Interference: Book One Page 8

  Neela nodded. “True. Okay, I’m in, but I’m walking. Stop trying to make me run.”

  “Deal.” I grinned.

  I dragged Neela toward the locker room to change, only to find Cassie admiring herself from different angles in the mirror.

  “Missy, how are you? I’m sorry if I was too hard on you yesterday. I’ll take it easy on the track today.” She sashayed out of the room, and I glared blank-faced at Neela.

  She busted out laughing, holding her stomach as if the chuckle caused her pain. I gave her a few minutes, but she still hadn’t regained control. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “Can I ask what has you so tickled?”

  She took a deep breath, a sad attempt at regaining control. “I wish I’d had my phone yesterday. To get a picture of her with a broken nose and no teeth!” She cracked up again, and I fought the bubble of laughter that made its way up my throat.

  I leaned forward and whispered, “So, I’m not going crazy? Elise erased what I had done, right?”

  Neela nodded. “She’s gifted, Mercy.”

  “So Cassie doesn’t remember? Everyone else watched Elise reverse my temper tantrum.”

  Neela chewed her lip, as if trying not to say too much. She sighed. “Not everyone is in tune with their power. That is what gives us the ability to see the truth in the time change. Time is affected, but our gift shields our minds from it.”

  “So, Cassie has a disconnect from her power? She’s gifted as well?”

  “That’s right. Fitz will explain it, I promise. We grew up studying our gifts, Mercy. You have a lot to learn in a short amount of time and he’s worried about it overwhelming you.”

  Neela turned toward her locker as she pulled the cotton shirt over her head.

  I froze at the sight. “What is that?” I asked.

  “What?”

  “You know what. The mark on your shoulder. What is that?” My voice echoed across the locker room.

  She exhaled loudly and reluctantly turned to face me. I could tell she didn’t want to say too much.

  “Can I at least see it?” I asked.

  “Sure.” She turned so I could see the tattoo up close. Neela’s mark looked like an eye—almost whimsical. Not creepy like I would’ve imagined.

  “It’s beautiful, Neela.”

  “Thanks. Can I see yours?”

  My eyes narrowed. “How did you . . .”

  “Your reaction to mine told me what I needed to know. Can I?”

  I lifted my shirt, and like Nora, Neela gasped. “I’ve never seen that before. I’m not sure what to call it,” she whispered.

  I turned back to face her. “Nora called it Rage Fire.”

  Her eyes met mine, curiosity evident by the tilt of her head. “Does she know what it means? Is it elemental?”

  “If she knows, she didn’t tell me.”

  “I’m sure Fitz can shed some light on all of this for you. I would love to hear his opinion, so keep me in the loop.”

  I groaned, annoyed. “If he doesn’t explain things, you and Nora will have to. I’m not waiting any longer. I have a right to know.”

  “Deal,” she agreed.

  . . .

  Neela left to go upstairs while I finished changing. The mild weather felt lovely that day, so the roof was a perfect place to jog due to the breeze. Tables and chairs were arranged in the four corners of the roof with herbs and flower gardens along the outside edge. A rubber-like material ran from one end of the building to the other—offering a decent jogging track. Most of the students were taking advantage of the pleasant weather, especially since we’d had so much rain the past few days.

  When I walked toward the track, Neela and Drake stood in the corner, talking privately. Drake stared at his feet with a grim expression on his face—hands on his hips. He looked upset. She leaned in to whisper something, but he took off along the track, leaving Neela mid-sentence. She tried to call out, but he didn’t acknowledge her.

  I stretched my legs, warming up for my run, and tried to time it where I could speak to Drake. As he came around the bend, I jogged into the space right behind him. He pushed himself harder, and I could feel his frustration. Picking up speed, I jogged beside him, but he never looked my way. He knew I was there. We always knew.

  “I wanted to speak with you about yesterday,” I called out.

  “Nothing to talk about.”

  I tried again. “I . . . um, thank you. Thank you for calming me down.”

  “Well, I didn’t want my girlfriend’s face busted up anymore, so it seemed like the right thing to do,” he snapped.

  That was the first time Drake had publicly declared Cassie as his girlfriend, and the words caused an angry stir inside my chest. I licked my lips and looked away, unsure how to respond.

  “Is that really the reason?” I asked.

  “It looks like Ren is warming up. It may be more appropriate for you to jog with your boyfriend.”

  The hits kept coming. I stopped running and grabbed onto his arm, forcing him to face me as other runners darted around us. “Tell me those words aren’t like a knife to your chest.”

  Drake closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He held back, but I wasn’t sure why.

  I pushed again. “Tell me and I’ll drop it. I won’t mention it again.”

  Silence.

  “Tell me!”

  “I can’t.” He turned away and continued running alone.

  I stood there, unsure of what to do next. Why did I care? I’d known this guy for less than two months, but it didn’t feel that way. We were connected and I needed to know why.

  “Hey, hotness. Wanna race?” Ren ran up beside me, gently squeezing the back of my neck.

  “Sure, Ren. Let’s go.”

  We ran for a half-hour before people started sitting down, catching their breath. Ren made it forty-five minutes before he quit. Drake and I were the only ones left, refusing to stop. We kept our pace on opposite sides of the track, so we didn’t come in contact with each other. An hour passed and Coach yelled for everyone to get ready for lunch. Everyone started shuffling down the stairs, but we never stopped.

  “Last call! Moreno! Monroe! Let’s go!”

  Coach Rogers eventually gave up and went inside. Fitz walked to the roof and sat in a chair beside the track, taking in the scene before him. Two hours. He let us go for two hours before he called us over. We both jogged toward Fitz—his gaze darting between us as if he sensed the tension.

  “Drake, come see me this evening.”

  “I’m not scheduled with you this evening.”

  Fitz lowered his glasses and a stern expression crossed his face. “Come. See. Me. This. Evening. Got it?”

  “Yes, sir.” Drake spun toward the stairs without another word.

  He turned toward me and exhaled. “I thought meeting with you out here might be nice. I tire of that stuffy office, you know.”

  I stayed quiet. He knew what I expected from him—the truth.

  “Elise told me what happened yesterday. I wanted to apologize for not preparing you before now. I’ve only tried to protect you, Mercy. You must know that. You’re a little different, so I wasn’t even sure what I was preparing you for.”

  “And now?” I asked.

  “I have a better idea than I did. Sometimes I think I know exactly who you are and other times I don’t have a clue.” Fitz rubbed his eyes as if exhausted. “It’s becoming easier now that your power is progressing.”

  “I’m tired of being in the dark. I have a right to know.”

  “Alright, I’ll tell you what I can.” He sat up straight as if the conversation made unnerved him. “This world that you know is a small piece of the puzzle. It hasn’t always been this way for us.”

  “Us?”

  He sighed. “Regalians.”

  I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes. I didn’t know what to say.

  “Hundreds of years ago, our people lived as one. All are human, but some are born with extraor
dinary gifts, one of the six gifts. The ungifted begrudged us, Mercy. In their resentful view, we were an interference of nature. Because of that, they banished us from living alongside them.”

  “Couldn’t you have resisted? You have power and they don’t.”

  “It would have been a world war, Mercy, and our people only wanted security for our families. So, the two highest Elders, from Ireland and Italy, created a hidden underground world so we could live peacefully. They called it Seregalo. Meaning, Six Gifts.”

  “I feel like you could be high right now. Are you?” I raised one brow in question.

  He stared, blank-faced. “Were you high yesterday when you broke Cassie’s nose?”

  Point taken. “Please continue.”

  He nodded. “One individual has never ruled alone. We’ve always worked together as a council. The most powerful has always held the highest rank over the Elders until someone even more gifted came along. Our people felt like it was nature demanding a time for change.”

  I shook my head. “How do they know that?”

  “Our current leader, Aadya, was born forty years ago. Out of the six gifts, she holds the power to wield three. That’s unheard of. Most are only born with one. The day of her birth, a ripple of energy ran through the land, and our people acknowledged when she came of age, she would be the next in line to lead.” Fitz paused, allowing me time to process his words.

  “What happened then?” I asked.

  “At sixteen, she was the highest-ranking official among the Elders. Power-hungry, she demanded more say than the others until she created a rift among our people. Those that refused to live under her authority were told to leave.”

  I couldn’t comprehend that level of maliciousness. “That’s awful. Where did they go?”

  “New York, Ireland, India . . . Wherever they could seek refuge,” he explained. “When Aadya was twenty-three, a powerful surge ran through the land once again, declaring another had been born. Aadya was so afraid of being removed from the throne she created, she sent a group of Custos to find the child and kill it.”

  “Custos? I’ve heard the word before—from Drake.”

  “Yes, that’s right.” Fitz sat back in his chair, waiting on me to process his words.

  “What are they exactly . . . the Custos? Are they gifted?”

  “No, they weren’t born with powers. Or powers that they could use, anyway. Imagine being born into a gifted family, only to find out you’re the only one unable to contribute—unable to protect. It would destroy your esteem,” Fitz said.

  “So Regalians can join the Custos if they aren’t powerful?”

  “The men could, yes. The women would be cast out of Seregalo at a young age. Which is why I felt so strongly about helping where I could. It isn’t right.”

  “I’m so confused,” I admitted.

  “Aadya created the Custos when she decided she needed an army to do her bidding. Pulling from the weakest, most defeated Regalians in our city probably seemed like the perfect scenario to her. They craved purpose. And most of the time, their combat training is enough for two of them to overpower a gifted individual. Unless it’s someone as powerful as you or Drake, which isn’t typical.”

  “So if they aren’t born gifted, do they not have a purpose?” I asked.

  “Tell me, what did you think your life’s purpose was before you found out who you were?” Fitz tilted his head to the side, curious.

  It felt like a lifetime ago. “I wanted to work in child protective services. You know, help kids find a home where they could feel safe.”

  He smiled. “They’re purpose is like any other person on this planet, Mercy. Nurse, teacher, electrician . . . they are human. Regalian blood doesn’t change that. God created us all, but some of us were born with rare gifts. Aadya might not treat them as such, but it’s true.”

  “This is a lot to take in at one time, Fitz.”

  “I can’t imagine.”

  “So, you’re telling me I’m a Regalian, born with a special gift, and I should have lived happily ever after in Seregalo, except I’m not, and her guards came after me on a train because they believe I’m a threat?”

  His brow wrinkled in confusion. “Well, yes, Sort of.”

  I threw my hands up in the air. “Maybe I am high.”

  He smiled. “I know this is all a bit much. Learning this at one time, and later in life than most, must be overwhelming.”

  It did overwhelm me, but not in a negative way. It felt as though I’d been given the final pieces of a lifelong puzzle. “Why is there a familiarity in all of this? I’ve never heard any of it before, but I don’t doubt the truth of it.”

  Fitz nodded. “Because it’s in your blood. It’s who you are.”

  “And who is that? I’ve never been closer to discovering who I truly am, yet I feel more lost than ever. I don’t understand my gift or how to control it.”

  “You’re a tough case to crack, Mercy. You have what they refer to as interference of energy, or psychokinesis. You use the energy around you to move objects against nature. Which is also what makes you stronger and faster—the manipulation of energy. The issue is that you only seem to be able to use it when you are in a highly emotional state, which can become very dangerous. I believe that’s what caused your mother’s accident, the energy eruption on the subway, and again on the tennis court with Cassie. I’ve asked Neela to work with you, and she’s agreed to help.”

  “Neela? She has the same gift?” I asked.

  “She does,” he answered.

  “Does everyone at Fremont have gifts?”

  “Everyone at Fremont is Regalian, but not all have a connection with their power,” he explained. “Dr. Lee and I started Fremont with the vision of helping everyone—powerful or not. That’s what we’ve done. Some Regalians are born with latent power or a gift their mind refuses to tap into. It’s a stressful process if it doesn’t come easy. For some, it takes years, and others can never access it—like Custos. Most of the Regalians in New York moved here after the rift in Seregalo, so they’re alone. We’re here to help if we can.”

  “So Cassie, Kellan, Cyrus . . . they're all gifted as well?”

  “Yes, but struggling. That’s why they’re here. That’s also why Cassie wasn’t aware of the shift in time yesterday. Some have a broken connection we are trying to mend.”

  I didn’t like Cassie, but I felt bad about her lack of power. Feeling less than those around you was something I could relate to.

  “Neela also brought something else to my attention. Elemental interference has the power to manipulate air, fire, water, and earth. So it would be quite easy for someone with this gift to control the weather. She is noticing a correlation between your moods and our sudden increase of storms. She’s convinced you hold more than one gift.”

  Fitz focused on my face, waiting for a reaction from me before he continued. “I’ve suspected this, but I wanted to give you as much time as possible to learn and grow in your power. We’re running out of time, Mercy. Aadya must sense how strong you are if she is sending Custos for you. As your power strengthens, it will be easier for other Regalians to find you. If there’s a chance one of my students is the next chosen leader, then I have to protect them. Our future depends on it.”

  “What are you saying? That it could be me?” My stomach dropped.

  “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  8

  ⥈

  Fitz went back inside, but I couldn’t. Not yet. I wasn’t sure how long I’d sat on the rooftop, looking out across the top of the endless brick and concrete surrounding me. New York was all I’d ever known, and the possibility of not belonging caused an ache deep inside. I wasn’t entirely sure if I mourned for the city I loved, or the city I should’ve grown up in.

  Nevertheless, the pain was present, and I hadn’t been able to process it. The thought occurred to me that someone in my family had been gifted. If my mom had power, she would have used it against me. My
dad? A grandparent?

  “Are you going to stay out here all night?” Dr. Lee walked toward me, smiling. “How ya doin’ kid?”

  My troubled eyes said it all.

  “That bad, huh?” he asked.

  “I’ve never felt so confused, excited, and exhausted in all my life. How can that be?”

  “I’m not sure because I’ve met your mom. Can’t get much worse than that.”

  I cracked a smile. “Haha.”

  Dr. Lee took a seat beside me, staring out over the city. “That was not a joke.” His elbow nudged mine. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

  “I wouldn’t know where to start. There’s so much I need to learn.”

  “We’ll help you with that. As we learn more about your power, we can help you find your source, and keep you safe while you learn to use it,” he assured me.

  “My source? How do I find it?”

  “You want to try right now? You’ve been through a lot, so I understand if you want to wait.”

  “Yes. Definitely.” I sat up straight, eager to get started.

  He smiled and bobbed his head in agreement.

  “Close your eyes. Now, take in a few deep breaths and try to relax.”

  After I reluctantly closed my eyes, I breathed in my nose and out my mouth, attempting to rid my body of the coiled tension I’d built up. My shoulders settled, and my spine loosened.

  “Now, the most important thing to remember is your source of power is a connection between your heart and mind. A fuse, so to speak, that everyday people are not born with. An absence or overabundance of your heart’s involvement can be dangerous. In your case, too much of your heart is connected to your gift, and your emotions threaten your control. Try to calm yourself, so your fuse doesn’t blow. Understand?”

  “Yes, that makes sense.”

  “Good. Now, focus. Find the connection that houses your gift and discover the mental and emotional balance it needs to thrive. Search within yourself for the strength you never knew existed. Don’t forget to breathe.”

  I concentrated on the pit of my stomach, working up toward my chest—waiting for an inkling of what he’d described. I felt nothing. Just an emptiness. A black hole inside of me for all the hate and resentment to pile up. I opened my eyes in defeat.