“You’re thinking of Megan, aren’t you?” She reached out a hand, but Aedan stood up springing out of the way.
“I really don’t want to talk about Megan right now.” Aedan’s voice was strained. He already had a headache from everything else being piled on his shoulders. Why’d Edy have to pick tonight?
“I’ve let it go for a year now, Aedan. And I was sure Maya would help. But you seem to be driving her away – I mean skipping out on your responsibilities like that! It isn’t like you. Obviously, it’s still bothering you, and if you don’t work through it, you’re only going to end up…” Her voice trailed off as she wrung her hands.
“Blowing up?” Aedan supplied.
Edy stood, straightening her dress, and shooting him a glare before storming back to the kitchen. Ouch. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He loved Edy. But it seemed to be what he was best at – hurting those he loved.
“Don’t worry about her,” Sam said. “If she wasn’t fussing over you, she wouldn’t know what to do with herself.” He took a long swig of beer and leaned forward as if waiting for Aedan to speak.
Aedan cleared his throat and let his eyes trail down the hall toward the kitchen where he could hear running water and clinking dishes. When he turned back, Sam was still watching him intently.
“What happened to Megan-” Aedan started, but couldn’t finish. His throat closed up around the words. It hurt too much.
“We don’t know what happened to Megan, do we?” Sam asked, and Aedan swallowed.
“No,” he whispered. “No one knows.”
“It must be awful feeling like you have all this power inside of you, yet there was nothing you could do to find her. To save her.”
Aedan’s mouth was suddenly very dry. “Fire destroys everything it touches. It changes everything, alters it until it’s unrecognizable. Fire doesn’t help anything.” Aedan spit the words out, staring into the empty fireplace below the TV. The sides and floor caked with soot like something filthy and diminished.
“That’s not true, you know.” Sam’s normally whimsical voice sounded serious for once. Aedan’s head snapped around to face him, and Sam leaned even farther forward looking him straight in the eye. “When man learned to create fire, we made a tremendous leap forward. Yes, it’s dangerous if it gets out of control, but it can also be an incredibly useful tool. It can keep us safe, protected, and-”
Aedan found himself drawn in by Sam’s words. “And?”
“And it’s beautiful.”
Aedan’s mouth fell open, and Sam laughed.
“The thing itself isn’t good or evil, Aedan. It is what it is. It’s how we use it that gives it purpose.” With that, Sam leaned back in his chair and flipped the TV back on.
“Wait, Sam?” Aedan jumped up in front of the game.
Sam’s bushy eyebrows rose so high they disappeared behind his hairline.
“Sam, I just – we never talk.” Aedan shrugged.
Sam smiled and flicked off the TV again. “In the mood for a man to man?” he asked.
Aedan felt some of the anxiety slip away as he settled down on the arm of the sofa to talk to his dad. They used to spend so much time together. And it wasn’t Sam’s fault that had stopped. Aedan was the one who always seemed too busy.
“What made you pick me?” he found himself asking.
“Well now, we haven’t talked about this in a while. Edy’s the one that found you irresistible. You were an adorable kid I have to admit. But you also came with about a hundred warnings and disclaimers. Always the trouble maker.” The twinkle was back in Sam’s pale blue eye.
“I wasn’t even three years old,” Aedan said. But he was fighting a smile.
“Nope, you weren’t out of diapers yet. You hated water. You seemed to be hot no matter what the temperature outside. And you always saved your biggest smiles for Edy.”
“And you.”
“And me.” Sam drew on his beer bottle again and cleared his throat. “We figured it out when you-”
“Burst into flames during a temper tantrum because I wanted a cookie before dinner,” Aedan finished. He’d heard the story at least fifty times over the years, but somehow it always comforted him to hear it.
“I considered giving up. I wasn’t sure we could handle the kind of special needs you presented. But Edy would have none of it. She said God sent you to us, and she’d be damned if she was going to give you up just because you had a ‘special talent’ like that.”
“But where did I come from?” Aedan asked, letting his smile fall away. “Who were my birth parents?”
“Don’t know,” Sam said, sounding surprised. Aedan had never asked out loud before. “It’s a closed adoption. Legal issues I suspect.”
“Oh.” Aedan couldn’t help the disappointment from registering in his voice. He turned away toward the stairs. It had been a long day.
“But,” Sam said drawing his attention once again. “I do know that there was a fire two days before you entered the foster system.”
“What?” Aedan asked.
“I did a little research. Not as dumb as I look.” Sam grinned. “See, Edy was so heartbroken from not being able to carry our own baby to term, she was hell bent on adopting no matter what. But I wanted to make damn sure no one was going to try to take our baby away once we committed. It would’ve destroyed her. You should’ve seen her after the third miscarriage, Aedan.” Sam’s voice cracked and he took a quick swig of beer.
“I’m so sorry.” Aedan couldn’t stand the thought of Edy in so much pain.
“I think she’s right you know,” Sam said, considering Aedan with his fuzzy eyebrows furrowed. “It’s because we were meant to be your parents.”
Aedan cleared his throat, wishing more than ever he could be the perfect kid for them. They deserved it. “So what did you find?” Aedan asked, anxious to get off this subject and back to a different, though still uncomfortable, one.
“It was a house on the North East side that burned. Eight people died in the fire, but one two-year-old child was miraculously found alive, still sleeping inside.”
“Eight people?” Aedan asked, swallowing hard.
“Six adults. They were able to list them, show the faces in the news, they couldn’t do that if there were minors. That’s why you were never mentioned by name either. These people were not all related, and that’s based on looks and surnames.”
“But they all died because of me,” Aedan said softly.
“I don’t think that’s true either,” Sam said. “Like I say, I did my research, and the police found weapons at the scene. At least ten that had evidence of having been used. Everything from rifles to odd things like crossbows and machetes. But the bodies were reduced to little more than ash, so there was no proof that anything other than fire killed them.”
“I don’t understand,” Aedan said, pain constricting his chest.
“I suspect,” said Sam, “you started the fire in self-defense after all the others were killed. I promised myself I wouldn’t talk to you about this until you asked. I told myself that would mean you were ready to hear it. But I know this is a lot to swallow and believe me I’ve tried, but I don’t know how to find out more.” Sam was up then, in front of Aedan placing a strong hand on either shoulder, searching his eyes for a hint of understanding.
“Thank you for telling me,” Aedan said. “I think you’re right. I am strong enough to hear it now, Sam.” He smiled reassuringly and squeezed Sam’s hands while removing them from his shoulders.
Aedan felt Sam’s eyes on him all the way up the steps. The moment he was out of sight, a fire roared to life in the fireplace.
“Holy mother of-” Sam started.
Aedan finished his ascent and shut his door on Edy’s cries to put it out before the neighbors saw smoke come from the chimney in the middle of summer.
Chapter Fifteen
Maya
Maya spun out to the left, throwing the spear hard toward Toby. They’d been training toget
her in the desert for the past hour, and she was drenched in sweat. Toby dove to the ground, somersaulted, and came up near the edge of the overhang. Perfect.
“Hiyaaa!” Maya went airborne. She leaped up and thrust her leg straight out into Toby’s chest.
Was that a smile she saw on his face? Toby grabbed a firm hold of her ankle and didn’t let go, causing them both to go sailing over the edge of the mountainside. It wasn’t the same one where she’d killed the mountain lion, but it was just as high.
Lucky for them the Sonoran desert was the living desert. Toby reached out with his other hand catching part of a brittle looking bush and they jerked to a stop, Maya dangling upside down in midair.
“Say, uncle,” Toby called.
“Never!”
Maya used her bit of momentum to swing toward the mountainside. Toby saw it coming, and let go of her ankle, but it only helped her out. He should have pulled back instead. Though Maya supposed that might have been difficult in their current position, even for someone with the upper body strength of a Circle Operative like Toby.
Maya grappled at the side of the mountain just below the overhang, catching hold of some rough brush with one hand. She ignored the slicing pain in her palm, she’d just patch up the gouges later. Right now she had business to take care of. So she yanked the sword from her shoulder strap with her free hand and pointed it directly at Toby’s stomach, which now happened to be level with her head.
“Say it,” she said.
“Uncle.” Toby choked out the word and made a face that said it tasted bitter. Maya grinned, re-sheathed her sword and climbed silently with Toby back to the top of the overhang where they both collapsed onto the dirt.
Maya’s body was racked with giggles.
“What is wrong with you?” Toby asked, sounding mildly annoyed despite his grin.
“What? I’m not allowed to have any fun?”
Toby crawled over to her and pulled her scraped up hand to his face with a frown. She flinched as he pressed a handkerchief to it covered in some kind of ointment.
“Ouch! Where did you even get that?” she asked trying to pull her hand away.
Toby held fast. “I always come prepared,” he said concentrating on fixing her up. “In other words, I know you.” His soft brown eyes found hers, and behind them, she saw concern.
Maya bit her lip. “It’s just a few gashes.”
“But if you’re going to rough yourself up in training like this-”
“Your hand couldn’t possibly look much better,” she challenged, propping herself up on her free elbow.
Toby finished, held out a hand, and tugged off a translucent glove, whisper thin, that Maya had never seen before. “I come prepared,” he repeated.
“No fair. You should have shared,” she said, pouting a little.
“I had to test them first. They’re all yours now. But, May, you’re close to finding the Elemental.” Toby’s voice had turned low and serious. “This isn’t a game. The Elemental will be dangerous. And deadly. You have to be at your best, not sporting silly injuries that could cost even a fraction of a second in battle.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she said, standing. Maya walked around in a little circle, stretching out her arms behind her. Her mouth was already very dry, and she started searching for her pack with the water in it.
“I do have confidence in you. But the Circle is about more than just one Operative. We work together, May. We’re a team. I’ve got your back. I… I care about you, you know.”
“Thanks, professor. You break rules too you know! You never take that stupid ring off even for training.” She pointed at the bronze band glinting in the sun.
Toby fingered the piece of ancient jewelry like it was Copernicus’ head. “It belonged to Merlin. I know the inscription means something.”
Maya shook her head. “Look, I know you care. But the best thing you can do for me now is keep inventing crap like those gloves.”
Toby’s face was crimson with heat, exhaustion, and possibly a little anger. “I have a whole body suit, not just the gloves, FYI. And if you want more than that, you better get me back to the apartment so I can get back to work. Besides, Copernicus will be expecting lunch shortly.”
“Right. His royal felineship must be fed on the clock, otherwise, he will keep me up all night with his incessant purring.”
“If you don’t like it, why do you leave your door open?”
Maya stuck her tongue out at him, chugged a bottle of water, tossed one to Toby, and started packing up.
“May, you haven’t said much lately about the search.”
When Toby’s hand touched her shoulder, Maya drew in a deep breath before turning to face him. “It’s fine. There just isn’t much to say.” She buckled her pack and started for the edge.
“You? Have nothing to say about something? That’s a first.” Toby hurried to join her and tether the bungee he’d rigged around the trunk of a Palo Verde tree to both of their waists for safety. Each end had a black plastic band with a button set in that would release two extra feet of cord out of seemingly nowhere with each press. Maya didn’t usually bother slowing herself down with “precautions” like these, but this was Toby she was dealing with so she tried to minimize the foot tapping and eye-rolling.
“I’m down to three names,” she said. “It’s just boring so far, that’s all. Nothing exciting happening. No fires to report.”
“Yeah, but you usually give me a play by play of each guy you check off. Not that I’m complaining mind you, but I haven’t heard any juicy tidbits in a while.”
Wow. First of all, she was shocked he’d ever heard a word she’d said. She thought she was basically talking to the cat because he’d seemed so preoccupied with his inventing stuff. Second, she hadn’t given him any real details – that would just be gross.
“I’m repelling down!” she shouted.
Then she hit the release on Toby’s cord and kicked off from the side. The last glimpse she had of him before Toby made it to the bottom twenty minutes later, was his shrewd russet eyes, which seemed to look right inside her head.
Chapter Sixteen
Maya
This was completely new territory for Maya. She’d sat through five entire tutoring sessions with Aedan, and hadn’t made physical contact once. Well, unless you count the time they both reached for the protractor at the same time and bumped hands. Neither one of them had wanted to withdraw until finally, Aedan caved.
Now the sixth lesson was almost finished, and Maya could barely stand it. Why hadn’t he made a move? He obviously liked her. So what was the deal? Maybe it had to do with those dark secrets she was sure he was holding on to. Hmm…
“Can you give me a ride?” Maya asked when it was time to pack up.
“Uh sure. Where’s your car?”
“My brother needed it. It’s actually his, but he doesn’t go out much. He’s kind of a homebody.”
Maya followed Aedan to his truck, and let him open the door with some difficulty. But when he offered her a hand up, she just smirked. Aedan shrugged and went around to the driver’s side.
“The air’s broken,” Aedan said, rolling down the window manually. Maya’s nose crinkled up, and she cranked her own side down.
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” she said. But before she moved her hand away, she noticed a hair caught in the handle. Her breath sped up as she considered the very long, very dark hair. That didn’t belong to Aedan, it was too long. And too dark for Edy. Or his dad.
And it certainly wasn’t hers.
Calm down. It wasn’t like they were actually dating or anything. And it would explain why he hadn’t made a move.
“You okay?” Aedan asked, brow furrowed. Why did he have to be so darn cute?
“Yeah, why?” she snapped.
“Because you’re looking a little red. Sorry about the air.”
“I’m fine,” she said. Aedan put an arm around her seat to back out of the spot. Maya re
considered. “Actually I’m really thirsty. Could we stop somewhere for a drink?”
“Sure.” Aedan smiled, which was a rare and beautiful event.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” she asked.
“Uh, I guess so. But I can’t promise an answer.” Maya studied him. Aedan definitely squirmed.
“Are you dating anyone?” Well, she was never one for mincing words.
“Uh, I don’t have anyone – I mean not since… um, no,” he said, turning a little scarlet himself. Maya hadn’t realized until that moment that he hardly ever blushed. Guess she was on to something. She rolled the hair between her fingers.
“Not since when?” she pressed.
Aedan swung into a Circle K looking completely beat down. He threw the truck into park and turned to face her. She was surprised to see great sadness in his golden eyes, and she suddenly felt kind of petty.
“I guess you can find out pretty easily by asking around, and if I know you, you won’t give up until you find out one way or another, so here goes.” He stared at a point somewhere over Maya’s shoulder as he spoke, like he couldn’t look her in the eyes.
“I had a pretty serious girlfriend last summer, and she kind of…” He stopped, pressing his lips together hard.
“What happened?” Maya asked. Visions of Aedan’s late night visits to the cemetery played through her head, and she placed a hand slowly, tentatively on his arm. He tensed but didn’t pull away.
“She disappeared. One day she was there, and the next she was gone.”
“She ran away?” Maya asked.
“No. I mean the police suspect it was something worse because all her stuff was still at the house. Her purse, her keys, her clothes, her phone.” He seemed to choke on the words, and Maya regretted forcing the subject.
“I’m sorry,” she said after a minute. So it wasn’t the reason for his graveyard visit, but it was close. Cases like those were rare, but hardly ever had a happy ending.
“Not your fault. It’s just that, that’s why it’s been so hard for me to – it’s why I didn’t want to see you like that.”
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