Page 6 of The Discovered
I uncrossed my arms and shook my head. “Fine.” I paused. “How did you know my name?”
“Sometimes, we witches just know things,” he said, shrugging a shoulder. “Come on, then, little witch.”
I bristled at the patronizing pet name, but the tips of his mouth only shifted up. He rose, offering me his arm—taut muscles peeking out from beneath the black fabric of his T-shirt. I looked away quickly, grabbing ahold of him as he helped me to my feet.
He led me into the spacious bathroom, which was white with gold accents and all kinds of elegant. A luxurious, free-standing bathtub sat against the far wall. The mirrors in the front were tall and meticulously clean, the counters a shimmering gold and white marble. A spacious shower with glass doors was in the right corner, with a detachable shower head and a shelf built into the wall at sitting height.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” he said softly.
I nodded, assessing my best course of action as I leaned on him and hobbled to the shower.
“I think I can take it from here,” I said curtly.
He watched me for a few long seconds as I grabbed onto the towel rack for stability. He was so close I could smell the faintest woodsy, clean scent from his clothes, like fresh pine and soap.
“Are you sure?” The half-smirk was back.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure.”
He nodded, turning and moving to stand with his back to me at the front of the bathroom, leaning against the open doorway.
“Maybe witch customs are different, but I prefer to shower in private,” I said, my eyes boring into the back of his head.
“First of all, youarea witch. No amount of time with the humans could change that. Second, I don’t particularly trust you not to fall, and I’m not going to let you crack your skull open on my beautiful white marble floor. It would be terribly inconvenient to me.”
I clenched and unclenched my fists, motionless until I finally decided this particular hill wouldn’t be the one I died on.
“Fine. But any funny business and I will annihilate you.”
Daelon laughed, and I was startled by the pleasant sound of it—nearly pulling an instinctive smile of my own to my lips. “I have no doubt.”
I unzipped the side of my dress and pulled it up over my head, trying not to lose my shaky balance. I shimmied out of my panties and peeled off my adhesive bra. I cast glances to the double doors every once in a while, but Daelon stood motionless, eyes forward. I wished now more than ever I could break through his shield.
I was surprised at how well the magick pills worked, coursing through my veins like a warm veil over my ankle’s throbbing. Medication on Earth never seemed to work right for me, which was just another reminder of just how much I didn’t belong.
I stepped carefully into the shower and closed the glass door behind me. I balanced myself on the cool, white stone and grabbed the golden showerhead above me, facing it away from my body as I let the water warm. I cleared back the toiletries from the shelf and sat against it, sighing in relief as I was finally able to get clean.
I stole a glance toward Daelon through the steamy glass. He still faced the bedroom, his arm outstretched to lean on the door frame. Despite my inability to use my clairsentience on his psyche, I couldn’t deny the calm and security his presence evoked. It was actually very soothing not to have an aura constantly reaching out to my line of perception. It was like he was surrounded by solid walls—a walking armory of security. I had no idea if I could trust this stranger, whose alleged abilities were conveniently exactly what I needed right now. Maybe he really was someone I could trust… or maybe it was all a mirage, a trick, or a trap.
Steph, Rena, and Nick’s shocked and fearful faces overwhelmed my mind’s eye. I let a tear slide down my cheek, where it was swept away by a stream of water from the showerhead. Daelon was right. I couldn’t go back. I didn’t know when—or even if—I would see my friends again. Through the waves of grief, of which I was well familiar… there was something else, lurking, like a sliver of light through a long tunnel or a line of dominoes lying in wait. It was a feeling I couldn’t put into words.
As reluctant as I was to have anything to do with the realm of the people who murdered my mothers, I knew in my heart that my return was as inevitable as the sunrise. Not only did energy of this world seem more natural to me than the denser, colder flow on earth, but I also remembered my mothers’ words:One day you will return home and learn of who you are.
Who was I? Daelon seemed to think I was one of the most powerful witches in the realm, and the ebb and flow of energy all around me seemed to suggest that he was right. It was as if I were tuned into a million different frequencies, and they all yearned to be broadcast at my will and direction.
I turned over a palm, glancing at my slender fingers as they pulsated with electricity. Never in my life had I felt so alive—like I’d been living in a world without color since my mothers’ deaths. It felt wrong to think, but this newfound vitality shone much brighter than the deep wells of grief.
No matter his true intentions, I could at least use Daelon as a way to learn about my power and the landscape of the witch realm. Because if I had to be in Aradia, with this uncontrollable, accursed power, the least I could do was use it to avenge my mothers. I took a breath, a certain determination bleeding from the cracks of my disorientation and sadness. Someone—or something—had now stolen two lives from me. Two sets of families. And that couldn’t go unpunished. This was what my mothers wanted. It had to be.
After I was finished, I carefully stood up and turned off the water. The floor was slick. I wasn’t in the mood to fall again after the other night, so I let out a breath and sucked up my pride. “Daelon,” I called.
“Yes, little witch?”
I scrunched up my nose at this new nickname. He was awfully brazen for someone who knew what I was capable of.
“I need your help. Eyes closed. And don’t call me that,” I snapped.
He laughed lightly. My heart fluttered when he turned and strode toward me with his eyes shut tight. He handed me a towel, which I quickly wrapped and secured around myself before clinging to his arm once more. I rose to my feet, cursing as I slipped on the slick floor and tumbled into him.
