Awoken By Passion

Chapter 10

  Smoke

  Hiding in the library for my lunch hour was easier than sitting with Ethan at the garden. I didn’t want to watch Ethan through the window. It was Friday, the last day of the week and I would be free of him for two full days. I just sat in a comfy lounge, ready to loose myself inside a thick book when the teachers ushered all students to the field, I grumbled with annoyance.

  “Yes that includes you Miss Watson. You may not wish to speak, but you must participate with the comings and goings of our school.” It was Mr. Chapmen, he was the manual arts teacher, and annoyed I’d chosen not to talk to anyone.

  I couldn’t argue with him, he did have a point.

  I stood at the hill side of the field; the large area held stands and in the centre was a large white tent with tables filled with food and drinks. Music played from the school band, showing off their talents on string, drum, and trumpet music. People were scattered everywhere, chatting, gossiping, and joking. Out of habit, I scanned the crowd for one face in particular. He wasn’t here, nor did I see his siblings. Yesterday was a blur to me, and most of this morning too. Remembering the touch from Ethan on Wednesday, a smile slithered across my lips; trying to remember if I had spoken to him since. I wanted my fog and instead settled for the least likely place anyone would be. I grabbed a bread roll and headed under the stands, out of the sun and into the shade.

  I was trying not to think about Ethan. His looks, his voice, his cute smile or even when he said he cared. His eyes were what captivated me, they were familiar. Why was it so familiar? Ethan could read my thoughts and I know I wasn’t being silly about such an idea. The wolf could read my thoughts and it didn’t deny it. But with Ethan, he was secretive. I would never get it out of my head; Ethan Coffer was a permanent fixture in my thoughts.

  “Hay don’t waste it Carter. This stuff ain’t cheap,” came the slow drawl of Brant’s voice.

  “I’ll get the next one,” said Carter.

  “Oh, you and whose car?”

  “Yours of course. What are best buds for but their ride and their girl’s friends?”

  The boys laughed boasting, punching each other on the arm. They were walking in my direction and holding the one thing I knew wasn’t a cigarette. The smoke smell was wrong and it lingered in the air, like a blue warning light. Tainted as it was, I was shocked that they would do any of this stuff at school during school hours.

  “Oh, hey there Mute Kera.” It was Flynn, charming but cold and calculated.

  I shifted in position, glancing for my escapes. They blocked the path, and the other direction was boarded with sports equipment. I was cut off. Taking in their blood shot eyes and their goofy faces. I scoffed inwards, great. They were high. Brant more so. Taking in the cast on his right hand now decorated with graffiti; Die Coffer was one of several words I was able to read. Drawing hard on the smoke between his swollen lips before releasing a blue cloud into the air. I glared, but they didn’t back away.

  “Well look whose bodyguard free,” said Brant moving closer to me and holding the joint to his lips and drawing again.

  “Hey Brant,” said Carter, “You reckon we should give her some. I hear you can talk non-stop with this stuff.”

  Brant held in the smoke, glanced from Carter and Flynn with a wink, his hand was around my head; pulling me towards him in an instant, to have blue tainted smoke blown in my face. I choked, gagging and reeling from the foul smoke. Struggling under his grip, I screamed inwards.

  Leave me alone. Stop it!

  My eyes watered with the smoke. Choking hard and wheezing for fresh air, I pulled from his grip by a foot, to have them laughing at my actions.

  “Hey, I think she likes it. You need some more if you’re gonna talk Kera,” said Brant.

  His free hand held to my cheeks, squeezing hard as another wave of smoke blew into my face. Holding my breath proved fatal. His hands shifted to my mouth; forcefully he pressed his wet split lips to mine, painfully hard. I couldn’t get away as another large ball of smoke entered into my lungs. I choked and splattered, tears streamed my cheeks.

  No. Stop. Please. I screamed. Please. Someone help me!

  These boys had always been rude to me, but not like this. I was dizzy, the drug was taking effect; I didn’t want to feel like this. It was worse than my fog. I couldn’t hide, run or scream and the sensation held on the edge of … why bother. As another mouthful of smoke was forced into my throat, I screamed louder. I hit out and stumbled. One caught me and I was pushed towards a beam, hard too.

  Leave me alone you creeps! I hissed.

  “You know, I think she’s trying to say something, but it’s just not loud enough,” laughed Carter.

  “Maybe this will.” Brant didn’t hesitate. He pushed his body close to me with another long drag of the joint; more smoke was forced into my mouth.

  Stop it, I hissed as he pulled my face to his.

  “Hmm … still nothing.” Brant leaned in. His foul breath made fresh tears form as his hands groped roughly along my skin, pushing my hair from my face. Pulling away wasn’t helping. “You need to hold still if you want to do it right,” he cooed.

  No. Stop. You ass! Leave me alone. I hit with force, hating what he was doing. No. Stop. Please. I screamed. Please. STOP! My head pounded and my throat burned. SPIRIT! I called I was sure it would escape my throat. Help me Spirit. I screamed.

  “Oh, you’re so scared.” Brant leant in. “Shhhh … its okay; I’ll be gentle with you Kera. If you make one sound for me, I’ll be so gentle.” He pulled me towards him as his fingers groped along my body.

  Don’t touch me you pig … you filthy slime ball. I shoved as hard as I could.

  Brant stumbled and smiled smugly. I cringed away, spying a metal pole at least two foot long. A weapon. If I could reach it, I could use it on them. How? I wanted to scream. Did it matter? Melody would know how to use it. She’d be able to hold it with force, and just like that. I was seeing the pole roll. Nothing touched it. No one was near it. It was at least ten feet away and getting closer. Rolling towards me. Brant was touching me.

  Nooo!

  The metal pole slammed into his face; once, twice, three times before he dropped to his knees. The pole hovered in mid hold.

  Melody … I whispered; lost on the hazy thought she was holding it, she was helping me.

  The remaining two took a step and the pole slogged into them.

  You slime balls. All three of you are nothing but scum.

  Carter and Flynn were down in moments; groans and moans with blood pouring from face wounds, shaking, shocked, drugged and dizzy; I glared with anger and the sudden appearance of a fourth person had the pole attacking them. He caught it before it could make contact to his perfect face.

  “Breathe Kera. I need you to breathe.” His instructions were strange. He held the pole tight, fighting the force as Melody was trying to hit him— “It’s not Melody, take a deep breath for me.”

  You don’t care. You never care. Tears spilled, blurring my view.

  “I told you before … I care quite a lot Kera. I need you to relax. Breathe.” His green eyes held mine, and just as I took a breath; all my strengths of standing and fighting were gone.

  I crumbled to the ground, to suddenly have him holding me.

  “Easy …” He soothed as his cool fingers touched my face.

  Oh, he is so good looking. His eyes held with concern; my fear was hazy. I smiled up to him, the numbing sensation touched my skin and lips; I was smiling goofy. Drugged, dazed and amused from the pot that had been blown into my face.

  “What did they do to you?” He asked with worry as he brushed my hair around my ear.

  His words had me blinking.

  Do?

  The moan of Brant had me gasping at the sight of his bloody face. I … they … they … he … was … it … then … Melody … I … he … He … Words were no use. I couldn’t even string a sentence together in that moment.

  “Shhh … I got you. Shh … th
ey won’t hurt you anymore.” He pulled me to his chest, holding me close as I cried to the memory and the … what the hell did I do?

  Ethan pulled a phone from his pocket, punched one number, and held it to his ear. “It’s me. Under the stand, south end. Clean up. No, not me brother. And when you get here, just so you know. This was what I was afraid of, and you can stick your threats. I am not doing what you say. I’ll be taking Kera home.” He hung up without saying goodbye and reached to on my face, soothing me as I tried to gain sense with all that happened. My mind was floaty, dizzy and slow to think clearly. I … he … You … and the … Turning my eyes to the pole, now in the centre of the three sprawled students. How did I make that happen? Melody was here. I asked for Spirit and … Melody came and she saved me. She stopped them from doing … doing that to me. I stumbled from his embrace to fall backwards, hard onto my rump if he’d tried to stop it, he was either too slow or letting me be.

  Why are you here? I asked for Spirit. Why didn’t you get here sooner? You said you were too busy today, you shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t … It shouldn’t … shoving him away, wanting to get away from what I was seeing and remembering all that happened.

  Ethan had knelt a few feet from me, trying to calm me when Brant coughed, rolling over to wipe his nose. “Coffer,” he wheezed.

  “Shut your mouth Warwick.” Ethan stood swiftly and in a blink, he was punching Brant hard in the jaw. “I told you not to go near her. You animal.” His voice was a rage.

  Ethan … I whispered. He … I … Stop!

  He dropped him and was at my side gathering me to my feet, not letting me go.

  “Come on Kera, let’s go.” He spoke smoothly, no anger; just concern.

  Remembering the attack, the pole splitting into them, hitting them, hurting them as his fist had moments ago. They deserved it. I spied the other two not moving. Are they dead? I had to ask.

  “No Kera. You did what you had to. I’m sorry.”

  For ignoring me. For hurting me. For making me like you. What are you sorry for? I crumbled, sobbing into my hands as he reached out to me. No. No. I pushed away from him. Shaking. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for any of this. You took everything from me. Everything! I forced myself to stand, to move. I managed several steps when he was in front of me.

  “Easy Kera. Just breathe. You’re okay now. I won’t let anything happened to you. I won’t let you out of my sight.”

  You’re … talking to me.

  He dipped his head and stepped closer with a pleading look that was so familiar. Ethan’s hands lingered on my cheeks; that was nice. He was sad, frightened, worried. I smiled and then I giggled.

  I had never been a giggler, yet, there they were, for some strange reason; his face had me suppressing a giggle; but it was too much amusement; and I had to let it out. Actual sound. Not just in my head, but from my throat. I had movement, sound, tapping my throat with happiness as another wave echoed from my lips.

  I couldn’t stop giggling even though my brain was telling me this was serious. Brant had drugged me. A pole had magically attacked them. Ethan was answering my thoughts without question, but I couldn’t stop the hysteria of giggles as they erupted from my throat. Ethan softened his look, searching my face as concern lingered on the edge of his features. He was so sweet and his smell, intoxicating.

  “You’re okay, I got you.” His fingers gently brushed my hair away and his eyes stared into mine. “Come on, I’ll take you home.” He helped me up, standing on my own proved strange and a flood of giggles to do just that. It was a time before I realised I was leaning into him, his body. I pulled away from him, mostly because I just understood his words.

  Home, I don’t want to go home. And besides, I can walk fine. I stumbled with a snickered laugh from Ethan as he caught me at the waist.

  He was holding me; his brow was creased with concentration.

  You shouldn’t bother, I’m nothing remember. Just an annoying girl you don’t want to talk to and an annoying person you have to sit next to all the time. You shouldn’t—

  “Brother. This is … interesting.”

  The interruption had me flinch. I turned to see Marcus, the blond hair napping his neck as he flicked it from his brow. “Three to one. Little unfair, don’t you think.”

  It wasn’t his doing, I snapped.

  Marcus focused on me.

  You took him away from me and you made him stop talking to me. You shouldn’t have done that.

  The pole rolled, flipped, and hovered in the air.

  Marcus held his hands up ready to defend himself; “Ethan … might want to control the Fae.”

  “Kera?” His voice was a whisper. “Breathe, slow breaths. Don’t worry about him. He won’t be interrupting us or stop me from talking to you either.”

  So you admit it was his fault. It wasn’t just you that wanted to stop talking to me. Whoa—back up. You’re talking to me. Like … hearing me. You can hear me? Both of you can?

  Why this was familiar annoyed me. Had I asked this before? I had to keep shaking my head to focus on one argument at a time. Marcus stopping Ethan talking to me.

  They pressed their lips together, not answering. Marcus knelt beside Carter, taking in his bloody face with a slap, making him open his eyes. “What happened here?”

  “Crazy bitch with a pole,” he coughed.

  “That I believe. Let’s get you thinking a little different shall we.” Marcus leant closer. “Look into my eyes now, come on.” He slapped his face a few more times making Carter open his eyes. “That’s it. Take a deep breath … let me in … good. Now, you’re going to remember nothing of Kera and a pole. You and your buddies got … wasted. Passed right out.”

  Carter nodded and coughed in a wheeze of pain.

  “Good.” Marcus stood. He eyed the hovering pole. “She going to attack me still? I am trying to help.”

  I blinked at his words, his actions and … well, being stoned didn’t help. I laughed, the pole dropped with a clank, and I swayed on my feet, the ground rushing to greet me. Ethan caught me, kneeling with me.

  “Let’s go.”

  He scooped me into his arms, my hand around his neck, taking in his perfectly chiselled features, now that he was closer. My eyes were hazy as to my thoughts, dreamy and distant from all I’d seen and heard. His frown of worry became a smirk.

  “You’re safe now. I got you.”

  And he carried me away from Marcus and the three wounded students who had attacked me. No, the pole attacked them: Melody? Me? I was too hazy to work it out. I’d never been stoned, or tried anything that resembled the experimentations other students had considered fun. I frowned at the realisation; that’s exactly what I was. Drugged. And it wasn’t fun, not one bit.

  The dizzy haze played somersaults with my head and my stomach as Ethan carried me along the street for what felt like an hour.

  Put me down, I pleaded. Please put me down. Ethan refused to answer my thoughts now. I know you can hear me. Please Ethan. Why do you have to do this? It’s annoying and frustrating. If Spirit was here, he’d growl at you.

  Ethan snickered.

  Ah-ha. You did hear me. See. I know you can. Why can’t you just talk to me?

  He didn’t respond.

  It’s like talking to the wolf, just with less reaction. Least he listens. You—You’re in control. Oh, no. I’m going to be sick.

  Ethan listened to me this time. He placed me on the ground and helped gather my hair away from the mess as I heaved violently.

  You should go away now.

  “Not likely.”

  Ha—I knew it. You can hear—

  I heaved into a vomiting fit unable to finish my words. I was tired, sore, and incoherent as Ethan brushed his hands along my face, they were soothing and so cool to feel, like an ice pack.

  Mmmm … that’s so nice. I inhaled tiredly as he pulled me into his embrace, guiding me with slow steps towards my house.

  “You’re okay now, those boy
s won’t bother you,” he whispered.

  For several paces, I laughed and giggled. I couldn’t stop smiling, Goofy came to mind. Ethan stayed by my side, even after I’d vomited all that was in my stomach. We walked through the clearing towards my house, taking the path through the woods. I wanted to go see Spirit this afternoon. He said he’d be here, and now I’m the one who let’s him down.

  In reality, I was shivering with the effects of the drug. Ethan was quiet beside me, as my giggling fits lengthened. Small sounds escaping my throat, which had me blushing and laughing. I couldn’t stop for several paces, until I stood in the middle of my woods. Sadness washed into me, tears sprang to my eyes; and I crumbled with the knowledge of what Brant had done to me. It wasn’t fair. I didn’t deserve that. Why did they pick on me? And why was I crying? Why did he force the smoke into me? How did that pole stop them? It was stupid.

  “It’s okay. You’re okay now, I promise.” His hand rubbed my shoulders as we walked the path I’d always taken. The shadows were not as prominent in the woods, even if the sun was above us. As I came to the familiar tree, my mind shifted to the awareness I knew. I took control of where I wanted to go. Dizzy, floating, and bemused, I stumbled along the path.

  “You should go home, I don’t think you should hang out here today.”

  I nodded not taking in the fact that he didn’t know I came here at all. I kept going as soon as my garden came into view. With a wry smile and another fit of giggles, I was suddenly sitting. Why I was doing it, didn’t make sense. I tilted my head to the side, taking in Ethan as he stood on the edge of the clearing. Familiar slipped into my mind as he watched with wary eyes. He walked in slowly, sitting beside me.

  “I won’t leave you in this state either.”

  I shrugged, laughed, and fell backwards; painfully. Ethan caught my fall, saving me the painful smack into the earth. He gently lowered me to the ground as our eyes locked. Staring deeply into his silver green eyes, I blinked.

  You’re so sweet, I said. You’re so nice to me. Well, not the past few hours. But in this moment at least. Will you stay nice now?

  His eyes narrowed as he shifted his body, to lie beside me. I rolled my head to the side, staring for a time into his eyes. His hand slowly stroked my cheek. I smiled, blinking leisurely.

  “Sleep Kera, it’s okay. I won’t leave you.”

  I exhaled, tired. Yes, I was drowsy from the drugs and a strange draining as if I’d run the length of the town. Floating was the word that came to mind, followed closely by dreamy. I couldn’t hold onto everything that happened.

  Blink—Ethan … Blink—Ethan. His eyes held with mine.

  Spirit, I whispered. Blink—Ethan. Blink—Spirit.

  Sleep filled me; it tumbled and turned into a haze of dreams. Thinking Spirit was laying there in place of Ethan. Why would that happen? I liked Ethan too. He’d helped me when no one else would. He spoke to me, aiding me with school things. The pole had done that too, but no one was touching that pole. Well, he was in the end. He held it with strength too. Did he use the pole on them? He moved fast, I remembered that. He was behind me by a few feet to be in front of me in a blink. He punched Brant in two blinks and was at my side a third later. He’d kept my hair from my vomit and he’d stayed with me. No one ever held my hand or spoke to me or stuck up for me. Shifting into the dream world, the haze of fog and darkness drifted on the edge of surrender when a voice startled me, but my lids were too heavy to open.

  “I have been trying to wake her,” he said. “Yes. I can see the sun is setting. And she is drained for the usage.” He was annoyed.

  Who was he talking too? I was too tired to think, just a few more minutes.

  “Kera,” his voice whispered in my ear, all the worry echoed in that one word. Why was he so sad?

  I sat up in shock. My head was fuzzy as I glanced around my garden. Why was he here?—Ethan was here, kneeling beside me. The tumble of images flashed in my mind, Brant smoking weed and forcing it into me, the hovering pole hitting them, and Ethan helping me.

  “Kera, are you okay?”

  What a strange dream. Had I seen Spirit sleeping beside me or was it a dream. My mind un-fogged, slowly remembering what had happened. If the pole didn’t knock Brant out, and his buddies too, they could have done terrible things to me. Ethan showed up and he could have been hurt, but he wasn’t. He told me to breathe, and that it wasn’t Melody’s doing. I shivered at the thought. Fear that they could have, and possibly would have done awful things to me. And his brother showed up moments after he punched Brant out. I gasped for breath. Ethan’s hand brushed my face, pushing hair from my view.

  “It’s okay, breathe Kera. You’re okay now. Come on. Can you stand?”

  I stood, with steady steps and a nod to Ethan; I was able to stand taller. My cheeks blushed, remembering I’d been cradled in his arms. I dropped my gaze shuffling my curls around my face.

  Ethan reached towards me, slowly locking a strand of hair behind my ear. I shifted in surprise. He smiled, gazing into my eyes and my cheeks heated. I glanced around the garden, with a degree of worry for Spirit. He wasn’t here. It was definitely a dream.

  I frowned unsure if I’d heard Ethan talking to someone, but there was no one here. Scanning the area, there was nothing but the owl.

  “I’ll take you home now.” He nodded towards the direction of my house; how did he know where I lived? And then remembered him carrying me from school and he answered my thoughts.

  Are you going to pretended it didn’t happen? I risked asking.

  “You look tired, maybe you need some food.” He held his hand towards me, something in his eyes told me he wanted to answer me; he wanted to say, yes.

  Food? I could use some food. What about you?

  “You right to walk, or do you want me to carry you.”

  I shook my head.

  You’re not answering me. Why not. What did I do now? Is it so hard for you to answer me? Can’t you at least accept that you can hear me when everyone else can’t? Your brother too. He could hear me. I hate you won’t answer, and I know you can hear me. I know you can—

  His finger pressed to my lips, silencing me instantly.

  “Slowly Kera. I can’t keep up when you scream at me.”