Page 12 of Balance

It was the strangest thing ever.

“Doyou?” I couldn’t let this opportunity pass by. It would be too shameful to return to our meditation lessons, especially since I’d been such a dismal failure atstillness.

But right now, I could ask questions. I could finally learn more about onmyojis.

Sure, I could ask Damen. I once inquired, but he lectured for what felt like forever. At one point, there was even a rant about DJs, birth charts, and celebrity fortune tellers. The whole conversation had been very odd and hard to follow, and I’d zoned out after about five minutes.

I couldn’t imagine Damen succeeding at meditation. Not at all.

Finn tilted his head, his mouth twitching. “Yes, I do. But, once again, this is not about me. Just stop making everything awkward and take it.”

“What—” The question died on my lips as he gently tossed his peace offering in my direction. I had no choice but to move my hands to capture it in mid-air before it slammed into my chest.

“Don’t throw things,” I admonished.

“Just open it.”

I pursed my lips but obeyed, turning my attention to the small latch and popping the cover open.

Distrust turned to bewilderment as, instead of a watch-face, the smooth surface of midnight glass illuminated my own reflection back to me.

I touched the top, it felt cool and seemed to hum under my finger. “What’s this?”

“Obsidian,” Finn explained, shoving his hands back into his pockets as he cracked his neck. “It’s been blessed by Jin. He’s the witch in my quintet,” he added after my confused glance. “He’s a crystal witch. They collect gemstones and such, and those items tend to play a central part of their practice.”

I bit my lip, remembering some of the swag hidden away in Miles’s chest. “Does that mean Miles also collects rocks?”

“First of all,” Finn frowned, lowering his voice conspiringly, “don’t you ever tell a witch their crystals are rocks. They tend to take personal offense at that.”

But why? Theywererocks…

“Secondly…” Finn’s posture straightened. “Yes, Miles is the Xing. That means that he, like you, possesses the abilities ofallpractices under his tutelage. Although,” he muttered, stroking his chin, “you seem to have a bit more than you should. Which iswhywe’ve been having these discussions.”

My heart raced. I’d been avoiding this subject.

“Since you suck at meditation, I brought you this.” He nodded again toward the object in my hand. “Obsidian is used to ward against evil, but it’s also a good surface to use for dowsing.”

Dowsing.

“You mean like when you stared at the water?” I asked, frowning at the recollection of when we’d met in the forest and the two of us first discussed this topic. “I thought you determined I lacked the mental prowess to be still.”

“No.” Finn frowned. “I don’t think youcan’t, I think you’re not ready.”

What didthatmean?

“Don’t be angry.” He sighed, shoulders slumping as his eyes briefly closed. “I realized it wasn’t fair to expect you to be able to do it on your first try.”

My eyebrow twitched as my temper stirred. How could he tell me not to be angry, and then insult me in the same sentence? There was something seriously wrong with this boy. “What do you—”

“You’ve avoided making progress in therapy foryears, and you do everything in your power to distract yourself from your thoughts.” He shrugged, no longer meeting my eyes. “Obviously, you’re not going to be able to clear your mind.”

“I can do it!” I pulled the watch against my chest, as if the pressure would calm my racing heart. Having my limitations thrown in my face was the worst feeling in the world.

“I know youcan.” Finn rolled his eyes, brushing off my snarl in the same manner he always did. “You just can’tyet. That’s why you should use that.” He glanced at the watch. “Like I said, the obsidian will keep negativity away while you watch the surface in an attempt to clear your mind.”

Time paused, and a strange sensation—a mixture of understanding and thankfulness—passed over me.

This was Finn. And I was still angry at him.