Midnight Runes (The Bestowed Ones)

by Celeste Buie

  I waited until it was clear he wasn’t going to add any other confessions. “And just how long did you plan to keep your motive from me?”

  “As long as I was restricted to.”

  “You were going to fess up? Please.”

  “I was,” he said. He actually had the nerve to look insulted. “There’s not good timing for that sort of thing, and everything’s still a mess.”

  “How did you think that revelation was going to go?”

  “Different than this.”

  He was distracting me from asking about the real reason behind all of this.

  “Why were you assigned to me and who did the assigning?” Then another thought came. “How long have you been around?”

  “Pick. One.”

  I wanted answers to every question. But in this moment, one was more important than the other, and it had the potential to expose more information. “Why?”

  “Your family has a history of belonging to the Bestowed Ones. It’s a group that…possesses…certain skills. These abilities were bestowed to our ancestors and are passed down to each generation. As with any society, they make their own rules, and there are trade-offs to belonging. Where you’re concerned, it ended with your great-great-grandfather on your father’s side. Same with Trevor.” He met my eyes. “Recently, however, we discovered that new generations of the old lines are being pulled into the group. These newcomers did not seek us out on their own. Someone is approaching them and pulling them in.”

  “That’s what happened to Trevor? He was pulled in against his will? To you?” I felt a powerful chill go through me. “To me too?”

  “It’s what happened to Trevor. I’m a different classification. My family’s been in it since the beginning. The group has changed over the years, and the way it’s run now is that we pretty much work for whoever’s in charge of the local group. He or she calls the shots. I was sent here to investigate and monitor the extent of the breach…and prevent it from happening again.”

  “How can you tell me this now when earlier you insinuated you were limited to what you could say?”

  “It’s been a busy few hours. Plus…look around.” Everyone around us was frozen in place. My eyes landed on the couple across from us in mid-laugh, a waitress delivering a tray, and a man at the counter reaching for his wallet. They were captured in the essence of the moment.

  “Trevor paused time when your disagreement escalated. He provided an opportunity, so I took it. Speaking of which, I’ll bring him back but we have to leave.” I crossed my arms. “Unless you’d rather stay and make a mockery of my efforts thus far.”

  I looked toward the ceiling. “You can disappear me too.”

  “Some other time. Your car’s out front and we can’t leave it here. How would you get to school tomorrow?” he teased.

  He blinked out of existence and came back with Trevor. Not having a car wasn’t an issue. He could get me anywhere in three seconds.

  “Just wait until I have something over you,” Trevor said under his breath. He was livid.

  “Keep dreaming,” Landon said to him, and the look he gave me said it was time to go.

  I scooted to the edge of the booth and looked back to Trevor. “How do you do this?” I asked and glanced around.

  “We’re freaks of nature, what can I say?” he answered bitterly. His features softened a bit and he shrugged. “I just think it and it happens. Used to be I could only freeze one object, but it’s grown. Whenever someone asks, ‘Where has the time gone?’ the answer is: I took it. And now I return it.” Life around us began again.

  CHAPTER 36

  Landon and I went to my car. I put the key in the ignition but didn’t start it. I needed a minute. I was…it was hard to find a word to describe all that I felt. Thoughts about Trevor, Landon, myself, our secret family histories, and our ancestors’ choices swirled together. Each new thought joined the rest, until I was just a swirling mass of emotions.

  “They’re quick,” Landon said. I looked up and followed his gaze. Trevor stepped out of the restaurant, searched the lot, and headed toward a blacked-out SUV. He opened a back door and disappeared inside. The vehicle backed out of its space and melted into traffic.

  “Is he in trouble?” I asked softly. I couldn’t do anything about it, but I had to know.

  “Minor. He completes orders in his own time. Which is leisurely.”

  “That’s what they get for forcing people into this who don’t want to be. Besides, we can’t all get to places just by thinking them.”

  He laughed under his breath. “It’s not so much forced upon us. It’s an offer that’s hard to refuse. Money, access to power. If refused, the memory of the offer is erased. There are implied threats to yourself, your family. Usually the money and cool abilities are enough of a decision-maker.”

  A lump appeared in my throat. “It’s inevitable for me?” It was a question I didn’t want to think, let alone vocalize. Maybe all this heartbreak and secrecy was pointless in the end.

  “That’s not a question I can answer. You’re in a unique situation because you’re aware of it before anything official happens.”

  That felt like a yes that reinforced Cassandra’s message. Why would she encourage me to grow into my ability if there wasn’t a purpose behind it? I wouldn’t cry about this. Maybe it was grim acceptance holding me together.

  “Would they really have taken me with them?”

  “Without a doubt. And they’d be extra upset with Trevor for lying about knowing you.”

  He slipped his hand into mine. I let his comfort wash over me. I spent the next few minutes in quiet reflection. I didn’t know what this meant for me, or the effect it would have on my life or for the future I thought I’d get to choose.

  “I’d like you to take me somewhere like you did Trevor. Only not leave me there.”

  We stared at each other in a charged silence. His eyes were bright with emotion. I wondered how long he’d been around to hear Trevor and me before materializing. There was a chance he heard my confession. I couldn’t ask.

  “I did when you were drowning in the river.”

  I blinked, realizing this was the first time he’d volunteered an important piece of information. It was straightforward, too. I didn’t have to read between the lines.

  “That’s how you got me out?”

  He nodded. “That’s how I found you, got us out of the water, and to a place they could find us.”

  Emotion swelled within me. The car’s confining space multiplied everything I felt for him. It was nearly too much. I couldn’t believe the change in direction of the day. I had just planned to catch up with Trevor over coffee. Now I knew some of what I’d been searching for—and more than what I’d bargained for. I let go of his hand and started the car. I drove us to my house without thinking too much about it. His quietness was the opposite of comfort.

  “Why are we being weird about this? It shouldn’t be weird,” I said.

  “I’m picking up the weirdness from you.”

  “Well I’m picking it up from you.”

  We lapsed into silence again.

  “This is entirely new territory for me,” he admitted. “I’ve never talked about this with an outsider before.” I heard a small smile in his voice.

  “I’m not really an outsider,” I said bitterly.

  “No, but you should be. You shouldn’t know anything about this.”

  “Well, that’s not my choice anymore, is it?”

  “It’s not even supposed to be a choice you have to make. The area leader’s not honoring the laws and agreements established long ago. Once a family’s out, they’re supposed to stay out.”

  “He knows about me,” I stated.

  “Yes.”

  “I figured the trench coat guy was him.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry about him right away. He’s preoccupied with some illegal stuff he did.” The silence stretched. “I read your paper before the class discussion and though
t it was amusing you wrote about ghosts. No one has ever sensed I was there. How did you?”

  I shrugged. “I suddenly had this overwhelming feeling that I wasn’t alone. The more attention I paid, the more I was aware of it. I’ve sensed you before, like I mentioned after I met with Cassandra, but the night I talked to myself was the strongest I’ve felt it. It’s like the more I’m around you, the stronger it gets.”

  “Cassandra’s a liaison for the group. We all know her. Maybe it’s because you traveled with me that way, and that allowed you to tune into me more.” There were deep emotions smoldering underneath the surface.

  I heard my breath catch. “Why didn’t you respond?”

  “I thought suddenly materializing in your room wasn’t the best thing to do.”

  “But it’s alright to watch me without my knowledge?” I playfully challenged. I should have been more upset about that fact than I was.

  I pulled into the garage and turned off the car. Neither of us moved.

  “Just call it what it is. Spying on you came in handy. It was the only way I could be around you before you broke the repelling runes. There are very few people who can, by the way. After that, I could enroll in school.” He seemed somewhat reluctant. “I felt a compulsion to know more about you.” He met my eyes then. “You’re more understanding than I’d thought you’d be.”

  I shrugged. “You’re forgetting that I’ve sort of known for a few days.”

  “May I take you in the house?” I held my breath as he reached over and touched my arm.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  The next instant, we sat at the kitchen table. He dropped our connection and suddenly materialized across the table from me.

  “That’s incredible.” I leaned back in the chair for support. “Will you show me how you can spy on me?”

  He held out his hands, palms up…an open invitation. I stood, walked over to him, and place my hands in his.

  “All I have to do is wish to not be seen, or I think of a person and I can be with them. If it’s a place, I can go there. I want to be with you, so I’ll stay here.” He smirked.

  His image began to fade as he disappeared. I still felt his warm hands around mine. I didn’t know how I knew where he was. I looked into the vacant space where he stood, but I could detect him with that weird part of my brain. My hands were given a little squeeze, and he let go. I closed my eyes and could feel his presence, just as strong as if he was visible. I could even feel him change position as he moved to my side.

  I turned so I was facing him. “This is amazing,” I said full of awe. “I sense you more than ever.” I felt him gently take hold of my hands and he materialized. We stood that way, assessing each other.

  “I guess there’s no more sneaking up on you,” he said.

  “You could always try,” I teased, then I turned serious. “Thank you for telling me.”

  His eyes softened, and he gave a relaxed smile. “It’s one thing less to hide.”

  “It explains a lot,” I said, my mind trying to process too much information. Awareness came in bits and pieces, and I struggled to put it together. “Wait, when you said it came in handy…you spying on me…what exactly did you refer to?”

  “The concert.”

  My eyes widened.

  “I checked in every so often—I like that band, Elyse has good taste—but you were holding a grudge. I wasn’t convinced that guy would leave you alone. Then the concert ended and you two started leaving, and I figured I was overreacting. I just wanted to check one last time to make sure you made it to your car, but I found you in that room instead. I almost materialized right then and disappeared him to Antarctica.”

  “Maybe part of me knew without knowing, if that makes sense.”

  “Maybe that’s another one of your—”

  I clutched his hands, cutting him off midsentence when I heard the garage door open. “Shoot! I forgot my mom might be home early today! My parents seem to like you, but it’s probably not a good idea for you to be here since we’re not doing homework,” I said, flustered and annoyed at the interruption. “I think my bag’s still in my car.”

  “I can disappear in a second.”

  “I don’t want you to go. There’s so much I want to know!” Why couldn’t I ever finish an interesting conversation?

  “Later today, if you can get away. Maybe the library? Let me know.” He smiled, then vanished as I heard the deadbolt click to unlock.

  That was really convenient.

  “Hey, Brynn,” my mom greeted as she opened the door to the house.

  “Hey, Mom!” I said a little too enthusiastically, stress tightening my throat.

  She gave me a puzzled look. “Did I startle you?”

  “I guess I was just a little preoccupied. Have a good day at work?”

  “Yes. It was a stressful day, though. Didn’t finish everything, either. I’m going to work a bit from home and finish up this spreadsheet that’s due tomorrow.” She dropped her purse and tote by the door and took off her heels, rubbing her feet as she did. “What are you up to?”

  “Just going to reheat leftovers and maybe head to the library in a bit. Do you want me to make you a plate? What about Dad?”

  “Oh, that would be great. Your dad’s going to be late, and it would be nice to eat together. Thank you.” She went upstairs to change, and I took advantage of the privacy to send Landon a text. My bag materialized on the island. I couldn’t suppress a smile.

  I put some of last night’s chicken potpie into a pan. While it warmed, I collected plates and utensils, then divided the contents of the pan onto our plates.

  Dinner seemed to take forever, which I realized was only because I was trying not to appear too eager to leave. I inconspicuously glanced at the clock every minute.

  “This tastes even better the next day,” my mom said as she pointed to her plate with her fork. “How was school today?”

  “It was pretty good. Most of the day flew by, but some of the classes dragged.”

  “At least the whole day didn’t drag like they sometimes do. I’m going to leave a bit earlier for my aerobics class tonight because it’s bring-a-friend night and Susan wants to check it out. I told her I’d pick her up. And before that happens, I’ve got to work a bit.”

  I helped gather the dishes and load the dishwasher. I decided to make my lunch for tomorrow and get that out of the way, just in case I seemed in a rush to leave the house.

  I grabbed my backpack and left to meet Landon at the library. He texted that he had signed out one of the conference rooms in the back.

  CHAPTER 37

  I dropped my bag on the table and sat across from him, wondering where to start the conversation again.

  “It must feel like you keep a big part of you hidden away,” I said.

  “Only when I’m around members of the general population.”

  “Is it only specific people who have special abilities?”

  “To the extent of what I or Trevor can do, yes. But we believe that every person has a potential for greatness that can be reached with practice. Concert pianists, surgeons, Olympic athletes, et cetera. Specifically with the Bestowed Ones, our ancestors were given their gifts under dire, tragic circumstances during the Battle of Mackinac Island in 1812. The battle was avoided in the end, but it was the threat of unjustly dying as bystanders and their unfaltering prayer to the Source that allowed the Source to bestow gifts onto them so they could help themselves. I suppose their individual prayers differed, since they displayed varying abilities.”

  “What ability do I have?” I asked.

  “You are definitely very headstrong.” He watched me frown and quickly added, “That’s not always a negative thing. Being persistent and determined will help you accomplish anything you desire. I don’t know if I want that as your super power, though.”

  “In that case, I’d like you to take me somewhere.”

  He caught my enthusiasm, and his eyes brightened. “Where is it y
ou wish to go?”

  “Nowhere far…maybe the beach in Tawas City? It’s right here.” I held out my left hand to represent the state of Michigan and pointed to a spot on my index finger just above where my thumb reached. It was nice enough out for a fall day, even if it was dusk.

  “I can take you anywhere in the world, and this is what you pick?” he teased.

  “It’s pretty there,” I justified. “And I’ll make you a list.”

  He laughed. “Make it. Although you might not like traveling this way over a long distance. You might change your mind,” he challenged.

  “It didn’t feel weird before,” I said, but he had placed a bit of doubt in my mind. Would it hurt? Would it make me nauseous? Maybe the experience changes the more you do it.

  “Don’t second-guess yourself. I was teasing. It’s a seamless transition.” He held out his hands the same way he did earlier. I reached to meet him halfway and placed mine in his. “Ready?”

  I gave a quick nod, not trusting my voice. The more time I had to think about this, the more nervous I was getting. I was holding my breath as it was and trying not to flinch from how it was going to make me feel.

  “You can open your eyes now,” he said.

  I slowly opened one eye, then opened the other. I felt my shoulders relax when the realization set in that we were no longer standing in the small conference room. I spun around to take it all in. We stood on a small sandy piece of shoreline that stretched along Lake Huron.

  It didn’t hurt at all. The air in my lungs wasn’t sucked out. It didn’t seem like all my limbs had been disjointed and put back together, or that my cells separated momentarily. I felt normal…no queasiness. I had all my arms and legs, and they were all where they should be.

  “Yes, you’re in one piece.”

  “I’m just checking for side-effects. I’m shocked at how instantaneous that was. Is it always so fast?”

  “Depends on how many people I take and how far the distance. But, yeah, pretty much.”

  “Wow.” Okay, I wasn’t at my most articulate. I was amazed and thrilled, surprised and humbled, full of awe and wonder. “This is one of the coolest things ever.”