by Allie Burton
“Another reason to go to the professor’s house. There’s help there.” Math pointed his chin forward. “Turn left up there.”
Help me or help himself? I didn’t trust leaders of secret organizations, and that’s what the professor seemed to be—leader of the Warriors. Math had never mentioned him before and now the professor sounded like a dictator. I’d had too much experience, been around Aaron for so long that if I did have power, he’d take advantage of it. And so would this professor.
But I didn’t have other options. If I wanted to learn more and stay with the trumpet, I needed to go with Math.
Which was why I found myself standing in front of a nondescript house in a row of houses stacked next to each other in the early morning hour. A short set of steps went up to the front door. While the other houses had garages, this house only had a blank wall.
We’d ditched the stolen car several blocks away, stole another shirt to wrap around the trumpet, and walked to the house.
Worrying about the professor and what his role was with the Warriors should be at the top of my mind, except I was in a blur worried about the connection I possibly had to the trumpet and its magic.
“This is the professor’s house.” Math took an easy step toward the house.
I stopped on the sidewalk. I needed to think about the present, about what the professor would do with the trumpet and to me. I still needed the instrument to save Mom. “Who is this professor? What exactly does he do for you?” Is he as controlling as Aaron?
“Professor York is a music professor and a friend to the Warriors.” Math’s words were generic, as if he didn’t want to confide causing my resentment to rise. “Since I’ve told you everything about my brothers, you should meet them.”
He spoke like this was a done deal. That he didn’t have a choice but to bring me here. That I didn’t have a choice. I was tired of not being given choices. “Is that why you were angry before we broke into the mansion? Because you shared your secrets?”
“They weren’t my secrets to share. Or not only mine.” With empathy in his voice, he grabbed my hand and tugged me up the stairs. “The Warriors are a secret group.”
Just like the Magical Order of Crucis. I tripped on the top step. I wasn’t pleased with the comparison. Didn’t want to get involved with another covert organization.
“I shouldn’t have told you anything without their approval.” He held me steady. “But I think you need help. I think you have powers and will need training.”
“We need to talk first—”
He knocked on the door. Why, if he lived there? Were they hiding other magical secrets?
The door swung open and a teenage girl with short, blonde hair and blue eyes stood there. “You found the other trumpet. That’s awesome. We were expecting you and—” the girl’s glance slid down my body and stopped when she noticed our clasped hands “—your friend.”
Heat drenched me, and my hands perspired. I didn’t know the status of my relationship with Math and I didn’t want this girl to make snap judgements. I lowered my head.
“Aria, this is Piper.” He dropped my hand and tucked the trumpet, wrapped in another work shirt, closer. “Piper, Aria.”
My heart squeezed tight at the action and curt introduction. Did he not want this girl to see us holding hands?
“Hey.” I didn’t sound too unfriendly.
“Come on in. The choir, I mean group, is here.” She opened the door wider and Math and I stepped inside.
The homey entryway welcomed, unlike the reception area of the museum living quarters. It led to a lived-in front room with a flowered sofa and straight-backed chairs. Framed photos and knickknacks lined the shelves. The smell of waffles came from what must be the kitchen. The house appeared normal, except how would I know, when I’d never lived in a normal house?
“Grandfather’s in the music room.” Aria led us through the quaint living room, up the stairs, and into a white room with large windows.
The entire time I observed her back. Her short blonde hair bobbed with her strut. Her preppy sweater and slacks didn’t seem to fit someone who associated with ancient magic. Or with me. Her preppy-ness was the antithesis to my grunge.
I hadn’t had a chance to get a good visual on the rest of the house. The overall impression was comfortable and homey. I liked it. Wished I could grow up in a normal house with a normal family. I was becoming more jealous of Aria and it wasn’t because of Math.
“Math and Piper are here with the Trumpet of Peace.” Aria nodded to an older man who sat on a chair near a cello. “I’m so excited we can put both trumpets to rest.”
The man wore slacks and a much-repaired sweater. “Great job, Math. And, it’s nice to finally meet you, Piper.” His friendly voice didn’t sound threatening. He ran fingers through grayish-brown hair and had the same light blue eyes as Aria.
My legs twitched, and I shifted on my feet. He obviously knew about me, yet I’d known nothing about him until an hour ago. Not liking that Math had talked about me, my response was curt. “Professor.”
Letting my gaze wander, I noted a black piano sat by the window and a variety of modern musical instruments scattered around the room. I did not see anything that could be Tut’s Trumpet of War.
“Is it okay if I go and help Falcon, Grandfather?” Aria stood at the doorway as if she didn’t enjoy being in the room, which was odd because this was her home.
So, the professor was Aria’s grandfather. I recognized the resemblance.
“That’s fine. Can you send Ash up?”
The professor indicated a stool. “Won’t you sit down, Piper?”
I glanced at Math, who was nodding in agreement with the professor. I perched on the edge of the stool. Was the professor going to analyze my magic? Did it hurt? Since he knew about me, Math must’ve told the professor his suspicions.
“Math, put the trumpet in a safe place.” The professor spoke in what sounded like a code.
My chest restricted, and I puffed air. No matter which direction I chose, I needed the instrument to save my mom. “The trumpet should stay with me.”
“You want the trumpet safe, don’t you Piper?” Math’s sincere expression was earnest.
I trusted him, but I didn’t even know the professor. “Of course.”
“I’ll lock it up.” He patted the shirt covering the trumpet and started walking out of the room. “I’ll let you talk to the professor.”
A chill swept over my skin when he left. He’d abandoned me with a stranger taking the trumpet with him. The hum I’d felt the entire drive disappeared. I wanted to run after him and hunt him down, except I didn’t want to look silly to my host.
“Piper.” The professor brought my attention to him. “Math told me over the phone that he believes you have some type of residual power from the trumpet.”
The professor stated it so matter-of-factly, like he believed in powers and magic. Yet, he was a college professor. How could he believe in the unbelievable? My mind swirled. I didn’t know what to say.
“Hey, Professor.” A hard-edged male voice spoke from the doorway. “You needed me?”
I swung around to stare at another hot teenage guy. His dusky skin didn’t hide the deep shadows under his green eyes. His shoulders hunched, as if carrying around the muscled weight of his two arms had become a burden. His slim waist led to thick, muscular thighs visible beneath the hem of his track shorts.
The guy pounced into the room and circled around as if I was prey. “This is Math’s friend?”
Bristling at his tone, I didn’t delight in the insinuation. I had a name. “Piper.”
“Ash.” He mimicked my snippy tone. “She’s the one with the connection?” He grabbed a chair and sat on it backwards, his hairy legs straddling the back.
“Yes.” In contrast, the professor’s tone was kind. “Have you ever played the Trumpet of Peace, Piper?”
My chilled skin froze. Even though his voice was soft, I was being interrogated.
Math had already asked the same question and probably told the professor my answer. “No.”
“But you’ve heard the trumpet and it doesn’t affect you. You don’t fall asleep?” Ash leaned forward in the backwards chair, balancing on two wooden legs. He obviously took risks.
“No.” I crossed my arms, not liking his tone, not liking being questioned, not liking not being with Math.
Ash glared with flint green orbs. “Your uncle owns a pawn shop and works with the Order of Crucis.”
Not a question. An accusation. I didn’t say anything, letting my resentment build, warming my skin and heating my blood to a boil. My hands practically incinerated. I refused to tell this jerk my secrets.
The professor flashed him a warning expression. “Do you live with your uncle?”
“No,” I answered, because Math had probably told them what I’d told him. He’d already shared my history, or at least the version I’d told him. The trust I’d placed in him shattered. I didn’t like him talking about me behind my back.
Ash dropped the chair onto four legs. His eyebrows hunched over his critical leer. “Who do you live with?”
Air caught in my lungs. I couldn’t tell them the truth. At least not the entire truth. “My mom.”
“Oh.” The professor’s mouth turned into a concerned frown. “Should I call her and let her know you’re okay? You’ve been out all night.”
“No.” If Mom knew what I was doing she’d tell Aaron everything. “She’s sick.”
“I’m sorry.” The professor really sounded sorry which I didn’t believe because he didn’t know me or my mom. “Do you know if she ever blew the trumpet?”
My thoughts swung around again. “Wasn’t the Trumpet of Peace in a museum in Egypt until recently?”
“Has your mother ever been to Egypt?” Ash’s spot on question had my gaze swinging to him.
It was like he knew my personal history. I wasn’t sure the best way to respond. Probably by giving them the most minimal details. “She lived there for a short time before I was born.”
My stomach curdled with caustic acid. Mom had gotten pregnant there. With me. Could that be why I had this connection to the instrument? I didn’t even know if Mom had seen the trumpet before. She never talked about that time in her life.
Ash rocked the chair back and forth, causing the acid to seesaw in my tummy as I watched. “Who is your father?”
The seesawing swung higher. My heart pinched, and my head ached. The caustic acid soured, switching back to resentment. I didn’t have to sit here and answer these questions. I didn’t know who my father was and didn’t see how this was relevant.
I jumped off the stool. “That’s not your business.”
If Math had told these people everything else about me, he’d probably told them I didn’t know who my father was. They were just being nasty.
Unless my Egyptian father had knowledge of the trumpet.
Chapter Thirteen
Piper
When I rushed down the stairs, Math and two other teens had cleared the living room of furniture and rolled a large workout mat across the floor.
“Piper.” Math’s shy smile pacified my resentment of being left with the professor. “It’s time to train you in Sebekkah.”
“Se-what-uh?” I stopped at the edge of the mat.
A girl with a long, brown braid raised her hands in a defensive pose. “It’s an ancient Egyptian martial art the Warriors learn. I’m Olivia.” She handed me folded sweats and a T-shirt identical to what she wore. “For you to change into.”
“Why would I want or need to learn Seb-whatever?”
Math’s light laughter and comfortable stance showed he was happy here. “Sebekkah.”
I don’t think I’d ever been truly happy anywhere or with anyone. Except recently with him. My heart thudded. I couldn’t become attached. I’d be leaving soon.
Olivia pointed at a door down the hall. “You can change in the bathroom.”
I did feel grubby after the night at the museum and the Society’s mansion. And I needed alone time to think, to shake off the interrogation I’d just been through. I was used to being alone most of the time. Here, there were so many people coming and going. They all seemed to know about me, but I knew nothing about them. Doing whatever this was might help me gather information about the Warriors and more about Math.
It was mid-morning and I wondered if Mom was doing okay and how angry Aaron was. I’d ignored his texts. Following Olivia’s pointed finger, I found the bathroom, changed and washed up. I headed back to the living room.
Olivia and another handsome guy faced-off on the mat. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt, he ran forward and kicked his right leg at her head. She blocked and sent him flying across the room.
And I mean flying. I choked back a scream.
His body hit the wall and he slumped there for a second. Hard to believe a small girl like Olivia could do that to the muscular guy. She must have powers.
I took a step back.
“That’s Xander.” Math pointed at the guy on the ground.
Xander shook his head and jumped back on his feet. He didn’t appear to be hurt or angry. The two of them must spar all the time.
“See, it comes in handy.” Olivia hugged him. “Especially when dealing with unruly boyfriends.” Her teasing tone got the guy to smile.
Was Olivia warning me Xander was her boyfriend or hinting Math was mine? I coughed. “Really?”
Xander put his arm around Olivia’s shoulders and tucked her to his side. “Hard to believe she recently broke her leg.”
My gaze slid down her body. The way she fought and threw him across the room it was hard to believe she had a broken leg unless she’d been healed magically. My gaze flew to Math. Had he healed her? Could he heal my mom?
“Math will show you basic defensive moves to start.” Olivia sounded confident I’d learn.
Shaking my head, I took another step back. “I don’t need to learn this.”
I didn’t have super strength or agility. I wasn’t one of their Warriors. I wasn’t their enemy, either. I didn’t know what I was to them, or what I was to Math.
Confusion shifted like gears on a manual transmission. I wondered why they would teach their secrets to a complete stranger. Their magical secrets. The Warriors weren’t very smart if they trusted everyone they met.
I might not think they were evil, but I didn’t trust them. The professor seemed nice enough. Ash was a jerk. I hadn’t spent enough time with Aria, Olivia, and Xander. Really, I’d just met everyone except Math. And Math…
My heart tumbled.
Math I trusted and believed. I liked him. I mean, like-liked him. And not because he was nice. He cared about me and was concerned about my welfare. The kiss we shared sparked my engine and my body purred when we were together. Which had been pretty much constantly, since we’d met only three days ago.
He stood alongside Xander and Olivia in solidarity. The Warriors were close. I could tell by their shared communicative glances. A group I wasn’t part of. Sadness streamed through my veins, causing my shoulders to dip, wishing I could be part of this tight-knit group. Wishing to be part of any group. And yet, I knew to be safe, Mom and I had to run far away.
Math pulled me toward the mat. “Sebekkah will help you focus any powers you might possess.”
The sad and tender thoughts stopped. My gaze narrowed. This training was for them to learn what I could do. Which was probably nothing except an aptitude with machinery.
“Have fun.” Olivia took Xander’s hand and they headed into a room that appeared to be a study and closed the door.
“Do Olivia and Xander live here?”
Math and his friends seemed to have free rein of the professor’s house. They were comfortable and at home. Something I’d never felt at the museum. The all-male members either leered or jeered at me. I avoided the gathering places on ceremony days and meetings. I’d had access to the living quarters but wasn’t allowed
in the museum by myself and never knew about the secret ceremonial room Math had discovered. Restricted access and restricted love.
“The professor is a friend of the Warriors.” Math’s answer wasn’t really an answer.
“Do you use this house as a base?”
I was curious about their group and how they thought of each other as brothers, even though there were obviously girls in the group. Plus, information was always important to have. I didn’t plan to sell out the Warriors unless I could use the intelligence to save Mom.
“We used to have a warehouse base. It was burned down in a fire set by rogue cops. Olivia almost died.” He raised his fisted hands, blocking his face. “Hold your arms like this.”
Maybe if I cooperated and learned this Sebbekah, he’d share more information.
“Do you have to stay in the house unless you’re on an errand?” That was one of Aaron’s many rules. I’d never been out of the museum for this long before. My nerves spiked. He was going to be pissed. But if I could cure Mom and get her away from him, I didn’t care how angry he’d be because he’d never find us.
“Of course not. Take this position.” Talking, Math demonstrated. “We come and go as we please.”
My spirits flew, imagining having that kind of freedom.
“Is the professor in charge?” I copied his motions, waving my arms back and forth in a blocking move.
“Do this.” He punched forward with his fist. “Olivia’s in charge. She and Xander rescued us. Remember, stone shabtis?”
“Really?” I couldn’t stop the comment. Olivia seemed friendly and nice. How did she control a group of male Warriors?
“I’m going to come at you, and I want you to make this move.” Math showed an evasive tactic where he pivoted his body and bent low. “Ready?’
My stomach twisted, waiting for his attack. “Yes.”
Not really. I kept running the moves he’d taught in my head. Block, evade, run. A lot like my life with Aaron.
