by L. Ann Marie
I look behind me and shrug at Jessie. “I don’t know how to do it any other way. Visions and hearing people doesn’t stop. I just learned how to shut out what I can. Now the visions are like a ghost movie. I can see through them to keep moving, but with Ops running I need to shut out the other readers.”
A hand on my shoulder has me moving. My head swings around. “Sorry Pres.” I don’t move back, but he isn’t offended.
“No, I forgot. I had no idea it was so much. Do the other readers have to deal like that?”
Prez shakes his head no. “Dakota, Aiyana, Elizabeth, Tess, Jeremy and Aubrey all have controllable visions. Mucimi, Phoenix and Aquyà are getting better at that control. None of them are like Christian. He sees more, but now he sees a bigger picture and uses what everyone else has to manage what he’s seeing. Dakota is probably the closest with the vision, but Aiyana isn’t far off.”
I shake my head no. “All the boys, Destiny and Honor will have that level soon. Aiyana is equal to Dakota in vision, but she’s focused on the reservation and the impact to her people. The Protectors hit all ranges, but they are meant for different purposes. Reading and visions are two different things. Some with visions don’t read well some that read don’t have vision. The kids have both. They already see and work through visions. Mucimi did it with Chance. I would put him above someone like Mase or Colt because he has the ability to control people from long distances whereas Mase and Colt can control objects and read, but don’t have vision and the ability to control people unless they’re close. Devan would be up on that list too, but he’s just recognizing his ability.”
They both are surprised, but Jessie more so. “Jesusfuckin’Christ! It’s a whole fuckin’ army of freaky shit. How the fuck are we supposed to keep up with who can do what?”
“It’s on the hologram board. Terry and Jacob put bios up so Prez could keep up. We’ll keep them updated so anything new is tracked.”
Prez nods. “I haven’t seen the board, but this is already different than what Dakota has charted.”
“It is, but they’re training different now. All the readers at the MC can suspend objects. Jeremy, Aubrey and Mase can suspend themselves. Soon Jeremy and Aubrey will suspend larger objects, I mean bigger like vehicles. Jeremy learns like the kids. If someone has it and opens to him he will learn it.”
Pres laughs. “Meaning you.”
I smile and nod.
“Let’s see the board, then we need to deal with your reader. Do you need time to get information from her?” Prez asks.
“I got it while I was waiting in here. Do you want it now?”
Uncle Steve laughs. “Fuckin’ good.”
“My meeting room after we see the board.” Prez starts walking and I follow the parade out. “Brantley, I need the hologram boards running.”
“On it Prez,” he says handing his headset to Jason.
I smile and wait for him to run by. He’s always thinking he needs to hurry. My shoulder is touched and I move the hand looking back. “I think they’re just cluing into what you live with. I’m glad it’s easier now.”
“Thanks Uncle Danny.”
“You didn’t mention how touch affects you.”
I stop and turn. “Prez and my family know. I don’t think the entire Ops room needs that.”
“I think they do. We know with Dakota because we saw. If they don’t know they can’t help.”
How can they help? “I move people away just like I moved your hand. I can control that touch. If someone touches me it’s because I allowed it.”
I feel him and throw a shield. He smiles. “They’re waiting for you.”
I turn and smile. Yes, they are.
* * *
Finally, we get to the reader. Knowing all the information and answering their questions took a fuckin’ hour. They’re too much. Ability kids have been here their whole lives and they’re just getting what that means. They really didn’t know about how the visions and reading work together. Thank God Dakota was able to answer most of their questions. I know he could feel me getting pissed and stepped in.
“Where is the reader with ability?” Pres asks.
I look at Dakota, but he isn’t going to answer. “She’s equal to someone like Blaze or Sandy. Very singularly focused and it’s mostly by touch. She can read if you’re close and she can see you, but she doesn’t get through shields. If another reader is close and lets her in, she can follow their focus, but can’t get there alone.”
Prez is watching me and I see his questions, but I wait for him to voice them. “How did she know to come here?”
I smile and look at Brantley. “Mucimi threw her pictures. At first it was small things, warnings. She got out of a house that was set to blow because of his picture. She lost her parents in it though. He sent pictures of a newspaper and she got our location and the Princes’ name.”
“Tell me you can stop him from bringing more people here,” Pres says.
“Why?”
He looks at Prez then Uncle Steve. “With him. Why? Kid’s savin’ lives like us. Just farther away. Must be people we need.”
“He brought a baby here! The kid made it across a road, was picked up and dropped on the road at our exit, then picked up again!” Jessie yells and Dakota smiles.
“Nothing was going to hurt the boy. Mucimi was able to control how it all happened. The boy made it here and he got the help he needed with a family that included Mucimi for the support he will require. He will become who he was meant to be here. That would not have happened where he was. He was destined to die at the hands of the man you killed.” Dakota is smiling, but he is not happy.
I look at Prez, we need to finish this shit already. “The reader. She helped with an investigation in Cleveland and it was put on the news as a sensational piece. The PD there was open to her help and had another case for her to work on. They would have offered her a job, but she left after the house blew. She was almost caught by one of the lunatics, but fought him and got away. She read enough with his touch to understand who was after her. We have more than she does on the organization, but she can be helpful in what we do here. She understands readers, but not anything else. She doesn’t know about the different ranges or how to control. She has no hate in her except for the men trying to kill her. That comes in loud and clear because of her parents. It’s still fresh and you can feel her pain. Her sister has been working to keep her hidden. She takes whatever job she can find for basics. They don’t have much, but they don’t seem to require much to be happy.”
Prez nods. “You want to offer her a job?”
I nod. “I do, but first they need a place to live that’s safe. The house they were in will never be that. Here she can work with Jacob. He has reader ability, but can be taught to block. He doesn’t get what she can. With some training, she’ll be able to pull from what she sees, it won’t be just touch.”
He looks at Dakota. “Do you feel she’ll work here?”
He smiles. “I cannot answer what you want to ask, but I can answer that. Dean feels like an addition that will surprise the Princes, but only in good ways. I do not agree that working in Ops is the best place for her, but training and the kids will be important to her.”
“Training and the kids will be important to her,” Prez repeats—hearing the same thing I did. “You think she should be at the school?” He waves his hand like it wipes the question away. “I think we should see if she’d like working at the school.”
Dakota smiles and I laugh. “I think my wise Warrior Leader makes very good decisions.”
Pres laughs. “That’s a hell of a way to get information.” Everyone laughs.
Prez looks at me. “Does that work for you?” I nod. “Keeping her in one of the houses behind the school work for everyone?”
“Works for me. She’d be under surveillance and close in case of shit hitting.” Jessie says. Taylor agrees.
I watch Darren. “You’re all okay with someone we don’t know with ou
r kids?”
“Mucimi brought her here, Christian read her, Dakota approves. I don’t know how much more we can get on her, but she isn’t in the gate, she’ll be on the feeds at the school which is monitored by Security here and in person right there. I could call Jeremy, but what’s the point?” Prez says.
Darren looks at me. Before he can ask I answer. “I am bound to the kids as a Protector. That’s like the bind that holds Prez, Dakota and Jeremy. I can’t put them in danger, it’s just the opposite, I would give my life for them.”
He looks at Prez. “I’m in.”
“Let’s go hear her story and offer her a job,” Prez says and we stand. The MC Officers stand and Prez looks at them then Brantley. “Get the meeting room up for them.”
Uncle Danny laughs and sits down. “We need dinner too.”
“I could eat,” Jessie says and Prez pulls him out.
“Brantley, order fuckin’ dinner before they both start.”
I hear them laugh before the door closes. “On it Prez.”
Everyone walks in smiling and Jessie laughs. She’s asleep on the table with music playing on the TV. She sits up fast and I see she is scared.
“Dean, this is Prez, VP, and you know Jessie, Dakota and Taylor.” She moves to the other side of the table and looks at each one. “You can read a little by looking at people, but Prez and Dakota read and we all grew up learning how to shield. They won’t be so easy to get anything from.”
She looks at me. “Are you in charge of readers?”
I look at Prez. “He is. He is the most powerful reader we have, but he has other abilities that you will learn through training. Please sit. These are the Officers of the Princes of Prophecy. The MC Officers are watching from the next meeting room. We have all worked to get rid of the threat to you. No one here will hurt you. We need information on how you came to be here.” I tell them to sit, she’s nervous. Everyone, but Prez sits then Dean does.
She tells them the same thing I did, then about the pictures. She has no idea how she got them, but she got her sister to drive them here then explains about her sister keeping her hidden. When she tells about the men chasing her you can feel the hate roll off her.
I send tissues to her and Darren laughs. Fuck. I put my head down and wait. Jesus I’m fuckin’ stupid at times. No one is saying anything so I look up at Prez. He’s not pissed and I look around, everyone is smiling. I just shrug.
“Can I learn to do that?” she asks and I clench my jaw.
“The ability to suspend is not available to everyone Dean. Christian is not just a reader,” Dakota tells her.
“So that’s a no?”
Jessie laughs. “Back to the point?” He looks at Prez.
“We can put you in a house outside the Compound that has surveillance surrounding it. It’s directly behind the school. We also have a job at the school working with kids with reader and other abilities.”
She laughs. “There are kids with reader abilities here?”
Prez looks at Dakota then Dean. “All of our kids.”
She looks at me. “Is he for real?” I clench my jaw and nod. Swinging her head back to Prez she says, “I want to work. I can work if I’m safe. Will you keep me safe?”
Prez smiles. “It’s our specialty Dean. We need you in the new house today. The threat is gone for the moment, but I’m told that’s only until they regroup. I will have your belongings moved and someone with you tomorrow to start your new job. Your sister will need to come here and I’ll have Security bring you to the new house.” I throw him the SUV. “The car will need to be replaced. The new one will have tracking so we can keep your sister safe. We also have jammers and personal tracking cuffs that will help. We have businesses that your sister can work at that are under surveillance. If you are a target and the car is tracked, she will never be safe outside the surveillance area. We’ve learned that family is the first thing everyone tries for.”
Her hand goes to her mouth. “I’ll do anything. She’s all I have left.” She grabs a tissue and I look at Prez.
“We will do everything we can to keep you both safe, but you work with and not against us. Meaning you need to understand that this is what we do. We are not putting you in a prison here. If you follow some basic safety protocol you can move freely through our towns.”
She nods looking surprised. “I’ll do anything I need to and I know my sister will too. I can go out?”
Prez looks at me, so I answer. “If you can do it safely yes. No one lives in a prison here. Until the threat is gone you will need Security. That doesn’t mean you have to stay inside, unless something like today happens. When the threat is gone and Security levels are lowered, you keep tracking on, but won’t have the shadow.”
She looks from me to Prez. “Thank you.”
“Do you have any questions that I need to answer right now?” Prez asks and I know she gets that he has other things to do by his voice.
“I have a bunch, but I’m not sure you personally have to answer them. Can I ask someone else?”
Dakota laughs and stands up. Prez looks at Darren. “VP can answer if Christian doesn’t know.”
I turn my head, Darren is calling him a bastard and Dean laughs. Prez smiles. “If you need anything let Holly or Done at the school know.” He walks out with her nod. Taylor, Jessie and Dakota follow.
She looks at Darren. “Will we make enough to afford a house and new car?”
“Princes own the house and the price is reasonable. We live green and have very few bills. The car was donated specifically for you and your sister. The car she has will be stripped of tracking and taken to Mass to be sold. There are no strings here. You work and pay your bills, and you should be able to live comfortably on what you both make. What does your sister do or did she do before she started shielding you?”
She takes it all in pretty quick. She’s smart and processes fast. “She was a DM for a promotional company before I helped the police. Now she does whatever she can that won’t check and alert the freakazoids that are chasing me.”
I cover my mouth. “So, management. We have two manufacturing companies that are in need of a go between from plant managers to the old lady that oversees them. Is that the type of management she does?”
“I don’t really know. She worked with three locations, but I don’t know what she did exactly.” She’s getting excited. She thinks this is exactly the kind of work her sister does.
I throw it to Darren. “We can ask when she gets here or I’ll stop by later. What time will she be here?”
“She gets out at six.”
He nods and does a time check then pulls his phone. “Call the sister and get Sheila to escort her to Security.” He pauses. “Get the SUV from the garage over here and have them wait for the car. They’ll need a wand. Once tracking is off send it to Racks. I’ll check with Prez, but it may go to my mom.”
She sits up straighter. “Your mom needs a car?” I smile at the hopefulness in her voice.
He swipes off and looks at her. “She runs the Women’s Shelters at the MC. The women coming out sometimes do that with nothing. It could be donated if we get the okay from the person that donated yours.”
She nods very happy with that idea. I throw to him to give it to Kate. He nods without looking my way. “Do you have anything else?”
“No one asked me about the freakazoids.”
I smile at the word again. “We have information on them. Christian said it’s more than you have.”
She looks at me. “I’ve found the name and different cities they run out of.”
“Yeah. We have that and some of their top people. Since you’ve been here we’ve taken two teams plus what happened today.”
She pales. “The van at the corner?”
“Yeah and a truck.” I throw her the picture of the men. “They had feeds and audio from your house.”
I see her tears and hope she doesn’t cry again. “You’ll be safe here. Right along, we’ve had Sec
urity with you. Today, they took him down and got close. We still got you out and safe.”
She nods. “Why are you helping me?” She looks at Darren.
He shrugs. “You live in our town. We take care of our own. For us to do that you just need to live here.”
I see Sheila and smile. “Sheila left the car. When she explained, your sister didn’t want to drive it. They’ll be here in a couple of minutes.”
Darren stands. “Are we good?”
“Yes, thank you and all the people that helped me today.” She stands, but doesn’t go close to him. “I don’t hug people, but I would if I could.”
His head jerks back. “Touch affects her,” I tell him.
He smiles. “I’m good with the thanks and I’m sure my Brothers will understand. We have others like you.”
She smiles like she won the lottery and it changes her whole face making her look younger and happier than I’ve seen from her.
We watch Darren walk out then I look at her. “If you need anything there will be a number left for you to call. If you see something that I need to know, call to me and I’ll get to you or send help. You can reach out to me right?”
‘Christian!’ she yells in my head.
I smile. “Just like that.”
She has more questions so I answer them before she has to ask. “There are many readers here, at the MC and the reservation. They are all tracked and when needed have Security as a shadow. You will be treated the same. I train the kids every couple of days at the school and we’ll work on your control when I’m there. The readers have training here to grow their abilities. We do not hide that they read anymore. We do keep other abilities close. Sending you tissues was a mistake that I won’t let slip again. It’s not something non-readers see. The Officers, MC Officers and the Shaman from Rhode Island and Connecticut all know and will help when we need them. There is nothing expected, but for you to do your job and work with us to keep you safe. No one will ask for anything else. You making it easy for Security is a bigger help than you can imagine. Here there are six towns that you can move through freely. Someone will explain the borders when you’re brought home. If you have to go outside our towns, you make arrangements with Security so you’re covered. Did I get everything?” She nods smiling. “Good. Sheila and your sister are here.”