Royal Blood by Kolina Topel

me. I had to get control of my emotions.
     
    “ Please don’t do that again,” I asked.
     
    “ I won’t. But you needed the motivation. How did you do it?”
     
    “ I have no idea. I just,” I shook my head, “I was scared, and I closed my eyes and, I dunno, I just wanted to be away from you.”
     
    “ Can you try it again?”
     
    “ Can you stay on your side of the room?” I asked sarcastically.
     
    He smiled at me and put his hands up. “I’ll keep my distance,” he chuckled.
     
    Hearing his laugh sped my heart and sent chills over my body.
     
    “ Focus, Chris.” His smile flattened.
     
    “ Sorry,” I muttered.
     
    I closed my eyes, not knowing what exactly to do. A moment later, I opened my eyes and Alex was staring at me expectantly.
     
    “ Alex, I have no idea what I’m doing. I feel stupid. I don’t even know what I did… . ” I whined.
     
    “ Just try, I don’t know, picturing yourself somewhere else in this room and want yourself to be there.”
     
    “ Right, easy.”
     
    I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I imagined myself standing next to Alex. I felt like an idiot. I smiled to myself.
     
    “ Hocus pocus!” I giggled, and opened my eyes. Alex was glaring at me.
     
    “ Hilarious, Christina.”
     
    “ I’m sorry, but I feel silly.”
     
    “ Humor me, please. Just try.”
     
    “ Okay, al l right, fine.”
     
    I stared into Alex’s face. I imagined the face that used to be there—bright, smiling, happy, and me in his arms, his hands locked around my waist and mine around his neck, my head resting on his chest. I sighed to myself, washed the thought from my mind, and closed my eyes to concentrate.
     
    A moment later, he cleared his throat, interrupting my thoughts. I opened my eyes and my mouth fell open. My arms were around his neck and I was looking into his eyes. A huge grin spread across his face, while mine flushed bright red. He quickly wiped the smile off of his face and grabbed my arms to pry me off of him.
     
    I untangled my legs from around his waist and stumbled backward. I was mortified. I opened my mouth to try to say something, but I couldn’t find the words, so I just spun around to avoid his eyes. I swear I heard him chuckle.
     
    “ It’s fine, Chris. It’s progress. I’m surprised you already have the ability to do it at will. Most gifts take weeks or even months to achieve even sporadic success. You must be very gifted. Let’s try again.”
     
    Oh great, as if I wasn’t embarrassed enough at trying to mount him the first time. “Just try to stay focused this time,” he said smugly.
     
    I winced. He just had to rub it in. I walked to the other side of the room and refused to meet his gaze.
     
    I learned quickly that it was literally a matter of picturing myself where I wanted to be and willing it to happen. I could close my eyes and I was there when I opened them. Even though I was terribly self conscious after my first, uh, mishap, I was having fun.
     
    I’d never really thought of myself as “special” before. And okay, I’ll admit, this wasn’t exactly the way every girl dreamt of finding her niche, but hey, I’d take what I could get.
     
    After a few hours, my hunger was becoming unbearable, but after earlier I couldn’t tell if it was my hunger, or my thirst.
     
    I shuddered at the thought.
     
    “ Alex, can we take a break? I’m starving.”
     
    “ Yes of course. I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought about the fact that you must be starving.” His eyes lit up. “I’ll take you hunting!” he exclaimed and took my hand and pulled me toward the door. I tensed and pulled my hand away from him and backed away. He looked at me questioningly.
     
    “ I,” I paused, “I don’t think I’m really ready for that, Alex. I am still human.”
     
    He smiled reassuringly, “You’re right. I’m sorry, a little bit at a time. You have done amazingly well today. I’m proud of you.” I relaxed my shoulders a bit. “Two