“Well that doesn’t matter, haven’t you seen those guys that play basketball in wheelchairs?
That’s got to be way harder than normal basketball.” Unsure of how the conversation went from dance scores to playing basketball in wheelchairs, I turned back to the bar as Willow handed me a plate of nachos dripping with cheese. I put them on the coffee table and took a seat on the couch beside Carmen.
“I’d like to see you two get up on stage and dance in four inch heels in front of the entire country.” I challenged them.
“I’d win for sure.” Carmen nodded her head with assuredness.
“I’d have to get some implants,” Phoebe frowned down at her chest, “I couldn’t fill out those dresses with these sorry excuses for boobs.”
“I’d have to get butt implants.” Willow said as she patted her backside. We all giggled and she stuck her tongue out at us.
“So, I have a question,” I began. “I know Tydes have different traces depending on who we’re descended from, so does that mean all of the Sons of Daimon have the same one? And what about the Sirens?” I threw the Sirens in there so they didn’t question my specific interest in the Sons.
“That’s right, the Sirens all have a nautical star, the Tritons have a trident and all of the Sons of Daimon have the scepter which is like a staff or rod with an ornamental top,” Willow answered.
But, that didn’t make sense. Finn’s skull and crossbones was definitely a trace. He had to be a Son, though. He didn’t fit into any of the other Orders. I guess he could be a Tyde, but it just didn’t feel right.
“Is it possible to have two?” I asked carefully.
“I don’t know.” Willow explained further, “I think it depends on a lot of things. I think if you’re a direct descendent or Chosen you could. Or if you have several really strong abilities.”
“What do you mean by Chosen?” I asked.
“If the Gods or Goddesses have chosen you for a specific journey or destiny.” Phoebe explained.
My jaw dropped. “Wow. That sounds absolutely terrifying.”
“No doubt,” Carmen consented.
“I’d have to ask to be un-Chosen,” Phoebe chuckled.
“I think it would be amazing to have that kind of purpose in your life, but you’re right, it would be scary.” Willow added. While I was asking questions, I might as well throw another one out there.
“So do Tydes have the ability to….” I paused trying to figure out how to say it, “…go places in their dreams?”
“There are a few rare cases but it’s not very common” Carmen answered, grabbing a handful of nachos. “Instead of a dream it’s called a reverie. From what I’ve heard it’s like leaving your body and going wherever your soul takes you. But that’s all I know. Kind of freaky if you ask me.” This from the girl who could control waves.
“Did you hear about it in your classes today?” Willow asked, perplexed at my seemingly random question.
“No, I think I, um, might have that ability.” I waited for their reaction. All of their eyes grew wide and nothing was said for a full minute.
“Holy shit!” Phoebe exclaimed.
“No way!” Carmen’s mouth hung open.
“Have you done it already? What happened?” Willow hid her shock the best. I tried to find a way to sum it up without mentioning hot, mysterious guys and creepy teachers.
“Well, I think I’ve always been able to do it, but I’ve just recently figured out that it’s actually real and not a dream. I don’t think I can control it though. I just sort of…show up places.”
“Wow. That’s amazing. I’ve never known anyone who can do that,” Carmen looked at me with something like awe.
“Will you guys promise to keep it secret for now, at least?” I pleaded with them, “I just want to figure some things out on my own before I talk to anybody else about it.”
They all agreed, but I could tell by the excitement in their eyes that they wanted to know more. Leave it to me to have one of the freaky abilities no one else had.
That night I lay in bed wide awake. Wary of falling asleep considering I had no idea where I might end up, I stared up at the ceiling as my thoughts raced uncontrollably for the third night in a row. I still didn’t understand how Finn didn’t have a scratch on him. From what I saw, he should have a black eye and stitches. None of it made sense. The other thing I didn’t understand was how he could obviously see me in the reveries, but why was he the only one? Mrs. Dixon looked right through me even though I was only standing a couple of feet away. Maybe I was hidden in the shadows.
Maybe they were so distracted they weren’t paying attention to their surroundings. I also needed to learn how to control them, because I couldn’t just be popping up in random places at random times.
Could I get hurt? Who was the lady that I saw get killed on the beach? Could I really have helped her? And what was Finn doing there?
I’d never felt more confused. At least when I was in foster care I knew I was human, I knew my limitations. This world was one big mystery and I was just aimlessly wandering around looking for answers that may or may not exist. I knew Kira might be able to help, but could I really trust her?
I closed my eyes, and my mind spun endlessly until I finally dozed off into a peaceful dreamless and reverie-less sleep.
The next evening, I searched through my closet, hoping to find the ideal outfit for a bonfire.
I’d never been to a bonfire on the beach, so I wasn’t real sure what to wear. Bathing suit? I would say the chances of us going swimming were pretty slim. Sundress? That could be tricky with the wind.
Ripped jeans, tank top, and a hoodie? Perfect.
I didn’t even remember the bonfire until 2nd period. It sounded like fun, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to hang out with Noah and Logan the whole time. Noah was pretty cute, but I wasn’t really interested. And what if a particular dark haired, blue eyed guy showed up? During 6th period when Mrs. Wyatt began her lesson and five minutes turned into fifteen, I realized Finn wasn’t coming to class. Disappointed would have been an understatement, but at the same time I’d actually heard her lecture. Now I was wondering if he’d be at the bonfire. To ward off disappointment twice in one day, I tried to convince myself that it didn’t matter.
The bonfire was at the Cape, which was only a short walk down the beach. The four of us headed that direction. It was a gorgeous night. The silver moon above was completely full, lighting up the world like a disco ball. The sand beneath our feet reflected its light, creating the illusion it had been lit from below. With the ocean glistening around us, it felt like we had been transported to another world. The refuge of night was captured in the ocean breeze ruffling my hair and the enchanted white crabs scurrying around our bare feet.
The warm glow of the bonfire could be seen from miles around, but as we got closer, I could make out the individual embers shooting up from the blaze, riding on the wind. Freed from captivity, they flew high in the air before snuffing out. I could see why ancient man sat around staring at fire. It was a beautiful dance as old as the dawn of time. You could become entranced within its flames, stripping away everything except the raw humanity that burns within us all.
We were drawn closer by the heat radiating out from the fire. Large pieces of driftwood had been set up around the bonfire as seats, so we claimed a relatively empty one. I stretched my legs out in front of me and scanned the crowd. I saw a couple of kids from my classes, couples sitting close together in their own world, and a group of guys playing something that looked like lacrosse down towards the water. I also noticed Olivia and Cassie with two other girls sitting on a blanket nearby.
They were surrounded by six guys who were hanging on their every word. The one thing I didn’t see were Sons of Daimon. Maybe they weren’t the social event type?
“Look who finally made it.” Logan spoke up behind us. He was trailed by Noah and two other guys who put The Hulk to shame. They were at least 6’6 and built like tanks. Noah took a seat in between me and Willow, while Hans and Frans sat beside Phoebe. Logan and Carmen snuck off towards the water by themselves.
“How’s your first week going?” Noah attempted conversation with me.
“Pretty good so far,” I replied politely. He smiled a dimpled smile at me and I noticed he was definitely cute, but he needed a lesson in personal space. I scooted an inch down the driftwood, but he just leaned farther in my direction as he talked.
