡±

    He was finally able to look at her again. ¡°Of course I do. Don¡¯t act so surprised.¡±

    Nyx squinted, reaching up to pinch his cheeks and examine his face. ¡°What did you do with Angel? Are you an evil clone?¡±

    Laughing, Angel swatted her hand away. ¡°No, dingus. I mean it.¡±

    The heat glowing from him increased until she felt like she was lying directly in a sun beam.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I never said it sooner,¡± he continued, gently running his fingers through her hair. His voice became tight, almost strained through his throat. ¡°I just wanted to tell you when I could do it right, when it could be real."

    "What do you mean?" she frowned.

    "I scare you too much," he said, looking up at the ceiling.

    "No, Angel -"

    "I don''t mean to, but I do." He continued. "It wasn''t just the fight with Aluminum Carl, or with Timmy or on and on and on. It''s the fact that I do it at all. The way you looked at me in the car that night... I won''t ever forget it. I''m killing you, aren''t I?"

    "Angel -" Her heart swelled, pushing against the confines of her ribs.

    "It''s so stupid." His voice quickened, rushing to explain as if his words could outrun the tears scratching at his throat. "It''s so selfish of me to love you like this, the way that I am, and to ask you to love me back, but then I died and nothing has been right since."

    ¡°It¡¯s ok,¡± she said softly. ¡°You¡¯re alive. That¡¯s what counts.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a low bar," he grumbled.

    She peered up at him, making eye contact. ¡°You have a second chance.¡±

    ¡°I want to be better."

    She sighed and rolled over to look up at the ceiling.

    ¡°I¡¯m just scared you don¡¯t mean it.¡±

    ¡°How can I prove it to you?¡± Angel turned and put his arm across her.

    ¡°I suppose you can¡¯t.¡± Nyx¡¯s stomach tightened.

    ¡°What do I have to do to make things fair, so that loving me won''t hurt so bad?"

    There was too much longing in his question. Her heart shattered into a thousand pieces. The pit of her stomach hardened and twisted.  She pressed her hand to his cheek. If she didn''t know better, she could have sworn she felt moisture under her thumb.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose you. It seems you¡¯re always running. I¡¯d give anything for you to stay here with me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been here.¡± Angel frowned.

    ¡°Not really,¡± she said. ¡°You''re partying all the time or in some stupid fight. I didn¡¯t realize how much I¡¯d been holding my breath until the worst finally happened and I lost you. I can¡¯t go through that again.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t have to,¡± he said.

    ¡°You can¡¯t promise that.¡±

    The image of Ivy descending upon the island, demanding he join her at The Academy¡­ or worse, was not far from her mind.

    ¡°No, but I can promise to try.¡± Angel pressed his forehead to hers. ¡°Please believe me.¡±

    Please don¡¯t prove me wrong.

    ¡°Ok,¡± she said.

    Nyx placed her faith in him once more. Perhaps it was stupid to do so, but a sliver of hope slunk back into the cracks of her heart and she wrapped an arm around him. Their noses touched. Angel leaned in, pressing his lips to hers with a sort of desperate hunger bordering on starvation. The emotion lingering from their conversation trembled under his skin along with the mounting heat of his life-force until he began to radiate a soft blue glow.

    The warmth enveloped her, releasing the tension, she melted beneath his touch. The wave of energy pulsated up the entire length of her body until pins and needles prickled her skin. Every light stroke of his fingers lit a trail of tiny sparks like electric jolts as the energy increased. It was nearly too much to take, until Angel absorbed the excess life-force, making the aura around them pulsate.

    She tangled her hands through his hair, pulling him closer, hoping he could feel the comfort inside of her body that he was desperately searching for, wishing she could radiate it outward like the glow that now surrounded them.

    Maybe then he could feel it.

    So she comforted him the only way he''d understand.

 Chapter Thirty-Three: Pawns

    People passed by on the street outside, each lost in their own world. Kismet pressed her nose to the glass, watching the wisps of colour trail behind them. People were engulfed within each other''s energy all the time, but moved forward entirely unaware. Stress surged their thoughts into her mind, but even still, she was able to push them down to join the general hum.

    Regardless of what happens, I¡¯m glad I came. I can at least survive a little better now if I have to go back.

    Her stomach tightened. She gripped the windowsill. Dust from the nearby bookshelves tickled her nose. The council members, including Watcher Liz, gathered in the back room of the library to decide her fate. The temptation to hone in on their thoughts nibbled at her, but she resisted.

    Alistair and Nyx had already gone in and given their reference, now they waited for the final decision. Nyx excused herself outside for a cigarette and to distract herself, Kismet left the window to attend to a stack of books left on the desk. They had recently been donated and needed to be filed. She sat down, burying her nose in title pages to catalog into the ledger. The systematic application of hand written labels to their spines soothed the growing jitters. Her hands shook as she turned the pages or gripped the pen until her knuckles turned white.

    ¡°Give yourself a break, it¡¯s your day off.¡± Alistair joined her behind the desk and leaned against the back shelf. ¡°You should relax.¡±

    ¡°It helps,¡± she said, and couldn¡¯t bring herself to look at him.

    Kismet wanted to believe they would come visit her if she had to leave, but couldn¡¯t let herself. Sure, they would at first but then the distance would grow and she¡¯d find herself alone.

    What will happen to Angel? Will he ever find out about Operation Pomegranate if I don¡¯t tell him?

    Alistair put his hand on her shoulder, gently spinning the office chair around to face him. The sunlight from the window at his back cast him in a soft glow, complimenting his golden aura.

    ¡°I have a good feeling about it,¡± he said. ¡°They didn¡¯t ask me any hard questions. This is all just a formality, really.¡±

    ¡°I dunno,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m glad I found you that night,¡± said Alistair.

    She couldn¡¯t meet his eyes and stared at her lap instead. ¡°Why did you help me?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    Nyx returned from outside. The cigarette appeared to have done nothing for her anxiety, as magenta sparks flew around her. She slouched into the chair by the table. Alistair and Kismet walked over to join her.

    The door to the back room opened again, making all three of them jump and turn to see Watcher Liz emerge. Her black cloak lightly trailed along the floor as she moved. Kismet¡¯s heart shot to the base of her throat, but the smile Liz wore eased her nerves if only a little.

    ¡°The vote was unanimous. You can stay,¡± said Liz, flashing a smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Nyx exclaimed, beaming, she clapped Kismet on the shoulder. Some bright yellow bursts of joy flared around her.

    Alistair tugged her into a quick hug.

    Still stunned, Kismet didn¡¯t know how to react to the news or the congratulations of her friends, so she sat in frozen awe.

    Kismet blinked. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Really,¡± Liz said. ¡°Your access card will come in the mail - to Nyx¡¯s address if that¡¯s ok?¡±

    ¡°Sure, that¡¯s alright,¡± said Nyx.

    ¡°Once your card arrives you can claim a cabin of your own.¡±

    The relief and joy Kismet thought she¡¯d feel in this moment eluded her. Instead, the searing acid of guilt rose like bile in her throat.

    I have to tell them about my powers, and Operation Pomegranate. Everything. I have to.

    Liz excused herself to the back room where the council finished up their meeting. Kismet left with Alistair and Nyx, moving through a haze.

    They found Alistair''s car parked on the side of the street and she sat in the back on top of the throw blanket. She tried not to think about the blood stain underneath.

    It seemed Nyx struggled to keep it out of her mind as well - Despite Kismet¡¯s best efforts, the memory of Angel¡¯s broken body sprawled across the seat flashed into her mind. Blue-light flared, engulfing the whole interior¡­ the fear fleeing in the warmth¡­

    ¡°Hey, Kizzy, you ok?¡± Alistair asked, looking at her through the rearview mirror.

    Nyx had also turned to look, furrowing her brow in concern.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, snapping her seatbelt on.

    ¡°You sure?¡± Nyx asked. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just overwhelmed.¡±

    They seemed to take her word for it and Alistair pulled the car onto the road. The siblings chatted about the celebratory bonfire they planned for later that evening, laughing and joking about other fires long since past.

    Should I tell them at the fire? Wait until later? Tomorrow? Never?

    Alistair dropped them off at the cabin and headed home to get ready. As Kismet settled in to watch television with Nyx, the tension inside her stomach would not relent. The other woman sprawled across the sofa, her long legs hung over the arm. A lit cigarette dangled between her fingers. Not for the first time, Kismet wished to have Nyx¡¯s sense of ease and confidence.

    I hope she can forgive me.

    ¡°I need to ask Daisy about something,¡± Kismet announced and hopped out of the armchair, already scurrying for the door.

    ¡°I¡¯ll meet you at the beach later?¡± Nyx called.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be too long.¡±

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Kismet hurried off to Daisy¡¯s cabin. Despite the cool evening air, sweat pooled on the back of her neck.

    As she rounded the corner, huffing and out of breath, the russet cabin came into view. Daisy was stooped over in her garden, plucking at weeds. A wide brimmed sun hat shaded her face. She had tied up her yellow top to expose her stomach. Acid-wash capris sat low on her hips. When she saw Kismet, she stood up to greet her, and tugged off her gardening gloves.

    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes, um, no, I dunno,¡± Kismet sighed, still struggling to catch her breath. ¡°I really need to talk to you.¡±

    ¡°Would you like to come sit down?¡±

    Daisy led the way around to the back of the house. The yard was a bit larger than in the front, but just as overgrown. The tall grass came to Daisy¡¯s knees and nearly to Kismet¡¯s thighs.

    A porch swing rested between two oak trees shading most of the lawn. Daisy took a seat, patting the empty space for Kismet to join her. Stress melted away the moment Kismet sat down beside her and she finally received relief from the pressure mounting in her chest. If not for her lessons with Daisy over the past month, it would have surely suffocated her.

    ¡°Can I - should I, tell the others about my telepathy now?¡± Kismet asked.

    ¡°Be careful who you tell, but I think it should be safe to do so now,¡± Daisy said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to lie, and I hope it doesn¡¯t make things difficult between you and your friends going forward, but I think by now, you know why I asked you to.¡±

    Kismet studied her lap, flexing her legs to move the swing.

    ¡°Yes, but it was an accident. When Angel walked away at the barbeque -¡± she stopped and looked up at Daisy. ¡°What do I do? Should I tell him?¡±

    ¡°He deserves to know,¡± Daisy said.

    ¡°No one has told him all this time,¡± Kismet said. ¡°Julian was supposed to, but I don¡¯t think he has. Why did none of you say anything?¡±

    ¡°He was going to tell him the other night, but the conversation didn¡¯t go as planned,¡± said Daisy. ¡°We¡¯ve always tried to get Julian to be honest with Angel, but he insisted this way was best. It didn¡¯t seem Angel had any reason to know until recently. It would only hurt him, and it wasn¡¯t our place to say anything.¡±

    Sometimes silence causes more chaos than it stops. I see that now.

    Kismet clenched her hands into fists.

    ¡°I understand why you didn¡¯t tell him,¡± she said, ¡°but he needs to know now before it really is too late.¡±

    Daisy sighed, nodding.

    A cold chill swept through Kismet, prickling from head to toe.

    ¡°When you let me stay, did you know I¡¯d figure this out?¡±

    ¡°I had a thought,¡± Daisy confessed. ¡°That¡¯s why I wanted you to leave at first. I couldn¡¯t risk it and the others wouldn¡¯t want to either. Especially Julian. But the rumors of Angel¡¯s death, and then his miraculous return was too much to ignore and I figured your abilities may throw a much needed wrench in things. You so clearly needed help. We were doing each other a favor. The chips could fall where they may.¡±

    Kismet¡¯s heart thundered in her chest. Her hands had gone cold. Daisy did not attempt to alter her emotion.

    ¡°You used me.¡±

    ¡°You could put it that way.¡± Daisy dipped her head. ¡°¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Even after I told her about Jade¡­

    Kismet clenched her jaw.

    ¡°How is this easier than telling him yourself? Or Molly? Or Jay? Anyone?¡± Kismet couldn¡¯t keep the heat out of her voice. ¡°Why did you leave it to me?¡±

    None of them have ever given Angel a minute of honesty.

    ¡°We all promised Julian we wouldn¡¯t say anything,¡± she said. ¡°It was a gamble, but Julian thought the truth would be too painful, that if Angel didn¡¯t need to know, he didn¡¯t have to. So we all just watched and waited for something to happen, but for two decades, nothing did. We all kinda thought we might be in the clear until that fight with Carl. We wanted to give Julian the opportunity to tell him the truth and when he wouldn¡¯t, I figured whatever you discovered might slip somehow.¡±

    Kismet¡¯s ears rang. In her mind¡¯s eye, she could still see the rain drops on the living-room window, the way the siren lights refracted through the water, and felt Jade¡¯s cold hand on the back of her neck.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think he deserves to hear it from one of you guys?¡± Kismet asked, feeling the sting of hot tears grow behind her eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t that kinder? Why hide behind such a promise when he¡¯s struggling to figure out why he has these powers?¡±

    Daisy gently pushed her feet on the ground, giving the swing more momentum.

    ¡°Julian wasn¡¯t always this way,¡± she said, watching the sand squish between her toes as she dug them into the earth. ¡°At one time, he had a good head on his shoulders. We wouldn¡¯t have made it to the island if not for him. Ember too, really. Her energy-resistance abilities helped me in those early days in the same way that Angel helps you. So when he asked us to promise, we did. After Ember died¡­¡± Daisy stopped to clear her throat. ¡°He changed. A lot. Then the egg came, and Angel hatched¡­ I wish Ember had just let Ivy keep him.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°Ivy was actively at war,¡± said Daisy. ¡°How could she care for a child? The island was the only zone that was safe. Then, if some stories are to be believed, Ivy was also quite unstable. The war - absorbing that many people - was taking its toll on her. If that¡¯s true, I imagine Ember wouldn¡¯t have been able to trust her. Despite their differences, Ember loved Julian and had a lot of faith in him. We all did.¡±

    The wind rustled the leaves in the oak tree, filling the silence between them with a gentle susurrus.

    ¡°The sad thing is, Ivy was the only one who wanted him,¡± Daisy confessed, ¡°and maybe that would have made up for it. I dunno. Maybe not.¡±

    ¡°Being wanted counts for a lot,¡± said Kismet. Her throat had gone dry and it almost scratched to speak. A hard pressure pushed up under her ribs, like her lungs over flowed with unrelinquished sobs. ¡°I have to tell him the truth. It isn¡¯t fair to keep him in the dark any longer and it¡¯s not fair to ask me to keep this inside forever either. He¡¯s been hiding these powers from you guys, struggling all month, without a clue in the world, thinking he¡¯d risk exposure asking for help. He needs answers and to know you guys aren¡¯t going to toss him over to Ivy.¡±

    A cloud passed over the sun, casting them in shade. The breeze made the tall grass and wildflowers bend and twist.

    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯ve been trying to avoid,¡± said Daisy. ¡°For now, we can all pretend the resurrection never happened, so long as word doesn¡¯t get off the island and people here continue to believe it was just rumors. The minute he slips up, Watcher Liz can¡¯t play dumb anymore. She¡¯ll have to report to Ivy. If Julian had told him a month ago, I could have helped him figure things out.¡±

    You all want to evade accountability for this so badly. Fuck the promise. She could have just told him herself.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been helping him,¡± said Kismet, ¡°and he¡¯s pretty good at learning some things on his own.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Daisy said with a small smile. Sadness and relief mingled on the fringes of her dark eyes.

    Kismet furrowed her brow, the question had been nibbling at the fringes for a while, but she hadn¡¯t been able to put her finger on it.

    ¡°How did Ivy meet Ember in the first place? All Angel has ever said is that Ember died in the war.¡±

    ¡°Because that¡¯s all he knows,¡± Daisy¡¯s eyes clouded, gazing out into the yard. ¡°The night before we made it to the island, Ember couldn¡¯t resist flying to see it for herself. The Watchers caught her and took her to The Old Academy. I guess that¡¯s where she met Ivy. What happened between them, no one seems to know for sure, but if the stories can be believed, saving Ember from The Academy¡¯s lab is what made Ivy absorb headmaster Vaughn in the first place and start the whole war. I don¡¯t think Julian ever really forgave Ember for that. She never made it back to the island, but insisted Ivy bring Angel here.¡±

    Kismet¡¯s mind reeled, only imagining how Angel would feel to hear this news. The burden of being the one to disclose it nearly crushed her. She couldn¡¯t wait on the others to do it. By the looks of things, they¡¯d rather disaster strike first and clean the mess after.

    If he was made in The Academy lab and somehow has Ivy¡¯s powers then would that mean Ivy was involved somehow?

    ¡°Do you think Ivy will take him?¡± Kismet asked.

    Angel would never let that happen, and a confrontation between them would be horrible. No matter what, there¡¯s no future for him here.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we could do to stop her if she tried," said Daisy.

    Kismet slid off the swing, still reeling and digesting what she''d learned.

    I have to tell him before something bad happens.

    "I won''t be seeing you anymore," said Kismet. "I appreciate your help, but I didn''t sign up to be a pawn in this game. it isn''t fair."

    Daisy studied the ground, pushing the swing slowly as a tear slipped down her cheek. "I understand."

 Chapter Thirty-Four: Chaos

    With nothing to do after work and a few hours to kill before the bonfire, Angel decided to see what was going on at The Barn. He hadn¡¯t been since the fight with Aluminum Carl, but figured it wouldn¡¯t hurt just to check things out. Surely Nyx wouldn¡¯t have a problem with something as innocent as that.

    From the sky, Angel could see the small parking lot was over crowded. Running out of space, vehicles parked on the lawn, flattening the tall grass. Even in mid-afternoon, people milled about outside in clumps, smoking and chatting. He¡¯d never seen the place so busy and wondered how the building could hold this many people.

    Angel landed, hitting the ground with a thump. He left his wings out and lazily folded, primary feathers grazed the ground as he walked. He couldn¡¯t recognize some of the people gathered outside and figured they must have come in from the mainland. Some of the vehicles, convertibles and sleek sports cars were far too nice to belong on the island.

    If word of these fights is getting out to the mainland, Jeff better be careful Ivy doesn¡¯t find out.

    Life-force throbbed in heated waves, undulating from The Barn and the people outside. He walked through it like moving in a gossamer fog. It swirled around him like mist.

    He pulled it in, careful only to sip at it like a well aged whiskey. Almost to the door, he was already getting light headed, and let it settle in.

    ¡°Hey! Grub!¡±

    The voice was familiar, but he couldn¡¯t quite place it¡­ He turned to see Jack and Caroline along the tree-line.

    Caroline was grinning, waving him over. Her shimmering opal hair was shaved at the sides and back, then tied in a long braid, trailing to the bottom of her short black skirt, touching the top of her tall boots. Though she smiled, her red eyes never softened.

    Jack slouched against a tree beside her, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. His eyes were concealed behind heart-shaped sunglasses. Stringy brown hair hung in limp strands underneath a wide-brimmed black hat.

    Angel considered pretending he hadn¡¯t heard her and keep on going. As sensitive as his hearing was, everyone knew how selective it could be. Instead, he turned and walked over to join them.

    ¡°Long time, no see,¡± said Jack.

    Not long enough.

    The last time he¡¯d seen them was on a work trip to the mainland with Alistair. With nothing to do after their shift, they¡¯d gone out to drink, only to discover Jack and Caroline already at the bar. It turned out the pair had been using Caroline¡¯s chaos-vision to predict slot machine winnings, and had been playing them all night, making sure to lose a time or two in order to avoid suspicion.

    Alistair decided to head back to the hostel, but Angel was intrigued. He agreed to fork over everything he had in his wallet at the time - about two-hundred dollars - to play with. The night had gone well. They used their winnings to buy drink after drink until Angel could hardly read the screens or the numbers on the buttons. Everything blurred together in rolling symbols, indecipherable streaks of colour, flashes of light and squealing sounds of celebration.

    They got so caught up in it, that they didn¡¯t cash out in time. He racked in over a thousand before the bartender caught on and kicked them out, taking everything they¡¯d won, after telling them how lucky they were he wasn¡¯t calling any Watchers. Angel didn¡¯t feel so lucky having to leave without a dime to his name.

    They both looked as he remembered them. Jack¡¯s features were slick and pointy, right down to his smile. Yet there was something enticing about his devious grin, like he held something back. Whereas Caroline made Angel think of those dolls he saw in the thrift stores - pale as porcelain with makeup just as bright, striking against her opalescent hair and black clothing. Her bright red eyes fixed him in place. There was something in them that was similar to Kismet - like they both looked into the same abyss.

    There was a reason everyone at school used to call her ¡®Crazy Carrie.¡¯

    ¡°Where¡¯ve you been hiding these past few weeks?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking around for you.¡±

    Angel shrugged and dug a cigarette out of the pocket of his jeans. While he took some time to light it, he cooked up an answer.

    ¡°Hasn¡¯t really been worth my while,¡± he said. ¡°You probably already heard what happened when I fought Carl the first time. I figured I¡¯d cool it until I actually have a shot.¡±

    ¡°Then what brings you out today?¡± Jack asked as Angel passed him the cigarette. ¡°Sight seeing?¡±

    ¡°I got curious, I guess,¡± Angel confessed.

    ¡°I thought that foxy fox shifter of yours might have been keeping you away,¡± Caroline teased. ¡°What was her name again?¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Jack said, snapping his fingers. ¡°Nyx, wasn¡¯t it? You two still together? You were quite torn up over her the last time we spoke.¡±

    How drunk was I?

    Angel shifted his weight and his cheeks burned. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re together, but she hasn¡¯t stopped me from coming here. She doesn¡¯t care.¡±

    He took the cigarette from Jack and tapped out the ashes.

    ¡°That¡¯s not how I remember,¡± said Caroline playfully. ¡°Even in high-school, she¡¯d always find some excuse to tear you away from us.¡±

    ¡°Let the man have his priorities,¡± said Jack and turned to Angel. ¡°Listen, we¡¯re out here taking bets if you want in?¡±

    ¡°Oh no, I can¡¯t."  Angel''s stomach twisted and he chewed the inside of his cheek.

    Nyx will kill me.

    That thought struck a chord in him.

    What does she care? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the one doing the fighting.

    ¡°Seeing on how you¡¯re a friend and all, how about Caroline tells you the real odds, free of charge?¡± Jack suggested. ¡°If you don¡¯t like ¡®em, you can leave ¡®em.¡±

    This got Angel¡¯s attention. Caroline¡¯s predictions were not without risk, as there was still a chance for him to choose wrong, but the accuracy in her vision was enough to tempt him.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°Alright, what are they?¡± Angel asked, already reaching for his wallet.

    ¡°Which fight do you want?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I might as well go for the big one,¡± said Angel. ¡°How about the last fight of the night then?¡±

    With so many people in from the mainland, there was a chance someone here could beat Carl yet. So he didn¡¯t want to get a head of himself and bet on Carl straight away. He almost considered if it would be more worthwhile to bet on a smaller fight where the odds were more even and his wins could be bigger, but he¡¯d already asked the question.

    ¡°Alright,¡± said Caroline. ¡°Let me see.¡± She stared off for a moment, then frowned, tapping her toe. ¡°No¡­ that can¡¯t be right.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Jack asked.

    Sweat formed on the back of Angel¡¯s neck and his heart raced. It wasn¡¯t normally this challenging for her to asses the situation. From his understanding of her abilities, her vision relied on what she considered the ¡®pivot-point¡¯ - the center of reality they existed in currently. From there she could see the paths of reality expanding like fractals from everyone¡¯s choices. All potentials existed at once and it was up to her to clarify and determine the probability of outcomes. Sure, it could be messy at times, but he was under the impression she¡¯d gotten it down pat.

    Her eyes widened, drinking in whatever she must have been seeing in her mind. Angel followed her gaze, though he was blind to what lay in her perception. All he could see was a parking lot slowly filling up with more people.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, I¡¯ll pick a different one -¡± he began, but her crimson eyes on his cut him off.

    ¡°No¡­¡± she muttered, shaking her head.

    Jack put a hand on her shoulder, pinching his face in concern. ¡°Maybe we should stop and reset.¡±

    ¡°Everything is so distorted¡­¡± she said, her brow still scrunched up in bewildered concentration.

    ¡°It¡¯s cool,¡± said Angel even as his hands were turning clammy. ¡°You don¡¯t have to look.¡±

    Caroline turned to him, impaling him with her eyes and he jumped.

    ¡°You beat Carl,¡± she said as if she didn¡¯t believe it herself. ¡°In almost every thread I see, you win. You¡¯re always so distorted in my vision, but I can see the ripples¡±

    Angel laughed. ¡°Ok, yeah, sure. Good one.¡±

    The stillness in her face tossed him off kilter. Caroline was rarely wrong, and when she was, it was only because she¡¯d been too clouded by substances to see straight. Right now, she seemed to be stone cold sober, but maybe he just couldn¡¯t tell?

    Either way, I have no idea what she¡¯s talking about.

    Even Jack looked spooked. His long face pulled into a concerned frown. He wasn¡¯t buying it either.

    ¡°Is everything alright Carrie?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she snapped. ¡°My head is completely clear. The only thing I can¡¯t perceive is him,¡± she gestured to Angel, ¡°but that¡¯s no surprise. So when I see everything get all wiggly-wonky like I¡¯m looking through a fun house mirror, I tend to think he¡¯s involved somehow, especially considering the aftermath -¡±

    ¡°The aftermath?¡± Angel''s throat had gone so dry even words scraped on their way up.

    ¡°I may not be able to see you directly, but I can see the branching paths resulting from your decisions and consequences in how they affect the paths of others around you.¡±

    ¡°I think he was asking for something a little more specific than that, Love." Jack''s voice had gone quiet and low.

    Angel¡¯s heart fluttered under his ribs and he began to regret coming here at all.

    She has to be wrong. She has to be. It¡¯s insane otherwise. How does she know I¡¯m gonna do something before I do? I¡¯m gonna stay with Nyx after the bonfire. That way, there¡¯s no chance this will come true.

    ¡°You already know what happens,¡± she said, her eyes boring straight into his.

    If she can see the ripples, she must know about my powers or at least have some idea.

    ¡°Does Ivy find out? What about Nyx? Does she hate me?¡± The questions poured from him.

    Jack looked from one to the other, more questions behind his eyes, but kept quiet, nursing a cigarette.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see emotions,¡± said Caroline softly, ¡°but the consequences have a high likelihood to be as you expect.¡±

    The blood drained from his face as a chill swept over him from head to toe.

    What would make me do this?

    ¡°Is there any chance I don¡¯t fight?¡± A lingering thread of hope slithered into his chest and he tried to cling to it.

    ¡°The odds are never zero,¡± she said, ¡°but it¡¯s not high. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Well, what happens then? If I fight I mean. You say I win, I¡¯m exposed, but what then? Does Ivy find out? Does she kill me? What about Nyx?¡±

    He was nearly choking on his panic.

    ¡°For the sake of my sanity, I can¡¯t go looking much further than that,¡± Caroline explained. ¡°Such a hefty ordeal would cost a fair sum, and no offence, I don¡¯t think you have that kind of money.¡±

    ¡°Why do I do it?¡± he asked, utterly flabbergasted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight Carl at all. I promised I wouldn¡¯t.¡±

    I can be impulsive, sure, but how is it possible to blindside myself like this? What am I missing?

    The blood in his veins had chilled and he was suddenly quite nauseous.

    Caroline shrugged. ¡°Like I said, I can¡¯t see motivations. Only actions and consequences. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She put a comforting hand on his arm. He resisted the urge to pull away. Her long crimson nails scratched his skin. ¡°Look, Angel, we have an apartment on the mainland now. Come find us when the night is over.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t risk it.¡±

    ¡°Ok, if you say so,¡± she said with a slight shrug.

    Jack quirked his eyebrow. ¡°What are you two talking about? What is this?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± said Caroline, smiling up at him. ¡°It was good seeing you Angel. You better get back to Nyx.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, backing away a bit quicker than he intended. ¡°I¡¯ll see you guys around.¡±

    He was shaking slightly as he rounded the corner. It was difficult to catch his breath. The sun had begun to set, dipping the clearing in a purple haze. It was only late evening, but The Barn already swelled with people. The walls seemed to pulse with the music, inhaling with the rhythm and moving bodies within.

    Bathed in the seeping orange light from the propped open door, Angel stopped fo feel the building energy. The electric waves soothed his budding anxiety, pulling him inside like a magnet. It hummed in the air so thick he could feel it like silk against his skin.

    There¡¯s so much of it here. A little taste won¡¯t hurt. Just something to take the edge off.

    He risked small sips, absorbing only what he could integrate at a time to avoid glowing. Gradually, the anxiety from his conversation with Caroline ebbed away. He found himself in the middle of the dance floor, so enamored with the fog of life-force intoxicating him, he hadn¡¯t noticed himself wiggling into the crowd.

    I have to get out of here.

    Angel breathed in and out, deep and easy as he fought his way through the thick crowd, until he could steel himself against the alluring sensation of life-force all around him. As he stepped outside, ready to spread his wings, he heard Jeff begin to announce the first round of fights. They¡¯d start with a few other small-time matches before finishing the night off with Carl.

    Again, Angel found himself regretting coming here, especially speaking to Caroline. He spread his wings and jumped into the air. The huge knot in the center of his gut did not lessen as he flew toward the beach. Nyx would already be there, ready to ask where he¡¯d been and he wasn¡¯t sure what he¡¯d say.

    I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.

    He flapped harder, digging his fingernails into his palms. The wind whipped his black hair around his shoulders, raking across his feathers.

    I¡¯ll stay with Nyx all night. No matter what. It shouldn¡¯t be hard. That way it¡¯ll be impossible for me to fight.

    As he neared the beach, he could see the twinkling lights of Happsburg across the water.

    Or maybe I should just keep going. I should get away before I make things worse. No, Nyx would never forgive me.

    Angel pictured her round face and bright smile, and how beautiful she looked even when she scowled at him and her eyes lit up in fury. He could see the splattering of freckles under her eyes, trailing across her nose, and the way they coated the tops of her shoulders in the summer. The taste of her cherry lip gloss lingered in his mouth after they kissed.

    I can¡¯t lose her. I won¡¯t.

    He dipped his wings and began his descent toward the sand.

 Chapter Thirty-Five: The Last Dance

    Nyx left little paw prints in the mud as she ran along the beach. The setting sun painted the shallow water in streaks of gold and orange. Droplets splashed, catching the light like sparks as Cassie chased Alistair through the water, playfully nipping at him whenever she got close enough.

    Eventually, Alistair stopped, turning on Cassie and pounced, knocking her sideways into the ocean. They tussled until they were both soaking wet, appearing more like drowned river rats than foxes. Unable to resist, Nyx scurried in after them. The frigid water cut through her fur. After the shock, it was refreshing after such a hot day. She jumped on Alistair who had only just regained his bearings, her fangs barring down lightly through his silver coat.

    Cassie and Alistair teamed up against Nyx, nipping and pouncing until she was down. Nyx wrestled away from them. She puffed her fur and crouched in a challenge. They tip-tapped in place, eyeing her up and yipping, trying to suss out the best plan of attack. She stood her ground, every muscle tensed and coiled to defend herself. Her eyes flicked from one to the other.

    Movement caught her attention from further up the beach. Kismet waved from the rocks, tote bags piled by her feet. The distraction was only for a second, but it was enough.

    Cassie and Alistair attacked at once, knocking her into the water. When she was down, her siblings bolted out of the ocean and dashed up the shore toward Kismet. By the time she got up again, she was well behind and raced to catch up.

    Nyx investigated the tote bags, already able to smell the hotdogs and marshmallows before she peeked inside. Cassie had already popped her head into the other snack bag, knocking it over.

    Satisfied with the loot, she sprinted off to find the rock where she had hidden her clothes. Making sure to be completely concealed by the jagged semi-circle of rocks, Nyx shifted into her human form and got dressed, tugging on a t-shirt and jeans. She combed her hair with her hands, feeling the grit of sand under her fingertips.

    The cool wind against her damp skin raised goosebumps along her exposed arms. Coarse sand scratched against her bare feet, still warm from a day of sun as she walked toward the fire. Smoke curled and the wood snapped as it burned.

    Kismet sat on the log beside Alistair, stoking the fire with a long stick of driftwood while Cassie fiddled around with the portable stereo, trying to get her mixed CD to play. She looked up and smiled when her dance partner, Blossom, carefully stepped down over the rocks. Her long patchwork skirt swirled around her feet and laced up sandals. Covered only by a crochet shall, a sage-green bralette left her stomach exposed. She moved across the rough terrain with a grace and ease that made Nyx feel clumsy just looking at her. The flower crown made of soft baby¡¯s breath perched on top of her long wavy brown hair hardly teetered at all.

    Nyx looked at Alistair, surprised to see he was still fully immersed in chatting with Kismet, intent on making her laugh.

    I suppose that does it then. He¡¯s had a crush on Blossom for ages and he hardly even noticed her arrive. Not that she seems to care.

    Blossom quickly busied herself helping Cassie put new batteries in the stereo without so much as a glance in his direction.

    The fire was just beginning to gather its strength as Nyx took a spot on the empty log. On closer look, though Kismet smiled at Alistair, her eyes looked distant. There was even a beer in her hand. She scrunched her face each time she took a sip. it was odd to see her drinking at all.

    Nyx crossed her legs, slowly puffing away at her cigarette until Alistair got up to get Kismet another marshmallow. She seized the opportunity and plopped next to the other girl, who looked up in acknowledgement. The glow of the fire made her eyes seem even larger and more startled than before.

    ¡°Hey, is everything alright?¡± Nyx asked.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± said Kismet, trying to smile.

    ¡°Come on Kizzy, don¡¯t lie to me. Something¡¯s up. What¡¯s with the drink?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m celebrating,¡± she said, but her already soft voice had become a hollow sort of squeak.

    All I need is one of those interrogation lamps, a harsh tone and she¡¯d crack like a nut.

    Nyx nearly reached out to touch her arm, then stopped herself, realizing that may not be the best choice at the moment. It was in her nature to embrace people, but she hadn¡¯t realized how much so until Kismet came along. Even the slightest brush against her sent her flinching out of the way.

    ¡°You can talk to me,¡± said Nyx. ¡°I¡¯ve been wrapped up in my own shit for awhile, but I am here for you, ok? This can¡¯t be easy. Just grab me, anytime. I¡¯ll listen.¡±

    Kismet looked into the fire, hiding behind another sip of beer and her curtain of hair. Waves lapped up on the shore. The sun was nearly set, leaving the ocean in shadow.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about claiming a cabin straight away. You can stay with me as long as you want.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered. A tear rolled down her cheek, catching the fire light before she quickly wiped it away.

    A lump caught in the base of Nyx¡¯s throat. It was better not to press, but there was certainly something Kismet wasn¡¯t saying. Thinking on it now, it dawned on her that Kismet had been getting progressively more skittish. At first, Nyx blamed it on the up-coming council meeting, but with that now well behind them, she couldn¡¯t fathom what else it could be.

    Alistair came bounding back over to them, his arms full of driftwood branches and twigs that he planted at their feet. He frowned to see the look on Kismet¡¯s face.

    ¡°Everything alright?¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah, of course,¡± Kismet mumbled through a forced smile. ¡°Where¡¯s Angel? Shouldn¡¯t he be here by now?¡±

    Ok Smarty-pants, I¡¯ll change the subject for now, but you¡¯re not getting away that easy.

    ¡°He should be along any minute,¡± Alistair said, squeezing between them on the log. He pressed a marshmallow on the end of his stick. ¡°At least he better be if he wants a shot at any of these.¡±

    The sky grew darker. Sunlight hardly emanated from the horizon, painting the sky a blood orange. Thick clouds gathered, fat with rain swelling their plumb-purple bellies. Waves rolling against the small rocks were barely audible under the pop music rattling out of Cassie¡¯s stereo, testing the limit of her speakers.

    While Alistair chatted Kismet¡¯s ear off about their favorite sci-fi series, and Cassie danced with Daisy on the mud flats, Nyx decided to take a small walk along the water¡¯s edge. She was careful to stay within the parameter of the fire¡¯s light.

    Tiny sea-shells pricked the soles of her feet. The cold water oozed up through the sand at each footstep, seeping between her toes. She studied the ground, careful to watch where she was going.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    The whisper of heavy feathers overhead made her look up as Angel swooped and landed a little further down the beach. The night nearly hid him completely with only the soft glow of the distant fire to illuminate the contours of his body. The tips of his feathers whispered as they brushed across the sand.

    ¡°What took you so long?¡± Nyx asked as he stepped closer into the light.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been good, thanks for asking,¡± he said. ¡°How about you?¡±

    She could already see the grin on his face. He pulled his wings back in and tugged on his shirt.

    ¡°I took a quick detour to The Barn,¡± he said.

    Her heart dropped. ¡°Angel -¡±

    ¡°Before you start, let me just tell ya, ok?¡±

    ¡°Fine.¡± She planted her hands on her hips. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°I saw Jack and Caroline, we caught up for a bit and I came straight here.¡±

    Ugh, not those two. What could they be doing around here?

    ¡°And that¡¯s all? Promise?¡±

    ¡°Promise.¡± He leaned forward and pecked her on the cheek. ¡°Now let¡¯s get to the fire before Alice eats all the marshmallows.¡±

    She followed him back to the others, his words spinning in her head.

    How stupid does he think I am? And what¡¯s in the water tonight anyway with people not telling me what¡¯s on their damn mind?

    When they returned, the jovial energy of the already tipsy group rubbed off on her. Even Kismet had a slight smile, twisting her own marshmallow over the flames. Nyx took her spot back on the log and Angel sat down beside her, resting an arm across her shoulders.

    Maybe I¡¯m being too hard on him. I¡¯ll let it go for now anyway.

    Cassie bounded up behind them, ruffling Angel¡¯s hair. ¡°Now that Grubbers is here, we can share our big news.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve finally joined the circus?¡± Angel asked, reaching up to fix his hair.

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± she said, plunking down on Angel¡¯s opposite side. ¡°Blossom and I have decided to move to the mainland and see if we can eventually perform at The Enigma.¡±

    The world rushed out from under Nyx and she didn¡¯t know what to say. It was the biggest casino in Happsburg. Even though it was stationed in a mutant centered district, humans flocked there. It was near impossible to fathom that her sister would go from a block away to hours.

    I guess there¡¯s always the ferry and Aiden¡¯s portals.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re gonna travel around in the meantime,¡± said Blossom, twirling a weiner over the fire. ¡°I don¡¯t expect to get in there straight away.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re both so talented, you¡¯re gonna do really well,¡± said Nyx, trying not to let the emotion creep through her voice.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be sure to come visit ya,¡± said Angel. ¡°That¡¯ll be fun.¡±

    ¡°When are you going?¡± Alistair tried to keep his voice light, but Nyx could hear the heaviness in it.

    "The end of the week," said Cassie.

    "So soon?" Alistair gasped.

    "I''m sorry it feels sudden," said Blossom. "We agreed not to say anything until things were all set."

    He frowned, but nodded in understanding.

    Angel put his arm around Cassie, giving her a squeeze. "I''m gonna miss you Casserole."

    "I wish I could say the same," she teased.

    The night carried on, but Nyx''s mood had continued to sour. She chipped away at the beer Alistair had brought. A sinking feeling settled into the pit of her stomach. There might be other bonfires to come, but not like this. So she wanted to make the most of it, and tried her best to ignore the sadness attempting to wriggle into her bones. That could be for tomorrow. Tonight, she would enjoy herself.

    Canned music from the tiny stereo echoed across the beach. She sat alone on the log, nursing a joint Alistair had left her with before heading on a walk with Kismet. The fire spluttered, easing down into embers.

    Angel emerged from where he¡¯d been dancing with Cassie and Blossom further along the beach.

    "Care to dance?" he asked, slurring slightly.

    Nyx looked up at him and smiled to see the mischievous glimmer in his eye. She took Angel''s hand and he whisked her away. The smooth pebbles made their movements clumsy as Angel spun her around, exaggerated and silly. The liquor wasn''t helping. Nyx nearly slipped, but he caught her, laughing. His hand pressed to the small of her back, holding her close.

    "You gotta hold your liquor," he said. "You''re outta practice."

    "I''m ok. I don''t think I''m gonna go pro," she said and nuzzled into the crook of his neck and shoulder. The scent of sea salt lingered on his skin. She wound her fingers through his hair and kissed him, tasting whiskey on his lips.

    A chunk of seaweed slapped Angel across the back of the head. They broke apart. He put his hand up where the seaweed hit him, looking around. Nyx squinted in the dim light, but Angel''s vision was unaffected by the dark and he spied Alistair getting another wad of seaweed ready to throw.

    "What the hell man?"

    Nyx hopped out of the way as Angel ducked to grab his own seaweed clump to throw back at Alice. She sighed. So much for the tender moment. They chased each other around the shore, flinging seaweed and chunks of mud at each other.

    "I''m really happy Angel seems to have healed up so well," said Blossom, walking toward Nyx. She minded her steps, wobbling across the stones. Her hair always seemed to flow so gracefully, not a strand drifted out of place, but her crown had slipped a little to the side. "How are you? Cassie was quite shaken, and so was I. Even from the stage it looked -"

    "I know," said Nyx, sighing. "I''m alright. It looked much worse than it actually was."

    "I''m sorry Timmy told and got everyone all worked up. He can''t keep quiet sometimes."

    Cassie bounced up to them, laughing as she struggled to balance. Her green braid had come slightly undone, wisps blowing in the breeze. She put her arm around Nyx''s shoulders, partially to hug her, but mostly to keep balance.

    "I''m gonna miss you," she said, planting a peck on Nyx''s cheek. "Wanna come too? You totally can if you want, right Blossom?"

    Blossom nodded. "Of course."

    "What would I even do?" Nyx asked with a laugh. "Clearly I can''t dance."

    "Play the drums!" Cassie poked her in the side.

    "Oh, nobody wants to see me play," she said with a dismissive wave.

    "That''s not true," said Blossom. "I''ve heard you play loads of times and you''re really good."

    "Angel is the one with any talent."

    Cassie laughed, jerking her thumb to where Alistair now had Angel in a headlock. "Yeah, he''s a creative genius."

    "Sure, he''s goofy as hell, but he''s good," said Nyx. "You''ve never heard him sing."

    "Only because he absolutely refuses to do it in front of anyone," said Cassie.

    "He doesn''t have anything to prove."

    Angel had broken free of Alistair''s grip and the two were now squaring up, throwing fake punches and exchanging exaggerated threats, bickering over who was going to toss who into the sea first.

    Blossom excused herself to join Kismet by the fire and get another drink.

    "Are you going to be ok here with everything going on?" Cassie asked, still managing to whisper despite her inebriated slurring.

    "Yeah, of course."

    "How is it going anyways? You haven''t spoken much about it since -"

    "It''s ok. I got it," Nyx said, trying to smile. "Don''t worry about what we''re up to over here, you go and have a great time."

    Cassie smiled, but it was sad and grateful. She kissed her again, then dashed off to the fire.

    For the rest of the evening, Nyx carried on drinking until her vision blurred. She tried to drown the heaviness in her chest, but that didn''t seem to work. It only made it grow instead.

    Alistair stopped wrestling Angel, and dug out his bag of weed. They all shared another joint around the fire, including Kismet.

    The others dissipated, returning to dancing, and splashing each other along the water¡¯s edge. Only Kismet remained and they looked at each other across the fire. There was certainly something lingering behind Kismet¡¯s eyes.

    Nyx took the last sip of beer. It hurt to swallow.

    ¡°Can I have a hug?¡± she asked.

    Kismet nodded and set her own drink down, shuffling over to sit beside Nyx on the log. She put her arms around her and squeezed. Maybe it was the liquor, but Nyx found herself buried in Kismet¡¯s hoodie, resisting tears. Grief snuck up on her, a biting sting to the center of her chest. There was no need to say a word. Kismet held on tight.

 Chapter Thirty-Six: Oasis

    The fire burned to Embers. Through the lens of alcohol and weed, Nyx¡¯s dark cherry aura was pale against the night sky as she smoked her cigarette beside Kismet. One leg crossed over the other as she jiggled her foot. The substances made it feel like she was swathed in a ball of cotton and pushed the hum of voices away from the base of her skull, so that it sounded more a kin to a group grumbling in another room. Her skin prickled with a soft numbness.

    They didn¡¯t talk about the hug, or how Nyx was still struggling to pull back tears. Instead, Kismet reached over and slowly rubbed the other girl¡¯s back in slow circles.

    She¡¯s been so helpful to me, I wish there was something more I could do for her. Instead, here I am, getting ready to blow up her life.

    Nausea burbled in Kismet¡¯s gut and her stomach heaved.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I gotta -¡± she began, but Nyx nodded in understanding.

    ¡°Sure, sure.¡± Nyx looked up at her as she stood. ¡°Is everything ok?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, um, I think the liquor¡¯s just getting to me is all.¡±

    ¡°Oh, do you want me to come with you? Do you need help?¡±

    Kismet shook her head. ¡°No thanks. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    She shuffled away from the fire, heading toward the water. The others shouted and squealed, splashing around at the edge of the ocean, but she made sure to keep away. Her stomach rolled and her vision swam. The cold water against her bare feet brought her back into awareness, if only a little.

    A hand on her shoulder made her jump, and she turned to see Angel grinning down at her. His naked chest was streaked with mud, and his hair hung limp with ocean water, clumping with salt, dirt and strings of seaweed. His close presence eliminated what fragments of the murmuring voices remained and the sudden silence nearly crushed her.

    ¡°You alright over here?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yeah, totally fine,¡± she said.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet all night, even for you. I just wanted to make sure you¡¯re not over here stuffing rocks in your pockets or something.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help it and laughed. ¡°No, seriously, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Angel quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Look Kizzy, I¡¯m the last person to go prying into someone else''s'' business, but I can¡¯t help but notice you¡¯ve been drinking all night.¡±

    She twisted her sleeves in her hands and turned toward the sea, watching the waves lap up against the sand. The distant city lights of Happsburg twinkled through the encroaching fog.

    ¡°Am I not allowed to celebrate or something?¡± she grumbled, kicking at clumps of mud and pebbles.

    ¡°I know celebrating, and this ain¡¯t it,¡± Angel said. ¡°You don¡¯t want to talk about it, fine. That¡¯s cool. We can stand here in silence. My favorite.¡±

    Ugh, Angel why do you have to choose right now to be supportive? If you only knew¡­

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you drink more often?¡± Angel asked. ¡°If it suppresses your powers like it does mine, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re not wasted all the time since you hate them so much.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to get reliant on it to feel better,¡± she said, finally looking at him again. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what that does to people, so I¡¯d rather not.¡±

    In some of the homes she¡¯d lived in, the guardians had been far from sober, and after fleeing Jade, her time alone on the street only served to show her why she should stay far away from trying to her numb herself. Kismet had seen far too many people suffering. Sure, chemicals could offer a type of relief from the onslaught of her abilities, but she did not want to trade one problem for another.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like feeling out of control,¡± she continued. ¡°I don¡¯t want to say or do anything¡­ weird, or not remember.¡±

    ¡°What? That¡¯s the best part,¡± Angel teased. ¡°I¡¯m glad I don¡¯t remember half the shit I¡¯ve done. The stuff I do remember is bad enough.¡±

    Kismet sighed, shoving her hands into the front pocket of her hoodie. The ocean rumbled between them to the tune of the smaller stones tumbling against each other. She could smell the brine clinging to the fog.

    ¡°Hey, um, Kismet, you¡¯re a girl¡­¡± Angel began, shifting his weight, fidgeting.

    ¡°Last time I checked,¡± she laughed. ¡°What¡¯s that have to do with anything?¡±

    ¡°Well, uh, um, does Nyx ever talk girl stuff with you?¡±

    Kismet scrunched her brow in confusion, unsure what he was getting at. ¡°Yeah, I guess so.¡±

    ¡°Do you think there¡¯s any hope for me? I can¡¯t seem to get it right.¡±

    I wish you two would just talk to each other.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Of course there is,¡± Kismet said, looking up at his face. The playful glimmer in his eyes was replaced with shadow. ¡°You don¡¯t need me to tell you how much she cares about you.¡±

    She studied his face, the sudden innocence in his eyes,and her heart sank, churning the liquor around in her guts.

    But you do. Or at least you need me to tell you something.

    ¡°Sometimes I think of it like this,¡± Kismet explained. ¡°You¡¯re like a blind man in the desert searching for water, but there¡¯s an oasis right in front of you, and you just can¡¯t see it. There is love all around you Angel. I can see it, literally, in everyone¡¯s auras and how they feel around you. It¡¯s complicated, sure, but love always is. I just wish you could see it for yourself.¡±

    He tensed, fiddling with the silver rings on his fingers, twisting them with short, quick, movements.

    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna be this way, Kizzy,¡± he muttered, so quietly his voice was nearly drowned by the waves, ¡°but I don¡¯t know what to do. I can¡¯t change. I¡¯m so¡­ I dunno¡­ lost, I guess. I don¡¯t wanna be broken forever. I wish I knew what the fuck is wrong with me. Like if I could pluck this rotten part out of me right out, I would. I just can¡¯t.¡±

    Guilt sat so heavily upon Kismet¡¯s shoulders, her knees buckled beneath the weight. Liquor along with stomach acid coiled like a venomous serpent in her guts, tightening and squeezing. She doubled over and threw up in the sand.

    Startled, Angel jumped to the side. ¡°Whoa, Kizzy, you ok?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I-I, uh, just drank too much,¡± she said, tears burning the edges of her eyes. ¡°I think maybe I should go home - to Nyx¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Ok, sure, yeah. I¡¯ll fly you?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s ok.¡±

    She hurried away from him, shuffling back up toward the fire. He followed her, but she wouldn¡¯t slow down. Alistair caught up to them, the smile sliding off his face when his eyes landed on Kismet¡¯s distraught expression. He was also bare chested, coated in mud and seaweed.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up?¡± he asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s a bit drunk,¡± Angel explained. ¡°I offered to fly her home, but -¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, really,¡± Kismet insisted, refusing to look at either of them, fighting against the tears building up inside. She couldn¡¯t stand to meet the concerned look in Alistair¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°How about I walk you then?¡± Alistair suggested. ¡°Sorry I¡¯m a bit too fucked up to drive, but walking I can manage.¡±

    I don¡¯t deserve their kindness.

    ¡°No, I can walk by myself. I know the way,¡± she insisted, trying to trudge onward.

    Alistair and Angel looked at each other, exchanging questioning glances.

    ¡°Please let me walk you,¡± Alistair asked. ¡°It¡¯s really late and very dark. I couldn¡¯t handle it if something were to happen to you. Please?¡±

    I¡¯m not as fragile as they think. I¡¯ve survived much worse places than the empty backroads of Portsmouth island.

    ¡°Ok, fine,¡± she sighed.

    They said good-bye to Angel and then the others as they passed the fire pit. The girls were also concerned and Kismet once again had to assure them she was fine, just very drunk.

    It wasn¡¯t a lie. She staggered up the rocks toward the road, finding herself grateful after all to have Alistair¡¯s elbow to steady herself. He hadn¡¯t put his shirt on, his chest coated in drying mud and seawater. His shaggy blond hair stuck up in multiple directions.

    The street was dark as promised. Sparsely placed street lights did little to illuminate their walk up the sloping hill toward the cabins. Heavy clouds blotting out the moon did not help either. The street was empty. Everyone seemed to be tucked inside for the night. Most cabins had only a light on or two while others were in complete darkness.

    She could smell rain brewing.

    ¡°I¡¯d love to have your powers for even a minute,¡± said Alistair. ¡°Just to see what¡¯s going on in your head. I can¡¯t figure you out.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to figure out,¡± she muttered, twisting the ends of her sleeves in her hands as they walked.

    Alistair laughed. ¡°Kizzy, you have been an enigma since the day I met you.¡±

    Much to Kismet¡¯s appreciation, Alistair allowed them to walk in silence, and didn¡¯t try to pry the answers out of her.

    He¡¯s probably the most genuine person I¡¯ve ever met. There¡¯s not a mean bone in his body. I failed him.

    They made it to Nyx¡¯s cabin and Alistair ushered her inside toward the pile of blankets on the couch. Despite her insistence, he tucked her in and fetched a glass of water.

    Every act of kindness was another needle plunged under her skin.

    ¡°You good?¡± Alistair asked once she was settled to his liking. ¡°I¡¯m gonna hop in the shower and get all this mud off. Angel must have left some clothes here somewhere i can borrow. You need anything before I do?¡±

    Kismet tugged the throw blanket up to her chin. Emotion and liquor making her eyelids grow heavier.

    ¡°Seriously Alice, I¡¯m drunk not dying of the plague,¡± she muttered. ¡°I¡¯m fine, but thank you.¡±

    When he ducked into the washroom, she was alone with her thoughts. The sound of the shower hardly served to drown them out. They spiraled, piled one on top of the other. For once, it was not the myriad of other voices she was trying to drown out, it was her own. She desperately needed her headphones, but couldn''t find them.

    Kismet got off the sofa to search for them. Staggering around in the darkened room, she fumbled around the blankets on the couch and through the clutter on the coffee table.

    Where are they? Where are they? Come on, I really need to find them.

    Frustration mounted as did the tears until the pressure became too much and she broke down in heaving sobs on the floor beside the sofa.

    That''s where Alister found her. She curled in a ball, hugging her knees tight to her chest. She looked up at him with eyes swimming with tears and liquor.

    ¡°What''s wrong, Kismet?¡± He crouched down on the floor beside her, squeezing in between the couch and coffee table. ¡°Please, will you tell me what''s wrong? Something has been gnawing at you for weeks.¡±

    ¡°It''s bad. So bad. You''re gonna hate me, but I can¡¯t keep it in any longer,¡± Kismet stammered through her tears.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s ok, you can tell me, he assured her.

    Kismet shuddered. ¡°When I was at your parents'' bonfire, I accidentally read your Mom''s mind, and I saw something I really shouldn''t have. I don''t know what to do. I thought telling everyone would make it worse, but it seems keeping the secret isn''t any better.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Alistair frowned. ¡°What did you see?¡±

    ¡°I want to tell you. I do. I wanted to tell you for a long time.¡± Kismet had stopped crying but was left trembling. ¡°it''s about Angel, so I think it''s only right we wait for him to come back with Nyx and I''ll tell you all together.¡±

    ¡°Whatever it is, I''m sure we can manage it.¡±

    Kismet only shook her head. She appreciated the sentiment, but feared the fallout was going to be much more than anything else Alistair could be anticipating. Even with him right beside her, this was the loneliest she had felt since coming to the island.

 Chapter Thirty-Seven: So Choose

    The fire was dead. A plume of sizzling smoke trailed up toward the clouded sky as Angel poured another bucket of water for good measure. There were no stars. The ocean had turned black except for the rolling foam crowns on the waves.

    Cassie and Blossom were already over the rocks, carrying the stereo, leaving Nyx and Angel alone on the beach.

    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s get outta here,¡± she said, brushing the sand off her hands. Nyx rummaged in the tote bag for a flashlight and clicked it on. ¡°This place gives me the creeps when it¡¯s so dark, ya know?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t know,¡± Angel laughed. ¡°I can still see.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s freaky,¡± she said, scrunching her nose.

    Nyx reached for the tote bag, but Angel took her hand instead. ¡°Why not leave that until tomorrow and I¡¯ll fly us back?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s gonna rain,¡± she said, gesturing at the sky, and then at him, ¡°and look at ya, you¡¯re coated in mud. You¡¯re filthy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go rinse off,¡± he said, turning toward the ocean, but she tightened her grip on his hand. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°What really happened at The Barn?¡± she asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t just talk to Jack and Caroline. I¡¯m not stupid.¡±

    The beam from her flashlight reflected in her emerald eyes as they narrowed. Her lips drew into a stern line.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he sighed. ¡°I was going to bet on a fight, but I didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Why the sudden self-restraint?¡± Nyx asked.

    Angel stepped back and looked away at the empty stretch of beach. His palms grew sweaty and his heart thundered at flight-speed, pulsing blood in his ears.

    ¡°Caroline¡¯s vision showed that I fight Carl tonight and win,¡± Angel confessed.

    The look of horror on her face only made the ball of tension in his chest tighten its depth grip around his heart, crushing his lungs until he couldn¡¯t breath.

    ¡°It was just a vision -¡±

    ¡°Why would you even go there?¡± she snapped. ¡°Why would you even talk to them? Especially Crazy Carrie. What could you possibly have to gain?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t call her that,¡± Angel muttered, ¡°she¡¯s not so bad. You never gave them a chance. I wanted to catch up with them. They¡¯re nice underneath it all.¡±

    ¡°You gotta be kidding me.¡± Nyx tossed her hands up. ¡°They do nothing but put you in danger and throw you under the bus the first chance they get. I didn¡¯t forget high school when you were nearly expelled because of them.¡±

    ¡°That was high school, we were kids -¡±

    ¡°They haven¡¯t changed, and neither have you apparently.¡±

    Nyx turned on her heel and marched up toward the rocks and he hurried after her, finally catching her elbow as they reached the street. If her eyes were daggers, she would have impaled him on the spot with the glare she flashed, yanking her arm away.

    ¡°Fuck off.¡±

    ¡°Nyx, please, listen to me, it was just a vision, it doesn¡¯t have to come true.¡±

    She rounded on him again, her eyes blazing. ¡°If you can¡¯t see why I¡¯m pissed, we have bigger problems. You went there in the first place and then hid a very key detail from me. Are you starting to see why trusting you is a bit difficult?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything,¡± he insisted. ¡°I can¡¯t help what Caroline sees. I should have told you, but i was still chewing on it, and I knew you¡¯d react like this.¡±

    ¡°How else should I react when you won¡¯t just do what I ask?¡±

    Heat mounted in the center of his chest, throbbing like a tiny ember.

    ¡°You¡¯re mad I¡¯m not following orders then?¡± he snapped. ¡°Is that it?¡±

    ¡°No, that isn¡¯t -¡±

    ¡°I need a little room to breathe. I can¡¯t make a move without getting the third degree. I can have my own life.¡±

    Nyx fixed her eyes on his, setting her jaw. ¡°Sure you can, but you have to decide if it has me in it. I¡¯m not fucking doing this forever. So pick.¡±

    The air grew heavier, pressing in at all sides. He couldn¡¯t breath. Heaviness sunk into his chest. All the words in his mind swirled together to form static, so he opened his mouth and trusted whatever would come out of it.

    ¡°You, of course,¡± Angel said. ¡°I won¡¯t have anything to do with The Barn at all, or Jack, Caroline or Carl. I¡¯m gonna stay with you all night to make sure, if you¡¯ll have me? Or I can lock myself in my house, werewolf style?¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t come to that,¡± she said, sighing. ¡°I wish you¡¯d have told me sooner.¡±

    They began the walk up the sloping hill toward Nyx¡¯s cabin. The street lights shimmered off the mist. The fog was so thick even Angel had a hard time looking ahead.

    ¡°I should have,¡± he admitted. ¡°You¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t have gone at all. I figured it would be fine so long as I didn¡¯t fight or something, but now look.¡±

    How hard is it to stay home? I¡¯m an idiot. Maybe I really can¡¯t be trusted?

    They arrived at the cabin, careful to let themselves in quietly, expecting Kismet and Alistair to be fast asleep. Instead, they found Kismet sobbing on the floor with her knees tucked under her chin and a concerned, yet confused, Alistair at her side.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Nyx rushed to her and Angel wasn¡¯t too far behind. If she were hurt somehow he could heal her, but he didn¡¯t see any sign of blood or other evidence of injury.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Nyx asked.

    ¡°I dunno.¡± Alistair shrugged.

    Angel hovered over Nyx¡¯s shoulder, squeezed in the now crowded space between the couch and coffee table. His heart pounded, lodging itself into the base of his throat, pressing underneath until swallowing was tender like a bruise. All he could smell was the tang of fear.

    ¡°Is someone dead?¡± he asked.

    Kismet shook her head, sniffing, she peered up at them. Her hazel eyes were wide and blood-shot. The skin around them had turned pink and puffy.

    ¡°I¡¯m a telepath,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I lied.¡±

    ¡°Daisy asked her to,¡± Alistair explained. ¡°She didn¡¯t want anyone to know until the end of the council meeting.¡±

    ¡°So you could read my thoughts all this time?¡± Nyx asked, withdrawing and standing up again.

    ¡°Yes, well, no¡­ it¡¯s complicated,¡± said Kismet, her cheeks blazing red. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. Sometimes I can keep it out, sometimes I can¡¯t. Daisy helped me a lot, and so did Angel.¡±

    ¡°What did you see in my head?¡± Nyx demanded.

    Angel put a gentle hand on her shoulder. ¡°Take it easy, would ya?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the only one here who had their mind read without knowing it,¡± Nyx snapped. ¡°I think I can be mad, thank you.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Kismet muttered, pressing the heels of her hands to the sides of her head. ¡°You should be. It wasn¡¯t fair, and I¡¯m so, so sorry.¡±

    To see Kismet even smaller and curled in on herself broke his heart. He knew exactly how crushing the weight of such a secret could be and drowning under her abilities on top of it must be agonizing.

    ¡°Look Kizzy,¡± Angel said, ¡°if you hadn¡¯t cut your finger, I very well could have been the one lying to you about my powers.¡±

    Nyx sighed and plunked onto the couch. ¡°I get it, but I don¡¯t have to like it.¡±

    ¡°Why did Daisy want you to lie?¡± Angel asked.

    To his horror, Kismet burst into tears, sobbing into her hands.

    Alistair scooched in closer. ¡°It¡¯s ok, you can tell them.¡±

    Angel frowned, but said nothing.

    ¡°Tell us what?¡± Nyx asked, sitting up. ¡°What else could there be?¡±

    ¡°I read your mom¡¯s mind at the barbeque,¡± Kismet confessed, peeking out from behind her hands. Her eyes were wild behind the wall of frizzy curls. ¡°I saw a meeting Jay and Molly had with Julian where they talked about Angel and his resurrection. They knew. Or at least figured something happened.¡±

    The blood drained from Angel¡¯s face, sweeping him with a frigid chill across his body. The ember of heat flickered on in his chest, curling his hands to fists.

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they say something?¡± Nyx asked, frowning.

    ¡°Julian asked them not to in case it wasn¡¯t necessary, then when Angel manifested these powers, Molly and Jay begged him to talk to Angel about it.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t explain where these powers come from?¡± Alistair asked, getting to his feet.

    Angel couldn¡¯t look away from Kismet, but his mind was a storm.

    How could they keep me in the dark like this for so long? All month, I¡¯ve been struggling to hide my powers, not thinking I could even tell anyone¡­

    ¡°Something called Operation Pomegranate,¡± Kismet continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about it. I tried to research and found nothing. So I talked to Daisy about it and she told me. Angel, maybe you should sit down?¡±

    ¡°No, no, I¡¯m fine to stand,¡± he said. ¡°Go on.¡±

    The cold, clipped tone to his voice made everyone stop and look at him.

    ¡°Really, I¡¯m fine,¡± he insisted. ¡°I want to hear the rest.¡±

    ¡°Umm, Angel¡­¡± Alistair said. ¡°You should probably have a seat. You¡¯re, um, glowing.¡±

    ¡°Am I?¡± He looked to see that Alistair was right. An azure light had enveloped the contours of his body.

    It¡¯s so strange how I can¡¯t feel it. I can¡¯t feel anything.

    ¡°Finish the story please,¡± Angel asked.

    ¡°Maybe we should go to bed,¡± said Nyx, reaching for his arm. He could hardly feel the pressure of her fingers tugging against his mud-streaked skin.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Alistair agreed. ¡°We can find out the rest in the morning when we¡¯re all a bit clearer minded. It¡¯s already been a lot to take in -¡±

    ¡°Kismet, please finish the story,¡± Angel insisted through gritted teeth.

    ¡°Ok, if you¡¯re sure,¡± she said, looking to Alistair and Nyx, who nodded for her to continue.

    Why does she need their permission?

    Kismet told him how Ember had exposed her wings to fly, only to be captured by the Watchers and taken to The Old Academy where she would meet Ivy and be sequestered into the basement laboratory. She told of how Ivy started the war to set her free and found Angel in the process, delivering him as an egg to the island after Ember¡¯s passing during the war.

    The room spun, churning a cold nausea into his gut, while heat blazed throughout the rest of his body.

    Everything is a lie. No wonder they all hated me. I was just some weird little lab experiment. They were all waiting to see how I¡¯d turn out, give them a reason to feel the way they do and justify it. There¡¯s nothing I ever could have done to shake that.

    When Kismet finished speaking, silence echoed through the room. They looked at him, waiting to see a reaction. Their eyes were wide with anticipation, but worst of all, fear. He could only fathom what he must look like to them now. They eyed him like a bomb.

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry,¡± Kismet sobbed, hugging her knees. ¡°Angel, please say something.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to go see Julian,¡± he said, stepping around the side of the coffee table.

    Nyx hurried after him, with Alistair and Kismet right behind. They cornered him at the door, his back to the stairs. She slipped in front, blocking the door and with the other two hovering in the archway, there was no escape.

    His airways pinched at the top of his chest as blood whooshed in his ears.

    ¡°Let me go,¡± he said with as much calm as he could muster. The rage boiling beneath the thin crust of dissociation threatened to crack through the surface.

    ¡°We both know what happens if you leave this house tonight,¡± she said as tears filled her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll deal in the morning.¡±

    The heat flared, pulsating a short wave of bright light.

    ¡°Nyx is right,¡± said Alistair. ¡°You¡¯ll have a clearer head after a good sleep.¡±

    ¡°My head is clear,¡± said Angel. ¡°That¡¯s what you all don¡¯t seem to understand. I see everything so much better than I ever have before. Please move Nyx, I need to talk to Julian.¡±

    She shook her head, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.  ¡°You won¡¯t come back.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m only going to talk to Julian. I¡¯ll stay far away from The Barn. I swear. Now, let. Me. leave.¡±

    ¡°Let him go,¡± said Kismet. She sagged against the side of the archway. ¡°We can¡¯t keep him if he doesn¡¯t want to stay.¡±

    ¡°But -¡± Nyx began.

    ¡°Let him go,¡± Alistair sighed.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Angel, stepping for the door as soon as Nyx got out of the way.

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet,¡± said Alistair, boring his green eyes into Angel. ¡°You can go if you want, it¡¯s your choice. Rember that. I¡¯m sorry you learned something horrible tonight, but it doesn¡¯t have to define the rest of your life. If you don¡¯t want to stay here and let us help you, fine. Go.¡±

    Angel¡¯s grip loosened on the door knob, looking back at the exhaustion on their faces.

    ¡°I¡¯m only going to talk to Julian,¡± he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡±

    He stepped outside into the night, letting the door slam at his back.