Page 1 of Shattered Illusion

Goosebumps peppermy skin as a cold winter breeze whips through the open expanse before me, rustling the bare branches of the trees surrounding the purple waters of Neptune Lagoon. I huddle deeper into the warmth of the jacket cocooning my body, my legs taking the brunt of the chill since I’m stuck wearing a stupid bikini.

Whatever supernatural decided that we had to do this stupid shit the day a human turned twenty-one should jump their almost nude ass into the lagoon and see how they like the frigid temperatures, then they could rot in hell.

Assholes. The lot of them.

One thing I am thankful for is that in the sector in which my parents and I live, I’m the only one with a twenty-first birthday today. I’m unsure if there are any birthdays in the other human sectors, but at least no one will be here to boo me for being human while I happily scream my mortality to the treetops.

Fifty years ago, the supernaturals decided it was time for the world to know they existed, and it literally happened overnight.One day, they weren’t there; the next, they were everywhere. They had walked amongst the humans for thousands of years, and the mortals were none the wiser. The only problem? They outnumbered humans by at least ten to one. Then, the supernatural council pulled some type of ‘we’re better than you’ bullshit against our government, and human sectors were born. All humans were then moved into these sectors while supernaturals took over everything else. It didn’t matter how much money you had; if you were human, you were put in a sector.

Then the Gods—no one knew they were around—decided to show their asses and create the special lagoons that reveal supernatural powers. Literally, anyone could be supernatural, and this was their way to bring those powers to the surface. Once the lagoons were erected, all humans over the age of twenty-one had to take a dip just to confirm that they were, in fact, human.

This shitty tradition, as they call it, has been done on everyone’s twenty-first birthday as some crappy right of passage. If the lagoon uncovers latent supernatural power, you get sent to an academy to learn how to be, well, a supernatural, and those who don’t have any continue with their everyday lives. Once they graduate from the academy, they are sent on their way with jobs and all the knowledge they need.

Now if only they did the same shit for us humans. We have to find jobs and scrape for everything we need. It’s obvious who got the shit end of the deal.

A particularly brutal wind slams through the open surroundings, and I grit my teeth as a shiver shoots down my spine. Mom and Dad press in closer to me, trying to share the warmth of their fully decked-out winter gear. They didn’t have to come with me to the awakening—yeah, stupid name, I know—but being their only daughter, they didn’t want me to have to dothis alone. For that, I am immensely grateful, especially for their body heat.

“Bailey Matthews?”

I jump, dislodging myself from between my parents, as the deep, gravelly voice washes over me.Where the hell did he come from?I wonder if anyone has suggested putting a damn bell on these supernatural assholes so they can’t sneak up on you.

“Yeah, that’s me,” I mutter, wrinkling my nose as I shimmy back in between my parents. I mean, it should be obvious, right? I’m the only one out here freezing my damn nipples off. And just because I donotwant to be here, I refuse even to turn around and look at whoever said my name. Bitchy of me? Yes. Do I care? Not in the slightest.

After all, this is nothing but a stupid formality, and I’ll be back home, tucked in my blankets, in less than an hour.

The owner of the voice finally steps around my dad’s side and stops right in front of me. My breath wooshes out of me, and I have to fight not to let my jaw drop to the frozen grass at my feet. I mean, I knew supernaturals had otherworldly beauty, but this is just ridonkulous.

Standing tall at six-foot-five, the beefcake in front of me has black-as-night hair, buzzed to the skin on the sides and longer on top, and my fingers involuntarily twitch with the need to run through it. Just one look into his piercing navy blue eyes, and I feel as if he can see deep into my soul. Chiseled cheekbones and a square jaw frame pouty pink lips. The skin-tight black, short-sleeved, v-neck shirt is molded to every dip and valley on his chest and abs, and his tight, dark blue jeans almost look like they were painted onto his tree-trunk thighs. I don’t doubt they hug what I can only imagine is a tight ass.

My eyes shoot back up to his, and from the smirk on his face, he totally caught me checking him out like a prime piece of meat at a market. I scowl at him, fighting off the desire that was therejust moments ago, reminding myself that he’s a supernatural, and regardless of how hot he is, he still embodies everything I hate. My distaste for him must be shining through clearly as that smirk stutters and then is completely wiped off his face.

“I don’t have all day. Let’s get on with this, shall we?” he grouses darkly as he steps back, giving me space to come forward.

My dad, Theo, turns me in his arms, wrapping around me tightly. “Just a quick dip, Bails, then we can go home. It wasn’t so bad when I had to do it. In and out.” I breathe in his familiar, comforting scent of freshly cut grass and nod my head on his shoulder.

I can do this. In and out, just like he said. This isn’t going to change anything, and life will be back to normal.

Turning, I pull Mom in for a quick hug, then shed my jacket, handing it to her so I can snag it quickly back after getting out. My nerves are a jumbled mess, but I don’t understand why. I know this is standard practice, and nothing will come of it. But part of me feels like this is so much more.

My feet carry forward, and I quickly adjust the black bikini, making sure all my bits are covered. Still, I don’t miss the flare of heat in the supernatural’s eyes as he catches me doing it. With another scowl, I keep putting one foot in front of the other until I stand on the bank of the lagoon.

I toss a quick glance over my shoulder, but the worry on my parents’ faces stops me from continuing. The moment they see me looking, they try to mask their fear, but I know what I saw, which worries me even more. My eyes shift to the guy here for my test, and he is watching me intently as if he knows what’s going to happen and is just waiting for it. None of it makes me feel any better, but there is a good chance it’s just my own trepidation making me see things that aren’t even there.

Returning my gaze to the lagoon, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When they reopen, a sense of determination washes over me, and I take my first step into the jewel-like waters. My body trembles, but it’s not from the cold. It’s from the warmth that encased my foot. This is nothing like what I thought it would be. I expected below-freezing temperatures since it’s so damn chilly outside, but somehow, the lagoon is heated like a jacuzzi, even though no steam is rolling off it.

From what Mom and Dad told me that they remember, I only have to go out to the middle, wait at least a minute, and then I’m done. Now that I know I won’t lose my nipples to frostbite, I wade further into the man-made—or should I say God-made—waters. My steps are careful, for I know there will be a drop-off at some point, but when I make it to the middle, shock ripples through me that the depth of the lagoon is so short. I know people vary in height, but I fully expected to have to swim to reach my destination.

A smile stretches across my face as I spin around and put my hands on my hips. Triumph blares through my veins, and I hold my head high, knowing nothing will happen. You would think if it were, I would have already started feeling it.

Sixty, fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven, fifty-six, fifty-five, fifty-four, fifty-three, fifty-two, fifty-one.

I know I don’t need to keep a countdown in my head, but I want to get out of here the second I can. Maybe we can pick up my favorite pineapple and ham pizza on the way home.

Fifty, forty-nine, forty-eight, forty-seven, forty-six, forty-five, forty-four, forty-three, forty-two, forty-one.

My toes curl into the soft sands beneath the waters, and I shimmy a bit, feeling it shift between my small appendages. I giggle at the absurdity of dancing around while waiting for something to happen. I’m sure I look like a lunatic out here laughing, but I can’t seem to help it.

Forty, thirty-nine, thirty-eight, thirty-seven, thirty-six, thirty-five, thirty-four, thirty-three, thirty-two, thirty-one.

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