“The entire Lombardia area in general is astounding!” Vega said. He was already busy scrawling down notes into his holo-fieldjournal. “I’m going to apply for another research trip as soon as we return! You’re all welcome, of course.”
Jackson, Fiona, and Kay all glanced at one another, staying silent, and Vega laughed. “Well, I suppose this was enough adventure for all of you. Still, I wish we could have had the chance to see a Lyote or even a Lobolf while we were out here. It’s a pity, especially with the full moon tonight.”
An uncomfortable silence followed as Vega looked at Jackson, who avoided his gaze. He really didn’t want to have the conversation with Vega again, and now that they had the Everore, he definitely didn’t want to risk Asena running away if he let her out of her ring, no matter how much Vega and the Lyote wanted it.
“You know,” Vega said, undeterred, “I’ll wager we could still find a pack in the next few hours before we head back. I’ll even throw in an additional one thousand suns for each of you if you’d like to take the time to explore a bit more.”
Jackson, Kay, and Fiona looked at one another. A thousand suns each was nothing to joke about — it was almost as much as Jackson had made in a month back as a ranch assistant at Sato, and he’d been paid pretty decent wages there. One look at Fiona said she wasn’t going to go for it, though. As much as Jackson wanted to see a pack of Lyotes in the wild, he hadn’t forgotten Black’s warning about how dangerous they could be, or how short on time they were to get back for the Bronze League playoffs and championship.
“Maybe another time,” Jackson offered in the tense silence that followed. “We appreciate the offer but really need to be heading back for the tournament.”
“Five thousand suns,” Vega said.
Kay’s head perked up, but seemingly more out of confusion than temptation.
“I’d rather not risk it,” Jackson said. “You know everything that’s at stake here.”
“And what about ten thousand suns apiece?”
“Dude, we don’t want your money, okay?” Kay snapped. “Jackson and Fiona have to get back for the Battle Royale.”
Jackson used that as a cue to rise and pull on his backpack. Kay and Fiona did likewise and Jackson even went so far as to start heading back the way they’d come, out of the meadow toward the jungle.
“That’s a shame,” Vega said. “I’d rather hoped we could come to some kind of agreement on this, but I guess we’ll do things the hard way.”
A pair of clicks caused Jackson and the others to turn around. When they did, Jackson’s heart froze in his chest.
Heath and Sloan were each pointing a handgun at them.
For the first few seconds, Jackson was too dumbstruck and stunned to react. Standing between Heath and Sloan, Vega folded his arms and smirked. The look of satisfaction didn’t extend to his eyes, which stared at the trio cold and calculating.
“What’s going on?” Jackson asked in a low voice. A tiny part of him refused to believe what he was seeing and wanted to chalk it up to some weird, inappropriate joke Vega was playing. But he knew even before Vega answered that it wasn’t a joke.
“I didn’t want to do this, Jackson,” Vega said. “All you had to do was lead me to the Lyotes here on the island. I even offered to pay you. Actually, the offer still remains, if you’ll take it.”
“I thought you said those guns were just tranquilizers,” Jackson said.
“Those guns were, yes, but we brought along real ones as well,” Vega said. “In case of instances like this.”
Fiona raised her hand like she was about to summon one of her Djinn, but Vega held up a finger and tsked at her as Sloan and Heath turned the barrels of both of their guns her way.
“Don’t do that, Ms. Sato,” Vega said. “In fact, why don’t all of you hand over your Djinn rings right now before we have any unfortunate accidents? That includes you, too, Ms. Watts. Put your Fenkit back in his ring now before somebody gets hurt.”
As Kay returned Sunshine to stasis, Jackson pulled his Djinn rings off with shaking hands. He still struggled to comprehend what was happening. Worse, he could see no way out of the situation. Looking at his almost-manic eyes, Vega suddenly seemed capable of anything.
“You can’t kill us,” Jackson said. “Black knows we’re here — if you show up without us she’s going to ask questions.”
Vega rolled his eyes. “So dramatic. We don’t want to kill any of you. If you cooperate, nobody has to be hurt at all. You have my word.”
“Hard to trust the word of someone with a gun pointed at us,” Fiona snarled. “What do you want with us? You’ve got the Everore.”
“I’ll concede that the Everore is quite valuable, but it wasn’t the point of this whole trip.”
“It wasn’t?” Jackson said
Vega interlaced his hands in front of his chest and held them out to Jackson, as if pleading. “And this is the part where I vehemently apologize for my deceit. I truly am sorry, but it was all I could think to do to get you out here.” Vega took a breath as if prepping himself. “The Everore was never going to help you or your Lyote.”
“What are you talking about?”
“All that research on the Everore was fake.”
Jackson felt a pit form in his gut, and his mind went back to when he’d first heard of the Everore. “Wait, but I got in contact with my mother’s partner at Crevajo.”
“Wrong. You may have left a message with her partner at Crevajo, but the man who got back to you wasn’t him. You were speaking to one of our men. The little quest for the Everore was only to get you and Asena here on the island. Luckily the stone itself is still worth a hefty profit. When it became clear that you wouldn’t evolve your Djinn, I thought a brawl with a Trollava or two might wear Asena down or perhaps even convince you how stupid it is not to evolve a powerful Djinn like your Lyote.”
“But…” Jackson could hardly wrap his head around what he was hearing. “But my mom’s field notes —”
“I’m afraid you put too much stock in her postulations,” Vega said, shaking his head. “I’ve studied Ignus Stone — that’s its real name, by the way — for years. Despite everything I’ve been telling you — or that you’ve been reading — it will not prevent your Lyote from evolving, and it will not allow her to up her stats or learn an advanced move set as if she had.”
Vega motioned to Heath and Sloan, who pointed their guns on Jackson. He then walked forward and held out a his hands. “Give me your rings. If I so much as see a light from any of them, we’ll shoot you all. Don’t try me.”
Kay dropped Sunshine’s ring in Vega’s hand and when it came Fiona’s turn, she glared daggers at Vega before placing her three rings in his hand as well. Vega pocketed the rings and jerked his head at Sloan.
“Tie them up. You’ll stay here and watch them while Jackson, Heath, and I take a walk.” Vega then approached Jackson and held up his hand. Jackson hesitated, then handed over Triton and Scrappy’s rings. His stomach felt sick at the thought of his precious Djinn in the hands of the conniving little man that stood before him. His hand clenched, Asena’s ring still fixed to his finger. Vega waggled his fingers impatiently. “The Lyote too. Remember, I have no intention of taking her away for good.”
But you do, thought Jackson, realizing Asena’s time as a Lyote may be numbered.
“Where are we going?” Jackson asked. He had to force himself to pry Asena’s ring from his humidity-swollen finger.
Vega’s face split into a wide grin. “To find the Lyote pack, of course. And Asena is going to lead us to them.”
If possible, Jackson felt his stomach drop even further. As he held the ring between his thumb and forefinger, he felt the urge to summon Asena. If he did that, he could take them out before —
Jackson felt a sharp blow connect with his jaw, and the next moment, he found himself sprawled out in the tall grass. Vega reached down and picked up the ring he’d dropped when he’d been sucker punched.
&n
bsp; “Don’t get carried away, Heath,” Vega said, examining Asena’s ring. “We need him to cooperate with us. Plus, I don’t like making enemies when I don’t have to.”
“I saw that look in his eyes,” Heath said. “He was about to summon the Lyote from her ring.”
“Is that so?” Vega sighed.
He helped Jackson to his feet, who was still too dazed to refuse. It was as though he was trying to pretend he hadn’t just threatened Jackson and all his friends. “I’ve been very patient with you. Do you realize how selfish you’re being? Not only for keeping Asena from attaining her full potential but what about your mother? Do you really think she gave the Lyote to you so it could stick around in its lowest form for the rest of its life? Think! How would humanity or Djinn ever have survived if evolution wasn’t a part of life? We adapt. We embrace the change. And so will you once we’re done here. Now, I will find those Lyotes and you will help me. If you don’t, we’ll kill your friends and throw them in the volcano where no one will ever find the bodies. I don’t want to get ugly, but I will if I have to. Now move.”
Heath grabbed Jackson by the shoulder and gave him a hard shove. When Jackson regained his footing, he felt the cold end of the gun barrel pressing into the small of his back. “Don’t try anything,” Heath warned. His tone sounded the same as if he was cautioning Jackson about crossing a busy street.
“Jackson, be careful!” Kay shouted.
But Jackson didn’t dare turn around and a snarl from Sloan ensured that neither Kay nor Fiona said anything else. Pulling up his watch, Vega led them in the opposite direction of the ferry, just to the northeast of Mount Ahina. Heath remained behind Jackson, presumably still pointing his pistol at Jackson’s back.
They moved quickly, Vega in front, setting an almost frantic pace that Jackson hadn’t thought the lab researcher capable of. Then again, Jackson realized, it seemed there were quite a few things Jackson hadn’t thought the Vega was capable of. He still couldn’t comprehend how they’d reached this point and, more importantly, how he could have been so clueless about Vega and the so-called research.
He told you what you wanted to hear, Jackson thought. And you were so desperate and immature that you didn’t even think twice.
“Sorry Heath hit you,” Vega said as they made their way. “But I couldn’t have you try anything.” The researcher sounded genuinely sorry, though that didn’t assuage any of the malice Jackson was feeling towards the man. “You have to understand where I’m coming from here.”
“Are you seriously still trying to convince me?” Jackson said.
“The more you’re on my side, the easier this whole mess will be.”
It wasn’t long before they passed into the jungle, out of sight and hearing of Sloan, Fiona, and Kay. For a brief moment, Jackson contemplated releasing his Djinn from their rings and taking his chances. He’d done something similar a year before at Training Camp, recalling both Asena and Scrappy without physically touching the rings. He didn’t think releasing them would be any different, so it wasn’t impossible. But after running through the scenarios in his head, he didn’t think it was worth the risk. Vega and Heath had done nothing to suggest they were bluffing in any capacity, and with Kay and Fiona only a quick call to Sloan away from being killed, Jackson couldn’t take any chances being a hero.
Vega didn’t mention how he was mapping the course and Jackson didn’t dare ask. Twice, they stopped for a few minutes to catch their breath and take a quick drink. Jackson was allowed one as well, but the whole time Heath kept his gun sighted on the young tamer. Jackson lost track of how many miles they’d gone, but suddenly, the sky was crimson with the coming sunset. Ever so slowly, the full moon rose in the sky overhead until twilight turned to night. The blood-chilling calls of the Lyote pack filled the darkness somewhere in the depths of the jungle ahead of them.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Vega held up his hand the moment the howls began and everyone paused. The long, forlorn notes filled the air for several seconds — a couple miles away at most, Jackson guessed. Probably closer. When they finally ceased, the researcher turned around and held out something for Jackson. It was Asena’s ring.
“See? No one’s been hurt so far,” Vega said. “Just keep cooperating and it will stay that way, I promise. Now let out your Lyote. No tricks. She will likely be drawn by the moon and the call of the pack at this point, but don’t do anything stupid like command her to run away or attack us, understood? Remember I can radio Sloan at any time.”
“What are you going to do to her?” Jackson said.
“Not a thing,” Vega said. “She’s just going to lead us to the pack. I’ve already told you this. That was our goal from the very beginning.”
“But she’ll evolve.” Jackson said. “Vega. Just think about this for one second. I know you’re not a tamer, but you are a researcher. Just think about it for one second —”
Vega raised a finger to his lips and the same cold look returned to his eyes. “I think you underestimate just how much thought I put into this entire trip,” Vega said. “Rest assured, thinking about it for one more second won’t change anything. No more protests. Do as I say.” He gave a sharp smile. “Please.”
Jackson swallowed hard and took Asena’s ring from Vega. He slid it over its familiar place on the index finger of his left hand, but rather than being reassured by the feeling, it filled him with dread. After everything he’d done, Asena would evolve and there was nothing he could do about it. Raising a shaking hand, Jackson released her.
She materialized in a blast of the familiar vermillion light. In spite of the circumstances, Jackson couldn’t help but feel a small measure of peace at her presence. She looked at him and he could tell she was mad about the constant captivity, but a moment later, the Lyote seemed to pick up that something wasn’t quite right. She saw Vega and Heath standing beside Jackson and lowered herself to the ground, snarling.
“Control her,” Vega said with more than a hint of panic in his voice.
“Asena!” Jackson raised his hands and stepped between her and the other two. “Asena, it’s okay, girl. I’m sorry about putting you in the ring for so long.”
For added measure, Jackson sent a wave of concern and love toward the Lyote through their telepathic connection. He hoped it would help Asena realize he was only trying to help her. Jackson’s mind raced back to the start of this whole journey — when Asena was one big secret from his grandmother, who wanted nothing more than for Jackson to stay away from the world of Djinn taming. Of course, she’d only wanted to keep him safe, but with a bit of hard work, Jackson and Asena proved their skill and won her over.
Another call from the pack completely severed Jackson’s connection with Asena. The Lyote’s head turned in the direction of the howls. Jackson opened his mouth to say something to Asena but Vega silenced him with a hard look.
Asena did nothing for several moments, just stood and listened to the pack. Then, after the howls faded again, she tipped back her head and let out a long call that made the hairs on the back of Jackson’s neck stand up. In the next instant she was bounding away.
“Quick, follow her!” Vega said. “Use your holo to make sure we’re heading in the right direction.”
A surge of panic filled Jackson as Asena disappeared into the dark jungle. He flipped through to the correct app in his holo and a small projected map popped up. All it showed was a small blinking dot that was Asena, but at least they wouldn’t lose her. Jackson needed no encouragement from Heath or Vega to give chase. His mind still spun, trying to think of a way to stop the nightmare unfolding. At the same time, he felt plagued by fresh doubts. Although Vega certainly hadn’t intended to, his comment about Jackson acting selfish in regards to Asena evolving had struck Jackson. He was reminded of his relationship with his grandma early on in his career, and wondered if he was now the one holding someone he loved back.
But none of that mattered now. The only thing was keeping up with Asena. Whether
Vega knew it or not, he’d made a mistake by letting Jackson release one of his Djinn. Now, no matter how hard it might be to get through to Asena, Jackson had a sliver of hope.
They crashed through the trees and the plants, trail completely abandoned in the mad rush to keep as close as possible to Asena. Jackson guessed they’d run for about a mile, taking vines to the face and tripping on roots and rocks in the dark, before Asena’s dot finally stopped somewhere ahead of them. Try as he might, Jackson couldn’t shake Heath, and the bodyguard only had to warn Jackson to slow down for Vega once for Jackson to give up any ideas of trying to ditch the pair in the dark.
They came to a Djinn trail along the edge of a short cliff just a little taller than Jackson. The bottom of the gorge was overgrown with leafy plants, vines and tangled trees. Jackson continued his steady jog, going just slow enough to allow Vega to stick with them. The moon overhead provided enough light that Jackson could see several yards in front of him. He instinctively had been looking for a means of escape, but kept having to push it from his mind. As important as Asena was, he couldn’t jeopardize Kay and Fiona.
Just then, his holo-watch buzzed.
It was a message from Kay.
Black came looking for us. We’re safe — coming to you. Don’t do anything stupid.
Jackson smiled.
And then, from behind, he heard Vega crash to the earth with a curse. The researcher screamed in pain and Jackson saw his chance.
Without even turning to look if Heath had gone back to his boss, Jackson threw himself off the trail into the small ravine to his left. He heard Heath’s shout and tensed, waiting for the bullet to strike him, but the gun never fired. An instant later, Jackson crashed hard through the undergrowth, the flora doing little to cushion his fall. His head smacked against a log or a rock and he continued to roll several more feet until his body came to rest at last in the bottom of the narrow gorge.
Ignoring the myriad of scratches and abrasions all over his body and the pounding in his head, Jackson held perfectly still. Fortunately the fall had closed out the tracker app on his holo. The plants and bushes covered him as well, so that he couldn’t see back up the side of the ravine and felt reasonably certain Heath and Vega couldn’t see him down below, either.
Djinn Tamer - The Complete Bronze League Trilogy Page 75