“Good, the feeling is mutual.” Daniel chuckled and held my hands.
A pop of energy shot down my spine and Luke emerged from the alley. He stopped mid-step, not expecting to see Daniel and I so close.
“My ride is here.” I sighed and let go of Daniel’s hands. “This was so fun, thank you. Let’s do it again soon, ok?”
Daniel nodded. “Anytime.”
Luke furrowed his brow as I walked to him, no doubt noticing how red my eyes were. “You ok?” He asked.
I nodded. “Perfect.”
“Ready to go?” He held out his hand.
I looked one last time at Daniel, who waved at me. “Yeah,” I said and grabbed Luke’s hand. “Let’s go back to the academy.” Where I could build up my skills enough to take down the Rogues who stalked me at night and make sure that my friends and family would be safe from harm. The psychic world was no place for them. It was my job to protect them. It was time for me to go back to where I belonged.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
The late summer air was cooler than I would have liked. I stood outside waiting for the professor who would be taking me out of my first field mission. Ryland and Luke got to go out on their own; I hoped that soon enough I would be trusted to do the same.
"Doubt that," A voice said behind me.
I felt the twinge in my head that meant someone had been reading my mind. I whirled around to face a middle-aged woman with chestnut brown hair streaked with auburn. She was tall and thin, with bright blue eyes that stood out like glittering gems. She had a heart-shaped face and full lips.
"Sorry to read without consent like that," She said with a smile. "I wasn't actually trying, I swear. Thoughts are very loud to me." She held out a hand. "I'm professor McTavish." She had the slightest hint of an Irish accent, she'd probably moved to America when she was a kid.
I shook her hand, putting up mental blocks to avoid her getting into my head again. "Bianca," I said. "Nice to meet you. Are you?"
"Yes, I'll be taking you out for your mission. I don't believe we've had a class before have we?"
I shook my head.
"I teach the advanced practical classes," Professor McTavish said. "You can call me Siobhan, I don't like formalities in the real world."
Her warm smile drew me in. She was beautiful and friendly and those attributes probably only enhanced her abilities to read minds. I'd bet that people naturally opened up to her.
"Are any other students joining us?" I asked.
"No, we're one-on-one," Siobhan said. "You are a very exceptional student, after all."
That was probably code for "the Major is worried about me getting someone else hurt." I shrugged off the negativity and put my hands on my hips. My new field uniform made me feel powerful: black utility pants, boots, and a t-shirt that clung to me like a second-skin. The material was thickly woven yet as light as air. I adjusted my tight ponytail.
Siobhan handed me a teleportation tracker.
"Here, put this on just in case we lose each other," She said.
I was not planning on getting separated. I slipped the tracker onto my belt loop and set my shoulders. "Alright, let's get going,"
The setting sun was casting long shadows and tinting the sky purple and pink. It was always preferred to train off campus at night, where the public was less likely to see us.
"You're eager. I like it." Professor McTavish grinned and held out her hand.
I knew the drill, grasping her hand tightly.
There was a jolt of energy and we were teleported in an instant. Now that I had teleported with a few different people, I had begun to realize the difference between the psychic signatures. Each one felt slightly different. Siobhan felt powerful and firm.
We appeared in an alley downtown. Police sirens wailed in the distance and the smell of restaurant garbage hit me full force. That stench combined with the motion sickness of teleporting was not a good mix. I leaned against a wall to calm myself.
"Lovely place, isn't it?" Siobhan laughed. "No worries, this should be an easy night for you."
"What did you have planned?" I asked, holding my hand over my nose.
Professor McTavish gestured for me to follow her. She spoke as we walked. "The psychic world is very complex, but the government keeps a tight hold on everything in order to keep the secret under wraps," She explained. "Psychics with passive powers like telepathy or premonition often end up quieter jobs than those with telekinetic or teleportation powers. Either way, most of us work in law enforcement or for the government, where our powers are best put to use."
"There must be some people who work in the private sector?" I asked.
"There are," Siobhan agreed. "But hiring those with psychic skills comes at a high premium. Very few private companies are even aware of our existence. There are obvious reasons why we need to be secretive."
I nodded, remembering how much I freaked out when I was told I was a psychic, and I had powers to prove it. I felt my mental blocks waning when she smiled at me and I increased my defenses, as Ryland had taught me. Keeping the mental blocks up was exhausting, but anything was better than the feeling of having someone in my mind.
"So, what's the objective for tonight?" I asked after a long stretch of silence with nothing but the sound of our boots on the pavement to fill the void.
"I'm sure you've heard the rumors of the disappearing psychic children," Siobhan dropped her voice and glanced at me.
I nodded. "Yes, it's all over campus now."
Siobhan rolled her eyes and laughed. "We can't keep anything from you guys, can we? Sometimes I'm amazed that the entire world doesn't know our secret." She shrugged. "Tonight we're just going to be on the lookout for Rogues."
"Isn't that the FBI's job?" I asked.
"Yes, but we have what the FBI doesn't. Young psychics to use as bait."
I was taken aback. "Excuse me?"
"Ok, bait is not really the right word. But the powers that be have instructed us to wander areas where Rogue activity is high in the hopes of someone confronting us. Then we call for backup."
So I was bait, after all. Great. Way to make a girl feel useful.
"Before I was a professor, I worked with a division of the FBI, so don't worry, you're in good hands." She added.
We walked in silence for another block. We were heading straight into one of the rougher parts of downtown. The windows were barred and the lights were dim. It practically screamed crime and gang wars. I flinched at every random noise.
"Your suburbia is showing," Professor McTavish chuckled.
I laughed to hide my embarrassment.
Suddenly, someone turned out of the alley and stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. She was dressed in black with her long blond hair pulled into a high ponytail.
"Agent Thompson?" I gasped, stopping mid-step. She looked exactly like I remembered: Serious, cold, and chic in that corporate-bad-bitch kind of way.
The woman smirked. "Ah, little Bianca, we meet again. How are your parents doing?"
I gritted my teeth. "Don't talk about them," I hissed. "It's because of you that I can't have a normal conversation with them. They're so brainwashed it's pathetic."
"I do what I have to do to keep our kind secret," Agent Thompson replied. "It's my job."
"You keep using that line and I'm going to stop believing it." I spat.
Professor McTavish stepped between us. "What's going on? You know her?"
Agent Thompson's eyes lit up. "Well if it isn't Siobhan. How's civilian life serving you?" She sneered.
I looked back and forth between the two women.
"I heard you vanished." Siobhan didn't answer her question. Her hands were visibly shaking.
"What would you care?" Agent Thompson snapped. "It's not like you've seen me since you turned your back on the FBI."
"I didn't turn my back on anyone!" Siobhan shouted.
Agent Thompson held up her hand. "Please, let's not get into this in front of the child." She g
estured to me. "Grown up matters will have to wait. You're not why I'm here, Siobhan."
I glared at her. "What do you want with me?" If it was a fight she wanted, I'd happily give it to her after what she did to my parents and tried to do to Daniel. This woman was just a little too keen on brainwashing people for my liking. I flexed my fingers, feeling my psychic energy building up.
"I've come to collect you, my dear. You've evaded capture too many times. The others aren't as powerful as you. You're the one my master needs." Agent Thompson grinned.
I braced myself. "You traitor!" I shouted. "You've gone Rogue!"
Agent Thompson clapped sarcastically. "And you're a smart girl. I'd give you a cookie if I had one."
Professor McTavish reached for her phone.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Agent Thompson said. She locked eyes with her and the energy around them pulsed.
Siobhan slowly let the cell phone fall from her hand. She stared back silently, her eyes were blank and cold.
"Stop that!" I shrieked.
Siobhan crumpled to the ground and lay still.
"What did you do to her?" I screamed.
"Oh, she'll be fine." Agent Thompson said with a shake of her head. "I wanted some privacy. I'm sure you've realized by now that I can be very persuasive." She grinned. "Now, come with me."
I felt her psychic energy surge towards me and forced my mental blocks as high as they would go. I could not let her enter my mind. If I did, who knew what she might brainwash me into doing. "Fuck off!" I screamed. I used my energy to latch onto a discarded soda can and threw it at her.
Our connection was cut off as she dodged. "You've improved since I saw you last. Excellent work, Bianca. My master will be most pleased with your progress."
"I'm not going anywhere with you." I spat.
Agent Thompson snickered. "I'm sorry my dear, but you don't have a choice in the matter."
Remembering Ryland's advice, I looked down, following her movements with only my peripheral vision. Most telepathic people had to use eye contact to get what they wanted. If I could fight her without looking at her directly, I'd have a chance.
I heard footsteps approaching fast. "Stop where you are!" An authoritative voice boomed. "Put your hands up where I can see them." A cop. I was saved.
Agent Thompson swore under her breath. "Now is not the time for this," She said to the officer.
"Don't look her in the eye!" I shouted, praying they'd take my advice.
"Hands where I can see them!" The cop shouted again.
I raised my hands. Agent Thompson was backing away now. If she escaped, we might lose our only lead on these Rogues. I couldn't let that happen. I twitched my fingers and pulled my tracker from my belt loop. With my energy, I latched the tracker onto the back of her jacket. It was small enough that she might not notice it until it was too late. She would run back to wherever she was hiding and then we might have a chance at stopping these Rogues. But, for my plan to work she needed to escape.
"Tell your master that I'll never come quietly!" I shouted, using my mind to push her backwards into the alley.
The cop and his partner ran into the scene, their guns drawn. One tackled me to the ground and shouted something into his radio.
The other came back from the alley empty handed. "She got away," He said. "Just gone. Like she disappeared."
Professor McTavish groaned as she regained consciousness. She startled, bolting upright with two guns in her face. "Whoa, officers," She said and held up her hands. "Code Silver."
The officers lowered their weapons. "Let's see your ID."
Siobhan presented an identification card.
"That checks out," The taller officer said. He gestured for the his partner to let me go.
I struggled to my feet. My cheek was burning where it hit the pavement.
"We weren't notified of psychic training in this area today," The other cop said. He shoved his gun into the holster and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Apologies," Siobhan said. She went to my side and put a hand on my shoulder. "The academy has been investigating along side the FBI, so it was a need to know basis."
"Need to know basis," The cop spoke over her. "Figures." He shook his head and gestured down the alley. "Your little friend got away."
"Shit," Siobhan sighed. "I let her get into my head. Are you ok, Bianca?" She asked.
"Been better." I wiped the blood from my cheek.
The cops retreated back to their cruiser and left without another word.
"Aren't they going to investigate this?" I muttered.
"Out of their jurisdiction, I'd imagine. Other public servants let us psychics deal with our own problems more times than not. " Siobhan explained. "Honestly, it's for the best. Could you imagine what might happen in a psychic versus rookie cop showdown? I'd rather not." She shuddered.
I nodded and wiped my hands on my pants. They were scratched and bloody, too. "It doesn't matter, because I know where she's headed."
"What? How?" Professor McTavish asked in disbelief.
I pointed to my belt loop where the tracker used to be. "Easy as pie. Now all we need to do is track her."
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
"I am both impressed and terrified, Miss Bianca," Ms. Blackwell said.
Siobhan and I teleported straight back to the academy and woke the Major and Ms. Blackwell. The Major was still dressed in his pajamas with a burgundy house coat thrown over top. Ms. Blackwell was never seen looking less than perfect, so she had changed for the occasion, heels and all.
The resident IT guy was typing away like a madman on the computer. His office was dark and not meant for the crowd of us who had squeezed in. He seemed mildly annoyed at this late night tracking session interrupting his gaming time. A Nintendo console was still on, paused mid-battle.
"Are you sure it was her?" The Major asked.
Siobhan nodded. "Of course it was. I just can't believe one of our own would do this. I went to the academy with her. We went through basic training together. Started with the FBI the same day." Her voice cracked.
So that was how they knew each other. I realized how devastating it would have been for Professor McTavish. The emotional hurt would have weakened her mind enough to make manipulation as easy as opening a door.
The Major's face was like stone. "Another Rogue who knows our secrets." He muttered.
"At least Bianca's quick thinking will help us track her," Ms. Blackwell said and beamed at me.
"Got it," The IT guy said. A large monitor showed a map of Detroit, with about half a dozen dots blinking in random areas, indicating wherever a teleporter was.
"Great." Siobhan leaned over the desk. "Her tracking code was B4048-A." She rattled off the number.
The IT guy typed it into the search and punched the enter button with an unnecessary flourish. He leaned back in his ergonomic chair while the computer screen flashed. The map zoomed into an industrial area a few miles west of the academy.
"It's still moving," Siobhan said.
Everyone else leaned in to watch the little yellow dot on the screen. It vanished and reappeared on a small island in the river.
"What?" Siobhan exclaimed. "Thompson can't teleport."
"Apparently someone who can teleport was helping her." The Major said. "That island is a natural reserve for plants and animals. Why would they be going there?" He touched the screen. The yellow dot was steady and unmoving.
The IT guy wiped the screen with a cloth and went back to typing furiously.
"Alright, good job everyone." The Major wrote the coordinates on a slip of paper. "I'm going to notify the FBI at once. Everyone else, you can go to bed."
I groaned as I forced myself from the chair. My head was throbbing and my body was begging for a long hot shower.
I said goodbye to the professors and made my way to the dorms. My bed was calling my name and I couldn't wait to sleep. It was all I could do to drag myself to the washrooms to shower before retur
ning to my room.
Just as I was opening my door, I heard footsteps. I looked up and saw Ryland. He was dressed in loose sweatpants and a white t-shirt. His hair was damp and tousled. "Ryland, what are you doing up?"
"Late night gym sesh, you know how it is." He shrugged. "Plus I couldn't sleep. I was wondering how your first night in the field went." He glanced at my cheek, noticing the graze from the pavement. "What happened?"
I almost replied before shutting my mouth with a snap. "Why don't you come into my room? We shouldn't talk about it here."
Ryland grinned mischievously and took a seat on my bed while I combed my damp hair. He looked utterly delicious in casual clothes, leaning back against a pile of pillows.
I told him what happened as best as I could remember, from the moment we left to the moment we got back. He sat there with his eyes wide, taking it all in silently. I found myself strangely calm as I recounted the evening.
I finished applying my face cream and turned off the light, leaving the room with a shadowy glow from the moon shining through the window. "At least I thought to use the tracker. The FBI will be notified of their location and that's that. Now we can finally stop worrying about the Rogues."
Ryland inched over so I could lay down beside him. He brought the blankets up to my chest and cradled me in one arm. "I wish that were true, Bianca."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Even if they catch those Rogues, more will take their place. There's enough psychic people out there that disagree with the government to keep the sentiment going." He explained. "I've been part of this world since I was born and I can't remember a time that someone wasn't trying to shake things up."
"That's not very reassuring," I said as I nestled into the crook of his arm. I struggled to keep my eyes open.
"Don't worry about it tonight. I'm sure everything will work out." Ryland kissed my forehead and held me until I fell asleep.
#
The next day passed in a suspiciously normal fashion. Breakfast, classes, and training all went on as usual. It wasn't until after training that Ms. Blackwell motioned for me to stay back and speak to her.
Psychic Lies: An Urban Fantasy Academy Romance (Psychic Academy Book 2) Page 15
