As soon as I took a few steps away from the car, the sounds and activity of the city burst into my consciousness. Traffic, people, cars, trains, drones. All of it. The flashing lights of the emergency response vehicles not far off down the block informed me of my destination.
I took off running down the street, unnoticed by the people I wove around. My heart pounded in my chest and as soon as I felt the air gusts tickling my fingers, I took two leaping jumps before launching myself into the air. I shot upward in a radical spiral, rolling over once as I dodged a sketchy drone. The sweet evening air flooded my lungs, and the exhilaration of the fast flight set off a wave of goosebumps over my flesh. I felt the wind lashing my face, but none of that happened to my torso. The suit blocked almost all air flow and allowed me to cut the turbulence slightly.
My journey slowed as I neared the building where half a dozen drones shined lights on the topmost cornered edge. Illuminated by the blue-white lights stood the figure of a teenager. She covered her face, and her soft sobs broke through the mass of chaos below us. The rooftop filled with uniformed police officers, one of which stood only a few feet from her. She didn't say anything, but the girl just cried. I focused my vision, zooming in to get a better look when I noticed the destroyed-wash purple jean jacket. My heart leapt in my chest as the hair on the back of my neck and on my arms stood on end.
"Cressida," I burst forth, my voice cracking despite the robotic distortion.
I shot closer to her, but hung a little lower just in case I needed a sharp down turn. "Cressida, hi. Can you hear me?"
"Go away," she cried, her palms still pressed to her face.
"Look at me. Look at my colors." As soon as I said it, the girl's hands jerked away from her face.
Shimmering silver eyes reflected the lights around her like pools of mercury caught in the sunlight. No pupils filled the center, only the liquid hot core of her gaze. Her petite brows crinkled, and the wave of relieved panic seemed to shock her.
Veyda, it's you. Her tiny voice burst into my head.
Yes. It's me. What are you doing up there, honey? Are you okay? I forced my panicked voice to meet her telepathic communication as before.
They put me here. Everyone thinks I'm going to jump! She cried harder then, covering her face again.
Who put you here? I shifted closer to her, holding my hands up to the police officers who rushed toward the edge. I shook my head at them and said, "Stay back from her."
"Protector, we need to secure—"
"I've got her. Step away."
To my surprise, they listened to me, and I returned my attention to Cressida. Cressida, who put you here?
I can't move my feet. She sniffled then looked down at her sneaker-covered feet teetering on the very edge of the building. I can't move! No one's listening to me.
Okay. I'm listening to you. I hear you. Can I come closer?
She nodded and wiped her eyes on her sleeves while she watched me.
I rolled my wrists to ask the wind to guide me forward and my boots thunked gently beside hers on the edge of the building. What's holding you here?
My shoes are stuck. They did something to them. I-I can't move. I'll fall. I'll fall!
You won't fall if I'm holding you, right? The worst that can happen is we'll fly together, okay?
She nodded again and I held my hands out to her. Every sense in my body quelled, focusing on the kid in distress. My thoughts slowed as I processed the flooding stimuli in clean, neat lines as if my consciousness shifted to allow it space.
Cressida reached for me, and I wrapped my arms around her middle. Gasps rang out from below us, followed by clapping. I ignored it as she hugged me around the neck.
I got you, okay? Let me figure out how to get you down. Sure enough, when I attempted to lift her, her shoes remained stuck to the edge of the building.
See? They did this.
Who, honey? Let me untie them. Keep holding on to me, okay?
Okay. She choked on a sob as I slowly crouched down. Her trembling, ice-cold hands never left my shoulders while I pulled her laces free. Hyroita and Calua. Boys at my school. They're Offlanders, too. Calua did something with his spit. They hate me. She drew in a shaky breath. Because they don't like my planet. I'm scared.
I got you, sweetie. You won't fall. I loosened the laces, then gripped her knee. Try and lift this leg.
I can. She slipped her foot out of her shoe. I was scared to bend over. They took my communicator and my phone.
We'll get them back, but let's get you safe first. Step out of the other shoe. I got you. I held her around the middle now and watched as she now stood beside her shoes. See? All good.
A strangled cry left her and she hugged me around the neck. I lifted her from the edge of the building and thrust us upward as a wave of cheers erupted around us. The clapping escalated and the whizzing of a drone around us brought a sudden swell of annoyance to me. I thrust my hand out toward it, sending it sailing off course in a downward spiral.
Cressida giggled despite the gray-blue tears that streamed her cheeks. I chuckled and slowly glided down with her toward the rooftop. The police officers swarmed us, but stopped when I held my hand out again.
"This girl was not trying to jump. Two school bullies put her up here and somehow glued her shoes to the edge of the building. Where are her parents?"
"We haven't called them yet, Protector. We don't know who she is," said one of the women in uniform.
Behind her, a black-haired, shorter woman stood in plain clothes with a badge around her neck. She narrowed her eyes at me and folded her arms over her chest.
"I'll take her home," I said, my brows narrowing in their direction. "And you can meet us there."
"Protector—"
"She's going to take me home," said Cressida, finally looking up at them. Determination flooded her tear-stained face, and she pursed her lips.
"You can interview her there."
"Protector, how will we know—"
"I'll meet you back at the station in fifteen minutes. Her parents are going to panic when they see the drone footage on the news. It can't wait."
The uniformed officer turned to the angry faced one that I knew to be Chief James, Nalea's boss. She nodded to the officer, then met my gaze. I returned the gesture, then pulled Cressida to me again.
"Ready? Don't want those feet getting too cold now."
"Ready." A small laugh escaped her while she held my gaze. Every time she blinked, her silvery eyes shimmered, and I noted the translucent nictitating membrane that seemed to blink right to left instead of up and down.
"Hold on tight." The wind swirled around us, and I jumped straight up toward the sky.
Cressida gasped, her fingers digging into my shoulders, but she never stopped looking around
Gotta tell me where you live.
Oh. Not far. Two blocks over.
Do you have a balcony or fire escape?
Yes. Can we go in that way? Excitement filled her tone and I laughed. I'm flying!
Yes, we can. Point the way.
I followed her directions all the way to her apartment on the seventh floor. I landed gently with the wind still swirling around us. She set her sock-covered feet down on the fire escape, then knocked on the window.
Cressida, we can't tell anyone who I am, okay?
I know. She looked over her shoulder at me while her mother raced to the window. I promise.
I nodded and gave her shoulder a squeeze
A woman, just as petite as Cressida with waist-length white hair, threw the window open. Wide, silver eyes stared at the two of us.
"Hi, Mom. I got a ride home." Cressida giggled a little before climbing in the window with her mother's help.
"Oh my gosh, Cressida. What's gone on here?" The woman hugged her, her eyes nearly bugging out of her head.
"She's all right," I said right away. "She was put in serious danger by two bullies at her school. The police are going to come talk to her about
it and make sure those boys have consequences."
"Cressida, are you okay?" The woman cupped the girl's face in her hands, and the way their facial expressions shifted, I could tell they spoke with telepathy.
Cressida nodded and motioned to me.
"You might see some scary footage on the news tonight, but know that she is okay," I said, standing upright again. "I'm going to go talk to the police now."
"Please, I-I don't want police here, Protector…" The woman's panic nearly matched mine.
"Not I.P.P.A. Just regular police for a regular matter. Okay?"
She nodded and looked to Cressida again. A small smile tugged the corner of her mouth. "You're friends with my daughter?"
"We go way back." My chuckle sounded strange through the mask.
Thank you for taking care of her. You're Andromedan, yes?
I am. She's a good girl and those boys are going to be in serious trouble. One of them must be from Reptalon. He used his saliva to bond her shoes to the edge of a building. She was very scared, but she's okay. I'm going to take care of this, okay?
My husband is not registered…
No one will be here about that, okay?
She nodded, and kissed Cressida's forehead. All right.
My name's Veyda, I said, gulping after the disclosure, but knew very well she would be able to recognize my colors in public the same way Cressida did.
Cyriah. Thank you, Veyda, for saving my daughter.
Remember, the news will seem scary. She was not trying to jump. I'll come back with the police, but watch from the shadows, okay? You'll be able to talk to me and probably see me. The humans won't.
I'd like that. Thank you.
"Honey, do you feel okay enough to get washed up for dinner? Your dad will be home soon," Cyriah said while stroking Cressida's face.
"I can. I don't have my phone or communicator anymore. They took them, Mom."
"Those things can be replaced." She smooched her forehead. "You can't be."
Cressida smiled and looked back to me. Thanks, Veyda.
You're welcome. I'll come back in a little bit after I talk to the police, okay?
Yeah. She waved to me, and I winked at her before stepping back onto the balcony.
With a flourish meant only to entertain the watchful eyes of Cressida, I barreled off between the buildings, then shot up toward the moon.
My heart slammed riotous rhythms as I headed toward the police station where I would promptly deliver the two boys in question.
"Hear all that?" I said to Nalea, knowing she was listening.
"Most of it. You kept getting quiet."
"Kid was a telepath. I'm meeting your boss at the precinct. Take everyone home."
"Veyda, you okay?"
"Not very. Two Offlander boys nearly killed an Offlander girl because of some planetary dislike that none of them ever experienced themselves."
"Bullying takes all sorts of forms, Vey…"
"I'm pissed off."
"I know. James called me, by the way…"
"Figured she would. I may or may not have broken lots of protocols to give a terrified kid a flying lesson…"
"That's pretty much what she said, but she didn't seem mad about it."
"Take Harlow back home with you? Tell her I'll be there soon."
"I will. Be careful."
"Always am."
Nalea laughed hard, and I smirked as I landed on the rooftop of the Seattle Police Department only to face the scowling, yet amused, glare of Chief Salinger James. Her wrath, unlike any other, would surely tear me to bits.
"Who we picking up?" she asked.
"Two Offlander boys. I'll tell you where to find them."
"You gonna fly me too?" She cocked a brow at me while fighting a smirk.
"Actually, yeah. Why not?" I held my arms out to her. "Bring it in."
"Fuck off, Veyda." She laughed at me and flipped me off. "Meet you in the car. Unless you'd like to ride on the roof in hope of some more dramatic news shots. I hear that reporter might win a Pulitzer because of your showboating."
"I was capturing a criminal for the FBI!" I groaned and flopped my hands at my hips. "Fine. Car. But I'm hiding in the trunk."
"We're following your nose to these Offlander kids?" She turned her back on me and I followed her down the staircase that led to the parking garage.
"Something like that."
"Hmm. Cool. I'm in."
"Always up for rule breaking, Chief James."
"No shit. Who you think made half the rules anyway?"
"The government."
"The other half, ya fuckin' shithead."
"Your wife."
"Fuckin' a."
I laughed at her and shook my head all the way to the car.
Chapter Seventeen
"Where are you, Vey?" Nalea's voice over our comms chimed in. "It's late."
"I'm fine." I glanced down at my feet that dangled some six-hundred feet above the ground as I perched myself on the edge of the Space Needle.
"Well, I know that. Where are you?"
"I'll be home soon."
"Harlow is worried about you…" Her voice trailed off for a moment. "She says she knows that you're upset. Are you upset?"
I swiped at my cheeks before watching a stray tear tumble toward the Earth. I didn't answer her and focused my hearing on the background noise in the comms. "She didn't say that. She's asleep." Harlow's soft breaths matched Elara's calm ones, giving away their positions. I could pick up on Audra's heart beat close to Nalea's.
"She said it before she fell asleep. Are you upset, Veyda?"
"I'm fine."
"Veyda…" Nalea's voice tightened and I heard her walking away from Harlow's breathing. "If she wakes up and you're not here, it'll upset her."
"I know." I drew in a slow breath. "I'm coming."
"Good."
"But I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay. Just come home."
I pressed the off button on the comms and stared down at my feet. My thoughts continued to spiral around Cressida and the story the boys told. The image of Harlow's beautiful face slowed them down. The ache to be near her washed over me, rolling heat up my legs and settling in my mouth in a manner that made me crave. Just the thought of her, memories of her scent, her arms around me made me want to run across the world to hurry into them.
I leapt off the edge of the Space Needle, allowing the air to cushion my descent.
It took less than five minutes to make it home, and I didn't use any of the doors. I hugged the shadows of Nalea's living room where Harlow slept on the sofa under Nalea's watchful eye. Elara slept upstairs and Audra fiddled with something in their bedroom as I listened to her feet on the carpet above us.
Harlow stirred, blinking her eyes to focus, but her gaze shot immediately to the corner of the room where I stood. I couldn't help the smile her attention brought to my face and my heart gave a great leap in my chest.
Nalea's brow furrowed, and she followed Harlow's focus, but her gaze flickered all over the place.
"Veyda, I see you," said Harlow, a soft chuckle leaving her after. "C'mere."
"Hi, honey." My robotic voice annoyed me slightly. The shadows whooshed around me when I released them and headed over to her.
"Hi, sneaky." She held her arms out to me and I melted into them. She pulled my hat off right away and we slouched together in the cushions.
Nalea watched us, her brow furrowing. "You could see her, Harlow?"
"Not directly, but I could tell she was there." She slipped her finger around the corner of my mask and urged it off my ear. "Off with this."
"'Kay." I let her take it, and it faded from her fingers to settle itself back into the ear cuff.
Harlow watched me, her eyes searching my face as she stroked my cheeks. "You've been crying."
"A little."
"Hang on here." Nalea held her hands up to me. "I thought you said no one could remove your suit from you."
&n
bsp; "The mask isn't part of it I guess," I said, stroking my hand over Harlow's stomach. "I'm tired."
"I see this." She traced her finger under my chin so that I'd look up at her. "Let's go to bed."
"Veyda, the mask is a part of the suit." Nalea's confused expression continued. "And a really important part. What if someone tries to pull it off?"
"Nae, my other mask was literally a Halloween costume piece. Anyone could've always pulled it off."
"But this one was supposed to be safer…" Her gaze flickered to Harlow. "If it's not, I don't want you out there alone. I need to be there like always."
My heart sank a little at her declaration. I'd noticed how we weren't on duty together as much as before, but I figured it was because of the new baby. "Can we talk about it tomorrow?"
"Only if you promise no superheroing without me until we figure out the suit situation." Nalea stood up and held her hand out to me.
I took it in my gloved hand and gave her a squeeze. "Are we shaking on it?"
"Yes." She smirked and glanced between me and Harlow.
"Liar." I tugged her closer and urged her into a hug. "I know you're worried. I'm okay."
"I know." She smooched my cheek. "We'll talk tomorrow like you said."
"'Kay."
"Night." She wiggled her fingers at us before heading toward the stairs.
I returned my attention to Harlow. "I still don't have any lamps."
She chuckled softly and stood with me, her hand held tightly in mine. "You'll have to lead the way then."
"You're leading me right now." I scuttled up behind her and grabbed her in a hug once we made it to my side of the house.
She laughed and leaned into me. "The kitchen lights are on and the bathrooms. It helps."
"It does. Did you eat, honey?"
"Nalea fixed some pizzas for us. I'm okay. Did you eat?"
I shook my head then kissed her cheek before releasing her to head upstairs. "I'm okay though."
Harlow sat on the edge of the bed when we made it to my room and held her arms to me. I came to stand between her knees, pulling off my gloves before running my fingers through her hair. She watched me, her eyes soft and understanding as if she already knew what I wanted to say. Heat burned my face along with the stinging in my eyes as I fought the tangled emotions that warred inside me.
Jawbreaker (Four Point Universe Book 14) Page 29
