Chapter 9

The trek back down to the beach gave Adam time to think. Delilah had offered to give him a ride back to Serenity Falls, but he had chosen to walk instead. Adam had also elected to head back down the winding road towards the beach instead of taking the straighter route to the Retreat proper. He wanted to be able to find the entrance to the hidden path if he ever needed to come this way again. The road to the Retreat was mainly gravel anyway, and Adam hadn’t wanted to tackle that barefoot.

When Adam had expressed concern about tackling such a road on his injured foot, Delilah had simply smiled ruefully. She had pointed out that the gash on Adam’s foot had nearly finished healing. The only indication left was a pinkish line and slightly tender skin.

“My grandfather healed like that too. A bit faster, actually, but you have the same gift.”

Adam had expressed concern about what that could mean, but Delilah was almost dismissive. Once she had ascertained that Adam wasn’t about to immediately turn into some sort of ravening monster, she seemed oddly blasé about it all.

“If you stay true to the path you have chosen, my advice is just to enjoy your gifts — within reason. Who can say how long you will possess them?”

Adam sighed as he remembered Delilah’s words. He had come looking for answers and seemed to have found more questions than he had started with.

“At least I know I’m not crazy now. It’s just this place that’s insane.”

He felt better. More ... centred? It wasn’t just the sex either. Adam would have to unpack that later on. It had been so quick, so unlooked for, that it felt nebulous. Like a dream. No, the reason that Adam felt better was that he now knew roughly what he was dealing with, even if the exact nature of it was still beyond him.

“Her grandfather sounded like a piece of work ... Or father, if I read what she was saying right. No wonder Britt couldn’t find any actual information about it. It happened a lot further back than she expected if Delilah wasn’t bullshitting me about her age.”

Adam’s stride was lengthening without him realising as he walked down the slope towards the beach. He was taking long and steady breaths, absently and agilely jumping down the incline without taking much note of it.

“There shouldn’t be any real risk in ... influencing people either. Not if I pay attention. I know what it feels like now. But Delilah did say there’s something like a passive effect? That could be trouble.”

Adam flushed slightly and let a small smile appear on his face.

“Could be fun though.”

He felt a bit uncomfortable about that, but couldn’t he enjoy himself at least a little? If he just kept on top of things ... well it sounded like it just meant he would be getting a lot of attention from a bunch of pretty women. That didn’t sound so bad.

Adam paused in his stride, grimacing.

“Emily...”

That was the main issue. Or rather, the issue was the way he had reacted to her. He still didn’t like his sister, no matter what revelations she had hit him with the night before. But the sharp edge of his animosity was gone. Couple that with just how much he had seen of his sexy older sister over the past four days...

“Dammit. Couldn’t she just be a bitch without being so damn sexy?”

Then again, it was probably a non-issue. It wasn’t like he spent a lot of time in his sister’s company — he just had to keep it that way. For starters, he probably should stop sleeping in the same bed as her.

“What was it that Delilah said? I should have been taking notes or something, there was way too much information — no matter that some of it was her speculating. I ‘establish a relationship’ through interacting over time? Well, it’s not like Emily has stopped being bitchy. Just ... not as bad? Shit, I don’t know. I can’t have changed too much already!”

Adam uneasily thought back to the night before, when Emily had stripped and given him a show in the shower. Then he shook his head, trying to clear the worry from his mind. Done was done. He just had to be careful going forward.

Holly and Kendra though ... Adam’s mouth firmed into a stubborn line. He was going to be here for weeks yet. He wasn’t going to avoid the two friends he had made. Even if things were more complicated than they should be.

When he reached the beach, bursting out of the thick foliage, Adam took stock. He glanced behind him; even knowing the path was there he could barely see it. Adam took careful note of his positioning on the beach, nodding to himself once he had fixed the spot in his mind.

Adam walked down to the water line and washed his feet off in the gently lapping waves. It was mid-morning now and the sun overhead was beginning to get hot. Adam glanced once again at the bottom of his foot. The wound had almost entirely vanished by now. He wondered what the limitations were.

“As I’m not going to go around getting mangled or anything — I hope not anyway — I guess it’s a moot point.”

Adam walked back towards the headland path that would lead him back over to the main beach. He tried to work out how far he’d walked this morning since he had first woken up. It was certainly a fair distance, but he felt as fresh as he had when he had got out of bed.

His musings were cut short as he spotted a figure making their way over the headland, climbing down onto the second beach that Adam was one. He squinted, shielding his eyes as he tried to get a good look at them. It was a woman or girl, slender with dark hair. She looked like she was out of breath, and her body language said she was pretty pissed off about something. In fact...

“Shit. Fiona.”

Adam glanced behind him, wondering if it would be easier to duck into the hidden path and go back that way. It wasn’t like the increase in distance worried him with his new stamina. Before he could make a decision, his cousin spotted him. She waved initially, seeming happy, but then realised it was Adam. She slumped, but then finished scrambling down onto the sand. Fiona stomped her way down the beach towards him. Adam sighed. He continued on, and met her part way down the beach. Adam opened his mouth to greet his cousin, but she snapped over him.

“Have you seen, Todd?”

Adam studied Fiona. Her face looked red and puffy, and her hair was disheveled with strands of it stuck to her face with sweat. Fiona was wearing an oversized t-shirt that hung beguilingly off of one pale shoulder, and a pair of denim shorts. Adam suspected it was the shirt she had slept in and had simply thrown a pair of shorts on in her rush. His suspicion was compounded by the fact that his cousin was noticeably not wearing a bra. Fiona didn’t have the largest breasts, but he could see her tits bouncing around freely underneath her top, her nipples poking through the fabric. Adam kept his eyes locked onto his cousin’s blue ones.

“No, sorry, Fi. I haven’t seen him today.”

Fiona scowled.

“Don’t call me that, Adam. I hate it.”

Fiona looked around, visibly frustrated. Her eyes looked over-bright and full. Her eyes flicked back to Adam.

“Are you sure you didn’t see him? There’s another beach after this one, right?”

Adam quickly darted in front of his cousin as she made to charge past him. He didn’t want Fiona exploring, and perhaps finding something on that damn beach. Adam considered his cousin as her eyes widened in anger as he blocked her. Did he feel sorry for her? Now that he didn’t feel so remote and distant about everything, things weren’t so clear. He had never fully decided what to do about the knowledge that Emily was fucking Fiona’s boyfriend. Added to that, Adam’s feelings about Emily weren’t so clear cut anymore. Did he really want to drop his sister in it? Or even get involved at all? Adam set himself.

“There is — wait, let me finish. I was just there. It’s a tiny, rocky beach. There was no one there but me.”

Fiona glared harder at Adam and went to move by him anyway. Adam held his arm out, but Fiona slapped it aside in outrage. She clenched her fists at her side.

“Where is he then? I know there’s something going on. You think I didn’t notice that shit last night? Todd’s been acting strange. Do you know something? I woke up, and he was gone!”

Adam hesitated. Fiona’s eyes widened as she noticed. She struck him on the chest. Her fist was tiny and Adam barely felt it, but it was still annoying. Adam wondered where Todd had vanished to so early in the morning. His lack of reaction made Fiona angrier.

“You do!”

“Fi, look. Where did you last see him? Maybe he just went for a walk. I did. I woke up early and just felt like doing something active, you know?”

Fiona sniffed. She dashed her hand over her eyes. Her voice sounded hopeful, even vulnerable.

“You think?”

Adam gently took Fiona by the arm and turned her around, ushering her back towards Serenity Falls.

“Yeah, why not? I mean, where else would he be, Fi? He’s probably back at your room, wondering where you are.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. I might even have missed—”

Fiona realised that she was walking with Adam, him holding onto her arm. She quickly pulled away from him. Fiona sniffed again, and tried to glare up at him.

“I told you not to call me that.”

Adam sighed.

“I used to. All the time in fact. What does it matter?”

Fiona hesitated, her face screwing up. Then her brows furrowed once more.

“Well that was before. We aren’t kids anymore and I don’t want you calling me that.”

“Fine. Fiona, then.”

Adam rolled his eyes and began to walk back to headland. Then he paused. He frowned at his cousin.

“Wait, before what?”

Fiona rolled her eyes back at him and sneered. She looked slightly incredulous.

“You know.”

“No. I really don’t.”

“Don’t play dumb, Adam, even if you have the face for it. You’re too much of a half-wit—”

Adam fired back immediately, remembering a back and forth from their childhood that he had almost forgotten.

“Hey, if I’m the wit, you’re the half, shortie.”

Fiona groaned. Her lips twitched slightly but she mastered her expression.

“That wasn’t funny when we were kids, Adam, let alone now.”

Both of them paused, remembering how things used to be between them. Fiona shook herself.

“Look, forget it, alright? Do you know what’s going on with my boyfriend, or not?”

Adam paused for a second, gathering himself. He lied, as smoothly as he could.

“No, I really don’t know. Todd’s probably back at the resort. You must have missed him when you went looking for him.”

Fiona narrowed her eyes dangerously. Too late, Adam remembered that she knew him too well. Or she had. She had noticed his momentary hesitation.

“You’re lying.”

“Fi, I’m not —”

“You are! You know something! What is it?! And stop. Calling. Me. That!”

Fiona punctuated every word with thump on Adam’s chest with her small fist.

Adam backed up, raising his hands between them with his palms out. This was the most Fiona had talked to him in years. There was no chance of thinking it was due to the strange power he had gained — Fiona wouldn’t stop swinging her fists at him.

Adam leant back, frowning as his cousins hand went flying past where his face had been. This was beginning to get annoying. She was a slender girl with barely any muscle definition, but if she managed to hit him in the face it would probably hurt. Adam glanced around at the deserted beach they were on, trying to figure out what to do. Maybe he should just leave — he doubted Fiona would be able to keep up with him if he started running. But then she might go poking around on that second deserted beach...

“Don’t look away from me, Adam! Answer me!”

Fiona put her head down and charged at Adam, and he ducked under her flailing arms. Fiona stumbled and Adam caught her up in a bear hug from behind. It had been ages since they had rough-housed, and her negligible weight caught him off-guard. He lifted her off the ground without even thinking about it.

“Let me go, you prick! Don’t fucking touch me!”

Fiona flailed and struggled in Adam’s grip. She tried to kick back at him but missed.

“Fi — Fiona. I will as soon as you stop trying to hit me. I haven’t — ow!”

Fiona had shimmied down in his grip, her shirt riding up high over her belly, and sunk her teeth into his forearm. Adam dropped his cousin and she sprawled out on the sand. He examined his arm, wincing. She hadn’t broken the skin, but Adam could see the imprints of her teeth.

Adam jumped out of the way as Fiona tried to kick out at him from her seated position. He only partly succeeded and she scored a glancing blow on his shin. Adam hopped on one foot, grabbing at his leg. She’d never been this violent, not ever. But then, Adam had never seen her this upset before. He hadn’t realised Todd meant that much to her.

Fiona rolled into Adam as he balanced on one leg, knocking him to the ground. She scrabbled over, grabbing a fistful of his shirt as she yelled down into his face.

“Tell me!”

When Fiona raised her fist again, Adam had had enough. He rolled over, taking his cousin with him until she was pinned underneath him. When she tried to knee him in the crotch, Adam shoved his own knee between her thighs, settling down between them so that she couldn’t kick. He pinned her arms to the side, looking down into her tear filled eyes.

“Stop it! What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

“Get off me!”

Fiona struggled futilely but she couldn’t break Adam’s grip. In truth, he barely felt her trying to escape at all. Before he could say anything more, Fiona spat up into his face. Feeling his cousin’s spittle hit his cheek, Adam lost his temper. His heart raced, and he felt like he was watching it all happen from far away. He shouted, glaring down at Fiona.

“STOP IT!”

Fiona’s head rocked back, and she looked momentarily confused. The hurt and anger on her face drained away. Her mouth opened and she licked her lips, blinking up at Adam. Adam felt his stomach drop.

“Fuck, what did I do...”

He stared worriedly down at his cousin. He felt immediately relieved when he felt her begin to struggle again. He hadn’t lost control. He hadn’t done anything this time. She was still trying to fight him.

Adam froze. It wasn’t the same. Fiona was struggling, trying to break free from his grip, but something was different. She wasn’t just trying to break free. Her body was slowly writhing beneath his. Almost sinuous in her twisting. The loose t-shirt she wore rode up more, exposing the pale skin of her belly. Fiona’s nipples were erect, poking up through her shirt. Her hips moved, dancing against his ... Adam sprung off his cousin in an instant, an oath on his lips. He took deep and almost panicked breaths. He hadn’t meant to do that — he hadn’t meant to do anything! Adam eyed Fiona warily as she scrambled to her feet, studying her. She looked confused still, her face flushed. But there was still a remnant of anger there, and her eyes still looked upset.

Adam heaved a relieved sigh. It hadn’t been as bad as he thought. He’d done ... something. But not what he’d feared. Adam was so relieved that he didn’t notice Fiona coming at him, her arm swinging wildly, until almost too late. He dodged out of the way at the last second.

“You bastard! What do you think you’re playing — ah!”

Fiona cried out as she tripped, twisting her leg as she tried to follow Adam. She fell to the ground, clutching at her ankle. When Fiona tried to stand, she fell back again.

Adam stared down at his cousin, exasperated.

“You happy? What the hell has gotten into you!”

Fiona blinked away tears.

“Look what you did!”

Adam sighed, crouching down by her — far enough away that she couldn’t try to hit him again.

“How is this my fault? You keep trying to attack me like a crazy person, and of course you’re going to get hurt.”

Fiona glared at him but pressed her mouth tightly shut. Adam rubbed at the back of his head, trying to think about what to do.

“Look, what did you do, twist your ankle? Can you stand?”

Fiona ignored him, but tried to get to her feet. She swayed, avoiding putting weight on her injured leg. When she tried to gingerly take a step she collapsed, only Adam quickly catching her preventing her from falling back down onto the sand.

Fiona trembled in Adams arms. She didn’t look at him, but hissed through her teeth.

“I can’t stand.”

Adam looked down at the length of the beach. They were reasonably close to the headland that led back to the main beach, but it was still a decent walk from there. He couldn’t very well leave Fiona here while he got help either.

Sighing, annoyed, Adam crouched and swung Fiona up into his arms. His cousin squeaked in surprise, throwing an arm around his neck to support herself. Adam had one arm underneath her, gripping onto her upper thigh, the other arm around her torso underneath her breasts. He started walked towards Serenity Falls, taking long and easy strides.