Siphon (Siphon Chronicles, Book One)

by Cyndi Goodgame

Yeah, and you see where that landed Romeo with that kind of thinking. DEAD!

  His eyes found mine just as I began to overanalyze the statement. “I got your back nexus girl. If you got the balls to say something to me in front of a hundred people who potentially hate your guts, I’m on your side.”

  Well then. “I guess that makes us BFF’s,” I shrugged it off in case he was faking it, “make sure to let the others know I’m not going to sing them to death. Nexus girl or not, I’m still as human as them. They better start realizing I’m not here to take over their powwow.”

  “No balls, but spunk she has,” Daniel chuckled.

  I gave him an incredulous look.

  Both of the other two scanned my body a little too well.

  “Screw over or not, they’re afraid. Better to keep them in fear, my sweet.” Jock pulled on a lock of my hair and twisted my hands behind my back in a bit of trickery. When my face leaned up in the air, his face moved in. From now on, my hair stays up away from a hand's reach.

  “Sure you don’t want to compare size? I might win.” His smirked look was aimed away from me.

  And the comment was meant only to stir the air. Unfortunately, it worked. Daniel smacked into the back of Jock with a chokehold maneuver while I slipped easily from Jock’s release to come back at him.

  On his arms now, Daniel locked his legs around Jock’s middle. Being that the guy was as thick around at the waist as his thighs alone, I couldn’t see how that would hold. Still clenching tight, Jock managed to get his hands free and go for Daniel’s neck now. Tracy jumped in to help sticking a hand in through the middle of where their legs tangled and wringing Daniel’s ankle loose. All of their hands were tied up. That was my cue.

  I took a deep breath and went straight for the pressure points like Daniel and I rehearsed. I’d seen them before in my short-term karate class my stepsister and I took in junior high. Going for Tracy’s neck near his Adam’s apple was the easiest access so I pressed with the right “tap” as Daniel called it. Tracy curled his back like a cramped monkey making all his holds release. He cursed aloud and yelled for Jock to watch out for my "deft fingers". When Jock enjoyed a laugh at my expense I took my opportunity. While dodging their body jerks, I kept my fingers in place for a second attack if need be and went for the point in Jock’s elbow joint. He didn’t budge. I tried the spot right behind the ear since Jock hopefully couldn’t have developed extra man muscles there to block with bulge. I added my weight to the push with my heel in his groin he was so proud of. I pushed with all my might. Somehow, it worked. Jock doubled over with the same look of PMS on his face. Daniel popped up like a tin can and suddenly we were both staring down at the two Marine style hulks that were laid out like babies in a hospital wing.

  “Who did you have in mind honey for the beating of a lifetime?” I asked comically.

  “Oh, dear. I believe I will save the debt for a later time. One never knows when a good beating is needed.”

  Jock and Tracy rubbed their necks and ears where it probably still tingled then grunted a few times almost in alternating rhythms. I held my smile only to be sure I appeared like a true bad mamma jamma even if I never really entered the ring. They didn’t know I was heavily drained from the act. And I knew next time they wouldn't underestimate me as much. Daniel was right, pressure points are great on the unsuspecting but a second time in the ring wouldn't prove as lucky.

  “Ohhhh, the feisty princess strikes back trying out some new moves. I wonder if she even knows her little wispy ways are magical enough humans would label her Supergirl.”

  I ignored Jock’s comment and whispered a come back for only my ears. He asked Daniel about the quickness of speed I exuberated and heard Daniel say I was unaware. I knew. I just spent years hiding and ignoring it. It is why I quit karate. They start asking questions.

  Rubbing my fingers in my palms to squelch the itch to take from someone the energy I needed, I watched Daniel shake hands with both and walk them to the door. The room was padded, without windows, and about the size of a taco shop. He said this particular room held no cameras and was why he chose it. Analyzing his reason for saying it was pointless. I knew why. The room didn’t hold breathable air at the time either. If the heat were on full blast, I’d say it was about ninety-nine degrees Fahrenheit.

  The second the door closed, he was on me. The kiss lasted not more than twenty seconds, but it was needy and purposeful. Exchanging energy through a kiss had to be the sexiest thing I’d ever done.

  The bad news. Neither of us knew the door had reopened. The kiss broken with a true open air gasp, there stood Jock in the doorway watching the undeniable “out of friend territory” kiss. I didn’t know how long he’d stood there, but his eyes traveled to where Daniel held my hips and I held his shirt.

  “That wasn’t the first one between you two,” he addressed slowly.

  Daniel and I exchanged looks and reluctantly broke apart. Nothing said, Jock continued his survey, “And I’m guessing you want me to keep this to myself.”

  Daniel started to talk but had to clear his throat, “Whatever it takes to keep it quiet.”

  Jock bent forward and picked up his belt that I never saw him remove, “I could take that as a threat, but instead I’ll take it as an alliance. If your secret needs to stay safe, I’ll keep it.” The door closed with the back of his foot but not before he stuck out his hand and said to both of us, “If you’re here to take out these council morons and create a new order, I’m behind you. If you rat me out, I’ll kill you.”

  DANE  Assets

  I didn’t say anything one way or another. I just shook his hand and led Lark from the room to eat. She had to be as starved as I was.

  The deal was struck in so many ways other than what was right and wrong. For the second time in days, I felt like this might just work. And off a fluke of luck, no doubt. Now I just had to work out the actual plan. We need more behind us.

  Two more days passed and Lark showed her worth to over two dozen siphons that wanted to see her at work. Or rather, lack of singing. I told myself she didn't have to if I kept her energy on the high end, but I didn't know for sure. She didn’t have any special fighting skills to speak of, but she was unnaturally fast, clever, and slippery like some of the best siphons I’d seen in the field. My father put ones like her out there to watch others. Being tall and thin, she could easily fold over and under. Being limber and well focused, she could whip in a pressure point pulse or fold out of a weak hold in a heartbeat. It wasn’t siphonic and it wasn’t human so it had to be a sylph magic. What she had to have was surprise on her side. What she couldn’t do was battle brute force. If ever anyone bested her in skill, it was with strength. She would run out of moves...and soon.

  With no sign of singing, the crowds were a little more eager to see what she could do. When I asked her how she controlled it, she stared at me blankly and said they were all young. She had such a distaste for taking from the young, she'd built up a tolerance. At least, that's what I now concluded.

  As far as the sylph side, I wasn't entirely certain Jock and Tracy, as well as the others, were not feeling the effects. They seemed to cater to her more than I liked. Eventually, I got the guts to ask Jock. He didn't see the comparison or believe it was magic, which was a good thing. He only said he would snatch her from me the second she was left alone phrasing it as he could handle it either way. To me, that confirmed my suspicions. But I didn't hold to it simply because he was that way with most the girls. Denial or not, she was a sylph through and through.

  Later, he took me aside and admitted his suspicions of her being exactly what she was claiming, a sylph, and that is how he covered his tracks. He just wanted to be sure I was on the same team as him and wouldn’t continue on with my father. He guessed what might be coming so he blinked back the temptation with violence. She was that powerful. I prayed that wouldn't have to be the answer for everyone.

  Friday came though. With a force I couldn’t see coming.

/>   Lark asked me two nights ago to sleep in the bed instead of the chair. As eager as I was to say a big hell yes, I hesitated. I have no problem admitting my lack of knowledge when deciphering between girl talk and girl hinting. When I answer, it’s always the opposite of what I should have said. And being in the doghouse for days isn’t my brand of love. Keeping Lark happy meant more to me at the moment than even my own happiness. With that thought, I knew for sure I was a goner.

  The conversation eventually turned the right direction and I ended up sleeping above the sheets and comforter. She still protested, but I didn’t trust myself to be “wholesome Bobby” if the event presented itself.

  After leaving her in the morning to get ready, I returned only to find her sitting in the chair with her eyes closed like she was meditating or something.

  I inched over to her and touched her hand on the arm of the chair. Her smile grew telling me she knew all along who entered and where I stood now.

  “You can’t surprise me?” she chided softly.

  “How is that?” I asked truly curious.

  “I know your scent anywhere. It’s engrained in my head now. Your taste carries with me.”

  Hmm! Interesting. “Maybe that could be an asset,” I mused.

  “Maybe,” she beamed.

  And again…knowledge was power.

  “For now, I’d keep that between us. As well as the other factors between us. We have the advantage of surprise on our side.”

  “Agreed,” she stood and hugged me, essentially driving me crazy. I pushed her back gently as to not alarm her to my thoughts. I wanted her to still like me when all was said and done. This girl made me want to be a good person. I can’t name what brought that idea on other than the fact that she was left so alone in the world with nothing to go on. I feared now our people pushed that on her. She wasn’t frail or weak, just misinformed. But her innocence in other ways did make me want to be a better person for her in a respect. If she could fight for the person she should be, then why couldn’t I?

  Later, I approached her friend, Jason, to help keep an eye on her after assuring me he would do it better than I would. I didn’t want to argue with him so I gave him an inch telling him that I intend to take down the council but that we needed more help. Once he felt assured I was still on the target course, he relented and vowed to keep her busy till I returned that night. I had two friends who I know were among the babies my father hated that might just ally with us. Siphon Council children tend to stick together. At least they did. I was sent out into the field at eighteen.

  LARK ✜ Move Like Lightning

  The walls were lined with cushiony mats like the floor and ceiling. We were in a room perfectly similar to the training room but with mirrors up high near the ceiling presumably with an audience behind them. These guys took their training seriously. I never really got a straight answer out of anyone as to why everyone was so beefed up and ready for battle. Or why all the training in the first place. I did get a little hint of Daniel’s father and his monstrous philosophy on where the council was headed. He wanted to take over the world, so to speak. He wanted to take out members of each nation and replace them with our own from who he’d “home grown” from the council. I couldn’t help but think of end time kinds of consequences. I’d heard that some believe in a one-world leader and that when he comes, the world is near an end. I would have to be careful that I didn’t call Mr. Phoenix Crawford by the nickname I’d coined for him...Adolf.

  I was in this to prove vindictive and having no ability to sing. It hadn't been a problem yet. Everyone I went up against was young and not trying to get me to give them something. The closest I came was Jock when he got too friendly with his hands and it spiked what I thought was desire in him. His eyes glazed over like Foster, but snapped back as fast like he knew what was happening. Luckily, my kisses with Daniel made me incoherent to experience, but keenly coherent to defend myself. Holding my breath seemed to release them. Sadly, I was concluding that it was that emotion that jump-started the singing confirming the sylph explanation. It happened with Foster. I shuddered picturing how it only happened on the men. No women. It also made sense that Jason had learned some of this and said once he had heard me sing with our kiss he knew he was under some spell and didn't really like me. I might not ever know.

  I just needed to make sure all guys didn't like me. No self-depreciating thoughts in that now, is there?

  Cheers went up for others not including myself. Standing in sin tight brown, not black, tactical like gear, I watched the door with my back to the opposing wall. When Jock walked in being announced as my opponent, I let my jaw hit the floor. He’d spent the last two days showing me exactly how to beat him. Did he know all along?

  Three, no four, more bodies walked in the door behind me. I wasn’t told anything about what would go down except that I had to win to prove my innocence. Without singing.

  Two girls walked in. One was the skulky mean girl from the first day and the other was one I’d exchanged smiles with in passing.

  There was one other guy behind Jock. I knew who it was before he stepped aside. His taste carried on the air and even several feet away.

  “Why?” I mouthed to Daniel who tried to avoid my eyes, but flinched at my crestfallen face. The unseen cheers gained volume as we all stood in our defensive positions across the small room. Was I expected to fight him?

  He didn’t answer me. Instead, he knocked fists with Jock and moved to stand beside Skulky. I was beyond angry now.

  With no time wasted, Skulky began.

  I wasn’t sure who was on what team or if there were even teams. Daniel didn’t go into that part. He’d said that I would have to fight off several in one ring, but if I won, it would all be worth it. We practiced fighting several at a time, but a friend, an enemy, and the guy I like?

  The second Skulky put her hand out across my shoulder missing her punch to my face because I notoriously managed to block it, I took it upon myself to show out. I was full of energy due to Daniel’s insistence to do whatever I needed to win right before we walked out of the "Crawford" room.

  I refused to call her by her name. Krsity. She didn’t deserve that respect. Skulky doubled over as I crossed her arms behind her. I didn't have strength and I only shocked myself at the move. Her lithe moves didn’t confound me enough to miss her reaction to my out of character action, but I'd only seen her once before in the practice rounds and it wasn't against me. Between the short-term karate classes of the past or Daniel’s repeated practice, I surprised myself more with being able to hold her down past the initial twist. But it wouldn’t last long. She would rethink her strategy for the next time and I knew I couldn’t win against her steamrolling determination.

  We danced back and forth long enough for me to catch her patterns. Unlike Jock or Daniel, she was monotonous with her moves. Over, under, kick, check. She blinked her eyes shut with every kick. That would be my chance.

  Over, under, kick—

  I smashed her face to smithereens. She fell flat on her back out cold. I wasn’t even that powerful. I was amazed at my own prowess for having very little training. Maybe I was just born to fight. Maybe I was just that hyperaware of others. Either way, I was voting for thankfulness that I had it in me. And that I like patterns.

  That is, until the other girl stepped forward.

  Julia. I heard Jock call her that. Her face still held a friendly smile as she approached me, but didn’t say anything.

  Her hands flexed and gripped her combat style pants as if drying the sweat from her palms. Her eyes narrowed to slits. I feared I misjudged her.

  Smack! Her foot connected to my jaw. I never saw it coming.

  In the back of my mind I heard a voice call my name and hers alike. When my eyes opened, leaving only a second in passing, Jock was circling me from the left and telling me to stand up. Daniel was telling Julia to fight fair. What registered in my head was the way he said her name. It was as if they knew each other. Maybe
it was just jealousy with all the analyzing of his tone used to speak to the girls, but it disturbed me more than I liked. And maybe they all knew each other well. I would hope for that and leave well enough alone.

  I hated the idea of Daniel knowing every one of these girls…well.

  Upright, I faced her again. The role of ally was no longer in her features. Her alter ego showing out, the same leg that injured my right eye shot out again. I was prepared for it this time even with the little warning or recuperation. Daniel spent an entire hour on blocks each morning as part of my first “need to know” basics. I threw my arm up feeling the sting of her shoe on my skin, but never let it show that it hurt like heck. I could already feel the bruise forming on my eye.

  She twirled around for a round kick from the other side and missed just as I ducked. I was feeling better with my reflexes back. Getting clocked dulls the senses.

  We tangled once, but just as she snatched at my hands to hold me down, I wiggled out of her hold. Flipping up and around, I sat on her chest straddling her and holding her arms above her head. A voice outside the room yelled out, “DOWN.”

  Startled by the sound of someone else watching, I jumped off her. Julia growled like a bear and leaned into my face. She was shorter than most and last week her tendon ruptured, but she appeared fine now.

  “You’ll never live up to any of us you worthless bitch.”

  I couldn’t help myself. “Maybe. But you’ll never be able to say you beat me.”

  Grabbing for my braided hair hanging down and owning the look of evil in her eyes, I felt my body pull back and fall against someone, but not my hair with it. Jock had my arms and Daniel pulled her to the door. She was gone just like Skulky was. I never even saw Skulky walk out—assuming she did in fact walk and not get carried out.

  With just Jock and Daniel left, I came to a sad conclusion. I could never beat them.

  Jock circled me like he had many times in the last few days with that same look of pain like he wanted to hug me and hit me at the same time. I assumed now it was a sylph thing. Yesterday, he did this same move and let me sweep under his legs and kick my stronger foot into the arch of his back. I was so scared I’d hurt him, that I missed his intentions. He laughed a second before the mark was hit knowing I could never hurt him. He was a brick wall.