Edith's jaw dropped. "Wait, so the keys are guarded by kids? That's ridiculous."
"No, just the Third Key. And though the children are the true Keepers, they are not the only ones involved. They are guarded at all times, trained in self-defense and the art of combat. I will admit, however, that more than one child has died in defense of the key. It is always a shame, but an unfortunate necessity."
"Why give the key to me? If Dana is the rightful Keeper, why just pass it off? That's dumb. I'm not at all trained like she is."
Dana colored and her eyes glistened with unshed tears before she tore her gaze away from Edith to look at the floor. Charles's next words were cold and did not mask his disappointment in the least.
"She failed in her duty as Keeper. She is lucky to still be breathing, to be quite honest. Only twice before has a key ever been lost. Once during the reign of Genghis Khan and once during World War II. That second time was nearly disastrous. But the key was recovered quickly and the Keeper punished properly."
Edith found herself holding Dana's hand again and gave it a squeeze. "What will happen to Dana?"
"That is for the Seven to decide. They are the ultimate council, made up of four humans who are former Keepers and three Alaeshans. They are the final decision-makers for anything involving the keys or Alaesha. They trust the advisers to do what is necessary to protect the keys, but in they end, they have the final say. I have never seen their pronouncement not be death, but I guess there is always a chance they may show mercy." His tone had softened by the end as he noticed Dana's tear-streaked face.
"So who is my adviser? And what do I do now?"
The corners of Charles's mouth quirked up and his green eyes grew warm. "Why, my dear Edith, I am your adviser. And I am here to teach you the ways of the Keeper. As I said, I have worked with Dana's family for centuries up to this point. It will be interesting to work with someone new, someone unaware of the secret ways of the world."
"But I turn eighteen in a couple months. I won't be a child anymore."
"We will worry about that when the time comes. You will be Keeper until then."
"And what if I don't want to?"
Charles's face fell. "Well, I guess you could say no. People have before, though very rarely and not since the first millennium. But there are, uh, consequences to doing so. And I doubt you would want to decline such an opportunity."
Dana gripped Edith's hand tightly. "You can't say no, Edith. It's not really an option, no matter what he says. There is no coincidence as far as the key is concerned. It has chosen you. Why, I don't know, but you have it now. It's yours and if you try to give it away, it will not react well. You'll be in even more danger than I am."
Edith heart sank. For a brief moment, she had considered turning down the key and carrying on with her utterly boring, but safe life. Now Dana had told her the truth, that denial was not an option. "So if I try to say no, I'll die?"
Charles gave her a tight smile. "The key will likely kill you. I'm sorry, my dear, but that's the way it is."
Alex, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, grunted. "Such a load of bologna. The key won't do anything to you. It's just a key. It doesn’t have feelings. It can't be upset because it was lost or given away. It's a piece of metal."
Dana's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly do you know about the seven keys of Alaesha, Alex?"
The young man coughed. "Nothing. But it's a key. Keys are keys. That's all. They don't lead to secret worlds."
Charles stood and walked over to where Alex sat. "This key is not a key in the traditional sense, boy. This key is unique, crafted from the forges of Ibana in the Wilek mountains. But you claim to have no idea what that means, so there is no possible way you could understand its significance. Just know that this key will stab you in the back the moment you turn on it. And it will know if you do."
With that, Charles waved a hand and the oppressing cloud that had been hanging over them disappeared. "Shall we get dinner then?" he asked as he walked out into the hall.
"Dinner? You can't be serious." Edith followed Charles out into the hall and gaped at him. "After all that, you just want to pretend it didn't happen and go eat?"
"Nonsense. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have, but I'm utterly famished and if I don't get something to eat, I'll get mighty cranky."
"Hangry," Dana said. "He gets very hangry."
Edith's brow puckered into a V, but her own stomach growled its assent before she could protest. "Fine," she mumbled. "I'll go. But if you try anything, I know judo."
Charles gave her a small smirk before pulling open the door. "After you."
Chapter 5
Charles led the way down the stairs and out the front door. The old woman was sitting on the step and he stopped in front of her, stooping to eye level.
"Hello, Tessa. Are you feeling better?"
When she nodded, her scraggly gray hair bobbed and floated around her face even though there was no breeze. Her pale, unseeing eyes found Edith and her cracked lips broke into a toothless grin. It made the girl uncomfortable knowing that Charles knew the woman. She was grateful to be away from the house and on her way to dinner until she realized her wallet held about five dollars and she had no clue where they were headed. She jogged a few steps to catch up to Charles. "Where are we going?"
"That diner on Fourth and Pine. I know the chef there ther , and he makes a fabulous roast. Don't worry, it's my treat."
Edith couldn't suppress a small smile when he winked at her and she immediately felt better. This man seemed to know more about her than she did, but he didn't try to make her feel stupid. She glanced back at Dana and Alex. They walked side by side a few steps back, but there was a distance between them that hadn't existed on the way to her apartment after school.
The diner in question was only a few short blocks from Edith's apartment and they arrived in no time at all. Conversation had been limited on the walk over and Edith hoped that dinner wouldn't be so horribly awkward. Charles held open the door and the other three stepped through. They found a booth in the far back under an old Coca-Cola sign. Edith slid into the booth, followed by the Alaeshan. Alex sat across from her. His face was pinched and he kept his eyes on the Formica top. She could sense the irritation pulsing from him.
"How is everyone today?" The waitress flashed her grin around the table. Her bleached hair was tied behind her head in a tight ponytail and her makeup was caked on a bit thick, but she gave off the air of a woman who knew more than she let on. She handed each teenager a sticky menu and pulled out a receipt pad. "What can I get you kids to drink?"
When the drink orders were taken, she left them to decide on their meals and headed behind the counter. Edith watched her putting ice into the glasses.
"Edith?"
Charles had his fingers on her arm and was looking at her expectantly. "Hmm?"
"I asked you what you were getting to eat." His green eyes held a smile and his eyebrows were raised just slightly. "You were far away. Anyplace interesting?"
She shook her head as she looked at the menu. "Probably just salad or something."
"Don't be silly. Get something more substantial. The reuben is delicious, if you like corned beef. And Chef Baker makes a fabulous alfredo. Chicken or shrimp, your choice. Both options come with wonderful house salads."
Edith attempted to argue, but even Dana insisted that she should try something more hefty. In the end, Edith caved and ordered a turkey club on rye with french fries.
"You won't regret it," Charles claimed as he handed the menus to the waitress. "The chips here are the best outside of England and the bread is homemade."
“So, Chef Baker? That's an interesting name.”
Charles laughed. “Yeah, he has a sense of humor.”
While they waited for their food, Edith longed to barrage Charles with a gazillion questions that were floating around her brain, but she was loathe to be the first to break the awkward silence. Charles was an ast
ute observer, however, and turned his attentions to her anyway.
"Go ahead, ask."
"I thought we couldn't discuss it outside that room."
"You can't. Not without my explicit permission, and I give you permission to ask questions while we sit at this table and wait for our food."
Alex opened his mouth to speak. Something dangerous sat in his eyes. Charles beat him to it. "Not you," he said, pointing a finger at the younger man.
Alex's lips snapped shut and his face reddened, whether in anger or embarrassment at being reprimanded, Edith couldn't tell.
"First question?"
Ignoring the irate Alex and the melancholic Dana, she turned to the stranger beside her. The more she looked at him, the more she was drawn to him. His lips were exactly the right size, his hair just long enough to run your fingers through. If it was a disguise, he put a lot of thought into it.
"Um, well. I guess my first question is are you going to train me like you did Dana?"
He took a sip of his soda. "Yes. Not to the same extent, obviously. She's been in training since before she could walk. But we will teach you basic defenses and some offensive skills. And I'll have to get you a dagger."
"A dagger?" Edith paled at the thought of carrying a deadly weapon around on her person. She was about as clumsy as they come. She imagined herself slicing a finger off the moment she touched a weapon.
"Yes, my dear. A knife. You need to be prepared at all times."
She shifted her gaze to Dana who was plucking apart a sugar packet and idly swirling the sweet stuff around the table with a finger.
"But Dana doesn't carry a knife, does she?"
A knowing smile broke across the cheerleader's face as her eyes met Edith's. Dropping her temporary toy, she placed the fingers of one hand on her opposite wrist and dug. Much to Edith's horror, the flesh began to peel back, revealing a super thin blade.
"It's called a skin sheath. It was invented by the Alaeshans. Marvelous, isn't it?" She indicated a spot close to her elbow. "It goes up to here. I have one on my leg, too. They're almost invisible. They wouldn't be noticeable to the average human, but if someone wearing one dies, it needs to be removed before the autopsy starts. That would open a whole can of worms if one was discovered."
To hear the preppy girl discuss something like a knife in her skin so nonchalantly only added another element of the surreal to Edith's day. She was pretty sure that, at this point, she could believe that Big Foot was real and aliens did exist.
"But you go through the metal detector at school every day. How do you not get caught?"
Charles smiled. "Alaeshan metal is not like yours. It is undetectable by your systems and ten times stronger. No chance of her ever being detected by current human methods."
Nodding with only half understanding, Edith was grateful that the food arrived. She picked up her sandwich and took a bite. It really was the most delicious food she'd ever tasted. Her taste buds exploded with happiness as she savored the meaty goodness. That is, until she noticed the rest of the table watching her intently.
"What?" she asked around a mouthful of turkey and bacon.
Dana smiled. "You sounded like you were enjoying that, but considering we're in public, you might want to keep the moaning to a minimum."
Edith's face flooded with color and she set the sandwich down. "Sorry," she mumbled. Her stomach started doing flips and she lost her appetite.
She felt an elbow gently poke her in the side. "Happens to everyone, pet," Charles said as he leaned over her slightly to swipe a fry from her plate. "The chef is Alaeshan and has a knack for food," he whispered in her ear before pulling back and stuffing a crispy piece of potato in his mouth. He grinned at her around the goo and her nose wrinkled involuntarily.
The others started eating and after a minute of watching them, she couldn't resist any longer. This time, however, she was careful not to get lost in the food. Instead, she focused her attention on the diner around her. Happy chatter wafted through the air along with old-time music from the 50s. All the other diners seemed to be jovial and talkative. Strangers seated near each other struck up random conversations, even sharing food on occasion. Only her table was quiet and reserved.
She looked at Charles. He was watching her as he ate. Finishing a mouthful, he answered her unasked question. "You've noticed, then? There's a reason this diner is one of the most popular places to eat. The food is excellent, no doubt about it, but people tend to come more for the atmosphere than anything. No human has been able to explain the phenomenon that happens when you walk through that door. Funny, really, how it's just a simple spell. See that carving above the door?"
Edith looked and noticed the small wooden piece for the first time. It was an otter floating on his back, playing with a ball. She nodded.
"It's been enchanted and its magic washes over this building. So when someone enters, they are immediately affected. And they have no idea why they're so willing to chat with strangers and share their meals. But they remember that feeling of happiness when they leave, and they want to experience that again, so they come back."
"Why aren't we affected?"
Charles took another bite and chewed it a bit before answering. "You were. Not as much as them, though.” He nodded at the other patrons. “You have the key. I assume that's what's protecting you a bit. I'm Alaeshan, and this spell is meant for humans only. Dana has a charm." The girl twirled a rose trinket on her necklace. Charles's intense stare settled on Alex. "Him, I have no idea why it's not affecting him. Maybe it has something to do with the magic that’s already been used on him. I really don't know."
Edith narrowed her eyes at Alex. It did indeed seem strange that he seemed less affected than the others. He was merely poking at his food instead of actually eating it. When the attention turned to him, Alex remained quiet, but started stuffing his mouth with food.
They all ate in silence for awhile longer until the waitress returned to take their plates. "Can I get you kids anything else?"
"No thanks, Jen. We're good." Charles leaned to the side, reaching for his wallet. As he did, he glanced out the window briefly. "Bugger. Dana, get Edith and Alex in the back, quick." He rose, pulling a $50 bill from his billfold. He stuffed it in the waitress's hand and followed the other three behind the counter. Edith turned around just time to see Jen lock the door in the face of a man who had been just about to enter. He had hard, dark eyes that tried to bore holes through the waitress. His thin lips were pulled up into a snarl and a scar ran across one eyebrow.
"What's going on?" She gripped Charles's elbow as they went through the double doors. The man was now pounding on the door, hollering unintelligibly. She could only presume it was aimed at Charles.
"He's a Reformer. We need to get out of here quick. Before he finds out who you ladies are."
Edith glanced back at the man with wide eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest. "What will he do if he does?"
Charles glanced at her, but didn't answer. He stopped briefly to talk to the chef, who pointed toward the back. A nod and a slap on the back and they were on their way again, right into the massive freezer. They wound their way through the shelves full of meat and produce until they found the back. Much to Edith's surprise, there was another door, barely visible through all the ice caked on the wall. Charles gripped the icy handle and pulled. The door didn't budge. He pulled again, putting his weight into it and the ice crackled and snapped until it broke free with a sucking sound. A gust of stale air blew in through the gap. Behind the ice and metal was a small room barely big enough for the four of them. Charles fumbled around until he found the light switch, then he pulled the door shut behind them. An uncomfortable silence descended upon them. The only sounds were their breathing and the hum of the freezer fan.
"So...." Edith shuffled a bit, trying not to touch the others and failing.
Charles leaned against the wall. "Reformers are the bad guys. The ones who want to take over your world and make it their
own. He knows I'm the adviser to the Third Key. And he knew I would be here. He saw you. There is only one reason I would be hanging out with humans. The only question he has now is which one of you is the Keeper." The Alaeshan's face was crestfallen as he leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling.
Edith inhaled deeply. She was in a lot deeper than she ever thought possible and she was still so confused as to what was going on. But there was little she could do being locked in a freezer. "So what do we do now?"
"We wait. There's no back door. We're stuck here until he leaves or help comes."
"What do you mean by help?" Alex had perked up.
Charles met his eyes squarely. "Edith and Dana are no longer safe here. It's time for them to leave."
The younger man wrapped an arm protectively around the former Keeper. "You're not taking my girlfriend anywhere without me."
Charles pushed away from the wall and opened his mouth to say something, but he shut it just as quickly, nodding once as he averted his gaze. Edith eyed them both, thinking Charles's easy assent strange, but she didn't press the issue. The space was too small to handle an all-out argument.
The minutes ticked by. Dana pulled out her phone and tried to get a signal, but none was to be had. An hour and a half later, they were still waiting. Edith and Dana had slid to the floor and were playing a game on Dana's phone while the boys remained standing, glaring at each other on occasion. Propped against the door, Edith felt the shudder before they heard the loud boom.
Chapter 6
Her teeth rattled in her head as the vibrations shook the heavy metal door. A loud thump sounded through the wall, followed quickly by smaller, but no less frightening booms.
"Are those explosions?" Edith was on her feet in a flash, pressed against the wall furthest from the door.
Charles had exactly the opposite reaction. He had his ear pressed to the smooth metal, straining to hear sounds on the other side. "In a way. They sounded like magical explosions. Depending on who is using them and why. There may be no physical damage, but it's unlikely that everyone walked away unhurt. Reformers are not known for their gentle ways."
The Third Key (The Alaesha Legacy Book 1) Page 4