by Tully Belle
23
The car hit a small divot in road that caused it to lurch to the side. Ash’s face was stony and cold as he twisted the steering wheel back to straighten their position. Caran’s stomach churned with unease. She’d caused this and now she had to find a way of out it. After Ash had left her alone in her room she’d had time to think about what happened.
She’d been so sure that destroying dragons was the right thing to do that she never questioned why or what she’d done since joining Princess and that decision was weighing heavily on her. Dean’s death had changed her into something she didn’t like. Someone who made decisions from pain and emotion. Not once had she ever questioned the existence of dragons and where they came from.
“Are you nervous?” asked Ash.
“Yeah.” She sunk down on the seat and leaned her head back on the cushioned rest. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.”
“I have to talk to her about the job we’re doing.” He glanced over to her.
“What does my mom have to do with that?”
“She’s the client.”
Caran tried to figure out why her mother was the client that Dragonspark was working with. Something big must have happened for her to have requested their help. Her mother wasn’t one to let other’s do anything for her unless it was important. “What does she want you to do?”
“Right some wrongs.”
She looked out of the window. They were lower on the mountain now, and would reach the bottom soon. Then it was another twenty minute drive out to the farm. “Does she know I’m coming?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then this is going to be fun.” Caran rolled her eyes. “My mother hates surprises.”
“We’ll have to see about that.”
The rest of the trip was made up of more small talk. Both her and Ash were avoiding talking about the deep tension that was between them now. She knew it was up to her to fix that, but she wasn’t sure how to do it. Not yet. But she’d figure it out.
Caran’s mother was standing on the front porch as they drove up to the front of the house. Anne Rivers narrowed her eyes and took a long drag of the cigarette that she held precariously between two fingers. Her hand dropped to the side as the car pulled to a halt and she waved a puff of smoke away from the front of her face with the other.
She dropped the cigarette on the ground and stepped on it, twisting her foot side to side to extinguish the flame before stepping down to the ground.
“What’s she doing here?” asked Anne as she walked forward.
Caran wasn’t surprised that her first question was to Ash and not her.
“He bought me to see you,” said Caran.
Keeping her eyes on Ash and not addressing her, Anne asked, “Why?”
“She’s staying with us, as a guest,” said Ash. “And since we have business to discuss I thought it would be a good idea to bring her along to see you.”
Anne glanced sideways at Caran and huffed before turning on her heel and walking back toward the house. She stopped when she reached the porch. “Well come on then, I’ve made tea, it’s getting cold.”
The house was exactly as Caran remembered it. The walls had yellowed in parts, mainly around the hundreds of picture frames that covered the wall. No distinct pattern to the display, just random shots that had been taken over the years. Some of her as a child, some before she was born. Even one of her at her high school graduation.
“Cute hair,” said Ash. He was looking at one of her short hair mistakes. She cringed.
“I thought it looked good at the time.”
“It does look good. I wasn’t making fun of you.”
She looked at the photograph trying to see what Ash saw. She was so young then.
“Come on,” said Anne, calling them into the kitchen.
She’d set up the round wooden table in the middle of the room with a faded lace tablecloth. On top she’d set a white porcelain teapot and next to that homemade biscuits. Anne was placing an extra cup for Caran before sitting down.
Ash sat between them.
“What happened to your leg?” asked Anne. She lifted the teapot and poured the tea into Ash’s cup first, then hers, then finally her own.
Ash glanced at her. She could feel him waiting for her response.
“It’s fine. A small burn, that’s all,” said Caran
“Hmmph. Getting into something you shouldn’t have, probably. Fingers always get burned when you touch something you shouldn’t.”
Ash was forcefully stifling a grin and avoiding eye contact with either of them.
“Yes. I was somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be.”
“Always been curiouser than a cat, this one,” said Anne. She shook her head. “I should tell you about the time she wanted to find out what the ducks were floating on in the pond out there. Walked right into the drink expecting to find a ledge they were sitting on.” She dragged her tongue over her bottom lip. “Lord be mercy, we thought she was going to drown.”
“How old were you?” asked Ash. He was doing a good job at keeping a straight face.
“About six,” said Caran. “It wouldn’t have happened if I was being watched properly.”
“I was watching you. Don’t try and make this about me.” She grunted and shook her head. “Never takes responsibility.”
“I do take responsibility,” said Caran. “I’m not a child anymore.”
“Is that why you’re here? To convince me that you’re so grown up and can make your own decisions now.”
“Mom, I’m twenty four. I’ve been making my own decisions for six years.”
“I know that, don’t be sassy with me.” She pursed her lips tight. “And age don’t mean you’re all grown up.”
Caran resisted the urge to roll her eyes again, knowing it would just prove her mother’s point. “How have you been?”
“Oh, so now I get asked about myself? If you must know I’m good. I’m going to be even better soon once these boys help me out of my little problem.” She shifted her head to the side and looked at Ash. “Does she know our business or not?”
“Not yet,” said Ash.
“Hmmph. Thought so.” She took the cup and sipped it.
“I’m not here to pry into your business, mom. I just wanted to see how you are.”
Anne took a deep breath and looked between the two of them. “So are you two a thing now? Is this what you’ve come to tell me?”
Ash grinned. “We haven’t decided what we are yet. We’re taking things . . . slowly.”
Anne pursed her lips. “Well you’re a damn sight better than her last one. That’s no lie.”
24
Ash knew there was more in Caran’s past that she still hadn’t told him, but seeing her interact with her mother made him feel that he knew her just that little bit more. He had to admit that seeing them make sly remarks to each other cemented the fact that even though she pretended that she was a loner and didn’t need anyone, it was clear that she did.
Each word bought them closer even if neither was willing to admit it. Stubbornness clearly ran in the Rivers family. Not that he could claim that he and his brothers were immune to that personality trait. He leaned back on the chair, watching the two women talk, their eyes betraying their sharp words and giving in to how they felt about each other.
“How long are you staying?” asked Anne. “I can pull out another chop from the freezer if you’ll be here for dinner.”
“That’s very hospitable of you, Mrs. Rivers,” said Ash, “but we’ll be heading back to headquarters after we’ve gone over some minor details of the job.”
“I suppose you’ll need me to have a good alibi?” She pursed her lips into a tight cross. The wrinkles squeezing to make tiny lines toward her mouth.
“It won’t be necessary. It’ll be a quick job. In and out. I don’t foresee there will be any problems.” Caran watched them with interest, catching every word that passed between them. Her interest ga
ve him pause. “Caran, do you mind if I talk to your mother alone?”
“Oh, of course,” said Caran. She stood up abruptly and knocked the table causing the teacups to rattle in their saucer. “I’ll be outside?” She raised an eyebrow more to question if that would be acceptable.
Mac would not be happy with his decision to leave her alone, especially somewhere where she could easy escape, he would think Ash was being reckless and irresponsible. “Yes, we shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes.”
She nodded and turned on her heel. He watched her walk out, thinking about what would happen if she did leave. At least he would know then, but something told him that she wouldn’t. Still, he needed to keep her within eyesight. Just in case.
Ash turned back to Anne. “What do you think?”
“You’re talking about my Caran, aren’t you?” She narrowed her creased eyes. “You’re asking if she can be trusted to know all about your goings on.”
Ash held his smile. “I like her, but I have to be cautious, as you can understand. Tell me about her ex boyfriend, and anything you know about where she’s been this past year.”
“I’ll admit I don’t know it all. Her ex…” Mrs. Rivers spat the reference, “…was a piece of work, I’ll tell you. Always picking and manipulating her to get what he wanted. Pick, pick, pick.” She pinched her fingers together and pecked them into the air like a bird would peck at its dinner.
“Did she love him?”
“Hmmph.” Anne leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “I guess in her own way she did. But I could tell that she grew tired of him in the end. It was the accident that made her believe otherwise. Grief can make relationships seem more or less important when you look back through your memory and choose which ones to keep.”
Ash understood this. While he’d never lost a partner, his relationship with his mother had become strained in the end. Mac chose to believe that she loved them all. He and Lyson believed otherwise. Different perceptions and memories clouded what was true.
“And the past year?”
“I don’t know nothing about that. I figured she’d buried herself in her studies and gone back to work. That didn’t happen I guess.”
Ash frowned as he thought about what she might have done. Her motives, if they were clouded by grief, could have moved her do something reckless. He glanced out of the window and saw her pacing around the garden, stopping to brush her fingers against a bush, feeling the leaves under her fingertips. The sun behind her, gave a soft glow around her features.
“Okay. Thank you for that. Now about the council job. There are only a few things I need.”
“I wrote most of it down.” Anne stood up and shuffled over to the cabinet on the far wall. She slid a glass door open and reached in, grabbing a metal box. Opening the box she pulled out a piece of paper. “It’s got computer login’s for myself…” she looked up at him, “…but only use that if you have to. And one for the mayor himself.”
“You have the mayor’s computer login?” Ash was impressed. It would make this job much easier to shift any blame.
“I’ve sketched a map on the back.” She held up the paper, flipping it over. “It shows the locations of the servers and offices and exits.” She placed the paper onto the table, her face beaming with pride at her accomplishment.
“Good. I’ll give you the access details to the accounts we set up for you and your co-workers.”
“You’re not depositing it straight into our bank?”
“It’s not wise.”
“But it’s our money. Surely there won’t be any suspicion when the accounting says we already have it.”
“Still, it’s better that we have different accounts. Once the investigation dies down, you can transfer it to your own bank if you want, or you can keep it there. It’s up to you. I’ll distribute bankcards to access the new individual accounts once it’s done.”
“Acceptable.”
“Good.”
25
Her mother’s garden had come along in the past year. The roses were gone now, replaced by bushes that she assumed would flower brightly once spring came again. When she was a child she used to spend a lot of time out here, pretending that she could leap into the air and fly around the garden like the fairies that she once believed in.
Where was that girl now?
She didn’t blame Ash for not wanting her in on the plan. She would have done the same thing. Truthfully, they barely knew each other and it would be impulsive for him to trust her. Still, the fact that he didn’t was eating away at her.
A dull buzz against her leg froze her. She’d forgot she had bought her phone, almost forgotten about checking in with Tessa about the mission.
Keeping her back to the house she lifted it to her ear, carefully wedging it to her shoulder so she could keep both hands free.
“Tessa,” she said softly.
“I’ve been waiting for your call. We’ve all be so worried, Caran. Is everything going according to plan?”
What could she say? “This isn’t a good time.”
“Darling, there is never a good time. Is anyone watching you?”
“Yes.”
“Then I will be quick and get right to the point. I’m going to assume that you’ve found out something. Where are they holding them?”
Caran took a deep breath, her heart thumping against her chest. If Ash saw her on the phone right now he would never trust her. But if she hung up from Tessa it would cause even more problems. “There are no dragons,” she lied. “At least none that I could find.”
“Hmmm.” Tessa clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Tell me where you are staying.”
“I told you, I’m staying at Dragonspark.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that, but where exactly is it. Where are the headquarters?”
This wasn’t part of the mission and Caran had no intention of telling Tessa or anyone at Princess where Dragonspark was. These were good people. They didn’t need to be dragged into Princess’s mission to assassinate dragons.
“I told you, I can’t talk right now.”
“Are you holding out on me?” Tessa’s voice rose with incredulity. “Please don’t tell me that one romp in the sack has turned all of your good work to dust. Don’t be a fool. A kind word can’t always be trusted. The brothers are all very good at making you feel special, but at the end of the day you have to remember they use dragons for their own gain. They aren’t doing any greater good, they are simply hire for money thugs, and they use dangerous murderous monsters to do their dirty work.”
Caran walked further away from the house, trying to make it look like she was strolling leisurely through the garden. She picked a leave off a nearby bush and twirled it between her fingers. Each moment she was on the phone was another one closer to Ash finding out the real reason she had come here.
“Tessa, I told you. There are no dragons here.”
“That’s disappointing.”
“I have to go.”
“Caran, thank you for trying. I know how hard you work for us. I do appreciate it.” Tessa’s tone had changed to sweet and syrupy and Caran felt a sense of fear. Tessa knew Caran was lying to her. “How about you finish up and come back. We do miss you, ever so much.”
“I haven’t finished the mission.”
“Honey, it’s okay. I know you did your best.”
“Give me more time.”
“More time? Hmm, only if you’re sure you can complete it. I don’t want you to get into any trouble there. You’re not in any trouble are you?”
She considered how to answer. Princess had always had her back when she believed everything they told her. Now, something didn’t sit right. “Tessa, you’ve always been so good to me. I want complete this mission and find these dragons. Once I do, I’ll tell you where they are. I promise.” She dragged her tongue across her lip, hoping that Tessa believed her and it would buy her more time.
“Okay. Okay, yes of course
, I don’t know what I was thinking. You’re good Caran, you can do this.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you when I can.”
She hung up and placed the phone back in her pocket.
Behind her the scraping of the screen door slid open. She turned, holding her breath as she smiled at Ash standing there, trying not to give away how close he’d come to catching her on the phone.
She bit her lip and walked toward him.
Ash’s hands were in his pockets and he leaned against one of the beams, grinning. She let out a breath allowing the tension in her shoulders and neck to exhale with it.
Was Tessa right and Ash was playing her? It was possible, but as yet she had no reason not to believe him. Then again, she’d believed Tessa too, and look where that had got her.
She had a lot of thinking to do.
She slipped her hand in his and leaned against his side. “You look like you belong out here.”
“So do you.”
She chewed on her lip. Right now she didn’t know where she belonged, and time was running out.
26
They stepped down from the back porch onto the sun-dried ground. The rains would come in the next few months turning everything from brown to green again, but for now, the grass was still dried and sparse.
“Do you miss being here?” asked Ash.
“I do. I thought I’d become a city person, and I still like the idea of living there amongst so many people, surrounded by new things at every corner, but there has to be something said about how relaxed coming home feels.”
“I get that.” He slipped his hand in hers and gave her a squeeze. “You’re a lot like your mother, you know.”
“You mean I’m stubborn like her.” Caran grinned.
“Oh, you’re both that alright, but that’s not what I meant.”
“How are we similar then?”
“For starters, you’re both willing to admit when you’re wrong.”
Caran scoffed. “My mother does not admit to being wrong. Ever.”