Feathers and Stones

Chapter 8 (Maison)

What the heck is happening? How is this even possible?

I feel dizzy with all the questions buzzing around in my head. Is this the secret everyone was hiding from me?

I hold my breath as Jay charges towards me, ready to kill. Just as he is about to slice me open I dodge out of the way stumbling a bit but I manage to stay standing.

He stops dead in his tracks and glares at me with his bright, fiery blue eyes. 'They're glowing!' I think, 'How are they glowing?'

Jay smirks at me. "Heh, even I'm not sure why they glow." He turns towards me, "it sure is a mystery."

I gasp. 'Did he read my mind? Can he do that?'

He chuckles, "surprised?" I squeak and step back. "It's a shame" he says. I stare back at him, shifting my grip on the knife in my hand. "We could have been such great friends. But, like usual," He grits his teeth, "it came to a tragic end!" He looks at me; I notice the pain in his eyes, "Before it even started!"

He pounces at me. I jump out of the way and spin around to face him. He growls at me and turns towards me. I want to run, but I know I can't. I hold my stance as he walks closer. I watch him with a feeling of sympathy.

He doesn't want this.

He comes closer. I take a deep breath and drop my knife. He is surprised by my action. "Hey! You're the one who wanted to fight! Now fight!" he snaps at me.

"No." I reply keeping my cool.

"What?"

"I'm not going to fight you."

He blinks, "oh come on!" he says, "Quit being a coward!"

I look him straight in the eye. "You don't have to be like this." I say, "You can change you know. You don't have to be a puppet of your own power!"

He stares at me, shocked "Wha-?" He steps back, closing his eyes and clenching his fists. "n-no." I could hear the pain in his voice.

"You want to be free, don't you?"

He looks up at me. His eyes were filled with tears. "R-Rowan..." He runs over and hugs me and sobs into my shoulder. "I'm sorry!"

Rowan? Who's Rowan?

"Jay, I-" I stop myself. I hesitate a bit hug him.

His sobbing continue but it eventually die down to soft cries and sniffling. "w-wait..." he says, "Where's Carson?"

I sigh. He pulls away and looks at me.

I look at him. "Jay, I'm not who you think I am." I say, "I don't know Rowan or Carson..."

"w-wha-?" he stutters, "but you..." he stares at me. His eyes cloudy with tears. "Oh..." He looks down and rubs his eyes and sniffles.

I feel bad now. I think for a bit. "Hey," I say, I put my hands on his shoulders. He looks up at me. "Smile!" I say. I smile and poke at my dimples.

He stares at me for a moment, then a small smile forms on his face and he lets out a halfhearted laugh. I laugh with him while making silly faces causing him to laugh more.

"Yeah, there you go!" I say, "See everything is all better. No need to be sad."

He smiles at me. "Yeah...I guess it is...thanks Maison..."

I smile. "Hey, what are friends for?" I then get an idea. "Oh you know what will make this better?"

"What?" he asks.