The Winter Reckoning
Things had surely been awkward for a while but I was really working toward moving past that and forward to whatever new thing would surely soon be sprung on me.
I climbed down my bed and my feet met the chilly floor. The room must have dropped in temperature again when I'd slept. I was starting to get used to it, the sudden chill that clung to my space. It helped that December had settled in, and snow had begun its slow descent over the town.
A week went by too fast, caught up in the process of my parents moving into the Stark mansion with whatever remained of our things. I thought it was odd that our old house was left empty until I found out that the Melbringer had crashed the building in search of me.
I was sure the town was filled with gossip now about the Sage family moving in with the small mysterious pack of teens at Eldrood Street. But I wouldn't really know, I haven't stepped a foot out yet.
That was a lie. I'd been using my sight and hearing, stretching it past the house to listen in. The ache that formed at the back of my head in response had not settled yet so I tried my best to limit the use to only when I was bored and desperate.
The door to my room swung open. My mom strode through the doorway with a wooden platter of food in hand and yet another black stress ball in the other. “Any more dreams darling?“ She casually inquired as she'd been doing every noon for the past five days.
She'd been forcing me to take naps after certain control training to reach my dreamscape. It had been unsuccessful every noon since I began.
“Not really. It's like I've been ousted from the dreamscape completely,” I reached out to receive the food platter.
“That is quite odd.“ She murmured, shifting to sit on my bed. “We know nothing about Melbringers and how their powers manifest so it's hard to deduct any reason as to why your powers are so unstable,” she went on.
“And what it has to do with her,” I interjected, placing the platter on my bed.
“Yeah her too,” she quipped.
My doppelganger. Ever since the poisoning on the plane, I still haven't been able to enter my dreamscape. However, I have been able to communicate with my wolf which was odd but I didn't think it was that big of a deal to mention yet.
“Any new changes?“ She threw the ball at me. I caught it effortlessly mid-air.
“None this thing can help with,” I complained, squeezing the ball as its elasticity protested against the weight of my strength.
“Control, honey,” she tucked a stray piece of her hair back in its bun. “You have to learn to apply the right force to things or you'll go around wrecking them in your way,” she explained, and as if on cue, the ball exploded in my hands, leaving bursts of violent sensation to travel through my palm.
I exhaled through my nose, already used to the sensation. “That still hurts,” I stated but as quickly as it came, the pain faded.
She hummed before speaking up. “I'm sure this is all new to you. But, the sooner you figure out your strengths, the sooner you can use them to protect yourself in the moments goddess forbid, we can't.”
Something about the way she said it increased the invisible weight of my reality pressing on my shoulders.
“I know,” I picked at my food as she stood to press a kiss to my forehead.
I avoided looking her in the eye before she turned to head for the door. “I’ll be downstairs if you need anything,” she said. “And try to relax.”
I waved her off, letting my gaze settle on my plate. I welcomed the chicken waffles, yogurt, and bagel dessert. I ate in quiet, letting my mind drift in the sea of my thoughts. It was hard, trying not to think.
I had just taken another bite when my door swung open again.
“I'd appreciate the apparently lost art of knocking,” I muttered, barely looking up as I chewed.
Tyler leaned against the doorframe, his curly white hair feathering lazily over his forehead. His dark rockstar charm was particularly accentuated like he'd dressed up. He stood with too much confidence for someone uninvited.
“Good morning to you too, Harl,” he retorted smoothly, his lips twitching with a taunting smile. “Or, well technically afternoon cause you've been keeping weird hours.”
“Harlyn,” I corrected. I'd told him to not call me that. He knew well enough I didn't like it ever since he'd randomly given the nickname to me.
I stabbed a piece of food, chewing slowly before answering. “Was there a reason you barged in, or am I the new target of your antics?“
“All of the above.” He affirmed with a snicker.
The sound of shuffling pulled my attention and I frowned. He reached into the right pocket of his red leather jacket before tossing a small item onto my bed. It bounced. It was a peppermint candy wrapped in red and black foil.
I picked it up, flipping it to examine it. “That looks ominous.” I failed to see the Christmas charm in it.
“It's an invitation,” Tyler revealed.
I raised a brow. “To what? Some Goth Christmas party?”
Tyler let out a low chuckle, stepping further inside with casual strides like he owned the place. “Some annual Christmas party hosted by some high school seniors apparently.“
So it could be goth. I quirked up a brow, waiting for the punchline of his joke. “You're joking.“
“Yeah, it's not my usual group but a party's a party,” he took long sweeps of his gaze around my room. “No personal decorations, awfully cold in here too. You're so due for a party.“ He commented.
I dropped the candy on the bed. “Perhaps but not this one.“ a mock laughter escaped me.
He knew nothing of my high school experience. I was sure Khalid did have some idea but he probably wasn't close enough to tell Tyler.
A party attended with my classmates, bullies, and pack members I'd not seen in months was a grand nomination for the terrible idea of the year.
“Why not? It's a perfect excuse to relax, drink, and socialize.” he persisted playfully, moving his hands in a flashy gesture that did little to sell the idea.
I gave him a long look. “Do I seem like the socializing type to you?”
“Not even remotely.” He flopped onto my armchair, stretching out like a cat. “But you should still come. I'm sure people are curious about where you've been.”
“Yeah, I bet they are.” I rolled my eyes. “The town’s favorite rejected mate of the alpha and ex-bully victim returned. I must be fascinating.”
Tyler’s smirk faded sharply replaced by a cold expression that chilled my bones. The change gave me whiplash. I rarely saw this peculiar side to him.