Page 23 of The Divines

Our little group started up our embarrassing jog again, trying to speak over our harsh breaths.

“I swear, they’re going to kill us. How about that? Why let the Hunters kill us off when we can do it to ourselves.” Kalani grumbled and we all nodded in agreement. Before this training I would have said I was in decent shape, but clearly, I was wrong. Or the Guard was filled with masochists who enjoyed watching us all suffer. Honestly, it was up in the air if it was the former or the latter.

“I actually might fall down and never get back up.” I huffed out and my little group chuckled. I might have been serious though.

Eli nudged my shoulder and even though he was struggling as much as the rest of us, his eyes still had that twinkle that only he had. “Don’t you worry Hals, I’ll carry you. Even if I have to do it the rest of our lives.” He followed up his statement with a wink and I couldn’t help the butterflies that swarmed my gut at the subtle gesture. The guilt mingled well with those damn butterflies. Here I was, getting a schoolgirl crush on one of my only friends after doing decidedly naughty things with Madden just yesterday. But I couldn’t help it. Eli had been a solid source of comradery since I got to Willow Grove and our friendship has only grown. But with friendship, other feelings have grown to. I’m woman enough to admit that Eli is a seriously attractive man. Add that to his happy go lucky personality and who wouldn’t have a crush on him? Plus, with the threat of the Hunters hanging over our heads, I found comfort in having him by my side. But would I ever tell him about how my feelings towards him were changing? That was up in the air. On one hand, we could literally die tomorrow, and who wanted to die with regrets? But on the other hand, was it fair to Eli to admit I had more than friendly feelings towards him, when I also had physical feelings towards Madden? I didn’t see them the same. Madden was too grumpy for me to enjoy his shining personality, but obviously I was attracted to him. And I enjoyed that he brought out the tough side of me. Eli on the other hand brought out the vulnerable side of me, the one that had been hidden for too many years. As we finished our last lap, I couldn’t help but feel exhausted physically and mentally. These were not the thoughts I needed running through my head right now, but there they were regardless.

Finally, the four of us finished our laps, and we chugged some water while the rest of the students finished. As I looked around at all the struggling students, I couldn’t help but notice the three that were missing. We were told that training was required for all students, but it seemed Wilder, Madden, and Knox didn’t get the memo. Realistically I knew that Knox was probably occupied with whatever Zachariah always had him doing and Wilder was probably working on something else with Gunther, and Madden probably just got out of it with a sneer, but it seemed entirely unfair to me. Why did we have to struggle, and they didn’t?

Kalani clearly agreed, speaking normally now that she had caught her breath. “Is there a reason three certain assholes aren’t here withering away with the rest of us? I didn’t realize special treatment was being handed out.”

Eli immediately spoke up, always the first to defend his childhood best friend. Another quality I admired about him. “Knox is speaking with Zachariah and some of the Council members about when they think the Hunters will next attack and where. He’ll be at the next training session.”

Kalani wasn’t letting it drop that easily though. “Totally understandable, but he couldn’t do it any other time? Are Seers only capable of visions during working hours now?” The sarcastic edge to her tone was impossible to ignore and Maeve and I both chuckled, while Eli simply nodded along in agreement, forever the pacifist.

“Maybe that’s the case. But it’s also beside the point. Knox will be around for the next training, not that he’ll even be fighting.” Eli seemed sure in that fact, but I was confused. Wasn’t the whole point of this misery that every student was expected to fight against the Hunters? We didn’t have enough trained Guard members, so us lucky students were being given the order, or chance as we were told, to fight.

Maeve and Kalani moved to the side, whispering to each other, so I nudged Eli’s shoulder and asked.

“Why would Knox not fight? Isn’t the whole point of this that we’re all fighting?” Although I thought it was an innocent question, Eli looked around at all the other students and Guard, and then grabbed my hand, gently pulling me away from the crowd and into a secluded area, shaded by East Territory and a smattering of trees.

“Is it supposed to be some sort of secret? Should you not be telling me this?” I asked when we were clear of wandering ears. I didn’t want Eli to get in trouble for spilling a secret to Kalani, Maeve, and me, but on the other hand I wanted to know.

Eli sighed and I took the moment to really look at him. Although his features were generally boyish, right now, the weariness of the situation was toughening his face. There were dark bags underneath his usually bright eyes and creases lined his forehead. For the first time I realized how exhausted and stressed Eli looked and I felt bad for not noticing it sooner. I grabbed both of his hands in mine and squeezed, trying to convey I was here for him, like he was always there for me. Eli seemed surprised by my gesture, but didn’t pull his hands away, instead squeezing them tighter and bringing them close to his chest. With another large sigh, he began speaking.

“Technically, it is a secret. But since it also kind of affects me, I was informed. I don’t know if anyone’s told you, but Knox is special for a Seer. He not only can see the future like all other Seers, but also the past. This makes him incredibly special to the Council and his seat has been saved since his powers manifested. They cannot risk losing his powers when no one else has them, so they can’t let him fight in this war. Now that’s not to say he won’t be helping. Because they for sure will be using his abilities to track when and where the Hunters will attack and get as much information from him as possible, but they won’t let him see combat. It’s too risky.”

I nodded along because realistically it did make sense. Knox was special and special people were generally protected. I didn’t understand why it was a secret though and what it had to do with Eli, but thankfully he continued.

“The reason no one is supposed to know is because the Council is portraying this fight as an all-in effort. Fight together, die together mentality you know. But if people knew that specific Divines were getting out of the war? That would not go over well, and we need all the people we can to fight.”

Eli looked down at me as he finished his sentence and I realized sometime during his explanation my body had moved closer instinctively and now our clasped hands were pressed between our chests. The position was intimate, but I didn’t feel the need to move. With Eli’s warm body and soothing voice, I felt comforted and right now I would take all the comfort I could get.

Looking into his cool blue eyes, I whispered, trying to not break the atmosphere we had created. “What does all this have to do with you?”

Eli’s eyes closed and he pressed his forehead against mine. “Don’t you know Halley, I’m special too.” I could hear the smile in his voice, but it was tinted with sadness, and I knew for once, Eli wasn’t excited about all that he could do. “I’m beneficial in a fight but I’m beneficial to the Council too. You know firsthand that I can inflict emotions on someone that they aren’t already feeling, which has never been seen in an Ethos before. Obviously, with you and Kalani I only ever give happy emotions, but I can do more than that. And that’s what they want me to do to the Hunters. Behind a shield of Guard members who have sworn to die to protect my life.” I felt Eli’s hands tighten around me and as though he couldn’t contain his power any longer, I felt the pressure in my chest that must have been what he was feeling. The emotions didn’t affect me thanks to my shield, but I could feel tendrils of doubt, fear, and anger swirl around my chest as Eli continued to breathe heavily, the whisps of air hitting my face as he fought to calm himself down. “I’m not a cruel person Halley, I never have been. I feel too many other’s emotions to ever want to inflict pain, we feel enough pain on our own. And yet, what other use am I besides inflicting pain on our enemies? And to have men and women risk their lives just for me? What kind of bullshit is that? I’m nothing special, my power is.”

Shaking my head, I couldn’t disagree more. Removing my hands from Eli’s, I grasped his face between my palms and applied pressure, silently asking him to look at me. And as his eyes caught onto mine, I let my guard down, allowing him to feel all my emotions.

“Youarespecial Eli. And not just because of your power. You’re special because of your kindness and your heart. You do realize that most people, with your power, would manipulate and abuse it? They would do whatever they wanted because they could. But you, you are terrified of using your power for pain andthatis what makes you special. Not some power you didn’t ask to have.”

Eli’s eyes darkened at my words, and I could feel his power pulsing around us as I felt not only the truth in my words, but the fire of Eli’s emotions as he listened.

Pushing even closer so our bodies were touching top to bottom, I whispered assuredly, knowing Eli could feel my truth. “You may hate that others will die to protect you. But there is no sacrifice in this world too large in my eyes. Becauseyou are special Eli-”

My words were cut off as Eli pressed his lips against mine, hard. I immediately opened my mouth, welcoming him in, our tongues tangling in an addicting rhythm. My hands still cupped Eli’s face, but I trailed one down to his chest, allowing myself to enjoy the strong feel beneath my fingers. As I caressed his chest, I felt Eli’s hands wander down my back, rubbing up and down, stopping inches from my ass, but never quite going farther. Although frustrating, I respected the boundary, and the fact Eli didn’t just take more. It fit with the rest of his personality. Slowly, our heated kiss slowed, our mouths moving in a languid manor, exploring with curiosity instead of pure heat. I had never been kissed like this before and I was thoroughly enjoying it. Instead of being consumed by another, Eli and I moved in tandem. As our kisses slowed even more, Eli broke the connection, resting his forehead against mine once more.

“I hate pain more than anyone else in this world because I have felt too much of it since I’ve accessed my power. But there’s no one’s pain I hate feeling more than yours. And if it means I can protect you from ever feeling pain again,” Eli took a deep breath before staring directly into my eyes, his gaze burning me from the inside out, “I’ll inflict the worst on anyone who dares to hurt you.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Knox

The meeting with the Council took longer than I anticipated and unlike usual, I dreaded every minute of it. On every other occasion the Council called me in, I could barely contain my excitement about being able to help. But with everything going on I couldn’t muster up even an ounce of the usual pride I felt. Especially with the news I was delivered. While all my fellow classmates were fighting against Hunters that could easily kill them with a single bullet, I was being guarded on the sidelines. I had always revered my powers and known I was special, but I hated the idea of being protected while others died. I was strong and when I tapped into my powers, I could see a person’s next move which would make me beneficial on a battlefield. Unfortunately, the Council made it clear that I was to not be at risk during the attack. Instead, I would be sitting in a comfy suite with the rest of the important members of society, relaying messages to those in charge on the battlefield about when and where the Hunters would attack. I still couldn’t get a close look at when the Hunters would attack but the sooner it approached, the clearer the picture got. Hence the meeting with the Council today. Since the Hunters invasion of the communities, I had been doing sessions in the morning with Zachariah where I focus onseeingthe Hunters next move andseeinginto Halley’s past. During today’s session with Zachariah, I was finally able to see the Hunters gathering troops and intel on our communities. The vision wasn’t clear, but I was able to inform the Council of an average number of Hunters and that we still had several weeks before an attack. Thankfully I saw something about the Hunters because there was still zilch to see about Halley’s past. Although I had started joining their little group for lunch and some evening training, I still hadn’t really gotten to know Halley. It didn’t help that she had a wall up thicker than concrete and whenever we practiced individually, she was all business, ignoring every attempt at conversation. But Councilman Jay made it clear during today’s meeting that it was of equal importance for me to find out what Halley knew about her past before coming to Willow Grove as it was for me to find out when and where the Hunters would attack. Which is exactly how I ended up knocking on Halley’s dorm door.

On my way back to campus I had done a quick check-in with Eli andseenthat he was taking the night off to recuperate his own emotions instead of spending time with Halley. Kalani was also taking the night off from hanging out with her friend to be with Maeve instead. So, I figured this was my chance to spend one-on-one time with Halley and hopefully get some real answers out of her.

Standing with my hands in my pockets, Halley opened the door swiftly, looking disheveled and out of breath, as if she had been working out. Or doing other rigorous activities. Thinking my visions may have misguided me, I checked in with Eli again, I knew he was hoping to take things further romantically with Halley, but I still only saw him meditating in his dorm room. And to my knowledge there were no other guys in Halley’s life, so I was going with my first assumption of working out.

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