And then we’re no longer in Heart but standing side by side in a stark room full of SCI members, who are all wearing shorts and t-shirts. Our “audience” looks frozen in place. No one moves even a hair. I breathe a huge sigh of relief when I see Ethan and Blake near the back of the room.
Eli Demason, the head of the Council, steps forward with the help of a cane. The boy sits by Eli’s feet and opens his bag. He pulls out Legos and starts to build something. Eli says, “We shall not tarry but wanted to address the accusations leveled against us. As you may know, Arbiters cannot lie. So you must trust me when I tell you that the Arbiters were not directly or indirectly involved in the attack against your people.”
Brad looks warily at the boy before speaking. “I’m afraid your word will not do. When we last met, you directly threatened us. Perhaps you had him—” He points to the kid. “—do your bidding.” Did Brad seriously just accuse a boy, one who can’t be much more than eight years old, of trying to kill off a room full of SCI politicians? The kid is playing with toys! Brad’s more insane than I thought.
An intense feeling comes over me—stronger than anything I have ever felt in my life. I know with absolutely certainty that the Arbiters were not involved.
Brad lowers his head in defeat. He must have felt the same thing. “Fine. If not you, then who?”
Eli shrugs. “Just like we did not interfere with the event itself or the perpetrator’s expression of free will, we shall not involve ourselves with your drive or desire for vengeance.”
“Surely you cannot condone their actions?” If Brad could move—which clearly he can’t—I think he’d probably strangle Eli. “They killed dozens and injured hundreds.”
Eli smiles at Brad. “Such a small number compared to how many you have killed, yes? You’ll be so relieved to know that all your loved ones and esteemed colleagues who perished have been given a second chance at life on Thera. We’ve been so kind as to remove their memories of the horrible events that preceded their transport.”
Oh snap. I hadn’t even thought of that. Those that died did so on Earth, so they get to live again. As Second Chancers. They’ll now be subject to the terror they used to inflict. How morbidly fitting.
A wiry man with thick dark hair, who looks a bit like Brad, shouts out. “Brad, we can’t stand for this. They’re acting like they are pleased with the fact that my wife and friends died in that attack. I say we vote to no longer be subject to Arbiter dictates.”
The boy breaks out in uncontrollable giggles. “You. Have. No. Choice.” His voice is quiet but firm and piercing.
“Shut up, kid,” the wiry man responds. “Stay out of it.”
Eli gasps, and the boy immediately stops laughing. He drops his Lego creation to the floor with a thunk and stands. His face gets serious and he turns back to the Arbiters. In my mind I hear, “Intervention just got necessary.”
The carpeted floor turns to the color of molten lava. I don’t feel heat, but the illusion is disconcerting at best. Heatless flames leap from the floor, snaking around every member of the SCI and lifting them five feet off the floor. The fear in the room is palpable, in a very literal sense, as their heartbeats are being amplified and echoing around the space.
“I present to you weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.” That would accurately describe what I hear as the floating bodies take flight and get whipped around the room, narrowly missing high-speed collisions.
Who is this boy? He’s no Arbiter.
“Genitor,” Jax whispers at the same time the boy infiltrates my brain again with, “Merely a person with flesh and bones, just like you. We’re all related in one way or another.”
You’re a little scary, but I like you, I think at him. He responds with, “I hate to resort to childish demonstrations, but I find them to be effective when necessary. And likewise.”
What else can you do? “All things are possible.”
Perhaps they’ve endured enough? “Perhaps they should experience every bit of pain they have caused others.”
Perhaps.
The flying SCI show stops, and the flames turn to fountains of water. The SCI members are still floating, with the water shooting up and over them.
“Sometimes that which looks the most unassuming is that which you should fear the most.” The boy addresses the entire crowd with this as he turns the water to shards of ice enclosing each person in a dangerous prison, sharp spikes pointed inward. “Would anyone else like to address me?”
No one speaks this time. The ice disappears, and the floating bodies are returned to the floor in their almost original conditions. They’re each sporting removable donkey ears and a tail, but no one makes a move to take them off.
Can you make their noses grow longer, too? I mentally laugh at the sight. “I’m glad that I have amused you. Be well. Until next time.” He looks right at me, winks, and then disappears along with the rest the Arbiter Council, save Jax. I love that kid.
The wiry man has the nerve to speak up again. “What was that?”
Brad glares at Jax and me. “That is what happens when you underestimate the enemy.”
I see the door to the back of the room open and then shut. A man edges his way to the front. He’s eyeing everyone like they’re crazy but doesn’t dare laugh. “We’ve got new evidence,” he says to Brad and the man next to him.
“Well, what is it?”
“We found signs of a scuffle in the restaurant kitchen and some out of place belongings—a purse and wallet belonging to Alexa Knight and Joshua Black. There was also a substantial amount of blood, which we have confirmed to be from Joshua and Alexa. We believe they were either killed or abducted, and the evidence strongly suggests that Violet and Victor Black are responsible. Victor’s fingerprints were found all over a heavy pan that had Alexa’s hair and blood on it, and a knife had Violet’s fingerprints on it as well as Joshua’s blood. Our theory is that Violet and Victor were executing the attack when Joshua and Alexa stumbled upon them. Victor and Violet would have had plenty of motives to require subduing them to prevent exposure.”
My eyes find Ethan’s just as he collapses to the floor.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ethan
I have Genitor-induced whiplash, and my foray into human flight while on painkillers has me feeling pretty woozy. There’s stomach acid leeching up my throat, and I may lose my breakfast. I’m seeing spots and swaying. On top of that, I look like a literal ass thanks to my newly sprouted donkey ears and tail. And while I’m relieved to see Kira alive and well, she came here with the Arbiters and the universe’s scariest child, a kid who likes to toy with his inferior subjects.
There’s a guy talking about new evidence. The words float by, and I snatch bits and pieces. Scuffle. Alexa. Joshua. Substantial amount of blood. Killed or abducted. Violet and Victor Black responsible. Pan. Knife. Hair. Blood. Fingerprints.
Kira’s eyes find mine, and the look of horror and pity on her face stitches together the meaning of the evidence. Alexa and Joshua are probably dead.
My knees give way, and I sink to the floor. Blake crouches down beside me. “Don’t assume the worst, bro. Joshua and Alexa are tough. They could take on Violet and Victor.”
Brad is now talking. “This is just a theory. Do all of you understand? I expect that Victor and Violet will not be named suspects outside of this room. They are very public faces of the SCI. Their condemnation would bring a dark shadow upon everyone here as well as upon Henry. Violet is his sister. Everything we have worked so hard to build would be questioned. The American public would never trust anything associated with the SCI again. Am I making myself clear? If not, let me be more explicit. Anyone who repeats a word said here will face immediate punishment.”
Blake whispers. “They’ll be okay.” Blake is right. Alexa is a tough girl. And Joshua—well, he’s hard core. But if Violet and Victor had help…
Gads, they’ve got to be all right. Otherwise, I’ll never forgive myself. Alexa went running off
because of me. Because I hadn’t had the guts to be honest with her when I found out Kira was alive. I rationalized that I hadn’t had the opportunity because I was too busy. But she came to me after I trashed my apartment, and I kept my mouth shut. I was angry and heartbroken over Kira. I thought that if I had no chance with Kira, I should keep Alexa dangling by a thread—at least until I knew for sure things were over with Kira.
And Joshua… He’s annoying and gets off pushing my buttons, but compared to most of my family—he’s a complete delight. So I’ll have regrets if he died thinking I hated him. Hate should only be reserved for the worst of the worst, for those that have done the unforgivable. And even then, don’t we only punish ourselves when we let hate fester and grow and canker our souls? Mass murderers like Brad Darcton or the Blacks deserve swift and definitive justice, but they don’t deserve to have anything from me, not even my hate. So if my serial killer family members don’t deserve my hate, how could I have given it to Joshua just for singing grating songs and crushing on my girlfriend?
My eyes are open, but I see nothing. My ears aren’t covered, but I hear nothing. There are hands on me, but I feel nothing.
In my catatonic state, I try to make sense of what happened, and I can’t. They can’t be dead. Violet and Victor are cruel, heartless, power-hungry, and greedy, but I don’t believe they’d kill their own son. I doubt they’d blink an eye before disposing of Alexa—but Joshua? There has to be another explanation. Alexa and Joshua can’t be condemned to life after death on Thera like my mother.
If they’re dead, they’d be on Thera. Gads, that’s it! If they’re dead they’d be on Thera. And who would know whether they’d crossed over?
The thought smacks me in the face, and I’m once again able to take in everything happening around me. I’m surrounded by Kira, Blake and Jax. But only one has the answer I need.
“Jax.” My tone demands an answer.
“They have not. But there can be worse things than death.” His face gives no hint as to the meaning behind his words. Torture? Imminent danger?
“Likely.”
“We need to find them, help them. Do you know where they are?”
“No.”
Brad shoves Kira out of the way so that he can speak to me. “I want you to go over to the Complex with James’ team and look for a motive. For Violet to attack Henry and Vienna…her own siblings…well, I’m going to need solid proof to believe it. Maybe it was all Victor, but I’m having a tough time swallowing it.”
“If I, as your uncle, could give you one piece of advice Ethan…it would be to always have a contingency plan. Appreciate the hell out of things when they are good but plan for the day when things turn for the worse.” Things couldn’t be looking much worse for Victor. He once told me about his contingency plan if things went sour. I’d even helped him put his plan into motion, back when I thought he and Violet had good intentions. I wonder if plan B is in effect. I had promised to keep his secret, but now that Alexa and Joshua are involved, all bets are off.
Before I can tell Brad about what I know, Blake pipes up. “I’ll go with them.” He’s close to Joshua, so I know he probably wants to find clues as much as I do.
“Sorry Blake. I’m only sending Ethan because he has worked at the CSC office. I need you to go back to Thera and keep an eye on our Exiler issue. We can’t afford to take our eye off the ball on our problem there just because we’ve got another one here.”
Blake keeps his face impassive other than a raised eyebrow, so I can’t tell if he’s pissed or happy. “Back to Art City? Or monitoring from afar?”
A corner of Brad’s lip turns up, but it never turns into a full-blown smile. “Back to Art City for now. The Exilers trust you, and I’m giving you another chance to prove that I can trust you. I need to know if they are planning anything of concern.”
“I’m not sure they could do squat from where they are at. Wasn’t that the point of sending them out in the middle of nowhere? But sure, I’ll go see if they’ve figured out a way to dig a tunnel or build a train or something.” I’ve got to agree with Blake. Even if the Exilers want to make a run at the SCI, there is no realistic way they can do it.
Brad rubs his hand along his jaw. “Regardless of their possibility for success, I want to know their mindset. Have they been placated by getting their own city, or do they still desire to contend with the SCI? The portals out of there are still live to allow us to get in and out. But if the Exilers were to get some sort of stupid notion that they could sacrifice a bunch of people and try to take out our forces on the other side…it could get really ugly, really fast. If we need to, we’ll shut down the portals. I need you to ascertain whether or not it’s worth it to keep those portals open.”
If I were a good “son” to Brad, I’d point out that he just gave Blake an idea that can be passed right along to the Exilers, but I’m not. And Blake’s not dumb enough to point it out either.
“Yeah fine, I’ll go spy on the people who raised me. Can I at least take along some non-grain food with me? Unless you’d like me to spend my entire stay there fishing that is…”
Brad signals to a short stocky guy with red hair to come over. “Dale, please escort Blake back to Thera and then on to Art City. He has permission to take limited supplies with him—for his personal use. I’d like you to take him now. I’ll send for you, Blake, when I’m ready for a report.”
“You going to be okay?” Blake asks me. “The last couple days…there’s a lot to process.”
No, I’m not going to be okay. My mother is dead. My cousins are dead. My aunt’s legs were blown off. And Alexa and Joshua are missing. But I don’t say that in front of Brad. I don’t want him to pull me off the assignment at the CSC. There’s nothing I can do but mourn the deaths…but Alexa and Joshua are still alive, and I may be the only person who can help track them down and save them. “Staying busy will be good. I want to help figure out what happened.”
“Jax and I will come help.” Kira offers.
“The last thing I want is Arbiter help,” Brad responds, his hazel eyes narrowing at Jax.
I can almost see the wheels turning as Kira concocts her spin. “Hear me out. You know from my testing that I’m good with puzzles—really good at them. And Jax can tell when people are lying. It could come in handy—he could interview the other staff at the complex. We can’t stay for long anyway, as I need to get back to the babies, but isn’t the first twenty-four hours the most crucial during an abduction?”
Brad looks like he’s still going to shoot them down, but then Jax speaks up. “If Kira wants us to go, we will go. I assure you that I will know what is happening whether you have me there or not.”
“And you will provide your assistance?”
Jax scratches his head and says, “I should really stay out of it.”
I use the wall to brace myself as I stand up. The painkillers have worn off, and my broken ribs throb. “We are wasting time. I’m leaving. I’ve got to run by my apartment to get something. And I know just where to start our search.”
Two and a half months prior: Clean Slate Complex, Los Angeles, CA
“Come on in, Ethan.” My Uncle Victor ushered me into his office and gestured for me to take a seat. As always, he was dressed in his standard CSC “uniform” of a black suit, freshly pressed white shirt, and an SCI-logoed scarf in his pocket. Not a hair was out of place. He was all business all the time. Since he’d called me at 6:30 AM for a 7 AM meeting, I had showered and thrown on jeans and a t-shirt. My hair was still wet, and I’m not even sure I combed it. “I have really appreciated all the work you have been doing on behalf of the Complex. Now that you’ve passed the bar and can legally practice in the state of California, I’d like your help on a couple things.”
“Why me?” I asked, perhaps a little curtly. I was exhausted from studying for the bar and working way more hours than reasonable at Henry’s campaign. “You’ve got a whole staff of lawyers.”
He tapped a pen on hi
s desk. “What I want you to do isn’t related to day-to-day Complex business. It’s to prepare for Violet’s and my eventual retirement. It would be inappropriate to involve the staff here. In fact, I’d like to keep this between us. I assume I can count on you to keep my business private?”
Knowing that “requests” from my uncles were actually “demands,” I relented. “Of course. What do you need?”
“Violet and I would like to build and run a resort on foreign ground. It will be a retreat of sorts for friends and family. We have purchased several plots of land, some more developed than others. I’d like you to research the legal process for incorporating in these areas including the costs involved. I’d also like to get several offshore accounts set up.”
Interesting. An SCI vacation destination? Perhaps even totalitarian dictators needed a break every now and then. Besides, Victor and Violet were better than most in the grand scheme of things. I mean, I knew that they were very likely using the CSCs as a way to find people with DNT in their blood, but the complexes themselves were good, right? They got people off the streets and gave them food, housing, and jobs. The residents seemed genuinely happy. Maybe Victor and Violet really had built the complexes to help people.
“Is my mom or Henry in on this?”
Victor maintained an aloof expression, but his eye twitched. “No, not yet. Violet and I wanted this to be our project, and we wanted to pick the spot. We don’t need any more cooks in the kitchen, and our family has a lot of top chefs, if you get what I’m saying.”
I laughed. “That’s an understatement. I don’t blame you for not wanting to build your dream resort by committee. That would be stressful. And I assume that the point of building it is to be able to have a place to relax. Maybe what you really need is to just go buy a house for your immediate family.” I said it in a joking tone, but I was somewhat serious. I couldn’t imagine vacationing with my mother, Henry, or any top member of the SCI to be remotely enjoyable.
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