Denial (Goblin's Kiss Series Book One) (16 page)

She backed far
up on the seat like the distance might make her safe from any kind
of hostile “kidnapping” ordeals. I couldn
’
t help but enjoy her
dramatic little show.

“Legends are
just that. With any supernatural occurrence the human world feels
the need to give merit to its existence. Naturally, rumors get
started. I am not hiding another form that would reveal warts or
long ears. I am who you see. We don
’
t look any different than humans,
although our ancestors were reasonably shorter. Mating with humans
over the centuries made our attributes distinguishably different
and therefore created the legend of our dwarf-like features. I
assure you, I am not dwarf-like in any way.” I
didn
’
t stop the sarcasm or the innuendo that would gain me one of
her little gasps.

And oh, did it work.

She blossomed into a fiery red on
her cheeks making me want to say more things that would cause such
a reaction. When she gathered her voice enough she asked, “What
about the story of the Tengu dude who takes humans and some of the
other stories?”

“He
wasn
’
t real. All made up. Some even say it was the goblin kind who
invented the martial arts. Don
’
t they know honorable hard
working men accomplished those skills and passed them on to others?
The things humans believe sometimes.”

I shook my head
getting lost in the myths Emma was just trying to prove or
disprove. “Either way, I am one hundred percent all me with a
little magic and,” I smiled not being able to stop myself, “…and a
lot of that mischief up my sleeve. So maybe that was true, but
humans are too. That trait lies with all who exist. And besides,
our goal is not to hurt others, just survive and live.
It
’
s
the humans who tamper with wanting to experiment on those who they
can
’
t understand. Witches and other creatures that have been
around deep into the beginning of time have created curses that
can
’
t be lifted. If they would leave well enough alone,
we
’
d
all come out and make aware of just how many different life forms
there are.”

Man, I gave her too much
information. I needed to control my mouth around her. And my jacked
up head that just spun in circles when she was close.

She dismissed
her silly notions and let me tell her goodbye. I needed to take
care of another assignment for tonight. I
should
tell her goodbye forever and
let someone else take over her retrieval. I didn
’
t need complications
in my life.

School was
minute the next day compared to the day before. It was just going
through the motions in human style. I didn
’
t even feel like teasing
Emma with the way the other girls followed me around or bark at the
ex who suddenly found her a gold mine again. I let everything just
happen. When the girl in question who kept me at odds like no other
scooted her hip over to me at lunch, my mind went to dangerous
grounds. Her hand slid under the table and she squeezed my knee.
Oh! My!

She gave me a
knowing look of understanding. A friend to friend look. I needed to
get out of here.
“Emma. Can I talk to you?” I turned to her pretty face for the
first time since lunch started. She knew I was upset and that
bothered me so much because it meant she cared. I had decided early
this morning I
shouldn
’
t
care.

She cleaned up
her lunch and told her friends she would see them in class. I hoped
she
’
d finish the school year before
he
could get his king wannabe
clutches on her and ruin her life but it wasn
’
t in the
cards.

Just when the bitter truth was
about to win, I had it. I knew what to do to make this
work.

Behind the gym, I convinced her I
would take her to find out more about herself this weekend, but she
had to promise me one thing in addition to her tamed power. Not be
too appealing. When she looked at me funny I begged, “I just mean I
want you to not be so friendly with him. Rather, make him not like
you.” And the other king wannabe too. But he was a different totem
pole to climb in the hierarchy of problems to solve.

She was on to me but I would deal
with one checkmark at a time.

“You want me to act
rude?”

I smiled wide with satisfaction.
“Yes.”

“No.”

My face fell.

“Why would I do
that? You
’
re not telling me something and it won
’
t help your cause,”
she groaned with annoyance. She folded her arms over her chest just
like she had before knowing I would probably give in. She was
good.

“He aims to keep you there.” I
closed my eyes waiting for her to retreat.

“And you were
going to take me right into the lion
’
s den?”

“No, you were.
That
’
s why I told you.” I was frustrated now with her and myself.
Secrets were too hard to keep...from her. I
’
ve lied for years to many,
but not to her.

Her
face changed,
“And you want me to make him
dislike me so he will send me back home?”

“Yes.”

“Okay then. I trust
you.”

Famous last
words of a fool. I shouldn
’
t have ever taken this task. I
would see my death before she was harmed.

For now, I had
research to do. Something
’
s changing in me since meeting
her. My body reacts to her in some weird freaky way. First the
emotions, then the kissing idea, then the disturbing higher impact
emotions. That kiss may be the answer I need since, lord knows, I
want it. And I couldn
’
t ask anyone, so to my
parent
’
s underground library I go. No one would know or miss me.
They haven
’
t yet.

Friday came and
we left school stopping at the gas station for soda and snacks. He
told me we would return to the practice grounds
I
’
d
been to before that would lead me to the path of where he was from.
I was from.

I dressed in my hikers with my
dark tights and a mini-skirt. I wanted to be comfortable but not a
slob in jeans and a tee. I was nervous for sure, but somehow being
with Ames calmed me. He seemed to make me remember where I was
headed and that he would be with me. My past told me I was being
foolish and naive, but my gut told me Ames would get me out of it.
I just hoped my gut was the more educated of guessers.

“Hello, princess.
”

“Don
’
t call her that,” Ames snapped
looking straight to me. His hand positioned on my back sending me
into a quiet calm.

“Why Cahn, it is
what it is?” Wicker, the guy from before, was
looking me over
like a
piece of poisoned candy.

I leaned in and
whispered a question, “What is he?” He moved too close to my ear
and said real low, “Same as you.” He had yet to say if
he
was the same or
different though I had a pretty good guess. It
’
s just a vibe, but he
crossed me as something more.

I ignored
Wicker
’
s taunts and focused on the practice grounds. I wanted
another crack at it. Maybe even kick some goblin butt if they
needed a reality check. Unless, they were more powerful than me.
They did practice more!

Ames was spatting off at Wicker in
a not so nice tone so I wandered over to the spot I stood at before
setting up a shot. No one was around to stop me and Ames
seemed...busy.

I pulled up the
strongest amount of buzz my body could conjure enjoying the sweet
hum of the magic inside my head when I knew it
wasn
’
t going to hurt someone. It was exhilarating. I loved every
second before the bomb exploded inside my body.

It was close. I wanted to close my
eyes like I did when I was younger, but it was just too exciting to
see the full outcome of my own ability to affect something I never
touched. The rock started to crawl in the air and at twenty feet
up, it suspended for the amount of time I willed it and
then...

A thousand tiny pieces of rock
shards fell to the ground like a shower of sparks. I was so awed by
the show that I forgot it was I that did it. And the two who
watched.

“Big friggin
’
A man. She is a friggin
’
hot piece. Joshlin will not
let her get away.”
Wicker
’
s odd comments
didn
’
t escape my attention, distasteful or not.

Then he added, “This is not a good
idea, Ames.”

Hearing him talk
out of character right after his He-man talk made me think he was
sometimes acting a part that he really didn
’
t want to
play.

I turned to see
both their faces watching my waterfall of rock and quite enjoyed
the attention. If I
’
d known the outcomes of what it
might mean to show others and refrain from doling out pain,
I
’
d
have tried out more tricks in the past. And even more amazing, I
didn
’
t seem to have lost any energy. I
’
d not even realized it till
right now.

“What boys. Done arguing? Who is
Joshlin?”

I saw Ames act
differently toward me saying the name compared to Wicker. He
didn
’
t like it. Don
’
t ask me how I knew it. I just
did sometimes with him. He said to Wicker, not me, “She will know
soon enough.”

He took my hand and headed to the
path he talked so much about. I asked to see each of their powers,
but he ignored me. Five steps in and away from Wicker he stopped
and faced me, forcing me to see how he shook all over. “You have to
promise me something again.”

“Anything.” Maybe.

“Don
’
t show him the amount of power
you hold. Store your energy so he can
’
t see how much you have. Wicker
will not leak, but showing anyone else could prove a
danger.”

He already told
me this yesterday. “Who
is
the him you want me to appear weak in front
of?”

“The king will want to use your
amount of power for his own use. It is one reason he is bringing
you there. If you're weak, then maybe he will put you on watch and
we can stall.”

Did he even hear
what
he
leaked
out? “First you just told me there is now more than one reason for
me going to this hidden away place that I
’
m now doubting I should go
to. And you also just used the word ‘bringing
’
insinuating that I am
being led there and not volunteering. Are you the Labrador
retriever taking me into the devil
’
s
snare?
”

Powers or no powers, I think I
made a bad decision.

His boiling
anger and hard edged fear coiled and sprang at me at once. He
opened his mouth to answer or maybe to protest, but instead he
said. “It
’s
true.
”

He lowered his head and led me on.
I felt like a capital B and add the itch.

If she
could
’
ve done her worst, that was it. Reality was always a slam in
the face. It just wasn
’
t always easy to
swallow.

I stepped to the boundary of no
return. They knew we were here meaning we could not turn back. Nor
could she. I told her so she wouldn’t run.

“An agreement
was made concerning you. A treaty of sorts. I vowed to bring you to
him if...” Uh oh! I can
’
t tell her I was assured freedom
only to leave her a prisoner.

“If what?” she questioned
suspiciously. And rightfully so.

“Never mind what
it is. I won
’
t let him hurt
you.”