circus, movie theaters, and carnivals. I had even watched TV, but until recently, enjoying those things had never been a reality.
Now … now Lia and I were free. We had been hiding in Misty Hill for a month, and nothing had happened. The thought both thrilled me and filled me with dread.
Finally, we had gotten away. Finally, we had been able to hide.
But until when? In the end, Slater had always found us. No matter where we went, where we hid, he sent his lackeys after us. We only got away because he still underestimated my powers—thanks to Lia. If she hadn’t instructed me to hide my full potential from him, he would have made better preparations. He would have made his place more secure. Put more guards around me.
We wouldn’t have been able to escape so easily.
I was sure he would figure out I was more powerful than he imagined.
Just as I was sure this perfect little life would be taken from me. It would be ripped away, torn to pieces, destroyed and burned to the ground.
And I would be left hurting, crying, regretting.
“Earth to Kenna.” Carol snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Where are you?”
I forced a smile. “Right here. I’m right here.”
She arched an eyebrow at me, as if she didn’t believe me. Thankfully, she didn’t push it. Instead, she hooked her arm with mine. “Let’s play that game.” She steered me to a dance game booth.
There were four dance platforms, complete with a light-up mat and screen. Sabrina and Kevin occupied two of them—Sabrina seemed to know what she was doing, while Kevin went with the flow.
Carol pushed me toward one of the platforms, then took the other one.
“Ours is ending,” Sabrina said, her eyes fixed on the screen in front of her. She followed the movements perfectly. “Wait and we can all dance together.”
We didn’t have to wait long. We all chose the same hip hop song and started at the same time. At first, I was a little tense dancing like that in the middle of a festival, but soon the song, the movements, and the excitement from my dance buddies filled my veins and I let it all out.
Carol whistled. “Girl, you’ve got some moves.”
I chuckled. I had always loved dancing—classical ballet and contemporary the most—but I hadn’t danced in years. I thought I had forgotten how. Apparently, all I need was a little nudge.
Kevin was the first out of the game, right after the second song started. Carol lost the game in the middle of the third song. They both cheered as Sabrina and I went on, dancing our hearts out.
I didn’t think I had ever had this much fun before.
Sabrina and I went on for another six songs. She was kicked out of the game fifteen seconds before the tenth song ended. I finished it and won the game.
When I turned back, I was taken aback by the crowd that had gathered, watching us dance.
The man managing the booth walked up to me and brought me a small, white teddy bear. “You broke our record. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, taking the teddy bear from him. I walked down the platform and people patted my shoulders, congratulating me.
Kevin high-fived me. “That was awesome!”
“Yup.” Carol nodded. “You’re a pretty good dancer.”
“Sabrina is too,” I said, smiling at the young girl. She shrugged. “Here. I want you to have it.”
Her blue eyes shone. She hesitated for a moment, as if unsure she should take it or not. But I pushed the bear into her chest. She wrapped her arms around it and smiled at me. “Thanks.”
I glanced around. “What now?”
I shouldn’t have said that. Sabrina, Kevin, and Carol meandered through the booths of the festival. We played dozens of games, ate cotton candy and hot dogs, watched musicians play and several dance groups perform, and walked and walked and walked.
I paused at a jewelry stand. My hands hovered over the simple, handcrafted necklaces and earrings, but there was one ring that called to me. It looked odd, with a silver band and a blue center. That ring seemed familiar, but not quite, and I couldn’t explain it.
“The sun is going down,” Carol said, tugging me forward. “It’s almost time for the parade.”
Around us, everyone talked about the parade, and most of them already walked toward main street, trying to get a good spot.
Kevin and Sabrina ran ahead of us, to save us a place, while Carol and I strolled up the street, arms