Page 36 of Gift from the Tree

“That isn’t true, Willow. You refused to tell me this morning what caused your powers to come out in the nonmagical realm, and you completely just left out what you learned today when you unlocked a piece of your memory and broke the restraint on your air element when you worked with the Memoria stone.” He looks me right in my eyes, completely void of emotion. Just a blank stare that says I’m reporting facts, fuck your feelings.

My head whips around to Draken at the speed of light. “You told him about that?”

“I tell them everything. I didn’t realize you wouldn’t have wanted me to,” he says, eyes wide, really surprised I’m pissed off.

“No, I wouldn’t have wanted you to. You were only informed of that because you spent the day at Gaster’s with me. It’s my personal business to tell when I’m ready, not business for you to just spread around.” I stand, shoving my chair back, preparing to walk out the door, but Caspian gets there first, blocking my way.

“Don’t speak to my brothers that way. You’re only here because they’re allowing you to be here. I don’t want you here, so show them the fucking respect they deserve.” His dangerous tone makes my heart thunder, the unspoken threat clear. If I wasn’t so fucking mad right now, I’d probably piss myself.

“Or else what? Huh?” I whisper low, my voice trembling from the anger and fear warring inside of me, but I refuse to back down. “You’ll make me? Force me, beat me, rape it out of me? Is that what you’ll do, Caspian?” I take a step closer to him, lowering my voice another notch. “If so, good luck. You wouldn’t be the first man to do it, and I’m sure you won’t be the last to try. But I promise you, you’ll have to kill me because I won’t go down again without a fight. Now fucking move.”

We hold each other’s gazes, locked in a battle of will of who’s going to give in first. It sure as fuck isn’t going to be me. I meant what I said. I’m done being a punching bag for men to use and abuse all they want. He’d have to kill me if he thinks he’s going to be able to force me to do anything, even show respect, especially when it isn’t being given.

I didn’t ask to be brought here. Am I grateful? Absolutely. Gaster pulled me out of my own personal hell, but I refuse to be moved from one prison to another with no say in how my life is going to go.

After a minute, I think we’ll end up going to blows seeing as we’re still staring each other down, anger pouring out of us, and neither of us giving an inch.

“Move,” a deep, smooth voice says from close behind me. Goose bumps break out all over my body and it takes considerable strength to continue holding Caspian’s eyes and repressing the shiver that wants to escape.

Staring over my head, Caspian must see something in the eyes that are behind me because he looks back down at me with pure hatred flowing off him in waves before he steps back and disappears through the shadows. Stepping forward to grab the door handle, I pause and briefly glance over my shoulder at Tillman. He’s still standing there, but whatever look he gave Caspian wasn’t the one I’m getting now.

He squints at me like he’s trying to see inside of my soul. And I can’t handle that right now, so I turn quickly, open the door, and power walk my ass right down the hall. I have no fucking clue where I’m going, stupid-ass fucking mansion.

Footsteps come behind me and I know who they belong to without even seeing him, so I stop in my tracks and whirl around. “No, Draken. Don’t follow me.”

“Please let me talk to you, Willow,” he begs with those sad eyes, but I’m not falling for that again. He’s obviously loyal to them, which I understand completely. They’ve known each other the majority of their lives and I’m new, but I can’t trust to tell him anything if all he’s going to do is run straight to them with everything. I don’t know any of them well enough to just give them secrets about myself that I’m just learning. Fuck, the three of them barely even speak to me. Why should I just put myself out there and them not return that?

“No. Not tonight, Draken. I can’t.” I turn and start heading down the hall again. He doesn’t follow, and I’m both thankful and sad at the same time. We had such a wonderful day today. I hate that it’s completely ruined.

After five minutes of taking turns, going up stairs, and getting turned around, I finally find a staff member and ask them to please show me where the room I’m supposed to be staying in is located.

I take the world’s fastest shower, put on pajamas, and crawl into bed. It’s only then I let the tears fall. Everything’s happening so fast, and I feel like I’ve had no time to allow my feelings out. I haven’t grieved the life I left behind, as silly as that may sound, but it’s the only life I’ve ever known and in a matter of minutes, I was swooped away and moved realms. Realms.

Moved to a realm where I’m clueless, ignorant, a burden to these men, fighting feelings I don’t understand, and still in danger. And apparently, wielding one of the strongest air elements seen in centuries.

I let the tears continue to flow down my face as I close my eyes. Grabbing my necklace, I grip it tightly in my hand, sing my lullaby, and let the heat of the stone seep into my body and lull me into a fitful sleep.

Six days.

It’s been six days of avoiding all of them.

The morning after that disastrous dinner, Gaster came to collect me for breakfast. He’d already heard what happened from Corentin and told me we’d be having breakfast at his cottage, so we could all have space from one another.

Over breakfast, I asked Gaster if I could stay with him in his cottage. I didn’t want to put him in a position that made him uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to be there. The reality of having nowhere to go was hitting me hard and made me feel even shittier than the night before did. He looked at me sadly, asked me not to get mad at him, then said he’d have to ask Corentin for permission.

It did make me mad. Not at him but at the fact that I shouldn’t need anyone’s permission on where I could stay, but he quickly explained Corentin filed me as a charge of the academy and as he’s headmaster, I’m technically his responsibility. Hence why I was staying in his home.

I’m twenty-six years old, for fuck’s sake. Why I needed anyone’s sign-off to go to a damn school was ridiculous to me, but according to Gaster, that’s just the way it works here. I still didn’t like it, but I also didn’t want to get Gaster in trouble by just refusing to leave his house.

To my surprise, Corentin told him that was fine. So for six days, I’ve been hiding at Gaster’s. And I do mean hiding. Draken came by twice every day, and I made Gaster send him away every time. I was so mad and confused about why it hurt so bad that Caspian treated me that way, and why it bothered me so much that Corentin, Draken, nor Tillman spoke up to stop him. It also confused me why I still wanted to be around them.

Gaster was also honest with me and told me he’d have to keep Corentin updated on how I was progressing, but if anything personal came up or if I explicitly asked him not to say anything, then he wouldn’t. I appreciated that more than he could ever know, but he must have sensed that when I started bawling my eyes out and thanked him for being so nice to me.

Poor Gaster. I’ve probably put him through the emotional wringer. My hormones have been chaotic since that night. I guess it’s my body’s way of adjusting to its new environment. I cry, then get mad, cry some more, then will laugh for no reason. It’s crazy. But today, I have to suck it all up. I have to have breakfast with Corentin, possibly the others as well, I’m not sure, but Corentin’s requiring us to meet before classes start tomorrow.

All I’ve done since coming to stay with Gaster is pour myself into books and practice my air element. I can command my air out, create air of my own when there’s none around to manipulate, and pretty much tell it to do whatever I want, for the most part. I don’t try anything if I’m alone.

Once Gaster explained not to ignore or try to fight the pull, just let it flow freely, it all felt incredibly natural after that. He said he’s never seen someone gain control as quickly as I have, but we both just assume it’s because I’ve had it for years, and it was just locked away. Plus, I’ve done nothing but eat, sleep, and study.

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