The Unveiling

Chapter Six

I shovelled leaves with a ferret shifter named Bart. We worked in companable in silence. The most I got out of him was that his brother was Brad - the one in the suit, and that’s why he was able to live in this basecamp. Not all basecamps were equal apparently. In truth though, I wasn’t in the mood for conversation. I kept running through my training exercise with Chase in my mind. Was I simply a possession to be rolled out when the time was right so they could say, ‘look at our angel’, and claim ownership over me. And my powers?  If I did have lightning and I happened to shock someone - what would they do then? Cage me? Or was this the cage? 

And then there were the dreams. Were they messages? Memories? Scenes of the past or present? 

I didn’t know. The not knowing scared me. The knowing scared me. I was terrified. But, I refused to show that to the world, because if there was one thing I had learnt since the veil lifted - if you showed even a hint of weakness, they would pounce and tear you to shreds. I wasn’t ready to be torn apart, and I wasn’t quite ready to fight back either, so I sat, and waited, stewing in the fear that only I was aware of. 

So as my shovelling shift ended, I dipped my head and smiled politely at Bart, wishing him a good day. He seemed like a nice enough guy, if not a little boring. 

I dwindled the day away, sitting with myself for a long while, allowing the shock of the past two weeks to truly settle in. These moments of nothingness, where you addressed your soul, were more important than most realised. Probably the most important lesson I had learnt from my mother. If you aren’t comfortable with yourself, if you leave thoughts and feelings and emotions too long as though it were a pebble in your shoe that you were too unmindful to remove, you would be left limping through life - never able to truly rise up. 

By the time dusk was upon us, I stood waiting on the front step of my little house, unsure of what this round of training would hold. 

He strode across the street within a few giant strides. His hair boasted tints of blues and purples that shone in the light. He was as beautiful as an exotic bird, and equally as deadly. He c****d his head to the side, examining me, as if he could read my emotions. Could he read my emotions? Possibly. I wasn’t sure what his powers as a Full blown Fae were. 

“Are all Fae as pretty as you are?” I asked. 

One blink. That was his response. 

“We are going back to the park,” he said, ignoring my question in its entirety. 

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” I hedged. 

He raised a brow in response. 

“You spent this morning telling me emphatically how dangerous my lightning can be, and now you want me to go and train with it in an open park where toddlers play.” 

“You won’t be playing with lightning today,” he shut me down. 

“But you said..” 

“I said that we would be addressing your gift of - what I assume is - lightning,” he growled out, and stepped towards me. I wanted to step back, and so instead, I straightened my spine and found myself looking directly into his swirling silver-grey eyes. 

He lowered his head, and spoke deeply, “and part of that process is understanding how lightning works, so when you do access it, you know how to manipulate it without smiting people. So, Reya,” my name rolled off of his lips, “today we will just be doing theory.” 

My breathing increased with his proximity, and I knew that with his keen senses he noticed, as his eyes travelled down, lingering on my lips. I stood still, denying the urge to lick my bottom lip. This was a dangerous path that we were treading, and I saw the resolve settle upon his features as he pushed away, turning deftly. I meekly followed him down the street. To someone like Chase, I would only be a passing fancy. 

The pink and orange hues that lit up the sky, coupled with the autumn setting made me want to photograph it, documenting this memory in some way, shape or form. 

“Sit,” he commanded, gesturing to a strategically placed log in the park. 

I sat down without argument. I had never been the most dutiful student in school, and I was dreading his lecture on the theory of lightning. 

Instead he said, “Close your eyes and go into a meditative state.” 

“You brought me to the park to meditate?” I asked. 

He crossed his arms across his chest, waiting for me to follow his instructions. 

“And what? You’re just going to stand there and watch me meditate?” I demanded, “Because that’s not in the least bit creepy.” 

“I am going to guide you,” he gritted out in response, “You know Reya, it would be a lot easier to actually help you if you were willing to listen and just do as you’re told.” 

“I’m sure plenty of people just ‘do as they’re told’ around you, but Fae or not, I will not be one of them,” I spat out, frustrated with his condescending tone and demeanor. 

“People listen to me because it’s in their best interest to do so. I suggest you learn that while you may have angel blood running through your veins, as it stands you are still an UN-tested; UN-trained hybrid, and right now you fall under MY authority.”

“Why?” I demanded, “Why do people simply listen to you  - because you’re Fae?” 

He laughed, the sound brittle. 

“No Reya, they listen because on some level I’ve earned their respect. I suppose that is the problem, you don’t respect me. Have I earned it? I would like to say my presence here in being willing to train you would have paved that path, but looking at your face I’m not even sure you want to be here. You certainly don’t respect me, and where most people fear me, you challenge.” 

We stared at each other, and I realised that he didn’ actually owe me anything. I’m sure he had his reasons for being here, and despite what they were, he was still here, willingly training me. He was right, for the most part at least, because I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to be here, in this basecamp. A big part of me acknowledged the whispers in the back of my mind, telling me that I would indeed be safer with Shay.

“Fine,” I sighed, turning my back towards him as I closed my eyes, and settled in to try and meditate.

“Now, I need you to dig within until you hit a spark. It should feel warm, and have a sort of electric current kind of feel to it. Don’t worry though, it can’t hurt you because it’s part of you.” 

I relaxed into his words and buried deeper within myself, wading through the darkness and fog of uncertainty within. 

And, as if it were calling me, beckoning me to come and play, a silver liquid flashed and danced in the darkness, mercurial in nature. I dived after it, weaving my way through the cobwebs of my soul. It was a game of chase, and the inner child in me cried out in glee. And finally, when the crescendo abated, I caught up to it, and slid my hands through the liquid, warmth engulfing my veins. It was like I was coming home. 

“What the hell is going on here!” A booming voice sounded, and just as my stomach jolted in surprise, the silver liquid darted away as if in fear. I wanted to stay in the warmth of this dark place, cozy and cocooned within my soul. My hands were, once again cold, and I opened my eyes annoyed at the interruption. 

Standing face to face with Chase was a large built bronzed man with dark auburn hair that had been shaved in a strictly military style cut. It looked like Chase and him were staring down each other for dominance. I wasn’t certain what was going on, but two alpha males staring at each other in that way, could only have one outcome. 

And so, I stood up swiftly and called out, “Hello, apologies, I was simply meditating. Can I help you in any way?” 

Manners and politeness were weapons that I could easily yield. Being female, with somewhat aesthetically pleasing attributes had its advantages. Somehow, they never suspected that the thoughts swirling around in my mind, and the words that fell from my lips, were rarely the same.

He broke eye-contact and looked at me, his dark brown eyes speaking of warmth and kindness. “You must be Reya,” he spoke with a forced smile. As if the entire situation were uncomfortable to him. He was handsome and bold in a way that made you want to hold his hand and introduce him to your family. 

Chase stood there, looking perplexed, as if he didn’t understand how a challenger could simply look away. As if every fighting bone in his body breathed at him to simply finish this, and yet within these societal norms, it wasn’t possible. 

I nodded my head towards him in confirmation, as he continued, “there has been a huge miscommunication. I am supposed to be your trainer.” 

Chase looked as shocked as I felt. 

“What?” I gasped. 

“I’m from the military. Our military,” he emphasized. 

He stared at him with a blank expression, waiting for him to continue so that I could make some semblance of sense in this situation. 

“And, Miss Winters has certainly contracted the Fae prematurely, when you have a perfectly capable trainer within this realm, and a military to mitigate any consequences thereof.”

He spoke with grace and poise, and I wondered who exactly he was. 

“What is your name?” I asked politely, as I aimed to gather information. 

“Oswald,” he bowed down with a flourish, in jest, “Captain of the Guard.” 

“Which Guard?” Chase asked softly, as if he had already caught up, and was simply looking for confirmation. 

Oswald smiled at him blandly, “The President.” 

“s**t,” I swore softly, while Oswald looked on at me sympathetically. In a matter of less than two weeks I seemed to have attracted the attention of Miss Winters, The Fae realm and the President.

“And what traits do you have that makes you think you are fit to train Reya?” Chase hissed. 

“I am a full blown shifter,” he stated proudly, “and as Captain of the Guard, I think I do have some advantages,” he winked at me. 

To be a full blown shifter in our realm, it meant that no other genetic mix was picked up in the lab testing. Essentially your mother had to be mostly shifter, as well as your father, for the mixer bloodline to be the only thing the lab results picked up. There were a few of them in our realm - they were rare though, often boasting incredible feats of strength and an array of abilities. 

I swallowed audibly as we all stood there in uncomfortable silence. 

Eventually Oswald spoke, “So your assistance has been noted and is appreciated, but you can run along back to your realm, even if you are a full blooded Fae.” 

“Fae Prince,” Chase interjected. 

I stared on in shock, refusing to interrupt them. 

“Excuse me?” Oswald said. 

“I’m the Fae Prince of the Elemental Court in my realm, so you will address me with the courtesy owed to a royal member visiting your realm,” he flashed his teeth in challenge. 

“That still doesn’t change the fact that I am Reya’s trainer,” Oswald ground out. 

“Not according to the agreement, which may I add is part of the new peace treaty, that Mayor Winter signed with King Ruan yesterday.” 

Oswald stood silently fuming, as I clasped and unclasped my hands a few times before saying, “Perhaps we should go and see Miss Winters to resolve this matter.” 

“Perhaps,” Oswald agreed. 

Chase simply looked on in amusement as I, for once, led the way towards Miss Winters’ home.