by Strand, Kai
Jeff gnawed on his inner cheek and considered what his dad had said. “Why can’t I just be who I’m supposed to be?”
“Jeff, obviously you’re supposed to be a villain.” His dad came around the desk. “Don’t worry, son, you’ll be a darn fine villain, once you’re no longer good, that is.”
Frank slapped Jeff on the back a couple times. “You go explore your new school. Don’t worry about anything now that you’re here. You’ll have the run of the place.”
Jeff let his dad usher him out of the office, past Hans who popped out of his chair and bowed his head, and into the paneled hallway.
“Go enjoy your day. We’ll let you take today to get acclimated. You can start classes tomorrow.”
“Um, Dad?”
“Yeah, son?”
“What about Pucker?”
“Who?”
“My fish. She’s back at S.V.A.”
“Oh.” His dad looked concerned, but not about the fish. Then he brightened. “We’ll get it here, boy. Don’t give it another thought.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Maybe we drove home those lessons on manners a bit too hard. Regardless…” Frank slapped Jeff on the back one more time and then shut the door. Jeff stood alone in the hall, dumbstruck by the turn of events. His dad was S.V. royalty and head of a school for super villains. His mother was a tiara wearing white hat and actively fighting against S.V.’s everywhere. Source was still missing and no one cared. Jeff wasn’t sure he wanted his good side squashed. Now what was he going to do?
He wandered up the hall, certain he’d never find his way back to his room. What he did find was a cafeteria. Mystic lounged on a sofa by the fire, sipping from a mug. The redhead sat on the floor in front of her, leaning against the couch. Mystic played with a hank of the red hair. Jeff went over to them and flopped down next to Mystic. The redhead scrambled to her feet and stood with her eyes downcast and her hands folded together in front of her.
“Mary, give it a rest. He’s cool. He’s not going to order you around or anything.” Mystic said.
Jeff looked up at Mary and asked, “Why are you treating me like this, Mary?”
Her eyes grew wide, but she still didn’t look at him. “Um, because you are a Tohler, sir.”
“Mary, it doesn’t matter if my name if Tohler or if it’s Rockefeller. I’m still the same ignorant kid I was yesterday before even I knew I was a Tohler. So, stop treating me like I’m someone special. ’Cause, I ain’t.”
Mary’s eyes flicked up to meet his. She smiled and then her eyes were downcast again and she blushed. “Sir, you are very special.”
Mystic huffed. “Polar, stop being so nice. It’s killing Mary and it’s killing me.”
Jeff looked at her. “Oh, right, sorry.”
“Polar,” Mystic grumbled.
“Oops, sor… Ah!” He slammed his eyes shut and rubbed his temples. “Not being polite is hard. Mother would be so proud.”
“So how does it feel to learn you’re a big shot?” Mystic asked.
Jeff grumbled.
Mystic chuckled.
“How long have you known?” Jeff asked.
“That is why I was sent to SVA,” Mystic said. “To keep my eye on you. I’m actually a recruiter. I graduated last year, but stayed to work.”
“Why you?”
“I was the closest to the right age!” Mystic laughed.
“Wait, you arrived when we got back from the family visit, right?”
“Yep, Chill contacted us the first day of his visit when he learned about,” Mystic leaned sideways and whispered in his ear, “your mother.”
Jeff shook his head and shrugged. “So?”
Mystic lounged against him so she could whisper to him. “Well, the way I understand it, Tubs kept your dad apprised of your education and had told him of your tendency toward manners and collecting friends. No one had to knock your dad over the head when he learned what your mom was. Before even confirming it, he sent for someone to enroll and keep an eye on you.”
“So you got stuck babysitting, huh?” Jeff asked.
“I didn’t mind. It gave me a chance to see inside another school.”
“That’s why you were so quick to give me defense,” Jeff said. “By the way, how do I have it again?”
“I put it back together again while you were out cold.”
Mystic’s breath tickled Jeff’s ear. She smelled of fresh bread, olive oil and thyme. Jeff found himself leaning against her and wanting to be closer. He stiffened and sat straighter. Mystic’s presence confused him. He felt he was betraying Oceanus by feeling an attraction to Mystic. But a true villain wouldn’t feel any loyalty. Oceanus wouldn’t feel a loyalty to him. Perhaps he should give in to his attraction to Mystic. He studied her always-bare legs, one crossed over the other; their weight resting against him, felt warm and inviting. He longed to run his hand along her thigh.
He raised his gaze to meet her eyes and somehow was surprised to look into an ocean of amber instead of a pool of turquoise. He snapped his head aside and silently chastised himself. Practical or not, Oceanus was who mattered to him and he had to stay true to his feelings. He sighed. He was doomed to have a nasty, little good streak.
“I thought Source was going to be the surprise.”
Mystic said, “Who?”
Jeff huffed and closed his eyes.
“Oh, I remember. Why would you think he was here?” Mystic asked.
“The blue flame thing. I assumed it was the same people who’d come to get him,” Jeff said.
“No, I taught them that when I got back. Though, I didn’t realize you’d gotten so good at it. You really did a number on a couple people with that super powered stuff.”
Jeff ignored her. “Who could have taken him?”
“Well, I would think one of the academies in Mexico,” Mystic said.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because they spoke Spanish.”
“Drop the sarcasm, please. I figured they spoke Spanish to communicate with Detainee.”
“Actually it’s the other way around. Detainee’s native language is Nigerian.”
Jeff gawked at Mystic. She’d known this all these months and hadn’t mentioned it once.
“I thought you knew,” she said and shrugged. She pushed away from him and stood. “You want a tour of the place?”
“No, I want to figure this out. Which academies are in Mexico?”
Mystic rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. There’s one in Mexicali and one in Puerto Vallarta, I think.”
“Only two? That should be easy enough for us to scope out then.”
“What do you mean, scope out? You think you can just walk in and ask if they’ve abducted anyone?”
“Well, maybe not that blatantly. I could pretend to be checking out the school.”
“Do you speak Spanish?”
Jeff shook his head.
“Then why would you check out a school in Mexico? You can’t just walk into an academy of villains and not be under suspicion. Heck, we’d set up my arrival at S.V.A. and they still went into major lock down mode.”
“How am I going to find Source then?”
“Why is he so important to you?”
“I don’t know. It’s just the way I am. Heck, I don’t even like you that much, but I’d still try to help if something happened to you.”
Mystic laughed. “That almost sounded like a true villain, Polar. Almost.”
She sat back down. “Tell you what. I’ll help you. We’ll go investigate the academies and see if we find anything out. I think I’ll be able to get you a student interview which will at least get you into the schools.”
“Thanks, Mystic.”
“Stop with the charm already!” she said and laughed. “Now do you want a tour?”
“Sure, that’d be great.”
Chapter 23
The week dragged to an end. The only kids that gave Jeff the time of day were suck-ups and opportuni
sts. He didn’t even have his trusty sidekick to talk to. She was still at S.V.A. probably starving to death. Jeff was no less lonely at F.V.A. than at S.V.A. At last it was time for Mystic and Jeff to sneak off to Mexico. Mystic had managed to set up an interview for Jeff at each of the academies under the guise that he’d been tossed out of too many schools in the states and was looking to relocate.
“Remember, you need to show off your blue fire. Make it a big deal like no one else has it. That way, they will be likely to brag if they already do.” Mystic went over the student interview scenario for the sixth time on the plane ride down. They were on a red eye flight and most of the other passengers were asleep.
Jeff’s first interview was at the academy in Puerto Vallarta on Saturday morning. Their flight touched down two hours before the interview, leaving them just enough time to get a taxi to a remote location and a quick two-mile sprint to the gates. Covered in dust from their run, they rang the bell and waited to be let in.
“Water would be nice,” Mystic said to the young woman who led them into the school.
“Agua, por favor,” Jeff said and pantomimed drinking from a glass.
The woman spun around and glared at him. He flashed his crooked grin at her and shrugged. She smiled back, her whole body relaxing.
“Sí,” she said and led the way again.
Mystic shot a warning look at Jeff.
He grimaced and pretended to hit his forehead.
The woman brought in a large pitcher of water and two glasses. She smiled at Jeff a lot, rubbed up against him and ignored Mystic completely. Finally she left them alone to wait for the dean of the school.
“Buenos dias.” A handsome man swept into the room.
Mystic stood and extended her hand. The man took it and kissed the back of it. His lips lingered as they leered at each other.
“Good morning,” Mystic said. “Certainly you aren’t Mr. Alvarez?”
“Sí, I am he.”
“You’re so young to be dean,” Mystic purred.
Jeff stifled a groan and looked everywhere but at the two other occupants of the room. Mystic had her full suave pulsating.
Mr. Alvarez arched an eyebrow. “Psychic suave? Such a gift. But unnecessary in one so beautiful as you.”
Jeff cleared his throat loudly.
Mystic smirked at him. “Ah yes, the reason I’m here. Mr. Alvarez, let me introduce, Blaze Binion.”
After the attention finally focused on Jeff, the interview went smoothly. Jeff showed off some of his talents, stepping up to the finale of his blue fire. Mr. Alvarez nearly turned inside out with excitement over it, thoroughly disappointing Jeff. It was all he could do not to just walk out of the school. Mystic didn’t seem in any sort of hurry to leave and kept asking needless questions.
Jeff grew impatient and finally blurted, “Look, I don’t like it here, okay? It’s too hot.”
“Ah, pity,” Mystic said. She winked at Jeff, making him want to wrap his hands around her throat.
She finally said their goodbyes. Mr. Alvarez didn’t seem too upset that Jeff didn’t want to attend his school, but he pouted when it came time to say goodbye to Mystic. He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and escorted them to the front gate. They sprinted up the dusty road away from the school. Jeff took one last look and saw Mr. Alvarez still staring after them.
They didn’t stop running until they arrived in Guadalajara.
Their appointment with the school in Mexicali wasn’t until Monday morning, so they rented a hotel room and went swimming before going out to dinner.
Jeff insisted on sleeping on the floor that night. Mystic rolled her eyes before she turned her back to him and grumbled, “Goodnight.”
The next day they caught a plane up to Mexicali and checked into a hotel.
“Are you sure this is the only other academy in Mexico?” Jeff asked.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
Jeff was antsy all evening. Drumming his fingers, fidgeting, pacing.
“Calm down, Polar!” Mystic yelled. “You are driving me crazy.”
“Sorry,” Jeff said.
“That doesn’t help,” Mystic mumbled.
“Oh, right, sorry.”
Mystic groaned and flounced out of the hotel room.
Jeff found her sitting by the pool in the dark. “Hey, you ugly wench, got a problem with me?”
Mystic laughed. “Not anymore.”
* * * *
The next morning Jeff woke early and went for a run to burn off his excess energy. When he got back to the hotel room, Mystic was sitting up in bed, her long hair an attractive tumble spilling around her almost bare torso.
Jeff smirked. “Damn. You are an amazing creature.”
“You don’t need to resort to flattery, Polar. I’m yours whenever you want me.”
Jeff rolled his eyes. “Why can’t I admire you without wanting you?”
“It isn’t natural.” Mystic crawled from the bed. She wore only a white tank top and small white panties. An opalescent sheen shimmered on her olive skin. The pristine white of her cotton undergarments was a dramatic contrast.
“Neither are you,” Jeff observed.
Mystic grabbed her clothes and slammed the bathroom door behind her.
Jeff groaned. He was sweaty from his run and now he’d have to sit in his only change of clothes and wait for her to get out of the bathroom. He took off his shirt, hoping to save it from becoming too rank, and flopped onto the bed. He hadn’t slept well the last two nights, having been on the floor.
The next thing he knew he was waking up. The clean scent of soap filled his nose. A warm hand ran across his chest. Very warm lips blazed a trail up his throat and over his jaw. He turned his mouth and captured Mystic’s lips with his own. She groaned with pleasure and his body tingled in response. He rolled onto his side. His hand closed on her waist and pulled her nearer. Her fingers tangled in his hair and pressed his lips more firmly against her own. A long leg wrapped around his. He ran his palm from her waist down her petal-soft thigh.
“Hmmm, this is nice,” Mystic murmured.
The sultry voice had the effect of throwing cold water on him. The thought of cold water reminded him of Oceanus. Slowly and carefully he pushed Mystic away. He untangled her leg and sat up. She lay there panting.
“What?” she spat.
“This isn’t right. It isn’t fair to you.” Jeff grabbed his shirt and strode toward the bathroom.
“Like I care if it’s fair to me or not!”
“Well, I do.” Jeff closed and locked the bathroom door.
He stood under the stream of water, trying to drown his frustration and confusion. That was a most unfortunate time to have an attack of conscience. After toweling off and putting his clothes back on, he went back into the room. Mystic stood staring out the window. When she turned to him, her usual control was replaced by an uncharacteristic confusion.
“Polar, I’m beginning to think your abilities extend beyond you.”
“I don’t follow.”
“I haven’t had a good thought in my life. Not for another person. Except now, for you. Your ‘opposites’ seem to be catching. I think I feel guilty for causing you conflict. Whatever it is I’m feeling, it’s making me sick to my stomach and I don’t like it. Let’s find Source and get back home. You’re not good for me.”
Jeff opened his mouth to argue, but then clamped it shut. She was right. She was a villain and being around him seemed to compromise her ability to do that well. That may end up putting her in danger and Jeff didn’t want that. He ran his hand through his damp hair, feeling conflicted over worrying about Mystic. A villain wouldn’t care.
He looked at her and nodded, grabbed his watch off the table and strapped it around his wrist.
“Let’s get going. The sooner you are done with me, the better.”
Mystic’s expression crumpled and she opened her mouth as if to protest.
Jeff held up his hand and shook his head. “Let’s go.�
��
Mystic closed her eyes, drew a deep breath and then blew it out. When she opened her eyes again her face was composed in her usual “got it under control” expression. “Yep, let’s go.”
The school was situated a few miles outside of town in an old warehouse. It was the only thing for miles so Jeff and Mystic were spotted easily as they walked up. A beefy guard stopped them at the gate.
“We have an appointment with Señora Valdez,” Mystic told the man.
“Sí, she is expecting you.” He gave them directions to her office and let them pass.
“Hmmm. He’s an imprinter. I wonder why he’s wasting his abilities at a school,” Mystic mumbled to Jeff.
“What’s an imprinter?”
“It is like a tracker. Now that he has met us, he’ll be able to find us anywhere if given the directive to. An imprinter needs a mate who can direct his ability. Maybe he hasn’t found his yet, though he’s kinda old.”
Mystic lifted her hand to knock on the office door, but the door swung open before she could.
“Come in.” A woman sat in one of three cushy armchairs across the room.
Jeff and Mystic walked in cautiously. Jeff peaked behind the door, but no one else was in the room. He shot a questioning glance at Mystic, but she was intently focused on the woman.
“Defenses,” Mystic whispered.
Just in time, Jeff fortified his defenses. A stifling feeling, like a coat of crude oil, rolled and spread over his wall of defenses. Though Jeff could breathe, it felt as if he were drowning or suffocating. He stood completely still, afraid that if he moved he’d somehow allow an opening for this invasiveness to slide through.
“You have the touch of your companion on you,” the woman said. She stared at the fire crackling in the fireplace. Jeff knew she spoke to him and wondered if she could somehow see what had happened between him and Mystic that morning.
Mystic answered. “His defenses are built by me. He had a pathetic excuse for his own. I enjoyed the challenge of building them. I enjoy the power I control over them.”
