by April White
“What’s your problem?” He could barely get the words out and it made me grin.
“I’m not the one gasping like a guppy out of water.”
“And I didn’t realize I was chasing a jack rabbit. It explains how you climbed that damn tree last night.” He collapsed on the log next to me, holding a stitch in his side.
I laughed, which annoyed Adam. A bonus. He threw me a disgusted glance, got up and started hobbling back the way he came, still holding his sides. “I’m sorry.” I was still giggling, but I tried to make my voice sound properly contrite. He ignored me and kept walking.
I realized I actually did want to pick his brain so I caught up to him. “I take it you’ve never done any free-running?” I tried to keep my voice totally neutral.
“There’s a name for what you just did?”
I nodded. “The French name is Parkour and I think it came from military obstacle courses or something. It’s all about going over and under things in the most efficient way possible.”
“Over or under? What about around?” His annoyance seemed to have faded. We walked along at a normal pace and his breathing had slowed down to a heavy pant. “Show me.” He nodded at a tree about ten feet away. It had a big trunk and the lower branches were above my reach. “Climb that.”
He didn’t think I could do it. “Gotta see it to believe it, huh, Seer?” He looked like he was working up a smart-ass comment, but I was already gone. I leapt onto a fallen log about eight feet from the tree. From that I jumped for the lower branches of a nearby pine, caught one and pulled myself over in a move straight from the playground monkey bars. The bark bit into my palms a little, but didn’t leave splinters.
I scampered up the trunk of the pine until I was even with an upper arterial branch of my target tree. I looked down just to make sure Adam was watching, then shifted my body around and leapt. The upper branch of the big tree was a solid one and I landed on my feet, grabbing a cross branch for support. I stood there and looked out at the view for a second to get my bearings.
We weren’t actually that far away from school, though from my perch St. Brigid’s was mostly just rooftops and chimneys. Finally, I swung down the trunk to the lower branches and dropped to the ground. It would have been nice to stick my landing, but at least I didn’t fall on my butt.
I brushed off my hands and strolled toward Adam. “You said to climb it. You didn’t say up or down.” His jaw was hanging somewhere around his knees and his stare was actually a little unsettling. I stopped. “What?”
“Teach me how to do that.”
I took a deep breath. “Teach me about the Immortals -- about what I can do.” It was hard to admit that I was clueless about this part of myself. Adam seemed to get it. He held out his hand to shake. “Deal.”
His hand was warm and strong as I shook it. “Deal.”
On our way back to school I gave him the basic theory of free-running and explained how the obstacles in the path became a way to use gymnastic skills. Instead of going around things, the game was to go in a straight line up, over, and under.
True Parkour is all about efficiency – getting from A to B without detour. Free-running tends to be a little showier, with spins and flips in mid-air that look cool but don’t get the job done any faster. “I’m not so much about the tricks when I run,” I told Adam. “For me it’s more about never being stopped. Like anything that could get in my way is just something to be climbed or jumped and it’s my job to figure out how – at full speed.”
Adam smirked. “Yeah, it’s that ‘at full speed’ thing that I keep tripping over.”
“Are you recovered enough to try it?”
The smirk turned into a scowl. “I’m not a total invalid.”
I pointed to an old barn in the distance. “Race you to the other side.” I took off running. He swore under his breath and sprinted after me.
Adam was fast – faster than me – and he passed me triumphantly as we got close to the shed. But he veered left to go around the barn and I leapt up onto the wheelbarrow, scaled the rain gutter to the hayloft, pulled myself up to the roof, pranced across the tiles like one of Santa’s reindeer, then grabbed a hay pulley and used it to drop to the ground. Adam was already there, panting and staring at me as I landed next to him.
“I won.” He gasped.
“You failed. You went around instead of over.”
“But why go over if around is faster?”
“Because there may not always be a way around.”
“Good point.”
“You need to train your brain to look for the hardest way to go, not the easiest. And then make your body do it.”
“Why do I think that’s easier said than done?”
I looked around quickly and spotted an apple tree growing behind a high stone wall. “Get me an apple.”
He followed my gaze to the apple tree and stared at me in shock. “No way. The tree’s too high.”
“The wall isn’t. Don’t focus on the tree. Look for handholds and footholds in the rocks instead.”
Adam squinted at the wall and started walking toward it. He shifted direction slightly, heading for a rough patch that looked older than the wall directly under the tree. I nodded with approval as he reached for a handhold I would have grabbed. His feet went to the right spots and only once did he reach for a rock that would have trapped him. I was about to say something when he shook his head slightly and backed off it, reaching for a better stone above it. With one final grab he pulled himself to the top of the wall. He didn’t look at me as he balanced his way across to the apple tree, but the grin on his face gave away his excitement. Adam plucked two apples from the upper branches and turned to toss one down to me. But I wasn’t there anymore. I had scrambled up the wall behind him.
“What the hell? How’d you do that?”
I took an apple out of his hand and grinned. “Same way you did, only faster.” I sat happily on the wall and dangled my legs over the edge as I bit into the apple. “Good one. Thanks.”
Adam sat beside me. “That was cool.”
I nodded. “You realized you were about to put a hand wrong and changed your grip. Most newbies don’t get that.”
“Believe it or not, I actually saw it going wrong.”
“As in, saw the future?”
“I guess. Those are the visions I usually ignore because they get in the way.”
“But if you could train yourself to see the right way at speed, you could get really good at this.”
Adam contemplated me for a moment. “Interesting. I think I wouldn’t mind being good at something.”
“Yeah, right. You’re probably one of those guys who does everything well the first time they try it.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “Did you happen to see how long it took me to get up here?”
I shrugged. “Never done it before. You’ll get faster.” We sat in silence for a moment before I finally spoke again. I kept my eyes on the view. “Tell me about Clockers.”
Adam grinned slowly. “I thought you didn’t like the name.”
I shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”
“I’ll bet.”
I glared at him. “Are you going to tell me or not?”
He held up his hands in mock surrender and laughed. “Relax. Family history’s just a big subject, that’s all. It’s weird that you didn’t learn any of it from your parents like everyone else does.”
I looked sharply at Adam to see if he was digging at me. He seemed sincere enough, and I figured I could always push him off the wall if he made fun of me. “My mom moved us from city to city every couple of years since I was born. I only just found out she was born in 1850. She left her native time to have me. And my dad’s dead. I never knew him.”
Adam was staring at me oddly and it kind of wigged me out.
“What? I’m a freak because my parents split before I was born?”
“Was your dad from the 1800s too?”
“I don’t know. I
don’t know anything about him.”
“Just think, Saira. Was your mom already pregnant with you when she left her native time?”
“Why? Does that make her a slut?” I could feel invisible claws coming out and I debating whether to draw blood or bolt.
“Was she? C’mon, this could be important.”
“It’s none of your business. I’m sorry I even told you anything.”
I climbed about halfway down the wall and leapt to the ground. The drop was only about six feet but my legs felt shaky and I just wanted to run very far away from St. Brigid’s and everyone there.
Adam dropped down next to me with a heavy thud. He grunted in pain and I stared at him. “That was ten feet, you idiot! You could take out an ankle or knee from that height.” I was shocked that he’d done it, and more shocked that he was standing so close to me. Our faces were literally inches apart.
“Have you ever heard the Prophecy of the Child?”
I glared at him. “No. Why would I have?”
“Because it’s the oldest unfilled prophecy of my family. The one Fate herself made about a thousand years ago.”
“Of course it is.” I rolled my eyes. “Well, I’m listening.” My ignorance on the whole subject was like a mosquito bite that itched worse the more it got scratched.
Adam quoted like it was engraved on the wall in front of him.
“Fated for one, born to another,
The Child must seek to claim the Mother.
The Stream will split and Branches will fight
Death will divide, and Lovers unite.
The Child of opposites will be the One
To heal the Dream that War’s undone.”
I stared at him for a long moment. His words had given me chills all the way down to my toes. Something in that prophecy went “clunk” in my brain, and of course that immediately sent resistance shooting straight up my spine. No way did I have anything to do with that Prophecy.
“Am I supposed to know what that means?” My voice came out more defensive than I meant it to, but it was too late to take it back. Adam didn’t move or look away. I was totally unnerved that I could smell the clean soap and sweat scent of his skin. Avoiding popular, arrogant guys like Adam was pure self-defense and I was standing far too close to this one for my comfort.
He let out his breath and shrugged in a way that brought his casual arrogant pose right back. I crossed my arms across my chest. I was mad that I’d let him get to me, and even more mad when his smirk came back. “Just wondering if it could be you.”
I stared at him through narrowed eyes. “If what could be me?”
“The ‘child of opposites.’ The one who reunites the families.”
“Why would you think that?”
“’Fated for one, born in another?’ People have been speculating about that for as long as I can remember. The most common theory is that the ‘one’ and ‘another’ are either places or times. So either it’s someone born in the wrong place or the wrong time. That part, at least, could be you.”
I shook my head and started walking back toward the school. Adam caught up to me with easy strides. He didn’t say anything as we walked, and his silence was way too loud in my head. I finally stopped and faced him.
“Okay, as fascinating as this word puzzle may be, what does it matter? What bearing could a thousand year old prophecy possibly have today?”
Adam’s eyes searched my face. “We’re at war. The ‘child of opposites’ is the one who will save us.”
A bell jolted me out of my shock. Adam grabbed my hand and dragged me after him. “Come on! That’s an assembly bell. They’ll do a head count.” We sprinted back toward St. Brigid’s, looming up in front of us like Vlad’s castle. The bell was still ringing and Adam suddenly veered to the left, toward the big glass solarium. He didn’t drop my hand until we got right up to the glass walls, then he pried his fingers around the edges of a pane near the stone wall. It took two hands, but with a little tug the glass slid open.
“This would have saved me a little trouble last night.” I climbed through the open window and got out of the way so Adam could come in behind me.
“Yeah, but then you wouldn’t have met me.”
I rolled my eyes at Adam and he grinned. He slid the windowpane closed behind us and dropped his voice. “Feel free not to mention that entrance to anyone else.”
“Sure, if you forget to tell people about your theory on the prophecy.”
Adam suddenly looked serious. “I need to tell Ava.”
“You’re joking about this, aren’t you?”
“It’s not funny.”
“But it’s not real. It can’t be.”
A deep voice boomed through the solarium. “The make-out session is over! To the library, both of you!”
I spun around to find Mr. Shaw glaring at us.
“What’s going on?” Adam’s voice was calm and sounded very grown-up to my ears.
“What’s going on is that you two were obviously out on the grounds while there’s a known threat in the woods.” There was a load of sarcasm in Mr. Shaw’s voice that made me flinch.
Adam’s voice maintained its neutral tone and he looked Mr. Shaw in the eyes. “We were only told there was a predator in the woods, which, as we all know, is code for a Sucker. And since that’s clearly not a threat during daylight I didn’t think there’d be a problem.”
Mr. Shaw’s voice thundered. “You don’t think. You assume you know better than all of us because of your little talent. Sight does not equal skill, Mr. Arman, something I expect you, of all people, to remember. Now get yourselves to the library!” He stormed off without another glance at us, yelling at some kid down the hall who wasn’t running fast enough. I quickly looked at Adam. His jaw was clenched.
“Come on. If I have to hear another word from him I’m going to throw a punch.” Adam led the way through the nearly empty hallways back to the library. It seemed impossible that such a huge room could be full, but the place felt crowded with kids and staff milling around.
Ava saw us and raised her hand to get our attention. We wove our way around the edges of the room until we reached her. “What’s going on?” Adam’s voice was pitched low, but Ava was looking at me.
“I rescued your suitcase. It’s locked up in a third floor linen closet.” She slipped me a key and winked at my startled look.
“Thanks.” I whispered back, but Ava’s attention had already shifted. She stared at the front of the room where Miss Simpson arrived with Mr. Shaw on one side and another man I’d never seen before on the other.
“What’s he doing here?” she whispered furiously to Adam. His mouth tightened into a grim line and he settled himself so he was slightly behind me.
“Who is he?” I whispered to Ava, but Miss Simpson raised her hands for quiet.
“Students, I need your attention please. Most of you know Mr. Landers from several months ago. He’s here to give you an update on the search for his son, Tom, and to deliver some news that is important to all of us. Mr. Landers?”
Miss Simpson stepped away from the man the twins weren’t happy to see. He was thin and wore an expensive-looking suit that looked custom-made. His hair was perfectly combed and everything about him looked professional. When he spoke it was with a posh accent that dripped money. “As most of you know, my son, Tom Landers, disappeared from St. Brigid’s three months ago. The police, of course, found nothing.” There was disdain in his voice, or maybe it was just the money talking. “But my people have found a lead to a gang operating out of London.”
There were murmurs among the students. Landers held up his hand and the room quieted again. “I know that most of you who had any information about Tom’s last few months here came forward when he disappeared…” Landers paused and seemed to be scanning the room. Adam’s feet slipped under my chair as he slunk even lower behind me. Landers continued, the edge in his voice getting sharper. “If any of you didn’t come forward with information
then, there’s no excuse for withholding it now. If he’s still alive, Tom’s life is most certainly in danger.”
This was Venice Beach territory, not British boarding school. Olivia had mentioned that people had been pulling their kids out for the past three months. Was this why?
Miss Simpson stepped forward and spoke to the crowd of students. “If you have any information that might help Mr. Landers, please come to my office. The general dusk-to-dawn lockdown is still in effect and I expect all students to please respect our rules of conduct, especially during these stressful times. Please go back to your regular classes. You are dismissed.” Miss Simpson left the room with Landers and Mr. Shaw. The minute they were gone I spun around to face Adam.
“Let’s hear it.”
He shook his head, looking grim. “Too many ears.” He caught Ava’s eye. “The west tower in ten.” He got up and strode from the room without a backward glance. Ava watched him go for a few minutes, then looked around at the students left in the room. Raven sat in a corner with Ginger, deep in conversation with a dark-haired guy who looked like Dracula. Ava scowled and stood up to leave the nearly empty library. She spoke directly to Raven.
“Miss Simpson won’t believe you, so don’t even bother.”
Ginger and the Count looked startled but Raven just looked venomous. “I’m surprised your Uncle can’t use his gifts to find his precious boy. I guess you lot aren’t so very useful after all.”
Ava’s mild expression never left her face but her eyes went cold as she stared Raven down. Suddenly she laughed. “Sorry about your skirt, Raven.”
Raven tipped her chair back from the table to look at her skirt and knocked into Mr. Shaw’s hand that happened to be holding a mug of tea. The tea rained down on Raven’s lap, drenching her skirt in dark liquid.
Ava grabbed my hand and bolted from the library and sounds of rage and indignation from both Raven and Mr. Shaw.
“Did you make that happen or just see it?”
Ava rolled her eyes. “I’m not telekinetic.” She looked at her watch. “I have to go.”
“I’m coming with you.”