At last I found a booth in front of a closed department store. A few people were still hanging around, and they shot me questioning looks as I took off my helmet and limped towards the paneled doors. I ignored them, hoping the dim light would hide the worst of my wounds. Most of my cuts had stopped bleeding, but I looked a total mess, and I didn’t want to deal with curious onlookers.
Fumbling with the door, I sank against the rear panel, catching my breath. Guess I’d not taken the nail out quick enough—I was still feeling the side effects. I fished out Gene’s card again and some loose change. Soon I had the receiver tucked under my ear, and I pressed in the coins. A quick dial later, and the other end was ringing. I counted eight bells until someone answered.
“Hello?”
I froze. It was a girl’s voice. One I could’ve sworn I heard before.
“S…” I stopped myself before I spoke the name aloud. It couldn’t be. She’d been dead for years!
“Um, hello?” the girl repeated. “Is anyone there?”
I cleared my throat, shaking off my errant thoughts.
“Uh, yes, hi,” I said, trying to sound calm, though inside my mind was racing. Her soft-spoken tone, it was just like Sahara’s! “Is this Alexis Wilson?” I knew it couldn’t be, but it made a convenient explanation for my hesitation.
“No, it’s her daughter,” the girl answered.
My breath caught. The girl at the end of the phone…this was Cheyenne!
Quickly I snapped out of my daze and pressed the receiver closer.
“Ah. I was trying to contact Mr. Wilson. Is he available?”
“He’s just out in the garage,” the girl said. “Who’s calling?”
“I’m…Cal. I’m a business associate.” It was the fastest lie I could come up with. “We met earlier today, I have some important news for him regarding our recent agreement. Please tell him it’s urgent.”
“Okay.”
The phone quieted, and I heard the girl calling for Gene. I waited, frowning at my near slip of the tongue. But her voice had totally thrown me. The similarity to Sahara was uncanny. The photograph burned in my pocket, and I slid it out. Those little resemblances stuck out to me, and I shook my head. No way…she couldn’t be their daughter. I needed to get this ridiculous notion out of my head. The Kvech were gone, gone!
“Hello?”
Ah, now this was a voice I recognized.
“Gene, it’s me,” I said. “Are you able to speak freely?”
“Wait a moment.” I heard movement—Gene must have been getting out of earshot of Cheyenne. A door closed, and he sighed. “Yes, Callon, what is it?”
“Are you alright?” I asked.
“Yes.” Gene sounded puzzled. “Why do you ask?
“Well,” I said, “I’ve been attacked.”
“What?!”
“A Tresez was following me.”
“I can’t believe this!” Gene’s voice was full of alarm. “What about you? Are you hurt? Where are you?”
“Doesn’t matter about me,” I said. “I’m alright. I killed it before it could get away. But it found me on the road to the cemetery, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t alone.”
Gene gasped.
“Do you think they might have found out about our meeting?”
“There’s a chance they could have,” I said.
“Then we were fools to have brought you into this!” Gene said. “I’m so sorry, Callon. In trying to protect our daughter we’ve led her enemies straight to her.”
“Look, just calm down a second,” I said. “From what you’ve told me, this was going to happen sooner or later. The Tresez have too many eyes and ears around to hide anyone forever. And maybe it’s better this way, as we know we can expect them to make their move soon.”
“But what can we do?” Gene was breathing a little faster. “Cheyenne is bound to know something isn’t right if we say she can’t leave the house alone.”
“Gene, listen to me,” I said. I needed him to keep his head. “Now is not the time to panic. You only need to keep her sheltered for a few days. In the meantime I can make a distraction to throw them off the scent. It won’t work forever, but it’ll give me time to call my brothers and stop Cheyenne getting suspicious. You have to trust me on this.”
Gene sighed.
“But Cheyenne has school on Monday. How can I make her stay at home?”
“I’m sure you can think of something,” I said, wincing as my bad arm started throbbing again. I was really paying the price for my ignorance. “The Tresez won’t dare to attack her in broad daylight, and definitely not in school when she’s surrounded by humans, but it’ll be when she’s alone that they’ll try something. So long as you can make sure she’s always got a crowd around her, she should be fine.”
“Yes, you’re right,” Gene said. He took a breath, probably to calm himself. “We’ve managed for sixteen years, another few days shouldn’t be a problem. Do you know how long it will take you to contact your brothers?”
“Daniel will come as soon as I’ve told him the situation, and Colt should be here within the week,” I said. “I’ve also got to make arrangements for housing, and to find my way around town. It might take a couple of weeks before you can rely on us to be around as much as we need to be.”
“Ah, I can help you there,” Gene said. “Come down sometime when Cheyenne’s at school, and I’ll show you around.”
“That’s very kind,” I said. “But let’s take things one step at a time. Let me call my brothers first, and find a place to stay.”
“Of course,” Gene said. He cleared his throat. “Thank you for contacting us so quickly. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Never better,” I said, shifting my weight off my sore leg. “Like I said, don’t worry about me. Focus on Cheyenne.”
“Yes, but don’t neglect your own safety, too,” Gene said. He was starting to remind me of Lilly. “Don’t hesitate to get in touch again.”
“I won’t,” I replied. “Good night.”
I hung up, and my arm pulsed with pain. I grasped the bite marks, which had scabbed over. That was why it was starting to hurt again. And I was so very tired. I wouldn’t be able to make the long drive home. Taking a cab was a possible idea, but I decided against it. Too many questions would come up. Besides, it might be better for me to stick around. I had to make sure Cheyenne didn’t run into any uninvited guests in the shadows.
The phone booth was stuffed with advertisements, and I quickly found a local motel address that wasn’t too far from where I was. I snatched at the flyer, ripping it off, then barged open the door with my elbow. Once again I was met with worried stares as I hobbled back to the bike. I kept my head down, replacing my helmet and snapping the visor shut to hide my face. Poster in hand, I kicked the engine into gear and set out for the Sagle Lakes Motel.
I had to drive slowly—the thrum of the engine was too much for my leg. As I cruised through the streets, I spotted a sign for a pharmacy, which was surprisingly still open. Now that wasn’t a bad idea. Even though I knew I’d be fully healed in a couple of days, it didn’t mean I couldn’t make these next few nights more comfortable.
The woman at the counter raised an eyebrow as I trudged inside, one pants leg in tatters and my jacket sleeve ripped. My T-shirt was pretty disgusting, too. I hoped she wouldn’t ask too many questions. I didn’t want to have to use my powers on her.
“May I help you?” the lady asked. It was obvious she was itching to know the details.
“I’d like some bandages, some aspirin and some antiseptic cream,” I said, as nonchalantly as I could. I kept my voice curt to discourage questions. The woman nodded, staring at my wounds for a long time.
“Should I call the hospital?” she asked. “You look pretty beat up.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “I crashed my bike and fell into a ditch.” It was hardly a lie. “I’m a doctor, anyway. I can look after myself.”
“Sure,” the woman said, not s
ounding convinced. My eyes narrowed slightly as she turned her back to find the items I wanted. If she tried to call the police I’d have to make a run for it. Ugh, I hated feeling so vulnerable. Still, I’d gotten through to Gene, and that was the main thing. Cheyenne would be safe for the next few days, and would give me time to set things up.
Thankfully the woman didn’t ask any further questions, and I stumbled back to the bike, my pack of medicines in tow. By the time I was back on the road, the moon had risen. The effects of the rain, wind and my brawl with the Tresez were starting to take their toll, and my eyelids began to droop. I was exhausted, and longing for a hot shower and a warm bed. If I was going to be in any position to watch Cheyenne, I needed to make sure I was properly rested. Making mistakes was not an option.
The motel wasn’t the best, with a rather run-down looking exterior, but so long as it had running water, I wasn’t too bothered. I buttoned up my jacket, hiding my soiled shirt, and managed to get a room without too much prying from the staff.
My first port of call was the bathroom, where I stripped out of my filthy clothes and washed off all the dried blood, mud and grime. The slash on my leg stung like crazy, and I checked yet again to make sure I’d removed every piece of Tresez nail. This time, I was certain there was nothing there.
Next came the wound dressings, which took forever because of my bad arm. I put generous amounts of antiseptic onto my cuts, and then bound them tight with the bandages. I knew the cream wouldn’t do much to speed up the healing, but it had small doses of anesthetic in it, and would help with the pain. Ideally I’d have used some special cream for Tresez wounds, but that was on a shelf in my treatment room at home. This would have to do for now.
Once I was all bandaged up, I pulled on my T-shirt and grabbed a glass of water. I snapped two aspirin out of their packet, and downed them quickly. They should help give me a settled night.
I collapsed onto the bed, and closed my eyes. I’d clean up the mess tomorrow—I was too tired to move anymore. But even though my body begged for rest, my mind continued to run with thoughts.
Cheyenne’s voice haunted me, as did her photograph. I could’ve sworn I’d been talking to Sahara, though it had been more than a decade since her death. It brought up so many old feelings, and so many regrets. I’d never gotten on with Sahara, mostly because of her promised marriage to Marcus, and I’d not believed the rumors when they said she’d run away to help Qaysean. It was only when I saw them together for the first time that I’d been convinced.
Even then, Qaysean and I never really saw eye to eye. Our fathers had been very close to each other, yet their friendship didn’t seem to transmit to us. Marcus had exploited that, and had eventually succeeded in killing one of my strongest allies.
But aside from that, I was a little surprised at how I’d reacted today. Why was I so worried? I didn’t even know Cheyenne, and yet I’d fought with everything to get here and protect her from the potential danger. All I had to go on was a photograph and the desperate plea of loving parents. Though I knew there was something else, too. Deep down, part of me was drawn to Cheyenne, and I didn’t know why. Was it because of her resemblance to Qaysean? The way her voice sounded just like Sahara’s?
Or was it destiny?
I rolled into my pillow, sighing. Much as I’d dismissed these hints before, I wondered if I was being too hasty. What if Cheyenne was their daughter? It would mean the Kvech line—and its powers—were still intact. Qaysean had had control over the elements, able to summon windstorms and hurricanes. He’d used that power to defeat Marcus’s father, which had been a massive blow to the Sarac. If Cheyenne had inherited his strength, along with Sahara’s own powers, she could be just what I’d been looking for. Someone who could help me finally overthrow Marcus, and restore peace to the clans…
A soft sigh escaped my lips. A wistful dream, perhaps, but one I couldn’t abandon just yet.
I was going to have to do some research.
Chapter 2
“You don’t need a reason to help someone.” ~Colt
I tapped my fingers on my suitcase, listening to the airport announcer call out the next flight departure. I was sitting in the arrivals lounge, waiting for Callon to show up. It’d been a while since I’d returned to Montana, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it. While Ecuador, Florida, Italy, and Australia had been beautiful countries, you couldn’t beat the mountains and lakes of my favorite state.
Home away from home…
Yawning, I reclined in my seat, and spotted a girl with brown hair sitting opposite. She was looking my way and smiling shyly. I smiled back, and her cheeks went pink. I was tempted to go over and start a conversation, when my phone buzzed.
It was a message from Callon.
‘Running a bit late. See you in half an hour.’
Rolling my eyes, I texted an irked reply and hit send. I’d already been waiting for an hour—what was taking him so long?
The previous messages came up, and I scrolled through them, reminded of why I’d been summoned back. In truth, I’d been surprised to hear from my brother so suddenly. Normally we caught up with each other about once a month. I’d just returned from Ecuador last week and had been visiting my cousin Koda in Wyoming, when he’d called and said I had to come home urgently.
I ran my hand through my hair, and the girl across the way held her hand to her mouth. Oh, was I making her uncomfortable? I shot her a wink, and she turned away, thoroughly embarrassed. I had to hold back my chuckle. She was making this much too easy. At least the girls in Ecuador put up a bit of a challenge.
Speaking of challenges, I was eager to hear what Callon had to say. He’d kept the details brief, as usual, but had mentioned something about protecting a Timeless girl before she turned twenty. Seemed a little weird to me, as our clan didn’t get involved in these things, but when Callon had asked for both Daniel and me to meet up, I knew it had to be serious.
Hoped she was cute.
High heels clacked across the floor, and I glanced up. The girl was walking towards me, her cheeks flushed. Now she was closer, I could appreciate her high cheekbones and the tiny mole beside her nose. She flicked back her hair, obviously nervous.
“H-Hi,” she stammered.
“Hi,” I grinned back. That was the other good thing about coming home. At least I could guarantee the girls spoke my language. Smiles and nods could only get you so far.
“I, um, I was…wondering…” I had to give her credit; she was managing mostly coherent sentences. “…are…are you from around here?”
“I can be if you want me too,” I answered smoothly.
She had to take a deep breath to find her voice again.
“Well…um, are you waiting for someone?”
“As a matter of fact, I was, and I think I’ve just found her,” I smirked. I knew what she was out for. “You want to go for a coffee?”
“Oh!” The girl blushed again. “I’d like that.”
Chuckling, I grabbed my suitcase and we headed for the airport coffee shop. It wasn’t exactly the best quality, so I bought two espressos and chose a table overlooking the runways. The mid-afternoon sunlight sparkled above the mountains, reminding me why I loved this state so much.
“So, what’s your name?” I asked, taking a sip from my cup.
“Naomi,” the girl said.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Colt,” I replied. “Come from far?”
“Only Idaho,” Naomi said. “What about you?”
“Wyoming,” I answered, blinking at the coincidence. Callon had said the person we were protecting lived in Idaho. In all honestly, that was one state I’d never been too, so maybe it would be a good idea to find out more about it. “Whereabouts in Idaho were you?”
“Boise,” Naomi said. “I was visiting my grandparents.”
“Nice,” I said. “I was visiting family, too.”
“I see.” Naomi flopped back in her seat and crossed her legs. She seemed to be relaxing a litt
le.
“I’ve never been to Idaho,” I went on. “What’s it like?”
“Oh, it’s nothing special,” she replied. “They’ve got lakes and mountains, like everyone else, and desert, too.”
“Sounds like my kinda place,” I said. I leant back in my seat, fingering my collar. Naomi stared at her espresso, desperate not to look too closely. “I like hiking and skiing. Are there any good places for that nearby?”
Naomi’s face brightened.
“Oh, definitely! My grandfather has a place in McCall, they’ve got great slopes there.”
“McCall, huh? You’ll have to show me around sometime,” I smiled, edging closer. Naomi tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, her cheeks tinged with pink.
Someone cleared their throat harshly, and I turned around. I almost jumped. Callon was right above my shoulder, arms folded. He had that ‘stop messing around’ look on his face. Geez, he reminded me so much of Dad when he did that.
“Am I interrupting anything?” he asked, knowing full well he was interrupting.
“Not at all,” I said nonchalantly. “Naomi, this is my brother, Callon.”
Callon tensed. Ha, I knew that would get a rise out of him. He hated it when I spoke so openly about the fact we were related.
“A pleasure,” Callon said, managing a curt nod. Naomi smiled, though I could tell she was as annoyed as I was at his sudden entrance. “I’m so sorry to spoil your little date, but I’ve got some urgent business with Colt.”
“Sorry,” I shrugged, with an apologetic smile. Naomi looked disappointed, but didn’t protest. She politely thanked me for the coffee, then reached into her purse for a pen. She scribbled something on a paper napkin, before handing it to me.
“My number,” she said simply. Then she stood up and returned to her seat in the arrivals lounge. Once she was safely out of earshot, Callon snickered.
“I see some things never change,” he said, resting his hands on the back of Naomi’s abandoned chair. “You always did love picking up strays.”
“Good to see you too, Callon,” I answered, tucking the napkin into my pocket.
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