As soon as I sat down I started working on my search for Voss. I was almost sure the connection would be stronger now that we were on the same planet.
I closed my eyes to concentrate, picturing Voss’s terrible face in my mind.
His image came almost immediately, like all this time he was just sitting there waiting for me to find him. I couldn’t believe how quickly I was able to see him. This time I didn’t just see his face or shoulders either, I saw his entire body, and several feet around him.
Voss wore a navy blue polo shirt, tan slacks, and a white glove on his left hand. Green grass surrounded him on all sides and a tall black and red bag stood on a kickstand behind him. It looked like... a golf bag.
Voss reached into the bag and pulled out a club then positioned himself in front of a white ball on the ground.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Voss was... golfing.
He looked so normal and clean.
The entire sight made me pause. I always pictured him lurking in dark alleyways or running over puppies with his car or something. But, golfing? That never once crossed my mind.
Somehow I needed to get a bigger picture. There had to be thousands of golf courses all over the world. How could I possibly figure out which one he was at right at this moment?
I tried to concentrate harder, pushing the scene wider in my mind. If only I could find the name of the golf course or even a street sign, something that would narrow it down.
A hand touched my shoulder, causing me to jump. I was so startled I practically fell off the chair.
Orion stood in front of me, looking concerned. “Are you okay, Ms. James?”
I took a breath and straightened in the chair. “Uh, yeah. I’m okay.”
“I apologize for my tardiness,” he said. “Are you ready for your session?”
I pushed myself up to stand, but my legs wobbled.
Agent Kelsey reached for my arm to steady me.
Orion’s brow creased. “Are you sure you’re feeling well? You seem a little shaky.”
The last thing I wanted was for Orion to send me home to take a sick day. I had to keep searching for Voss.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Just sore from my workout this morning. Jax finally took me back to the obstacle course.”
“Yes, that is a tough course,” Orion agreed. “If you’d like, we can postpone until tomorrow.”
“No really, I’m fine,” I insisted.
“Well, if you’re sure,” Orion said. He nodded and led me into the testing center. As usual, he took his place in the observation booth while Agent Kelsey and I made our way down to the testing area.
The doctors hooked me up to the monitors then wheeled in an unconscious woman on a stretcher. Once she was hooked up to the machines across the room, I told them I was ready to begin.
I knew if I healed the woman right away I would pass out and miss my opportunity to look for Voss. I could probably look for him again when I woke up in the room next door, but I wasn’t sure how much practice it would take to get a better view of Voss’s surroundings. The locating thing would only work on Voss while I was on Earth, so I had to take advantage while I had the chance.
I didn’t think there was any way they could tell just by watching me that I wasn’t healing her, so I figured I could push my search a little further and then just heal the woman afterwards. I could already tell that she was in stable condition and not at risk to die anytime soon.
When I closed my eyes, I sent my thoughts immediately back to Voss at the golf course. I watched as he swung his club skillfully at the ball. It was almost hard to watch. Voss was a cold-blooded killer, and yet here he was enjoying himself in the sunshine, probably at some ritzy country club.
A wave of anger surged through me, fueling my desire to push harder. My mind strained as I searched as far as I could go. The grass stretched on all around him. There were trees and sand traps and ponds. Golf carts drove by. People conversed as they took their turns to swing on the course. I pushed and I pushed to find just one glimpse of a clue.
My body grew weaker by the second. I had never pushed my mind so far before. I had never wanted something as fervently as I wanted to find Voss.
Finally a building came into view across the course. I had no idea how I was even doing it. There had to be a sign somewhere, something with a name. I pushed the vision deeper but the image started to blur. My hands and legs shook as I struggled to stand.
I was losing it. I could feel the image start to spin away and fade. I struggled to hold on. I had to find him. I had to find Voss. I was meant to find him.
But it was no use. I couldn’t take it any longer. My body collapsed, and the vision of Voss went dark in my mind.
***
My eyes blinked weakly as I awoke. My head felt tired and slow.
What day was it? Where was I?
I yawned and stretched my arms above my head across the pillow. Something felt different. Agent Kelsey was there, but the room didn’t look right. I scanned the place slowly from one side to the other.
Then a memory came back to me. I was looking for Voss. The plan was to look for him again, right when I woke up in the room next to the testing center.
But, this wasn’t the room next to the testing center.
I looked around carefully until it finally made sense. I knew exactly where I was. I was in one of the exam rooms at Dr. Griffin’s office, where they always took me to draw blood after healing sessions. I wasn’t even on Earth anymore. I was at the campus security building next to the Hall of Clocks. I was in Banya.
I couldn’t look for Voss now; we weren’t even on the same planet anymore.
Why was I at Dr. Griffin’s office anyway? This wasn’t where they took me after a session. I always woke up in the same bed in the same room right next to the testing center across the border.
I sat up, confused.
It didn’t make sense at all. If I was in Banya, didn’t that mean I should have been healed instantly, the moment my body passed through the Threshold? Wasn’t that the whole reason why they kept me in that room at the testing center after a session, so they could learn how my body healed without the help of the Healing Water?
Agent Kelsey saw me move and picked up the phone. I wondered if he was calling Orion as usual or if there was someone else on the line.
A moment later, both Orion and Dr. Griffin entered the room.
Dr. Griffin smiled reassuringly. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
“I think I’m okay,” I said. I shook my head. “What happened? Why am I here?”
Orion took a step forward. “In your session today it looked as though you were exerting quite a bit of energy, but you passed out before the subject could be healed.”
I looked up with worried eyes. “I feel okay now. I can go back and finish if you want.”
“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary,” Orion said. “I actually spoke at length with the Council this morning regarding your condition. I felt your time at the testing center was depleting your strength at an unhealthy rate and it was time for a break.”
“A break?” I asked.
“Yes,” Orion said, “and the majority of the Council agreed with me. As of today, your testing across the border has been suspended until further notice.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Suspended?” I groaned. “For how long?”
“The Council is thinking about sending you to stay with your parents until classes begin,” Orion explained. “And then you would come back to begin your studies at the Academy as planned. I don’t suspect you’ll be doing any testing for quite some time, if at all.”
I shook my head. “Wait, so the Council wants me to go stay with my parents? But a few weeks ago I was told I’m not even allowed to know where they are.”
“Well, nothing’s actually been decided yet,” Orion said. “But due to the circumstances they’re considering changing their minds. Either way, the Council agreed th
at it’s time for you to get some rest.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“So I’m not going to be healing anyone anymore?” I said.
“Probably not until after you graduate,” Orion said. He took a step closer and sat down beside me. “You seem upset. I thought you would be happy at the news. Don’t you want to visit your parents?”
“Well yeah, of course,” I said. “But I didn’t think that meant I would have to stop healing people.”
“Your condition today only confirms our concerns, Sadie. You need a break.”
“I was just tired from a hard work-out this morning,” I argued. “Isn’t there anything you can do? What if I just came to do testing once or twice a week?”
“I’m sorry this has upset you,” Orion said, “but the decision has already been made.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “There’s something else you need to know...”
“What?” I asked.
“Sadie, when we brought you back through the Threshold to Banya, you didn’t heal as expected. You were here for several hours before you woke up.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“At this point we can’t be sure,” Orion said, “but it would appear that your Water System is not affected by the Healing Water here in the atmosphere. This leads me to believe that your healing abilities are completely self-sufficient.”
“Self-sufficient?” I repeated. “So... you don’t think the Healing Water helps me heal at all?”
“Exactly,” Orion replied. “And if you think about it, this must put great strain on your body to constantly be healing itself day after day without any assistance. I feel very strongly that it’s time for you to get some rest.”
I scratched my head. It actually made perfect sense. That explained why I was so tired all the time, why I never felt a boost of invigoration when I crossed through the Threshold to Banya like everybody else. All of my healing came from within. The Healing Water didn’t affect me at all.
“If you’re not sure about our decision,” Orion went on, “perhaps this will convince you.” He clicked open his briefcase and pulled out a magazine. A photo of me and Violette at the party covered the front page.”
I glanced at Orion with an expression of guilt. I didn’t have an explanation.
“This is the main reason the Council is thinking about sending you to your parents,” Orion said firmly.
My voice fell quiet. “I know I messed up... big-time, but it’s not like I did it on purpose. We were being really careful not to get noticed—I swear. How was I supposed to know that I would pass out right in the middle of the dance floor? I’ve never passed out for no reason like that before.”
“It makes no difference if you were being careful or not,” Orion said. “What’s done is done. Now we just have to move forward and deal with the consequences. If the Council agrees, you will go stay with your parents until this blows over, and I will do all I can here to turn the media’s attention away.”
I knew Orion was right. Neither myself nor the Council wanted anyone to find out who I was, or learn of all the exceptions to the laws of Banya the Council had made to let me enroll in the Academy.
Now the Council would never let me go on the mission to find Voss.
But, I had to at least try. I knew it was a longshot, but they needed my help more than they could possibly know. I could find Voss faster than any team of spies.
I looked up at Orion hesitantly. “So, I was talking to Rayne this weekend and he mentioned that he was planning to join Ash Hasting’s team to go look for Voss.”
Orion nodded. “Yes, that’s right. I’m actually planning to go with them to head up the search.”
“So...” I said again, “I’m pretty sure that this is the worst possible time to be asking this right now, but I was sort of thinking that it would be a good idea if I came too.” I started to babble, subconsciously hoping that the more I talked the less chance he would have to say no. “If I went with you guys,” I went on, “it would still help me stay away from the tabloids just like you wanted. And if anyone on the team happened to get hurt I could heal them right there. They wouldn’t even need—”
“Absolutely not,” Orion scolded. “It’s out of the question.”
“But I could—”
“That will be all, Ms. James,” Orion said. And just like that, Orion slammed his briefcase shut and was out the door.
16. FAVOR
Agent Kelsey escorted me out of the doctor’s office and left me outside the Campus Security Center.
I stomped toward the shuttle stop muttering to myself. There had to be a way. I had to go on that mission to find Voss.
But what could I do? I had no power against Orion or the Council.
Should I talk to Rayne? Would he have a better chance of convincing them to let me go? What if I told them about my locating abilities? Would that change their minds? Would they even believe me if I did?
All I knew was that I was desperate. At this point, I would do just about anything to convince them to let me go.
I paced back and forth in front of the shuttle stop, thinking through my options.
Then, it hit me. Ash Hastings was the key. Not only did he owe me big-time for all the trouble he had caused my family, but Rayne had told me that the Council had completely exhausted their leads to track down Voss, and they had no choice but to rely on Ash if they were going to have any hope of finding him.
I had to talk to Ash.
The shuttle arrived at the stop and the door swung open in front of me, but I had already decided I wasn’t going home. I turned away abruptly and headed toward the train station instead. I was going to the Court of Ambassadors and I was going to convince Ash Hastings to take me on that mission.
Twenty minutes later I was rushing off the train at my stop in the heart of the city. I strode with determination across the street and up the steps at the Court of Ambassadors, hardly pausing to take a breath.
As soon as I made it inside I went directly to the security screening point and stopped in front of the guard
“Hi,” I said urgently. “I need to speak with Ash Hastings.”
“Do you have an appointment?” the guard asked.
I shook my head. “Um, no. But I’m sure he’ll want to talk to me. Tell him Sadie James is here to see him.”
Ash had been asking Rayne for weeks to convince me to come talk to him so he could apologize in person for all the terrible things he had done to me and my family.
The guard eyed me carefully. “Do you have your security badge?”
“My security badge?” I repeated nervously.
“Yes,” the guard replied. “Only authorized personnel are allowed beyond this point without an escort.”
“I, uh, I don’t have a badge,” I said, “but couldn’t Ash come down and escort me through?”
The guard stepped forward, clenching his belt, and moved in front of the security entrance to block my path. “Mr. Hastings doesn’t have clearance to authorize visitor entry,” he said firmly.
I glanced helplessly around the side of the guard, wishing for a way to get passed him.
I thought about calling Rayne, since he had almost as much security clearance as members of the Council, but he was supposed to be at the orchard all day helping his parents, and I was not in the mood to wait. Plus, the media was way too interested in me lately and being seen with Rayne in public would probably make it worse. I thought about calling Jax too, but he attracted media attention even worse than Rayne.
I knew Orion wouldn’t help me. He had already made that perfectly clear. But I had to get in there to talk to Ash. There had to be someone I knew that could help get me in there.
“Councilman Gibbs!” I suddenly blurted in triumph.
Gibbs would help me for sure. For some reason, that old man loved me. And, the media wasn’t allowed anywhere near Council members without permission.
The guard stared back at me.
&
nbsp; I made my eyes go wide and as innocent-looking as possible. “I’m friends with Councilman Gibbs,” I said. “Would you mind calling him for me? I’m sure if he knew I was here he’d be happy to escort me through.”
The guard sighed and threw up one hand. “Fine. I guess I could try to call him.”
I grinned back happily. “Thank you. I promise you won’t regret it.”
The guard circled around the desk and lifted the phone receiver to his ear.
I watched intently as he punched a few buttons and then waited.
The guard hung up only a moment later. “There’s no answer,” he said.
“No answer?” I repeated in frustration. “Well, do you have any idea when he’ll be back?”
“I’m not sure,” the guard said. “It could be awhile.”
I nodded eagerly. “That’s okay. I don’t mind waiting.”
I took two steps to the side and plastered on a big smile, not breaking my gaze from his.
After a few awkward minutes passed, I turned to the guard. “Maybe he’s back now,” I said. “Want to try calling him again?”
I could tell the guard was losing his patience. “Why don’t you wait in the Grand Salon and we’ll notify you as soon as Councilman Gibbs returns.”
“The Grand Salon?” I asked, confused.
The guard pointed down a hallway to the side of him. “Just go to the end there and then turn right.”
“And then you’ll call Councilman Gibbs again, right?” I said.
The guard took in a slow breath as if to calm himself. “Yes, I will call him again.”
He held out his hand toward the same hallway as before. “Like I said,” he went on, “go all the way to the end and the Grand Salon is on your right.”
I took a few steps toward the large hallway. “Through there?” I asked.
The guard replied without glancing back. “Just keep going. You can’t miss it.”
“Okay,” I said hesitantly. “I’ll just be waiting down here then.”
I meandered down the long hallway as I was instructed and turned to the right.
Flood Rising (The Water Keepers, Book 4) Page 13
