Chapter 14- Bloodstone

  Neo

  When I wake up, the clock on Jax's mantel says that it's almost half past nine and I groan, realizing I slept through all of my first css. I try to sit up and immediately get dizzy and nauseous. My head is pounding and bck spots waver in my vision. I feel like I've just woken up from the worst hangover ever.

  I take deep breaths through my nose and try sitting up again. I wait a moment, letting the spinning pass, before throwing my legs over the side of the couch. I get to my feet and immediately stumble forward, only staying upright by catching the edge of the chair Jax had been sitting in st night.

  My legs are wobbling like jello and I can feel the bile rising in my throat. Damn. If using my powers to their full extent is going to feel like this every time then I'm going to try to stay normal as long as bloody possible.

  After a few minutes of breathing and convincing myself I can do this, I stand up and head down the hall, exploring Jax's house and trying to find a bathroom.

  Part of me knows this is an opportune time to get the scoop on Jax. But the rest of me is so focused on not passing out, that I immediately dismiss the idea.

  Jax's car is there but I don't have the keys. I'm wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday. And it's Thursday. There's really only two things I can do. Stay here and wait for Jax. Or go to Dempsey, where I know Rosa will be.

  ******

  It's lunch time by the time I make it to the school. I head straight to the dining hall, knowing Rosa will be there and hoping she's not pissed and worried as all hell.

  As soon as I walk in, I see her, purple hair sticking out everywhere, wearing the least professional school uniform she can get away with. She looks...tired. I instantly fill with guilt. I should have checked on her sooner. Last night couldn't have been easy for her either.

  I grab a pte of food, loading it with ham steaks and potatoes and rolls before taking my seat across from Rosa.

  "Hey Rose," I say gently. She looks up, slightly dazed, and gives me a smile.

  "Hey. I'm gd to see you doing better," she says, her voice low with exhaustion.

  I can only nod as I start shoveling food into my mouth. I guess I didn't realize just how hungry I was. She watches me and I see her face perk up a little as she realizes that I'm really, truly fine.

  "I'm sorry," I eventually mumble around a bite. "About st night."

  She shakes her head. "Don't be. We don't know the extent and limitations of your abilities, Neo."

  Neither of us mentions Jax. Or how I was at his house. Or where he is now.

  Instead I nod, washing down a roll with a gss of milk. "I know. It just seems like....I don't have the energy to be able to do everything I know I can. Like I'm a battery at only twenty five percent."

  Her eyes light up at that. "That's exactly what I was thinking! Especially since this has happened twice now. We know from Physics of Magic that your powers can only use the amount of energy held inside of you and that once that's gone, so are your powers. We also know that if you keep using your powers after that point then you start drawing on your life force, and eventually that will die out and so will you."

  I nod again, taking another bite of ham. This is all first year stuff, things we learned when we were 13 and first arrived at Dempsey. It's one of the most crucial rules as a creature because if you don't pay attention to your limits, just being you can literally get you killed.

  "What's your point?" I ask when she's stopped talking and has her 'thinking face' on. "And where's Ari?"

  Rosa looks at me, her concentration broken. "Um, I don't know. I haven't seen her all day. But I think I might have a solution to your...stamina problem."

  I roll my eyes. Leave it to Rosa to phrase it like that. "Of course you have a solution. I'll take any advice I can at this point. No one else seems to know what to do."

  Her face breaks into an excited, but tired, smile. "Gemstones."

  I cock an eyebrow at her. "What?"

  She rolls her eyes. "You know. Crystals. Amethyst. Quartz."

  I'm still staring at her, dumbfounded.

  She lets out an exasperated sigh. "Pretty shiny rocks that come from the earth?" She says in a slow, sarcastic voice, holding up one of her hands with a plethora of rings.

  "Ohhh. Those. But how are they supposed to help?"

  "Because, Neo. Gems are said to be some of the oldest living forms of magic on earth. It's been told that they have properties and store different energies and things. What if you carry one? It could give you the energy you need to use more of your powers."

  She looks so confident and convinced that I don't want to argue with her. Not that arguing would do me any good anyways. When Rosa sets her mind on something, nothing is going to change that.

  "Okay," I relent. "Which gemstone though? And where am I going to find one?"

  Her grin widens and she immediately starts digging in her bag. I forget sometimes that she's a faerie and has an obsession with these things. I mean, not all faeries are like that. But Rosa definitely is.

  After some searching and setting aside of some very odd looking objects (including a moving twig, a leaf shaped like a star, and rock that doesn't stop rolling), she lifts her hand free, saying "Aha!"

  In her fingers is a pear shaped, dark green stone. Even from this distance I can see the flecks of blood red swirling around and inside the green. It doesn't seem like it's any one color...like the green and red are constantly changing...like they're dancing with each other.

  "It's a bloodstone," she says, handing it to me. She drops it in my palm and a tingling sensation shoots through my arm. The stone sits in the middle of my palm, about two centimeters long and three quarters of a centimeter wide. I can't stop staring at it. I can feel the ebbs and flow of power in the murky green.

  "I think this will work," I finally whisper, breaking the spell and looking up at Rosa. I drop the stone in my shirt pocket, feeling it hum through my chest. "How does it work? What will happen?"

  She taps her chin for a moment, thinking, recalling her faerie nature csses I'm sure. "Well bloodstone is known for strength, power, and stamina. Some stones come chock full with millions of years worth of energy. Others need...juiced up first. So...it's possible that if the stone needs it, it will take any excess energy from you...but then you'll be able to take the energy from it to fuel your shifts and such."

  I nod at her, trying to get the buzzing sensation out of my head. If this works, I can't imagine what I'll be able to do. "What about my...control? Will it help make things go more...smoothly?"

  She shrugs, slowly putting her treasures back in her bag. "I don't know...I don't even know if it will give you energy. It's just a theory, Neo."

  I sigh and look away. "Well, I s'pose a theory's better than nothing. Although I don't particurly like being your b rat you know."

  She grins and it makes me happy to see some light back in her face. "The price of my wisdom and undying friendship."

  The clock chimes one, letting us know that it's time to head to next css. We're standing up taking care of our dishes when a strong hand suddenly grips my shoulder. I freeze, trying not to panic, and turn as Rosa continues to the dish drop, oblivious.

  I almost drop my ptes, I'm so surprised. Standing in front of me, one hand on my shoulder, his hair a tousled mess, is Jax.

  Jax

  I get back to my house as quickly as I can. I expect Neo to still be tucked in on the couch. He should be in bed still, recovering from his and Rosa's stupid little excursion from st night.

  When he's not there, I groan and rub my eyes with my fists. I try to think of the next pce he'd be. What time is it? 11? 12? The clock chimes. 12:45. Almost the end of lunch. He's in the dining hall.

  I hurry back outside and jump in my car, heading to Dempsey and Eventide Hall. As I get closer, I slow down as my mind struggles to think. What am I going to say? 'Hey, hello, yeah so I'm actually a hunter spy and I've just been told they're attacking the school tomorrow but it's ok I'm not on their side anymore.' I grind my teeth. Somehow, I can't imagine that going so well.

  When I get to the school I hop out and race to the dining room. pushing through the tall oak doors.

  I have to tell him. I have to.

  Right?

  Neo

  "Hi," he says, dropping his hand from my shoulder. I frown at him.

  "Uh...hi?" He looks so damn antsy. Like he's hiding something. Like he has something to say. I raise an eyebrow. Maybe this is about st night? "What is it?"

  He pushes a hand through his hair and my god what a sight that is. It's like the whole world freezes. Every girl stops to watch him. Why does he always have to funt his good looks like that? Doesn't he know it drives half the school mad? He shakes his head, dropping his hand, and just like that, the world is spinning again.

  "I just...wanted to tell you...that I was back," he finishes softly.

  I look askance at him before embarrassingly remembering my half asleep request from his couch.

  "Come back soon."

  Fucking A what was I thinking st night?

  Answer: I wasn't.

  "Um, well, thanks," I say mely.

  He stares at me, those piercing blue eyes turning cloudy with some emotion I can't quite pick out. He doesn't respond, just turns on his heel and strides away.

  Rosa walks up to me then. "That was weird," she comments.

  I nod absentmindedly, watching his figure slip out the doors.

  "We've got to head to Potions. Gripehart will fy us alive if we're te again," she says at my shoulder.

  I look back at her then. "I'm not exactly feeling up to par quite yet. Can you let Gripehart and Kai know? I'll make it up tomorrow."

  I don't wait to hear her response. I follow Jax out the door into the cool day.