by Sara Mack
Who is that? In lieu of what’s going on with Garrett, I don’t feel like finding out right now. I tuck the information away for another time. “What about you?” I ask Dane. “What does your ex want?”
He stands. “She’s worried about her dad. He’s been missing for over a week and they’ve filed a police report. She has a right to be upset. It looks like Lucas won’t be coming home any time soon.”
Okay, now I’m even more confused. “What does Lucas have to do with Teagan’s dad?”
Dane looks between James and I. “Lucas is Teagan’s dad.”
“Are you serious?” I ask the two of them. “Did I know this before?”
He nods. “We found out on the island. He tracked me down to talk about the engagement and my job. The Allegiant followed. It’s how we were caught.”
Its times like these I wish I had taken Garrett up on his offer to “reiki” away the pain associated with removing the bracelet. There are so many things I don’t remember.
“So The Allegiant are partly human?” I ask in surprise. “Lucas is leading a double life?”
“Apparently,” Dane says. “And now his family and his business are suffering for it. Teagan wants me to come home and help with the company. She’s temporarily taken over for her father; she wants to give me my job back.”
I blink. “That’s great news! You should do it.”
He looks at me like I’m insane. “Are you crazy? She only wants to use me to get out of a bind. She’s held my job over my head before; she’ll do it again.”
I cross my arms and try to talk some sense into him. “You need a job and you loved your old one. Teagan’s hurting; she needs your help. You’d really leave her hanging?”
He stares at me in confusion.
“Just because you help her doesn’t mean you’ll marry her. You were friends once, right? She needs a shoulder. Offer her one.”
Dane crosses his arms to match mine. “She’ll misconstrue why I’m there.”
“Then set her straight from the get-go. She needs help.” Why is this so hard for him to understand? “Are you worried you’ll fall for her again?”
His expression twists. “No! Never.”
“Then you should go.”
We stare at one another, and I recall Jack’s last statement about our roles. Dane doesn’t need to be here; the chances of him getting hurt are high.
“You want me to leave?” he asks, irritated.
“No,” I tell him honestly. “But, we don’t know what Kellan is planning, and I don’t want you hurt. I saved your life once; I don’t want to have to do it again. Besides, you need to live your life. Stop worrying about me and go back to your family. They must miss you.”
Dane scowls. “Trust me they don’t.”
I sigh. “That’s a lie and you know it.”
“Do I? You know the history between my father and me. Oh, wait, that’s right. You don’t. Shall I enlighten you again?”
My eyes widen in surprise. “Are you getting sarcastic with me? I just want you to be safe, that’s all.” I turn to James. “You too. Maybe you should go into hiding together until this is over.”
James grimaces. “I’d rather not.” He looks at Dane. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
Well, this is an improvement in their relationship.
“Do you think you’re invincible now?” James asks. “You don’t think you need us? We’re all on Kellan’s hit list.”
I take a step back from them. “Last time I checked you’re both human. Am I wrong?”
Silence.
“How are you going to work against Kellan and who he brings? You told me what happened to the other Allegiant and to Claire. They all had supernatural powers and they died! I don’t want that to happen to either of you.”
“You’re human too,” Dane says quietly. “What makes you think you can fight them and not get hurt?”
“My chances are infinitely better. Garrett said with training I can defend myself.”
“How?”
I thought he told them about my increased strength and improved senses. They know about the mind reading, maybe they have to see my strength to believe it. I look around the room. If Garrett were here I would promise to fix what I’m about to break.
I walk toward the wall and stop a few feet in front of it. With a swift kick I put my foot through the drywall once, then twice. Huge chunks of plaster fall to the floor exposing the wood studs and insulation underneath. I turn to them with a smirk.
They look slightly stunned, but not thoroughly convinced. “I could do that,” James says. “Show us something else.”
I pause to think. What’s heavy around here? My eye catches the entrance to the kitchen and I march inside. The refrigerator ought to do. The guys follow me and I wrap my arms around the front of the appliance. Bending my knees I tighten my arms and lift. The fridge hovers about six inches off the ground. I set it back down and turn around.
Both of them look at me approvingly. “Not bad,” James says. “But I think you can do better.”
I give them an incredulous stare. “What? I’m 5’6 and it’s awkward to hold! It’s impossible to lift it any higher. I didn’t even break a sweat!”
James and Dane look at each other, and Dane shrugs as if saying “Oh well, that’s all she’s got.”
I look at the floor and think about what else I can do to prove my strength. My head snaps up. “Follow me.”
I walk past them and out of the apartment. I head outside the building where snow flurries dance through the air. It’s funny how the cold doesn’t bother me anymore. Not that it’s my favorite temperature, but I don’t have a coat on and I’m only slightly uncomfortable. I make my way to the parking lot behind the building.
“Where are you going?” Dane asks.
“You’ll see,” I say over my shoulder.
I find Samantha’s yellow Bug and head toward it. I stop behind the rear fender and eye the guys. Both of them have their arms wrapped around themselves to block the winter air. I give them a stern look. “This is the last thing I’m doing.”
I place my hands beneath the fender, bend my knees, and lift. Because the front wheels are on the ground and I have a good grip, I’m able to raise the rear end of the car as high as my shoulders. I hold it there for a few minutes, feeling like Hercules, then set it down controlled and gentle. I brush my hands together ridding them of invisible dirt.
When I look at the guys both of their mouths are open, and I can’t help but break out in a smile. I cross my arms and lean against the car. “Satisfied?” I ask arrogantly.
Neither of them speaks. I meet James’ eyes and try to read his thoughts. Again nothing. Why can’t I hear him? I shift my eyes to Dane.
“That was hot.”
My face flushes. That’s not the reaction I was going for, but I’m flattered nonetheless. I push myself off the car. “Let’s go back inside.”
Chapter 10
Madeline wraps me in a warm hug. “I’m sorry it took us so long to get here.”
Instantly, I feel bonded to her like we are family reunited. When she steps back and holds me at arm’s length, Ash sets his hand on my shoulder with a small smile. It’s as if he’s welcoming me into the fold and his touch radiates serenity. Their presence grounds my body and takes the edge off the energy coursing through it.
Madeline immediately pulls me to her side, wrapping her arm around my shoulders and leading me further into Garrett’s living room. “We’ll start with meditation,” she says as we sit. “We can teach you to harness your energy, so it won’t drive you nuts.” She smiles.
I let out a relieved sigh. “Thanks. I was beginning to think I would have to spend half my life in the gym or running marathons.”
She laughs and it mesmerizes me for a second. I’ve never heard such a melodic sound come from a person. I catch her eyes and they’re a bright emerald green like mine. I’ve never seen anyone with the same shade; I always thought my
color was a bit freakish. Her thoughts resonate in my head.
“They’re not freaky. They’re beautiful.”
I blink at her unspoken comment. “You think so?”
She looks shocked. “You heard my thoughts?”
My face turns red. I should probably ask before I start reading random people’s minds. “I’m sorry,” I apologize. “I was studying your eyes and I slipped.”
She looks at Ash as he rounds the couch to sit at my other side. He addresses Dane and James. “How long has she been like this?”
James shrugs and looks at me. “Two days?”
I nod. “Garrett triggered something when he demonstrated his reiki. At least that’s what we think happened.”
Ash gives me a confused stare. “His what?”
“Reiki. That’s probably not the right word for it, but he was trying to show me how he can take away pain. He said he’s done it before to help me with headaches and nightmares.”
Ash looks at Madeline in surprise. “Really,” he says to me while looking at her. Are they reading each other’s thoughts?
Madeline grasps my hand. “Why were you in pain?”
My eyes dart to Dane and back to her again. “The bracelet came off. This crazy light blinded me and my lost memories began to play behind my eyes. The pictures and emotions were…a lot.”
She looks to Ash again with concern. Inherently, I know they’re having a silent discussion about me and I try to catch her eyes. She’s avoiding me on purpose and it’s frustrating. I’m right here, damn it.
“First things first,” Ash says and stands. He removes a long duster to reveal a rather ordinary long-sleeve ringer tee and jeans. Other than his heavy boots he looks like he just stepped off campus. His wavy brown hair falls to his chin and catches in the stubble there. He brushes it away and I think that must get annoying.
“It does,” he smiles and answers my question. “But Madeline likes it.”
I quickly look down. I should have realized they could see into my mind! It’s a good thing I wasn’t thinking anything else.
Madeline follows Ash’s lead and gets comfortable at the same time by removing her leather jacket. When she turns to place it over the back of the couch, I see her jet black hair is braided and falls past her waist. She wears grey leggings, a soft blue sweater, and the same type of boots as Ash. When she’s settled she grasps my hand again, and the light catches her wrist. Her bracelet is identical to mine.
Ash rests his elbows on his knees and looks at Jack who has been hanging near the rear of the room. “You said The Allegiant want us to spend some quality time together.”
“Not all of them. Just Lucas,” he clarifies.
“In order to free him and Garrett?”
“And the other Guardians being held against their will.”
Ash rubs his chin. “How many are we talking about?”
Jack pauses to count. “Six in total.”
Ash frowns. “We don’t make a habit of working with The Allegiant.”
“Seeing as how you killed two of them that doesn’t surprise me.”
“Why is that exactly?” James asks our guests. “I mean, until you showed up in the Caribbean, I had no idea you existed.”
Madeline scoffs. “I’m sure the Larvatus lesson was left out of Guardian training on purpose.”
Ash nods, agreeing with her. “Centuries ago, an Allegiant named Xavier defected. He was ostracized by his brothers for voicing his progressive thoughts. It became so unbearable he left the Intermediate to complete his existence in human form. Our legend says he tried for years to live a normal life, but he found it impossible. His natural curiosity and Allegiant tendencies got the better of him, so he ended up creating the first of our kind. When his experimentation was a success the desire to prove his brothers wrong resulted in The Larvatus. He created us to rise against them.”
Created us? My eyes grow wide. “How old are you?”
Ash smiles. “Madeline and I were not created by Xavier himself; he was long gone by the time we passed. I became a Guardian when I was 28 and a Larvatus sixty years later. That was in the seventies, so I guess in human years I’d be about 125.”
My eyes swing to Madeline.
“I’m 118.”
My mouth falls open. “You wear it well.”
She laughs. “We age slowly.”
That’s a nice perk. My thoughts turn to her mother who passed. “But you can die?”
“We will die. We’re mostly human with a mix of Guardian traits.”
James crosses his arms. “How is that possible? Did you both assign your Wards like Garrett assigned me?”
Madeline’s expression turns sympathetic. “If Garrett had known there was another way he would never have assigned you to Emma. He said he would have sought us out rather than hurt the two of you.”
James frowns. “If The Allegiant know about your kind then why didn’t Lucas tell him to find you in the first place?”
“Because he didn’t know we still existed,” Ash says. “You saw how surprised The Allegiant were when we crashed the party in St. Thomas.” He pauses to readjust his weight on the couch. “After Xavier created the first Larvatus he started to seek out Guardians who were unhappy and wanted another chance at a human life. One Guardian led to another and another until they were defecting left and right. He thought he was helping those in need and proving his point to his brothers.”
“Which was?”
“That Guardians who are denied eternity should get a second chance rather than stay miserably trapped. He thought the best way to protect humanity was from above and below. Maintain the Intermediate, but put some troops on the ground, so to speak.”
I can see where that would make sense. If a Guardian is unhappy what good are they to their Ward? If they could have another chance at life and protect people on earth…
“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” I say. “Why were The Allegiant so against it?”
“They believe being Reborn is reserved for the elite.”
Madeline sighs. “They think they’re the only ones who deserve to live again. One of the benefits of becoming Allegiant is you get to lead a human life. Very few Guardians get that chance.”
“Explaining the resurrection of the dead is also difficult,” Ash says. “What would a person think if they saw their grandfather walking around town and he died ten years ago?”
Good point.
“So, I take it The Allegiant found out what Xavier was doing and got pissed,” Jack says.
“Absolutely.” Ash stands. “Once word got out that you could be human again there was an exodus. Guardians were leaving the Intermediate which left Wards alone and Lost. The Allegiant thought the more Guardians that defected the higher the potential for earthly chaos. They didn’t bother to question if the Charmed on land were doing any good.”
“Instead of working with Xavier to find a middle ground The Allegiant attacked.” Madeline looks Jack squarely in the eye. “They didn’t ask questions, they didn’t hesitate. Many of them were killed, but they still decimated The Larvatus. When Xavier’s brothers returned to the Intermediate they made sure to let the Guardians know how vile we were and that we had paid with our lives. They were told never to speak of us and threatened with banishment.”
“The Allegiant thought they’d erased our existence,” Ash says. “But a few escaped. Xavier was among them; although, he was wounded and wouldn’t live long. He loathed his brothers for what they’d done and felt horrible guilt over the death of so many. Rather than risk the lives of the remaining Larvatus in another battle, he made them swear to a quieter uprising. Very slowly more Charmed were created so as not to draw attention. To this day, we carry on as Xavier intended albeit in a more controlled manner. We create more Larvatus when we find an unhappy soul. We work to prevent whatever wrong we can while we’re here. And we work against The Allegiant by rebelling against what they believe in.”
Our guests’ history leaves us sil
ent. Hearing these things makes me question so much, including my sanity. Rather than ask them if I’m headed for the loony bin, I settle on a safer topic.
“Why did you agree to help Garrett?” I ask. “Your existence is no longer secret.”
“It was never really hidden,” Ash turns to me. “The Allegiant who attacked us were so full of themselves they never bothered to follow up on their handiwork, and we never bothered to set them straight. The relevance of our existence has faded over the years as old Allegiant are replaced with new. We’ve never been a threat.”
“Until now,” Jack says.
“Wait,” I interrupt. “The Allegiant that rule today are not the same ones that have ruled for all time?”
Madeline shakes her head. “When they grow tired of their duty they can leave it. They create another to take their place then choose eternity or a human existence.”
“Oh,” I say like that makes sense. Is there a handbook available so I can follow along?
In response to my thoughts, a tiny laugh leaves her. “And, just so you know, we agreed to help Garrett because we’ve been in his shoes. Our enemy is common. Once we found out you were all in hiding, fearful of The Allegiant, that’s all it took. There was no question we would help when the time came.”
“How did he find you guys?”
Ash smiles. “By accident. We stumbled upon each other in Hope Mills. I noticed his eyes and read his mind. I knew he was Reborn, but not one of us. I was curious.”
Dane raises his hand as if he’s in a classroom. He has yet to say anything, and I practically forgot he was here. Ash’s attention lands on him and the others follow suit. His voice is flat as he asks his question. “What about Emma?”
Ash looks puzzled. “What about her?”
“She was never a Guardian. How is it that she’s remotely like you?”
His tone hints that he’s irritated. My eyes lock on his to find out what’s bothering him and his thoughts echo in my mind. He’s less than thrilled that I am associated with these people.
Madeline squeezes my hand. “She was Gifted.”
“Excuse me?” I ask.
“My mother gifted you before she died.” Wearing a tiny smile she runs a finger over the amulet that was once Claire’s. “We can gift some of our abilities to humans we deem worthy. Garrett spoke highly of you,” she lifts her gaze to meet mine, “and he wanted to keep you safe.”