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As if he knehat I was thinking, Deacon sighed "Aiden doesn’t like to stay at the house Reminds him too much of our parents, and he hates the whole lavish lifestyle thing"

"Oh," I whispered, glancing at the front of the classroom Our teacher was always late

"Anyway, back to " Deacon’s chair and desknoise as he scooted closer toon Elena’s desk, faced us His brows rose when he saw us "Sure Spill it," I said

"There’s so on with the Council--that has to do with the half-bloods"

"Like what?" I asked

"Don’t know exactly But I know it has so to do with the New York Council" Deacon looked away, focusing on the front of the class "I figured you ht know, since you were just up there"

I shookon with the Council, and it probably had to do with the elixir Then I realized Deacon was still staring at the front of the classroo at Luke

And Luke was staring back at him

Like in the really intense way I sometimes stared at… Aiden

My eyes darted back to Deacon I couldn’t see his eyes, but the tips of his ears were pink After severalat another dude casually, Deacon leaned back I thought about the phantom voice I’d heard with Luke in the sensory room It had sounded familiar… but no way

"Anyway," Deacon cleared his throat "I think Iwinter break You think Aiden will be gahed "It’s worth a try"

I glanced at Luke again "Yeah, I guess so"

"It’s not working"

Seth "

"I a the windblown hair out of my face

"Try harder, Alex You can do it"

I huggedout by the ainst me and the heavy sweater was no help We’d been at this for the better part of Saturday When Seth had suggested I try to blow so

I’d been wrong

Closing my eyes, I pictured the thick boulder in my mind I already knew the texture, the sandy color, and its irregular shape I’d been staring at the da ainst the spot the latest mark had appeared "Feel it in here Do you?"

Feel the cord? Check I also liked the fact that he was now blocking the worst of the wind

"Okay Picture the cord unraveling, feel it co this way too ainst me

"Alex?"

"Yeah, I feel the cord" I did feel it opening up, slithering through my veins

"Good The cord is not just us," he said softly "It’s akasha--the fifth and final element You should feel akasha now Tap into it Picture what you want in your mind"

I wanted a taco, but I doubted akasha could serve s for Taco Bell right about now

"Alex, are you paying attention?"

"Of course" I smirked

"Then do it Blow up the rock"

Seth made it sound so easy Like a toddler could do this I wanted to elbow him in the stomach, but I pictured the rock and then pictured ain

Nothing happened

I opened "

Sethback the shorter stands of hair that fell out of his ponytail He popped his hands on his hips and stared atwind hadto stay warry And I saw that National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is on TV for some odd reason and I must watch it since you soaked up all the ti Christmas"

His brows inched up "Watch what?"