arbitrate (daynight)

by Thomason, Megan

  “What about Ethan?” I ask. Is he not coming back? Did he decide to stay with Alexa on Earth?

  Jax responds. “Fine, we’ll come. But I push the pram. If there is any attempt to harm Kira or Zander, I will not hesitate to subject you to Arbiter punishment.”

  We take an elevator up to street level. Our apartment takes up half the bottom level of the office bunker—so no windows. It’s for safety. Jax pushes the pram outside with one hand while holding my hand with his other. Vienna scowls at our intertwined hands. “I guess this explains why the Arbiters want to protect you—given you are involved with one of their Council members.”

  I don’t correct her, and neither does Jax, despite the fact that I know Jax is solely trying to keep me close and protected in case we need to make a quick exit. The air’s not fresh but stifling, so I focus on breathing. Military City’s located ten miles inland from the coast on a giant plateau—approximately parallel to where San Francisco would be on Earth and well north of Garden City. The city area, which consumes the entire plateau, is surrounded by a twenty-foot-tall mirrored wall. Beyond the wall are steep cliffs and the Eco barrier. Illegal entry or exit would be near impossible, making it the perfect location to house the SCI military.

  We walk down a wide boulevard. To our right, there is a giant mess hall and the SCI Intelligence building. Both buildings are built using mirrored glass like many modern office buildings on Earth. To our left, there are thousands of acres used for new recruit military training exercises. Giant floodlights illuminate the space from the border wall. The last time Jax and I were here, there were small groups training sporadically. Now, the city is jam-packed with tens of thousands of soldiers. The Arbiters weren’t kidding about the SCI upping their numbers. In fact, there are troops everywhere. Military City is huge but feels crowded. Jax maintains his tight grip on me as he scans the area for threats.

  “I see you are putting the people you killed at the Clean Slate Complex right to work,” Jax states in a sarcastic tone.

  Vienna presses her lips together. “We’ve done them a favor. They were each living well below the poverty line. Now they have food, lodging, and a purpose. But I’m not here to discuss that. Ethan’s in danger and it’s all thanks to the Arbiters.”

  “What kind of danger?” I blurt out. I may be mad at him, but I don’t want him hurt.

  “He took it upon himself to chastise the Clean Slate Complex heads and has been taken captive.”

  Jax laughs, which makes me angry. It’s no laughing matter if Ethan has been kidnapped. Jax says, “His Uncle Victor and Aunt Violet—your sister—took him captive and that is the fault of the Arbiters, how?” What? Why would his Aunt and Uncle kidnap him? That makes zero sense even to my sleep-deprived brain.

  “One, he was taken by the Arbiters from the meeting of the Ten. And two, you and Ethan are best friends. They fear he is involved with the lot of you.”

  Jax squeezes my hand tight. “Ethan threatened my life and thus earned himself a good talking to—by my father. But I can assure you that he and I are not friends right now. Why do you think I’m here playing watchdog?” Jax’s words hurt, and I yank my hand from his. No need to be holding hands with my “watchdog.”

  Vienna grabs Jax’s arm and digs her well-manicured nails into his skin. “Regardless of the why, you need to fix it. Even if your friendship was a ruse on your part, it wasn’t on Ethan’s. So, find him and get him back where he belongs.” Her act catches the attention of those around us. Unapproved physical aggression is banned in the city.

  I catch sight of several sharpshooters with their machine guns locked on us from atop the “Respond” compound ahead. The mammoth structure contains a mega-portal similar to the one in Garden City. At least a thousand troops are on standby at all times and ready to deploy to any city that needs their help. While the heaviest security surrounds this area, there are also guards stationed along the wall and in every other building in the city. In addition, solar drones circle the city looking for Exiler activity outside the borders or aberrant behavior inside.

  “Ethan’s predicament is not my concern,” Jax responds with clenched teeth.

  While Vienna has Jax occupied, I grab the pram and turn it around, pushing it through the throngs of people and away from Jax and the overhead threat. I’ve got to say that I’m with Vienna on this one. It doesn’t matter how or why Ethan is in this mess. He is Zander’s father and needs help.

  A large man in military garb with shorn hair and black, beady eyes blocks my progress. I try to go around him, but he steps in front of the pram.

  Warning bells are ringing in my head. I need to get away, fast.

  “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the ‘Mother of Thera’ with her little rugrat.”

  By the way he’s looking at me, I can’t tell if he’s undressing me with his eyes or sizing up the best way to take me out. Either way, I want no part of it. My nerves are already frazzled thanks to Vienna’s visit. Ethan’s in danger. Jax won’t help him. And now, I’ve caught the attention of this creep.

  I shuffle, so I’m at the side of the pram and pick up Zander. If this man is a threat, it will be easier to run without the pram.

  The guy flashes his teeth at me and then licks his lips. “There’s quite the bounty on your head, you know.”

  Bounty? What for? I need to keep him talking…give Jax time to notice I’m gone and catch up to me. Besides, I want to know the answer. Did the SCI post a reward for my capture and return? Or is the bounty associated with the attempts on my life? Please don’t let it be the latter. I shudder and back up a step. “I think you are too late… I was already found…and brought back.”

  An evil laugh escapes his throat. “Hate to break it to you…but the bounty ain’t about your safety. It’s about making you Farm City fertilizer.”

  He wants me dead.

  I need to run.

  My legs feel heavy, my body paralyzed. Which way do I go?

  The pram will slow him down.

  I push the bulky pram into the man with as much force as I can muster one-handed, which isn’t much.

  He swats it away as if it weighs nothing.

  Help me. Help me. Help me.

  I will my feet to move, running back towards Jax and Vienna.

  The crowd parts for the mother running with her child, but I still make slow progress.

  I can feel him closing in.

  You aren’t going fast enough.

  I can’t move quickly while holding Zander.

  Move, move, move. I push my legs to their breaking point, feeling the strain of my muscles.

  I shout, “Jax. Jax.” Jax, help me.

  It’s hopeless. I doubt he can hear me with the bustle of the street and military exercises happening nearby.

  Feel my danger. Save me. Please.

  The sharpshooters atop the roofline take notice. I can see a laser beam shift from the person in front of me to me.

  Can’t they see I’m being chased?

  I use my free arm to point back as I continue to pump my legs.

  Not me…the guy chasing me.

  I dart to my left to avoid a guy that doesn’t see me coming and then right to keep from crashing into a post.

  “Give it up. I will get you.” His voice is too close.

  Oh please…this can’t be the end.

  I see Jax rushing towards me, pushing people out of his way. Thank the Gads.

  Reaching deep, I channel every last bit of energy I have into barreling myself towards him.

  Will I reach him in time?

  I glance back to figure out how close my assailant is. He is smiling, knife drawn as he lunges for me.

  No!

  A gunshot goes off.

  Save Zander.

  I drop to the ground, shielding Zander with my body.

  Just as I hit the pavement, Jax reaches out to touch me.

  The busy boulevard vanishes from sight and we’re back in the confines of our apartment.

 
He’s keeled over, panting. “Never do that again, love. You scared me half to death.”

  My heart continues to pound, hard enough that I feel it in my ears. I lean to the side and begin to dry heave.

  That was too close.

  “Am I shot? Did he get me with his knife” I don’t feel anything, but I know well enough that if I’m in shock I might not feel it.

  “No. They shot your attacker. Just in time. But the knife came awfully close.”

  Tears flood my eyes as I contemplate what almost happened. I could have died. Zander could have died. This was the first attempt on my life since the babies were born. The thought of dying is much more daunting as a mother.

  Jax presses his palm against my cheek, and I feel a rush of calming energy. It’s okay. Jax saved you, yet again.

  Once I’ve accepted that I’d cheated death one more time, I remember what sent me running from Jax and Vienna in the first place.

  “Why won’t you help Ethan?”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Ethan

  “I’ve already told the story a hundred times.” I scowl at my interrogator, who is sitting in the only chair in this SCI-controlled, death trap of a warehouse. He has a cigarette dangling from his lips, like he thinks someone might flip the incinerator switch, and the cigarette will light up for him before the skin melts off his bones. His olive skin, cheap polyester suit, and Jersey accent make him seem more mafia than SCI thug. There has been an endless stream of people in and out questioning me over the last twenty-four hours.

  “Tell it again.”

  I sigh. My back’s killing me, so I lie back against the cold, black floor. Couldn’t he have brought in two chairs? “I threatened the life of Jax Christo for interfering in my relationship with my Cleave—or I guess former Cleave. I didn’t know Jax was an Arbiter or that his father was an Arbiter or that the Arbiters were any big deal. Dr. Christo removed me from the meeting and took me to Heart to give me a ‘talking to.’”

  “And?”

  With a smirk I respond, “What do you think? He took me deep into their secret lair and unveiled all the mysteries of Arbiterdom from the beginning of time. Did you know that they can shape shift? And that they drink the blood of Daynighters? I was particularly impressed with their ability to implant thoughts into other people. I used to be a big red-meat eater. But after my visit, the same thought has been on an endless loop: ‘White meat means less risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol.’ You don’t happen to have a chicken sandwich on you, do you?” Needless to say, my captors haven’t provided any food or drink. My stomach’s rumbling, and I’m parched. My lips are so dry that they’re starting to crack and peel.

  He grunts at my answer. “Try again. Or perhaps you prefer I use…other…methods to get you to talk. I know how to put this oven on pre-heat.” I don’t believe he’ll torture me, much less fry me. Sure, they could find someone else to fill my seat, but my mother is the Senior Ten, and I think she might seek revenge on those who do me harm. This whole thing is a farce. I get that they want to make sure I’m not working with the Arbiters and perhaps lure them here. To what end, I’m not sure. The Arbiter Council is already furious with the SCI. Why provoke them further?

  I’m positive that Jax, and likely my father, know I’m being held. Before I learned I had Arbiter blood running through my veins, I didn’t know that certain thoughts were like beacons. Every time I’ve needed Jax, he has come. Except during the time he avoided me, so that he could play house with Kira and my son. But in this case, he’d never fall prey to their trap, and he knows that I can remove myself from the situation any time I want. It’d expose me as an Arbiter, but if the SCI crosses the line—by trying to torture me or kill me—I won’t hesitate to make myself disappear. My son deserves to grow up knowing his real father.

  I proceed to recite the same rote lies I gave to all the others. But my mind is on Zander…and, whether I like it or not, on Kira. Is it too much to want to be a family? Was she lying when she told me there was nothing going on with Jax? If she was telling the truth…then I really screwed things up and need to make it right. For Zander. Even if Kira and I never end up together, we need to have a good relationship for our son’s sake. Was I stupid to fall for her? Did I force things? She is the only girl I’ve ever been really interested in, and it didn’t hurt that the Ten approved.

  Why didn’t I demand proof that she died? Why was I so quick to believe Blake when he never even saw her dead body? And instead of punching Jax, why didn’t I make him explain exactly what happened? He can’t lie. Sure, he got away with the technicality that her heart had stopped, but if I’d pushed, he might have come clean. And if I loved Kira as much as I thought, why did I move on so quickly with Alexa? I wanted to forget. After spending months pining for her, I needed relief. Did Kira feel the same way? Was it too hard to be apart? Did she lose faith that we’d ever be reunited? Why else would she want me to think she was dead? Maybe we both wanted closure.

  My captor holds up a large bottle of water and waves it at me to get my attention. “Tell us what you know about the Arbiters.”

  More than you will ever know and much less than there is to know. I don’t say that out loud. The lies roll easily off my tongue. “Before that meeting, I knew the Arbiters were responsible for bringing over the Second Chancers. And I knew they were the peaceful inhabitants of Heart—a place I have been to exactly twice. The first time was to retrieve my Cleave…former Cleave and my son. The second was when I was taken from that meeting. As far as I know, the Arbiters had never before interfered in Ten business. I had no clue that they even interacted with the SCI.”

  He throws me the bottle of water. “Think on it a bit more. I will be back.”

  Within minutes, the temperature in the room notches up and continues to rise until it feels like a sauna. I strip down to my boxers when I start dripping sweat and then suck in a gulp of warm water.

  I try the doors, and when they won’t unlock, I pound and scream. “What are you waiting for? If you are going to kill me, just get it over with.”

  No one answers me or comes to my rescue.

  Time ticks by. I sprawl out, my sweat making the floor slick. If I concentrate hard enough, I can visualize the giant vacuum lowering to suck up my ashes. Maybe Kira will get her closure yet.

  The words of my sperm donor—Dr. Christo—ring out in my head. “They can never know you’re one of us.”

  In the war of wills, only one will prevail. I can only hope I’m strong enough to win.

  Eleven months prior: Heart, Thera

  I felt horribly out of place. A half-hour prior, I had been dressed in a blue button down shirt and khakis, finishing an exam in my professional responsibility class, and getting ready to work on an essay for Business Planning. I’d had less than three hours sleep the previous night and felt like there was more caffeine than blood running through my veins. As I entered my apartment, I was greeted by Dr. Christo, my father, and whisked away to Heart for “testing.” He asked me to change into a white t-shirt and shorts, pointing me towards a dressing room off a large lab with red walls.

  “How does this work?” I asked my father after changing.

  He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he studied his tablet. “We’ll be testing in five areas: precognition, mobility, thought perception, projection, and tactile manipulation. Other unique gifts may manifest during the testing process, but most pure-blooded Arbiters display ability in all of these areas.”

  I stuffed my hands into the pockets of the shorts and rocked back on my heels. “Okay. But I don’t know what those are, so how am I supposed to know if I have any of them?”

  My father leaned back against an exam table. “Precognition can be anything from impressions, to feelings, to visions. I might feel that danger is imminent or impressed to do something I hadn’t been thinking about. Or I could see something that is to happen in the future. For instance, I feel strongly you’ll receive a 97% on the exam you just took.�
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  My lips curled upward. “That would be a modern day miracle.” I had crammed for the test last minute and had been distracted for much of it, wondering how Kira was.

  He continued his explanation. “I used mobility to travel from here to your apartment, and then to bring us both back. In essence, we open our own portal to our desired destination.”

  I stopped rocking and started pacing. “Are you telling me that you can see my future?”

  “Sometimes,” he answered vaguely. “There are other Arbiters that see things more clearly and more often than I do. Now I’d like you to think of a question you have for me.”

  What I wanted to ask him was whether he saw Kira in my near-term future. I missed her like crazy, and it drove me equally crazy to think of her with Jax.

  “Okay, so I used thought perception to pull that thought from your mind. And to answer your question, you need not worry about Kira. Jackson is keeping her and the babies safe, and that’s all that matters right now.” I always wondered whether Jax could read my mind but assumed he just knew me well enough to guess. My feelings towards him weren’t always kind. I flushed knowing he was privy to those private thoughts.

  I chewed on my lip. “Do you know where they are? Can you take me to see them?”

  He appeared deep in thought for several moments, which gave me hope that he’d agree. “I’m afraid not. They are surrounded by SCI personnel and if we showed up, it would blow a whole lot of covers and ultimately put Kira in danger. But I can show you using projection. You’ve seen Jax use it before, so you should be familiar with the concept.”

  The wall of the lab disappeared, and a scene unfolded before me of Kira and Jax dining with her parents, Jared and Leila. They were in a large dining hall. Everyone was dressed in light brown overalls with tan long-sleeved shirts underneath. Kira looked unhealthy. Her face had taken on the light-green color of her eyes, and there were dark circles under them. Jax had his arm on the back of Kira’s chair and was spoon-feeding her like a small child.