by Kristie Cook
“Giules is so jealous of us right now,” Raul says once the sauce is on the stove. “She’s having Top Ramen tonight.”
“She loves my lasagna,” Kiah says. “Calls me an honorary Italian.”
Raul steals a taste, ducking when Kiah swats at him. “We invited her over, but apparently she’d promised Jonah he could go surfing.”
I look out the windows into the dark sky. “At night?”
“No one said it’d be here,” Raul winks. “Kellan was tempted to stay, wanting to come see his girl here, but I guess Jonah insisted he come with.”
Kiah looks up sharply from the dish she’s laying noodles in. “You’re dating Kellan Whitecomb?”
Raul cuts himself a piece of mozzarella. “They are disgusting together. You won’t recognize our Kellan. He’s gone soft around her. Even threatened me once, saying I had to keep my hands off Chloe or else.”
“He was just joking,” I mumble.
Kiah’s eyes are wide in surprise. She knows, I realize. She knows it should be Jonah. “I can hardly believe it,” she says carefully, going back to her noodles.
“Me too,” Raul says, elbowing Karl. “Who’d have thought—”
And … Karl comes to my rescue, cutting Raul’s words off. “You should talk, what with your horrible dating track record and all.”
“We can’t all be Connected like you and Moira,” Raul laughs, but a burst of awkwardness explodes in the room. He quickly changes the subject, but I witness a brief, agonizingly uncomfortable glance between Kiah and Karl.
When we’re setting the table, Kiah brushes up against me as she lays down a napkin. “Kellan Whitecomb doesn’t have a doorway.”
I plead with her silently for answers, but she has none to give.
Kiah may not have any answers to give, but Alex does a few days later. His victory yell fills the house as he runs from the office into the living room. “I’VE DONE IT! I’VE FIGURED IT OUT!”
“Whoa,” Karl says, turning off the TV. “What are you talking about?”
Alex doubles over, panting even though it’s a short distance down the hallway. “I know what … who have been attacking our kind.”
“Well?” I demand. “Are you going to tell us or what?”
“Oh, I’m going to tell you, little Cousin. I’m going to tell everyone.” He turns to Karl. “Can we set up a meeting?”
“Between you and Guard brass?” Karl asks. “Sure.”
“No. I want to do it here. If the Guard wants to know, they can come here.”
This so doesn’t fly with Karl. “Excuse me?”
“Well,” Alex says, looking a bit flustered at Karl’s scowl, “I’d rather do a dry run here, maybe with all the Cousins and the parents … and then, if it goes well, I’ll do it for the Guard.”
“How about you just tell me now,” Karl says firmly.
Alex literally puts his foot down. “No. I’m confident in my results, but if it’s all the same, I’d like to …”
“Practice,” I offer. He’s an Intellectual—this is his sort of thing. But he’s young, hasn’t Ascended, and is terrified of looking like a fool in Annar without the backing of acceptance. I get it.
He nods gratefully at me. “Can we do it or not, Karl?”
“Remember,” I say to my Guard friend, “none of us are as seasoned as the rest of you.”
He shakes his head in disgust, but Karl pulls out his phone and calls Annar anyway.
Once word got out amongst the different species that there was going to be a quorum, local representatives began clamoring to come. Caleb explains this to me one night as I’m doing homework. “You’re going to get a ton of Faerie and Gnomes at this shindig. They don’t want to be left out.”
“No pressure on Alex,” I joke, setting my pencil down.
“No kidding,” he laughs. “Kid better have his ducks in a row, know what I mean? But Alex has always been a bit cocky. I just hope this doesn’t come back to bite him on the ass.”
“Meaning?”
“Well, rumor is Karl got his ass majorly chewed out for not forcing Alex for the intel. It took a lot of favors being called in for the Guard to agree to this meeting. And even then, there’ll be a contingent of Guard present—more than just Karl, Giuliana, and Kellan. At least six big guns are coming, including a Hider. They want no chances being taken with this information being disseminated on the Human plane.”
“What do you know about Karl?” I ask, glancing at my shut bedroom door.
“Karl Graystone is one of said big guns,” Caleb tells me. “He’s well liked, very smart, and very influential. It’s widely believed that he’ll be Guard brass sooner rather than later.”
“Seriously? But he’s so young.”
“Think about military units, how there are regular soldiers and then there are special teams? Like Navy SEALS and whatnot? Well, the Guard is sort of like that, too. Everyone in the Guard is good—the best, really. A lot of people believe the Council is made up of the most powerful beings, but really they’re sort of split between the Council and Guard. But the Guard has its elite, and they’re, well, revered, actually, in Annar. Karl is one of those people. And he managed, for you, to pull together a meeting that technically shouldn’t be allowed. Which should tell you that, despite your parents, you’re starting to make the right allies you’ll need to navigate Annar.”
Kiah and Raul return the next day, accompanied by two other Guards. The woman is tall, exotic and clearly Hawaiian. Karl introduces her as Iolani Popolohua, the Volcanic he’d mentioned awhile back. I am in awe of her the moment she comes into my house. She moves with an alluring sense of self-confidence that I desperately wish to possess.
The man is introduced as Kopano Melesi-Yellowbird. He’s a Hider—the Guard’s best, apparently. He’s extremely tall and so dark that his skin nearly matches the black leather coat he’s wearing. He’s to build a shield around the venue we’re using for the quorum.
I am humbled and excited at the same time to be around these Magicals. And unlike my parents, they don’t send me from the room so they can discuss matters. It’s simply assumed I’m part of the group, that as a Creator, and thereby soon a first-tier Council member, my input is just as valid as everyone else’s.
But then, they also feel the same way towards the Whitecombs. A call is placed to Giuliana on speakerphone. “Everyone’s present but you three,” Iolani says to her. “Get your butt over here.”
“I want to,” Giuliana grumbles. “But I am afraid it is not possible.”
“Oh?” Kopano asks. He has a soft, attractive accent. “Why not?”
“It is a long story,” Giules sighs. “Hold on. Let me put you on speakerphone on this side so Kellan and Jonah can hear you, too.”
Kiah gives me a pointed look that makes me squirm on the couch.
Karl gets right down to business. “To review the basics, Alexander Himura, an Intellectual, claims he has determined the identity of the beings involved in the September attacks. These are the same beings suspected of the many attacks and murders on six planes. Scant eyewitness reports we have from survivors corroborate this.”
Iolani flips through a folder on her lap. “This says that he’s refused to tell anyone his findings so far. Why weren’t they taken?”
“This is a very good point,” Giuliana says. “I’d suggested that either Kellan or Jonah compel him, but Zthane asked us to wait due to not wanting to possibly anger certain Magicals.”
Everyone in the room looks at me.
“I wouldn’t have been mad,” I offer weakly once I realize by certain Magicals they mean me.
Raul rolls his eyes. “Himura is typical of most Intellectuals. He’s grandstanding, and Zthane’s humoring him because of his associations. That’s all.”
I lean close to Kiah. “Does this happen often?”
“Politics are a messy business,” she whispers back. “And the Guard doesn’t want to get off on a bad foot with you.”
“The site ch
osen,” Kopano is saying, “is a high-school gymnasium. There are five entrances that will need to monitored.” He looks at me. “Are you able to take care of the doors?”
Somebody finally asks for my help, and what do I do? I manage only a quick squeak of a confirmation.
“There is a field to the west,” Kopano continues, “which has lighting. To the south is a parking lot, the east a courtyard, and to the north another school building. It is not the ideal location to defend, but it should not pose too big of a problem.”
“Recent sightings?” Kellan asks over the phone.
Iolani answers him. “Two over the last week. One in Europe five days ago, and one here in the States two days ago.”
“Location?” Jonah prompts. I feel a burst of pleasure at the sound of his voice, as it’s been too long since he’d put himself into self-imposed exile.
Iolani flips through her notes again. “Colorado.”
“The meeting should be in Annar,” Giuliana says. “I do not like these odds.”
“Agreed,” Kiah says. “But as it’s already decided, we’ll make do with what we have here. Now, we also have to take into consideration that two additional Council members will be here—”
“Oh, shit,” Kellan says suddenly.
“Are you talking about the Old Man?” Jonah asks.
All of the Guard laugh, save me.
“Of course,” Karl says. “Jens went and snitched like a good kiss-ass.”
“Jens?” I whisper to Kiah.
“Jens Belladonna is the head of Guard,” she whispers back.
“Noel Lilywhite will be coming, too. He’s … uh … perturbed that Himura has been using his office,” Karl adds, giving me a sympathetic smile.
“No offense, Chloe,” Raul says, “but sometimes your dad has a giant stick in his ass.”
“None taken,” I say cheerfully.
Karl shoots Raul a warning to shut up. “And, a Storyteller has been requested.”
The entire group, on both sides of the phone, goes silent for a good five seconds. Kopano speaks first. “Storytellers never leave Annar once Ascended.”
Karl scratches his jaw. “This is true.”
I can’t help but ask why.
Kopano tells me, “Well, if a Storyteller was to be captured by a non and interrogated under torture, just imagine the damage that could happen to our kind. Storytellers hold our histories.” He pauses. “All of our histories—from every single species. It’s just safer they never leave Annar. That way, they’re never a risk.”
Iolani looks to her notes and then back at Karl. “Uh … which one is coming?”
“Oliver Crocus,” Karl says, and the silence returns for another five seconds.
“Fuori di testa!” Giules exclaims. “This cannot be.”
Crocus … Crocus … that’s a plant name. So, the Storyteller is an Elf?
“The Council is desperate,” Karl offers. “And since Lilywhite’s—
er, not you, Chloe—your dad’s team can’t seem to figure this out, they’re willing right now to do what it takes to find an answer, including sending Crocus out.”
“Obviously he’ll be guarded,” Kiah muses.
Karl nods. “Zthane will be accompanying him.”
“I thought the team was supposed to be entirely Human, considering the terrain,” Kopano says, surprised.
This pricks my interest. So far, all I know about this Zthane is that he is pretty high ranking in the Guard and one of Karl’s best friends. So, this means he’s a different species? But which one?
“Yes, well, things changed once Crocus agreed to come,” Karl says.
“ETA?” Iolani inquires.
Karl looks at his watch. “The meeting is scheduled for seven tonight, meaning Zthane will be at the site with Crocus five minutes prior. The Storyteller will be present only long enough to hear what’s necessary and answer any questions Himura may have for him.” He rubs at his hair. “Please, gods, let this go smoothly.”
chapter 23
Kopano is already on the gym’s roof when we arrive. Kiah is nice enough to explain to me how a Hider’s shield works. “He’s built an illusion around the gymnasium, something like a replica. He takes a period of time into his memory, so when he projects the shield, it’ll look like it did before. It’s sort of like a movie, playing scenes from the past. He’ll be replaying them in his head, projecting them outwards.”
It’s cool outside already, so I wrap my arms around myself. “Are these the only kinds of shields he can build?”
She laughs. “Not even close. Kopano can manipulate just about anything. Quite handy on missions when people, objects, and places need to be hidden or distorted.” She steers me off to the side of the building. “You should know I asked Giules about Jonah recently, after you and I had our talk. She says you two don’t hang out at all, or—as far as she knows— interact. Am I missing something?”
I sag against the bricks. “So you know Jonah’s my Connection?”
She fingers her multiple earrings. “I’m aware of who has doorways and who doesn’t. And as Connections are always built between people of the same age, and you two are the only ones currently seventeen who had doorways on the Human plane, it wasn’t hard to connect the dots.” She pauses. “Do you love him? Do you feel the Connection?”
I turn and look into the parking lot, where Jonah and Kellan are talking to Raul and Karl. “You said people with Connections can’t fall in love with other people, right?”
She nods.
“Then why am I in love with his brother? How can I be in love with two people at the same time?”
This takes her by surprise. “Are you sure? Because sometimes, people can confuse—”
“I’m not confusing anything.”
She turns to look at the twins as well. “I don’t know, Chloe. I’ve never heard about anything like this before. I don’t think it’s possible. It’s just not how these things work.”
Both the physical and emotional distance between the brothers is starkly apparent, even from a distance. And once again, I am at a loss over what to do. One thing is becoming apparent, though: I need to talk to Jonah, as soon as possible. Not just to attempt to straighten out this mess I’ve managed to get myself in, but because I miss him and want him so much that I can barely think straight anymore.
And … I need to talk to Kellan, too. Tell him the truth, because it no longer seems fair to keep such a huge thing from someone I love. I am terrified over hurting him like I’m hurting his brother, but I know sooner or later, the situation is going to explode unless I get a grip on matters.
Alex had me create a special machine for him earlier in the week. He requested something that would be multifunctional, projecting not only books and maps he can put up without transparencies, but also memories. It’d been tricky to do, but after three tries, I managed to give him exactly what he wanted.
He’s fiddling with the device when Kiah and I finally come into the building, fresh from me sealing shut all the doorways save one. All of the Cousins’ families are present, including my own. My parents are talking to Ewan Whitecomb—my mother gives me a tight smile and a small wave when she notices me.
In addition to all of the families, there are easily thirty Faeries and Gnomes present, including Caleb.
Karl makes his way over to me and Kiah. He rubs at his eyes with the heels of his palms. “There’s been a black shape shifter sighting roughly a hundred miles north of here.”
Kiah’s body tenses. “When?”
“Three hours ago.”
“Son of a bitch,” she swears under her breath. “We should cancel this, now.”
“I agree,” he murmurs. “But the brass says no. They think we have enough Guard here to outweigh the risk.”
Her eyes rove around the gym. “Your opinion?”
“I don’t like it. But Zthane and Crocus are three minutes out. Getting another meeting time is impossible.”
She grimaces. “Do the
others know?”
He crosses his arms and nods. “Zthane, Raul, Kopano, and Kellan will stay outside. You, me, Giules, Iolani, and Jonah will stay inside. The directives are clear. Chloe is still our number-one priority; Oliver Crocus is next. Then Ewan Whitecomb and Noel Lilywhite.”
“What about everyone else?” I ask, looking around the room.
A guilty flush steals up his neck. “Those are the only orders, Chloe.”
“What about Jonah?” I ask hotly. “And Kellan? I thought they were also under orders of protection. Jonah’s going to be on the Council, too—”
“Of course Karl meant to say their names,” Kiah says, giving Karl a pointed look. “He forgot because they work with us so often, it’s naturally assumed.”
As if on cue, Jonah enters the gym with Iolani. They’re talking quietly to each other, heads far too close together for my comfort. My eyes must bug out or something, because Kiah says soothingly, while rubbing a hand up and down my arm, “She’s just a flirt, and an old friend. You have nothing to worry about there.”
Karl looks over at Jonah and Iolani and then back at me and Kiah. With all of the chaotic plans going on lately, he and I haven’t gotten to finish our talk. I can tell he wants to say something, but at this moment, Giuliana comes in with a very old, distinguished Elf.
“Ah,” Kiah says. “Crocus has arrived.”
Oliver Crocus is wearing a dark suit, a long black trench coat, a wide-brimmed hat, and uses a walking cane. His hair is nearly black and long to his shoulders, but his goatee is pewter gray. He is regal and elegant, and obviously, from the murmur going throughout the room, very well respected.
“Well, well,” he says to Karl when he makes his way over to where we’re standing. “This must be the Creator I’ve been hearing so much about.” He turns to me and holds out a smooth, alabaster hand; when I place mine in his, he lifts it up and kisses it lightly. “You are just as charming as I imagined, Chloe Lilywhite.” He’s got serious charisma leaking from every pore. I find myself blushing furiously. “How delightful,” he says, reaching out to pat my cheek. Then to Karl, “I’m afraid we must begin straight away. Nightstorm is not allowing me more than an hour.” Then he extends his arm to Kiah, and she leads him over to Alex, leaving me alone with Karl.
