16 Where There Is Smoke There Is Fire

For most of the day, Tristen and I hung out with my family. After lunch, we decided to take another trip out to the lake. It was a great idea to be alone and have no distractions for us to work on my ability to control my powers. Walking out the trail that I have become to know as our spot, I noticed a smell. It was not normal for out here, but I knew what it was. Turning to Tristen, he must have noticed it the same time as I did for we both started walking faster toward the area we thought that it was coming from.

Stronger the scent became as we ran toward the back part of the dam. Jumping over fallen trees, sliding over thick moss of the huge rocks in our path. Suddenly, I felt this pain in my head. Running from the sides to the back of my brain. I stop to hold my head while leaning down with my head between my knees. Feeling Tristen presence but I did not know what was going on. The pain was the worst ever. I could not hear anything around me. It felt like it went on forever but, it stopped as quickly as it started. And there was silence.

Standing back to normal, with Tristen at my side, the stench developed into such a thick smoke. My body starts to react to the fear that is growing inside of me. Still not being able to hear a sound it's like I was being held under water, I look at Tristen. His mouth was moving but, I heard nothing. Terror bubbled up into my chest and all throughout my body. Confused and scared I speak "I can't hear you. I can't hear anything."

His eyes go wide, I could feel the panic in myself as I spoke the words. I know I said them, but I could not hear them. Tristen held his hands up in front of me, looking at him oddly he held them to the side of my head with his thumbs on my temples. Rubbing circular motion, I felt a buzzing in my head. Louder and louder it became until a POP sound. Instant relief in my brain, the sounds of the forest flooded in my ears again. Tristen's hands slid down my face and rested around my neck. The sweat that was on his brow let me know how much either he was struggling to help me, or how close the smoke was to us. Where there is smoke there is also fire. That thought snapped me into reality.

"We need to get out of here." I say a little louder than need to be.

Tristen locks eyes with me and nods. "The heat is coming from the east, so that must be where the fire is." He says breathlessly. "The 4-H camp is that way. We must hurry." I could see that he had no energy but so determined. Holding onto his arm I turn Tristen to face me, laying my right hand upon his chest over his heart. Closing my eyes, I focus on pushing all my worry aside and give my attention to Tristen. Undertaking all the negative from him and sharing my power with him. Imagining that I am wrapping him up in myself to protect him from all that was going on right now.

Opening my eyes, I see an orange glow surrounding him. His arms stretched out to his sides and his head tilt back. Slowly I remove my hand and he faces me. The glow fades away. His face is shining with a refresh look. With a smile on his face he shakes his head, grabs my hand and we start toward the camp.

Further and further we went moving through the forest with the smoke getting thicker. Tucking my shirt over my nose to help filter out the smoke. Tristen is a few steps behind me. Looking over my shoulder I see that his body jerks back and then forward falls straight on his face. I stop and run back to him. As I kneel and roll him over, I see black burn marks across his chest on his shirt. It looked like someone shot a roman candle firework at him with a direct hit. Fear and anger runs through me but, I know I must get him out of here.

Lifting him up to stand leaning mostly on me, we hurry the best we can. We get to the top of the hill and stop to overlook where the camp is. You can see the fire to the left of the camp that is between it and the lake. Knowing that there is not going to be enough time to get to the camp to make sure everyone is out. I see Tristen leaning against a tree to the left of me.

Not knowing exactly what to do and feeling all, I want to do is scream, I help Tristen to sit to the ground. Leaning his head back against the tree, his eyes barely open he grabs my hand. "Remember your family and just breathe," he whispered.

"I can't leave you here," I snap at him.

Nodding his head, he answers, "You must, that is not a normal fire. That is magic fire, kills all it touches but can only be put out with magic." He starts a coughing fit. Taking my flannel off I hand it to him for him to keep over his mouth and nose.

Standing I turn to run down the hill before I changed my mind to stay with him. Stumbling, sliding, falling down the hill, I went. Once I hit the bottom, I made my way toward the fire. Not really knowing what I needed to do or how really to help, I rush to the fire. When I got as far as I could stand to get to it, I look around for anything that I could use to help put it out. The lake was too far away from the actual fire itself. Water was not going to be able to be used here. Thinking about how Tristen put the tree that I caught on fire out using his powers to suffocate the fire. That's what I needed to do. Force the fire to smoke itself out through no air.

Remember you are strong and breathe, my love

Summing up all the energy that I could I concentrated on my power as I did the first time. Instead of seeing lava, I focused on an orb as Tristen used. Nothing but pure energy pushing back and forth from each other to form a circle between my hands. Breathing slowly as I could, I open my eyes to see that I had done it. I had controlled my powers. Widening my stance, from the encounter that I had earlier today, I use my hands to open the orb wider. Working my hands over, under, and around the orb to expand it as much as I could. Bigger and bigger it grew.

It was larger than me now. How am I to get this thing big enough to kill out this fire? My family, that is what Tristen said to me. Nan and mom would know exactly what to do. Taking a chance that has a very slim shot of working I reach out with my mind to my mom.

Mom, I really need your help Please be there.

Waiting for what seemed like forever nothing happened. Nope, not a thing. Panicked set into play. The thought of so many getting hurt by this fire. Not knowing if there were anyone that was at the camp or in the woods on trails. Anger formed into my stomach stretching up my chest. I am stronger than this. It is part of my job to protect this world and all those who live in it. Breathe just Breathe, I told myself. The image of Marcus crew flashed in my head. They were here the other day causing problems I bet it was them that caused all of this. All the sudden my energy left me and flew into my orb. Filling fuller and expanding to where it was large enough to cover the fire. I push all my might and sit the orb over the fire. Still it burned. Taking a deep breath, I make my hands form as if they are surrounding the orb and push in as to crush the orb. More and more air was being taken from the fire. Little by little I could see the orb filling with smoke as it decreased in size. Once it was to a size I could handle I stood on my toes and lift the orb from the ground. It formed a bubble while resting in the air. With the last amount of strength, I had, I push with my power for it to float away in the sky.

Falling to the ground, I look at all the forest that was destroyed. Black burnt trees with smoke raising off, ashes were covering the ground. My heart sank, who would want to do something like this? And so many people could have gotten hurt.

Something moved out of the corner of my eye. Not wanting to show whoever is there that I knew they were there I closed my eyes and focused on where they were. Reaching out with all my senses I could hear them breathing. Letting go of all emotions I imagine myself standing behind them. Right next to them I could see that it was three people, Marcus, Sasha and Eric. But, something felt off. It was more to it than just these kids messing around and being stupid. Suddenly, this face appears right in front of my spirit me. A man, older salt pepper hair combed to the side, deep dark eyes.

"I know you are there, wanna come and play?" Was all that he said and I jumped out of my skin almost. Coming back to myself like a rubber band when someone let's go of one end, I turn to where they were. The only one there was Marcus, starring death into my soul. The wicked grin that played on his lips made chills form all over me. He turns and walks off. Taking a deep breath, I remember that Tristen is at the top of the hill alone and not well. Jump up and run to him. Every bad thought that one could imagine ran through my head. Please, let him be ok. I see his form just ahead, making my way to him I slow to a walk and kneel to him. Placing my hand on his arm he opens his eyes to me. The weakness in him worries me. I pull out my cell and call mom. Within fifteen minutes she was there with his father.

All of us rush to get him to help. In my head we were heading to the hospital but, I should have known that in the world of witches and white lighters it would not be that at all. We pull up to the castle from this morning without stopping mom pulls around back. When she stops we, all rush in through the open gate that leads down into what should have been the basement. Instead it was what looked to be a make do infirmary like you see in WWII movies. The old metal beds and all. Placing him on one, I keep back to let his father take hold of his hand. Everything in me was yelling for me to not let go.

His father stands and removes his suit jacket. While rolling up his sleeves he looks at mom. The silent conversation they were having about drove me nuts. Nodding his head, they both walk out together to another room. I really cannot believe that they would just leave like that. Who was going to help Tristen?

Sitting down on the bed next to him I lift his hand up into mine. His breathing was so shallow and his face so pale. Under his eyes the darkness played out more. He was truly bad off. Placing his hand up to my lips I close my eyes. Remember him for how he was earlier. It is too soon for this to be happening to us. We just now found each other. This cannot be what is meant for us. Tears falling down my face trailing down his arm, I feel my heart breaking. In just a brief time he has come to mean more to me than anyone else in this world. I would even give up myself for him to be alive. To see his smiling face and hear his wonderful laugh. For him to wrap me up in his arms and lay together for hours just hearing his heart beat through his chest.

Within my chest, my emotions grew and spread around me. Envisioning my core stretching from my body and casing around Tristen. Every inch of him covered in orange radiance working around him and moving in his body and coming back out. Focusing on healing him I empower my force to do whatever it takes to make him whole again. Slowly, I could feel myself getting exhausted. Pulling back my force I open my eyes. I see him looking back at me. My chest filled with excitement. Dropping his hand, I flung myself on him with the biggest hug ever. With a chuckle he wrapped me back in his arms and squeezed.

My Love, you are amazing.

The gratitude that he felt for me flooded my soul. He is going to be ok. Happy and content where we were I am startled when someone cleared their throat. Raising up, I see mom, Tristan's dad, Nan and Chloe behind me. Realizing this is not the best situation for not only parents but instructors to see you with your boyfriend. Standing up away from his bed, I wait for whatever tongue lashing we were going to get and it never did. All adults were silent, which never happens. Glancing at them I comprehend that something more is going on here. An uneasy feeling starts inside me.

"What is it?" I ask. "How bad is he really? Please someone just tell me"

Nan walking over to me and Tristen's dad to him nan speaks, "No my dear, it is not anything like that. From what we just saw it seems Tristen will be better than ever within no time." Relief washes over me and I watch Tristen's dad check him over once.

"What you did for him is remarkable. It is something that not even an experienced healer would be able to do. Only his Grá fíor could but, they have to be trained." his father spoke to me. The look of puzzlement was written all over his face. "She is astonishing."

Grasping that what took place between Tristen and I earlier was seen by many, I could feel the red heat in my cheeks. Being embarrassed is not something that I am use too. "It seems that she knows more than what we thought. How? I am not for sure but I am going to consider this. Are you sure she has not had any training?" Chloe speaks up.

Mom was the one who replied, "Yes I am sure, I did not want her to have any part of this life. And now I really wished that we did not come here." My mom was really concerned and I was not understanding why. "What in the world were you kids doing up there anyways?"

Really dreading this part, I explain everything that happened today and how we were planning on just having a place to be calm and work on exercise for controlling my emotions. A then coming upon the smoke and my pain in my head with loss of hearing. Jack was the one to react, he turned to nan and then back to Tristen. With a startled look he walked around the bed and came to me. "When you say a pain in you, can you show me where?" he asked. Pointing to the area that really affected me he rubbed his hands over them. "Was it sharp pains, or dull?"

"It was both," I answer. His eyes got worried. "The dull pain started with sharp pains shooting throughout and then back to dull. It lasted only for a minute. "

Turning to my mom he speaks, "Someone was throwing a smoke shield and she was able to intercept it. Something is not right. For one, why would there be a need of smoke shield? And two, what were they doing to cause the fire? And then how is she able to register the smoke shield, most will just be told to do whatever the message was to do. Not, be effected to know it is not true."

"That is what we need to figure out," Nan says. "Finish telling us the rest my dear."

Everyone listened to me again I continued to tell them how Tristen got shot by something and me attempting to contact mom. "I never heard you honey, it only works for you and Tristen," mom said.

"Oh, well that explains why I never got anything from you." I told her. "You got to me when I needed you the most that is what matters. Somehow, I could put out the fire doing what I saw Tristen do the other day when I caught a tree on fire by accident. You know, send it off in a bubble." I say looking at Tristen who starts to laugh at my description. Rolling my eyes at him I continue, "Anyways, so I see out of the corner of my eye something moves. It was Marcus, Eric and Sasha."

Not expecting it to be someone of our people the looks on Tristen's dad and Chloe face said more that shock. "How did you know it was them?" Chloe asked.

"I knew if I moved in any way they could see me, so I thought if I could just use my senses I might hear what they were saying. Focusing myself to where they were I kind of shifted out of body experience to them." I answer.

Everyone gasping, makes me a little taken back that maybe I did something wrong. Tristen's dad was the first to speak up, "You spirit jumped to where they were but your body stayed elsewhere?" Nodding my head yes, he starts to scratch his head and walks around the room.

"Did they see you?" Nan asks. "No, they had no clue that I was there." I respond. "Well they didn't until this old man got in my face and half scared me to death."

"What old man?" Mom asks.

"I don't know, some old gray-haired man that reminds me of Andy Griffith show with his hair style that looked revolting." I answer. "He got in my, I guess would say spirit face and said I see you." Looking at mom I could see that her mind was working on overload. "The one thing that did stand out about him is he had a scar above his left eye brow cutting down into it." Her eyes went huge wide. "What? You know who it is, don't you?"

Without hesitation, she grabs my arm and starts walking out of the room. Mom was dragging me at this point due to me falling over my own feet. "Wait, Stop!" Jack shouted. She stopped and I fell on my butt. "You know that if you walk out that door and run off again, you will be on your own. That we will not be able to protect you. You also know that this is not just about you and Brynn anymore." He states flatly while walking toward us. "She is now connected to my son. And if she leaves it will possibly kill them both."

Mom was standing starring at the door. The look of anger, fright, and frustration mixed all into one. One tear slipped down her cheek. "I will not let him around her." She spits out at us. And my heart broke. That man in the forest, that helped those kids burn it down was the one who did something to my father. The one with deep dark empty eyes that evil filled to the rim. Jack walked over to me and reached out his hand to help me up. Shakenly I grab it and feel his strength as he easily lifts me to standing. Once he knew I was stable to stand on my own, he stepped to my mom. He placed his hand on her back as comfort to whisper to her, "That is not your choice anymore. It only belongs to Brynn and who in my opinion really needs her mother right now."

Snapping mom out of her own thoughts and terror, she comes around to me and engulfs me in her arms. Both of us crying at this moment, and yet not even acknowledge that others are with us. So many things running through my mind. Thinking that man was the one who hurt my mother, and took away my father from me. He was the one in charge of those kids destroying the forest and almost the camp. Turning my family inside out and making them feel they had to let go of who they are because of what he did. More and more the anger built up inside of me. The tears were dried up now and my mom was the only one who was hurting. I was more into my thoughts of how I was going to hurt this man for all he has done.

I will never let him hurt you.

Tristen always knew how to get me out of my own horrible self already. Leaning back out of moms embrace I turn to Tristen. All the others in the room fade away. After walking over to him I lay down next to him wrapped into his arms where I belong. Not caring at all what any of the adults thought. This has turned out to be a very long day.

"Dad, that will be a choice she will make on her own time. Right now, we both need to rest and recuperate with one another." Tristen spoke softly. "I will like to ask permission for her to stay with me tonight?" Now, that was totally not expected.

"Absolutely not!" mom shouted. That I was expecting. "Now, maybe we need to think about this," Nan responded. "It's her safety we are mainly concerned about here. And who is more equipped to protect her other than Tristen? She is more powerful with him than without." Nodding her head yes, she comes over and whispers in my ear, "Never forget who you are." Kisses my cheek and walks out of the room.

Jack and Nan talk through a plan for tomorrow of conversing the convent together on the matter. Nan agreed to get mom there and patted my arm before leaving after mom. Tristen and I stayed together for a little bit, soaking up the feel of one another. Not wanting to mess up the moment but, I was not wanting to stay in this place. I knew that any White lighter could get in and Tristen and I would be sitting ducks.

Raising up I notice for the first time that Chloe was still in the room. She was standing in her military stance watching the door with her back to us. Tristen must have noticed to because his body stiffen under my touch. Sighing I pick myself up off the bed and walk over to her. Softly I place my hand on her shoulder and she didn't flinch. "You can go, we will be leaving here too," I say to her.

"I will walk you out, this way at least I know in my care you were okay," she answers me. I walk over to Tristen who by this time has his feet hung off the side of the bed. The color was back in his cheeks and he seemed to move better. I offer him my hand to help him stand, as he does his arm came around my shoulders and we walked out of the same door we came in with Chloe behind us.

As we felt the cool night air on our face I realized that we did not have a car. We came here in Tristen's dad car and they were gone. We might have to stay here for the night. Tristen over hearing my thoughts gave me his smirk smile. "We are white lighters, there are some things that we can do that are really cool," he said as he stepped away from me. Taking a deep breath, his shoulders raised and a moment later nothing. He turns back with a smile and winked at me. I should have known he was messing with me.