by Jan Harman
“To becoming the warden. I thought your aunt had made that much clear.”
Trent took up a perch on the arm of my chair. “Her aunt hasn’t explained anything yet.” He smiled at me. “There is nothing to be scared of. Joining minds is really quite incredible.”
“Joining minds?” I said over the faint drumming of my pulse in my ears. Surely I’d misunderstood? They didn’t honestly believe it was possible.
“Joining is a necessary first step towards a full range call. Of course this presumes you’ve the ability,” Mr. Cassidy said, leaning closer, his nose practically touching mine as he stared at me with fevered eagerness that reminded me of a dog that had treed its quarry.
“I should phone Aunt Claire. She’ll be getting worried,” I interrupted in a strained voice. Trent’s hold on my shoulder tightened. My first thought was that he meant to restrain me. Get a grip. This was Trent after all, not the villain in a scary movie.
“Helena, join with Olivia,” Mr. Cassidy ordered, motioning forward the woman who’d been waiting in the corner of the room near a floor to ceiling bookcase. “Don’t be skittish, Olivia. This is important. Would you doom a race for your childish notions? Daniel was brave, would you be less? Hold out your hands.”
Air whooshed out of my lungs. I’d been so busy not panicking that I hadn’t heard Helena’s shoes tapping across the wood flooring when she’d returned to the room. She glided closer. I tucked my hands together against my stomach. The furnace kicked on, blasting the potent scent of cinnamon from the bundles on the hearth down into my face. It was as though this house, like its owners, sought to overpower.
“The girl has regrettably inherited her aunt’s constitution. We need to try before she hyperventilates. Helena, you’ll have to relax Olivia first,” Mr. Cassidy ordered.
Warm, vibrating fingers drifted across my scalp and down to my forehead where they drew light circles. I tried to lean out of the way. Trent’s left hand pressed against the side of my head, pulling me in tight against his body. Helena’s hand moved to the base of my neck. I felt a sharp pinch. An electric charge flashed the length of my body, clenching muscles tight.
“Olivia, don’t struggle or you’ll hurt yourself. Do not move.” Her breath pushed against my ear and her voice seemed inordinately loud like it was banging around inside my skull. She laid her warm palm against my brow, giving her instructions a moment before speaking. “Elder Cassidy, she is prepared, but be warned. She is quite worked up, and I’ve not the skill to hold her in this state.”
Unable to speak, I tried to plead with my eyes, but wispy, white swirls blurred the edges of her irises. Warm vibrating fingers picked up my right hand.
“Helena, step away,” an enraged voice swept across the room, scattering the picture of Danny onto the floor and plastering the newspapers against the fireplace grate.
“Shade, this doesn’t involve you. Get out of my home!” Mr. Cassidy yelled, shoving back away from me so hard that he knocked his chair over.
In a blink, Shade was standing next to Mr. Cassidy, towering over him. “You’ve gone too far.”
“I’m within my rights to issue a test.”
“Not on Olivia. I’m taking her home. Don’t interfere.”
Trent jumped to his feet. “Don’t threaten my dad.”
Mr. Cassidy held out his hand to silence his son. “Tread carefully, Diamond Viber. Obstructing an elder performing council business is a serious charge.”
“Elder Cassidy, you will discover—should you choose to pursue any recourse—that I’m acting on behalf of Claire Pepperdine, Olivia’s legal guardian. Clan Pepperdine will guide Olivia as is our right. While you may control much of the council’s agenda, in this matter, the Pact is quite clear.”
I very much wanted to shove past Mr. Cassidy and make a run for the door, but my body refused to obey. Unvoiced screams rolled through my mind, shoving me closer to the brink. A startled gasp from the door broke the stalemate and thankfully silenced the screams.
“What is going on here?” Trent’s mother cried out.
“Good evening, Mrs. Cassidy,” Shade said as if he was an invited guest, though he didn’t turn to look at her. “I’m sorry for the interruption, but Olivia’s clan wishes to speak with her. I was sent to collect her, immediately.”
Mr. Cassidy crossed his arms in front of his barrel shaped chest. His nostrils flared and his head tipped back to meet Shade’s icy gaze. “This matter isn’t finished. I will convene the council. You can’t hide her away. We’ve a right to establish her gift for the good of the many.”
“Olivia’s clan will report to the council in due time. That will have to satisfy the lot of you,” Shade warned, not bothering to hide the disgust in his voice.
“You’re not just going to let Shade come in here and make demands? Hey, stay away from Olivia. She’s staying for dinner,” Trent shouted, shoving Shade back a step.
“Trent, get behind me,” Mr. Cassidy ordered, holding out his hands to keep Shade away. “Calm yourself, Shade. I don’t want a scene in my home. You don’t want to be responsible for frightening poor Olivia and setting back her recovery.”
By his tone, it was obvious he expected things to escalate. But Shade was just standing there silently staring him down. My jaw muscles refused to allow me to speak, to defend Shade.
After a warning look from his father, Trent shifted to the side, allowing just enough space to force Shade to step carefully between elder and son.
A gentle hand swept my hair behind my ears. “How are you doing?” Shade asked.
I stared into frothing seas, blinking furiously to convey my dilemma. Finally, I managed a throaty cry.
The strange white bands in Shade’s eyes undulated. “You dared to restrain her!” His voice boomed. The bands shattered. Churning seas thrust white blocks upward, forming a towering ice flow. His left hand splayed across the back of my neck. “Olivia, relax,” he said, drawing out each syllable so they corresponded with tingling sensations radiating down my spine. Warmth massaged my body, relaxing frozen muscles. I sagged and was caught up in his arms.
He stepped over to Mr. Cassidy, almost knocking Trent down as we swept past. “Claire Pepperdine and her clan will learn of this breach.”
“No slight was intended. Do you honestly believe I’d put Olivia at risk? It was merely my intent to alleviate her anxiety with a simple demonstration. The overreaction was yours. Charging in here solidifies her fears. It’s obvious to me that the girl, like her aunt, is easily upset. Can’t you see by keeping Olivia from the valley that Ethan has ruined her for us?”
Mr. Cassidy paused long enough to retrieve my crutch off the floor and place it in my hand. “Shade, don’t leave yet. See how your presence has calmed her over strung nerves? Work with us here, so the valley’s anxiety can be eased. At least convince Claire to bring Olivia in front of the council before someone loses patience and makes an attempt on their own, an unmonitored attempt that might harm our young heir,” he said, sounding less and less threatening, and more like the concerned, reasonable elder gently correcting someone less enlightened.
Had I overreacted? It hadn’t felt like it. Unfortunately, there might be some truth behind his carefully chosen words. I was afraid Shade would see it that way. I shivered despite the heat radiating off his body.
“Olivia, dear,” Mr. Cassidy said with just the right touch of regret and sincerity in his voice. “Please accept my humble apology. All we are guilty of is an overzealous desire to help. It has pained me to stand idly by while my old friend Ethan’s only daughter has been so distraught. My family only had your best interest and the interest of all the clans at heart. It was never our intention to cause you a single moment of fright.” He held out an entreating hand that he quickly dropped to his side when crystals began to churn again in Shade’s frigid seas.
Shade didn’t wait for my response. Rooms and furniture streaked by. Before I knew it, we were at the front door with Helena tucking my coat about my s
houlders.
“My clan thanks you, Helena,” Shade said in a low voice that wouldn’t carry.
“I abide by clan rights. In the future, I suggest you do a better job with your charge. I will go only so far. I have my job to consider. Elder Cassidy is correct. Voices are churning and in need of direction. The longer this matter goes on the greater the likelihood of someone connecting out of desperation. Protect our heir. Take care, miss,” Helena said and then she kissed my cheek.
“I ran here, Olivia. We must leave the same way. Brace yourself,” Shade warned, scooping me up so I was cradled in his arms.
I gasped as we shot forward in an explosion of speed. I listened for the sound of his footsteps over the rushing air. Sticks and snow crunched softly. The dark features of the forest blurred into a massive black shadow as the sun began to dip below craggy peaks. Beneath my ear, his heart beat smooth and even as though he wasn’t exerting himself.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said.
“I’m not,” I replied. “Actually, it’s exhilarating traveling like the wind.”
He shook his head and kicked his speed into overdrive. “You must be in shock. I’ll have you home in a couple minutes where you can be safe and warm.”
“But you’re warm,” I argued, smiling into his chest. “But I’m not so sure about the safe part. Maybe we should’ve stuck to the road. It would be nice to make out a branch or a boulder before we smash into it. Just so I can brace myself for the impact.”
“I train on these trails, and for the record, I do not smash into things,” he answered, sounding very sure of himself. “I can see well enough for the both of us.”
A minute or so later, I heard the steady pounding of pavement beneath his boots, leading me full throttle towards that upending future. Deep breaths were no use. “Slow down.”
He sighed exasperatedly. “Why must you be difficult?”
The crisp air that stung my cheeks eased off. At the rate we were going, we’d be turning off my lane in another breath or two. “I’d like to walk down the drive if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind.” He turned effortlessly onto the drive without slowing.
“Put me down.”
He growled but slowed just a hair as we came around the curve.
“Put me down,” I repeated, watching his face illuminated by our recently repaired yard light. Brows dipped sharply, lips clenched, and a muscle in his jaw pulsed. “Now!” I shouted. Nestled securely in his firm grip, I felt his body jerk as though he’d been snagged by an unseen wire. Fingers dug into my skin. Arms thrust me against his rock, hard muscles, smushing my face into his chest. I felt a deep rumble beneath my ear.
“Don’t ever do that again,” he said in a steely voice that shook with anger.
Comprehension sunk in. “You had to stop. I’m right, aren’t I? I ordered you to stop and you had to?” I touched his taut jaw, stubble moved beneath my fingers. “Did I hurt you?”
“Livi, you’ve much to learn about dual obligations. Yes, I’m duty bound to obey your orders. Unless, I determine that in doing so, I place your life and health at greater risk. The final judgment is mine.” He paused, taking a deep breath that he let out slowly, easing the tension across his furrowed brow. “Any discomfort I may have experienced is my fault. I could’ve slowed down more first.”
“Why didn’t you? I don’t want you to be hurt for me. This is crazy.” He put a finger over my lips to still my words.
“Never say crazy in my presence. I chose to stop abruptly to demonstrate my allegiance whether or not you understood my actions. It’s good that you’ve made the connection. It shows that you’re able to appreciate our differences without panicking.”
Was that a smile I detected? No more than a flicker. “I don’t want people following my orders,” I said.
“You have no choice. Inherited obligations, remember?”
“But I don’t want this. I’m only in high school. Surely one of the elders . . .” Mr. Cassidy’s avid face swam before my eyes. A warm puff of air glided across my cheek.
“All is well. Your clan stands at your side,” Shade said reassuringly.
A sense of security washed over me. He started walking towards the house at a normal person’s pace.
“Hold on.”
We stopped.
“Could we discuss this inside, out of the weather?” he asked.
“You did that to me. That warm breath, what you said, and the way you said it. You made me relax.” I pushed back away from his chest and glared up at him. “You manipulated me. You’ve done it before.”
“Yes.”
“Is that all you’re going to say?”
“Everything I do is for your wellbeing.”
“How convenient to have something to hide behind just to get your way.” I frowned and jabbed a finger against his chest. “I order you not to do it to me anymore.”
“As I said, I make the final determination as to what is best for your wellbeing. Your aunt is at the window. We should go inside.”
“Don’t think this is the end of this.”
“With you, I don’t take anything for granted.”
In a rush of air, we were on the porch and through the front door.
Aunt Claire spun away from the window. “Olivia? Shade? What’s going on? Where’s Trent?”
“Trent took Olivia home for a visit with his parents,” Shade said, sounding angry again. “Elder Cassidy decided to test Olivia.”
“What?” Aunt Claire gasped. “Olivia, are you alright?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? If Shade hadn’t shown up, Mr. Cassidy was going to have Helena force me to touch her mind.” It wasn’t possible. But then, neither was practically flying across the ground on footsteps as light as air. I drew a sharp breath, stepping quickly towards the stairs now that Shade had set me down. “All these secrets, just how many more are there? Were you ever going to tell me Danny was here? People are looking to me to replace him like I know all about Whisperers and pacts.” I backed up until my heel touched the bottom step.
“I see that you’re upset,” Aunt Claire’s said, keeping her voice low and understanding. “Let’s sit down and discuss what happened today.”
“It comes down to either it’s real or it’s not. I’m crazy or I’m not.” I saw Shade stiffen and scowl, but he remained silent, staring at my aunt. “All this time I thought I’d gone mad. Maybe if you hadn’t been so busy hiding away from this life and if Dad hadn’t been so afraid of losing another child, I wouldn’t have been so convinced. If only you’d trusted me with the truth,” I accused. I gulped in a breath of air, thinking of the psychiatrists and my pills. “I’ve been carrying this around all these months!”
“What are you saying? What would possibly make you so certain that you were . . . crazy?” My aunt stumbled over the word.
Under duress, my brain had substituted the long, flowing limbs for something real that made sense in the confusion and pain of the accident. Then later, in therapy sessions, I’d completed the rationalization process, stuffing the memory out of reach just to appear sane during the day. The cost had been an endless stream of horrific nightmares of a shadowy figure with empty eyes and a murmuring, silky voice. The ugly truth tumbled out in a rush of images.
I tripped up the first step. “That night . . . disjointed tree limbs wafted and drifted like an apparition through the broken windshield. Dad’s desperate pleading. Only it wasn’t to a person.” I stared straight at Shade. “It was a Whisperer. Branches, no,” I shook my head, “ghostly hands were on my face. Dad tried to push him off of me.” I hugged my arms across my body squeezing hard. “It wasn’t my concussion, or the lighting, or shock or my sanity was it?” I cried out, pleading for answers that were anything but this truth, this twisted reality.
I scrambled unsteadily, backward up three more steps, my eyes never leaving Shade’s. “I thought the clans were peaceful. My father, he was the last warden. One of your people killed him.”
“A Whisperer would never kill your father. Olivia, calm down,” Aunt Claire begged. Shade started forward. She grabbed his arm. “She’s hysterical. This is too much for her. You should leave. I’ll call Dr. Long. He can give her something to calm her down.”
Quite gently he took her hand off his arm, and though he could’ve rushed me, he took each step slowly with his hands out ready to catch me should I slip. “I swear I would never harm you nor would the folks of your clan. We’re as loyal as the day the Pact was first signed.” He paused and turned sideways on the step, bands spiraled in his eyes as he looked from my aunt back to me. “If you say a Whisper was involved, then I believe you.”
“Because obligation makes you agree with me?” I asked, holding my breath.
“No.”
“The evidence is inconclusive,” Aunt Claire argued. “She was in a coma.”
Shade held up a ghostly hand. “Don’t hide from the truth based on Olivia’s nightmares or her difficulties in coping. Now that she is aware of the true nature of the valley, we’ve the means to confirm her description of that night.”
“But a Whisperer?” she choked, gripping the banister.
“A Rogue?”
“Can’t be. We’ve not lost anyone.”
“Do we have a tally from all the clans? What about the purist?” Shade demanded of my aunt. “Never mind, I’ll check in with the Protectors Bureau. Things got heated during the last council meeting Warden Ethan attended. Several purist made threatening noises, so I had to step in and escort the warden to his car. I’ll check the individuals’ names with the enforcers to see if anyone stands out.”
I couldn’t follow their jumbled conversation. Shade believed me. I was in Spring Valley with a murderer. I wasn’t crazy, although this new world stretched traditional concepts of reality. I needed to think. I backed up the stairs, found the landing, and fled to my room.
I had to come up with a plan. First thing, I’d tell JoAnna I was coming for the holidays. Once I got there, I wouldn’t leave. I’d be eighteen on the thirtieth. The lawyers could handle the trust paperwork. I dragged my suitcase out of the closet and dumped it on the bed. I hesitated. Aunt Claire would never drive me to the airport. I could order Shade, but he’d only decide it was against my best interest. Trent? No, he wouldn’t do it. I’d probably end up back at his place. Defeated, I slumped down next to my suitcase. Dad had gotten out; and they’d killed him. I stuffed my earbuds in my ears and rolled over onto my stomach, burying my face into my pillow, avoiding my prison.