by Belle Malory
Except it was somehow having the opposite affect.
And then there was Hunter. He was becoming someone she may not even recognize by the time she saw him again, which was an incredibly heartbreaking thought.
“God, Kenn. This is not how I envisioned this conversation going,” Reagan said softly. “I didn’t mean to dump bad news on you all at once. Take a few deep breaths. You look a little pale.”
Kennedy breathed in, slowly letting the air back out before she spoke again. “It’s okay, Rea. I have some bad news of my own, but we’ll save it for when Mom gets here. Tell me something good in the meantime. How have you been?”
“That I can do, and I actually have good news.” She grinned. “I got a job.”
“Really? Where?”
“The little ice cream parlor down in the historic district. The one we went to on your last visit. I love working there. It gets me out of the house, gives me extra cash, and I’ve made a few friends. Also, my supervisor is a freshman in college, and he’s like, super hot.” She fanned herself, and Kennedy grinned.
“Sounds like someone is getting over Dean just fine these days.”
“Dean, who?” Reagan teased. “If you’re referring to the jackass who dumped me so he could play the field once he got to college, I couldn’t care less about him.”
“Glad to hear it. So have you told Mom about your plans to stay at home yet? Summer is right around the corner…”
“We discussed it, yes.”
“How’d that go?”
Kennedy knew how proud Ashley was of Reagan for getting accepted into an Ivy League school. She braced herself, preparing to hear the worst—screaming fits of anger, long lectures of responsibility, a total breakdown.
“Surprisingly well. She told me she would support whatever decision I made, and get this. She even seemed a little excited.”
“Excited?”
What. The. Crap.
“Crazy, right?”
“Yes, crazy. As in has the woman lost her damn mind?”
Reagan grinned. “I swear it’s like you want me to be in trouble.”
“Because I hoped she’d talk some sense into you,” she grumbled. “You’re missing out on a great opportunity.”
“Could be she feels she already lost one…” Reagan grimaced, her words drifting off at the end. “Never mind.”
Kennedy felt the rest of that sentence like a blow to her stomach. “She already lost one daughter? Is that what you were going to say?”
“I only meant that Mom hadn’t been prepared to lose you when she did, and I think it changed her perspective…I keep putting my foot in my mouth,” Reagan sighed. “They should’ve never let me talk to you before they got home.”
As much as she hated hearing it, Kennedy knew deep down it was probably true. If DOE had never found her, she would’ve continued living at home for the next several years. After high school, she probably would’ve gotten a job, signed up for classes at the local community college, and helped Ashley with Lincoln. But when DOE showed up on their doorstep, those plans went down the drain. After Kennedy moved to Olympus, her mom faced the prospect of losing both of her daughters.
“I’m glad Mom has you,” she said after several long moments. “Really, I mean that.”
Reagan swung around at the sound of the back door opening. Kennedy stilled, gripping the arms of her chair. Now that her entire family had arrived, she was once again struck by the weight of the reason for this conversation.
“We didn’t miss her, did we?” Ashley called, and Kennedy could hear the whine of the kitchen door’s hinges.
“No, she’s on with us now.”
Ashley appeared, carrying Lincoln on her hip and Jake at her side. All their faces lit up when they saw Kennedy’s image on the screen.
“Hey, baby girl,” Ashley greeted her happily.
“Kenny!” Lincoln squealed out of an orange-stained mouth. Her perfect little brother with his chubby cheeks and adorably crooked grin made her wish she was there to swing him around and smother him with kisses. Every time he recognized her, it felt like a tug on her heart. He was still so little, and she had this lingering fear that he might forget her. She was glad he hadn’t yet.
Jake waved in the background. “Hey, Kennedy.”
“Hello, everyone,” she said, waving back. “It’s so good to see you guys.”
Ashley set Lincoln down, and he toddled out of sight while she and Jake joined Reagan at the table.
“It’s nice to see your face,” Ashley said, her voice heavier now. “Explain to us what the heck is going on up there. When I saw you on the waves the other day, I had a panic attack. Sometimes I forget why you’re there…it scared me.”
Strength and determination radiated from Ashley at all times, which meant it had to be an especially difficult moment for her.
“That’s what I need to talk to you guys about,” she said, steeling her voice. She sat up straighter in her chair. “It’s been kind of crazy around here since the Sae-yer attack. If we’d had time to prepare, they wouldn’t have made it as far as they did. DOE wants to make sure they never get another chance.”
“Did you see one of them?” Ashley asked warily. Jake took her mother’s hand in his, squeezing it.
She shook her head. “Only their machines, and please relax, Mom. I’m fine.” Kennedy thought again about the way she separated the poison from the water supply. She wished she could tell Ashley about that, wished she could assure her that she was capable of defending herself. “I know you don’t understand it, but there’s a reason why I’m a keeper. I’m stronger than it seems.”
“But the Chinese girl, she didn’t make it. What if that had been you?” Ashley’s eyes began to well.
Oh God.
If her mom started crying, she’d never make it through this. She looked away from the screen for a moment. “We found Fang surrounded by their bots after we deactivated them. She was brave, Mom. Maybe a little too brave…but it could’ve been much worse for everyone involved.” They found out later that Fang tried to take on dozens of bots all by herself, a reckless move, and one she paid for with her life.
“Were you close to her?”
Kennedy smiled bitterly. “I wish I had been, but no, I didn’t know her very well.”
“What about that boy, the one who came to visit you here at the house? They said he and another were hurt during the attack. How is he?”
“Phoenix is fine,” she lied for Ashley’s sake. She didn’t know whether or not that was true, but it was what she preferred to believe, and telling her mother otherwise wouldn’t do either of them any good.
“The whole thing took everyone by surprise. It’s all everyone talks about.”
“It’s all they talk about here too. DOE has an action plan in place, which brings me back to the main reason I needed to speak to you guys.” She pressed her lips together, swallowing. “They’re sending me away on a mission.”
Ashley raised a dark brow. “A mission? Where?”
“To a planet that has experience with this type of thing. They’re going to train me—”
“How long?”
Kennedy took another unsteady breath. “I should be back before next Christmas.”
Ashley shook her head. “Absolutely not.”
“Mom, I have to do this.”
“Where is that Mason guy? Bring him in here so I can speak to him. I’ll be damned if he thinks he’s sending my seventeen-year-old daughter away from this planet for an entire year. I’m still your mother, Kennedy Mae Mitchell—”
There it was. The middle name reinforcement.
“—and you’re not leaving. Do you understand me?”
Kennedy tried to be patient. “Mom, I know this is scary for you. It’s scary for me too. There’s a lot you don’t know, a lot I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. You’re just going to have to trust me on this. I have to go.”
“Why?” Ashley said. “Why do you have to do this? I don’
t get it, Kennedy. You’re a little girl, not a space explorer. I thought they said you’re supposed to defend Earth. If the Sae-yers come back, how does it help to send you away?”
“I’d be back before they could make the trip—”
“No, just stop. I’m not okay with this.” Her stubborn refusal was clipped. That was the end of the conversation.
It was the last straw. She could put on a front for everyone else, but not with her family. Holding her hands to her temples, she blinked, feeling tears spring to her eyes. “You’re not making this easy for me…is this really how you want to say goodbye?”
Ashley pushed up from her seat, knocking her chair back. Jake caught it before it fell over. “Excuse me? This is supposed to be a goodbye?”
“Well, yeah. I’m supposed to leave as soon as they can get a ship ready.”
“No, no, no! Where’s Mason? I need to speak to him this minute.”
She tightened her hold on the arms of her chair, catching the way it turned her knuckles white. Dealing with Ashley had never been easy, especially when she had her mind made up. “Mom, I’m doing this. I know you don’t like it, but I need you to understand this is my choice.”
That wasn’t exactly true.
DOE assigned her the mission without asking her permission, but even if they had, she wouldn’t have batted an eye. She wanted the training. Maybe if keepers had been discovered centuries ago, they would’ve had time to develop. The knowledge could’ve been passed along to each successive generation. Unfortunately, the keepers of the past had gone undetected. Nothing was known, and there was so much they needed to learn.
“I’m doing this for you, Mom. For you, Reagan, and Lincoln. I’m doing this for Hunter and Jake. I’m doing this for everyone on Earth, and everyone here on Olympus. I’m doing this because Dad would’ve wanted me to…and if you understood, I mean really understood, you would want me to do it, too.”
~ ~
That had gone worse than she imagined. Much worse. Ashley threatened to come to Olympus, and she knew her mother well enough to know she meant it. Part of her was okay with that, if for no other reason than to say goodbye in person. She desperately wanted one last moment, even if it seemed selfish. A year was a long time. She wanted something to hold on to.
“Are you okay?”
Kennedy startled as she closed the door to the communications room, not expecting anyone to be around. The hallways were usually empty at this time of the day. She quickly wiped her eyes and turned, surprised to see the general’s son, Deacon Vickard, standing there.
She cleared her throat, straightening her spine in an attempt to look more composed. “Hi, Deacon. I’m fine, thanks.”
“You look anything but fine.” His eyes flitted to the door she just came out of. “Family problems?”
She sniffed. “Yeah…”
“Believe me, I understand those better than anyone. Come here.”
Before she knew what was happening, Deacon reached out and pulled her into a hug. A big, warm, enveloping bear hug.
She flinched. This seemed…weird. Inappropriate.
They didn’t know each other that well, and bear hugs seemed like the kind of things reserved for boyfriends, family members, and the Hunters of the world. After a few seconds though, the awkward tension passed. She had to admit there was something about being wrapped in someone’s arms that made her feel strangely comforted.
She started crying all over again.
“Sorry,” she said, pushing away. “I’ll be okay after I’ve had time to deal with it.”
“Did you tell them about the mission?”
She slowly nodded. “My mom wasn’t happy about it.”
“Imagine how she feels. You were forced to leave your home, your island, then your planet in order to come here to Olympus. Now you’re going even farther away. It would be hard on any parent. My dad understands, and it’s still incredibly hard for him. He doesn’t show it, but I can tell he’s worried.”
“About you? Do you mean—are you going somewhere?”
Deacon nodded. “I’m scheduled for this mission too…you didn’t know?”
“No one told me.”
“Someone needs to be around to protect you and your circle.” The corners of his mouth curved into a charming smile.
Kennedy wanted to roll her eyes about that protection comment. Everyday she felt the strength inside her growing, separating her from the rest of humanity by leaps and bounds. All of the keepers were getting stronger. With one touch of her fingertip, Alanna could freeze Deacon to death, Colton could boil him, and Kennedy could combust his body from the inside out. Most of the high-ranking officers in the military were aware of what they could do. Considering the general was Deacon’s father, he should know just how little they required anyone’s protection.
On the other hand, she was glad to hear he was going. It was a good idea to have military at their disposal in open space. She didn’t know what the six-month journey would entail or what kind of challenges they would face.
“Are any others coming?” she asked.
“There’s about ten of us all together. We’ve been prepping for months.”
“Wow.” She hadn’t even known about it for that long. It seemed like DOE arbitrarily included the keepers at the last second—when they should’ve been the first involved.
“They’re not taking any risks. You know that.”
It suddenly occurred to her she might not have to spend the entire trip bored out of her mind. “Will you and the others be awake?”
“I think half of us had the option to take advantage of the sleep mode feature, but I don’t get that luxury unfortunately.”
“Why?”
“To monitor the ship’s navigation and security.” Deacon tilted his head. “You seem strangely pleased about it.”
She didn’t try to deny it. “I thought I’d be alone.” Well, alone except for Matilda, who was sure to drive her batty by the end of the trip.
“You’re staying awake as well?”
She shrugged. “I don’t like the idea of spending that much time asleep.”
“You’re insane, but I’m glad. The journey should be a lot more fun.”
Her cheeks lifted, a smile pulling at her lips. Her eyes were finally dry too.
“So if your dad is worried, why didn’t he pull some strings and get you out of going? Not that I want to give you any ideas, but I’m curious.”
Deacon scratched the bottom of his chin, considering that. “I’m not sure. He’s always had a strong sense of duty. He does his best to pass that on to me.”
Kennedy thought the two of them bore a close resemblance, possessing the same light green eyes, same clean-cut elegant features and brown hair, and they even took on that same commanding stand-at-attention military presence. General Vickard wasn’t as warm and as charming as his son though. She still hadn’t gotten over the way he tried to force elemental training on her. She hadn’t cooperated with her instructor, so Vickard sent Dr. Sigly. That psychotic woman’s methods were akin to medieval torture. Kennedy had been held underwater, almost drowning in the process. Just thinking about that day sent a shiver down her spine. If Phoenix hadn’t stopped Sigly when he did, she probably wouldn’t be alive.
Deacon noticed the way she reacted. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, walking beside her as they traveled back through Level 3’s main hallway.
“Nothing,” she lied, then changed the subject. “Where are you headed to anyway?”
“Aeronautics,” Deacon replied. “You?”
“Training.”
“Never ends for you guys, does it?”
She smiled, shaking her head. “No, it doesn’t. We’ve come a long way, but we still have so much to learn.”
“Do you think DOE is making the right move by sending you into this water world?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding. “But I have different reasons than the higher-ups do. I want to see what keepers are like on o
ther planets. I want to see what we have the potential to become.”
“My dad says the keepers on other planets can do extraordinary things.”
“Like what?”
Deacon shrugged. “I don’t know. Most of the stuff he said sounds crazy.”
“Trust me, nothing you could say would shock me.”
“They say the most evolved keepers can move mountains, part seas…fly even.”
Kennedy held her breath for a second, imagining a world where those things were possible.
“Told you it sounded crazy.”
“It sounds…magical.”
“Like a fairy tale, right?”
“Yeah.” She stared off ahead, imagining how incredible it would be if the keepers here could do the things he described.
“Don’t get your hopes up.” Deacon leaned down to bump her shoulder playfully. “They’re just rumors.”
“Rumors have to start from somewhere,” she pointed out.
“True.” He smiled widely, showing off a set of perfectly straight teeth. “Hey, maybe we’ll see it with our own eyes.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Four
“Great black hole, when is our ride getting here?”
Lexie held her hand over her eyes to block the sunlight as she stared down the empty road. Not one bloody car was in sight. She and the other keepers fanned themselves as they waited, the scorching Mexican heat beating down on them. Summer here was unbearable.
“The locals run on ish time,” Gabby spoke up from the curbside. Out of the four of them, she was the only one who didn’t seem worried about their transportation being half an hour late, but she’d also been born in a town not far from here, and familiar with the area.
They traveled by aerobus from Cancún, which was heaps more modernized and tourist friendly than this place. Campeche was the hidden, more exotic face of Mayan Mexico that stretched across the coastline of the Yucatán peninsula. A quaint, but remote tropical paradise. At least that’s how Professor Mason described it. All bollocks, obviously. He should’ve just told them he was sending them to the middle of a freaking jungle. Because by the looks of this place, that’s exactly where they were.