Free Rise by Jennifer Anne Davis

water.
    “Now it’s your turn,” he said.
    “Aren’t you still in there?”
    “Yes, but you can’t see anything. Get in. I won’t look.”
    Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Anders neck-deep in greenish water, steam rising around his head. Everything below the surface was murky. Not that I was trying to see him, but I needed to be certain he wouldn’t be able to see me. After telling him to face the other way, I removed all my clothing and quickly slid into the water, making sure it went up to my chin. The warm water felt better than I imagined it would.
    “See,” Anders said, facing me again. “Sometimes you just have to trust me.”
    I’d had a hot bath only a couple of times. Usually I was forced to clean myself in a tub of frigid water that had already been used by several other people. Even though this pool had an odd smell to it, I didn’t care. I wanted to relax and fall asleep right there in the middle of it.
    Just thinking about going to sleep made me tense. When I closed my eyes tonight, would Morlet visit me again? Why was he communicating with me? Was it simply so he could capture me or was there more to it?
    Water hit me in the face. Startled, I glanced at Anders. “What was that for?”
    “You looked scared,” he said, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
    “So?” I challenged. Right when he shook his head, I swiped my arm over the surface of the water, splashing him. A gush of water came whooshing back at me, and I ducked under to avoid it. I suddenly felt light-headed and resurfaced. Maybe the heat was getting to me.
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    My palms tingled. “No,” I said, holding up my hands. “They hurt.” Glancing around the lake and shoreline, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
    Anders swam closer to me. “I need you to focus,” he said, instantly serious. “Shut your eyes.” Without hesitating, I did as he instructed. “Put your hands in the air and feel your surroundings.”
    A pull came from behind me. Facing that direction, I opened my eyes and searched the area.
    “Trust your instinct,” he said, his deep voice close to my ear. “Keep your hands out in front of you. Direct your power to the source of the pull.”
    I took the odd sensation inside of me and pushed it out. Nothing happened.
    “Are your hands still painful?” Anders whispered, close behind me.
    “No,” I said, realizing the feeling had gone away. “What happened?”
    “I don’t know,” he replied. “But when you force your power out, it serves as a warning to those wishing to harm you. A predator could have been stalking us.”
    Facing Anders, the top of his chest and shoulders were exposed as he stood a mere foot away from me. Biting my bottom lip, I unexpectedly became nervous from being so close to him.
    “We should leave,” he said, his voice gruff, “in case whatever’s out there returns.” Moving to the edge of the pool, he hesitated. “Would you mind turning around while I climb out and put my clothes on?”
    Horrified he’d caught me staring at him, I immediately spun away, my face flushed. I ducked under the water, for once wishing it were cold instead of hot.

Chapter Five
     
     
    As I left the water, freezing air engulfed my body; I swiftly pulled on my dry clothes. Shivering, I ran my fingers through my dripping wet hair.
    “It’s not far from here,” Anders said, sheathing the small dagger he’d been playing with. “Vidar can light a fire for you to warm up.”
    After five minutes of walking, we reached a stream and followed it northward. The trees thinned, and the ground became rockier. Gradually, the clouds parted until the sun shone bright overhead. I stopped, dropping my head back and allowing the rays to warm me. “What?” I asked, noticing Anders staring at me.
    “You don’t smile very often.”
    Neither did he. Instead of arguing, I said, “I haven’t seen the sun all season. It feels wonderful.”
    “Let’s keep moving.” Anders