C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N

Caiden leaves my house at seven in the morning, an hour after I first woke up to find him in my room.

We are both exhausted -- me from worry, Caiden from actual sheer exhaustion. He didn't sleep an ounce last night.

As we stood there in Autumn's room, the image of Caiden's and Autumn's shared marked burned in our minds, I realized the gravity of his fatigue. Caiden had kept watch over both me and my sister into the morning, and I couldn't thank him enough.

And so I sent him home to take care of himself. Caiden needed rest. He needed a shower, to change out of his suit from the Annual, and he needed to eat. I couldn't offer him what he needed here, and his parents were most likely worried about him, so I told him to go.

Meanwhile, I'm holding down the fort. I already took a quick shower, abandoned my dress and tiara, and changed into more comfortable clothes. Now, I sit by Autumn's side, my thoughts churning as I watch the steady rise and fall of her chest.

A few times I think I see her still completely; I hallucinate that she takes her last breath and slips away into the dark. When that happens, I always jump to my feet, my head pressed to Autumn's chest. I wait until I hear her heartbeat, wait until I feel it resonate within both her and myself. And then I sigh in relief, because I can't lose Autumn. Not now. Not like this.

I think I've been sitting there for an hour when the bell rings.

At first, I don't notice. It has to ring twice before I snap out of my daze and three times until I get to my feet.

It can't be Mom -- she always uses her key -- and Caiden would have texted if he was planning to show up again.

When I reach the door, the ringing has stopped. The visitor has given up on the doorbell and now stands with their back to the house.

"Noah." Kade Kelley stands on my Welcome mat in a white sweatshirt and jeans.

"Kade. . ." My eyes sweep the street behind him. "What are you doing here?"

Kade stuffs his hands into his pocket. "I wanted to check on you. . . after what happened at the dance? I saw you run out, and Caiden said that you weren't feeling well."

It dawns on me then that Kade knows absolutely nothing about what happened last night. He knows nothing about my abilities, nothing about Autumn's coma, my breakdown, the marks. He's absolutely oblivious, and I have to keep it that way.

"Yeah. . ." I murmur, struggling to meet Kade's gaze. "That's why I went to the bathroom, and I thought it would be best if I just went home."

"Really?" He smiles cheerlessly. "You didn't dip because I kissed you?"

I shake my head. "Of course not."

He raises a brow. "I could have taken you home, Noah. You didn't need to go to Caiden."

"Okay," I say carefully, conceding. "I was a little surprised when you kissed me. It was. . . sudden."

"But hopefully not unwelcome?"

And at that, I smile. I really smile and stifle a laugh. "Kade --"

He's almost back in his element then, smirking gently. Yet, his eyes hold uncertainty. He steps forward, wary. Anxious.  "Come on, Noah. Say yes."

And though I know that this is the least of my problems -- though I know that I should let Kade down easy and go back to watch over Autumn -- this is the most at ease I've felt since the events of last night. Kade. . . Kade is different. He makes me feel different, and I don't want to let that go.

But I also don't want to dive too deep into what all of this means, what's going on between us. I know enough, though, to realize that I like Kade. I like him more than I should, more than I normally like other people.

So, I smile widely. "Yes." I say softly, as Kade takes my hand in his. "But I also shouldn't be here right now. . ."

Kade freezes, but I continue.

"As much as I would like to be with you, I can't. I'm. . . busy. I have to go."

He nods, faint understanding in his eyes. "Okay. That's okay. But. . . I'll text you? And I'll see you later?"

"Of course."

Mom comes home after a few hours. From upstairs, I don't hear her key jiggle in the lock, but the moment footsteps sound in the house, I know it's her.

"Mom." I find her in the hall. Her face and body are racked with fatigue; she's hopelessly tired after a night at the hospital, but I don't want her to find Autumn on her own.

I can't let her go without explaining.

"Jacklyn," she says softly. "How was the dance?"

"Mom. . ." I drift down the stairs to join her. "There's something you should know."

"Hm?" She hums, mildly curious. "Let me get settled first, baby."

I scan her face, but she's not looking at me. "It's about Autumn," I blurt.

And that seems to catch her attention. Mom's head snaps up at the emotion in my voice, and I sense the air around her change. "What about Autumn?"

I lead her up the stairs to my sister's bedroom. When I crack the door open, Mom moves to stand by her bedside.

"Why hasn't she changed?" She asks, directing the question at me from over her shoulder. "Jaidyn, get up. You should get out of this dress, honey."

Mom shakes Autumn gently, but she doesn't stir. Her body is dead weight, and when Mom slowly stills, I know she's realized that too.

"Mommy. . ." I whisper, tears springing to my eyes.

She turns to look at me. "What's wrong with her? Why won't she wake up?"

"I. . . I don't know. . . "

And then I explain everything to her -- well, mostly everything.

I tell her how Caiden is like me and Autumn, how I kept it a secret and learned from Caiden behind Autumn's back. I tell her how Autumn didn't like that, and how we argued. How we were still arguing when we went to the Annual separately.

That I heard Autumn scream when I was planning to go home, and how I ran to find her. I explain how I discovered her, but I don't tell Mom about what Autumn said before she passed out.

I tell my mom that Caiden brought us home, and that despite my efforts and pleas, Autumn hasn't moved since. I tell her that Autumn hasn't woken up since, and how I don't really know when she will.

If she will.

I leave out the details I can't explain, because I don't want Mom to worry. I leave them out for now, until I know what I'm dealing with myself. Until I have a solution.

"Wait." Caiden's eyes flare.

I reload, spurring the storm through my chest and into my arms and legs. I've discovered that if I anchor myself with the frost, channel it throughout my entire body, I can control it better. It's not much, but it's enough so I don't blow myself over, especially when the storm has a kick to it.

"Noah, stop." Caiden calls, but I don't listen.

I dash across the side of his open garden, hurtling blasts as I circle Caiden. He deflects each of them in turn, although it takes some effort.

"Noah!"

Caiden stands in the middle of the garden square, surrounded by shrubbery. Yet, his body is visible from the waist up and that's what I target.

I grit my teeth with the strength it takes to funnel more of the frost while still holding back the full blizzard. Jumping on one of the marble benches, I unleash the fury of the ice in one continuous attack.

Caiden's formed a wall of flames, however, and it shields him as we clash. For a moment, we're caught in a brutal stalemate, neither one of us yielding.

I know need more power. . . and I know have it.

So, I use it.

I succumb to the storm, the surge, and bask in the energy rushing through my body. I close my eyes as it overwhelms me, but when I hear Caiden cry out under the strain of holding his shield, they fly open.

I've bested him; the frost breaks through his defenses, finally reaching him. Yet, this also means that he's vulnerable, open to my attack.

As quick as I can, I fall back. I curl in on myself, face the sky, because I know the storm can't hurt me. Additionally, I hope the bulk of the frost flies up into the air, instead of at Caiden.

When I've reined myself back in -- when I've calmed and deactivated -- I leap to my feet. I'm breathing heavily as I run to where Caiden has fallen. He's clutching his arm, the flames in his eyes long ago extinguished.

"Caiden?" I breathe, dropping to my knees. "Caiden, are you okay?" I reach for him, but he flinches away, and I pull back just as fast.

"Noah," he says lowly, eyeing me. There's distrust and fear written on his face, mixed in with the pain in his eyes. "What was that?"

"I -" I'm stuttering, confused and hurt. I can't get the words out. "W-What do you mean? We were sparring."

"No," Caiden asserts as he sits up. "I was sparring. You. . . you were in a real battle. The look in your eyes, Noah. It was like you. . . you were trying to kill me."

I sit back on the grass, stunned. "No - No, I wasn't. I didn't - I didn't mean to. . . "

Caiden shakes his head. "Tell that to my arm."

Looking down, I watch as Caiden uncovers his wound. From his hand to halfway up his forearm, Caiden's skin has turned into a mix of a ghastly pale white and a deep red. There are darkened spots dotting his skin, and Caiden winces as he tries to move his fingers.

It's frostbite.

Immediately, I avert my eyes. I can't look at him. Just like Autumn, I've hurt Caiden. Just like Autumn, I've failed him.

"Noah," Caiden says then, his voice soft. "You asked for this practice, even when I thought you'd want to be with Autumn. You pushed yourself too hard in the energy transfers, and then. . . right now. . . what happened? What's wrong?"

"Mom's with Autumn," I answer instinctively, but Caiden remains quiet.

It takes a moment for me to meet his eyes. "I. . . I just thought I needed to take this seriously. I need to get stronger."

"For what?"

I smile bitterly. "What happened to Autumn didn't just happen. Someone did that to her."

I spent hours thinking about it. Obsessing. And I'm sure. I know it. I know.

"Okay," Caiden says carefully. "I agree. . . but it sounds like you know who this someone is. Who do you have in mind?"

My eyes bore into his. "Kaia."

Caiden pauses. "Kaia? River Wu's sister? I don't understand. . ."

I nod. "I know it's her, Caiden. I'm sure. She started hanging out with Autumn right when Autumn started acting weird. Autumn ditched her friends. She didn't even mention you anymore, and when I gave her the opportunity to be something to you -- when I told her I'd talk to you about her -- she didn't care."

"Noah --" Caiden starts, but I can see it in his eyes. He doesn't believe me. Not nearly enough.

"Don't! Don't try to talk me down. Don't try to tell me I'm wrong. Kaia always gave me a bad vibe, and now she's done something to Autumn!"

Caiden sighs. "Noah, you know I'm on your side. You know I care about you, which means that I care about Autumn too." He pauses, his eyes searching mine. "But doesn't that sound a bit off to you? Just because Kaia gives you a bad vibe. . . that isn't exactly concrete proof that she put Autumn in a coma.

We both know that this has something to do with our abilities. . . maybe we should find out if Kaia even knows our secret first before we start bringing the pitch forks to her door."

I get to my feet, biting hard on the inside of my lip. "Of course. Of course, you think I'm crazy."

With some difficulty, Caiden stands up too. "That's not what I meant. Not at all. I. . . I believe you. I just think we should be sure. Absolutely sure. . ."

Caiden reaches out to squeeze my shoulder with his unscathed hand. ". . . before we do something we regret."

n o t e :

hey!

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