Аманда Хокинг - Torn

Now she wanted to be prepared and be as strong as she possibly could.

She figured that my training would start right away, too. I needed to be more prepared than anyone else here.

The night went on much the same way, and I was surprised when she joined us for supper. This time she even ate what Matt cooked, and I felt as if the whole world was turning upside down.

I went to bed shortly after, but I tossed and turned all night. My mind raced too much to really sleep. It felt like I’d only just fallen asleep when someone shook me awake. I pushed them off, snuggling deeper in my covers.

It wasn’t until I had buried my face in my pillow that I realized that I should probably be alarmed that someone was in my room. What with evil trolls trying to kidnap me and all that.

“Holy hell!” Tove Kroner shouted and jumped back from the side of my bed.

I’d sat up, almost leaping out of bed, preparing to attack whoever woke me up. It turned out to be Tove, and I didn’t understand what I’d done to him.

As far as I knew, I hadn’t even reacted yet, other than sitting up. But Tove stood off to the side of the room, pressing his palms to his temples. He’d bent over, letting his dark hair fall around his face.

“Tove?” I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and stood up. He didn’t respond so I stepped closer to him. “Tove? Are you okay? Did I do something?”

“Yeah.” He shook his head and straightened up. His eyes were closed, but he’d dropped his hands from his head.

“I’m sorry. What did I do?”

“I don’t know.” Tove opened his mouth wide and stretched his jaw, reminding me of someone that had just been slapped in the face. “I came in to wake you up for your training. And you…”

“Did I hit you?” I supplied when he trailed off.

“No, it was in my head.” Tove stared thoughtfully for a minute. “No, you were right. It was like you slapped me inside my head.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, growing more bewildered by his description.

“Have you ever done anything like that before? Maybe when you were scared?”

He turned to look at me, ignoring my confusion to satisfy his.

“Not that I know of, but I don’t even know what I did.”

“Hmm.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Your abilities are still developing. They should fully present themselves soon, and maybe this is part of that. Or maybe it’s just because I’m me.”

“What?”

“Because I’m psychic,” Tove reminded me. “Your aura is very dark today.”

He couldn’t read minds or anything, but he could sense things. I projected, so I could get in people’s minds like Elora and use persuasion, and Tove received, so he could see auras and was more sensitive to ideas.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“You’re unhappy.” Tove sounded distracted, and he made for the door. “Hurry.

Get dressed. We have much to do.”

He left my room before I could ask him more, and I didn’t understand what Willa saw in him. I’m not sure if she really had a crush on him, or if it was only that his family was powerful. The Kroners were next in line for the crown, Tove specifically, if I couldn’t fulfill my duties.

Tove was attractive, though. His dark hair had soft, natural highlights coursing through it, although it was longish and unruly, settling below his ears. His skin was tanned with a mossy undertone, the green complexion that occurred in some powerful Trylle. Nobody here had skin like that, except maybe his mother, but hers was even fainter than Tove’s.

I didn’t understand why Tove would be training me. I’m not sure that Elora approved of him, even if he had connections. Besides that, he was scatterbrained and a little strange.

Tove did have the strongest ability out of any of the Trylle I’d met. This was particularly weird since men usually had weaker abilities than their female counterparts did.

I wanted to get a handle on my abilities, and it’d do me good to spend the day doing something other than moping around the way I had lately. I dressed quickly and left my room to find Tove chatting with Duncan.

“Ready?” Tove asked without looking at me. He started walking before I answered.

“Duncan, you don’t need to come with us,” I told him as I hurried after Tove.

Duncan followed me the way he always did, but he slowed.

“It’s probably best if he does,” Tove said, tucking his hair behind his ears.

“Why?” I asked, but Duncan smiled, excited to be included.

“We need someone to test on,” Tove replied matter-of-factly, and Duncan’s smile instantly faded.

“Where are we going?” I nearly jogged to keep up with Tove, and I wished he would slow down.

“Did you hear that?” Tove stopped abruptly, and Duncan almost ran into him.

“What?” Duncan looked around, as if expecting an attacker to be waiting behind a closed door.

“I didn’t hear anything,” I said.

“No, of course you didn’t.” Tove waved me off.

“Why wouldn’t I? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Because you’re the one that made the sound,” Tove sighed, still looking at Duncan. “Are you sure you didn’t hear anything?”

“No.” Duncan looked over at me, hoping I could shed light on Tove’s random behavior, but I shrugged. I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Tove, what’s going on?” I asked, speaking loudly so he’d pay attention to me.

“You need to be careful.” Tove cocked his head, listening. “You’re quiet now. But when you’re upset, angry, scared, irritated, you send things out. You’re not controlling it, I don’t think. I can pick it up, because I’m sensitive. Duncan can’t and the average Trylle can’t, because you’re not directing it at them. But if I can hear it, others might too.”

“What? I didn’t say anything,” I said, growing more frustrated with him.

“You thought, I wish he’d slow down,” Tove said.

“I wasn’t using persuasion or anything.” I was dumbfounded.

“I know. You’ll get a handle on it, though,” he assured me, and then started walking again.

He led us downstairs. I’m not sure where I thought he’d take us, but I was definitely surprised by where we ended up - the ball room that had been devastated by the Vittra attack. It had once been luxurious, very much like a ballroom from a Disney fairy tale. Marble floors, white walls with gold detailing, ceiling skylights, diamond chandeliers.

After the attack, it looked very little like that. The glass ceiling had been crashed in, and to keep the elements out, blue and clear tarp had been laid over it, giving the room an odd glow. Shattered chandeliers and glass were still on the floor, as well as broken chairs and tables. The floor and walls were blackened with damage from the fire and smoke.

“Why are we here?” I asked. My voice still echoed, thanks to the room’s massive size, but it had been dampened by the tarps.

“I like it here.” Tove held his hands out, using his telekinesis to push the debris more to the sides of the room.

“Does the Queen know we’re here?” Duncan was uncomfortable being here, and I tried to remember if he’d been here during the attack. I hadn’t been paying that much attention, and I’d met far too many people that night to say for certain.

“I’m not sure,” Tove shrugged.

“Does she know you’re training me?” I asked. He nodded, looking around with his back to me. “Why are you training me? Your abilities aren’t the same as mine.”

“They’re similar.” Tove turned around to face me. “And no two peoples are exactly alike.”

“Have you trained anyone before?”