Chapter 51.2-1

Chapter 51.2 - Chelsea POV (One Month Later) We all fall into some type of routine, and surprisingly Gabriel and I spend less time overseeing the island people, and more time working on our individual gifts as well as Ben, Oakley and I learning to play the violin. While we show progress in our individual gifts, violin lessons? Not so much. At best I could play something that sort of resembled 'twinkle twinkle little star,' but the sound mostly just drove others away. The surprising reveal was that between my siblings and I, Ben was the one that showed the most promise, but Oakley and I wrote that off to the fact that he played for Kayla all the time. What we couldn't understand was how he seemed to progress so rapidly in learning his water abilities. Unsure of what may happen if he practiced in the ocean waters, he tended to do any form of manipulation at this hidden enclave on the island, at Lux's place or a pool. His easiest manipulation learned so far, in my own opinion would be to shape water into anything his heart desired, as well as separating water around him. "He's so lucky," Oakley, said next to me in awe as we watched amazed as Ben lowered into the pool, and the water covered him. With our senses we could not that he had created a cylinder around him, eight inches from his body, just space. To him, or anyone else it appeared as though he was protected by a glass case from all angles, and slowly, he lifted, the water falling to his feet, while he just walked across the pool, the water rippling where he stepped. Stupefied I just blinked a few times, shaking my head, "Lucky doesn't cover it," I murmured. "You should be able to do that as well Chelsea," Wolf said from behind me, capturing my attention. I turned away from Oakley and Ben, staring at him unsure, "He's the water Element," surely he knew that by now. He had been coming to the Island a few days a week, spending time with Rainy at our home. "Yes, but you are the fifth Element, you should be able to manipulate all gifts, it may take some time but that is my understanding," I glanced at Ben over my shoulder, returning my gaze to Wolf, "No... I'm not sure that's right?" Yes it is, you should be able to do what Ben, Oakley and everyone else is doing, that is what Wyatt told me of the fifth Element, it is how you will be able to undermine any shifter with an element based gift, Wolf sent me over the link. "Why didn't you say that before?" He looked away for a moment, "I thought you knew." His thoughts showing no deception, I nodded, "I can't do anything with water yet, but I can do what Oakley does with her gift," my thoughts going back to when I had used it on Victors daughter Mylene. You will master them that is true, my third wolf thought. Stopping in my spot, I digest that bit of information, swiftly storing it away, not an ounce of worry or fear in my mind. Unlike before when learning that piece of information would send my poor heart into a spiraling tailspin of 'what if's' and 'this is too much.' "See..." gloating one eyebrow raised. Shaking my head I walked away, turning towards the back of the house, a flicker up and I see Kieran in his window looking down at Oakley. Oblivious to my gaze, want mate, his wolf Nyx whined. Sighing I went inside, Kieran was only punishing himself and Oakley, but she seemed to be taking it in stride, keeping her mind focused on learning her gift as well as the violin. Kieran had asked her for space and while she gave it to him, a piece of her was not the same, the glow she had been walking around with when she first arrived and their friendship was blooming, had all but vanished. Inside I duck behind a wall when I hear Ava coming down the steps, jumping in front of her at the last minute, scaring her into a fit of delightful giggles, "Mamma!" she cried jumping into my arms, winding her hands around my neck, her legs around my torso. Kissing her all over her cheeks, blowing raspberries, until she pleads for me to stop, I turn us around, swaying to the light music Greta and Nona are listening to as they cook sides and prepare dishes for a barbeque we're hosting now that Rainy and her children - all of them - can all venture outside. With my blood and gift I was able to heal completely the damage that Seth had inflicted on her children by never letting them be in direct sunlight. Locked away in his basement for ten years. Placing Ava on my hip, I went out front, noting that Wolf had continued to follow me, his mind a nervous mess, "You need to relax, if they sense that kind of energy around you, those poor children are going to be overwhelmed," I tell him. "I don't want them to be afraid of me," he mutters. "Honestly... I think the only thing you can do is just give them their space," I advise thinking that maybe this barbeque is the wrong way to go about introducing them to everyone. I had given Rainy and Chris photo's of all those that would be here, the Davis', Lawsons, Hayes and those that lived in this house with us, like Walter, Nora and their children. Oakley POV He was watching me, I could feel his eyes on me from his window, and I didn't want to look up. Afraid of what his eyes would tell me, that he missed me just as much as I missed being around him, or worse that he didn't miss me at all. That he was perfectly unaffected by our time apart, that this was just another repeat of what happened with Daddy. He had taken a break from Ben and I, checked out and when he returned, he didn't want me then either. It's not the same, my wolf Byrdie tried to calm my nerves, keep me positive. But it was hard to just ignore the signs, even with the amount of effort from Chelsea and Ben, as well as uncle Grant and aunt Julia. I couldn't complain, not when they all tried to cushion the blow that Kieran no longer wanted to be around me, by distracting me each and everyday. Between school, ability training and violin practices, there wasn't much time for me to really feel the loss. Or so they thought. I couldn't explain how in such a short frame of time, Kieran became so important to me. And the crazy thing was, that I didn't want an answer, because a small part of me, the one that he had opened to just a bit before he pushed me all the way out... well she knew how hurt he was inside. That small part of me - when I was worried and distraught that he wouldn't ever come back to me - told me to remember just how hurt he was then. Remember that while Kieran had pushed me away, out completely, he did so because he thought it was safer for me. Then the most important piece of information, the part that calmed me, knew that while Kieran had pushed everyone out, he hadn't stopped seeing uncle Grant. Almost everyday, they would meet and talk, or well so I believed. But knowing that he still saw uncle Grant gave me great comfort. Especially since I knew something that Kieran probably hadn't realized, something that I don't think I caught on to until after I had been backed into a proverbial corner I had created myself. Uncle Grant didn't give up. Back in Middleburg, I was starting to see my own faults from back home. Tiny moments where, I could pinpoint that I made the wrong decision, I didn't reach out when uncle Grant, was pleading with me, offering me comfort and I just didn't accept it. The one that stands out amongst them all, is Amelia's birthday dinner. He saw my pain. He had wanted to help me, but by then, I had closed in on myself, I had assumed that I had no way out but the truth was, Uncle Grant was willing to share my burden if only I had just taken that offering, instead I withdrew further into myself. Now, Kieran had that opportunity as well. I didn't expect that Kieran would just leap to take it, remembering the talk I had with aunt Julia about trapeezing. He would be ready for that step when he was ready, forcing it, would only lead to getting hurt. He had been hurt already; he didn't need to confirm that to me, I could see it. His body littered in scars, his fear of touching or being touched. Expecting something as nice as a caress to feel painful. "You okay?" Ben asked standing right in front of me, concern on his face. Eyes flickering up to where I'm sure he can see Kieran, before focusing back on me. Giving him my best half smile, and a nod, I wait for him to feel convinced that I am okay. Because even though my skin is crawling, tingling with the want to dash up the stairs to Kieran's room, and see him, my mind overrides that completely, because I understand what Kieran needs, is more important than what I want.