Valor: The Custos Saga

by Jessica Tastet

  He didn’t like to admit that the Rainy situation still bothered him. He’d nursed the idea all these years that if he still had her, he hadn’t lost Lily completely. The last update had mentioned head trauma. Doctors hoped a medically induced coma would help give her body time to heal. His retaliation on his son would take careful planning.

  Tom shuffled in. “Mr. Ronald White is here, Sir.”

  Rex nodded. “Have we heard from my son yet?”

  Tom frowned. “He has not returned our calls yet, but I hear that the council members are leaving today, so he may call after.”

  Rex nodded, although he frowned. He didn’t understand why Cain must be so difficult. When the boy was younger, he’d hoped he’d have more of Lily in him.

  “Tell me as soon as he calls. You may send Mr. White in.”

  Ronald White entered moments later with his thin, greasy hair and rat-like face. Rex found the man disgusting.

  Ronald’s head barely leaned forward in a bow. “Have you read through my proposition?”

  Rex frowned. He hated modern day protocol and would have preferred how things were done at the height of the Vindica in the seventeenth century. To have that time back again. Maybe one day when the Vindica came under his control.

  “I’ve made inquiries about gene therapy, and I’ve been told that it’s to treat diseased cells.”

  His proposition was to use gene therapy to implant their abilities into another. It would mean Dark Soldiers could possess all abilities and be unstoppable. Appealing offer, if it were true.

  “My doctor has found a way for it to work.” White was sweating, dripping down his forehead. He swiped at it with a dingy white handkerchief. “He’s performed the experiment already, and it has worked. I sent you his report.”

  Rex nodded and sighed. He wished he’d found this doctor first, eliminating the middle man would be so tempting if he had to deal with this man daily.

  “I’ve reviewed the details of your proposition, and I have made several inquiries. I do have my concerns, but it involves little risk to me. If you’re successful, of course, I receive all results.”

  Ronald’s thin lips curved into a smile, disfiguring his face. “As you wish. I’ll be honored to work with you.”

  Rex cringed. The man should have stayed in the FBI. “This will be kept between us for now. My men will be offered for their DNA samples, but they’re not to be aware of the reason yet.”

  His smile faded. “Of course.”

  Rex glared at White and he squirmed under the scrutiny. “I want results before this information is released.”

  “We will have results.”

  “That remains to be seen.”

  Ronald jerked his head in what couldn’t be classified as a bow and then backed out of the room.

  Rex stood and walked to the French doors leading to the balcony; He was careful not to allow the sunlight to touch his face, wishing to remain cold.

  Control was slipping away. His men no longer trembled as he approached. The young ones spoke with ease, and his own son dared to carry on behind his back. Rex needed to make a statement that caused terror to sweep through them all. He’d start with Lucilius.

  Rex returned to his desk and picked up the phone.

  Thirty-Seven

  Beside her thundering heart, Angelica could hear the ticking of an antique grandfather clock from the belly of the house. Books weighed the shelves reaching toward the ceiling. Rich browns, greens, reds, and blues peppered the walls. Now that she was here, her doubts ate at her resolution. Lily’s lessons weren’t going away without a fight.

  “I’ve convinced the Vindica that you weren’t at fault,” Landon said. “Truthfully, it didn’t take much. What you did with Serena was actually enough.”

  Gabney chimed in, “Apparently, that ability is rare, like only once every fifty or so years has someone been able to do that.”

  “Someone taught me when I was young,” Angelica said, glancing away from the books. John’s fingers rubbed vigorously at his cane and her insides twinged.

  John frowned. “I’m afraid everyone is talking. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing, and people have been inviting themselves over to hear first hand the goings on. I simply despise gossip.”

  “Maybe we should put out one email,” Angelica said. “Take care of everyone at one time.”

  She couldn’t help the bitterness from sinking into her tone, but she regretted it. John Landon had been good to her.

  Landon was quiet. Angelica could feel his sadness drenching the air of the room. In the short time she’d known him, she’d come to understand that it never went away.

  He sighed deeply. “Gabney says you wanted to talk to us about something.”

  “I do,” Angelica said, swallowing against her nerves. She turned toward the bookcase. “But first, when I was younger, I dreamed about a book. It’s been bugging me since the first day I came in here.”

  Angelica stood and trailed her fingers along the edges of leather. The smell of dust, leather, and old mingled together.

  “What dream?” Gabney spoke up against the silence.

  “It was this library. It struck me the first time as familiar, but I couldn’t have been here before, you know, but this woman told me that I had Custos blood in me and I just needed to remember.”

  Landon cleared his throat. “You’re not making any sense.”

  A weird sensation seeped into her forehead, and she paused. The navy blue leather bound book was not the cinnamon brown, untitled, size of a children’s diary from her dream. She slid it out anyway and its embossed letters read New Orleans Custos. Angelica peered behind in the dark shadows and shoved flat against the wall was the small volume from her dream.

  “This is the book.”

  Landon peered closely at the cover, his eyes registering the location and the color. “That’s Rosemary’s journal. I believe you would have just been born when she sent that to me.”

  Angelica flipped through page after page of the journal in neat lazy scrawl: the same handwriting from her mother’s journal. A yellowing page stuck against the back cover scratched roughly against her fingertips. As soon as she touched it, she knew it was from Lily. Long ago it hadn’t been a dream. None of her dreams had ever been dreams. She must face that fact and change her thinking.

  “I lied before,” Angelica said, feeling the words ring in her ears. It was time to face it all. “My mom didn’t leave me when I was a baby. She left me when I was seven.”

  She could feel questions floating in Landon’s thoughts, but he waited. Gabney’s thoughts were empty, waiting for more as though they were sitting around a campfire. Angelica must continue.

  “I’ve always lied. It’s what she trained me to do. When I was young, she told me to play up the sweet, innocent act. Big blue eyes, with an open face, that was never afraid to pretend I didn’t know. When I was older, I learned that lying wasn’t as easy as playing innocent. Practice makes perfect though.”

  “Why did you lie about your mother?”

  Ah, nothing got by Landon.

  “Rule number one was that I could never call her mother. I was someone she’d escaped with or the daughter of someone else or whatever story she created for us that time. Rule two was to never tell the truth and never trust anyone.”

  Landon’s hand trembled on his cane. “Who was your mother?”

  Angelica pulled the yellowing letter out of the journal. “I watched her write this to Rosemary in a dream. When I was born, we shared this room barely bigger than a closet. Seven years later when I dreamed he was coming for us, this letter was part of the rotating sequence of my dreams. I’d see her sitting over a desk with little light, her belly swollen with me inside, writing it to Rosemary. I told her about my dreams for two weeks, and I could tell she believed me.”

  Landon reached his hand out, and Angelica handed him the letter. “I’m Lily’s daughter. My last name would have been Vale if Lily wouldn’t have been too afraid to be caught
with me.”

  Gabney sucked in air and then coughed.

  Landon clutched the paper tightly. “I’m the only one alive who knew she had a daughter.”

  Angelica breathed deeply, swallowing the tears. “Why didn’t you try to find me?”

  “I did.” Landon’s frowned deepened. “I found Serena during my search, but it was as though you vanished. I thought…well, I thought he’d found you and you were dead like Lily.”

  Angelica gripped her stone. “I’m protected. My mother made this for me when I was young.”

  Angelica could sense John’s alarm. “Have you ever told anyone this?”

  “No, I wasn’t sure if it worked.”

  John stood and hobbled to the fireplace. Something awakened in him; something she hadn’t felt before. “Good. Your mother had another child, and he may be able to wear the amulet.”

  Angelica had known this, she supposed. Had always known this, in fact. Just something else she’d buried. Sadness clung to Lily when she spoke of a mysterious boy, but she’d never said he was her son. At seven, Angelica hadn’t asked many questions with the life they lived. “Why did she leave him behind? I don’t understand why.”

  “He was Rex’s son completely.” Landon sighed. “Lily tried several times to escape with the boy, but the connection between Rex and the boy was too strong. Lily was always found and punished.”

  “He’s not my father.”

  Landon studied her. “I knew Lily for a long time, and she never strayed from Rex until after she was pregnant with you.”

  Angelica looked away from him and studied the worn edges of the leather book. “She told me my father was a good man, and she never lied to me.”

  “Rex would have killed your mother if he would have even suspected she’d strayed. Just because Rex is your father, doesn’t mean you have to be like him.”

  “Rex is your father?”

  Mark stood in the doorway. He’d opened the door without any of them hearing.

  Angelica’s alertness kicked in and she gripped the book tighter. She’d meant for Gabney and Landon alone to have the truth. She wasn’t ready to extend it further until she trusted it wouldn’t blow up in her face. Baby steps.

  “No,” Angelica said. “Lily Vale is my mother.”

  “Mark, close the door,” Landon said, gesturing toward the open space behind him.

  Gabney’s leg swung back and forth in a quick jerky movement, which caused Angelica’s nerves to fray along the edges.

  “Lily Vale was Rex’s wife,” Mark said, focusing intently on Angelica.

  Angelica felt an intense urge to knock him off his feet. She was pretty sure she could do it if he didn’t see it coming.

  “Lily hid Angelica from birth,” Landon said. “No one knows she’s alive, and I’d like to keep it that way for awhile.”

  Mark nodded. “I’m sure she’s going to let Lysander know, and I don’t think it fair for me to lie to Serena. She’s my girlfriend.”

  Angelica narrowed in on him. “I didn’t plan on telling Lysander right now, so I don’t think Serena needs to be brought into this either.”

  “You are going to hide this from him?”

  Angelica raised her chin, challenging him. “He doesn’t need to know right now.”

  Landon nodded. “Caution needs to be taken, so I think we will wait a few days. There will be repercussions and I need to make inquires first with the council.”

  Mark grinned. “Serena may get to be Valor after all.”

  “She can’t be someone she’s not,” Gabney said, then gulped, eyes widening.

  She’d surprised herself. Angelica nearly smiled. Angelica couldn’t wait for she and Mark’s next sparing situation. She could certainly fuel it with the anger of this moment as Kline’s lesson had taught her. She’d decided to keep Kline a secret a little while longer, at least until she’d learned a little more.

  Thirty-Eight

  The dark soldier’s chatter rumbled through the warehouse, and Cain searched the leader’s faces as they discussed matters in the far corner. Though shadows fell over their faces, he could tell from their stances who was who.

  Dark Knight was a heavyset man who held his shoulders back and his weight with his knees. Dark Shade held his fit body with his muscles flexed so he always stood out. Two others from distant territories had come in for the convergence and had not impressed Cain. Cain was unable to identify these two apart yet. Rex stood with his hands gripped behind his back, and his slight build stooped only a nudge forward toward them as he listened to their reports. Rex had come down hard on them tonight, and now it was the leaders turn to provide answers as to why they were no closer to finding Valor before the approaching Reckoning within days.

  The meeting had come to an end and still he hadn’t been able to find the opportunity to talk to his father. Typical, but not practical for tonight.

  He felt a nudge on his arm from behind.

  “Are you ready to return?”

  “Give me a minute,” Cain said without looking up at Falcon “I need a moment with Rex.”

  Rex glanced in their direction and nodded assent toward him. He’d overheard. Sometimes Cain forgot how little escaped his father.

  Cain approached and Rex dismissed the four surrounding him. When Rex readily agreed to see him, it usually didn’t bode well for Cain, but Cain had his own agenda tonight.

  Rex studied him closer. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

  “I’ve been busy,” Cain said.

  “Your actions haven’t gone unnoticed.” Rex’s gaze burned through Cain, but Cain held still under it.

  “Research,” Cain said. “I’ve met your daughter.”

  Cain studied Rex, but not even the muscle in his jaw that usually gave him away twitched. Cain had suspected Rex already knew as the news had whipped through Landon House in hushed whispers. Nothing ever made it past the man.

  “So she did live,” Rex said, as if he spoke of a piece of gum beneath his shoe.

  “You never thought it might be important to mention that I have a sister before I heard it from someone else?”

  “Someone like your psychic friend.”

  Cain flinched. “How do you know about her?”

  Rex smiled. The shadows only increased the absurdity of the gesture. “Nothing is secret from me.”

  Cain clinched his fist, pumping it tightly to relieve his anger. “You didn’t know your daughter was still alive.”

  “Oversight.” Rex frowned. “I assumed that when your mother gave up it was because the girl had died. Some block must have been put in place so I couldn’t sense her.”

  Anger surged through Cain, but he steadied himself. “Would you have killed her, too?”

  “Your mother chose death. I tried to get her to choose differently.” Rex forced a deep breath through his lips. They’d had the same argument over and over.

  “Maybe she just wanted to get away from you.”

  Rex glared at him and Cain returned the stare.

  Cain felt the old anger driving him to recklessness. If he wished to escape this life, he needed to free himself of this tie to his father, but every time he was driven back to it.

  “I expect you to follow orders like everyone else,” Rex said, his voice calm now. “It’s obvious our father-son relationship needs work, but being a Dark Soldier means you follow orders. Consequences will be implemented for your renegade antics, especially in concerns to Rainy, your mother’s oldest friend.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know who you’re talking about since I was shortchanged the experience of having my mother around to even know her friends.”

  “Ignorance has never been an attribute you could claim.”

  “Yet, my intelligence hasn’t earned me leadership because I’m your son.”

  Rex sighed. “Leave the girl alone, I will handle her.”

  “You will have a difficult time handling her being she’s stronger than you.”

  “We shall see,” Rex
said, walking away, dismissing him.

  That hadn’t gone as Cain had planned. For once, he’d like to be the calm, collected one in a face off with his father. But at least he knew his father had known, and had also kept her a secret. Why? Something didn’t feel right about this situation.

  A shoulder rubbed his. “We need to return. It will be dawn soon.”

  Cain nodded. These were just more loose ends to tie up. His time ticked like a clock in his ear, but he could make this happen. It was the time for a new order.

  Thirty-Nine

  Teacups clanked against blue herring bone saucers. Angelica peered above the rim of her cup at the cotton top woman across from her, and Trevor’s ebony flesh contrasted on the settee next to her. Angelica had never felt more uncomfortable in her life, and that was saying much considering several situations she’d landed herself in the recent past.

  John set the teacup down on the table. “How long do you plan on gracing us this visit, Ms. Cammie?”

  From his thin smile and deep creases around his mouth, Angelica didn’t think he wanted a long stay. On the other hand, Ms. Cammie Dubois had arrived in her white designer suit and oversized sapphire princess cut diamond ring accompanied by her servant lugging six suitcases.

  Ms. Cammie’s teacup clanked against the tabletop as her drawl crawled into the corners of the room like a cat. “I simply must protect myself John. I’m sure you understand with everything happening, the very idea of being alone is unbearable.”

  Gabney’s hand covered her mouth, but not before Angelica observed the smile. It seemed to take the woman ages to spit out a sentence. At this rate, she may recognize Angelica from the past. All she needed was Denise here, and all her worlds might have collided in one afternoon.

  “This house is like a magnet.” Trevor snorted. “I come to visit and I have to come here to find her. Is there some funky mojo around this place I need to know about?”

  Gabney snickered before she gripped the armchair with her fingertips.