From Deities (18 page)

“I don’t understand how I can be anything. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.” My heart started thumping faster and my hands started to tremble. Feeling the warmth tingle in my hands, I clasped them together underneath the table. I didn’t understand the sudden anger that came out of nowhere. Mason must have seen what I was trying to hide. When he grabbed my hand and lightly squeezed it, it soothed me to the point where I could release my hands. And at that moment, I felt embarrassed for my actions and my tone. I sounded upset for no reason.

“Tame the flame, my child, and it will all be yours.”

Zara smiled at me, but I couldn’t give one back. Icy, shocking shivers ran down my spine, pricking me achingly. I tried my best not to look so shocked. Those exact words I’d heard in my nightmare were now in my reality. It stunned me, keeping me from speaking or moving. When my heart found its steady beat, I began to relax and produced a fake smile.

“Now that we’ve all come together and you understand what is at stake, I have a request. With your help—and of course I’ll be sending my best people—I believe we will find my sister and the person behind the vultures. I’m pleading before you for the sake of our future, for the sake of humanity, that we go on a search mission to Mt. Hem. I’m most certain our answers await there.”

The room was silent until Zara spoke again. “This news is overwhelming and you have every right to deny my request; however, I believe our time has finally come. You must think that my only reason for this mission is my sister, but you’re wrong. Tara has the stone we need to win the war. The three of us created this special stone, knowing what was ahead. Stones are very important to us. They are our source of energy and power.”

“My family and I will have to discuss this issue,” Everett said. “We’ve kept to ourselves and blended with the humans successfully. I don’t know if looking for our enemies is a good idea. It’s one thing if it’s knocking at our door, but to purposely search for trouble…I don’t know about this.”

“I understand your worries. I’ll give you a week to think about it; however, I’ve already foreseen the future. We will be on this mission. You cannot change destiny. I can answer more questions later.” Zara looked at our plates. “Let’s eat. Your food will get cold.”

With her permission, everyone started eating again, but Nick was already done.

After dinner, we
went into another room that was furnished with sofas. Everyone trickled in except for Zara, my dad, and the Elders

“You are welcome to move to New Olympus,” Noah said, gazing at Amanda.

“I think that’s a great idea.” Amanda looked at Everett.

Everett raised his brows. “I know you do.”

“What does that mean?” she huffed. “At least we’ll be safe behind the shield.”

“I’m not moving here. Plus, we have our restaurants, and there’s Kayla,” Nick added. “Anyway, do you each have your own rooms? And by the way, where do the others eat?”

Tim uncrossed his legs and leaned closer. “We have a large cafeteria that accommodates all of us. We usually eat there. Today was an exception.”

“How about your sleeping arrangements?”

“Oh, don’t worry; the guys and girls sleep in separate wings, and we are forbidden to cross over during the evening or when the night bell goes off.”

“That’s too bad,” Nick commented. “Could be a lot of fun if you were single.”

“Interesting.” Mason yawned, standing up. “Well, Sky and I are going to take a walk.”

I flashed my eyes at him in surprise. That came out of nowhere. Mason grabbed my hand and led the way. As soon as he closed the door behind us, he took off sprinting, still holding onto my hand.

“Mason, where are we going?” I giggled, keeping my speed with him.

He didn’t answer until we were outside. He swung around, pulled me into his arms, and started to kiss the side of my neck. “I wanted to be alone with you. There are way too many people here. I’m so used to my quiet space.”

I knew what he meant. “I like being alone with you, too.” I smiled, gazing into his loving eyes, which sparkled from the lights that hung above. Straight ahead, the trees lined both sides of the path. They were dimly lit with dangling white lights, creating a romantic ambiance. Besides that, this hidden place was engulfed by darkness. There were no stars, like Colin said, only a blanket of blackness above us. The weather was perfect and no breeze brushed against us. The night was still, and it seemed as though everyone was inside so Mason and I were completely alone.

“Let’s go.” Mason tugged my hand as we strolled down the path.

Being here with Mason with no one around made it feel like we were in our own little romantic world. I couldn’t help but marvel at the surrounding lights as we walked down the path, yet at the same time, I felt uneasy about the darkness. I knew we were completely safe, but who knew what was lurking in the blackness? However, glancing back at the castle was one of the most beautiful sights I’d ever seen.

It glowed brightly like one massive white light. It wasn’t so bright that I had to cover my eyes, but it gave me an enchanted feeling. Knowing that the inside wasn’t as bright as the outside structure, I wondered how that came to be. There was only one answer: it was magical.

Mason pulled me into him again, swinging us from side to side. He seemed so happy and relaxed. It was good to see him like this. He was always the worrier type, but when we arrived here, the tension in his face had eased. “Want to see something?” He gave me a naughty grin, biting his bottom lip.

I replied by giving him the biggest smile I could manage. “What did you have in mind?”

“I’m going to light up this place, Sky. I’m going to do it for you. I want you to see how I feel inside when you’re around. You light up my life like this.” Mason released me and placed his hands on the trunk of a tree. Although he was looking at me, I knew he was concentrating on what he was doing by the serious expression on his face.

Suddenly, his light sizzled out of his fingertips, branching out like slithering snakes, continuously wrapping around the trunk of the tree as it reached higher. The dangling lights from the tree he was touching started to flicker, then steadied, glowing brighter and brighter. It didn’t stop there. I didn’t know how he did it, but the adjacent tree began to light just as bright. It rippled down to the next tree, illuminating the path. I had to cover my eyes to adjust to the brightness at first, but then I was able to take in the beauty.

The whole tree didn’t light up, just the veins from the trunk and the branches. It was the coolest thing to witness. It was like seeing their life source ignite.

I was sure my jaw was dropped and my eyes were wide with wonderment. I knew Mason was pretty powerful, but I would never have imagined he could do something like this. I didn’t think he knew either, from the stunned expression on his face.

“Oh, Mason.” I smiled, marveling at him. Knowing he did this for me touched me deeply, especially at hearing his words. If I made him feel like this from my presence, no wonder he shocked me.

I thought Mason was finished, but he wasn’t. Just as the last tree lit up, the lights started to take on lives of their own. From each tree’s center, electrifying light flashed upward to the sky, looking like a lightning show. It was mesmerizing and frightening at the same time.

Mason moved in the fast speed mode that I loved and took me in his arms. Without him guiding the light, it would fade away as quickly as it came.

“I make you feel this much?” I asked, feeling shy all of sudden.

Mason kissed my forehead. “Yes, you do, Sky.”

“And you don’t feel drained or tired? You used up a lot of energy to do what you just did.”

“I did, but it’s strange. I think my body is getting used to it. When we were chasing the vultures to get to you and I called upon the thunder and lightning, I thought it was going to leave me weak, but it didn’t. It’s like my body is building strength from it.”

We both jerked when we heard his name.
Mason
. It was loud and clear, like someone was talking into a mic, but she wasn’t. It was Zara, speaking into our minds. I knew Mason heard the same thing when he gave me a troubled look. I felt like we were two young children getting caught breaking the rules.

We both snapped our heads to the castle. Zara was standing there with guards. Besides them were Amanda and Nick.

“Time to go.” Mason slipped his hand around my waist as we proceeded back to the castle. Hopefully, Zara wasn’t upset at what Mason had done.

My dad led
us to the same location where we teleported in. The same things happened as before, and we exited to the other side after we said our good-byes. As always, it seemed as though my dad was waiting for me to say or do something…like hug him. I could see it in the longing expression on his face and the small smile he gave me, hoping for me to give one back to him. However, I wouldn’t. Even now, I still refused to trust him, refused to let go of the ache.

This time around, Mason seemed more accepting of Noah and his group. Perhaps knowing he had taken an interest in Amanda was one of the reasons. Either way, I liked how Mason was possessive over me.

Unlike New Olympus, here the stars graced us with tiny specks of light that dotted the dark sky. We trudged on the sand, hearing the soft waves rolling on and off the shore as we headed for our car.

“We’re not going, right?” Mason asked his brothers, as we followed them. “Sky can do much more than she was able to before, but I won’t let Zara use her to find her sister. I don’t care who she is. We don’t live in their community. We don’t owe her anything.” Mason kissed the back of my hand. “I won’t allow it.”

Everett kicked a pile of sand and watched it fly into the air, then stopped his steps. “And what did she mean by the Keeper of Life? Remus died because he had a taste of Sky’s blood.” Everett turned to me. “Sorry. I don’t mean anything bad about your part in his death. I don’t agree with what Remus tried to do to you, but that doesn’t make sense. How could he have had evil blood? He had anger issues, but unless…someone fed him vulture’s blood?” Those words came out slowly. “Whatever happened to him, he didn’t deserve to die. Sorry, Sky. Again, not your fault.”

“No…that’s okay.” I meant it. It didn’t matter how many times they apologized for what Remus tried to do to me, Everett was right. Yet, at the same time, killing Remus with my blood was the only thing that had saved me. It also gave me his powers, so did Zara mean that being the Keeper of Life meant taking a life and acquiring their power?

Mason curled his lips into a scowl, obviously unhappy with Everett’s comment.

“Why don’t we go to our cabin at the lake this weekend and make our decision then? We still have a week,” Nick suggested. “We were planning to go there anyway since its winter break for both Sky and Kayla.”

“I like Nick’s idea.” Amanda looked at her watch. “Let’s go. It’s getting late and I don’t like how we’re the only ones here.”

Amanda was right. It was late at night. And I, too, was getting an eerie feeling. I gazed out across the ocean where the full, yellow moon sat just above the water, glistening against the darkness. It was a beautiful sight, but I couldn’t help feeling that something in the water was watching us, giving me goose bumps…
everywhere
.

“Let’s go,” I murmured, holding on to Mason’s hands tightly. I knew Mason was aware of how I was feeling. It was the way he looked at me. He just knew. He always knew.