TWENTY

Word Count: 2317

~Akara

I stumble from the shop, not bothering to hold back and explain to the woman that I'm not a threat to her.

I'm a Summoner.

Wasting no time wondering how this is possible, I sprint from the village and into the forest. Looking down, I could scream at the sight of hands that don't belong to me, and yet won't go away.

"No...No," I panic, rubbing them over my clothes, shaking me, doing anything to try get rid of them. I just took her appearance as my own, without thinking twice about it, and now, it seems I'm stuck with it.

I don't stop running, even as my lungs burn and my eyes start streaming with tears. By the time Clea's mother's cabin comes into view, I could collapse into the grass with how exhausted I am. I can't possibly be relieved that I'm not turning into a Snow Demon because this fate may not be that much better.

I've killed a Summoner.

Marek comes into view, stalking back and forth across the front lawn. He's wondering where I am, where I've gone that has taken me so long. I can't imagine what his reaction is going to be like when he finds out I'm a Summoner. Just like him.

Rushing out of the forest, I head toward him, anxious for him to explain this to me, to help me understand what's going to happen next.

I expect Marek to be confused at the sight of me, but nothing changes in his expression, other than growing concern for the state of my emotions.

"Woah, Akara, what's going on?" he asks, meeting me half way across the lawn.

Frowning, I look down at my hands, and sure enough, I'm back as myself, the appearance of that woman having vanished from my skin. I could cry out in relief, grateful that I've returned to my true self. I hope that never happens again, especially without me willing it to.

"I'm a Summoner," I tell him through gasping breaths, grabbing onto his shoulders to steady myself. My head feels fuzzy, close to what I've been feeling with my nightmares. That exact feeling has been haunting me, and now I know why.

He shakes his head, closing his eyes for a moment in confusion. "Sorry, what?"

"I just ran into someone in a nearby village, and I was able to take over their appearance," I explain frantically, touching my face, making sure it's still mine.

"Are you certain?" he questions, looking over me. "Because if so, that means..."

He breaks off. He doesn't need to say it, we both know what it means. I didn't just become a Summoner by luck of the draw. It's the best possible fate for me, yes, but it's still a curse. And it's a curse I've put on myself, by my own actions. I just wish I could battle through the cloud over my memory to determine why I did it.

"I've killed a Summoner," I murmur, looking down at my hands as if I can see their blood staining my skin. The urge to throw up is overwhelming. I've taken someone's life, whether I can remember it or not.

"When?" Marek asks.

"I have no idea. I've lost at least two weeks of memory after drinking from the river," I tell him. No matter how hard I dig into my mind, those memories are a mystery. I had assumed I was unconscious for most of it, and wandered across the Jade Province at only one point. I didn't think I would have murdered someone during the course of it.

Marek taps his lower lip with his index finger, trying to make sense of what is confusing me. "You must have been unconscious for that time."

"I can't have been. I clearly walked from the Jade Province right to the border." That kind couple took me in, looked after me when I was on the verge of dying. They found me close to the Azure Province, which was a large trek for me to make on foot, if I did.

I wonder if I came into contact with anyone during that time, other than the person that I murdered.

"This is okay. Being a Summoner isn't hard, you just have to avoid using your powers as much as possible," he explains. That seems easy, but I couldn't control what I just did to that woman, and there is a chance it's going to happen again, when my emotions flare up.

I push away from Marek, running my hands back through my hair.

"I can't believe I killed someone," I whisper.

I mustn't have been myself during that time without my memory. Maybe I lost my mind, my sanity, and became someone that isn't me. That is the only explanation I can find for murdering someone, because I'm more sure than ever that I'm not capable of killing somebody.

"You have no idea what your motivations were at that point. Don't blame yourself," Marek says, trying to soothe my panic.

"What now? Now that I know I'm not going to turn into the Snow Demon," I ask. One problem has been replaced by another. But what is done is done, I've murdered a Summoner, and now I am one. I'm going to have to live this life now, whether I want to or not.

Marek shrugs. "We go away, somewhere safe. And we live our lives."

"Where do we go?"

"I was thinking the Emerald Province," he offers. I'm glad he didn't say the Azure Province, because I don't think I could handle it being somewhere where Summoner's are native, and are expected to use their powers often. "I know a place. It's no manor, but it's private."

"What about-"

"They can come, if they chose to," Marek assures me, knowing I'm mentioning Zavian and Nakoa. They are their own people, so they may not want to get away from the Jade Province like I do. But they are my friends, and I want them to know that if they chose to move with us, that they will be my new family.

"And if it's just you and me?" I ask softly.

Everything regarding the river has held most of my attention recently, so I haven't had to face my feelings for Marek. But if we go away together, everything I've been holding back will arise again. And after Tai, I'm not sure I should feel what I once did about Marek.

"You don't have to join me, of course, but your family are there, and I'm sure they would love for you to return," he reminds me. I sigh, knowing he is right. My family grounds me, and being in close proximity to me can only do well.

I kick my foot through the grass. "Tai is going to hate it."

Marek doesn't bother to hide the tension that comes into his shoulders again, and the frustration that passes over his eyes. "Tai doesn't matter anymore, does he?"

I nod firmly. "Okay. Let's go."

***

*One Week Later*

Zavian and Nakoa made the decision not come with us, wanting to return to their own families and keep an eye on the situation with Vaia.

The home Marek found has been small, but it's been perfect for the two of us. For most of this week, I've been still reeling from becoming a Summoner. Marek has been good, keeping us fed and alive, while talking me through my transition into a Tani like him.

Most nights, like tonight, I sit reading, trying to keep my mind of everything.

Marek always comes home late, once dusk has bled into night. Almost every time I worry, because without him, I'm not sure what I would do.

The door opens right as I'm in the middle of a good part of my book. Glancing up, Marek wanders in, his clothes and skin entirely drenched in blood. It runs down his neck, his arms and his front.

My eyes widen in fright. "Marek!"

"I'm sorry about the blood. But we have dinner for the next two weeks out there," he says, motioning through the door. I know beyond, in the darkness, Marek has hung up some kind of animal he hunted.

Resting my palm against my chest, I sigh with relief. "Thank you."

"I should probably bathe, shouldn't I?" He looks down at himself, at the blood sticking to his skin, bright red. It was obvious it was never his, considering his blood is blue, but it scared me nonetheless.

There are still threats in our lives, so we can never truly relax. Vaia could always come for us, if she decided to. But I won't let her hurt us again.

"That might be a good idea," I breathe.

He walks past and into the bathroom that adjoins the main living area. My eyes cast down to my book, hearing him run the bath.

I'm not sure what compels me, but I glance up and toward the door, where he has left the door slightly ajar. Through the gap, I watch Marek tear off his shirt, tossing it into the sink. My breath hitches, seeing rivets of blood trailing down his chest, his abdomen.

Looking away, I close my eyes, summoning a calm breath. I shouldn't been feeling like this.

I don't look up again until Marek emerges from the bathroom, all the blood having vanished. His hair is wet, hanging down around his forehead and ears. I keep my eyes pinned to his face, noting he's shirtless, a towel draped over his hips.

My throat is dry, as I lick my lips, knowing I need to talk about something that isn't his beautiful body. "I really like it here, you know. In the Emerald Province."

"We can live here as long as you want, forever, even," he says, collapsing onto the couch opposite the chair I sit on.

I blink. "We?"

Marek frowns, realising he just insinuated we live together, here, forever. "Or you could go and live on your own, or with your parents again. As long as you're safe."

I release a long breath. "I don't even know what tomorrow is going to look like."

"We should talk about becoming a Summoner. It's important to prepare," Marek says softly. I wish he would get dressed, so I don't have to keep my gaze on his eyes, constantly tempted to look elsewhere. Despite not wanting to think what I am about Marek, my mind is betraying me.

I shake my head. "Not tonight, please."

"Then what would you like to talk about, tonight?"

"Did you ever consider telling me, when you were working with Vaia?" I ask. It's a question that has been plaguing me since he told me the truth. Did he ever feel guilty? Did he ever want to alleviate my fears? I hated seeing something good in him despite what he did, and yet not being able figure out what it was.

His gaze softens. "All the time. I hated seeing you hate me. I wanted to tell you it was all for you, and that I was sorry for making you feel scared, or angered by me."

"I feel guilty even saying it, but I never hated you. I wanted to, but I couldn't," I admit, getting to my feet.

Marek stands also. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise. Not anymore," I whisper.

My entire body is stiff, under Marek's intense gaze. I should walk away, busy myself elsewhere, but instead, I continue to stare at him. My mind is encouraging me to run from this, to disallow it. But every inch of my body wants him desperately. I want his hands all over me, his mouth on mine...

Marek either reads my gaze, or senses the shift in me, because he steps forward, grabbing either side of my face, drawing me in the kiss me.

I pause, shocked. But I don't pull away.

I'm transported right back to the first night we kissed. It felt so wrong, but it felt so right. Every time we kissed after, I knew there was something between us that neither of us could name, but it's a sign...Avoid it or not, we are always going to be drawn back to each other.

Despite my better judgment, I pull myself into him, kissing him back.

His hands draw down my face, my neck, before wrapping around me. I shiver, the scent of pine and spices overwhelming me, his touch heady.

My fingers delve into his hair at the same time his tongue explores my mouth. The kiss isn't too intense, but I can feel his passion, his frustration rushing through him. It's evident in the way he grips me firmly, kissing me he's spent days in the desert, and I'm a ice cold glass of water.

"I can't even begin to explain how much I missed this," he murmurs against my lips, pressing more of himself against me.

I'm not sure how long we kiss for, but it feels like forever. I don't want to pull away.

I want him to pick me up, and take me into his bedroom.

Until Tai flashes through my mind, and I flinch back. Marek stays still, gaze roving my gaze, seeing the conflict in me. He knows why I'm wary to fall back into how we once were. So much has happened, and it was only a week ago I told Tai I never want to see him again.

"We should stop," I breathe, taking a step back.

If we are meant to be staying together for an extending period of time, I have no idea how I'm going to keep myself away from him.

💙••💛

Remember that you can always find this story 10 chapters ahead on Radish (:

You will find it under King's Possession Season Three!!

~Midika 🐼💜