Lost

Nadia (Ch. 7)

Stumbling around, I find a small clearing hidden away from the roads. Sitting on a rock, I let the feel of the snow seep into me washing away some of my hurt. Concentrating, I think about wanting to be seen. Standing I press my foot into the snow, then lift. s**t, I'm still invisible. Trying again, I breath slowly and try to calm my beating heart. Shaking my arms, I try a different approach. I visualize pulling the bubble around me closer and closer, until its attached to my skin. Stepping my foot in the snow one more time, I lift it. Scared to look down right away, I keep my eyes closed as my head tilts down. Three, two, one, I open my eyes, and see my footprint.

I'm so getting the hang of my new powers, I smile. Spotting a little reservoir with steam rolling into the sky, I hop off my rock, start removing my bloodied clothes and hop in. "Mmm," I moan. It feels so nice and warm against the snow filled sky. Laying back, I float around watching the stars. Tears roll down my face. I'm alone. All alone. Sinking below the surface, I let all the pain and anger I've been bottling up, open. Screaming, I start glow. My body starts to stretch, and I feel like I'm everywhere and nowhere at once. Something inside me breaks open and finally I feel free. Pushing back up, the surface breaks as I swim to the edge. Crawling out, I notice that the ground isn't cold. The grass is green and warm just like the reservoir. Each step I take flowers blossom from the ground. The trees within a 3-foot radius are alive with green lush leaves. It's almost as if the snow can't touch here.

I know that's not true because there was snow everywhere. Now it is all gone. Hearing a twig snap; I twirl around and see a bunch of animals come into the clearing I've made. A doe breaks from the heard coming closer. Pushing her head under my hand, I feel the connection I have with her and all the animals. Even though I'm a predator, and they are prey. There is an understanding that flows through us; they trust me to protect them but respect the fact I could also kill them.

If someone were to walk by, they would be shocked. Seeing a naked girl in the middle of a clearing that should have snow, surrounded by animals. It's a marvelous sight. As time passes, each animal presents themselves to me, touching some part of my body. Forming a connection that can never be broken. After I've connected with the last animal, some leave the clearing while others stay as if guarding me.

I can't shake the feeling that I've done this before, or I've seen someone do what I just did. I wish I could remember the time before my parents. I know they adopted me at a young age. I should have memories of my home. My real mother, something but each time I try everything comes back blank. Opening my duffel, I find an outfit and get dressed. Picking a spot near a few trees, I rest my head on my duffel, and my sack under my knees. Before I dose off, a wolf and her pups surround me, keeping me warm with their body heat.

Overwhelming heat wakes me; sitting up I look around myself. My breathing is labored. Where am I, scrambling away from the heat my back hits a tree. Clutching my chest, flashes of the past couple of days hit me in rapid succession. There doesn't seem to be enough air. Gasping, I try to suck as much of it as I can.

Tobias's hands around my throat, crosses my mind. Coughing I run my hands along my neck, but the feeling of being choked won't go away. Silent screams leave me, sobbing as a bang my head back against the tree to get rid of them. My chest squeezes, sweat starts to run down my neck. My parent's faces, bloody and bruised come to the forefront of my mind's eye. My vision tunnels and my hands move out of focus. Black spots dance into view. Cold chills take over my body as I shake. Using the tree as perches, I push up to my feet. Dizziness sets in as the world spins around me.

Crashing to my knees, the only thing I can seem to focus on is the pool of water before me; dragging my body to the edge, I fall in headfirst. The cool water surrounds me, engulfing me in its embrace. It's the balm that my soul needs. My heartbeat slows. My breathing becomes shallow. My vision starts to focus better. Coming back up, I walk back to the tree. The wolves come closer. Touching parts of me with their noses. Running my hands through their fur, I rest my head on the tree. I'm so tired, lost, and alone. I feel so groggy, I could fall right back to sleep. The grass in front of me rustles. A bear emerges, dragging something behind it.

When he comes closer, I see that the object is a deer. Its head is twisted in a cruel way and a bear trap is around its back legs. Sniffing the air around it, I can tell that it has recently been killed. The impressions I get from the bears mind, confirm what I gathered via scent. This bear put he's fellow neighbor out of its misery. The smell of the deer's blood causes my stomach to growl. My fangs being to elongate, and all my senses heighten. Bring the carcass closer, I place my forehead against its neck. Doing what feels right, I honor it for its life and thank it for the nourishment it will grant me—after a few moments of silence, I sink my fangs in and take huge gulps.

It doesn't take me long to finish. I didn't finish it all leaving some blood behind to keep the deer's meat tender for the other animals to feast. Watching them eat, I feel safe. Content. My strength returns to me gradually. I almost feel back to normal. Just stronger than I was before. This, I think looking around myself, seeing the way all the animals react to me, the way I can manipulate the Earth, drinking blood. All of this is my new normal.

I have so much to learn about myself. Memories, I have to remember, to understand what and who I was before my time living with the fae. My only hope in gaining all this, is following the path my parents set out for us—me. I need to contact Marcel. I might not know him, but he is the only family I have.

Grabbing my knapsack, I search for one of the mean phones I have. Turning it on, I look for the only number programed inside.

Ring.

Ring.

On the third ring, someone answers, "Hello."

Nerves take over, and I say nothing. "Hello," the person says again. He's voice is deep, rich, and hard. "Who is this," they demand, "If you don't answer I'm hanging up."

Before they get the chance to hang up on me a rush out, "It's Nadia." The silence that answers me has me thinking I was too late and that the person hung up.

Sighing, I'm about to hang up when he says, "Daughter."