“What’s all this about?” he questioned as Lee marched along the penthouse pool.
“Last night, Lotus showed me something.” she replied. “It’s so cool! You’re going to freak out when you see.”
“Am I?” Ace answered skeptically, “Now I’m dying to know. Where is Lotus anyway?”
As if on cue, the elder Stelter emerged from the glass door and she greeted them with a groggy smile. “I just got a text from Michael. He says he wants to bring Ithaca over now since apparently she has plans for later today.”
“Isn’t it kinda early?” Lee asked. “We haven’t even had breakfast yet.”
Lotus shrugged but held the door open for her sister. “That’s just what Michael told me. Have you showed Ace yet?”
“I will right now!” Lee beamed. “To the kitchen!”
Ace couldn’t help but to chuckle at her enthusiasm and followed the sisters into the kitchen. Instinctively, he sat on one of the stools lining the stone island and watched as Lee hurried over to the blender by the sink.
“You found a smoothie recipe?” Ace guessed as Lee unplugged the device from the wall.
She was still smiling as she set the blender in front of him. “Nope. But prepare to be amazed.”
Ace watched as Lee acted out a silent film. First she took the unplugged chord and held it up for Ace to see. Then she gestured to the immobile smoothie making device. Ace still had no idea what she was about to do and that cluelessness only increased when she pinched her fingers against the prongs at the end of the cord. Suddenly, the machine was on and chopping furiously at nothing.
The sudden roar of the machine sent Ace jumping back with surprise and his jaw dropped with a startling curiosity. He was too astounded to even say a word. How was that possible? His first thought was that this must have been some sort of magic trick- but no. In his world the closest thing to magic was the supernatural…
Lee giggled as she let her fingers fall from the chord. “I’m like a human battery, and that’s not even the cool part!” Lee announced before hopping up on the stool beside Ace and pinching her fingertips together. “I’m a half-natural, Ace!” she squealed. When she inched her fingers apart, bright blue sparks danced off the tips of her fingers.
Ace watched in bewilderment. He had no idea what to even think. First she was just an orphan, then she became the daughter to the richest man alive, now she was like Ace. She had powers. How had he known her for so long and been so blind?
“Isn’t that cool?” she asked.
Every detail to Ace’s face continued to mask with astonishment. “How is this even possible?” he finally gasped.
“I’m not sure,” began Lee hesitantly, “I think since I’m only half; all I have is the phenomenal ability. Isn’t that what you said?” she asked glancing over to Lotus.
Lotus nodded. She looked a million times more exhausted than Lee and rested her forearms against the far corner of the stone island. “I don’t know much about it. Just what Kasper’s told me. Apparently we’re really rare, even more so than the supernatural.”
“We?” repeated Ace, “You’re one of-” his eyes jumped back and forth between the sisters, “of these too?”
Lotus nodded wearily. “I can’t make sparks, but water does what I want it to.” She replied.
Lee couldn’t stop smiling. She had waited to see Ace’s reaction all night; to know what he thought when she showed him. It had taken hours just to get the sparks visible on her fingers and Lotus had dozed off several times as Lee struggled to perfect her human battery technique. But the astonishment still plastered to his face was the exact expression Lee had waited all night to see.
She stood by his side and clasped onto his hands eagerly. “What do you think?” Lee was dying to know.
“What do I think?!” Ace sputtered. “Lee, you can make lightning come out of your hands!”
She giggled and hopped a little on her toes, “Yeah, and…?”
“And I… I don’t even know what to think!” he finally sputtered. Ace studied her for a moment. Her tired eyes masked by the charismatic smile engulfing her cheeks. It was contagious, and soon enough, Ace had slid from his seat to wrap his arms around her waist.
It might have been too early in the morning, and holding Lee like that in front of her sister wasn’t something he should be doing. But he couldn’t help it. Lee had powers. She was more like him than he thought and as his surprise turned to admiration; he was also relieved that this discovery set her somewhere within his reach. There wasn’t such an enormous gap between them- both metaphorically and literally since he was now holding her so close everything from their chest and down was touching.
“Oh, jeez,” Lotus muttered, “I’m sorry Hails, but in my mind you’re still a little girl.”
Lee hadn’t even heard her own sister because now all she could think about was feeling Ace’s lips on hers. Almost reflexively, she stood on her toes. Their lips were on a course for collision, then-
“Oh jeez!” another voice sprang into the atmosphere. The startled tone and the unfamiliarity of the voice sprang the two apart.
Ace was the first to whirl around. Who was the fourth person? It was a woman’s voice; that much he figured before his eyes rested on the most stunning beauty he had ever seen.
Ithaca Iglesias stood in the kitchen with Michael Caster right behind her. “Did I interrupt that?” she asked her gaze falling upon Ace. Even her voice chimed with attraction.
When their eyes held, it was like nothing Ace had ever experienced. From the shape of her eyes to the way her lashes fanned around the deepest shade of hazel, everything about her gaze managed to suck all the air from his lungs. Thick brown hair draped down her torso like a chocolate waterfall and as she glided into the room, a faint smile crept its way to her very kissable pale lips. “My apologies,” she smirked.
Ace couldn’t stop staring. Every curve to her long lean body, every feature to her face captured his attention to the point that the ocean could be on fire and he wouldn’t even notice. Ace didn’t know how long he stared. He wasn’t even sure what she was wearing, all he knew was that when her eyes hit his, he was mesmerized.
Ithaca grinned but finally glanced away. “Let’s get this over with.” She said. “Michael tells me we have a bit of a misunderstanding, Ace.”
Startled, since hearing his name was the first thing to snap him from hypnosis, Ace cleared his throat. “What?” he finally managed to sputter.
Another smirk made its way to Ithaca’s face, this time it was half hidden by the curtain of voluminous brown hair.
Lee nudged Ace a little harder than she might have given a normal circumstance. She wasn’t blind, she saw the same thing he did and she couldn’t help but feel the monster of jealousy clench a fist in her stomach. Ithaca was stunning, not only that, an air of unmistakable power seemed to cloud her presence. Like a sort of enchantment, a blind man would not be able to see her appeal, but he would be able to feel her enticing pull.
“You tried to kill me?” Lee questioned. All cheeriness drained from her voice. The first time Ace had stared at Ithaca was with an expression that took Lee several months to earn. And she did not like that at all. Lee had never really been an envious person. Instead, she was usually one to praise the wellbeing of others. But the fact that Ithaca was able to capture all of Ace’s attention to the point that he had forgotten Lee was even beside him- that did not sit well with her at all.
Ithaca glanced up at Lee. If looks could kill, Ithaca’s would have slaughtered Lee a hundred times. “That is a misunderstanding.” Her words managed to pierce into Lee’s veins like icy poison.
“She’s here to explain the truth, mate.” Michael cut in. The look over his face conveyed that he was exhausted too and therefore oblivious to the scene before him.
“According to what Michael tells me,” Began Ithaca, her eyes still penetrating Lee’s, “an assassin sent by his Majesty tried to kill you. Am I correct?”
Lee
swallowed but nodded. She didn’t want to look away, but Ithaca’s eyes were such a combination between gorgeous and venomous that even Lee forgot to breath and she glanced down at the island.
“And I, being the Council’s discipliner, am responsible.” She concluded. “Well, I don’t suppose an apology would clear things up?”
“Are you saying that was intentional?” gasped Lotus who had remained silent beside the stranger all this time. This wasn’t the first time Lotus had seen Ithaca, but it was the first time she had seen her up close. Lotus recalled several Grammy nights and perhaps other occasions where Ithaca would be a phantom in the party. Sometimes when Lotus listened in on Michael’s conversations, her name would be mentioned. But this was the first time she was able to put a face to the name.
“Intentional?” repeated Ithaca. A moment of silence lingered before she said, “Yes, I will admit to that. I did send out an assassin, but not to kill her.”
“How could you even do that?” exclaimed Lotus, her voice laired with disgust. “You intentionally wanted to murder someone?”
Ithaca studied Lotus, “You’re smart, Stelter. I’m sure you are well aware of all the vile things that happen in the underground. Death is hardly the consequence.” Her voice was so sinister, even Michael couldn’t retort. “There was a woman,” Ithaca continued, “She lived in Tarrillian North Side. She threatened to reveal who we are. She had to be punished.”
“And you’re okay with this?” Asked Lotus spinning around to face Michael.
The rock star ruffled the back of his head. Normally a scowl accompanied this gesture, but this time, a solemn haze draped over his eyes. “There’s so much you don’t understand, Lozey.”
His comment would have sparked a retaliation from Lotus. Michael Caster- mocking her intelligence? For once though, Lotus knew he was right. There was so much she didn’t understand.
“So then explain.” She grumbled brushing a stray hair from her eyes.
“I would,” inputted Ithaca, “However, I’m running a tight schedule and all matters concerning the Legend tend to be lengthy. Allow me to cut to the chase.” Her eyes slid across the room until once more they rested upon Ace. “Do you mind if I have a private word?”
Ace gaped. Why would Ithaca want to speak with him? She was here because of Lee, because of a mistake, not because of him whatsoever. “Sure.” He finally managed to reply and a grin slid over Ithaca’s lips.
He followed her to the living area without glancing back. In no time at all, Ithaca was sliding open the glass doors as if she owned the place. “We need to go somewhere distant.” She remarked in a hushed tone. “I can’t have Michael eavesdropping.”
Ace hardly acknowledged her. The sun shone a little brighter, the shadows cast by the towers shorter, and a light ocean breeze rippled over his baggy pajama shirt. It wasn’t until she stopped walking along the pool’s waterline that he remembered they were out here to have a private conversation. He stared at the pool’s clear blue surface as he waited for her to speak, but when she didn’t even utter a sound, Ace finally glanced over.
This time when Ithaca smiled, her cheeks dimpled to flaunt her cheekbones. The sun magnified the brilliant shades of gold in her eyes once more captivating him. “Well, well, Mason.” She began, her expression unchanging, “I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Her statement sent Ace recoiling with confusion. Had she just called him Mason? Was she indicating that they were previously acquainted? But that was absurd! Ace knew he could never forget a face like Ithaca’s… unless…
“Oh, yes.” Ithaca remarked; the smirk still planted to her lips. “We were friends before the Stelter fire. But that’s just one of the many things you forgot, isn’t it?”
Ace arched his brows but no words managed to escape his lips.
“There was a tree.” Continued Ithaca, finally pulling her gaze from his, “You carved our names into a tree. HGS III MD.”
Ace had never put much thought into the three vertical lines. But it made sense now. They were letters as well- Ithaca’s initials. With a number of things spinning around his mind, one was able to burst forth. How could she have possibly known? How could a complete stranger know?! Ace recalled never telling Michael about the tree and even if he had, there was no way he could deny that her name was carved into the one piece of memory he had.
“I don’t expect you to treat me like we’re friends, Mace.” She tossed that name around casually as if Mace was just something she said all the time. “You don’t remember, but I do.” Ithaca pulled her eyes from the clear pool water and studied the way his hair rippled in the morning breeze. “You came to Hawaii to find answers.” Ithaca finally spoke. But her words were barely audible and she leaned in for Ace to hear. “And I have the answers.”
Ithaca was so close now; Ace could feel her breath light against his lips. She was taller than Lee, and he wouldn’t have to move much to fit her against him. But in that time, Ithaca did all the talking, all the moving. So many thoughts and feelings inhabited Ace’s body; he was petrified- like a computer with too many downloads. He didn’t even recoil when Ithaca’s long fingers brushed against his temple.
“It’s truly remarkable,” she whispered as her fingers trailed down his chin, “How much you’ve grown.”
“Stop,” It was the first thought that appeared in his mind, but the last thing Ithaca expected. Ace took a step back and watched Ithaca’s face morph from confident to bewilder. Ithaca owned a cloud of hypnosis and it wasn’t a secret that Ace had fallen into her trance. “It’s freaky that you know about the tree, but to me you’re still a stranger to me. You have a lot of explaining to do if you are who you say you are. ”
Ithaca eyed him for a moment before the familiar sly grin slid across her face. “I will Ace. I’m the only one that knows who you really are.” She took a step back with her eyes still glued to his, “I’ll be back for you.”
Ace didn’t have time to register what she meant by that because the moment Ithaca finished speaking, she vanished and Ace was left all alone on a rooftop.
~From the hilltop overlooking the sea, Hotaru stared up at the cluster of rocks just as another wave rolled over the shallow tide pool below. As the wind picked up, strands of grass slapped against his bare feet. For once, a Hawaiian shoreline was not covered in white sand. Instead, a flat dry prairie collided with the rocky edge of Oahu and upon that particular beach; Hotaru stared up at the throne of a goddess.
Pele’s Chair. That’s what the natives called the rock formation. The legend tells that it was the last place the fire goddess sat before leaving Oahu. Hotaru never thought the jagged pile resembled anything close to a chair. To him, it looked more like a rocky staircase with small tuffs of graffiti and several leis draped over the steps.
Like yin and yang, Pele’s Chair split the top of the cliff in half with one side covered in tall grass and the other in jagged black rocks. The man took a seat on the crisp grass. From the top of the cliff, he watched as a family snorkeled in the oncoming tides. If any of them glanced up at Hotaru through foggy goggles, they would have mistaken him for a small boulder.
It was perfect spot for a picnic; with the mid-morning sun just roasting the top of his head and another ocean breeze bringing in the right amount of salty air. It was perfect, until Ithaca’s invidious aura clouded the baby blue sky.
As usual, it was her presence that sent Hotaru’s eyes sailing to the throne and he stumbled to his feet once he caught sight of her wind-tossed hair. Of course she had found a way to apperate on that rock formation. The sea wind sent her long hair rolling behind her ears like angelic wings and, though the place was named Pele’s Chair, the victorious gleam in Ithaca’s eyes claimed the spot as her own. “Have I managed to persuade you yet?” she asked, her brilliant eyes avoiding him but glued to the distant horizon.
Hotaru peered up at the goddess. He wasn’t sure if it was her beauty or his footing on that grassy terrine, but his knees buckled at her sight. “W
e will be a part of this supremacy?” he asked defiantly, “Do I have your word?”
Ithaca scoffed. “My word, my life… Hotaru, you have my soul.” She pulled her eyes from the ocean and glanced down at the gang leader, “You will have it all if I have your alliance.”
Hotaru inhaled deeply. Everything Ithaca had to offer was in his reach. All he had to do was say yes. But Hotaru wasn’t a selfish man; he knew the choice he made wouldn’t just affect his life, but those all over the world. That’s why he asked for Ryan Hamilton and Heather’s opinion. He had hoped that after speaking with his two most trustworthy members, that they would sway his vote. But their thoughts had been contradictory and now he was more stretched than ever. And the deadline was approaching.
“You have it.” The words tumbled from his tongue- words he had been choking back for what felt like an eternity now. “You have my alliance. The power of Pele is at your command… Highness.”
A devilish smile spread over Ithaca’s beautiful face. This time, with so much radiance, a laugh attempted to burst. “I like the sound of that.” She grinned. “Now go. Tell your numbers where they stand and prepare to set my orders in motion.”
Hotaru said nothing more. He gave a long low bow before turning on the spot and marching away from the throne.
Not once did the smile fall from Ithaca’s lips as she watched the man trudge down the grassy path. The first step one out of several was complete, and to think she had just come from reacquainting a powerful and long lost friend. Ithaca was beyond proud of herself, but there was another that would praise her furthermore.
Her phone was pressed against her ear in no time and she listened to the melodic ringing as the surf swelled beneath her. It wasn’t long until the other line picked up. Then Ithaca was listening to the voice of a man that could never die. “Do you have good news?” he asked.
The Stelter City Saga: Ultranatural Page 24
