by Settle Myer
“Like I said, we are going into hiding.”
Chapter 3
I stare out of the window in the black Audi's back seat that picked us up from Harlem Hospital. I count the buildings as we drive down Lenox Avenue in an attempt to calm my overwhelmed mind. It doesn’t work because every single detail since coming face to face with that mugger keeps replaying on a huge projector in the back of my mind. Did I go from a nobody, with no aspirations and a boring life of work and school to a lost daughter destined to take over an entire world? This isn’t real. It can’t be real. Time to get some answers.
“So, am I from some parallel world? Wouldn’t that mean there is another me here on Earth? I thought parallel worlds meant every decision I make on Earth, parallel world Trinity would do the exact opposite,” I ask, trying to make sense of this new life being thrown at me. I’ve seen enough science fiction movies to know how alternate universes work.
“Angor is more of an extension of Earth. We are parallel in lands, medicines, and technologies. Plus, we are humans, but because of the virtues, better. Super-humans, if you will.”
“Are we superheroes?” My eyes light up at the thought of putting on a suit like Wonder Woman. I did Wonder Woman cosplay once at a Comic-Con, and so many guys, even girls, took their pictures with me. It was a great boost in confidence. Which is strange since I usually hate the attention. I guess putting on the costume turned me into a different person. Or, perhaps, I was always meant to be a hero.
Julian shakes his head. “We’re not superheroes. And we never can be. Not here on Earth.”
I glance over to him. He’s sitting close enough I can feel heat radiating off his body. He smells amazing, too. I inhale hints of citrus and jasmine, and it lights my cheeks on fire.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he interrupts.
Embarrassed by my ogling, I look back out the window. “I’m just hungry, that’s all.”
“What do you want to eat? We can pick it up on the way to the safe house.”
I notice we’re just a few blocks from Donnie’s. Maybe Shiloh is working. I have so much to tell him. What time is it? I search for my phone, forgetting Julian took it away from me. I grab for Julian’s watch instead.
“What are you doing?” he yells, trying to pull his wrist away. But thanks to my Royal virtue, I am stronger. His face reddens, and I can’t ignore the electricity shooting throughout my body just from the touch of his skin.
“I want to see the time since somebody took my phone away.”
“I’ll buy you a watch. Phones are too risky for you to have right now,” Julian says in his serious and commanding tone.
It’s nearing five, so that means Shiloh will definitely be working. “There’s a pizza place coming up,” I say and lean to the front to talk to our driver Falon, a military-built man in a black t-shirt and jeans sporting a blonde buzz cut. “Just pull over here, sir.”
Falon obliges. I unbuckle my seatbelt and reach for the door handle. Julian stops me.
“Oh no, you’re staying here. It’s not safe.”
Oh really, pretty boy? I focus on Julian’s forehead, and a rush of energy from my toes and fingertips courses through my veins. I transmit the idea that it is safe for me to go inside. How am I doing this? I wasn’t sure, but it’s happening.
“Well, are you getting out, or are we going to stare at each other all day?” Julian says.
It worked! I smile ear to ear and step out of the Audi. A military man stands there waiting, and Julian jogs to catch up. It’s a busy Friday evening. We dodge people packing the crowded sidewalk as they head home for the day. Others enjoy the beautiful late Spring day shopping or dining outside at a restaurant patio. Part of me yearns for that normality. Not that I had an extravagant life before I was ambushed with these virtues. I didn’t. A perfect Friday night to me meant hanging out with my only two friends and re-watching Star Wars for the millionth time.
“Hey! You hijacked my mind!” Julian says, now at my side. He tugs at my hand to stop me right before we walk into Donnie’s. “Trinity, you must not do that. I need you to trust me if I’m going to protect you. And that means not using your Royal virtues on me.”
“It was an accident. One minute I’m thinking, ‘Donnie’s is a safe place,’ and then bam! I’m controlling your mind!” I flutter my eyes and maintain my innocence. Julian purses his lips, clearly not buying my lie. I don’t give him time to respond or take me back to the car. Instead, I turn on my heel and rush through the door.
“Mi querido!” Shiloh yells, dropping the delivery bag in his hand to run towards me. “Are you okay? You didn’t show up for your shift, and we tried calling your cell phone and your parents.” He scoops me up into a tight hug.
I hear Julian grunt behind me.
Shiloh releases me and puffs out his chest, pulling me to his side. “Who’s this?” He asks, pointing with his chin.
“That’s Julian, but never mind him. Shiloh, I had the most insane night. It’s a long story—"
“In which we have no time to tell. We’re just here to pick up a pie, and we’ll be on our way,” Julian interrupts.
“Julian! Back off, would you?” I use my emerging virtues and pack an invisible punch into Julian’s shoulder. He grinds his teeth and grabs the spot I aimed for. I’m getting good at this. But sadly, Julian was right. “Sorry, Shiloh. I guess we are in a hurry. Do you have any pies ready to go?”
A wave of fury washes over me, paralyzing me momentarily as I become light-headed and start gasping for air. It’s coming from my long-time friend. I take a step towards Shiloh to find out what’s wrong, but the rage is too intense. I fall to the ground, Julian instantly there to pick me up.
“Trinity, what’s wrong?”
I open my mouth to tell Julian that Shiloh’s anger is overtaking me. That’s when I notice my friend holding the largest machete I’d ever seen above his head, ready to slice and dice my guardian.
“Julian! Watch out!”
Julian jumps out of the way just in time, tucking me against his body as we roll like an armadillo across the disgusting pizza shop floor. We crash into the wall, but that doesn’t stop Julian. He leaps up and shields me behind him.
Tears fall down my cheeks, wrecked with betrayal. “Shiloh, I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry, Trinity, but I have orders,” he barks and takes on an orthodox stance I’d only seen him do during one of his UFC fights. Two young men, both busboys I had worked several shifts with over the past two years, jump to Shiloh’s side. Shiloh’s machete now just inches from Julian’s face. “Hand her over, guard.”
“I don’t think so, rebel! Falon, quick, get Trinity out of here!” Julian yells to our driver.
I hear Julian spit out a strange language as the military man whisks me away. He tosses me into the backseat, shouting at me to buckle up. Within seconds, Julian is beside me, and we are back into the Audi, squealing down Lenox Avenue again.
“What did you say to Shiloh and the other men?” I ask as soon as we’re a few blocks away and my heart is no longer trying to rip a hole in my chest.
“I altered their minds to make them believe they’re not allowed to leave the pizza shop for at least a couple hours. That will give us enough time to get to the safe house.”
“You called him rebel. That’s impossible. He’s my friend. I’ve known him for two years.”
“Shiloh likely didn’t know you were the lost daughter. If he did, then he was defying orders to bring you back to Hyde, the rebel leader.”
“Who is this Hyde, and what does he want with me?”
“He wants your father’s throne, and he’ll do anything to get it. Including killing you.”
I let out a shaky breath and choke back tears. “Julian, I’m scared.”
He turns in the seat to face me and cradles my face in his palms. My skin ignites. “Trinity, I will not let anything happen to you. You have my word.” His eyes dart down to my lips, and I unwittingly run my
tongue across them. Julian flutters his eyelids and drops his hands as if just awakening from a love spell I had put on him. He quickly slides back against the door, as far away from me as possible.
I’ll admit, I’m disappointed. I’ve come to crave his nearness, his touch. I’m not sure if it’s the affinity virtue that makes it so intense. Is his attraction overpowering me, and that’s the only reason I want to jump his bones? Or do I lust for him, and that desire is fueled by the affinity virtue?
“Tell me more about the virtues. How many do you have?”
“One.” He lifts the sleeve of his jacket and shows me a dark red circle with a line through it on the inside of his wrist. “At birth, a mark appears. It represents what power we will receive. This one means I can alter minds.”
“I don’t have a birthmark, though.”
“Royals do not have them since you acquire more than one virtue.”
The urge to touch his mark possesses me to the point that I reach out, but Julian quickly pulls his sleeve back down.
He continues. “Most people receive trivial virtues like being able to memorize an entire book or have the ability to play an instrument without any practice. Telekinesis is common, but most get a weak version and are only strong enough to pick up a pencil from the desk or an apple off the counter. Those of us who are gifted with useful virtues are placed in important roles. For me, my mind-altering ability is useful against the enemy. So, I was placed in the Royal Guard.”
“So, I get my virtues at eighteen because I am Royal. Is that not the same for you?”
Julian starts chewing on his thumbnail and stares out the window as we pass by Columbus Circle. “I got them when I turned sixteen two years ago.”
“Two years ago... today? Wait, is that what Officer Martinez was trying to say? Is today your eighteenth birthday, as well?”
Julian sighs and nods.
“That’s cool! We should celebrate-”
“We should do nothing but try to stay alive,” Julian snarls, causing me to jump at his sudden outburst.
Talk about moody. I suppose I, too, would be angry if my entire future was planned out like some sort of prophecy. What if you didn’t want to join the guard? Did they not have the option to opt out? Still, Angorians had their entire life to prepare for their virtues, to train for their future. Try getting a whole slew of them at once!
“Tell me about my parents. You mentioned my father. What about my mother?”
Julian closes his eyes briefly. “I’m sorry, Trinity, but Queen Shaylin is dead.”
I swallow a lump in my throat. “How?”
Julian continues. “After you were born, King Elijah sent the Queen away to protect you from Hyde and his rebels. The plan was for you and Shaylin to live on Earth in hiding while King Elijah tracked Hyde down. Unfortunately, Hyde somehow managed to follow the Queen through the portal. The team of Royal Guards sent to protect her fought him off while she ran. He killed them all. Including my father.”
My heart shatters into a million pieces. Julian grew up without his father because of me? The day Julian’s mother was giving birth to him, his father was off protecting the Queen so I could live. I reach out my hand and gently place it on top of Julian’s hand resting on his shaking knee.
“I’m so sorry, Julian.” A ripple of empathy and tranquility rushes through my body. It begins in my heart and pours through my arms. The palm placed on Julian’s knuckles tingles, and out of the corner of my eye, I see his shoulders drop. He closes his eyes, his chest rising slowly before a single tear drops down his cheek.
But my moment of compassion for this tortured soul ends as fast as it began. Julian rips his hand away from mine, rubbing it like it had been slammed in a closing door.
“Please don’t use your virtues on me, your Grace,” he whispers, still refusing to look my way.
I scoff. “That’s fine, Julian. Only if you don’t use your virtue on me.”
Julian whips his head around, his eyes wide and full of guilt.
I shift back to my side of the backseat and cross my arms. “The calming at the hospital to forget about the Parks? That was you, right?”
“Trinity, I-”
“Let’s just both agree not to manipulate minds and emotions, okay?”
Julian nods.
“So, my mother escapes while the guards fight off Hyde. What happened to her?”
“She was found dead a few days later, just a mile from the portal. She took a kill pill. It’s a poison soldiers keep on them in case rebels catch them. It kills instantly instead of getting tortured for information. She sacrificed herself so you could live. And because of that, we never knew where she ended up taking you. We weren’t even sure you were still alive. But the King never gave up hope and has been searching for you ever since.”
“And you found me because of that video?”
Julian nods. “The King had teams set up in every city in hopes that your emerging powers would lead us to you. I was part of the New York City team. When our tech department that scans the internet for unexplainable videos found you fighting off the mugger, Martinez and Lions pulled up the police report and tracked you to the hospital. My commander then sent me to be your personal bodyguard. We knew the rebels wouldn’t be far behind. We’re sure they saw the video before the tech team erased it from the internet.”
My breathing picks up. Oh, great. I’m hyperventilating. Those pesky tears wrapped around all my doubts are back. “I don’t want this. Please, just take me home. Wipe my memories. I’m not this person you think I am. Let me be a nobody.”
I bury my face in my hands, knowing for sure the anxiety crushing me from head to toe will be the cause of my death. My tiny body can’t handle it. My chest tightens, ready for the inevitable heart attack, but instead, that same wave of calm I felt at the hospital wraps around me like a blanket.
Julian. He brought me back from the brink of losing control. I know I literally just asked him not to use his virtues on me, but this was an emergency situation, and I’m grateful he ignored my request. I glance his way. His eyebrow is furrowed with worry that he crossed the line I clearly drew between us. I mouth the words, ‘thank you,’ and his shoulders drop with relief.
My entire body sighs, and I find a tissue in the pocket of the seat in front of me. I dry my face then stare out the car window at the bright passing billboards of Times Square. Tourists gleefully snap pictures on the big red stairs. They’re happy and clueless. Jealously nips at my nerves, wishing I could take their place and forget about rebels, Royals, and a mysterious new world. My head throbs, filled to capacity with information on my newfound life. Or, perhaps, it’s my body adjusting to my new powers. Strength, affinity, mind-melding... who knows what else this little life of mine will take on over the next few hours. Or days. Weeks? What I do know is, this lost daughter of Angor has been found. And she’s terrified.
Chapter 4
“Trinity, we’re here,” Julian whispers, gently shaking my shoulder.
My eyes flutter open, and Julian has already disappeared. The last thing I remember was passing through Times Square. I must have fallen asleep soon after. I yawn and rub my face with my palms. Oh great, my chin is wet. I drooled like a rabid dog, my slobber forming a perfect circle on my t-shirt. Ugh! How embarrassing! Here I am, a princess who snores like a fat middle-aged man and sleeps with her mouth hung wide open. Delicate Royal heir? More like blobfish.
Thanks to the drool, my mouth is drier than the Sahara, and I find a bottle of water tucked away in the seat pocket in front of me. I down nearly half of it, not able to stop some of it from spilling down my front side. At least it will cover the drool stain. I peel the bottle from my lips and wipe the excess water from my mouth with the back of my arm. I fish out a napkin from the seat pocket and blot at the wet splotches on my shirt.
It’s not until I hear giggling to my right that I realize the car’s door has been open the entire time, and I have an audience. I slowly turn my head and see Ju
lian surrounded by a team of Royal Guards, including Officers Lions and Martinez. Great. A bunch of burly men and badass women stand in a half-circle, watching the mess that is their future Queen.
“You done?” Julian asks, more annoyed than amused.
I smile nervously, toss the napkin on the car’s floor and slip the half-drank water bottle into the bag that now contains the only remnants of my former life: a couple of clean outfits, toothpaste, and deodorant, the baggie with my necklace and a copy of my favorite book, A Little Princess. I snort at the irony.
I step out of the car and scan the group of protectors. Officer Martinez waves and smiles. Officer Lions fires off finger guns at me. Falon stands off to the side, twirling the keys to the Audi in one hand, and shifts on his feet as if he’s late for an important meeting.
I was hoping Julian would start introducing the rest of the crew, but before he could do anything, a breathtaking, curvaceous goddess with golden brown skin steps forward. She extends her hand.
“My name is Chanel. Team leader. A pleasure to meet you, your Grace.”
I take Chanel’s greeting, and she shakes so vigorously that I was sure my arm would fly out of its socket. She steps back, and I admire her badass outfit of all black, including tight leather pants and a black corset-type top that makes my boobs ache with jealously. I may have just formed a tiny crush on the woman.
“This here is Reed, second in command,” Chanel adds, and a muscle-ridden goliath who could be related to the Man of Steel steps forward. While I expected to rip my arm clear off my body, his handshake was gentle and quick. I thought Julian was tall. Reed towers not only over me but way past Julian at what has to be six-foot-five.
After Reed, Chanel introduces Skyler. He’s buff and tanned and joins Reed and Julian in the tall man club. His midnight hair is slicked back with way too much product in it. He was a true definition hipster with his tight skinny jeans and plaid lumberjack flannel.
Lucian is next, and he gives off the kindest aura. His smile melts my heart, and I scramble to mop it up. He’s a beautiful black man, not too tall – only a few inches taller than me – and I swear he could be related to The Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman. May Chadwick rest in peace.
