Cardinal

Chapter 10

"Julie, I have nothing to wear. I'm not going out like this." I told her pointedly. 

She can't force me out. I'll just stay here and rot. 

She ignores my statement, clacking away at her phone, still sprawled on my bed. 

"You need clothes and other things. You don't want to look like an idiot at the academy. Plus, they're going to want to start you on gift control and training. You need clothes for that. You also need a laptop, phone... Why don't you have stuff? Where is your stuff?" 

My face shades with shame at her statement. While in hiding, I lived a minimalist lifestyle and only ever having a flip phone that could be easily replaced and destroyed. I didn't get to enjoy much of my late teens and into my twenties, always moving around in hopes that I would survive to the next day, week, or month. 

"I don't have anything." 

Embarrassment seeps into my tone as I look down at my toes. I've never thought about the things that I wanted and only thought about things I needed. My uncle Brutus helped keep me in hiding. Funds were so erratic and I always had to keep a job. I haven't specialized in anything and always needed to do menial tasks since I didn't technically graduate high school or even begin college. 

Julie flies from the bed over to where I was standing and hugs me. 

"I'm sorry. I'm really in the dark here, Lils. I'm not going to pry but will you try to answer my questions as best as you can?" 

I bite my lip, thinking of the risks. She deserves the truth. They all do. But me being the bad guy in this situation is infinitely better than them being in the ground. 

"I can try, Jules. I can't say much." 

"Why can't you say much?" Julie insists. Of course, that would be her first question. 

"Can we just talk about something else? I'm back whether anyone likes it or not." I feel uncomfortable with the sudden intrusive questioning, wanting to be anywhere but here. I avoid her gaze. 

"Okay, fine. Let's go ahead and do what we need to do. Clothes, other things, academy. I don't stay here much since I have my own space so let's see what I can scavenge for you." She flies out of the room quickly and is back in the room in 10 seconds max. Right. Really fast. Her gift had somewhat been a sensitive subject with her family. They always expected her to have some sort of other gift other than a physical enhancement. Physical gifts, which may be helpful, have always been seen in the bottom tier of the manifestations that a gifted person could have. When her gifts turned out to be enhanced speed, she was almost shunned by her family. Seeing her being confident and doing whatever she wanted has made me so happy for her, despite her family's attitude. 

I hug her tightly. "I promise I'll tell you what I can," I tell her earnestly. 

"I know you will. Now, let's get you something cute to wear." She's squealing and jumping for joy with excitement. This girl and her shopping. Yet I'm grateful for the change in subject. 

I shake my head and grab the spare clothing she's given me and head to the luxurious bathroom to get ready. Here we go. 

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We get into her bright yellow Bugatti Veyron to drive to the shops downtown. Her inclinations regarding speed didn't just stop with her gifts. It bled into other aspects of her life including dangerous death traps she calls her "babies." 

While driving, I'm pulled into my thoughts, thinking about how many little slip-ups I've had with my power since being around my links. They make me leveled and honestly, I haven't had the feeling of the itching overflow of my gifts threatening to spill over.