Gifted

Chapter Thirteen

I fell back against the door and gaped. Chase was leaning into me, so close we breathed the same air.

"H-How," I stammered and took a second to calm myself, "How is this possible? How are you in my room right now?!"

"I told you, I'm like you!" His eyes darted to my open window.

"No way." Through my window? On the third floor? I was not that gullible.

"It's not much different than what you do." He flipped a lock of my hair and finally put some distance between us. My mind was still reeling from this new information; but my heart was hammering from the closeness of our bodies. "I can move extremely fast and also have enhanced strength. Though probably not as fast as you," he mumbled the last part.

"You said my parents were also," the word still felt foreign on my tongue, "Gifted?"

"Yes, just as my parents are...our grandparents and their parents..." He leaned back against my desk, "I told you, it's passed down in our genes."

I peeled myself off my door finally trusting my legs enough to hold me up. Realizing I still had my keys in my hand I tossed them on my dresser and mimicked Chase's stance leaning against it.

"Okay, go on."

He pursed his lips deciding where to start. When he finally seemed to decide he took a deep breath in preparation. "Typically we come into our powers at eighteen; however, we do start showing signs at sixteen. What we can do now is nothing compared to what we will be capable of." He caught the confusion on my face. "For example; I have some of my speed now, but once I turn eighteen I'll also be strong." He snuck in a playful smile clearly anticipating the day. "Like Superman strong. Some parents don't tell their children until they're sixteen. That's normally when the Council expects us to begin attending and preparing in some of their classes. They teach us how to control our powers.

"Some parents, like my own, tell kids when they're younger. My parents and uncle are very involved in the Council, so I've always been around meetings." He looked up at me, and I hoped I was doing a good job of masking my bewilderment. He cleared his throat and pushed off of the desk, pacing my room, he went on, "I'm not sure why your grandmother didn't fill you in on all of this. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for you." His aqua eyes were sympathetic.

"I spent all this time thinking there was something wrong with me...and the whole time she knew? I missed out on so many opportunities because I was afraid someone would find out I was different."

Chase gave me a funny look. "I'm sure it hasn't been easy, but it's only been since your sixteenth birthday Morgan. How many opportunities did you really miss out on?"

"Sixteen?" I asked miffed. "Try five."

"What?"

"I started having mishaps with my Gifts right after my parents died."

Chase's voice filled with disbelief. "I don't know how that's possible."

"Really, because five minutes ago, I didn't think you were possible."

"Fair enough, but I still don't understand. I knew you were special, but I didn't think..." He trailed off, his eyes staring at something unknown.

"Didn't think what?" I demanded; the word made me think of my dream. "What do you mean by special?" I put my hands on my hips and cringed inwardly at how I must resemble a child throwing a temper tantrum.

"I, I should really contact the Council first. I need to check something." He rubbed his forehead and continued to pace.

"I have a lot of questions still," I told him. He opened his mouth to respond, but I held my hand up. "I think I need some time to process this anyway. Can we pick up later or tomorrow?"

"Yeah," he stopped pacing finally. "It will give me time to make a couple phone calls and check on some things... then we can pick back up tomorrow, if that works for you." He started toward the window and stopped abruptly. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I just need to wrap my head around all of this."

He eyed me suspiciously. Chase wasn't easily fooled; I hadn't answered his question.

"I'll be fine," I said.

The window was still opened, and he looked out below him. He seemed to be checking for something. Before I had a chance to react, he was gone, just dropped right out the window as if it weren't more than a couple feet from the ground.

I stuck my head out to check and see if he had broken his leg from the fall, or possibly still clung to the window sill. Nothing. There was no trace of the cute blond boy at all. I stayed there staring off into the forest until rain began to spatter the window. Eventually, I decided on a hot shower to clear my mind.

I spent the night thinking everything over. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and played around with my hair. I wondered what other possibilities I might possess, but had no idea where to start. I did learn to speckle my nose with a few freckles, but not much more. I tried to change the color of my eyes, but no such luck in that endeavor. Whether it was because I still didn't have the ability or the act wasn't possible, I'd have to find out from Chase. I remembered he'd said we don't actually inherit our full power until eighteen. I wondered what other possibilities lay ahead of me.

I also replayed his comment about me being special. What did it really mean? I tried to tell myself that his thinking I was special had nothing to do with the excitement dancing around my stomach.

That night I had my first dream since my seizure; though it had more qualities of a nightmare than the dreams that use to elicit happiness.

I found myself in the courtyard yet again, though the boy with amber eyes did not wait for me. I stood alone, my white nightgown billowing around me; the black night only illuminated by stars and a pale moon. The campus appeared to have faded miles away. A glint of something in the distance caught my attention, and I tried to move forward. My legs seemed be stuck. It was like trying to move in cement. In answer, the reflection started moving closer. The wind started to pick up, the flowing folds of my nightgown began to swirl up around me. It reminded me of the day in the forest with the leaves. I caught glimpses of the shining eyes coming closer; eyes like cats. I froze.

A sick feeling washed over me as my nightgown danced in and out of my line of vision. My feet seemed to be glued to the very spot as I watched the eyes move closer, terror building with every step it took. The closer the person got; the more familiar the eyes grew. Instead of a yellow cat-like quality, they grew to more of an amber color. Relief flooded me as the boy came out of the shadows. For the first time, I saw his face. His coppery hair and high cheekbones were striking. I was sure I'd never been able to see him in my dreams; yet I was positive it was him. I could have picked him out of a line-up.

He was smiling; hand lifted reaching for me. I tried to reach back, but found I was still stuck to the ground. The white fabric was distracting, but I refused to tear my eyes from his. In between the white strips of fabric, I memorized his face; a beautiful light contrast to the dark cold night. His smile faded, and I instantly knew there was something wrong. I kept my eyes trained on him as I watched his face continue to fall. His beautiful amber eyes grew darker and darker... like ink started flowing over from his pupils. They eventually swallowed his entire iris until all that remained were two ink black eyes. His loving smile, I felt I already knew so well, was replaced with a sneer.

I sat up in bed a scream on my lips. I choked it down and wiped my hair from my sweaty face. My heart was pounding, and I found it hard to breath. I knew it was only a dream yet I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was about to change...drastically.