Empowered (Unbound, Book 6)

Chapter Four

My eyes found Trevor as soon as I stepped into the sea can. If I hadn't been looking, I wouldn't have seen him wince from the light coming through the door—the only illumination available—and I'd maybe buy his pretence of sleeping. Even if I'd imagined it, he'd already woken from the effects of the drugs. I had no problem ensuring he felt enough so there was no way he could sleep through.

"Oh, don't waste my time, Trevor," I said, clenching my teeth. "The patience you took from me hasn't returned like my magic has. Would you like me to demonstrate how that combination works? It isn't in your favor."

Trevor opened his eyes, glaring at me. He looked at the bandages on my wrist, then back at my face. I held back a smirk, seeing him looking tired and dirty—it was so different than the uppity way he typically projected himself. He smelled, though he wasn't harmed in any way. I wished he'd at least have a black eye so I'd feel somewhat avenged. If I hadn't made myself sick to heal myself, I would have been far more injured than I am now.

I held out my hands, looked down and then up. "Checking out your handiwork? Proud?"

He said nothing, and I dropped my arms to my sides.

"Don't worry, we aren't as barbaric as you, Trevor," I said. "Besides, you aren't a threat and can't escape. How does it feel? To be locked up with no control over your own actions or what someone plans to do to you?"

Trevor didn't close his eyes, but said nothing. As my frustration grew, so did my hesitancy over using my abilities begin to fade. As a result, my confidence skyrocketed.

"If I were as psychotic as you, I'd say you were right to fear my magic enough to find a way to eliminate the threat and give yourself the upper hand. It enabled you to kidnap me, drug me, abuse me... You treated me like an animal being sold at auction, so why shouldn't I do the same to you?"

I brought one hand in front of me and looked down. As soon as I thought it, I felt my magic swell. Flames started dancing in my palm. I watched as they flickered until I counted to sixty, then closed my fist. The fire died, a tendril of smoke lifting as its last breath.

"See? Easy." I lifted my head slowly and once again met Trevor's glare, a smile lifting one side of my mouth. "If I were you, I'd be more scared of the fact that there's nobody who wants you enough to pay. It means you'll learn why you might fear the fact that I have abilities people want. Unless you start talking. Unlike you, I believe in giving people a chance to do what's right."

"You have abilities that I don't. At least I fought fair by ensuring you couldn't use them."

My eyebrows rose. "Fought fair? You drugged me! How is it fair to render someone unconscious?"

"You were able to fight it better than me."

"Because I was taught that success wasn't something that came easy. You expect everything to be given, so you didn't bother to fight it. It's called fortitude—strength. I've never seen you display either."

"So, what? You want to teach me?"

"No. That would be a waste of energy and time, and you aren't worth it." I shifted my weight. "What I want is answers, such as who you were trying to negotiate giving me to in exchange for money. What do you know of their plan—where was I supposed to be going? Who is it?"

"I don't know their name and never asked where you were going." He shrugged, not appearing to regret his actions at all. "Once you left and I had my money, it wasn't my problem."

"You're the problem!"

"You wanted to be normal, Nora. How is what I did not doing you a favor? It's what you wanted."