Warrior's Prophecy

by Allie Burton

He climbed out of the cot and lumbered toward me. Taking my hand, he led me out of the sleeping quarters and closed the unpainted door. “No. No, it’s okay. Your power over mechanical things must’ve opened the door.”

  Correct answer. Now if I could only find the trumpet.

  “Nice pajamas.” He kissed me on the cheek, distracting me from my purpose. “I wanted to say goodnight to you when I got back. You and Aria were already in her room.”

  He’d wanted to say goodnight. Maybe kiss me goodnight. And I planned to steal from him. Guilt was a dagger in my midsection, sharp and painful. Aaron was a sure thing. He would cure Mom. While if I told Math, he might have to do research or consult his brothers or who knew what else. I didn’t have that kind of time.

  To disguise the pain, I glanced around the main room, trying to see more than I should. “What is this place?”

  He scanned the closed door with the other sleeping Warriors. “I’d planned on giving you a tour soon. This will be the new Warrior Academy.” His bare chest thrust out and the urge to touch him grew stronger. “It’s not done yet.”

  “You live here?” I noted the irony. He lived in a basement like me.

  “Yes.” He pointed down a dark hallway. “There will be bedrooms down the hallway, and a kitchen over there. And over there, a classroom.”

  “Classroom?” Fresh paint assaulted my nose.

  “Remember, besides Olivia, Xander, and Aria, the rest of us were born in different time periods. We have a lot of catching up to do on history and inventions and language.”

  A grin snuck on my face remembering some of the out-of-date sayings Math had used, like groovy. I’d miss that. Miss him once I’d taken the trumpet to Aaron.

  Why did Math have to be down here? Why couldn’t I have snuck in, grabbed the trumpet, and run? Nothing went as planned for me. I might get green lights on the road, but my life was a big, red stop sign.

  For Mom, I needed to finish what I started. I knew the trumpet was in the basement even though I wouldn’t get the trumpet tonight. I had to find a way to get the Warriors and the professor out of the house tomorrow morning. Once Mom was well, I’d convince her to leave the Order and start a new life somewhere far from here. Far from the Order and the Warriors.

  Coming back here wasn’t an option. We’d be too close to Aaron.

  I held out my hand and wandered farther into the main room, trying to focus on the trumpet without being obvious. “This is incredible.”

  “We’re working on upgrades and expansion.”

  Closing my eyes, I swung around trying to find the right direction. The humming grew stronger and my body vibrated. The trumpet was located toward the future classroom.

  “You okay?” The edge in his voice sent a warning.

  I opened my eyes, placed a smile on my face, and advanced close enough to get in his personal space. Freshness and eucalyptus, and a smell uniquely him enveloped me. “You’re wonderful.”

  Not a lie, so it wouldn’t show on my face.

  Leaning into him, I touched my mouth to his. Guilt warred with passion. Need battled desire. Duty fought with want. I swooned, and I stiffened. I kissed, and I coddled. I touched, and I tormented. Tormented myself. I wanted his kiss and I needed to distract.

  His mouth moved, pressing deeper into me. His tongue pried persuading my lips to open. His tongue danced inside.

  Thrills flashed through my body and shivered across my skin. His touch ignited something deep inside. Deeper than the humming of the trumpet. Deeper than my problems. I could forget everything while he touched me because of my love.

  L. O. V. E.

  Each letter punched me in the chest and bruised my heart. Pain radiated outward, causing jolts of shock like newly connected jumper cables. I loved Math. The forever kind of love. Except we wouldn’t last forever.

  We’d only last as long as the night.

  My bruised heart colored purple similar to a permanent tattoo. I’d never forget my love for Math, but Mom needed me. Anguish squeezed inside, screeching through my bloodstream. I kissed harder, tilted closer, tried to get as much love from him as possible. I wrapped my arms around his back, dug my fingers into the short hair on his head, listened for his beating heart.

  A heart connecting with my own.

  He gave my lips a final nip and leaned away from me. “I hate to stop, but you shouldn’t be down here.”

  I swayed backwards. “Oh?”

  “I promised I wouldn’t show you this place until after Tut’s two trumpets were neutralized.”

  “Why?”

  “It will be safer for everyone. You need to get upstairs.”

  Except my mom.

  He put his arm around my shoulders and pointed me toward the stairs. “I mean, I’d love to have you stay but…”

  How I’d love to stay. Stay for the moment. Stay for the night. Stay forever.

  His words cushioned my hurt. He wanted me, too. Yet Mom needed me, needed the trumpet. And I needed Mom. I couldn’t let her die. Not on my watch. I might love Math, but I’d loved Mom my entire life. She needed me. Math didn’t. “No problem.”

  I’d located the approximate location of the trumpet. I’d have to watch the study over the next few hours, make a plan, create a distraction.

  He studied me with an intensity that showed his intelligence and made me squirm as if he read my mind. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes.” No.

  He escorted me out of the closet and study with a firm grip. “I’ve got something I have to do in the morning. I’ll see you later tomorrow.”

  No, he wouldn’t. I had something to do, too. Something that would separate us forever. Knowing this, I kissed him one last time on the lips, savoring his taste and his closeness.

  Melancholy streamed through my veins. My body felt heavy and sluggish. I held back my tears. “Night.”

  Mom’s life would be decided tomorrow, and it was up to me to give her the best possible chance to live. Even if that meant saying goodbye to the guy I loved.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Piper

  The next morning, I paced back and forth in the living room, waiting and watching for the Warriors to leave the house. Fiddling with the hem of my shirt, I folded the fabric over and under, similar to how my stomach flipped. Falcon and Xander had left, talking about buying computer equipment. Three other guys had headed out to who knows where. They seemed to have quests or errands, or other urgent demands.

  Just like I did. Except I had no one with whom to discuss the demands placed on me. No one to talk about options. No one to share my doubts. I was alone.

  Math had been gone before I’d woken up. My heart ached, falling into pieces as if it had been crushed. Crushed by myself. Internally. Not seeing him before I stole from him was probably for the best.

  Pacing back and forth and back and forth, I wondered what would’ve happened if I had more time. If Aaron’s deadline, and Pi Day, wasn’t today and my mom’s life wasn’t on the line. My crushed heart tried to revive and pulse and beat. It was like a never-ending binary code. I knew I couldn’t risk waiting for Math to get home, confessing everything, and then him not having a solution. Even though Math could heal small cuts and bruises, it didn’t mean he could heal whatever ailed my mom. I had to do what Aaron demanded. When I stole the trumpet Math would never forgive me and I’d never see him again.

  My choices sucked. There really wasn’t a choice at all. Aaron had texted me twice again this morning, warning of Mom’s dire circumstances, that this was the day. Even trying to make a deal with him, the trumpet for mine and Mom’s freedom wasn’t an option. I needed Aaron to save Mom.

  “What’s wrong?” Ash came from the kitchen, taking a bite out of a waffle.

  Beside him was Antony. He glowered at me. No friendliness or concern. As if it was my fault they hadn’t retrieved the Uset package.

  “Nothing.” I bit my lip, knowing I probably appeared suspicious pacing the living room. “Do you know where
Math went?” The question would seem normal. Maybe they’d think I was worried about him.

  “Why?” Antony angled his head. He’s the one who said he thought I was good for Math even though I wasn’t.

  “What are you planning?” The distrust in Ash’s tone cut.

  “A surprise party.” I forced sarcasm into my tone.

  “Back off.” Antony pulled on Ash’s shirt. “Every girl isn’t out to sabotage you.”

  So, it wasn’t just me. That made me feel a little bit better. Not that it mattered because all the Warriors would hate me soon enough.

  Antony took a bite of his own waffle. “Math mentioned something about retrieving a jewel.”

  Blood drained from my head and I felt dizzy. I stumbled onto the couch. It couldn’t be what I thought. Math wouldn’t have gone back to the Society’s mansion to search for a jewel that didn’t exist. A lapis lazuli jewel I’d made up as an excuse to work with him. The pounding of my cracked heart formed anguished fissures. Fissures so deep the organ would never heal, never feel whole again. He cared enough about me to search for the jewel, while I planned to stab him in the back.

  “Oh.” The only response I could come up with through my shock.

  “See ya later.” Waving, Antony opened the front door.

  “Ya, later.” Ash didn’t wave. He leered as if I were a criminal.

  I hated that he was right.

  The door banged shut behind them and I jumped.

  Only Aria, Olivia, and the professor were in the upper part of the house. I didn’t know who was in the secret basement. My legs moved through a sludge of guilt crossing to the kitchen. I had a plan to steal the trumpet and now was the time to put it into action. The house would never be completely empty.

  In the kitchen, I searched through the cabinets and pulled out a bottle of oil. With shaking hands, I placed a pan on the stove. I turned the flame to high and poured the oil in the pan. The oil heated and sizzled, scorching the pan and my soul. Tendrils of smoke rose. The smell of the burning oil filled the room.

  Coughing, I poured more oil into the pan. The sizzling grew louder. Gray smoke filled the kitchen. The scent of burning oil stung my nose. I waved the smoke toward the smoke detector on the ceiling.

  Beeeeeeep.

  The loud-pitched alarm shattered the silent house and my already frayed nerves. Nerves on edge with success and failure. With determination and fear.

  I pushed open the kitchen door and let smoke pour into the hallway. “Fire! Fire!”

  Olivia ran out of the study. “What happened?”

  “I was cooking, and the pan caught fire.” I faked a high-pitched panic into my voice. She would discover later it was a trick. For now, I had to make it real.

  Her expression changed to panic. She waved at the smoke with trembling hands. “Get out of the house. I’ll warn everyone else to get out!” She ran back into the office and went right into the closet without even trying to hide the opening.

  Standing at the open door, I didn’t pump my fist. I didn’t feel like celebrating a trick. I knew she was afraid of fire.

  “Fire! Everyone out!” Olivia yelled into the not-so-secret basement. “Get out! Get out! Get out!”

  When I heard their footsteps, I hid behind a high-backed chair between the study and the kitchen. Chest thumping. Palms sweating. I had to make sure everyone left.

  Olivia was first out the study door. Her large eyes gleamed with terror. “Can’t believe this is happening again.”

  Remorse swatted me at how I’d taken advantage of one of her biggest fears. Math had told me about the fire at the warehouse, how she’d gotten trapped inside and Aria had saved her.

  Aria took Olivia’s hand. “It’s okay. Let’s leave.”

  “No one else is down there?” The professor’s gaze slid from the study, past my hiding spot, toward the kitchen.

  “Everyone else has left.”

  “Just Olivia, me, and you.” Aria tugged Olivia toward the front door. “Where’s Piper?”

  “She should be outside already.” Olivia glanced around, searching for the flames.

  The professor closed the study door and followed Aria and Olivia out the front door. “I’ll call 9-1-1 from the cellphone.”

  My dark worries lifted, lightening my body. Everything was going according to plan. Seconds mattered. I only had a minute before they realized I wasn’t outside. They’d probably come looking. Because they were concerned about me or because they didn’t trust me?

  Didn’t matter.

  Rushing into the study, I took a deep breath and placed my palm on the bookshelf-door. I used my powers to open the sliding door, through the closet and its secret access, and rushed down the stairs. Stopping to hold my hand out, I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the trumpet. I didn’t think about Math or let the guilt of my betrayal stop me. I did what I needed to do.

  For Mom.

  The tiny salve didn’t stop my aching. I might be stealing the trumpet to save Mom, but I knew it would help Aaron and the Order. The Order I now believed was guilty of poisoning my mom and was the enemy of Math and his Warriors. I knew they’d never let Mom leave. Once she was saved, I’d have to find a way to sneak us both out.

  The warming of my body signaled I sensed the trumpet’s presence. My veins expanded and flowed. The humming buzzed in my brain. Using my heated hand like a metal detector, I wheeled around slowly, waiting for the noise and the heat to increase.

  It did.

  I stepped in that direction. Followed the tug of the trumpet.

  The classroom I entered had bookshelves partially built and half-filled with history, science, and math textbooks. Tables were stacked against one wall. A newly finished and not-stained closet door was at the far end of the room.

  My senses told me to search in there.

  I opened the closet door and flicked on the light. The closet was filled with boxes and crates. I followed my senses to a cardboard box near the back of the closet.

  When I touched the box, heat flared up my arm. Anticipation tingled. This was it.

  I ripped open the box and recognized the work shirt we’d wrapped the trumpet in. I unwrapped the shirt and touched the trumpet. My hand slid across the silver and music hummed from my palm to my chest. Silver shone and gleamed. The long horn stretched for a yard. Etched hieroglyphics decorated the flared end.

  No time to admire, I had to play. It was the only way to get past the others.

  Raising the trumpet, my arms shook. The silver instrument weighed heavier on my muscles and my conscience. What would happen to me when I played? According to Ash, because of my hereditary kinship I wouldn’t become cursed. Would I become the pied piper? Would people fall asleep around me, and could I manipulate their minds?

  I didn’t want to know. I wouldn’t abuse the trumpet’s powers. I’d play to escape. Nothing more.

  I put the trumpet to my lips and blew.

  The harsh noise hurt my ears. I didn’t know how to play any musical instrument. What made me think I could pick up an ancient trumpet and play? Instead of putting people to sleep, I’d strain their eardrums.

  I blew harder and longer.

  The sound changed. Instead of the harsh screeching, now the tune was a sweet lullaby.

  A lullaby like no other. The instrument was magical. Which was the point. The only way for me to sneak the trumpet out of the professor’s house was to put everyone to sleep with my playing.

  Blowing in short spurts, I marched up the steps. My hands burned from gripping the instrument so tight. I walked through the fake closet and into the professor’s study. The professor lay on the floor, his feet spread wide. He’d come searching for me, probably suspecting my crime.

  Heat swamped me. Wave upon wave making me perspire. Must be the guilt for hurting the nice man. His wrinkled face was relaxed. His chest moved up and down. He wasn’t dead. Just asleep. Most of the smoke had already cleared.

  I stepped over him and played into the kitchen. W
ith one hand, I turned off the stove and dropped the burnt pan in the sink. I didn’t want the professor or anyone else to get injured.

  Playing back into the living room, I saw Aria and Olivia draped over the doorstep. Still in her pajamas, Aria lay more in the house than out. They appeared peaceful in sleep. I wallowed in my waves of contrition. They’d wake up confused and furious. They’d been good hosts, possibly future friends. With my theft, I was cutting any chance of friendship with them, and love with Math, off.

  Moving past them, I left the door open and headed down the front steps. I kept playing. I didn’t want them waking up and chasing me down. How many other folks, neighbors or people strolling by, were affected? I didn’t know, and I didn’t want to know.

  Blame bombarded me, resembling the blasts of a car horn. My ears hurt, and tears burned in my eyes.

  I only stopped playing when I stood by the car I’d parked yesterday.

  Choosing to save my mother over Math and his lofty goals of goodness and light and love froze the blood in my veins and chilled everything inside. No matter what choice I made, I knew I’d end up with a broken heart.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Math

  Math heard footsteps approaching the elaborate bedroom he currently searched in the Society’s mansion. Stilling, he peered around the room looking for a place to hide. The platform bed had no space to hide underneath. Bent metal bars covered the window. The desk opened toward the main section of the room.

  His gaze landed on the closed closet door. Xander had told him about the secret space in the closet after the last time the mansion had been searched.

  The bedroom door’s handle turned.

  Math’s gut turned, too. He dashed to the closet, opened the door only wide enough for him to fit through, and snicked the door closed. He held his breath and crouched under the white robes hanging from the rod.

  He’d searched the grand living room, the study, and other bedrooms of the house looking for the jewel belonging to Piper’s mother. He wanted to please her. To cheer her dour expression. Since returning to the professor’s house, she’d been acting strangely, not that he’d seen her much. She’d said her mom was doing okay, except her voice had cracked and her eyes appeared red from crying.