“Are you saying that you no longer have a psychic talent?”
Nica thought about that for a moment. “No Sir, I don’t know if I still have it or not. I know only that if I do still have it, I can’t use it.”
“Because of that ring you wear,” General Christoff said.
Nica looked down at the ring she’d worn on the forefinger of her right hand since a few months before her sixteenth birthday. Seven…no…eight years now. It wasn’t a beautiful ring, or even a pretty one. The band was a thin circle of gold with a flat, plain bezel holding an oval shaped, cloudy green stone. The stone wasn’t even faceted, just a domed cabochon that refused to shine no matter how many times she polished it. But then, she didn’t wear the ring because of its appearance. “Yes Sir, that’s correct,” she said, looking up at the general. “The ring does block my psychic ability.”
General Christoff leaned forward and laced his fingers together on top of his desk. “I’m fully aware of your record, Cadet Vinia. You’re at the top of all your classes, your college transcripts are exactly what we look for, and your mentor reviews are impeccable. Technically, you’re the best cadet ICARUS Academy has ever had. Under normal circumstances you’d graduate at the top of the Officer Training program on schedule six weeks from now, and I’d be offering you one of the coveted rookie positions on board an ICARUS vessel immediately.”
“Under normal circumstances, Sir?” Nica asked.
“You are certainly aware of how much ICARUS needs psychics, Cadet Vinia.”
“Of course, Sir,” Nica said, her voice calm even though she now saw where this was going.
“And yet here you sit, a talented psychic of just the sort we need, deliberately blocking your ability. Now, I don’t know why, and frankly, I don’t care. What I do care about is ICARUS, this Academy, and doing everything in my power to insure that the people I allow to graduate live up to the standards of both. If you want to be a part of ICARUS, Cadet Vinia, you’ll have to put ICARUS first. That means taking that damned ring off and joining the Psy Program as you should have done two years ago.”
“General Christoff, if I take the ring off, I’ll be of no use to ICARUS or anyone else,” Nica said.
“I don’t know that the hell that means, Cadet, and I don’t have the time to sit here and listen to your excuses. The bottom line is that I don’t want anyone on my team who isn’t willing to give a hundred and ten percent of themselves and right now, that means you. Now, here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to leave New Ugaztun on the next shuttle off planet because, despite your record, there is no way in the nine hells that I’ll sign a diploma graduating you from the Officer’s Training Program.
“I suggest that you take the time to think about whether or not you’re willing to do whatever’s necessary to be a part of the ICARUS team. If not, then you’re no loss as far as I’m concerned. If, on the other hand, you come to your senses and remove that ring, I’ll be more than happy to accept you into the Psy Program next semester. I’ll even fast-track you so you don’t have to repeat classes you’ve already completed. You could be out in one year, maybe even less if you continue to work as hard as you have up to now.
“You have until the new term begins to make your decision. That’s three months. If I don’t hear from you by then, you’ll be permanently expelled. Dismissed.”
Nica stood up and left the general’s office without another word. Her heart was beating a bit faster than normal, but otherwise she wasn’t having the panic attack she would have had without the ring on her finger. She paused in the corridor and raised her right hand to look at the ring.
Who had told General Christoff about the ring, and her psychic ability? Had Honey done it? She hated to think that her sister would have deliberately sabotaged her future, but there was no denying that Honey had been trying to get her to take the ring off for years now. She wasn’t the only one, either. Her almost brother, Michael, and her brother-in-laws, the Vulpirans, had all made it clear that they agreed with Honey on that subject. Nica didn’t want to think that any of them would have gone this far just to get her to take off the ring, but aside from her friends and family on Jasan, there was only one person who knew its true purpose. Only one person that Nica had trusted enough to tell her story to.
Nica lowered her hand to her side and shook her head. No, she decided. There was no way that Honey, or any of the other people who loved her, would ever go behind her back like that. She was certain of that much.
Relieved to have that off her mind, she turned her attention back to the ring itself. It was ironic that the object that enabled her to move forward with her life and pursue her dreams was now the reason she was about to lose them. Maybe this was a sign that it was time to take it off. Or at least try to take it off. Again.
It wasn’t something she dared to do alone, and as much as she loved her sister, she didn’t want to take it off with Honey present, either. Honey was convinced that the ring was a method of escape for Nica, and that as such, it did her much harm, and no good. Nica respected Honey’s feelings and opinions because she respected Honey. But she also believed that if she took the ring off in Honey’s presence, her sister would immediately destroy it. And that was a risk that Nica could not take.
If she wanted to be a member of ICARUS, and she did, she needed to remove the ring. And if she was going to remove the ring, or try to, there was only one person she trusted to do it exactly as she wanted it done. Her decision made, Nica spun on her heel and headed for her room to send a message to Apedra. And to pack.
Chapter 2
Nica watched the orange and blue butterflies as they flitted from bush to flower to tree in the lush garden of Arima House and laughed with delight. There were no butterflies on Teira. In fact, Teira had nothing like the beauty of Jasan or, if it did, she’d never seen it. Even though it was her native world, Nica never wanted to go back to Teira. Not ever. Teira had not been a nice place to live for a little girl with special talents.
Jasan was home now, and she’d loved it from the first moment she’d seen it. It had taken her sister, Honey, and her pretend father, Michael, a little longer to realize that they all belonged on Jasan, but that hadn’t surprised Nica. Adults never seemed to listen to their inner selves as much as they should.
“Auntie Berta, may I play with the butterflies?”
“Of course, Nica,” Berta replied, smiling down at her. She loved her Auntie Berta. She never scowled at her the way Michael’s mother always had, or pinched her, or whispered bad things when Honey and Michael couldn’t hear. Auntie Berta would never do anything really mean either, like cut off her braid. “Just don’t trample the flowers, all right?”
“I wouldn’t hurt the flowers, Auntie Berta,” Nica replied seriously as she slid off the bench. “I promise.”
“You’re such a good girl, Nica,” Auntie Berta said, and Nica beamed back at her before running down the path after the butterflies that had been calling to her ever since she’d come outside.
At first she just ran along with them as they flew through the garden. After a while they wanted her to climb the trees and play up high in the branches, but she had to tell them no. It might scare Auntie Berta, and she didn’t want to do that. So, the butterflies stayed down low to the ground and took turns playing chase with her instead. Nica would chase a small group of ten or twelve around the garden path, then she would turn around, and they would chase her back. Then those butterflies would settle on some flowers to rest and another group would take their places.
After going back and forth several times, Nica threw herself down on a patch of neatly clipped blue grass to catch her breath. She laid on her back, panting and laughing as the butterflies settled on her and around her. Their tiny legs tickled her skin but she was very careful not to try to shake them off or move too quickly. She didn’t want to accidentally hurt one, and butterflies were very delicate.
It was the butterflies that noticed the men first. They were just st
anding there, not moving as they stared at her. The butterflies went still for a long moment before letting Nica know that the newcomers weren’t dangerous. There was something special about them, though. Nica knew that much without the butterflies telling her.
She stopped laughing and sat up, studying the men carefully as they studied her. She barely noticed when Auntie Berta came to stand right behind her.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen, may I help you?” Auntie Berta asked.
The men blinked, then looked away from Nica and bowed.
“Please excuse us,” the one in the middle said. “We are the Dracon-Bats, cousins to the royal Princes. I am Quenton and these are my brothers, Samson and Karlson.”
As the men spoke with Auntie Berta, Nica continued to watch them. They looked so much like the Dracon princes, but she knew right away they were different. Familiar, but not. She frowned in confusion.
The butterflies started flying around her with a purpose that Nica sensed, but they didn’t tell her what it was. She felt a bunch of them land in her hair so she had to be very careful not to move suddenly. Then one of the men, the one in the middle, looked down at her again.
“May I ask, who is this beautiful child that the butterflies claim as their princess?” When he spoke, Nica knew that the butterflies had formed a crown on her head, and she wondered why. Maybe it was a new game.
“This is my niece, Nica,” Auntie Berta said just as Nica’s new uncles, Merrick, Tor, and Jeri, appeared beside her. Nica watched quietly as the adults talked to each other, not really paying attention to their words until she heard her name again.
“Nica is the sister of Arima Honor Vulpiran,” Merrick said.
“We are most pleased to meet you, Nica,” Quenton said.
Nica knew exactly how she was supposed to respond. Honey and Michael had taught her manners and it made them unhappy if she forgot to use them. But, before she could say anything, one of the big butterflies called to her. She held out one hand, palm up, and the butterfly landed there. She felt a wave of sadness coming from it and almost cried, but bit the inside of her mouth instead. Big girls didn’t cry for no reason.
Nica watched the butterfly, wanting to ask why it was so sad, but unable to do so in front of so many people she didn’t know. After a few moments, the butterfly left her hand and flew toward the Dracon-Bats. It circled all three of them, then landed in Quenton’s hand for a brief moment before taking off again, this time flying high up into the sky.
Everyone watched it until it could be seen no more. Then the Dracon-Bats bowed to Nica, holding it for a long moment. “Nica,” Quenton said, speaking directly to her for the first time. “If ever you have need, call for the Dracon-Bats. Can you remember that?”
“Yes,” Nica said softly, wishing she didn’t feel so much like crying.
All three of the Dracons-Bats smiled at her and bowed yet again. “We shall meet again, Nica, when you’ve had time to grow.” Nica nodded, then watched them as they turned and walked away, the tears she’d been fighting spilling over.
Nica awoke to a familiar double beeping sound, letting her know she had an incoming vid call. She wiped away the tears that always accompanied that particular dream/memory, and took a moment to remember where she was, and why. Then she sat up and reached for the hand vid on the bedside table of her tiny stateroom and pressed a button to accept the call without checking to see who it was. There were only two people she could think of who’d even want to call her, and she had no objection to speaking to either of them.
“I woke you,” Honey said, her voice tinny through the small speaker. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Nica replied, rubbing her eyes. “It doesn’t matter. There isn’t much to do besides sleep on these passenger liners anyway.”
“If you’d told us you were leaving New Ugaztun early we’d have sent a ship for you,” Honey said.
“I know, and I appreciate that, but I didn’t know I was leaving until an hour before I left, and I didn’t have the option of waiting for a transport to arrive from Jasan. Even if I had, there’s no reason to put so many people out just to give me a ride when commercial transportation works just as well. Besides, I’m not coming to Jasan just yet anyway.”
“You heard from Bree?” Honey asked.
“Yes, just a couple of hours ago,” Nica replied. “She didn’t answer sooner because she and her brother were off planet and just got home. She’s invited me to stay the summer with her on Apedra.”
“Summer?” Honey asked. “It’s not even spring yet.”
“It’s late spring there,” Nica said. “The summer season starts in about a week, which is how long it will take me to get there once I change ships tomorrow.”
“I was looking forward to seeing you so much, Nica,” Honey said with a resigned sigh. “But, I’m also glad that you’re finally taking a break. Please try to have some fun while you’re there.”
“I’m not sure I’ll have much choice,” Nica said. “You know Bree.”
“Yes, that’s exactly why I’m trying not to complain about you going to see her,” Honey said. “If anyone can make you smile, it’s Bree Fadden.”
“That’s true,” Nica said. “By the way, I sent my luggage ahead via freight as usual. It should be there in a few days.”
“No problem,” Honey said briskly. “We’ll watch for it. When do you plan to come home?”
“I told Bree I’d stay the season, whatever that means,” Nica said. “A few weeks, probably. When I leave Apedra, I’ll come to Jasan.”
“I’m going to hold you to that this time, Nica.”
“I’ll be there, Honey. I promise.”
Honey nodded, then took a deep breath. “General Christoff sent us a vid telling us what he’d done to you, Nica. Why didn’t you tell me what happened when you called to tell me you were coming home?”
Honey saw Nica’s hesitation. “Tell me, please.”
“I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d agree with General Christoff and tell me to take the ring off and join the Psy Program.”
“I understand why you think that, but it’s not true,” Honey said. “I don’t agree with what Christoff did at all, and neither does anyone else here. He had no right. The Dracons were furious, especially Prince Val, and you know how mild tempered he usually is.”
“I don’t understand,” Nica said. “I know you want me to take the ring off, Honey. You’ve made no secret of that.”
“You’re right, I do want you to take it off. I regret ever letting Hope put it on you to begin with.”
“It saved my life, Honey.”
“I know it did,” Honey replied tiredly. “I just wish we’d found another way. That damn ring has turned you into someone I don’t even know.”
“No it hasn’t. I’m still me.”
“No, you’re not,” Honey insisted. “You have no emotions any more. You don’t laugh or cry or get angry or sad. You don’t feel anything, Nica. You need to take that ring off, deal with your feelings just like everyone else has to, and get on with your life.”
“You think I wear the ring so I don’t have to feel anything?”
“Of course,” Honey replied. “I know your psychic abilities are blocked too, but that’s not nearly as important as your emotions. You’re human, Nica. Humans are supposed to feel things, even pain.”
“You have it backwards, Honey,” Nica said quietly. “I admit that my emotions are dulled, but that’s not why I wear the ring. I wear it because without it, my psychic ability replays a vision over and over in an endless loop. I can’t stop it, I can’t slow it down, and I can’t change it. That’s why I was catatonic, Honey. Without the ring, I’d still be catatonic. Or dead.”
“You saw it?” Honey asked in a shocked whisper.
“Yes,” Nica said. “I don’t remember exactly what I saw. I don’t remember anything about what happened, or how it happened and if you told me, right now, I’d forget it before you finished speaking. But that
’s not why I wear the ring either. I wear it because without it, I can’t stop the vision.”
“Jeez, Nica,” Honey said, appalled. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I don’t know,” Nica replied, frowning. “I want to say that I thought you knew, but I don’t know if that’s true or not.”
“I’m sorry,” Honey said with tears in her voice. “I didn’t know. I knew it blocked your psychic ability, and I knew it dulled your emotions, but I thought that was why you wore it.”
“I’m kind of glad to find out that you didn’t know,” Nica said. “I’ve always wondered why you kept insisting that I take it off when I can’t function without it.”
“I’m sorry for that, too,” Honey said, wiping her eyes. “I want to ask one question though, okay?”
“Sure,” Nica said, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from her.
“How do you know that, after all these years, the vision would still repeat itself like it did at the beginning?” Nica shook her head and Honey held one hand up. “I know, it seems callous to even suggest it, but I can’t help it. I just want you to be you again.”
Nica's Legacy (Hearts of ICARUS Book 1) Page 2