by Liz Long
“I think he lost that vote when we found out I was a Firestarter.”
“I don’t mean it that way. Lucy, your father was a great friend to Sheffield, but that meant he was a bully to a lot of other people. If you ask me, he got you out of the circus to get you away from Sheffield. I think he wanted to prevent you from becoming like him.”
“For all I know you could be making this entire thing up for whatever twisted little reason,” I replied. “My father was a good man.”
“Yes, he was, when he wasn’t around Sheffield. When he wasn’t doing Sheffield’s bidding, he was enjoyable. He always talked about you and your mother. But when it turned to business, he was a hard-shelled man who became angry, violent, and unforgiving. It was all about money for the show and power for gifted who felt they were better than others.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said calmly.
“Don’t you wonder why he traveled so often? Why he lied about taking business trips? He was here or out convincing other gifted to join his group. Even I saw the age in his face when I last saw him years ago.”
“You’re lying to me and I will tell Sheffield you’ve been here.”
“I expect as much. You’ll find out the truth soon enough; it always comes out in the end. You’re smart and I’m willing to bet pretty self-reliant.”
“At least you’ve figured out that much. Now Felix, I have a question for you.”
He stood up and opened his arms in a welcoming manner. “By all means.”
“What are you doing here? Surely you didn’t track me down to tell me some story about past differences between you and my dad.”
“I’ve wanted to see you again for a long time, Lucy. I knew you as a child, before you could really comprehend your own power. I was sorry to hear about your parents’ passing and wondered if you’d come back to your roots. You’re special. I know you’re talented, not just because of your father, but I’ve heard about your fire shows since you’ve returned. I think you’re the key to taking Sheffield Donovan down once and for all.”
Chapter 23
I couldn’t help it—my eyebrows shot up into my hairline in surprise. He caught my reaction and took a few cautious steps towards me, palms up so I wouldn’t get defensive.
“Things need to change. You’re powerful and skilled in a way your father never was—he got caught up with Sheffield and his plans. You’re smart enough to avoid the traps early. He used to talk about how honest and direct you were, how clever and candid you were even as a child. You’re about right and wrong and what Sheffield is doing is wrong. Once you see that, maybe you’ll rethink your situation.”
“Even if what you were saying is true—and I’m not agreeing with you at all, by the way—what makes you think I could do that? What do you get out of all of this?”
Felix shrugged. “I’ve been watching all of this happen for the last twenty-five years. It was wrong then and it’s wrong now.”
A bark of laughter escaped me. “You’re telling me the difference? You’re a human taking gifts that aren’t yours!”
I saw a fleeting moment of anger on his face but it disappeared so quick I wondered if I imagined it. His right hand flew up, tapped the side of his glasses and went back down to his side again. When he spoke again, his voice sounded strained, as though he was holding back his rage.
“I’ve been fighting with Sheffield a long time. The way he treats other gifted…and he’s worse with my kind. He thinks humans are beneath you all. I tried to prove to him that we aren’t disposable playthings. Some of us are brilliant individuals who want to help integrate you into society because we believe in equality. I thought maybe I could take those first steps when I accidentally borrowed a Levitator gift. However, that means equality on both sides, not just ours.”
“I don’t even understand why you’re telling me any of this,” I almost shouted. Now frustrated and confused, I couldn’t keep my control much longer.
“Stop yelling, girl!” he hissed through gritted teeth. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck and I knew I hated him. “I want you to help me take him down.”
I snapped. “And how the hell do you think I’ll agree to that? Even better, what’s your big plan?
“I want to use your blood to create a multi-gifted being which will be able to take down Sheffield.”
I was so stunned that I couldn’t speak for a second. A multi-gifted being? No such person had ever existed. For whatever reason some of us were gifted, we were only given one gift. I wanted to wipe Felix’s smug look off his face.
“Sheffield could take that away at one touch if he were a Collector,” I argued.
“His body wouldn’t be able to handle it. It’s too much power—he’s not built for it.”
“You don’t know that for sure. Wouldn’t his touch just transfer it back to him? His body is built for taking gifts that aren’t his, if I understand it correctly.”
“But that’s just it—if I create a being that can handle more than one, who’s to say Sheffield would get all of it? Maybe he gets one gift and once he has it, he can’t get rid of it or switch with another touch. If that person is prepared for it, he can make sure Sheffield gets a power that can be overtaken. It’s never been done. It would be the biggest breakthrough in gifted history, to create a individual so powerful.”
“Let me guess. You want to be the test subject.”
“I haven’t had much luck injecting a gift into someone that already has one. It seems as though I need a new canvas to make it work.”
My head spun but I grasped his plan. If someone had the gift of say, a Telepath and a Firestarter, could he plan it so that Sheffield touched him in defense and took the passive gift? If that could happen, then all Felix had to do was throw a fireball. Sheffield wouldn’t even register what happened before Felix killed him. I thought of something else.
“But if Sheffield inherits all gifts, that leaves you defenseless. He would kill you.”
“Yes, he would. You could see why I’d rather it not be me. But it’s worth the risk if it’s the only way.”
“How would you even plan it so that he’d take a specific gift?”
“It’s been part of my research,” he replied. “But Collectors are one of the rarest gifted and I can only assume it’s correct. I’ve got a few cards up my sleeve.”
“So you want me to volunteer my blood so that you can destroy Sheffield.”
“You have enormous power.”
“It’s not like that. It doesn’t just happen. You have to grow with it, learn to control it. It takes more than having a gift to be gifted. Otherwise you’re just a person who lights shit on fire using jazz hands.”
“I’m sure I’m not the first person to tell you that you underestimate yourself. It’s not all about skill—it’s more than that. One must have the ability to go far and you have it. One can use energy and constantly practice, but it also takes power and that’s not something one can simply learn.”
“You don’t need me. You can use any Firestarter.”
“I don’t want any Firestarter. I’ve met several and there are none like you. I witnessed your power as a child and knew you would be great. You are everything I wish I could’ve had at that age.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I want to share something with you, something only my wife knows.” He paused and looked my way. I raised an eyebrow, curious to see where this was headed.
Felix undid the buttons of the wrists of his shirt and slowly rolled up the long white sleeves. He came closer, stepped into the shallow pool of light that spilled in from the circus grounds. I leaned in despite my misgivings and saw scars all over Felix’s arms. Tiny little circles scattered across his pale skin like freckles.
“Are those cigarette burns?” I asked.
“Not quite. You see, I loved science even as a young boy. My favorite hobby was frying ants with a magnifying glass on my sidewalk. Inhumane perhaps, but at nine years old, it kept m
e entertained. One afternoon, a bully approached me. My father, his science teacher, flunked him for cheating. This boy stole my magnifying glass out of my hands. He straddled me and proceeded to fry my skin.”
I looked at the shiny white spots and felt nauseous. Marks covered Felix’s skin. I could even make out scars on his neck behind the collared shirt. I looked at his face again, processed his severely broken nose and quiet, geeky demeanor. I would bet my gift that the torture had continued for several years.
“I don’t understand what that has to do with me.”
“When I met you, I knew not a single being would dare challenge you. You were strong, stubborn, even then. Over the years, I saw you were too smart, too righteous to use your gift against a tormenter.” He gave me a very small smile, one I could even believe to be genuine, before his voice grew dark. “And I wished more than anything in the world I had been a Firestarter at your age.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m sorry for your childhood, but why are you telling me this?”
“You have a stake in all of this, Lucy.”
“I don’t see how. It looks to me like you want to use me and have me think it was revenge for something I’m not even aware of.”
“Sheffield didn’t kill your father, obviously. It’s not about revenge. It’s about power. Sheffield is a bully and he will hurt you as he has hurt others. It’s a matter of time. You can stop him, maybe before it comes to anything. He’s a cold hearted bastard for his own hide, but I think he’d do anything for you.”
“I think you’re exaggerating quite a bit. We’re not that close.”
“Your father was his best friend. You have emotional sway over him. He owes it to Lenny to keep you safe from others out there against him. You’re smart and promising, already powerful. He wants you on his side. It’s both a business and personal decision.”
“You haven’t told me how you’ll convince me to change my mind, Dr. Hardy.”
“I think you’ll agree with me when the truth finally comes out, when you see all sides. If Sheffield actually does confess to his sins, you’ll hear it firsthand.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Judge his attitude. See if he gets edgy about his gift. Provoke him.”
“I don’t even know how I would do that.”
“Then you can ask him about the townies. That seems to be a reasonable subject to bring up without making him too suspicious,” he suggested.
“What townies?” My heart dropped into my stomach. How could he know about that night?
“You know. Those idiots from the bar who claimed some circus freak lit his truck on fire. They run their mouths, then one of them goes missing and no one talks?”
I felt all the blood drain from my face. No one ever mentioned the incident after that night. I thought everyone wanted to put it past them. Had Sheffield done something to them to prevent them from going to the police? I said nothing but looked at Felix as he lowered his voice and leaned in towards me with that know-it-all smile and a gossipy tone.
“Well, the other day I happened to hear about this massive fire at a nearby bar where the circus had just arrived. My curiosity piqued, I found the remaining men and managed to persuade a few words out of them. They seem to recall a pretty young redhead who burned their friend’s arm. He seemed intent to repay the favor and somehow, a circus freak, as they call him, but you and I know to be a Firestarter, lit a truck on fire and it exploded. They found their friend out cold in the brush, pants around his ankles. Now he’s gone without warning.”
“Is there any proof that Sheffield may have a hand in the guy’s disappearance? Why would he do that?”
“The guy, Mac they called him, phoned his friends later that night. Something about a mustached man with a very large partner who tore his house and his ribs apart. Now he’s gone; his friends are smart enough to keep their mouths shut at least. I’m willing to bet Sheffield thought he was protecting you. Now, I completely disagree with how he took his anger out on him, but maybe death wasn’t something you would choose for him.”
“I don’t even…” My immediate horror and guilt kept me from any actual response. If that was true, I was the reason a man was dead. He might have been scum, but he deserved a jail cell, not murder. He was someone’s son, maybe a brother or father. A ball of guilt sat heavy in my stomach.
“If you don’t believe me, retrace your steps and you’ll find the same men I interrogated. You can ask them for yourself,” he said confidently. “Then ask Sheffield what he knows. I know I’m curious to see how he’ll respond.”
“Maybe I will,” I stated flatly, wanting to call his bluff. Felix didn’t even blink; was he telling the truth?
“I’ll give you some time to think things over and talk to Sheffield,” he said. “I will visit with you again in a few days, see if you’ve considered my offer.”
I gave him a curt nod and turned to walk away. My brain was on overload.
“Oh, Lucy,” he called, and I paused but didn’t turn around. “Be careful who you trust.”
I walked back to my trailer without a second glance. I didn’t fall asleep until nearly sunrise.
Chapter 24
Delia was out of the camper before I even woke up the next morning. I stayed in bed for a while, wondering if I could hide under the covers for several weeks. I didn’t know what to do. Did I talk to Sheffield or pretend my conversation with Felix never happened? I wondered if I’d made the right choice in coming here. I was almost worried to find out what new information I’d hear if I did go to Sheffield, but was I willing to stay in the dark?
If Felix’s side held even a little validity, did that mean that my father helped Sheffield hurt other people? I couldn’t bear to imagine if that were true; everything I believed about him would be a lie. He’d taught me my entire life to not only control my gift with caution, but to never use it against others. He’d be the world’s biggest hypocrite.
I finally told myself Sheffield needed to know Felix was in the area. My brain might be addled with confusion, but I trusted my instincts enough to know Felix was dangerous. That meant that others were in jeopardy, regardless of whatever side he claimed to be on. I got showered and dressed and when I went to step outside, I had a guest at my door.
“Keegan,” I said, surprised, as I opened my front door to find him about to knock. He held a tray filled with plastic utensils and bowls, small cereal boxes with milk cartons, and orange juice in paper cups.
“Thought I’d bring you breakfast. How’s it going?”
“Uh, I’m okay.” I motioned for him to come in.
We sat down at the small kitchen table and prepared our breakfast. It went quiet for a moment and I looked over at his handsome face. Keegan smiled slightly as he put milk over his cereal before he caught me looking.
“What?”
“Nothing.” I ate a spoonful of Cheerios.
“I didn’t really get to catch up with you yesterday. Everything go ok?”
“It was the same as it’s been. Mostly everyone ignored me.”
“At least they’ve stopped shoving you,” he sighed. “I’m sorry.”
We quickly finished breakfast and got up to walk to the door. As I reached the doorknob, Keegan touched my shoulder. I turned around and he pressed his lips to mine. Geez, no one around here asked anymore. I had now kissed more people in twelve hours than I did my entire sophomore year of high school.
He pulled away after a second and looked at me. “I hope that was okay to do.”
“Of course it was,” I said. I pasted on a smile much bigger than I felt. “Come on, let’s walk together.”
We stepped out and began out towards the Big Top. As we walked side by side, his hand reached for mine and held tight. If I weren’t so worried about Felix and my need to talk to Sheffield, I’d have been pleased. Nikolas caught up with us within minutes.
“Hey,” he said. He glanced at our hands before putting his attention on Keegan. “Your bike is mess
ing up. Can we go take a look at it and get it fixed before tonight?”
“Yeah, of course,” Keegan said. He gave me a disappointed look. “Sorry, Lucy.”
“I totally understand. Your bike is definitely more important.”
“I’d argue with you, but unfortunately there’s not much show without a bike. Talk to you later,” he said. He and Nikolas took off towards the vehicle area where their bikes were kept.
I knew this was my chance to find Sheffield. I eventually found him in the Big Top testing his microphone and sound system. He greeted me with a tight smile, the corners of his mouth not quite reaching his eyes.
“Doing all right today, kid?”
I shook my head. “Felix found me last night.”
His demeanor instantly changed. He frowned and I saw his hands form into fists at his sides. He glanced around the tent and made sure no one paid us any attention. He lowered his voice.
“Where? Was he alone?”
“Yeah, he was alone. I went for a walk and he confronted me in the parking lot.”
“You shouldn’t be going anywhere by yourself.” His voice was disapproving and my temper flared.
“I can take care of myself. Besides, it sounds like you’ve been handling things just fine behind my back.”
Sheffield’s eyes narrowed. “And what exactly did Felix tell you?”
“How about that my attacker from the bar called his friends and described men that match you and Marty coming to his house and kicking the shit out of him? Ring any bells?”
“He deserved to be punished after what he did to you.”
“So you admit it then? You and Marty beat the hell out of him? Killed or kidnapped him to make sure he never talked?”
His face clouded over in confusion. “Killed him? No. We made sure he got the point across he was never to come near us again. Marty broke a few ribs and I made sure he’d need a dentist the next day. He quickly saw the error of his ways and we left him in his house.”
“His friends told Felix he’s gone, that he called them to warn you might come for them too. They haven’t seen him since that night.”
