Tompkin's School (For The Extraordinarily Talented Book 1) (23 page)

Really, Kain?
I thought back,
We’re going there?

Sorry,
he sighed,
we just really don’t need these distractions right now. We need to be focusing on finding out who we are before we can even decide who we’re going to be with.

Fine,
I replied,
as you wish I’ll tell Kia the truth. That you think she’s just a distraction.

Iz, I swear…
I heard him growl.

Then you need to talk to her,
I insisted.

I hate you,
he thought, irritatedly.

Love you, too!
I chuckled.

I opened the door to our dorm room and heard someone blowing her nose. I sighed, closing the door and tried my best to think of what to say.

“Kia?” I called as I walked down the short entryway.

I didn’t hear any response, but when I entered the room I saw Kia curled on her bed with a box of tissue.

“Kia,” I said, coming to sit on the corner of her bed.

“He just texted me,” she whispered.

“Oh yeah?” I asked, trying to act as though I had no part in it.

“I know you talked to him,” she said.

I rolled my eyes. She knew me too well.

“What did he say?” I asked.

“He wants to talk,” she replied.

“That’s good,” I said, “right?”

“I wouldn’t say that,” she said, sitting up, “why do I even like him? He’s so emotionally unavailable it’s ridiculous. I mean, every time I think he’s being sweet it turns out that that has nothing to do with his actions!”

“I know he likes you,” I said, not knowing what to say about the other stuff.

Kain definitely had a tendency to have a hard time being vulnerable in front of anyone and admitting he had feelings for her would be doing just that. I knew he didn’t want to be distracted, but my guess was that he was more afraid of admitting he had feelings for her. It was easier for him to convince himself that his excuses were justified than to face the facts.

“You should talk to him,” I replied, holding her hand, “I think he just needs time. He’s only had one relationship and it didn’t end well for him. So, that might have something to do with him being so hesitant.”

“I guess,” she said, looking at her phone for a moment, “so you think I should talk to him?”

“Yes,” I said.

I could tell she was arguing with herself, trying to convince herself that it would be worth it to talk things out with him.

“You’re right,” she said, finally, “I should just talk to him. Get this over with.”

“Do you need me to go with you?” I asked.

“No,” she assured, “I’ll be okay. I’ll just text him to meet me at the cafeteria. Would you meet me there later? Maybe get some pie?”

“Sounds great,” I laughed.

I really wanted this talk to go well for them and I hoped that Kain would be nice. I liked the idea of the two of them together. They were so different, but seemed to compliment each other on another level. If Kain ever wanted to be with her he couldn’t just string her along, though. She shouldn’t have to wait around for him for no reason and since we couldn’t tell her the actual reason, it was just better for him to let her go. But in a more sensitive way than what he had just done. We had so much darkness in our life that we owed it to those we surrounded ourselves with to be kind. I knew it probably didn’t even matter, that it wouldn’t make us good, but on some level it had to help...right? I knew the full moon was just around the corner and whatever happened would be on us. I could still feel the bruises from last month. Perhaps one day we could either get used to it or find a way to stop the transition. I wouldn’t count on it. The next few days passed by in a blink of an eye and soon it was the eve of the full moon. I couldn’t fall asleep and so I just layed in my bed staring at the ceiling, wondering when it would happen. I looked at the clock and it was already midnight, but I still didn’t feel the signs of transitioning. Time moved slower than I could possibly imagine, but still at 2 o’clock in the morning there was still no sign of changing. I finally fell asleep wondering if this was the month that we wouldn’t transition...

‡‡‡

Light seeped through the corners of my eyelids. I felt like I was awake, but still asleep at the same time. Do you get it? That feeling of being in two places at once? That was what I was feeling in that moment. I opened my eyes, blinking as the sunlight beamed down on me. I felt the heartbeats explode through my chest and I knew I wasn’t alone. I reached my hand up to cover my eyes and saw the protruding blood vessels in my hand leading up to my black claws. It was happening. How could it be happening while it was still light out? We could be seen! I turned to see if Kia had noticed and it looked as though she had already headed out for class. I opened my mouth to scream as I felt the bones of my wings pierce my shoulder blades like spears, but I used every bit of my self control that I could muster to prevent the sound from escaping my lips. It was even more imperative that we stay silent since everyone was awake. This had never happened before, but I guess we couldn’t control the hour of the full moon. I felt the bones slither through my skin like a snake and soon my wings were full and complete. It felt as though they should have always been there, like an arm or a leg. It felt like I was whole again. I rolled my shoulders, letting my wings extend as far as the small dorm room would allow.

Are you here?
My thoughts whispered to Kain.

Yes,
his growl responded.

I smiled, feeling the anger flowing through his veins. I stretched my hand out towards the glass window, the only thing between me and the world beyond. I felt it slip through and I jumped out through the glass like mere sand that it was. Flying through the air, I did my best to stay out of sight of all the students. They had no idea what they were missing while mindlessly going through the motions of life. Only in transition did I know the true feeling of living. All the power in the world was at my fingertips.

Do you feel them?
I asked Kain.

The heartbeats?
his thoughts asked.

Yes,
I replied
, there are others, I feel them. They are distant, but their hearts beat with ours.

We need to focus on Chuck,
Kain reminded me.

I didn’t know how he could focus on Chuck when there was something more important at hand. Something inside me was whispering to me, telling me where to go and what to do. My body wanted to go towards the scent of the blood that made my lips water, but my brother’s heartbeat pulled me in a completely different direction. I didn’t understand how he could deny his inner calling. What we were meant to be. My human counterpart was a clueless mess, but in this form there were no questions. No doubts. My body knew what it was supposed to do and yet Kain seemed to be able to defy it. I felt the breeze rushing through the feathers of my wings as I soared in the sky. The crisp air should have made me cold, but nothing seemed to touch me the same way in this form.

I found him,
Kain’s thoughts announced
, he is heading into the building for first period.

How are we going to get him in there?
I asked.

Well,
Kain began
, we can try using our magic. Remember how you made that vial appear?

Yes
, I thought.

Perhaps you could try this on Chuck?
he asked.

I smiled just thinking about the idea. Being able to move a person wherever I wanted? That sounded almost too good to be true.

Think you can handle that one?
Kain asked, his chuckled filling my mind as he felt what was running through my thoughts.

Where will you be?
I asked.

At the cabin,
Kain replied,
where he held us captive.

I smiled at the poetic location. His fate had been sealed the moment that he had captured us. He had literally placed the target on his own head and had chosen his own tomb without even knowing it! I circled the building above, waiting for the opportune moment. I took a deep breath, focusing on the desire. At first my senses went straight to the scent of blood that was not too far away. It was our next target. I shook my head, knowing that that wasn’t our goal at this time. My body seemed to argue with me, but I tried to lock those feelings up for the time being. I stretched my hand out and felt an instant connection to Chuck. I knew he was confused and I knew his heart was racing as he suddenly turned away from his classroom. I saw him leave the building and head towards his car. I knew he was locked and would follow me so I flew off towards the cabin.

He’s on his way
, I thought.

I flew passed the dorms and towards the outer roads beyond. Suddenly, I heard an engine behind me and I dove into a group of trees, hiding in a cluster of branches. It would be very handy in these situations to have that power of invisibility like Lawrence had. I climbed up to the top of the tree and looked to see if the coast was clear. Not seeing any cars I began my journey once again. I pushed myself faster, all the muscles in my wings working together to increase my speed. I soon saw the sign for the lodge and circled to find the perfect landing. I slowly lowered myself in front of the nearest cabin and knew when I felt Kain’s heartbeat grow stronger that I had found the right one.

How soon will he be here?
Kain’s thoughts asked.

As fast as humanly possible,
I thought as I entered the cabin,
I saw him go to his vehicle when I left.

Kain was standing in the kitchen area where he had once been hanging in his weak human form. Not this time, however, this time he could barely fit in the small space and the mere size of his arms would make me fearful for my life if I didn’t have my own power. We waited in silence for our once captor. But what if he recognized us? What if he got away?

You’re giving me a headache,
Kain’s voice whispered into my thoughts.

I have valid concerns,
I spat.

We will stay in the shadows,
Kain replied.

But we’re bringing him here!
My thoughts cried,
It’s so obvious!

He won’t know for certain,
Kain thought back,
He will only have suspicions. He wasn’t even supposed to bring us here. Without seeing our faces, and with my voice the way it is in this form, he will not suspect a thing.

I paused as I processed all the possibilities, but while thinking through endless outcomes of this situation there was one thought that kept returning. The blood of the one I desired, the one I needed. I felt her heart beat on and the strongest desire inside of me cried to put it to rest. I needed the heart of this mortal and every inch of me longed for the moment I could hold her beating heart in my hands.

You sense her, too, don’t you?
Kain’s thoughts asked.

Yes,
I replied,
how are you able to control the pull?

It’s all I can think about,
Kain confirmed,
but I know my desire for revenge surpasses whatever else is calling me.

But how?
I asked, this being the most prominent question on my mind,
I can’t push the thought of her blood out of my head!

I know my desire for Chuck’s blood is greater,
Kain thought.

This sounded easier as a thought than an actual practice. Fighting my own instincts was like turning my back on myself and everything that I stood for. Were his priorities rights? Should I ignore my inner desire and focus my entire attention to the task at hand? I had no clue what to do at this point. All of a sudden, the sound of a car ignition being turned off came from outside of the cabin. I turned to the window right as Chuck hopped out of his vehicle.

He’s here,
I thought.

The look on Chuck’s face indicated he had no idea why he was back in the exact location where he had brought us. If he got out of this alive we would have no doubt that it was us. I mean, we were the only ones who knew that this was where he had held us captive. But would anyone believe him?

If he gets out of this alive,
I thought.

Oh don’t worry,
Kain’s thoughts chuckled,
he’s already discredited himself to his uncle.

He’ll be coming for us, though,
I replied.

We can handle it,
Kain shrugged,
anyways, I don’t plan on letting him go.

I heard the door to the cabin slowly open, I felt Chuck’s heart beating as if it was my own and I knew he was afraid.

“Hello?” Chuck’s voice came crawling through the air and made its way to my ears, “What the hell is going on?

I shared a knowing glance with Kain as I stretched my arm forward, pulling his body into the kitchen and throwing his feeble bones into a chair.

“Remember me?” Kain growled.