It’s easier for them to blend and disappear in our world, for the most part. That is, unless there’s some powerful entity that can sort them out. The issue is, it’ll take a whole lot of energy to pick through everyone—energy I have to spend finding the missing leaders. I only hope that once I do they can set everything to right once more.
Shay’s is abuzz with activity, not surprising considering how many bodies occupy its space. Our guests seem to be thoroughly enjoying the beach. I find mom and Maddy in the kitchen with Max. Soon Cyrus and Shay join us. Jack wanders in and I begin our pow-wow.
“Shay, do you remember our last little road trip?” I ask.
“Yes, love, of course.” Shay’s eyes grow wide. “You’re going back, aren’t you?”
I give him a half smile. “Have to. I need you here, is that alright?”
“And miss the mosquitos? Sure.” I can always count on him to lighten the mood.
“Good, you, mom and Maddy see if you can’t help the new earthly demon issue so I can ease that off my conscious a bit.” They nod. “Cyrus, Jack? Let’s stop for some bug spray before we leave town. Oh, and Shay?” He tosses me the keys to his car before I can even finish the question. This is what BFF’s are for. “Thank you.”
“Stay safe,” Shay whispers as I give him a quick hug. Mom and Maddy get one too before we pile into Shay’s Prius and hit the road.
“So where are we off to then, doll?” Jack asks.
I grimace. “The Everglades. Sorry, guys. I wasn’t kidding about that spray, either. I’ll explain the rest on the way.
After acquiring bug-spray and lunch (Cyrus’s request) we finally make it out of town. As the miles whizz by I explain why we’re going to a swamp on one of the hottest (and stickiest) days of the year.
“So you plan on getting closer this time, eh?” Jack asks.
“I plan on going inside if we can make it.” I tell them.
“There’s little we can’t face.” Cyrus says with confidence.
“I hope so.” I say with more than a little uncertainty. “So far nothing about anything that’s been going on has been normal or easy.” I point out.
Jack frowns before a large grin spreads across his face. “Aye, but we have a bit more on our side than most. An all-powerful being,” he nods at me, “a warrior,” now to Cyrus, “and my scary hard to kill ass. I think we’re good, lass.”
I focus on the road and hope like hell that he’s right.
It takes us a few hours, but the place is easy for me to find despite the remote location in the swamp. This time we park the car in a secluded spot—you sure won’t be able to see it unless you know where to find it. We even cover it with some foliage just in case someone is on patrol and stumbles upon it.
We’re covering all of our bases.
The bug spray helps, but does nothing for the humidity that weighs on us like a heavy wet wool blanket. We trudge through the swamp land, trying to avoid the worst of it, but only able to do so much.
Before we get to close I turn to the guys. “Follow my lead. Let’s try to stay under their radar for as long as possible.”
They nod in silent agreement. From this moment on we no longer speak, the telepathy I have comes in handy as we stalk my father’s compound.
What I don’t tell them is how sure I am that Elias knows I’m here. Maybe it’s that he’d helped infuse my powers with Maddy, or maybe it’s a biological thing, but just as I know he’s here, I’m sure he feels me as well. I try to mask it, only I’m uncertain of its effectiveness.
My hand flies up into a closed-fist as I notice a couple of guards. Cyrus cracks his knuckles in anticipation while Jack hops from foot to foot shaking his neck out like a boxer getting ready for the bell. I roll my eyes, wave my hand, and put both guards into a heavy slumber.
It takes both Jack and Cyrus to push the large steel door open once I fry the keypad. Inside lies a stark damp hallway, the only lighting from dim yellow bulbs overhead every six to ten feet. The glow does nothing to help the ambiance of the place, that’s for sure.
The hallway becomes more of a tunnel. The downhill gradient is slight, but still enough that I notice we go further and further underground with each step. At the end of the creepy corridor is yet another heavy door. Cyrus reaches for it, but I place my hand on his arm to stop him.
I feel the life-forces that lie beyond and try to place them. I find everyone but my father...whatever shield he has in place is too strong for me to combat just yet. Hopefully Mom and Maddy will have what I need to handle him soon enough.
This isn’t a mission to destroy my father—not just yet. But we need to know what’s going on here. My gut screams that whatever Elias is brewing ties into what’s going on in the other realms. I’m just not sure how, which is why we’re here.
With a thought I put everyone beyond the door before us into a mighty slumber. In eight to ten hours, they’ll wake up much like the guards outside—slightly confused, but very well-rested. It may be more than they deserve, only I’m trying to save as much of my rage as possible for Elias. Despite its lack of meaning now, my hand drops to cradle my stomach. He’s taken so much from me that he deserves it.
I nod to Cyrus and he opens the heavy door with ease. As soon as he and Jack notice the bodies snoring on the floor around us their shoulders fall in unison. I shake my head. Boys.
“Well, you’ve certainly taken all the fun out of this trip, love.” Jack says quite seriously.
“Maybe they’ll wake up before we go.” Cyrus suggests.
“You never know.” I say though I doubt we’ll stay for eight hours. “But they’re not the threat anyway. We have to be on the lookout for Elias. He has me blinded, so I can’t tell if he’s here or not.” I frown.
This seems to excite them. “Okay. Let’s see what they’re up to down here under the swamp.” Jack says.
The main room seems like some type of reception area... a very grungy and unwelcoming one at that. We step over the sleeping bodies. I notice one man in a white lab coat whose tongue hangs out of his mouth onto the grimy floor below. I shudder. It probably serves him right, though. I’m sure whatever lies beyond here isn’t all lollipops and sunshine.
There’s one main hallway that branches off the room, so that’s where we go. I swear the place grows dingier with every step we take. Rooms line the hall, but they’re all empty... that is until we reach the last one. I approach the bed and the small figure lying inside it. When I can make out their features, the world tilts slightly. The walls of the room begin to close in and for a moment I’m not certain if I’m going to be sick or pass out altogether. Jacks arms suddenly find themselves underneath my armpits, supporting me.
“Lettie, are you okay, lass?” He asks in sincere concern.
The room begins to level out and my legs begin to work again. I can’t look at the figure in the bed any longer. “Which one of us?” I manage to stutter out. “You two get her—me—her out of here.” I shake my head roughly and once again look to confirm that I’m both standing here and lying in a bed. “I’ll be out shortly.”
“Are you certain?” Cyrus asks.
I nod. He and Jack must be able to feel my rage that replaces my shock. “I’ll be fine.” I toss Jack the keys. “Just get her secure. We need Mom and Maddy for this.”
With that I leave the room and go to the last door directly at the end of the hall. The lock is no match for my abilities and my anger makes me stronger somehow. I tear it off the hinges and step through.
The plush carpet under my feet and sudden addition of luxury makes me think I’m close to my father’s personal quarters. The walls are lined with rich paper and fancy art. I resist the urge to destroy it all as I pass by. It’d be so easy to do.
As I approach a seating area I see no signs of Elias. I search room by room to no avail. With a huff of frustration I plop onto a nearby chair. It’s then I notice an odd pull in the carpet next to a bookcase. It figures. The man does enjoy his secrets.
I don’t bother with an attempt to find the catch. Instead I fling it open with my abilities. Something snaps and a petty part inside me hopes that I broke it.
Down a well-lit stairwell I find a very white and very clean laboratory of sorts. Three pods lie in one corner of the room. I don’t recognize the men tat reside in the first two, but the third I know well. I fiddle with the buttons and get them to release the locks. It opens before I can wonder if I know how to get its occupant out safely. My heart flops a bit as I float him out and down the hallways outside. I’ll come back for the others, but it’s Chase that takes precedence now. I owe him that much.
I meet Jack and Cyrus at the car. They secure Chase next to (other) me in the back. It’s a lot to take in, so I try to not think about it now. There are still two other people inside.
“I have to go back for two more.” I explain.
“I’ll stay here.” Cyrus says and eyes Chase warily. He still doesn’t trust him. “I’ll keep an eye on things.”
“I’m going with you.” Jack says with no room for disagreement. “I don’t like what’s going on here.”
We make it back to the main door when a pain shoots through my head. It overwhelms me, stealing both my breath and my footing. It’s then I see why.
Elias.
“Naughty offspring, always taking what’s not theirs.” Elias tsks at us cockily. “I see you’ve met your brother, though... interesting the two of you mesh so well, what with his habits and your heroics.”
I want to tear him limb from limb, only I can barely move. Jack snarls at our father as his hands raise to attack.
“I wouldn’t do that, son. I can put her through much more torture than this, now. Is that what you’d like? I may even be able to kill her, though it would be a pity.”
Even through the pain and fog I see Jack tremble with rage, but he holds himself back.
“This isn’t over, Pops.” Jack sneers. “I’ll be seeing you.”
With a speed I never knew my brother had, he scoops me up and tears through the wet foliage back to the car and Cyrus. Once he secures my belt in the passenger seat and Cyrus folds himself into the back, Jack takes off, away from the swamp, away from our father, and away from whatever hell on earth Elias is creating.
Pain
It takes about an hour for the pain in my head to subside enough to begin to think clearly again. Although all it takes is a glance to the back seat to boggle my mind over and over.
“Do you think they’re alright?” Cyrus asks.
“I don’t know. I’m hoping Mom and Maddy will. If we can get them to wake up, maybe they can tell us what Elias has planned for us.”
“I’m going to kill him, lass.” Jack spits out over the steering wheel. “I know you want to, but I’m going to kill our father.”
I sigh. “Maybe it can be a team effort.” I suggest. Elias does seem to have some type of control over me now that Jack’s free of.
“We’ll figure it out.” Jack’s voice softens now. “You rest, sis. Let’s get you to your mum. She’ll help.”
I decide to take his advice and as the road whizzes by my eyes drift shut.
“Lettie, lass, wake up now, doll.” Jack’s voice lulls me out of my rest. I groan slightly in response. “We’re almost back, lass—and I’m not sure where you want to go.”
This wakes me up fully. I stretch and take stock. Overall my head feels better. My body’s a little sore and my nerves are on edge, but there’s no permanent damage that I can tell. A quick glance into the backseat confirms my sanity and Jack’s reason for waking me. It’s not the best idea for our newest occupants to be seen by everyone at Shay’s. In fact, it’s probably best to keep them on a need-to-know basis for now, and the only ones who need to know are my Mom and Maddy.
“Jack, how would you feel if these guys, Shay, my Mom, and Maddy took shelter at your place for a bit? Just until we can get some answers and find a better location for them.”
“Aye, we can arrange that.” Jack says.
“Maybe Cyrus, too. Between him and Shay I doubt anyone will get far if they do find them.” I suggest.
“Aye.” Cyrus agrees. “I won’t let anybody hurt your mom, Lettie, promise.”
“I know, Cy.” I assure him. “Why don’t you drop us off at your place now, Jack? Cyrus can go grab Shay, my mom, and Maddy. I’ll text Shay so they’re ready.”
My fingers fly across my phone’s touch screen, telling Shay to get the team ready and that I will explain when they meet us at Jack’s.
Cyrus helps us get our two unconscious guests inside. Looking at myself gives me the heebie-jeebies. Looking at Chase stirs up way too many emotions to get into. Instead I focus on Bella.
“I’ll be right back.” Cyrus says.
“Hey, Cy?” I ask. “Don’t let anything happen to this sweet girl either, okay?”
He grins. “Of course.”
Jack and I set up the two as comfortably as we can on his couch and recliner. Since I feel better, I use my abilities to try and reach out to them. There’s something in my way, but I can feel them behind it.
“There’s a little hope. They’re in there somewhere.” I tell Jack.
“There’s always hope, lass,” His grin is lopsided, but huge and sincere.
I don’t have too much faith left in hope or happiness so I don’t reply. What I want are answers—answers and a plan to stop my father. This new control he has over me disturbs me. I can’t destroy him if I can’t move and I can’t incapacitate him with whatever spell he has in place to block me. He has the upper hand, and I hate it.
It doesn’t take long for Cyrus to return with everyone. Their reactions are similar to my own. When we explain to Mom and Maddy about what Elias was able to do to me, their concern is obvious.
“This isn’t good.” Maddy says.
“No, it isn’t.” I agree quietly.
“Jack was unaffected?” My Mom asks.
I nod.
“Then he stays with you.” Her tone holds no room for debate.
“We have a lot to figure out.” Maddy says more to herself than us.
My Mom studies me closely. “You need to recharge.” She turns to Jack. “Take her home. Make her rest. When you two get back, hopefully we’ll have some answers.”
My exhaustion keeps me from arguing. I guess the little encounter with Elias took more out of me than I’d thought. I give Mom, Maddy, and Shay a quick kiss on the cheek before I lead Jack out the door.
A hot bath has never sounded better.
Rest comes easier than I expect, though I think it’s due to the lavender oil from my bath and utter exhaustion above anything. It helps to rejuvenate my mind, and while my body is a little stiff overall I’m no worse for wear.
As I stretch I contemplate the events of the last few days. After everything I’ve been through, it’s hard to believe that I find something unbelievable. While I’m more than fully aware that there are more important issues to contend with at the moment, I still have this aching feeling that somehow there’s a connection.
Then there are the two highly personal and quite shocking discoveries from earlier. I truly never thought I’d see Chase again, after he plunged himself and Eunice into that portal. But what’s more—no, most confusing is other me. It’s me, but it’s not me because I’m me. There’s only one me, at least there should be only one me here. So is she a legit other me from somewhere else, a clone, an android, an altogether imposter posing as a trap?
I exhale a large huff and rake my hands through my hair. My frustration is palpable. I try to focus, to pull out the shock value and find the answers from all of this new information. I take away my personal feelings and have some other realizations.
Crap.
It takes a moment to find clothes, pull back my hair, and get Jack off the couch.
“Are you always in this much of a hurry upon waking?” He asks me.
“Says the guy who hardly even sleeps.”
“T
rue, but I do rest, you know. I enjoy me a good rest, too. Then I like a wee bit of time to acclimate before jumping into the day.”
I stifle an eye-roll. “Listen. Why did Elias let us take who we took, but not the others? There’s always a plan with him. He never does anything unintentionally. That includes allowing us to leave there with two people.”
My brother’s face hardens. “You’re right.”
I throw my hands up in the air. “Can we get a move on now?”
“Aye. I miss my dog anyway.” He gives me his lop-sided grin again and together we take the stairs down to the street.
The shock of seeing the two figures unconscious in Jack’s living room still stabs at me, though not as badly as before. I break down my thoughts for Mom and Maddy before we get into what they have to update us on.
“You’re right, there has to be a reason.” Maddy agrees.
My mother looks very thoughtful. “Lettie, how many did you say got left behind?”
“Two others I didn’t recognize.” I say sadly.
“Think about it, Lettie.” My mother pushes. “Whether you recognized them or not, what two beings are missing that are important enough for Elias to protect?”
“Motherf—l” Jack begins only for me to cut him off.
“I should’ve known. He used these two to distract me. I should’ve gotten everyone out when I had the chance.”
“You didn’t know, Lettie.” Maddy tries to console me. “You couldn’t have.”
“He had you distracted on purpose,” Jack mumbles. “He’s good at that.”
Their words don’t help me to feel better. I had allowed my personal issues to cloud my judgment.
Before I can dig myself further into my pity-party, a voice comes through clearly to me and I frown.
“What is it?” My mom asks.
“Someone wants to see me.” I tell everyone. “Cosima.”
Soul Decisions Page 10