Elemental Reality (6 page)

9

Fabricated Feelings

A weird darkness grew tightly around my thoughts as Cayden glided from the entrance and closer to me. It consumed me until it felt like my thoughts were secluded, and something fabricated took their place. He reached the table and sat down in the seat across from me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I was frozen in place. A smile tugged at my lips against my own volition.
Where are you, Oli?
my thoughts cried out.
Please help me.
I screamed his name repeatedly in my mind, but not once did my fear reveal itself on my face. This wasn’t the same Cayden from the other night. Something was off with him. Was he doing this to my thoughts?

“Hey, babe. Why are you sitting all alone?” Cayden asked. He took a seat across from me and leaned back in his chair, a cocky smile on his face.

“I’m waiting for you, silly. What took you so long?” The words weren’t mine, and my voice was hollow instead of its normal lilting.

“I had some things to take care of, but I’m here now,” he said, smiling. “What do you say we get out of here?” He stood up and held his hand out to me as if he were certain I’d go with him. I had no intentions to whatsoever.

“Okay,” I said, my voice robotic.

Not okay.
Not a single protest escaped my lips, and I didn’t even hesitate when I placed my hand in his.
Stop, Callie,
My subconscious screamed.
You don’t want to do this. It’s a terrible idea.
What was he doing to me? Why was I leaving Oli? It’s not what I wanted to do. Where was he, and why wasn’t he stopping this? My mind struggled as it tried to regain control of my body. We reached the door, and my mind battled with the darkness that held it captive. There was a zap inside of me, and I twitched reflexively. Everything went all slow motion when I peered over my shoulder. Oli stood by our table, his fists balled at his sides. For a few seconds I was able to gain some control. I frowned at him as tears filled my eyes, threatening to spill over. He scowled at me. I tried to yell out to him, but the darkness prevailed. The last thing I saw before I gave my attention back to Cayden was a faint glow radiating from Oli’s skin.

We stepped into the cold night air. It danced around me in a taunting way, reminding me of how frigid I felt inside for letting the darkness take over. But did I really have a choice? I tried so hard to command myself to drop his hand, but my mind grew darker, almost suffocating my thoughts. Cayden grasped my hand tighter and pulled me along the sidewalk toward Ardmore Memorial Park. The street grew quiet the farther we walked. Why was Oli letting me leave? He saw me and could have stopped me. I tried once more to order myself to drop his hand, but my internal struggle came to a screeching halt when his hand heated up in mine. My mind screamed in agony from the pain, but my body went on without flinching.

In one quick motion Cayden whirled me around to face him. He took my chin in his heated hand and jerked my head so I had to look directly in his eyes. I tried frantically to find help, but his grasp allowed no movement. His hands held my chin in a scorching vice grip.

“I know you’re trying to fight me. I can feel it,” he growled, eyes narrowed.

The darkness thickened as it wound around my thoughts, suffocating me just as a snake suffocates its prey. I strained, attempting to pull my thoughts out of his grasp, terrified of what might happen if the darkness consumed them. I pulled out an imaginary sword in my mind and fought off the evil that tried to capture me. Why was this happening?
What
was happening? The darkness turned into a phantom dragon, its glowing white eyes penetrating the depths of my thoughts. It snapped its jaws at me as it moved forward, backing me into the recesses of my mind. It was too much; the tiny strand of control I had over my thoughts unraveled.

“Ah, perfect. I like you a lot more when you cooperate with me.”

He let go of my chin, and we walked toward the park. I had to think of a way to break through his darkness without him realizing what I was doing. I had to think of a plan and fast. Oh here’s a plan: Oli get your ass out here now.

“Callie.” Cayden’s aqua green eyes bored a hole in my head as he stared at me intently, his stride not faltering. “Do you know how special you are?”

I shook my head. I’m sure you’ll tell me, Cayden. Trust me, I’m just dying to know,
I thought sarcastically.

“Well you are
very
special. And together we could do great things. Besides the obvious.” He winked, and my stomach twisted sickeningly. “We’d be unstoppable. No one would mess with us.”

Dude has jumped off the sane train and collected plenty of crazy on the way down.

He stopped walking, spun me to face him, and grabbed my chin again. Gently this time. His eyes locked with mine. There was a certain brightness to them. I didn’t fear what I saw but rather felt sorry for him. He blinked and the brightness vanished.

“I bet you knew that in a way. Even felt it. We’d be so powerful.” His eyes never left mine, his expression a power-hungry one.

As if I’d ever be with you now. You lost your chance, bucko. You’re insane. Completely mental.

“Would you like that to happen?” he continued.

No,
I internally screamed. “Yes,” breathed my hollow voice.

“Good answer.” He smiled wickedly. He slid his hand to the back of my neck and pulled me closer. His fingers wandered into my hair and sent chills down my spine. His mouth was mere inches from mine. I screamed internally, not wanting his lips to touch mine. I hated feeling powerless. Especially powerless to him. His control over me made me angry. I wasn’t one to be controlled by a man, and I wouldn’t stand for it. My rage grew like a rapidly growing thunderstorm, dangerously savage. He didn’t want to see me angry because I’d totally go all kung fu on his ass. The thought of his lips on mine sent me over the edge. I was enraged. He was not the one I wanted stealing kisses from me. I couldn’t believe I even compared Cayden to Oli. I shouldn’t have feared Oli at all.

With all the strength I could muster, my thoughts broke through the darkness he had shrouded me with, and I belted a scream that would have put every horror movie to shame right into his face. His eyes grew wide in shock at the realization I was no longer under his control. The last bit of darkness fizzled from me, and without a second thought I kneed him right between his legs. He cried out in agony and fell to the ground from the blunt force I inflicted. Justice.

While his attention was more focused on his pain, I fled. I couldn’t go back to find Oli; Cayden would look there first. I had to get home. Luckily for me there was a cab driving down the street. I stepped off the sidewalk to hail it and jumped in before it even had the chance to come to a stop.

“1048 Pepperdine Court. Please hurry!” Panic laced my words as the cabbie took off down the street. I relaxed into the backseat once I knew we were far enough away and thought about how I was going to explain everything to Oli.

The cabbie drove me right up to my front door, which I was grateful for. I gave him the fare and a few extra for the curbside service and dashed into my house. I kicked my heels off at the foot of the stairs and padded into the living room where Dad was watching TV.

“Dad?” I said softly so I wouldn’t startle him. But he had been too wrapped up in his show to hear the front door close and jumped off the couch. He spun around, and his hand flew up to clutch his chest.

“Jesus! You scared the hell outta me.” He glanced at his watch. “Why aren’t you with Oli? He called here all worried, asking if you were okay. What happened?”

“He called here? From his house?” I hoped he didn’t think I purposely bailed on our date, but I was so happy he was safe.

Dad nodded. “That’s what caller I.D. said.”

“Oh, thank God.” I was relieved and a little ticked, in all honesty. He didn’t even go after me. Still, I needed to see him—to explain. Though how did I explain what Cayden did to me when I didn’t even understand? “Dad, I gotta go. I’ll explain everything when I get back. I promise.”

I ran to the closet by the front door, yanked it open, and rummaged through the numerous piles of shoes until I found my laceless white Chucks and slipped them on. In two long strides, I was at the front door and had my hand on the handle ready to leave.

“Callie?” Dad said from behind me. “Honey, what’s going on?”

I turned, my hand still on the handle. Worry lines creased his forehead.

“I don’t know, Dad.” I sighed. “I really wish I did. I need to talk to Oli though. I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”

I ran out the door, pulled it shut behind me, and took off down our driveway. The cold night air nipped at my face as I ran toward Oli’s. My legs started to feel like Jell-O—a side effect of failing to stay in shape since high school—but I ran through the pain until I reached Oli’s front door. I never realized how far apart the houses were in our little development until just then. I pressed a shaky finger to the doorbell, and the chime echoed inside. As I waited, I leaned over, placing my hands on my knees to try and catch my breath. The door opened and the light from inside flooded the porch along with a shadow. A woman stood before me. She wore purple pajama pants and a white T-shirt. I straightened. She was two inches shorter than me and stunningly beautiful. She had an air about her that made her seem wiser than her age. Because of that, I wasn’t sure if she was his mom or sister.

“Hi. Sorry to just come over like this, but is Oli home?” What a great first impression. I showed up on their doorstep at night, frantic and out of breath, and who even knew what my hair looked like at this point from my sprint.

“He is.” She eyed me skeptically before a warm smiled appeared on her full, pink lips. “Please, come in.” She gestured with her hand.

I stepped over the threshold into the warmth of the house, rubbing my hands over my arms to warm them. The inside of the house was a mirror reflection of ours. The décor was all oranges, browns, greens, and blues that reminded me of fire and nature. The air was filled with a woodsy, rainy scent—I was expecting to find a waterfall in one of their rooms. It made me reminisce about camping in the great outdoors, yet it had a homey feel to it. Almost as if I belonged there. She led me into the kitchen and motioned for me to take a seat at the table.

“I believe he’s in his room. Let me get him for you.” Her emerald green eyes—same as Oli’s—sparkled in the kitchen light, and her voice was dulcet with a rich Australian accent. She strolled out of the kitchen and to the foot of the stairs. “Oli, there’s someone here to see you,” she called up as she flipped her curly, auburn hair over her shoulder.

A couple seconds later, I heard the soft pad of footsteps coming down the stairs. I watched his sister—I assumed—intently as she crossed her arms over her chest. Oli’s hand appeared on the banister. He must have said something in a hushed voice because she nodded toward the kitchen. When he stepped around her his eyes fell on me, and he immediately perked up. I stood as he entered the kitchen. He pulled me into an embrace, which I gratefully relaxed into. I wrapped my arms around his back, and we stayed like that for a few seconds before I figured out what I was going to say.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered into his chest.

“It’s not your fault, Kitten,” he said as he placed his hand on the back of my head in comfort.

I was shocked. Not my fault? How was it not my fault? I left with another guy, as far as he understood.

“I should have never left with him. I didn’t want to, but I wasn’t strong enough to overpower the darkness,” I mumbled, almost incoherent in my tears. “Though I did break through for a few seconds.” He stiffened at my admittance. I picked my head off his chest and glanced up. “What’s wrong?”

“What darkness are you talking about, Kitten?”

I hesitated for a second, but the concern on his face was genuine. “The one that secluded my thoughts and turned me into his puppet,” I said as if it was a normal, everyday occurrence. Anguish clouded his otherwise chiseled features. “I’m sorry. Don’t be upset with me. I pummeled through the darkness right before he kissed me. Then I may have kneed him in the groin.” I beamed at the memory.

“You . . . what?” He looked astonished and pained.

“I kneed him after I screamed in his face. He was startled and confused, so during his confusion I let him have it.” My frantic words turned nervous all of a sudden. He was going to think I’d escaped from the mental institute. “You know with the kneeing.” I mimicked the motion, facing away from him. “And the-the crushing of important manly bits.”

He cupped my face, running the pads of his thumbs over my cheeks and smiled at my rambling. “Callie, you’re special.”

I stiffened at his words. “That’s the second time I’ve heard that tonight. What’s so special about me? My stellar international business skills?”

“More than you realize.” He stared at me in adoration.

Right. I sucked in a much-needed breath. “Why didn’t you come after me, Oli? Why’d you just stand there and scowl at me?”

“Kitten.” He sounded frustrated. “That look wasn’t meant for you; it was meant for
him
.” He gritted his teeth on the last word.