Moirai

hand?”

“Olivia isn't the only one who needs to sharpen her skills,” Margo quipped, staring pointedly at Jaxon. I had no idea what they were talking about and didn't even consider interrupting.

The corners of Jaxon's lips curved upwards smugly. “You think I'm not prepared? I've got it covered,” he assured Margo. “I'll prove it.” Jaxon's eyes landed on me, as did Margo's. I felt my pulse quicken and my cheeks flush. With one foot in front of the other, I stepped closer to Jaxon, invading his personal space, just a breath apart from him. My eyes refused to leave his and Jaxon's gaze never wavered. “Kiss me,” he murmured. The breath caught in my throat as my heart leapt in my chest. My thoughts clouded, my mind in a terrible fog as I inched closer, feeling his breath mingling with mine. My eyes closed as my hand reached out for his cheek, my fingers grazing the slight stubble forming on his jaw. Something was terribly wrong. Why was I doing this? I seemed to be cast under a spell, unable to think, unable to stop myself, even if I wanted to.

“Jaxon, enough!” Margo shouted and just as quickly Jaxon glanced away the spell broke. My eyes blinked once, twice—I was closer to Jaxon than I should have been. I cleared my throat uncomfortably, moving my hand off his warm flesh. My hand dropped down to my side and I took a step back.

“What just happened?” I asked, feeling as if I'd been dreaming: the thoughts were incredibly close but not quite easy to remember.

Jaxon laughed, raising an eyebrow at Margo. “Do you still think I need to work on my skills?”

Margo smiled, shaking her head in dismay. “Yes, you should have made her forget completely what you've just done.”

Jaxon stared at me, seriousness returning to his face. “You won't tell anyone about our training session today, will you?” Had I just tried to kiss Jaxon? What was I thinking? I was in love with Joshua!

“What did you do to me?” My eyes narrowed, frustrated and confused. I didn't have feelings for Jaxon, why had I just done that?

Margo laughed, “Jaxon, you're in for a world of trouble if Joshua finds out.”

He let out a heavy grunt. “I was training. Quit causing more trouble.” he shot a wicked glance at Margo before turning towards me. “I promise there are no lasting side effects. I was trying to practice compulsion. It's essentially pushing one single thought into another's mind.”

“You were brainwashing me!” I exclaimed. My eyes widened and stomach tensed.

“No.” Jaxon shook his head. “Maybe, I don't know. Brainwashing sounds so cruel,” he frowned. “It isn't a big deal. Think of it as hypnosis. It's not that big of a deal, unless I get it wrong,” he confessed. “It's how I'll be able to help you in Genesis—” Jaxon paused, his eyes looking somber. “I'm sorry if I crossed a line.”

We hadn't kissed. My lips had never touched his, and even if he compelled me to do something, I had to be stronger to stop him. I would vow to study and practice more, but perhaps without Jaxon being the one to train me. “You did cross a line.” My answer was short, curt. “Don't think I can forgive you for this, what you tried to do. It wasn't right.”

Jaxon nodded faintly. “I should have asked your permission.”

“Yes, you should have.” I was angry but with time that anger would fade. I knew what was at stake, the risks we all took for one another. I didn't appreciate what he'd done, trying to make me kiss him to show up Margo, but it hadn't happened and he'd apologized. I'd learn to get over it.

Jaxon shook hands with Joshua, exchanging words and opening the door for Margo. I couldn't tell what was said. I imagined Joshua probably wished them luck as he shut the car door behind them.

I gave the briefest of waves, watching as Jaxon started the vehicle and drove out of the town for Torv and Spade. I tried not to look disappointed that they left and I didn’t. It wasn't as though I was thrilled with the idea of traveling through the Gravelands again; I just wanted to be the one to explore the towns. We were, after all, the ones who told them about Torv and Spade. Standing up, I headed inside our home. The air outside was chilly, but I liked it here. I hadn't seen an ounce of snow this year, something I didn't miss from Genesis.

I pushed open the front door, glancing back to see Joshua heading in the opposite direction, further into town. I didn't ask what he was up to. Instead I shut the door behind me, stoking the fire as I tried to keep warm.

I paused, hearing someone knock on the door, wondering whom it could be. Joshua wouldn't have knocked and most of the others hardly came by to visit. Although it wasn't illegal like it had been back in Genesis, it was uncommon.

I pulled back the door, surprised to see Hazel staring back at me, a fruit platter in her hand. “I thought you might be hungry,” she offered. “I know you missed breakfast this morning so I snuck this out for you.” My stomach rumbled at the sight of food. I knew this morning there had been a farewell breakfast for the three traveling east. I hadn't wanted to go and pretended to sleep in instead. Joshua hadn't bothered to wake me. He knew me well enough to know the truth without words being spoken.

“I overslept,” I lied, giving the faintest smile. There was no sense in hurting anyone's feelings. “Thanks for bringing this, Hazel.” I took the plate from her, bringing it to the worn wooden table. I grabbed some silverware and took a seat. “How was it?”

“Breakfast? It was nice. Everyone missed you though.” She smiled weakly. “But I can understand why you hadn't wanted to go.”

I didn't think she could understand but I didn't say anything. I took a bite of a strawberry, thankful the town had invested in a greenhouse. “This is good,” I mumbled between bites. It had more flavor than anything I had tasted back in Genesis. It was fresh and ripe.

“I wanted to ask you,” she paused, giving me the faintest of smiles, “what it's like to be different.”

“Different?” I didn't understand her question. I took another bite of breakfast and glanced up at her.

“Yeah, you know,” she laughed. “Everyone knows you're special. I mean, of course you're like the rest of us here with the abilities from the Mindonsiphan—but the fact you could get pregnant—doesn't that make you feel different?”

“I don't feel any different,” I offered as best as I could in way of an explanation. “Though every day I wake up and I'm not in Genesis, I remember that I am. All my life I never suspected anything, and then in an instant, it all changed. It wasn't a good day either.”

“Being matched with Joshua wasn't good?” Hazel asked, misunderstanding me.

I laughed. “No, that was nice. It was what came after that frightened me,” I sighed. “Why are you asking about this?” I didn't know where this newfound curiosity came from.

Hazel smiled, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. “I'm jealous. I don't mean to be,” she quickly explained. “But the fact you could have a baby if you wanted to, it seems so unfair.”

I sighed, letting out a heavy breath. It was unfair. Everything about it. It wasn't even a burden I wanted. “Elsa's working hard on a cure.” It was all I could say, all I could offer. My eyes widened, suddenly hearing the loud soaring of a plane overhead. I froze at the table and Hazel's eyes also widened in horror.

“The fire!” She rushed towards the fireplace, closing the damper, directing the smoke back into the house.

“What are you doing?” I asked, appalled, as the town shook with the vibrations of the drones flying low above us.

“They'll see the smoke and know we're alive down here.” She hid beneath the kitchen table. I coughed as the room filled with smoke. I hoped the planes would leave soon or we'd likely die of smoke inhalation. I walked towards the bedroom, opening the door to allow the smoke to penetrate the entire house, not only the kitchen. It was our only option to buy us time. Coughing, I walked towards the window, seeing a fleet of drones circling the town.

“This isn't good,” I muttered, grabbing Hazel's arm as I dragged her from under the table.

“We can't go outside!” She cried and her body shook. I'd been through this before in Haven. It terrified me but I wasn't going to die, not today. I forcefully led her into the bathroom and turned on the water, hoping it would protect us. I shut the bathroom door tight behind us, wet several towels, and shoved them at the bottom of the