Discovering Aether Read online

  Well, the part of the Alchemist community they deem worthy. Now that I’m here, the boys are finally going to be accepted. These Alchemists sound like a bunch of bastards. When Nolan and Kevin deem me ready, I’ll be presented to Alchemist society. The weird part is, I want to go, even if they are a bunch of elitist pigs.

  Naomi has been explaining all things Alchemist to me over lunch we’ve grabbed at Popeye’s. Evidently, it’s her favorite restaurant. When we finished shopping, Naomi asked if I was hungry and I told her I could eat. She got way too excited and dragged me to the car and drove straight here.

  After we ordered and sat down in a booth, she told me all their parents are really high up. Kevin and Naomi’s parents are on the council themselves. There are thirteen people on the council. Every ten years, they vote for representatives and three quads are chosen. Well, this time, two quads were chosen and a quint. I really wanted to meet the quint group since they are the only other group around right now that has someone with the power of Aether. His name is Thomas, he’s the Nucleus of the group and he has four wives. Not all groups are like ours. Some have a guy in the center with women, some are all guys, some are all women, and some with a mixture. It really is based on the Nucleus’ preference.

  “So why groups?” I ask her.

  “Well, it’s so we have all the elements together. It’s been around so long that I’ve never even thought about it. I mean, it was even like this when Osiris was in charge. And thank goodness, because now we’re at war with them. You don’t want to be alone when they come after you,” Naomi informs me gravely, tossing her hair over her shoulder. She scans the restaurant, checking out the people sitting around us. Does she really think I understand everything that's going on with only a little details?

  I am so damn tired of being confused. “Okay, so what’s the deal with Osiris and Horus?”

  “Well, they started out as political parties, like how here in America you have the Democrats and Republicans. But then when Osiris became the main party represented, they started a campaign to get every Alchemist to hate regular people. They thought they were better than them because our ancestors decided to better our lives, we became immortal and in control of the elements thanks to them. A lot of the members of Horus became scared and didn’t want the world to know about us, and didn’t want to be in control of the planet.” She says quietly, her eyes staring off into the distance. She seems to be reliving some sort of memory of her own.

  “So our parents fought back and Osiris went into hiding. They pop up every now and again and try to start problems. We became fractured really, Horus is in control, technically, but that’s because Osiris doesn’t listen to our government, they have created their own. Now, we have safe houses set up everywhere, the place we live is one. When we have travelers associated with Horus, they get to stay with us.”

  Frustrated, I squish a fry that I’m holding. It seems I’ve stumbled into a civil war that average people don’t even know is happening around them. “We’re safe right?” I ask, my heart beating loudly in my ears, worry coursing through me.

  She nods her head. “Of course, don’t worry. As long as Horus is in charge, we’re fine. I mean, my parents tell us we need to know how to defend ourselves, so we train. But I have yet to find myself in a situation where I needed it.” She grins at me, trying to ease my fears. I guess if she doesn’t stress about it, I won’t either. “You ready to head back?” she questions.

  “Yep, I think we have enough clothes.” She giggles at my words and grabs the trash.

  “We don't have enough clothes really, but I can tell you’re done,” Naomi comments as we head for the doors.

  I’m lounging on our black leather sectional, watching some old episodes of Seinfeld, waiting for Nolan to make an appearance. When I came back down here after dropping off Adaline with Naomi, I thought he disappeared to his room. But I decided to check in on him an hour back and his room was empty. Now, I’m just waiting here praying he makes an appearance before Adaline shows up and I can clean him up because if that empty bottle of whiskey in his room is any indication, he seems to have gone off on another drinking binge. I really hope he doesn’t show up here with a girl in tow.

  The door knob starts to jiggle. That would be him, right on cue. I unlock the door and swing it open and there he is, grinning like a drunken idiot.

  “Is there a drunk girl I should be worried about behind you or anything?” I demand. Nolan’s jaw tightens and he tries to take a swing at me. I duck under his fist and grab a hold of his shirt. I push him to the sofa and slam the door shut.

  “Seriously Nolan, I thought Adaline being here would help you. Do you really want her seeing you like this?” He rolls into the couch and I can barely make out what he’s mumbling into it.

  “Why would she care? She has you.” Ugh, I would feel bad if he wasn’t being a complete idiot.

  “Nolan, stop feeling sorry for yourself. She’s here and you can have the chance you never thought you could have. So get off of the couch and take a shower. You reek,” I instruct him. “I’ll call Lincoln and have him bring the boys down here so we can have a small little party. No more alcohol, you better be drinking water the rest of the night. But if everyone else is drinking, maybe we can get the attention off of you when the girls get back.”

  He stumbles off the couch and reaches for the wall to keep himself upright as he makes his way back to his room.

  “I’m going to check on you in ten minutes, Nolan.” I wait for a moment to see if he’s going to respond. I hate when he gets into this groggy stage after drinking. “Hey, Nolan, you hear me?”

  “I hear you, man.” He doesn’t look back, just keeps stumbling to his bedroom.

  I can’t hold back the sigh that escapes me. This crap is really getting old. I scratch my head trying to think of what to do now. Only one thought comes to my head. Adaline. What will she think? I can’t let her seem him like this. I grab my phone out of my pocket and dial Lincoln’s number. He quickly picks up and I hear his deep voice say hello.

  “Hey, man, I need your assistance. What do you say to a small party when the girls get back?”

  We make our way back into the building, tired from our shopping trip. A nap would be amazing right now. I’ll just hang up the clothes we got shopping after I lay down for a while. As we make our way up the five flights of stairs, I start wishing they had an elevator. Training next week is going to suck if I also have to climb these stairs after.

  Naomi’s phone rings in her black rhinestone purse. She told me earlier I had to get one when she realized I had no purses. We went back and forth with each other over it. So I don’t like carrying around a lot of items, sue me. She laughed so hard when I said that out loud. But it made her drop the subject. A grin breaks out on my face just thinking about it. She really is starting to grow on me.

  “Hey Link, what’s up?” Her whole face lights up when she answers the phone. You would think after being with someone for eleven years, she would be tired of hearing his voice. But the girl just sounds downright giddy. “Oh, that should be fun.” What would be fun? I whip my head in her direction. She laughs a little when she sees my brows wrinkle in confusion. “Yeah, this will be a great opportunity for her to get to know you three. We’re heading up there right now.”

  “What’s going on now?” I ask as she puts away her phone.

  “Oh, the boys have planned a small party while we’ve been gone at your apartment. This will be so much fun and you can meet the loves of my life.” She practically skips up the last flight of stairs. So much for the nap I was imagining.

  She opens the door and drops the bags she’s carrying just barely inside. Naomi runs up to a guy that looks like he belongs in the nineties and jumps up in his arms. He’s wearing a denim jacket over a black t-shirt and his brown hair is at least three inches long.

  “This is Lincoln,” she announces over her shoulder. “He was the first connection I had.” He reaches his hand out to say hell
o and I grab it, while two more men come into my peripheral vision.

  One has on a red and black plaid shirt on with faded blue jeans and the other has a blue polo on over a pair of khaki shorts with brown flip-flops. Ten bucks he’s wearing Rainbow brand. They both have the same shade of brown hair and tan skin as Lincoln does, as well as the same blue eyes. Maybe there is something to this soulmate thing because it looks like Naomi has a type.

  Plaid shirt guy steps forward next and also reaches his hand out to shake. As I take it, he tells me that he’s Parker and Naomi’s second connection. So, I grab Rainbow brand flip-flop’s hand next, “Let me guess, you’re Cooper and Naomi’s third connection.” They all start laughing. Cooper shakes his head at me.

  “Naomi told us you would be a fun addition to our group,” Cooper says.

  They start chatting with me, I try to pay attention but my eyes wander around the room instead, looking for my guys. Great, when did I start referring to them in that way? I find Kevin in the corner putting out what looks like appetizers on the counter right next to a bowl of ice that has beer and wine coolers in them.

  “Excuse me for a minute, guys,” I say abruptly. They don’t really seem to care, those boys are transfixed on Naomi’s words. Just hearing her talk about her day out with me seems to be the best thing they’ve ever heard. Man, she has them eating out of the palm of her hand. Naomi waves at am as I make my way over to Kevin. I can’t help but grin because he’s gazing at me the same way Naomi’s boys seem to look at her. I bring my head down hoping to hide the blush I feel spreading through my cheeks.

  “Do you need help with anything over here?” I ask trying to keep my voice steady. He grabs a beer and wine cooler out of the bowl motioning for me to pick one. Since I have yet to acquire the taste that everyone else seems to have for beer, I grab the Fuzzy Navel.

  “I’m good, Adi, I was just making sure we’re set up to mingle.” Adi. I guess he’s come up for a nickname for me like he has for Naomi.

  “Adi, huh?” I question. A wicked grin spreads on his face. I love it when he smiles.

  “I hope I can call you that, it means Jewel,” he answers with another grin.

  “Yeah, sure you can call me that.” I try to not look too excited over it. I love the idea of having a nickname. “Where’s Nolan?” I ask, looking around, like he’s going to pop out of thin air. Kevin’s grin falters a bit.

  “He’s in his room freshening up, he should make an appearance here soon,” he says offhandedly, looking away. Why do I feel like he’s hiding something from me? I try to tell myself to let it go but then Kevin starts to shift from side to side. Seriously? I make up my mind when Kevin can’t make eye contact with me. He tries to look like he’s straightening up the counter that he already finished organizing.

  “Well, I’m going to go check on his progress. I wanted to ask him something anyways.” As I turn to the hallway, I see him shake his head from the corner of my eye. I notice that nobody else seems delighted that I decided to go find Nolan, even Naomi cringes when she sees where I’m going.

  After making my way down the hallway, I open up the door to the bedroom I saw Nolan come out of this morning. He’s sitting on the floor with his back against the bed. His hair seems wet, maybe from taking a shower. He looks my way and I notice his eyes seem bloodshot. He quickly looks back down at the floor. Has he been in here crying while everyone was out there hanging out?

  I sit down next to him and man, I can smell alcohol coming out of his pores. I look around his room, different types of alcohol bottles are laying around. Vodka, Rum, and whiskey. All empty. Please let some of these bottles be old.

  “So, you stink,” I joke to try to lighten the mood... but it might not be the best way to start a conversation. “Why are you sitting in here, when you could be out there with everybody else?” I ask trying to cover up my previous comment. Nolan turns his head to look at me, and a single tear escapes. It slowly rolls down his cheek.

  “Have I lost you? I know you told Kevin that you didn’t care what I did before we met. But you seem to be okay with his touch while you can’t seem to stand mine.” So he’s like this because of me? How can I hold so much power over someone I just met?

  Yeah, they said they’ve been waiting for me for years, but he can’t expect me to jump into anything with them. Especially considering it’s supposed to be a part of a quint, I have powers of some kind, and there’s a war going on. I may have taken comfort from Kevin last night, but nothing happened. I just fell asleep in his arms.

  “Nothing has happened between me and Kevin. Yeah, it was nice to have someone there for me last night after everything, but I swear nothing happened, yet. There may be a part of me that didn’t like seeing that woman yesterday. But that’s something for me to get over.” I grab his hand and intertwine our fingers. The shocks that spread up my arm are more comforting now, like a pleasant tingle.

  “I’m sorry I moved away from your touch earlier today when we were talking after breakfast. I’m still getting use to the idea of having two guys interested in me. I was telling myself I got too comfortable last night with Kevin, it was just nice having someone there.” It’s partly true. I don’t feel like adding my mixed feelings for breakfast to this already depressing conversation.

  I look directly into his eyes as I say this next part because I want him to know that I’m being sincere. “I even told Kevin last night that I have only been kissed by one guy and it was a pity kiss. I am attracted to you. Both of you. Believe me Nolan, I was having a hard time concentrating when I met you yesterday.” He bursts out laughing, startling me. It looks like I was able to lighten the mood after all.

  He stops abruptly and looks back down at me. His bottom lip covers his top for a second as he decides his next choice of words. “So you and me are good then? I just want a chance with you,” he starts, but his voice sounds broken and defeated. He takes a breath before he continues, “I haven’t been the best person over the past couple of years. It’s hard seeing Naomi, Lincoln, Parker, and Cooper so happy all the time, together. I’ve always wanted that, I just assumed it would never happen. But now that I have you, I’m scared. Scared that I won’t be good enough for you.” Seeing him be this vulnerable has my heart racing. I love being able to see this side of him, so far he’s only been serious with an unexpectedly eccentric side. It makes me more willing to take a chance on him because I can’t deny there’s something here. Since I showed up here yesterday, I keep feeling this pull towards him. Maybe it’s really only the fact that I’m his Nucleus or soul mate but I don’t think it makes my feelings for him any less real.

  He squeezes my hand and I look up into his chocolate eyes and then the rest of his chiseled face. He looks good even after he’s had a breakdown. Well, an emotional, drunken breakdown. But still… hot.

  Goosebumps pop up all over my arms and I can’t seem to look anywhere but at his lips. I want a new first kiss. I think Nolan can give me one I will want to remember. Hesitantly, I lean my head forward and that seems to be all the encouragement he needs. He wraps his hand around the back of my neck, pulls my head towards his and captures my lips with his.

  It’s eager at first. I open my mouth to allow his tongue in. He pulls back from me and winks with a broad smile on his face. My mouth is still hanging open in an o shape. Was I too subtle at letting him know that I wanted this to continue?

  He places his hands on either side of my waist and lifts me up and onto his lap. An audible gasp escapes me, but I wrap my legs around him after I get over the momentary shock of it. He moves his mouth back to my still open one and proceeds to flick my tongue with his, encouraging me to move my tongue into his mouth. As my tongue tastes the inside of his, I run my fingers through his hair as my other hand starts to travel down his back.

  Just as we have this amazing rhythm going, he pulls his tongue back and closes his mouth but still gives me a quick peck on my cheek.

  Why is he ending this? I gage his movements, hoping he
will come back for seconds, like he did before. When I come to the conclusion that he’s really done, I pull my hands away from him. I didn’t even realize they’re still exploring his body. I didn't mean to grab on to him like I did. How did I become the vulnerable one in this situation?

  “As much as I would like to continue this, My Heart's Center, I think we may need to make an appearance in the other room since there is a party going on.” I nod my head in response, unable to actually say a thing right now. I can bring up that heart’s center comment later. He’s right, how did I go from being nervous letting him kiss me, to practically throwing myself at him?

  “Right, I forgot for a second that there’s still people here.” He intertwines our hands again and gives them a comforting squeeze.

  “Come on, I bet Kevin has made some amazing dips, he’s the chef between the two of us,” Nolan announces with a warm smile. I can’t help but grin as he stands with my legs still wrapped around him. I place my feet on the ground, and look up at him shyly, my cheeks warming. He tugs on our clasped hands and leads me out of his room.

  It seems that was all the reassurance Nolan needed because for the rest of the night he was back to his serious self. He only joked around every once in awhile with Cooper, who seems to be the troublemaker out of Naomi’s boys. The only time I saw him smile was when he looked in my direction, Naomi noticed it as well. She told me he hadn’t cracked a smile in years till I showed up yesterday, even when he goofed off, he was usually trying to get other people to laugh, not himself.

  As for Kevin, he made sure everyone was taken care of, he would pop up whenever someone needed more to drink and he was so gracious to everyone for showing up to meet me. I heard him tell them a couple of times repetitively, how thankful he was, ugh. I wanted to be annoyed that he felt like he had to say it over and over again. It’s not like I had asked him to help me make friends. But after I heard Lincoln and Parker mention how happy they were that Nolan seemed fine and they may not have needed to have the party after all, I figured the party was more a distraction for me other than actually a meet and greet. Thank goodness he wasn’t doing this just for me. Besides, it was great to have met the boys that keep Naomi in such a state of bliss.