“We don’t have time for stories!” Tom snapped. “We can have story time after Valida fights Mallum. Focus on the task at hand. Now does anyone else know the location of any Rebels of Emparadroy?”
Delta took a shaky breath and stood. “My mother, Tamara Rivera, is being held prisoner by the Lulins. However—”
“Hold up,” Felix interrupted. “Your mother is Tamara Rivera? That would mean your father would be—”
“Put a sock in it, Wilson,” Delta growled.
Felix didn’t stop. “—Avak Tavello.”
“Avak Tavello?” I asked. “As in Principal Avak Tavello?”
Delta snorted. “Since when was my father certified to be a principal?”
Felix shrugged. “I don’t know, but he somehow became the principal of Oakwood High on Earth.”
Delta’s intense green eyes narrowed. “Do you really want to discuss my father right now?”
“Oh yeah!” Felix exclaimed. “We were discussing you! Like I was saying—”
“I’m serious,” Delta growled. “Stuff a sock in it, Wilson, or I’ll do it for you.”
Felix ignored him. “—if your father is Avak Tavello, that would make your real name Darren. Darren Tavello is the name of the half-dingvar kid that ran away from government care with his older sister, Margaret, just a few months after their mother, Tamara, was captured in a Lulin Raid.” Felix leaned back casually in his rickety wooden chair, lifting the front two chair legs off the floor and leaning the back against the wall. His feet dangled in the air. “I suppose what my sources didn’t know was that Darren Tavello joined the Eikosi Tessera and became Agent Delta.”
Delta—Darren—glared at him, but removed his mask and cloak, revealing unruly brown hair. “You’re smarter than you look, Wilson. Yes, my name is Darren Tavello. Every word you spoke is true. Now what are you going to do with that new knowledge?”
Lambda crossed his arms. “Dude, how old are you?”
“Fourteen, almost fifteen,” Darren responded, setting his Eikosi Tessera gear to the side. “Why?”
“I’m older than that!” Lambda exclaimed. “How could I have not known that? I’ve been working with you for over a year, and I didn’t know I was older than you! Do you know how many arguments I could’ve won with that information?”
“What about your real identity?” Darren asked, turning red. “My identity is out, so why don’t you reveal yours?”
“Personal reasons,” Lambda responded promptly. “The reason we’re having this meeting is so we can share the information necessary for the mission. My identity isn’t vital to the mission, so I’m not going to share it. What were you sharing with us, Darren, before you were interrupted?”
“Right,” Darren cleared his throat. “My mother is being held captive by the Lulins. However, I also know where we can find some more potential allies. Some old friends of mine would probably agree to help us.” He returned to his seat.
“Okay.” Tom had taken charge again. “We have two options: we can go to the Lulin dungeon or to wherever Darren’s old friends are.”
“Personally,” I began, standing, “I think we should go meet Darren’s old friends. We’re going to need all the help we can get with this coming battle. We have four days. Let’s make the most of it.”
“Seconded,” Gabrielle offered.
“Third-ed,” Felix attempted.
“That isn’t a real word,” I told him.
“It is now.”
“We’ll take the rest of today to rest and make preparations,” Tom declared. “Then, Darren, you can lead the way.”
We made preparations and went to bed. Nothing particularly exciting happened in the Darkness that night. It was the next day that had all the excitement.
After all, that was the day we met the dingvars.
Chapter 33
We exited the portal just outside the door of an old shack with chipped paint and a giant sign that announced that this was the Shapeshifter Shack. A man was beating up a screaming teenage boy with a clublike stick while a teenage girl tried to help the boy.
“Leave him alone!” a girl shrieked amid the boy’s screams. “He didn’t do anything wrong!”
The man shoved her aside and continued to hit the boy with his stick. “He existed. Believe me, you’re better off without this dingvar scum.”
“Please,” the boy begged, blood streaming from his nose and mouth. His plea was silenced by another strike.
The girl took a shaky breath and transformed into a snarling wolf. She attacked, only to be struck by the stick.
“You’re one of them,” the man growled. “Begone! There is no place for your kind here!”
I’d had enough. I grabbed a rock and threw at the man. It hit his leg. “That’s enough,” I snarled.
The man stopped mid-swing. “Who are you?” he demanded, pointing at me with his stick. “You have no business here.”
“I am Magenta Valida Smith,” I announced with as much authority as I could muster. “I have more business here than you do. Leave them and get out of here before I make you.”
The girl stared at me, wide-eyed. The boy couldn’t even open his eyes. The man threw the boy on the ground, then turned to face me.
“You think you’re the legendary Magenta?” he scoffed. “I could crush you easily.”
“Wanna bet?” I taunted.
I summoned flames in my hands and let them crawl around my fingers. Since my skin didn’t burn, it was actually rather entertaining. When the man tried to strike me with his stick, I grabbed it with both flaming hands and watched it his eyes widen as he realized what was happening.
“Don’t ever do anything like this again,” I snarled.
I let go and let him drop it and run away. The girl gaped at me.
“You can summon fire,” she stated.
“Sure can,” I confirmed. “I’m Valida, and these are my friends, Tom, Gabrielle, Felix, Lambda, and—”
“Darren!” the girl exclaimed, noticing Darren. She was a full two inches taller than him, so it was easy for her to ruffle his brown hair. “How is Margaret?”
“Um…” Darren looked askance. “I haven’t seen her in a bit, but last I checked, she was doing great.”
Then, as if she just remembered that there were people here who didn’t know her, she said, “I’m Kayla. Margaret, Darren’s older sister, was my best friend.”
Gabrielle had already made her way over to the teenage boy and was dripping the goopy stuff all over his face and arms. She muttered her usual incantations under her breath as she worked.
Kayla’s face fell. “Connor got beat up really bad this time. I’m worried about him. I don’t know if he can survive another round of hatred.”
“Why do they hate you?” I asked.
“We’re dingvars,” Kayla responded.
“So?” I prompted.
“Some creatures think we’re the scum of the Dimensions,” Kayla said. “How do you not know that? Aren’t you the Magenta?”
I nodded. “I’m still learning. Long story.”
“Anyway,” Darren interjected, stretching out the word. “Kayla, we need allies for an official challenge between Magenta Valida and Mallum Frond.”
“You challenged Mallum Frond?” Kayla exclaimed, eyes wide. “Are you crazy?”
“Actually,” I corrected, “he challenged me.”
“That doesn't change the fact that you're crazy,” Kayla informed me. “You still accepted.”
“I didn't really have a choice in the matter,” I responded. “He didn’t give me the option of saying no.”
Gabrielle stood, offering Connor a hand. He accepted and let her help pull him to his feet. “He’ll be all right,” Gabrielle assured us. She handed Kayla a small container of her goopy healing stuff and said, “Apply some of this to whatever areas are not improving in three days.”
“Why don’t I get it?” Connor whined.
“You’re injured,” Kayla responded for Gabriell
e. “Besides, half the time you can’t remember where you left your hat, let alone keep track of something important like this-” she looked down at the container and examined it for a second-“goopy, healing stuff.”
Connor sighed. “For crying out loud, that was one time! Last year! I didn’t even like that hat! Can you just let it go?”
Kayla grinned. “Never. For the first time in forever, I can hold the loss of a particular item of clothing over your head and never let you live it down!”
They started bickering, the topic switching from items they’ve lost over the years to most idiotic things the other has done to multiple other topics irrelevant to the conversation.
After what felt like an eternity, Darren cleared his throat. “We’re kinda on a tight schedule here. Do you mind saving the most-snowmen-built argument until later?”
“Fine,” Connor agreed. “We’ll take you to the others. Dude, all you had to do was walk through the doors!”
He pushed open the rickety wooden doors and let us in. The Shapeshifter Shack was full of every creature from wolves to minotaurs to incredibly adorable bunnies and ducklings.
“DUCKY!” Felix squealed.
Most in the Shapeshifter Shack paid him no attention, but the ducklings did not seem particularly excited about gaining Felix’s attention.
“No, Felix, don’t—” Darren started.
Too late. Felix tried to grab one of the ducklings, just to have it transform into a girl who slapped him in the face. She was just barely tall enough for her head to reach his shoulders, but she was feisty.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded in a shrill voice.
Felix shrugged. “I was trying to hold a ducky, but um...you aren't a ducky, so…”
“Clearly,” the girl said sarcastically. She had straight dark brown hair that reached just past her shoulders. Her fair complexion was just a little bit on the darker side, like she spent a decent amount of time in the sun.
“Good job, Felix,” Lambda told him sarcastically, complete with slow-clapping.
Darren cringed. “Of course you tried to hold Sydney of all dingvar kids.”
“I am not a kid!” the girl—Sydney—protested. “I am a preteen! There is a significant difference! You can call me a preteen or a tween or something along those lines, but I am twelve years old and I will absolutely not allow you to call me a kid!”
Darren rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll rephrase that.” In the same tone he used before, he told Felix, “Of course you tried to hold Sydney of all dingvar tweens!”
“That’s better,” Sydney decided.
The other ducklings had scattered during the conversation and were nowhere to be found. Felix frowned.
“Were all those ducklings feisty girls who would slap me without hesitation if I got within range?” he inquired.
Sydney shook her head. “No, but if you want someone to slap you, I volunteer.”
“I’m good, thanks,” Felix said.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
He nodded. “Positive.”
“Darren,” Tom addressed him, “didn’t you say there were potential allies here?”
“Right,” Darren said sheepishly. “Sydney, do you know where we can find the other dingvar teens? You know, Kayla and Connor’s friend group?”
“You mean the idiots that insist on doing stupid dares all the time that involve that one girl’s band of decorated rocks?” Sydney asked.
“Yep,” Darren confirmed. “That’s them.”
“They’re having a party in the back room,” she informed him. She made a pouty face. “They won’t let me join them, but everyone else has been able to go! Even the rocks get to go!”
“That’s unfortunate,” Connor muttered. Then, at normal volume, he said, “Well, if it makes you feel any better, all the rocks in the Rock Band are divas. Especially Marble. Just because she got picked to be the lead singer—”
Sydney glared at him. “Zip it, Connor. You’re as bad as Lori.”
He tried to smile, but ended up with more of a grimace. His face was bruised from the attack, and he had a split lip. “Thanks, Sydney.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Connor told her. “I decided to take it as one.”
That earned him an especially deadly look from Sydney. He ignored her.
“Alright,” Tom said forcefully. “Let’s go meet the other dingvar teens.”
“Okay,” Connor agreed aloud. “But for the record, my Rubber Band is better than Lori’s Rock Band.”
Kayla rolled her eyes. “She’s your younger sister, Connor. Let her have some sort of victory in life!”
“Never!” Connor declared with maniacal laughter.
“You’re despicable,” Kayla said, trying to suppress a smile. She failed.
“You know you love me,” Connor said playfully.
“And you know we’re wasting time,” Kayla countered. “To the back-room party!”
“What about me?” Sydney asked.
“You can stay here,” Darren decided.
“But I want to come!” Sydney insisted.
“Come on, Darren, loosen up!” Felix said. “Let the preteen join us. She’s almost a teenager!”
“Yeah!” Sydney agreed. “What the idiot said!”
Felix gave her a look that clearly said, What in the Dimensions? I just helped your cause, and this is how you repay me?
She simply flashed him an innocent smile. He sighed, yielding, and said no more about it.
“No way,” Darren insisted.
“Don’t be such a fun-killer, Darren,” Lambda said. “I’m with Felix. Let the preteen come.”
“Fine,” Darren relented. Then to Sydney, he said, “Just stay out of our way.”
Chapter 34
The dingvars knew how to party.
They had everything from individually packaged mints to a D.J. to a multi-colored disco ball. Lights danced on the concrete floor, illuminating both the dancing couples and the shy loners who were trying to melt into the shadows. The music boomed so loud I thought my eardrums were going to burst. Steven had a pained look on his face, like he’d rather be anywhere but here.
Both Connor and Kayla were immediately greeted by a few teenagers, one of them younger than the others. She held a small cloth bag that easily fit into her pocket. Every so often, she would pull out a decorated rock of some sort, usually marble or sandstone, and have it dance. Connor introduced her to us as his younger sister, Lori. She was probably thirteen or fourteen, about our age.
It would have been more ideal for her to shake Lambda’s hand first, since he was nearest to her, but instead she started with Felix, who was right next to me. I was on the far end of the group, farthest away from her, making Felix almost the farthest from her. “Pleased to meet you, um…?” she prompted.
“Felix,” Felix introduced, shaking her hand.
“Felix,” she echoed with a smile.
Then, she shook my hand, and went around the circle, making introductions. Every time she smiled or laughed, even after she’d gone back to her friends, she shot a quick glance at Felix to see if he was watching.
“Hey, Potato Brain,” I finally said when it was just us, “I think you’ve got an admirer.”
“What?” Felix asked.
I repeated myself, this time just loud enough to be heard.
“Oh, okay.” He didn't react; he didn’t even blush.
“Did you even hear what I said?” I accused.
He nodded. “I’ve got an admirer. Lori.”
The D.J. spoke into the microphone as a slow song came on. “This song is ladies’ choice. Let me make it easy on you, ladies; just ask the guy you like. Don’t be shy.”
Felix groaned. “Dang it.”
Lori didn’t bother to hesitate. She pushed past her friends and offered Felix her hand. “Do you want to dance?”
“Sure,” Felix accepted, not a trace of his previous dread pr
esent. I let myself marvel for just a moment at his skill in hiding negative emotions.
After the initial crowd of girls scrambled to find that special someone, I went looking for a loner to ask. I’d had some experience with dances, and I knew, firsthand, about the crushing disappointment that came with not being asked during slow dances.
A short guy with freckles splattered on his face and curly brown hair made eye contact with me. He kept it for a second, then looked down at his fidgeting fingers. The other girls avoided him, heading for the taller, more charming, guys.
I made my way over to him. He was shorter than I’d originally thought. His head barely reached my chin. I continued anyway. “Do you want to dance?”
Even after looking around and seeing that no other guys were close enough to have had the invitation directed toward them, he asked, “Me?”
I nodded. He seemed surprised, but accepted my hand.
“I’m Valida,” I introduced.
“Benjamin,” he introduced. “I go by Ben.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said pleasantly.
“Likewise,” he returned. After a moment of awkward silence, he asked with obvious sadness, “Who dared you to dance with me?”
“No one dared me,” I assured him. “I asked of my own free will.”
That left him speechless for another minute or so as his brows furrowed in concentration, as if this was a new concept to him. “You mean, you asked the short, unruly-haired guy to dance without being dared to?”
I nodded. “Why would I need someone to dare me? You seem like a good person. Besides, there isn’t anything wrong with being short or having your hair.”
He smiled. “Thanks.”
The song ended, and I said, “Thanks for the dance.”
His smile widened. “The pleasure was mine.”
As he walked away, I heard a voice behind me tease, “Now who has an admirer?”
“Ha ha, Felix,” I said sarcastically, turning to face him. “Very funny. I don’t like him in that way; not any more than you like Lori in that way.”
He facepalmed. “No. Just no.”
“What?” I demanded, crossing my arms defensively.
The Magenta (The Legendary Keepers Book 1) Page 15