Cayden was shaking violently from nerves; I could feel the vibrations through the car seat. I chastised myself for being distracted and selfish. Cayden needed and deserved my attention to be focused.
“Take deep breaths, Cayden. Everything will be okay. If something is wrong, I will lay my hand on your forehead. Until then, just breathe and relax. Soon you will be in the Underground and will be safe.”
I sat on the edge of the seat, eyes twitching as I kept watch for anything usual, but nothing happened. We arrived at the airfield without a single hitch. I should have been relieved, but everything felt too easy.
The pilot met us in the hangar and introduced us to the flight attendant, who then gave us instructions on where to load the luggage while the pilot finalized the take-off checklist. The atmosphere was thick with worry and an underlying layer of fear. Everyone busied themselves trying to speed up our departure time. Kian sat up front in the co-captain’s seat while we taxied to the end of the runway. We heard air traffic control warn all pilots of the arrival of police at the security gate, but we were already speeding down the runway with the nose of the plane tipping upward. We were safely in the air when Kian walked back to join us.
“Everything good?” Luca asked.
Kian nodded. “It is now. The police showed up right as we were taking off, but luckily they were wanting to see the plane we were originally going to use.”
“It’s a good thing the councilwoman thought ahead.” I melted into the plush seating and stretched my legs out, enjoying the space provided in this plane versus the tight quarters of our inbound flight. All the worry and nerves melted out of my body.
“Well that was an uneventful first mission, huh Sadie?” Luca mused as he plundered the mini-fridge for a drink.
“Yes, and I’m glad.” I paused to look at Cayden who was hugging a small messenger bag to his chest, staring out the window. “Cayden, do you need anything?”
His tortured eyes met mine for a split second before he jerked his head no and turned back to the window. I wondered how anyone could label him as a threat. It was obvious that he was a timid man and I wondered if that was because of his personality or a learned trait from years of being the subject of discrimination. I shook my head at the thought. Just because his skin was alarming didn’t mean he should be labeled a demon.
“Cayden. Have you been informed of what to expect on your arrival?”
“Only that I was to stay with a long-lost relative.” Cayden’s voice was surprisingly deep and melodic in contrast to his small frame and meek personality. “And that I would be able to continue my work without interruption.”
Satisfied that he answered our question, he turned his back to us and stared out the window again, his body language letting us know that he was done talking. The three of us looked at each other.
Cayden was in for a big surprise when he arrived at the Underground.
Chapter 15
Two days after my first mission, I sat in the empty training room where my Talent training sessions had been located. Another second ticked by. Mrs. LaMotte was an hour late. Frustrated, I kicked the wall. She hadn’t shown up yesterday and from the looks of it, she wouldn’t be here today.
I wonder why she’s avoiding me. It’s not like she knows that I know she’s been lying about who she is.
Kian’s shocking revelation on the airplane had been ever present in my mind. I had decided that I would confront Mrs. LaMotte, but she hadn’t given me the chance.
A sigh of acceptance escaped my lips as I realized I wouldn’t be seeing her today either. I gathered my bag and trekked back to my room. My mind was inundated with thoughts of Mrs. LaMotte when I turned the corner and slammed into Cayden.
The papers he was holding flew into the air and gently floated down over the concrete floor. His entire body stiffened and eyes widened for a moment before recognition flickered behind them. He relaxed and pushed his glasses up.
“Cayden, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. We were both distracted.”
I nodded and knelt on the floor, helping Cayden gather his paperwork.
“I hope these weren’t in a particular order.”
Cayden sighed, “They were, but I numbered the pages, so it won’t be difficult to put everything back together, just time consuming.”
We worked together in a comfortable silence. When finished, I helped Cayden stand as he pressed the stack against his chest, holding them like a mother would her child.
“How are you adjusting to everything?” I asked. Cayden had had a panic attack when he met his long lost uncle, HCA president McCredie. It took a trip to the infirmary and a few hours of silent contemplation for him to adjust to the fact that he was related to the man who represents Caelian rights.
“Okay. It’s hard not being on constant alert for someone to harass me, but I am beginning to relax. Work is great, the labs here are top of the line and my uncle has been spending his spare time with me. It’s nice having family again.”
“That’s great, Cayden. I’m happy for you.” I clasped his shoulder and unlike when I first met him, he didn’t flinch, but his eyes widened and I could tell he wasn’t okay with physical touch yet. I moved my hand, giving him a nod of understanding.
“Yes. McCredie isn’t what I expected him to be.” I nodded in agreement. “He told me the HCA is going after the Georgia congressman that approved of my unlawful arrests.”
“Good. I hope he can use your case the next time he’s in Washington to lobby for law reform involving Caelian rights.” I paused for a second to consider Cayden. “Would you be okay with that?”
Cayden nodded. “I think I will be. If everything I went through can help all Caelians, I can deal with the exposure.”
“You’re a good man.”
Cayden looked nervous after my statement and I couldn’t help but think he was lucky that his fiery skin would hide his embarrassment if and when McCredie had to use him for his political agenda.
“You have a great day, Cayden.”
“You too.”
We went our separate ways and I smiled thinking about how I had a hand in Cayden’s happiness. I was feeling really good about myself and had temporarily forgotten about Mrs. LaMotte when my communicator buzzed in my pocket.
Luca: I’m outside your door. Need to talk. Now.
Me: 5 minutes.
Luca: Ok. Kian will be here soon.
My pace increased as I wondered what Luca had to say. I rounded the corner to the resident hall and saw Kian and Luca standing stiffly in front of my door. My heart sank when I saw the grim looks on their faces.
“Who died?” I asked.
“No one, but we need to talk in private.” Luca pointed over his shoulder at my door.
I squeezed between them and unlocked my door, not bothering to hold it open for them. Nerves danced in my stomach as I threw my bag on the floor at the foot of my bed and spun on the ball of my foot to face the two men shuffling into my room.
“You may want to sit,” Kian started, but stopped when I crossed my arms and shook my head. I was too nervous to sit and my legs ached to pace. It was like my body knew that whatever they had to say would freak me out.
“Okay. Uh…” Luca started and then stopped to look at Kian who gave him an encouraging nod in return. Luca reached into his pocket and pulled out my necklace. The light bouncing off the platinum and rose gold surface captivated my attention.
“I know who your mom is.”
All the air whooshed out of my lungs and I stood there, my mind so overwhelmed that my thoughts were static. My eyes focused on the locket until my lungs burned with the need for me to let in fresh oxygen.
“Wow.” I had hoped Luca would find out who my mother was, but I hadn’t expected it.
“There’s no way to ease you into this, so I’m just going to rip off the Band-Aid. Your mother’s name is Lucinda Moreau.”
If I had been overwhelmed before, it was nothing compared to how I
felt when I heard my mother’s name. I struggled to focus on a thought. On anything. I knew I had questions, but I was dumbstruck.
“I never thought I’d see the day Sadie would be rendered speechless,” Luca mused, his amusement evident. Kian grunted in agreement. Luca enjoying himself at my expense grounded my thoughts.
“Asshole.”
“There she is!” Luca clapped his hands.
“Explain,” I demanded. It seemed I could only speak one word at a time.
“When you first gave me the locket, I contacted a friend in the FBI and asked him to run it through their databases. He discovered it was labeled missing from an eighteen-year-old unsolved crime.”
A knock at my door interrupted Luca and I growled at the intrusion. Kian stood and I gave him a questioning look.
“I’m expecting someone,” he explained as he answered my door.
Mrs. LaMotte stood on the other side, her long plum hair in loose waves around her heart-shaped face, making her look years younger and vulnerable. Instead of her usual prim attire, she was wearing a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. I didn’t know how to process why she looked so unlike herself, and especially not why her presence here was expected during this insane revelation.
“Have you told her yet?” She asked no one in particular.
“Not yet. You’re just in time,” Kian motioned for her to take a seat and shut the door behind him.
I felt caged and began pacing, my Talent flaring with each step, but staying firmly locked away behind its cage. When no one spoke, I stopped walking long enough to give Luca a look.
Luca coughed and continued, “As I was saying, your necklace is involved in an unsolved missing child case.” Mrs. LaMotte stiffened, but didn’t contribute to the story. “My contact explained to me that the case was opened after Lucinda Moreau died in childbirth by her aunt, Mariana Moreau.” He paused, letting that piece of information sink in. I knew my mother had died in childbirth, but learning I had more biological family stunned me. The council leader of the Moreau family is my great aunt.
“She claimed that her great niece was kidnapped by Lucinda’s best friend right after the birth. The FBI concluded that Lucinda died of a massive hemorrhage and that her death could have been prevented if she had gone to the hospital to deliver her baby instead of her family’s cabin. Lucinda had thought ahead and had her lawyer deliver a notarized document to the Moreau family stating it was her choice for her baby to disappear and it was for the best.”
“Why would she say that?” I asked.
“Your mother’s Talent was clairvoyant visions. The FBI downgraded the case from kidnapping to missing person after that discovery, but they continued to look for Lucinda’s baby and her best friend.”
Luca stopped talking abruptly and turned to Mrs. LaMotte. “I think you should finish the story.”
Confused, I turned to look at Mrs. LaMotte. She nodded and for the first time since coming into my room, she met my eyes. Fear flashed for a split second, but was replaced with an overwhelming pain.
“Kian informed me that you know my real name.”
I nodded in affirmation.
“First, let me apologize for my absence. I’ve confessed my identity to McCredie and we’ve agreed that the information will not be public knowledge due to my involvement in your disappearance. I will still be Eleanor LaMotte.”
“Okay.” I was stunned by her admission and had a fleeting thought as to whether Cayden knew he had another family member in the Underground.
“Your mother was my longest and greatest friend and I loved her dearly. When she was laboring with you, she made me promise to take you away from the families. She feared what would happen if you were raised within them or if your grandfather discovered your existence. I pleaded with her to go to the hospital, to change her mind, but just like you she was stubborn.”
Mrs. LaMotte paused, taking in a deep breath. It shuddered when she released it.
“She knew what your Talent would be and that because your Talent was powerful, it would be detrimental to the future of Caelians and norms alike. I didn’t believe her at first. It was when the color started draining from her hair that I began to take her seriously. She explained to me that your Talent was already activated and you’d been draining her for months.”
I picked up my nightstand and threw it against the wall. Satisfaction filled me as the wood splintered and crashed to the ground. My left hand had a gash across the palm, but I ignored the blood dripping down my fingers as I turned around to face the others. No one acted surprised by my outburst, but Kian’s gaze drifted down to my hand, his eyebrows pinched in concern.
“That can’t be true. My Talent was latent. I only discovered it months ago.”
Mrs. LaMotte shook her head and continued, the shakiness from before gone and replaced by her teacher voice. “Children born from those with mind Talents, such as your mother’s clairvoyance, have been known to manifest their Talents early. It’s not entirely illogical that yours manifested in utero. However, I believe your body forced your Talent into submission in an act of self-preservation once the Talent sickness became too much for your tiny body.”
“No.” I squeezed my head with my hands as a pounding began behind my eyes, not caring if I smeared blood in my hair. My Talent buzzed beneath my skin as my control slipped more.
“Remember how sick you were growing up? No one could explain what exactly caused your illness, but I knew. You were displaying the same symptoms of Talent sickness, but no one suspected that was what it was because Talents don’t form in children.”
“No.” My voice was a little louder.
“I watched you your entire life waiting for your Talent to emerge. I saw signs every now and then when your hair would flash different colors, but I dreaded the day you would come into your Talent because then it would be my job to make sure you could control it.
“I hated you for a long time, but I couldn’t hold on to it anymore. You were a baby and didn’t intend to take my best friend from me,” Mrs. LaMotte whispered. I swear my heart stopped beating and my hand flew to my chest as if I was physically wounded. It hurt that she would say that to me, but every interaction I had had with her while growing up finally made sense.
Wait a minute. “What do you mean I didn’t intend to take your best friend? She died of a hemorrhage.”
“Yes, but she wouldn’t have been as weak if she had been at full strength.” Mrs. LaMotte’s voice was soft and filled with sadness, but her implication was clear.
Without a second thought, I ran toward the door and threw it open, letting it slam against the opposite wall. Luca and Kian were both shouting, but I couldn’t understand what they were saying. All I could hear was the violent buzz of my Talent. I knew I should stop and let her finish her story. Instead I ran as fast as I could, knowing there were not many places I could hide, but wanting to be alone. People jumped out of my way as I barreled through the hallway, skidding into the walls when I turned corners.
My lungs pumped in time with my arms and legs and soon I found myself in a secluded corner of one of the training hallways. I paused to catch my breath before throwing myself in a darkened room. I leaned against the door and listen to see if I had been followed.
After a few minutes of silence, I slid to the cold floor, tucking my legs into my chest and wrapping my arms around my knees. My heart beat in time with the pulses radiating from the cut in my palm. I focused on the crude cut. Dark flakes of dried blood broke away and fell to the ground. The wound re-opened as I clenched my fist. The buzzing of my Talent competed with the pounding of my head, but neither could keep out what Mrs. LaMotte had said. Her words shot right through my heart, wounding me in the worst possible way.
It’s my fault my mother died. My Talent killed her.
Chapter 16
Live on Channel 5
A family of Caelians were found dead today on the eastern block of 8th street from an apparent robbery gone wrong. The father, mo
ther, and two children, both under the age of 10, were shot to death in their home late last night. Police have no suspects.
Dean Kerrington of the Human Purist Coalition, along with Representative Rodriguez of Texas, who introduced the Caelian Registration Act, were both present at the Norms Against Caelians rally outside the State Capitol earlier today. When asked to comment on the recent increase in violence against Caelians, Mr. Kerrington stated:
“We cannot fault those who feel the pressing need to protect their families from the Caelian threat, especially when the government does nothing for the norms living in America.”
Chapter 17
Days had blurred together since Mrs. LaMotte’s revelation and with each day came a numbness that felt like it would consume me, but I had to get back out there and keep up appearances. I went to train with the soldiers and ate lunch with Luca, Lacy, and Kian, but avoided Mrs. LaMotte at all costs.
When Lacy demanded to know what was wrong with me, I retold the story as if it were a practiced speech. In a way it was. I had already told my St. Vincent’s friends and had to talk about it again when McCredie called me to a meeting. Lacy wasn’t thrilled that she was the last to know, but she understood since her nursing classes were taking up majority of her spare time. She hugged me anyway. I stiffened in her embrace, and when Lacy released me hurt flashed before her eyes before understanding dawned.
All the confidence I had gained in controlling my Talent was lost and I was scared that somehow I would end up hurting someone I loved. It was no wonder that Mrs. LaMotte was wary of me growing up and that she pushed me to have utter control over my Talent. She had witnessed first-hand exactly how dangerous I could be.
Kian and I exited the chow hall and when he reached over to grab my hand, my fingernails became extremely interesting.
The Caelian Cycle Boxed Set Page 24