Prim placed his right ankle on his left knee and rubbed his face with both hands as he began to speak. “My original thought was that he had become able to phase to a previously unknown plane of existence, but I’ve revised my thoughts. My theory is that he is now able to exist on both sides at the same time.” He glared at Jenz, waiting for a response, but she just looked at him waiting for more information. “Cliff noticed it first, I guess. Outwardly, his eyes fill with the light of the core energy that we Shadows possess, but it was slightly different. Small bright flashes of light seared from within the red. Alyssa’s explanation of them was actually very accurate once I saw it in person. It nearly looked like boiling water.”
With a short pause from Prim, Jenz prodded him to continue. “And what else?”
“This is the hardest to explain, and until you’ve seen it for yourself, I don’t know that you will be able to understand. The outline of his body becomes blurred when he….” He stopped, searching for the right word. “Transforms.” He watched as Jenz’s head snapped back and her face took on a twisted look. “I don’t know how else to say it. He transforms into what looks like two people.” He looked around the room, trying to find something that could help him explain it more clearly. He jumped from his seat, grabbed two forks that rested in the sink, and returned to the table. “Like this,” he said, setting the two forks on top of each other so when looking down upon them, it appeared as though it were a single piece. “This is Test, or anyone else for that matter, as we are perceived by those who see us every single day.” He moved the top fork slightly to the right, revealing a small amount the furthest edge of the bottom fork. “When he transforms, he looks like this. It’s almost like there are two of him. Forgive the pun, but it’s like he has a shadow.”
Jenz’s twisted look faded from her face, but was replaced by blank stare. “So what makes you think this means he is coexisting on both sides at one time?” she asked.
“Two things, actually,” replied Prim as he spoke excitedly. “First is that when Lauren tried to touch him, even though he appeared to be as solid as you and I sitting at this table, her hand passed right through as if he wasn’t there.”
“Tell her about the paralysis,” interrupted Lauren.
Prim motioned for her to be quiet, waving his hand in her direction. He watched as she folded her arms and sat grumpily in her chair. Knowing that he’d offended her, he gave her a quick smile. “I’ll get to it.” His energetic speech began to reach a climax as he turned back to Jenz. “Now, the second and most difficult thing for me to wrap my head around is the fact that when he transformed….” He paused with a wide, child-like grin, solely for dramatic effect. “When he transformed, I couldn’t feel him at all.” He watched as Jenz’s eyes grew in amazement. “Visually, anyone could see that the amount of energy surging from him was massive, yet I stood a couple of feet from him and, if I closed my eyes, I wouldn’t have known he was even there!”
Nearly breathless, Jenz asked. “Can he—control it?”
With a short burst of artificial laughter, Lauren replied. “Really? Didn’t you see what he did to Prim?”
Once again, Prim turned to Lauren and tried to quiet her, but this time he tried it with a little more tact. “There’s no need to be bitter, Lauren. To be honest, and to answer Jenz’s question,” he spoke as he turned back to Jenz, “yes, he can control it; meaning that he can transform when he wants to. Now, we all know that he is barely able to control his emotions, but that is a separate question.”
“Is it?” asked Jenz rhetorically. “I’m not so sure.”
Standing from the table, Prim walked to the sink and leaned against it. “Speaking the truth, I think that given our current situation, his lack of control could be to our benefit—provided that he has a target on which to focus his anger.”
Silent thus far, Cliff spoke in a confident manner. “It sounds like he’ll have that target soon enough. If Isaac reaches Nicole first, that boy’s gonna come unglued.”
“Exactly,” replied Prim, pointing a finger at the old man. “Should Isaac reach the girl first, we just have to keep him composed long enough to get in the door.”
“And then take off his leash?” asked Lauren sarcastically.
Prim walked behind Lauren’s chair and gripped her shoulders. “Yes, something like that,” he replied.
“That actually brings me to the next order of business,” Jenz spoke while turning to Cliff. “Based on Lauren’s discovery last night, I had an idea.” Focused on Cliff, Jenz heard Lauren’s chair as she pulled it closer to the table. “Speaking as if Isaac were, in fact, to reach Nicole before we are able to locate her….”
Holding up a hand, Lauren interrupted. “Can we be honest with ourselves for a second?” she asked. “Don’t we already know that he is going to find her first? Didn’t Thad see it?”
Shaking her head, Jenz replied. “The future is never certain, though the risk is certainly high.”
“You took the words right outta my mouth,” quipped Cliff.
Feeling put out, Lauren replied bitterly. “Forgive me if I sound rude, but don’t you think that, with all of the outbursts of energy that every one of us has released over the past few days, that Isaac would have come for us by now?” The table was silent. “I’m just saying that it seems to me that Isaac is sticking to his plan no matter what. I know that the future is never certain, but Isaac’s resolve is.”
Knowing that Lauren was correct, Jenz replied. “Your words are spoken wisely, Lauren, but I think it best that we try to remain positive for now. Should we show our fears to Test, he will be that much harder to keep under control.”
Lauren, glad that she had been heard, nodded in agreement.
“Now,” continued Jenz, “We know, thanks to Lauren,” she spoke as she held an open palm in Lauren’s direction, “that a spirit can, in essence, hide a Shadow. We also know that this only works if the spirit is intercepting the line between two Shadows, or a Shadow and a Reaper as the case may be.” She gripped the edge of the table and leaned towards the old man. “Do you think that you can find some help for us, Cliff?”
The old man squinted, his cigar now dry and resting between his fingers. “I don’t know. I can try. To be honest, I don’t know many folks on that side of things.”
“Please try,” replied Jenz. “Maybe Test’s mother can help?”
Placing his cigar softly between his teeth, Cliff answered. “Sure, it’s worth a try. How many are you thinkin’ we’re gonna need?”
Interjecting herself more into the conversation and obviously proud of Jenz’s recognition, Lauren replied. “I’d say no less than four per Shadow, so….” She paused briefly to do the math. “We’ll need at least twelve.”
Prim, already feeling as though he’d stepped on Lauren two too many times in this meeting, hesitated before responding. “I think it’s a minimum of sixteen.”
“Why?” asked Lauren, mildly perturbed. “Isaac won’t be able to feel Test anyway.”
“We can’t let Test walk into this building filled with people in his transformed state,” he replied matter-of-factly. “Our goal is to enter unnoticed.”
Lauren scowled back at him. She knew he was right, but was getting tired of being wrong. With a forced smile, she replied. “I stand corrected.”
“Sixteen it is then,” said Cliff.
“More if you can,” replied Jenz.
Cliff nodded his head and slapped his palms on the table as he pushed out his chair to stand. “Well, looks like Maggie and I have some work to do.”
Standing as well, Jenz replied. “I will get Thad’s flight taken care of and then we must leave immediately. We’ll all meet at Thad’s home—agreed?”
The only one remaining seated at the table, Lauren pushed out her chair but didn’t stand. “So our plan is to walk into this place and do what?” she asked with a hint of sarcasm.
“We hope it doesn’t come to that,” answered Jenz with sad eyes. “Until we know h
ow many spirits will aid us, it will be difficult to formulate a complete strategy. For now, we must get to Kansas City, and it is there that we will finalize our plans.”
CHAPTER 23
All four Shadows traveled with Alyssa by their side in the spirit realm. Having been the only one to Thad’s apartment, Lauren led the way. Together, with nearly all of them having exhausted their energy stores, they materialized in a small grouping of trees that was a block or so away from the apartment complex.
As they walked out onto a wide sidewalk, Lauren stared down the street and recognized the group of buildings that comprised the complex, hoping that she could remember which one was Thad’s.
“Where is it?” asked Test as he held Alyssa’s hand.
Pointing to her right, Lauren replied. “That’s it over there.”
“Why did we stop here then?” asked Test, trying his best not to sound like an ass.
“Because—A; I’m not exactly sure which apartment it is, and B; I thought that popping up in the middle of a parking lot filled with people might not be the best way to stay…,” she turned to Prim and jabbed him with a verbal poke, “what did you say? Unnoticed?”
Prim chuckled as he stepped to Lauren, placing his arm around her waist and shaking her gently. “Are you going to be able to forgive me?” he asked in jest.
“For what, being right?” replied Lauren. “I can forget about that, but embarrassing me is something you’re going to have to make up for.”
He leaned his head back with a hearty laugh. “I promise,” he replied, bringing his gaze to hers. “As soon as this is all over, I will do everything that I can to make up for it.”
Test watched as the two of them shared their moment, feeling frustrated at their wasting of time. “If you two are done, how about we move on?”
Gripping Prim’s shirt, Lauren replied bitterly. “Are you kidding me? You’re the last one that can give me crap about public displays of affection. I’ve had to watch you and ghost girl there on….”
“Okay,” interrupted Test. “I get it. Can we just get to the apartment?”
Conspicuously quiet, Jenz refrained from getting involved in the trivialness of the conversation. Her mind was focused on trying to formulate a plan—a plan that would get her family out of a battle still intact. She stood in place as the others began to walk away towards the apartment complex, only realizing it when Prim shouted to her.
“Jenz!”
She looked up with a startled expression.
“You coming?” asked Prim.
“Yes,” she replied, taking a step forward, “but before we proceed further, I need to lay out some rules.” She walked to the center of where the others stood before continuing. “Number one rule is no use of our powers. No exceptions.” She turned to Test. “This means that until Cliff returns with the help we are hoping for, Alyssa will have to remain on the other side.” She looked to Alyssa. “I’m sorry, but we have to be extremely cautious.”
Nodding her head, but glancing to Test sadly, Alyssa replied. “I understand, and I agree.”
Jenz watched and waited as Alyssa looked at her blankly.
“What? You want me to go now?” asked Alyssa.
“Yes,” replied Jenz. “Again, I’m sorry.”
Alyssa felt Test’s grip on her right arm as he pulled her into him. “I’ll see you in a little bit. I’m sure Mom and Cliff will be back soon. Maybe they’re already inside?” he spoke with hope.
With a sigh and a sad look, Alyssa replied. “I know.” She craned her neck up slowly, practically begging for Test’s kiss. He responded with a tight lipped, tension filled touching of her lips. “It’s going to be okay, Test,” she whispered as she pulled away.
His face strained with concern, he nodded his head to her. “I love you,” he muttered painfully.
“I know.” As she slowly faded from view, she placed a hand on his cheek and replied. “I love you, too.”
Seeing that Test was visibly upset, Jenz stepped to him and stood face to face, holding up a single finger. “One more rule.” She spoke commandingly. Though she knew he wanted comforting, he had to understand the importance of her instructions. “You have to control yourself. Should we learn that Isaac has Nicole, you have to remain composed. Your loss control could kill us all.” She paused and looked upon him with a tentative grimace. “Do you understand?”
Grinding his teeth, Test puffed out his chest and nodded his head in silence.
Jenz patted him on the chest and then straightened out the wrinkles on his shirt. “Good then. On we go.”
As the group stepped off the curb and began to walk across the street, Prim felt a small swell of energy push him from the East. Though he was sure he knew what it meant, he kept it hidden from the others, preferring to share it with Jenz when they reached the apartment.
****
The group walked by several people in the parking lot, trying their best to blend in. The only looks that they received were those glancing at Jenz’s odd appearance. Though it was a tense moment for Lauren and Test, it was obvious that Jenz and Prim were both used to that sort of attention as they paid it no mind.
Miraculously, Lauren had guided them to the correct building on her first attempt, and in moments the group stood outside of Thad’s apartment door.
Looking down the hall to make sure no one was around; Lauren spoke in a whisper to the group. “You guys wait here. I’ll go in and then open the door from the inside.”
With silent nods from each of them, Lauren phased and passed through the door. Once through, she quickly shifted back to the living world and opened the door, standing to the side as each of the others passed single file into the apartment.
Exhausted from their journey, each of them proceeded to plop onto a piece of furniture; all but Prim who stood and walked to the kitchen, standing with his back to the room. Sensing that something was bothering him, Jenz pushed herself up from the couch and approached him with a quiet tone.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
Prim turned his head to her, watching her with troubled eyes, and then turned to face the room. The others sat with their heads leaning back and their eyes closed, seeming to be resting as peacefully as the situation would allow. He turned his back to the room once more and looked to Jenz.
“I don’t think so,” he replied softly. “I don’t want to talk about it here,” he glanced back over his shoulder. “I don’t think it wise that they know.”
Fearing she knew what Prim was speaking of, she closed her eyes slowly, almost as if in slow motion. As she opened them, Prim walked past her and towards a short hallway with a door on either side at the end. She followed him, glancing to the others to assure herself that their leaving the room wasn’t noticed.
The two of them stepped into what was obviously Thad’s bedroom, and Jenz partially closed the door behind her, allowing a crack just large enough to see if anyone were to come down the hallway.
“He has the girl, doesn’t he?” asked Jenz in a panicked voice.
“I can’t say for sure,” replied Prim, “but I felt a surge from the East.”
“How far away?”
“Close,” he replied. “Within the city or one of its suburbs.” He looked at her with a grim expression. “Like I said, I can’t be sure, but their presence here is undeniable to me. I can think of no other reason for their presence, can you?”
Jenz stared into the wall past Prim’s shoulder, struggling for a different explanation. “No, unfortunately, I cannot.” Bringing her eyes to Prim’s, she continued. “However, their presence doesn’t automatically mean that they have the girl, it just means that there is a chance that they know she is returning.”
Prim’s face wrinkled in apprehension. “But how?” he spoke loudly, wincing at his own volume.
Turning and glancing through the doors opening, she pushed it shut, turning the knob in her hand so it would be silent. “I don’t know,” she answered sternly. “I don’t pre
tend to have all of the answers.”
“I’m sorry,” answered Prim. “It’s just that….”
“It’s fine,” replied Jenz, cutting him off mid-sentence.
The room fell silent as the two Shadows stared blankly at one another. Suddenly, as if lightning had rushed through him, Prim jerked.
“What is it?” asked Jenz.
“What if….” He paused, trying to wet his lips but his mouth had gone dry. “What if we aren’t the only ones to have spirits as allies?”
Jenz’s eyes grew wide as she considered the possibility, but then relaxed as she responded. “It’s a valid theory, but if that were the case, wouldn’t we have been discovered in Oregon?”
Letting out a deep sigh, a mixture of relief and frustration, Prim replied. “That would be true.” He stopped for a moment, returning to thought. “That would be true unless, in the process of Cliff and Maggie searching for help, the wrong spirit was alerted.”
Wrinkling her brow, Jenz spoke timidly. “The wrong spirit?” she asked. “The Reapers do nothing but take lives, what spirit would choose to help them?”
Trying once again to wet his lips, Prim choked on the words. “One who….” He stopped to clear his throat. “One who lost their life at the hands of someone other than a Reaper?”
Again Jenz’s eyes widened at the prospect as Prim continued.
“There are more than a few who lost their life by Test’s hand, whether intentional or otherwise. Is it not possible that they might seek revenge? Where do you think the first place that Cliff and Maggie would go for help would be; Lincoln, right?”
Jenz turned and took the door knob into her hand once more, turning it slowly as her eyes focused on Prims stoic face. Opening the door behind her, she leaned into Prim and whispered in his ear. “Things just got exponentially more complicated. Do not utter a word of this to anyone. When Cliff and Maggie return, we shall formulate our plan. Until then, I suggest that we all get as much rest as we can. I fear that we’ll need it.”
The Reverence of One: Book Three of the Shadow Series Page 23