by Sandra Elsa
It was my turn to be smug. This was my territory. "No. You can't. No one man holds the power to alter the existing legal system. It would really be impressive for the NewsNet to carry a story about how the president was shot and killed while trying to restrain his daughter-in-law. Because frankly if I have one iota of trouble leaving here, you'll be first in the line-of-fire, and not a single one of your spells will do you any good." I stopped ranting long enough to look him over closely. "Nor will that vest you're wearing. I assume you were at least smart enough to choose a real bullet-proof vest and not some flimsy piece of spell-work, but I hit what I aim for, and since I'd probably end up dead too, the first round would be right between your eyes."
He smiled, then turned to the horrified waitress and said, "I don't believe my daughter-in-law wishes to have dessert."
Nan and Jallahan wore bemused expressions. They chose to accept the offer of dessert, Harrison declined. When the waitress left, Jordan Drover turned to his son and said, "If I don't see you a year from now, I will find you. I believe your lovely wife would do exactly as she threatened. I hope she'll believe me, when I say, there is nowhere in the world you can hide forever."
“Threatening her won’t help your cause," Harrison said. "In a year, I might be able to convince her not every mage is evil incarnate, but if you insist on making yourself appear so, I don’t know if I can make any promises.”
“Let me reiterate. You have one year to return…or be brought back. Now, since she obviously intends to leave while we eat dessert, you may as well go now.”
He got a point for figuring that one out.
Harrison withdrew his hand from between my legs and stood, making his way around the table to his mother. He leaned over and kissed her. “Take care of yourself, Mom. And I meant what I said about what my talent is showing me.”
She kissed his cheek. “The two of you take care of each other. Learn from her. Hold onto her. Perhaps temper her just a bit. Though her style does seem well in hand and effective. And I believe your talent was right, on both counts.”
Jallahan shared a grin with her, then looked over at me.
I turned to his seat and lay my hand on his "I'm glad we had some time before other distractions arrived."
"We'll see each other again, unless, God forbid, something happens to the two of you. I'm confident of that now."
"We'll see each other in the next couple days, unless his majesty wishes to rescind his gift, I'd like you to take it and check it over. Make sure nothing's altered or added."
He turned to President Drover, "What's it going to be, Jordan?"
"It's theirs, if she'll have it."
Harrison's grin was worth accepting the gift. He wanted it. No doubt about that. I nodded my head. "I'll message you where and when to bring it once you've had a chance to look it over."
"I'll do it first thing in the morning."
I half stood from the chair and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Thanks, Dad."
He kissed my forehead. "Take care of my girl, Harrison." I sank back in my seat.
"She doesn't need me," Harrison said.
I grinned at him. "But I do, Lover Boy."
Nan laughed, "Sounds a lot different than the last time I heard her call you that."
Harrison winked at her. "Some changes are for the best." He put his arm around me and I stood, leanng on him as I hopped around the table. He stopped to face his father. "Thank you for the gift."
"I'm sorry she finds me so untrustworthy. Maybe it's my contrariness, but I like her. A woman who says what she means and means what she says. Refreshing."
I snorted. "And if you believe that--back at you."
"So you're saying you don't say what you mean?"
"Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. Depends who I'm talking to."
"So you wouldn't shoot me?"
"Oh I meant that; one hundred percent. But you never know. If I always say what I mean, it doesn't keep you on your toes."
President Drover had an expression I didn't care for at all. The smugness returned. "I have one more question before you go."
"I'm done with your questions. Do I have to walk out of here, Harrison?"
Harrison turned to go.
"The woman who helped you the other day...She's a mage--"
I turned back toward him and laughed. "Maybe she is. Maybe she isn't. I certainly hope you don't intend to invite her to District Seven so you can knock her up."
His face burned crimson.
"Take my advice. Leave her alone. District Seven couldn't handle her, and she wouldn't stay long."
"The law is the law."
I chuckled. "A smart man would know when to leave well-enough alone. But you go right ahead; I rather think she'd enjoy herself." I hopped to the waiting area, reclaimed the wheelchair and Harrison wheeled me out.
There were two more members of the watch in the parking lot. A security detail stood near Jallahan’s bug and two more near a black painted Hummer. I suspected there were probably more, not so obvious. "Where are we going?" Harrison asked.
I pointed to the trolley stop. "Let's go catch a tri-D. We compromise the car, we compromise the ident we plan to use once we get out of here." A man joined us at the stop. He wore jeans and a t-shirt, his hair was longer than an average trooper's so I decided he'd either been hired from outside the watch, or he was an undercover investigator. Had to give them credit. If I wasn't so alert I probably wouldn't have given him a second glance.
We waited five minutes for the trolley to approach. As it pulled up to the stop, I stood up from the wheelchair. Harrison stepped around and held a hand out for me to balance on. I leaned over and kissed him, pulling him closer until his body melded with mine. "I've wanted to do this all night. We need a motel room. Two weeks ago, I'd have spent the night at the range to calm down. I think there may be a better way now."
"I'm game."
"I certainly hope so." I grabbed his ass with both hands as the trolley ground to a halt. Harrison didn't give it a second glance. I opened my eyes and caught a glimpse of the other man dithering by the door of the trolley. He glanced back at us and noticed me watching him. Jaw set, he mounted the step of the red car in front of him.
As soon as the trolley pulled away, Harrison asked, "Are we waiting for the next one?"
"I don't know, I think this might be a more pleasant way to pass the time than a tri-D and there's a motel only two blocks away."
He pressed his hips firmly into mine. "Who knew you were a nympho under all those weapons and attitude?"
I grinned at him. "You never tell me no."
"Do I look like a fool. Sit, m'lady."
I gave him directions to the motel and we made love before I sent him back to retrieve the car using illusion to disguise himself. While he was gone I messaged Dee to let her know they may come looking for her. She sent back pretty much what I expected.
**Bring it on.
I sent one more to tell her about Jerry's recovery. She responded instantly
**Cool.
#
Harrison returned to report he'd had no trouble and after I quizzed him on how many watch members were still there and he told me there were four, plus our friend from the trolley, I believed he'd been alert enough to know if he'd been noticed.
Now all we had to do was get out the gate in the morning.
Chapter 36
In the parking lot, before he started the car, Harrison said, "What you did last night, when all the mage lights in the restaurant went out...My father was right about one thing; that was an education. If you can expand the field, can you pull it back within yourself?"
"I'm not sure what you mean?"
"When we ran into those mages on the road you told me I couldn't hide us with illusion as long as you were in the car. Back then I wasn't brave enough to question you about it. But if we're going to get out of here undetected, I need to be able to hide us. I need to understand how the null field expands and contracts."
/> "I don't know. If I stay someplace more than a night, it becomes mine. The car might belong to Daniel Bromer, but it's mine. Your father was also correct last night when he said I protect what's mine. I guess all my life I've always known the best way to protect what's mine from the enemy was to make them unable to affect it."
"The enemy being me and mine?"
"Not specifically, but yes."
"Do you trust me now?"
"As much as I'm able to trust anybody."
He leaned over and kissed me. "I love you. I would never let anything happen to you as long as it's within my power to prevent. Do you believe that?"
I had to think about it. It was such a strange idea to believe somebody else would risk anything for me. But I nodded. "I do."
"Can you trust me to protect the car?"
"I don't know. I don't control it."
"I didn't ask if you control it. I asked if you trust me to protect us and the car."
My hesitation was longer this time. Finally I said, "Yes."
"Then I want you to get in the back of the car, as far away from me as you can, cover up with a blanket and concentrate on that trust."
I did as he asked; wedging myself amongst the items we'd already packed. It seemed forever I sat in the darkness of the blanket. He never even started the car. I knew what the problem was. I couldn't give over my protection into the hands of a mage. I'd said I trusted him. Had I lied? I didn't think so. Not intentionally. How could I want him to do the things we did together and not trust him? I took myself back to the first night we'd made love. Recalled every touch. Every feeling he'd aroused in me.
I felt his magic expand, wash over me. It almost brought me back from that other place I'd taken myself to. But I fought my fear of magic and moments later the car started. It seemed no time until he was slowing down for the gate. I knew we were through when he flipped the recycler on. I remained where I was, confident he would stop when we were clear. The car bumped along and I decided he had pulled off the road. When he stopped, his door flew open. I sat up and watched him spin away from the car and vomit.
I dug around myself and found some bottles of water we'd packed, then climbed over the seat and out the back door. I pulled his hair away from his face. It was soaked with sweat, as was his shirt. When he straightened, I handed him the bottle of water and he rinsed his mouth out then wrapped his arms around me.
I pulled back and looked at his pallid face. "Are you all right?"
"I will be. I've never worked that hard at anything, and it was nothing but illusion. Nearly gave it up when it clicked, and then you rose up and almost stole it back."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I do know one thing for sure. There's not a mage alive who can have any effect on you if you're not a willing participant."
"I had to take myself out of it altogether. Forget where I was, what we were trying to do. I finally settled on another time and place altogether."
"Remember where and when, in case we ever need to do anything like that again."
I grinned at him. "Easy. District Fifty-five. Our bedroom, the night we got married."
He straightened up, swished another mouthful of water and spat it on the ground, watching it sink into the sand, leaving no evidence of its ever having been there.
"Do you reckon there're places we'll be able to plant?" I asked.
"We'll make it happen. If we have to spend a year hauling compost from whatever dome is closest to where we decide to settle. We'll make it happen." He tossed the bottle of water on the back seat and kissed me. "So do you want to make love out here or on the back seat? Because I am so turned on right now, I don't think I can drive unless you take care of this problem for me."
I turned my head away from his and lifted the bottle of water to my own mouth. "Puking on the side of the road turns you on?"
"Knowing my wife trusts me enough to allow me control over our environment turns me on."
I smiled and dodged as he tried to kiss me again. “Promise you won’t kiss me again until you have a mint.” But I picked up the blanket I’d been hiding under and carried it around the far side of the car. We made love amidst the crystal remnants of a forest.
#
Back in the car, I waited until we were near District Twenty-two before placing a call to my father. He assured me he'd examined the matter projector and found nothing altered. One short-term tracking spell had been attached but he'd turned that off. He agreed to meet us outside District Forty.
It was no big surprise when Nan accompanied him. They apologized for leading him to us the previous night.
"He doesn't believe the two of you intend to return in a year," Nan said.
"I never thought he was stupid," Harrison told her.
My father reached out and gently clasped my hand, examining the ring on it. "He noticed this. It's lovely, but he's sure there's meaning to it."
"Like Harrison said; Not a stupid man."
"He's right then? You plan to steal the world from him?"
"He can keep what he has. We plan to create our own world."
Mage Jallahan smiled. "Considering last week I didn't know I could survive outside the domes without a rebreather. I guess I'd have to put some thought into whether or not it could be done."
"Father's already put the thought into it." Harrison said. "I doubt it will all happen as he believes, but I know enough to start. First things first. We need to enrich some soil and soften the ground with gentle rain. Plant some grass and vegetables. I'll need access to a lab. Though I suspect it'll be a couple of years before we can feed any large animals."
"Sounds to me like you could use some extra hands."
Harrison frowned. "Maybe next year. This first year is mostly to see if it's feasible. And if we get anything to grow; the trick is going to be surviving the storms."
"Well I hope when you think you're ready for help you'll remember me."
"And me," Nan said. "I've wanted out of there since I was forced to register. Tried to leave several times. I can't see magic, so I couldn't tell what he watched me with, but he damn sure tracked me down every single time. Told me I was welcome to leave, but I'd have to leave my son. I suppose it could be my fault he found us last evening."
I closed my eyes and looked at her. Her magic was a pale gleaming blue. I twirled my finger and she spun around. Barely discernible between her shoulder blades, the gleam of the blue dimmed. I reached out and prodded at the magic lodged there. It responded with a darker tone. Without hesitation I nixed it.
She stretched a hand back, trying to scratch the place it had been.
Jallahan reached over and rubbed it. "That was well done, daughter. I couldn't find it."
Harrison's arms wrapped around me. "You know how she described my magical aura from the first, before I even told her what I could do? Thunderstorm. She sees the power of the black as well as the violet. Not even Jerry can see that. In fact I've only once before been told I was anything other than violet. And she claims she's not a natural."
"I'm not. Not like Jerry, he doesn't have to search, he just looks and sees colors."
"That doesn't mean he sees better," my father said. "He's more apt to notice if something's off, but he didn't see that shard that tagged Nan."
"And I've seen him at least once a week since he was born," Nan said. "Annabel is one of the few women who associated with me when I first arrived here."
I leaned back against Harrison. "So how is he your cousin?"
"Annabel is my father's sister."
"And your father threatened his life?"
"You have to understand," Nan said, "Seven is completely different than the rest of the world. Without his magic, he's worthless as far as many are concerned, Jordan Drover being the leader of the pack. I prayed for my child to be born without talent. Like so many other prayers, it went unanswered when he burst forth from my womb cocooned in brilliant violet. I thought if he were untalented they'd let me go."
"The
y would have," I said. "Mother used to tell me about how just before she found herself pregnant, her friend, Ellen was returned with an untalented child."
Nan looked thoughtful for a minute. "I remember her. Wondered what happened to her. She was a minimal talent herself."
Mage Jallahan looked distressed. "Dear god, I didn't know they didn't care for the untalented. I have so much to atone for. I guess I deserved the agony of my life."
"You were coerced by magic," I said. "And when you were forced to the realization that a life in District Seven wasn't every woman's dream, you found the strength to stand up to him. And all this diverts from my question, how can Jordan Drover want his sister's child dead?"
"I answered your question," Nan said. "Jordan used Jerry just like he uses everybody who crosses his path. Jerry not only got himself trapped and drained of any useful talent. In Jordan's mind, getting Harrison snared was treasonous. And treason is punishable by death. One of those laws left over from when there weren't enough humans left for the species to survive a civil war."
"And if he had his talent again, and we could prove he had nothing to do with Harrison's situation, would he be welcomed back into the fold."
"Most likely. But I don't see how either are likely to happen, and I doubt he'll want to return."
"We've given father something to think about, as far as the siphons were concerned," Harrison said. "Frankie was in the middle of all that. She saw enough pieces to realize that the responsibility for myself and Jerry both being targets of whoever pulled their strings, could most accurately be laid at Father's feet. He's pissed off enough people, somebody's out to get him starting with his family."
Mage Jallahan's head whipped around to Nan. "Good thing you never acknowledged him as anything more than a thorn in your side."
"But we should warn Annabel and Jeffrey," Nan said.
"I don't think either of them are in any danger. They might be family, but the entire district knows how they feel about their brother, the president. In fact I'm not sure I'd rule Jeffrey out of the pool of possible suspects." Jallahan said.
Nan shook her head. "Jeffrey would never hurt Annabel's child,"
