by Belle Malory
“Make it out to Jubilee.”
“Sure.”
“She’s gonna be thrilled, thank you.”
“No problem.”
He leaned back to snap a picture of the two of them with his brace. Kennedy smiled awkwardly, then handed him back the mug, complete with her signature attached. “Now if you could point me in the direction of the pool…”
“Oh, sorry. The pool closed at five.”
Kennedy winced. She’d been so consumed with getting here she hadn’t thought to check the schedule.
Wait a second.
Her position had to come with enough authority to gain entrance to the freaking pool. If not, she was going to have a long chat with someone about this.
“Sir, er, Hugo,” she murmured very sweetly. “Please don’t make me call this in to your boss. I just need into the room for an hour tops.”
The poor guy waffled a bit, but then collected himself, nodding dutifully. “Of course. I was so taken with meeting you, I almost forgot what it is you do.”
“You and everyone else, buddy,” she said too low for him to hear.
“This way.” He led her down the hall to their left. He stopped in front of a wide set of closed double doors. Hugo scanned his brace at the entrance, and the lock clicked open. He held the door for her. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you.”
Kennedy walked inside, impressed at the way she handled herself. The former shrinking violet was becoming a distant memory.
The doors closed behind her with a resounding echo. Right away she was struck by the size of the space. It was just as she remembered, minus the haziness of her subconscious. The Olympic-size swimming pool was spread vertically over an expanse of concrete floor, surrounded by starlit windows and skylights overhead. Bathrooms were to the right, black metal lockers lining the walls.
Kennedy kicked off her flats and lifted the skirt of her dress as she made her way to the edge of the pool. She dipped her toes into the cool water, wondering what it would be like to train with one of these at her disposal. Her pool was standard size, quite a luxury to have inside an apartment, but there were only so many things she could do, only so much water she had to manipulate. Last time she visited her home on Amelia Island, she had the chance to try out a few things in the ocean. It had been an amazing experience, one that renewed her love for the sea.
She walked around the pool’s perimeter, taking in the quiet surroundings. It all seemed meaningless. She stared up at the familiar skylights, out into the vastness of space. Why am I here?
No sooner than she asked the question, her wrist vibrated. The incoming call was from Phoenix.
Of course.
She shook her head at the irony. He’d spent the last few weeks avoiding her, then chose this moment to reach out.
She pressed the receive button on her brace, and his rushed voice sprang through. “Kennedy, where are you? I came to your apartment, but Matilda told me you just left. She wouldn’t tell me where you’d gone. Useless pile of scrap metal! You would think she could make things easier on me, but no.”
Kennedy could guess why Matilda chose not to tell Phoenix where she was. “I’m—” She paused, debating whether she should tell him. “Wait, did they release you from your cell?”
“Not exactly.” Something was obviously wrong. “I’ll explain later. Just tell me where you are.”
“I can come to you—”
“No time. I’ve already headed out.”
Her shoulders drooped; the unavoidable was happening. “The Rec Center pool. Section two.”
Phoenix paused, evidently surprised by her response. He wouldn’t expect her to be here. “Stay put. I’m on my way.”
She wished she could think of something to say to stop him, but it was pointless, and besides, he’d already ended the call. She let out a small, terrified breath. Unable to help herself, she checked the ceiling for cracks, then the pool to see if it was overflowing. Both were perfectly intact.
Well, she wanted answers, didn’t she?
It seemed like she was about to get them.
Eight
Phoenix snuck past the security guard easily. He didn’t have time to waste getting recognized. Davaris was waiting for him at the airport, and at this point, he was sure DOE had already sent a team after them. At least the door to the pool was open—thank the stars for small favors. He stepped inside, dropping the small duffel bag he brought by his feet.
Kennedy whipped around at the sound of the door shutting.
Phoenix went still; she had to look like that, of all times. The bloody universe was trying to make this as difficult as possible.
Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, and then on the bag by his feet. He held his hand up when she began to cross the room. “Please don’t.”
She slowed, her mouth pulling into a small frown. “Why not?”
It was bad enough that she looked like some ethereal goddess from his dreams. Just seeing her sped up his pulse, dragging out his breath. His palms were already hot with the desire to touch her, sparks of fire igniting at his wrists.
He refused to act on it though.
Too much energy brimmed inside of him, like a dam waiting to burst. He had to contain himself, or she was bound to get hurt. He’d lose his shit if he put her through that again. One glance at the bandage wrapped around her arm steeled his resolve. That’s what happened when he wasn’t careful.
“I’m a loose cannon right now. You need to stay as far away from me as possible.”
He could tell by the subtle way she straightened her spine and pressed her lips together that she didn’t like it. But she did as he asked and stayed where she was. It eased some of the fear he felt, allowing him to catch his unsteady breath.
He slowly circled around her, putting more distance between them and taking in the enormous room. “Why this place?” he asked curiously.
Kennedy looked away. “It’s not important.”
She had recurring nightmares about the Rec Center. Never in a million years would he have guessed she would come here, but here she was. He wanted to know why. Because he doubted that whatever brought her was unimportant. He knew her well enough to know that everything in her life was colored with meaning. She looked at the world differently than most people. Considered every possibility. Searched for shades of gray.
She needed meaning more than anyone he had ever known.
“Tell me,” he urged softly.
She looked at him for a long moment, then shrugged a shoulder. “For answers, I guess.”
He nodded, understanding. This place seemed to rule her subconscious. Played at her fears. “Did you get them?”
“Not yet.”
“Are you still afraid I’ll end up out there?” He nodded toward the skylights. “Because you can rest assured, I’ll never leave. I won’t leave Earth, and I won’t leave you. Tell your dreams they’re wrong.”
She half smiled, a dreamy yet contemplative look in her eyes. “If only it could be that simple. Everything’s changing, Phoenix. I can feel it. It feels like something has shifted. This may sound strange, but I think Fang’s death sparked new life into all of us. We’re…transforming.”
The mention of Fang’s name washed over him like acid. He tried not to show it, but Kennedy noticed anyway. She tensed, and it seemed as if she wanted to say something but changed her mind.
She turned to look out the nearest window. “She was the first, the bravest, the one that initiated and inspired action. I can see those qualities driving through each of the keepers, including myself.” She cleared her throat, pausing. “You’re leaving Olympus, aren’t you? That’s why you’ve come to find me?”
“Yes.”
“Does Mason know you’re leaving?”
“I gave him fair warning.”
She turned around, taking a step toward him.
He stepped back in response.
“How long will you stay grounded?”
“I can’t say for sure. After Davaris and I feel like ourselves again…after we feel like we’re not a danger to everyone around us.”
She tilted her head to the side. “What if you’re not back before I leave?”
There it was again. The thing he really wished she would stop bringing up. That was what really bothered her. “I thought we discussed this. You’re not leaving.”
“Phoenix—”
“Don’t even say it. You’re supposed to trust me. Just give me some time.”
She moved closer.
Phoenix braced himself, distrustful. “Kennedy, don’t.”
“If this is going to be the last time I see you for a while, I want to make it count.”
He took a few more steps back, feeling trapped. “Please stay where you are. I can’t handle this, or you…”
Water stretched out from the pool with a roar. The giant wave surrounded Phoenix, knocking him off balance. He fell backward, into the pool just as the fire expanded from his palms. His entire body began to pulsate, the pent up energy exploding from his chest, his hands, even the soles of his feet. He tried to hold back, but it was pouring out of him like the gates of hell had been opened, and he was helpless to stop it. He screamed for Kennedy to get out of the way, but his voice was drowned out.
He fought against the water, chlorine stinging at his eyes as he tried to see. He kicked his legs and strained his muscles, cradling himself into a ball, all in attempt to stamp down the forces at work inside of him. But it wasn’t working. No matter how hard he tried, he was unable to stop it this time. And the water…he went still.
The water was engulfing the flames. He blinked several times. They never made it past the surface. Down here in the deep end of the pool, he was safe. Kennedy had given him a release. A sanctuary. Freedom.
And dammit if he wasn’t going to take advantage! He let it all out this time, releasing more of the built-up energy. Flames burst and drowned all around him, and somewhere in the depths of the pool, Phoenix found the ability to breathe again. He knew how badly he needed this, but could never have imagined how sweet the relief would feel.
Energy continued to expel, and this time he focused in on it, starting with the warmth that generated inside his chest, directing it down his arms, and then slowly releasing through his palms. Fire flowed out, dissolving instantly. Incredible. Without trying to repress his urges, he found a way to take control.
He stayed under as long as he could, trying to release as much as possible. When he finally came up for air, his lungs ached so much he thought they might explode.
Kennedy was sitting there at the edge of the pool, a smirk playing at her lips. “Feel better?”
He took several deep breaths, suddenly hyper aware of everything. The water trickling down his face and neck. The coolness of the surrounding air. The stark whites and blacks of space outside the skylights. The sound the water made as it smacked against the lip of the pool, settling back into place. And most importantly, the calmness he felt. “You have no,” another breath, “idea.”
“You’re welcome.”
She slid off the edge, dropping into the pool. Though she was fully dressed she waded closer into the deep end, uncaring, and this time he let her. He even reached for her hand, pulling her to him. The way she had maneuvered him, forcing him into the pool without fearing the consequences...she sensed exactly what he needed, and he was so grateful he could feel his chest constrict, tightening around his heart. Every day, he fell a little harder. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“You have to learn to trust people. Lean on them, if you have to.”
“I trust you.”
He stared into her stormy aqua eyes, and touched the side of her face. Being this close to her still frightened him, but nowhere near as much as before. With every breath, he felt himself gathering more strength. More resolve. Fang’s circulating energy was still there brewing inside him. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever fully be rid of it; it was almost a part of him now, but in this moment, it was subdued. For the time being, she was safe.
Kennedy wrapped her fingers around his, pressing her cheek into his palm. Leaning down, he ran his other hand up her back, stopping just below her shoulder blade. He wanted to kiss her, but was afraid to give in to the impulse.
“It’s okay,” she said. “We’re surrounded by water.”
“It only takes a second to get burned.”
“Not if you drown the fire before it ignites. Take a deep breath.”
“What?”
Before he had a chance to grasp her meaning, the water pulled at their legs, drawing them under. It swirled around them, then shoved them down. It surprised him, how strong she’d become. He knew she’d advanced with manipulation, but he had no idea she’d become this powerful. The way she held the two of them under with ease, staring at him like she was barely giving it a thought—incredible. Placing her hands on either side of his shoulders, she steadied them both, keeping them from floating away. Underwater, she took on an almost magical presence, her auburn hair brightening into a deep crimson and her skin appearing to glow. Whatever control Phoenix had left was lost in that moment. He didn’t think about what he was doing. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pressed his lips against hers, giving in. He often thought of her as his weakness, and here she was proving that to be true. When it came to her, he’d probably always give in.
They kissed each other hard, bubbles soaring around them. Kissing her while submerged underwater took on a life of its own. The inability to breathe triggered a sense of urgency, making them cling to each other, their lips and tongues exploring as much as they could before their time ran out.
He wanted to stay down here forever. His chest and throat was burning with the need for oxygen, but his need for Kennedy was stronger.
Before he was ready, the water broke them apart and nudged them to the surface. Phoenix’s chest heaved as he inhaled air back into his lungs. Kennedy watched him, wide eyed, her chest barely moving. Unlike him, she was barely affected by being underwater for long periods of time.
“Sorry,” she whispered, licking her swollen lips. “I kept you down there way too long.”
“No,” he said, still breathing heavily. “It wasn’t long enough.”
“A few seconds longer, and you would’ve drowned.”
“You would have resuscitated me,” he said with a lazy grin. “And I would’ve enjoyed it.”
She shook her head at him. “I’m going to miss you, you know.”
“I’ll be back before you even realize I’m gone.”
“Do you have to leave? I could just drown you every time you think you’re going into atomic bomb mode.”
He laughed. “As fun as that sounds, it wouldn’t be enough.”
“Not enough, huh? That’s too bad.” She smiled, but there was something unspeakably sad inside that smile. He could guess exactly where her thoughts were going. The mission.
“Hey, you’re not still thinking of leaving are you?”
She looked away, the guilt betraying her. He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look him in the eye. “Promise me you’ll give me time to figure things out.”
She didn’t answer right away. What if she didn’t give him the time he was asking for? Would she leave before he had a chance to change the department’s mind about their plan of attack? The quiet storm of thoughts were breeding his worst nightmare. It was too much. He refused to lose her too.
He dropped his forehead to hers, holding her close. “Promise me,” he begged again, his voice choked.
She let out a long sigh. “I promise. But Phoenix…I can’t promise I won’t leave.”
He nodded against her forehead. “Fair enough.”
“You’ll be okay with my decision?”
“The possibility doesn’t scare me because I know it will never happen. I’m that confident I can figure this out.” He leaned back to look at her. “You’re supposed to trust me, remember?”
&
nbsp; “I trust you.” She used the same tone he used earlier when he said it.
The trembling inside him stopped. That was all he needed to hear. “You see,” he said, his eyes darting to the ceilings. “You were wrong about this place. It can’t hold all the fear and worry you thought it did. Not anymore, right?”
“Not according to the future you, if he is to be believed. He claimed he wasn’t apart of my imagination, but that also could’ve been another delusion. Makes it a little hard for me to separate what’s real and what isn’t.”
“Well nothing about this place scares me. This room and you…everything about this place is beautiful. You’re more beautiful than ever. Isn’t that an answer within itself?”
She pressed her lips together, her eyes locked on him as she considered his question. Even as she stared at him, there was a faraway look in her gaze that made him wonder what she was thinking. “Maybe,” she finally said, shaking herself. “I just hope if it is real, that we’ve somehow changed the outcome.”
“We have.”
Phoenix’s brace flashed. Davaris was signaling he made it to the airport. It was time to go. He needed to change into dry clothes and meet Davaris before anyone found him there by himself. Together, they were a force. But singled out, DOE might stand a chance at preventing them from boarding a shuttle.
He held Kennedy tighter, savoring the moment for just a moment longer. It felt like they were saying goodbye for good, and he didn’t like that. Only a few weeks, he reminded himself. But it was killing him to walk away. He would never be able to understand this affect she held over him. The attachment he felt. He wasn’t sure if he ever would.
Nine
Day two in Campeche was turning out to be stranger than the first. Lexie rubbed her aching temples and shoved on a pair of dark sunglasses before stepping outside to join the others on the patio. For breakfast that morning, she’d barely gotten down half a banana. It felt like she was experiencing a bad hangover, but she hadn’t had that much wine at dinner.
On top of that, she noticed that nothing seemed to be in its place. When she looked for her toiletry bag, it wasn’t in her suitcase compartment where she’d left it. Instead, she found it sitting on the dresser by the window. She just knew she hadn’t put it there.
