by Sarah Noffke
“But you really loved her, not just because she was your mother but because you felt close to her.”
“Not loved,” I said, my temper flaring. “I love my mother, but all of this talk doesn’t change the fact that you and I are done.”
“Why? Because I’m a Middling and I’m going to leave you just like she did?!” Dahlia roared, tears suddenly streaming down her cheeks.
I stared at her with what I hoped looked like quiet contempt. It’s not at all what I felt for her right then, but she couldn’t read minds.
“Yes, Ren, I see too clearly what you’re doing here. In your delusional head you’ve decided that if we make a life together, that one day you’ll bury me just as your heartbroken father has had to do with your mother. And you’ll go on to live a miserable forty or more years alone.”
“That’s not what this is about. So many things are so inherently wrong with what you’ve just said. Firstly,” I said, holding up a single finger, “just the phrase ‘make a life together’ makes my skin crawl. People like me don’t make a life with other people. Secondly,” I ticked off another finger, “I will probably outlive you by way more than forty years. That is the thing here, Dahlia. You are a Middling. Did you think you really had a long-term future with a Dream Traveler? You will never understand me. Never enjoy my freedoms and powers. There’s a reason lions don’t mate with alley cats. They don’t belong together.”
“But your parents made it work,” she said, her tone pleading.
“No, they didn’t. Don’t you see? My mum is dead. My father lives on. That doesn’t work. And he gave up so much to be with her. But she was worth it, and you, Dahlia, are not.”
And there it was. The final blow. To force out that lie stole a piece of my blackened soul but it’s what she had to hear. Her eyes widened with disbelieving heartbreak. Her lips mashed together, pressing away the tears watering her eyes. She grabbed her purse and stalked past me without a single look. I sat there for a long time after I heard the door slam.
I thought that would be the end of that but of course, not for Dahlia. She had a stubborn nature to match mine. For three days she returned to my flat, beating at my door and leaving messages on my machine. She saw through the lies I was telling her. Dahlia saw why I’d pushed her away, and like an unstoppable crusader she was intent on breaking through my lies and making me accept her flawless case. Yes, we were perfect together. Yes, I loved her. And yes, one day I’d outlive her, but we would have had a happy life together. She would have broken down my walls as only Dahlia could do. She would have made me see this and accept her back. That’s why I did it. That’s why I made the final decision. I packed a single suitcase. Locked up my flat and left on a train to Paris. And I would not return to London for many decades. I left no clue to where I’d gone. I simply disappeared. Dahlia had no choice but to let me go. I was all but dead to her.
Chapter Sixteen
December 1996
Lyza was living in the south of France. I’d promised myself that I’d deal with her once I’d dealt with Dahlia. So a month after running from Dahlia, I lured my heartless sister to Paris using the one thing that I knew would work. Money. I told her that in Mum’s last will and testament she gave a sizable fortune and antique jewelry to Lyza. I told her that I’d hand it off to her if she met me in Paris. The part about having Mum’s jewelry was true but I was never going to turn it over to her.
Lyza met me in a cafe on Boulevard Saint-Germain. To my surprise she’d brought her “friends” with her. After university she’d fallen into a crowd of Dream Travelers. One might think that after not seeing each other for almost a decade we as siblings would hug when reunited. That person would be wrong in the case of Lyza and me. I simply lifted the corner of my lip in a sneer when I approached her table. She returned my expression with a similar one. She hadn’t changed in demeanor or appearance. Her hair was slicked back in a low librarian bun and she wore a starched white blouse with a blazer.
“Give me the money, Ren,” she said, extending her hand when I halted beside her table. Her British accent was gone.
I pulled out an empty chair and turned it around and straddled it. I took my time leaning on the back of the chair, not an ounce of my attention on my sister. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” I said, my eyes locked on the girl on Lyza’s right. She was young, not yet twenty. Her long black hair contrasted with her polished pale skin. Her eyes were large like that of a doll and almost obsidian black. She wasn’t breathtaking like Dahlia. She was stunning like the sun. It hurt to look at her and yet I couldn’t look away.
“No, Ren. You weren’t invited to join us,” Lyza said, her hand still extended. “Give me my inheritance now.”
“My name’s Ren,” I said, extending my hand to the girl. “I’m nothing like my sister at all. I’m loads of fun.”
“Ren, I’m warning you,” Lyza said, but her friend ignored her.
“I’m Allouette,” the girl said, extending her hand to me. She had a high-pitched voice and a thick French accent. After taking her hand I knew three things about her: She knew I was telepathic when I touched someone. Lyza had warned her. She also knew how to guard the thoughts I had access to. And lastly, she wanted me to touch her more than just this once.
A smile peeked at the corner of my mouth. “A pleasure meeting you, Allouette,” I said her name slowly and she smiled back, no doubt enjoying the way her name sounded with my Estuary accent.
Lyza shot a fuming look at Allouette and then at me. “Ren, I don’t have the time for this. I want what belongs to me. Give me my inheritance.”
I looked at her briefly. And sharply said, “No.” Then I turned my attention to the man on the other side of my sister. “And who might you be?” I said.
The man was regarding me with an amused glare. I don’t have a homosexual bone in my body, but if I did then I would definitely jump that chap’s bones. His jet black hair was slicked back and he wore a suit that complemented his broad shoulders. He blinked at me slowly, his crystal blue eyes taking me in.
“I’m Chase,” he said in a silky voice.
“Pleased to meet you, Chase,” I said, extending my hand to him. His eyes fell on it but he didn’t take it.
“You as well,” Chase said. I knew then that Chase and Allouette were powerful Dream Travelers. What I didn’t know then, and what I learned later, was I’d just met the only Dream Traveler in the world more powerful than me. Chase knew from my sister what my powers were, but a quick perusal into the working of my mind told him that he might have found someone to finally rival his skills. I felt him there. It was a strange sensation. It’s what I’d done to people a million times, but most never felt my invasion. I sure as hell sensed Chase in my mind though. I’d never had the trespassing done on me and it felt dirty. It was the technique I used on someone to determine how their mind worked and how to control them if I wished. But Chase wasn’t planning on controlling me. He was sizing me up.
I stood from the table, flipped the chair around, and sat back down. Then I leaned across the table, daring to put inches between me and Mr. Gorgeous. “I think you should buy me a drink before you do that again. It’s only fair,” I said.
A slow smile spread on his face. “Well, I’d invite you to explore my mind too but I’m certain you won’t get through my guards,” he said in a smooth alluring voice, no accent.
I narrowed my eyes at him and quickly learned he was bloody right. I couldn’t get into his head. It wasn’t like it was with Dahlia, where my powers didn’t work on her. I suspected that my powers would actually work on Chase but there was a giant steel-like door that was blocking me.
“Ren, you may think this whole thing is entertaining, but my friends don’t like antics like yours,” Lyza said. “So save yourself the embarrassment and give me my money.”
From the way Allouette was dragging her toe up and down my leg under the table I think she was enjoying a lot of things about me. I quickly learned that
I could get into her head but it didn’t appear I’d need to work very hard to get her to take off her clothes later. I wasn’t over Dahlia. I’d never be over her. But I was a man and I had a stone wall between emotions and sex.
I turned my focus on my sister. “You probably think I’m going to drag this out. That I’m going to make you sit through an hour or two of me abusing you with long diatribes because you were a bitch to our mum our whole lives,” I said, casually lacing my fingers together before resting them on the tabletop and continuing. “You might think that I’m going to berate you for not granting a dying woman her last request. And then you might think that after I’ve said my piece I’m going to hand over your inheritance. The first part is absolutely going to happen. I have a few hundred insults I want to throw at you. But guess what, Lyzie? When I’m done you’re still not getting a fucking pound.”
“What?!” She slammed her hand on the table. That’s when I spied a gaudy engagement ring on her bony finger. “You can’t keep my inheritance from me,” she said, her eyes bulging. Beside her Allouette and Chase were watching this with all amusement and zero sympathy for my sister. Real friends for sure.
“Thing is, Lyza, I can. I can do anything I like. Isn’t that marvelous?” I said.
Her nostrils flared. “Ren, give me my money.”
“There’s no money,” I said with a satisfied smile. “I lied. Sue me.”
“What?!” She stood from the table, leaning both hands on it and looking like she was about to reach across and strangle me.
I pulled out a silver pocketknife, extended the blade casually, and began cleaning my nails, not the least bit flustered. “Sit, Lyza, and I’ll make you a deal.” I flicked my eyes up to her. “I’m really so very fair, aren’t I?” I said.
Lyza was shaking as she stared down at me.
“I zink you should hear him out,” Allouette said, her words hard to understand covered in her thick French accent.
“Your friend is smart. You should listen to her,” I said, returning my focus to cleaning my nails. I hadn’t figured out how I was going to exact my revenge on Lyza. I wasn’t going to fulfill any deal with her but I needed to figure out the best way to hurt her one last time. Finally she sat back in her chair.
“What’s the deal?” she asked, her voice trembling with anger.
“Mum did leave you all her antique jewelry. There’s several expensive pieces, as you know. And I will give them to you.”
“If…” she said.
I raised a pleased eyebrow at her. “You know me so very well.”
“Unfortunately I do,” she said.
Lyza didn’t have powers like me or her companions. She could never support herself without other people’s money. And I knew she was seriously going to consider any proposition I offered. I also suspected Lyza needed a serious chunk of money to buy a wedding gown or book an expensive reception or buy plastic surgery so she didn’t look so bloody awful.
“I will hand over the jewelry to you if you travel to Peavey and apologize to Pops,” I said.
“What?! Why would I do that?” Her hands were shaking on the table. Chase extended his hand and laid it on hers. She gave him a grateful smile.
“Because, Lyzie, you’ve made his life hell. Blimey, you make everyone’s life hell just by your existence.” I gave Chase a look. “You’ve been warned. You should know that my sister is a soulless bitch who will drain you of the very spirit in your soul.”
“Ren, shut your mouth,” Lyza said.
Chase patted her hand before leaning back in his seat. He was a powerful man, I could tell by the way he held himself. “I’m all too aware of Lyza’s shortcomings,” he said. “But as you’re probably aware I have many methods of making people behave in ways that please me.”
“I am aware,” I said. “And I’m also aware we share this method of making people cooperate with us. And maybe your mind control will make it so you can stomach my sister, but you know you could still do much better than her.”
“Ren!” she screamed so loud people at other tables jerked their heads at us. “That’s enough. We are leaving,” she said, looking at Allouette and then Chase. From where Allouette’s foot was resting in my lap she didn’t look like she was going anywhere.
Chase’s gaze was firmly on me. “Yes, I could in some ways do better than your sister, but in other ways I can’t. She’s all too aware that I’m with her because she has pure Founders’ blood in her.”
“Come on, let’s go,” she said, grabbing Chase’s arm, a look of terror in her eyes as she pulled at him. He did rise with her.
“Founders’ blood?” I said. There were only a handful of Dream Travelers who had pure Founders’ blood. The pure lineages of the first Dream Traveler race. Founders were exceptionally powerful. “You’re right that Pops has Founders’ blood,” I said as Chase pushed in his chair. Lyza was desperately pulling him away, a look of horror in her eyes. He turned to leave with her as I yelled out, “But our mum was a Middling.”
Chase halted.
Oh yes, as I knew I would, I’d found my way to exact my revenge on Lyza. It actually was too easy. She had always lied about everything. I should have known she was lying to get through life then.
Chase turned and regarded me for a full five seconds. “What did you just say?”
Beside him Lyza had her mouth pinched and a look of murder on her face.
“Oh, you thought that Lyza was a pure blood?” I said, a sneaky grin on my face. “Hate to break it to you, but your fiancée is a mutt. Hope that’s not an issue.”
Chase turned and looked at Lyza. “Is that true?” he said, and her bottom lip quivered.
“I have half Founders’ blood. That’s what you want, right, is to marry someone with Founders’ blood?” she said, her voice desperate. Her eyes panicked. My sister was utterly vibrating with anxiety. It was a beautiful thing to witness.
“No, I want to marry someone with pure Founders’ blood and you know that. And you’re half Middling?” he said with disgust. “That’s unacceptable.” Chase yanked Lyza’s hand up and grabbed the ring off her hand. The action was a little brutal but nothing my sister didn’t deserve. “Get out of my sight,” he said.
“But Chase,” Lyza pleaded. My sister for as lousy a gift as she had, was still practiced at keeping her thoughts guarded. This was probably the reason Chase, the mind invader, didn’t know her half-Middling status until I revealed it.
He lowered his voice and when he spoke the hairs on the back of my neck actually rose. “If I ever see you again then I will make you hang yourself, is that clear?”
Lyza nodded, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
“Now you probably want to tell your brother off but that’s not going to happen,” Chase said in a slow deliberate voice. “You are going to quietly turn around and leave this cafe.” She stared at him for a few long chilling seconds. “Now,” he said in a harsh whisper.
Dutifully Lyza turned and walked out of the cafe. To my surprise she didn’t once whip around to stare at me with disgust. Right then I knew my sister was madder at me than ever before. I had succeeded in ruining her. It didn’t feel good, but it also didn’t bring me a smidgen of remorse.
Chase turned when she was gone, a brutal look in his eyes. Allouette erupted with a loud cackle when he took a seat. Her foot was still bouncing in my lap. “Zat was zee best show ever. Ren, you a simply perfect!” she said, clapping with glee.
I regarded her like she was a new species. “Wasn’t she your friend?”
She laughed again. “Oh, I don’t have friends. I have people I use and zen I allow to use me,” she said, nestling her toes deeper into my lap. “I’m a mutt too. It’s vhy Chase von’t have me.”
“You just exposed your own sister. That was quite heartless,” Chase said, looking impressed.
“As I said before she’s a soulless bitch,” I said simply. “I wouldn’t so much as offer her an ounce of food if she were starving.”
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��So you were never going to give her the jewels, were you?” Chase said, a proud smile on his face.
“Of course not. I only came here to find a way to punish Lyza, which was incredibly too easy. My sister is really an idiot if she thought I’d make an out of the way trip to help her,” I said.
“Well, I’m grateful that you had the plan for revenge, because you saved me from breeding with a half-blood,” Chase said. “I would have had to strangle those children.”
“You sound like excellent father material,” I said dryly.
He regarded me for several seconds. I felt him skimming my mind, but I had it mostly locked down then. Still Chase was searching me. Measuring me up. “So, do you want to join our society, the Voyageurs? I’d have a job for you,” Chase said, folding his hands on the tabletop.
“What do the Voyageurs do?” I’d heard of them, knew they were a secret society of Dream Travelers and that Lyza had just been kicked out of their ranks, but that was the extent of my knowledge on them.
“We use our powers to manipulate people,” Chase said.
“I already do that,” I said, tucking the pocketknife away.
“You take people’s money, but what we take from them they can’t get back,” Chase said plainly.
I raised a curious eyebrow.
“We take their very life force. Their consciousness,” he said in an even tone.
“What do you do with it?” I asked, even more curious.
“Convert it to power,” Chase said.
“What do you do with this power?”
“Whatever we want,” Chase said with an arrogant shrug of his shoulders. “Make ourselves younger, more beautiful, or increase our skills.”
I ran my eyes over his face that was flawless in every way. His nose was the perfect size. His eyes the perfect distance apart and the most striking shade of blue. Then I switched my focus to Allouette. She appeared young, but she had a confidence that made me think she was much older. I grabbed her foot in my lap and tossed it to the side. A Cheshire cat grin spread on her face. And then her toes were back, dragging their way up my trousers. This girl wouldn’t be easily dissuaded.