Eclipse by Smiley sn (books to read to improve english .txt) 📖

tense slightly. I expected her to slap me or grab my ear while scolding me. I was not afraid of her in the least, but even I knew to stear clear of her when she was angry. Which wasn’t an easy feat because she could find me if she wanted to just by picking on my scent.

Needless to say, it was impossible to play hide and seek with her unless I’m IT.

I cringed when she lifted her hand, but instead of hitting me like I expected, she grabbed my arm and wrapped her arms around me tightly. “I missed you so much Jackson.” She says near my ear, her hot breath making the hairs stand on the end.

Her natural scent of earth and rain mixed with her vanilla perfume made me not wanting to let her go. I almost sigh in relief of the familiar scent. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed her. Missed everybody really. I hadn’t really thought how me leaving would affect them. How much I hurt them.

Wow. I was a self-centered jerk.

I almost sob in relief to have my best friend back. I know she hadn’t forgiven me. Heck, I wouldn’t forgive me, but I hope she does. “Me, too Savannah. I’m so so sorry.” My voice strained and if possible she held me tighter.

It took everything in me to pull back from her. I immediately missed her warmth and comfort she emitted. My body screamed at me to hug her again, but I knew she needed time.

I looked at her face that seemed torn between crying in pain or laughing in hysteria. Her eyes shiny with unshed tears. I could imagine I looked similar. I didn’t know what to say or how to start or how my tongue even worked. We just stared at each other in silence.

Blues to my Greens.

I unknowingly leaned in closer as she did too. We were real close, outrageously so, too close for my comfort, but neither of us moved away from each other. The electricity between us caused me to pull myself towards, totally defenseless.

So close. I look at her lips that were warm, pink and inviting. I wanted to taste them, I was almost scared of my thoughts, but I couldn’t move away even as my brain told me to in urgency.

“Are you coming?” we both jumped away from each other to Stacey looking at us in amusement and curiosity. She looked at both of us as if making sure we were alright. I nodded at her and she clapped her hands together. “Well come, come then. You can talk after dinner. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

We both nodded again as if we have lost our voices. I was in shock at myself. How could I do that? If Stacey hadn’t interrupted us, what would we have done? I knew what and it sent a shiver down my spine.

Stacey looks at us one more time in suspicion. But didn’t comment on it to my utter relief. Instead she led us to to the kitchen. There were various vases filled with unique flowers. Lilies, roses, orchid, periwinkle and many others I couldn’t hope to know. All of them seemed to brighten and follow the movement of us or more specifically Stacey.  She seemed calmer too more at peace. I knew it was because her ability.

I didn’t really know how to explain it. To put it simply, she had a connection with plants. She was almost always spending time outside and she couldn’t stand being inside for long periods of time, especially in sunny weather. She could accelerate their growth and summon them to her will.

Right now, I could practically see them stretching their stems and leave to be nearer to her like a moth to a flame. She smiled at them knowingly and they shimmered as if they were smiling and laughing back.

A small pang of jealously went through me. I sobered instantly and the small happiness I felt was smothered, but I pushed the unwanted feeling away. I had no need to be jealous at her power. Her power was good and pure, while mine could hurt people if I wasn’t careful, if I didn’t control it. I was meant to destroy people’s power, absorb the energy like a sponge and if I kept absorbing them I could permanently suck in someone’s power.

Destroyed forever. Never to return. Never again being able to have superhuman abilities. Almost defenseless. I could never wish that to anyone, even my enemies.

Well…maybe one.

My expression darkens, but I push it down to keep my expression stoic. I wasn’t going to ruin the moment with my thoughts of vengeance.

The smells from the kitchen ferment the rest of the house in smells of stew, warm bread, and if I wasn’t mistaken pie. My mouth waters from the smells that reached my happy nose. My stomach grumbles hungrily and for the first in months, I actually wanted to eat.

Kayo has already sat down at the head of the table as the twins had chicken nuggets which they happily munched on. Stacey sat next to her husband and gestured for me to sit next to her which I did. Savannah sat next to me and goosebumps spread on my arms at her close proximity, her vanilla perfume permeating my senses.

Stacey served our stew into our bowls. As she served me, she touched my hand again before turning to serve Savannah. I noticed she did that a lot as if she couldn’t believe I was here. My chest twisted at that.

I slurped the stew in my mouth. I almost moaned at the perfectly warm liquid with a sour and spicy tang. I closed my eyes in bliss in feeling it go down my throat and down to my hungry stomach that cramped slightly at the food after so long.

I opened my eyes to see Savannah looking at me strangley. My stomach twist at that, but this time because of Savannah. I didn’t want her to know I practically starved myself. It will just cause her more pain and look at me with pity.

I hated pity

Never helped me before, never saved me. People trying to giv me money, food, even a place to sleep just becausethey felt sorry for me. Because they thought I couldn’t get it myself. That I was broken.

I wasn’t broken.

And if Savannah looked at me like that. I couldn’t, no wouldn’t stand for it. I couldn’t tell tham the truth. Couldn’t tell them what happened to me, what I had to do to survive. It will crush them. Hurt them.

As I at the rest of the stew, I constructed a story. By the time I had finished, I came to a conclusion.

I was going to tell them I was kidnapped by my parent’s murderer.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“What happened, Jax?” Kayo asked me, looking me square in the eyes as he stopped eating his pie to wait for my response. I could sense Stacey wanted to wait to ask me, maybe in private. We were in the living room and the twins were playing with their toys on the floor, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere.  

I almost cringe at the same nickname my parents used to call me. I hadn’t been called Jax in all the months I spent alone. Just Jackson. I wanted to tell them not to call me Jax but I knew that would get a suspicious reaction from them.

“Jax?” This time from savannah who was looking at me in worry.

The million dollar question. What happened to me? Why did I look like crap? Like a corpse? It couldn’t possibly be my doing.

I swallow at my suddenly dry throat. I grab my drink and poor the cold liquid in my throat. As if sensing my nervousness, Sea came over and rubbed my leg and sat at my feet putting her head in my lap. I stroked her soft fur and told the story I had made up in my mind.

“After my parents were…gone. He took me away from the home. I don’t know where we went, because they had me blindfolded. They had me in an underground cell where I was kept there as a captive for months. He never came back, just had his lackeys guard me and give me food and make sure I didn’t escape or die. I think they were ordered to keep me alive and not to talk to me.” I didn’t look up the entire time I spoke, just ran small circle into Sea’s hair. I hoped they would believe me. This was mild compared to the truth. One that I will never tell.

“How did you escape?” It was Stacey this time that asked. I look up to her and see the twins had gone, probably upstairs.

I continue in my monotone tone of voice. “I didn’t, not really. One night, there was an explosion close by, probably an enemy or a raid, I don’t know. Some men came into my room and took me as well as a group of others. They told us to run away and go far away before they come back. We all ran and went to a nearby town. From there I sold my gold watch to get someone to get transported to here.” I had actually had my watch stolen from me one night when I had to sleep in an alley, but again, I couldn’t tell them that. Savannah was still looking at me suspicoulsly like she wasn’t sure if I was lying or not. I hoped she didn’t voice her thoughts.

Kayo spoke up again. “Do you remember anything about him. Hair color? Eye color? Accent? Anything?”

My mind flashes to the day he came in. A normal day, a seemingly random day. I remember hearing my mother scream words that were beyond recognition. I remember scream my dads name as I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs. I stop at the scene downstairs. My mom sobbing and cradling a body, my dad’s dead body. I remember trying to do something, anything to save both of them.

I was helpless.

I was helpless to protect my mom as someone shot her in the head causing her to fall down in my dad’s own blood.

Right. In. Front. Me.

I was right there, but I couldn’t help her. I couldn’t save her. I kept trying and trying to shake her as fi I was trying to wake her up.

But it was no nightmare.

I remember looking up to hear chuckling. A tall man wearing a navy blue suit as if this was a special occasion or a formal party. His blonde hair slicked back and Green eyes flashing wickedly at me and a giddy expression on his face like kid at Christmas. I remember him being so happy. Like this was the greatest moment of his laugh.

I remember him stooping down to my level making his back leather shoes creak. I remember him wiping the tears off my cheek with a baby blue handkerchief and stroking my hair. When he drew his hand back I saw a ring on his middle finger. It was like a white donut with the center cut out.

 I remember not being able in move in shock as he said, “Don’t cry, muchacho. El puta got what