by Dee J. Stone
I walk over to my bed and sit down on the floor. Stealth’s eyes follow me.
“Kale,” I say, looking up at him. “I need you to use your telepathy to hide Stealth’s thoughts as she enters the Nightmares’ location. Can you do that?”
“Yeah. I’ll hide her true identity. If they have a telepath with them, he’ll be able to read her mind, but not her real thoughts.”
I nod. I hope Stealth will eventually meet Vlayne. Vlayne will read her mind, and we can’t have her suspecting anything. “We’ll have to create a fake life and fake thoughts for her,” I continue.
“Yeah.”
Stealth’s eyebrows furrow. She sits down on the floor next to me and crosses her legs. “I don’t understand.”
“Telepaths can read minds, right?” Kale explains. “But some thoughts could be hidden. I can take all your thoughts and hide them behind fake ones. So when a telepath reads your mind, he’ll only see the fake life, not the real one. He won’t see you as Stealth, but as someone else.”
“Okay,” she says.
Lindsay smiles at Kale. “Can you really do that?”
He grins.
“That’s so hot.” She giggles.
His cheeks turn pink. She leans forward and kisses him. He pulls her close.
I feel Stealth’s eyes burning through me as I stare at the carpet.
“S-sorry,” Kale says, straightening up, his expression apologetic.
I shrug like it doesn’t bother me. “We’ll create Stealth’s new life later,” I say and look at Kale. “I’ll also need you to hide our thoughts from your parents.”
“Why?”
“If they learn what we’re up to, they’ll stop us. I don’t want anyone to mess this up for us. It’s our only shot.”
He’s quiet for a bit. “You’re right. It just feels wrong to hide something from them.”
“We can try to tell them,” Lindsay suggests. “Maybe they’ll be open to the idea?”
I shake my head. “I hate to do this, but we need to.”
“Yeah,” Kale says. “Wouldn’t be the first time, anyway.”
I think back to the times Kale, Stretch, and I snuck out of the Tower. Broke the rules. Went on missions we weren’t allowed to go on. Went after the Blades alone four months ago.
Kale raises his head. It’ll be different this time.
I hope so.
“Stealth needs a new uniform,” I say. The villains can’t discover her identity. “I know of a place where we can get one.”
The League members have someone who designs our uniforms for us. Since we’re doing this in secret, we’ll need someone else. When I lived in the sewers, we went to a woman in Queens who created them for us. She doesn’t know our identities, doesn’t ask questions, just takes the cash and makes the uniforms.
“Stealth and I will go tomorrow,” I say. “Also, Kale, Lindsay, and I will follow you wherever you go, Stealth. When you’re inside with these villains, we’ll be outside, watching and listening.” I nod to Kale. “You can connect us telepathically with the Nightmares’ minds, so we can see what’s going on.”
“Okay. But how can we stand outside while Stealth’s in there? Won’t they see us?”
My eyes penetrate the floors until I’m in the basement, where the Weaponry is located. There are many secret weapons inside. Weapons made from the DNA of people with powers. They aren’t used much—not even to battle villains—and there aren’t many. The League keeps them a secret because it’s obvious what could happen if the wrong people get their hands on them. Only Kale, the Elites, and Samson and Cindy have access to the room.
“The Weaponry,” I say, focusing on the objects hidden in small boxes.
“What about it?” Kale asks.
I bring my eyes to him. “Invisibility watches.”
“From Stealth’s DNA?” Kale asks.
Her mouth widens. “What? They stole my DNA?”
“No,” I say. “Those watches have been there from before Stealth joined. I think they were taken from a former Elite member who could turn invisible.”
“Oh, yeah,” Kale says. “She was killed fighting villains a few years ago.” He looks at me. “You think we can use them?”
“I hope so. Get in and grab a few of those watches while Stealth and I are out tomorrow.”
“You got it. We’ll need new uniforms, too, won’t we?”
He makes a good point. In case someone sees us, they can’t know our true identities. “Just give me your sizes and I’ll get them for you,” I say.
“Yep.”
“Stealth,” I say. “It might be better for you not to reveal your invisibility to the Nightmares. We can use that to our advantage. Your mist is impressive enough.”
“Yeah,” Kale says. “And I’ll hide your thoughts so they can’t read your mind and discover your second ability.”
Stealth nods. “Good idea.”
The room grows quiet.
I’m not sure, but it feels like Stealth moved closer to me as we were talking. Her smell envelopes me, and I’m suddenly hot. She’s wearing black jeans and a dark blue tank top. Some strands of hair have fallen from her pony holder and flow down her long neck. My fingers want to reach up and touch it.
She must feel me watching her, because she turns to me with her deep, sharp eyes. I twist away for a second, then I look at her again. Her eyes pierce mine. We’re like in a trance, staring at each other. Who will break their gaze first?
“Man,” Kale says. “We’ve done some serious crap in the past, but this is the most exciting, isn’t it?”
Lindsay lays her head on Kale’s shoulder. “It’s scary.”
“We’ll be okay,” he assures her, resting his head on hers.
Stealth’s fingers move around the carpet. Her hands inch closer and closer to mine. She’s teasing me. I shove mine in my pockets.
It’s quiet. I try not to think about those fingers moving toward me as I keep my eyes on the floor. It’s impossible. The closer they get, the stronger my heart beats.
I get to my feet and go to the window. Keeping my back to them, I say. “We’ll meet here tomorrow morning.” I turn around. “We’re done for now.”
Kale and Lindsay leave my room, their hands interlocked. Stealth stands up, her eyes boring into mine. I think she’s going to do something. Something to drive me even more insane. But she vanishes.
I scan the mansion, but don’t find her anywhere. She’s probably in her room. I grab a notepad from the floor and write down the plan. I need to make sure we don’t screw it up.
It’s our only shot.
***
Later that night, as I’m watching TV on my computer, Kale knocks on my door and peeks his head in. I pull my earbuds out.
“Hey.” He shuts the door and joins me on the bed. “I was thinking of what a jerk I was.”
I look at him.
“What I said about you caring only about yourself.”
I wave my hand. “It’s okay. You were just trying to protect Lindsay.” I’m pretty sure I’d act the same way if I had a girl.
He frowns. “It’s not okay. You don’t say something like that to your best friend. I mean, what I said about you not thinking right, and about you pushing Stretch—”
“Kale, please. Let’s not talk about it, okay?”
He leans against the wall. “Okay. I’m just sorry.”
“You care about her. Were looking out for her. I don’t blame you. I’m sorry for throwing it on her like that. I didn’t realize how hard it’d be for her.”
“Yeah. Dr. Evans told her she’s doing well, but she still has a long way to go.”
We’re quiet.
“You know what I was thinking,” Kale says after a little while. “That maybe sending Lindsay wouldn’t have been the best decision. I mean, when we were captured by the Blades, Vlayne must have scanned my mind. She must have read my thoughts on Lindsay. So she’d probably recognize her.”
Hmm. He might be right. Ev
en though she’d be in uniform and Kale would hide her thoughts, Vlayne might be able to identify her through her ability, since it’s not common.
“You’re right,” I tell him. “Stealth is a better choice. We need to watch over her carefully and train her. We can’t screw this up.”
He thumps my back. “It’ll be different this time. I can feel it.”
I really hope he’s right.
Chapter Twelve
Kale, Lindsay, and I are in my room the next morning. We’ve gone over the plan. Stealth and I will get the uniforms while Kale and Lindsay break into the Weaponry for the watches.
“Where is she?” I say, trying to keep the impatience from my voice. Kale sent her a telepathic message to meet in my room at 8 AM sharp. Fifteen minutes have passed since then. I want to arrive in Queens early enough to get our uniforms made.
Maybe it was a mistake to trust her.
Half a minute passes before Stealth reveals herself in my room. She’s wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt. Her hair is in a braid.
I’ve also got on a black T-shirt and jeans.
Stealth follows my gaze. Her eyes narrow. “You think you have a monopoly on black?”
“You’re late,” I say.
“Sorry.”
“If you’re going to be part of this, you need to be on time and listen to what we say.”
A small smirk captures her face. “Yes, sir. I live only to serve.”
I look at her. “Sorry. I don’t mean to bark orders at you.” I just need things to go well.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll try to be on time from now on.”
“Okay, thanks.” I head over to my bed and toss her a ski mask. We’ll need to keep our identities hidden when we go to the uniform shop. I grab the second one and remind Kale and Lindsay to be discreet when they head to the Weaponry. We can’t let anyone catch us.
Kale nods. “Don’t worry. We got this.”
“All right,” I say. “We’ll see you later.” I look at Stealth. “Let’s go.”
We walk into an elevator and I press the button. Stealth leans against the wall. I do the same and cross my arms over my chest.
We’re silent. I feel her eyes move to me, and when I turn my head to her, her gaze flicks away. It happens a few more times, and I try not to let this distract me. These feelings in my body—they’re nothing. She’s just here to help me accomplish my goal. I don’t know why my body and brain are betraying me like this. It’s all a game to her. Screwing with me. I’m pretty sure that’s the main reason she’s choosing to do this. Unfortunately, I have no one else to send. Like Kale said, Lindsay wasn’t the best choice. Stealth is new, fresh. Vlayne would never suspect her. It’s almost perfect. I just wish she were more serious about this.
“Just ask me already.”
I pull my gaze away from the elevator floor to her. “Ask you what?”
“Why I kissed you.”
I return my eyes to the floor. The doors beep open and we walk out of the elevator. Stealth says, “How are we getting there?”
“Car,” I answer, leading us to the garage.
She stops walking. “You’re too young to drive.”
“Hasn’t stopped me before.” I turn to continue, but stop when she doesn’t follow. “What?” I ask.
“It’ll take us forever to get to Queens from here. I know a shortcut.” She pulls on her ski mask and motions for me to do the same. I do. Then she grabs my hand, and the next second I feel my molecules separating. Soon I’m flying through a tunnel, faster than the speed of light. I can’t see much around me, only darkness.
After what seems like seconds, I feel my molecules forming together and my body is whole again. It tingles for a bit.
My hand is still in Stealth’s. She turns to me, smiling crookedly. “So?”
I scan the area. We’re in Queens. Nowhere near the uniform shop. “Was that your power?”
“My mist. How did you like?”
“Nice.” I look down at our hands and pull mine out. It’s burning. Like electricity zaps through me. “We’ll need to take a bus or a train to get to—”
“Tell me the address and I’ll get us there.”
I do, and she grabs my hand once again. A second later, we’re standing before the shop. It’s empty. “Don’t say a word,” I tell her. “The woman is chatty, but don’t engage her in conversation. We’re here to get our uniforms and that’s all. And don’t under any circumstance reveal your identity.”
She slaps my chest lightly, another smirk teasing her mouth. “You worry too much. Did anyone ever tell you that?”
She brushes her fingers across my cheek and heads for the entrance of the store. I follow.
“Hello!” a woman behind the desk greets with a bright smile on her lips. Her brown hair is graying and she has glasses sitting on the tip of her nose. “What can I do for you today?”
“We need uniforms and masks,” I tell her. “Four.”
“Okay. What colors? Designs?”
“Black for her.” I point to Stealth. “Mix in some red patterns.”
“Like smoky patterns,” Stealth adds.
The woman types that into a computer.
“And for the other three. Black, too.”
“Okay. When do you need these by?”
“When’s the earliest you can have them done?”
She thinks for a second, scratching her head. “Tonight?”
“All right.”
“But it’ll cost you.”
I touch the bulging pocket of my jeans. Lindsay, Kale, and my allowances. It’s all in there. About three hundred dollars.
“How much?” I ask.
“Two hundred.”
That’ll leave us a hundred to spend on other items we might need in the future. Samson and Cindy give all the kids allowances. If we wanted more cash, we could ask them. But we’d need a reason and the last thing I need is for them to discover our plans.
“Okay,” I tell her, because I’m hoping to send Stealth out to the villains tomorrow. We’ll brief her and train her tonight so she’ll be ready.
The woman escorts Stealth to the back room to take her measurements. She then does the same for me. I hand her the paper with Kale and Lindsay’s information.
While Stealth picks out different shades of red, a few masked men and women walk into the store. I peer through their masks. I don’t know them.
“Okay,” Stealth says. “She said they’ll be done late this evening. Now what?”
I make my way to the door. “We go home.”
“Already? I thought we could hunt or something.”
I hold the door open for her. “No.” The door shuts behind me as I follow her down the block. “We have no reason to hunt, now that you’re going undercover.”
“Oh.”
“Take us back to the Tower,” I say. She doesn’t. Just stands there, staring at me. “What?” I ask, stopping.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“About?”
“The kiss.”
Of course I am, but I doubt she’ll tell me. “You were bored and were looking to entertain yourself. You chose me because of the rumors.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Rumors?”
I continue down the block.
She follows me. “What rumors?”
I don’t say a word.
“Ray.”
I stop walking. The sound of my name on her tongue moves something inside me. Her soft voice saying it is sexy as hell. I swallow, feeling sweat gather on my forehead.
“You must have heard that I’m the League pervert,” I say.
Her eyes catch mine. I quickly avert my gaze. Why did I give her ammunition to use against me?
“No, I didn’t hear that. Why would they call you that?”
I shrug.
“Because of your power?”
“I’ll find my own way home. I want to be alone.”
“No, you don’t.”
My gaze snaps to her
s. “How can you possibly know what I want?”
She doesn’t answer.
“You don’t,” I say, resuming down the block. “I’m going home.”
“Why are you so scared of me?” she asks from behind me.
I face her. “I’m not.”
“You’re running away from me.”
“Because I want to be alone.”
I turn around and continue going. “You can’t sleep at night,” she says. “You keep thinking about it.”
I stop and clench my fists at my sides. Shut my eyes tight.
“I think about it, too,” she says in a low voice. She’s at my side. “A lot.”
I shut my eyes tighter, shoving away thoughts of pushing her against the wall of one of these houses and pressing my lips to hers.
She’s just playing with me.
I open my eyes. She’s too close. I’m too weak.
She frowns. “Why are you fighting it?”
“I don’t know what you want from me.”
She pulls her long braid out of the back of her mask and brings the tip to her lips. “So you do want to know why I kissed you.”
I sigh. “Yes, okay. I do. Why did you do it?”
She shrugs. “I’ve sensed something between us ever since I first saw you. I needed to know if it was real.” Her gaze meets mine. “And now I know.”
I stare into her eyes. Pierce her mask to look at her face. Her deep blue eyes, soft lips, and smooth skin. I want to rip her mask off, take her chin, pull it to me, and feel that mouth on mine.
She moves closer. I move closer.
Shouts and laughter from the distance cause me to break my gaze and jump a few steps back. A couple of Elites are chasing a small group of villains as they run around the area leaping onto cars like frogs, and crushing them as they taunt the Elites.
I’m about to run to help, but hold back. These villains aren’t dangerous. Annoying, yes, but not dangerous. The Elites can handle it. We can’t let them see us.
I look at Stealth. “Bring us home.”
She takes my hand, causing a spark between us. We mist to my room. And face each other.
I clear my throat and scan the mansion for Kale and Lindsay. They’re not here.
A giggle comes from the door, along with a “Shh!”
They must have the watches and are invisible.