Sparks

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  After the most magical, insane and life-altering afternoon of my life, I sat in front of an untouched plate of food as Micha happily plopped down next to me in the dining hall.

  "What the hell happened to you?" he inquired as he popped a bite of smoked chicken into his mouth.

  "Huh?"

  "You look, I don't know. Tired?"

  I had to laugh a little as I tried to think of a way to explain it.

  "You got a girl, didn't you?" Of course my best friend knew me well enough, but still he missed the significance. For the first time in my life, I wished he could hear my thoughts so he could get a glimpse of what I had experienced. Then again, some things are better left private.

  "Not just a girl. The girl." I told him, hoping it would convey my certainty that Khea and I belonged together.

  "Alright. Come on, now you have to tell me. Who is it?" I could feel the heat creeping into my cheeks, which were a little tired from their busy afternoon kissing every part of Khea's body I could reach. She was feminine and soft, but still stronger than I would have thought. More than once, she had pushed me hard against the rock when she wasn't getting her way, though that's not to say I didn't like it.

  "Lark! Tell me!"

  "Fine." I thought for a moment more before I realized he wouldn't leave me alone until he knew. If I didn't tell him, he was prepared to stand and ask everyone currently sitting in the dining hall, which I couldn't allow.

  "Khea." I whispered quietly, though it did little good.

  "KHEA?! Our Khea? Holy hell, man!" Micha shouted across the hall as loud as I'd ever heard him, and a curious hush fell over the room to listen to his explosion. Perfect.

  "Micha! Shush!" I said as my cheeks surely turned bright red with heat.

  "She's been on lockdown for years. How'd you even see her?"

  "The woods by the lake." I admitted. Then I realized and asked, "How'd you know she's on lockdown?"

  "She comes to see me once in a while, though never for very long. Always running around trying to stay good with the Headmaster." My anger boiled over at the idea Khea had gone to find Micha for anything that resembled what we had done that afternoon. Thankfully he recalled the memories of her visits and showed me glimpses of them sitting in his room and talking. A sigh of relief escaped my lips.

  "And when do you see her again?" he asked with a sly grin. My face dropped as I realized I didn't know. And I didn't know how to find her.

  I searched my mind frantically, hoping to find some way I hadn't thought of, some way to see her.

  "Hey, man, can't you just find her? You know, with your Spark?" For anyone else, I could have. But somehow with Khea, I couldn't get through.

  It was then that I remembered I had a favor to ask Micha. "Can I borrow you for an hour or so after this? Avis wants me to try something."

  "Yeah sure, just let me finish up here. Isuet is studying with the girls in the library anyways."

  I gave Micha the bracelet after shutting the door to my room and explained its significance. "You mean I could have just gotten one of these from the start? And then you'd never be able to hear me?"

  "Yeah, that's about right I guess." I was so used to his thoughts being open to me that I didn't relish the idea of being shut out. But, now that he had the bracelet on, I was going to have to figure out a way to get it back.

  "So what do I do now?"

  "Just sit here, I guess. Think about something and I'll tell you if I can sense it."

  Micha sat on the floor staring off, clearly lost in thought as instructed. I drew out a thread and traced it to him, but it was still unable to get close to him. I did notice that the blocked area for Micha was much smaller than for Avis, and I wondered if the bracelets had different degrees of blocking power, or if Micha was just that much easier for me.

  An hour later, I let Micha get back to Isuet and 'studying'. It didn't seem fair to keep him if I couldn't make any progress. Although, I had been a bit distracted. Frequently, my thoughts wandered to Khea, and I laughed a little thinking that I had a new moment with another little blue dress to occupy my thoughts for the next few years.

  There had been something there, something that drew the two of us together, some sort of inexplicable bond, and it was impossible that she didn't feel it as well. But she had suddenly looked worried, pulled on her dress, and ridden off with Jasper. I had no idea where to find her in the labyrinth of the Myxini grounds and she hadn't given me any hint as to when I might see her again.

  I was half-tempted to just start wandering around in hopes that I would stumble on her location, but the other part of me wondered if she wouldn't come see me in my room again that night. I decided it was better to stay put and wait it out.

  In the morning, Avis was sitting on the edge of my bed with the widest grin I'd ever seen from him. It gave me a shiver to think of why he would be so happy. Surely he had some sort of torture planned for me.

  "You are one lucky bastard, you know that?"

  What now?

  "You. With Khea. You have no idea what just happened do you?"

  I rubbed my hands over my tired eyes before answering. "No. I'm completely lost." In all truth, I couldn't figure out any of it. We had been all but strangers for years. I hadn't even seen her since the Moonwater two years ago, and now there was something drawing me into her, and her to me.

  "Damn, how do you get this lucky? You have the Affinity."

  "What?"

  "The Affinity. You've never heard of it have you? Alright, it's been rumored that Sparks have matches, that there can be two Sparks destined to be together. The Sparks recognize their own match and want to be together. The pull from one Spark towards its matching Spark is called the Affinity. Your parents had it. How do you get this lucky?" Avis laughed as he punched my shoulder where I lay in bed.

  After the pain in my shoulder subsided, I could only lay and think about what the Affinity meant. My parents had it. Perhaps I had really known all along, in some small way, that their bond was different-stronger. It explained my father's desperation to save her against all odds, and why he was willing to let me go with Rhorken that day.

  My parents had Sparks, I realized suddenly.

  "Of course. Where do you think you got yours?" Avis commented, as if I was too simple to even warrant an explanation.

  "What were they?" I had never considered my parents having Sparks. Of course, my father's must be related to hunting. But I had no idea about Mother's.

  "You're right about your father, sort of. His Spark deals with tracking game. Like Micha, but with small animals. A good thing, too, considering where you grew up."

  "And Mother?"

  An interesting smile took over his face as he spoke, "A Guardian."

  Huh?

  "Just like it sounds. Guardians are innately aware of the ones they love; they'll do anything to protect them. Remember how she was with birds?" After a satisfied pause, he added, "Damn, you're screwed!"

  There was no denying my mother's Spark. She had always been able to tell how I felt. But I couldn't make sense of why I'd never heard of it. A Guardian?

  "Guardians are one of the rarest, though they aren't particularly useful. They have happy lives for the most part, but they aren't able to do anything that would make them valuable-like say a Striker or a Reader. Even if she had been young and healthy when Rhorken came, he wouldn't have taken her. There's just not anything she could do."

  "And how does that mean I'm screwed?"

  "You have some of their Sparks, and you got the Affinity. So? not only are you bonded to Khea, you also have an instinctive need to keep her safe. You got it from both sides," he explained with a hearty laugh.

  Was I only drawn to Khea because of my Spark? Was it that way for her, too? Were we just two people acting on the whims of some force inside us?

  "Hey, stop that. You're going to have more in this life than most people get in ten. Just accept it and live your life."
>
  Avis was right; it wasn't like I had an alternative. Going on without Khea just seemed impossible after the afternoon at the pool. If I could find a way to repeat those moments on an infinite loop, I wouldn't hesitate. "So what do I do now?"

  "Read Micha." Avis laughed at his own joke.

  "That's not what I meant."

  "I know." He was really enjoying tormenting me. "You wait until she can get out again," he added a moment later.

  "Why doesn't Mathias want her to see me?"

  "Rhorken suspected you two had some sort of connection. A Tracer hadn't been to Lagodon in a generation, and you two were some of the strongest Sparks he'd ever seen. He told Mathias before you met with Lheda, and they made the decision to keep you separated, just in case."

  "So there's nothing I can do?"

  "Not at the moment. She's worked hard to earn Mathias's trust, at least in some limited way. It's quite fitting, actually. She plays him like a harp, and he has no idea."

  "What do you mean?"

  "You'll find out." He smiled again. He could be so annoying sometimes. Did he mean she was using her looks to win him over? My protective urges began to flood back, making me feel a little violent towards anyone who would touch her.

  "No, no, no. Nothing like that. Man, you worry too much."

  As I began to pull on a shirt and rinse my face, Avis just sat on the bed watching me.

  What? I finally asked.

  "You're really messed up about this aren't you?"

  "Yes. I am. I have no idea where she is or what is going on with her. What's up with that Mathias guy? I mean, it was-She's-" I struggled to describe how I felt about the day before and about Khea herself. For once, I was glad Avis could read it from me, and I would be saved articulating it verbally.

  "I know." He smiled widely.

  "And why now? Why did this suddenly kick in yesterday?"

  "Your Sparks had to develop first, I guess. The bond was always there, but since the two of you have been working to perfect your skills and learn your abilities, the Affinity is stronger. And you had to see her. Your Sparks had to see each other before they would know they were a match. Your ride yesterday sealed the deal." He said the last bit with an ominous tone, and it was all too obvious he was having a great time with all of it.

  "Now, go get something to eat and get to work. You'll leave in a few days, and you need to be done with Round Nine by then. Concentrate," he said with a squeeze to my shoulder before heading into the corridor.

  I was leaving. I suddenly remembered my decision to help Avis with whatever he wanted in the Nakbe Islands. What if I didn't see Khea before I left? Or what if I never came back? Would I have to live the rest of my days with just that one afternoon to go on?

  With a start, Avis's hand landed on my shoulder again. I hadn't realized I was still standing in the doorway to my room. "Slow down. Concentrate. And stop worrying."

  Avis walked me to the dining hall, laughing the whole way, and dropped me off at the cook's stand just to be sure I would make it. He hadn't had to walk me to breakfast in a long, long time and he seemed very pleased.

  The next three days passed by in a mixture of frustration and torturous waiting. The longer I went without seeing her, the more anxious I became that I would have to leave without seeing her again. My distracted mind and aching heart left little room for concentrating on breaking through Micha's charmed bracelet. He wore it dutifully, but I was letting both him and Avis down.

  On the fourth day, I woke to Avis sitting on my bed, grinning happily. Oh no.

  "You look like you're in need of a good ride. Why don't you take Obsidian to the city today? The river is really lovely this time of year," he said slyly before slipping out the door.

  It didn't take me more than a moment to guess his meaning. I pulled on a shirt and boots as fast as I could and ran for the stables. Obsidian was already saddled and standing at the door, with Rhada waiting patiently.

  "Have fun!" she called after me as I raced towards the western wall and into the woods that led to the city. Surely Avis hadn't told everyone? I decided I didn't really care and hurried Obsidian between the trees and onto the cobblestone streets of the capital. It was early enough that the vendors were just starting to open their stands and put out their goods, making it easy for me to barrel down the streets until I neared the rushing sound of water along River Street.

  Just as I had hoped, she was standing under a tree with Jasper, wearing a thin red jacket over a matching shirt and tight brown pants. I tried to collect my breath as I swung down to the ground, but all I could see were brown pants hugging her round hips tightly.

  When she saw me approach, she set off at a full run and slammed into my chest with her arms wrapped tightly around me. "What took you so long?"

  "I just got your message. I came as fast as I could." I said before leaning down to kiss her-a kiss I had waited too long for. As her lips gave in easily to mine, we stood there locked for what seemed like a while before one of us broke free. I gently traced the line from her jaw to her collar bone, a little amazed she was there and so were all the feelings. At least I'm not crazy.

  "Here, you haven't eaten." She walked to Jasper and pulled a small bit of bread and cheese wrapped in a piece of fabric from one of her saddle bags. I suddenly remembered it was the first time I hadn't eaten breakfast in a long while, and I hadn't even noticed.

  "How long do you have?" I asked her once I had eaten several bites of food.

  "Not long. An hour or two. Mathias is meeting with Lheda, and usually they don't last very long."

  "Avis said you had to work to earn his trust." I said, suddenly reminded of my worst fear and hoping she would put it to rest.

  "Yeah, he trusts me some now. Enough to let me go on a morning ride into the city when he's away. But if he ever found out about you-"

  "I know."

  "Avis didn't tell you, did he?" she asked nervously.

  "He told me about the Affinity."

  "No, not that. He didn't tell you about my Spark."

  "Uh, no. I mean, I know you're a Puffer." I realized then that she had been wearing red coverings, the color for Strikers.

  She nodded, confirming my suspicion.

  "Puffer and a Striker?" I wasn't all that surprised. After all, I had two aspects to my own Spark.

  She held out her hand a produced a three-inch flame for a moment before letting the breeze take it away. Without so much as a change in expression from her, the water of the river suddenly stopped flowing, just stuck in place as if it had frozen instantly. I looked over at the sudden, eerie quiet after listening to its rushing noise. A moment later, it continued running past as if nothing had happened.

  "And a Drifter?"

  The soil beneath me began to give way, and my whole body began to sink until I was sitting in a hole a few inches deep. "And a Shaker?" It couldn't be possible. No one had that many abilities from their Spark.

  "Anything else I should know about?" I teased her.

  She looked into her hands in her lap and swallowed roughly. I couldn't imagine why she should be so shy, but there wasn't anything she could say that would change anything. I put my hand over both of hers hoping to steady her a bit.

  "It's alright. Tell me."

  Instead of saying anything, she climbed into my lap and wrapped her legs around me, squeezing me tightly. She was shaking, despite her light jacket, so I wrapped my arms around her and tried to keep her warm against my chest.

  "Hey, don't worry, Ladybird. You can tell me," I whispered. It was a name my father reserved for my mother on special occasions. It was one of the most comforting things anyone had ever said, and I hoped it had the same effect for her.

  She never did actually tell me, though she never really had to. My thoughts filled with an image from the Moonwater, though not the one I had seen for the last few years. Instead, I saw myself, as someone else would see me, standing across the room and wearing a green, silk shirt,
holding the hand of a dark-haired girl. In an instant, I realized it was how she experienced that same moment that had occupied my thoughts for so long.

  In an instant, the image switched to one of a dirty, skinny boy with dark hair and torn clothes walking towards her in the back of a cart and thinking how much he wanted to protect her. Of course it had been me, immediately determined to keep her safe.

  Next was a boy who wanted to throw her naked in the snow before I managed to permanently damage his face, nearly killing him.

  She had heard our thoughts. You're a Reader.

  I instantly froze as I considered what it meant. She could hear my thoughts, hear every ounce of desire I felt for her at that moment, sense how much I wanted to keep her safe. She knew how often I had thought about her in the Oakwick and the Andover. She had witnessed my every frustration, experienced every moment of shame.

  My thoughts spiraled until I realized she could hear them now as well and was probably terrified of my response. I was definitely shocked-and less than pleased to have my weakest moments exposed to the person I cared about most.

  Other than that, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Either way, she deserved my support, just as Micha had supported me when he found out. There are worse things.

  She picked up her head off my shoulder and leaned in to kiss me again, placing both hands against my cheeks and pulling me up towards her. After a moment, she whispered, "Thank you."

  "You're welcome," I said with a smile as I kissed her back. Her mouth fell to kiss and suck lightly along my neck, but I had to push her back a bit before I got ahead of myself. She was running out of time. I couldn't let her ruin things with Mathias and risk never seeing her again.

  "There's enough time." She smiled mischievously as she stood and pulled me towards a small grove of trees near the end of River Street. The movement of her hips in those brown pants all but hypnotized me as we entered the bit of woods, and she shook them just to tease me. Maybe Avis had been right about the Affinity. There was no way there was any man happier than I was at that moment.