Chapter Five

Strands of her long hair shifted and blew in the light breeze. She was cold and stiff from sitting in that position for the last couple of hours but she didn't care. Looking up from her thick, well-used sketchbook, she looked at the Ipswich harbor. Dipping her brush in the paint-smeared jar of water, she gently lapped the excess water into the nearly empty pot of cerulean blue watercolor paint.

When she started there were a few more boats and more clouds, and now there was a pinkish tinge to the evening sky. That was what she loved about painting. It was always changing, always shifting. From where she was sat, on the roof of Eleanor Danvers boathouse, she could see all across the harbor and into the town.

She had been into town a couple of times but for the most of the time she kept by the boathouse phone. Just waiting for Eleanor to call back like she said she would. She called on her first night here. Georgina had fallen asleep in the bed, when she woke up covered in sweat and her heart pounding. They had taken over her dreams again. She had no rest from them.

From the bedroom, she could hear this ringing from below her. Slowly making her way down, she found the wall phone. Tentatively she picked it up.

"Hello? Georgina?"

She recognized Eleanor's voice over the line.

"Hey," she said, her voice cracking. She knew she had screamed during her nightmare so her voice was hoarse.

"I didn't think anyone was going to pick up," Eleanor admitted. Georgina could hear the happiness in the lady's voice. She was glad that Georgina had decided to stay.

"So I've contacted a family friend. He doesn't know the details or about you, but he's going to look into it. He said it should take a couple of days…"

"Erm," Georgina coughed uncomfortably, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "That's great. Thanks for doing all this."

"That's okay," Eleanor replied, she could hear her smile. "Is there anything I can get you till then? Maybe I could take you shopping or –"

"No. I mean, it's okay. Honestly," Georgina said taking a breath. Banging her head against the wall. She knew that Eleanor was just trying to help but she just couldn't. She couldn't let her get to close. Just in case.

"Okay," she answered neutrally. "I will get in touch as soon as I can."

"Okay."

There was silence from other end like Eleanor wanted to say something else, but she never did. Hearing the dial tone, Georgina hung up the phone.

Coming back to the present, Georgina squeezed her tired eyes shut from the memory and started to pack up her supplies. The pink sky was clear from clouds but dusk was settling in quickly. Her tummy rumbled from hunger. Grabbing her bag, she walked across the flat part of the roof and easily grabbed the top of the window ledge and gracefully swung into the open bedroom window.

Dropping her bag on the unmade bed, she went to the kitchen. There were empty packets and food wrappers on the counter. Sighing, she grabbed the bin and started cleaning up. She had spent most of her time in this room either staring at the wall clock or the phone.

Looking into the fridge, which had nearly empty orange juice and a very bruised apple, which she got in a craze of healthiness. Shutting the door, she checked her pockets for money. There were a couple of creased bills and some change. Barely enough for a decent shopping trip.

Scrunching her money up in her hand, she did some quick thinking. She never used her power on people trying to make an honest living. But there were other ways she made money. A small smirk tugged the corners of her mouth. Less legitimate but a lot more fun. She just needed a bar with either a poker game or pool table.

Her eyes caught her reflection in window. She lost a bit of her smile. Her eyes were dark and her hair was wild. And there was a look in her eyes that scared her. Squaring her shoulders, she gritted her teeth and went upstairs. Grabbing her bag she tipped it over her bed and looked at what she had. Glancing at the clock, she it was nearly 6 o'clock in the evening. She didn't have long, but she knew she could work something out.

A couple of hours later, she parked her mustang in the center of town. It was a small place with a few streets that held the town's shops, banks, cafes and bars. Night had well and truly settled and the town lit up with lights. The place was packed for this time of time. It wasn't until later that she found out it was Friday.

Looking in the mirror she checked that her efforts weren't in vain. Her hair was washed, glossy and voluminous and her makeup hid most of the tiredness around her eyes. Her makeup was good but it wasn't a miracle worker. She had to add black eyeliner and smoky eye shadow to make it mask the exhaustion.

She put on her best mask of normality, watching the look in her eyes change from something dark to a hidden, mischievous expression.

"This is the best it's going to get," she sighed to herself.

Grabbing her fitted leather jacket from the passenger seat, she got out of the car. Eyes watched as she put on her jacket and lock the car. She paid no attention and she slid her hands into her jacket pockets and walked down the sidewalk. Glancing at some of the younger looking girls who openly stared as she passed them, she shook her head at what they were wearing.

They all had tight, constricting short dresses that left nothing to the imagination while hobbling in ridiculously high heels. Georgina had never worn a dress and was proud of that fact. As for heels, she knew it would be impossible for her to successfully walk in anything like that high. Her boots were all she owned and she didn't need the added height. She was already 5 ft 7.

She was more than happy in her slightly worn straight leg jeans, and jacket. She couldn't wear revealing tops because of her scars. They covered her back and torso. So she just wore a fitted long sleeve top. The neck was scooped in the front to show some skin, but not enough that they saw anything.

A heated argument bought her attention to a nearby bar entrance. She already knew from overhearing local gossip that the bar was called Nicky's and a lot of the nearby private school student went there. Looking up, she saw a couple in the middle of a domestic. The girl was petit and pretty but it was clear she was scared. She looked ashamedly at the people hearing and seeing the argument. The guy however didn't care who was listening. He held her arm tightly and was in her face. Georgina could feel her hackles rise.

"Is that why you're dressed up? Because he's here?" the guy shouted, shaking her arm.

"You know it's not like that," the girl said softly, trying to calm him down while trying to stop her bottom lip from shaking. "I've told you over and over again. I love you. He is just a friend."

People that were stood outside the bar were either avoiding eye contact or shuffling, unsure if they should help. One of the brave, stepped away from his friends and put his hand on the guys shoulder. The snarl the boyfriend gave the guy was all she needed to know that this wasn't going to end well.

"Hey, Buddy. Leave the girl alone okay," the onlooker said, taking his hand away from the boyfriend.

"This has nothing to do with you, dick," the boyfriend snapped. Georgina took her sunglasses from her pocket and put them on. Just in time too. The boyfriend tried to lash out at the onlooker. As the girlfriend screamed, Georgina rushed in between the two guys. She felt the tension in the guys as they pushed against her. Holding her hands out, she pushed them apart.

"Alright boys," Georgina said, looking at the two guys. Though they couldn't see her eyes through her sunglasses, they were black as night. "That's enough now. Go your separate ways."

The onlooker looked at her apprehensively, but his friends behind him convinced him to step away. The boyfriend however didn't take her advice.

"The same goes to you, you limey bitch," he snarled, trying to get in her face.

A hush went over the gawping crowd. Georgina kept her face neutral as his alcohol soaked breath washed over her face. She grabbed his shoulder and gently dug her nails into her sweat drenched t-shirt. He didn't even notice. He just stared at her covered eyes. Georgina pushed her power into the guy.

The intensity disappeared from his eye and a hazy look appeared. His eyelids became heavy.

"I think you should go home. You've had a lot to drink tonight and you're behaving like a child. Perhaps you should treat your girlfriend a little better also," Georgina said softly, concentrating hard on the boyfriend.

"Yeah," the boyfriend said numbly, blinking stupidly. "I should go home. I'm sorry."

"That's okay, but it's not me you should be apologizing too," she replied, slowly pulling her power back and releasing his shoulder. The blackness left her eyes.

Life came back to his eyes, but the power had done its job. It might not completely make him a better person, but it would get him home safely and maybe think twice about lashing out at his girlfriend.

"I'm sorry, Marie," he said sincerely as he turned to his girlfriend. She just shrugged her shoulders as he slowly reached out to her. She paused before going into his arms.

You can't help who you fall in love with I guess, thought Georgina.

The crowd around her started talking and whispering as they couple hugged. Taking off her sunglasses, she watched the couple walk away. Georgina froze as they walked past a group of familiar looking people who must have watched the whole thing. She also knew who they were from photos at the boathouse.

They were the Sons of Ipswich.