Feather: Book One

  He forced a smile, “Yeah, easy for you to say.”

  I looked to the clock and then to the darkened field through the windows. I wasn’t really willing to find my way back in the shadowy woods at midnight. I stood up, “It’s getting late,” I replied darkly. “I should probably get back.”

  Edgar raised his gaze to mine and I could see he felt awful. “I’ll walk you home,” he breathed, standing with pain as though he’d just run a marathon.

  I awkwardly walked to the hall as he took a deep breath. “Going out is a lot easier than coming in,” he reached a hand out to me and I grasped it as he walked for the door.

  I closed my eyes as he opened it and led me down the front steps; still to afraid to watch what really happened when I returned to the field. My feet felt the familiar soft bed of grass and I opened them again. Looking around me, the house was completely gone as though it had been a dream.

  I heard him laugh next to me in the darkness as he released my hand.

  Looking to the sky, the full moon was halfway hidden behind a thick cloud, its light glowing around its edges like ripped tissue paper. As my eyes adjusted I was able to make out Edgar’s face, glimmering blue-grey in the moonlight. Edgar stared at the moon while I stared solely at him, finding his exquisite features far more amazing.

  His lips were parted and a cloud of breath released in waves from his mouth, powerfully weaving through the air. His teeth were luminous and his eyes glowing. I turned my gaze to the sky, now feeling his eyes fall to me. I watched him staring at me from the corner of my eye, his eyes burning like fire.

  “Edgar?” I twisted my head, meeting his glowing face, “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

  A half smile grew on his lips. “Now you’re the one being presumptuous.”

  I snorted with a playful chuckle of resilient energy, “Not like that!” I squealed, my voice echoing across the grass.

  Edgar gave me a sarcastic puppy dog face. “Well that’s too bad,” he winked. “Because if you’re feeling suicidal tonight, I’d be more than willing to oblige, death would probably be the outcome.”

  I glared at him, shaking my head. “Yeah, I’ll pass on that.”

  He walked toward me, half his face still illuminated in solar beauty. He brushed the hair from my brow, gracefully trailing his hand down my face and across my cheekbone, the feeling making me giggle. The emotion of laughter was amazing. I had never felt anything like it before, it was like a tickle throughout my entire body and I was addicted, heart and soul.

  “I just couldn’t keep that from you. It seemed like the right moment for a laugh, and yes, I’m always happy with sleeping on the floor. Besides, I don’t think Isabelle would be too pleased if I stole her spot so soon.” His smile cut across his face, his mouth glittering like a string of pearls.

  A soft breeze blew across the meadow and I shuddered, suddenly scared by the fact that we were in the woods in the dark.

  Edgar looked to the trees, “Well? Shall we?”

  “Oh please,” I paused, looking into the dark woods, “after you.” My eyes were wide.

  He laughed, taking one strong step forward, “Then grab my coat, I will lead the way.”

  Half way across the field he abruptly stopped, “Ok this is going to take forever if you can’t see like I can.”

  I yelped as he twisted around, scooping me into his arms like I were a bag of hay. “What’s it like to be able to see in the dark?” I asked, adjusting his grip around my waist.

  He laughed, “Like cheating. I can see everything, even if it can’t see me. It’s a great defense tool.”

  I nodded, longing to be able to see that well, and frowning at the fact I saw nothing.

  His grip became tighter, “I carried you once. I can handle carrying you again. We’ll just move fast.” He was looking down at me, reveling in the fact that he held my whole life in his hands, his dimples now showing. “You trust me right?’

  I nodded against his strong arm, feeling so small, “I trust you.”

  And with that, he began to run. His gate was the same soft slow loping as when he’d saved me, almost lulling me into sleep like riding in a car.

  A few minutes later his feet hit gravel and he stopped, gently putting me down as he breathed hard, shaking his head and regrouping. “Ok, that was hard, but definitely worth it,” he gasped, his energy alive inside him and his skin revitalized.

  “I’ll say, it was like flying first class,” I paused. “Or what I would imagine flying first class was like.”

  He laughed between heavy breaths, the strong gusts of steam cutting through the cool night air.

  “I was a little curious how you were able to handle being so close to me before, how did you not kill me that day when you carried me from the meadow?” I walked up onto my porch and he followed, noticeably distanced as he still struggled to clear his mind. I opened the door to my cabin, searching through the dark for the switch to the lamp.

  “Because I was more driven from fear of losing you again, not hunger.” I felt Edgar reach around me, immediately finding the switch.

  “Ok, now you’re just showing off.” I hissed.

  He laughed. “Well I mean come on. I can see the switch right there, clear as day. Why let you struggle?”

  I grabbed a pillow from my bed and threw it at him. “Here. Floor.” I pointed to the middle of the room. There was at least a wool rug so I didn’t feel completely horrid for making him sleep there, though I was certain it wasn’t exactly clean.

  He eased himself onto the floor and I rummaged through my now overflowing bag and piles of both clean and dirty clothes to find something to sleep in. I shot my head up when there was a sudden subtle tapping at the door and Edgar sat up.

  “I got it,” he grunted as he fought to stand.

  He opened the door as the sound of Isabelle’s feet tapped in, followed by Henry.

  I looked at them both with a strange face, “It’s like a zoo in here now.” Henry looked at me with reproachful beady eyes.

  Edgar laughed, “I think if I were you, I wouldn’t say that. I don’t think he likes being referred to as a zoo animal.”

  I looked at Henry. “Sorry.” My voice was sincere and he tapped his feet over to Edgar as he eased himself back down on the floor.

  I closed myself in my bathroom where I quickly changed and brushed my teeth. Glancing at myself in the mirror, I noticed how my face already looked brighter and my hair healthier. It seemed that whatever power Edgar possessed, it was already changing me in a small way.

  I scurried back into the main room and slipped under my covers. Edgar twisted up off the floor and assisted with the lamp one more time, and then the room was dark. I listened to the soft breathing of our four alternating breaths, feeling for the first time that I wasn’t alone and that I now had a life to live for.

  Isabelle crawled up the sheets toward me from her position on the bed frame. I hunted in the dark for her head as my eyes adjusted. Turning on my side I looked at Edgar’s pearly outline as he laid on his back, one leg propped up and one arm behind his head on the pillow. His eyes were open and staring straight at the ceiling.

  “What are you thinking about?” my voice cut through the mesmerizing silence.

  Edgar turned his head to look at me. “Just you, wondering where it was you went for so long, and why you came back now and not before.”

  I nodded, “Maybe I came back because I finally got lonely enough.”

  He snorted, his eyes blinking, “I don’t think that’s the case, you were always pretty independent. You couldn’t stand the way I always hovered over you. My guess is that wherever you were, you were probably dying to get back. I just don’t understand what kept you there for so long.”

  I leaned back onto my pillow. “Hmm,” I tried to think, tried to remember, but there was nothing.

  “Well, goodnight Elle,” Edgar’s voice sounded tired.

  “Goodnight Professor,” I mused.

  Edgar cringed,
“Now I really do feel old.”

  SAM

  I shot up like an arrow as Isabelle angrily clicked at me. The obnoxious knocking at the door had been abrupt, jarring me straight out of a sound sleep.

  “Shoot!” I whispered harshly under my breath.

  Edgar looked at me from the chair in the corner, “Don’t worry, it’s just that funny little friend of yours, Scott. He’s so terrified of me, it cracks me up.” His face was maliciously twisted and Henry was poised on his lap as he was petting him.

  “Hold on!” I yelled, looking at the clock, “Why didn’t you wake me?” I hissed.

  Edgar shrugged, “I was enjoying the view.”

  I glared at him, whipping myself out of bed and mindlessly grabbing a pair of jeans and a black cotton long sleeve shirt off the floor. I rushed into the bathroom and changed as fast as humanly possible, though the term “human” was a grey area at the moment. Walking out, my feet boomed across the floor in my frustration and anxiety. Edgar watched with an irritating grin, a content look to his physique.

  “Shouldn’t you be hiding?” I hissed.

  He laughed, “Why? You don’t want your friends to know you’re dating the professor?” The look on his face suggested he was enjoying this humiliating torture he was putting me through.

  I abruptly snorted, “I’m going to go to class so don’t let anyone see you leave. I don’t need any more evil glares.”

  He gave me a sarcastic salute and I grumbled at him as I grabbed my bag. I refused to look at him as I marched to the door and grabbed the handle with fury.

  “See you soon,” he sang. “You know, it’s much easier to be a professor than a student, you should really try it. There is a lot less effort involved in looking normal that way.”

  I rolled my eyes, “I hardly classify you as normal,” and with that, I bolted out the door.

  The cooling air felt amazing as my heated emotions began to make me sweat. I looked at Sarah and Scott, tilting my head in shame, “Sorry guys.”

  They both looked exceedingly annoyed and Scott reproachfully thrust a doughnut toward my face.

  “Are you serious? They have doughnuts?” my face became overly delighted.

  Scott looked smug, “No, we stole them from the nurse’s office this morning.”

  I nodded at him, giving him a smart looking face, “Well done.”

  We walked down the hill toward the lake and I shivered as a strong wind whipped across my body. “Wow, it’s really getting cold,” I gasped.

  Scott nodded, “Yeah, soon the snow will come. The change of weather happens so fast here. This is really a two season place, short spring and fall.”

  I nodded.

  Sarah looked at Scott with amazement, “What happens when the snow pack gets too high, do they still hold class?”

  Scott shrugged, “This is sort of a strange college as it is. Think of it like a renaissance classroom, people come and go as they feel or need. It’s just a place to formulate information or spark ideas.” Sarah’s attention was locked on him, “But during the heavy snow, most of us go back to the lower grounds and then just come back in the spring. So more or less, the school closes.”

  I nodded. I hadn’t known that, but the thought of going back to Seattle suddenly made my stomach lurch. My love for my foster mother was bitter-sweet. Though I knew I’d miss her, I never really planned on ever going back.

  We arrived at the hatchery just in time for class to start. Most of the students were already there so we quickly pushed our way to the back before the professor arrived. I hadn’t really been paying attention as I walked through the crowd. It was obvious everyone hated me, even before they knew me; I didn’t need another glaring reminder. I kept my eyes down until they landed on the familiar gym shoes I’d noticed yesterday.

  I froze, my gaze turning up with caution to face him. The new kid’s eyes were still fraught with frustration as he looked me in the eye. He looked as though he was uncomfortable being here, as though the students were infesting his personal space. I scooted away from him a little, crossing my arms and crowding Sarah. I helplessly shrugged as she gave me a strange eye. This new kid had invaded my sacred space in the back of the room and I didn’t like it. I thought I saw him smirk as he turned his gaze back to the front of the class.

  The professor walked in then, her entrance just as dramatic as always, if not more and I sighed with discontent over the coming lesson. I felt the new kid look at me again, his face now calmer as I watched him from the corner of my eye. As the teacher began to drone I kept glancing sideways, finally relaxing away from Sarah as boredom eventually set in. After thirty minutes of biting my nails, I was taken by surprise when he leaned in toward me and I gave him a sharp angry glare.

  “Hi,” he whispered. His voice was scratchy and gruff as it bristled its way past his pale lips.

  He laughed as I looked away from him, my face pursed with irritation.

  “I’m Sam,” he continued with relentless dedication.

  I refused to recognize his advances. He was making me uncomfortable and I began to fidget with my shirt. He seemed much older, probably closer to twenty-two or twenty-three.

  He snorted.

  I gave him another rude glare. “What’s your problem?” I finally hissed, giving in and acknowledging his presence.

  He smiled. “Nothing, just trying to make friendly banter,” his amber eyes were happy but strange, piercing in a way I had never seen, even from Edgar. As I scanned his face, I noticed how shamelessly scruffy he was, and his hair was just as messed up as yesterday. I looked at his clothes, noticing that he wore the same leather coat and jeans as well.

  Sarah looked at me sideways and I rolled my eyes at her. She giggled as she nudged Scott but he only glared at her interruption.

  When I turned my gaze forward, Sam was suddenly right next to me. “That wasn’t very nice,” he teased, “I saw you making fun of me.” His mouth twisted into a smile.

  I looked at him with awkward disgust, hoping to make him go away. I hadn’t thought he’d notice my eye roll.

  “This teacher is a nut job,” he announced, rocking onto his heels with delight.

  I squeezed my brows together; feeling embarrassed as a few students around us glared at his remark.

  “So are you going to tell me your name?” he asked in a strong voice.

  I let out a defiant snort and he looked at me with a sudden sense of knowing.

  “Estella right?” He had his hands casually behind his back.

  I grumbled at him. “How do you know my name?” I hissed.

  He eyed the teacher to make sure she wasn’t noticing the disturbance we were making. “I just heard it around, that’s all. It’s an interesting name, very old fashioned.” He winked at me.

  I recoiled at his remark, giving him a sour face. “Well Sam. Then you don’t have to say it, and actually I’d prefer if you didn’t.”

  He chuckled, pleased with himself, “Samuel is my full name. If you want to be fair, it’s old too.” His mouth was still maliciously twisted. He was acting like an overconfident jerk, like he was better than all of this. He laughed like a mad man, as though he’d known what I thought of him. I rolled my eyes back to the front of the class and watched the teacher with fake interest. I could feel both Scott and Sarah watching me but I didn’t feel like hearing their thoughts on the awkward situation.

  For the rest of the session I was acutely aware of his presence. I refused to look at him, and in that fact, he never said another word. Despite my stubborn stand, I still felt him staring at me, his sharp eyes burning holes through the side of my face as I flushed a bright red. It was strange how he watched me, it felt almost protective and overbearing. When the teacher excused us, I quickly grabbed Sarah and Scott and used them as a shield against his advance.

  Scott looked at me, his eyebrows shoved together. “What was that about?” he whispered, ruefully looking behind him, “Do you know him from somewhere? Because it sure seemed like he kn
ew you.”

  I shrugged, “I can’t figure it out. He doesn’t seem like the type, you know, to be here.”

  He was striding a few paces behind us like a stalker, or perhaps body guard. We arrived at the bird lab and I watched as he brushed passed me and strode to the front like a silent dark cloud. I sat and turned to Sarah, trying to ignore him.

  “So Sarah,” I began, “Where will you go for the winter?”

  She looked somewhat distracted. “Uh…” her face became terrified as she looked over my shoulder.

  I whipped around, only to see Sam now standing behind me with a stool in his hand.

  “Do you mind?” His voice was sharp and deep, his face permanently stuck in a stupid smirk.

  “Yeah, I do mind,” I spat.

  He leaned in toward me, “I realize you hate me, but that’s not really my problem.”

  I grumbled at him, crossing my arms and refusing to make room at the table for him.

  He sighed, “Ok fine, but only because you forced me to.” He placed two firm hands on either side of my seat as the wrists of his thick jacket inappropriately grazed my hips. He pushed me closer to Sarah as the stool scratched across the floor, making room for his chair as he took an annoyed breath and plopped on his stool next to me. The students that had taken notice of us in the hatchery class continued to stare.

  Edgar entered the room then, his stride quick until his gaze fell on my grumpy face and he paused. I watched angrily as his eyes shot to Sam’s, but to my surprise, a crooked smile crossed his face.

  I exhaled sharply in disbelief. What was this? I looked at Sam disdainfully, but he just sat there with a stupid content look on his powerful sharp face. I twisted my head to look at Sarah and Scott for some sort of consolation.

  “Sorry guys,” I whispered, “I have no idea what this guy’s problem is.”

  They both gave me looks of complete surprise as they shrugged, unable to help me discern exactly what was going on.

  “Alright class,” Edgar’s voice cut through the air like a knife, “Your papers were good and well thought out, at least most of you,” his dark eyes fell on a somewhat grubby looking student whom began to shake with guilt and fear. “Though a handful of you insist on fairy tales, we all know that science is the only way. I will not tolerate answers like that again. This is not a creative writing class.”