Chapter 1 Surprise Assignment
I'm exhausted. I have no idea if Knox actually deflowered Dia last night, but there were noises I never want to hear again! There are some major benefits to having a shared home with my brother, but this is definitely not one of them.
Not that I'm not happy for them! I'm stoked! Dia will be an awesome sister-in-law. I'm glad one of my best friends is gonna have my brother instead of one of those bitches that just used him for his popularity. Don't think for one minute he didn't know what they wanted... He did! But he was a chicken and didn't go for what he actually wanted! (And believe me when I say I know Storm was pissed he was messing around instead of manning up and telling her the truth!)
I love my idiot of a brother, but the dude almost lost her because he's... well, an idiot and didn't tell her how he felt about her in the first place. So when Nadia went after the twins for some affection, of course I had to torture him about it. It was really fun to watch!
I did it out of love... mostly. I knew Storm had found his mate... He told Flame, who is his twin. So, basically I did it to light a fire under his ass, but he just sulked instead of take the hint... I swear Knox is a good guy but he can be a real dumbass sometimes! I have no idea how he keeps his grades up when his head is so freaking empty! Not saying he's dumb... just an idiot!
But it seemed like he finally got the courage to tell Nadia how much she meant to him because, well... I really don't want to think about it! I tried to block it out, but no matter what I did... let's just say my walls are paper thin, and there are some things you really don't want to know.
I ended up listening to music all night long. I guess that's alright. I love to sing almost as much as Selene. Together we can make an awesome duo. When we were little, our teacher put us together for a talent show... Let's just say there wasn't a dry eye in the house! Yeah! We rocked it!
Flame, my phoenix loves to sing too. I don't know that other phoenixes are song birds, but mine seem to be. She has a beautiful voice. When I let her out, she can't help but sing. She loves the freedom of flying through the air, and the wind rushing through her feathers. It's a real adrenaline rush!
The only problem is I stayed up all night singing, and I have a test in Chem... And I forgot to study for it. I wonder if I can borrow Cal's notes? I'd ask Knox... but he's been busy.
I grumble as I roll out of bed. I need to get out of here before Nadia and Knox come out. I don't care what Knox thinks, it's more for his mate. I don't want her to be embarrassed about running into me first thing in the morning. Nadia is a shy little thing... which is super cute! I wonder how she's gonna handle school today? As long as Knox keeps her away from that bitch Bianca, it should be fine. And if Knox can't stop her, I WILL! (I've been dying to melt her eyebrows for ages now...)
I quickly take a shower and change. I put on a black and red tank top (to match my hair. Like Knox having blue tips in his silver hair, I end up having red streaks in my black hair. It's totally wicked! And believe it or not, we were born like that.) and a pair of cut offs and my sneakers. I run a brush through my hair and put it up in a sloppy pony. I'm not impressing anyone, and I really don't give a damn about what I look like this morning. I'm too freaking tired to care!
I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder and grab an apple and rush from the house. However, when I get out, I sigh and look at my bike. I love my motorcycle, but I'm too tired to ride it... I really don't feel like crashing on my way to school, so instead, I just walk.
It's not like I've got to hurry anyway. I'm leaving super early, so I mosey on down to the school munching on my juicy apple. I know I'm going to get hungry later, but I've got emergency chocolate in my locker. You never know when hunger strikes!
I can't help but smirk thinking about Nadia and Knox... Really, Dia looked like hell when they came to the meeting last night. She looked like she'd been burned badly. But I guess she's healing fine now... And Knox should be able to help.
I remember Knox said that Nadia died and he brought her back to life. And just before that Calliope almost died too. Amir, that creep, almost stole all her magic. It pissed me off. It's a good thing Trey finished the bastard off or I would've!
But that just makes me worry. That's two of my best friends having nearly died. Which one of us will be next? How long will it take before we can take down this "Abyss" we keep hearing about.
It's funny, I know we've discussed the Abyss just last night... but I can't seem to remember much about what they were. Maybe I'll stop and visit Nana and have a look in one of those books Kathrine has... I could ask Selene, as long as I stay away from her big brother...
I'm so distracted by my thoughts I run into a wall... of muscles.
Dammit! I should've been paying attention!
Before I can fall on my ass, strong arms pull me closer, steadying me. I don't need to see him to know exactly who it is. Only one person affects me like this... The tingles of fire and water rushing through my veins, mingling in a special kind of magic. The heat pooling in my belly. His scent setting my heart on fire... But I just can't help myself.
I gasp as I look up to find Levi. His beautiful aqua eyes flash in the sunlight. He runs his fingers through his thick black hair and sends me a little smirk. I have no idea if he knows what he does to me, but I wouldn't be surprised. Because every damn time he sees me he gives me this look... Like he can read my soul, and he's just waiting for me to give in to the inevitable. But I can't!
Levi has the whole sexy-nerd look going on. His hair is a little long, and when he's wearing his glasses it normally gets into his eyes. He tends to wear button down shirts with his sleeves rolled up, showing off a scar he got in a fight when he was younger. He's so damn hot, I swear I'm starting to sweat just looking at him.
Flame lights up. She loves him... the sad thing is, I do too. But she doesn't seem to realize it will never work. Leviathan is a water dragon. A sleek serpent prowling the waters to protect us against bigger predators. He's beautiful with scales the color of his aqua eye.
"Phoebe," Levi's voice is low and sexy sending tingles right to parts of me I'm trying to keep frozen. Why does he do this to me?
When I was young and stupid, about 9 years ago, I told him I liked him... But he told me it would never work. I was too young for him and he was a water dragon and I was a fire bird. But he wasn't mean about it, he just sat me down like a teacher talking to a student explaining math. And since then, I realized he was right. Nothing has changed. So why does he even bother?
"Levi, what brings you here?" I ask, trying for indifference, stepping out of his arms. I can't stay in his arms and expect not to melt into a puddle of hormones... It's really best for everyone if I stay away from him.
The look of disappointment surprises me. But then he just shrugs and smiles again. "I just came from Anastasia's. She asked me to tell you there is an emergency you need to go investigate."
I'm not surprised he's been to the Council house. He's on the guard after all, and he's been working with his mother, Kathrine, to figure out what all this Abyss stuff is about. But what I'm surprised about is the fact they are sending me out on an assignment. I know the elders can't go. It seems to drain their magic worse than ours. Whoever the Abyss is, probably didn't plan for a bunch of under age enchantlings fighting them.
My heart beat kicks up a notch. "What is it?" I demand. The Council sent Calliope up to the mountains and she said she went into a cave and found a big rock thing that created a dark fog. Then Nadia went into the forest to investigate the animals... It killed her!
I'm not scared of dying, especially when I'm trying to save the world... But I'd prefer to stay alive. I still have things I want to do with my life... Like finish high school and maybe find a guy who isn't a water dragon.
"What is what?"
I jump, completely caught off guard. When the hell did Knox and Dia get here? I guess I really wasn't paying attention. I have no idea if they drove or walked... I still can't keep my eyes off Levi. It's like he has me hypnotized to only focus on his... WAIT! WOULD LEVIATHAN DO THAT TO ME? I have no idea. But that dragon has the power to do just that. However, what would be the point?
"The Council asked Phoebe to investigate the source of dark magic coming from the South. Anastasia said it was like a negative surge running through the planet. She's not sure what it was, but we need to find out," Levi states, all matter of fact as he steps closer to me, still keeping his eyes on me, even as he talks to my twin. He does know we are separate people, right?
South? There's a desert in that direction that Flame loves to fly over... I wonder. Flame seems more than happy with the idea. I guess I haven't let her out in while with all the craziness with school and the dark magic stuff. It's not fair to her to be locked away.
I guess I could fly there and check it out right now, I'm too tired to ride my bike into the desert. I couldn't even ride it to school... There is no way in hell I'd make it 3 hours without crashing. I'm pretty sure I couldn't even fly without finding a tree to rest in ten minutes out.
Maybe I could borrow Knox's car...
"Okay. I'll go now," I state, trying to figure out what exactly I'll need. I need to get back home and pack a bag of snacks... meaning sugar to keep me awake! I prefer it to coffee, which makes me shake.
But before I can make my escape, Levi grabs my wrist and pulls me back to him. "Phoebe..."
