The Lost Heir

by Allison Whitmore

  “You killed my parents, didn’t you?”

  “What?” Seth whispered in disbelief. Isabella pursed her lips as she realized the others had heard everything. She hadn’t shared what Pythian had told her before then.

  Anger boiled inside her. Silence hung around them. “I am not going to ask again.”

  Jack’s hot eyes pinned her down. Despite her body’s shaking, she remained strong.

  “ISABELLA!”

  Isabella looked over to see Colin battling several Jackboots members. With quick reflexes, she backed up from him, which made him speak more belligerent.

  “They are trying to hurt you, Isabella. I'm the one who saved you. I can help you. The Midnight Brotherhood are the real villains of this story.”

  Colin shouted. Jack moved swiftly to her as she backed up.

  Isabella shook with anger. “Stay away from me! I know you're not the Foxworthy heir. But he and I will crush you. I promise you this!” Her screams were drowned out by the commotion around them.

  “They've twisted you. You aren't sure, are you?” he asked with an evil laugh. Isabella twitched. His smile enveloped her with a near choke. “How can you be so sure that I'm not the lost Foxworthy heir?”

  Isabella struggled against his invisible grip around her throat as a voice boomed overhead. “Because I am!”

  Colin lunged from the emptiness behind her. He wore a dark hood and pulled two daggers from under his cloak. Light swirled around the blades as he stood in a protective stance. “Come get me, Jack!”

  Jack laughed, releasing Isabella. “It's not you I want!” He quickly swiped his hand through the air and then pushed an empty palm toward Colin, whose daggers leaped into action. The air parted and struck Colin’s blades at Jack’s command. “Nice weapons. Where can I get a pair?” His wicked smile lit up his face; Isabella could feel his enjoyment in her mind.

  Jack chanted something that she couldn't understand, and suddenly the earth began to shake. The ground underneath Colin erupted, and he began to falter. Suddenly, a bolt descended from the sky, striking the leader of the Brotherhood and knocking him onto the quaking cement. His two daggers flew from his hands, falling in different directions. He screamed out in pain as Isabella charged toward Jack to stop him. With one finger, a bubble of violet light surrounded her, stopping her in her tracks. “No, no, no. We can't afford for you to go and get yourself hurt!”

  Isabella screamed, but Jack turned away and approached Colin. She focused intently, and for the first time, something happened that she had never experienced before. She felt in control and could see everything in a surreal way. She watched closely as the scene played out.

  Standing above her injured brother, Jack looked at Isabella and spoke viciously. “It looks like the heir isn't lost anymore!” He raised his hand quickly, and one of Colin's daggers levitated into his grip. “Poetic, isn't it?” Isabella smiled as she focused on Colin's other blade. Concentration accelerated her mind, and suddenly the dagger began to tremble. In a blur, it shot into his hand.

  Jack lunged at the fallen warrior, but Colin rose to his feet and caught Jack off guard, slicing his dagger down into Jack's handsome angular face. Jack lifted his eyes—once black, now a pale, almost invisible blue—to meet Colin's. “The Fire will die on her sixteenth birthday. Then she's mine.” Evil soaked his voice, and the sky grew darker.

  Isabella grew weak as everything faded. She watched as the sky opened up and devoured Jack and his minions.

  Seth and Micah rushed up the steps with Cleo and Xander behind them. Seth was the first to reach Isabella. “I’m so sorry. I couldn't get to you.”

  “We couldn't get to you, you mean,” said Micah.

  “It was like there was a force field blocking our movement, Izzy,” Seth explained.

  “Jack has the power of manipulation,” said Colin. “He can make you think you can't move, but you can. It's a mind trick and, of course, forbidden by Empath Society law. But your orb, Izzy, that stops you from being manipulated.”

  “Wait! He just said I’m his if the Fire dies on my birthday! What does that mean?”

  Colin looked at Isabella and then the others. Seth’s mouth sat in a straight line as he waited for the Brotherhood leader’s next words. “The Violet Fire is connected to your lifeline, Isabella, but it’s much more than that for all of us. If it dies, he gets control of empathy and weakens powers of the empaths. But for you, you could lose your entire soul to him, not just your power.”

  “How does he have that kind of control?” seethed Seth, clutching his fists together.

  “He's very powerful. His mind works differently than ours. He’s learned to control things in a way not many of us understand, and...” Colin looked away. The scores of people once around Empath Hall were all gone, driven away by the man Isabella had once thought could save them all.

  “And what?” Cleo asked as Neeta and Franklin appeared. Franklin's jaw was swollen, and Neeta's jacket was torn. They stood strong, almost as if nothing had happened at all.

  Isabella could already feel his fury pumping.

  “We're going back sky-side,” Seth said through his teeth as he grabbed her hand.

  “Hey!” Isabella shouted as Seth tugged her down the steps.

  “Seth, wait,” Cleo urged, not moving from Colin's side. Xander looked torn, but Micah instantly followed Seth.

  “That won't help you,” Colin said calmly.

  “Then what do we do?” Cleo asked.

  “We're leaving, that's what we do. And if I were you, I'd come with us.” Seth continued down the steps, but Isabella pulled her hand out of his grasp.

  “I want to hear what my brother has to say.” She turned and looked at Colin.

  “Izzy, haven't you seen enough?” Seth barked. “This place, these people will get you killed.”

  “Don't listen to him, Izzy,” said Cleo.

  Isabella looked between her four friends. Each had a sibling to trust. Each had someone whom they knew would be on their side without an agenda, no matter what. Didn't they understand how badly she needed to trust Colin? It wasn't the same. She hadn't known him for any time at all. But he'd just saved her from Jack.

  “Let's get back to headquarters,” Colin said quietly. “We don't know who's watching.”

  “Right. Let's get the cars.” Neeta started down the steps in the direction of the bullet-car tracks. Franklin followed closely behind her.

  “You coming?” Colin looked at Seth this time.

  Seth's eyes remained on Isabella for moment and then he nodded, jaw set. She could see he was still angry and that Micah looked scared. Cleo's eyes flashed with determination while her brother looked dejected—his camera had been crushed. Poor Xander.

  Everyone, including an apparently reluctant Seth, followed Colin down the steps.

  “But what about the sage?” Isabella asked when they finally reached the tracks. A chill rushed past her as she looked back at Empath Hall. The lights for the solstice twinkled in its windows; she saw a figure pass by one near the top of the building.

  “Later, I promise,” Colin said as Franklin and Neeta summoned the cars by clicking a button on each other their watches. “Right now, you need to prepare to protect yourself.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Prepared

  The ride back to the lair was too quiet. Isabella kept thinking about Colin and Jack’s battle. Isabella stared at Colin talking to Franklin in whispers and barely looking at her. She still needed talk to him alone. She wanted to ask him so many questions. Though in spite of the display on the front steps Empath Hall, he was still ignoring her. She felt a nudge on her right side.

  “You okay, Iz?” She shot a glance at Seth in reply.

  “She's glaring at you. That means she's okay,” Micah joked to her left. “Did you know that only the Light Council has clearance to move back and forth when the portal’s closed? Not even the Brotherhood has that privilege. No one can go against it because it’s like the portal can detect
their DNA or something.” Isabella shifted her glare toward Micah, who shrugged. “Neeta told me. Sheesh. Sorry for liking information.” She was about to reply to Micah or Seth but decided against it when she heard Franklin let out a soft chuckle. Her face turned red, and she decided to keep quiet for the rest of their trip back.

  When Isabella and the others met up with Cleo, Xander, and Neeta on the platform, Neeta smiled and said, “Now that we are all here, Cleo and Isabella will come with me, while the boys go with Franklin and our dear leader, Colin.” Neeta laughed at her own joke that no one else got.

  Isabella turned toward Colin, hoping to spend some time with him, but he didn't even look at her. He just gestured toward Franklin, Seth, Micah, and Xander to follow him.

  “Wow, Izzy. You and your brother are definitely related,” Cleo whispered to her.

  “What?”

  “Silent, moody, and incredibly cryptic.”

  Neeta barked out a laugh. “Well, then, it'll take no time getting to know you, Isabella.” Isabella frowned as she and Cleo followed Neeta to the elevators.

  Neeta took them back to the dormitory and stopped them at the large closet at the back of the room. “Wait here.” She dipped inside and rummaged around. “I know one of you has an affinity for shopping, so I'll just grab what I need for you.” She emerged with two pairs of black pants and two sets of gym shoes.

  “Do you have something that is not in black?” Cleo complained.

  Neeta sighed. “These are our standard training clothes. You guys get changed, and I'll meet you outside.”

  After they'd changed, they followed Neeta down the corridor to an old oak door; Neeta placed her hand onto the left side of the door panel and it chimed.

  “Welcome, Neeta Tanaka and guests.” The door swished open.

  “How did the door know you had guests?” Cleo asked, as though reading Isabella's mind.

  “It can feel your powers, too.” Neeta smiled and winked at them.

  They walked inside and the lights flickered, just as they had at the Council room. That seemed like ages ago to Isabella.

  This was a weapons museum: daggers, crossbows, gloves, and many different types of weapons lined against the walls. Isabella looked at them all in awe.

  “Oh! You arrived before us.” Franklin walked up ahead of the boys, who were all wearing the same workout outfits as she was.

  This was getting very real. She could have chickened out or backed away—any of them could have—but she wasn’t going to, not after what had happened at Empath Hall.

  “Sick!” Seth gave the place a 360-degree assessment. “So when does the training start?” He was excited, almost in glee. Or maybe it was something more. He had a stake in this, too. They all did.

  “After you all get into shape and learn the basic attacks,” Franklin said with an authoritative voice.

  “Then why did you show us this room?” Micah piped in.

  Before Neeta or Franklin answered, a familiar voice spoke from the room. “Take out your crystals so we can see which of the weapons will react to them.” Colin. Where had he come from?

  Cleo was first to take her crystal from her pouch.

  “Good. Walk around the room. When the gems glow the brightest, you've found your weapon.”

  Cleo beamed as she walked slowly to the display cases. At first, her gem was dull, but as she moved closer to the sword case, they grew brighter and brighter. She stopped. Xander caught up with her first with Isabella close behind, eager to see Cleo's results.

  Colin smiled. “Daggers. Nice.”

  Isabella pushed down a pang of jealousy when she realized Cleo and Colin bore the same weapons. Xander quickly took out his crystal and went toward the display case, but it didn’t glow. Then he moved two cases over to rows of gloves in various colors. “What are these for?”

  “Weavers gloves, right?” asked Isabella. “I saw them in one of those books in Theophilus' shop.”

  Cleo looked at Isabella, impressed.

  “You're not the only one who likes books, Cleo.”

  She shrugged. “Never said I was.”

  Each set of gloves had a dome-shaped glass over it. The pair that called to Xander was a set of white, drab magician gloves.

  “An illusionist,” said Franklin. “What a gift.”

  Neeta and Colin nodded in agreement, and Isabella felt another pang of jealousy. Xander got to be an illusionist. For some reason, she thought after meeting Fox in the middle of the Avenue that day that it might end up being her fate. Of course, who wanted to be a sideshow freak? She looked at Xander. Was that what he was destined for? Maybe they had other types of illusionists, ones that made films. Heck, maybe that was who made the movies in the first place. They did have the tendency to control people's thoughts and emotions pretty easily. She watched Xander slip on the gloves. They didn't look awkward at all. In fact, they suited him perfectly, in an odd sort of way.

  Next, Micah was drawn to a red-handled whip; Seth's pink crystal led him to a black-and-gold shield and a sword.

  Isabella took hers out last. It glowed and hummed a tune that reminded her of a lullaby her mother used to sing. She slowly walked forward as the gentle song grew louder, following it until she was in front of Colin. She blinked in confusion. Colin sighed and took an object out from his pocket. Isabella recognized it immediately; warmth enveloped her.

  “An orb is a perfect weapon for a diadem child.” Isabella's head snapped up to meet Colin’s eyes; they were full of softness.

  “I thought it was dark magic?” Isabella asked as she gently touched the orb.

  Colin shook his head. “Not this one.”

  She wanted to circle her fingers around it and hold it. However, Colin closed his fingers around it faster. “You can use it tomorrow.”

  She was about to speak but was once again interrupted by Neeta's hands clapping together. “You've got your weapons. Time to train.”

  ***

  The next morning, Isabella sat in the dormitory alone with a dull headache. After a full night of training, they'd risen early for another morning workout. She'd experienced a new type of torture. It was the first time they’d used their weapons and their stones together. It was like trying to cross a desert without water: hard, difficult, and seemingly impossible. The stones didn't move the way they wanted them to. The weapons and the stones seemed as if they had minds of their own. Eventually, she'd gotten a handle on it. Her diamond gem glowed as she tuned into the orb, but she didn't know how to make it really do anything. The others had remained in training after she'd left, complaining of a headache. She really thought, if she had some time without intervention, she could get things right.

  Her muscles ached a little as she did some more stretches. She remembered what Franklin and Neeta had said about strengthening the mind, body, and spirit. It was the only way to master their stones but was easier said than done, she thought. Sadly, it seemed the people there didn't want her to talk to Colin for some reason. She had to talk to him today.

  There was a sharp knock on the door, and then it opened. Carrying a tray of assorted pastries, Colin entered as though he had had the same idea as she had. “Bear claws, muffins, and your personal favorite, plum buns. My favorite, too. Coffee, cocoa, and tea are coming.” He smiled and placed the tray on the large, round table in the center of the room. Isabella looked it over wearily.

  “Why are you so enthusiastic today? And why do I have such a headache?”

  “Well, that's probably because you used your powers in a concentrated effort for the first time.” He paused briefly. “Well... I'm sure you've used them before to an extent, but this time you outdid yourself. Even your cohort. They aren’t yet much of a match for him, but just the fact that each of you connected and stood as one means that things are going as they should.” He sat next to her. “Go ahead, Izzy—have some breakfast.”

  She smiled and leaned over to pick up a tarte. It was warm and filled with apple.

  “This is real
ly good.”

  “So, I was thinking, after breakfast I could give you a tour of the place,” said Colin.

  “Yeah, okay.” She ate a while next to her brother. He wasn't such a bad guy. Pythian must have been mistaken about The Brotherhood. Maybe he had been manipulated by Jack as well. From what she’d come to understand, Jack could get to anyone. Why not a small boy?

  After breakfast, Colin led her through the hub to tour his office, the main lounge and kitchens, the tech facility, and the gymnasium, which had a lap pool and a basketball court, along with a skate track.

  “This is the atrium,” he said as they came to a large open area. It was full of plants and trees and shaped like a dome. Fireflies flittered about, and the room gave off an air of magic. They sat on a small bench together.

  “This place is beautiful.”

  “It's where I come to think. Get away from things.”

  “My grandmother loves plants. She has them all over the hotel,” whispered Isabella. “Have you met her?”

  “A few times.”

  Her grandmother and Theophilus knew Colin, she thought, and had never introduced them. She tried not to feel hurt by this, but it wasn't easy. Then she asked what she already knew. “Is it really true that you're the lost heir? That you're my brother?” Her eyes filled with tears, but her willpower held them in place.

  “Your half-brother, yes.” The expression on his face was somber.

  Isabella wiped away a single tear that had penetrated her defenses. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

  “Not many people know, outside of the Council and Jack. He knows. We had to protect you.”

  “Who is we?”

  “The Light Council, the Brotherhood, even your parents.”

  “Because he could take my soul?”

  Colin's voice grew agitated, thick with emotion in every word. “Yes.”

  “But what about our parents? Or, our father?”

  “We share a father, yes.”

  “Do you know how they died? There was a man…”

  “What?”