“Go ahead.” Gavin couldn’t stand the green-colored, muskmelon-flavored liqueur.
Cooper emptied the liquid over the basin before cracking the bottle on the floor. He sieved through the shards and picked out a moon colored opal.
“That bastard.” Gavin took the magically imbued opal, which acted like a camera for Louis, and flushed it down the drain.
“Clever of Louis to use this instead of a regular bug.”
Gavin agreed. He would’ve discovered a bug immediately. The opal on the other hand had been here for who knew how long. “He really knows how to get on my nerves.”
“I’m assuming you’ve reached the point where you’re ready to discuss Lorna’s offer.”
Gavin grabbed two glasses. Something stronger than beer was needed for this conversation. He poured a generous amount of rum over ice cubes. “Hope you like Debonaire.”
In high school, Gavin had known Cooper well. So well, it was easy to anticipate the Blurs actions and reactions. Years had passed since then. Sure, Cooper still wore his wide-brimmed hat, his checkered shirts, and the cowboy boots. He still seemed to be the easygoing one, a permanent smile on his lips, but three years in London could’ve changed his goals and, more importantly, the means he found acceptable to reach them. This, coupled with Lorna reimbursing loyalty generously, made Gavin wonder what exactly was in this for Cooper.
“Good stuff.” Cooper half emptied his glass. “Talk to me. I can tell you still have misgivings about London.”
“Can you blame me? Lorna wants me to sign on to a mission and won’t reveal anything about it. I don’t know what she wants me to do, how long it will take, or who I’ll work with.”
Cooper shrugged. He didn’t touch his long nose or scratch his thin lips, did nothing to indicate that he was desperate for Gavin to agree.
Still, Gavin had to ask, “What’s your angle, Cooper? What did Lorna promise you?”
“Nothing earth-shattering. Is it really so hard for you to believe that your old friend misses your company?”
Gavin sighed. With an idealist and optimist like Cooper, everything was probable. But Gavin was a skeptic, and in this case, he felt it was justified. “I know why you’re working for her.” Cooper arched an eyebrow. “Don’t give me some bull about enjoying these odd assignments she gives you. You’re Lorna’s aid because you hope that one day this will give you a shot at becoming a ruler.”
“And what if I was?”
Gavin shrugged. It wasn’t his business what Cooper did as long as he didn’t try to screw him over. Since Louis was breathing down his neck, Gavin didn’t have the luxury for mistrust or long deliberation. “Fine, pitch me why I should go to London.”
Cooper’s eyes narrowed at the sudden change, but he recovered a moment later. “You agree to work and report solely to Lorna until your mission is complete. In exchange for this, she will lift all passwords to restricted information, making it easier for you to solve your murder case, and she will officially state that Sierra is under her care, meaning Louis won’t be able to get his hands on the Fluidus ever again.”
“What about Lorna?”
“Lorna wouldn’t force Sierra to become her subordinate, but she’ll want to meet the Fluidus and watch her progress.”
“She’ll expect Sierra to come with me to London when I report for my mission.” A nod. “Will Sierra be able to leave?”
Cooper smiled. “Lorna doesn’t keep prisoners, but she is the regent…”
The implication was clear. No matter how deep Gavin or Waldeburg’s misgivings toward the regency ran, they were still subjects to it. If Sierra wasn’t reporting to Lorna, she would report the to the North American regent, Clement. “I trust you have the paperwork with you.”
Cooper emptied his glass and pulled out an envelope. A stamp of two golden lions holding a flaming crown and scepter stared up at Gavin. Tension coiled through him as he read the letter.
Dear Mr. Gavin McLoughlin,
You have been selected to assist the European regent, Lady Lorna Windsor. Due to your ongoing marshal duties in Savannah, you have until the tenth of July to arrive in London.
In addition to your presence, Lady Lorna Windsor explicitly requests Miss Sierra Reeves.
Please notify us of your time of arrival so that necessary preparations can be made.
Sincerely,
Felicity Stone on behalf of Lady Lorna Windsor
Gavin swallowed hard. If he accepted this token, Louis would be off his back. But was the trade worth it? Gavin didn’t know. In his few interactions with Lorna, she had seemed like a gracious and sensible regent, shrewd too. Still, something about this didn’t sit right with him. Why did Lorna pick him of all Dragoons? Certainly, she had more qualified individuals at her disposal in London.
“Do you know why she wants me?” Gavin asked.
Cooper’s jaw worked. “You finished top of your class.”
“That was three years ago. I haven’t done anything significant since then.”
“I guess not everyone agrees with your decision to throw away your future.”
“I’ve changed. I’m no longer the person I used to be.” Gavin’s breath quickened.
Cooper’s blue eyes turned onyx. “How much longer are you going to punish yourself? How much longer are you going to blame yourself and me for what happened?”
“I never blamed you for Dominic’s death.” Gavin’s pulse accelerated, and his body tensed. “I just didn’t want to accept that those I care about could drop dead at any moment, and we were supposed to move on, as if nothing happened. Dominic died during training. He didn’t even turn eighteen!”
Before Dominic’s death, everything had been about winning. Gavin was competitive by nature; he liked the thrill. Barrett High nurtured this quality—the quality that lead to Dominic being alone when Umbra attacked and murdered him.
“Pia and I mourned. Our mourning was just as real as yours. But we didn’t let setbacks harden us or stop us from seeing the sanctity of our gifts. Pia and I were just as close to Dominic. We were just as hurt—”
Pia. The name cut through Gavin. She was the only woman he had ever loved. She had taught him how much love hurt, how vulnerable it made you. He never wanted to feel that way again. After Dominic’s death, when Gavin had needed Pia the most, she had broken up with him and slept with half of the student body. Images of other guys’ hands in her red mane, their hands on her porcelain skin, their tongues in her mouth, made Gavin clench his fists. Restless, he began pacing.
“I’m sorry she hurt you—”
The last of Gavin’s restraints snapped. “Get out. Now!”
Cooper remained completely still and didn’t say anything for several seconds. Then he asked in an inflectionless voice, “Are you accepting the terms of the contract?” Finally, he stopped going down memory lane and began treating this like the business transaction it was.
Gavin took the leap. “Yes, I formally accept and bind myself to the contract.”
“I’ll inform Lorna.” Cooper paused at the door. “I really hope this all hasn’t been about Pia. It’s been years, mate.”
The blood in Gavin’s veins soared. It boiled and demanded he fired back. But his resolution turned to ashes when he saw the dejection tattooed across Cooper’s face.
Chapter 19
Jeff took a sip of the ice tea Gran had handed him and sat down on the living room couch.
“All right. If you’re sure you don’t need anything else, I’ll go to the store to pick up the vegetable pot pie ingredients.” Gran put her linen bag over her shoulder and reached tentatively for her keys.
“We’ll be fine,” Sierra reassured. She understood Gran’s trepidation about leaving her alone with an Umbra, but there was no way she could concentrate with Gran hovering over her. And Sierra needed to. Louis’s kidnapping had made it clear that she needed to develop some basic knowledge and defenses. Thus, the Charmer session with Jeff, followed by telekinesis with Gavin.
“Be careful.” Gran kissed Sierra on the cheek.
“I will.” Returning to the couch, Sierra asked, “Where do we start?”
Jeff removed his fedora to wipe the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. “I’m a bit rusty. Don’t get to use my Charmer powers in my current position much.”
The washed-out lilac specks in his gray aura corroborated his statement. Sierra shivered, remembering the intense purple hue around Louis.
“I think the most dangerous thing my kind can do is pull you into an illusion.” Jeff stroked his chin thoughtfully. “An illusion alters your perception of reality. It isn’t dangerous, per se, but how you react is. An illusion can drive you insane, if you let it.”
Fantastic, and what a motivational speech. “How do I stop it?”
“The first step is recognizing you’re trapped in an illusion. If something truly terrifying happens, like let’s say, an army comes at you out of nowhere. Ask yourself if that could really be happening. If not, it’s most likely an illusion. A skillful Charmer will dig deep within your subconscious, discover your worst fears, and use them against you, creating illusions that rival reality. To break the illusion, you need to find a way to stop being afraid.” Jeff sipped on his ice tea and glanced at his phone.
Was that it? The magical advice to stay safe: do not be afraid. Sierra stared at him incredulously, waiting for him to continue.
He just sucked on his lip. “I’m sorry, I can’t express it any better.” His phoned rang, and he frowned at the screen. “I need to go.” He appeared conflicted.
“That’s fine. Do what you need to.” Sierra seriously doubted Jeff could teach her how to escape an illusion. At least they’d covered theory. She would have to ask Gran for reading material on Charmers.
“Sorry about this. I don’t have any experience training someone.” Jeff reached the door. “Perhaps Gavin can ask another Charmer to come to Savannah and train with you.”
“Yeah.” Sierra gave Jeff a tight-lipped smile and sighed with relief when he left. Knowing he was one of the good guys didn’t make it any easier to be around him, not when she always felt his dismal Umbra aura that put a damper on her mood and bathed everything in a gloomy light. Perhaps it was best that Jeff wouldn’t be training her. Maybe Gavin could find an Ardere Charmer.
Gran’s flashing tablet at the kitchen island grabbed Sierra’s attention. Curiosity won over conscience and she unlocked the screensaver.
She had planned to have a quick peek, but that became impossible when she realized with whom Gran was corresponding: Lorna. As in the Lorna Windsor, the European regent.
With trembling fingers, Sierra scrolled to the top of the messages.
Subject: Heath’s ongoing investigation
Waldeburg: I deserve to know what has happened to my son.
Lorna: I agree and you will. Once the case is closed, his online file will be unlocked.
Waldeburg: I can’t wait. Lorna, please.
Sierra swallowed hard. Sometimes she forgot that it wasn’t just her who had lost a father. Gran had lost her son. Her only child.
Lorna: There’s nothing I can do.
Waldeburg: What about the hard copy?
Lorna: Hard copies don’t leave the headquarters.
Waldeburg: As a mother, I have a right to know what happened to my son. Lorna, Heath worked for you. He died on a mission you sent him on. The least you can do is let me see the file.
Lorna: Come to London with Sierra and we can discuss this further.
Waldeburg: No.
Lorna: You have no choice. I know your location. Louis knows your location. Others know or will soon know your location. Time is ticking. What will you do when an Umbra gang arrives at your doorstep?
Waldeburg: Give me a reason to trust you.
Lorna: Do you not believe me to be a competent regent?
Waldeburg: I do and that’s the problem. I think you’re too intelligent. I won’t allow you to use Sierra as a weapon.
Lorna: She’s eighteen. It should be her choice.
Sierra stared at the last line, agreeing that it should be her choice, especially when all Lorna asked for was that Sierra and Gran come to London. The regent wasn’t forcing anyone to sign a contract the way Louis had tried.
When Gran returned half an hour later, Sierra practically darted to the door.
“I want to go to London. I want to know what happened to Dad.”
Gran took a step back. Not replying, she deposited the groceries. “What’s going on?”
Sierra took a deep breath. Admitting she had been snooping would get her in trouble, yet the need to know, the need for closure, outweighed her fear. “I saw your messages to Lorna.”
“That was a private conversation. You shouldn’t have read it. How would you feel if I went through your personal items?”
Sierra dropped her hands to her sides. Quietly, she said, “This concerns me. You shouldn’t have kept it hidden from me.”
Gran sighed. “I’m trying to protect you, Sierra. Can’t you see?”
“One has to take risks in life.”
Gran shook her head. “Nothing you say will change my mind. We’re not going to London.” For the next few minutes, Gran washed the vegetables and unrolled the dough, ignoring Sierra and her protests.
“Fine. I’ll go to London by myself. I’m eighteen!” Sierra had enough of being reasonable and calm.
“You will do no such thing.”
There was a knock at the door, and then Gavin stepped across the threshold, his piercing gaze shifting between them. Before he could ask what was going on, or worse, take Gran’s side, Sierra stormed past him into the hallway. “Are you coming? We can’t train in here.”
Without a word, Gavin followed her out and unlocked his car.
“Where are we going?” Sierra asked a few minutes into the drive.
“Skidaway Island State Park. Lots of open space, perfect for learning to use your powers without concerns of spectators.”
Sierra stared out of the window. After the helplessness she had felt with Louis and the Umbra, she was eager to learn anything she could.
“You want to tell me what’s going on with you and Waldeburg?” Gavin asked, parking the car.
Sierra focused on her surroundings, pretending she hadn’t heard the question. Sure, it was childish, but she wasn’t in the mood for a second lecture. Her sneakers crunched as she made her way down the dirt road. She was glad Gavin was taking her toward the trees, away from the salt marsh and river, where something scaly that looked a lot like an alligator moved.
A bird squawked as they walked past the palm and pine trees. Gavin stopped at an oak and Spanish moss patch and fixated his full attention on Sierra. She inhaled sharply. If she wasn’t careful, she could lose herself in his turquoise eyes.
“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.” Gavin’s voice was low and soft, a caress across her skin.
“You want to help? Fine. Lorna has information about my father that she’ll only release if I come to London. I’m not saying I want to go, but I want to have a choice in the matter. At the very least, Gran should’ve told me.”
An emotion Sierra couldn’t decipher flitted across Gavin’s face. “I see,” he finally said. “Let’s train.”
Sierra huffed. So much for helping her.
“I want you to move this twig.”
Twenty tries later, the stupid piece of wood hadn’t moved one inch. Gavin’s suggestion to close her eyes, focus on her breathing, and push any thoughts besides the task out of her mind didn’t work. “I can’t do this. Maybe my powers were just a fluke.”
“Or maybe we have to work on your motivation.”
“How?”
Gavin shot her a grin and ascended into the air, his movement easy and effortless, as if flying was the most natural thing. Sierra gasped and stumbled backward, nearly tripping over a t
ree root. Knowing Dragoons could fly was one thing; seeing one do it, was on a whole different level. Gavin’s muscles flexed as he defied gravity. He was magnificent, almost like a god, especially when the sunlight fell on his sandy hair and illuminated his skin.
Crouching on a thick branch of a treetop, he tore a twig from it. Without warning, he hurled it straight at Sierra. Memories of the countless times a ball had hit her in physical education rushed through her mind. Screaming, she flung out her hands in front of her head, the gesture meant to protect her face. The twig stopped an inch from her palms. Through her fingers, she glanced at it, the realization sinking in. She had done it. She had actually used her telekinesis on command.
“Now move it.”
She gulped some much-needed air into her lungs and shifted her palms to the left. The branch followed. She directed it to the right, up and down. Gavin descended next to her. She made the wood float to the ground, as if it was a feather.
“See, it’s all about motivation.” Sierra scowled at Gavin. “Do you think you can lift it off the ground?” She tried for several minutes. Nothing happened. Finally, Gavin grabbed a handful of stones, rose back up in the air, and began flinging the pebbles at her. Sierra stopped the objects midair and then moved them around, playing with them. Each try made her faster and improved her control and range.
“Let’s see if you can lift something lighter.” Gavin dug out a crumpled piece of paper from his jeans pocket and put it on the ground.
Sierra focused, half expecting to fail, yet to her astonishment, the paper floated up a few inches before returning to the mulch.
“Good. That’s all for today. It seems it’s easier for you to manipulate objects that are already in motion. I’m sure, with time, you’ll be able to move static objects, and then we can work our way up to heavier objects.” Gavin smiled like he was proud of her, like he had enjoyed training her. The smile vanished quickly and his expressing shifted to solemn. “Be careful about losing control of your emotions. It can trigger your telekinesis on a larger scale or expose you to humans.”
“Do you ever lose control?”
Gavin thought for a beat. “I haven’t in a long time. It was different when my powers manifested.”
Fluidus Rising: A YA Paranormal Novel: (The Ardere Series Book1) Page 12