Enchantment ch 13
Reid! Get out" yelled Tyler. Reid laughed at him but stayed put. He wanted to see if baby boy was telling the truth. Tyler turned to scowl at him "come on man we need to get dressed," said Tyler. "So go ahead what's stopping you?" said Reid with one of his little grins. Tyler slid his leg out of bed and pulled the coverlet up over Xandria. He advanced on Reid "out!" said Tyler pointing towards the stairs. "Oh come on baby boy I just want a peak please," said Reid. Tyler growled at him and shoved him out the door. Slamming the door in Reid's face. Not before Reid saw her climb out of bed and bend down to retrieve her top. Reid sighed a wistful sigh and Tyler turned to see where his friend had been looking. "Xandria! Your supposed to wait until I close the door" said Tyler
She shrugged like she didn't care that one of his best friends had just caught a glimpse of stuff he shouldn't have. "You know your friends have really lousy timing," said Xandria before pulling a pouting Tyler's face towards her and kissing him once again. "Yes but you still should have waited until I closed the door" he said, "why it's not like he's never seen what I have" said Xandria "yes well I would prefer he didn't see yours" said Tyler.
He sounded so serious again. She smiled at him "easy baby no need to be jealous, I'm yours remember?" she said putting her arms around his neck. He looked down for a second almost guilty he had snapped a little. "I just don't want to loose you," he said. "You won't, trust me lover I'm staying right here for as long as you want me here" she said softly.
The tension in his eyes seemed to vanish from them and he relaxed his muscles under her touch. "Let me do most of the talking," said Tyler. She sensed fear in him and something else. She raised her head off his shoulder and looked deeply into his eyes. "Ok, if you insist" she said. She wanted to banish that fear from his heart lest she give in to her own because of it.
"You know if you two don't hurry up Caleb will come looking," said Reid. They both looked towards the door to find it open once more. "Reid how long have you been standing there?" asked Tyler. "Long enough to be grossed out, come on let's go," he said waving for them to follow him. Tyler groaned and followed Reid out of the room. They walked in silence. Tyler because he was worried. Reid because he noticed just how much Tyler had changed in the past few days. And Xandria who was watching the two friends.
Reid paused at the top of the stairs and turned towards them "Baby doll why don't you go on ahead, I need to have a word with my brother here" said Reid. She looked at Reid curiously, and wondered what was going on? Tyler stopped and glared at Reid, trying to understand just what he was up to. "Its ok Xandria go on ahead I'll catch up," said Tyler. Xandria nodded though she felt nervous facing his friends without him. After she disappeared from view and Reid hoped earshot.
Before he turned toward Tyler and said, "Just what the heck were you doing?" said Reid. Tyler raised one eyebrow and said back "spending time with my girlfriend" answered Tyler. "No I meant using like that what happened?" said Reid. Tyler bit his bottom lip in a classic Tyler nervous gesture.
"We were attacked," said Tyler "attacked by who, how?" said Reid
"She doesn't know who and it was lightning," said Tyler. Reid ran his hands through his hair, which was a Reid nervous gesture. A rarity but he did it once in a while. "Caleb's beyond pissed at you both you know that?" said Reid. "I know but I really was busy," said Tyler "busy doing what?" asked Reid. Tyler blushed but smiled like he was holding a secret from his friend. "You didn't?" said Reid. Tyler just smirked and walked down the stairs.
"No way" said Reid as he watched Tyler go downstairs. Then Reid decided to follow him, they we're going to need someone on their side. Might as well be him he reasoned following behind his friend.
Xandria came down the stairs alone and the other two convent members were waiting for her. "Where's Tyler?" Caleb asked. "he's talking to Reid" she answered. He nodded suddenly very silent; Pogue stood by his side and seemed to be staring at her. The silent scrutiny was beginning to make her nervous. "Xandria, we need to ask you some questions," said Caleb. She was relieved he had finally stopped staring at her. "Yeah sure, go right ahead" she said.
She wanted to feel comfortable with Tyler's friends or else it could cause a rift in their relationship. "We're you using tonight?" asked Pogue bluntly coming to the point. "Yes we were" said Tyler entering the room. "Tyler I was asking Xandria," said Pogue. Though his tone was gentle Xandria had no doubt it was some sort of reprimand. She watched her boyfriend for a second. Then shrugged off the apprehension, if they were going to dislike her it would not be cause she was a liar. "Yes we did, but it was self defense" she answered.
Tyler looked like he wanted to faint. "Self defense against what?" asked Caleb. He sounded so suspicious. She felt sorry for Caleb's loss of innocence; he would never trust easy again she mused sadly. As if he heard her thoughts he looked at her funny for a second. Reid came down the stairs at that exact moment and looked at Caleb and Xandria staring at each other. Then he waved his hands in front of their eyes.
"You hoo staring contest is so grade school," said Reid Caleb glared at him. "Against someone using lightning against us" said Tyler. He stepped unconsciously closer to Xandria. "Hey people are we going to have this thing right here because I know for a fact there's some really comfy sofas in the other room," said Reid He was trying to diffuse the situation before Caleb said something he would later regret. "Who would have cause to do that Xandria?" asked Caleb.
Clearly blaming her for the incident. She sighed and sank to the steps sitting down on them. Tyler sat down next to her, showing his support through body language. And Reid sat down on her opposite side. "Several people, but I'm not sure who actually did," she answered calmly. Tyler frowned but he had already heard that so he no longer felt nervous about it.
Caleb's jaw tensed and she watched the veins in his neck pop out some. "But that's not really what's bothering you now is it Caleb?" she stately calmly. Pogue took a step to the side and watched Caleb. Caleb's jaw twitched and he glared at the girl with suppressed rage. She calmly stared back. Then he relaxed she was right no the using isn't what was bothering him. Pogue answered for him. "No it's not," he said. "How is it your able to use and not be part of the covenant?" asked Pogue.
She laughed at him; straight out threw her head back and laughed. They all looked at her in concern. "Did you honestly think you were the only ones who could use magic?" she said softly. Caleb looked decidedly more worried than he did before. His silence was again unnerving her. "Caleb what do I have to do for you to trust me?" she asked softly. She had crossed the room without them even seeing her do it. Caleb jumped when she touched his cheek. She was standing on her tiptoes to reach him and staring him in the eyes. When he didn't answer she responded to the swirl of emotions coming off of him in waves. "I'm not him stop treating me as though I were his kin or something" she said irritation flashing in her eyes.
"Xandria we know your not him" said Pogue. Speaking for his dumbfounded leader. "Then why do you insist on treating me with the same amount of distrust?" she said back angrily. "Xandria we" started Caleb. Tyler stepped forward and put his arm around her shoulder. "No Caleb listen" said Tyler. "I know you guys are worried about me, I understand that and I appreciate you not wanting to see me hurt," said Tyler. "But you are hurting me, every time you attack her" Tyler said. "Tyler" said Pogue.
"What Pogue?" said Tyler. Before Pogue could answer Reid cut in. "what if Kate could use would you treat her the same way?" said Reid "or if Sarah could?" said Tyler. Pogue looked at his feet and ran a hand through his own hair. Amazing how they all have the same nervous habit mused Xandria I wonder if they ever noticed? "That's different," said Caleb. "How? How is it different because it's you two who are dating them" said Reid
"Reid" said Xandria Reid had expected one of the others to yell at him, not Xandria's soft voice. "What!" he said glaring at her. He was defending her isn't that what she wanted. "Stop" she said "please" she said sounding slightly weary. Miracously Reid listened to her. Which surprised the heck out of them all. Caleb gave her a look that could have been respect or close to it. Xandria put her head in her hands, looking very weary for a second.
"Your brothers Reid please don't fight" she said softly. He uncrossed his arms and looked somewhat guilty for a second before the normal Reid attitude settled back in.
She looked up at Caleb who was watching her intently. "So what do I have to do to fix this?" she said meeting his gaze. Pogue watched them both trying to gauge what Caleb's reaction would be.
Caleb sighed not sure how to answer her. She had a way about her that made him want. to be nice. "You can start by being honest with us," said Caleb. "And answer our questions" said Pogue. Tyler took her hand in his and gave hers a reassuring squeeze. She gave him a worried look. She was deathly afraid that if he knew the truth he would run screaming from her arms. Something that normally wouldn't affect her but Tyler was rapidly becoming more to her than a lover. "What is it sweetheart?" Tyler asked softly. It was almost as though he sensed her fears.
He pulled her closer and brushed some of the hair out of his eyes. "Its ok tell me, what are you afraid of?" he whispered. A single tear escaped out of one eye. She looked up at him meeting his gaze and said "losing you, I don't want to scare you away" she said softly.
"You won't I'm not like that, don't you trust me?" he said softly. She nodded and wiped at her tears. She took a deep breath, looked at the boys in front of her. Each of them was watching her intently. "Tyler hun can you darken the windows?" She asked softly. Tyler nodded then his eyes went black for a second. All the windows darkened to almost black, like they had been instantly tinted.
"Well here goes nothing, sorry Connor," she whispered more to herself then them. Then she reached up and removed the pendant Connor had given her. Set it on the stairs beside her and closed her eyes.
The boys watched in wonder as her image rippled like water. Then just like water the image of Xandria melted before their eyes. Before them sat the most breathe taking creature they had ever seen. She seemed to be glowing from within her skin was white so white, but also luminous like moon stone. Her hair seemed to flow around her with a life of its own. The most stunning were her eyes for sure, they were a bright emerald green. Seemingly lit from behind as if the magic inside shown through her eyes. But they weren't human eyes they were slit pupiled just like a cats.
They were still staring at her in surprise so she smiled at them. Her canine teeth were more pointed than a humans and the smile gave her a decidedly feral look. Tyler was the first to approach her more closely. He sat on the stair directly below her and reached out to touch. His eyes wide in amazement not even a bit afraid to her relief.