“I am sorry for the isolation, but please trust me. Madelin needs to focus.”
He said no more and the two of them disappeared out the back door, retreating into the garden. Roger and the others sat in silence. They watched as Juno and Madelin seated themselves on a low rock wall to talk. The two soon become immersed in the topic, with Juno gesturing as he spoke.
“Well, what do you think that’s about,” asked Daniel.
“I’ve a feeling its something we haven’t been able to help her with.”
“Like what, her shifting?”
“Maybe,” Jedd answered, “but I think it’s something else.”
As the other option set in, Daniel took a sip of his coffee. “Oh … what would you do if you lost everything?”
“A blessing and a curse,” Jedd replied. His concerned eyes never left his goddaughter.
“Too true, too true. But she doesn’t have a thing to regret. She wasn’t given the chance to have a life, to make bad decisions, or to make decisions at all.”
Jedd nodded in agreement. The same thoughts had occurred to him.
Daniel saw the problem as an afterthought and dark clouds descended on him. “That’s a true curse,” he muttered.
Roger dawned his jacket and straightened his high collar before walking out the door with a few trailing words. “Be back later, guys. Got to pick up some stuff in town.” The quick exit was a surprise, but before they could comment the Cajun was striding down the rock paved walkway, toward town. His hand rhythmically thumbed the deck of cards in his coat pocket.
“What the hell was that about?” asked Daniel.
Something itched at the back of Jedd’s consciousness, but he was still unable to reach it. “Don’t know,” he replied, finishing off his cup.
The rest of the morning was uneventful. Daniel lay down on the couch and slept for the better part of the day. His body was in overdrive after the week’s ordeals and Juno’s medicine.
Jedd picked up the dishes and busied himself with mundane household tasks before settling down to take stock of their ammunition. He kept their extra shells in his duffel bag, but the bag was getting lighter.
What will we do when we run out, he wondered?
He even pulled out his laptop computer in a vain attempt to find some semblance of technology in this archaic world. But nothing reached this far out, if it even existed.
Madelin burst in as he was setting the computer aside, resigned that what he relied on in the past was ineffectual in this place. “Jedd, you won’t believe it!” she shouted to the heavens, “were my parents’ names Lane and Waverly?”
“Yes they were,” answered Jedd. “Like I told you before.”
“But did they ever take me to the circus?” she added in hysterics.
The sudden onslaught of questions was startling, but the accuracy of this new revelation was a wonderful development. “I’m not sure, but I think they must have.”
“What was their last name?” she pleaded. “What’s my last name?”
Jedd smiled as he answered her. “Boatweit, your name is Madelin Isabelle Boatweit.” She smiled, repeating the name to herself over and over. Juno stood watching from the doorway with a smug smile.
“Congrats, Madelin,” said Daniel, astonished at the drastic change.
“What’d you do?” Jedd asked.
“Just a little science left over from the old world. It’s called hypnosis.”
Jedd nodded, having heard of the technique, “Some scientists practiced that sort of thing in our world, too. Most people thought it was a load of crap though.”
“It’s great,” commented Madelin. “There isn’t much to remember, but I remember my parents, and you. The rest of my life’s just made up of repeated tests that grate on my nerves, but I remember it all now.”
As she ran through the highlights, tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked. She gathered herself with a look of grim determination. “Damn those bastards. They stole my life.”
“We’ll take care of them, Madelin. I promise,” Jedd reassured her.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that you will do just that,” confided Juno as he joined them in the living room.
Madelin looked around the room, a question appearing on her face. “Where’s Roger?”
“He disappeared this morning,” answered Daniel. “Said he was heading to town for a few things.”
“When?” asked Juno.
“Just after breakfast.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t get in any trouble,” commented Jedd, his pessimistic tone obvious to the others.
Just then, the front door opened to admit the smiling Cajun. The setting sun dwindled behind him. “Hey, guys!”
“Where you been,” asked Daniel.
“Just off playing some cards and picking up a few things. Did pretty well, too.”
“I thought we agreed not to do that anymore. Don’t we have more than enough money?” commented Jedd. His tone showed his frustration. “Why’d you go and take a chance like that?”
“Well, yeah, we agreed, but I needed to get something and it was kind of expensive,” Roger retorted. He threw a small book onto the table next to Madelin and stormed out of the room.
“That’s for you, Maddy,” he murmured in passing. The back door slammed behind him and he sauntered into the darkening garden.
Juno shook his head. “Has he won a lot?”
“Every time he’s played there,” replied Jedd as he sunk into the rocking chair.
“Many in my family play there, and they don’t take lightly to losing.”
“We told him that, but he has a bit of a problem,” added Jedd. The others nodded their agreement.
Madelin picked up the leather-bound book while they spoke. In the front cover was a penned note.
To My Little Lady,
I hope that the best will come to an innocent soul like yours. I realize we’ve only known each other a short time, but it’s meant the world to me. You’ve become like a daughter. Jedd sees the beauty in your heart that we each know is there and I’ll do all I can to help you bring out the wonderful woman inside. Life is full of secrets, but few are hidden from those that hold them. We’ll discover the truth. I promise you. Until then, let these pages flourish with the passions of your heart, so that no memory will ever be lost.
Your Loving Family,
Roger Talbut
Her eyes welled with tears as she read his note. By the time she finished, the flood gates opened once more and rivers coursed down her cheeks. To the astonishment of the others, she leapt to her feet and rushed after Roger. She found him pacing in one of the paved walkways, illuminated by a large cluster of florescent mushrooms. She closed the distance between them in two long strides and threw her arms over his shoulders.
The irritation of the group’s earlier remarks was replaced by the heartfelt affection he felt for her. Circling her in his arms, he ran a fatherly hand over her wavy red hair and allowed her to sob into his chest. For once, at least they were tears of joy.
“Thank you so much, Roger,” she mumbled through the folds of his jacket. “I love it. And it’s just in time.”
“How’s that?” His accent was almost imperceptible in his whispered tones.
“Juno found a way to break through what they did.”
His face lit up. “How’d he do that?”
“Something called, hypnosis,” she said, turning her head up to him.
Roger nodded and added, “Then you can write down your most cherished memories, while they’re fresh.”
Madelin bobbed her head and stuffed her teary-eyed face back into his collar. “I’ll write in it every day.” They clung to each other until the chill forced them inside.
Most of the group retired before much of the night had passed. Daniel and Madelin remained awake by candle light as Juno taught them to develop their abilities. Madelin practiced delving into worlds without entering them. She was delighted by the progress she made in one even
ing.
Daniel, on the other hand, was unable to do more than look. He could see the strings bleeding through other worlds and even delve deeper than Madelin, but he was still unable to shift of his own volition. He tried once more with less drastic consequences than before. However, the ability somehow remained dormant. Like a starving man watching through a cafeteria window, disappointment had become a part of his life. He could see what he wanted, but seemed destined never to reach it. He gave up for the night and fell onto the couch. He was unconscious by the time his body settled to the cushions.
Madelin and Juno talked late into the night as the candle burnt down to nothing. Their conversation moved from genetic evolution, to personal preferences and lifelong goals. Now that she had a past and a future, she entertained the thought of a life of her own design. Neither of them could cut the evening short, so the following morning Madelin awoke alone on the living room floor. She was unsure when she had drifted off, but it had been the most exciting day of her life. As promised, she pulled out the journal and wrote her newfound memories into the pages. Then, she devoted a chapter to each day since breaking out of the institution.
The others awoke that morning to another fresh breakfast. Jedd mentioned the dwindling stock of ammunition. To their astonishment, Juno offered a solution. He roped Roger into a physical defense lesson with Madelin and himself before the plates were cleared. They all took up his offer to learn the basics of sword fighting in the hopes of surviving, if it came to that. The gambler and Madelin followed him out to the garden with a few antique swords in hand, leaving the others to finish their coffee.
As Jedd took the last sips, movement caught his attention from the far edge of his vision. Leodenin was on the move again, but this time toward town.
“Come with me,” he whispered, walking back into the living room. His eyes never left Leodenin.
Daniel followed as Jedd positioned himself on the couch, “I need to check on Leodenin. He’s on the move again and I’m sure Alain’s up to something. If we don’t keep an eye on them, we may find ourselves ambushed. Can you watch things here?” Daniel nodded. He took a seat in one of the rocking chairs that looked out on the garden.
Before long, Jedd was awash in twisting colors, sliding through another dizzying tunnel. They soon disappeared and were replaced by a natural world covered in a continent of shade trees. Two men milled about a small campfire a few yards away. A third stood watch at the base of an ancient tree whose trunk could hide the length of a station-wagon.
Leodenin’s violet glow was approaching the town, heading away from him. Jedd flew through the aged forest and toward the false father with a thought. When they came in sight, he found Leodenin accompanied by his two remaining agents and the squad commander. A familiar face was in the lead, Farlin. Jedd slowed to a crawl and kept them at the edge of his vision.
Which side is Farlin playing? he asked. I’ll have to find out what Juno thinks about this.
He followed, but it occurred to him that he also stood out. It worked both ways. Although he left sufficient distance between them, it would not take long for the false father to discover his attempted surveillance.
The town was ahead and they were undoubtedly heading to Alain. Jedd propelled himself around the small group and into the confines of Lord Alain’s manor. Seeing the man’s brown glow at the opposite end of the house, Jedd made his way through the hallways. He came up behind the lord unobserved. Alain was standing just outside the back door, speaking with another of his family. The stranger’s aura gave off a muted yellow hue. Jedd was close enough to hear their conversation through the cracked door. Their murmured voices echoed in the bare laundry room.
“I took care of it,” came the accented voice of the hidden relative.
“Wonderful,” replied Lord Alain. “Be sure to let the rest of the family know of the scheduled entertainment.”
“Certainly, my lord,” added the man. He then bowed and turned to leave.
As Lord Alain stepped inside, his eyes locked on to Jedd. The programmer slunk into the wall behind him, but that failed to stop Lord Alain. He sped around the corner and flung open the linen closet door, but Jedd had vanished.
The programmer squinted at the scant rays of light slipping into the cozy cottage. It was just as he left it. However, hours had past by in what seemed like minutes. I must have fallen asleep after the encounter.
He sat up to meet Daniel’s questioning gaze, but took a minute to compose his himself. After reconstructing his disjointed thoughts, he broke the silence. “We’re in trouble.”
“What happened?” asked Daniel, still seated in the comfortable rocking chair.
“It looks like Leodenin’s meeting up with Lord Alain. Farlin’s leading him into town.”
Daniel harrumphed at the unfortunate prospects of an alliance between their two enemies.
“And it looks like Lord Alain has something planned for the family. I’m not sure when though,” Jedd added. “But I think you and I both know what that might be.”
Daniel nodded with solemn comprehension.
Jedd glanced at the garden where he last saw Madelin. She and the Cajun were mimicking Juno’s moves. They set the swords aside and guarded their faces while Juno came at them from different directions. He stopped to correct them at times, reminding them of the proper defensive techniques. But soon they both mastered the maneuver and moved on to another.
Jedd watched as Juno had them spar against one another. Madelin deposited Roger onto the pavement with a swift kick to the knees and a cacophony of laughter enveloped the house as the Cajun glared at Juno. Rising from the ground, Roger brushed off his pants and readied himself again. Madelin attacked with vigor, but this time Roger swept her aside with a rough clothesline to the neck. As the sparring match continued, Daniel calmed.
“So, what did I miss,” asked Jedd after his own laughter died away.
“Juno taught them some basic techniques using fencing swords.”
“Rapier’s?” asked Jedd, stunned by the choice.
“Yeah,” Daniel nodded, “the best weapon for piercing the hearts of his own kind, outside of a gun. But that requires accuracy and ammo.”
“Takes a hard man to turn against his own,” assessed Jedd.
“That it does, but I’m still not sure about him.”
“Even after what he did for you?”
“I know, but it’s like he said, ‘The apple don’t fall too far from the tree.’”
“Wasn’t it you that said that?” asked the programmer with a raised brow.
“Yeah, but he agreed,” defended Daniel.
Jedd chuckled to himself as he rose from the couch and entered the garden. “Juno, I need a few minutes.”
Motioning for them to continue, Juno followed him into the house. “What’s this about, Mr. Altran?”
“I followed Leodenin, the guy who’s been chasing us, and found Farlin leading him into town.” He let the words sink in and then added, “Then, I went to check on Lord Alain. He was meeting in secret with another of your family members. They’ve planned some family entertainment and I’m pretty sure it’s the selection.”
Juno mulled over the new information. “As far as Farlin is concerned, he is doing Alain’s bidding and then reporting back to us. It is good that we know of Leodenin’s intentions though. In regard to my family, I am not surprised. I suspected as much after what happened to Madelin. His pride was hurt, but there is a larger concern. If he did what you said, then he went outside the family, which disgraces us all. Or so they believe. He can’t let word of it get out to the others.”
Jedd massaged his bearded chin, considering what Juno was implying. “So what do you think he’ll do to cover his tracks?”
“Just about anything to keep the others from turning on him. The blood runs deep. To many, that would be enough for them to call for his head. He’ll probably try and eliminate her,” answered Juno. He attempted to stifle his own emotions, but was still visibly dis
turbed.
“God, no.” Jedd pleaded.
“We’d better be ready.”
Jedd rose to meet the man’s brown eyes. “You don’t want to run?”
“Where can I go?” he replied. “There are very few worlds I can live in easily and I can’t travel on my own. If we ever became separated I’d be at the mercy of strangers, which could be much worse than here … Besides, this has been my home for most of my life. I cannot abandon it and the family that has been led astray by my brother.”
“I understand.”
“Do we know when they’ll come?” he asked.
“No, they just said soon.”
“We probably have a few days then. It will take that long for them to get organized,” Juno replied after consideration. “If you and your friends wish to leave, now would be the time.”
While tempted, Jedd could not consider it after all Juno had done for them. Family or not, when it comes to eliminating anyone with knowledge of Alain’s impropriety, I don’t think their brotherly bond will stop Alain’s hand.
Before he could answer, Roger and Madelin stormed into the room. “The hell we will. We aren’t leaving you at the hands of them damn vampires. Even if you do share a bit of the Traditor genes, it doesn’t make you a jack ass like them. You’ve proven that, right, Maddy?”
“Well said, Roger,” Madelin replied with confidence. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Daniel stepped into the room and added, “Look, Juno, my boy, I don’t rightly like or trust you. But that doesn’t mean you should be thrown to the likes of them. Everyone deserves a chance.”
Juno looked at each of them with newfound respect. “Then, I guess we better prepare a welcome party. It won’t be easy. Farlin and a few others have helped me over the years, infiltrating their ranks and assessing tensions within the family. I’m not allowed around them since they cast me out, but servants always hear more than you think.”
“Unfortunately, we haven’t seen an ideal opportunity,” he added. “But I guess this is the one we’ve been waiting for.”
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