Chapter 7 - Aerokinesis: The ability to manipulate air

Cons' POV

The room was dark, the fire had gone out several hours ago, I rubbed my eyes, and shifted to my side, before closing my eyes again, I felt a motion at my chest, arms curled into me and burned into my skin, my arm was sore as a body shifted on top of it, suddenly all of the heat faded, I reached over to only feel my blanket. “Hey.” A hand touched my shoulder and I turned over. A hand brushed my cheek, and a pair of warm lips kissed my forehead. I fell back asleep.

I woke up in the morning feeling stiff, I saw a note on my pillow, I lit a flame, Sorry about last night, again, you should head to Tristan’s and I’ll see you there later. - Jane. I sighed, last night didn't feel real, with the people trying to kill Jane, I dressed and walked to Tristans.

I opened his door to see everyone, including Edur, but no Jane. “Con!” Tristan said.

“How’d it go with Jane?” Edur asked, I blushed slightly.

“We talked then parted ways before it got dark.”

“What’d you have to talk about?” Valery asked. I sighed.

“You actually, I wanted answers on people wanting to kill her.” Everyone nodded.

“Did she say anything?” Neve asked.

“No, just told me it happens sometimes.” I sat down next to Neve. I didn’t want to tell them about last night, I wanted to see what Jane was going to say, it’s her choice, not mine.

Janes' POV

I sat in the great hall, looking over their weapon books with the arrow under my jacket, I figured I could find a match somewhere. “Jane!” I heard Diomedes yell, I quickly turned to a page about throwing knives. “How are you doing this fine morning?” He asked, I narrowed my eyes.

“Fine-”

“I heard a rumor about you.” He said, sitting down. I focused on the book.

“Do tell,” I said, turning a page. He swallowed more of his drink which I could smell was beer. “Little early to be drinking.” He frowned.

“Nonsense.” He put his hand on the book. “I heard you spent the night with my wife’s bastard.” He suddenly became serious. “Trust me when I say he’s not worth your time.” I slowly nodded.

“Okay.” I stood, grabbed my jacket hiding the arrow, and walked back to the books, I could feel Diomedes hovering over me.

“He’s just using you to get back at me-” I shut the book very loud, cutting him off.

“Let me assure you the rumor is just a rumor, I didn’t even see Con last night.” I lied, shaking my head. He exhaled.

“Sorry, I guess I should’ve gone with my gut, I knew you had better taste than that.” He laughed, I bared my teeth but didn’t turn around, I felt his eyes on me, along with others watching us. I turned and smiled.

“Yeah.” I walked out and was heading to Tristan’s when Tristan ran up to me.

“Jane!” He yelled, grabbing my hand. “Come on!” I let him lead me to the forgery.

“Tristan, is everything okay?” He nodded, smiling.

“I started making this, and I can’t wait to show you.” He uncovered pieces of a bodysuit, then handed me cloth, I unrolled it and it looked like wings.

“My flight suit?” He had the biggest smile on his face.

“After seeing your drawings I just had to try making it.”

“I can’t believe you did this.” I studied the material.

“You might want this too.” He handed me a helmet that covers most of the face.

“Why?”

“Well if we test it you may need extra padding.” I chuckled. “I have all the pieces, I just don’t know how to stick them together.” I nodded and took out my notes.

“I wrote that a mixer of sap and spider webbing makes a perfect lacing compound for fabric.” He looked around my shoulder.

“You wrote all this?” I nodded.

“Everything I know about herbs is in here.” He stood wide-eyed.

“May I?” I handed it to him and looked over the suit, the wings could connect to my ankle, waist, and wrist. I saw Tristan flip through the pages.

“This is incredible.” He said I nodded.

“If you want we could go try to make a lacing compound right now.” His eyes lit up.

“I do want to.” He gave me my notes and grabbed the suit. “I know where we could find a lot of sap.” I smiled and picked up the last few pieces.

“Lead the way.”

It took a few hours to get enough sap and spider silk and wait for it to dry. “It’s holding up remarkably well,” Tristan said, pulling on the wings. I nodded. “You have to try it.” I laughed.

“I have an idea for how we can do that.” I reached into my bag and pulled out a stake and some rope. “You see that hill over there.” He nodded, as I tied the rope around my waist. “This will hold me to the ground, and when the next wind comes we’ll see if I can get airborne.” Tristan practically hopped up and down.

“Let’s do it!” We set it up, and with a little help from me, a strong breeze came, I pulled out the wings and put on the helmet, I extended my arms. The wind caught the wings and lifted me a few inches off the ground. Tristan and I screamed.

Cons' POV

“I’m getting worried,” I said, pacing. Valery nodded.

“I haven’t seen either of them in hours.” She said, outside the forgery.

“We should search, I’ll check the forest, you check around town.” Valery nodded and took off. I was starting to panic, what if Jane was hurt? And Tristan somehow also got involved? I ran into the forest, I heard laughter.

“Hello?!” I yelled.

“Look out!” Someone yelled I turned my head to see someone flying at me, before crashing into me. My breath was completely knocked out of me. “Con?”

“Who are you?!” They took off their helmet. It was Jane, I relaxed slightly. “Jane.” She nodded, getting off of me, Tristan came running up to us.

“Jane, that was unbelievable!” Tristan said, hugging her. He looked at me on the ground. “Con?” They pulled me up.

“What in the gods is going on here?” I asked, Tristan smiled.

“Jane show him.”

Janes' POV

Con looked confused, I grinned, and spread my wings, the wind picked me up as I glided through the air, I tucked them in and landed, me and Tristan high-fived. “How?!” Con yelled.

“Just a little project we’ve been working on.” I put the wings away. Con backed up, almost falling over a rock, I grabbed the front of his shirt. “Calm down, it’s nothing groundbreaking.”

“I’m just glad you’re both okay.” He said, I raised an eyebrow.

“Why wouldn’t we be?” Tristan asked, I looked to Con.

“Valery was worried, she hadn’t seen you for hours.” Tristan looked at the sun high in the sky, starting to set.

“I should go find her.” He said, running out. Con glared at me.

“I was worried you were dead!” Con yelled, grabbing my shoulders, I rolled my eyes.

“I’m fine Conrad,” I said, grabbing his face. “Let’s head back and I’ll make you some tea to relax.” He pushed my hands away.

“I am relaxed.” I smiled.

“Come on.” I led him back to town, Tristan was talking to Diomedes and a few men, they looked pissed.

“Jane!” Tristan yelled, Con and I ran over.

“What’s the problem?” I asked. Diomedes glared at me.

“The problem is, you’ve both been missing for a few hours!” He yelled and I frowned.

“Diomedes they were just collecting-” Con said, before Diomedes shoved him to the ground, I couldn’t even react before two men grabbed me and one grabbed Tristan.

“Father stop!” Tristan yelled.

“Stay out of this!” He grabs Con by the shirt. “You don’t get to talk to me, you’re a bastard, a mistake!” My heart stopped, I couldn’t believe it. “Your mother may not care, but I always have and I always will, all just because she has a bastard brother, and that over there is what you call a hundred percent bastard.” He pointed to me, my mouth dropped open. “Fifty percent bastard and fifty percent wild bastard.” I was frozen in shock.

“So what,” Con said, Diomedes grabbed his sword and held it to Con’s face. I regained my senses, I twisted the two men’s arms into each other, then punched them both, I jumped between Con and Diomedes, The alcohol smell made my eyes water.

“I don’t like my parents being called bastards, call me one all you want, but don’t call them that, and don’t ever call him that!” I yelled, pushing Con behind me. “Unless you want to regret it.” I took out my sword. He frowned, I widened my stance, I was almost positive he was going to swing at me.

“Bastards protect bastards.” He said, stumbling away, Tristan ran over.

“Con, are you okay?” Tristan asked, hugging his brother, I put my sword away.

“I’m fine, you better go find Valery, she might still be looking for you,” Con said, patting Tristan’s cheek. Tristan nodded and took off.

Cons' POV

I exhaled, when Diomedes gets wasted he shows how he truly feels. Jane stared at me, before hugging me, I stumbled back slightly. “You idiot.” She said I hugged her back.

“Don’t worry Jane you’re not a bastard-”

“That’s what you’re worried about?” She said, pulling back. I shrugged. “Does he always act like this?” I nodded. Jane frowned. “I can’t leave you here like this-”

“Red and Sunshine!” Edur yelled, running up to me, and Jane, Neve followed.

“Huh?” Jane said.

“Red is you because of the-” He grabbed her hair. “And Con is-” He gestured to my whole face.

“What have you both been doing?” Neve asked, I looked at Jane and she shrugged.

“Nothing worth talking about.” She said, glancing at me. I nodded.

“It’s getting dark out,” Edur said, looking at the orange sky. I nodded.

“Yeah, I’m tired,” I said, fake yawning. Neve yawned too.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, hopefully, something interesting will be happening,” Neve said, leaving the three of us.

“Yeah, this place is so boring,” Edur said, walking away as well. I looked at Jane and she burst out laughing, I started laughing too.

“Nothing interesting?” Jane asked. “That would be nice.” She grabbed my arm. “Come on, I'm taking you home.” She led me to my house.

“Thank you, for earlier with Diomedes-” She put her finger to my lips.

“Us bastards do have to stick together.” She cupped my face and kissed my cheek, her heat rushed through me. “Now get in there.” She pushed me inside, shutting my door, I locked it. It wasn’t dark yet, she would get home safe I told myself.