As soon as I turned, my feet stopped abruptly. A massive archway adorned with yards of draperies stood before me.
The guard wasn’t joking—this place was hard to miss.
I walked forward through the entrance to a beautiful, lavish room. The ceilings were trimmed with gold carvings and crystal chandeliers. The walls down each side of the room had decorative archways on each side similar to the entrance, leading to a hallway lined with plush carpets that circled around the entire outside of the room.
People sat at ornate tables or couches throughout the space, sipping at tea cups and coffee mugs. Soft music played in the background from a gold and white piano being played in the corner. Despite the large size of the room, ornamental sconces created a peaceful glow, adding a sense of cozy warmth to the ambiance.
As I strolled quietly through the room the oil paintings that hung on the walls caught my eye. Something about them was intriguing. I wasn’t sure what it was. Most of them were just portraits of men in old-fashioned suits, but for some reason I couldn’t stop staring at them. One by one I would step in front a portrait and read the name carefully to myself. So many of the names felt familiar somehow.
Once I made it to the far side of the room I was even more intrigued. Right in front of me were the names Robert Bennett and Sir Thomas Hastings. Without even thinking it through I knew that these were the ancestors of Jax Bennett and Ash Hastings. These men were part of the Council when the Water Keepers were first created.
As intriguing as these men were, the feeling was nothing compared to the wrenching in my heart when I stared up at the last two portraits, purposely set apart from the others, mounted with grandeur above an elaborate fireplace—William Fairbanks and Jane Carpenter Fairbanks.
I gaped at the portraits in awe. These were my ancestors, right here in front of me. These were the people who discovered Ambrosia. It was like they had been calling out to me from the moment I stepped into the grand room.
After only a moment my eyes centered on Jane. I couldn’t help it. She wore a gorgeous antique blue and champagne-colored gown that billowed in folds of fabric all around her, like a queen. And something about her seemed to speak to my heart. There was something in her eyes, like a light was about to burst forth and take hold of me.
I took a step closer, unable to speak. It was as if her voice was calling my name, calling my soul to seek out my destiny.
It was so strong, I couldn’t ignore the call. Without thinking, my eyes glazed over and blurred as reality fell to the background, allowing a vision to take over my mind.
I continued to stare at the portrait as Jane Fairbanks herself emerged from the painting in some kind of heavenly form. Her smile was that of an angel, comforting and sincere.
Her form glided slowly toward me as she reached out one hand. “Sadie...” she said sweetly. “Sadie... continue on the path...”
My mouth fell open. I was too astonished to reply or even move.
“Go forward...” she continued on. “All is well...” Jane floated closer, until her feet hovered just above the ground. Her eyes were mystifying and wise, as if they held all the secrets to the universe in a single point of light.
Jane smiled again. “There’s no need to worry,” she said. “Help will always come...”
A hand clamped down on my shoulder, causing me to gasp and jump around.
“C-Councilman Gibbs,” I stuttered in surprise.
The wrinkles around Gibbs’ mouth curved upward. “You look just like her,” he said.
My head jerked back to look, but Jane was gone.
“Did you see her?” I said.
Gibbs didn’t answer my question. He took a step closer to Jane’s portrait and looked from my face to hers. “Remarkable...” he mused. “The resemblance is truly remarkable.”
I followed his gaze and stared up at the painting. I hadn’t noticed it before, but he was right. If you looked past the opulent dress and her gorgeous golden curls, the woman’s face looked just like mine—maybe a few years older than myself, but still, the likeness was uncanny.
“You know I met her once,” Gibbs said.
“Who? Jane?”
Gibbs nodded. “I was just a boy, but I’ll never forget it.”
I couldn’t help but grin. I knew Gibbs was old, but it never occurred to me that he could have actually met someone who was born over four hundred years ago.
“Wow, that’s amazing,” I said. “Do you remember what she was like?”
“Oh yes,” Gibbs replied. “Even in her old age, she was beautiful, inside and out. Has your father told you much about her?”
I shook my head. “No. Nothing. He made it seem like he didn’t know anything about her.”
“I suppose that’s understandable,” Gibbs said. “Much of what we know of her has been lost over time, especially with the younger generation.”
Gibbs motioned to a couch just a few feet away. “Do you mind if we sit?” he said. “My legs aren’t as sturdy as they used to be.”
“Of course,” I said, and then sat down beside him.
“There is one thing I can tell you with certainty,” he went on. “You, Ms. James, are the first and only female descendant in William and Jane’s entire family line.”
My head tilted to the side. “Really? The only female? Are you sure?”
“Oh, I’m quite sure,” Gibbs said with a grin. “I’ve made a point to keep track of these things.”
I wondered how that could be. How could I possibly be the only female born in my family for hundreds of years?
I leaned in with interest. “Can you tell me more about her? About Jane?”
“Well, I’ll do my best, but you should know that the rest of it is just hearsay at this point.”
“That’s okay,” I said.
“Nobody really knows the truth about her,” he explained, “although many have spent their lives trying to find out.”
I glanced up at Jane’s portrait. “I can feel there’s something special about her,” I said. “But, I don’t really understand why.”
“You’re not alone,” Gibbs said. “Many believe that Jane had visions of the future.”
“Visions?” I repeated. The word caught in my throat. Maybe Jane and I were even more alike than I thought.
“Some say she was losing her mind,” Gibbs said, “but many believe her words were great prophesies... prophesies of the Aurora.”
I swallowed hard. There was that name again... the Aurora.
Gibbs’ shaky voice grew intense. “Many believe the Aurora is the catalyst to great destruction,” he urged. “But many... many of us know in our hearts that she is meant to unite our worlds in peace.”
My body shifted uncomfortably on the couch.
I felt Gibbs’ hand grasp mine. “There’s no need to fear,” Gibbs whispered earnestly. “It is your destiny...”
What was he talking about? My destiny was to become a Keeper and that was it. I sprang from the couch to my feet. “Okay... well, thanks for the talk. I guess I’ll be going now.” I tripped as I stepped back in a panic.
“Wait,” Gibbs called. He wobbled as he pushed himself up to stand. “They told me you came to see Mr. Hastings. Don’t you want to talk to him?”
My feet froze immediately. “Oh right... Ash...” I said. “Yes, I really need to talk to him. Do you think they would let you take me through security?”
“Of course,” Gibbs said with a grin. “I am the oldest member of the Council after all.” He leaned down to whisper. “Might I ask what the urgent matter is that you need to discuss?”
I hesitated a moment, but all I could feel from Gibbs’ essence was sincere desire to help me.
“Orion told me the Council has decided to send me to stay with my parents,” I began.
“That’s true,” Gibbs said. “I was one of the biggest supporters on the matter. You’ve been working quite hard. You deserve to spend some time with them.”
My mouth curved. “I appreciat
e that, I really do. I would love to see them. It’s just...” I glanced up nervously.
“It’s okay,” he said, “You can tell me anything. I’m here to help.”
I paused. “If I... told the Council I could find Voss, do you think they’d let me join Ash’s team to go find him?”
“Oh,” Gibbs said, sounding genuinely surprised. “Voss Hastings? You believe you have a way to find him?”
I nodded.
“Well,” he said slowly, as if thinking as he spoke. “The Council would most likely be skeptical at the idea. They have already made many exceptions to bring you to Banya and allow you to attend the Academy. But, then again, you have just spent the entire summer allowing the Council’s people to study you... and finding Voss is one of our top priorities. I suppose it couldn’t hurt to bring the matter to the Council...”
Gibbs stopped and eyed me. “You really think you can find Voss?”
“I do,” I said eagerly.
“Might I ask how?”
I swallowed. “It’s... complicated”
He nodded knowingly. “I thought you might say that. So, shall we go have a chat with Mr. Hastings then?”
I smiled. “That would be great. Thank you.”
Once we were through security we made our way up to the fourth floor and stopped in front of Ash’s room. There were two Court guards standing watch outside the door.
“Would it be okay if I spoke to him alone?” I asked Councilman Gibbs.
“That would be fine,” he replied, and then he told the guards to let me through.
After I knocked on the door it swung open after only a few seconds. When Ash’s face appeared, my body went tense. I couldn’t help it. It was an automatic reaction.
Ash looked almost amused to see me. “Wow, when they told me I was expecting a visitor, you were the last person I thought I would see.”
My teeth clenched. “Can I come in?” I couldn’t even make eye contact.
“Yes,” Ash said happily. “Definitely... come in.”
I didn’t respond; all I could do was push passed him into the room.
The door shut behind us. “I’m so glad you’re here,” Ash said.
I whirled around in a fury. “Do you realize this is the first time I’ve been in the same room with you without my life being threatened?” I fumed. “Without being kidnapped or having a knife held to my throat or being shot...”
Ash held up both hands in surrender. “You’re right,” he said. “You should yell at me as much as you want. I deserve it. If you want to send a few punches my way, that would be okay too.”
I took a long breath, trying to calm myself. “As much as I would love to punch your guts out, that’s not why I’m here.”
“It’s not?”
“No,” I said. “I’m here for your father.”
Ash looked genuinely confused. “My father?”
I finally stopped and looked Ash in the eye. “Rayne says you’re getting a team together to track Voss down. I want to come.”
“Oh, the team,” Ash said, hesitating.
My brow pinched. “You owe me, Ash. You know you do.”
“You’re completely right,” he agreed. “I would do just about anything right now to try to make up for all the terrible things I put you through. And if I were you, I’d give anything right now to see someone cuff my father and drag him away. But the Council has to approve everyone I choose to come with us.”
“So you’ll convince them to approve me,” I said firmly.
Ash ran one hand through his dark hair. “Look, I understand completely why you want to come, but what makes you think the Council will listen to me? I’m basically their prisoner.”
I folded my arms. “Well, Rayne made it sound like they’re getting desperate and they’ve run out of options. From what I can tell, they need you. So you have a little leverage. Just tell them you won’t agree to come at all unless they let me come with you.”
Ash shook his head. “I’d do just about anything right now to earn your forgiveness, but I just don’t know. I mean, does Rayne even know you’re here? He’d probably kill me for even thinking about bringing you on a mission.”
“Let me deal with Rayne,” I said. “Once I explain everything he’ll understand. But you need to listen, there’s something else you need to know.”
I sat in one of the armchairs at the corner of the room. “Come here,” I said, motioning for Ash to sit in the one next to me.
My voice lowered, hoping nobody outside the door could hear. “Listen,” I said in a whisper, “I can’t tell you how, but I’m ninety-nine point nine percent sure that I have a way to locate your father, like, his exact location, once we’re back on Earth. I’m hoping to keep this to myself, but if you can’t convince the Council on your own to let me come, then I have a back-up plan, okay? Either way, I’m telling you now, I’m coming with you on that mission.”
Ash paused, probably trying to figure out how someone like me could possibly find his father any better than he could, and then he shook his head. “I have no idea how you think you’re going to pull this off,” he whispered back, “but at this point, I’ll do whatever you want me to. I owe you that much. I’ll talk to the Council and see what I can do.”
“Good,” I said, popping up from the chair. “Contact me as soon as you have an answer.” Then, I started to walk away. My business was done and I wanted nothing more than to get out of there so I didn’t have to look at Ash’s face. All it did was bring back horrible memories.
“I can’t,” Ash called after me. “I don’t have phone privileges.”
I turned. “Fine, then I’ll send Rayne by tomorrow morning to touch base.”
I hurried forward to reach the door.
“Sadie, wait,” Ash said.
I turned again.
His eyes lowered. “Sadie, for what it’s worth... I’m really, truly sorry for the past. I know that doesn’t make up for what I did to you and your family, but I just wanted you to know.”
For the briefest moment, I let the sincerity from his being reach into mine. I looked into his eyes. I could almost feel his deep regret.
But, it was too much. I wasn’t ready to let it go.
My eyes shifted away, and without another word, I slipped out the door.
17. DINNER
I thanked Gibbs for his help and said goodbye outside the security area at the Court of Ambassadors. As I walked away I couldn’t help but glance back at the hallway that led to the Grand Salon. Was it really possible that Jane Fairbanks herself had appeared to me from her portrait, or was I just losing my mind?
The vision played back through my head. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Jane looked familiar. I was sure I had seen her before. The thought was eating away at me. I hurried back down the hall to the Grand Salon. I needed to look at Jane’s portrait one more time.
Even though I knew very little about her, I felt connected to her somehow.
I closed my eyes for the briefest moment, when a picture played back through my mind. I saw myself from months before, passing through the Threshold back to Earth for the first time. Two heavenly beings had appeared to me that day—a woman and a young girl.
The memory had become a blur over time, but now it was strong again. I could see it like it was happening in this very moment. The woman and the girl emerged before me in a radiating circle of light. This time, when they came close I recognized the woman’s face. It was Jane Fairbanks. It finally became clear just how much I looked like her. The young girl’s face was still a mystery to me.
The two of them spoke in harmonious tones. Jane spoke first; she said she was my past. It all started to make sense. Jane was my ancestor. She had laid the path before me.
But then the young girl held out her hand, a tiny porcelain hand, more precious than anything I could imagine. “I am your future,” she said sweetly.
I marveled at the thought. What did it mean?
The vision of m
y memory continued as the large Water Briolette I had found at the Sacred Pool floated from my pocket and hovered in the air, surrounded by the blue, undulating glow of the Threshold.
The girl continued to speak. “The mark with no end holds the key to the source,” she said gently. “The Aurora will harmonize the spheres.”
I stood and wondered to myself. The mark? The key? The spheres? It all sounded like riddles.
And the Aurora... what was the Aurora? Why was this name haunting me?
A powerful light surged through my body as the vision continued forward. The light pierced through the Briolette hovering before me in the air and flooded through my chest. I knew that this was the moment I had changed, when my healing powers had become a part of me.
My thoughts suddenly broke from the vision, bringing me back to reality. I wanted to remember Jane and the girl’s last words, but it seemed the memory was stolen from me.
I stepped back from Jane’s portrait in a daze, my eyes wandering from side to side at the people dispersed throughout the room. None of them seemed to notice me.
The vision left me feeling weak. I wobbled out of the room, wondering to myself, thinking about the memory of Jane and the girl, as well as some of the things Councilman Gibbs had said to me earlier that day, right in that same spot. All this talk of destiny and the Aurora... It was all so confusing and overwhelming.
I made my way to the train station down the street and sat on one of the benches to wait for my ride back to campus. I felt like I needed to get more information somehow. I decided that when I got home I would pull Jane’s journal back out from under my bed and see if there was anything that could explain these crazy visions I was having. I had become so busy training with Jax and Orion that I’d almost forgotten I had the journal at all.
My phone suddenly beeped, breaking my thoughts. It was a text message from Rayne. “Where are you?” it said. “Is everything okay?”
It was then that I realized I had several missed calls—all of them from Rayne.
I dialed his number immediately.
“Hey,” I said as soon as he answered.
Rayne sounded concerned. “Are you just getting done at the testing center?”
Flood Rising (The Water Keepers, Book 4) Page 14
