Valor: The Custos Saga

by Jessica Tastet

  Light-headedness descended. “Dark hair, blue eyes, worked at a bar?”

  Lysander tilted his head and looked at her puzzled. “How did you know?”

  “I saw her death at 5:22 this morning.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Lysander reached out and stroked her arm. “The Vindica isn’t usually like this. It’s just that stupid prophecy about the full moon this month.”

  “You don’t believe in the prophecy?”

  Lysander shrugged. “I’m not really superstitious. I believe what is proven to me.”

  “But you believe in our abilities?”

  He grinned. “What can I say? I’m a contradiction.”

  Angelica noticed he hadn’t removed his hand from her arm, and she began to grow warm again. “I suppose I will see you after work tonight then.”

  “I will be there. Do I call this a date?”

  Angelica laughed. “A walk home? You haven’t dated much have you?”

  “What we are, what we’re about, I don’t want to pass it on.”

  “Oh.” Angelica paused, trying to get the part of her brain that came up with witty comments to kick in, but she had nothing. “I guess I’ll see you tonight.”

  He nodded and then took the stairs two at a time.

  She groaned and slipped back inside. Trevor stood inches from the door, and Angelica jumped back startled.

  “You gonna leave my first night here?”

  “You were eavesdropping?” Angelica accused.

  Trevor shrugged. “You never minded before.”

  “Trevor, I didn’t invite you here. You need to go home.”

  “I like him,” Denise called from the living room. “I’ll invite you to stay. You can share a room with Angelica since she doesn’t stay here often.”

  Angelica groaned and stomped back to her room to pack her things for the night.

  Twenty-Five

  The night air blew through his cloak and Cain pulled it down further around his face. He kept to the shadows of the old, run-down gas station as he listened in on the conversation inside.

  A couple was inside wanting babies. Cain couldn’t pick up much of the conversation. Telepathy wasn’t really a developed ability of his. It was hit or miss. First, he didn’t like it. Second, he just wasn’t good at reading the thoughts of others, especially from this distance. It was no matter though. He didn’t need to hear their conversation. He just needed to know when they left.

  Finding the woman Laura had been tricky. His source had to make a few contacts before they’d found her. She did readings out of her brother’s gas station and didn’t advertise her services. Cain had finally pieced her history together after a few more contacts. She was the daughter of Mama Fi, a larger than life woman who’d rejected the Vindica long before her daughter was born; therefore, Laura’s knowledge of the Vindica was nearly obsolete, and with Mama Fi dead, there wasn’t anyone to fill her in.

  So Cain had come to the right place.

  Now if the couple would just leave before he froze to death.

  Several minutes later the rumpled couple emerged. They walked to their car in silence and left just as quietly.

  Cain slipped into the open door but didn’t notice the chime until it had sounded.

  “Karen, is that you?”

  Cain waited for her to place the vodka bottle back into the cabinet.

  “I’m here for a reading.”

  The beads to the back room, her workroom, clanked together as he walked through them.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m closed for the night,” she said and then turned toward him. Her face froze in horror and she gasped.

  “I promise it won’t take long, but I’ve come a long way for this reading.”

  Thoughts of a faceless man circled in her mind until Cain figured out that she must have foreseen his coming.

  “I’m closed…I’d prefer…an appointment,” she stumbled, grasping for the words. “I promised someone I’d be home shortly.”

  Her eyes scoured the room for an escape, and Cain felt the desperation building internally.

  “You knew I was coming. It’d be a shame not to give me an answer.”

  He stepped closer, blocking escape.

  “Who are you?”

  “Just someone looking for an answer that I was told you could give.”

  She straightened up. She was gathering her courage. “If I see for you, will you allow me to go unharmed?”

  “Death or freedom?” He laughed as his thumb and forefinger pinched the candle flames out. “Let’s see how it goes first.”

  Her mind began racing over what could she tell him to get him to leave.

  He hadn’t traveled to this dirty bayou to be given a lie.

  He flung the table in the center of the room crashing against the back wall. He held her cards in the air before her face.

  “How about that reading now?”

  Her hands trembled as she clasped the deck of cards. Good, fear had driven out any thoughts of lying.

  “That’s not how it works.”

  He chuckled, feeling her humiliation. “Psychometry. A need for contact shows a weakness in your family line.”

  Doubts and self-criticism clouded her thoughts. She’d never be as good as her mother.

  “Relax,” Cain said, reaching his hand out. “I’ve come to see you because you’re the one who has the answer.”

  “How…how do you know?”

  “A witch told me that I needed to find someone like me, but not part of our family. You qualify.”

  Her bottom lip trembled as she clung to her cards. “I was supposed to be safe if I stayed away from ya’ll.”

  “Who’s safe these days?”

  He raised his hand out again. She hesitated and then tentatively reached out with her hand to touch his.

  She jerked as his images were absorbed through her fingertips, and then she paled as they continued to flow.

  After a moment, she jerked away and choked. “You’ve killed people.”

  “I’ve done what I’ve had to. Sometimes it was necessary.”

  She stepped back. “What you want doesn’t belong to you.”

  “Nothing has ever belonged to me.” He stepped closer to her. “Now what did you see?”

  She stepped back another step. “Your mother wished to hide it from your father until the girl was ready for it. She gave the secret to the person she knew he would not harm out of loyalty to her.”

  Cain released a breath. “Rainy.”

  She stared at him.

  “What girl?”

  Her bottom lip trembled and she muttered, “Don’t know.”

  He crossed the expanse between them. He could feel her fear throbbing through her now.

  “Just remember, I’m only doing this to save your life.”

  Closing himself off from her thoughts, he jabbed the dagger through her. Her blue eyes stared into his without a word escaping through her lips.

  He released her to the floor and backed out of the door. In the front he flipped the switch that turned the outside speakers on, and then he slipped out of the gas station and began jogging to the car a half-mile down the road.

  He wouldn’t think about her living or dying. At best, she’d be in the hospital for days and she’d escape being tortured by Rex. At worst, she’d die before they found her and still avoid being tortured by Rex.

  Cain wouldn’t think about it tonight. He’d think about the fact that he was one step closer to finding the book, which meant he was one step ahead of his father.

  Twenty-Six

  Angelica’s biceps trembled. Mark pushed down on her and stabs of pain shot through her arms. He’d called this stick a jo, some kind of Japanese weapon. It was supposed to stimulate fighting with swords without the pesky problem of being sliced and diced. Angelica didn’t like the hard stick any better than the sharp blade as the stick thing hurt.

  Mark grinned. “You’re not concentrating.”

  Angelica’s arms wo
bbled, and they felt as though they would fold at any moment.

  “Ahhh!” Angelica threw him backward telekinetically and slammed the stick down as she stomped toward the wall of the training room.

  Mark stood. “You’re not supposed to use your abilities. You need to train your muscles to fight.”

  “Why?” Angelica asked, attempting to clear her mind. There were too many thoughts. Apparently, physical exertion brought down her defenses.

  “Dark Soldiers fight with swords. You’ll need to be able to defend yourself.”

  Her skin began to cool as her defenses shifted back into place. “Then I’ll fight them with my abilities.”

  “Don’t be stupid,” Roxy said from her place on the floor. “You need to know how to fight them with their weapons unless you plan on running away.”

  Angelica glanced at Roxy and met an intense glare. Angelica suspected that Roxy knew about her past, but why hadn’t she said anything yet?

  “Okay.” Angelica nodded. “I’m ready for the replay.”

  “Not a replay.” Mark handed her the jo. “Round seven.”

  Angelica groaned, but gripped the jo.

  Mark’s lips curled at the edges, and his grayish blue eyes flashed. He was enjoying this too much.

  Her entire body vibrated on the first strike.

  Click. Clank. Clink.

  The fluid motion of his muscles contracting registered and her reflexes responded by instinct.

  Mark swung high. She nearly missed the signal. She arched backwards and the wind tickled her face.

  “You need to see my next move.”

  Angelica blocked him again, but not before a sharp sting vibrated up her arm upon contact.

  “I can’t hear your thoughts with everyone’s thoughts in the room.”

  “You need to try harder.”

  Again, she lowered her defenses. A chorus of voices bombarded her mind.

  Serena’s elation buzzed from her corner, while a romance novel scene staring Gabney as the main character flirted through Griffin’s mind. Roxy thought Angelica was going to leave when it got tough, desert them. Bruce thought pizza.

  Angelica’s breath caught as the stick plowed her abdomen.

  Angelica threw the stick down again. “I can’t do this with everyone’s thoughts screaming at me.”

  Mark grinned. “You need to learn to master the talent of letting one person in at a time.”

  “You keep saying that, but you haven’t told me how.“

  Serena stepped forward with an arrogant smile on her face. “My turn. Why don’t you watch trained members fight. You may learn something.”

  Angelica stepped back, clinching her shoulders. She really didn’t like Serena and with every biting comment, the dislike grew. How could she even be the adopted daughter of John Landon? She’d learned nothing from him.

  Serena and Mark squared off. Serena blocked Mark’s first strike before maneuvering herself behind him. Their fluid movements were a choreographed dance. Angelica watched as they weaved in and out, the stick never making contact against body.

  Angelica hated to admit it, but they were good.

  Lysander stepped closer to her, and Angelica felt his presence suck the air in around her. He leaned in and spoke low. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I think they’re so good because they’re a couple.”

  Angelica’s muscle tensed. He’d been distant last night when he’d walked her here, and he hadn’t said much this morning either. There hadn’t been much opportunity, but still.

  “How are you at this? Am I the only one who needs preschool lessons?”

  Lysander laughed. “Nah, I’m not really good at this. I don’t have the ability to read minds, so Mark kicks my ass every time.”

  Serena bit her lip as she blocked Mark’s jab. Mark grinned as his eyes crinkled at the corners.

  Lysander leaned in closer, his nearness tickling her ear. “Mark usually wins, but he lets Serena win every now and then.”

  Gabney entered, face buried in a clipboard. Blonde tendrils escaped her neat bun, and a pencil was resting on her ear.

  Angelica couldn’t help but smile. Gabney’s obliviousness was endearing.

  “Serena, I need you to finalize the party list.” Gabney looked up and stopped. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought Angelica was training.”

  Serena scowled at Gabney and her thoughts of how stupid Gabney was proved she wasn't nice.

  “Maybe if you ever paid attention, you wouldn’t have to apologize all the time.”

  Gabney’s cheeks colored. “Uncle John wants this done before his return. He’s with the woman’s family, so he couldn’t finalize himself.”

  Serena grabbed the clipboard. “You’d think since he’s my father, my twenty-first birthday would be more important than a dead stranger.”

  “Serena!” Mark barked, his voice echoing against the walls.

  Everyone jumped. Angelica had never seen him angry, just focused.

  Serena blushed. “I’m sorry. He knows how important this is to me.”

  Gabney crossed her arms across her chest. “She’s not dead. She’s in a coma.”

  “Whatever.” Serena flipped through the pages. “I suppose I’m expected to invite her, too.”

  Angelica stepped back. “Invite me to what?”

  “For my birthday on the eighteenth, we’re performing a Vindica ritual.”

  Angelica’s heart palpated faster. She hadn’t admitted to anyone here that her birthday fell in the full moon window. “I turn twenty-one on the seventeenth. My friends may be planning something.”

  Serena’s head snapped up from the clipboard. “Your birthday is the seventeenth of this month?”

  Mark and Lysander’s eyes met.

  “Yes.”

  Serena threw the clipboard at Gabney. “Great for you. Everything’s fine, Gabney.”

  Serena stomped out the room, and Angelica turned toward Gabney. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “Um…”

  Mark handed Lysander the stick. “Serena is stressed with Vindica troubles. Don’t worry about it.”

  Gabney put her head down and escaped through the open doorway.

  Angelica didn’t believe that flimsy excuse. She’d lied enough in her life to recognize what it sounded like.

  Lysander and Mark were squaring off, and although Angelica would like to watch, she wasn’t going to miss this opportunity.

  Angelica backed out of the room, aware that only Roxy paid any attention to her leaving. The others were too busy watching Lysander and Mark exchange blows.

  Angelica hurried into the tearoom. Gabney sat on the sofa, sniffling and blinking back tears.

  She looked away when she noticed Angelica. “I’m so stupid. I don’t know why I keep trying.”

  Angelica sat on the other side of the small sofa. “Don’t blame yourself. Just between you and me, I’ve never met anyone more bitchy than Serena.”

  A laugh escaped from Gabney. “Don’t let her hear you say that or I’ll have to add another war to study in my history class.”

  Griffin stuck his head in the door. “Everything alright?”

  Gabney reddened and stared at her fingers. “We’re just planning the party. Only two days left.”

  Griffin stared a moment longer and then moved to another room in the house.

  Gabney was upset again, insulting herself for not saying something more intriguing or interesting. He’d never know she was interested that way.

  Angelica grinned. “Someone has a crush.”

  Gabney’s head popped up.

  “It’s all over your face.”

  Gabney flushed. “Does anyone else know?”

  “No one pays much attention around here.” Angelica gave her a smile of reassurance. “So what kind of ritual is Serena having?”

  Gabney shrugged. “Some ritual to call Valor. Some of the council members will be here. There’s a disagreement within the council so not everyone wants the ritual performed, hen
ce the stress.”

  “Hmm.” Angelica turned over the information in her thoughts rapidly. “This ritual will tell them who Valor is?”

  Gabney nodded. “Something like that.”

  The idea flowed through her and filled her with a strange sense of nervousness and anxiety.

  “I guess I need to get back to training.” Angelica stood. “You know Gabney, you should come out and ask Griffin on a date. He’s not real perceptive, so I think you need to make a move.”

  Gabney blushed again. “Really?”

  “Yes.” Angelica grinned. “Men in our generation need a little help.”

  Angelica walked back to the training room, and she realized that Gabney was the only person that she wasn’t ever trying to figure out who she was supposed to be when she was with her.

  Interesting.

  Roxy stood next to the doorway of the training room watching her. This one she’d need to figure out soon so she could assess the threat.

  Roxy raised her eyebrows at her, but Angelica just smiled and entered the training room.

  Twenty-Seven

  Rex waited near the lamppost as the streetlights flickered on. His gaze never flickered away from the two gentlemen at the corner table in Muriel’s restaurant.

  Frederick, youngest Vindica Council member, was whom he waited for tonight. The tall, sallow gentleman had arrived from France for the full moon ceremony this morning, and Rex had shadowed him, waiting for an opportunity. He didn’t trust any of his men to handle this task, and he’d taken an interest in this one.

  Frederick had taught Rex a valuable lesson years back. Fourteen years ago he’d believed that the only emotion the Vindica would feel after a murder was fear. Then he’d encountered two young men, Davey and Ross. They’d joined the Dark Soldiers solely to work against him. Rex had killed them, of course, after they’d made nuisances of themselves by working together to prevent certain pieces of information to reach him. He’d arrogantly assumed that it would end there.

  Frederick had taught him that there were still people in the Vindica who didn’t forget. Frederick had made it his life interest to avenge the death of his two best friends. Frederick’s lack of fear had propelled him through the Vindica chain at such a fast pace that Rex hadn’t paid much attention until Frederick had insulated himself within the Vindica and had nearly become untouchable. Nearly.