The Dark Wind

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

In accordance to my request, Xavier stepped out of the cab at the other end of the river no minute later than what I’d asked. Though I could see him clearly from across the river, across the bridge, he couldn’t yet see me. Both sides of the river were fairly crowded with dates sitting on the benches facing the river, simply exchanging words. Few of them were lip-locked, but no one seemed to care; stuck in their own world as they watched the river water flow. Rainfall had been often these days; the river was slowly filling up, the water rushing by quickly.

Watching the humans live their lives, without knowledge of our kind; I was jealous. I was jealous of what they did not know, jealous of their humane worrying. They were always worried, often unhappy. Unhappy that their parents wouldn’t let them get an ice cream, pissed about the new girl in town who was getting all the boys, miffed that the new boyfriend wasn’t treating her as well as the ex. The adults were worried about losing their jobs, worried about the taxes the government was imposing on them, fretting about the good of their children.

So many humane things; none of them that I could ever hope to bother myself with.

Leaning against the railing that barred people from plain jumping into the river, I braved the cold as I watched Xavier stop after one step away from the car. Then Cole got out of the cab, and the car went by quickly. I felt my eyebrow rise.

Both Cole and Xavier drew their jackets close to their bodies as the cold breeze touched them, looking around for me. I didn’t try to reach them; only watching them quietly from the other side of the river. The people who tried to cross the bridge gave me strange looks, wondering why I would dare to wear a tube top showing so much skin in such a cold weather. Winter was approaching, but I gave it no care. The coldness of the surroundings could not be compared to the chill inside my heart, could not bother me.

Cole stopped looking around after a short while, and whipped out his phone. He dialed, and as expected, my phone rang.

“Try looking around longer, Cole. I’m not even hiding.” I said simply and before he could even wedge in anything, I flipped the phone shut.

Watching him from here, his sandy hair, his firm, slight-broad shoulders and his back view, I couldn’t help but wonder why Cole had chosen me. I was just a normal nightstalker you would find anywhere. Okay, other than the fact that I was insanely powerful, and I had great connections with nightstalkers everywhere, I was just a normal nightstalker.

I didn’t have figure like Faith; wasn’t especially good-looking and I was willing to bet that my character was down in the ditch too. Why was Cole so blind to choose me?

I watched Cole sigh, and then speak something to Xavier while rolling his eyes. Xavier replied with a tight expression, the same placid face I’d seen yesterday night when I watched him from the rooftop. Cole shrugged, his face relaxed though there was tension in his muscles as he started to look around again.

Then I felt Xavier push out his power, brushing mine. I couldn’t stop but suck in a deep, chilling breath at the touch of his power while he whipped around quickly, spying me. I was still wondering if I should wave when Xavier tapped Cole on the shoulder, and began walking towards the bridge.

Slowly, I let out my breath as Xavier withdrew his power again, tracking their progress towards me with my eyes. Both were silent as they walked; their eyes on me while I exchanged eye contact.

As they neared me, I turned to face them, feeling the soft, cool zephyr brought by the gushing waters of the river brushing against my face and hair.

“Cole?” I asked, not even bothering to name my question. We both knew what I was going to ask anyway.

He shrugged again, flashing me his happy smile.