Page 12 of Supernova

She was stronger than me though. She’d be able to handle it, while making sure mum and aunt Xari got an earful. I hoped she’d forgive me for leaving, hoped she’d understand why I had to.

I dozed off in my thoughts, dreaming of a beautiful pine forest drenched in golden sunshine that illuminated the leaves. I dreamt of running through the trees on a majestic wolf’s back, my fingers gripping his fur as the wind kissed my cheeks. We ducked through branches and leaped over rocks until we neared an untouched clearing full of swaying wildflowers. As I watched the sun glisten gold, I failed to notice my wolf coming to an abrupt stop, sending me flying forward and tumbling into the field. Before I knew it, the amber coloured eyes prowled towards me and his expression changed to that of a predator; teeth bared, gaze locked. He was unrecognisable. And in that moment, terror spread through my heart. I crawled backwards and the wolf advanced. A deep, feral growl sounded from deep in his chest. And then he pounced.

I physically jumped as the wolf made contact, causing the other passengers on the train to look at me in confusion. I prayed I didn’t scream out loud, but by the looks I was getting, it was clear I definitely wasn’t silent.

“Sorry.” I nodded to a nearby mother with a baby. She ignored me and looked away like she might catch something just by looking at me.

Got to love New Yorkers.

I clutched my bag tighter to my chest. My heart was still racing as I watched the landscape change through the window. The last of the trees and nature disappearing. From green to grey.

Hello New York City and my new life.

I just hoped I’d find what I was looking for in the city. Hoped the grey would somehow signify something good and not bring anymore misery. My heart just couldn’t take it.

The wolf that I’d loved was no longer my safe place. Everything I knew was a lie. And I’d have to make a new reality for myself. Or at least completely reshape the one I thought I knew.

CHAPTER 9

Stepping out of the subway, my eyes needed a moment to adjust to the sunlight after the encasing, claustrophobic darkness of the last few trains. And frankly, so did I.

The journey had been a headache to say the least. A blurred, rushed array of buses and trains and way too many changeovers. But I made it. And hopefully I wouldn’t leave again for a while. Which is what I told myself multiple times along the four and a half hour journey. Nevertheless, this was why we never came to the city.

I threw my duffle bag back over my shoulder—so grateful that I packed extremely light—and began walking. It was less than a ten minute walk to the compound based on mum’s directions but after the journey I had, I thought the least I deserved was a quick detour to see the Manhattan Bridge.

I tried to take it all in; the sounds, the bustle of the city. It was so different to the quiet of Saint Claire. And this was just Brooklyn.

When I got to the bridge, I welcomed the slight fresh air and wind that the river brought, the bridge ahead a beacon to the future that lay waiting for me. I’d be leaving everything behind.

I already felt like I’d left everything behind.

???

I neared the corner building that my maps showed to be the academy. The street was quieter than the others I’d passed and the building was large and looming. The first few floors were a traditional red brick but the top levels were a modern grey, like they had been added on later. I rounded the corner looking for the entrance only to find a large, dark steel archway that led to what seemed like some sort of courtyard for the block of buildings.

Guess I’d have to walk through there.

As I walked up to the metal door at the back of the loft-style Dumbo warehouse, I heard a guy's voice call down from above me and I almost shat myself.

“You lost?” He jumped down from the fire escape and landed in front of me. I was caught off guard, taking a moment to look at the stranger. He was dressed almost entirely in black, sporting black pants, combat boots and a dark grey denim jacket thrown over a faded black hoodie. He was stunning in a rough, punk, 'I’m better than the world' sort of way, like he knew he was attractive and used it to his advantage—A LOT. He was lightly tanned with a golden olive hue and under his hoodie I could just make out that his hair was a cool dark brown, almost black. He seemed no more than a few years older than me. Based on his attire, I could only assume he was part of the Gray Knights, which took the edge off the situation I had found myself in. That meant I was in the right place.

Usually my anxiety would get the better of me when I was in an unknown, potentially dangerous location. Not to mention when there was a guy that looked this good staring at me. But not today. Today I was on a mission and I needed to get in there. No time for fear—or butterflies. No distractions.

He was silent this whole time. His curious expression hinted that he was still waiting for me to reply. He smirked as though he was pleased at how my eyes trailed over his body. That instantly pulled me out of my thoughts and back to his question. I was basically dressed the same as him, ready for combat or training or whatever they called it. The audacity to assume I was lost. Smug prick. I was sick of people underestimating me.

Now I noticed he was taking me in. Shit, I’d been silent for a while, he probably thought I was crazy. Either that, or scared of him, and I didn’t want him to pick up on that. Something told me the fucker enjoyed being intimidatingly gorgeous a little too much. “I’m looking for Thea,” I finally spat out, giving him my best bored tone, hoping he’d leave me alone.

“Thea?” He looked me up and down again, his gaze falling to my black army boots and slowly sweeping up over my dark skinny jeans, black leather jacket and cropped grey long sleeve top, until it reached my hair, pulled into a high pony. “Interesting.” It didn’t escape me that as he was checking me out his eyes lingered on my hips, chest and finally my lips. Now it was my turn to smirk at him. I crossed my arms and leaned on my hip, frustratedly waiting for him to continue.

I’m sure he was wondering how the hell I had known who Thea was. Mum told me she was the one in command here and was tough as nails. “Thea’s inside. But she doesn’t take well to strangers,” he continued, his tone abrupt and matter of fact. His voice was raspy, dangerous but alluring with an assured drawl that I could tell drew people in—made them curious.

“Well, we’ll get along just fine then. I also don’t take well to strangers.” A lie, but I tried not to let him see it on my face as I attempted to walk around him. In truth I was quite good with strangers, usually nervous but polite. But in this case, I was shitting myself a little and trying to mask my anxious energy with bitterness, like I often did. The determination and confidence I felt earlier was shattered after this conversation with the unexpected and extremely attractive roadblock in my path.

He stepped in front of me. “Now, now. No need to get your panties in a twist, Princess. All I’m saying is that you’ll do better with her if you have me on your side. She has a soft spot for me … kind of”. He trailed off, mumbling the last part so I almost didn’t hear it. I sighed—defeated, tired and wanting to get this over with.

“Lead the way then.“

“If you insist, Princess,” he replied, clearly amused as he turned around and opened the big steel door behind him with a self-satisfied smirk. I made a mental note that I hated that he called me ‘Princess’ and I would hold it against him—even if he provided me an in with Thea. The way he said it oozed condescension.

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