Natalie could sense his apprehension â it was a regular feeling among those who seemed to come into contact with the redhead while she was training. Even despite usually being surrounded by guards that would throw her into confinement if she stepped out of line again. However, they were both alone and segregated from authority, which meant that she could run wild if she so pleased. After all, she would rarely pass up the opportunity to exercise her ability, really exercise it.Â
âYes. It doesnât have to be though,â she responded, âI could turn it back, and revert your mind to its former self. Donât worry.â Her reassurance most likely fell on deaf ears, because how could she possibly begin to insist that everything would be fine â how would he know? He wouldnât. God forbid, heâd just have to trust her, trust that she was fond enough of him to not betray the friendship heâd so easily given her. âIâm not going to do that to you⌠change anything, I mean. Well, actually, I might make you think Iâm the queen of Grimstone, permanently.â She grimaced, teasingly.Â
Circling the clearing, her blue eyes studied her target â the older male sheâd know for so little, yet felt so comfortable with. Sheâd admit, she was a bit rusty when it came to using her power. She would blame the scientist sheâd been hanging around for that, the one whoâd made her promise not to manipulate his mind whether it be for her own selfish reasons or not. It was a challenge, but sheâd abided by his wishes, for some odd reason. Apparently, some people didnât find her power fascinating enough to allow themselves to be subjected to it. Did they not realise that this damsel could give them the world?Â
âIs there anything youâve always wanted to know? Have you ever wanted to learn how to ride a bike, or how to do a back flip?â Her suggestions were tame, but she wanted to start off on an easier level of her manipulation and slowly build her experience up. âMaybe I could give you the knowledge of rocket science. Iâm sure that would be a good conversation starter.â With a laugh, she came to a halt in front of Avery and took several steps towards him until they were inches apart. Looking directly into his eyes, she tried to muster the most reassuring smile she could give as an attempt to comfort him and quell his worries. âRelax, Ave. I donât hurt the pretty ones.â
âIt doesnât have to be.â Avery contemplated this, his breath catching in his throat as he mulled over the words, tried to use them to lower the volume of his heart beating in his ears with a silent nod. He didnât like this. He didnât like it at all. His distaste had noting to do with her, Natalie was lovely, or well, as lovely as she could be. She had her flaws, after all she was human, not that Avery fully believed she saw herself that way. His head spun now more due to the lack of oxygen then her character. He was afraid he would walk out of these woods changed, some how not the same.
He forced out a chuckle, the sound faint, strangled between his thoughts and lungs, the corner of his lip twitching only slightly upward in a poor attempt to acknowledged her joke. âFunny.â He didnât sound like he found it funny at all. If she had made it a few hours ago, he would have. His laugh would have been genuine, lips curling upward so that his eyes crinkled and dimples showed. Now though he could barely breathe.
She circled the clearing and his eyes didnât move to follow her. He stood still, muscles ridged so that he resembled a petrified animal more than a person, mannerisms not quite human enough to be a statue. He could feel her watching him and so he forced himself to breathe, compelled his shoulders to relax. He didnât want to seem so weak. If it had been anything else, even Zaneâs power to make Avery move to the boy's will, he would have been more comfortable. The mind was a terrifying thing though. The way you thought could change the world you lived in and while Avery wasnât so much fond of the one he lived in now, it was his, no one elseâs.
There were things Avery wanted to know but he doubted Natalie could give them to him. He didnât want a skill, not an ability or a trait. He wanted knowledge; knowledge Natalie most likely didnât have. He imagined there was one thing she could show him but it wasnât something he ever wanted to admit out loud, not to anyone.
âBackflip.â He nearly choked the words out, the sound sharp, emotionless.