Alec frowned. “I wonder if the amulet has a lingering effect on your memories.”
“My mind does feel fuzzy when I try to grasp for those memories, but it’s like I’m second guessing myself. After Mom died, I was immediately adopted by Lawrence. I took his last name, and he started getting the stipend for my care. The state doesn’t care about duds; the first one that showed up and asked for me got me.” She shrugged, and Alec could feel her discomfort discussing the past. “He wasn’t the best parent, but he was never cruel. I didn’t want for anything except affection or time, and I learned how to take care of myself from an early age. He died three years ago of alcohol poisoning. He did love his whiskey.”
She didn’t want his pity, but Alec felt it none the less. His upbringing had been a conventional, mid-level techie childhood. The only unconventional parts were that he’d had a lot of siblings and his parents hadn’t hated mages like most of his friends’ parents. Their early sympathies had encouraged his own when he entered university and realized how poorly mages were treated in the East. He still suffered from memories of government officials hunting unregistered mages in his native city. They had torn children from their parents, loving parents who hadn’t cared whether their child had magic. It had been a horrifying experience, ultimately leading him to Alena and this life.
“We can continue to search the internet. There must be a person in your past that did this, someone close enough to know what you were. I’m tempted to let you use the computer. What electronics were you able to use before your magic was released?”
“I had a cell phone my friend bought for me. I used electronics at work to some degree, and nothing reacted strangely. I don’t want to touch your computer, just in case.”
“All right; if you change your mind, let me know.” Alec was fairly certain Eden wouldn’t fry his computer like Alena had, but he wouldn’t push her if she didn’t want to take the risk. “We could find something smaller as a practice piece, but we don’t have many electronics in the house for obvious reasons. We send burner cellphones with the mages when they leave the house, but they’re useless except in an emergency. If you’ve already used a cellphone, it wouldn’t reveal anything. I am curious to see how electronics respond, so I’ll find something.” His mind worked, thinking of ways to procure electronics without alerting the entire house to her nature. It wouldn’t be easy.
“But for now,” he smiled, “I think we’re done.” His eyes roved over her body again, helpless to stop himself. She was exhausted, but it didn’t detract from her beauty. Clearing his throat, he looked away. He needed to control his emotions better around her, but he had no idea how. Every minute he spent with Eden only interested him further. He decided to talk to Alena. She suspected he liked Eden, but he wanted to tell his partner just how much. As beautiful as Eden was, he wouldn’t risk his relationship with Alena. A future including both of them sounded beautiful, but he didn’t let himself hope - not yet. They had to keep her alive first.
“Thanks, Alec.” Her words drew his attention back to her. “I think I’ll go for a walk in the forest or take a nap. I feel like my body is still adjusting to all the changes.”
“The test probably didn’t help. Just like mages, using serious techie talents can take it out of us. Since your mage talents appear latent and always on, you may be more affected than others.”
“Ok, bye, then.” She stood nervously and fled the office. Alec said goodbye, but she had already disappeared into the hallway. He didn’t know why she ran from him. Distracted, he reviewed her answers; she was unbelievable. He picked up his phone, turning it over in his hand. He knew he needed to call Davin, but Alena would not be pleased if he invited his old friend to the mage safe-house without her permission.
Chapter Seventeen
Alena
“Frank! In my office!” Alena winced as the gruff voice echoed around the squad room. Officers working at their desks looked up but didn’t show any empathy. Alena was used to that. Most of them were very low-level techs, and this was the best job they could get. Her position on the force, even part-time, meant one less job for one of their friends. She gathered her papers and strolled toward the chief’s office. She had been hoping he wouldn’t know she visited. Unfortunately, the techie possessed an astounding ability to know where his officers were at all times.
“Yes, Chief?” she asked as she slid into his office.
“Shut the door,” he barked, causing her to wince again. Chief Murphy was an intimidating man; he was nearly twice her size and his voice never seemed to decrease below yelling. But, he was a decent police officer. He kept his squad in line and Canton relatively free of crime. She ignored that his position was funded by techies. Almost every police department in the Eastern Territory was sponsored by an Elite techie.
“We received a report from Brenville.”
She moved aside a pile of papers to clear a seat. Unlike Alec, Murphy thrived on chaos. There were so many pieces of paper on his desk, she wondered whether he’d had an entire tree delivered at some point. He preferred paper to electronic reports, which Alena appreciated. She didn’t have to labor over the old-fashioned typewriter – the only machine she wouldn’t break with her magic. Papers were strewn everywhere, some of them crumpled and stained with coffee. She wagered he never read the reports he demanded.
“Brenville, sir?” The smaller city didn’t pay much attention to the larger city’s crime. Too much happened there and its large population supported several mage consultants on the police payroll. Murphy regarded her, his eyes dark and piercing under bushy eyebrows. His thick, hairy forearms crumpled papers as he set them on the desk.
“You’ve heard about the mage murders?”
Alena nodded. Before Eden began consuming her thoughts, it had been the only thing on her mind. The reports stated mages were killed in their beds with no sign of forced entry. It was horrible. She’d lain awake all night after she’d viewed the crime scene photos.
“The media found out. The stations released a report saying the murderer was found and apprehended, but no other information. No motive, no signs of accomplices, no name, no nothing. They’re keeping it hush-hush.”
Alena’s brows rose. That was interesting. She frowned as she assessed the data she had. If the mage killer were a techie, the Elite would be scrambling to pour bribes into the coffers that would keep their secrets. She didn’t believe it was techie work, although it pained her to think a mage could murder his or her fellow mages in cold blood. She didn’t know of any techie that could get past mage wards. A mage hating cult existed, but they were disorganized and more bluster than action. Alena didn’t think they were capable of such a pre-meditated act.
“No word, sir?” Murphy liked to be prompted. She swore he did it on purpose to ensure his officers were listening.
“None, though it’s been rumored that Rennert was involved.”
“Davin Rennert?” Her eyes widened in surprise. The coincidence unnerved her. That man’s name had been mentioned far too many times for one day.
The chief nodded. “Yep. It’s rumored Rennert’s security force captured and killed the murderer. He might have paid to get that rumor out, but it’s out.”
She had been waiting for the chief to say he was the rumored culprit. That he brought down the killer made her consider Alec’s suggestion. She had no way of proving the rumors, though. She shook herself, aware that the chief was waiting for her to say something.
“What does this have to do with me, Chief?”
The chief shrugged, but Alena narrowed her eyes at him. Murphy never did anything without reason; this wasn’t idle chatter. “The only other information we’ve been given is that the killer wasn’t working alone. Our mages are supposed to be on the look-out for more hits.” Murphy paused. “The word Magitech has been whispered and thrown about, too. There’s not much we can do about that, but I wanted you aware; you’re my only mage in this shithole.”
Alena nodded, but her he
art pounded. Magitech. It made sense - a mage or techie alone couldn’t have bypassed strong wards and battled powerful mages. She forced her face to indifference. “Magitechs are a myth, but I appreciate the heads up, Chief. I’ll let you know if I find anything.” She started to rise, but the chief motioned for her to sit back down.
“A couple more things, Frank. You answered a call earlier this week for an apartment break-in?” Alena nodded and waited, the knot in her stomach twisting further. “The whole building burned down last night. I was going to call you with the news if you didn’t show. The fire department is calling it arson. A college kid that lived on the first floor suffered severe burns, but there were no casualties.”
Alena sighed, looking down at her lap. Eden would be upset. Alena also felt this was proof that the person interested in Eden was still in town. The reasons behind the fire were uncertain. They could include a number of things - anger Eden hadn’t returned home, erasing any evidence of their break-in, or a message.
“Where’s the person that was living in the upstairs apartment? The one that experienced the break-in?”
“She’s safe,” Alena replied. The chief knew persons of interest occasionally disappeared under Alena’s watch, but he’d never brought it up before.
“I want her brought in and questioned. The injured kid’s father is requesting an investigation, and we’ll need to speak with her.”
Alena’s hands shook. This was the worst possible scenario. The chief might turn a blind eye to her actions, but an angry, wealthy techie would force them all into an uncomfortable position. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“48 hours, Frank.”
Alena gulped and nodded. The time frame would allow her to school Eden on the answers that would keep the mage house safe. She was grateful she was the only mage consultant. If another mage saw Eden’s strength, they might make the wrong assumption.
“I’ve been asked to bring in another consultant, Frank,” Chief Murphy continued, and Alena’s well-laid plans shattered. She stared at him, the lump rising from her stomach to her throat. “The techie kid’s father thinks you might be biased.” His words solidified the situation. They wanted to pin the fire on Eden. She’d been accused of being a mage during the break-in, right before the suspicious fire. She was being set up, and her answers wouldn’t matter. The techie wanted to lay the blame on a mage, and Eden would be the perfect scapegoat. Her questioning would also bring Eden out of hiding, allowing whoever was after her easy access. Her shoulders slumped.
“I know you want to save the world, kid,” the chief continued, uncharacteristically concerned and compassionate. “You might need to let this one go, for the greater good.”
Alena didn’t respond, afraid she would only yell at the chief. It wasn’t fair a mage had to be blamed to satisfy the needs of a techie. It was also the worst possible time and Eden was the worst possible mage to use as a scapegoat. She didn’t know what to do. If she refused the chief’s orders, they would both be in trouble. Alena would never work in Canton again; maybe not even the Eastern territory. She could be deported, and countless kids would be left without a safe place when their magic put them in danger.
She rose again and was halfway to the door before Murphy’s voice stopped her. “There was something about a necklace associated with the mage kills. They’re trying to keep a lid on it, but magic suppression was mentioned. The entire techie Elite is up in arms. They think mages will waltz into the Eastern Territory and insinuate themselves everywhere if they can suppress their magic. The whole country is freaking out about a hostile take-over. It took several weeks for us to get this information, Frank. I’d like to think you didn’t know anything about it.”
She turned back, her hand on the doorknob, and looked the chief in the eye. “I swear, Chief, I didn’t know anything about it.” She would have immediately smuggled Eden over the border if she had known. He nodded, but his eyes were tired. He sat back in his chair, the poor furniture creaking under his substantial bulk.
“I really don’t want another Civil War,” he said to the ceiling.
“Me neither, Chief,” she replied quietly and turned the knob.
“48 hours, Frank. It was all I could get for you.”
She didn’t acknowledge his last words. Her heart was heavy as she left the office, leaving her report uncompleted. She didn’t want to give the department any information on Eden, even false information. PVT Mitchell, her reluctant partner, sneered as she left, and Alena tensed. She wondered what he had told the Chief about Eden. She felt sick thinking about it.
She walked the two blocks to her car, not even noticing the beauty of the early fall day. Zar greeted her with serious eyes. He sensed her fear and frustration. Alena relayed the information as best she could. They both sat in silence as Alena stared at nothing. It was a trap, no matter how she played it. Being imprisoned and implicated for something she didn’t do so soon after finding her magic would affect Eden very poorly. The only answer to the situation was the hardest - getting Eden across the border as quickly as possible.
She drove absently toward Eden’s apartment. She wanted to see the destruction for herself. A black pile of wood occupied the lot where Eden’s house used to stand. It was sodden and misshapen; hardly anything recognizable remained. The houses on either side were pristine, and the bushes bordering the lot were undamaged. It looked like a mage fire; normal fire wouldn’t be that controlled. Alena sighed. She couldn’t go to the store and get clothes for Eden; it would seem too suspicious if anyone were watching her. Eden would have to overcome her distaste and wear Alena’s clothes. She didn’t see anyone hanging around, but a pall of malevolence filled the air; the fire had not been set with good intentions.
Her fingers drummed on the steering wheel as she drove from town. Her thoughts were so chaotic, she was surprised when she made it home in one piece. Entering the house, she climbed the stairs and fell into Alec’s arms. Her voice withheld tears as she recounted the situation.
He soothed her, his mind working on the problem. Alena waited, her face pressed against his shirt. She breathed in his comforting, pine scent. She was rarely so defeated, but this seemed insurmountable. They could try to run for the border, but they would probably be found by whoever hunted Eden or the techie bent on revenge.
“We should call Rennert,” Alec said firmly after considering all the options.
Alena sighed, twisting his damp shirt against her face. “I don’t know, Alec. We don’t know the man. The rumors that he helped apprehend the killer could be lies. Besides, the two matters aren’t even related. Why would he help Eden? He doesn’t know her, and he’s one of the enemies. It’s his Elite friends who are trying to burn Eden at the stake.”
Alec took a deep breath. When he spoke again, reluctance weighted his words. She met his eyes. They were conflicted, the usually bright blue subdued. “I’ve never told anyone this, Alena, but it explains why we can trust him. Rennert is a Magitech.”
Alena jerked, nearly falling off his lap. She stared at him, her eyes wide. “What?”
“He is. He told me in confidence once, so you can’t tell anyone else. Don’t even tell Eden, not for now.” He winced. “He might punch me for telling you. That’s not something I want to experience; the man is built like a brick wall. I promised I would keep his secret, but we can’t handle this alone. You’ll never get Eden over the border safely, and I refuse to risk both of you like that if we have another option. She is Magitech; the test I performed this morning leaves no doubt. She might not be accepted in the West. The only one that can help her is another Magitech.”
Alena punched him in the shoulder, feeling betrayed. “We sat right here and talked about this the other night, and you didn’t say a damn thing!” Her voice was tight with anger. He held up his hands in surrender.
“I know, Lena, and I’m sorry. I promised him. It wasn’t my secret to tell, and it still isn’t. I haven’t talked to him for years. He might not come, but I think he
will. There’s also the necklace. If anyone can decipher the amulet, Rennert can.”
Alena sighed, her anger fizzling. She nuzzled back into Alec’s arms, tucking her head under his chin. His hand stroked her bare arm, causing tingles to rise on her skin. “We don’t even know if the information we’ve been given is real,” she muttered.
“It’s too much of a coincidence to ignore.”
She shrugged, not replying. She didn’t want to rely on a techie Elite for help. It went against every instinct in her entire body. But, she was also out of ideas. Whoever went to the trouble to suppress Eden’s Magitech identity as a young child had plans for her. It was apparent those plans were about to be executed. She owed it to Eden to try and help in whatever way possible.
“Fine, call him.” She sighed. “What should I tell Eden?”
“I think Eden is stronger than we think, Lena. We should tell her everything, except Rennert’s Magitech nature - that’s for him to reveal. I shouldn’t have told you, but I couldn’t invite him to our sanctuary without your agreement. Tell Eden about the house and the police, and tell her we’re inviting someone who might help. I’ll know soon if he agrees. It shouldn’t take him long to get here; Brenville is only two hours away.”
Alena looked out the window. It was just after noon. She could feel the clock ticking down. Opening her senses, she found Eden moving around her room. “Ok,” she said as she slipped off Alec’s lap. He captured her hands, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“We’ll all be ok, Lena, Eden included. We’ll get through this…”
She nodded but didn’t feel the same confidence as Alec. She stalled by retrieving clothes from her room. When she made her way toward Eden’s door, she felt like an executioner delivering a death sentence instead of clothing.
Chapter Eighteen
Jenira
“That asshole!” Jenira cursed, twisting her dagger around in her hand. Davin stood at the bar in his apartment, pouring himself a drink. His slight liquor addiction calmed him as much as her habit of playing with her blades.
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