Page 52 of Fade With Me

She leaned back just enough to meet my eyes, her expression grave. “And with that ring on your finger, you’re more vulnerable than you realize. You’re a beacon to them, Bryn. If they find out what you are, they won’t hesitate.”

“I will,” I said as firmly as I could manage. “I promise.”

I pulled away, my heart heavy with the silent echoes of her warning and the promises I’d just made. Every step toward the door felt like a step deeper into the unknown, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I couldkeep pretending I wasn’t already tangled in this web of darkness.

As I reentered the parking lot, I spotted Zeke waiting in the car. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze remained steady, tracking me in the rearview mirror, a mix of concern and curiosity etched on his face.

I slid into the passenger seat, letting out a soft exhale as the atmosphere thickened with unspoken questions.

“So?” he asked, his focus fixed on me, a hint of hope in his gaze as he absently pushed a loose strand of hair away from his forehead.

I leaned back against the headrest, closing my eyes, disappointment washing over me. “Nothing. She says the only way is to separate the rings.”

His face fell slightly, but he managed a reassuring smile. “Don’t let it get to you. Just because she doesn’t know another way doesn’t mean there isn’t one.”

I lifted my head, narrowing my eyes as suspicion surged through me. Crossing my arms tightly over my chest, the subtle clench of my jaw betrayed the discomfort tightening inside me. “What did you do to make her dislike you?”

His response came effortlessly, as if he’d been asked this a thousand times. “She senses my power,” he explained matter-of-factly. “As a powerful sorcerer, I tend to make people—uneasy. Being here, in a realm like this, probably only heightens her suspicion. Withoutthe proper context, I’m sure I seem more like a threat than anything else.”

He glanced toward the thrift store. “To mortals, my power isn’t cloaked. Most don’t understand what they’re feeling—just a vague unease, a hesitation they can’t quite place. But Sadie…she knows exactly what it means. She knows what I am.” His gaze darkened slightly, his voice dropping lower. “And she knows what people like me are capable of.”

I studied him, my eyes lingering on his face, the picture of innocence. That sweetness, that disarming charm, could make anyone drop their guard. But was it all a mask? Was Sadie right? Was his charm just a tool to manipulate, to get people to trust him? Was he used to people believing in him because of his looks and easy way with words? What exactlywasZeke capable of?

We drove in silence, the familiar route back to Zeke’s house stretching out before us, our minds consumed by the mystery we were trying to unravel. When we arrived, the warmth inside wrapped around us like a comforting embrace. We made our way to the dining room table, the same spot where we had spent hours the day before, poring over ancient tomes and yellowed pages.

A long, contemplative silence hung in the air before Zeke finally broke it, speaking as if to himself. “Hmm. I wonder…now that you’re aware of your predicament, can you tap into whatever residual abilities you have? Maybe…willthe ring off?”

He paused, considering the idea. “Even if it’s just a small remnant, it’s worth a shot.” He shrugged out of his suit jacket, unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt, and rolled up his sleeves, his tone shifting to something more casual. “Or, we could always just wing it and see what happens. Who doesn’t love a good experiment, right?”

I hesitated. So far, my “abilities” had amounted to a shattered lightbulb and a few flickering lights. But I was willing to try anything. “Okay,” I said, my voice steadying as resolve crept in. “What do I do?”

Zeke’s face lit up with a mix of encouragement and expectation. “Start small. Levitate something in the room with your mind.” He gestured toward a nearby object, his movements fluid. “Close your eyes, relax, and picture exactly what you want to happen.Willit into existence.”

He pulled out a chair and sat down with ease. With a flick of his wrist, his mug lifted into the air, hovering for a moment before he took a sip, his gaze never leaving the floating object. Then, carefully, he lowered the cup, setting it back down with a soft clink.

“Just like that. Easy.”

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and focused on the mug. I tried to relive the sensation of holding it, feeling the warmth, the smoothness of the porcelain,and the scent of the coffee. I pictured it rising as if an invisible hand were lifting it into the air. When I opened my eyes, Zeke was watching me intently, his gaze darting between me and the objects in the room.

“Did it work?” he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice. His stare locked onto mine, bright and expectant, his body leaning forward in his seat as if waiting for a miracle. “What did you levitate?”

I sighed, the weight of my failure heavy in my chest. I twisted one of my loose curls around my finger, a nervous habit that always seemed to take over in moments like this. “I tried to pour that coffee on your head.”

His eyes widened, horror crossing his face. He straightened in his chair, clutching the fabric of his suit as if to shield it from my imagined attack. “Good God, woman! This suit is Armani! Are you insane?”

Frustration welled up inside me, and I threw my hands up in the air. “This is hopeless! The cup didn’t even move!” I paced a few steps, shaking my head.

Zeke shot a sidelong glance at the untouched coffee cup and nudged it out of my reach. “Alright,” he said, suppressing a laugh, “let’s try this again. But this time, don’t just picture it. Use your hands. Mimic the motion. Visualize it levitating while you move your hands upward, like you’re suspending it mid-air.”

He paused, then added with a dramatic sigh, “And for the love of all things sartorial, let’s keep my suitintact, shall we?” A cheeky grin tugged at his lips. “If you wanted to see me naked, all you had to do was ask.”

I gave an exaggerated eye-roll, unfazed by his flirtation. “Alright, round two. Here we go.”

I shut my eyes tight, raising my arms, waving them dramatically in the direction I willed the object to move. A few moments later, I peeked through one eye. Nothing.

“Okay, now I just look ridiculous,” I muttered, standing with my hands on my hips, trying to look serious but feeling completely absurd. I gave the cup a pointed glare, as though it had personally betrayed me.

Zeke’s lips twitched, and before he could stop himself, a laugh escaped him. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head with a grin. “Yeah, you definitely look a little unhinged,” he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “That idea’s out.”

---