Free Eliza's Shadow by Catherine Wittmack Page B

dampening my pants, face, and hair. The eye sucked deeper into the
depths of the water. The mesmerizing motion of the water seemed to gain power
at a dangerous pace. I became acutely and uncomfortably aware of my precarious
position on the edge of the dock.
    Just as my anxiety gave way to fear, the swirling
water subsided. Within seconds the vortex that seemed to have a life of its own
dissipated and the natural roll of the waves resumed pace below the dock.
    Stunned, I blinked dumbly at the gentle waves.
    “Why don’t you try, Eliza?” Ren’s voice rang in my
ears.
    I stared at him in shock. “Try what? How do you
expect me to do that? That was amazing!” I said breathlessly.
    “We have to get started somewhere don’t we?” He
suggested, his face set with determination.
    Ren’s eyes flashed mischievously as he reached for
my hand. Heat surged through me as our fingers touched. I struggled to stand.
    Like a bird about to take its first flight, I
stared at the water doubtfully.
    “Alright, for this to work the first thing you
need to do is banish any doubt about your ability to command the water. I know
that’s easier said than done but you have to believe in yourself. Then have
confidence in your instincts. There isn’t an instruction manual for this type
of thing. You have to feel it out. There is a part of you that knows what to
do, you just have to set it free.” Ren instructed encouragingly.
    “Concentrate on the water, the flow of it, the
sound, the feel. Think about the molecules moving together. Then send your
force out and tell them what to do.” He whispered in my ear, his breath tickled
my neck distracting me.
    “Mmm, I think I need a little space.” I said
softly.
    Ren nodded agreeably and took a step back.
    I took a deep breath, feeling silly but reminded
myself that this was real. He did it and maybe I could too. I closed my eyes
and listened to the water sloshing beneath the dock. Instinctively, my legs
collapsed into a sitting position, giving in to an urge to get closer to the
sound. As my concentration deepened, in my mind, I saw the ebb and flow of a
soft current swirling below the placid surface of the water. I observed the
graceful current for a few minutes before attempting to interact with it.
Thinking I was simply asking for a visible swell around the dock. I sent a
request out to the current.
    Rise .
    With a crash, a huge wave collapsed against the
dock soaking me from head to toe. My eyes flew open. As my concentration
dissolved, the water receded like a wolf backing down from a rival.
    Ren laughed. I turned to see that his pants and
shoes were sopping wet too. Clearly this was not what I’d intended yet I was
furious with myself for welcoming the onslaught.
    “Wow, that was something, Eliza. Incredible!” Ren
gushed rushing toward me excitedly.
    “What? We’re soaked! All I asked was for it to
rise. I didn’t mean for it to roll over me!” I spouted with annoyance.
    “Well, be more specific next time then.” He said
with a shrug.
    “I think we’ve found one of your strengths. I
certainly didn’t expect this would be so easy for you.” He said incredulously,
shaking his head.
    He jerked his watch to his face. “We should go if we
want to make it to school in time. Now that we have to get some dry clothes for
you on the way.”
    I squirmed in my uncomfortable wet clothing, then
thought of the time with chagrin. “Not possible. Jane is still home. I can’t
let her see me like this, she’ll freak.”
    Ren’s eyebrows shot up as he studied my
appearance. A cold breeze blew in off the water sending the chill of the wet
clothes against my skin deeper into my bones. My teeth began to chatter.
    “I…I… have an idea.” I stammered haltingly.
“Laun…laun…dro…mat. We can dry my clothes there. Won’t… take long.” I managed
to say. My shoulders shook uncontrollably.
    Ren’s forehead creased. He quickly whipped off his
coat and stooped to throw it around my