Coming Together (Tèarmann Chronicles book 6): A Christian Urban Fantasy

by TR Moore Ede

  “You’ll be fine,” she said, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “It’s not like the pastor will ask for all the nonbelievers to stand up.”

  “If anything like that happens, I will drag you out of here, kicking and screaming.”

  She laughed.

  Chapter 8

  I only listened to the sermon for the sake of learning more about what Jessie believed, like Victoria had suggested. In that respect, I found it somewhat interesting.

  After the service Jessie talked to a lot of people, preventing us from spending much time together. Not that she didn’t introduce me and tried to bring me into the conversations, but oftentimes the other would mention something and they and Jessie would launch into a topic which I could not relate to. In those times, if I felt I could do it politely, I slipped away. It meant I could talk to Irene, Jason, Victoria and Eve, which was kind of nice.

  Jessie usually would circle around to find me again.

  We got home to find Terry waiting for us on the couch. “Surprise, surprise. Jessica went to church,” he said, standing up. “I see Jessie didn’t let you forget about that little bet.”

  I looked away. “It’s not my fault that you’re slow. I’ll be sure never to think you’re quick enough to catch an untrained person again. What are you doing here? Where are our parents?”

  “Ouch. Your parents got called in, and so did you, which is why I’m here. Hurry up and get changed. Boss doesn’t seem too pleased with something.”

  Jessie bit her lip.

  Terry clearly noticed as one eyebrow inched upward. “Although you might be able to guess what it is.”

  I grabbed Jessie’s wrist and pulled her upstairs before he could begin an interrogation. You’re going to get us caught! Agents need to act!

  She scowled as we disappeared into our separate rooms. Well excuse me that I seem to have trouble hiding things when it comes to Terry! It’s probably from you. Also, being an agent is still somewhat new to me!

  Wait. I paused as I opened my drawer. Do you have a crush on him?

  I could almost feel her flushed face from across the hall. What? No!! He-he’s like a brother. I have your memories you know!

  But you don’t have my feelings. If you did, you’d slap him as often as I do. You do, don’t you!

  Just stop it! she snapped as we met in the hallway, her glare digging into my skull.

  I snickered then poked one of her cheeks. “Your face is red.

  She batted my hand away. “Let’s just go. He’s probably getting impatient.”

  I smirked. “Uh huh, sure, let’s go.”

  A minute later, we were in his car. “You know, one of you could have ridden shotgun,” Terry said.

  “We know,” Jessie said. She played with her hands for a moment. “Do you know why we were called in?”

  He shook his head. “All I know is that the boss wants to talk to you. So, Jessica, I doubt it’s a mission.”

  “Darn it,” I muttered before sighing. I hit my head back when it clicked. Oh no.

  Yeah. I think it’s the report. I mean, we’re already going to get in trouble because we left Terry.

  We’re in soo much trouble. I rubbed my face with both hands.

  “Is something wrong?” Terry asked, suspicion building in his tone.

  “Just sister talk, nothing you’d understand being an only child,” I said.

  He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t hear you two talking.”

  “Good job, you’re focusing on the road perfectly.” I said, ignoring his comment.

  He chuckled, but thankfully, he didn’t push it.

  As soon as we arrived, Terry brought us straight to the boss.

  Jessie’s nervousness was slightly visible in her face, but I kept mine blank.

  Every so often Terry would glance back at us, his eyes settling into mine for brief moments as if my thoughts and emotions were written there. “Are you two all right?”

  I nodded.

  His eyebrows shot up, his disbelief very evident. “Are you sure?”

  “Uh huh,” Jessie whispered.

  Terry looked at her then at me, his look telling me that he wasn’t buying it.

  “We’re sure, Terry, just stop,” I muttered.

  Terry gave a nod but still didn’t look convinced.

  Soon enough, we reached Mr. Mason’s office.

  Jessie hesitated outside the door then looked at me.

  It’ll be okay, I mentally told her, trying to ensure my tone didn’t contradict my words.

  Jessie nodded and headed inside the office.

  I followed.

  Our parents were there, so I assumed they would know what had happened.

  Mr. Mason was sitting behind his desk but stood up when we entered. “Thank you for bringing them, Terry,” he said with a nod.

  Terry nodded back at him then left, closing the door behind him.

  “Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. He took a seat.

  “Thanks,” I whispered, sitting down. I cleared my throat. “What is this about?”

  “I was looking over your report on your last mission.” He pulled out some papers and flipped through them.

  I wondered if he was actually looking for something or if this was a type of scare tactic. The longer his eyes roamed the page, the more sweaty my palms became.

  A moment later he looked up, his hands folded on his desk. “Would you care to explain to me why you left Terry? As well as more about this girl?” He focused his attention on Jessie, aware that she would be the one more likely to explain.

  Jessie looked like a deer caught in the headlights. She glanced at me, then back at him. “We-we left Terry because we knew someone was in trouble and Terry was in the middle of something. And-and we have … reasons we didn’t say anything. So can you please not ask? It’s for her.”

  I cringed. I knew Mr. Mason wouldn’t just say, ‘yeah, I can do that,’ and then let us go. I let out a long breath, very aware of our parents watching us from behind.

  Mr. Mason was quiet for a moment. “It sounds like you’re being threatened.”

  “We’re not! We promise,” Jessie said, a panicked expression forming.

  “I’d like to believe you, but you can’t promise that. You were at the UIC, who is after you. We don’t know if they caught and threatened you.”

  “They wouldn’t have let us go,” I said. “Terry found us outside. If the UIC got us, he wouldn’t have been able to find us at all.”

  “Maybe, or maybe not. Either way, there’s an answer and I’d like to hear it … Well?”

  Jessie and I remained silent, refusing to meet his eyes.

  He sighed. “Well, if you’re not going to answer, you will be relieved of missions for the time being.”

  My eyes bulged, and I jumped to my feet. “That’s not fair! We’re doing what we feel is right!”

  “And that could be protecting a person that they’re using to keep you quiet!” he snapped, rising to his feet. “You shouldn’t feel the need to protect someone by not telling us. Until you decide to tell me what happened, or I decide otherwise, you are both off duty. So, is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

  I looked at Jessie, an urge inside growing to tell him. I enjoyed going on missions and didn’t want to lose it.

  We can’t. This is an alien we’re talking about. We can’t do that to her. We don’t know how Mr. Mason will react.

  My shoulders dropped; I knew she was right. “No sir, we don’t.”

  He nodded then sat back down. “Then you are now officially off duty. Your parents can drive you home. You may go.”

  “Yes sir.” Jessie took my arm and quickly led me out.

  “This isn’t fair,” I muttered under my breath, my hand curling into a fist. I glanced over my shoulder, wishing I could go give him a piece of my mind.

  “Jessica,” Jessie whispered, giving my arm a small pull.

  “I know, I know.”

&n
bsp; My parents were silent on the matter until we were in the car and on our way home. “So, are we going to hear what happened?” Dad asked. I was pretty sure he was asking about the report, as they had been present for the entire meeting with Mr. Mason.

  I hit my head against the headrest. I had expected the question. “We can’t.”

  Mom and Dad glanced at each other. Mom turned back in her seat to face us. “If something is going on, we need to know.”

  Jessie and I nodded.

  “If something like this happens with the team, we will pull you off. Do you understand?”

  I reluctantly nodded. “Yes, Mom.”

  When we got home, I sat on the couch and let out a long sigh.

  Jessie sat next to me and nudged my arm. It frees up our time to focus on the team.

  I shrugged. I guess.

  She turned to face me. “Should we think of our code names? You know, for the team?”

  “Sure, why not.” I shifted my position to properly look at her. “So, what are your ideas?”

  She frowned. “Do you have any?”

  I shook my head. “You?”

  She rested her head back. “Not really … What kind of name would you like? Aim? You know, like what you do with your tazer things? Well, they’re more like knockout darts or stuns but whatever. Or Target?”

  I frowned. “But I really don’t want to be one.”

  “You’re a person with powers; you’re a target.”

  I shrugged. “What about you?”

  “My powers are mostly mental, and I am not naming myself mental.”

  I sighed and sank into the couch, racking my brain for anything. As an idea formed in my mind, a smile curled my lips. “I just thought of a great name for myself.”

  Jessie smiled and sat up straighter. “Really? What is it?”

  I paused for a moment, resisting the urge to laugh. “Knockout!”

  “Co-...” Her face scrunched up in confusion as she thought for a second. “Wait a sec- Jessica!” she yelled. “No! That is wrong on so many levels!”

  I doubled over laughing.

  “Why would you even think of something like that?!” she yelled, starting to hit me with a pillow.

  I grabbed the pillow and pulled it from her hands. “Shall I ask the boys their opinion?”

  “No! Jessica!” She wrenched the pillow away and began whacking me with it again.

  I laughed as I used my arms to defend my face then tore it out of her hands again and tossed it onto the opposite couch. I couldn't help my smile that hadn't faded and the snickers that continued upon seeing her unimpressed look.

  “Why are you so weird?” she muttered, scooching away.

  “C’mon. Your face was priceless,” I said, putting an arm around her.

  She sent me another unimpressed look, making me laugh again. “You're terrible.”

  “Why thank you,” I said, folding my hands behind my head. “How about Seer?”

  Her head, which had turned away, swung back in my direction. “What?”

  “We would call you Seer? The seer of thoughts and what they’re currently seeing. I'm being serious!” I said.

  She sent me a look, then ran her fingers through her hair. “I guess … It's the best I have. I'll stick with it for now; and we'll wait for your name,” she added, shooting me a glare.

  I snickered.

  The next day, we headed to Mr. Quinn’s house to drop off our shirt designs. “You’re good with yours?” Jessie asked, after she rang the doorbell.

  I shrugged. “I guess.”

  She let out a long breath. “I hope so. It wouldn’t be very nice to change your mind part way through.”

  “It’s not like they’re designing an entire outfit.”

  “Still,” she said, knocking her elbow against me. A smile formed as the door opened. “Hey Eve.”

  Eve smiled. “Hi Jessie, Jessica.” She moved aside to let us in.

  Chapter 9

  “How are you?” Eve asked, closing the door behind us.

  “Pretty good,” Jessie said, as we took off our shoes and coats. “Is Mr. Quinn here?”

  Eve shook her head. “He probably won’t be home until around dinner or so, I think. He’s commissioned Mrs. Ana and I to gather designs as they come in. So I assume you’ve finished yours?” She led us to the kitchen.

  Jessie nodded and placed the folder on the table.

  Peeking over Eve’s shoulder, I gave one last look to confirm I was satisfied with it. I gave a small nod and plopped down at the table.

  Eve sat down, carefully studying our drawings. With how well I drew, mine might as well have been hieroglyphics, but she seemed to understand them just fine. A small smile pulled at her lips as her eyes scanned the drawing. “I like it. Simple.”

  “A shirt doesn’t give that much space to be complex in a way that isn’t flashy.”

  She gave a nod, her fingers running across the notes Jessie and I had left, her mouth softly moving. “Thank you. Unless you have anything you would like to add, I just need measurements from you. Then Jason and Irene need to show you something.”

  “Sounds good,” Jessie said.

  I turned my attention to my drawing as Eve took Jessie’s measurement. I wanted to ensure that I described it as I wanted it.

  “Jessica?” Eve said, staring at me, measuring tape in hand. “Is something wrong?”

  I shook my head, my eyes focused on the drawing for a few extra moments. Satisfied it was self explanatory, I rose to my feet. “Just wanted to make sure what I said made sense.”

  “It seemed very straightforward. Could you hold your arms out?”

  “Sure.” I said, holding them out straight. “What are Jason and Irene showing us?”

  “Obviously here is one of our meeting places, but that can’t always happen as we don’t want to draw attention to Officer Rasper. They have another idea for a meeting place.”

  “Mr. Quinn knows the danger of running a group like this, right?” I asked, glancing at Jessie.

  “I’m sure he does,” Jessie said.

  Eve jotted down my last measurement. “I’m sure the chief spoke to him about it. After all, it included, I’m sure, many conversations with him. Jason! Irene!”

  My eyebrows rose the tiniest bit. “You didn’t seem like a person to yell.”

  A smile pulled at her lips. “I don’t normally. Unless you’re my older brother.”

  “I know how that feels, except I have a sister.” Jessie shot me a look.

  I snickered. “I assume it’s also you growing more and more comfortable.”

  “Yep,” she said, gathering up all her papers in the folder and tucking it under her arm.

  “You called?” Jason said, peeking his head in. Irene was close behind.

  “You can show them,” Eve said, then disappeared upstairs, lightly humming to herself.

  Irene watched, the corner of her mouth curling upward. “I’m glad she’s happy.”

  “We all are,” Jessie said. “Especially after her scare from crashing here. It’s a miracle she was also with the Slayers when you rescued your parents.” Her eyes slid toward me.

  My eyebrow arched. “There are such things as coincidences.”

  “But something like that? If they had gone any sooner, they would have missed her.”

  I let out a slow breath. “Jessie, please. I don’t want to get into an argument with you.”

  She sighed. “Sorry.”

  I gave a nod, thinking her idea that it was a miracle would disappear as soon as I was distracted enough. “So, I assume it’s another building?”

  “Outside, yes,” Jason said.

  Jessie cringed. “Sounds cold.”

  “It very well could be,” Irene said, leading us to the door. “But no one can get in trouble because a cave doesn’t really belong to anyone.”

  “A cave?” I echoed, sliding my shoes and coat on.

  Irene nodded. “Officer Rasper already checked it out and ensur
ed it’s fine that we be there,” she said, leading us outside and toward the woods. Just inside the trees was a mound of rocks.

  Jason pushed one aside, revealing the mouth of a cave.

  Glancing at him for a moment, I stepped inside. It wasn’t as dark as I thought it would be. A hole in the ceiling not only let in light but a mini waterfall into a small pool. Regardless, there were other lights that could be used, as well as a fire pit. In one corner was a shed.

  “Officer Rasper thought we could train or have meetings here if we couldn’t use his house. Although I’m quite sure he would prefer his house as there’s less of a chance that someone will randomly walk in,” Irene said.

  “I honestly doubt that with as many people as he knows,” I said, fingering the lock on the shed. “Is this supposed to be here?”

  “Yes,” Jason said. “So, you can calm your spy senses down.”

  “You would be the same way if situations were flipped,” I said, moving toward the center of the cave. “It’s nice and spacious. The hole in the ceiling will make a good vent for fires.”

  Jessie took a seat on one of the logs placed around the firepit. “As it gets colder, meetings here will have to be brief.”

  Irene softly chuckled as she took a seat across from her. “Depending how hard you’re pushed in training, you may find the cool air nice.”

  Her pursed lips seemed to say that she wasn’t too sure about that.

  I ran my fingers against the hard rock floor. “I get that in the actual thing we could be slammed against the ground, but during training, preferably not.”

  “There’s mats in the shed,” Jason said, taking a seat next to Irene. “I know for sure we’ll use them when it comes to Zack and Eve as they have had less training in those areas. I think they’ve had some though, Eve because of her status and Zack because of his powers, but from what I understand, all he did was join another of his friends going to the gym.”

  “Good for him,” I said with a nod. “Will you be teaching us?”

  Jason glanced at Irene. “I believe so. Officer Rasper asked that we teach you some of what we know. As for what’s the best way to learn?” He shrugged. “We learned some before we were forced to run, but after that it was all on the go and in the spur of the moment.”