Chapter 10 - Kaleb
I shut the door and kicked off my shoes. I sighed, “Nora, I’m home.” There was no response. I glanced into the living room, finding it empty. So, I headed toward the kitchen and found it empty as well. The house was quiet, even though no one was home.
“Nora?”
I did another look around and scowled. I figured she would be home by now. She didn’t seem like the type to stay out late. I grabbed my phone, planning to give her a call, when my phone started to ring. Brandon’s name popped up.
I answered it and sighed. “Yes, Brandon?”
“We need you down at the training base.”
I scowled. “It’s like eight at night, Brandon. Can’t we torture people during normal hours?”
“It’s Nora.”
Those two words stopped my heart from beating, and I quickly hung up without letting him say more. I grabbed my keys, yanked my shoes back on, and ran out the door. I drove across town to the training base we had.
I parked the car and ran. Brandon stood with his arms crossed and his back to me. I could see Jade and Nora in front of him, looking sick. Nora was pacing back and forth, and Jade was following her, saying something. No one looked hurt.
I was panting by the time I got to them. “What’s going on? Nora, are you okay?”
Brandon turned and stopped next to him, looking at all of them, confused. Brandon looked calm, though, which I didn’t understand. “What happened? What’s going on?”
“Nothing bad,” Jade offered. “Well, yet.” She looked at Nora, who was still pacing. She chewed on her lip as she moved back and forth like she was zoned out now.
“What are you talking about?”
“Nora and I were at the park with Ilsa when I felt the darkness again. It was a good distance away. Brandon sent Asher and Westley to look into it.”
My stomach dipped at this. “Was a hybrid near? Did something happen?” The thought of Ilsa seeing something terrified me. I knew that Jade was able to handle herself, but she was still new to magic and worked best when she didn’t have distractions.
Jade shook her head. “No, we’re fine. They didn’t find anything out there.”
“Then why do you all look like this?” I waved my hands. “If nothing is wrong, why the long expressions?”
Nora finally stopped pacing and looked at me. “It would…they think…I…I apparently have magic.”
I blinked. I soaked in her words and stared at her. I looked at Jade, who nodded. “She was getting the same feeling I was, which means she has magic. We’ve been trying to pull it out, but have been unsuccessful.”
“If that were true and I really did have magic, why don’t I feel anything now? Why can’t you sense any in me?” Nora asked, looking frustrated at Jade. “I feel nothing. Nada. Whatever I felt before must have been in my head.”
“Because it’s new,” Jade offered, giving Nora a tight smile. “Once you get used to it, you’ll feel it more. It takes time.”
Nora ran a hand over her face, looking tired. I looked between them. “So, you have magic. Is that what I’m hearing?”
“That’s what they believe,” Nora said, looking doubtful. “I don’t agree.”
Jade moved closer to Nora. “Let them at least try to pull it out again. You keep giving up before I even get a hold on you.”
“I’m tired of trying,” Nora said, throwing her hands up. “I just want to be done.”
I could see that Jade looked hurt at those words. I cleared my throat. “How about we try again in the morning?” The tension was high, and the more Jade pressed with Nora, the more frustrated she was going to get.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Brandon added, with a nod. “It’s late, and everyone is tired.”
Jade clearly didn’t want to agree, but nodded her head. “Okay. We can try again in the morning.” She tilted her head as she watched Nora. “Right?” Nora rubbed her over her arms, refusing to look at us. But she nodded.
When I got up the following morning, I went to the training ground. I found Jade and Nora standing in the sandpit a few yards from the parking lot. Brandon was standing near the edge of the parking lot, leaning against his car. His arms were crossed as he watched.
