Inexplicable

Chapter Fourteen

The bell chimes, signaling the end of lunch, but I was already walking to the art room. I had not heard from Jax since I left him at the building the day before and was anxious to see if he would be in class. The room was empty when I arrived, but I was early. I sit and watch the door as students begin to file in. My heart sinks as the last bell rings, and Jax never arrives. I can't help but feel like something happened to him after I left the building.

I attempted to listen to Mr. Varens as he gave us our new assignment, but I could only think of theories on who was pounding at the door and what they wanted. I couldn't get the look of Jax's face out of my head. He looked terrified, but not for himself, for me. His sole focus was on me and getting me to safety.

Suddenly, I find my eyes growing heavy. I was no stranger to falling asleep in class, but this was different. It wasn't simply falling asleep. It was like I was being sucked into sleep with no warning. My mind goes groggy, and finally, everything goes black.

The dream restarts from the beginning, and I do the same as always: Dig my toes into the dirt and admire the view before starting my trek towards the village. But then the dream changes. The view of the village evaporates into a cloud of black and gray.

I'm in the building Jax took me to the night before, standing in a corner. Jax stands several feet in front of me. He didn't seem to notice me, but before I could say something, a bang on the front door busted the door open, and a man walked in. He's slightly taller than Jax and has platinum blonde hair, almost the same as Jax's natural hair, but it's shorter and pushed back out of his face. He wore a black suit that emanated power.

Even from this distance, I could see his blue eyes.

The man's entrance causes Jax to stiffen, taking a defensive stance like he is ready for a fight. "What are you doing here, Zayn?" Jax asks through closed teeth.

"Rumor has it you found the lost princess, Brother." Zayn is calm and almost seems to be feeding off Jax's anger. The sound of a car engine outside causes Zayn to hurry to the door I exited from, but the car is gone when he looks outside. "Was that her? Awfully careless of you, don't you think?" He puts his hands in his pockets and walks back towards Jax.

"I was assigned as her protector. I know what I'm doing."

"Oh? Do you still have that title after what happened that night? And you really think you've kept her safe? It was easy enough to track you down, and I know if I find you, I find her." A smile plays on Zayn's face as Jax's fists close and shakes with anger. "Make this easy, Jax. Where is she going?"

"And why would I tell you that?"

"Because it's time for her to come home."

"Her home is not with you."

"It will be," Zayn mutters under his breath. Suddenly, Jax clutches his head and falls to his knees. "You will tell me where the Princess is!" Zayn yells, his face contorting into something manic. Jax cries out with pain, which just fuels Zayn to continue whatever he is doing to him. Jax let out another pained cry, and I couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop! Stop! Just stop!" I yell. The screaming ceases, and the room evaporates, leaving everything white with the harsh sun. My eyes adjust as the sun dims, and I realize I'm in a field. Jax comes into view, his face full of shock. Then, it hardens into a mixture of shame and anger.

"How long were you there?" He asks finally. I look down at the grass, unable to meet his eyes. "How much did you see?" He presses when I don't answer.

"Everything," I whisper.

He lets out a long sigh and moves closer to me. He picks up the necklace from around my neck and studies it. "I put too much of the enchantment on. It was meant to connect my mind to yours so I could feel your emotions and know if you're in danger. But it connected yours to mine. Our minds are completely linked." He lets the necklace fall. "Which would explain why you are eavesdropping on my dream."

"I'm sorry," I say quickly. I know that wasn't something he wanted me to see.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." He smiles reassuringly.

"Is that why you made me leave so fast last night?"

"Yes," Jax says simply. He sits down and rests his elbows on his knees. "I'm sorry you had to see that." He picks at the grass and twirls it in his hands.

"Why did he hurt you?" I ask softly. The image of him crying out on the ground replays in my mind and disturbs me more than I care to admit.

"To get information."

"But isn't he your-"

"No. Not anymore. I stopped calling him my brother a long time ago." He runs a hand through his hair, discarding the grass. "Since we are both here, I suppose I have time to answer some questions." He smiles at me, asking me to change the subject with pleading eyes. I comply and sit in front of him, eager to finally ask the questions I have been conjuring since I saw him last.

"You never explained what you are. How is this," I gesture around us at the dream world, "even possible?"

"Where we are from, Irredesia, everyone is born with or without an ability. I, for instance, can infiltrate some aspects of the mind, like being in your dreams and controlling your memories." He smiles, proud of himself.

"So Zayn. What's his power, then? To inflict pain?" His smile drops at the mention of his brother, and I instantly regret the question.

"It's how he prefers to use it. He can alter any of your emotions and make you feel anything he wants you to feel. One more question. It's almost time to wake up."

I rake my brain for which of the millions of questions to ask. "Zayn said something about a princess..." I struggle to get the words out, and I'm unsure. I want to know the answer.

His lips pull into a half smile, clearly amused. "The princess is you. That's why I was assigned to protect you when you were sent away." Something about the way he says it sounds rehearsed. He stands up, and I do the same with a new set of questions that make my head spin.

"Princess? Sent away? Why was I sent away? Why don't I remember any of this?" I nearly slap my hand to my forehead, forgetting what he can do. He had altered all of my memories. It was just so weird to hear about your own life from someone else. I was jealous of Jax for knowing everything I could no longer remember. "How much of my memories have you altered? I don't understand why you had to change them in the first place."

He ignores me, a frown forming on his face. If I didn't know better, I would say he looked guilty. What else was he hiding from me? "The bell has rung. You're going to be late for class."

"Wait!" I say as the dream starts to fade. "This conversation isn't over."

He nods solemnly. "I'll find you."