“That seems like a lot just to get someone to trust me,” I said, cocking my head to the side.
“It does, but what other options do we have? Unless you are able to get John to trust you first somehow. You get to John, you get to Miranda,” Mona said.
“I didn’t even think about John. He’s going to neutralize my power,” I moaned, stomping a foot in a fit.
“No, he won’t. You have the trinkets on and you will only lose the use of your fire. You will still be able to use all the other powers,” Mona pointed out. I looked at her, dumbfounded.
“He can only neutralize my own power, not that which I have borrowed,” I said, shrugging. I looked around the entryway, wondering if we were going to be having the entire conversation there.
Mona noticed my unease and motioned for me to follow her into the living room where we sat down on the couch, facing one another. Mona pulled her shoes off, sat them down and sighed with relief. The longer I spent with her the more she relaxed. I had a feeling if I spent any more time with her I would see that she was far more than the uptight woman I had known as a child.
“At least you know that he will not make your magic completely unusable,” she said as soon as I crossed my legs and put my elbows on my knees.
“True, and that might be enough to convince him to look the other way.” I smiled, feeling a warmth crawl over me. John couldn’t render me useless. This was news I wish I had heard months ago.
“Maybe. Just try to avoid being alone with him. If he is still able to make you uncomfortable he may pick up on it,” Mona warned.
“I was able to put the fear aside the last time we met. When he warned me of what was happening with Wesley.” I hung my head at the memory. “I don’t know how I will feel with my new personality.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. I cannot foresee what will happen once you get there. All I hope is that, when you do arrive, they remember the prophecy and remember that you are there because it was a vison. Something told Wesley that you were coming in order to fulfill a wonderful role. You are there to lead them to victory. Miranda knows it. She should know your face from the drawings, but I do not know the outcome.” She shook her head.
“So the question now is: when do I leave?” I frowned, afraid of what her answer might be.
“You passed the test, there is nothing else that I can do for you. My suggestion would be to pack up your stuff, put it in your car and start the drive to New Mexico. I don’t know exactly where she is so you will have to do some homing in of your own to find her.” Mona smiled shyly at me. “I would love for you to spend several weeks with me before going, but this is far more important than you and I bonding all over again.”
“I was afraid you would say that,” I sighed. “I suppose then I should get some rest.” I got up from the couch. Four days of pampering and training for this and it was all up to me.
“Dawn, I wish I could come with you.” She looked at me sadly, as if she felt I was being fed to the wolves.
“I do too, but I understand.” I shrugged and left the room, walking up the stairs into my old bedroom and lying down on the bed.
When do you leave? I heard Shawn’s voice in my head as soon as my head hit the pillow. I hadn’t even taken the time to change from my evening clothes and into a nightgown.
First thing in the morning. This is all so surreal. Did you see the date she had me set up with? I sighed and fluffed the pillow under my head.
No, I have to admit I missed that. We had a slight situation here. He sounded concerned, like this was a rather large situation and not a slight one.
Everything OK? I felt my heart quicken.
Yeah, we had an internal conflict. Don’t worry, Kelly is OK. This could only mean one thing.
Let me guess, Rose. I felt an annoyance like no other.
Yeah, our lovely stepsister seems to have some mommy issues she is sorting out. She swears that Mona loves you more than her. It’s a bunch of stupid jealousy. Even he sounded annoyed by all this mess.
She will have to get over it at some point. Mona has some serious issues with the whole thing as well, I’m sure. I looked toward my dresser. I really should get ready for bed. If there was one thing I had learned out of all of this it was that a lady never slept in her cocktail dress.
I agree. So when are you leaving? he asked me again, changing the subject.
Apparently tomorrow. I passed the final test. She thinks I’m ready, I sighed. I was hoping that he could feel my nervousness about the whole thing.
And how do you feel? I knew he was going to ask me that.
I don’t know. I feel that I could be all right. I was able to pull off tonight without being figured out. I rolled on to my side and looked out the window. The night sky was beautiful, though I admit I missed the stars.
So who was this mystery date? He had a hint of amusement in his thoughts.
Edmund. He was great, though truly devoted to the Allied Force. I laughed out loud.
Seriously! That explains all the primping this afternoon. He made a theatrical sigh and I had to control my laughter again.
He was quite flirty. I have to admit I had to fight from laughing on several occasions. He can be quite the charmer. I had actually enjoyed my blind date with Edmund—even at the end of the night when he nervously debated whether he should kiss me or not. I had instead given him a brief kiss on the cheek and departed the restaurant.
I would have paid to see that. Shawn was laughing hysterically in my head.
Well I need to get to bed. Take care of Kelly for me, I demanded seriously. He promised that he would let nothing happen to her and I was going to hold him to that promise.
This will be the last I hear from you before you call to be brought home. Take care of yourself, Dawn. There was a trace of remorse in his voice, as if he was not excited that this was our last conversation for days.
I will, Shawn. Call for you soon. I felt the telekinetic link break and I felt alone.
I got up and put on my nightgown before crawling under the covers. This was probably the last night that I was going to be sleeping in a bed. Unless I acted like a prima donna and pretty much demanded one. I wasn’t ready to leave the manor yet. Honestly, after wanting to run the first day there, things had changed. I would not have said that it wasn’t a smart idea for me to take off. However, I felt now that maybe I should have given my father a chance. All those years of not speaking to him made the guilt in me rise. What I wouldn’t give to turn back time and choose another avenue to get to my mother. Oh well, it’s too late to play the game of ‘what if.’ I had done what I did and there was no going back and changing it.
I closed my eyes and willed the darkness to take me. I was used to the dreamless sleeps now and found myself hoping it would stay that way when I was in New Mexico. The darkness pulled me and I felt it envelop me in warmth. I was happy for it to take me.
***
“Dawn.” The voice was soft, but warm, and I had to fight to rouse myself from my sleep.
“Yeah,” I said before I even opened my eyes.
“I have everything in the car. It is time for you to go.” I realized it was Mona standing over me and I cracked my eyes to look at her. The sun was reflecting off her hair, giving her a halo effect.
“Just ten more minutes?” I asked, wishing to just have those moments to reflect on what was going to happen.
“No, honey. I have breakfast ready for you downstairs. Then you have to get on the road. Peter visited last night after you went to bed. Said that things are turning hostile at the New Mexico camp. If you don’t make an appearance soon, Miranda has been instructed to kill Wesley.” Mona said this softly, so as to not give me a headache. My eyes shot open. This was it, they were questioning the vision. Was the woman ever going to show?
“That’s not good,” I said softly.
“No it is not. So the sooner you get on the road the faster you can put out th
e fires,” she said as I shot up and out of the bed.
“I will be downstairs in twenty minutes, give or take a few,” I said, ushering her out of my room so that I could get dressed.
I threw on a pair of black slacks and a white satin shirt that was laying at the end of my bed. Running a brush through my hair, I quickly applied the makeup as I had been instructed to do and was off down the stairs and into the kitchen.
“You look beautiful,” Mona said as I took a seat at the table. It was another morning of shredded wheat. I was actually glad; I had grown used to it over the last few days. Anything different wouldn’t have felt right.
“Thanks.” I ate my breakfast slowly, as Mona had taught me to do.
“I had the car filled with gas and the GPS system set up for the drive. Remember you are going to have to find her. I can only give you a general idea of where the camp is.” Mona ate her English muffin quickly and waited for me to finish the cereal.
“All right. I guess this is it,” I said, standing up and putting the bowl in the sink.
“I guess it is. Here,” she handed me a pair of gloves and smiled. “This is for Wesley. When you get ready to be summoned you put these on him. They will teleport both of you to the Allied camp. As you know, Shawn will be waiting for your call.”
“Thank you for everything.” I grabbed my handbag from the front entry table and walked toward the front door. This was not what I had in mind for my last moments in the house. I wasn’t expecting to be rushed out the door.
“I will see you soon,” she said seriously, hugging me. “I’m heading back to the manor in the next few days.”
I opened the front door and walked out into the warm sun. I felt the heat on my face and wanted to gag. Crawling into the car, I threw on the sunglasses sitting in the cup holder and started the vehicle. According to the GPS signal I had about an eight-and-a-half-hour commute. I groaned as I put the car in drive and began the trip. This was it. Everywhere I went I was no longer Dawn, I was Prudence. Dawn no longer existed. I had to believe I was who I said I was. I should have had Shawn alter my memories just in case there was a telepath. However, Mona had said that I would be protected, so I assumed I was also protected from them.
Once I hit the highway I turned on Pandora Radio and listened to a mixture of some of my favorite heavy metal to get me in the mood to deal with the things to come. I would stop outside of Lincoln, New Mexico and pray that someone found me. Since I had no clue where she was based, all I had was a basic knowledge, which personally I think alone should have been enough to prove that I was who they thought that I was.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Magic
I pulled into a hotel parking lot off the I-20 near Artesia, New Mexico. I was tired, and though my driver’s seat was comfortable, my poor butt was numb and fast asleep. I figured I would check in for a few hours and then head back up the road to Lincoln National Forest. Maybe I would get a hit there. So far the drive had been pretty quiet and rather boring. Even singing at the top of my lungs to all the songs I knew wasn’t enough to take the complete boredom out of it. It would have been much better if someone had been allowed to come with me.
I walked in my stilettoed driving boots into the lobby of the tiny hotel and looked around, attempting to create a disgusted face (you never know who you will find in these places).
“May I help you, Madam?” a dark man behind the counter asked me as I tiptoed toward him, attempting not to touch anything.
“I need a room. For only a few hours,” I said, the sound of my voice cold. I gave the man a hard stare, hoping that he couldn’t see an ounce of softness in me.
“Just passing through?” he asked as he started to work on the old computer at the desk.
“Something like that,” I said harshly, looking around again.
“I will have to charge you the whole night.” He said grabbing a key from the drawer next to him.
“Whatever. I’ve been traveling for days. I just need to rest.” I reached in my handbag and pulled out my credit card. Mona was very thorough when it came to Prudence.
He accepted the card graciously and ran it through the old credit card reader. Was anything new in this damned place? “Thank you, Mrs. Warren.” He handed the card back to me and wrote my name down in a ledger.
“No Mrs., just Miss,” I corrected him. I took the card, attempting not to touch him.
“Where you coming from?” he asked, looking at me cautiously. I could only assume that this place didn’t receive that many visitors.
“Maine,” I said simply as he handed me the room key.
“That is quite a drive. You are in room 258, it’s on the second floor near the ice machine.” He smiled at me and winked. I gave him a crooked grin and turned to retrieve my traveling bag which was sitting on the back seat of the Bentley.
I opened the back door and grabbed the ice-blue travel bag that Mona had so graciously purchased for me for the trip. I rolled it behind me as I reentered the hotel and proceeded up the steps and to room 258. I was halted on the stairs by a young man of around twenty.
“May I help you with your bags?” he asked, giving me a sweet smile. Mona had taught me that when a man offers to assist with your bags you allow him. However, if he runs off with your bags you disintegrate him.
“Of course.” I handed him the bag and pointed up the stairs. “Room 258 if you don’t mind.” I sashayed up the steps and led him to the door. Upon opening it and turning to retrieve my bag from him he looked at me and grinned.
“We have been waiting for you,” he said, handing me the bag. “Please get some rest. I do apologize that the accommodation is not to your sophisticated taste, but I do promise you are in the right spot.”
“Thank you, young man.” I looked at him without smiling, inside I was scared to death.
“The General will be here after a while to meet with you,” he said, standing in the doorframe. I was going to meet with Miranda first. My heart started to pound but I retained my composure, not showing any signs of excitement or fear.
“Sounds great,” I said nonchalantly.
“Can I get anything for you?” he asked, his green eyes were sparkling.
“Everything should be quite fine,” I said, looking around the room and narrowing my eyes. There was a double bed with an awful green comforter, a single chair and an old TV on a busted-up dresser.
“The look on your face says otherwise,” he said, laughing.
“It’s not the Ritz Carlton, that is for sure. It should serve its purpose though. Do you wish to come in or do you plan on standing in the doorway this whole time staring at me?” I asked flatly. The boy was doing nothing but stare at my face, as if he was looking for answers.
“May I?” he asked, taking a step forward. I nodded at him, annoyed. “We have been hearing so much about you. I was thrilled when she sent me to welcome you.” He smiled deviously at me. He was a handsome boy. About five ten with patronizing green eyes and an evil smile. Something about him was off though. The way he said ‘the General’ almost came off with a little bit of distrust.
“What’s your name, boy?” I asked. I knew I looked youthful but I had to act as if I was centuries old.
“Marshall,” he said, squeaking.
“Marshall, I’m Prudence.” I held out my hand and he took it delicately in his, lifting it to his lips and kissing it.
“That is a beautiful name,” he said, looking at me and grinning from ear to ear. The way it shadowed his eyes made my pulse drop. Thank goodness I was so pale that a decrease in color wasn’t noticeable.
“What are you?” I asked, turning and walking toward the bed and groaning when I realized how lumpy the mattress was.
“I’m a shifter. My mother was a wolf; my father was a skin walker. I can transform into just about anything if needed. That is why she sent me. Just in case.” He looked toward the bed and then back at me. This boy was out of his mind.
“Well, tha
t was very nice of her to send such a strapping young man to assist me.” I opened the bag and pulled out a nightgown and some slippers. “Now if you don’t mind I’m going to get ready to sleep for a few hours. If your General is coming as you say I need to be rested for her arrival.” I walked into the small bathroom and changed out of my high-dollar driving clothes and into my nightgown. Emerging from the bathroom, I didn’t realize the effect it would have on the young shifter.
Yes, the gown plunged rather abruptly between my breasts, and yes, it hung on my hips tightly and then loosened to the floor. The poor boy was about to have an aneurism.
“You are so well dressed,” he swallowed, and ran to the bed, pulling the comforter away from the sheets. I looked at it, unsatisfied, and reached out, touching the mattress. I prayed that I had the ability to pull the lumps from it. It shimmered for a second and then changed into a comfortable feather bed. I smiled to myself, satisfied with what I could do with this borrowed power. He gasped beside me as I grabbed the comforter and turned it into a super plus-sized dark purple blanket. The bed was calling my name and I crawled under the comforter.
“Are you going to be here while I sleep?” I asked as I pulled the pillow to my head.
“If you wish me to,” he stated, looking toward the chair.
“Please. I tend to sleep heavily and if anything happens I need to be woken up,” I said to him sleepily.
“As you wish,” he simply said, taking a seat in the chair.
If this didn’t get her trust then I didn’t know what would. I fell asleep quickly, fully trusting Marshall the shifter to keep me safe.
***
“Prudence.” His voice was light as he touched my bare shoulder, his fingers lingering on my flesh. I opened my eyes and looked at him with a cruel expression. “My General is here. She wishes to speak with you.” I looked toward the window and saw that the sun had set. The darkness through the curtains was amazing, as were the hints of stars in the sky. Oh, how I had missed them.
“Tell her to give me twenty minutes. I will meet her in the lobby,” I instructed. The boy removed his hand from my shoulder and bowed before leaving the room.
The Wardens Boxed Set Page 75