by Alicia Fabel
Freaking hell.
Annessa released a sigh of relief when they made it inside. Heated air washed over her. For some ridiculous reason, her body shivered harder. “How do you people live like this?” Annessa asked when her nose started to run.
Axton just grinned.
Annessa wiped the tears from her cheeks. To top it off, she suddenly had to pee. Elion and Sam were still talking to the airport officials and pilots. Outside. It was as if they couldn’t feel the cold at all.
“So what guild do your pilots belong to?” Annessa asked.
“None of them,” Axton answered. “They’re norms—normals.”
“But they know about Legend Academy,” Annessa observed. “I thought that was a no-no.”
“Once in a while, norms get entangled in our society and choose to become our allies.”
“So they figure out too much, and the guilds keep them close so they never forget to keep what they know to themselves,” Annessa interpreted.
“You make it sound like the mafia when you put it like that.”
“You’re saying it’s not like that?”
“It’s complicated,” Axton hedged.
Yeah, being in the Psychic Mafia must be exceptionally complicated. Meanwhile, just looking at them having a meeting out on the tarmac made her start shivering all over again, which did not help her bladder situation.
“I’m going to the restroom,” she informed Axton.
“I’ll wait here for you,” he assured.
She raised a brow. “And here I was worried you were just going to abandon me now that you got me to this frozen wasteland.”
“Worried? Or hoped?”
“Hey, a girl can dream,” she retorted with half a smile.
It stayed there until she saw herself in the long mirror over a row of sinks. Her hair hung limply around her face, and for some reason, looking into her own eyes made her throat tighten. But she would not cry. If she cried, her eyes would get blotchy. Then they would all look at her with pity and ask if she was okay. And her escorts were the last people she wanted comforting her.
Annessa ran her hands under the tap. She patted cold water on her cheeks and over her eyelids. A stall behind her opened. The girl made it halfway to the sink before she stopped in her tracks.
“Please, I’m no threat,” said the girl.
“Huh?” Annessa looked around to see if someone else was in the restroom, but it was just the two of them. “Are you okay?”
And then Annessa did a double take. Long delicate fangs curved down from the girl’s mouth. Those hadn’t been there before. Annessa pressed her back against the sink and edged toward the exit. “You’re a Phyton.”
Fangy girl backed up in the other direction. “Please don’t hurt me.”
That made Annessa pause. “You’re worried I’m going to hurt you?”
“I haven’t done anything.” Her eyes darted down.
Annessa realized that Zoom was stretched nearly to the girl’s feet, as if the wisp was trying to push the girl back. She was already up against a wall. And she was scared.
“Zoom, enough.” The wisp acted like he didn’t hear her, and Annessa didn’t know how to call him off. She moved backward, but he stayed. “Come on, Zoom. Let’s go.” Still nothing. “Sorry,” she told the girl.
“You’re not guilded are you?” asked the girl.
“I don’t know what that means.”
“Academy-pledged,” the girl clarified.
“How can you tell?” Annessa scuffed her toe over Zoom, trying to pull him back but failing.
“The fact that I’m still standing for one,” she said. “And no offense, but you’re not a very good bender.”
“That’s because I’m not a bender.” Annessa gave up. Zoom was determined.
“Then how do you have a wisp?”
“He’s on loan from a friend.”
“Is your friend here?” The girl’s eyes darted to the doorway.
“He’s waiting for me outside,” Annessa answered.
The Phyton tugged at the sleeves of her shirt. “I promise that I’m harmless.”
“You’re really not what I expected,” Annessa admitted.
“If one of your friends comes to check on you, they won’t stop long enough to make that same conclusion.”
“I’ll go.” Annessa took a step backward, but the girl stopped her.
“Are they taking you to the Academy?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Nothing. It’s just… Maybe remember that we aren’t all your enemies. Some of us just want to live our lives and don’t give two craps about returning to the old ways.”
“Do a lot of your people that feel that way?”
The girl hesitated.
“So no,” Annessa concluded.
“Not as many as I wished, but our numbers are growing.”
Annessa nodded, hiked her backpack higher on her shoulder, and left the restroom. Zoom caught up to her, but he didn’t stop there. The tattle-tale rushed right up to Axton, who tensed and eyed the restroom dangerously. A mom ushered two young girls inside.
“She’s not a threat,” Annessa told him.
“You don’t know…” Axton winced, seeming to remember who he was talking to.
Annessa clenched her jaw and blinked away the sting in her eyes. What a time for her tear ducts to finally wake up. “That girl is just traveling and minding her own business.”
“Did she say anything?”
“Besides begging me not to kill her, no.”
Axton frowned. “I don’t like it.”
“I don’t like a lot of things right now, but I’m doing them.” Annessa clenched her fists by her sides. “If I can do this, then you can walk away.”
“I’m going to pee before we get our shuttle over to the helicopter,” Sam announced, bursting through the doors. Cold air clung to her.
“Wait,” Annessa called. “It’s out of order. But there’s another one farther down.” She didn’t actually know that, but she assumed there had to be.
Sam frowned. “You just came out of there.”
“I just washed my hands and face. I still have to pee, so can we hurry?” Annessa looked to Axton, waiting for him to call her out. He didn’t. He did become very quiet, though. Not only for the walk to the restrooms, but also for the shuttle ride across the icy airport to the helicopter pad. And maybe it was just the noise of that flying beast, but he stayed quiet for their trip to the Academy too. Annessa found it was hard to enjoy the view of the mountains as they flew overhead when she felt his eyes on her.
Elion sat stiffly on the hard-backed chair outside his dad’s study. He’d considered starting a conversation with Ness a few times. Every time he looked over, though, she stared straight ahead as if she wanted to forget he was there. So he tapped a finger against his leg instead. When the heavy wood doors finally opened, Ax and Samara hurried out.
“Good luck,” Ax murmured.
Elion squared his shoulders and stepped inside the mahogany-paneled room.
Suck.
Elion’s dad wasn’t alone. His mom had apparently snuck in the back way. Her fighting leathers and severe ebony topknot were a direct contrast to his father’s unruly flop of dark hair and rumpled professor’s sweater. Even though they both had the same dusky features as Elion, they were complete opposites. And where his dad might be swayed into understanding Elion’s recent choices, his mom would not. There was no gray as far as she was concerned.
“Sit,” his father ordered.
Elion knew better than to push his luck. He sat without argument, taking in a lungful of leather-and-book scented air as he did. His parents just looked at him. Either they were pissed speachless, or they were waiting for his explanation.
“None of this is Samara’s or Axton’s fault,” Elion began. “They just went along to give me backup.”
“Oh, we are aware,” bit his mother. “And because of you, they missed their weapons exams. Which means they
’re failing my class now.”
“If you let them make it up, they’ll pass with flying colors,” Elion urged. “You know they will.”
“And you know I don’t offer make-up exams. They’ll have to repeat the course over the summer.”
“That’s not fair,” Elion argued.
“No,” his mother barked. “It’s not. It’s not fair you held them back. It’s not fair you endangered not only them and yourself, but also the entire community. So how about next time, you at least pretend to have some sense in your head.”
“Annessa was in trouble,” Elion gritted.
“It seems to me that you haven’t helped her much in that regard,” pointed out his father. “She’s in more trouble now than ever. And when that catches up to her, she’ll wish her end had been as merciful as the one she was supposed to face.”
Elion’s mouth fell open. “I was supposed to let her die?”
“It is not your right to change someone’s fate,” said his mom.
“Unless the guilds decide that changing someone’s fate is somehow beneficial to the community, right, Mother?”
“That’s enough, Elion.” His father interjected. “Either way, it’s too late to go back—”
“Because our son refuses to master his art,” his mother cut in bitterly.
“If you let her stay here as a guest, I’ll resume my training,” Elion offered.
“And once we find her shadow?” His mother leaned her hip against his dad’s desk.
“If you cut her loose, no strings attached, I won’t stop training once she’s gone.” It was the best and only bargaining chip Elion had. So it had better be enough, because he was done breaking his promises to Annessa.
“We can’t just let her leave here unchecked,” his mother said. At least it wasn’t a flat-out no.
“You can if she doesn’t learn anything that could be used against us,” Elion argued.
“She already knows you’re a Legend,” his mom shared. “I plucked that from her mind the second she walked through the front doors.”
“But she has no idea what that means, and I’ll make sure she doesn’t figure it out.”
“You’re not hearing us,” said his father. “She knows your identity.”
“After what happened in Florida, my identity is not a secret anymore,” Elion replied. “But she doesn’t know the identities of the rest, and she won’t find that out.”
“Is that all you want?” his dad asked perceptively. “For her to be given asylum until her shadow is returned?”
“I also want you to relocate her when this is all over. Somewhere a Phyton is not likely to stumble across her.”
“You’re full of demands for someone on the guild’s shit-list after yesterday’s stunt.” His mom shook her head. “We aren’t in the norm witness protection business.”
“It’s two demands,” Elion clenched his jaw with rising frustration. “I think that’s completely reasonable seeing as I’m giving up everything I want for the good of the community,” Elion eyed his parents, daring them to argue. “They owe me this.”
“Hi Annessa,” greeted Mr. Marks when he and Elion emerged from what looked like a library and office mash-up. He smiled warmly. Elion’s smile looked brittle. “Welcome to our home.”
“Thank you.”
“Elion has class soon,” said Mr. Marks. “So we should get moving.”
“To the Academy?” Annessa tensed.
“You can relax. We’re already at the Academy,” replied Mr. Marks. “It’s not so bad, is it?”
“I guess not,” she relented. Not yet.
“Campus is a little farther back on the property,” explained Mr. Marks. “But we thought you’d be more comfortable staying here in our home.”
He wasn’t wrong, although Annessa felt kinda bad for showing up and intruding on their lives. Even if it was his son’s fault that she had to. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“It’s no burden,” Mr. Marks assured. “Plus, it will be nice to have someone to play gin rummy with. No one here will play with me.”
“Because you cheat,” Elion said.
Mr. Marks tsked. “Did you ever see me cheating when you were younger, Annessa?”
“Like that means anything,” Elion muttered.
Annessa startled, assessing Mr. Marks in a new light. “Do you read minds?” she asked him.
“Nah, Mom is the tapper in the family,” Elion said for his father. “Dad is an illumer—he sees auras. Makes it fun trying to lie to either of them.”
Elion was trying to be charming. Annessa want to stick out a foot and trip him. The thud of his face smashing against the floor would be oh so satisfying. After everything, his dad would probably understand too. Maybe even applaud her. Elion’s mom had never been Annessa’s fan, but Mr. Marks always seemed to like her.
“Bah.” Mr. Marks stopped in the entryway at the base of a split staircase curving to the second floor. “Why should you want to lie to your parents?”
“Because it’s every kid’s right,” Elion replied.
“So I should feel bad for you?” asked Mr. Marks.
“I wouldn’t,” Annessa piped in. “He lies enough to other people to make up for not getting away with it with you guys.”
Mr. Marks coughed. It sounded suspiciously like he was trying to cover a laugh. Elion glowered and pinched his lips closed. Small miracles.
“Well then,” Mr. Marks cut through the growing tension. “Let’s get you settled into a room.” He eyed her bag and then asked delicately, “Did you have anything else?”
Annessa shook her head. “I didn’t have time to pack much. Maybe I can go back once things settle down.”
Elion started to say something, but his dad cut him off. “For now, what if we see about arranging a trip into town to get you some winter gear? I bet you don’t own much of that.”
“Nope.” Annessa angled so she didn’t have to see Elion eyeing her.
“I should probably get going.” Elion started to walk away, but then stopped and turned around with a sigh. “I’m so sorry about your aunt, Ness. If I could change it…”
“But you can’t.” Mr. Marks interupted and squeezed Elion’s shoulder. Some level of understanding passed between them. Elion’s shoulders sagged, defeated.
Great, now she felt a little guilty for wanting to bloody his face. But it was fleeting. All she had to do was remember his arm around Sam as they walked away from her the year before. Voila. She would happily bean him with a coconut.
Elion took a breath. “Anyway, I’m sorry for everything. If there’s anything I can do to make this easier for you, I’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen.” He waited as though he were awaiting her orders.
“I don’t need anything from you,” Annessa informed him.
6
Annessa rinsed her plate but set it in the sink when she heard someone coming down the hall. The last time she’d cleaned up after herself, the staff had acted as if she were badmouthing their grandmothers. Glass clanking against stainless steel sounded loud after days stuck in the mansion practically alone. For the most part, the staff went out of their way to avoid her, and despite Mr. Marks’s talk, there had been no gin rummy. In fact, she only saw Mr. Marks in passing first thing in the morning on his way out to run the school. And she never saw Mrs. Marks at all.
It had been a seriously long week. Was that really all it had been? She counted the days in her head. Yep. An eternity trapped in a new house, while the life she’d imagined for herself got further and further away.
“Morning, Ness.”
Annessa swung around to face Elion, who stood in the kitchen doorway. “They sent you to take me shopping, didn’t they?”
Elion shook his head. “That trip has been delayed.”
“That’s what your dad tells me every day. What’s their crock-of-bull excuse this time? Fairy alligators in the moat?”
Elion ducked his head and ran a finger over the edge of th
e counter. She knew he was hiding a smile, which only made her want to punch him twice as hard. When he looked up, his expression was serious. That couldn’t mean anything good was coming. Annessa braced herself for the official notice she was never leaving that mountain because she knew too much. Not that it would stop her from trying.
“Actually, that’s why I came. I wanted you to know the truth about why you can’t go into town right now.”
Annessa gasped and threw a hand into the air. “Hold up. I think I’m hallucinating. You’re here to tell the truth?”
“Ha ha.” Elion scowled at her theatrics, which made her unreasonably happy. Until he pulled a folded newspaper article from his pocket and held it out for her.
Annessa reared back. “What’s that?”
“A newspaper.” When she didn’t reach out for it, he added, “It’s not going to magically transport you to the dungeons if you touch it.”
“With you, you never know.”
Annessa took the paper and unfolded it. Her heart stuttered. Body of Jessamine Allen Found. Search continues for Annessa Allen. There was a head-and-shoulders picture of her beside the article. And a picture of an ambulance with paramedics carting off a body on a gurney. Behind them, where her house should have been, was a pile of charred rubble. The only way she knew it used to be her home was by the crooked palm tree in the front yard. She’d climbed it a thousand times.
Annessa swallowed, searching for the words to ask all the questions churning in her head. The ones that popped out first were, “They think I’m dead?”
“At first,” Elion answered slowly. “Now authorities are considering other possibilities.”
