Frozen Edges 2
He studied me for a moment, his tone even. “No offense Harlyn but you're not that formidable to insight much fear in any one of us. We've been around for quite some time, we've dealt with plenty of things, not much counts as scary anymore.”
I blinked in surprise. “Okay?“ I flushed from embarrassment, scoffing, “So what's the problem?“
From my doppelganger's speculation, they were supposed to be scared of me. Not that I was hoping they would be but that would be the only logical explanation as to their distance.
“They don’t think you like them,” he cut straight to the point. “We have played a certain part in your life so far that you've voiced to be infuriating. They believe you dislike them for it and technically you're the one avoiding them.”
I had resented them in the heat of my shift but it was for what they had taken part in, keeping me here, hiding things from me, and following Ethan’s orders like my life was something they could dictate. My resentment wasn’t actually for any of them, it was for the situation then.
Avoiding them? I haven't been avoiding them, I have been avoiding the reality of my situation by focusing on whatever was happening to me the past two weeks.
My fingers curled around the cold fabric of my sheets. “I haven't though,” I relayed with a frown.
“Are you sure?“ He dragged the question. “You haven't tried to talk to anyone plus you keep losing it with your powers, they are bound to misunderstand things.“
“Like think I'm mad at them and don't want to talk to them,” I exhaled deeply.
The only person I could possibly be mad at was Ethan who I hadn't seen in two weeks. He was the one hiding things from me. They just followed his orders. But then again, I haven't made any effort to clarify that.
“I've been expecting them to come to me when it's meant to be the other way around,” I admitted.
Khalid nodded, his soft curly blonde tresses bouncing gently. “There you have it. They're not avoiding you, just giving you space.“
“Well that does put some insight into things,” I conceded.
Making a mental note to try to talk to them later on, I decided to let the matter end there till I saw any of them. Hopefully, I could start with the twins in our next spar session.
It usually happened at the end of noon. Feeling restless, I stirred toward the end of the bed and swung my legs over the side. My feet hit the cool wooden floor as I reached for my phone. It was a new one Khalid had provided because I lost mine.
A slow shuffle of steps climbed up the stairs. Checking the time, I suspected it was one of the twins probably coming to notify me of our session.
Quickly, as it had recently become a routine, I searched the global news for anything on Springville, my heartbeat drumming in my ears as I skimmed through the headlines.
Nothing tragic. No reports of missing persons. No disasters since the last news in the town about a gas leak. Which I guessed was the cover-up for the Melbringer attack. I exhaled in momentary relief, the tension in my shoulders loosening by just a minute fraction.
Just then, a knock ricocheted at the door. I turned my head as the door swung open, revealing Caleb standing by the doorway, clad in the black body suit I still hadn't grown used to seeing on him.
“It’s time for your sparring lessons,” he stated coldly.
I let out a quiet groan, rubbing my temples.
I wasn't really looking forward to having my body thrashed around while I learned the basics of self control but I supposed I really needed to talk to the twins.
“I'll get to changing,” I headed for the dressing room and shut the door behind me
My bodycon stretch shorts sat still in a dresser, washed and scented. Reaching for it, I tugged the black fabric over my frame. It clung to my skin like a second layer but It remained snug but breathable, allowing full movement. That was something I was quickly learning was essential in these sparring sessions.
With a sharp inhale, I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail, securing it tightly. Stray strands curled at my temples, damp with the lingering warmth of the room.
Pushing down the restless hum in my veins, I stepped out of the dressing room and my empty room into the corridor where Caleb was waiting. His expression, as usual, was unreadable, but there was something about the way his gaze settled on me that felt a touch more intense than usual.
“Ready?” he asked, voice clipped.
“Not really, but here we are.” I playfully quip hoping to ease the atmosphere into a conversation.
But, he gave a slow nod before turning on his heel, leading the way down the hall. I tried not to bite my cheek from frustration and followed him.
The walk to the den was quiet, only the soft sound of our steps filling the space. My fingers twitched at my sides as I mentally prepared myself to see Abel and if the past few sessions were anything to go by, be thoroughly thrown across the room multiple times.
I considered escaping it with a conversation. I would much prefer an open-heart session after all. However, as soon as we entered the den, the air shifted.
I expected Abel’s sharp smirk and cold taunting remarks, but the figure waiting for me wasn’t Abel.
It was Ethan who I hadn't seen in two weeks.