Destiny Series Boxed Set

by Bronwyn Leroux

  “And how does he remove the threat?” Jaden asked. Sheesh, I have to detach myself from Kayla. She’s distracting in the extreme!

  Zareh blinked, as though surprised Jaden hadn’t figured this out. “The medallions, he targets. As soon as the possession of their medallion the seeker takes, steal it away from them, the Gaptor does.”

  “Killing the seeker,” Jaden inserted, recalling Gedrin’s fate.

  “The seeker kill, once the medallion he has, the Gaptor need not. The medallion, the threat poses. The seeker himself, not. Although admit, I do, that high the Gaptor’s bloodlust is. In the seeker’s termination, a certain cruel pleasure he takes.”

  When he glimpsed their stricken faces, it looked as if he regretted parting with that piece of information. Zareh hurried on. “The key, your medallions are. Banish him forever from this world, the seeker cannot, if in the Gaptor’s possession, the medallions are.”

  Kayla grasped at this nebulous sliver of hope. “We can make the Gaptor disappear? Forever?”

  Kayla’s question gave Jaden a way out. Stepping away from her, he smiled, trusting it would keep her at arm’s length. But when she didn’t hang onto him or slip back into his arms, it disgruntled him. Not something he expected.

  Frowning, he turned so Kayla couldn’t read his reaction. He found Zareh inspecting him with his too-bright, beady eyes. “Well? Kayla asked a question, didn’t she?”

  Zareh’s face assumed a faraway expression. “Done already, it would have been, if easy it was.” Silence followed his words as his thoughts consumed him. Then he ruffled his feathers. “Hmm, continue we should.”

  “Yes, please do,” Jaden said, his curiosity getting the better of him. Or is it just that I need to think about something other than Kayla?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Zareh thought a moment. “Up to now, medallions to commandeer, the Gaptor’s primary aim has been. Until receive the book, that was, from Awena, you did.”

  That statement wiped Jaden’s mind. Zareh knows about the book?

  “Shocked, be not. Access to that resource, who think you arranged?”

  “You did that?” Kayla whispered.

  “That be me,” he clucked, looking smug. “Time the book resurfaced, it was. Well-hidden for the last few millennia, it has been, but use it now, we must, or forever lose the chance.”

  His words had a threatening finality, but Jaden had doubts. “The book’s a few thousand years old?”

  “How long with the Gaptor warring think you we have been?” Zareh asked.

  “How am I supposed to know that?”

  Zareh sighed again. “Forget I do, how ignorant you are.” Before Jaden could take offense, he added, “Since time began, raging this war has been. And yes, that old the book surely is.”

  Kayla shook her head. “How can that be? Doesn’t paper disintegrate?”

  “True usually that would be, but simply any book or paper, it is not. In time, this for yourselves, discover you will. Vital, it is, that the book in your possession remains. Stop at nothing to appropriate it, the Gaptor will. Absolutely nothing. And if eager about getting the medallions, he was, imagine, you cannot, what resort to he will the book to gain.”

  Kayla whimpered, and Jaden was tempted to pull her close again. But he kept his distance.

  “The melodrama dispensed with be, Kayla. Surprised, I am, that behaving this way, you are. More from you I expected,” Zareh chastened. Satisfied when her resentment flared, he resumed his monologue. “Imperative, it is, aware are you that only five seekers remain. Lost, the rest are. Alter his tactics, the Gaptor has. An insufficient force to stop him, he believes your small group to be. Everything in his power he will do, the book from you to take. At all costs, protect it you must.”

  Jaden cut in. “Is that why he’s been targeting me rather than Kayla?”

  “Yes. If think back, you do, find, you will, that happen the attack did, right after possession of the book you took. After your medallion, Jaden, he was not. The book in your backpack, it was.”

  Jaden glanced at Kayla as they processed these words, then jumped when Zareh chittered again. “More time, I have not. Underestimate the importance of your medallions, do not. Invaluable in aiding you on your journey, they will be. Meant for you, your medallions were.”

  “You sure about that?” Kayla mumbled.

  Zareh fixed her with a steely glare. “Certain I am. With specific families centuries ago, placed they were, each family selected for the unique services to the quest they would provide when the season came.”

  Jaden snorted and opened his mouth, but Zareh talked over him.

  “Imbued, the medallions were, with the ability themselves to hide, should try to dispose of them their family did. Remain hidden, they would, until pass the danger had. Then, reveal themselves again to their family, they would. Continue the cycle did, the medallion through generations passing. Confident, we are, that the remaining medallions with their intended families reside.”

  Jaden’s patience had finally worn thin. “How were they given this ability? By whom? And how could whoever placed the medallions predict what future ‘unique services’ anyone, let alone a specific family, could provide?”

  Zareh ignored Jaden. “Find the other seekers, you must. Improve then, your prospects of triumph will.” He paused. “Remarkable it is, find one another so quickly you did. Possible it was because so close together you live. Our intention, that was not. The seekers, geographically we tried to separate. The damage the Gaptor in any one region could wreak, limit we tried. But turn out that way, it did not.” He lapsed into thought again.

  Is the annoying fuzzball finally done? It’s our turn to ask questions. But Jaden didn’t get the chance to voice even one.

  Cocking his head as though hearing something they did not, Zareh hopped closer. “Jaden, appointed as the guardians of a map, your family was. Before you on the first part of your journey embark, find the map you must.”

  Jaden was so shocked he could only gape. Then his mind raced again. It was time for their questions, time to interrupt. Zareh had given too much and too little information all at the same time. “You mentioned five seekers. So we have to find the others? How do we find them? And do we find the seekers or the map first?”

  Zareh’s fuzzy forehead wrinkled. “Out of time, I am. Believe in you, I do. Figure it out, you will.”

  And he disappeared. Jaden blinked. What happened?

  Kayla rushed forward, waving her arms through the spot Zareh had stood only moments before, as if confirming he really was gone. Her confusion showed when her arms encountered nothing but air. “Did he really just vanish on us?”

  “He did. What happened to us being able to ask him questions?”

  At that precise moment, Kayla’s mother walked through the bedroom doorway. “There you are. I wondered where you two were.” She must’ve noticed their glazed countenances because she was instantly more alert. “Are you alright? Did something happen?”

  Kayla was the first to recover. “Hey, Mom, you were quick.”

  “Not really,” Mrs. Melmique said, frowning. “It’s been almost an hour. They misplaced my package, and I had to wait for them to track it down. In fact, I thought you’d call to check up on me ages ago.”

  Her words echoed in Jaden’s mind. We talked to Zareh for an hour?

  Kayla appeared as stunned by her mother’s statement. Then the muscles in her face tightened, and her throat constricted.

  Uh-oh, she looked just like that a few moments ago when she almost fainted. Sensing her rising panic, Jaden said, “Sorry, Mrs. Melmique, we got distracted discussing everything that happened today. I think we’re both a little shaken now that it’s sinking in.” Jaden felt, rather than saw, Kayla’s relief.

  “Yes, Mom, why would someone want to break into our house?”

  Mrs. Melmique smiled sourly. “I honestly couldn’t say. Maybe they didn’t.”

  Kayla raised an eyebrow. “What do you m
ean?”

  “When the regulators and I reviewed our security footage, there was no sign of anyone entering our home. It’s more likely someone was pranking us, setting off the alarm.”

  Kayla huffed. “Neither a very nice prank nor a feasible explanation. Is it possible that the attempted break-in had something to do with your work? You handle some sensitive stuff.”

  Mrs. Melmique tsked, annoyed by Kayla’s security slip. “That’s unlikely. It wouldn’t make sense. Why break in here instead of our corporate office?”

  Kayla was about to reply, but Mrs. Melmique forged on.

  “No, it’s more believable the culprit threw a misplaced ball and broke the window accidentally, triggering the alarm. It’s not something to worry about. Our home is secure—you know your father always sees to that. And no, I don’t think the break-in had anything to do with your dad’s work either,” she said before Kayla asked.

  Jaden wondered what Mr. Melmique did that required him to “always” see to the security of his family’s home. He’d have to ask Kayla. As though on cue, they heard the whine of a ’pod landing on the roof.

  Mrs. Melmique’s hands fluttered to her throat. “That would be your father. Best I go meet him and give him the news before he jumps to all the wrong conclusions about the broken window. He would’ve noticed it on his way in.”

  She hurried out, and Kayla relaxed, her discomfort with having to hide things dissipating with her mother’s departure. Kayla turned and gave him one of her dazzling smiles. “Nice save,” she whispered.

  “Thanks. It was, at least, partly true. This cloak and dagger stuff is disconcerting. I hate lying.”

  “Me too.”

  “What?” Jaden asked when Kayla looked thoughtful.

  “Did you feel like my mom was perhaps holding something back?”

  Warily, Jaden studied her. But she had regained her composure. Her eyes were no longer haunted. Instead, they held the steady gleam of determination. Yes, she’s made of strong stuff. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect partner in whatever this mess is. “I didn’t plan on mentioning it, but since you ask . . . when last did you hear of a window breaking because someone threw a ball through it?”

  “You have a point. Balls don’t break windows anymore.”

  “Not only that. Even if something did break the window, what happened to it? Surely the security footage would’ve captured that? And the object would still be in the house—or the ARs would’ve retrieved it.”

  “You’re thinking it was the Gaptor?” Kayla asked, following his logic.

  “I’d say there’s a high probability—especially if there are sections of black footage. Maybe that’s what has your mom worried. Maybe there was a blank section? If we had a look at it, we would know for sure.”

  “We won’t be able to do that now with my dad home. I’ll try and sneak a peek later.”

  “Great, then we’ll know for sure. Now,” Jaden ventured, his tone grave, “what are we going to do about what Zareh told us?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Jaden swiped a hand across his sweaty forehead. Rummaging in the basement for what felt like hours had not produced the map. Frustrated, he flopped onto the stairs and gulped down water, thinking about last night’s events.

  After Zareh’s disappearance, he and Kayla were too tired to think coherently. Then his arm started aching, and when Kayla offered him a ride home, he readily accepted.

  There, he bumbled through a short, vague explanation to his parents about his arm injury, before pleading exhaustion and stumbling to his room where he collapsed onto his bed. Despite the day’s mind-blowing events, he’d crashed within seconds.

  Waking later than usual after a restless night, finding his arm no longer ached was a relief. Kayla had pinged him during breakfast to check on him, and he’d thanked her again for her medical care. But his mother interrupted their conversation when she waltzed into the kitchen and joined in on the video chat with Kayla via Jaden’s PAL.

  His mother had added her profuse thanks, then asked Kayla for her mother’s contact details, insisting their families should meet for dinner. And then, instead of leaving them to continue their conversation, she had chattered on.

  Jaden tried smothering his increasing irritation, but this, added to trying to talk without divulging what was uppermost on his and Kayla’s minds, was too much. He’d lapsed into silence. Kayla tried keeping the conversation rolling, but eventually she too gave up hope on Mrs. Jameson leaving and ended the call.

  Jaden had consumed what remained of his breakfast in continued silence while his mother eyed him as she sat opposite him, drinking her coffee.

  He had eventually exploded. “What?”

  “You seem a little remote this morning. Is your arm still hurting?”

  On the verge of denying, Jaden realized his mother would ask for another explanation if it wasn’t his arm. So he’d been evasive. “It’s much better, but yes, it’s still bothering me.”

  “Maybe you should take it easy today.”

  “Thanks, I plan to.”

  “With some games?”

  “No, I think I’ll lounge in the basement while I fine-tune the layout in my head.”

  But his mind was already on a parallel tangent, plotting a scavenger hunt through the shelving unit boxes. It was where he had found the medallion. And the place he was most likely to find the map.

  His mother must’ve concluded she wouldn’t get more out of him, announced she had chores to do and left the kitchen. Before her footsteps completely receded, Jaden had cleared his plate and scampered to the basement.

  He had meticulously sifted through each box’s contents, orderly thanks to his mother’s ruthless organization a few days earlier. But, by mid-morning, he hadn’t found the map. And with no boxes remaining, a new worry bedeviled him. What if his mother inadvertently threw the map away?

  He agonized about asking her. But common sense warned him this would pose problems of its own. Now what? Jaden fumed.

  His mother’s voice floated down the stairs. “Jaden, I’m going out for a while. I’ve programmed the cleaning droids, so steer clear of them. Will you be alright on your own?”

  “Yes, Mom, thanks,” he called back, relieved when he heard the drone of the ’pod as she left.

  Now would be a great time to try calling Kayla again. He tapped his CC, connected to his PAL, and commanded the call.

  She picked up on the first ring. “What took you so long?”

  Jaden smiled at her obvious pique. “Well, hello to you, too.”

  “Yes, hello and all that. What are we doing today?”

  “Do you have any suggestions?” Jaden was a little peeved he was supposed to come up with all the ideas.

  “Actually, I do. But before I forget, I managed a sneak peek at our security footage last night.”

  “And?”

  “You were right. There was a blank section of tape at the exact moment the window broke. It had to have been the Gaptor.”

  “How’s that possible? When we left the library, he was still trying to escape those chains. Do you think he beat us back to your house?”

  “No. The tape’s time stamp shows he came here before he went to the library.”

  Jaden was silent for a moment. “Why? If our theory is right, and he knows where the medallions are, why go to your house when you weren’t there?”

  Kayla sighed. “Maybe an intimidation technique? Or he was looking for something? Who knows! Either way, I don’t care about his reasons. He didn’t hurt anyone I love. But I thought you should know what was on the tape.”

  “Thanks. And yeah, you’re right. No point dwelling on what we can’t answer. Speaking of which, what was your suggestion?”

  “Oh yes! I thought we’d go back to the library and see if we can’t persuade Awena to part with more information.”

  “Why didn’t I think of that?” Jaden groaned. “I spent the last hour scouring our basement for the map and have not
hing to show for it.”

  “Well, that was proactive.” Kayla smiled. “Isn’t that where you found your medallion?”

  “Yes, but I don’t think finding the map will be as easy. I sense it’ll require significantly more effort.”

  “And your point is?”

  Jaden grinned. She’s right. Again. Nothing about this will be easy. But I get to do it all with her. And I’m enjoying having her around. Way more than I should. “Okay, so let’s temporarily set the map aside. Awena’s an excellent alternative. Shall I meet you at your place or the library?”

  “Maybe we should call first and confirm she’s working today?” Kayla said.

  “Yeah, that would save time. Do you want to hold on, and I’ll conference the library in?”

  “Sure.”

  Jaden ordered the call, and they waited while the phone rang for far too long. Finally, a woman, not the person they wanted, answered. “Daxsos Library. How may I assist you?”

  “Hello,” Jaden smiled. “My friend and I were wondering if you could tell us if Awena’s working today?”

  She met their request with a blank stare. “Who?”

  “Uh, Awena, the librarian who was working yesterday,” Kayla said.

  “I’m sorry, but you must have the wrong library. We don’t have anyone named Awena working here.”

  “No,” Jaden countered, “I have the right library. We were there yesterday. Awena helped us.”

  The perplexed frown marring the women’s brow sent a disturbing ripple up Jaden’s spine. Before she spoke, Jaden knew they wouldn’t find Awena.

  “No, I’m sure you’re mistaken. I was the only librarian working yesterday. Are you sure you have the right library?”

  “Maybe I don’t. Sorry to have disturbed you,” Jaden replied as politely as he could through teeth clenched so tight he was getting a headache. He cut the link with the library.

  “So we imagined her too?” Kayla’s voice was incredulous.

  Jaden scowled. “I doubt it. Hold on a minute while I check on something.”

  He dashed up to his room and ripped open his closet. Extracting yesterday’s backpack, he flipped the cover open and heard Kayla’s relieved sigh when he found the book.