Fate Fixed (6 page)

“They are al so hot, but don’t tel Cian I said that,” Theo laughed as he snatched one of Lexie’s fries. His chocolate colored eyes and hair stood out against his white DC cap.

“Yeah, but Cian is the hottest,” Brook defended meekly.

“You are so biased. What about Teagan and that gorgeous body? Half of Erris thinks he’s beautiful, even the old ladies want to run their hands through that long hair of his...” He looked at Julie with a knowing smile.

“I think Braden’s preppy look is the most handsome,”

Julie included. “But Torin has that whole miserable bad boy thing going on for him.”

“Yes,” Theo snorted, “He’s definitely dark and brooding, in that tie me up – I’l tie you down kind of way, but it works for him. I wear bracelets and everyone says it’s because I’m gay, he does and everyone says it’s because he’s edgy.”

Brooke looked on with a knowing smile, “If Torin swung your way Theo, I am sure you could make him happy, but
since he’s as straight as Cian, you’re out of luck.”

“You girls and your chatter, who are you talking about now?”

Alik sat back down after talking Modern Warfare.

“Cian’s friends,” Theo said innocently.

Brooke nodded her head. “They’re cousins. Their families have been in this town for years, but they always went to private schools in Nova Scotia. There is an esteemed

private school there where the headmaster is actual y a relative of theirs.

They just don’t know many people our age around here.

Cian always tel s me that Teagan had a ton of girls hanging on him back at school.”

Julie snickered, “I can see that. He has charm.”

“Hey Alik, I was just tel ing Lexie that maybe we can double date or something.” Brooke happily fil ed in. “I’m hoping they wil be here with Cian in a few minutes.”

Lexie noticed Alik’s mouth twitch, but then he promptly replaced it with a smile. “Actual y, Lexie and I need to run.”

He tilted his head and turned towards her, “I’m sure we
have been missed with al of the unpacking and everything.”

He placed a twenty on the table to cover the check and gave the girls a teasing smile, “Now due to having such beautiful sisters, my brothers and I wil have to be very protective of them. I on the other hand would be happy to double date anytime.”

Brooke and her friends laughed at Alik’s playfulness, but Lexie had a strange feeling that he meant what he said.

She hoped having protective brothers wouldn’t be awkward when it came to dating. Even when her Dad was alive, he trusted her to make good choices about who she saw

outside of school.

She fol owed her stepbrother out of the diner and climbed into the car. She noticed an attractive guy with interesting eyes and short dark hair climbing off a yel ow dirt bike parked next to them. He wore a tight tee shirt that

emphasized his muscular build and low slung Levis. He

must have been Cian. No wonder Brooke was infatuated,

he was certainly attractive and thoughtful looking.

Perhaps Maine will prove to be interesting after all.

On the short drive back to the house, Lexie listened to Alik
chatter incessantly about their new friends. She couldn’t shake the slight unease in the pit of her stomach. Was he trying to control her in a less evident way than Maxim or was he just joking around and making new friends like she was? She would have liked to stay longer and meet

Brooke’s boyfriend, but she supposed Alik was right about being needed back at the house.

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and

wondered if she should ask him to bring her back to the diner so she could walk home later. As much as she

wanted to, she couldn’t find the courage to be that selfish.

Lexie swal owed the lump that had formed in the back of her throat. She felt like such a heel. He was trying to make her happy, not miserable. She had to stop looking at

everything he did as a reason to embarrass her or manage her life. There was nothing wrong with Alik, the fault was her impatience. As he laughed about Theo’s antics, she

committed herself to being less bitchy and more like the kind of sister she should be, even to Max. They al needed time to adjust. Why should she expect more from them

without meeting them half way? Besides, her mom was

smiling and that was her goal al along.

“Thanks for treating me to lunch,” she said earnestly.

“I’m so thankful you came after me… I don’t know why I take everything so personal. I guess I’ve been overreacting because of al of the stress from moving.” He looked over at her and gave her his crooked grin. “I know Max didn’t mean to set me off this morning. I am going to try harder with him.”

Alik’s expression was good-natured, “Lexie…

Lexie…it’s only instinctive to be territorial. You’l get used to the way of things.” He reached towards the dashboard stereo and pushed his CD back into the player. Within a beat, he was back to singing along with Duran Duran.

“Torin, what the hel is your damn hurry?” Braden stepped backwards as Torin slammed the hood shut. “If you didn’t want to work on the car, why the hel did you buy it?”

The two had been working on the old ‘ Z Camaro as a

project since Torin spotted it for sale on the side of the road the last time they drove through Bangor. The body was beautiful and the interior was spotless, but it had sat in a garage neglected for far too long without being used. The
two of them worked tirelessly replacing the old dry rotted tires after changing al of the fluids and replacing the leaky gaskets.

Torin gave him a patient smile, “I don’t know what else you think we can do to it. I ordered the new sound system, but that won’t be arriving for another week.” He climbed in behind

the wheel and turned over the ignition, the vintage Chevy’s engine purred to life with ease.

Braden had always been good natured. Lately, he was

irritable and on edge. Torin loved the guy, but considered taking the car by himself for its first official cruise around Mount Katahdin. He wanted time to just think and see what the car was capable of. His inner clock constantly reminded him that he didn’t have much time left and he needed to come to terms with the changes about to take place, both physical y and what would happen to his family if he

disappointed them.

Torin glanced over at Braden; his closest friend stood patiently waiting to see what he was going to do. The easy smile Braden was known for was missing
.
Torin chastised himself and turned off the engine. He could wait ten more minutes.

Maybe he understands more than I give him credit for
.

Torin pul ed himself out of the car and motioned for Braden to fol ow him into the large barn where Endel ion kept a constant supply of cold beverages in an old refrigerator. He grabbed a couple of cans of Monster and tossed one to

Braden.

“So, I was wondering if anything new is going on with you.

You seem a little uptight.” He opened his can and drank the beverage in a few swal ows.

Braden took off his sunglasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He looked over to Torin; the concern on his face was

noticeable. “You know, I only need about an hour of sleep a night now, probably even less if necessary.”

Torin nodded with understanding, “I know. I only sleep a few hours now.” He crushed the can easily in his left fist. “I used to be able to sleep for ten hours straight and stil be tired.”

It was like his body was always fueled with adrenaline and ready to go.

Braden agreed, “I just roam and hunt usual y. It feels so
good to be out at night and I can see just as clearly as I can during the middle of the day.” He wasn’t interested in his energy drink; he just rol ed the cool can between his hands.

“Seeing in the dark, it was my first ability.”

Torin knew his eyes were getting better at night and the capability to see things with just the moons reflection was enough to light up the entire outdoors. His daylight vision was also enhanced with his growing skil s.

Braden’s expression was serious, “Last night, while I was out I came across a new smel . It was a large animal,

maybe even two, unlike anything I have ever come across before.

Possibly hunting together – I discovered the remains of a moose, a ful sized bul , al torn up. ”

Torin realized now why Braden was concerned.

Ferocious animals in the area could harm the local

population and its fal out would cause panic, sending half-cocked hunters,

armed and looking for glory into the woods. Someone

could get themselves hurt and the local wildlife would get skittish, even migrate, which the elders relied on for their own survival.

“Did you alert our families?” Torin asked, wondering what Donovan, Seamus and Patrick would make of it.

“The plan is – they are going to go out tonight when the sun sets and see if they can pick up the trail.” He paused, thinking. “My father was the best tracker, I wish he was here,”

His somber eyes looked at the ground. “Anyways, I was

thinking you should keep an eye out for signs of anything strange too.”

Torin agreed. They knew the woods al the way up to

Aroostook County and the creatures that crossed their

borders.

Having something unusual on their lands was never left unchecked. That was how their parents managed to survive in Northern Maine for over two hundred years: they blended into society, even as far back as the Aroostook War,

staying out of political affairs and living peaceful y alongside the Penobscot, Micmac and Maliseet tribes.

They kept homes in different parts of the state and Nova Scotia – and every two decades, would change addresses to avoid questioning about their age. While doing so, they kept a special eye on the National Wildlife Reserve, as wel as the Al agash Wilderness Waterway and the vast area

around Eagle Lake and its lands.

The two stood in silence for a moment, contemplating what needed to be done.

Braden put the unopened can back in the refrigerator.

“So, you real y blew my mind when you launched off your bike yesterday. What did it feel like?”

Torin thought for a moment, “Like free fal ing upward, but with more speed.” He shrugged his shoulders, “Until I

crashed that is.”

Braden tried to understand, “What grounded you?”

Torin took in a deep breath, if he could not trust Braden with this, then he couldn’t trust anyone. “I don’t know. You wil think I’m nuts, but I saw this girl in my mind. I have been dreaming of her for a while and when I was in the air… I felt like… if I just pushed a little harder, I could just go forever without stopping. But then her face came to my mind and I knew I wouldn’t want to miss out on being with her

someday.

That is when I hit the ground.” Pausing, “Go ahead, I know you want to laugh.”

“As much as I would like to torture you and rol on the ground with laughter, I can’t because I’m jealous.” Braden punched him in the shoulder. “First the good looks, and now the emerging abilities and a hot chick. She’s hot, right bro?”

Torin flushed and turned from Braden’s speculation.

“And how long have you been dreaming of her?”

“Months.”
Forever.

“You’ve always been a lucky bastard. But that wil change when she final y comes around and I seduce her with my sexiness,” Braden was chortling.

“You want to see how hard it would be to feed without

fangs? Go near her with anything but brotherly intentions and you’l find out,” he sparred back with a laugh.

“That’s okay Torin, she’l be yours. Besides, I was only joking about you having the good looks…You know that

Teagan and I are much prettier than you.”

Torin had always loved the ease in which they could harass each other, “If you mean pretty enough to wear a dress.”

He scanned Braden’s expression for an idea of what he was thinking, “Seriously though, what do you think of me dreaming about her already before I’ve made the change?

You don’t think it’s an omen that I won’t pass into the light, do you?”

Torin could feel the weight of his burden lift off his shoulders once he gave voice to the words that tormented his mind.

Braden looked amused. “Torin, you’ve never been one to wait for anything. Why should your transformation be any different?” He pointed over at the main house. “The elders can only tel us what happened to them, none of us wil be exactly the same. You’l complete the change soon, and when you do, you wil discover what the rest of us already see in you.”

Torin only wished that were true. He had disappointed

everyone before when he failed to save Shane Farrel from drowning a couple of years ago when his class went

exploring the rocky coast of Ingonish near the northern tip of Cape Breton.

Even though he was only fifteen and he hadn’t developed his speed or strength yet, Torin felt ashamed of his

powerlessness to save his smal er classmate and good friend.

What’s the point of being born this way if you can’t save
anyone?

Shane was a good kid, quick to laugh and loyal to a fault.

After his death, Torin vowed to never get close to his classmates again. As it stood, even if he did make it

through the change, he would have to live forever with the memory of Shane’s smal limp body as he hauled him to

shore. The image stil stung his mind, with his red hair plastered to his head and his flesh an ungodly shade of gray and coated with sand – no matter how hard the adult chaperones tried, they couldn’t get him breathing again.

I should have known he would follow me into the surf –
he followed me everywhere that year.

No one held Torin accountable for his friend’s drowning.

Rip tides were responsible for dozens of deaths in the area over the years. He just couldn’t help but feel like he disappointed everyone, especial y Shane, because he was only yards away