The Necropolis

by PJ Hoover

  But even though she slammed up a huge mind block, he felt confusion seeping through.

  “It’s Josh, isn’t it?” Benjamin asked. Why did Josh have to get between Benjamin and Heidi at a moment like this?

  “No,” Heidi said. “It has nothing to do with Josh. It’s just that you and I are friends and that’s all.”

  Benjamin’s mouth fell open. How could Heidi say that? She was lying—to him and to herself. He tried to look at her, but she wouldn’t meet his eye.

  “Anyway, we got what we needed,” she said, “so let’s go. The others are waiting.”

  Benjamin didn’t know what to say. If anyone had asked him right now about Heidi, he would’ve sworn they were more than friends. But apparently, she wouldn’t have. All because of an inconvenient boyfriend. His blood began to boil as he thought about it, but he decided not to say anything else. They’d have time to talk more about it later.

  Without another word, Benjamin followed Heidi out of the room.

  CHAPTER 9

  Selene Breaks the Rules

  “Did it work?” Iva asked when they came back into the classroom.

  Benjamin didn’t know how to respond. On one hand, he felt much better. His head wasn’t missing any memories, and he no longer felt like an automaton. On the other hand, what had happened with Heidi made his head hurt in a whole new way. The missing memories probably would have been better.

  Heidi nodded, but Benjamin noticed she shivered a little, too. “We got more than we bargained for.”

  Benjamin was pretty sure she was referring to the ghost memories and not their kiss.

  Though Heidi still wouldn’t look him in the eye, between the two of them, they managed to get out the whole story of what had happened. And it must have been an unspoken agreement, because Benjamin didn’t bring up the kiss and neither did Heidi. But at least when Heidi told about Benjamin saving her life, she actually looked at him and smiled. That was encouraging.

  “How can we see this picture you got from the ghost?” Andy asked.

  “I guess I could draw it,” Benjamin said.

  “There’s a better way,” Gary said.

  “Good,” Andy said. “Because Benjamin sucks at art.”

  “I’m not that bad,” Benjamin said.

  “You said the image actually got teleported into your mind by the ghost,” Gary said.

  Benjamin nodded. “That’s what it felt like.”

  “So you should be able to teleport it out whole,” Gary said. “Most probably what happened is that someone teleported something into the ghost’s protoplasmic mind, and he, in turn, teleported it into yours.”

  Gary was right. Aside from the fact that Gary was always right, it made perfect sense. Without giving it another thought, Benjamin grabbed hold of the picture from his mind and teleported it. It materialized on the circular table in front of them. Benjamin reached down for the scroll and unrolled it. He pinned it open on the table so they could all see it.

  The image was the same one he’d seen during the mind meld. It almost looked like a map, but the symbols and markings looked like mumbo jumbo. Wordlessly, he looked to Gary and raised an eyebrow.

  Gary wrinkled his face and studied the map. “No, I don’t recognize these symbols. Aurora might have some ideas. I’ll hook up with her later today, and we’ll see what we can find out.”

  Benjamin walked back to his dorm room hoping to sort out the jumble of thoughts running around in his head, but no sooner was he inside, the telecom buzzed. He flipped the telekinetic switch, and the mirror came to life.

  “Benji!” The image of Derrick filled the mirror, looking every bit of his seven-year-old self.

  “I wanna talk to Benjamin.” Douglas ran over and shoved his twin out of the way.

  “But I got here first,” Derrick said. “That’s not fair.”

  “Mommy says we’re from a different world,” Douglas said. “Is that true?”

  Benjamin looked at his mom in the background who nodded her head. “I guess you could say that,” Benjamin replied.

  “I haven’t seen any aliens yet.” Derrick pushed his way back into the picture. “I thought there were aliens on other worlds.”

  “You’re actually the alien,” Benjamin said.

  Derrick smiled. “Really?”

  “Why can’t I be the alien?” Douglas said.

  Within minutes Benjamin had them both convinced that they were, in fact, extraterrestrials. His baby sister Becca giggled in the background the whole time until she finally ended the telecom call by telekinetically flinging her red telephone rattle at the screen.

  But no sooner had the screen gone blank that it started buzzing again. It must just be his mom calling him back. So when Benjamin flipped the switch and saw Selene Deimos’ face waiting there, his jaw dropped a good five inches.

  But she apparently wasn’t up for social pleasantries.

  “Can you teleport to the Ruling Chamber?” She glanced over her shoulder as she said it.

  Benjamin raised an eyebrow. “Uh, sure. When?”

  The smallest of smiles flickered onto her face. “Now. I’ll meet you there.” And her image vanished.

  Benjamin stared at his reflection in the mirror, waiting for her to come back on and tell him the rest of the joke. Or explain where Helios was. Or why he needed to meet her at the Ruling Hall. But the only thing he saw was himself staring back, and after almost a minute of that, he turned around and looked at the empty room. Andy and Gary weren’t back yet. Who knew when they would be? So without giving himself any more time to think about his imminent secret meeting with Selene Deimos, he teleported away.

  Selene was alone when Benjamin teleported into the ruling chamber. She stood a couple steps down from of one of the twin thrones, and walked over to him as soon as he got there.

  “Where’s Helios?” Benjamin glanced around in case Helios was hiding in a corner.

  Selene shrugged. “I think he went to Japan.”

  And it was only once she shrugged that Benjamin noticed what was sitting on her shoulder.

  “You!”

  The girl Nogical jumped over to Selene’s other shoulder. “That’s right. Lulu, in case you forgot again.”

  Talk about attitude. “I didn’t forget,” Benjamin said.

  Lulu smirked. “Yeah, sure. And tell Jack I’m not time traveling for him anymore. Next time you need something from the past, get it yourself.”

  Benjamin scowled. It’s not like he’d asked for her help. “I wasn’t supposed to touch it.”

  Lulu smacked her forehead with her hand. “It wouldn’t have killed you. Helios is so serious. Talk about sucking the fun out of everything.”

  “What’s a life-force disk do anyway?” Benjamin asked. When he’d traveled into the past last summer, he’d retrieved some kind of golden disk, but Helios had almost gone ballistic, making Benjamin promise not to touch it. Not that he’d had much of a chance. He’d only had the disk for a couple of weeks before he’d had to bargain with it for his life with Achilles.

  Selene raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”

  “Helios wouldn’t tell me,” Benjamin said. “All he said was don’t touch it.”

  Selene turned her head to look at Lulu. “You didn’t tell him either?”

  Lulu shook her head, making her orange hair fly from side to side. “Are you kidding? Helios threatened to exile me if I did. But somebody should. You know, those things aren’t as rare as everyone seems to think.”

  Selene flicked her hands in a dismissive gesture. “Helios seems to think it’s not a good idea.”

  Lulu teleported up onto a throne and bounced on the cushion. “And Helios doesn’t seem to be around right now, does he?”

  Selene laughed but didn’t volunteer any more information. Benjamin stared at her until she smiled and met his eyes.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” she said.

  Benjamin laughed. “That’s because you’re one of the most powerful telege
ns on Earth.”

  “True. But I’m not even reading your mind.”

  Benjamin crossed his arms. “What am I thinking then?”

  “You wonder if Helios and I ever disagree.” She smiled. “Right?”

  Benjamin tried to keep himself from smiling. “Okay, fine. So do you?”

  Selene walked up to the thrones where Lulu sat and motioned for Benjamin to sit on the already occupied throne.

  Benjamin stared at the Nogical who rolled her eyes, sighed, and moved onto the arm rest. He sat down next to Selene.

  “You have two twin brothers, don’t you?” Selene asked.

  Benjamin’s mind immediately flew to Cory and his other missing brother, but Selene shook her head. “No, I’m not talking about the triplets. I’m talking about your brothers you grew up with.”

  Benjamin smiled. “Derrick and Douglas.”

  Selene nodded. “Do they ever argue?”

  Benjamin looked at Selene and then burst out laughing. “Are you kidding? Their middle names should be ‘Bicker.’”

  Selene put her arm down on the arm rest, and Lulu levitated on top of it. “So why should it be any different for Helios and me?”

  Benjamin twisted up his mouth. “Because you two rule Lemuria.”

  Selene looked at him. “And your point is…?”

  Benjamin thought of Derrick and Douglas. The only time they ever agreed was when they played tricks on either him or Becca. “I have no idea what my point is.”

  Selene put her hand out and a glass of water appeared in front of it. She reached for it, took a long sip, and them set it down. “Are you curious why I called you here?”

  Curious didn’t really even begin to describe it. “Yeah, kind of,” Benjamin said.

  Selene took a deep breath. “I thought you might want to talk to Cory.”

  Benjamin felt his mouth form a perfect O.

  “You might catch a bug that way,” Lulu said, and made to throw something at his open mouth.

  He shut it.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Selene said.

  Benjamin nodded. “Yes.”

  “Good,” Selene said. And without another word she teleported out of the room.

  Benjamin stared at where she’d been. Lulu still levitated there, watching him. He opened his mouth, but she beat him to it. “Tell my baby brother I’m not his little errand girl.” And then she teleported away also.

  Benjamin only had to wait a second for something to happen. And that something was Cory teleporting into the room.

  Benjamin jumped off the throne. “Cory!”

  “Hey, little brother.” Cory gave Benjamin a hug.

  “Little brother.” Benjamin laughed. “Technically, I’m your older brother.”

  Cory looked down at himself and then looked at Benjamin. “It doesn’t look that way to me. Although you have grown in the last few months.”

  Benjamin smiled. Not only had he grown taller, he’d also put on more muscle, and even started to shave. Without thinking about it, he felt his chin and smiled. Finally stubble.

  “So you’ve been alive for longer, but that doesn’t change anything,” Benjamin said. “I’m still the older one.”

  “Whatever you say.” Cory smiled and sat down on the larger of the two thrones. “So funny enough the guy I’m working with knows you.”

  “Joey Duncan.” Benjamin remembered thinking Joey had been involved when Cory was taken away.

  Cory nodded. “Did you know he and Selene Deimos are pretty serious?”

  “Serious? Like dating?”

  Cory laughed. “Yeah. Like dating. She’s been hanging around so much, if it weren’t for that Nogical I’d feel like a total third wheel.”

  Benjamin sat down in the opposite throne, the one Lulu had been bouncing on only minutes before. “You don’t mean Lulu, do you?”

  “Yeah, Lulu,” Cory said. “For as annoying as she can be, she does lighten up things while we wait.”

  “Wait for what?” Benjamin asked.

  Cory shrugged. “It’s hard to say. According to Helios, quite a few events need to fall into place before we can make our move.”

  “What move?” Benjamin asked.

  Cory sighed. “I can’t tell you.”

  “Sure you can,” Benjamin persisted. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

  “I wish I could, Benjamin. I really do,” Cory said. “But the mission we’re on is so important, we can’t take any risk of it being compromised. I think Helios would flail Selene if he knew she’d arranged this meeting.”

  “Will everything be okay?” Benjamin asked.

  “We’re not in immediate danger,” Cory said. “Though I have the feeling that in the weeks to come, that may change.”

  “Just be careful, okay?”

  “Yeah, okay, little brother,” Cory said, messing up Benjamin’s hair. “So any luck finding our other brother?”

  Benjamin shook his head. “No, but I found out more about a half-brother of ours.” And then Benjamin told him as much of what had happened as he could—about Nathan and his oracle’s foretelling and thereafter murder, and his killing spree.

  “Nathan Nyx is trying to kill us?” Cory said.

  Benjamin nodded.

  “And we’re actually related to him?” Cory asked.

  Benjamin nodded again. “Through our father. Caelus. But he can’t kill us yet. Caelus needs us for something.”

  “Just because the oracle did her job, he killed her.” Cory shook his head. “But that reminds me—”

  “What?” Benjamin asked.

  “About Delphi,” Cory said. “Remember how I told you I’d visited it years ago and had a foretelling, but that I couldn’t remember anything?”

  Benjamin nodded. Cory had told him about it last summer.

  “Well, it unraveled,” Cory said.

  “Into what?” Benjamin felt his heart start to race. Maybe, just maybe, something Cory had remembered could help in his quest for their missing brother.

  “The oracle talked about family,” Cory said. “She said someone in our family will betray us. Someone in our immediate family.”

  “Someone besides Nathan?” Benjamin said.

  Cory nodded. “I’d guess so. I don’t consider him close. We need to consider the real possibility that our other brother is with Caelus or Gaea right now.”

  “In Atlantis?” Benjamin asked.

  “Yeah, in Atlantis. And you wouldn’t believe the state of things here either.”

  “What!” Benjamin asked. “What did you just say?”

  Cory covered his mouth with his hand, but it was too late.

  “You’re in Atlantis,” Benjamin stated.

  “Shhhh....” Cory looked around. “Okay, you’re right. But you can’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t,” Benjamin said. “I told you I won’t.”

  Cory looked straight into his eyes. “I believe you. And I trust you. We can trust each other and we can trust our friends.”

  Benjamin sighed at the mention of friends.

  “What?” Cory asked.

  Benjamin sighed again. “I’m struggling a bit on the friendship thing this year.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” Cory said. “Your friends would stick by you through anything.”

  “Maybe,” Benjamin said. “But it seems like I’ve done nothing but fight with them so far.”

  “I’m sure it’s not as bad as you make it sound,” Cory said.

  “It is,” Benjamin sighed. “Iva and Andy are dating and horrible to be around. And Gary’s helpful, but why does he have to be right all the time?”

  “And Heidi?” Cory asked. “What about her?”

  Benjamin had intentionally left out Heidi. He didn’t want to talk about her. Not now. Come to think of it, not ever.

  “You’re not telling me something,” Cory said. “I’m not stupid you know.”

  “It’s just she has this dumb boyfriend and won’t talk to me,” Benjamin said
. And then he let it all out. He told Cory about the mind meld, he told him about the kiss. And aside from being completely embarrassed at having said everything, it actually felt pretty good to get it off his chest.

  Once Benjamin finished talking, Cory smiled. “Sounds to me like you and Heidi have a few things left to talk about.”

  “If she’ll ever talk to me again,” Benjamin said. “I hate to admit it, but I think I may actually like Heidi more than a friend.”

  Cory laughed. “You don’t say?”

  Benjamin felt himself flush. He only hoped it hadn’t been so obvious to everyone else.

  “So can we see each other again?” Benjamin asked.

  Cory shrugged. “It’s up to Selene. And Lulu. They’re the ones who got me here.”

  “Perfect.” Benjamin’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “In case she hasn’t told you, Lulu’s not a servant.”

  Cory smiled. “Yeah. She’s told me, only about a hundred times.”

  “But still ask,” Benjamin said.

  “Yeah, I will.” And they said goodbye, and Cory teleported from the room.

  CHAPTER 10

  A Fun Day of Cryptography

  Benjamin woke Saturday morning and sat up in bed. Snores came from Andy in the bunk below him, but Gary’s bed was empty. Empty that is except for Jack, who perched on the pillow.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Jack said.

  “Is it?” Benjamin asked, throwing a pillow toward the Nogical. “I saw your annoying sister last night.”

  Jack easily diverted the flying pillow. “Lulu? Please tell me you didn’t.”

  Benjamin nodded and managed to get up out of bed. “She didn’t tell you?”

  Jack smacked his forehead with his hand and levitated over to the mirror, turned on the water, and splashed water on his face. “So did she have lots of nice things to say?”

  Benjamin frowned. “She told me to tell you she’s not your little errand girl.”

  Jack let out a laugh. “Yeah, well next time you see her, you tell her if she’s got issues with holding down a job not to come running to me.”