Awakened Page 10

  My cheeks burned with embarrassment. He hadn’t even planned on kissing me, yet I had worked myself into such a state imagining it.

  “Lil,” he whispered.

  “Hmm.”

  “Don’t look at me like that.” he warned.

  “Like what?” My voice was breathless, but I didn’t care.

  Grampa materialized beside us. “What’s going on here?” he snapped.

  Bran jumped to his feet. My eyes darted to Grampa in horror. His seething gaze locked on Bran. As though time slowed down, a hand moved from his side, lifted and rotated toward Bran.

  “Don’t.” I reached out to push Grampa’s arm away, fear that he’d hurt Bran surging through me. I didn’t make contact with any part of his body but somehow sent Grampa flying backward across the room. His back slammed against his bedroom door.

  “Grampa!”

  I reached his side the moment he hit the ground, a different kind of dread crashing through me. My gaze roamed his face, moved to his chest then back to his face again. His chest rose and fell but his eyes stayed closed. “I’m sorry…so sorry….I didn’t mean to do this.”

  A hand landed on my shoulder. “He’ll be fine, honey,” Janelle said. “He’s just winded.”

  “Then why are his eyes closed? Why isn’t he getting up? I didn’t mean to hurt him, I swear. I didn’t even touch him,” I yelled, tears racing down my face.

  He stirred, eyelids lifting. “I’m fine, baby.”

  Relief and regret rushed inside of me. “I didn’t mean it. I just thought—”

  “I know.” He propped up his upper body with his elbow, patted my arm. “You did the right thing. I overreacted.” He looked over my shoulder, frowning.

  I followed his gaze.

  Bran still stood near the kitchen table, his emerald eyes dark, lips pressed together. “I apologize if I overstepped my boundaries, sir.”

  Grampa nodded. “Go on home, son.”

  I didn’t want him to leave. Not yet. I tried to convey my feelings through telepathy, but Auntie Janelle spoke.

  “Wait a second, Bran.” She turned to Grampa. “Ares, the others expect us soon, so I’ll head out after I talk to this young man.”

  What? She didn’t expect Grampa to go demon hunting after that fall? And why did she want to talk to Bran? Grampa gripped my arm, drawing my attention. I helped him up though he didn’t seem to need my support. He dropped his arm around my shoulders, keeping me by his side.

  “I’ll be right behind you,” Grampa called out to Janelle.

  “Good. Come on,” she said, taking Bran’s arm.

  Just before they teleported, I felt Bran’s psi energy brush against mine in gentle reassurance. Calm descended over me as if he’d reached out and enveloped me in a warm hug. I smiled, looked up and caught Grampa’s frown. He must have felt the brief connection between Bran and me.

  Grampa dropped his arm from my shoulders, walked to the couch and gestured for me to sit. I walked forward, curled one leg under me and sat. He chose the armrest of the couch across from mine. Silence filled the room as he studied me.

  I swallowed. Did I break a Cardinal law by letting Bran touch me? “I don’t think you should go anywhere until you see a doctor, Grampa,” I said to break the stifling hush.

  “I’ve been fighting demons for nearly three centuries and never had a reason to see a doctor.”

  My jaw dropped. “Three?”

  “Have you ever seen me ill? Or you, for that matter?”

  I couldn’t recall. I always took my good health for granted. Come to think of it, even my abrasions healed fast. “So you’re saying—”

  “We don’t suffer from normal ailments humans have. And when we do get hurt in battle, we have healers to deal with those types of bruises.”

  That was a blessing, I suppose. “But my head hurt last night after the storm.”

  “And you felt weak,” he added. “That happens when you overuse your powers, which is why we also use weapons when we hunt.”

  I learned something new everyday. “So how old are you, Grampa?”

  He shook his head. “My age is not important now. Let’s talk about—”

  “My powers. They’re totally out of control. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’d never.” I scrunched my face.

  “Of course you didn’t. New powers are hard to manage.”

  “That’s why I decided to start training tomorrow.”

  He nodded. “Good. About Bran Llyr.”

  I sighed. I should have known my attempt to steer conversation away from Bran wouldn’t work.

  Grampa shot me an impatient look. “This is something we must discuss, Lil. He’s a Hermonite.”

  “Half. He told me about his grandparents. They were Guardians.”

  “The man he claims was his Grampa wasn’t just any Guardian. Remember the Cardinal Water Guardian I mentioned earlier?”

  I nodded. “Tariel.”

  “We were battling water demons at the height of the tropical cyclone season, just like now, when Tariel’s wife went into labor. We didn’t know Coronis had her under surveillance. Her people grabbed them in the delivery room, leaving behind chaos. It was mere seconds before we were informed, but by then it was too late. Until we can confirm that Bran is Tariel’s grandson, his reason for seeking our help remains suspect.”

  My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “But what happened to the Cardinals’ noble destiny of helping people?”

  “Humans,” Grampa corrected, “which Bran is not.”

  This was beyond ridiculous. “What about the scar on his chest? It proves he once wore a Guardian amulet, probably his Grampa’s.”

  “Too many fake amulets are available online or in stores run by demons or their agents. Demons will use anything or anyone to lure young Guardians.”

  Too agitated to sit still, I jumped up. I picked up the plates from the kitchenette table and dumped them in the sink with more force than necessary. Turning the water on, I stared at it with unseeing eyes. Then it hit me.

  I whipped around to face Grampa. “Let Bran show you what he can do with water. I bet that’s something he inherited from his grandfather.”

  “I already know what the boy can do.”

  I blinked. “How?”

  “Hsia joined us after you left the pool house and went back in time to when Gavyn and his men attacked. She saw and heard everything.”

  “Then you know what Gavyn said. Bran has no interest in demonic activities.”

  Grampa nodded. “And his brother wanted you dead.”

  “Is Gavyn the reason you’re having second thoughts about helping Bran?”

  Grampa shot me an irritated glance. “Of course not.”

  “Then it’s me, right? Because I like him? That’s totally unfair, Grampa.”

  He got up, crossed to where I stood by the sink and peered into my eyes. “I’m not doing this because of you, sweetheart. Any demon can walk off the street and claim to be Tariel’s child or grandchild. When you gave me Bran’s coded message, I thought this was it. Finally, we could rescue our friend.” His voice changed, becoming cold, hard. “But Tariel is gone, his wife and son gone, too. We haven’t had a water Guardian in fifty years, which is why hurricanes, cyclones and tsunamis have devastated the world for several decades now. We’ve tried to use other Guardians with minimal water powers only to have them killed in battle against demons.”

  Here I was thinking only of myself when there was much more at stake. No wonder Grampa sounded angry. “I had no idea.”

  “Then hopefully you understand that Bran’s sudden appearance is not something we’re taking lightly. And the two of you becoming too friendly will only complicate things. Tonight you saw what that led to.” He looked at his watch. “I’ve got to go, baby.” He brushed a kiss on my forehead and turned toward his bedroom, lifting the lapels of his jacket to check his weapons.

  I watched him, frustration twisting my insides. Nothing was settled, which bother
ed me. I liked Bran, loved the way he made me feel special, warm and fuzzy on the inside. When we touched, I didn’t feel evilness from him, just goodness and concern for his family.

  “So you’ll help him whether he’s Tariel’s grandson or not?” I asked.

  Grampa turned to face me, his black eyes glistening. “The final decision rests in the hands of our leaders, not mine. I just don’t want the boy hanging around you in case the Circle’s decision is not what he expects. My concerns might seem unreasonable right now, but it’s for your own good. Take a step back, and let me deal with him. Will you do that for me?”

  I nodded, but I wasn’t too thrilled.

  “Good. Lock up. I should be back later tonight.”

  “Where are you going?” I asked, taking in the arsenal of weapons strapped around his chest, waist and back.

  “Martinique. Cyclone seasons never end. We followed a group of water demons down there earlier this evening. And just so you know, I’ll be two-hundred-and-eighty years old on my next birthday.” He shimmered then disappeared.

  I shook my head, bemused. That was the second time I watched him teleport, and the transformation still awed me. I couldn’t wait to master it.

  Grampa was two-hundred-and-eighty, I thought as I cleaned up the kitchen. How long would I live? Did demons that didn’t collect souls like Bran live long, too?

  Dealing with this Guardian and demon mess was so confusing and exhausting, yet I knew I couldn’t run from it. Things I didn’t know about them lurked in the back of my head even as I tackled something so mundane as my homework load. Biology was a breeze, but I started wondering about our physiology. How was it different from humans? What made Guardians live longer, age slower and heal faster?

  I ended up studying chapters that weren’t part of my homework before I concluded that the textbook didn’t have answers to my questions. Nephilim were different from humans, and I couldn’t wait to learn more about them.

  Sighing, I switched to algebra. I needed to drop it and biology. Retaking them was just plain lame. Somehow, I’d have to catch my counselor between demon-hunting trips.

  Grampa wasn’t back by nine, so I locked up. Gavyn’s face flitted in my head as I double-checked windows. He was the only person I knew who’d want to hurt me, and locked windows or doors wouldn’t be much of a barrier for him. Cold crawled up my spine at the thought.

  Pushing thoughts of Gavyn aside, I showered and brushed my teeth, changed into my floral pajamas and slipped under the comforter. Sleep, however, eluded me. I stared into the dark, my mind reliving every moment of this evening.

  Bran. No matter how hard I tried to keep thoughts of him at bay, he kept slipping past. Everything about him teased my senses. His gorgeous face and sexy smile, his pine scent and the way I felt when he looked at me. Was this how it felt to have a crush on a guy? Should I listen to Grampa and take a step back? After tonight’s events, it seemed like the logical thing to do.

  I closed my eyes and tried to find his psi energy.

  Nothing.

  The other Guardians were in communication. What were they discussing? Shared anecdotes? Should I contact them and ask them more on what they knew about demons and their ways? No, not a good idea. Besides, anything to do with Bran was too personal to share. And despite being a Guardian, I didn’t feel like I belonged yet. I pulled the comforter to my chin and tried to go to sleep.

  I was still battling insomnia when I heard, “Lil?”

  Bran. My eyes popped open and for a disoriented moment, I sat up and looked around my bedroom for him. Then I realized he’d telepathed me. I dropped back on my bed, closed my eyes and located his psi energy, every cell in my body humming. He seemed so close, like he was here in the valley. Should I answer him or pretend to be asleep? Grampa’s warning resounded in my head. Dang, this was the hardest decision ever.

  I know you can hear me, Sunshine.

  Sunshine did it for me. I liked that he had a special name for me. Hey.

  Are you awake?

  No, I’m sound asleep, and you’re hearing voices in your head.

  He laughed. Did your Grampa give you a hard time?

  Not really. What did Aunt Janelle want?

  Nothing I couldn’t handle. She’s pretty cool.

  Yeah, she’s amazing.

  Are you ready for tomorrow?

  I frowned. Tomorrow?

  Your first day of training.

  Oh crap. Hadn’t thought about it, but thanks for reminding me. Now I won’t sleep.

  Want me to sing to you?

  In that sexy voice, sleep would be the last thing on my mind. Just listening to him now energized me. Can you sing?

  Like an angel.

  I giggled. Ironic.

  He chuckled. I know. I’ll let you go to sleep. Just wanted to say goodnight.

  I bit my lower lip and tried to hold back my next words. The battle was over before it even began. Will I see you tomorrow?

  Maybe.

  Quit teasing.

  He laughed. I’ll be around. Sweet dreams, Sunshine.

  I curled under the comforter, my heart singing a happy tune. I doubted my dreams would be sweet after my conversation with Bran.

  9. THE DOJO

  “You’re glowing,” Kylie said the next morning.

  After Bran starred in my dreams, I wasn’t surprised. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I fixed my gaze on the road, focused on my driving. Once again I had the truck. Grampa came home in the early morning and was still asleep.

  “I saw you and Bran by the truck, then you disappeared inside your trailer. Did he kiss you?”

  No, but I wanted him to. My cheeks warmed. “Just because you and Cade make out all the time doesn’t mean we’re like that.”

  “So you kissed him?”

  “No.”

  Kylie laughed, but she quit teasing me and started talking about online teen social groups. Teen online groups were never my thing and so I only half listened to her. I had a lot more pressing things to stress about. Topping the list was Bran and my soon-to-be only after school activity—training to be a killer. In the past, I’d mixed my martial art lessons with gymnastics and swimming. From today, it would be train, train, train.

  Kylie and I went our separate ways when we got to school. McKenzie reserved a seat for me in algebra. As soon as I sat down, she pounced. “What happened yesterday? Why did you defect to Kim’s table?”

  This time I couldn’t get away with just saying Grampa signed me up for martial arts at C12 Dojo and I had to discuss schedule details with Kim and her friends. McKenzie wanted details. Why C12? How long have I been training? Did I ever attend tournaments or win anything? Would I be sitting at Kim’s table at lunch?

  “Of course not,” I denied. On the inside I knew I’d need help from the trainees if I wanted to learn more about Guardians and demons, which meant hanging out with them from time to time.

  The day dragged, the lessons appearing longer than yesterday. I tried to locate Bran in between classes and during lunch to no avail. Where was he?

  The trainees and their entourage walked in, and I gave them a mechanical wave when their gazes locked onto me. I received a nod from Remy, a smile from Izzy, a wink from Sykes, and an eye-roll from Kim after she checked the humans I sat with.

  I ignored her, but it dawned on me that I just referred to my non-Guardian friends as humans. I was human, too, dang it. Part human, anyway.

  I pressed my fingers to my temples. Grampa lied to me. I could get sick even when I didn’t overuse my powers. I had a headache, and my stomach was in knots. My first day at the dojo loomed like a dark cloud. What if I hurt someone? My powers were so unpredictable.

  Calm down, Lil. You know what happens when you lose it.

  I took a deep breath, then another, and tried to join in the discussion my friends were having. The topic was manga and animè. Cade, Zack and Kylie were into Saiyuki, Bleach and InuYasha. I liked Saiyuki the best. Never watched it though, just r
ead the manga. What would these guys think if they knew people with powers like their favorite manga characters existed? Bet they wouldn’t be so fascinated. Bet our friendship would be out the window, and I would be labeled a freak. Oh, what was the point of second guessing how they’d react to what I was? It was a non-issue. I’d never tell them.

  Kylie didn’t need a ride home after school, which suited me fine. I had a lot on my mind. Where was Bran? Did he go back to Coronis Isle? Was he okay? And there was the imminent training, and the worries that went with it.

  When I got closer to home, I checked the weeping willow. Of course he wasn’t there. I might associate the tree with him, but he’d never gone back there since our first meeting. A lump swelled in my throat. I knew he would leave, yet the sting of loss left me feeling helpless and a little angry. Why did I always lose those I cared about?

  Grampa wasn’t home but left a note to meet him at the dojo at four. I tried to tackle my homework but was too worked up to be productive. The memories of the damage my powers did last time kept flashing in my head.

  I finished math, then it was time to leave. I changed into gray sweatpants, a white tank top and a gray hoodie, replaced my ballet flats with sneakers then grabbed my gym bag. Before taking off, I made sure I had bottled water, martial arts shoes and gloves.

  It took me a full fifteen minutes, including a stop at a gas station to ask for directions, before I found C12 dojo in a new building by Cineplex Eight, the movie theater in Providence.

  The building was a huge, new mini mall with drab tan walls and tiled floor. Inside were restaurants, a salon, a boutique, and some office spaces not yet leased. Two staircases wound from the opposite ends of the first floor to the upper levels. C12 was on the third floor, a sign read.

  The door, with a drawing of the Cardinal Guardian amulet on the upper half, stood ajar when I arrived. The reception area was empty, murals of figures wielding lethal weapons adorning its walls.

  A front desk with two plastic trays overflowing with pamphlets and registration forms occupied the right end of the narrow lobby. Opposite it, a long black leather bench for visitors. One doorway led to a hallway ahead.