“By the way, Conner, I heard from Aunt Ruby,” his mom said, holding up a letter.
“Oh? What did she say?”
“She thinks it’ll work out. They have a small house on their property that they usually have their farmhands live in. It’s occupied now, but after the growing season has ended, it’ll be empty. And then we’d have a place for at least a few months. In that time, we can figure out more concrete plans.”
Conner sat straight up on his bed. “So this move might not be permanent, then? Just a few months?”
“It’s possible. We’ll have to see what opportunities come along.”
“Well, that’s not all bad news.” Conner was feeling slightly better about the move now. At least this way, there was a possibility that they’d move back. He couldn’t wait to tell Detrick.
There was a knock on their door, and Mirina opened it and entered, holding folded bed linens. She was a pretty enough girl, with long golden hair and a bright smile, but she always looked like she felt sorry for them, and it got under Conner’s skin. “Here, Miss Wicklow, Conner. These have just been washed. How are you liking your room so far?”
“It’s wonderful, Mirina. Thank you so much,” Conner’s mom said politely, taking the linens and setting them on her bed.
“If you two are interested, we usually eat lunch between rushes at the table out back. You’re welcome to join us if you wish. Gavin will be there as well.”
“That sounds lovely. We’ll be there. Won’t we, Conner?” his mom said, turning to him.
“Sure thing.”
Mirina bowed out of the room and shut the door behind her.
He helped his mother make up the two beds and then decided to lay down and read for a while, while his mom went downstairs to visit. Conner wasn’t feeling hungry or social at the moment. He laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. While he was beginning to feel some inkling of hope at the possibility that they’d be able to return to Edgewood at some point, the time away from Detrick was going to be downright awful.
Things had been going so well lately between Detrick and himself, even if Detrick was repressing his feelings. Detrick was just one of those people who required extra patience. He seemed to be slow in accepting change…in any form. With the confession, with Conner’s opposing views on the Union, and now with his feelings about Conner. Patience had never been a strong suit for Conner, but he was learning. It was a virtue he silently thanked Detrick for teaching him.
Conner wanted to stick around with Detrick though. One day, Detrick would let go of his anxiety about everything. It was already starting. And they could find a way to be happy together. There was just this pesky issue of the Union that they’d have to figure out…
* * *
An abrupt knock at the front door startled all three of the Lismores, who were in the kitchen eating dinner. Both Detrick and his dad went to answer the door to find a mustachioed man, dressed in a crisp pinstripe suit and bowler hat, bearing a large envelope. Detrick glanced beyond the man to see that a car was parked in the road behind him, a paladin in the driver’s seat.
“Good evening, Mr. Lismore. My name is Marion Wolfe. I’ve just come from the Citadel with your next assignment instructions.”
“Oh,” Detrick’s dad said, taking the envelope. “Has the Grand Magistrate got something for us already?”
Marion cleared his throat. “Grand Magistrate Amos has been relieved of her post. These orders come from Aleric Hawthorne, the Magistrate of Commerce in this province, who has taken her place as interim Grand Magistrate until a replacement can be made.”
Praise Lilith! So it had happened. The rest of the Union had recognized her abuses of power, her massive failures, her cruel and unjust treatment of those around her. If Detrick wasn’t in the presence of this Union guy, he’d have jumped five feet in the air.
“Relieved of her post? I see,” Detrick’s dad said, opening the envelope. Detrick saw a hint of a smile creep across his face.
Marion held up a hand to stop him. “Please, sir, if you could wait until I’m gone to open those orders. It’s strictly confidential.”
“Oh, certainly. My apologies.” Detrick’s dad set the envelope on the side table next to the door.
Detrick raised a hand to get Marion’s attention. “I wonder if I might ask you something?”
“What is it, son?”
“A few months ago, Grand M—uh, I mean, Victoria Amos said that her assistant, Kellis Ender, had been removed from his position. Can you tell us anything about it?”
“Ah…about that,” Marion said, clearing his throat. “It appears Mr. Ender had been somewhat responsible for the illness that overtook our former Grand Magistrate. He’s been sentenced to a life in prison so he might reflect on his actions.”
Detrick’s mouth dropped open. “No way.”
“It’s true, I’m afraid.”
“Unbelievable,” Detrick’s dad said.
“Quite so,” Marion said. “Well, good evening to you all.” He tipped his hat and returned to the car.
Detrick’s dad shut the door. “Kellis Ender, indeed,” he said, his smile much more obvious now.
Detrick’s mother finally appeared from the kitchen. “So, what’s in the envelope?” she asked, sitting on the couch.
They brought the envelope over and all three sat around, eager to read its contents. Detrick’s dad removed the single piece of paper and frowned at it for some time.
“Well? What does it say?” Detrick asked impatiently.
He sighed heavily. “We’ve…we’ve been called back to the Citadel.”
An icy dagger pierced Detrick’s heart.
* * *
Conner searched for Detrick as people gathered outside the makeshift Temple tent for their usual small talk before heading inside for night church. Since finding out the good news from his mother yesterday, he’d hardly been able to wipe the smile from his face. He and Detrick were so sure about their feelings for each other that temporary distance couldn’t damage it. And they’d be able to visit each other occasionally. This they could endure, and emerge victorious on the other side.
He spotted Detrick and his parents passing the Pillar and slowed his walk. He usually tried to keep his distance from Owen and Evangela, since they never spoke to or even smiled at him. He managed to get Detrick’s attention, and Detrick speed-walked over, but he looked a little down. He even seemed to be avoiding eye contact.
“Hey, you. Are you okay?” Conner asked, nudging him in the shoulder.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Just tired.”
The two of them went inside the massive tent together, and Detrick’s parents headed toward the front for a seat, which didn’t bother Conner. His mom and Gavin would probably sit with the Vickers.
The roof of the tent was open tonight, for the monthly view of the night sky. It always seemed so much more beautiful when framed like that. A rare win for Empyreanism.
Conner and Detrick took seats toward the back.
“I’ve got some news that might cheer you up,” Conner whispered sideways to Detrick. Detrick looked him, his eyes wide as though expecting something magnificent. Maybe Conner’s news wasn’t quite up to par, but it was something. “We might not be in Pine Ridge for long. Mom just wants to take a break and figure things out.”
Detrick’s expression softened, and he grabbed Conner’s hand in his own. “That’s really great. I’m happy for you.” There was no emotion in his voice.
Conner tried to make sense of it. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
But before Detrick could answer, the sermon began, and Detrick turned his full attention to the old Cleric.
CHAPTER 24
CATHARSIS
An early October thunderstorm pounded down on Edgewood for three days. Newly formed rivers carved paths through the ground, dislodging cobblestones and washing away any remaining flowers.
Detrick stared out the living room window watching the rain, having long since come down w
ith cabin fever. So, they were moving back to the Citadel. How was he supposed to break the news to Conner? More importantly, how was he supposed to leave him again? Maybe it was for the best, he tried to reassure himself. After all, the seriousness of their relationship had never been established. And Detrick had no choice in the matter, as it were. He was the Union’s pawn, after all…to be used for their gain, and to hell with his own life. Maybe one day that would change, and he’d have control over his own destiny instead of being suffocated by it.
But even if he could stay here in Edgewood, Conner was moving anyway. How often would they really be able to see each other if he was two days’ walk away? Even though Conner had assured him that their move wouldn’t be permanent, there was no scenario that Detrick could envision that would allow the Wicklows to move back any time soon. Woodwork was all the that family had done to earn money for years. If their shop had already failed once, the Union probably wouldn’t be supportive of them opening a second one.
Detrick stared out the rain-splattered window, lost in his despondent thoughts.
He jumped when he heard a scream coming from the kitchen, and he swiftly turned around. His parents entered the living room…with their arms raised. Two paladins had guns pressed against his parents’ heads. As the four entered the living room, he saw Victoria come sauntering out behind them. Detrick gasped. She wore charcoal robes, and her hair was loose and disheveled instead of in its usual bun, showing off more gray than Detrick had been aware of.
“Grand Magistrate? What are you doing here?” He shot his gaze to his parents, who were being forced to their knees. “What’s going on?”
“You and I need to have a little chat,” Victoria said sternly. “Sit on the couch. And don’t even thinking about moving.”
Detrick raised his arms and did as she said. Victoria swept past him and took a seat in the armchair. She stared him down, perhaps pondering what she was going to say. Her eyes were wild, showing more emotion than Detrick had ever seen in them.
His mother uttered a faint sob from behind him.
“What’s going on?” Detrick repeated.
“Shut up!” yelled Victoria instantly. “Now, I imagine you’ve heard the unfortunate news regarding my dismissal, yes?”
“Yes,” Detrick said quietly. And was this forced entry and hostage holding supposed to prove just how unfortunate it was?
“A pity, of course. But there’s unfinished business to be dealt with. Tell me, how close are you to the Wicklow family? Quite close, I’d imagine.”
Detrick froze.
“One must wonder how long you’ve been risking your family’s identity to satisfy your shameless desire for lewd companionship.”
What in Aeos did Victoria know about companionship? If she wasn’t berating someone, she was figuring out the most perverse way to have them killed. She knew nothing about love. “Excuse me? What’s lewd about it? Conner and I are just friends.”
“Your first lie.” Victoria leaned forward. “I have eyes all over this wretched town, Detrick. Nothing escapes me. How was your little camping trip, hmm?”
Detrick was bewildered. Behind him, he heard a laugh. He turned around and saw that one of the paladins had been the one he’d spoken to after the Temple explosion. She flashed him a wicked smile.
“What have you told him, Detrick? Surely he coaxed a secret or two out of you?”
“Nothing!” Detrick said, panicked. “I haven’t said a word!”
“Bullshit.” Victoria rose from the chair. “But soon enough it won’t matter. Ladies, release these two and let’s get to it.”
The paladins obeyed, and then escorted an anxious Detrick out back to a car, leaving his parents in the house. Resisting was pointless, and so he had no choice but to do as they instructed.
The rains soaked Detrick in the short distance from his house to the back seat of the car. Victoria entered from the other side and took a seat next to him. Once the four of them were in the car, they drove off.
“Tell me what’s going on. Where are you taking me?”
“We’re righting a wrong. There’s an errand that’s far overdue, and it’ll open your eyes to the reality you’ve thus far refused to face.”
Afraid to ask for further explanation, Detrick stared out the window to the black beyond that swept past the car as they drove.
After a silent hour driving through the storm, the car came to a stop. Detrick studied the building outside the window.
He struggled to focus his eyes past the rain to read the sign above the doorway. A quilting shop? Was this… It couldn’t be…
“What are we doing here?” Detrick asked frantically as he watched the paladins ascend the stairwell. They forced open the door to the top story and disappeared into it. “Why are we here? Ned cannot see me with you people. He can’t. Please tell me what’s going on!”
“Whether Ned sees you or not won’t be of any consequence. At least, not for much longer.”
“What does that mean?!”
Before she could answer, the paladins were back outside carrying Ned, who’d been tied up and hooded. They walked behind the car, opened the trunk, tossed Ned into it, and slammed the trunk door shut. He was yelling through the gag in his mouth, and even through the downpour outside, Detrick could hear his faint cries from the back seat.
Detrick’s panic overtook him, and he begged Victoria to explain.
She smacked him in the head. “If you don’t contain yourself, I’ll throw you into the trunk as well.”
Another agonizing hour later, they were in the dead center of the forest, miles from civilization. Everyone unloaded from the car, and into the rain. Ned was forced against a tree, and then the shorter paladin approached Detrick, gun in hand. “You’re up,” she said, holding out the gun for him to take.
“What?” He turned to Victoria, seeking clarification.
“You’re going to be doing two things tonight, Detrick. Killing Ned the Deserter, and fulfilling Conner’s punishment from his third arrest.”
Ned whimpered through the cloth gag in his mouth.
The paladin shoved her gun at Detrick.
“No, no, no. No. No…no way,” he stuttered. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. It was too horrible.
Victoria began to speak, but Detrick interrupted her.
“I won’t do it!” he roared. His shout echoed into the forest. He wiped the rain from his face and turned around to head back to the car, but Victoria grabbed his arm and threw him toward Ned. The muddy forest floor squished through his fingers as he picked himself up.
Victoria snatched the gun from the paladin and pointed it straight at Detrick, who was now blocking Ned with his body. “Detrick, get out of the way, or I’ll kill you both. Your choice!”
Detrick refused to move.
Victoria aimed the gun over Detrick’s left shoulder and took her shot.
The blast stung his ears and he instinctively shielded himself with his arms and dropped to the ground. Ned cried out in misery, and the sound pierced Detrick’s stomach. Ned had been shot in the shoulder.
Victoria tossed the gun to Detrick, and it came to rest near his feet. “You know you have to end his suffering now. You have no choice,” she said forebodingly.
Free-flowing tears ran down Detrick’s face with no effort whatsoever. Ned’s own crying managed to convince Detrick that Victoria was correct. He knew Ned would be getting no help for the gaping bullet wound in his shoulder, and that the only way to help him was to put him out of his misery.
He took up the gun in his hands; the grip was still warm. Slowly, he rose to his feet.
“Kill him!” The paladins shouted in unison. They repeated themselves until Victoria joined in and all three were yelling at Detrick to do it. He felt driven to madness and wanted to turn the gun on all of them, ending their infuriating chorus of demands. He hated them all so much; they were trying to destroy everything he loved. He wanted to put them down. He began to raise it…but he pani
cked and, without a second thought, dropped the gun to the ground.
He didn’t have it in him. He couldn’t kill anyone…not even his worst enemies.
Victoria swiftly pulled a second gun from underneath her coat and shot Ned through the head.
His body slumped to the ground. Fresh blood soaked the hood, spreading fast, intensely crimson in color.
Detrick couldn’t breathe.
“I knew I was right in having a contingency plan,” Victoria said, kneeling down to retrieve the gun that Detrick had dropped. “You still need a lot of work.”
Detrick continued to stare at Ned, as if attempting to figure out a way to reverse what had been done. After all, Ned had been alive only seconds ago. Surely someone couldn’t be so gone so quickly…
As the rains were subsiding, Ned was dragged from the tree, covered in gasoline, and set alight. Victoria pulled a shell-shocked Detrick into the back of the car. For two hours, the group waited until there was nothing left but ashes and bones, and only after the ashes were extinguished with water and buried did they leave.
Detrick had nothing else to do on the ride home except reflect on what had happened. He felt so sick for Conner. He remained doubled over, covering his head with his hands. His dry heaving caused Victoria to smack him over the head.
“Get ahold of yourself. You act as though this is all unprecedented.”
Detrick couldn’t answer, couldn’t speak a word. In his mind he was clutching Conner tightly against himself, his head nestled in the crook of Conner’s neck, begging him for forgiveness.
Detrick was dropped back at home, and the car sped off into the night.
His uneasy sleep was plagued by nightmares. Rebecca and Ned’s decaying, reanimated bodies followed him everywhere he went as his life played out before him—they watched him sleep, watched him work, watched as he descended into a chronic delirium…watched him die… And they laughed…
Detrick woke up covered in sweat.
Powerless: Aeos Book One Page 17
