Chapter Ninety
Willow and I had been working together late every night, trying to figure out who switched the party invitation instructions. They had almost inadvertently caused a bloodbath as a result. We suspected that it might have something to do with the dark clique kids. Then, we quickly discovered that any type of investigation into their possible involvement would be easier said than done.
It turns out that the dark clique was a closed-rank society – just like gypsies. It would be nearly impossible to break their ranks without the use of my obliteration skill. The problem with using my Ay’sha ability lies squarely within its flaw. Without that unknown supercharged boost that occasionally assists me through the cunning ribbon, I would risk another mind implosion similar to the last time. I hadn’t learned how to expand my skill on command and it’s not like Ember wears a cunning ribbon as every day wear regardless.
I have no control of the supercharged boost. That meant even if I could find a plausible excuse to ask my little girl to wear the ribbon AND a reason to channel something to the dark clique at school, I would still be risking frying my own brain. Even with the assistance of the cunning ribbon, I couldn’t channel my Ay’sha skill to that many people without repercussions. I had no idea if the super-mega power boost would assist me and I wouldn’t know until I tried to channel.
Without that boost another mind melt would definitely occur. The dark clique always stays in the protection of their pack. They even take classes as a group although that seemed impossible. Somehow they had managed to manipulate their school schedules because every class they attended had no less than seven DC kids in it. In between classes and during all lunch sessions, they had increased their pack numbers to between 15-20 members. This dramatic increase in their numbers seemed to occur in response to our investigation. It was a fact that was evident and extremely annoying.
Willow and I even staked out the restrooms between classes just to try and catch one of the dark clique members alone. Those stake outs had been wasted effort because not one single ‘DC’ kid ever strayed away from the rest. My father taught me to never wander away from his side – especially when we were working or laying low after a job. “The lost child gets rightfully slaughtered…” is what he drummed into my head, repeatedly.
It’s no wonder I freak out every time Ember wanders out of my sight…
Although we hadn’t ruled out the Blood Legion Family and their possible involvement, the dark clique seemed the more likely culprits. We had helplessly watched them pull in tight and virtually shutdown. It appeared that they were going to stay that way for quite some time.
Gypsies are very patient. They can wait to enjoy the spoils of the conquest if that’s what’s needed in order to avoid detection. I had seen my dad wait an entire year before he fenced an antique pocket watch for the cash. That was considered a relatively short amount of time by gypsy standards. I had been saving all these years. I hadn’t spent a single dime on anything other than necessities or stuff I wanted Ember to have. Willow has more patience than I do.
We both obtained this particular trait from our fathers. So I knew that patience can be taught to a group when the right incentives are provided. Someone had schooled these kids about the art of staying grouped together for protection. It was quite possible that same person taught them how to ‘shut it’ and not talk about their DC con jobs. If that were the case then, they might not brag about this ‘Ember’s 16th birthday invitation exploit’ for some time to come – should they remain true to gypsy thinking, that is.
Willow and I had originally pegged them as a bunch of immature, moronic teenagers that couldn’t possibly keep their mouths shut when it came to pulling off something this monumental. What we found during our investigation though is a mirror image of ourselves and our heritage staring right back at us. That means our original assumptions were tremendously flawed to say the least.
‘Being gypsy’ is all about the flow of easy marks and the ability to hold onto the rewards until they can be safely enjoyed. It is not, nor will it ever be, an issue of arrogance. Pride leads directly to bragging, and bragging is well known as the fastest route to getting cold busted. My father’s number one lesson in my life – the price of arrogance and boasting is death by various means. He explained that most people who are currently incarcerated are – precisely where they are – because they don’t live by the unbreakable gypsy creed. This creed is simple to remember. Only share your cons with ‘those you own’.
‘Those you own’ are in-blood family members and spouses – period. Blood relatives and spouses must be brought in-blood by whatever actions the Dom requires to prove their loyalty. Unlike mafia families, even blood relatives have to be brought in-blood through gypsy custom. Just like their spouses, they have to prove their unwavering loyalty to the family by actions that are ordered by the head of the family.
Sadly, the dark clique appears to live by the gypsy credo. Even their youngest members had been schooled and versed. They must have to be brought ‘in-blood’ or ‘in-something’ because some of the kids were clearly on the outside of the primary pack, wanting in.
What we did manage to discover was precious little although we spent weeks investigating them. The dark clique has two dominant males and three dominant females. In our gypsy culture, these males are known as Doms and the females are called Donnies. The Doms can be the leaders of the whole family, individual houses or the separate packs. Willow and I decided that the two males must be the Doms over two separate packs because all the others appeared to defer to them in one way or another. In this case, they aren’t old enough to preside over a full household or the entire family – at least they’re not in our gypsy culture.
Nothing occurs within the packs that the Doms don’t know about and they must approve all the actions of their members. The Donnies would have to get their Doms endorsement before moving forward with any plans.
So, if the dark clique stayed true to gypsy culture then the two Doms would know precisely who did what to Ember and why they chose to do it. I’m all for harmless school pranks because those are rites of passage. Our private lives and fixing printed party invitations to terrify my little girl wasn’t considered a prank by any stretch of the imagination. Even though the dark clique would have no idea about the deadly potential their stunt might have resulted in, they crossed a line by their interference. That’s a particular line that should never be crossed with anyone. However, this was especially true when it comes to my little girl. The article in the school paper made it clear to everyone that her privacy needed to be respected.
The Doms would have to approve the packs’ decision to fix those party invitations. That makes being a dark clique Dom a very unenviable and short lived position. That is if I manage to ever work my way through their labyrinth and discover that those kids were behind any of this. I had only promised that I wouldn’t do or say anything to any of the DC girls that might be involved.
Always be careful how those deals are worded…I sure am…
Sometime during the course of our investigation, I made a realization about myself. It seemed I had somehow turned into a dangerous adversary when it came to Ember’s protection. Unlike in the animal world, a human predator only destroys the weakest links as a means to an end, and not for survival. In this particular case, it was to get inside the inner circle and overcome the leaders.
I wasn’t sure precisely when I had tipped over the edge into this predatory darkness though, but that is exactly where I find myself. I used to run with Ember to keep her safe – now I hunt and stalk enemies. I have become a shadow dweller. This knowledge both scares and thrills me.
Ember can’t leave this area or even this school. Maybe it’s the fact that we have to remain here that’s allowing the darkness to invade me. The reason doesn’t matter though. I will protect her with all the weapons at my personal disposal – those include violence and destruc
tion if necessary along with running and hiding too. It wasn’t a matter of arrogance and pride either. I had been running and hiding for years with her. I also knew without a doubt that I would do it again if and when she gives me the option.
So, when Ember’s ‘all points panic-bulletin and five alarm fire distress call’ came thundering through my head that morning, I went from unconscious to ferocious rage at the speed of sound. I immediately jumped up from my desk and bolted from the classroom without a single obliteration. My body was being torched from Ember’s internal fire. It seemed to be blazing hotter than the core of the sun. I realized about halfway through my crazed mad-dash that I couldn’t personally barge right into the girl’s locker room to get to my little girl.
Willow had rushed out of our Lit class behind me. She must have figured out what was happening because she reminded me how the cunning ribbon works as we ran down the hall. I sent the obliteration through the open channel. I had no clue how many people I had just channeled to, but the resulting instantaneous migraine made me think it was tremendous. The pain was almost overwhelming even with the boost from the cunning ribbon.
We had no idea what was wrong, but we just knew she was in trouble. I jumped down an entire flight of stairs in the urgent need to get to her. Willow somehow managed to keep up with me. We arrived at the locker room door a few minutes before the bell sounded. Ember ran out into the hallway with her hair drenched. She didn’t say anything before she rushed right back inside. Willow ran in behind her and I was stuck out in the hallway alone.
So I waited for what felt like a short infinity before they both walked back out into the hall with me. I had already made up my mind to get Ember out of there as fast as I could, but I planned to return to campus. I needed to stalk some prey.
My little girl would stop me from making that trip. I really wanted to defy her wishes, but I stayed at home just like she requested. That turned out to be an excellent thing because when she told us what happened I fell over laughing. No hunting and stalking required – just enough hilarity to make me realize that I would never have to worry about Ember being able to run a con on me.
She stinks at it…
Ember Rising Light (Book One) Page 94
