by Vicky Savage
Narowyn sets the brace on the table and places my wrist inside, tightening it to hold everything in place. She rolls a piece of equipment to the side of the table and positions it over my wrist. It looks like a flat screen TV on wheels.
“This is a type of x-ray,” she says. “It shows me if I’m positing the needle accurately. We wouldn’t want the bone to fuse incorrectly.” She pushes the needle into my wrist a few times injecting the glue into the bone. It burns for a few seconds, but then my wrist feels numb.
After rolling the screen out of the way, she brings over a hard plastic splint with Velcro straps. “This is your cuff. You may take it off to bathe, but it’s important that you sleep in it at night, and no strenuous activity, please. Fencing is out of the question.”
“All right, I’ll baby it for a while. What about my nose?”
“Let’s have a look.” She gently probes my face with her gloved fingers. Then she runs the hand-held instrument above my nose and cheeks.
“You have a minor nasal fracture. I don’t notice any disfigurement, so it won’t need to be reset. Once the swelling recedes, though, if you believe something is not quite right, we’ll take further steps.”
“Should I put ice on it?”
“You can if you like, but I have a remarkable new medication here that’s very effective at reducing the swelling, bruising, and soreness. It requires facial injections, though.”
“Wait, what? You have to stick needles in my face?”
“I’m afraid so, dear. It’s not very painful if we use numbing gel. The needle is quite thin.”
“Okay,” I reluctantly agree, “if you’re sure it works.”
She gently swabs the blood from my face with cotton pads and then rubs cool numbing gel across my nose and cheeks. We wait ten minutes before she begins injecting me with the miracle medicine. It’s not so bad, really.
Once she’s finished, Narowyn helps me to a sitting position on the table. “Give me a moment to put these things away, and I’ll take you upstairs.”
“All right, but I need to talk to you about something else.”
“Certainly, dear. What is it?” She sits in one of the infirmary chairs, her eyes searching mine.
I clear my throat. “Something happened out there with the Garugian that I don’t completely understand. It’s happened before, and Luci, Dr. McDonald, has been helping me figure it out. It’s time you knew about it.”
“What is it? What happened?” Her brows knit together.
“It’s weird, and you’re going to think it sounds impossible because that guy probably weighed around three hundred pounds. But he sat right on top of me, and I couldn’t move until he hurt Callie. Then something in me snapped—like all this collected fury exploded. Anyway, I shouted at him to get off, and he just flew backward, like from the force of an explosion.”
She cocks her head. “And you feel you somehow caused that to happen?”
“I know I did. I’ve done it before.”
“Goodness, when?”
“Remember when that automaton attacked me at the palace, and I told you he was inexplicably thrown back against the wall? It was the same thing that time, and also when I was attacked in Madison. Except those times I pointed my palm at them and shouted. Luci’s working with me to try to control it. I’ve gotten to where I can deliberately move objects around with my hand. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but I’ve been kind of freaked out about it.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Yes, I can imagine. Does Dr. McDonald have a theory as to how it works?”
“Kind of. She says it has something to do with my illuminosity. She thinks I stumbled on a way to concentrate it and use it. Her theory is that everyone has the ability, it’s a matter of learning to harness it.”
Narowyn nods. “To be honest, I’ve heard of this before. Stories exist of past Transcenders who were reported to have possessed similar powers. It hasn’t been attributed to anyone in hundreds of years, but it may have something to do with your elevated illuminosity. It seems to manifest itself during times of great stress.”
“That’s what Luci says, but she thinks I can use it in other ways when everything is calm. I’ve been making some progress.”
Our heads turn toward the door as Asher bursts into the infirmary. “Jade, I just heard. Are you okay?” He rushes to my side “Was it really a Garugian?”
“That’s what Urick says.”
“What did he do to you? You look awful.”
“Asher, that’s not particularly helpful,” Narowyn says.
“I’m sorry, but it looks like it hurts.” He raises his fingertips to my swollen cheek.
“Narowyn fixed me all up. I’ll be okay. Callie’s badly hurt, though. I’m waiting to hear from the vet.”
“Asher,” Narowyn says, “Jaden and I were in the middle of a conversation that we need to finish. I plan to set up a meeting for later regarding our strategy for responding to this latest attack. I’d like you both to attend, but we need a few minutes alone right now.”
“Ash kind of knows about this,” I say. “I talked to him about it in Connecticut.”
“Talked to me about what?” he asks.
“You know that thing I did with my hand to that automaton.”
“It happened again?”
“Yeah and … well look.” I stretch out my right arm and aim my palm toward a tray of medical instruments on the counter. I concentrate on the tray for a few seconds and then raise my arm. The tray lifts off the counter and becomes level with my arm. I hear Narowyn’s sharp intake of breath.
I use my mind to draw the tray toward me. It glides smoothly into my hand. Then I release it and send it back across the room. I employ a little too much force on the return trip, though, and some instruments bounce and spill from the tray as it thuds onto the counter. “Oops.”
“Holy shit!” Asher says. “When did you learn to do that?”
“I’ve been practicing, but I’m really better at bringing things to me. They always zoom away a little too hard.”
Narowyn comes to my side. “Good Lord, Jaden, this is remarkable. We must certainly delve deeper into this—when you’re feeling better, of course.” She smoothes a motherly hand across my hair. “We’ll have some time to work on it in the coming weeks. I’m afraid you’re not in any condition to go on exploration tomorrow. You need to rest and recuperate.”
“After today,” Asher says, “it looks like you’re not safe going on exploration—or anywhere else in the galaxy, for that matter.”
Narowyn shoots him another you’re not being helpful look. “Asher, would you please see Jaden to her apartment so she can shower and change before our meeting? I’ll clean up in here.”
“Sure.” Ash holds my right arm and helps me down from the table.
I know he’s just worried about me, but his ominous words fill my head with anxious thoughts. Will I ever feel safe here or anywhere again? If IUGA is willing to risk attacking me here in Arumel, they won’t hesitate to track me down on another earth. Cold dread fills me up inside at the thought of living under constant guard again. I’ll escape to a galaxy far far away if that’s what I need to do to be free. I’ll take Callie with me, and maybe Ralston will come too.
But my insistent heart pushes memories of the afternoon with Ryder into my mind, pleading with me to find another way.
Asher walks me to the elevator and punches the button for the third floor. “So, do you rent yourself out for parties and bar mitzvahs?” He gives me a sideways smile.
“Not funny, Ash. This just makes me a bigger freak than I was before. You know Narowyn won’t rest until she figures out how this works.”
“Hey, I’m just playing with you because I’m jealous. I wish I could do that. Do you really think I could learn how?”
“I don’t know. That’s what Luci says.” I take hold of his arm and look him in the eye. “Do you really think I’m not safe anywhere in the galaxy?”
“Oh, hell, Jade, I
’m sorry if I stepped on my tongue. I didn’t mean to upset you.” The elevator doors open and we step out. “We’ll find a way to keep you safe. Your afternoon was bad enough. Please don’t stress about that right now.”
When we reach my apartment, he opens my door. “Was the picnic nice at least?”
“Actually, it was very nice.” I step inside and shuck what’s left of my jacket onto the floor.
“That’s awesome. So, you’re going to see him again?” Ash follows me inside.
“I think I might.”
“Come on spill it. What’s he like? Is he an okay guy?” His curiosity’s kind of endearing, even if he is being annoyingly nosy.
“Yeah, he’s kind of cool. He has a little film production company and he writes songs. He’s not really much like my Ryder at all.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Don’t know yet. I guess time will—.” The ringing phone interrupts me.
“Countryside Veterinary Hospital calling,” Vasa says.
“Put it through.” I glance anxiously at Asher.
“Miss Beckett, it’s Dr. Lane.”
“Hi Doctor, how’s Callie?”
“We just finished surgery. She had some internal contusions, and we needed to remove her spleen, but she’ll be able to function without it just fine. She’s resting comfortably now. We’d like to keep her for a few days. After that I believe she’ll be ready to go home.”
Whew. “That’s great. When can I see her?”
“Give her tonight to recover. You can come by and check on her tomorrow morning.”
“Thanks so much Dr. Lane.”
“No problem. Have a good evening,” he says and ends the call.
“Well, that’s good news, at least,” Asher says.
“I called on every angel and deity known to man to help her. Someone must have heard me. I’m just so relieved.” I kick off my shoes. “There’s food and drink in the fridge. I’m going to grab a shower.”
“Need any help?” he asks.
“Ha ha. Don’t let Nila hear you talking like that.”
“She knows I’m a harmless flirt. Seriously though, Jade, you holding up okay? Don’t you want to rest for a few minutes?”
“Honestly, I’m kind of numb right now. As long as Callie’s going to be okay, I’ll find a way to deal with the rest of this.”
The hot shower feels like a baptism of sorts. I thought I was dead, but I somehow survived and received a new shot at life once again. I don’t want to blow that. And I also don’t want anyone else dictating my future. I mean how many second chances does a person get?
All the filth and scum of the bloody fight washes away from my body and my spirits lighten. Maybe I can find a way to stick around long enough to figure out if Ryder is part of a new beginning for me. I can’t let Canto drive me away. I refuse to let IUGA win after all I’ve been through.
I slip on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and blow out my hair. My face looks slightly better than it did before. Narowyn’s magic meds must be kicking in. I dab concealer under my bruised eyes and apply a coat of lip gloss. The stiff splint for my wrist is a little tricky to put on with only one hand, but I eventually secure it in place.
Ash knocks on the bathroom door as I’m finishing up. “Jade, there’s someone here to see you.”
“I’ll be right out.”
“When I reach the kitchen, I’m shocked to see Eve and Asher in quiet conversation with Ryder Blackthorn.
“Ryder?”
“I had to come. I hope it’s okay.” He looks harassed.
An involuntary grin spreads across my face, at the same time unexpected tears spring to my eyes. I didn’t know how much I needed to see him.
He reaches me in two strides and folds me in his arms. “Thank god you’re all right. How did this happen?”
“It was a hired killer. He was stalking me.” I burrow deeper into his arms, and he rests his cheek on the top of my head. We stand in silence, shrouded in unutterable emotions—the fear, hope, and pain of loss—that only we two can understand.
“Uh, Jaden?” Asher says, like remember us?
Eve takes hold of his arm. “I think we should go now.” She drags him toward the door. “Nice to see you, Ry.”
“But, but …” Asher protests.
Eve squints at him, one eyebrow raised. “Get going.” She motions to the open door. “Jade, I’ll let Narowyn know you’ll be along in a bit.”
“Thanks,” I say, still clinging to Ryder.
He cups a hand under my chin. “Let me see what he did to you.”
“I look hideous.”
“You look beautiful.” He places a whisper of a kiss on my nose. “Asher says you have a meeting to go to, but can you spare a few minutes to tell me what happened? Eve called and told me you’d been attacked. That’s all I really know.”
Good old Eve. For once I don’t mind her being all up in my business.
I take Ryder’s hand, and we sit together on my couch while I explain what happened after we parted. I leave nothing out, but I gloss over the part where I sent the Garugian soaring through the air.
When I’m finished with the whole account, he shakes his head in amazement. “God, Jade, it’s a miracle you’re alive. But how did you get the guy off of you so you could grab his weapon? Did you use your martial arts or something?”
I’m tempted to say yes, but I’ll have to tell him the truth eventually. “I know I never mentioned it before, but I recently found out I have this kind of strange power.”
“Stranger than traveling to parallel worlds?”
I only half-laugh. “No, not really. It’s a telekinetic kind of thing. Dr. McDonald thinks it has something to do with concentrating my illuminosity in order to move things. Anyway, when he hurt Callie I went crazy inside. I pushed up against him and screamed at him to get off me. He just went flying. I was as shocked as he was.”
Ryder looks uncertain. “Can you show me what you mean? Can you safely do it here?”
“Sure.” I scan the room for something unbreakable. Pulling a decorative pillow from the chair, I give it to him. “Hold this up.”
He lifts it by the corner, dangling it in the air. I aim my palm and send the pillow rocketing out of his hand. It hits the wall and explodes. Stuffing flies everywhere.
“I really haven’t perfected my technique yet.” I rub my palms against my jeans.
“Damn. And you can do that to a three hundred pound man?”
“Apparently so.” I hold my breath waiting for his judgment.
“You’re one amazing lady, Jade. Any other powers I should be aware of?”
“Nope. Sorry. That’s it.”
He lifts my hand, his eyes a dark, turbulent sea. “Listen, I know you can take care of yourself. But this isn’t something to be taken lightly. What’re the Transcenders planning to do about this? We have to make sure it never happens again.”
I like the way he includes himself in that. “It’s not that easy. That’s why we’re meeting downstairs. We have no real proof that Canto hired the Garugian. It’s his word against ours. The law’s not very helpful in such cases, as we’ve discovered in the past.”
Asher’s words of warning echo in my ears. “It’s only fair that I tell you, if we can’t come up with a workable solution, I may need to leave Arumel to be safe.”
“Whoa, whoa, wait a minute.” His spine goes rigid. “There’s got to be a better way. Maybe it’s time you found a more creative solution.”
“Like what?”
He rubs his thumb across the top of my hand. “I don’t know, but running away will only encourage him. The director obviously has no problem ignoring the law for his own purposes. Handling this outside the available legal channels may be the best option.”
My mouth falls open. “You’re not suggesting we put a contract out on him?”
“God no. What he did was deplorable. I’m only suggesting that the Transcenders have certain powers that far exceed the dire
ctor’s. You just demonstrated that very effectively.” He nods to the pile of pillow stuffing on my floor. “Canto feels threatened by you in more ways than one. Maybe you can use that to your advantage.”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“I’m not sure either, but bringing the police in on this is like asking the poodles to protect the pit bulls. If I had powers like yours I wouldn’t take shit off of anybody. All I know is, the director’s making reckless moves because he’s scared. Fear is a powerful weapon, Jade. He who controls the fear, controls the game.”