She laughed. “Not Nick Massler, if that’s what you’re thinking. No, poor Nick, always the victim of circumstance. Will it make you feel better if I tell you he had nothing to do with Helene’s murder?”
I didn’t answer, and Emma shook her head. “The good congressman here didn’t know anything about it, either, but his guilt over Alyse made him an easy target. Not a leap to make you think he’d set up his buddy for a second time.”
“Was it you?” I couldn’t imagine it—couldn’t fathom Emma slaughtering poor Helene—but apparently I’d been way off base this entire time,
She met my eyes squarely. “I wasn’t in the room. My DNA isn’t there. But weak minds are incredibly powerful weapons.”
“Who did you use?”
Emma waved it away, a detail that didn’t matter. “No one you know. He’s out of the picture, so to speak.”
On the bench, Congressman Remington grunted and moved one hand in Emma’s direction.
“Ah-ah-ah.” She narrowed her eyes at him, and his arm flopped back to his side. “Well, Tasmyn, time’s up. John here has a date with the sidewalk, but you’re the one who’s going to take the fall.”
My heart pounding, I edged toward the steps. “You can’t manipulate me, Emma. I know how to block you.”
“You can try. And yes, you’ve been harder than the others, but I’ve gotten a few suggestions in now and then. Things you were predisposed to believe anyway. But I don’t need to manipulate you today. It’s going to be sad, especially for your boyfriend. Because you’re in the middle of a love triangle with Nick Massler and Congressman Remington. He’s going to kill you in—what do they call it? a fit of passion? And then the guilt will make him jump.”
“And you think Nick is going to back this up?” The world was spinning, but my voice sounded oddly strong.
“The Nick angle is being handled right now. You don’t have to worry about him.” Emma stood. “Tasmyn, I know about what happened with you and Nell Massler, so I’m sure you think someone is going to come blazing in to rescue you. But I’m not crazy, and I’m not acting alone. This is far bigger plan that even I understand. You’re just a little part of it, a tiny piece. What happens to you doesn’t matter.”
I raised one eyebrow. “That’s where you’re so wrong, Emma. And you might know what happened with Nell, but that was a long time ago. I’ve learned a trick or two since then.”
Without moving, I opened the floodgates on the surge of emotions that were just below the surface. The power poured into me, and I tingled from head to toe. I moved one finger—just the smallest gesture—and a gust of wind nearly knocked Emma off her feet.
She grabbed for the bench, but before she could recover, I focused on the ground around her. A ring of flames burst up as she screamed.
I was oddly detached, watching her dance within the fire. Remington leaped off the bench and ran toward me.
“We’ve got to get out of here, get downstairs, call for help--” He was babbling, grabbing me by the shoulders. I shook him off and cocked my head toward the steps.
“Get down there. Here.” I dug my cell phone out of my pocket and tossed it to him. “There’s a Cathryn Whitmore in my contacts. Call her, tell her we need help here. Do it now. Go.” Even as I kept up the fire around Emma, I gave the congressman a mental push that had him stumbling onto the landing and down the stairs.
As he disappeared, I turned my full attention back to Emma, who was glaring at me even as she hugged herself to keep out of the fire. I felt the power from her mind, trying to reach mine, but with a laugh, I batted it away.
“Emma, you have no idea what you’re dealing with.” I lowered the fire just enough that she could hear me without giving her room to move. “There’s no way you can win now. John’s calling for backup, but truthfully, I don’t need anyone else. I can take care of myself...” I shot a flame closer to her, threatening her face. “And I can take care of you, too.”
The power was bubbling now, set free for the first time in months. It was intoxicating, coloring everything around me. I could end this all now, get rid of Emma once and for all. No loose ends.
And as quickly as the thought ran through my head, I heard something else. A quiet but firm voice, full of love and understanding even as it stilled my hand.
This is the choice.
I almost thought it was Nell, and I glanced around. But it wasn’t...not really. It reminded me of Marly, but again, not quite.
I was tingling again, but this time the wave that engulfed me was so purely love that tears filled my eyes. Impressions flitted across my mind; I saw Zoe, Aline, Caroline Brooks.
I pulled the power back, and it was as effortless to rein it in as it had been to release it. As the fire lowered into a smolder ring, I called into the earth, into the potential of those tiny seeds. Vines sprang up and tangled around Emma’s arms and legs.
She struggled, but the plants didn’t yield. The magicks were strong and positive.
“Emma, I don’t want to hurt you, but if you keep trying to get into my mind, I’ll knock you out.”
“I’ll handle that for you, Tasmyn.”
Ben Ryan stepped from the other side of the garden. Emma immediately stopped moving, as her eyes trailed the man approaching us.
“Ben.” She breathed his name, half in relief and half in trepidation. “She could do things. I didn’t know.”
He stood next to her, not speaking. For several beats, none of us moved. And then Ben flicked his hand in Emma’s direction. She sagged, her head drooping. Only the vines kept her from hitting the ground. Instead, she hung there, a grotesque puppet, eyes wide and staring.
“What did you do?” My breath was gone, and the peace I’d known vanished into terror.
“I knocked her out, just as you suggested.” Ben smiled, but there was no joy, nothing but pure, chilling evil.
“Ben, how...?” My voice trailed into silence.
“Tasmyn, let’s not waste time. You’re not in the minor leagues any more. I’m not a little girl playing with powers or a crazy woman obsessed with you.”
I couldn’t look away from him. “You forgot the crazy minister who wanted to drown the sin out of me.”
“Ah.” Ben perched on the edge of the highest raised bed. “No, I didn’t forget. That was a different ballgame. You never gave that little episode its proper importance in your life. But we won’t go into that now.”
“Whatever this is, whatever you’ve done, it’s over. John’s calling for help, and I think you can see I’m more than capable of defending myself.”
“Of course you are. I’m not fighting you. And no one is coming, at least not right now. We’re going to chat.”
“I don’t want to talk with you. I want to leave.”
“Sorry, not up for debate. This is your moment, Tasmyn. Your time to make a decision.”
I cast one more longing glance toward the steps. I thought I might make it there without Ben catching me, but after what he’d done to Emma, I didn’t think him catching me was my biggest problem.
“What decision?”
“Which way are you going to go? What will you choose?”
“You’re a little late. I settled that question last year after I almost killed Amber.”
“That wasn’t a choice. That was desperation. You were afraid.”
“Yes, I was. I was terrified. And it let me see clearly.”
“A decision made in fear is no true choice.”
I snorted. “And you’re here in what capacity? Are you a witch? What’s your angle? Are you the one holding Emma’s strings?’ I winced as I saw her still lifeless body.
Ben tilted his head as though in acknowledgement of his accomplishments. “I made some suggestions. I recruited Emma. Set things in motion. But no, I’m not a witch. I’m just an interested party, let’s say.”
I couldn’t get a handle on his mind. As always, it was whirl of confusion, with images and words that didn’t make sense.
; “This isn’t going to be a tough one, Ben. I choose good. I choose light. Decision made. Discussion over.”
“Do you really?” Ben raised a hand, and Emma was upright, gasping, eyes wide as she pulled against her vine bindings.
“Ben--” she moaned. “What did you do?”
“Shh.” Ben raised a finger to his lips and Emma’s mouth snapped shut.
“What are you doing?” I cried, the horror of her mind and her face pouring over me.
“I told you. Decision time. Make the choice. Fight me, embrace that power, and Emma just might walk out of here. Otherwise she goes back to the etherland.”
“Tasmyn! Don’t let him hurt me—please--” Her anguish sliced me, and I didn’t know what to do.
I grasped for that peace I’d felt, that assurance. It was lost in the confusion of Ben’s mind.
“It’s time. Just you and me, Tasmyn. Choose.”
I opened my mouth, not sure what words would emerge. And then it was there again. The love, the peace, the light. My parents. My grandmother. Anne, Amber, Marly, Luke, Lela. The Brookes, even Rafe. And Michael. His steady shining belief and faith warmed every part of my body and soul.
“I’m sorry, Emma. I choose the good.”
Ben’s face twisted, contorted into the most terrifying mask of rage I’d ever seen. Emma screamed, her body thrashing. A wall of fire shot up, and the heat forced me backward. I used my own power to summon water from the sources at the edge of the roof, but by the time its gushing had extinguished the flames, there was almost nothing left of the garden.
Ben and Emma were gone.
“Gone?” Aline sat back in her chair, her mouth slightly agape. “Just...gone?”
I nodded. “I went right downstairs...it was pandemonium in the offices. The congressman had sounded the alarm, but no one remembered seeing Emma go up. By the time he convinced them that I was in danger, the door to the steps was locked, and no one could find the key.”
“Ben?”
“Yes, I’m pretty sure.” I was quiet for a moment. “But they didn’t find any trace of either of them up there.”
“What do you think...” Aline hesitated. “What was Ben? Who was he?”
I shrugged. “I’ve thought and thought. He knew things. Stuff Emma couldn’t have fed him.” I shot Aline an apologetic smile. “I was kind of hoping you could tell me who he was.”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I don’t really have any answers for you. I guess I’ll fall back on my old standby: how do you feel about everything?”
I considered. “I feel...good. I mean, overall, I do. I think I helped here. Congressman Remington and Nick Massler are still alive, and neither are suspects in Helene’s murder anymore. Both the congressman and I were witnesses to Emma admitting that she had arranged for her to be killed.”
Aline pursed her lips. “Definitely good, then. What about the senate race?”
“Neither of them is running. Remington is retiring after he finishes this term, and Nick told me that he’s sticking to the philanthropy. For now, at least. Too much potential scandal for both of them, I think.”
“Even though Ben had masterminded the whole plot?”
“Well, the congressman might not have been the guilty party, but his campaign manager and right hand man was. I guess it throws doubt on his judgment.”
Aline sighed, dropping her notebook on the table and stretching. “So Tasmyn, where does that leave you? Ready for your next assignment with Carruthers?”
I shook my head. “No. I’ve decided—well, Michael and I decided—that I’ve had enough for a while. I want to concentrate on my schoolwork. I want to plan for the future.” I smiled. The future was bright and shiny, and at times it took my breath away.
“Are you sorry you worked for them at all?”
“Not a bit. What Zoe taught me and the other things I learned made it all worthwhile. And I’m leaving on good terms. Cathryn and Harley have agreed that I can work on a consultancy basis from time to time, if there’s a case that could use my talents. The good thing is that I trust them now.” I grinned. “Well, I mostly trust them. I did ask that they consider not hiring any more manipulators. Neither of them will admit it, but I’m fairly certain Emma used her power to have me put on the Massler case.”
Aline nodded. “What’s next then?”
I smiled as the peace and love tingled through me again. “The rest of my life.”
I parked the Mustang at my dorm after I left Aline, grabbed a few things from my room and then walked over to Michael’s suite. As I crossed the green in the dwindling light, I was not at all surprised to see Seth sitting beneath a tree, legs crossed and face up to what was left of the sun.
I made my way over to him and stood, careful not to block the light.
“Hey, Tasmyn,” he said without opening his eyes.
I laughed. “How do you do that?”
He smiled. “We all have our gifts.”
I dropped next to him, and he turned to look at me. “How are you, Tasmyn?”
I sensed that he was looking for more than a small-talk answer. “I’m good, Seth. Actually, I’m better than good.”
He nodded. “You made it through. You prevailed. You should feel wonderful.”
I cocked my head. Aline was a stickler about patient confidentiality, and I had only just left her. I didn’t see her calling Seth as I walked out the door.
“How do you know?”
Seth raised one shoulder. “ ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’ ”
I laughed. “Touché.” We sat for a few moments before he spoke again.
“What they said, Tasmyn...some of it was true and some of it was not. That’s the thing about the darkness. It can twist truth to its own purpose. It was your time to make a decision, and you can rest assured, if you don’t know it already, that Emma’s fate was sealed regardless of your choice.”
I nodded. “I thought so. I realized, standing there with Ben, that I’ve justified so many things in my life by thinking I was helping others. And sometimes I was. But it was clear at that point that I couldn’t do it anymore. I have to make the right choice, as far as I can see it, and trust that in the big picture, it’s all going to come out all right.”
Seth grinned and squeezed my hand. “By Jove, I think she’s got it.” He had so much joy in his eyes that I couldn’t help but grin in return.
“And speaking of the big picture, that was the biggest lie they told you. Emma said that you were a little piece that didn’t matter. Untrue. We all play a part in the larger story, Tasmyn, and no matter how small you might think your part is, it’s vital. Each choice, each action, has consequences far beyond our own understanding. Never forget that.”
I gazed across the green, as a shiver ran down my spine. I had the uncanny sense that this too was a pivotal moment in my life, something I would never forget.
“Seth, who are you?” I turned to face him.
He smiled broadly again. “I’m your friend, Tasmyn. I’ve always been your friend, and I always will be. Do you need more information than that?”
I thought about it for a minute and then shook my head. “No. I guess I don’t. I want to know, but I don’t need it in order to believe you. To trust you.”
Seth nodded. “Someday, maybe, we’ll chat about this again. But for now, a little faith never hurt anyone.”
I rose to my feet. “Michael is going to think I’ve gotten lost. I better go before he calls out the cavalry.”
Seth stood, too, and handed me my backpack. I felt a quivering in the back of my throat, almost as though I were about to cry.
“I know this sounds ridiculous, Seth, but I feel like I should be asking you if I’m ever going to see you again.”
He laughed, and several people sitting near us turned to look. I noticed that they all smiled, too.
“Of course you will, Tasmyn. After all, I have a job here.” He winked at me. “But our paths m
ight not cross that often. You have a very bright future ahead of you. Enjoy it.”
He patted my shoulder and loped off across the green. I watched him go until he disappeared over the rise that led to the chapel.
Michael was waiting on a bench outside his dormitory.
“Hey, beautiful! I was getting worried. Everything okay?”
I thought about Aline’s words and the benediction that Seth had just laid upon me. I smiled as I tiptoed up to kiss his lips.
“Everything’s wonderful.”
Michael wrapped me in his arms and then turned me around. “Look at that sky. Isn’t it gorgeous? I was sitting here thinking about how many sunsets we’ve watched together. Remember that first one at the lake? The first time I kissed you?”
I nodded, my head rubbing against Michael’s shoulder. “How could I ever forget? But I’d rather think about all the sunsets we’re going to share. For the rest of our lives.” I craned my head to look up into his eyes, and Michael lowered his lips to mine again.
“Want to take a little walk before dinner?” he asked. “Enjoy the last bit of light?”
I took his hand. “I’ll always walk into the sunset with you.”
“Always and forever?” Michael asked, pulling against him again.
“And far, far beyond.
It had been a long night, and I was exhausted.
We usually took turns getting up in the middle of the night with the baby, but when Michael had to work the next day, I tried to cover more shifts. He had to be at the nursery by 4 AM, and I knew I had the luxury of napping when she napped.
The sun was just peeking over the top of the drawn curtains in my bedroom when I sank into bed. She was quiet, finally, and I let the glory of sleep slip over me.
I was nearly under when I heard her crying. Again.
Moaning, I dragged myself from the bed and down the hallway to her nursery. Limbs flailing, she was screaming at top pitch. I picked her up without much thought and dropped into the rocking chair.
But she wouldn’t settle. As my sleep-deprived frustration grew, she only wailed more loudly.
King Series Box Set Page 94
