Jude. The Sanctum. Nathaniel. And any other being who works for these power-hungry assholes who seem to have a plan for me.
I don't have a plan for myself, I never have, and that changes today.
My gut clenches with concern as Kael comes to mind, but despite the warranted feeling, I squash it for now, refusing to let it impact my tower of determination. He’s a fully grown man, with Thorne and Rion taking care of him; he doesn’t need me, not yet, not when I’m not strong enough.
As quietly as I can, I shuffle upright, my back pressed against the headboard, and grab my cell phone to check the time.
It's earlier than I anticipated.
I feel like that could work in my favor, though, if I want a little bit of peace and quiet while I focus. I don’t even remember what it’s like not to be distracted. My mind is constantly scattered, pinging from one thing to another.
There are no further text messages from Rion, Thorne, or Kael with regard to the Nathaniel situation, not since Rion confirmed it was taken care of last night, but there is a notification on the surveillance app that causes a stir in my gut as I press the notification.
The screen comes to life as I hold my breath. As predicted, two seconds into the clip, a figure steps into the frame, dressed head to toe in black.
Since my bed is moved and the camera is still in its usual place, I'm not entirely in the frame, but there's enough of a visual to see the figure slip into bed beside me with ease. I don’t startle awake. As usual, I snuggle back into their embrace as they stroke a finger down my cheek.
I remain blissfully unaware.
A shiver runs down my spine.
Why am I not afraid of this person?
Why am I not trying harder to push them away?
I don't know, but it's almost as if a sense of safety and calmness, with a pinch of curiosity, keeps me wanting more.
Shaking my head, I discard my cell phone and sneak into the walk-in closet, quickly changing into a pair of yoga pants and a tank top Rion didn’t actually take from my room.
Thank God for small mercies.
Slipping my feet into a pair of socks and sneakers, I grab my hefty sword, which seems to be my chosen weapon during a rebellion attack, and offer my friend one final glance before I step from the room.
It's eerily calm throughout the Institute as I head down the stairs and slip outside into the early morning air. The chill makesme shudder, but once it worms its way through my body, the freshness seems to put an extra spring in my step as I race down the path toward The Vale, only to take the next turn off the path, darting into Institute Twelve as quietly as I can. Not that I'm going to wake anybody up, but I'd rather not get caught.
I just want some space to work and focus without any interruptions, and this is precisely the place to do it.
Thankfully, the gate sits ajar, so I don't have to climb the awful fence again. Making my way around to the back, I quickly find a spot I’m happy with, perfectly splayed out along the edge of the tree line with the institute building a few yards behind me.
I grunt as I swing the sword into the earth, watching as it glistens under the intensity of the sun. I consider leaving it for later, eager to focus on this magic of mine, but it's a little difficult to do alone, especially when I need to channel it.
My power seems to draw strength from others, fueling abilities foreign to my limbs, and since I’m here alone, I need to branch out first, learn the core properties of my energy before I start trying to use them on demand.
Planting my hands on my hips, my thoughts drift between the sword and my abilities, when a thought drifts to mind. My feet shuffle apart as I ground myself.
“Keep your feet grounded, connect with the earth beneath you. No matter what it is you have to offer him, it’s at your command. Breathe it in, but breathe it back out.”
There was something about the way that woman spoke to me back in Jude’s solitary realm of fuckery that he created. I didn’t even get her name, or that of the man beside her, but those words, they mean something. They have to. The way she talked about connecting with the earth felt profound in that moment.
Before I can think any better of it, I kick my sneakers off along with my socks and press my bare feet into the soft blades of grass.
It's a little dry in patches, nothing like the lush green lawns that surround Institute One or Two, but it's better than the options at Thirteen since it’s just dirt. It’s enough for me to take a deep, calming breath that resonates in my soul.
How can I take energy from something here and give it to myself, when all I take is power? Surely, that's not all I'm good for.
My eyes close as I take a deep breath before prying my eyelids open, and my gaze lands on the sword. I consider whether it would be a better option to just swing that thing around for a while, but instead, I crouch before it, pressing my palms into my thighs as I take another deep breath.
I need to think clearly, which doesn't help organize my own thoughts as they whirl in my mind at one hundred miles an hour, twenty-four hours a day, every day of the week.
