by Kailin Gow
Liam seemed reluctant to acknowledge the validity of Torrid’s question, but he finally had to concede. “That’s a good idea, but I have no radio, no phone… basically I have no reliable way of communicating.”
“I do,” I said.
They all looked at me as if I’d spoken out of turn.
“Well, Torrid could, too, can’t you?”
“Telepathy?” He looked at the band of waiting men. “That’s not always reliable. It comes and goes. It depends so much on who you're trying to connect with.”
“All we need is someone with an open mind,” I said. Looking from Torrid to Liam I saw their skepticism. “Come on. I’m sure there is someone here who has the ability to think clearly and concisely; someone who can let us know what’s going on.”
A tall, shy looking blond with big brown eyes raised his hand. “Mom always said I was like an open book.”
I looked at him, held his gaze, and peered deep into his mind. “I’m sure your mother Gail was right… Jimmy… is that right?”
He grinned. “My mother’s name is Gail, and yes, Jimmy’s my name.”
Feeling a little cocky I looked at Liam and Torrid. “How’s that?”
A little shocked, Liam looked at me. “You can… I mean you read… Since when?”
Despite the innocent wonder of his question, I could see his concern. Could I read his mind?
“No, Liam. I’ve never read your mind. I’ve never really tried.”
His eyes widened and he cocked his head with doubt. “But… you just did.”
“I didn’t read your mind, Liam. I read your eyes. I didn’t literally hear you ask the question, like I’ve done a few times with Torrid. I could hear him, faintly, but clearly, as though he were whispering in my ear. What I just did with you was an educated guess based on how well I know you.”
“Okay, Kama. We’ll talk about it later.” He turned to his men. “Anyone else capable of telepathy, contact Kama. Ideally I’d like to have at least one of you from each band.”
Two other young men raised their hand.
“Sounds good, Moran and Finch.”
With the communication problem resolved, Liam opened the door to the tunnel. “Good luck, guys.”
They marched into the tunnel as silently as they could…seventy-two burly djinn men, recently freed and now taking the battle to the Catchers instead of being the ones running away. Liam quietly shut the door behind them.
“Now what?” Torrid crossed his arms over his chest.
Liam turned away from Torrid and looked at me. “Get Denia. I think the army she’s gathered will be better suited for the Governor’s Manor. The house is large and so are the grounds. I want them to spread out and look for…” He choked and fell silent.
“I think Denia is perfect for the task of searching your home, Liam. I’ll go get her.”
Back in the stairwell, I found Denia. “Liam wants you to go to the Governor’s Manor.”
“Okay… You kind of say that as if it was a big deal. Should I be honored or what?”
“The Governor’s Manor is where Liam grew up. I don’t think he wants an army to bulldoze their way in there. Regardless of what’s happened, I think he sees this as a delicate operation. That said, I’m sure he wants swift justice for any Catchers or Magical Ones you come across.” I turned away and looked out the doorway and into the circular room.
Liam stood near Torrid though they didn’t speak to one another. Each was lost in his own thoughts, contemplating the possible outcome of this offensive.
“I’m not sure about the treatment he would prefer should you run into his father.”
“His father being…?”
I looked at her, surprised she didn’t know who Liam was. “His father is the governor… Governor Pim Seer.”
Denia gazed back at her band of brightly colored friends. “We’ll be as respectful as we can, which, under the circumstances might not live up to your friend’s standards, but… hell, this is war.”
I wanted to argue with her, but just shrugged. She was right. This was war. I led her and her army to Liam.
“I’ve already explained a bit about her mission,” I told him.
His head was elsewhere. He looked at us, but didn’t see us.
“Liam?” I patted his shoulder and tried to shake him out of it. “Liam, Denia’s here and she’s ready. I know this is a sensitive matter, but Denia understands.” I shot her a sidelong glance.
She nodded her response.
“I want them to bottle any and all Catchers and Magical Ones they find. If they find Dr. Sanz, sound the alarm.”
I didn’t want to push the question of his father, but had to. “What about…?”
Liam turned to address Denia directly. “If you see the governor…”
My heart went out to him. I couldn’t imagine having to decide the fate of a parent.
“Sound the alarm.”
Chapter 13
For the next fifteen minutes we worked with the remaining troops, determining their strengths and weaknesses. Once they were sent off on their mission, we were left with our own part in this offensive strike.
“You ready?” I looked at Liam. His strength and determination were still there, strong and unrelenting, but I could see how he dreaded going back to his home.
“I won’t deny it. I’m not looking forward to going. As for my father… well, I have mixed feelings. Part of me wants to personally choke the wind out of him should I run into him. The other part just hopes I don’t run into him at all.”
“Either way,” Torrid said. “We better get going.”
Liam nodded tightly and led the way. Aside from the soft padding of our feet on the damp concrete floor, the tunnel was silent, and increasingly dark. Only when we turned in the direction of the manor did a glimmer of light appear.
The great distance that still separated us from the manor made the light appear as a pinpoint. Our progress was fast, but still the light seemed miles away. After a few minutes we heard the light chatter of Denia and her crew. Though it was impossible to make out what they were saying, their tone was encouraging. Light and carefree, they almost seemed to be enjoying their time at the manor.
“This tunnel opens up into the manor’s cellar. I know my father kept an impressive collection of rare and expensive wines in a portion of the cellar. I hope they’re not enjoying themselves too much.”
I glanced sidelong at Liam and saw his teasing grin. “When this is all over, we can all meet in your father’s cellar and celebrate our victory.”
While he grinned his agreement, his eyes held onto a reservation. I wanted to ask if it was about drinking his father’s wine or if he simply didn’t believe we had a true chance of winning.
Putting my hand to his shoulder, I wanted to reassure him, but I remained silent and simply tried to convey my optimism through my touch.
As we got closer to the manor I’d come to know so well in my childhood, the scents I remembered; scents of rich upholstery and soft leather, of fresh cut flowers and gourmet food, of expensive cologne. For a poignant moment I was brought back to the many afternoons I’d spent there with Liam. Always with Liam. I swallowed.
Liam’s hand brushed across mine, a ploy he’d used so many times before we’d started dating. I smiled at the thought. He was such an outgoing and sociable guy, yet when it came to showing me how he really felt about me, he’d always been shy and hesitant.
“This is it,” Liam finally said.
Up ahead, now clearly defined, was a screen door that led into Liam’s home.
He took the last steps and put his hand to the door. “This is it,” he repeated.
“You want me to go in first?” I asked.
For a moment he didn’t answer and I thought I’d offended him. When he did turn to look at me, he flashed me one of his warm and playful grins.
“Thanks, Kama. I got it.” He pushed the door and entered the cellar.
“Where do you want to start?�
� I asked.
“Upstairs in the private quarters.” He swallowed and even grimaced. “I’m not too thrilled about having to go through my dad’s room, but…”
Resigned to the task ahead of him, he led us up to the main floor then onto the private rooms of the second floor. His room was to the right, while his father’s room was at the opposite end. My entire home could easily fit two times in the space that divided their rooms. Perhaps it explained the emotional distance that now separated Liam from his father.
“I’m going to go take a look in my room,” Liam said.
“Torrid,” I said. “Why don’t you go through his father’s room?”
I saw his displeasure, but he nodded.
“Fine.”
“He has a private bathroom, his sleeping quarters and a smaller room in which he occasionally receives guests.”
With an efficient nod to Liam, and a questioning nod to me, he turned and went in search of the governor’s room.
“Thanks,” Liam said.
“I know this is difficult on you, no matter how stoic you try to be. I just want to do what I can to help make it easier.”
“You coming to my room with me?”
The question held such weight and such memories. I couldn’t help but let out an amused giggle as I thought of all the times he’d asked me that. It had always been innocent and playful as children, but had come to mean time alone with him as we’d grown closer.
I followed him to his room, down the familiar corridor that had always been so intimidating, yet these were the corridors that had forged so many dreams. Tempted to speak of my memories aloud, I clenched my teeth and kept quiet.
“Who would have ever thought we’d be walking down this hall under these circumstances?” Liam said, his tone soft and solemn.
I didn’t know what to say. There were no words that could erase the plans we’ve had together nor explain how everything had changed.
“We sure had some good times here, didn’t we?”
Though I’d allowed myself to silently go partway down that memory lane, I knew it wasn’t a good idea to take that route with Liam.
“Things changed pretty fast. Who would have thought that turning eighteen would bring so many changes?”
“Remember when we took some of the tomato plants from the garden and tried to plant them in my room.”
I chuckled. “We’d brought up bucket after bucket of soil.”
“Why in the world did we think that they would grow in my room?”
“I don’t know. Probably because we were eight years old.”
“Not to argue, but I think we were ten.”
“Still, I think we can be excused for being silly and naïve at ten.”
He stopped walking and turned to me. “I’d give the world to be silly and naïve again. I’d give the world to be ten again, if only to start all over again with you.”
“Liam,” I whispered.
Shaking his head, he resumed his stride. “I know. Sorry. Being here… with you… the emotions are a little stronger than I thought. You know it’s not what you thought… my fear of coming here. It’s not facing my father that I fear most. It’s facing my memories of you. It’s remembering the plans we’d made, the dreams we had.”
He took an uncompromising hold of my hand. “I know we can’t go back to what we were. I know I’m now meant to be a strong warrior; that I have to stand up and defend the Arcadia that I want to build, but that doesn’t mean that I can so easily let go of everything we had; everything we were.”
“Believe it or not, this is hard on me, too, Liam. I never planned for the changes that came. They just came.”
“I know. I’m not blaming you, but I can’t say I’m happy about it either.”
We arrived at his room and stood at the threshold, each consumed by the memories that had made up such a large part of our lives.
The moment we walked in, I knew it was a mistake. Walking into his room was like flipping through a photo album. The memories were even more startlingly clear than I had anticipated.
His bed where we’d spent so many evenings sitting and talking, only to later spend so much time touching and discovering.
“Remember the first time you kissed me?” I heard the question come through my lips as if I was still the twelve year old who’d received that kiss.
“I was so nervous,” he admitted.
“I remember. You went and brushed your teeth three times.”
He chuckled. “I wanted to smell fresh.”
“Well, you certainly did.”
“It was the best kiss in the world.”
I looked at him. I could also see his desire to pull me into his arms and try kissing me.
“Um, what exactly are we looking for?” I asked before things became too heated.
He stared blankly at me for a long moment.
“Find Catchers. Find Rogue Magical Ones.”
He sounded so unconvincing that I wanted to give him a pep talk to bring him back in the game.
“Look Liam. I think we have to go forward together, maybe not as a couple, but as a team. I was swept away by the memories that struck me even before we came into this house. Do you really think I’ve forgotten all the times you brought me here? You even carried me up the stairs once, remember? We laughed and imagined what it’d be like once…” I choked as I remembered those happy moments. Our lives were so easy.”
“Once we were married,” Liam finished for me.
I shook the image from my head. “I just don’t want you to think that I’ve callously forgotten all that. I don’t want you to think that the changes that have come into my life – into our lives – are easy.”
We heard movement and whispered voices coming from downstairs.
“I think Denia and her crew have come back. Everything is clear here.” He walked out the room and headed for the stairs.
Still lost in the cherished memories, it took me a moment to snap out of it and follow him. Torrid met us at the top of the stairs.
“Everything looked good,” Torrid said.
Liam nodded. “I’m just not sure if that’s a good thing. I can’t say I’m looking forward to the battle that we’ll face when we do find Catchers or Magical Ones, but the sooner we get it over with, the better.”
“I agree,” Torrid said.
We made our way downstairs just as Denia entered.
“Good,” she said. “I’m glad we found you so easily. We swept through the cellar, cleared the attic and made sure no one was in the kitchen and other utility rooms.”
“Nothing?” Liam said with a hint of skepticism.
“Were you really expecting to find something here?” I asked.
“I guess I was.”
“Well, actually, we did find something, but not what you anticipated.” She gestured to her small army who broke apart, allowing a tall and strong warrior to come forward. My heart raced when I saw who it was.
“Rodin,” Torrid exclaimed. He rushed to his brother and clapped his shoulders. “I thought we’d never find you.”
“I’m happy to see you, brother. That you are well. So Kama was able to find you.” His loving eyes swept my face. “Kama did well.” His face became solemn then. “But this war is turning out to be uglier than anyone had anticipated.”
“How?” I asked, feeling an imposing dread.
Rodin glanced at me and I immediately shuffled with discomfort under his oddly mournful gaze.
Torrid caught the exchange. “What is it?”
“I was able to go into battle with General Adon,” he said.
We all waited expectantly.
“We stormed many districts. Rogue Magical Ones were everywhere and a sudden uproar by an army of Catchers almost toppled us.”
He avoided my questioning gaze and I felt an overwhelming sense of dread. “You went to the Amethyst District?”
“We did,” he confirmed.
I reached back to the banister and hugged it. “D
id you see my mother?”
“When we first arrived, we found her. She was full of fight, much of it probably stemming from the loss of her home.”
“My house?”
“I’m so sorry, but the devastation in many districts is beyond anything we’d ever seen. The Amethyst District is no different. Few homes remain standing, and those that are still upright are uninhabitable.”
I looked around the grand Governor’s Manor with irritation. Though several windows were cracked and we’d come across some light damage as we’d crossed the front foyer, the house was otherwise untouched by this war.
Liam, so in tuned to my thoughts and emotions, put his hand to my shoulder. “Once this is all over, I’ll make sure every district is rebuilt. It’ll be even better than before.”
“What happened to my mother?” I asked, ignoring Liam’s promise of a bright future.
“We don’t know. Everything went so fast. There were hundreds of djinns and just as many Rogues and Catchers. General Adon did everything to stay close to her, but the battle got fierce. I’m sure she’s okay.”
“What happened to her? How can you say she’s okay when you don’t know?” I tried to control my emotions, but my voice showed the anger and pain I felt.
“We lost sight of her, Kama. That doesn’t mean anything happened to her. We just lost her in the melee.”
“Kama,” Liam said. “We’ll find her. As soon as we’re through here we’ll go out and find her.”
I stared at Rodin’s feet, my vision blurred by my tears. Though I’d allowed myself a few fleeting moments of worry and concern, I’d somehow, in a naïve and childish way, assumed my mother was safe – in our district – in our house.
“Don’t worry,” Torrid said. “We will find her, Kama.”
Liam clapped his hands together and turned to Denia. “I want to continue in here. Can you take your crew and have them search the grounds.”
Denia turned to the distant window that opened onto the immense grounds. “This isn’t just your run of the mill back yard.”
“Yes,” Liam said. “I know. There are three gardens, two of which have high stone walls to protect from the downhill winds. Beyond that is a small but heavily wooded area.”