Chapter 1
I set the coffee mugs down on the table before sitting back down in my seat and grabbing my book.
“Thank you,” Benjamin says without looking up from his book. I reach over picking up my mug, bringing it to my lips. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Excuse me?” I say slowly, looking over at him.
“It’s been all summer, and you haven’t taken one drink of coffee. We aren’t starting that now. You’re less likely to snap and it’s harder to get you angry when you’re not drinking it.”
“I’m sixteen Benjamin!” I huff, annoyed. “There’s nothing wrong with drinking coffee.” Benjamin finally looks up from his book. The fire in his eyes isn’t blazing though, so he’s not mad I’m still arguing.
“Coffee actually qualifies as a drug in some places you know.”
“Not here.”
“It’s addictive.”
“What about when I go back to Eastwind? The summer’s almost over Benjamin, you can’t keep me from drinking it there.”
“Did you forget I’m headmaster again?” I move, raising my hand. Suddenly, Benjamin’s hand comes down on my wrist stopping me. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Why not give that a try,” I smile, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath as I feel my power flowing through me.
“Chl-.” Freeze! I open my eyes to see Benjamin frozen. I pull my hand from his grip, a giant smile on my face as I lean back bringing my mug to my lips.
The heat rushes through me as my eyes go wide. I drink down the whole thing fast before turning to see Benjamin still frozen. He’s going to be mad at me.
I stand up running over to the kitchen to find Ellse frozen cooking eggs and grab the coffee pot to fill up my coffee before returning to my seat. I replace my wrist in Benjamin’s hand like before and closing my eyes. Unfreeze! “Oe!”
“What!” I chuckle opening my eyes. “I didn’t actually do anything!” He glares at me and I pull my hand from him, raising them up. Benjamin reaches over, grabbing my cup spilling coffee, and I jump back to avoid being hit by the scalding liquid.
“Liar.”
“Prove it!” I hiss. He motions at the cup.
“It’s too hot; fresh. You just refilled it.”
“Whatever,” I mutter crossing my arms.
“Why don’t you try eating some real food for once?” I look over at him annoyed.
“Because I don’t want it to come up.”
“And what does Kia think about that?” He thinks I haven’t told him.
“He just cares that I’m not dying,” I snap back with a smile on my face.
“How about you don’t go back to school,” Benjamin blurts out, setting down his book, wrinkles lining his forehead. “You can stay here with your coffee.”
“Not this again!” I groan. “I’m not staying here. I’m coming back to school!”
“All I’m saying is that it would be safer if you stayed here. Plus let’s face it, Nova loves it here she probably doesn’t want to go back. You two can just stay here.” I roll my eyes as I lean back.
“Benjamin, first off, I’m not safe anywhere. You think I’m safer with you around, you wouldn’t be here though, you would be at school.”
“I would stay here with you.”
“Did you forget that your headmaster this time? Second off, Nova hasn’t left my room in weeks. She’s terrified here.”
“And why would she be scared?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because during our last fight you almost barbecued her alive? She goes running each time she sees you, Benjamin.”
“That was an accident,” Benjamin mutters.
“It still scared her. Trust me being cooked alive is terrifying, I would know better than anyone.”
“That’s exactly why you should stay here and not come back to school.”My eyes narrow.
“No, you just don’t want me and Kia to have the freedom to do whatever we want with each other.” The fire in Benjamin’s eyes finally flares up telling me I hit the target. He doesn’t think it would be safer if I stayed here. He just doesn’t want Kia and me together at school where he has no way to tell where we are at every second or keep us apart.
“Not true.” He mutters, finally speaking up.
“Then why are your eyes flaming?” He looks away from me fast. “We followed your rules all summer. You wouldn’t even let him kiss me. Every time he came over we stayed at least six feet apart from each other. We behaved, Benjamin.” He rolls his eyes. “Okay fine, I didn’t want to tell you this, but as a gift to me today will you promise I can go to school?” He looks over at me confused and I look away, my face red.
“Gift today?” I don’t say anything, and he leans forward. “What’s today, Chloe?”
“Thursday,” I mutter. He leans farther forward.
“What are you two up to out here?” Ellse asks as she walks out.
“Ellse do you know what day it is?” Benjamin asks without taking his eyes off of me.
“Thursday?” She asks, confused.
“Exactly!” I say as I stand up closing my book. “I’m going to my room.” I almost make it out of the room before,
“It’s your birthday!” Benjamin gasps. I freeze in the doorway. The room is deathly silent.
“I never said that per se,” I mutter.
“Happy birthday Chloe!” Ellse shouts ecstatic.
“Let’s not say it that loud,” I groan, turning around to face them. “It’s not something anyone else needs to know about.”
“You don’t like your birthday?” Benjamin asks as if he can’t believe it.
“Never have. All it means is that I’m getting older, my hair is going to turn grey and I’m one year closer to death.”
“You won’t die.” Benjamin chuckles, rolling his eyes. “What was at the bottom of your list of powers?”
“Manipulating light, shape-shifting, and immortality.”
“Exactly, you can’t die.”
“My parents died.”
“Chloe, it’s time we tell you something.”
“You might want to sit down honey,” Ellse whispers gently squeezing my shoulders as she leads me back over to my chair. I look over at Benjamin, the color drained from my face.
“What?” I whisper fearing what he’s going to answer.
“Your parents didn’t die in a car crash. They wouldn’t have died from that, they were killed.”
“Why were they killed?” They both look at me and yet neither answers.
I close my eyes before landing on my bed. I stand up fast, locking my door and blocking my room off so they can’t get in. After a few minutes, there’s knocking. I just turn my music on and lay down on my bed.
They were killed because of me. Who I am.
