Chapter 8 Confidence

And so, training began. Charles, by nature of his own gift, knew each of our abilities best. So, he developed individual ways for us to explore our mutations. I left him to it and focused on helping our students clear their minds and find focus in the most emotional of circumstances. Arik and Moira worked together to teach basic hand-to-hand combat. Personally, I thought teaming them up in such a setting was potentially dangerous, considering Arik's hatred of humans.

I spent the week 'interfering' with Charles' training sessions, providing emotional distractions and teaching them to maintain their focus. Alex had particular trouble with that concept, and his mutation required the entirety of his focus. But his frustration with himself caused his power to be erratic.

"Stop it," I said firmly, partway through a training session.

"I can't control it!" he yelled angrily.

"Because you can't control yourself. You are capable of doing it. We know you are." I poked at his chest. "So stop letting your fear and frustration control you."

We backed away as he screwed up his face in concentration. His chest thrust forward, and a red beam shot forth wildly.

"Again!" I shouted.

As the days progressed, I had to lower my wards in order to help our students. I dreaded Charles asking me to help Arik, and he must have felt the same for it wasn't until the end of our second week that he brought the three of us together.

Jenny, Charles' voice whispered.

I groaned and turned over, pressing a pillow over my head. Charles' voice didn't grow any quieter.

Jenny, wake up. We're going for a run.

It's barely dawn, Charles! I grumbled, barely opening my eyes to a mostly dark room.

I'm so proud, Jenny! came his sarcastic voice. You know what time of day it is!

I groaned, pushing myself into a sitting position. Now I'm going to have to get up just to throttle you!"

His laughter faded from my mind as I stretched. I carefully flexed my hands. We had removed the bandages the day before, and thus far I hadn't had any problems. My palms were still sensitive, but I had regained most function. I reveled in being able to pull my hair back in a ponytail myself. After slipping into some grey sweats, I headed downstairs.

Charles was just outside the manor, stretching. I joined him, blinking sleepily in the cool morning air.

"Why do we have to do this so early?" I complained through a yawn.

"Morning air is good for you. And we've got to do our own training before the others are up."

"Charles!" I whined. "We've spent most of our lies refining our mutations!"

"Yes, but never in an offensive manner. We're going to run the track around the house and use our abilities to stop the other."

I grinned, stretching my leg against the wall.

"But we know each other too well! We won't be able to breach each other's barriers!"

His mischievous grin matched my own.

"We'll see."

We both lunged side-by-side, preparing to bolt.

"Ready to lose, dear brother?"

"Ready to eat my dust?"

I laughed; then at the same time, we shouted, "Go!"

We bolted, the ground flying beneath our feet. Within seconds, strong emotions were beating against my wards. But I couldn't add strength to my wards without detracting from my speed. Instead, I focused my mind on Charles, concentrating on the highest, most piercing sound in my memory. A flinch from my twin let me know he was fighting the same battle I was. Our pace never slowed, each matching the other's footsteps. Sweat beaded my brow as emotion after emotion lanced at my heart. Charles wore a blank face of concentration.

An idea formed in my mind, remembering my first encounter with Arik, a way to use my mutation offensively. I quickened my step and transferred the myriad of emotions he was trying to give me, directly back to him. His eyes widened, and his pace slowed ever so slightly, confusion clear on his face.

Surprise! I thought.

I grinned and pulled ahead, but moments later, my vision wavered. My pace slowed as I focused on keeping Charles from messing with my head. Charles charged up next to me, a cocky grin slapped onto his face. I lunged forward and brushed my hand against his arm, transferring my irritation. Again, he slowed. And on it went as we raced along the house. Charles continued to shift what I was seeing, but it cost him in speed. For myself, it was difficult to touch him in order to confuse him. As the 'finish line' drew near, we redoubled our efforts to make the other stumble, buying us a precious second. My mind raced searching desperately for another method of attack. A large grin spread across my face as an idea bloomed. Just as we reached the end, I leapt at Charles, tackling him to the ground. He yelped in surprise as I rolled toward the end of the race, laughing joyously.

"Jenny!" Charles protested with a grin.

"You never said mutations only!"

We both lay in the dirt, gasping for breath, sharing broad grins. A tall shadow suddenly stretched across our faces.

"Dare I ask?" Came Arik's deep voice.

My grin dissolved in a split second, and I began throwing up ward after ward. My face transformed into a cool mask of indifference. Arik's brow creased, but he was quickly distracted by Charles.

"We're just training," Charles supplied, pushing himself up from the ground. Ignoring Arik's proffered hand, I stood, fearful of what his touch would do to me. I retreated from the two men to gaze out over the low wall that surrounded the house. Closing my eyes against the warm sun, I breathed deeply, trying to calm the nerves dancing through my gut. I could do this. We just had to focus on stopping Shaw, nothing more. I took a deep breath and turned back to them. My mouth dropped in horror. Charles stood directly in front of Arik, a gun pressed against his friend's forehead. Arik wore an insane grin, encouraging Charles to fire.

"Are you two completely mad?" I screeched, storming up to them. I yanked the gun from Charles' hand and quickly disarmed the weapon. "What on earth were you doing?"

"Training-" Arik began.

"Training?! You call this, training?!"

"Oh come on, Jenny," he sighed in exasperation. "It's not a big deal!"

My eyes lit with fury. "Not a big deal?!"

"I know I can stop it!" he countered forcefully.

"If you 'know' you can stop it then you don't have to train with it," I growled through gritted teeth.

"Calm down," Arik scoffed, rolling his eyes.

My own narrowed. "Do you want to see just how calm I am?" I demanded, raising my hand towards him threateningly.

He lifted in hands in surrender and took a step back.

"We are facing enough danger," I spat. "We don't need to add any from among friends."

"You're right, Jenny," Charles said softly. "We need to challenge ourselves, not merely affirm what we can do."

I breathed deeply, trying to reign in my emotions as Charles cast about for something to challenge Arik. Somehow all my self-control seemed to evaporate where Arik was involved.

"Come here," Charles ordered suddenly, striding toward the low wall. He pointed to a large white satellite dish across the vast lawn. "Make it face us."

Arik raised an eyebrow and turned to concentrate on the gigantic contraption. I watched him carefully, seeing the absolute strain on his face as he grappled with the metal. A low creaking barely reached my ears before Arik gasped, and he leaned heavily on the low wall, sweat pouring off him. I extended a hand towards his hunched form. An exhausted anger met my probing senses before my hand had quite reached him. I glanced over at my brother with pleading eyes. Instantly, he was in my mind, processing what I felt.

His anger is his strength. He's relying on it to-

To move the metal, he finished for me.

I pulled my hand away slowly as Charles frowned in concentration.

I thought hard, knowing Charles would read my mind.

He needs to let go of that fury. He needs to see the light in the world.

Abruptly, he answered, I think I have an idea.

My twin's presence in my mind faded as he shifted his focus to the still panting Arik.

"You know," he began carefully. "I believe true focus lies somewhere between rage...and serenity." He lifted his left hand to the side of his head. "Would you mind if I...?"

He wiggled his fingers by his temple with a meaningful look. Apprehension hardened Arik's exhausted face, but, slowly, he nodded. Charles pressed two fingers to the side of his head as he always did when doing something difficult with his mutation. As concentration glazed over my brother's eyes, I gasped in wonder. A sudden influx of strange, beautiful emotions, wonder...and adoration poured from him, flooding my own heart even through my raised wards. Wide-eyed, Charles turned to stare at me. He blinked slowly ass though seeing me for the first time. I opened my mouth to discover what was going on, but he silenced me with a shake of his head and returned his attention to a flushed Arik. My eyes darted curiously, uncertainly, between the two men. Charles' eyes glazed over as he delved into Arik's consciousness once more. As I watched, both their eyes fill with moisture, and contented sorrow washed over me. My foot immediately slipped forward to comfort Arik, but I forced myself to stop and merely watch. Two small tears slipped down Arik's cheeks.

"What did you just do to me?" Arik choked out.

Charles tried to nonchalantly wipe a tear from his own eye.

"I accessed the brightest corner of your mind, then your memory system. That was a very beautiful memory, Arik. Thank you."

"I didn't know I still had that," he responded in a broken voice.

I couldn't help but smile at the bliss filling Arik's heart, a bliss so strong I didn't think even the strongest wards would be able to keep it out.

"There's so much more to you than you know," Charles insisted passionately.

"You're not just pain and anger, Arik," I continued. "There's good too. I feel it. Charles sees it. There's joy and peace and...love..."

Charles glanced sideways at me uncertainly before continuing, "And when you are able to access all of that, you'll possess a power none can match. Not even me."

Arik stared back at us with such empty eyes; my heart ached.

"Try now," I whispered.

He turned slowly and stretched a hand out toward the dish. Silence enveloped us, focusing the senses on the huge piece of metal. Slowly, and with loud creaking, the dish obediently turned to face us. Arik's face reflected accomplishment and pure joy as he laughed in relief and pride. I jumped up and down with excitement as Charles and I exchanged broad, proud grins.

When we settled down some, Charles' voice echoed in my head, Jenny.

I turned to face him, still grinning. As he pressed two fingers to his head, an image formed in my mind that took my breath away. A picture of...me, through Arik's eyes, filled my mind. My mouth opened slightly in surprise and stilled. The image was not simply what I saw in the mirror. It was...more than I could describe. Charles nodded, and the image quickly faded.

Without a word, I promptly strode up to Arik, wrapped my arms around his neck, and pulled his lips down to meet mine. He stiffened in surprise but quickly pulled me against him, deepening the kiss. My body melted and molded with his.

He pulled away slightly and murmured huskily, "Jenny."

"Yes?" I gasped, pressing my lips briefly to his once more.

"Your brother's still here," he whispered in my ear.

I giggled. "Right now, I really don't care."

My heart raced from the adoration I both saw in his eyes and felt in his heart.

"Hey!" A female voice called from the house.

Reluctantly, we pulled away from one another and turned to find Moira leaning out of a window.

"The president's about to make his address!"