Atlantis Quest

by Gloria Craw

  “If it makes you feel better, you’re not the only freak I know,” he said.

  “Can I meet the other guy? Because I’d like to form a support group.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll introduce you sometime.”

  I drew a deep breath and sat up straight. “Sorry. I just unloaded my trash on you.”

  “I’m carrying my own trash. A bit more doesn’t make a difference.”

  “Wow. Are you actually being nice?”

  “Don’t worry, it’ll pass. In fact, I feel my old self coming back. Tell me how you got that frightening bedhead?”

  I patted my hair. It had to be standing three inches high. “It’s simple. Sleep with the covers over your face to keep your nose from freezing off. It would look good on you.”

  “Noooo thanks,” he replied.

  “I’m supposed to get an update on the situation at the resort,” I said.

  “I’ll tell you, but not until you’re dressed and your hair is tamed. I think I’m going to have nightmares about it.”

  “I hope so,” I replied, getting out of the chair to go clean up. “Because I’m going to have nightmares about the shirt you’re wearing.”

  The warm shower felt wonderful. I stayed under until the hot water ran out. Drying my hair, I thought about Theron. I couldn’t figure him out. He’d been cruel the night before, sarcastic that morning, and then almost sympathetic at the table. The keyword was almost. I didn’t like him, but I didn’t hate him anymore, either.

  I’d opened the boxes by the bed the night before. They were full of new clothes. Going through them had been like opening presents on Christmas morning. Along with snow boots and thick socks, there were new sweaters, jeans, and snow gear. Katherine had sent a parka, an insulated jacket, and pants as well.

  I laid the ski clothes on the bed and noticed the tag under the arm of the parka. I had to sit down after reading it. The parka alone cost almost as much as my car.

  When I was dressed, I went to find Theron. He was sitting at the table, weaving a spoon back and forth between his fingers. “Wow, you look spoiled,” he said. “You’ll blend right in.”

  “Guess how much this cost?” I said, holding the parka out.

  He shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “Two thousand five hundred dollars.” I pointed to the ski pants I was wearing. “These cost one thousand five hundred. Together, that’s as much as I spent on my car.”

  “You must drive a real junker,” he replied.

  “That’s not the point.”

  “Look, you’re going to be mixing with lots of people in expensive parkas. Your job is to blend in. Katherine sent appropriate things for that. You should trust her.”

  I thought about it. “Maybe you’re right.”

  He pointed to a box of sugary cereal. “Continental breakfast like I promised.”

  I think I squealed. “I haven’t had Frosted Flakes in years,” I said, pouring a bowl. “My mom refuses to have it in the house. She says it’s addictive like drugs.”

  I ate one bowl and poured a second.

  When I was full enough to care, I noticed Theron staring at me.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Aside from the fact that you’re inhaling that cereal, you look like a different person today.”

  “Should I take that as a compliment? You didn’t like the old me.”

  “It’s just an observation.”

  I pulled a face at him. “What information do I need to know about the resort?”

  “Word for word as they came from Ian’s mouth, or summary version?”

  “Summary, please.”

  He nodded. “Originally Yvonne had booked five rooms at the Ledges. Last night she booked ten more and two of the cabins. What Katherine and Spencer thought was going to be a small gathering is turning into something a lot bigger. They aren’t sure what that means, but they hope you’ll be able to shed some light on it. Your target is still the same. Get in good with Phoebe and hope she’ll get you close to her parents.”

  “Any idea what she looks like?”

  Theron reached in the pocket of his shirt and produced a flip phone.

  “That’s tragic,” I said, nodding to it. “I didn’t think they made those anymore.”

  “This is as much technology as I’m allowed. It’s a piece of junk, but I can get pictures on it. One of Spencer’s people took this. It’s the latest Truss family photo.”

  He held the phone out for me to see. “Wow” was all I could say.

  It showed a family of four entering a building. The father’s and son’s profiles looked normal. The mother’s and daughter’s did not. They had large noses that hooked down at the end. It was the kind of unfortunate facial feature that would always stand out in a crowd.

  Theron flipped the phone closed. “You think you’ll recognize her?”

  “Yep. I guess we can go now.”

  He hesitated. “There’s been a change of plans. I’m not going with you. Not today, anyway. So many Truss in one area is a big deal. Plus it makes the odds of them noticing me greater. Spencer thinks it’s best for you to observe them in their natural state, not when they’re worried about a dewing from another clan…even if that dewing is someone like me.”

  “I’m going in alone.” I sighed. “Why did I not see that coming?”

  He tossed me some keys. “Spencer had me get a rental car when I agreed to let you stay here. You can choose to think of it as a coincidence, if you want. I put your snowboard on the rack.”

  “Thanks, but if I’m on my own, I’ll hang out at the lodge all day. I’ve got a better chance of finding her that way.”

  “It’s your ballgame now.”

  He pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it to me as well. It was another cellphone, a good one, not another flip phone.

  “When you’re at the resort, that’s the phone you should use,” he said. “My number is the only one programmed in it.”

  I nodded and put it in my pocket.

  “You can’t always rely on the signal up here,” he warmed. “You’ll get a strong one at the cabin because I jacked up the satellite wifi before this place became my prison. The Ledges has a good one, too, but the trees and mountains on the road block it a lot of the time.”

  I nodded.

  “It starts getting dark at four thirty,” he continued. “Don’t stay past five unless you let me know first. If you’re not back by six, I’ll come after you. Even if the roads look clear, go slow. Black ice is normal this high up.”

  My stomach tightened as I remembered our hair-raising drive the night before. “How will I find the resort if I can’t get a GPS signal?”

  He smiled at me like I was imbecilic. “There’s only one road. When you get through the clearing, go left. The resort is a mile up the hill. You can’t miss it.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The drive from Theron’s place to the Ledges was slow going. The snow had been cleared, but the road twisted and turned so much that I averaged about eight miles an hour. It was an enormous relief when I saw the lodge rising through the trees.

  It looked like a giant log cabin, but the logs had to have been manufactured because I was pretty sure no trees grew long enough or wide enough to have built all five stories of the hotel.

  The rustic ambiance was thrown off by a chain-link fence that ran around it. There wasn’t barbed wire on the top, but the message was clear. If you’re not invited, stay out.

  I pulled my rented all-wheel-drive Subaru to a stop at the gatehouse, and a muscular-looking man stepped out. “May I see your driver’s license?” he asked.

  I handed him my false ID, and he disappeared inside, presumably to check that the paperwork was in order. I used the time to scan the area. There were security cameras on the roof of the gatehouse and probably more along the fence. I figured they would be everywhere inside the lodge, too, which could complicate things if I had to do a lot of thoughtmaking. Whoever was monitoring the feed, especiall
y if it included audio, might see fellow employees breaking the rules. I didn’t really want to get anyone fired.

  A woman came through the gate. She was dressed in normal-looking ski clothes, but when she unzipped her parka, I saw a baton hanging from her belt. It was sturdy enough to do real damage if she hit someone with it. Theron hadn’t been lying about trained security staff.

  The muscled guard came back out and handed me my license. Then he extended a finger scanner my way. “Not many visitors drive in,” he said. “We keep prints on file just in case.”

  I almost asked in case of what, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t want my prints on file. The guard noticed me pause. “You can’t get in without a scan,” he said.

  I could, but I was worried about the camera feed. Deciding to risk it, I joined his mind and put the finger scan is complete into it. He nodded like he’d done the job and returned the scanner to its place.

  “Am I done now?” I asked.

  “Not yet. I’ll need to keep your phone and any other electronic devices you may have. You can pick them up on your way out.”

  I put my phone out like I was going to hand it to him, but implanted the thought I have it. I’ll put it away for her, instead.

  “Belinda will check your person now,” he said.

  Belinda was the woman with the baton. She wasn’t going to touch me. I’d faked handing over my phone, so it was a little late to worry about cameras. I put pat-down complete into both of their minds, and that took care of it.

  He opened the gate to the parking lot, and said, “Enjoy your time at the Ledges.”

  When I cut my engine and got out, I breathed in the cleanest air my lungs had processed in more than three years.

  It had stormed the night before, so the snow would be fresh and fast. I told Theron I’d be staying in the lodge, but the conditions were just too perfect. If Phoebe liked to ski even a little, she’d probably be out. I decided I’d try looking for her on one of the runs first and then stake out the lodge for an hour or so.

  After unloading my gear, I followed signs to one of the chairlifts.

  Taking my place at the end of the line, I did some people watching. Aside from the fact that everyone had top-notch gear, most of the skiers were ordinary-looking. I’d almost lost interest when someone well known got in line behind me. My dad was big on news channels, so I was familiar with the man’s face and voice. He was an anchor from CNN. I surmised from the resemblance between him and the young girl he was with that they were family. He saw me watching and sort of scowled, so I turned the other way.

  A few yards ahead, I spotted an information board with a map on it that showed the layout of the ski runs. There were fewer of them than I’d expected, and they were all pretty short. I was going to get a taste but not the full experience of snowboarding, which was a disappointment.

  At least the lift was good. It was state-of-the-art, took me up smoothly and at the perfect pace to enjoy the scenery below. Snow weighed on the branches of tall evergreens and sparkled in the sun. There was something wrong with Theron if he couldn’t appreciate that kind of beauty.

  When I slid off the lift at the top of the hill, I did a quick check of my gear and then pushed off. Momentum built as the forces of gravity took hold. Though I hadn’t done it in a while, snowboarding was like riding a bike. You never forget how. Within minutes, most of my technique had come back.

  Easing into a comfortable back-and-forth rhythm, I let my muscles warm. Then I picked up some speed. Noticing a high spot downslope, I cut toward it. I pulled my legs up to catch as much air as possible and landed smoothly.

  That’s when I felt two dewing ahead of me and identified them as Truss.

  They were both women and not moving fast. I got a bit closer and then, trying not to make it obvious, looked them over. They were both wearing goggles, which obscured their faces a little, but neither of them had the nose I was looking for.

  I cut to go around them, but the energy under my skin started to heat in preparation for an essence fight. Without realizing what was happening, I’d become furious. It wasn’t like I wanted to hurt them, but anger had turned my fight impulse into something I couldn’t control.

  Freaking out, I plowed off the run and into the deeper untouched snow. I stepped out of my bindings and sat down so my body would cool.

  Bowing my head, I pinched the bridge of my nose and practiced some of my mom’s yoga breathing exercises. I hadn’t processed the thought at the time, but I’d wondered if either of the Truss had participated in the massacre of my clan. Their proximity, and the possibility they killed my family, made me burn with anger. Which meant there was a problem.

  If I reacted to every Truss in that way, I wouldn’t be able to get within yards of one, making hanging out with Phoebe impossible. Going back to the lodge didn’t seem like a good idea after all, so I got back on my board and started down again.

  I was pretty discouraged until I decided that regardless of my mission as a spy, I was going to take advantage of the snow and do one more run.

  The next time down, a male Truss on skis passed me. Like before, the anger and heat came on, but not as strong as before. Still, it panicked me enough that I moved to the trees and sat. My energy returned to normal much faster, which was good.

  I was curious if exposure to Truss was like building immunity. The more I was around them, the more my reaction would decrease.

  I did a third run, hoping to test the theory.

  There was another vibration ahead of me, and whoever it belonged to wasn’t moving. They were sprawled out spread-eagle on the snow. I wanted to help but feared what my reaction might be if I got too close. Then I noticed her large nose, and it was bleeding. I’d found Phoebe.

  Destiny had done me a huge favor.

  I’d been told she was my age, which meant she wouldn’t have been older than three when my clan was systematically murdered. She couldn’t have been a part of it. I decided to take a chance, hoping with that knowledge my body wouldn’t react. After getting off my board, I took slow steps toward her. My heat held steady, so I went all the way to her side.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  She sat up and rubbed under her hooked nose. Her glove came away streaked with red. Taking it off, she hunted in her pockets.

  I pulled my scarf off and handed it to her to stem the bleeding.

  “Use this,” I suggested.

  “No, I couldn’t,” she said in a voice loud enough to be heard in Canada.

  Although surprised by the decibel, I continued to urge her. “I’ve got another. Just use it before your parka gets ruined.”

  I waved the scarf in her face until she took it. “Okay,” she agreed.

  “What happened?” I asked after a moment.

  “Jacob freaking cut me off.”

  Her voice was still too loud, but not bone-rattling this time.

  “Jacob?” I asked like I didn’t know who he was.

  “My brother. He likes to…joke around.”

  “It’s tight on this corner. He probably didn’t see you.”

  “Trust me. He saw.” Moving her hand away from her face, she asked, “Has the bleeding stopped?”

  I scrunched my nose and bent to look. “I think so. Let me help you up.”

  I reached out to her, but the moment our hands touched, I had to pull away. The heat and anger came back. I bent at the waist and counted my breaths.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, sounding alarmed.

  “Just light-headed,” I lied. “All I’ve had to eat today is a couple bowls of sugary cereal.”

  She managed to get her feet under her and was almost standing when she winced and put a hand to her side.

  “You’re hurt,” I said. “Maybe you should stay here. I can go for ski patrol.”

  She laughed. “You’re breathing weird. Maybe I should go for ski patrol.”

  “We’re both messed up,” I replied, thinking it was funny, too.

  “Anyway,
I can’t wait on the hill,” she said. “I have to get back for dinner or my mom will kill me.”

  My temperature had returned to near normal, but I’d truly become light-headed.

  “Maybe we should go down together,” I suggested.

  We made our careful way to the bottom and I asked, “How’s your side?”

  “I’ll be okay by morning,” she replied.

  I smiled, knowing it was true. “I hope so. It would be a sucky vacation if you had to stay in your room with your ribs taped.”

  She kind of cringed. “This isn’t a vacation. It’s a week of meetings, followed by a ritualistic sacrifice.”

  I froze as I envisioned Nikki lying on a burning altar surrounded by Truss with pitchforks and stakes.

  “Sorry,” she said. “That didn’t sound as creepy in my head as it did when I said it out loud. I’m actually here for a family reunion thing.”

  “Oh,” I replied coolly.

  “Thanks for the help,” she said. “I’ll have your scarf cleaned and then get it back to you. What room are you in?”

  My quickly formulated plan had worked. She’d have to see me again when she returned it.

  “I’m staying with…my grandmother,” I improvised. “She lives down the hill. I’ve got a ski pass for the week, though. I could meet you somewhere.”

  “How about the lift tomorrow?”

  “Okay. I’ll be there around one o’clock.”

  “I’ll find you,” she said. “I’m Phoebe, by the way.”

  Things were getting off to a great start. “I’m Ali. See you tomorrow.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I wasn’t able to enjoy my success for long. I had a scary drive ahead of me. Not to mention an evening with Theron, whom I couldn’t decide if I liked or not.

  By the time I drove out the security gate, clouds had moved in and a fierce wind was gusting. I held the steering wheel in a death grip and negotiated the turns in the road at a crawl. Even so, I hit a patch of black ice and heard my own squeal of terror when the front wheels slipped. I got the car under control but might have suffered a heart attack in the process.