Awakened (Unbound, Book 3)

Chapter Nineteen

Calin kept my keys once we reached Grimas after picking up Maible, saying this way he'd know I wouldn't ditch without an explanation. I didn't point out how much I enjoyed running and the fact that, if I wanted to, I'd just go. If the exercise seemed too much? I'm pretty sure my skill for visualization extended to picturing keys in the ignition of my own car.

At lunch, I ran. Once they double-checked that I was still at school when I didn't show up for food in the cafeteria, Maible and Calin left me alone.

Mr. Jenzen had a notice on his door during fourth that he was away but would be returning tomorrow, leaving me with a free period to fill. Ignoring everyone else in the hallways—apparently, someone had burnt something in Home Economics, rendering the classroom as useless as the counsellor—I made my way to the girls' washroom, double-checked that it was empty, and then locked the door. Since Zachariah hadn't come to me again, I hoped the privacy away from the Manor would strengthen my attempts to connect. Luna said he was weak, but I was positive that I had enough strength for us both to be able to find a way to talk.

Going to school at the center of Wickenton should provide the needed boost if I was lacking somehow.

I sat in the center of the room, crossed my legs beneath me, and closed my eyes. Clearing my mind to black, I didn't even have to imagine the biology of my body. The power available to draw on inside of Grimas was so strong, the moment my intent was thought of, I was thrust into trance. The meditation was so intense that my body no longer felt like it was my own. Still, I pushed harder, repeating over and over how much I wanted to connect with Zachariah.

When I opened my eyes, my sight was as fine-tuned as a microscope. Each dust mite was like hands waving in my face with sparks lighting the tip of every finger. The hurricane-force wind whipped my hair, lifting it towards the ceiling and around to slap my face. It didn't affect anything except for me. I smiled, enjoying the display. How could I have hated magic so much when I would have missed out on things like this? Why hadn't my mom shown me the cool stuff to try to get me to embrace my abilities instead of filling my head with lessons and responsibility? This—the magic surrounding me—was cool.

As though the cosmos had heard my thoughts and wanted to teach me a lesson, the air shifted. Suddenly, everything changed. It filled my lungs, choking me, the force of the wind ripping the oxygen from me before I could breathe it in. Currents entered my body through my feet from the floor, so fast and strong it wouldn't surprise me if it left a burn mark on the top of my head as it found an escape.

It was too much.

My heart sped and I tried to think of what to do. How could I connect but have no way of controlling the flow? A taproot? No. Biology? Finally, there was a moment's lull. I took a deep breath and held, counting to ten, and slowly exhaled. The more I concentrated and tried to release the building energy, the stronger it pounded to be let free.

Deep breath in.

Hold.

Slow exhale.

Okay, okay, okay.

The wind started spinning into formation, surrounding me as though it was a circle with me at the center. The stalls began to rattle, pulling at the screws of their base in order to be set free, and the porcelain sinks strained away from the wall. I could see a crack of space between the sinks and wall beginning to form. My body began to shake.

I had to stop this before the room was demolished beyond repair.

Thoughts raced through my head, but none of them was a solution. If I couldn't imagine the biology of calm, what could I use as a substitute? Calin wasn't here. The cliff couldn't be moved. Home! I slammed my eyes shut but couldn't picture my house in Briarville. My body began to tremble in earnest, the muscles twitching and spasmatic.