Halsey - Ghost

Ailech and Ember were waiting outside awkwardly, or at least Ember looked awkward, Ailech looked mildly amused, as if he had greatly enjoyed the little soap opera that had played out. They followed us at an extended distance, Ember whispering something I couldn't quite catch to Ailech, whose eyes were almost continually rolling.

We were two halls away before James spoke, startling me.

"Hopefully Abraham will train your Sight now. He was better than Grayson anyway."

I wished his words didn't make my fists tighten at my sides, my jaw clench, but just the thought of Grayson 'training' James made me wish I had acted quicker in his office. I had seen James' reaction to Grayson and even if part of it was an act I knew what his words meant, what seeing his old teacher made him think of, made him relive.

My memory turned back to the night before, to what I had relived, but I stuffed down my anger at what James had done. Better for him to think it hadn't been anything to me, just a small victory for him. It seemed all our interactions were little battles, though I wasn't sure of what the score currently was between us, who was winning, or even what winning meant.

"Knowing Abby, he'll make you train me now," I muttered under my breath once I dragged my mind away from the memory of the night before, hoping my guess wouldn't be correct. James merely shrugged, his face blank.

"Abraham would be better suited to teach you, I'm sure."

There was a long pause and I resented how the silence hanging between us seemed heavy, uncomfortable. He kept glancing to his right and even opted to cross his arms over his skinny chest to avoid his hand swinging by his side, as if he thought he would hit something, though nothing was near us. The halls in the vault were wide, but he still acted like every bench we passed, every plant or statue was much too close to him. Eventually his aversion to the right wall interested me enough to ask about.

"Does your hand still hurt?"

I saw him look at me out of the corner of his eye, seeming to decide how to answer.

"No."

"Then why are you favoring that side so much?"

"I'm not."

His words came out almost like the old James, defensive and cynical, but something in his tone didn't quite match, sounding a bit too flat.

"Then why do you keep looking over there, and keeping your hand at your side or holding it. If it isn't still injured why are you so worried about skimming it against something?"

He was silent for awhile as we continued to walk, nearing the gym I assumed he meant to work with me in. When he replied it was with a note of annoyance in his voice that clashed with his monotony strangely.

"Then actually yeah, it does still hurt."

"So are you lying now or then? Apparently I'm not that good at telling your lies from the truth." I said coldly, unable to hold my venom back any longer.

"Maybe you should just assume I'm always lying, and then you'll only ever be pleasantly surprised."

"Or you could be honest."

"I don't think that would suit me very well."

I scowled as we entered the gym, which turned out to be a forest areas instead. It was so easy to get turned around in the Vault, and a reliable sense of direction had never been a forte of mine.

"Want to learn how I strengthened my Sight?"

I could already tell he had Shifted before I turned to look at him. His voice sounded alive again, teasing, and the air seemed to crackle with his power. I stifled the edge of a smile, hating that seeing him Shifted was such a treat to me, or at least better than when he wasn't, hating that I cared how he looked, how he sounded. It shouldn't matter to me. It didn't.

"Why are you always doing that, Shifting?"

He shrugged, which looked much more natural now than it had before.

"It feels good. And I like things that feel good. Now, do you want to learn or not?"

I shrugged, mimicking James. He flashed his bright teeth at me before speaking.

"My father used to send me out into our woods with another boy, a helper of our family I suppose. We played something like tag out here, learning how to blend in, how to be silent...and how to find the other even when we couldn't see them. Abraham first started the game with me, but then he left. Grayson taught in others ways."

His words sounded bitter, but more so at Abby's desertion than Grayson's cruelty, which I made note of. I wondered which he hated more, which he held more against, the one who had abandoned him, or the one who had abused him. I had seen his reactions to Abby, though they were usually dulled...

I silently cursed at my thoughts. I didn't care who he hated or why or how much. It didn't matter to me.

"So, am I supposed to be your 'family helper' in this game?"

"Let's hope you're better than Malachi. He only ever beat me once."

He gave an arrogant smile over to me, his teeth catching the light and reminding me of fangs, Jevin's fangs. I swallowed back the memory as I gladly let my Shift cover me, smirking back at him when my teeth matched his.

"Just don't let me sneak up on you, if you can see me, even without your eyes, then you'll never lose the game."

In a flash he was gone, disappeared into the woods before me. My fake smile dropped as I cautiously followed, wishing I was better with my Sight. I found a little clearing, just a few feet in diameter and stood in its center, closing my eyes and trying to focus on the world around me, on seeing what was approaching me between the trees. I tried to send it out as far as I could, but even with my Shift it was difficult, like looking through heavy smoke, or snow blowing across a road. I felt the air ripple behind me before my Sight ever alerted me, and then two strong arms closed around my waist, bony but firm, pulling me back.

"Be glad you aren't Malachi, or this would be a dagger in your back."

His breath was at my ear and I had to fight the shiver that tried to run down my spine, sure he would feel it by the way he had drawn me into him. I pulled away and spun, but he was already gone. I closed my eyes again, trying to up my focus, but my sides burned where he had touched, and I could feel heat moving up my neck to my ears. I bit down on my teeth as I pictured the forest around me in my mind.

I hated how familiar this seemed, like when I had thought I was waiting for James in my dream, but had been met by his father instead. I should have been able to tell their relation, their voices were so similar, their laugh, their arrogance. The feeling that only my Pair and his father could give me deep in my chest behind my ribcage, like a quiver, but not necessarily of fear. A draw. I should have known, it was so obvious now.

Two fingers touched the center of my chest.

"Bang."

My eyes flew open to see James standing directly in front of me, his hand in the mock of a gun.

"That's twice."

I batted his hand away irritably.

"Then give me some pointers. You aren't being much of a teacher right now."

His smile widened and then he shoved me, my back hitting a tree before he was in front of me again, blocking me from moving past him. He placed one hand over my eyes.

"Close your eyes, Angel."

I scowled at his pet name, but obeyed and I felt him remove his hand.

"Now, where am I looking?"

"At me."

He chuckled, which sounded dark in his Shift.

"Be more specific."

I could just barely see a picture of us in my mind, see him leaning against me, my back against the tree, his face close to mine, though my own was slightly turned away, as if his proximity wasn't welcome. I was glad that's how it appeared. It was difficult to discern where his eyes were looking with his Shift, but from how close he was it seemed like he must be watching my face, like he would be staring into my eyes if they'd been open.

"My face."

"Face?"

"Eyes."

"And now?"

I felt him adjust himself where he stood and the image in my mind swam for a moment, but then it sharpened and I saw him watching my hand, looking down at it, at my little finger.

"My ring."

I saw him smile in my mind and his hand that had been posted by my shoulder pushed off. As he moved my mental image wavered. When it came into focus he was gone. I kept my eyes closed as I walked to the center of the forest's small opening, using my Sight instead of my eyes to guide my steps. I heard his smooth voice call from somewhere on my left, making my heart flutter annoyingly.

"Try again now, just focus on the clearing and tell me when you can find me."

I cleared my mind as I re-closed my eyes. The woods were now much easier for me to see, the trees, the grass beneath me, the breeze making each leaf tremble. I couldn't see James, but I could see where his body disturbed the air, where his movements blocked the wind or changed its current, making it twist around him, like a slight outline in my vision. He was using his Gift, hiding himself from eyes, but my Sign gave him away. He was slightly to my left again, but further away than the last time, still ten feet from the clearing's edge, but I could see him, or more accurately, I knew where he was.

"Found you."

I smiled as I answered, feeling accomplished. Then someone opened the door to the forest and I could see them as if they were only feet from me, not a hundred yards away, as clearly as if my eyes were open. Ailech strode in, looking frustrated, Ember on his heels with adoration in her big, circle eyes. I wondered what had taken them so long as I smiled again, opening my eyes to see James at the edge of the clearing now.

"Ailech and Ember just walked in. I can see them from a lot further than I can see you."

"Then it's time for phase two; don't let them find you. Should be easy, Ailech doesn't seem that bright, and Ember hardly seems observant."

James smirked as he spoke again, his teeth like knives behind his lips. He caught me staring and closed his mouth, the muscle in his jaw working as he clenched it.

"Where are they now?"

His voice sounded gravelly, but I didn't comment as I closed my eyes, picturing sending a part of myself through the trees, searching for their presence, though it was easier to think of it as a disturbance.

"Can you see them like they're...invading somehow, like they're stirring up the air, aggravating it with their presence? Or is it different for you because your Sign is different?"

I sounded thoughtful as I spoke, my voice quiet. It was wonderful to be able to feel them from so far, to know my Sight was growing. Even if James was maddening to try and find, at least others weren't. His reply came from much closer than I had expected, and suddenly I could feel the heat he always seemed to radiate by my left side.

"No, for me I see their warmth, their life, like a little, human infrared target. I see them because they give off heat, at least that's how it started, when I was still learning, or if they're cloaked. Otherwise they're a picture in my mind, just like if I was seeing them with my eyes. You'll get there too, angel."

I could feel his breath on me now, but I didn't move away, instead I tried to focus on Ailech and Ember more, ignoring how close I knew James was, ignoring how his words had brushed against my ear, and how erratically my heart was drumming.

"On the North path."

I finally replied to his first question, opening my eyes but he was already gone. I scowled as I tried to find him, but even with my Sight he was gone, or too far for me to sense. Or I was just too distracted.

It was close to impossible to not make noises in the woods, twigs and leaves littered the ground and even the places I thought would be silent still made some small sigh when I stepped. Grayson and Abby had never actually taught me how to move like a ghost, like James did, like the wind.

Then it hit me, it was so obvious I felt silly for not thinking of it earlier; I didn't need to be quiet if my surroundings weren't. I let my Sign trickle from me, just gently, easily, not wasting my energy by making it anything more than a slight rustling of the leaves. I smiled as I realized each step I took was completely covered, muffled. I made sure to not make the forest too noisy, to not make it seem unnatural, but that was simple. I had spent enough time in woods in my past to know exactly what noises were to be expected, and exactly what amount of noise was natural.

Soon I found myself on the path just twenty feet behind Ailech and Ember, my footsteps blending into the life and movement around me. It was fun, being right behind someone without them knowing. Ailech's eyes were scanning the woods for me, his head moving methodically back and forth while avoiding Ember the best he could. It was funny to see, to know he was looking for me with such dedication when I was just behind him. I stifled a giggle as I followed, feeling accomplished and mischievous and a little prideful, feeling a little like I imagine James always felt.

And then someone pulled me back, off the path, arms wrapped around my middle again, except this time it had trapped my arms. I glared at the trees above us, knowing it was James behind me, recognizing the wiry strength of his slender arms. Knowing no one else could have, or would have dared to, sneak up on me in such a way, to touch me in such a way.

"What?" I said through my teeth.

"You didn't sense me. You weren't paying enough attention. That's three. If you were Malachi, you'd have to pay now."

"You're more difficult to find than others-"

"Which isn't an excuse, it only means you have to work harder. If you can't beat me you'll be a lamb to slaughter against my- you just need to be better."

His voice was at my ear again, but it brought nothing but anger this time, bristling through me, boiling somewhere in my gut. He continued, but sounded different, his words darker, colder than before.

"I know parts of the prophecy, mostly, and it'll take both of us to kill him. You need to pay more attention. You aren't even close to ready."

He ended with a demeaning edge in his voice, like he wished I wasn't a part of his father's demise, like he wished he could do it alone. I yanked myself out of his hold and turned to glare at him, wishing I could hit him without it turning into a full-blown sparring session, which would probably actually be very interesting in a forest. I pushed the thought away. Later. Before I could say or do anything Ailech came jogging back down the path towards us, Ember close behind, apparently hearing our voices.

I realized how close James and I were standing to each other as soon as Ailech's eyebrows rose and I took a hurried step back, hoping the heat I felt moving up my neck wasn't as visible as I imagined it was.

"Levi's ready." Was all he said, with a funny look in his eyes.

I remembered Parish and Prey's bet and scowled as I turned for the door.

ONLY SIX CHAPTERS LEFT!! SIX! but, well...keep Grays I's ending in mind. 'Happy' isn't really my norm. Or am I just trying to trick you & I have a regular romcom in the works?

Muwahahahah, you'll never know, unless you read six more chapters...

Star me to bribe into not killing every character off like RR Martin?

T.