The Secret of Strange Waters (The Light Keeper Series Book 2) (11 page)

“You were attacked?” He held me at arm’s length and looked me up and down. “Who was it? Did he hurt you?” He crushed me to his chest and buried his face in my hair.

“No. I don’t know, but he scared me well enough. Luckily I have the Water and the Light on my side.” I wasn’t about to fess up that it wasn’t the first time I’d encountered the guy.

He lifted my chin to meet my eyes. “How do you feel?” he asked.

“Exposed. All of those guys know now.” My voice broke at the thought. “Holly knows now.”

“We’ll have to tell her everything. I think it’s only fair with her living here.” He was right, but I was nervous. I haven’t told anyone about my gifts before coming to Bragg, and I was always terrified that others would be like Mom and not believe me. Even though Holly said she trusted me, would all of that change once she learned the whole truth? “We’ll think of something to do about the others. Besides, seeing you like that was a little shocking to us all. I mean, with you glowing!” He bent down and turned the hot tap back on.

“What do you mean,
glowing
?” I was hoping it was a poor description.

“You couldn’t tell?” He looked at me like he was telling me my pet died. I shook my head in response. “Lily, you were radiating a glow from your entire body. Especially your eyes. And the control you had—amazing! The Water makes perfect sense. It was meant for you all along.” He pulled me into his arms, and I felt relief as his muscles relaxed under my touch.

“That’s why you were
scared
of me?” I cringed. “Why all of you were terrified of me?”

“Well, yeah. It was different. You were so wicked looking, but beautiful. Radiant,” he assured. “Almost angelic.”

My mouth gaped. “You know I’d never hurt you!” I
was
a freak, like Owen always teased.

“I know. I’m sorry, it was a shock. It’s not every day a guy sees his girlfriend fight off a gang while glowing and wielding a fireball as a weapon.” He cut off the water. “Here, you better get in before it cools down again and all your bubbles dissolve.” He kissed me and walked to the door. “I’ll be waiting on the couch.” He gave me a wink and shut the door behind him.

After he left, I undressed and climbed into the tub. As I lay there soaking, I couldn’t help but remember all of their shocked faces. I wondered how freaky I was. Finally, once my bubbles were gone, I pulled the plug and let the water start to drain while I dried off. I put on my long sleep shirt and looked in the mirror.

I was normal: normal me with the unusual green eyes, even though the effects from the Water were still there. I raised my hand and summoned the Light. It was just as intense at it had been earlier. It stayed small, about the size of a softball, and the heat that radiated from its core didn’t hurt me one bit. It never did. I looked past it to the mirror and saw what had become of my eyes. They glowed so brightly that the color green shone like a white-hot flame. My skin was glowing, too: not bright, but with a soft, ethereal glow, and my hair seemed to be alive. It
was
radiant and flowing. I remembered Owen thinking I was an angel, and I could see why. I looked out of this world.

The Water was definitely the cause of this, giving me heightened senses, agility, and speed. It all was reflected in my gift. I wondered about my visions and how strong they’d be? I raised my hand and looked into the Light. As soon as I did, it held me there.

I was walking down the stairs of an old house while music played in the background. I could hear it clearly. I noticed it right away, because I usually didn’t get clear sounds in my visions. I also didn’t feel separated from myself like I sometimes did. I was experiencing this full on, as if I were really there in the moment. The air smelled sweet with the flowers that hung on the banister. Each step seemed to echo as I walked across the wooden floor in my heels. Everyone around me was smiling, and I could feel their eyes on me. Mom was behind me coming down the stairs, but my eyes met Talon at the front of the room, standing beside Tom. They both looked amazing in their tuxes. A sense of longing heated my heart as I smiled at him. Everything was perfect. I took note, trying to remember each detail of the room. I’d never been there before, and it wasn’t the place Mom had reserved, but it was grand and gorgeous.

After the Light vanished, I tried to remember it all, knowing I’d have to help Mom plan. I stared in the mirror at my green eyes and freckled face, glad to see that I looked perfectly normal, yet also knowing I wasn’t.

I found Talon asleep on the couch. Despite the vision, I wasn’t tired. They usually drained me, but not this time. It was like every glitch was fixed with the Waters. I sat on the couch next to Talon and stroked his hair until I finally drifted away.

* * *

Come morning, I found Meagan introducing her face to my toilet. She was so hungover from her indulgence of soaked fruit that I almost felt sorry for her. I wondered if I should tell her that she’d wet her pants, but decided it was probably rude. Holly didn’t mind it at all.

“What am I doing in these rags?” Meagan scoffed at Owen’s workout shorts and t-shirt as she finally left my bathroom.

“Those are Owen’s clothes,” I said, thinking she should feel grateful for something clean to wear. “You needed something to sleep in.”

“Owen’s, really?” she frowned. “I hope he didn’t take
advantage
of me last night!” The hope in her voice was barely hidden by feigned disgust.

“Nope, you wet your pants.” Holly was so matter-of-fact that Meagan knew it was true. She looked at me for my reaction. I looked at Holly in shock.

“What? Oh my gosh!” She seemed mortified. It was about time; I thought this girl had no shame. She was quiet for a few moments of blessed silence. Then she asked, “When can you take me home?”

I couldn’t help but feel kind of sorry for her. Thinking of myself in her place embarrassed me. “Whenever you want.”

“Right now!” She got up and looked around, finding the dress she changed out of for the party hanging on my closet door. She threw it over her arm. “Where are my other clothes?”

“Granny threw them in the wash,” Holly said with a smile. I could tell that this was amusing her to no end.

“I’ll get them later. Take me home,” she demanded.

My sympathy was already running out. She acted as if we’d done something to her. “Sure, let me get Talon. We’ll drive you.”
The sooner the better.

She sighed, “Whatever.” It clearly embarrassed her to have Talon around. A part of me hoped that she would have trouble looking him in the eye from then on.

* * *

We got her home in a flash and returned in time for Mom to wake up. The pregnancy was causing her to sleep in longer than Talon and me on weekends, which was really nice—no more screaming up the hall.

“Where have you two been?” she asked as we walked in the front door. Luckily Talon’s bruises were long gone from the night before. The Water had worked its magic through the night.

“We took Meagan home. She stayed the night. Hope you don’t mind,” I said.

“No not at all. So how was the dance?” She smiled, waiting for all the details.

It was still awkward talking to Mom about me and Talon. “It was fun. We got our picture made, had a great time, great dinner.”

Hunter walked in the back door with Owen behind him, both looking healed but tired. In their case, I was sure it was Granny’s lecture that had worn them out. “Morning, Ms. Cate,” Hunter said. Holly walked out of the room to greet him.

“Where’s Meagan?” Owen asked.

“She wanted to go home, so we dropped her off. We just got back.” I could see relief in his eyes. He didn’t want to face her any more than she wanted to face him.

“Good,” he said. “You guys wanna go for a ride?” I knew we’d end up at the shack talking over the night’s events sooner or later.

“Sure. Lily, you wanna go?” Talon asked. Holly was already nodding yes.

“You bet. Sounds fun,” I said, for Mom’s benefit. What it really sounded like was awkward. But Mom had news of her own.

“Wait. Before you run off, Talon, your dad is coming in on Thursday. We’ll have to go get him at the airport and take him back on Sunday. We are getting our
marriage license
,” she sang.

“That’s great, Mom!” I gave her a hug. “I want to help plan the wedding! I have a few ideas.” Of course, she’d never know how I got them. The vision was still very clear in my mind.

Mom could barely contain her excitement, and even let out a little squeal. “I’d like that!” Her grin spread from ear to ear, but mine faded as I looked to Holly, who still wore last night’s confusing glare.

WITH THE
AIR TURNING COOLER
, we decided to situate ourselves on the porch of the little shack and enjoy the breeze. It was nothing compared to the Gulf winds that used to blow into my bedroom window at the beach, but after suffering a long, hot summer in the damp woods, I’d take it. The wind wasn’t the only chill I was feeling as I looked around and saw that all eyes were on me. I wasn’t sure where to start, but Holly’s lack of patience helped.

“Okay Lily, you promised last night you’d tell me everything. So what’s going on? How can you control the Light like that and hold it in your hand? How come you were glowing and how come you were able to throw that guy across the road like that?” With her chin in the air, she demanded answers. Even though her anxious voice broke, she was determined. Hunter pulled her closer to him. “And you, you knew all along, didn’t you?” She swatted his arm as her expression hardened.

“Not exactly,” he defended. “I’ve never seen Lily do everything she did last night.” Awe transformed in his face. “You were glowing, Lily! Glowing!” His eyes were wide with amazement.

“I drank the Waters,” I said.

Owen glared at me, his eyes wide with shock. “What? You hypocrite,” he spat. “You told me not to and then you do it?”

“I had to. I was being attacked! Holly too! Finding your stash was the only thing that kept me strong enough to stay safe! He was going to—” I couldn’t finish the sentence. My brows drew together as the thought sickened and embarrassed me.

“I heard him, Lily,” Holly said, keeping my secret safe. “He would have
hurt
her, Owen. Real bad.”

“Who was it? Would you recognize him if you saw him again?” Talon gripped my hand and his eyes bore into me. He wanted revenge. I wanted it too, but it was better to let things settle down.

I nodded. “Definitely.” I hoped I never saw him again. I glanced back to Hunter, who was taking advantage of the perfect time to scold his brother.

“It seems she had a better reason than trying to win a football game,” said Hunter.

Owen glared at him. “Why don’t you tell everyone my business?”

Holly shook her head and stared at her shoes. “Well, I don’t understand a thing.”

“I’ll explain it all later.” Hunter kissed her cheek. “It’s a long story.”

“No, I want to know now! If I’m staying here, I need to know right now what I’m getting into.” Her face contorted.

I took a deep breath. “As I started to explain last night, I have a gift. I’ve always been able to see Shadows. When we first moved here I found out that the Light gave me visions, which was my great-great aunt trying to reach out to me. I helped her find her boyfriend from 1912—he was still living out here on this road, looking for her. But I was the only one who could bring them together because I’m a Light Keeper, too. So after I did that, Alyssa, my aunt, gave me her Light to strengthen mine, and then crossed over. Now I can use it to see the future or past, and apparently if I take the Waters, my powers increase even more, which I didn’t know until last night.” It all sounded very ridiculous.

“Okay.” She was trying hard to swallow it. “1912, huh?” I nodded.

“So all of that other crazy glowing and throwing the Light around like a weapon was from the Water?” Hunter asked in awe.

“Yeah,” I replied. “The Water seems to strengthen my abilities in the same way it made you all stronger. And apparently that night when Alyssa led us to it, she was trying to help me. I didn’t get my usual headache and I have perfect, immediate control, so I am certain the Water was for me all along.” The guys all nodded.

“So is that Owen’s big secret? The reason you sneaked out with him—to go to the well?” Talon shook his head and laughed.

“Yes, that’s what we were doing.” Owen’s jaw tensed. “I made her promise not to tell you. I’m surprised she never did.”

“You underestimate her,” Talon shrugged.

“I think after last night, we’ve all been underestimating her. She’s like a dang superhero.” Owen stared at me with awe just as the others did. But for him it was normal. He always looked at me like he had some burning question inside, like it was always on the tip of his tongue. “So, would you still be mad at me for taking the Waters?” he asked. “Does this mean I can play sports again?”

I watched his face change as I shook my head in disapproval. “It’s cheating, Owen. It’s not right, and not safe, especially now that I’m exposed. Those guys all know about my gift because of it. They’ll surely be onto you if they aren’t already, and then others will try to find out what’s going on with us. I’m not sure we’re entirely safe anymore.”

“Fine!” He thought for a moment. “Crap! I can’t even play baseball?” He let out a long groan. Baseball was his favorite sport.

“Yes! No sports! Not while you’re on the Waters.” I shook my head.

“I’m taking them, too,” Talon said. “I need to protect Lily.”

“Then we
all
will,” Hunter announced. “I can’t let anything happen to Holly, either.”

Holly laughed. “Well, if you all think Lily needs protecting, then you weren’t paying very close attention last night.”

I thought of our parents. If someone exposed me, it would ruin my family. I couldn’t stand to think of them in harm’s way because of me. “There’s a lot more than me to protect around here.”

“This is definitely why Alyssa led you to the well, Lily,” Owen said. “She wants you to take it and be stronger, to grow more powerful.” Talon and Hunter agreed. I couldn’t help but think if that was the case, and if the Water was some sort of miracle, then why did it have to be so nasty? I didn’t respond. I looked down and thought about the pros and cons, knowing that I didn’t really want to drink the gross miracle, which was another reminder that I was a total freak—normalcy was that much farther out of reach.

Talon chuckled. “I have a feeling school will be interesting on Monday,” he said, taking my mind away from my woe.

“Yeah, they are gonna be shocked when we show up without as much as a mark on us.” Hunter poked Talon’s arm. “I say we show up like nothing happened.”

“Maybe they’ll be so scared that they won’t say anything about it,” Holly added. “They were the ones who started it in the first place! Then to admit that Lily is the one who took them out, I bet they forget all about it.”

“Showing up healed is going to make things worse, not better. Sure we’ll get one over on them, but they’re going to wonder how. You can bet French isn’t going to forget.” I put my head down. “And you are all forgetting that I can’t use the Light just anywhere. It‘s bad enough all those guys saw me with it. I don’t want anyone else to know.”

“It will be okay, Lily. You’ll still be strong from taking the Waters. You don’t need the Light to protect yourself,” Talon reminded.

“How much did you drink last night, anyway?” Holly asked.

I hated reliving that horrible time in my head, but I tried to remember. “I don’t know, about half of the bottle, I guess. I was nervous.”

Owens eyes brightened. “It’s insane that you didn’t even have an issue with coordination. I mean, it took me a while to get it right. I even ripped the doorknob off the bathroom door before I got the hang of it.”

“Hey, I had to fix that!” Hunter frowned.

Owen waved him off and continued. “You had amazing power, Lily. More than any one of us, and you wielded it like it was the most natural thing in the world.”

Talon had been quiet, as if contemplating the situation. “Yeah, it’s strange, but she’s not exactly your average girl,” he said. “I’m second guessing. Do you really think you should take the Waters all the time?” The worry set in his brow. “I mean, if the Light accidentally appears, that’s one thing, but if it does and you stand there glowing, that will be a little strange—especially if our parents see it. The more I think about it, we really need to think this through.”

“Well, that shouldn’t happen. I have complete control over the Light and the visions while on the Water. Like you said, I’ll be stronger. It’s so much more controlled, I can even hear clear sound.” Everyone but Holly understood what I meant, and I watched as they reacted.

“No way!” Owen stared into space, imagining the possibilities. He understood that the sound quality of my visions was poor, as if I had cotton stuffed deep into my ears. I was surely going to be getting more requests from him now that he learned it was better.

“We’ll have to set limits,” Talon suggested. “I mean, like a scheduled dosage. Just like with medicine. Mr. Hill even did that. And we really should find out what we’re taking.”

“I tried to get a test kit, but that dang internet site never shipped my order,” Hunter shrugged.

Talon sat up straight. “Well, try again and find a different company. We’ll look it up later.”

“Holly, you can take the Waters, too, if you want,” I offered.

“What will it do to me?” she asked. Her lip curled and her nose wrinkled. “I don’t know if I want to glow in the dark.”

“You already do, Casper.” Owen teased her pale complexion quite often.

“Ha-ha,” she sneered at him. “Don’t make me tell.” On that note, the two exchanged a look, but I wasn’t about to question it. For whatever reason, those two would never like each other.

I decided to keep on point. “You won’t glow, that’s only me. I’m different for some reason, because of the Light. You’ll just get stronger and healthier. Oh, and you’ll live forever.”

She pulled in a sharp breath as she clutched her collar. “I’ll be immortal?”

Hunter shook his head and clarified, before she could get too excited. “No, not really. You can still
die
, but you’ll live a long time unless you get in an accident of some kind. We’ll still grow old together, but we’ll look good for our ages.”

“You have to swear on your
life
never to tell anyone about this—any of it, especially about the Light,” Owen stressed.

“Yeah, the mystery of the Light must remain. Let the legends live,” I added.

“So we all make a pact, then?” she asked, nodding.

“Yes.” I paused, giving her a warm smile. “
We
already have.”

“I’m in,” she said. Hunter pulled her close, planting a kiss to her forehead. “But I still have lots of questions.”

I sighed. “So do we.”

* * *

Later that evening, Owen came over to see me unexpectedly. Holly and I had already dressed for bed, but it wasn’t even eight-thirty. Hunter and Talon were looking up test kits on the internet in his room. He walked to my door and knocked on the frame. “Can I come in?” He was nervous, looking for me to turn him away.

“Sure, if you don’t mind
putting up
with me for a few minutes.”

“I deserve that.” He put his head down, then looked up to Holly.

“I’ll give you two a little time alone.” She gave me a strange look and walked over to Talon’s room.

“I’m sorry, Lily.” He walked in and took a seat on the bed next to me. “I’m sorry I was so mean to you about Meagan. It’s over between us.” He waited for me to speak, but I didn’t. “I knew she’d kissed Talon all along. I didn’t want to believe it. He has everything, and she wanted him, too.” I knew what he meant when he said everything. He meant me.

“What did you mean by
put up
with me?” I asked. Those were the words that hurt the most. I didn’t want him to feel like he didn’t want me around, or that he was sick of me. I wanted us to be friends. As strange as it seemed, he’d become one of my best ones.

“I didn’t mean that. Not
that
way. I meant—” He hesitated. “Don’t make me answer that one, okay?”

“Fine, you can leave now.” I closed my eyes as the lump closed my throat. The least he could give me was an explanation.

“Don’t cry, Lily. You know I can’t stand it if you cry.” I was hurt, but I had to admit that it was kind of fun to watch him squirm. “Okay, fine.” He threw his hands up in defeat. “I meant that I was sick of, liking you, and well... not being able to, you know,
like
you.” He put his head down. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to be with someone without comparing them to you.”

My jaw went slack. “And I compare to Meagan how?” I was insulted and kind of scared for him to answer that one.

“You don’t, she isn’t like you at all. That‘s why I chose her. That, and she was an easy choice. I thought it would make me want something different.” He couldn’t even look at me, and I thought it must feel awkward for him. I wished we had met when we were little and been close growing up; then this wouldn’t be hard on him. Meeting the way we did was the problem. “Don’t be mad at me, okay?”

“I’m not. I can’t stay mad at my favorite cousin.” I punched at his arm.

“So, you wanna go out for a refill?” His brows waggled, encouraging me. “I could use one.” He held up his water bottle and shook it. “Someone drank all my stash.”

“Hey, it wasn’t full when I found it. Besides, we don’t have to sneak around anymore. We can go tomorrow,” I reminded.

“Go where?” Talon was outside my door. He glared at us accusingly, as if we were plotting a secret.

“Owen wanted to go to the well. That’s all.” I pulled my hair up off my shoulders, twisted it, and let it fall again.

“Lily doesn’t need to be out at night.” Talon shook his head and seemed to be holding his tongue.

“Give me a break! Lily can go anywhere, anytime she wants with
whoever
she wants. She doesn’t need your
permission
.” Owen always jumped toward being defensive, and Talon did the same. I couldn’t stand the two constantly arguing and posturing.

“Okay, stop it! Stop right now! You two are gonna
have
to get along or I’ll take the Light to both of you!” They seemed to think that was funny and nearly smiled at each other. “For one, I
can
and
will
do what I want, when
I want. And two, Owen, I’m with Talon. You’ll just have to put up
with it. Now, shake hands and make peace!” They both looked at me like I’d flipped my lid. “
For me
,” I added, knowing neither could refuse me when I wanted something.