by E. M. Moore
Sasha sat in the seat Troian had just given up. She answered General Etau’s questions, which, to me, sounded as if he wanted him to get in trouble. He asked Sasha if Troian had told her he was leaving before he left, which she answered no to. The only thing that went in Troian’s favor from that line of questioning was the fact that Sasha told the General what a good Elite Guardian he was. She painted a picture of bravery and badassery that had me staring at the back of Troian’s head trying to see inside his brain to what he was made of. She made him sound like an Elite god, for christ’s sake.
I was still staring at the back of his head when the general called my name. Jake had to elbow me in order to get me to move. I squared my shoulders, trying to mimic Sasha who moved with power and grace. When I took the seat in front of the table, General Etau stared at me for a long time. Then, his mouth split into a crooked smile. “Miss Marston, can you please state for the committee your background. Name, years as Ley Line Guardian, etc.”
I made sure to look them all in the eye at the table. “My name is Cassandra Marston. I am one of the Ley Line Guardians in Salem, Massachusetts. My brother and I share the duties. I have been a full Guardian for five years now. My brother has been a full Guardian for twelve, though has been apprenticing under my late grandfather for eighteen.”
“I’m assuming you will corroborate Mr. McAvoy’s story that you’ve heard so far.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Please tell the room your interactions with Elite Troian when he showed up in Salem.”
I recounted the tale of Troian showing up at the library with a message from my brother. There wasn’t even that much detail to go into really. After Troian told me Damen’s message, we were interrupted by my Wiccan friend, Gigi.
“Then he left?”
“Yes.”
“Where did he go?”
“You’d have to ask him that, Sir. I’m not his keeper.”
Ugh. Stupid. As soon as it passed my lips, I wanted to reach out and take it back. That’s what I got for being sarcastic all the time. I couldn’t reign it in when I needed to. The men and women at the table glared at me.
General Etau’s lips curled back into a sneer. “Please tell the committee what the message from your brother was.”
I looked into the faces of the people around the table. They all looked placid, uncaring, except for Etau’s. Besides looking pissed, he was eager. He leaned forward on the table, his hands out in front of him, clenched, ready. I looked toward Troian who stared back at me with a blank expression.
A weird feeling crawled up the back of my spine. Why was I here? To just confirm that Troian had delivered a message to me? That seemed a little extreme. And since I’d already confirmed it, why did they need to know the contents of the message? It was personal, right? To me, the message meant nothing. It wasn’t even that important. It was an older brother telling me to run at some perceived threat, which I took no heed to. Damen and I were close. I think…no, I know he would’ve known how I would’ve reacted.
I didn’t like the look, sound, or smell of this anymore. It was like I was a puppet being played with. “I’m sorry, Sir, but the message was private and none of the committee’s concern. The fae showed up at my library, gave me a message after I threatened to cut him, and then he left.”
General Etau’s fingers dug into the table in front of him. The skin under the tips of his nails turned white. He was like a pressure cooker ready to burst.
“Thank you, Miss Marston. I believe those are all the questions I have for you.”
I nodded and turned. Troian and I exchanged a glance. His looked full of approval and I was most certain mine was filled with confusion. I had fully intended telling the committee what Troian had come to tell me before I got up there. Why wouldn’t I tell them the one-word message? It just didn’t seem right was the only answer I had.
When I caught Jake’s expression, his mirrored my own. I was sure he’d want to know why I just didn’t tell him. He’d have to get in line to figure that one out.
As soon as I sat, General Etau called another Elite to the front. He stated his name as Theo Lake.
I knew that name. He was another Ley Line Guardian from a place I couldn’t quite remember. It was on the tip of my tongue but…
General Etau stared Theo down. A small smile formed on his face. The first of the night. “Please explain to the committee your belief in why Troian should be stripped from his Elite Guardian duties.”
CHAPTER SIX
Some of the people in the room gasped. Sasha included.
The committee didn’t casually strip away Elite status, whether they did it often or not. It was like Jake had said before. There really was no rhyme or reason to it. Before this moment, I could’ve sworn that everything was going in Troian’s favor. He was a fae. When they made a promise, they had to follow through. It would be like a dog having to bark when he perceived a threat. It was human nature. Well, maybe not human for him. It was fae nature.
Before Theo spoke, General Etau’s gaze met mine. His eyes were cold and unfeeling. Theo’s voice shook as he launched into a story about being at Stonehenge. He painted a picture of mass chaos and confusion. Of battles with crazed magical beings. Though he did not know Troian at all, his last parting words were, “I do not know of any Guardian that would have left the chaos in those fields, nature or not.”
My heart beat in my chest like mad. Damen was in all that. It was that bad?
I glared a hole into the back of Troian’s head. He didn’t tell me any of this.
Numb, I walked from the room as soon as General Etau called for a break where they would talk about Troian’s fate.
Jake followed after me. I looked up at him, my vision blurry. “Did you know about this?”
He avoided my gaze.
Son of a bitch. As soon as Troian walked through the doors, I strode toward him. “You left him there? You left him during a…a battle.”
Troian grabbed my upper arms. Our gazes locked. “He asked me to.”
“I don’t care. You don’t leave my brother during some sort of war to give me a message that I didn’t even listen to.”
The fae gazed at the ceiling, his chest inflating with a big breath. “First off, it wasn’t as bad as Theo made it out to be. He’s not used to what the Elite are used to, or even what you and your brother are used to. His ley line is in freaking bumfuck Mississippi. I don’t even know why Etau would ask him to speak.”
A presence loomed over us. When I looked up, Sasha stood just to the side of Troian. His hands dropped from my arms and he squared his shoulders toward her. “Sasha.” He nodded toward her as a sign of respect and Sasha nodded back.
She looked down at me. “I have heard a lot about you Cassandra.”
On autopilot, I said, “Call me Cas. Everyone else does.”
“Troian tells me that you and your brother are brave Guardians.”
I spared the fae a disbelieving look. To my knowledge, Troian had never said anything nice about me. I looked back at Sasha. “I try.”
She laughed huskily. “I am sure your brother is fine. And we will help him. You have my word.”
“Well, I think we need to find him before we help him.”
Her lips thinned as she cast a look toward Troian. He pretended like he didn’t see it. “Cas, I’ve told Sasha about your Necromancer friends. She said she will speak with General Etau about getting them into Stonehenge to see if we can’t get a handle on things there.”
“Things there? What does that mean?”
Now he and Sasha exchanged glances. She nodded at him and then excused herself. Jake took her spot and Troian rolled his eyes. “This isn’t some sort of party, shifter. I have things to discuss with Cas.”
“If it has to do with Damen, it has to do with me too.”
Troian sighed dramatically. He searched the area, but there were very few people out in the hallway now. He took a step closer anyway. Jake and I huddled closer to him.
“Sasha has been filling me in on Stonehenge. Her unit—my unit—was just pulled from there yesterday. It’s bad.”
I closed my eyes, not liking the way this was starting.
“How bad?”
“They just can’t seem to get a handle on the magical creatures. Not only do you guys share the strongest ley line, but Stonehenge is also one of the strongest points on the line. It’s five, maybe ten times worse than what we saw at Salem according to Sasha. The magical folk have gone nuts.”
“Has she seen Damen?”
He shook his head. “Don’t think so. She was told to keep a look out for him though.”
“A look out for him? So, they’re not actively searching for him?”
“I’m only telling you what she told me. Their focus right now is subduing the populace.”
I gritted my teeth. “We have a way to help with that.”
“Trust me, she was thrilled with the news. I think she finally sees the light at the end of the tunnel. As soon as we can quiet everything there, I’m sure they will place more attention on finding Damen.”
A voice called for Jake. His shoulders sagged as he looked around to see who the owner was. “Be right back,” he said.
Troian ran his hands through his hair and leaned against the wall next to us. “Thank you for coming.”
“I didn’t really have a choice.”
He smirked. “Well, thank you for not saying what the message was.”
I leaned next to him. “Is it me, or did he seem a little too preoccupied with what the message was? What did that have to do with your hearing?”
“I’ve been trying to figure that very thing out.”
“You don’t trust him.”
Troian turned and stared at me. He didn’t say anything for a little while. His eyes were intense, as if he were weighing the importance of the sun and the Earth. “I don’t trust anyone who has that much power.”
“I don’t know about the power thing, but I’m pretty sure he asked Theo Lake to come talk just so he could throw you under a bus. I don’t think you have a friend there.”
A young man dressed all in white walked toward our group. His expression had a superior air. When he got to us, he bowed toward Troian. “The hearing is reconvening. If you would please follow me.” He spun in place and started walking away without even bothering to check if Troian followed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Troian lifted his eyebrows at me as if to say ‘Go time’. After he spun to follow the man in white, he gave me the crook of his elbow. Smiling, I put my arm through his. It was pretty much the nicest gesture I’d ever seen him do. Well, besides make me pancakes.
I leaned in toward him. “What do you think they’re going to say?”
There were creases around his eyes, but he shrugged nonchalantly. “There’s nothing I can do at this point, Cas. I believe I did the right thing. Now, it’s up to them whether to agree or disagree.”
He smiled down at me but it was half-hearted at best. I took in a deep breath to try and relax, but I took it in for him too. Even if he was going to act cool as a cucumber next to me, I knew he had to be freaking out inside. “Will I see you after? Or will they make me go right away?”
He chuckled, a deep rumble that came from his chest. It was so different than his usual twinkling laugh. “Are you asking if I’ll make you breakfast?”
I slapped his arm. “Be serious, Troian.”
His eyes fluttered closed and he took a deep breath. “I think it depends on what the verdict is.”
By this time, we were walking down the aisle in the hearing room. Troian stopped when we got to the row Jake and Sanders already sat in. “Good luck, dude,” Sanders said. Jake just nodded at him, his gaze fixed on my arm around Troian’s.
I patted his arm right before I let go of it. “Yeah, good luck. Try not to piss him off any more than he already is.”
General Etau and the rest of the committee walked toward the table in the center. Without a word, Troian walked down the aisle and stood in front of them. His back was straight as steel, and his chin just slightly tipped in the air. By looking at him, I didn’t think anything would faze him. Lose your career? Oh well. Face down a coven of witches? Eh. Child’s play. I shook my head just looking at him, wishing I could be as brave as him.
“Troian McAvoy, this hearing was to relay the accounts of your post absence in Stonehenge. Now that we have heard your account of events, and those around who were close to the case, we have a decision regarding your Elite status. Because of Document 1.3 of the Elite Code of Ethics whereas an Elite’s magical nature shall never be used against him, I cannot say that you purposefully and dutifully ignored your post.”
I signed in relief. Yes! This was good news.
“However…”
My stomach bottomed out. Strange how one word could give such a reaction.
“It is the belief of this committee and mine that these were special circumstances. This was a reconnaissance mission, one stooped in activity that you were counted on to be present for. Though your Elite status will return to you as of today, you will not be an Active Elite. You will continue on probation for one year, or less time if it is apparent to this committee, or any commanding officer, that you have shown your worthiness. Please do take this consideration to heart. I do not believe this committee will be as unforgiving next time around.”
He stood. Those around him stood as well. General Etau nodded toward Troian. “Mr. McAvoy.”
Troian bowed toward the group, then turned and walked toward the back of the room. He didn’t look at me as he passed. We all filed out after him. I didn’t know what he would be feeling. Was he mad about the probation? Happy that at least he still got to be an Elite? I would think so.
I was two steps away from the door when a hand caught my arm. It was the young man all in white who’d summoned Troian to the hearing verdict. “Miss Marston.”
I stared down at his hand until he removed it. “Yes?”
“General Etau wishes to see you.”
I stood up straighter when I felt the heat of another body at my back. Jake. “Lead the way,” I told the young man.
He led us out a side door and down a few bleak hallways until we stopped at a door. He turned. Seeing Jake, he narrowed his eyes at him. “General Etau has only asked for Miss Marston.”
Jake tensed though a smile formed on his face. “Is waiting outside fine? I don’t want Cas to get lost in here. It can be challenging for someone who has never been here.”
The Elite’s question went unanswered as the young man just turned and opened the door for me. I walked into a room about the size of my living room. It held a big desk on the far side. The Elite symbol, a firebird rimmed in a circle, was painted on a big canvas behind the desk.
General Etau moved to the center of the room to greet me. “Miss Marston, I’m glad you’re here.”
His voice was much more pleasant than it had been when speaking to Troian during the hearing. He almost seemed like a jovial guy. Less Mayor of Salem and more Sanders.
The door behind us clicked shut. Unsure of how to act or respond, I asked, “What did you want to see me about?”
“I’m just going to cut straight to the heart of the matter so please forgive my frankness.” Without pausing, he added, “I’m sorry about your brother, Miss Marston. Losing one of our own on a mission is not something that we take lightly and I want you to know that everything that can be done to recover him is being done.”
“I appreciate that, General.” Studying his expression and finding an open face, I decided to push the issue. After all, when was the next time I would get a personal presence with the General of the Elite Army. “Now, may I be frank with you?”
His eye twitched in response, but he nodded anyway.
“Being a Guardian myself, I would like to be kept updated on the status of his recovery. I have learned some things while being here that I did not know, including my brother being involved in active fi
ghting.”
“We can do that. In fact, it should’ve already been communicated to you. I do apologize.”
“Also, I am sure you are aware of the problem we had in Salem. A necromancer there is responsible for fixing the issue. He can pass the knowledge of how to fix the ley line onto someone else to help quell the fighting. In fact, a necromancer from Stonehenge is currently staying with him. He has all the knowledge he needs and is willing to go back into Stonehenge to fix the ley line.”
General Etau rubbed his chin and the dark brown stubble there. “I’m afraid it’s impossible to send someone there who is not Elite trained. The situation is too dangerous.”
Not giving up, I asked, “Do you have an Elite necromancer?”
“I can’t say that we do, Miss Marston.”
“I believe then that you will have to make an exception. The ley line needs to be quieted and the Necromancer knows how to do it.”
General Etau’s gaze hardened. “It’s not possible. The portals in and out of Stonehenge are closed except for Elite personnel.”
I gasped. “Closed?” How could Damen get out if he found a way?
The General turned and walked back to his desk and sat. “We did not make the decision lightly, Ley Line Guardian. The decision was made in everyone’s best interest. Think of what is happening in Stonehenge as an infestation. In order to manage the infestation, you must block all things coming and going. A quarantine of sorts.”
“You’ve quarantined my brother right into the thick of things.”
“We are still trying to recover him, but not at the expense of the rest of the magical world. The situation in Stonehenge must be contained.” He picked the phone up at his desk. “Please come show Miss Marston the way out.”
I clasped my hands at my sides, anger crashing over me. “I offer you a solution but you won’t even listen to it.”
“Yours would not be a solution, but a suicide mission.”
“Just how bad is it in Stonehenge, General?”