MAXINEHe held my chin gently and brought his lips to mine. They were warm and they tasted like chocolate. The kiss was slow and patient but it caused my heart to race.He pulled away and looked into my eyes. I chuckled, feeling my cheek warm up. He chuckled as well and we faced the sunset again."That kiss… That was, that was something," he said, at a lack of words, just like me.We stayed for a while until the sun set and the weather became cold. Conrad and I walked back to the lodge, our hands linked. This was a new thing for me.I had never held hands before and I didn't know what to do. I just kept them, not moving my fingers as we went. When we got close enough to the lodge, I felt shy and let go of his hand, pretending to arrange my hair."Thanks for today, Conrad. I enjoyed watching the sunset with you." I said with a smile."I enjoyed talking with you, Annalise. You make everything look better." He smiled. I didn't know what he meant but I took the compliment."Goodnight, Con
MAXINEAfter the meeting, Zel spent most of her afternoon translating the book while we worked. Sometimes, Regina and I would peek over her shoulders to get a glimpse of what was written inside.She was done in about two days and she returned it to Mr. Grayson. He gathered us together and told us our first plan."The first piece of the puzzle is not too far. It's an old and abandoned monastery. How to get there is written in the book. Are you all ready for this? You don't have to come if you don't want to. I'm sorry for placing this burden on you." Mr. Grayson said.I shook my head. "I said we were going to do this, didn't I?" I asked. "Then we would.""Let's see how getting this first piece is," Regina spoke up. "If it's easy, we can just split up into teams and retrieve the others. It's going to be faster then."We nodded to her suggestion, agreeing."Well then, let's prepare to leave."Zel and I, along with Regina, returned to our room to change out of our uniform. Regina changed a
MAXINEWe burst out of the monastery and into the sun right when the snake snapped its jaw. It hissed, recoiling back into the monastery. It was agitated, not staying in one place. But, it didn't chase after us any further.It snapped its jaw at us some more, hissing but it seemed like it was unable to leave the monastery."Come on," Mr. Grayson said. "Let's leave this place."We hurried back to the car, not speaking. That was a horror that we would never forget. And it wasn't even something we could tell people and they would believe.Mr. Grayson drove for hours. Zel and I ended up nodding off to sleep at intervals, a bit tired from using our abilities. Finally, he pulled over in front of a cabin, hidden by the woods.He got out of the car and we followed him curiously. "Why are we here?" I asked."It's a safe place," he said. "Taking this object back to the lodge is going to attract the curse's attention so, we're going to keep it safely guarded here."He reached up at the top of th
MAXINE"You know about the curse?" Mr. Grayson asked.Peter nodded. He walked back and closed the door behind him. "I was trying to understand why I couldn't fully come back. I tried going to the lodge numerous times. It wasn't until I understood what was happening that I started searching for answers."We all took seats, gathered in the living room talking and listening to Peter. When he was done explaining what had happened to him, I couldn't help but think how crazy it all was."Two weeks ago…" Mr. Grayson hummed. "That's around the same time Zel and Anna showed up to work."Peter looked at the two of us and smiled. It was almost like he was noticing us for the first time. "Anna and Zel…" he tried our names. "I'm so sorry. I just get so distracted and I don't take notice of people until it's important."I didn't know what to say. I wanted to blame it on the fact that he had been roaming around for years and it messed up with his head. So, I decided to say nothing."What did you fin
MAXINEI was being an overprotective big sister and I knew it but, they looked like they were slowly falling in love with each other. I could allow that. It made me realize that I missed talking to my blue-eyed boy.I haven't seen Conrad in four days. Since the last time we kissed that is. I was painfully aware of the fact that I didn't have a phone anymore. Who knew? We would have been able to talk to each other daily.It was like I had somehow managed to manifest this into existence because Mr. Grayson walked into the cabin, a white bag in his hand.He placed it on the table in front of me. "We need a way to communicate," Mr. Grayson said. "Especially when we're far apart."I quirked a brow curiously and made to open the polyethylene bag. There were phones in them! Four phones."They're not the best but they'll do the job." Mr. Grayson said, rubbing the back of his neck as we checked out the phones.Zel and I were more excited. We turned the phones on and grinned. "They're perfect,
MAXINEMy wolf's first fight completely shifted. My claws were extended and I slashed through fur and muscle. The wolf I had struck howled, falling to the floor. I paid no attention. I had to fight off the others.Mr. Grayson and Regina didn't run. Instead, he thrust his amulet forward. A sphere of light formed around the both of them, protecting them and forcing the wolves to keep their distance.Now, I could focus on the fight. As I tried to fight off two, one of them bit into my back. I growled and shook it off.It let go of me and fell. I used that opportunity to bite into its neck hard. The rest of the fight was a blur. That was when the wolf with the scarlet out a loud howl.The other wolves growled in response and began to back away from me. The big wolf came closer and I realized that it was here for a fight. It was their leader. Their Alpha.It bounded towards me and I ran towards it. We each swung with our claws, finding purchase. I let out a growl. We began to circle each o
MAXINERegina and Mr. Grayson exchanged a tense glance. Peter and Zel hadn't given us a call that they were coming. So, who could be out here? It was so far into the woods for just anybody to show up.We stared at the trees. "Get in the car, Mr. Grayson. If it's an enemy, you need to be ready to get us out of here." I said, my voice low but loud enough for him to catch it.He got into the car quietly as the footsteps approached. There was a rustle, followed by a grunt before the first person emerged. They turned and held out their hand, helping the next person out.I exhaled in relief. "Zel.." I said, resting my head back against the seat and shutting my eyes. I sagged into the seat.They got to the car and Zel climbed in. I opened my eyes. Regina got down for her so Zel would sit next to me."Skies, are you okay? What happened to you?" Zel asked, resting a hand on my arm. Peter got into the front passenger seat and looked back at me."We ran into some trouble while we were at the und
MAXINE“Tell us what?” Mr. Grayson asked, looking between Zel and Peter. "What are you hiding from us?""It's nothing," Peter insisted. He moved to leave the room but Mr. Grayson blocked his path. "Dad, get out of my way.""Talk to me, Peter. I'm your father." Mr. Grayson tried to convince him."I said it's nothing!" Peter yelled, swinging his arm across. Purple energy exploded from his fingers and hit the lamp on the table.I gasped, looking at Zel. Peter had an ability that was so much like hers. Mr. Grayson was also shocked."I'm sorry, I just got mad." Peter apologized."How is this possible?" Mr. Grayson asked.Peter gave him a small smile. "That's just how it is. I came back to the physical realm and found out that I had…" he held out his hand, "...this."That wasn't all. I stepped forward. "It's more than that. It also affects your memory, doesn't it?" I asked. I saw a look cross Peter's face. "That's why you were confused earlier. You forgot who Zel and I were."Mr. Grayson lo