Save Aether (The Trinity Key Trilogy Book 3)

by L. M. Fry

  Theo raised an eyebrow at the man. “Something like that. What do you want?”

  He crossed his arms and smiled. “I have a proposition for the three of you. As the first full-fledged Trinity in generations, I’d like the opportunity to study you.”

  “Full-fledged? You mean we’re the traitors who broke Elder law, and you want to use us like lab rats.” Julia spat. “What do we get out of it?”

  He smiled and nodded toward a fresh group of white robes. “Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. Play nice this time, and you’ll see what I mean.”

  The white robes approached the girls. It took three of them to walk a shackled Julia away, and two more for Theo. When one of them came for Valera, he peered at the mass of metal on the floor and at her arms. She was glad to be rid of the metal bracelets. He frowned at her, and she shrugged back.

  “They fell off,” she offered. She wasn’t going to be put in another pair either.

  To her surprise, he put a hand on her shoulder and led her away, shackle free. They were escorted back into the round courtroom where the debacle of a tribunal was held the day before. This time it was devoid of spectators, and Slammy Magee sat smugly in Parmelia’s spot. Julia glowered at the man. His penchant for the gavel hadn’t simmered since their first trial. He slammed it until Valera thought for sure it would break. The old panel of five Elders was down to three.

  “I hope your overnight stay in the cells have tempered your attitudes. As you can see, there’s been a change in management around here. We are the True Followers of Danu,” Slammy rambled.

  Valera rolled her eyes. It was bad enough they’d had to deal with the Azure Serpents and Elders, now there was a new bully in town. From the sound of it, they were as delusional as all the others.

  Here we go again, Valera moaned.

  Let’s hear them out, Theo said.

  Julia groaned, Let’s blow them out of the water instead.

  Julia, please behave, Theo begged.

  “True Followers?” Leave it to Julia to open her mouth.

  Bang… bang… bang… Slammy loved his gavel.

  “You will not speak unless spoken to… but yes, we are the True Followers. Our sect has been hiding in the ranks of the Elders for an eternity, but now we rule. And you will do as you’re told—

  “I’m here… I’m here.”

  He was interrupted by Dr. Lawless, who shuffled into the room like a whirlwind. He bowed to the panel with flourish. Although, Slammy snorted and seemed miffed, he didn’t say anything. Dr. Lawless walked past the three girls with a wide grin on his face. Before he turned toward Slammy, he winked. Valera didn’t know what to think about the man. She peeked over at Theo and Julia, who both appeared as confused as she was.

  “Master Elder.” Dr. Lawless bowed again this time in front of Slammy.

  “You’re late,” Slammy sneered. “This is Dr. Ellwood Lawless of the True Followers. He will be studying your abilities, and preparing you for the return.”

  “Return to what?” Valera asked.

  Slammy huffed, “The return of Danu of course. You three are the key, and you will bring her back.”

  Chapter Three

  Theo

  I don’t like the way he said that. What should we do? Valera asked Julia and Theo.

  Julia continued to scowl at Slammy. I don’t trust them. Look at the way he’s leering. He’s not telling us something.

  Of course, he’s not telling us everything, but I think we should go along with it. At the very least, it will buy us some time. Theo added.

  We may not have a chance like this again. We should escape now, while we can, Julia argued.

  He may be odd, but I think Dr. Lawless can help us learn about our abilities.

  Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you, Julia spat back.

  The white robes came back and took the girls back to the cells. When the guard holding Theo turned down a different corridor, she panicked. She began to doubt staying. Aether slithered its way under her skin, and she held it. She resisted the white robe’s shoving, and in turn he pushed her harder. A second white robe yanked on the chains around her wrists.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Just move,” the man behind her huffed.

  He jabbed her hard in the ribs. Her anger sparked. Aether broke loose from her grasp, and she forced him away from her. He yelped. The man holding her chains received an equal jolt of electricity through the metal. He released her restraints. A boisterous laugh came from behind her. Dr. Lawless rushed down the hall.

  “You men are going to have to learn not to manhandle these girls. They’re a thousand times more powerful than you could ever imagine.” He patted the white robe on the back. “You can go. Theo and I can manage on our own. First, have the decency to remove the cuffs.”

  The white robe grumbled, removed her chains, and left. Dr. Lawless held an arm out and let Theo continue down the hall on her own. They walked through the Elders’ tower to what looked like a ballroom with grand crystal chandeliers, a monstrous stone fireplace, and a long inlaid wood floor. An ornate tea table and two rose colored velvet armchairs sat near the door. Dr. Lawless sat in one seat and gestured to the other. Theo lowered herself to the edge of the cushion. He poured tea from a flower-covered tea set and offered a cup to Theo. She refused.

  He’d left the ballroom doors open, which seemed odd. He wasn’t trying to trap her. Floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded the room – glass she could shatter with a thought. She tested aether and smelled the fresh rainy odor. He had to have some trick up his sleeve. Perhaps he was trying to get her to let her guard down. She nodded to herself. I’m not falling for it, Doc.

  Dr. Lawless leaned back in his chair, grinning. He slowly pulled a notebook and quill from his pocket and placed them on the table. He sipped his tea and sighed.

  Theo? Are you okay? Valera’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

  I’m fine… I think. I’m in a room with that doctor.

  When I saw them take you away, I freaked. I may have knocked a few of their teeth out. Julia sounded out of breath, but energized.

  I’m okay. Just sit tight. I’ll let you know later how things go.

  She clasped her hands together and rested them on the table, trying to appear at ease. He nodded in approval. She steadied her breathing and kept herself open to aether. If he tried anything, she’d be ready.

  “I chose to work with you first since you’ve already worked with my apprentice. I’ve read his notes and found them very… curious.”

  “He was a pompous know-it-all who knew nothing at all,” she said matter-of-factly.

  Theo knew it wasn’t the best way to start whatever this was, but she wasn’t going to sit back and be treated like an imbecile. He chuckled and crossed his arms.

  “Yes… he is. Actually, I was supposed to go to Aetherland to help you, but I was detained here.” He frowned and cleared his throat. “I want you to know I trust you, and I hope you’ll come to trust me as well. I am very excited and only want what’s best for you girls. You should understand we have never had the chance to see Danu’s power first hand.”

  “We who?”

  “The True Followers, the Elders, no one really. We’ve waited a long time for this. However, we aren’t here to discuss that. I want to know more about you.”

  He opened his book and licked the tip of his quill. Positioning the pen above a blank page, he waited. The man confused her. Why was he so interested in their abilities? What did he really want from them? What did the so called True Followers plan to do with them? She didn’t trust him, but she also didn’t think he was a threat. So far, he was the only one who seemed to want to help. Theo didn’t know how to start. After a minute, he sighed.

  “Let’s begin with your upbringing. When did you first know you had a connection to Danu?” he asked.

  “I didn’t know. Not until I came to Aether.”

  “Yes, but did you feel that there was something inside you.�
��

  “No.” She shrugged. “I was actually pretty unremarkable for most of my life.”

  From the frown on his face and the clenching of his jaw, she knew it wasn’t the answer he wanted. His pen still hovered about the page. Theo watched a drop of ink hanging onto the tip of the stylus, threatening to fall. One small jiggle, and the blank page would be ruined. She felt the thrill of anticipation. Any second now… he tapped the stylus with a finger, and the ink exploded on the page. The splotch looked kind of like an elephant. Theo chuckled.

  “Is there something funny about my notebook?”

  She looked into his cold blue eyes. He wasn’t as bemused by the spot. Then again, she’d been cooped up in chains for two days. Anything was more exciting than sitting in a cell.

  “Oh, uh… no. Sorry, what was your question?”

  “Perhaps we should start with a demonstration.”

  “Like what?”

  He tapped his chin with the black feather of his pen. “Perhaps just a small display.”

  Theo shrugged. She touched aether and formed a spark between her fingers. The sensation of the energy flowing through her rejuvenated her. The spark jumped from hand to hand as if she were juggling. Dr. Lawless squealed in delight and began scribbling in his notebook, writing right through the ink elephant. Theo spun aether into a cloud above her hand, twirling it into a palm-sized electrical storm. Dr. Lawless’ pen swept across several pages, and then he dropped the quill. He reached out with a finger toward the cloud.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Theo warned.

  He didn’t listen. His finger got too close and a miniature bolt shot out and singed his hand. He yelped, bringing in a swarm of armed white robes. They were waiting right outside the open door just out of sight – so much for trusting her. She snorted. Dr. Lawless sucked on his damaged digit, and waved the guards away with his other hand. They reluctantly left the room. The doctor wrote another note in his book: The manifestation of electrical charge is palpable. Theo grinned.

  “I told you it was a bad idea.”

  “Indeed. Where does the flow of aether come from? Is it only settled in your hand, or is it more widespread? What does aether feel like? Can you always sense it around—

  “Whoa, slow down, Doc.”

  “Forgive my eagerness. I’m just… curious about how it feels to hold the power of Danu in your hands.”

  His eyes turned glassy as if he were in a faraway place, and he bit his bottom lip. His change in demeanor creeped Theo out, but he recovered quickly and seemed to brush away whatever dream he fell into. She figured he was just eccentric. He must have sensed her discomfort.

  He softened his voice and asked, “Do you feel pain when you use aether?”

  Theo shrugged. “No, there’s no pain. It’s more like a … tingle.” She omitted the fact that using it in excess was exhausting, or that it could become uncontrollable at times, especially when she got emotional. “Most of the time, I feel aether all around me. It has a smell to it like rain, but it’s different for all of us.”

  “You say most of the time?”

  Theo groaned, “Yeah, those cells you put us in weaken it somehow.”

  “Aha! Professor Scrod was right. She created a paint that she believed would block aether from the room. She’ll be glad to hear it works,” he gushed.

  “Good to know,” Theo grumbled. “Although I have to wonder what made you create such a thing in the first place. Were you expecting to lock us up?”

  He looked surprised and hurt. “No. Well, I never intended to lock you up. I can’t speak for the other True Followers.”

  “I see,” Theo deadpanned.

  His excuse seemed all too convenient to her. She reached out to Julia and Valera.

  There is a substance painted on the walls of the cells to keep the aether away.

  Roger that, Julia shot back. I’m going to try and scrap it off.

  “Where were you just then? You looked like you were focusing on something,” Dr. Lawless pounced.

  “Nowhere. I was just thinking.”

  “Theo, you can trust me. I’m on your side.”

  “Trust you? You’re a part of the True Followers… or is it the Elders? I can’t tell the difference. Either way, you have us locked up in aether-proof cells. How can I trust any of you?”

  He looked back at the door and leaned closer to her. “The difference is that the True Followers believe Danu’s spirit can be released, giving them power. They want to use you. The Elders maintained their rule by withholding the truth from the people. They want to stop you from fulfilling your destiny. However, I and a few of my colleagues just want to learn from you and help you.”

  “Then help us get out of here,” Theo hissed. She was growing tired of all the people who wanted to use them.

  He nodded. “I’m working on it. We have to be careful. There are spies everywhere.” He leaned back and spoke in a louder voice.

  “Well, that was enough for today. Good job, Theo.”

  The white robes returned. Dr. Lawless stood up and put a hand on her shoulder. He squeezed her arm and nodded. She smiled in return. There wasn’t any harm in playing along – for a little while. The white robes escorted her back to her cell. The cuffs were gone, but the click of the door echoed in her mind. She hated feeling trapped.

  Chapter Four

  Julia

  Julia paced across the small room. The chains around her wrists dragged along the floor. The muscles in her arms ached from scratching at a corner wall with the metal, trying to remove whatever the Elders, or True Followers, or whatever they called themselves, had coated them with. She hadn’t had any luck. The stuff was like solid tar. Theo’s door slammed shut.

  Are you there? She asked through their telepathic connection.

  Yeah, I’m back.

  Valera chimed in. What happened?

  Nothing really. We just talked. I made a few sparks. Lawless says he wants to help us.

  What does that mean? Julia snapped. She didn’t trust anyone; let alone some random doctor she didn’t know.

  He said he’s going to get us out of the cells, and I think we can trust him. He’s not with the True Followers. He wants the same thing we do – to release Danu. We can’t trust Slammy and the rest, so I say we see where this goes.

  Julia slapped the wall. She didn’t want to just go along and wait. Sinking to the floor, she put her head between her hands. She’d never been in a position like this, and she didn’t like it. It made her feel weak.

  With a click, the lock on her door disengaged, and a white robe appeared. Julia stood up, and he flinched. His reaction made her smile. At least, they knew she was dangerous. And, in return, it gave her a modicum of confidence. He picked up the chain as if it were attached to a viper and unlocked the cuffs from her wrists. She rubbed her chaffed skin.

  “Dr. Lawless would like to see you,” he muttered.

  My turn, she said to the Theo and Valera.

  Theo shouted, Don’t do anything stupid, Julia. This may be our only way out.

  You wound me, Theodora. Have a little faith. Julia grinned.

  “Well, by all means, my good man, lead the way,” she quipped to her escort.

  The guard frowned, in what she supposed was confusion, and held the door open. She followed him down the hall, noting the seven other white robes who just happened to be standing around nearby. She tipped an imaginary top hat to them and smiled. They all seemed to become distracted by invisible tasks.

  The guard took her into a ballroom, where Dr. Lawless stood up from a small table and held out a hand. She took it and gave it a solid shake. Dr. Lawless gestured toward the empty chair. Julia sat down and leaned back. Crossing a foot over her knee and her arms across her chest, she assessed the man. He was scrawny, and his slim, long fingers creeped her out.

  “It’s good to see you again, Julia.”

  She nodded, but kept quiet. The Academy had taught her to disarm her opponent through silent in
timidation. An enemy ill-at-ease is easy to manipulate. He cleared his throat – a sign she was winning – and sat down.

  “I’m here to assist you in developing your abilities and to guide you to the true path of Danu,” he droned. Once the guard left and closed the door, Dr. Lawless leaned forward and whispered, “I’m here to help you.”

  “I know. Theo told me.”

  His brows dropped, and his mouth popped open. His confusion delighted Julia. Clearly, Theo hadn’t mentioned their telepathy. Perhaps the expert of all things Danu wasn’t as smart as he thought.

  “How? I just spoke with her,” he muttered.

  “We have our ways.” She winked. “So, Lawly – can I call you Lawly? Good. What’s the plan?”

  He sat back and scribbled in his notebook. Apparently he found something she said worth noting, but what? She tried to maintain her composure. When his hand stopped, he looked up at her and took a deep breath.

  “First, I’d like to assess your abilities. After Professor Scrod is done archiving the artifacts acquired from The Vault, she’d like to discuss them with the three of you. I’ve been told there are some very interesting finds.”

  Julia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Slammy Magee had stolen the artifacts. “You have the artifacts here? Those belong to the Order… to my father. What right do you have—

  “The artifacts are on their way here, yes. And I promise they will be treated with the utmost respect. Better that they come here and be studied than to remain unprotected in the human world.”

  That was not the answer she wanted to hear, but fighting about the artifacts was futile. These people would do what they wanted, and there wasn’t anything Julia could do. Her abilities were pathetic. She drew in aether and chilled the air in the room. He pulled the collar of his jacket together and rubbed his fingers.

  “Is it cold in here?”

  “Not really.”

  She grinned. Her powers might be weak, but not for long. She’d play their little game, and soon she’d be stronger than Theo and Valera put together.