by Kimbra Swain
“Tired. Yes, very much.”
“Is everyone okay?” Dakota asked.
“We got out of there pretty quickly. Everyone has checked in except Elmira. She can hold her own though. I’m sure she’s fine,” he said.
“Still, we need to find her,” Dakota replied.
“We will, but I have to rest,” Culpepper said.
“Use the cot. It’s not great, but it will do,” I offered.
“No, no. I’ll go back up to the house. Now that I’m here, you guys can come up, too. Take her into the basement though, Kota,” Culpepper instructed.
“Why the basement?” I asked.
“Kota, I suppose, told you that he is also a 3rd gen. He can control all 6 elements, but his strength is in the earth, so taking you below it will help him restore his power as well as block out anyone trying to find you,” Culpepper said. “Or you can stay here. That’s why I brought the snacks.”
“I don’t want to stay here,” I said, feeling claustrophobic.
“We will go up to the house. We need to make sure it’s clear between here and there,” Dakota said. “I’m not taking any chances with her.”
Culpepper raised his eyebrows, then looked at me. “Do you trust him?”
“Enough to protect me,” I replied.
“It’s a start,” Culpepper said.
“What about Braxton?” I asked.
“I’ve found out that he survived the surgery. They removed the bullet, and he’s being watched by the human authorities because of an anonymous tip that someone was trying to kill him to get to his father. It was a very credible source,” he replied with a smile.
“I told you he had connections,” Dakota said.
“I see.”
“You can see him as soon as this blows over,” Culpepper said. “It will be difficult to protect him from his father though.”
“What about the others? Marley? Zuri?” I asked.
“Lacey, I would hope that anyone could be redeemed, but they are under Stanwick’s influence. He’s broken Marley’s spirit by forcing her to shoot Brax. She follows him blindly now. He has always been a spirit mage. It can be very dangerous what you can do to another human with those abilities.”
“And the ritual. What was that?”
“Just a way to guarantee a pregnancy,” he said. “A fourth gen has never been born, mainly because the circumstances for it to happen is so very rare. Others have tried and failed.”
“Is a fourth gen so terrible?” I asked.
Culpepper’s eyes fluttered with exhaustion.
“He needs to rest. You can ask me anything you want once we get to the house,” Dakota said. “Come on, Gil.”
Dakota helped the older man stand. Culpepper leaned on him as I grabbed the pack, the bag of bagels, and the tumbler of coffee. We walked through the long cave to the exit. I could see the roof of the house through the woods.
“How do we know it’s safe?” I asked.
“Ideally, I’d like to go first and check it out, but he’s in no shape to fight and you have much to learn, so we will all go. Use your shield if you need. Be ready to drop that coffee,” Dakota instructed.
“I am not dropping this coffee,” I replied.
“Then, you better save me some,” he said.
“Oops,” I replied, even though I hadn’t drunk it all yet.
He shook his head then walked out into the morning light. We moved quickly through the woods as birds chirped above us. When we made it to the end of the trees, Dakota paused to look all around us.
“See anything?” I asked.
“I’m feeling with all my senses, not just my sight. No danger that I can detect,” he said. “Please stay close.”
“I will.” I had no desire to be captured again.
When we reached the backdoor of the house on a large wooden patio, Culpepper reached out to touch the door. I heard the latch move, and Dakota nodded for me to follow the professor inside. He came in last, promptly shutting the door behind us.
Inside the house, I looked at the modern furnishings. It was very homey. The living area opened up to a large kitchen and dining room. The dining room table was littered with phones, watches, and other personal items. Dakota walked over placing a wallet in his pocket and checking his phone.
“We met here before we went to the library. Your aunt called Gil to let him know you had left the house. She was worried about you,” he explained.
“I’m going to lay down. Into the basement. There is a kitchen down there, so help yourself,” Culpepper said as he climbed the steps to the second floor.
“Come on,” Dakota said. He opened a door, revealing a narrow staircase. I followed him carefully down the steps into the basement. A large television and several couches sat on one end of the room, and a small kitchen sat on the other side.
“Bathroom?” I asked.
“I’ll tell you where it is at if you give me the rest of the coffee.”
“Make your own,” I barked, hugging the tumbler to my chest. He laughed at me but nodded toward the back of the kitchen. I saw another door.
My bladder was about to explode, so I rushed that way carrying the coffee with me. I could hear him chuckling through the door.
When I returned to the kitchen, a fresh pot of coffee brewed on the kitchen counter.
“That one is mine since you won’t share,” he said. “But there is some sugar there and creamer in the fridge.” He stuffed a piece of bagel in his mouth with a mischievous look. I realized it had cream cheese on it as I watched him lick it from the edges of his mouth.
I dug around in the fridge until I found the cream cheese behind a jug of milk. He’d tried to hide it from me. I plopped it out on the counter and looked back at him as he stuffed another piece of bagel in his mouth. He was always playing games and goofing off when we were together. His carefree attitude attracted me to him then, and now.
“You’ll have to hide it harder next time,” I smirked while preparing a bagel for myself.
“Nah. Half the fun is watching you giving me dirty looks.”
I rolled my eyes and sat down on the couch opposite of him. The coffee finished brewing as we ate, and he fixed himself a mug, then refreshed mine in the tumbler adding a spoon of sugar and a touch of cream. Just how I liked it.
“Thank you, Kota.”
“You know, you are the only one that has ever shortened my name like that,” he said. “You should consider it a privilege.”
“Too bad I left the pillow in the bunker,” I replied, making him laugh.
“Lacey, now is the time. Just ask. Whatever you want to ask,” he said, quickly changing the subject.
“You didn’t seem to be worried about creating a 4th gen when we were together,” I said.
He sat his coffee down on the table between us. “First of all, we weren’t sure that you had any talent at all, and I told you before I got caught up in the relationship not thinking about the consequences.”
“And if I had gotten pregnant?” I asked.
“The chances of having a 4th gen is rare,” he replied.
“No, you idiot. Would you still have left me?”
“I never left you, Lacey.”
“You did. No matter what you tried to tell yourself.”
He heaved a heavy sigh. This wasn’t what he wanted to talk about, and I knew I needed to get over myself for a moment.
“A trained 3rd gen can master all the elements. They have been known to tinker with the center to disastrous endings.”
“Life.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you a master of all the elements?” I asked.
“No, I’m working on it. I’ve been trained since I was in my early teens. Almost ten years now,” he replied.
“Are you really 20 or older?” I asked.
“I’m really 20,” he said. “We can live longer because being in touch with your magic inherently prolongs life. Culpepper is in his eighties even though he looks to be in
his early forties.”
“Wow! He looks great for eighty. You had two circles during the fight at the library.”
“Yes, at a certain level of mastery, you can wield two circles. Culpepper will teach you. I’ve learned a lot since I came here even though my parents have been training me for a while. I’ll help any way that I can. We’ve studied Geology and Econ together. There is no reason we can’t work on this too.”
“I need to learn,” I said.
“Needing isn’t enough, Lacey. You have to want it,” he said.
“Necessity is sometimes more powerful than desire. Hunger can drive a man to do desperate things,” I replied.
“This is true, but passion is the highest form of desire. Without passion, your magic will be formulaic and empty.”
I paused for a moment wondering if we were still talking about magic. Brushing the thought aside, I understood what he was staying. If I was going to learn to do this and do it properly, I would have to give myself to it 100%. No turning back.
“I want to learn,” I whispered.
His lips curled slightly on the end to hear me say it, but I saw the worry in his eyes too. “I can’t produce a child with Stanwick, and he won’t stop until he has you.”
“I’d produce a child with you, Fane,” Grant Camden said from the kitchen.
“You bastard,” Dakota said, approaching Grant. They embraced and did the whole pat on the back man-hug thing. “Good to see you alive.”
“Good to be alive. Good to see both of you, too. Hey, Lacey,” he said.
“Hey, Grant. Did you know about Zuri?” I asked.
His face darkened. “I said you could ask me questions, not him,” Dakota said. Grant shook his head.
“We suspected that Zuri had a gift and was working with Stanwick. Our relationship developed because I was sent to track her just as Dakota was to keep an eye on you. Only I didn’t get my heart involved like a wuss,” Grant said, jabbing Dakota with his elbow. “Where is everyone else?”
“Culpepper is upstairs sleeping. He looked beat. I haven’t heard from Elmira or Ronan.”
“Ronan messaged me. He’s on the way here,” Grant said.
“Isaac?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. He was a surprise. We didn’t have him on the list of possibilities. Most magical beings don’t participate in sports to avoid any sort of attention,” Grant explained.
“Kota, can you call him?” I asked.
“Yeah, sure. Or, you can use my phone, if you want to do it,” he said, handing me the phone.
I knew how to unlock his phone. He didn’t keep it a secret when we were together. When the phone woke up as I touched it, a picture of us appeared on his lock screen. We were curled up on his couch in his dumpy little apartment watching television together. I loved the picture. Punching in the code to his phone, the picture disappeared opening up to his generic background on his home menu. I found Isaac’s number and dialed.
The phone rang over and over, but no answer. I shook my head, hanging up the call. I dialed it again.
“Hello? Hello?” Isaac answered.
“Isaac,” I said.
“Shit! Lacey, are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m with Dakota and Grant.”
“Oh, threesome! I’m on my way,” he said.
“Isaac Denton!”
“You wouldn’t know it was me if I didn’t talk about sex!” he exclaimed. “Seriously though. Culpepper messaged me directions to his house. I’m on the way.”
“Okay. I’m glad you are alright.”
“See you soon,” I replied.
“Soon.”
I handed the phone back to Dakota, but he shook his head. “I’m going upstairs to wait on Denton. Call your aunt. Come on, Grant. Give her some privacy.”
“Thanks,” I said, sitting down on the couch. He wanted me to tell her that I was going to train. I couldn’t say good-bye over the phone. I needed to see her in person, but I dialed anyway. She answered on the first ring.
“Mr. Fane, you better have my niece,” she said immediately.
“How rude. Where did you learn to answer the phone?” I teased.
“Chantilly Lace Ashcraft, thank the heavens you are alive. Don’t you worry me like that ever again,” she said.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into, but now I have a better idea. And I’m going to learn how to use my talent,” I explained.
“With Gil?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Good. He’s the only one I trust. Except for the Fane boy. His parents are good people. They knew your parents, so I know he’s from good stock. You can trust him. I was disappointed when the two of you broke off your relationship,” she said.
“How do you know about that?” I asked.
“Oh, honey. I saw the way you looked at him when all your friends were here. You should consider forgiving him. The world we live in is tough enough to do, but to do it alone is worse,” she said.
“Aunt Clara,” I groaned.
“I know. I know. I’m meddling, but you stick close to him. He will protect you,” she said.
“I’m going to learn to protect myself,” I said.
“Still,” she said. “Oh, someone is at the door. Hold on.”
“Aunt Clara, don’t go to the door. Please, Aunt Clara!” I screamed through the phone. “Kota!”
Kota ran down the steps with Isaac and Grant behind him. “What is it?”
“She’s answering the door!” I said handing him the phone. I couldn’t listen. Somehow, I knew exactly who it was.
Kota grabbed the phone. “Mrs. Ashcraft! Don’t go to the door!” He listened to her talking to someone. I could hear her voice through the phone. I covered my ears and turned away. Isaac came up, pulling me into his chest. His arms curled around my head blocking my ears.
“Grant, go get Culpepper,” Isaac said.
Grant ran up the stairs in a hurry, as Ronan came down the steps.
“What’s the deal?” he asked.
“Stanwick is at Clara’s house. She invited him in. Shit. The phone just went dead,” Dakota said.
“We should get over there,” Ronan said.
Isaac hugged me tighter as they made plans to get to the house. “They are after the books,” I muttered.
“What books?” Isaac asked.
“I have two books from the library in Athens,” I said.
“How the hell?” Ronan asked.
“Her parents were librarians. Where are the books, Lacey?” Dakota asked.
I backed away from Isaac, wiping my tears. “I protected them. I tried.”
Dakota took my face in his hands. “The books are secondary to saving your Aunt, but if we know where they are, we might could use them if we had to use as insurance to save her.”
“She’s the only family I have,” I said.
“That’s not true,” Isaac said. “We are your family, too.” He squeezed my hand.
“He’s right. You are, but so is Clara. Get ready to move out. Dakota take Lacey to the bunker,” Culpepper said, entering the conversation from the stairs.
I shook my head violently. “No! I’m not going there by myself. Please, don’t do that. I have to go with you.”
“He wants you to show up, Lacey. We can’t risk it,” Culpepper replied.
“He’s right, Lacey,” Dakota said.
“I’ll stay with her,” Isaac said.
“We are going to need everyone. All six. Where is Elmira?” Culpepper asked. No one responded. “Shit. He must have her.”
“You need me,” I said. “You need six.”
“Take her with us. We will keep her safe,” Dakota said, knowing I wouldn’t back down.
“I’ll make both of you stay,” Culpepper threatened.
Dakota turned to him with fire in his eyes. “I will not betray her again on your orders. Never again.”
Well, fuck. How was I supposed to hate him after that? Cul
pepper needed them all to get my aunt out safely, and I would certainly jeopardize that.
“Kota,” I said, taking his hand. He looked down at me with those dark eyes. “He’s right. I need to stay. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“What if he wants us to leave you behind? What if he’s out there waiting for us to run to your aunt knowing that Culpepper wouldn’t take you?”
“There are too many what ifs. If he does come for me, you will find me. I’ll call for you,” I said.
He grimaced and touched my forehead with his. “I don’t know what is right,” he muttered.
“Right is where all of us survive, but I got the feeling that’s not going to happen. Aunt Clara needs you. All of them need you, Kota. I’m cool. Kinda like that hole in the ground,” I said.
“Now you are going to lie to me. I suppose I deserve that,” he said. “Grab some food. Fill your coffee.”
“I’ll pack her some things,” Isaac said. “Where is the bunker?”
“You are new here. You don’t get to know that,” Kota said. “I’ll take her out there while you guys get ready to go.”
Grant grabbed the brown pack that Culpepper had earlier, putting water bottles and snacks into it. He gave it to Kota who held my hand all the way out to the bunker.
Dakota’s head swiveled back and forth as we returned to the bunker. He held my hand so tightly that I almost complained, but I wanted to hold tight, too. Fear. Real fear gripped my body. This wasn’t just frivolous magic. This was for keeps.
He stopped just as we got to the entrance of the cave.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Get your circle up. Defense. Shield. Okay?” he said, dropping the pack on the ground. He stepped between me and the cave. His circle flared to life in his hand. He stepped backward pushing me back toward the house.
I held my hand up with the purple circle which seemed dull compared to his. The child, Rowena, stepped out of the cave.
“I would have rather done this inside the cave, but out here is fine,” she taunted. “Or you could just give me the girl and live.”
“Come and take her,” Dakota growled. “Run to the house, Lacey.”
“No,” I whimpered.
“Get help!” he yelled.
I gritted my teeth in frustration but turned to run toward the house. Zuri stood in the gap between us and the house. I backed into Dakota holding up my shield. Zuri laughed.