So, this is the 5th chapter. I've decided that Stark will not die in this chapter. Sorry to disapoint the readers who thought so. My reason being I found out that even before I add Chapter 12 of the book, it is also long enough to be a chapter. If I don't put this as another individual chapter, it will be too long... Again, really sorry. Will try to update the next chapter quickly.
*Disclaimer: I don't own the HoN series or any of the characters.
I chose one bull's eye to aim at-not that it is needed but don't you think it will be kinda weird if you stand somewhere ridiculously far away with your back turned to aim?-and stood one foot in front of the other, pulling each side of the bow with the arrow, bringing my hand to the height of my mouth, aimed and released the arrow.
I repeated the motion-standing properly, bring my hands to the correct position and released the arrow, seeing it fly straight to the small, little red dot of the bull's eye every time.
After a while, Duch ran into the archery room and came straight to me-well, that's not surprising, she has a tendency of finding me every time. She rubbed her head against my leg while I ruffled her ears. Then, she sprawled out on the floor next to me and soft snoring sounds could be heard.
As I prepared myself for another shot, I found myself thinking about how I am going to tell Zoey about what happened, why I-sort of-hate archer even though it is a goddess-given talent and I am so good in it. After all, there is a good chance that she will come here, seeing as the stable is just ahead of the field, which is where I am now. Zoey seems to like horses, according to her question in the cafeteria. Maybe she owns one… Who knows?
I released the arrow, having decided to do as the time comes. As usual, I saw the arrow fly straight to the center of the bull's eye. Now, it looks like the red dot has been hit by a weird, fat arrow as all the arrows are so congested, tips all pointing accurately at the same point-the middle of the middle (red dot).
"So much for being a watchdog." A voice whispered from behind me. However, I wasn't alert, as in I didn't really jerk and turned around though I really was surprised to suddenly hear a voice, when I didn't hear any footsteps, must be because I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that I didn't notice. The reason being, I recognized the voice, though I haven't heard it many times-it belonged to Zoey.
I should be angry with her for making that statement but I wasn't, just thinking that she is kinda cute. I am quite sure though that I will be angry if someone else said it. Anyway, Duch is not a watchdog.
A thought occurred to me, the first step to telling Zoey. I dragged the back of my hand across my forehead like I am wiping sweat off though there is no sweat to wipe off. It is not hot but then it is very stuffy inside. I rolled my shoulders to loosen them and then right hand holding the bow, I used my left hand to grab another arrow from the quiver at my feet. Like before, I turned sideways, lifted the bow. I released a breath I didn't know I was holding from when I had made the decision. Then, with a 'thwap!' sound, I released the arrow. A loud 'thud!' sound was also heard when the arrow came into contact with bull's eye.
I heard her gasp of surprise behind me. Now that she seen how accurate I am, maybe she will believe me more easily later when I tell her. How should I start? Keep it casual, yes, casual. Don't want to scare her off. But how can such things be casual? Argh!
"I know you're there," I started. At the sound of my voice, Duch woke up from her sleep, yawning. To my astonishment, Duch padded happily over to Zoey, tail wagging. She greeted Zoey by "woofing" once, her way of saying 'hi'. Nala, in Zoey's arms, arched her back but didn't do anything else like spitting or hissing. She held still, allowing Duch to sniff at her before she sneezed squarely in her face. Haha!
Duch actually likes Zoey-she usually only get close to a person after she interacted with them a few times. Not only that, it seems like Nala and Duch will get along just fine too.
"Hi," she said to both Duch and me. To further prove my point, when she ruffled Duchess's ears and though Duch enjoys that a lot, she won't really let strangers do that.
I was smiling-a bit, because there is still the 'telling her' part to fret over-when I turned around to face her.
"I was just going to the stables and I heard something in here. I didn't mean to interrupt you." So I am correct about her liking horses.
I shrugged, telling her it is okay but then when I was about to say something, it is like something has stuck in my throat-maybe it is because when I was practicing, I haven't spoken for quite long-and I had to clear my throat before I could speak. "No problem. Actually I'm glad you're here." She has no idea how glad I am to see her. "Saves me from having to find you." Actually, I won't mind in the least bit as long as it is for her or to her.
"Oh, do you need something for Duchess?" Well, of course she will come to that conclusion but why can't it be me? Sigh… Well, I should stop daydreaming, why will she like me? But then another part of my mind says the opposite: She likes you but then she just doesn't know it yet, just like you were. Maybe I should drop some hints…
"Nah, she's fine. I brought a bunch of her stuff with me." Yeah, it took one whole suitcase. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you." And confess my love to you at the same time. Kidding!
"So, what do you want?" she asked me.
Instead of answering her directly, I asked her a question. "Do those special Marks of yours mean that you really have an affinity for all five of the elements?" I really am curious about that…just that now, it is for a different reason.
"Yeah," she answered. Though she is making an effort not to show her anger and discomfort, she is not very successful.
"There was a priestess at my old House of Night in Chicago who had an affinity for fire. She could actually make things burn. Can you use the five elements like that?"
"I can't make water burn or anything bizarre like that." She avoided answering directly but I took it as a yes but I am still not very sure.
I frowned and shook my head, wiping my hand across my brow. Why am I feeling quite uncomfortable? "I'm not asking if you can twist the elements. I just need to know if you're powerful enough to control them."
She snapped then, "Okay, look. I know you're new, but that's really not your business." She looked quite angry nut not in the way that can make people scared but people swoon-okay, maybe that's only me. But why doesn't she answer me directly instead of beating around the bush?
"Which means you must be pretty powerful," I stated, trying to get her to answer my question.
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Again, not your business. If you need me for anything that is your business, like asking me about dog supplies, come find me. Other than that, I'm out of here." I know that it is not my business but I want anything that concerns her to be my business. Anyway, I am really taking it as a yes. She might be uncomfortable saying it because she is a modest person, not like the other people, proud.
I took a step towards her, wanting to take her hand and pull her back, and hold her there forever-I know I'm in for her deep. "Wait. It sounds like I'm being a smart-ass, but I have a good reason for asking you this." I certainly don't want to leave a bad impression on her.
"Fine. Yes. I'm pretty powerful." I guessed right. But her willing to tell me, does it mean that she trust me or maybe even like me? Focus!
"And you can really control the elements. Like if something bad happened, you can get them to protect you or the people you care about?"
"Okay, that's it! Are you threatening me and my friends?" she said. She is such a good friend. Has she and her friends made up? I remember there is some tension there between them in the cafeteria…
"Oh, shit no!" Obviously not! Why would I? I held one palm up, trying to calm her down.
I saw her gaze look down at my other hand, still holding the bow. Guessing her thoughts, that what I'm holding is contradicting my words. How I could attack with only a bow but without an arrow, I don't know. I bent slowly to set it on the ground at my feet.
I continued, "I'm not threatening anyone. I'm just bad at explaining. Here's the deal-I want you to know about my gift." I am really very bad at explaining, it is not a gift, but a curse.
"Gift?" she asked, perhaps because she noticed that I said the word 'gift' very uncomfortably.
"That's what it's called, or at least that's what other people call it. It's why I'm so good with that." I jerked my chin toward the bow lying at my feet, indicating that.
I looked up to see why she didn't say anything in response and saw her waiting for me to continue with her brows raised like she is saying: So?
"My gift is I can't miss," I finally said.
This time, she spoke. "You can't miss? So what? Why would that have anything to do with me or my affinity with the elements?" Apparently she doesn't get what I meant by I can't miss.
I shook my head again. "You don't get it. I always hit my target, but that doesn't mean my target is always what I aim at."
"You're not making any sense, Stark." Again, I felt a thrill go through me at the sound of her calling my name. Anyway, I know what I said don't make any sense because me, myself also don't understand.
"I know, I know. I told you I'm no good at this." At this point, I ran my hand backwards through my hair. I always do this when I am thinking very hard. I know I am unusual as most people-guys-run their hands through their hair from the front as if you do it the other way around, it will puff up like a duck's tail. I decided to tell her about Will, as an example to make her understand. "The best way I can say this is to give you an example. Have you ever heard of the vampyre William Chidsey?" Gosh, I really really miss Will.
She shook her head and said, "Nope." "But that shouldn't shock you. I've only been Marked for a few months. I'm not exactly up on vampyre politics," she hurried to defend herself.
Hmm, does 'William Chidsey' sound like a vamp politic? "Will wasn't into politics. He was into archery. For almost two hundred years, he was the undisputed archery champion of all the vampyres."-even though he is not a Son of Erebus Warrior.
"Which means of all the world, because vamps are the best archers there are," she stated. Like I said, cute and adorable.
I nodded. "Yeah. Anyway, Will kicked everyone's ass for almost two centuries. At least until six months ago he did."
She didn't say anything for about a second. "Six months ago would make it summer. That's when they have the vamp version of the Olympics, right?" For a fledgling just marked not long ago, she is considered quite well-informed.
"Yeah, they call them the Summer Games." The Summer Games that changed everything.
"Okay, so this Will guy is majorly good with a bow. Seems like you are, too. Do you know him pretty well?"
Know, how nice if I can still use the present tense. "Knew. He's dead. But yeah. I knew him pretty well." I paused for a while, then added "He was my mentor and my best friend" so that she will be able to understand my feelings better.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said awkwardly.
I took a deep breath before I finally confessed, "So am I. I'm the one who killed him."
Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter.
I have just decided to add this section at the end of every chapter:
Thanks to...
Desi772, horsemadissy, jamesstarkgirlfriend, Jazerelle, vampluver19, RayRayluvs2read for giving a review.
Amiralys, horsemadissy, Chaos Mossanite Shadow-Fox, geeniebop, Melly31992, Tash Salvatore for putting it on his/her favourite story list.
horsemadissy, RayRayluvs2read, ImaginationFlow for putting it on story alert.
#The list will accumulate...
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