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I shrugged, not liking the thought but….Who else?
Paige stood abruptly, her fists clenched as her hair started to swirl around her face and I leaned back, the counter preventing me from going far as her eyes glowed brighter than I’d ever witnessed, so bright they outshined Gran. He can try, she hissed, her normally clear voice almost guttural.
Whoa, sister. We don’t know that for a fact…so maybe dial it down? Just a smidge, I held my fingers apart an inch, feeling her power pulsing in the air, so strong it was lifting my hair. It was easy to forget how strong Paige was, especially standing on family ground, where she could draw on our mother’s power, a power she should have inherited directly if not for the method of our mother’s death. She didn’t relax and I raised my hands. He’s not going to win, I told her. He can’t take me. We won’t let it happen. Together, I gestured between us, me and you, together forever, remember?
Some of the tension eased from her face, and the strong scent of ozone started to fade as her power diminished slowly. I could use a shot of that juice, I joked, grabbing a glass from the counter and filling it with water to hide the faint trembling of my hand.
Paige could level the village if she wanted, a fact Gran seemed content to turn a blind eye to, but the possibility never left my mind, not with our mother’s death etched in my memory.
Here. Her intention dawned on me a second too late as she touched my arm and a jolt shot through me. The sensation might be compared to sticking your finger in an electrical outlet except I’d never done that since we didn’t have electricity. Generators were our main source of power and those weren’t reliable or used every day, but the surge of power Paige sent through me would have been enough to light every house for a year.
Are you okay?
Her voice rang in my ears as I blinked, wooden logs dancing in my vision as I tried to figure out what I was seeing. Paige’s face loomed over me and I realized I was on the floor and the dancing logs were the ceiling.
I’m alive….I think. My nose twitched at the overwhelming smell of gunpowder, and I touched my face gingerly, almost expecting it not to be there.
I didn’t know that would happen, Paige cried out, her hands hovering over me as she tried to decide if touching me again was a good idea.
Ah, let’s not, I suggested as she was about to pat my arm. My skin felt like it was crackling and energy coursed through me. It was almost as if she’d just charged my internal battery, except she’d almost fried the battery.
Oh, okay, she replied, tucking her hands under her armpits. Sorry. Remorse lined her face and I nodded reassuringly.
I’m fine, I lied adroitly. Brings new meaning to being buzzed. I stood up, quite positive I could fly if I wanted there was so much energy zipping through me. You pack a punch, sister. She frowned and I forced a soothing smile. I’m gonna go check on Caleb, I told her. You stay here in case Gran wakes up.
What do I tell her? Paige asked, her eyes filled with panic.
Nothing, I replied, giving her a warning stare. You tell her nothing. You have no idea where she was, or what she was doing. As far as you know, she was in bed.
You think she’ll buy that, Paige asked doubtfully.
I shrugged. She has no choice. I walked to the door or possibly floated, since I wasn’t sure my feet were touching the ground.
Don’t forget his Spam, Paige reminded me and I hid a grimace, turning back around to pick up the can, almost afraid I’d fry the Spam right in the can when I touched it. You’re sure you’re okay?
Never better, I answered, my toes digging into the ground, an irresistible urge to run coming over me. Now, go to bed, I ordered and she saluted. I shut the door, then let my feet fly across the yard and I leaped over the remnants of a campfire, landing with a bounce. Energy flowed through me, disguising the fact that my belly was still hungry, and I’d almost died not once but twice that night.
I didn’t bother to walk down the stairs, instead jumping and landing in a crouch right in front of Caleb’s cell. His eyes popped open in surprise and I tossed the Spam to him. He caught it easily as I snapped my fingers. “I forgot clothes.”
He peeled the lid off the Spam, digging into it with his fingers as he eyed me. “Sure that wasn’t an intentional oversight?” Dirty pants hung low on his hips, highlighting the defined planes of his abdomen – muscles that were so well defined because he was starving and dehydrated.
