Page 38 of A Sky of Storms
The water threw me back down and I laughed as bubbles drifted around me, enjoying the ride as I tumbled around. When I finally stilled, I swam through the water as fast as I could to the shore.
“Winner, winner, squid for dinner.” I grinned, finding no one else on the other side of the lake but me. I raised my arms in the air, basking in my victory.
I turned, watching the chaos in the water. Potentials were being thrown around whilst others were chopping through the waves, Kayden among them. It turned out his aggressive strokes were good for something. He was hurtling towards me with the ferocity of a jet boat. I searched for Fallon, spotting her in the centre, rising with the swells with Kendra close by.
Starfish liked to make everyone think she was independent, but I sensed she needed me. Even without my power, I still had an uncanny ability to read others. Like how I knew Noah wanted to be my bestie. He was just afraid to make the dive. Fallon may have looked like she was chilling in the water, but I knew she needed her knight in shining armour—or boardies—to help her tame the waves. I puffed out my chest.
“I’m coming, Starfish,” I declared like the righteous knight I was.
Diving back into the water, I swam towards them deeper down. It was chaos above the surface and I didn’t want to get thrown around for no reason. When I’d reached about the middle, I shot up and popped my head into the air with a grin. I was so good at calculating distances.
I slipped between Fallon and her gal pal, dropping an arm around Starfish’s waist and tugging her close. Kendra giggled, trying to cover it up with a cough. Not quick enough though.
Sneaky seal.
“Where did you disappear to?” Fallon asked, unclasping my fingers and pushing backwards just out of my reach. “I thought you’d be finished by now.”
“I won ages ago.” I grinned.
“Of course you did,” Kendra said, rolling her eyes. “Why are you back here then?”
“I thought I’d better get you two. Hold your breath,” I said, ducking under as a large wave crashed over us.
Once the bubbles cleared, Fallon came into my line of sight, her dark hair splayed out around her and the imprints of her wings on her bare back. They looked like tattoos done in a pearly white sort of ink. She kicked her legs, swimming for the surface, and I was hot on her sexy tail. We broke the water and she gasped as I took hold of her and Kendra again and swam for the edge of the lake.
“I can swim, you know,” Fallon said, holding onto my shoulders and wrapping her legs around my waist. I smiled, then got hit in the head by a powerful jet of water.
Fallon and Kendra let go just as I was thrown away from them across the lake in the most unflattering way. My hair came undone and was plastered over my face as though someone had dropped an octopus on my head. Why was the water against me? We’d always been such good friends.
Fallon had been barely knocked around and was continuing towards the lake’s edge. She was a talented swimmer—a great sign that she was a prize catch. I just needed her to bite my line and let me reel her in. Sure, we did the naked dance, but Starfish could be aloof and I wanted her all to myself. I swam towards her, finding Kendra beside me. We dodged the obstacles together, and finally caught a wave that we rode towards the shore.
“Took your time,” Fallon said as she stood on the yellow sand, her hands on her hips.
“Couldn’t leave your gal pal behind,” I told her, slapping Kendra on the back. I quickly caught her as she stumbled forward, her sea legs all wobbly on the sand.
We sat on a dune, watching as the remaining competitors either made it to our side or found themselves back where they started, bruised or in some cases unconscious.
“Can either of you see my sister?” Fallon asked. “I want to keep track of who she’s hanging out with.”
I scanned the water but couldn’t see Victoria anywhere.
“Why do you want to know who she is with?” Kendra asked.
“She’s up to something,” Fallon said, looking at her hands. She was playing with a small stick, twirling it around her fingers. “I need to know what it is.”
“I could follow her, search her room when she’s not there?” Kendra offered. My eyes almost bugged out of my head. “I’ll let you know what I find.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said, raising my hands before me. “I am shocked at your gutsiness little Kendra, but I think I should be the one assisting Starfish with this investigation.”
I gave them my most serious look but was met with Fallon’s mischievous grin. Kendra just shook her head.
“No one is going to be spying on Victoria or searching her stuff,” Fallon said, tossing the stick to the sand. “It’s too dangerous, but I appreciate both of you offering.”
“You don’t think I can handle a little danger?” I pushed, puffing out my chest. I wasn’t afraid of anything. Okay, maybe sea slugs, but other than those slimy suckers, there was nothing.
“Mark and Victoria have been meeting someone in secret. This person—or people—have been keeping their identity hidden,” Fallon said. “Mark and my sister both have weapons now as well.”
Kendra sighed, her shoulders slumping. “These trials are not above board.”
