“Sorry.” I muttered, intimidated, “I’m Ava.” I held out a hand to her, which she did not shake. She continued to stare at me and I let my hand swing to my side.
I looked at Jack nervously who shrugged but stepped forwards.
“Hello.” He said with a polite smile, leaning on the window sill, “I’m Jack.” He too held out a hand which she ignored, “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.” He continued, less confident in his flirting abilities this time.
I heard Camryn sigh behind me and caught her rolling her eyes. I looked back to R?ven who was still watching me.
“T-thank you for bringing me a reply.” I stammered, “Um, I hope you found the place okay.”
I was starting to feel very uncomfortable now. I wish she would look away, or look at someone else. Did I have something on my face? I flattened my hair, self-conscious and licked my lips nervously. Why wouldn’t R?ven talk? It was frightening. Her beauty scared me.
Jack seemed very frustrated that he was getting ignored by a very good looking girl, “Hello?” He waved a hand in front of her. She blinked and slid her eyes to Jack in an annoyed fashion. “Do you ever talk?” He shot at her.
“Jack!” I hissed.
R?ven nodded slowly to Jack, glanced at me one more time before turning on her heel and morphing once again into the black bird. A second later and she had flown out of the window.
I looked at Jack furiously, “You can’t just ask questions like that.”
“Why not?” He complained.
“It’s rude!”
“She was being rude too, you know!” Jack said defensively.
I sighed and sat back down next to Camryn, unfurling my letter, ignoring Jack’s muttering about ‘difficult girls’.
“I don’t think you’re R?ven’s type anyway.” Camryn said to Jack whilst spooning more food into her mouth.
“Why not?” Jack demanded, “I’m all right looking, aren’t I?” He checked his reflection in his spoon and frowned, “Aren’t I?”
“Of course you are. Very handsome.” I agreed half heartedly and Jack looked at me sourly.
“It’s not that.” Camryn smirked, “I mean to say, I believe R?ven might be …” She trailed off and looked at me, “Well, you saw how she was looking at Ava.”
Jack dropped his spoon in shock, “You think she likes Ava!?” He said incredulously.
I scoffed, “Don’t be silly. Even if she did, and I mean, who cares really, it doesn’t matter, of course.” I was blushing and fumbling over my words, “Not relevant really, is it? Besides, I think she was looking at me for another reason.”
Jack sulked, “Like what?”
“Like she knew something.” I frowned.
“Either way,” Camryn said happily, “She’s not interested in Jack, that’s for sure.”
I laughed with Camryn at Jack’s disappointed face.
I looked down at my letter now that Jack and Camryn were bickering playfully again. My heart pounded hard in my chest as I wondered what my family would say to me.
I hoped they hadn’t written anything that might make me cry in front of my friends
Ava,
You need to come home right this instant. This is madness. We have been frantic with worry, and you know we can’t leave Helena alone to go looking for you.
This girl you have used to deliver your letter won’t tell us where you are. She won’t even speak. Are you paying her to stay quiet?
We are glad that you are safe, but it’s time to come home now. Weird things have started happening here.
One of the town’s people has gone missing; no one knows where he is. Vanished.
Helena hasn’t been herself lately. She is always locked away in her room, sulking or crying.
Please come home, it’s been two months!
We are so worried.
Mum and Dad
My chest felt tight, like there was a gaping hole in my heart, but the pain was bearable. I folded the letter and put it in my pocket for safe keeping. I caught Jack watching me for a reaction, but I simply gave him a reassuring smile and continued eating.
So that was why R?ven had been staring at me. She had been interrogated by my parents about my whereabouts. It must have given her a bit of a fright. Perhaps she had been trying to figure out why I had run away.
And who had gone missing from Mortlock? Hopefully it wasn’t someone important to the family. If it had been, I was sure they would have mentioned a name. Surely.
I sighed and thought about Helena. They said she hadn’t been the same since I had left. She must miss me. I would see her again, perhaps sooner that I thought. After all, wasn’t I controlling my Powers a lot better now? I had discovered a way to prevent spontaneous combustion, simply by exerting the fire regularly. Did that mean I was ready to go home?
Three things prevented me from wanting to go home now.
Jack and Camryn, my new friends were the first reason.
Second, Hawthorne. How could I sneak him from the city’s walls without him being discovered? Besides, we hadn’t figured out a way to get him to fly yet.
And third, Noah. I was ridiculously intent upon learning more about Noah Forsythe, and why he seemed so interested in someone like me.
Chapter ten
Something Stronger