“I used to be.”
She looked over at Asia with a raised eyebrow. “Huh?”
Asia quietly took her hand. “Max is definitely like you, all of you. His special powers even saved my life.”
“Wow, really?” Star gasped.
“Really. One day I’ll tell you all about it, but for now, I need you to tell Max what you told me. Tell him your story,” Asia spoke carefully. The girls stared back and forth at one another nervously. Finally, Lennon walked up to me with curious eyes and held out her small hand. She nodded for me to hold it. Gently, I scooped it into mine. Electricity raced through my fingertips causing me to tremble a bit. Asia placed a calming hand on my shoulder. Suddenly, in my head, I could hear Lennon’s voice and it was loud and confident.
“He told us no one wanted us. He told us that’s why he made us.”
“Who?”
“Avery.”
“How did he make you?” I asked out loud.
“He said my mother was given a special shot. The shot made Star and I start to grow in her tummy, but we were different…special. We grew much faster than a normal baby.”
“How fast?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable talking to someone so young about this subject.
“Sixty-seven days.”
I looked at Asia and her face wore an unhappy mask. Quietly, I asked, “Where’s your mom now?”
Lennon frowned. “She died.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Avery told me she died when Star and I were born. All of our moms died when we were delivered,” she said, with the suffering of an adult.
Not wanting her to feel this kind of pain anymore, I leaned down and kissed her forehead. She quickly found my eyes with hers and let a smile creep onto her lips.
“What?” I asked.
“Your lips are warm…” she blushed. The other girls giggled wildly and she turned an even darker shade of red.
Embarrassed, I glanced over at Asia. “So I’ve been told.” The girls giggled louder.
“I think that’s enough for right now. We can talk more later,” Asia decided, and took my hand. “Ladies, I need to talk with Max, alone.”
All of the girls teased, “Ewwww!”
“Enough!” she softly scolded, and sounded exactly like a protective mother herself. The little girls ran off to the back of the room and down the stairway that led to the galley and other rooms. I walked outside with Asia close behind. Her face was worried and I had only a million questions for her. So I started with the first one on the tip of my tongue.
“What are you doing, Asia?”
“I’m saving them.”
“Why?”
“I have to,” she whispered.
Knowing her too well I could tell she was already connected to them on our special kinetic level. Watching the pain on her face when Lennon was talking, it was obvious they had found a way into her heart.
“They have no one. They’ve been told they are only experiments, lab rats…nothing more.” Her fierce blue stare swam with fresh tears. “I’m going to prove Avery wrong.”
“And how do you plan on doing that?” I asked.
“By giving them everything I never had. Trust, purpose, a real life…love.” Lightning flashed above us and she wiped away a tear. I put my arm around her waist and held her tightly, letting the emotions subside a little before talking.
“It’s obvious Avery wants our abilities for his own selfish money-hungry reasons. My fires, your storms…and now, after hearing the girls stories…” I stopped myself from saying what I wanted to. Asia finished my thought.
“Avery is a much bigger monster than we first thought.”
“So, what can your new little sisterhood do?” I asked, nervously.
“Well, you’ve gotten a peek at what King can do. She can control the cold and ice. She’s pretty much the opposite of you elementally, but she has the same temperamental personality,” she winked.
“Funny. And the twins?”
“Star is a mind-bender. She can move things with her thoughts and possibly more. Lennon’s powers are in the same realm only she sees the future and can talk with her mind.”
The idea stunned me. “Wow.”
“Also, Lennon has a sneaky habit of knowing if you’re telling the truth or not,” Asia warned, with a sly smile.
“An eight year old lie detector, huh. Cool.”
“Finally, there’s Pepper. She’s the youngest and the easiest to damage emotionally. Her gift seems to be based around the earth and living things, like flowers and trees. A mini version of Mother Nature. She makes me feel physically stronger just standing next to her.” Asia slid a hand up her other arm and caressed the matching tattoo we shared. Her fingertips traced the distinctive tribal lines.
“I think she’s scared of me,” I sighed.
“Not of you, Max…your gift.”
I guess that made sense. Her powers gave life, made living things grow. Mine, did the opposite. Fire destroys. Quickly, I changed the subject.
“I don’t think this is over, Asia,” I warned. She knew I was holding something back.
“Max, what is it?” Thunder roared all around.
“I ran into Avery this morning.” I frowned.
“That son of a…”
“He knows I’m broken. He came to test just how broken I am.” I waited for her anger to overflow and the skies to open up, but instead, she snuggled into my chest.
“Are you okay?” Her hands and eyes searched my chest and stomach for any damage.
“I’m fine…I guess.”
“Max, what aren’t you telling me?” she sighed, with worry.
“He could have killed me today, Asia, and I couldn’t have done a thing to stop him. He knows how vulnerable I am now…physically.”
“You’re not broken. He’ll regret he ever put a finger on you,” she promised. I pulled her closer to me and held her face in my hands.
“There’s more…”
“Tell me.”
“He wants the girls. All of them.” My warning hit her hard. Her hands tightened around me. The storm erupted everywhere. As the giant raindrops assaulted me I tried to find my inner fires again. Still nothing.
“I’ll kill him first,” she growled.
As I gave up on finding my fire the world fell heavy on my shoulders again. This was going to get much worse before it got better. I knew it in the pit of my stomach. Avery was too powerful, too arrogant. He’d never stop until he got what he wanted. My past had caught up with me again and endangered everyone I loved. Now, my mistakes involved Asia’s new family. She was completely right though. The only way this ended, I mean really ended, was with no more Avery. She had already killed his younger brother for me, but I couldn’t let her kill Avery. The problem was I wasn’t sure I could stop her though. Should I even try? He was a cancer on this Earth.
“We need a plan. Tell me all you know about the girls,” I said, soaking wet.
“Max, we’ll figure this out together.” She slid her drenched hair back in a swift flip and pressed herself into me completely. “I love you.”
“I love you, too…”
“Nobody hurts the ones I love,” she cursed, and the building hurricane around us backed up every word. We moved back into the safety of the ships cabin and discussed our options.
Later that night I dreamt of Uncle Frank. He came to me with a smile and a hug. As he welcomed me to his old arms I felt safe. It felt like it used to. I tried to tell him how much I missed his smiling face, but he waved me off with one hand and that ominous warning…
“Trust the pain, my son.”
I barely slept the rest of the night. His words always brought the truth no matter how much it might hurt. I’m sure tomorrow would be no different.
FIFTEEN: BATTLEFIELD
~ Love Is A Battlefield: Pat Benatar ~
Wednesday morning - 7:55 a.m. - January 4th
Walking in my house I could already feel my mother’s judging eyes on me. I had spen
t all night with Asia and never called to let her know I was okay. Yes, I was an adult, but she was still suffering from a mountain of guilt for not being around the last ten years, so I tried to cut her some slack. Thankfully, my little king, Oz, bounced up to me first. His tiny paws clicked away along the floor before he jumped at my kneecaps to pick him up.
“I guess you missed me too, huh,” I let his slimy tongue welcome me home. He softly yipped in my arms as my mother walked up with a large cup of coffee.
“You didn’t call,” she said hurt. She handed me the hot cup waiting for me to say something. I just stared at her with my tired and sleepless eyes. “I can see you didn’t get much sleep last night.” She was right. Asia and her enchanting storms had a way of keeping my attention until the break of dawn. Last night was no different.
From the corner of my eye I saw the briefcase my lawyer had given me. It was resting along the side of the couch. Even though I was in a rush, I took a moment and grabbed it into my hands. Quickly, it found a spot on my lap and I inhaled a long gulp of oxygen. My mother wandered over, curious about the bag’s contents.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. The lawyers left it for me. I think it’s just legal stuff, you know, tying up loose ends.” I closed my eyes and clicked its latches open. Stacks of papers awaited, mostly lawyer mumbo-jumbo. But one handful of documents were different. They had a red post-it note attached to the front of them. The post-it had my name written across it. I picked the pages up and thumbed through them.
“It’s a copy of Uncle Frank’s will,” I said, numb. My eyes read the pages as quick as possible. When I was done, I couldn’t breath. “He left me the house and everything in it.”
“Really?” my mother half smiled. I didn’t know how to process this yet. I slid the documents back into the case and readied the lid to be shut tightly, but something distracted me at the last possible second. A key.
“Is that a locker key?” I asked aloud.
My mother looked over my shoulder and nodded yes. “Looks like it.”
Reading the inscription along the back of it, I realized it belonged to a P.O. Box locker at the local post office. I guess my uncle had one last adventure for me.
“Can I borrow the car?” I asked, with a small yawn.
Annoyed, she snapped, “Why?”
“I have a breakfast date.”
“A date? You just walked in the door. At least take a moment to tell me where you were all night…or with whom…”
“I stayed at Asia’s last night. She filled me in on all the drama I missed.” I tried to smile.
“Oh.” Her arms crossed quickly. “I guess you’re meeting her for breakfast then…”
“Nope,” I smiled, and snatched up her keys. I set down my coffee, stuck the locker key in my back pocket, and scratched Oz behind his furry ear. “Come on, big guy…let’s get you out of this prison for awhile.” He barked, and followed me out the front door with a new bounce in his step.
“Max, where are you going?” my mother begged.
Over my shoulder I smiled. “Treasure hunt! Then, I have a date with my daughter.” Swiftly, I stuck Oz on the passenger’s seat and started up the car. With a crank of the car stereo knob I let the music serenade me. I was exhausted, but optimistic. My world was on the verge of imploding again, and I had no idea how I was going to react to Sam and her smile, but I felt a sliver of happiness engulf me. I couldn’t wait to see my daughter’s big green eyes and feel her warm touch. I had a ton of questions for Sam also, and my pulse raced with the thought of getting some answers. This morning would be a good one…or so I’d thought.
After an awkward few minutes at the post office, I climbed back in the car and patted Oz on his head. I stared at the small box in my hands, confused. Why would Uncle Frank leave this for me? My hands closed around its red edges and hid the tiny white tag that was attached to the box. Written along the tag, in Frank’s handwriting was two words…YOUR CHOICE. I popped open the box and fell silent. After a few minutes of losing all train of thought, I closed the lid and placed the box inside the glove compartment. With a renewed purpose, I drove off toward Sam’s place.
Kai greeted me first at Sam’s front door. The way he opened it up made it obvious that he had spent the night there. Were they living together again? What was going on?
“Aloha, Max.” Kai smiled, nervously.
I glanced back over my shoulder at King Oz as he dangled his snout out the open car window. He sniffed the morning air with a small whine.
Turning back toward Kai, I said, “Hey.”
“I know you had a brunch date with Madi and Sam, but I need to talk to you first,” he spoke cautiously.
I didn’t like this at all.
“About what, Kai?”
He turned me back toward my car and closed the door behind him, then began to walk with me. Oz came to attention from the car window. Even he could tell this wasn’t going to be a good conversation. Finally, he asked, “Are things better with your mom?”
I lied. “Totally.”
“Good! You must be getting settled again at the house. So happy, Bro…”
“Kai, what the hell is going on? Just say what you need to say.” I was officially moody. From behind us came a determined voice. One of my favorite sounds in the world.
“Max, you’re here,” Sam ran up to us as if she were uncomfortable.
“Yes.” I smiled.
“Kai, I told you I’d talk to him.” She frowned.
Crap.
Sulking slightly, he said, “Sam, he needs to hear it from me.”
“No, Kai!” she snapped.
“Max needs to hear what?” I growled, while pushing myself in between them. Kai stepped away from me, but Sam seemed to pull closer my way.
“Not here, not now,” she scolded.
With my temper fully awake now, I demanded, “Tell me.”
Kai stared at me and then Sam, afraid to speak. Sam took my hand in hers, softly.
“Max…”
“Say it. Say what you’re not saying.” I was done.
Sam froze, afraid to hurt me. As a cool wind rushed past us, sending Sam’s strawberry scent into my nose, Kai finally spoke up.
“I’m moving.”
After an awkward moment, I said, “That’s great, Kai.” My sarcasm was as thick as the humidity in the air.
“We’re moving, Max. Sam and I.” His words stunned me. I couldn’t move.
Slowly, I asked, “What?”
“I’ve been offered a job back on the mainland…in Seattle. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. A fresh start.”
“Good for you,” I growled.
“A fresh start for Sam and I,” he dared to say.
Almost snarling, “Why do you need a fresh start?”
“Come on, Bro, you even have to ask?” Kai asked, cringing. Was this a joke? Had everyone just given up on me while I was locked away? Was I still cursed? I turned to find Sam’s breaking face.
“I wanted to talk about this…alone,” Sam said, hurting.
“About leaving?” I mumbled.
“Yes.”
Ignoring Kai’s betraying eyes completely, I asked the scariest question in the history of scary questions, “And what about Madi?” I knew the answer before either of them said anything.
“Madi too,” Sam said, putting me out of my misery.
“Max, let me explain…” Kai started to say, but I shut him up with one look. The tears in my eyes were too hard for him to take.
“No. You don’t get to talk anymore, Kai. You don’t get to talk to me ever again!” I stormed past him wishing I was still able to create a fireball. I would have jammed it down his throat at that moment.
“Max, wait,” Sam reached for me. I walked up to my car and got in the driver’s side. Oz greeted me with a whimper and a messy lick of his tongue. Kai and Sam watched me from the driveway. For a moment Sam and I locked eyes and it looked as if she was about to come
over, but she stopped herself at the last second. I broke my stare from hers and started the car. The radio came on, serenading me with a familiar song. I listened for a moment as my desperate heart tried to comprehend what it had just been told. Sam was leaving me. She was taking our daughter away from me…with him, my best friend. What the hell was going on? This morning was supposed to be a beautiful day with my daughter, a breakfast date to catch up with her. Not this frustrated truth. The song on the radio built inside my head filling me with something that surprised me.
Confidence.
Usually I would just run and hide. Accept this turn of events and feel sorry for myself. But not this time, not now. This turn of events changed everything. I concentrated on the glove compartment and its secret tucked inside, and a truth awoke inside me.
I still wanted Sam.
I still needed her. Even though I loved Asia and her protective storms, I couldn’t shake my feelings for the island girl next door. This was my battlefield. This was love. Love was war. Sam was worth the fight.
“Sam,” I whispered to the windshield. Kai had begun to lead her back to the house with his hand locked around hers. I threw the car door open and scooped Oz up in my arms. I flew across the driveway and announced, “No!”
Both of them turned to find me already in their precious bubble. I shoved Oz into Kai’s arms and quickly snatched up Sam’s hand. Her eyes came alive with surprise.
“Max?” she gasped, as I pulled her from him.
“It’s my turn!” I scolded Kai. Rushing back to my car with Sam almost in my arms, I swiftly placed her in the passenger’s seat and stomped across the hood of the car until I reached my side.
“Max, what are you doing?” Kai called out, upset.
“Back off!” I yelled. “Sam and I have to talk. No best friends! No wiener dogs! Just her and I!” I said, as fact. Sam watched me as if I was insane. With a thump of my chest, I repeated, “Sam and I.”
Kai looked on as I revved the car up and spun out in the driveway. As I did, I stuck my head out the window just enough to scream, “Take care of Oz, I’ll be back for him later!” Oz’s ears tucked backwards a little, but Kai reached down and scratched underneath them, just enough to calm him. With a shake of Kai’s head in disappointment, I tore my eyes from the rearview mirror and found Sam’s worried emerald eyes.
In Embers (The Ember Series Book 3) Page 9
