Breaking Free (BXB)

Chapter 10-You Loved Me

Owen gave me a sympathetic look while Kota was turned away to gaze out onto the balcony. His eyes were downturned with concern and something softer and sweeter, his brows knitting together. He kept worrying his hands on his pants, then letting them hang free, then worrying them again, like he wanted to reach out for me to see if I was alright. My gut tugged to be closer to him, but I still didn't know if I should trust him or not.

Hell, I didn't even know if I could trust this 'Kota'. She had chased me down near a graveyard, after all, not to mention the air around her wreaked of fear and power I didn't want to mess with. I watched her back warily, her white flowy shirt trailing behind her in the breeze. I glanced between Owen and Kota, distrust seeping into my gut. She hadn't turned once to look at me, and her shoulders were held up high and rolled back, her long hair fluttering in the breeze. Her very being oozed confidence and I couldn't help but shrink back into myself. Owen was safer and more familiar to me by far, but I couldn't bring myself to come any closer to him, not that he didn't stumble closer to me.

Owen's hand brushed lightly against my thumb, a surge of energy rushing through. I pulled back my hand harshly, the skin where he had touched still tingling. We made eye contact for a brief second, our eyes wide. Owen's eyes softened before lowering his head, glancing away, I tried to hide my burning cheeks. Abruptly, Kota stopped and turned around, looking between the two of us suspiciously, glancing down at our hands and shaking her head in disapproval. I froze, wondering if she saw what we had been doing on the walk down, but she couldn't have, she'd had her back turned to us the whole time.

"Owen, you may leave us now. This conversation is private." Her words were sharp and final, and a shiver ran down my spine. Suddenly I didn't want to be away from him. Owen's mouth dropped open and he spluttered out some sort of half-response. Kota narrowed her eyes at him, a menacing power lurking beneath them. I watched as they had a silent conversation that I floundered to understand before Owen bowed his head in submission. He gave me one last sad, long look before scurrying off. Staring at his retreating form, the space where he had been standing felt cold and empty and barren.

Kota pushed past two bright orange and yellow curtains and I stood alone for a couple of minutes, wondering if I should follow, I trusted her much less than I trusted Owen, or really anyone else in this place, but it's not like I could turn back. Images of her transforming into a mighty tigress flashed into my mind and I suppressed a shiver of fear. I had no choice in this matter, even if it seemed like I did. Resigning myself to my fate, I pushed past the curtains expecting the very worst. I stepped inside, greeted by the most wonderful feeling I had ever experienced in my life. Every limb felt weightless and free, my hair fluttering in the breeze. My skin tingled with a soft kind of pleasure and the air smelled fresh and piney, my nose twitching like a bunny's at the smell.

"Wow." I murmured, taking in the forest around us. The tallest trees I had ever seen in my life towered above us, their leaves creating a symphony with the singing birds. A content shiver ran down my spine. The ledge we were on was shady and beautiful, little bits of leaves fluttering across the edge and birds stopping for a moment to peck at the rock before fluttering off. There wasn't a rail or any sort of block to keep someone from falling off the edge, one moment the ledge was there, the next it wasn't and it felt freeing in its openness.

"I know, right," Kota whispered, a smile lacing her voice. I turned, having forgotten for a moment that she was there at all. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her face relaxed. The sun bounced off of her skin in a way that made her seem at home in the earthy atmosphere, like an angel of the forest. Her hair was swept away from her neck, the long waves fluttering in the breeze. She was beautiful and seemed innocent and trustworthy now, the opposite of what she had been before. I suppose everyone's homes make them seem like a better person, this must be her home. I heaved in a great breath not wanting this peaceful moment of stillness and tranquility to end. Sighing heavily I prepared myself for the conversation ahead.