The Twelfth Keeper Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Belle Malory

  The glass fogged up as if it had been chilled in the refrigerator. Water spilled out, then froze in mid-air. Kennedy jumped back, clutching the leather of her chair.

  The water was frozen solid.

  One long stream of ice.

  A moment later, Alanna turned the glass over and placed it into Kennedy’s unsteady hands. Kennedy ran her fingers over the cold crystal and traced over the stream of ice.

  Holy mother of God. Is this really happening?

  Colton lifted his hand, palming it over Kennedy’s fingers and the glass. Warmth radiated from his skin, and the water melted. It trickled its way back into the glass, transforming into liquid again. After a moment, the water grew so hot it boiled. Kennedy dropped the hot crystal glass, and its contents spilled across the rug.

  Surprisingly, it didn’t break.

  “Stars, Colton!” Alanna screeched, wiping frantically at her pant leg. “Dat water burned me, you fool.”

  “I’m sorry, Lanna. Wasn’t expecting her to drop it.”

  “’Course she would drop it. You made it too hot! You always make it too hot!”

  Colton’s eyes grew remorseful. “I haven’t hurt you badly, have I?”

  Alanna stopped glaring at him and shook her head. “I’m fine,” she muttered. “You know the water would never hurt me badly.”

  Kennedy sat back in her seat, feeling her mouth form an O.

  Alanna referred to water as if it were a living thing—as if it were a freaking person.

  Each breath was harder to take than the last. The room was spinning too. Slowly at first, then more quickly, reminding her of last New Year’s Eve. She and Hunter had snuck a bottle of red wine from Jake’s liquor cabinet, and got themselves incredibly wasted. First time for her, getting drunk. They sat on lawn chairs out in Hunter’s backyard, staring up at the swirling night sky, stars angrily spinning up above.

  Kennedy couldn’t keep up with everything going on around her, couldn’t tell if this was all part of some twisted dream or reality. It was like she was stuck in a hall of mirrors, the kind at a summer carnival. She couldn’t figure out which path was real, and which one would get her out of there.

  Someone stuck a brown paper bag in front of her face, the paper crinkling around her lips. “Breathe into it,” Professor Mason ordered.

  His tone wasn’t the kind to disobey.

  Kennedy held the bag, steadily breathing in and out. Soon, her breaths became less rapid, less strained. Good thing, too. For a moment there, she thought she was going to pass out.

  “Better?” he asked.

  Kennedy nodded.

  The professor seemed to relax. “Good. Just keep breathing into the bag. Kept one handy in case this happened. You never know how the news will be received. Some take it like they’ve known all along, and others act like the world’s ending.” He put out his cigar, then sat up a bit straighter. “Anyway, I know it’s hard to swallow, but there’s more.”

  More?

  Enough was enough, and she was done for the day. Watching people freeze and boil water using sheer will was just about all she could handle.

  “Oh come now,” Professor Mason scolded. “Stop with the bug eyes. That was the worst of it. I promise, the rest should be easier.”

  She doubted it, but allowed him to continue anyway. No point in arguing the issue when it took most of her energy just to breathe.

  “This part is about you,” he said, “and how you fit in with Alanna and Colton. And your place among all of the keepers, really.”

  Kennedy removed the bag from her lips. “Don’t tell me you think I’m capable of doing that.” She pointed at the spilled demon-glass.

  “Of course not.”

  Kennedy’s shoulders relaxed, that of course not soothing her inside. Somewhat.

  “We believe you’re capable of much, much more.”

  She should’ve known it wouldn’t last.

  A smile formed beneath Professor Mason’s beard, his tanned skin wrinkling around his eyes. “Your sign, the twelfth sign, is a mutable one. Which means that you, kiddo, have the ability to manipulate water.”

  “As in moving it?”

  “Sure,” he said. “Moving it. Shaping it. Perhaps even transforming it.”

  Kennedy inspected the professor’s expression, trying to determine whether or not he was joking. Several long moments of silence passed.

  His face remained deadly serious. So were Alanna’s and Colton’s.

  Kennedy stood and looked down at them, needing that tiniest bit of control. “Okay, I’ve humored you all long enough. This omnipresent idea that I’m Suzie-Freaking-X Woman has to end. I’m not your twelfth keeper. Never was. I was just playing along until you figured out otherwise. I’m not a protector, either. What can I say,” she held her hands up, breathing out dramatically to stress how ridiculous it sounded. “Just not my thing. And furthermore, I certainly cannot move water.”

  Professor Mason had listened calmly, and after Kennedy was done, leaned back in his seat. She was surprised he didn’t argue back. Actually, now that she had a grip on herself, she could see he was thinking about what she said.

  “You should take the rest of the day off,” Professor Mason eventually said. “To digest everything. You can start training tomorrow when it’s not so heavy.”

  “No, no.” Kennedy shook her head. “A person can’t digest something that isn’t true.”

  “I believe you believe that,” he said. “But here are the facts. You’re A, here because many people think differently. And B, you’re not going anywhere. At least not anytime soon. So there’s only one thing left to agree on, really.”

  “That I have to listen to everyone else?”

  “No, let’s simply agree that you’ll keep an open mind. Take the day, think things over. Go take a long, hard look at that private pool in your apartment.”

  Oh yeah. The pool.

  Kennedy swallowed back a groan. Clearly, it had meant more than a nice gesture. One of only three pools, he’d said. Bet she could guess which other lucky people owned a pool.

  Ironic getting so far away from the ocean only to have to deal with more water. Kennedy inwardly sighed.

  The view outside the office window was almost familiar. The black void and white stars transformed into another ocean. Endless depths. No where to breathe.

  Olympus really wasn’t so different from Amelia Island. Other than having the comforts of her family and friends nearby, the surroundings were the same.

  She was still trapped on an island. Except up here, no one could save her from drowning.

  Professor Mason shooed her out of the room a few moments later, his gruff voice telling her that everything would work out. Soon enough she’d know that, and not to worry.

  As they were leaving, Colton said, “You’re lucky, you know.”

  Lucky? That was the last word she’d use to describe herself.

  “Days off don’t happen very often around here.” He held the door open for her. “So don’t take it for granted.”

  Kennedy headed down the hallway in a daze, retracing her steps back from the way Professor Mason had led her.

  “Lucky.” She snorted. “What an idiot.”

  ~ ~

  Kennedy dazedly made her way through the narrow hallway leading back to the lobby, still thinking about everything that happened back in Professor Mason’s office. She was so distracted and wrapped up in her own head she didn’t notice someone was coming from the opposite direction.

  Phoenix was a few feet ahead. Black eyes met hers as they closed in on each other. Her pace slowed involuntarily, invisible shackles tied to her feet.

  It was like this every time he was near; her whole body shut down in his presence. What was it about him that was so…alluring?

  She stopped, waiting for Phoenix to make his way around her. Except he didn’t. He stopped directly in front of her.

  Kennedy politely stepped aside, giving him plenty of room to go around. Head lowered, sh
e waited with her back against the wall. He would disappear soon and she would be able to breathe again.

  His feet moved. But his legs only turned, repositioning. She looked up to see he was right there facing her. Again.

  Only a breath away.

  Kennedy couldn’t bring herself to look away. The sharp lines of his face, softened by full, perfectly sculpted lips, so uniquely handsome. The way his straight nose suggested superiority, yet was offset by hints of dimples at the corners of his mouth. If he were to smile, it would be devastating.

  Wait. Why was he just standing there—staring?

  His eyes roamed over her as if he had every right to look. Granted, she was doing the same thing, but only because he wasn’t moving. And the way he was looking at her—Kennedy felt like she was being devoured.

  Why wasn’t he leaving?

  She wanted to ask him, but the words were lodged in her throat. She supposed she could walk away, squeeze through the small space between them and hightail it down the hall.

  But she didn’t move. Couldn’t move was more like it.

  A wavy tendril of hair had fallen across her forehead. Phoenix reached for the strand, pulling his hand back at first, like he was afraid to touch her. A moment passed, and he reached for it again, tucking it behind her ear.

  Kennedy held her breath.

  His warm fingertips lingered there, on the side of her face, slowly brushing over her cheek. Roaming down the curve of her neck.

  Her heart hammered against her chest. Pounding to get out. Kennedy tried to breathe. Difficult. Very difficult.

  Being this close to Phoenix terrified her. His touch sent tingles down her spine, paralyzing her with fear. Yet, at the same time...it thrilled her.

  She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the wall. Trying to will the air back into her lungs.

  She should walk away.

  Nothing about this situation was making any sense. Normal people didn’t fawn over complete strangers in empty hallways. Phoenix Jorgensen wasn’t exactly a normal person, but still.

  Even with her eyes closed Kennedy felt him coming closer. His warm breath next to her ear, sending a wave of shivers through her body. He hovered, right beside her face, their lips were almost touching.

  If he would come just a tiny bit closer, maybe it could be as intoxicating as her dream.

  Kennedy swayed forward, then abruptly opened her eyes.

  Nothing but air. Phoenix was gone.

  Twenty-Two

  “Where is it?” Kennedy demanded. She stormed around her apartment, checking every table, opening drawers, and searching every nook and cranny in the place. The stupid thing was nowhere to be found.

  “Pardon me, but what exactly are you looking for?”

  Kennedy paused. She hadn’t noticed Matilda was in the room with her.

  “What were those things people used before braces came along?” she asked, opening a kitchen cabinet. “Telegraphs, tele-something.”

  “Telephones?” Matilda supplied for her.

  “Yeah, that’s it. Do we have one?”

  “Unfortunately, no. Is your brace not working properly? I’m capable of basic repairs, you know.”

  A laugh escaped the back of Kennedy’s throat. She plopped down onto the nearest chair. “Works just fine,” she said miserably, flicking the metal bracelet with her fingers with a resounding cling. “Except that I can’t call anyone back on Earth.” Which made it pretty damned useless as far as she was concerned.

  “Yes, that’s the thing about living in space. Signals only reach so far.” The robot’s metal arms rested on its hips. “Darn technology. If only I could call my cousin Betty who lives in Melbourne. Last I heard, she’d been refurbished.”

  “Was that an attempt at humor?”

  “Suppose so.”

  “It was a bad one.”

  “Thanks, cupcake. I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

  Kennedy sighed. “You don’t understand. I need to talk to my mom. My family. Hunter.”

  “I understand perfectly. You wish to speak with people who are important to you.”

  “Yes. Exactly.”

  “I believe there is a communicator located on Level 3. You could use that one.”

  Kennedy almost rolled her eyes. Wonderful. Since she certainly wasn’t about to walk back into that circus show anytime soon, she’d have to wait until later to talk to anyone.

  Dragging herself from her chair, she headed towards the bedroom. This day needed to be over. And soon. Matter of fact, she already wanted tomorrow to be over too. Tomorrow, and every single day it took for DOE to figure out their mistake.

  Biting her bottom lip, Kennedy dismally realized there might be many more days she would want to be over before they ever began.

  “Can I be of any assistance?” Matilda stood in the doorway, being intrusive again.

  “Sure,” Kennedy said, circling the bed. “Tell me where that button is. The one you pressed last night to make me fall asleep.”

  Matilda rolled into the room. “Is everything okay?”

  “No. I’m pissed off because there’s no telephone. I’m stuck here in the middle of space. I’m not tired, but I want to sleep. Maybe forever.”

  “Yes, I can see how those things would be difficult.”

  The metal footboard showed no signs of any buttons. Kennedy squatted on the carpet and ducked her head under the mattress.

  “It’s not under there.”

  “So tell me where it is already.”

  “Why don’t we make a deal,” Matilda suggested. “You tell me about your day, and I’ll tell you where the button is.”

  Kennedy considered Matilda’s offer. Not fair of the robot to make a deal out of her frustration, but escape through sleep was too tempting to pass up. “Fine. What do you want to know?”

  “Whatever you’d like to tell me. I’m programmed with owner-android confidentiality, you know.”

  “Awesome,” she replied dryly. “Does that mean you have a built-in set of shrink skills? Are you going to ask how I feel about everything?”

  “No.”

  Kennedy wasn’t sure if she trusted Matilda, but what could it hurt? After all, the robot technically belonged to her now. Not that it seemed to do anything Kennedy wanted. Like answering simple questions. Oh no, it would rather bargain with her instead.

  Might as well play along, she supposed. The sooner she started talking, the sooner she’d find out where the sleep agent was.

  “I went to Level 3,” she began. “Professor Mason took me on this grand tour of the place. And afterwards, he sat me down and explained what is expected of me.”

  “Which is?”

  “Performing miracles.”

  “Ah, so they wish you to birth babies.”

  Kennedy smiled. “No.”

  “Cure cancer?”

  “I wish that were the case,” she said. “But no. They think I can manipulate water. With my mind.”

  It would’ve been nice if Matilda could display reactions. She’d love to witness the android’s right about now.

  “Explain water manipulation to me. Several different things come to mind.”

  “Well, their version is of me moving it.”

  “With your mind?” Matilda repeated.

  “Yep.”

  “How ridiculous!”

  Kennedy jumped, startled by Matilda’s squeal. It sounded like the thing blew a freaking circuit.

  “It’s insane, expecting one to move water with only the use of their mind. Logically, it doesn’t make sense.”

  She nodded, wholeheartedly agreeing with the robot. “Glad you think so. I figured you’d be on their side.”

  “Why would I take sides with a bunch of idiots?”

  “I dunno,” she said, shrugging. “They bought you for me. I assumed they controlled certain aspects of how you operate.”

  “The officials of DOE didn’t create me. A group of scientists did, who, by the way, are of sound mi
nd.”

  Kennedy sighed again. “Believe me, it’s nice, you being on my side and all,” she said. “But the thing is, I found out it’s not completely impossible, this water manipulation business. Not for keepers anyway.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They can freeze and melt water with their minds, which makes it kinda hard for them to believe we’re not birds of a feather.”

  “Really?” Matilda sounded skeptical. “And you saw them do this?”

  Kennedy nodded. “With my own eyes.” She saw it all again. Water freezing in midair, then melting back into her glass within seconds. If she told this to anyone back on Earth, they’d stick her in the nearest asylum straight away.

  “This is difficult for me to process,” Matilda admitted. “I’m a free-thinker, but this goes outside the boundaries of my reasoning.”

  Trust me, you’re not the only one.

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “Aren’t you supposed to give me advice or something?”

  “Do you want advice?”

  Kennedy thought about that. “Yes,” she said, she really did.

  “Well, I suppose you should humor them. Train everyday. Make an honest effort. The only way to disprove a hypothesis is to produce results. Or in your case, no results.”

  “I thought of that too, but the problem is it still leaves me stuck here.”

  “Or it can be your quickest ticket home.”

  “I suppose so.” Closing her eyes, she thought of home. Not even two whole days, and she already missed it so much. “Hey, Matilda?”

  “Yes?”

  “Where’s the button?”

  “You haven’t given up on that, huh?”

  “No. I want to sleep.”

  A long silence passed between them. “A deal’s a deal.”

  “Nice to know you’re an honorable robot.”

  Matilda chose to ignore that comment, and pointed with her metal arm. “It’s just there, on the corner.”

  “Thanks.”

  Kennedy was happy to have found an escape, even if it was only a temporary one.