Smolder by Abigail Livinghouse (best young adult book series TXT) 📕

"I don’t understand. You've brought me here to ask for my help?" I asked incredulously.

 Felix's mouth curved into that odd half smile, half sneer of amusement. I wasn't sure what was so funny.

 "Yes, it sounds a bit overdone. I would not have had to take you from your group and bind you if I thought you wouldn't try to escape otherwise, but I knew better. Besides, you cannot possibly tell me that if I would've approached you outside of that decrepit building that you would've agreed to go with some stranger? Certainly not. You are not stupid, you have more common sense than that. Mommy and Daddy taught you to think at least." He smirked after mentioning my parents.

 The way he talked about people gave the hint that he had known them, at some point or another. For him to disgrace someone or tarnish who they were, you would think he personally knew them to make such statements. Although what did I know? Felix was a very peculiar character to say the least. One with secrets probably too ungodly to even begin to uncover. And yet he was asking me for help . . . I had a bad feeling this would incorporate my fire.

 Felix nodded, pleased at something. "Indeed it does."

 I blinked. Wait . . . WHAT?

"How-how did you-"

 "I have powers you cannot even begin to imagine, Sirenia. In fact." Felix snapped his fingers, and in an instant the wires keeping me in place disappeared. I was left sitting in stunned silence.

 I reached down to rub my sore wrists, and felt nothing but smooth skin. The pain was gone. Vanished, just like the wires had.

 "I-I don't." I stuttered unintelligibly. I was shocked, I had never seen something like this before. Not when I was a little girl and went to the circus to see so called magic acts. This was something out of books long ago destroyed.

 "What-what are you?" I murmured, horrified.

 Felix shrugged, crouching to sit as a chair appeared right under him. My jaw dropped. It hadn't been there seconds ago. Then seeming to come out of thin air, there it was.

 "I'm as human as you are. Just a bit more advanced. There isn't really a name for what we can do. I'm not sure how we acquired what we are able to do either." He paused, watching me in quiet assessment.

 "You seem to think I have all the answers but Sirenia, I do not. I wish I did, then I would be able to put a stop to this horrid sickness once and for all. But unfortunately, I do not possess that ability. What I would give to be able to though . . ." Felix shook his head, brushing off his desires and running a hand through his inky hair.

 "No. The only information I have gathered about our abilities is that sometimes siblings of the gifted possess powers too. That's as much as I know. Again, it's a pity. If I knew everything, then I wouldn't be where I am now." He spread his arms wide to indicate the room surrounding us.

 "In a concrete box, talking to an eighteen year old wanderer, requesting her help. Believe me when I say this my dear, this was not my first choice. It was my only choice." Felix's expression had turned serious, and now he was looking at me as if seeing me in a new light.

 I shook my head. I was held here against my will, no way was I going to agree to do anything for this man. Felix sighed, shaking his head as well.

 "I implore you to reconsider. Please Sirenia, and I am not keen on begging. This is the only time I will be doing it especially for you." His tone was cold and barely shielding his suppressed anger.

 I was free in a sense, but I wasn't about to leap out of my chair and attack him. I knew for a fact that I would lose that fight. I had no other option but to comply . . . for now.

 Felix's snarling grin returned. He clapped his hands together enthusiastically and stood up.

 "A wise choice sweetie, very wise. I look forward to our next meeting. Sadly, this is when we must part ways. I will escort you back to the hospital if you wish. Although, after having a look around here you might reconsider leaving." The way he said it reminded me of a kid snickering: I know something you don't know.

 I stood once Felix was at the door and had it open. He held it for me, gesturing with his arm. "After you."

I didn't like the idea of him at my back, but seeing a way out I took it. Felix followed immediately behind me, shutting the door as he did. We had stepped into a long hallway with various doors matching the one behind us on each sides. To the right the hall ended with a solid wall, and to the left it went on a little farther until a staircase leading up cut it off.

 "Follow me." Felix went to the stairs, climbing them and not even bothering to see if I was following.

 The idea of making a run for it was more appealing than ever. The only problem was that I didn't know the layout of the building, and if Felix wasn't a liar, then he was leading me out anyway. I could just be making unnecessary trouble for myself.

 "Sirenia." His voice traveled all the way to the bottom of the stairs, making me jump. "I suggest you follow me. You'll get yourself lost in the maze that is this floor. It is up to you."

 I took no more than a few seconds before I went after Felix, stopping at the top of the stairs and staring at what was around me. Marble columns reaching the ceiling, a large wooden desk in one corner of the room, and a crystal chandelier hanging over our heads. It was beautiful, a step back in time, about six years ago.

 "Stunning isn't it?" Felix asked, looking around with an awed smile on his face. "I am very grateful they were able to salvage this building. They already had to tear down so many that had been damaged beyond repair. This one is my favorite."

 "What is it?" I asked, still staring at the intact glass and shining floors.

 "I believe it was a museum years ago. Now it serves as a meeting house. The people in town come here when the mayor calls for a  gathering."

 "Who's the mayor?" I wondered. He chuckled.

 "You are so full of questions. Like a child." He shook his head, starting forward. I scowled at him, catching up to his side. I wasn't sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.

 Exiting the building I stood in silence once again, my eyes glued to what was going on down below. People bustling on the streets, with children, even animals. Rolling hills touched the horizon where the sun was beginning to set. Houses and stores scattered the landscape, with roads cutting through here and there. I was seized with a sudden feeling of nostalgia. This place seemed so untouched, so much like the world before the Plague. It was beautiful . . . something I hadn't seen in years.

 "I know." Felix's voice chimed in through my dazed thoughts, bringing me sharply back to the cold of reality. "It shocks most people at first, but you get used to it. Adapt, to what you had known before-everything."

 He seemed to stumble over his words, and I looked up to see his black eyes tenderly watching everyone on the street. He looked out at the hills, and the sun glowed warmly on my face and his. In the daylight, he wasn't so pale.

 "How is it possible?" I asked. Felix sighed, nodding to go down the steps and beginning the decent. I hurried after him.

 "If you'll just follow me, I know a short way that will get you back to St. Mary's in no time." He said as we stumbled-well I stumbled, he more or less glided-down a hill that once we got to the bottom, revealed a huge concrete wall that stretched around the perimeter. It must've shielded the whole town. I gaped at it, not sure if what I was looking at was really there or not.

 Well that answered my question. I stared at Felix, as he looked right ahead and to a large steel door cut out in the wall.

 "We'll go part of the way by car. I don't want to alarm your group by revealing our vehicle." He said, walking up to a man and exchanging a few words. The person ran off somewhere behind us once their discussion was finished. I turned around only to watch him run a few more feet before turning a corner.

 "Luis will get us a car. In the meantime, you seem a bit surprised at our impressive wall." Felix said, acknowledging the large structure. I laughed dryly.

 "Who wouldn't be? It's not something you see every day."

 "You're most certainly right, Sirenia." The smile disappeared from his face. I sensed he was going to say something next, explain maybe. Luis rounded the corner though, bringing Felix up short.

 "I got the car ready." He said breathlessly.

 I was disappointed. Ah well. I hadn't even known this place existed a few hours ago, and now I was asking for info on it. Who's to say I was ever coming back here?

 "Oh you'll be back." Felix's condescending voice piped up once again.

 I glared at him. "Stop that."

 He blinked, surprised at my sharpness. "Stop what?"

 I rolled my eyes. "Answering my thoughts. I don't care if you're some all-powerful being or whatever. You don't need to use your powers on me."

 It was ridiculous enough that I had been kidnapped by this man, but to have him somehow knowing what I was thinking and responding was incredibly invasive. It was something that I completely didn't need. Felix shrugged, the hint of a smile on his face.

 "I do apologize. One gets so used to their abilities and using them that you forget sometimes." He said simply.

 Well that stumped me. I just stood there quietly with my fire humming dully in my fingertips while Felix smirked. He knew he had way more than one thing over me.

 Luis had vanished again and reappeared minutes later driving a clean black Sedan. He stopped it at Felix's side before getting out. He handed Felix the keys, nodding and heading up a medal ladder to the top of the wall. After Luis leaped onto the top I realized that It must've been pretty deep up there, considering I could no longer see him at all. Only a few seconds passed before the metal doors retracted to reveal a dead, flat landscape of yellow grass and broken buildings.

 "If you don't mind I'll drive." Felix said as he got in the driver's side.

 I was grateful as I climbed in the passenger. I didn't know shit about driving. I was twelve when the Plague hit. No driver's license and no car to drive anyway.

 Felix revved the engine and punched the gas pedal, propelling us forward. I was flattened against the seat and gasped, my flames suddenly released and beginning to melt the seat I clutched