Smoke (Smoke Series Book 1)

by Mariah Esterly

  He looked so forlorn that she crawled into his lap facing him, ignoring the twinge in her ribs. He wrapped his arms around her, buried his head in the curve between her neck and shoulder, taking a deep shuddering breath. Her fingers curled in the hair at the back of his head, holding him against her.

  “I’m okay, I promise.” She murmured. “The only thing you have to be sorry for is getting yourself shot. Which by the way, hasn’t been dealt with.”

  He shook his head against her, his nose brushing the column of her neck. “It’s fine. It was just a graze. I just want to stay here for a bit.”

  She pushed him back, making him meet her eyes. “Vail, I’m fine. You’re shot. Let me look at it.” Sensing he was going to refuse again, she added, “Please?”

  After a moment, he nodded and Gertie climbed off him. Vail directed her to the connected bathroom where she found a first aid kit tucked under the sink. When she returned, Vail had pulled off his jacket and his grey shirt, revealing his muscled chest and his bloody wound.

  He was right. It was just a graze, a deep cut in the flesh of his upper right arm. Still, it needed to be cleaned. Silently, she used hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound, eliciting a hiss of pain from Vail. She gave him an apologetic glance but continued her ministrations.

  That done, she smeared a salve on it to promote healing and then carefully wrapped a bandage around it. She could feel his eyes on her as her hands went about their tasks with sure, quick movements. “You’re good at that,” he commented, as she tied off the bandage.

  “When I used to work with my parents at the farm, people would get hurt fairly often. Sharp implements, large machines, it can actually be kind of dangerous. Since we couldn’t afford to go see a doctor or to a hospital, we all got pretty good at patching each other up.” She packed the supplies back into the kit.

  As she turned to put the first aid kit back in the bathroom, he caught her hand and took the box from her, setting it on the bed. He pulled her closer as he stood, one of his hands pressed against her lower back. “Thank you, Freckles,” he murmured, his other hand coming up to brush over her cheek.

  “You’re welcome, Vail.” She allowed him to move her closer, feeling her shirt brush against his skin. “What are you doing?” His hand was lacing itself into her honey colored hair, using the strands to tilt her head back. His gaze on her lips.

  “I’m reminded of a promise I made.”

  She flushed. “What promise is that?” Her voice was hardly more than a whisper.

  She felt rather than saw him smile, felt his breath as he whispered, “Oh, I think you know.”

  His lips brushed against hers so softly at first, that Gertie thought she might have imagined it. He pulled back to look at her, grey eyes searching her face. He apparently liked what he saw, because an instant later his mouth was pressed against her with much more fervor. Her hands crept up his chest to grip the muscles of his shoulders and pull him closer.

  When Liam had kissed her what felt like a lifetime ago, it had been exactly as she’d imagined, pleasant and sweet and everything she could have hoped for.

  She could never have imagined what it felt like to have Vail kiss her, her brain just wouldn’t have been able to come up with something so... primal. Her need to be closer to him grew until she’d wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe to press every inch she possibly could against him. He seemed to be trying to pull her into him, his arms locked around her back, moving restlessly up and down.

  He squeezed a little too hard, and Gertie couldn’t help the whimper of pain that escaped her as her ribs screamed their protest. He immediately stilled, pulling back concern on his face. “Sorry,” he murmured, loosening his grip on her.

  She pressed a kiss on his lips. “I don’t mind,” she whispered, before kissing him again.

  When a knock sounded at the door, they jumped apart looking guiltily at each other. The door opened a crack. “I’m coming in,” called Dicie, in warning.

  Gertie laughed and the door pushed open the rest of the way. “It’s fine, Dicie come in. I was just wrapping Vail’s arm.”

  Dicie considered them, her blue eyes taking in their flushed faces and slightly rapid breathing. “Yes, I can see that.” Gertie felt her cheeks flame. Dicie laughed. “I made some food, if you’re hungry.”

  In response, Gertie’s stomach rumbled. Reminding, her that she hadn’t eaten since lunch the previous day.

  Graves didn’t join them while they ate. Instead, he went about setting up computers, connecting them to the various security systems of the house to be able to monitor if anyone approached the house.

  Gertie watched him out of the corner of her eye, trying to ascertain why he made her so uncomfortable, but she came up short. Her shade echoed her feelings of distrust, making Gertie feel justified. If a mythical warrior didn’t trust Graves, it had to be a sign that something was off about him.

  That was a problem for a different day, when she wasn’t so tired and achy.

  After eating, she stumbled back to her room, took a quick shower and fell face down on her bed. Almost instantly, she was asleep.

  When Gertie woke, it was to a gentle tapping on her door. She stumbled to the portal and pulled it open, blinking up at Graves.

  “Get dressed.”

  She yawned, leaning heavily against the door. “What?”

  “Get dressed. You’ve slept all day. It’s time to work.” She could see Dicie hovering just down the hall, watching their interaction, ready to intervene if needed. Gertie gave her a curious look, asking for explanation.

  “Graves has some techniques for helping you control your shade.” She explained, nudging him out of the way. “Vail told us that the shade said she would kill him and Liam if you let it out.”

  Gertie nodded, that was true. She suppressed a shudder at the anger that had emanated from the shade in that moment. They were right to be concerned. If the shade got out at any point, then everyone was fair game.

  “I’ll be right out.” She changed out of her sleeping shorts and tank top, and into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Barefoot, she joined them in the living room. Graves was on the far side of the room. He’d laid some blankets on the floor, and pulled pillows off the couch. He motioned her over.

  “Take a seat. Sit in any position that is comfortable, that you think you’ll be able to maintain for a while.” Gertie dropped to the ground and sat cross legged, resting her hands on her knees.

  Graves sat as well, facing her. “We’re seriously going to meditate?” Gertie asked, skeptically. It seemed unlikely that this would help. If he had any idea of the strength of her shade, he would know that taking a few deep breaths wouldn’t resolve the issue.

  Graves pursed his lips, his blue eyes hard. “Yes. This has helped me with my ability over the years. I’m fairly confident that it will help you as well.”

  Her curiosity piqued. She wanted to ask what his ability was. But didn’t. Maybe it was rude to ask an Extra about their abilities? Gertie hadn’t spent enough time to know proper etiquette. Chances are even if she did ask he wouldn’t answer. In all the times they’d interacted he’d made it clear that he didn’t trust her

  “Why are you helping me? You don’t even like me.” She wished she could call the words back as soon as she said them. Her face flamed.

  Graves shook his head, seeming to not mind her frankness. “I don’t know you enough to like or dislike you. I can see you’re struggling with this. And frankly, things will go much smoother for us if you can get the shade under control. We need you to focus on other things.”

  Gertie crossed her arms over her chest. “Like what?”

  “Like sparking a rebellion. You are the ember in the glass, the spark we need to make our fire grow.” Graves said. “Now close your eyes.”

  Hmm, yes, I really don’t trust him.

  Why? Gertie rested her hands on her knees again, closed her eyes dutifully.

  The shade scoffed. Who uses phrases like
that? The ember in the glass. He sounds like a zealot. Beyond that, I can’t get a read on him. I can normally tell what a person’s ability is within the first few moments of meeting them. I can’t figure his out, but I know he has one. And we’ve come into contact with him several times.

  I could just ask him.

  I could just kill him.

  No.

  The voice chuckled.

  “Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Deep breath in. Deep breath out.” Graves’ voice was surprisingly soothing as he guided her through breathing exercises. After a while he stopped guiding her, and Gertie kept up the breathing on her own, the sound of her breath like the ocean moving in and out from the shore. She lost track of time, had no idea how long she sat there not moving except for her breath making her chest rise and fall.

  After a while, Graves murmured. “Go ahead and slowly open your eyes.” She did as he instructed, and found him sitting across from her, a mirror of her position. “How do you feel?”

  Gertie considered, for a moment, listening to the voice in her head. The shade seemed to have gone quiet. Whether from the meditation, or because she was watching Graves, Gertie couldn’t be certain.

  “She’s quieter now, that’s for sure.”

  He nodded. “That’s a good sign. If you keep this up every day, then you’ll be able to keep her under control. Eventually, you’ll be able to let her out and call her back at will.”

  As if I am a dog that should be kept on a leash, the shade hissed.

  Gertie shook her head. “And she’s back.”

  Graves smiled, catching Gertie off guard. His entire face changed, became more open, kinder, as his smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “She’s must be strong willed like you.”

  Gertie returned his smile. “That she is.”

  You should let me out so I can show him just how strong willed I can be.

  No.

  I am meant to protect you. I sense this man is a threat. Let me do my job.

  She sighed again. No, I don’t want you to kill people for the sake of it. We are stuck together and we need to work together. You need to listen to me.

  You need to not be so weak. He. Is. A. Threat.

  Why? Because you don’t know him? Because you can’t figure out his ability? You can’t kill people for perceived wrongs. Until he actually does something to me or someone else, he lives.

  The voice sighed. Fine. But when he does turn on you, I get to say, ‘I told you so.’

  Gertie couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face. Graves was watching her with a curious expression as if he could guess at the conversation that Gertie was having with the shade inside her. A thought occurred to Gertie. What’s your name?

  Pardon?

  Your name? You must have one, right? My ancestors didn’t just call you ‘the shade’ all the time, right?

  The silence stretched between them, to the point that Gertie thought she wouldn’t answer. Then the shade sighed, you may call me Echo.

  42

  Gertie

  Life in the forest house was boring. Not that Gertie was complaining after being kidnapped and tortured, boring was just what she needed.

  She meditated three times a day for the next week, once after each meal. At first Graves joined her, guiding her through the steps, but as he realized that she had the hang of it, he left her on her own. The more she did it, the easier it became.

  Soon, she was able to keep Echo’s voice at bay, blocking her out almost entirely. When she released the hold, the shade was inevitably furious, raging at her about how stupid she was, how unsafe to keep the shade from her. To which Gertie replied if she didn’t like being shut out, perhaps Echo should stop berating her for every small thing.

  The shade grudgingly agreed.

  Vail tried to meditate with her, but wasn’t good at sitting still. He shifted and sighed, distracting her, until she’d finally snapped at him to get away from her. He’d seemed hurt as he rose and left the house to patrol the surrounding area.

  He was doing that a lot, walking a wide circle around the cabin, checking for signs of government guards that would try to snatch her away again. Dicie tried to tell him that there wasn’t any need for him to do that, there were enough cameras stashed in the woods that they would see anyone coming. He couldn’t relax until he’d walked his patrol.

  On the seventh day of meditation practice, when Gertie opened her eyes, she was startled to see a grey misty form in front of her, sitting cross legged hands on her knees. Her long silvery white hair was pulled back in intricate braids that reminded Gertie of artists’ renderings of ancient warriors, and her clothing reflected that same era, black and grey leather hugged the shade’s every curve. Echo tilted her head as she regarded Gertie, her red eyes burning.

  “This seems to be helping,” the shade commented. Echo’s voice wasn’t like it was in her head. In the real world, it was sweeter, more melodic. A sharp contrast to the image that Echo cut in her leather armor.

  Gertie gave a small smile. “Yes, it does.”

  “Your friends seem concerned.” Gertie glanced over her shoulder to where Vail, Dicie and Graves were huddled together, watching them warily.

  “Yes, they do.”

  Echo gave a tinkling laugh. “Perhaps, I should go.”

  Gertie nodded, and Echo seemed to evaporate into a cloud that floated toward her. The grey mist settled over her, enveloping her in cool vapor. Gertie felt Echo sink into her skin, and moments later the mist was gone, but Gertie could feel the familiar presence of the shade in her head.

  Gertie uncrossed her legs and stood, turning to face the three people that were eying her with concern.

  “What?” Gertie asked crossing her arms over her chest. “Is isn’t that we were hoping for? That I would be able to let her out and not have her kill everyone?”

  Vail moved forward, her taking her hand in a warm grip. She felt her stomach flip at his nearness. He’d been strangely distant the last few days, choosing to spend his time in the forest rather than with her. “Yes, that is what we were hoping for, but that didn’t seem… intentional, on your part at least.”

  He was right, she hadn’t intended to let Echo out. She’d been just as surprised as they were. “Well, she didn’t do anything when she was out right? She just sat there. That’s progress, isn’t it?”

  They looked unconvinced, and Gertie shook her head. She supposed she couldn’t blame them. She wasn’t in any danger from Echo, but they couldn’t say the same. The shade had already threatened Graves and Vail.

  “I’ll try to keep her in from now on. Unless its intentional.” She laced her fingers through Vail’s and gave them a squeeze. “If it helps she hasn’t said she wants to kill any of you recently?”

  That elicited a round of uncomfortable laughter. Vail leaned over and pressed a kiss to her temple. Gertie smiled up at him. “Do you want to go for a walk?”

  His eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you should leave the house.”

  She pulled on his arm. “Please? I haven’t been farther than the car for four days, and you’ll be with me to keep me safe.”

  Dicie plopped down on the couch, and clicked on computer screens in front of her. “It looks clear to me, Vail. I don’t see the harm in taking Gertie for a walk.”

  Like you’re a dog that needs to be kept on a leash. Gertie tried to ignore Echo. But couldn’t deny that was how she felt. It seemed that the Office had decided that Gertie was too precious to let out of their sight. She was almost never alone. There were cameras all over the house, ostensibly to watch out for intruders. Gertie couldn’t help but feel it was to keep an eye on her as well, to track her progress as she learned how to handle her new ability.

  After weeks of scrutiny, he should probably be used to it, but she thought that getting out of the city would afford her some amount of freedom.

  She looked back at Vail, who looked at Graves. The blond man shrugged, and Vail sighed. “Okay, but not
far.”

  Gertie squealed, excited by the mere prospect of going outside. She hurried to her room and changed to a pair of jeans and a white long sleeved shirt. Over this she pulled a white and black plaid button up shirt, and an olive green jacket. Lace up brown boots that came to her mid-calf completed the outfit.

  As she stepped into the hall raised voices reached her ears. “She should know,” Dicie was hissing.

  Vail shook his head. “No, absolutely not.”

  Graves was staring at the computer, his eyes narrowed at the screen.

  “Everything okay?” Gertie asked, entering the living room. Vail came toward her, meeting her before she could see what had held their attention on the computers.

  “Yep, everything’s fine.” He guided her toward the door. “Ready to go?”

  “Vail!” Dicie shouted, clenching her fists at her side. Vail went still beside Gertie, his face a mask of rage as he looked at his friend. “She has a right to know.”

  Gertie glanced between the two of them, her brow furrowed, her stomach tying itself in knots. She’d never seen them argue. They always seemed to agree on everything, right down to how they took their coffee. She never liked it when people fought, it made her feel anxious. The fact that she was the apparent source of their contention made her feel doubly so.

  “What should I know?” She took a step away from Vail and toward the bank of computers, feeling dread build in her stomach.

  “It’s nothing.” Vail reached for her as she moved, but she shook him off, continuing until she was looking at the computer and felt her heart stop.

  On the screen was a still image of Liam. He had a cut over his eyebrow, a bruise on his cheek. His jaw was swollen and his bottom lip was split open. He looked as though he hadn’t slept since she’d last seen him, like she had after she’d been kidnapped. Battered and bruised.

  “What is this?” She whispered. No one answered. “What the hell is this?”

  Graves reached out and hit the spacebar on the keyboard and image on the screen started moving. Liam swung his head back and forth. “I won’t do it.” he mumbled. “I won’t do it.”