Tompkin's School (For The Extraordinarily Talented Book 1) (19 page)

“I thought that too,” Kia shrugged, “but out of the blue he asked me. I’m not going to turn that down.”

Now this
definitely
didn’t make any sense. Was it just a coincidence that I had received a snotty letter from Chuck regarding this event, the same day I got invited along with finding out that Kain is going as well? I wasn’t buying it.

“Why do you ask?” Kia asked.

“Lee just invited me,” I smiled.

“What?” Kia squealed, “No way! So, are you two an item yet?”

“Kind of,” I replied.

“Oh my gosh, why is this the first I’ve heard about this?” Kia laughed.

“He asked me out that day before Kain and I were kidnapped,” I said, “so, I really didn’t have a chance to tell you.”

“Wow,” Kia gasped, “that’s traumatic.”

“Yeah,” I replied.

“Let’s get your mind off of all that,” Kia suggested, “let’s talk about what you’re going to wear to your first formal as a couple!”

“I was thinking that cream knee length number,” I said.

“Cream?” Kia raised an eyebrow, “No, you definitely need to wear something just a tad more bold. I saw this off-the-shoulder mint ball gown that would be
perfect
! It’s pleated, flowy, and just spectacular!”

“I don’t know,” I replied.

“Here,” she said, pulling out her phone, “let me show you.”

She pulled up a picture of the gown and I had to be honest, it was stunning!

“Isn’t it amazing?" She asked, “and it would definitely knock Lee’s socks off.”

“Whoa there,” I laughed, “calm down.”

“Izzy, you
have
to get this dress,” she insisted, “if you don’t, I’ll be getting it for myself.”

“We’ll see,” I replied, “I guess I didn’t realize how formal of an event this was.”

“Yeah,” Kia said, “it’s pretty swanky.”

“I can’t wait,” I said.

“I know!” Kia agreed.

I was just trying to keep Kia from asking questions. I wasn’t excited about the social now at all considering who I had just received a suspicious letter from. And what was going on with Kain? Why wasn’t he answering his phone? I couldn’t believe that he was stalking a potential murderer who was out to get us. He might as well just tie a bow around him and say Merry Christmas! He was basically sprinting into the arms of the man who was out to get us. I couldn’t let myself get distracted by this social with Lee, because I had a good feeling that it was a trap and I had to be prepared for it.

‡‡‡

I woke up early the next morning, checking my phone only to see that it was four o'clock in the morning. I couldn’t sleep as I kept thinking about the meeting with Lawrence and Edwin. I realized that there was no way we’d be able to confirm whether or not they had found the journal until the next full moon which made me extremely uncomfortable. I mean, how much did we really know about them? Why should we trust anything that they had to say?

I got out of bed, quietly gathering my shower supplies, and headed for the restrooms. It was a good chance to relax and think. I wondered if Kain had gotten anywhere yesterday while following Theodore Tompkin. If Kain and I were going to continue on like this we had to find a way to protect ourselves. We needed to be able to use our power outside of the full moon. But how could we do that? It wasn’t like there was an on or off switch that we knew about and could access all the time. I remembered the struggle it took to allow Kain access into my thoughts when we were hours away from the full moon. How much harder would it be to do it now? Unlike that night, I didn’t feel the ability even remotely now. But it had to be possible, right? It had to be. I remembered how it felt when that vial appeared in my hands that first time I transitioned. I didn’t even have to think about it as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Or when I conjured fire with my bare hands. The flames didn’t even burn my hand. Could fire touch me now? Would I even burn? I didn’t know if I wanted to test that theory out. I glanced over at the shelf holding my shampoo and condition off of the floor. I eyed it as if there was nothing else in the world.

“Lid, open," I whispered.

Nothing happened. Oh big shocker.

I shrugged, picking up the shampoo bottle and reaching over to open the lid. I barely moved my hand towards the lid when it suddenly popped open. I dropped the bottle as it clattered onto the shower floor. Did that just happened? I picked up the bottle, returning it to its perch. I waved my fingers towards the lid of the bottle in an attempt to repeat whatever I had done to open the bottle before. If I was able to at least control this one power we might not be sitting ducks at the social.

The lid popped open yet again. I gasped as I realized what I had just done. I picked up the bottle and quickly finished washing my hair and headed back to my room to get dressed. I had to tell Kain as soon as I saw him next. It was Tuesday so we didn’t have any classes together, but I would hunt him down during lunch. I quickly pulled on some jeans, a tank with a warm sweater, knee-high boots, and grabbed my bag as I headed out to the cafeteria. I knew it was early and that it was probably not open yet, but I wanted to get out and practice some more. I had to be careful, couldn’t risk anyone seeing me, but I was just too excited to be cooped up in the dorms. I made my way down the path, the cool mist surrounding me as I breathed in the brisk air. There was still dew on the grass and the dirt path felt soggy underneath my boots, but I didn’t care about that at all! I watched as the leaves ahead of me flew off into the woods like magic. It was the breeze causing this, of course, but I couldn’t help but think about the endless possibilities that the power I had just experienced while opening a shampoo bottle with the wave of my hand could do. I focused on one leaf that was still soaring through the air. I zoned out, everything else around me disappearing as though that leaf was the only thing that existed on the planet. I quickly raised my hand up and the leaf halted. The wind was bustling around it, but nothing could move it. I moved my hand as if to grab it and it flew into my hand. I smiled to myself. This was going to be fun. I continued my walk down the path and suddenly I had a splitting headache. I looked around, hoping no one had seen what I had just done. I glanced back and noticed that I had already reached the split in the path and there was a figure aways down the trail leading to the boy's dorms. The shape was too far away so I couldn’t make out who it was, but I was assuming it was that dreadful Amadeus guy. Was he one of us? If he was, why would he be doing this to me?

“What do you want?” I shouted.

My question was met with silence. I collapsed as the pain grew and as I fell to the ground I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Are you okay, deary?” Chuck asked.

The pain quickly lifted and as soon as it did I pushed myself up off of the ground.

“Are you
following
me?” I asked.

“Not at all, love,” Chuck smiled, leaning against a nearby tree, “I was just heading back to the dorms. Had some business to attend to before class.”

I looked back up the path towards the boy's dorms and the figure was gone. Was that Chuck or Amadeus? Were they working together?

“Did you see that figure?” I asked.

“What figure?" He asked.

“Nevermind,” I rolled my eyes, not expecting an honest response from Chuck of all people, “what do you want?”

“Nothing,” he shrugged as he walked towards me, “like I said, I was just heading to the dorms.”

He brushed passed me with a smug face that I wanted to just wipe off of his face.

“See you at the ball, my dear” he called over his shoulder.

“Stop calling me that!” I shouted, infuriated by his insistent sarcasm.

I just heard him chuckle as he disappeared. I couldn’t stand him. Kain and I should have just turned him in when we had the chance. He needed to stop messing with me or else next full moon I would enjoy having him for dinner.

‡‡‡

I sat in my French class checking the time every few minutes, wondering how time could move so slowly. I wanted to hurry and find Kain so that he could start practicing too! We both needed to have a grasp on our powers not only because it was extremely awesome to be able to do magic outside of the full moon, but also so we could make good use of the social. Who knows, we might even find the journal. I rolled my eyes as Ms. Cotillard continued her lecture. I thought the point of taking a language class was to actually learn and practice, not sit and listen to an entire monologue in French. Suddenly, the bell signaling the end of the period rang and I jumped up and practically sprinted out of the room. I didn’t even bother stopping at my locker to drop off my books. I just went straight to Coach Webber’s class, Kain would be leaving his class so perhaps we could walk to lunch together.

“Kain!” I shouted once I spotted him.

He turned his head and saw me trying to get his attention.

“What’s up?" He asked.

“Let’s walk to lunch,” I suggested, “I’ve got something to show you.”

“Okay…” he said, skeptically raising an eyebrow.

“Come on,” I said.

We walked outside and headed the back way to the cafeteria.

“So,” I began, “you know how I was able to communicate with you just before the full moon?”

“Yeah,” he replied.

“Well, I was thinking,” I said, “that it would be a good idea to try to practice controlling my powers now. Especially since Chuck sent me that note about the social.”

“Wait, what?" He stopped, “what note?”

“Oh, I guess I forgot that bit,” I stopped, “but one more thing, you didn’t tell me you were in the Honor’s Society!”

“Yeah,” he shrugged, “it’s no big deal.”

“Ha!” I laughed, “Sure.”

“Anyways,” he replied, “don’t change the subject! You’re going to that social?”

“Yeah, Lee asked me,” I said.

“And what does Chuck have to do with this?" He asked.

“Well,” I began, “after Lee asked me I went back to my room and this letter was slipped under the door to my room.”

I pulled out the note from my bag and handed it to him.

“Is this some kind of joke?" He asked, after reading it.

“I have no clue,” I said, “but it’s at his Uncle’s house and he’s going to be there. So, we have to have a way to protect ourselves.”

“So, what were you going to show me?" He asked.

I looked around as we walked around the back of the cafeteria. We were now out of site and so I looked around for something to show Kain what I had done this morning. I decided to grab a pen out of my bag and use that.

“Watch,” I said.

I set the pen in my left palm and directed my entire focus to it. I raised my right hand and moved it over the pen. Suddenly, the pen was no longer lying on its side and stood upright. I heard Kain gasp as I waived my hand and the pen began to float in the air on its own.

“How?” Kain asked.

The pen fell to the ground as my focus was redirected to Kain.

“I just basically zone out on that one thing I want to do,” I said, “you need to get a grasp on this, too. We will be sitting ducks at that social if we don’t have a way to protect ourselves.”

“I doubt it’s going to be that simple,” Kain replied, “for some reason Chuck wants you there and I don’t have the slightest clue as to why.”

“Did you find anything by following Theodore?” I asked.

“I didn’t find the journal,” he answered, “but I’ve confirmed it
has
to be in his mansion.

“How do you figure?” I asked.

“Someone visited him,” he began, “looked like a reporter. Must have made him nervous or something because after the guy left, Theodore went straight home and I saw him go through a secret passageway behind this giant portrait in his gallery.”

“Are you sure he didn’t see you?” I asked.

“I’m pretty sure,” he shrugged, “anyways, now we just need to get to that hidden door because I bet you anything it’s in there.”

“Yeah, along with whatever else he’s hiding,,” I commented, “he sure must love secrets.”

“I’ll say,” he agreed, “come on, let’s get some food, witch.”

“Hey, don’t call me that!” I scolded.

“Well, what else could you be?" He asked.

“Ha ha,” I rolled my eyes, “a witch isn’t as cool as what I am.”

“Oh really?” Kain laughed.

“Or what we are, rather,” I added, “come on, you’ve got to try to do something.”

“Like what?" He asked.

“Try picking up the pen,” I suggested, “without touching it.”

“Fine,” he caved, “but only if we go straight to the cafeteria after I try this. I’m starving.”

“Sure,” I agreed.

He sighed and then focused his attention on the pen. He stretched his hand over the pen as he stared straight at the pen.

“See?" He said, “now let’s eat.”

“No, that should’ve worked!” I said.