Nobledark Academy 3: Chosen Hearts

by Laney Powell

  I looked up to see Mom gazing intently at Dad. His eyebrows lifted a fraction, and she nodded.

  Then she returned to speaking with Caspian.

  “Excuse me,” Dad spoke louder than normal. “Thank you to everyone for coming tonight. I’ know it’s tough with family, and everyone being in different places. I also want to thank Roger and Patty for being so honest with me. The same goes for Iliana, and of course, Olivia.” He sighed for a moment, looking down at his plate. When he looked up, he had his serious face on. “When Jake and Emmett told us what had gone on this year, and even then, I don’t know that they were completely honest, but be that as it may, when they told us that they had formed a relationship with the same young woman, and that there were five of you in this relationship, we weren’t happy. I don’t mind being honest. However, after having met all of you, I will admit that Sophie and I got it wrong. All of you are young,” he waved his hand, “and it’s tempting to just brush it off as something of a lark, but I can see that you are all devoted to one another. Since I’ve been married to the most amazing woman for the past twenty-seven years, I’m glad to see that level of devotion, and happy for my sons to have found it.” He smiled at us.

  I felt myself getting choked up.

  “The siren aspect of this is interesting,” Dad continued, and I sighed. I heard the song of the scholar in his words. He loved learning new things. “But it’s going to create problems. Jake told me that you,” he turned to Iliana, “Told them to tell their families. Is that correct?”

  Iliana nodded. “The Karidias family has a responsibility, as do our fellow Trinity families. If it comes to that,” Iliana didn’t say when, which I thought was deliberate, “They will need support.”

  “Can you tell us more?” Mom asked.

  “No, Sophie, I cannot. Your sons know, because they are with Olivia. But the less who know, the better.”

  “Wouldn’t we be in a better place to support them if we knew the entire story?” Dad asked.

  “No,” Iliana said bluntly. “Reginald, does your family carry secrets within its history? Of magic, or things acquired, something like that?”

  Dad’s face went blank. “Don’t all families?”

  Iliana nodded. “The same is true for my family. We have been tasked with a responsibility by the gods. Once we fulfill it, then we may speak. But until then,” she shrugged. “This is part of my family.”

  “I understand,” Dad said.

  “We will be here for whatever they need,” Mom said.

  I felt Matty whip his head around to look at her the same time that I did. She sounded sincere. One look at her told me she was.

  Mom met my eyes and smiled. It wasn’t her cool, confident smile. She was nervous.

  “Thanks, Mom, Dad,” I said, glancing between them both.

  Mom’s eyes glittered, and it looked like she was holding back tears. “You’re both happy. Whatever else I might think, you’re both happy. I can see it. All of you are happy. And your bonds are strong. That is very clear. You might as well be shouting.”

  “Mom can sense relationships,” Matty said.

  “Matty!” Mom snapped, her face shuttering. “That’s mine to share, not yours.”

  “Shi—I mean, sorry, Mom.”

  “You’re among family,” Iliana put her hand over Mom’s. “We carry one another’s secrets. That’s part of the joy of family.”

  Mom looked at Iliana for what seemed like a long time. Then she covered Iliana’s hand with her other hand. “You’re right,” she said. “The boys have picked a good family.”

  The two women smiled at one another, tentative, but both meant it. I could tell. I was afraid to hope that this was going to be all right. My parents were surprising me left and right.

  After dinner, my parents invited Olivia’s parents into the gallery, and asked that we take everyone out into the garden. I was grateful. It gave us some badly needed time alone. I could feel a tension humming between the five of us—we’d gotten so used to being together that being apart was difficult.

  “All right,” Silas said, as soon as we sat down. “What’s going on?” he directed his question at Olivia.

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “You are very different,” Caspian said. “You’re still you, but you are…” he stopped.

  “Enhanced,” Matty said. “Like there’s a lot more going on.”

  Olivia sighed, but it wasn’t the sigh of someone who was bothered. It was more wistful.

  “We need a date night for all of us. I have so much to tell you. I met my grandparents, and got to really be part of the family…” her voice trailed off and I could see that she was seeing something far beyond this garden.

  “In a good way?” I asked.

  She was back with us. “In the best way. You know, I think that Marbys has done all this shit that he has because he’s afraid. If my mom, and the aunties are like this…” she shook her head. “And Raven and Violet are able to access the same sort of thing, we’re going to kick his ass into oblivion.”

  “Any luck with finding Violet?” Silas asked.

  Olivia shook her head. “I’m going through a lot of dusty old books that Iliana keeps dragging in, making lists of suspected Concilium sites, houses, studies, libraries—anything where they might be able to hide someone. Nothing yet.”

  “How the hell are we supposed to find her?” Matty asked, frustration in his tone.

  “We will,” Caspian said, far calmer.

  “We’re meeting your family at the end of the week, right?” Olivia said.

  Caspian nodded.

  “Can you all meet me in New York? There’s a park there, called Highbridge, and there are a lot of wooded areas where we can do some practicing.”

  “For what?” Silas asked.

  “We have to get better at working as a team,” Olivia said. “We will have to face Marbys again. I hope I’m with my sisters and aunts and my mom.”

  I wondered if she realized she’d just called Iliana her mom, instead of Manà, like she did at times, but I didn’t interrupt.

  “But if I’m not, and I have to assume he’ll come at me—at us—again, I want us to all be working as a team.”

  “I’ll have to check,” Caspian said. “But I’ll let my parents know this is training, and not just an excuse to be with you.”

  “They have a problem with that?” Olivia asked.

  Caspian sighed. “They have many problems. I have to warn you, our dinner will probably not have the pleasant outcome we were given this evening.”

  “You do remember my mom?” Silas asked. “We’re one for one right now.”

  “Two for one,” Matty said. “Olivia’s parents are on board.”

  “I’d forgotten,” Silas said. “Probably because I’m still pissed at my mom. She came on too hard.”

  “My parents didn’t seem bothered,” Olivia said. “They saw her as protective.”

  Silas shrugged. “There are more helpful ways to express it.”

  “We’ll meet you at the park,” I said, without even bothering to ask Matty. “When?”

  “Yep,” Matty confirmed it.

  “I’m there,” Silas said. “It’s a bit frosty in my house at the moment.”

  “You ever win an argument with your mom?” I asked him.

  “Rarely. But I paid for it,” Silas said. “She is a true alpha.”

  “I have missed you all so much,” Olivia said. “I feel like part of me is missing.”

  “I never thought I’d want to go back to school,” Silas said.

  “Then let’s meet in two days, so that Caspian has time to arrange it,” Olivia said.

  We talked some more. Olivia sat with each of us, or more accurately, on each of our laps. While she drove me crazy while she sat with me, I understood. She wanted—we all wanted—to feel the connection we’d built. Not being around each other, it felt shaky, and left me feeling down.

  Too soon, her parents, with Mom and D
ad behind them, came out onto the patio where we sat.

  “We need to get home,” Patty said.

  Olivia sighed, but she got up.

  As everyone said their goodbyes, Olivia whispered in my ear, “I’ll text you. I can’t wait to see you all.”

  And then they were gone, Silas and Caspian leaving right after them.

  “Did you mean what you said?” Matty asked. “Because I didn’t expect that from you. They’re not well-connected, or well known, or anything. They’re ordinary.”

  “Dude,” I said. It wasn’t like him to call Mom on her tendencies to only want certain people around.

  “I meant it,” Mom said. “You’re both happy. And if you think that child isn’t well connected,” she added, sounding more like herself, “then you are not as smart as I think you are. Regardless, we stand with you. If you need help, you will come to us. Is that understood?”

  We both nodded.

  “I wish that Iliana had been more forthcoming,” Dad said. “But I understand the need to keep things within a small group. However, your mother is right. Don’t you dare hesitate. We will help you, no matter what.”

  This more than anything felt real in a way nothing else had since the fight at the hellway. My parents weren’t joking, and they were taking this seriously.

  “Even if this puts us sideways with the Concilium?” I asked.

  “They didn’t do a very good job last year, did they? Demon fire all over the place, on the grounds, and then they tell us that it’s all handled, and nothing to worry about,” Dad said with a snort. “That’s official speak for, We don’t know what happened but we got lucky as hell.”

  “I had no idea you felt that way,” Matty said.

  “There are many things you don’t know,” Mom said. “Now come and help me clean up. I’d like to go to bed.”

  That was Mom-speak for, ‘We’re done’. But they were with us, and that was what mattered.

  And in a few days, I’d get to see Olivia again, without parents giving us all the beady eye.

  I went to bed feeling more optimistic than I had before. Maybe we’d get through this.

  Chapter Eight

  Olivia

  Once we got back from the Pearsons, Iliana disappeared. She was traveling, trying to see where the Concilium might have hidden Violet.

  “How are you sure that she’s actually with them?” I asked her the morning following our dinner. It had been three weeks, and she wasn’t getting anywhere.

  “Because I talked with her adopted parents. And what they described was the Concilium. There were three of them, and they took Violet away after incapacitating her parents. Both of whom, by the way,” Iliana raised an eyebrow, “Are worried sick about her.

  “Stop with the guilt,” I said. “I’ve been going through every old, dusty, musty book you’ve dragged in to me. I even made you a list,” I added, going to my desk. “Here. Take this and see if it checks out.”

  She took it from me, reading through it. “Are these sure things, or are you guessing?”

  “Most of them are guesses,” I said. “The ones with the asterisks are the ones I know for sure are Concilium holdings.”

  “There’s not very many of them,” she frowned at the list.

  “No joke,” I said. “Good luck.”

  Iliana looked up to glare at me, and then swatted me with the paper when she saw my expression. “This is serious, Olivia.”

  “I know that, Manà,” I said. “But if you don’t find your sense of humor and let it out occasionally, you’re going to be a bitter old woman.”

  “I’m already bitter,” she said. She came close and hugged me, then kissed me on each cheek.

  “Be careful,” I said. I didn’t want to lose her.

  “If something happens to me, you’ll know,” she said.

  “How?”

  “We’re connected now, through the Mother. You’ll know. Get word to Mama, and do what she says. Do you understand?”

  I nodded. “You’re making me nervous.”

  “Good. It’s better to be nervous and aware than overconfident and miss things.”

  “I’m anything but overconfident,” I said.

  “You can also text me if you need me,” she said.

  “You’re going to actually keep your phone on?” I said.

  “I’ll check it throughout the day.” She didn’t like being monitored by a phone.

  She walked out, and I heard her talking to Mom, who was in the kitchen. I went back to my studying. There had to be a faster way to do this, because hello? I was capable of magic. But I hadn’t found it yet. I spent all day going through just one book, and I had less than ten more places in addition to what I’d shared with Iliana. While it didn’t seem like a lot, it was a lot for one person to be looking into. I wished she let me come with her.

  The following morning, I was up early. Today was the day I met the guys. We’d planned to meet after lunch. I sent up a wish to the goddesses, that they’d help Caspian. I could tell that the strife with his parents was wearing on him.

  Mom and I were sitting in the kitchen, having tea together, when there was a loud knock at the door.

  “We have a doorbell,” Mom muttered.

  When she opened the door, two men in long cloaks, one black, and one forest green, pushed through without even asking permission.

  “Where is Iliana Karidias?” the older of the two men asked.

  They looked alike, despite their age difference. Their faces were long and stern, and their eyes cold and flat.

  “She’s not here,” Mom said.

  “We have reports that she was here yesterday,” the younger of the two said.

  “Who are you, and why are you here?” Dad came out of his office, his face also stern.

  “We are from the Concilium, and we are looking for Iliana Karidias.”

  “That means nothing. Lots of people work for the Concilium. I’ll need to see your assignment,” Dad said, not giving an inch.

  The younger one looked at the older one. It was kind of creepy that they hadn’t given any sort of names. The older one nodded, and the younger man held out his hand, swirling his other hand over it.

  An image appeared in his hand. “This is Councilor Dandros. I authorize these agents, Trenton and Carlisle,” and he waved his hand to bring up photos of the two, “To seek the siren Iliana Karidias, heir to the Karidias family, who has been missing for nearly twenty years. If you have any knowledge of her, you are to pass it on to the Concilium agents at once.” Then the image faded from the younger one’s hand.

  According to the pictures, the older one was Carlisle, and the younger Trenton.

  “Where is she?” Trenton asked.

  “I told you, she’s not here. She’s one of my oldest friends, and until earlier this year, I hadn’t seen her for years. What was it, Roger?” Mom looked over at Dad. “Seventeen years?”

  “Something like that,” Dad replied, never taking his eyes from the two agents.

  “Where did she go?” Carlisle asked.

  “I don’t know,” Mom said. “I don’t keep tabs on my friends.”

  “You should choose better friends,” Trenton said, a thread of menace in his voice.

  “What does that mean?” Dad asked. “Are you threatening us?”

  “We are warning you, Mr. Washington. If Iliana Karidias comes back, you need to let us know, and not let her leave.”

  “I am not going to hold my friend as though she’s a criminal,” Dad flared.

  “She is,” Trenton said. “And if you help her, you are a criminal also.”

  “Has she been tried?” Mom asked, her face angry and her voice tight.

  “That’s not your concern,” Trenton replied, his face getting red.

  “Please contact us if she returns here,” Carlisle said, keeping his cool.

  Then the two of them turned and walked out the door.

  “And that,” Dad said, “Is why we don’t trust the Concilium.�
�

  “Why did you let me go to Nobledark, then?” I asked.

  “Do you regret it?” Mom asked in reply.

  “No. I’ve met my family there,” I said. “But I could have been like them.”

  “You could never be like them,” Dad was firm.

  I didn’t know. I believed pretty hard in the idea of keeping our world safe. It was only when I learned that I was part of what the Concilium considered the enemy that I began to rethink things.

  “We have to let her know,” Mom said, reaching for her phone.

  “Not yet,” I said.

  “What?” She was surprised.

  “Let me go out, out of the house. You know they’re monitoring us. Since we’re, you know, magic, they can probably tap into our phones without a lot of trouble,” I said. “I’ll call her once I get to the park.”

  “Are you sure going out is a good idea?”

  “Why not? I had plans, and if they question me, I can say we’re working on a project, or that we wanted to keep up with our spell work, or something,” I shrugged. “They aren’t worried about me. They didn’t even look at me.” Which had been weird.

  “They don’t know,” Dad said, his voice low. “Or they would have been all over you.”

  “Then let’s thank the goddess for big favors,” I said. “I have to go get ready.”

  I showered, and headed out, packing a backpack with my spell book and a notebook as a cover story. I took the subway out to the park, not wanting to attract the attention of the agents that I was sure were watching.

  We had planned to meet at the tower in Highbridge, but when I got there, I was the first one there. I sat down on a bench and pulled out my phone.

  Conc agents just here. Looking for you. Real assholes, I typed. Don’t come back.

  Then I shut the phone, and let my head fall back to take in the sun. It was a warm day, but not too hot. With the Harlem River on one side, and the Hudson on the other, I felt better. Ever since Greece, I preferred to be closer to water. When I wasn’t, it was like a slight itch that showed up and went away before you had time to properly scratch it.