Echo (The Halo Series Book 2)

by Melody Robinette

  Sixteen

  GRAY

  As Echo moved swiftly away from Arx Isle, Gray sat in the porthole window in his bedroom, watching what had become his temporary home slowly disappear in the distance. He wondered if he would ever have any home that was more than temporary from this point forward. Not that the firehouse back in New York could ever be considered much of a home.

  A light knock sounded on his door followed by a tremulous voice saying, “Can I come in?”

  “Of course.” He turned away from the view out the window to watch Luna push open his bedroom door, sidle inside, and close it just as softly.

  “Hi,” she said when she turned around, biting her lip and holding her left arm in her right hand, plainly uncomfortable.

  “Care to sit in the window with me?” Gray asked with a reassuring smile. “It’s surprisingly relaxing.”

  Luna smiled, seemingly in spite of herself, and took him up on his offer, climbing into the oversized porthole. She folded herself up like an accordion before him, wrapping her arms around her legs and chewing on her lip again.

  “Everything okay?” he asked gently. Where Aurora was all iron and steel, Luna was the delicate petal of a rose, easily crushed and bruised.

  Her blue-grey eyes widened slightly as they connected with his. “Yeah, I just… I guess I’ll be honest and say that I was having a difficult time with your and Aurora’s relationship.”

  What relationship? Gray thought. “Oh,” was all he knew to say before Luna continued.

  “I know you have to spend time with her because she’s your Stellar and you obviously share this really strong connection—”

  “Stellars don’t have to be romantically involved to access their powers,” Gray said, reminding himself rather strongly of Aurora. “Trust me, Luna, Aurora and I are just friends. That’s all…that’s all we’ll ever be.”

  “That’s what Aurora said.”

  Gray grit his teeth together, the muscles in his jaw tightening before saying, “See? You have nothing to worry about.”

  He took one of her delicate hands in his and applied gentle, reassuring pressure, realizing how vastly different the girl before him was from his Stellar. Luna was fragile, yet honest and open. Frail, yet strong in her resolve to care for him. She never shied away from his touch or made him feel like he was a nuisance. She saw him as strong and worthy.

  Maybe Aurora had been right. Maybe their feelings for each other—whatever they were—had only been because they were Stellars and nothing more. What did they have in common other than two fused souls? He realized now how unfair he was being to Luna. Here was this tender creature who cared deeply about him and looked at him like he was the strongest hero in her world, and he’d been completely ignorant of it. Too blinded by the incandescent light that was Aurora Coel.

  He reached for Luna’s other hand so he now held both in his own and fixed her with a serious stare. “I don’t want you ever to feel like you aren’t worth my time, or that Aurora is worth more of it.”

  “I wish I was your Stellar,” Luna whispered.

  Gray pulled her to him then so that they were lying side by side in the porthole. Luna nestled against him and rested her head on his chest. Despite his mixed feelings towards Aurora, he was glad she was his Stellar. They worked well together. They had vastly different strengths and weaknesses that worked in partnership. So, Gray didn’t say anything to Luna’s comment.

  He didn’t like to lie.

  * * *

  The next morning Gray rose with the sun, as he usually did, ambling into the kitchen to make coffee. When he reached the coffee bar, though, he found a fresh pot, already brewed. The sliding door leading to the side deck was open, letting in the cool sea air. Pouring himself a cup of the pungent French roast, he ventured out of the kitchen, onto the deck to find exactly who he’d somehow been expecting to find.

  “Figured you’d be up on your swing,” he said to Aurora, who was cradling her mug in her hands, leaning against the pearlescent railing and gazing out at the vast blue water, no land in sight.

  Aurora turned, the sea wind blowing tendrils of her golden hair across her face. Her hand reached up to smooth them away, and she met him with a warm smile, taking Gray aback—the first thing he usually saw from her was a glower or an eye-roll.

  “I was waiting for you, actually,” she said, revolving to face him, leaning back against the railing now, coffee cup cradled in her hands.

  Gray raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you feeling okay?”

  Aurora chuckled and tilted her head to the side. “Yeah, why?”

  “You’re just not acting like yourself.”

  “What, all dark and stormy and disconnected?” she said. Gray shrugged as if to say: Well, yeah. Aurora smiled almost regretfully. “I guess I decided the fate of the world was more important than brooding about my past.”

  Taking a sip of his coffee, Gray kept his eyes trained on Aurora’s. And, without prior discussion, they initiated their Stellar connection, tethering the illusory rope between them. In his periphery, Gray noticed Aurora’s finger rise to point at a nearby deck chair, indicating she wanted to try to move it.

  “Graduating from coffee cups to deck chairs?” Gray murmured, amusement lacing his words. “That’s a bit of a jump isn’t it?”

  Aurora smirked, but didn’t break eye contact. “Shut up and focus.”

  Gray felt their connection tighten and strengthen as they stretched their awareness to include the chair. It shook violently at first as if resisting them. Then it gave in and began to hover above the deck, a few inches at first, then a foot, then several feet, until it was floating high above their heads.

  “Impressive,” a voice behind Gray spoke, making him lose his fragile focus. The chair came tumbling back down, knocking into a table before coming to rest, upside down on the deck.

  Gray turned to see Chord smirking at them with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. “It’s a little early for soul mate practice, don’t ya think?”

  “Yes, but it’s never too early for badassness practice,” Aurora shot back. “Which is what we are, given the fact that we can make objects move without touching them.”

  “You’re right. I’m just jealous.” Chord looked at the deck chair with a curious expression. “Hmm. You think you two could move me if I sat in the chair?”

  “That depends,” Gray said. “How many sugarclouds have you had this morning?”

  Chord threw his head back in a laugh. “Definitely less than ten.”

  Gray and Aurora agreed to lift Chord if he agreed not to blame them if they accidentally dropped him into the ocean.

  He agreed.

  They cleared a space on the deck so, if he did fall, he’d only land on the hard wood, rather than spearing himself with one of the umbrellas attached to the tables. Chord settled into the chair, and they reestablished their Stellar connection. The more they practiced, the easier and faster it became. Chord’s extra weight made it harder to lift the chair, but after several minutes of tethering their Stellar rope, the chair began to slowly but steadily raise.

  “Oh snap!” Chord exclaimed, clutching at the sides of the chair. “I didn’t think you’d be able to lift my fat ass.”

  Aurora chuckled but kept her connection with Gray.

  “What the hell?” another voice said behind them, followed by several more sets of footsteps.

  In his periphery, Gray recognized Logan and Luna coming to stand at a safe distance to observe the madness before them. Aurora and Gray lifted Chord a few more feet before bringing him slowly back down and settling him safely on the deck floor.

  “Okay, I want a turn,” Logan said. “Hold my coffee, twin.”

  Gray turned to glance at Luna, analyzing her reaction to his Stellar practice. She seemed to be battling between amusement and frustration.

  “How about we lift both of you?” Aurora offered, nodding at Luna.

  “Oh…that’s okay.” A warm blush blossomed on Luna’s ch
eeks as she waved a dismissive hand. “I have to hold Logan’s coffee.”

  “Just put it on the table with the rest. Come on. We won’t drop you,” Aurora assured her with an uncharacteristic smile. “And, if we do, Gray will catch you.”

  Luna’s blush deepened as she looked coyly over at Gray.

  “I will,” he agreed, winking at her. Was it a trick of the morning light or did Aurora’s face tighten slightly at this comment?

  “Here.” Logan settled into the deck chair Chord had just vacated, patting her thighs with both hands. “You can sit on my lap.”

  Luna didn’t seem thrilled with the idea but obliged everyone by gingerly setting the coffee cup down on the table and moving to perch on her sister’s legs. Logan laughed and wrapped her arms around Luna’s midsection as Gray and Aurora restored their connection.

  Even though Logan and Luna’s combined weight was more than Chord’s, Gray and Aurora were somehow able to lift the chair containing the twins more quickly. Luna squeezed her eyes shut as the chair moved upwards and Logan let out a whoop of exhilaration.

  They kept the chair hovering several feet in the air until Logan said, “Okay, yeah, this is boring now, and my legs are falling asleep.”

  Gray and Aurora settled them gently down. Luna looked relieved as she slid off of Logan’s lap. Making an effort to reassure Luna of his affection, Gray broke the connection with Aurora and moved to put his arms around Luna’s waist, kissing her on the cheek. This small act seemed to light her from the inside out as the color crept back into her cheeks.

  “I think that’s enough practice for the day,” Aurora mumbled, sweeping away from the railing against which she’d been leaning, swiping her somehow-still-steaming-hot coffee off the table, and disappearing up the stairs that led to an upper deck.

  “Ope. Too much socializing for that one.” Logan nodded at Aurora’s retreating figure with a chuckle as she sipped at her coffee. “Gotta go up to the seclusion swing.”

  “Better that than a sex swing,” Chord said with a deadpan face.

  The others were silent a moment before a chorus of laughter erupted around their staggered circle, making Gray appreciate Chord’s inappropriate weirdness.

  He was almost selfishly ready for the impending battles and action to happen so he could get his thoughts on something other than two blondes with powers far more dangerous than any demon’s.

  Seventeen

  CHORD

  If you’re a tourist—or any traveler for that matter—you’ll likely have to take some sort of ground transportation to get to London from the sea. If you’re a Halo on a magical angel boat, however, you’ll wake up in the early morning on the River Thames with Big Ben staring at you out of your porthole window.

  A fluttering in the regions of Chord’s stomach made him rise from his bed and dress, all while keeping an eye on the view outside. Sev’s home. The last time he’d tried to talk to the tall, dark, and handsome Brit—the night Sev found out about his parents’ deaths—he’d gotten nowhere at all. Sev’s eyes had remained trained on a spot on the wall, and he hadn’t responded to any of Chord’s questions or soothing remarks. It was like he’d been a robot on autopilot, oblivious to any annoying humans trying to console him.

  But now, against Chord’s better judgment, he decided to try again.

  He knocked timidly on Sev’s door. “Hey… Can I come in?”

  A grunt, followed by an indistinct murmur was the only reply.

  Chord slid the door open to find Sev dressed in a dark gray suit standing board-straight before his window, his arms locked by his sides.

  “Hey,” Chord repeated lamely. “How’re you doing?”

  “I’m fine.” Sev’s voice had that robotic quality to it again. Chord wondered when he was going to let himself break.

  “I see.” Chord almost regretted coming in here. He was clearly not welcome. “So, uh, where are we going today?”

  Sev didn’t turn from the window. “The funeral will be at 2 pm in St. Albans, the village where my parents live—” He stiffened all over and cleared his throat. “Where they lived, that is. It’s about an hour’s drive from here. When we step off this boat, it will be only a day or so later than when I left for Etheria, in human time. So, I shouldn’t have any suspicions from family members to deal with. I’ve lost contact with most of them as it is. Should be an easy trip. But I will be the only one attending the funeral, so you all can explore the city while I’m away. It shouldn’t take long.”

  Chord’s brow furrowed. “Wait. You’re going to your parents’ funeral alone?”

  “Of course,” Sev said as if this should be obvious. “They were my parents, after all. None of you knew them.”

  “Yes, but we know you,” Chord said incredulously. “We want to be there for you—for support.”

  “That is rather thoughtful of you, but I will be fine on my own.”

  Chord nodded, knowing full well Sev couldn’t see this, and left his room without another word, heading to the kitchen to drown himself in caffeine—maybe with a splash of alcohol. All of the others were already up, sitting outside on the deck, drinking coffee and looking out at the London scene before them.

  Brielle shook her head in awe. “Can you believe we got here so quickly?”

  “Is it inappropriate to wear stiletto boots to a funeral?” Logan mused. “I mean, they’re black, but—”

  “No one’s going to the funeral,” Chord interrupted from the doorway, nursing a steaming cup of coffee.

  The others turned to look at him in surprise.

  “What do you mean?” Gray asked, leaning his head back to see Chord because Luna was sitting on the same chair as him, like an overly-attached pet dog.

  Chord shrugged. “I just talked to him. He said he didn’t want any of us to go, and that none of us knew his parents, so it isn’t necessary.”

  “We weren’t going because we knew them,” Logan said, unknowingly mimicking Chord’s earlier words. “We were going to support Sev.”

  “That’s what I told him. He still wants to go alone.”

  The others fell silent, exchanging uncomfortable glances. Chord realized the only person he really wanted to talk to about this wasn’t among the group. “Where’s Aurora?” he asked.

  Logan snorted. “Where do you think?”

  Chord left the others and traveled up the stairs that led to the regular-sized wooden swing-set Aurora couldn’t seem to leave. Though he was usually a social butterfly, right now he understood how a person could want to cut off all human distractions. But here he was bothering her anyway.

  Oh, what the hell, he needed to talk to someone as pessimistic about the world as he was.

  “Hey,” he said with a sigh, sinking onto the other swing.

  Aurora afforded him a small smile before returning her gaze to the surrounding city. “When’s the funeral?”

  “Doesn't matter. None of us are going.”

  Aurora sent him a side-eyed look of surprise. “Why not?”

  “Sev said none of us knew his family, so there was no point in anyone else going. Bastard.”

  “You don’t think he was just saying that?”

  Snorting humorlessly, Chord said, “When Sev says something, that’s what he means. He doesn’t play verbal games like you and me. He doesn’t have hidden meanings in his words. When he says he doesn’t want us to come, he means it.”

  “He actually said he doesn’t want us to come?”

  Chord frowned, trying to remember the conversation exactly. “Well, maybe it was more like him saying he was the only one going and there was no need for us to come. All clinical and cold like that.”

  “He’s probably just numb right now.” Aurora paused to take another sip of her coffee. “But you know you have to go.”

  Chord shot her a dubious look. “I’m not going. He doesn’t want me to. Why would I do that?”

  “Because you have to.” Aurora turned her swing to face him so the silver chains twisted i
nto an X above her. “This isn’t the time to play love games, Chord. I know you want to—trust me I know. But Sev needs you today, no matter what he says otherwise. He needs you.”

  Chord processed this, before slowly standing. “I hate you.”

  “Many people do.”

  He wasn’t lying. He hated Aurora. Well, maybe not her specifically. He hated what she’d said. He hated that she was right. So, grudgingly, he went down to his room, took a shower, put on a damned suit, and waited until he saw Sev leave the boat so he could stalk after him.

  Sev flagged a cab and Chord sped up to a jog, sweating beneath his suit despite the chill of the London air. As Sev settled into the back seat, Chord broke into a sprint, nearly slamming into the vehicle as it was about to pull away from the curb.

  Cursing under his breath, Sev looked wildly out the window before he opened the door and stood to face him. “Chord? What are you doing?”

  Clutching at a stitch in his side, Chord spoke between his breaths. “You didn’t think—I was going to—let you—go alone, did you?” He took a deep gulp of air and shook his head. “Jeez. You’d think with all that Halo training; I’d be more in shape.”

  Sev shot an uneasy glance back at the cab driver who was apparently oblivious to what had just been said before turning back to face Chord. “I told you there was no need for any of you to go to the funeral.”

  “When have you known me to listen to you? Move over. I’m coming with you.”

  Sev clenched his jaw but didn’t fight Chord any further, ducking back into the cab and sliding across the back seat so Chord could climb in.

  “All right?” the cabbie asked.

  Sev gave his reply, and the cab pulled onto the bustling London street.

  “Why didn’t you want to take the tube?” Chord asked Sev after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence.