Kai Villalvazo’s Nemesis (The Kalon Tetralogy #1)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

OUR FUNERAL — ALWAYS NEVER

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't speak. I could hardly move.

The darkness engulfed me rapidly and all the malicious forces threatened to consume me as I just lay there. Enduring all the pain.

I could barely make out what was fighting me, but it was powerful. So powerful that my entire body ached in pain. All the scars I'd gotten came to life, the sharp, uncomfortable tingles climbing up my spine as I felt my energy get sucked out.

I wanted to scream for help. I wanted to call out for God, but I was frozen on the spot. With one, final jerk of my body, I was finally pulled out of my nightmare. I opened my eyes quickly, meeting the dim lighting in my room.

I took a deep breath to calm my breathing, lifting my hand slowly so as to verify that I wasn't dreaming anymore. I sighed in relief when I moved with ease, and I made a silent prayer to make sure that whatever was lurking would go away.

Checking my digital clock, it read ten minutes past five in the morning. I usually got up at half past, but I might as well start early. No way am I returning to whatever I had dreamt of, knowing it was waiting for me. Waiting to erase my entire existence.

I've always had sleeping problems. It had to do with my fear of failure. The fear of disappointing my dad. The fear of being the talk of the town after an epic fail. Fear of not winning the Championships again.

I had nightmares of the time I lost my balance during the Championships race in the devil’s track, one of the most life-threatening slopes, nearly losing my life as I tumbled down the cliff and fell into the deep powder below.

I had screamed and cried while the paramedics took me away. I had been so close to the finish line and I hated myself for a long time.

They told me I almost died and they scaled back on my board flex. I cried for so many months as I slept on the hospital bed, did physiotherapy, and so many other stupid exercises to get me back to normal.

I got up, my muscles aching a little, but that's how I usually felt after cardio. A little stretching and swimming would do.

I entered my bathroom, brushed my teeth, then ran a quick shower. I got dressed in my black, long-sleeved swimsuit that ended mid-thigh, then wore some shorts and a loose t-shirt on top before sliding my flip-flops on. This was how I usually detoxed and refreshed my mind after a terrible night.

I pulled a swimming cap on then took my fluffy towel before heading out. The sea was a few metres away from the academy and I wanted to inhale the fresh morning air as much as I could.

I walked over the gleamy, soft sand towards the lapping water. The current looked slightly calm, but I knew exactly how much strength the water had. And it wasn't friendly.

I removed my clothes and flip-flops before getting into the water, the freezing waves rejuvenating me completely. I sighed as I got deeper into the water, enjoying the feel of being engulfed by the cool water. Any normal person would be experiencing some severe hypothermia, but I preferred to swim in this kind of temperature.

My arms effortlessly cut through the water as I swam farther into the sea, the water absorbing any stress and turmoil that I previously had. I swam faster and faster until the water overpowered my strength, then I knew that I had reached far enough.

I swam across the sea, the water lapping around me as I channelled my frustration into my movements. My streamline body cruised through the deep, dark water, and my heart pulsed as I used all my might to push myself through the water.

I swam until my lungs were heavy. Until my muscles burned, but that's when I knew I was making progress. I had to discipline my body so it wouldn't convince my brain to stop. I never knew when to stop, I always kept going, regardless of the risk.

I took deep breaths as I spread my arms in rapid successions, cruising through the water despite the pain that entailed my rigorous, tireless movements. I hadn't taken a break yet, but I would after the last lap.

The last lap, the last lap, please.

An agonised cry left my lips when I came up for air, but it felt like I wasn't in control of myself anymore. I was moving mindlessly, effortlessly, but at the expense of my health. I really wanted to stop, but my disciplined side refused to let go. I was almost there.

The current became violent and my arms refused to cooperate as I was immersed deeper into the dark water. I couldn't even fight it.

I was running out of air, and just when I thought that the dark forces had finally gotten me, I was pulled out of the water. I gasped when I inhaled the cool oxygen, choking as whatever had rescued me moved so fast through the water.

A speedboat, maybe?

But no. The powerful, warm arms that had me secured in place were of a human. I could barely make out anything as the sounds of controlled splashes met my ears, fading gradually until they stopped.

I was soon elevated high into the air, the ground a large distance away I almost panicked. But my limbs were too tired to form a reaction, so I simply held tight to whatever giant was carrying me.

I closed my eyes until I was placed down on a fluffy, warm towel. It definitely wasn't mine, and as if the person had read my mind, they wrapped it tightly around my body. I sighed in relief, my trembling lip relaxing a little as the warmth comforted me.

I was far too cold to move an inch, so after a few minutes of getting the cold out of my system, I finally mustered the strength to open my eyes.

I wasn't expecting to meet the intense, observing gaze of a golden and silver eye, the same eyes that made a newfound heat form between my legs. I wanted to gasp in surprise, but my mouth was still quivering from the cold.

He nonchalantly wrapped another warmer towel around me and I sighed again, as though it were my only way of saying thank you. Well—at the moment, it was.

I could hardly calm my breathing when he caged me, some droplets of water streaming from his long, dark hair. His body heat emanated onto me, speeding up the process by a significant fraction. His hand cautiously moved up to my forehead and the electricity coursed through my veins at the contact.

His touch was nothing like I'd felt before; I despised the realisation.

I couldn't help but watch how his massive, veiny bicep flexed when he withdrew his hand, the taut muscle contracting so effortlessly I almost came on the spot. He was wearing a dark, long-sleeved, elastic shirt that carved out every inch of his flawless body. Wow.

He looked so ruggedly handsome this early morning and I hated to admit it. His eyes were staring right through my soul, probably finding answers as to why I had endangered my worthless life like that.

I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the fact that this hot man was so close to me. He seemed to sense that I needed space, so he moved by a fraction that was further enough to make me comfortable, but close enough to make sure I wouldn't do anything stupid again.

"What were you thinking?" It should have been embarrassing that I had hardly understood what he had just said, instead, focusing on the low, resonant octave of his voice. Now that he was closer, it was much more manipulative and sexier, the perfect tune to touch yourself to.

"What. Were. You. Thinking. Yasmina," he repeated, slower this time as I blinked at him. Holy fuck, the way he said my name did things to me.

Bad things.

"Nothing."

"It shows." I scowled at his response, giving him a harsh glare.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" I gave him a judgemental gaze as his prominent abs rippled the moment he sat up and stared down at me.

Yelena was right: having him above you was a dangerous position. I didn't know vulnerability ran deeper than the bone until—well, until this man breathed in my direction.

"I could ask you the same question," he countered, and I exhaled deeply.

"It's none of your business." I looked away from him, attempting to gather every last bit of my power to stand up for myself.

"Interesting. I should have left you out to die, kücük tavsan ," he murmured, amusement sparkling in his heterochromatic eyes.

How was he so perfect? I was so jealous. There was no way in Heaven he was real.

"Don't call me that, it's weird." I scowled again, but it was really the fear of not knowing what he had just called me that ran deeper.

"As weird as swimming against the tides? It's not advisable to swim immediately after waking up, especially if you did so on the wrong side of the bed." He spoke in a calm, low drawl that soothed my senses. I hated that he had that kind of effect on me.

Had he figured out that I had a nightmare? Did it show that I was a little unstable this morning?

"I'm fine. I just…overdid it," I mumbled, sitting up slowly when my body warmth was finally restored.

He got up, analysing me with a hint of disapproval before moving back. He was so tall—it scared me. But I stood my ground, holding his intimidating stare despite the chills that ran down my spine.

Something was so animalistic and primal about the way he looked at me, I couldn't tell exactly what it was. He was imperceptible and very good at calculating his emotions, only revealing what was necessary—which was hardly sufficient to decipher if it was positive or not.

I don’t think he liked me at all.

And just like last time, he left me by myself, wrapped in his dark, thick towels as he disappeared into the violent waters that had swallowed me not so long ago, effortlessly inviting the strong waves to cradle and caress him.