by A and E Kirk
Tristan took a moment to concentrate on controlling his breathing. “So, do we tell Aurora? I didn’t give you all the details, but you can read more if you want. And I mean, if this stuff is scaring me, what’s it going to do to her?”
The Boys huddled over the files.
“Maybe we don’t show her this,” Logan said, setting aside a paper.
“Or that.” Ayden pulled out another one.
“Not even Matthias needs to see these.” Blake collected the overturned photos.
“I would suggest the further removal of this item,” Jayden added.
“I don’t know,” Ayden said. “That doesn’t seem so bad.”
Jayden pointed at a particular passage in the document.
Ayden paled and swallowed. “Okay. Yeah. Take that one out.” He rubbed a palm over his face. “But guys, we shouldn’t take everything out. We should give her a chance to—”
“Babe’s coming!”
“Crap!”
“Disperse all evidence!”
In a flurry of panic, the Boys gathered up papers and photographs.
“Blake.”
“On it.”
Blake waved a hand. A deep hole scooped out of the grass and dirt. Logan swirled all the papers they had chosen into a mini tornado which carried the documents and photos into the hole. Ayden shot a blast of fire that immediately burned them into ash. With a sizzling hiss, Jayden doused the ash in water. Blake covered the pile back up, regrowing the grass over the patch as Logan dissipated any smoke.
They all sat down.
Tristan restacked the files while pulling deep breaths. “I feel better already.”
Ayden shook his head. “Guys, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“You want to give her more nightmares?” Logan said under his breath.
“We can engage in further discussion on the topic at a later date.”
“Hey, babe!”
“Hey, guys.” Aurora slid next to Ayden.
He put an arm around her and kissed her cheek. “Missed you.”
“Missed you too.” She leaned into him. “So, Logan said we get to do more Sicarius study. Like I wasn’t having enough nightmares? This is really cutting into my beauty sleep. Ha, ha.”
Ayden’s arm tightened around her. “Not at all. You’re gorgeous, as usual.”
“Yeah, babe, you’re always a babe.”
“Any lack of sleep has not adversely affected your normal physical appearance,” Jayden said with a firm nod.
Logan rolled his eyes. “He means you look nice. Not tired. Or scared. At all.”
“Especially impressive considering the night you had, am I right?” Tristan said in overly cheerful tone. “Demons, assassins. What’s next? Certainly not any more bad news. Other than the usual that we already know. I mean, which shouldn’t be any worse than what you’re already dealing with. Already.”
“Tristan.” Ayden said, a tight smile on his lips. “Let’s get on with it, and make it quick so we can get some lunch.”
“Where’s Matthias?” Aurora asked.
“He’ll be here,” Ayden said.
“Here we go then.” Tristan handed them each a stack of files. “Even with my skills, info is hard to come by. They’re all highly trained with a variety of weapons, expert marksmen known for a ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ attitude.” He opened the top file, and they all followed suit with their own copies. “Let’s start with Horus, the wind hunter.”
The rest of the Boys shot Tristan alarmed looks, but he pressed his lips together and shook his head. Busy checking out the file, Aurora didn’t notice the exchange.
“Does he ever eat?” she asked, staring at the photo of the skinny, shaggy-haired, Sicarius hunter.
Tristan cleared his throat and shrugged. “No idea. His background’s like a black hole.” He slapped that file closed and quickly opened another. “Next, Nitara.”
OPERATION:
Possession or Obsession?
LOCATION:
Gossamer Falls High School
As the final bell signaled the end of the day at Gossamer Falls High, the students jumped up and headed out the door. Logan took his time putting books in his backpack, moving aside the Sicarius files Tristan had given him to make room. He did not mind letting the rest of class leave first. It was easier to wait rather than get jostled by the crowds.
“Hey!”
“Watch out!”
Several students complained. Logan looked up at the commotion.
Jayden ignored their protests and pushed through the throng of students trying to get out of class, his head swiveling back and forth, swinging his long glossy black hair across his face. He brushed it aside and tucked it behind his ear.
“Logan! Has anyone seen—” His gaze found the white-haired blond. “Logan! Crisis! Alert!” He shoved aside more teenagers, who rendered irritated complaints.
“Mr. Ishida,” the teacher admonished.
Jayden waved her off. “There is a dire exigency of circumstances which needs my colleague’s immediate attention.”
“Exigency?” She looked confused. “Your colleague? Are you all right?”
Logan smiled. “Sorry, ma’am. With his family out of town he’s a little out of sorts at the moment. I’m sure it’s fine. Jayden. Maybe we should talk outside.”
Breathless, Jayden stopped in front of him. “I comprehend that this constitutes a seemingly preposterous statement, but I believe Blake has been possessed by a demon.”
“Shhh!” Logan glanced over Jayden’s shoulder, but the teacher no longer paid them any mind. Not that Jayden appeared worried.
“Possessed or, or, or perhaps one of those demons that we cannot see has taken on the appearance of Blake.” Jayden tucked his hair behind his ears again. “I am flummoxed as to how to otherwise explain the vicissitude in his behavior. It is utterly aberrant.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s better if you observe the phenomenon for yourself. Come along.”
Logan barely had time to grab his backpack as Jayden dragged him out of the room and through the halls, pushing aside more students in his haste. He finally stopped at the door of a classroom where Blake sat at a desk, hunched over and writing on a piece of paper.
Aurora’s friends, Katie and Mika, hovered over him. Katie said, “So, what do you think, Blake? Aurora said you’d be up for it.”
“Even more than once,” Mika added. When he didn’t respond, the two girls looked at each other, then Mika said, “Blake?”
Blake didn’t glance up from his writing. “Yeah?”
“ ‘Yeah?’ ” Katie said. “Is that a ‘yeah’ we’re on the list? Blake? Hello?”
He finally looked at them. “This list? No, this is for Mom Lahey. Why would you be on the list?”
Katie frowned. “No, the dance list in your book. For the Spring Fling?”
“The what?” He blinked. “Oh. The dance list. Sure, but we can figure it out later. I’m a little busy right now.” He returned to writing.
Logan’s eyes widened, and his head jerked around to give Jayden an astonished look.
The twin nodded. “Did I not tell you? Aberrant.”
“Aberrant?” Logan said. “Definitely.”
“Okay. Good.” Katie smiled down at Blake. “Because I’ve been practicing a lot in Coach Slader’s class and, you know, it’s just that you’re one of the tallest guys and big, and I’m one of the tallest girls and Aurora said you’ve got some great moves. You could maybe even dip me since you’re so strong.”
“Me too,” Mika nodded. “Not about being tall, but the dipping would be fun. I could even get your picture in the school paper. What do you think? Blake?”
Blake gave the paper one last look, then grabbed it and stood. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed for the door, telling the girls, “Sorry, Katniss and Bella, can’t talk now. Got some errands
to run.” He saw Logan and Jayden. “But these guys can help you out. See ya.” He brushed past the Boys and headed down the hall. His brisk walk sped up into a jog as he weaved through students.
“Hey,” Logan said to the two crestfallen girls. “He’s, uh, running a fever. Isn’t himself.” Then he and Jayden ran after Blake.
When they finally caught up with him, Logan asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
“Just busy.” He looked at the piece of paper he’d been writing on. “See you guys later.”
Logan snatched the paper out of his hands.
“Hey!” Blake screeched to a halt and whirled around. “I need that!”
Logan danced away, staying out of Blake’s reach as his eyes scanned the document. After a moment, he let Blake snatch it back.
“Not cool, dude,” Blake said and headed for the parking lot.
As Logan frowned after Blake, Jayden stood next to him. “Your assessment?”
“He’s not possessed,” Logan said. “He’s obsessed.”
“With what?”
“Did Aurora go home with her mom?”
“Yes. Mrs. Lahey is in what Aurora calls ‘mega-mom’ mode. Ayden is on his way there as well.”
“Then we’d better stick with Blake. Come on.” Logan paused as he watched Blake get in a large blue pickup. “Oh, crap. He brought the ranch truck.”
“More anomalies? He never brings the ranch truck due to environmental concerns of fossil fuel consumption and expulsion of pollutant gasses.”
“I know, Jayden.”
Logan ran ahead and tried to flag down the truck, but Blake wasn’t paying attention and kept driving. Logan flicked his wrist and sent a swirl of concentrated wind that caught the undercarriage of the big pickup and lifted the wheels a fraction of an inch off the ground. Even though the tires spun, the vehicle stopped moving. Confused, Blake checked the gears and gunned the engine, allowing Logan and Jayden the chance to make it to the truck and get in.
“What the heck, dudes?” Blake scowled. “I don’t have time for games. I’m on a mission.”
As Logan released the air and let the truck down, the vehicle rocked slightly, then the spinning wheels caught and it lurched forward, spitting gravel on its way out of the parking lot.
“Where is our destination?” Jayden asked. Logan grabbed the slightly crumpled paper Blake had been working on, which was now on the dash, and handed it to Jayden who glanced over it. He nodded gravely. “Oh, I see.”
He and Logan shared furtive glances. Finally, when they turned onto Gargoyle Drive, Gossamer Falls’ main street, Logan said, “It’s not your fault.”
Blake silently stared at the road for several moments. Then he said, “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
OPERATION:
Is That Who I Think It Was?
LOCATION:
Gossamer Grind
As Ayden drove down the street, he saw Logan, Jayden, and Blake park in front of the hardware store next to Aurora’s mom’s flower shop, which was closed due to Mrs. Lahey’s decision to hunker down the Lahey Clan at home. Not that he blamed her.
His three friends piled out of the truck so he slowed and honked twice. Blake kept moving swiftly toward the store entrance even though there was a CLOSED sign on the door, but Logan and Jayden paused. Logan said something to Jayden who then hurried after Blake. Ayden stopped the car and Logan jogged over to the driver’s open window.
Ayden’s brow furrowed. “Why are you guys together? And why did he bring the truck? What’s wrong?”
“We’ve got it covered,” Logan said. “You headed to Aurora’s?”
“After I get coffee.”
“Good. Go hang out while you can.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
“What’s that supposed to—Logan!” But Logan’s coattails were already flapping in the breeze as he sprinted for the hardware store. Ayden sighed. “Great.”
When he entered Gossamer Grind a few minutes later, the aroma of rich coffee and fresh baked goods permeated the air. The owner, Mrs. Martinez, was famous for her organic brew as well as delicious, homemade pastries, desserts, and sandwiches. The place bustled with activity. Normal for this hour, just after the high school let out. The line was long, the tables full, and the air hummed with chatter.
The chilly weather meant the umbrella heaters on the outside patios were cranked to high and the two brick fireplaces inside crackled with flames. Seeing that one fire was dying, Ayden flicked his wrist and brought it back to full strength.
“Ayden!”
“Hey!”
Ayden froze. He couldn’t believe he’d been so careless, that they had noticed him using his powers. Then the people who had called after him smiled and waved.
Before Aurora returned to Gossamer Falls, none of his classmates would have acknowledged him or any of the Hex Boys. There would have been sly glances, some whispers, but now he got a couple of friendly hellos from the crowd and even an offer to sit and join a group.
Ayden smiled and waved. “Just getting a few things to go. But thanks. Maybe next time.”
Matthias still grumbled about losing their low-profile, isolated status, but there was no going back now. And surreal as it was, Ayden found himself enjoying the new normal.
He made it to the front of the line and started to give his order to the guy on the register. A blonde girl pushed the kid aside and set down two paper cups of steaming liquid.
She smiled. “Here you go, Ayden. I figured you were ordering your usual. And I used fresh ground cinnamon on the white chocolate raspberry mocha, just like always.”
Ayden smiled back. “Thanks, Louisa, but I also need a—”
A short, plump woman with dark hair pulled into a bun bustled out of the back room through a swinging door which had a small window at eye-level.
“And just like always, it’s for his girlfriend, so quit flirting with the boy, Lulu.” The woman gave Ayden a nod. “Hey, Ayden.”
Ayden stifled a laugh. “Hey, Mrs. Martinez.”
“Mom! I wasn’t flirting.” The girl blushed. “It’s called customer service. Remember, I’m the one who sold him the cappuccino machine.”
“Because he’d had a fight with his girlfriend and needed to bribe you into delivering her coffee to try and make up for it.”
“How would you know that?” Louisa said.
Ayden wondered the same thing.
“Stop giving the cute boy goo-goo eyes and help in the back.” Mrs. Martinez hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “Delivery just showed up.”
Louisa rolled her eyes and shot an embarrassed look at Ayden before going into the back through the swinging door.
Mrs. Martinez looked at the two cups of coffee Louisa had made for Ayden. “This it?”
“Actually, I need a soy latte too, please.”
“For Gemma? Smart move sucking up to the girlfriend’s mom.” Mrs. Martinez punched buttons on the register, gave Ayden a total amount, took his money, then started making the latte.
“Could you make it decaf?” Ayden said.
“Sure. She still upset over Aurora getting dunked in the lake?”
Ayden shook his head. “How do you know so much?”
“I’m psychic,” she said, making the coffee with practiced speed. “I also know that your date last night got sidetracked.” When Ayden opened his mouth, she shut him up with a wave of her hand. “My son works in the kitchen at the country club. He was there when you were checking on the bottle of chilled sparkling apple cider you wanted delivered to your table. Right before all hell broke loose. I don’t care what they say. You’re a good kid. Wish you were interested in my daughter.”
Ayden wasn’t sure where to look. “Uh, thanks?”
She finished with the latte and put all the drinks in a carrier. “I’ll have the picnic basket ready for tomorrow. Strange that you ordered an elaborate tre
at from me for another date even before last night’s date went down in flames. It’s like you knew it would tank and were already trying to make up for it.”
Ayden let out a short, bitter laugh. “Historically, it was a good bet, so I like to be prepared.”
A blood curdling scream echoed from the back room.
Ayden leapt over the counter and headed toward the swinging door just as Louisa burst through. She slammed into him and latched her arms around his neck.
Mrs. Martinez grabbed her daughter’s shoulder. “What happened?”
Blubbering into Ayden’s chest, Louisa said, “Nothing. He just—” She sucked in a breath. “He scared me again.”
“Oh for Heaven’s sake,” Mrs. Martinez sighed, then she told the gawking patrons, “Everything’s fine. Just fine.” The crowd settled, and at Ayden’s questioning look, she said, “It’s this fellow who started showing up when the delivery truck arrives.”
“He’s scaring people?” Ayden looked through the window on the door but didn’t see anyone. “Want me to talk to him?”
Mrs. Martinez shook her head. “That’s sweet, but no. He’s fine. I think he’s a little touched in the head maybe. Not sure if he’s homeless. Won’t say much, just helps unload and stack. Wouldn’t take money so I give him coffee and food, he can definitely use a sandwich or two, and off he goes. I’m sure he doesn’t mean to scare anyone.”
“Maybe he doesn’t mean to,” Louisa said. “But he’s just, you know, suddenly there next to you and you never heard him coming. It’s creepy.”
“Please, he’s like a stray puppy.” Mrs. Martinez eyed her daughter still wrapped around Ayden. “Honey, you need to let the boy go, but stay out here. I’ll take care of things in the back.”
The girl released Ayden, smoothed her apron then offered him a tentative smile. “Sorry. And, um, thanks.”
“No problem,” Ayden said and picked up his coffees.
As he walked out from behind the counter, a male voice said in the back room, “Come on, Honcho, I don’t want to leave yet. Look, I’m blending in as a productive member of society. That’s a good thing, ain’t it?”
