Shimmering Chaos (Enchanted Chaos 2)
Page 24
Lovely. Apparently, even mean girls exist amongst the inhuman.
Ignoring her, I head to change in one of the stalls.
As I pass them, her friend leans in and whispers something to Sofie. The grin on Sofie’s face makes my stomach ravel into knots, but I maintain her gaze, letting her know I’m not afraid—well, sort of—before stepping into a stall.
Sometimes, I hate being quiet. I really do. If I were Nina, I’d have told the girl off. I’ve often wondered if it’d be easier to be blunt and bold as Nina. But unfortunately, it’s not in my DNA.
I used to wonder why. Both my parents are pretty outspoken people. Well, toward their friends and strangers. They honestly never said much to me, except for standard conversation. Sometimes we’d go days without speaking to each other. I used to think that was normal and that it was a good thing that no one bothered me or tried to be a part of my life. I don’t know, though, because over the last few days, I think maybe my opinion has changed, that it might be better having people in my life who care about me. That it’s nice to know that if I did need help, I can send for it down the link, and Foster will run in here to help me. That I don’t have to deal with everything alone.
I take my time changing to avoid running into Sofie and her friend, so when I finally exit the stall, the locker room is empty.
Perfect. Maybe I won’t have to cross paths with anyone until I get to the gym.
That thought is short-lived, though, as Brody emerges from behind a row of lockers.
Panic storms through me and clouds appear over the ceiling. Brody doesn’t notice, though, as he grins and stalks toward me.
I skitter to the side and swing around to the other side of the lockers, but he cuts me off, jogging around to the other end and blocking my path to the door.
“Relax, I’m not going to hurt you,” he says, but the flames blazing in his hands suggest otherwise. “I just need to borrow you for a bit.”
“Yeah, that sounds reassuring,” I spit, backing away from him.
“Aw … She does speak.” His golden gaze fixes on me as he ambles toward me, unaware of the storm brewing above us.
As the clouds covering the ceiling thicken, it’ll only be a slamming heartbeat more before it starts to rain. I need to settle down before he figures out what I am. At least, I should do that, but as he lunges for me, I consider releasing my power on him, letting lightning strike him where he stands. I may very well have if a guy didn’t appear behind me and grab my arms.
The chill of his hands reveals he has to be an ice elemental protector.
“Let me go—”
Ice glazes through my veins. Ice not created by me.
My body temperature rapidly plunges, my skin tinting blue, and the room around me spins.
“What did you do …?” I stagger to the side, and the fingers wrapped around my arm constrict, fingernails piercing into my skin.
“Hypothermia,” Brody explains with a pleased grin. “It’s a neat, little trick, isn’t it?”
&nb
sp; I glare at him as I dig deep inside myself for my powers, but everything is quiet. Too quiet. Even the clouds have evaporated.
“Put her in the basement,” Brody says, looking to the side of me.
I turn my head, and my heart nearly stops.
Standing beside me is a taller guy with dark hair and the darkest eyes I’ve ever seen.
Elemental protector of darkness.
He grins at me, a contorted smile shadowing his lips. “My pleasure.”
“W-what’s i-in th-the b-basement?” I chatter out as my body grows heavy.
A wicked grin curls at Brody’s lips. “It’s where they keep the darkness room. It’s meant for experienced elemental protectors, so it should be fun to see how it all turns out for you. Or, well, it’ll be fun to see Foster get crushed when you don’t make it out.”
I growl at him as I stumble forward, wanting to throttle him, when another blast of cold, dark, painful madness hits me and drowns me in darkness.