by Kimbra Swain
“I’m the key?”
“Because of your unique shifting abilities, you are in both places at once. I can funnel my power from the other side through you. You are a conduit,” she explained.
“It feels funny,” I said.
“That’s the feeling I get on the other side when I pull power,” she said.
“I’ve felt you pull power, but it feels like something being taken away. This feels warm and tingly,” I said. “Abby, let’s get through this meeting quickly. We are all exhausted and need rest before whatever tomorrow throws at us. Don’t worry about Samara or Lukas or any of the rest. Okay?”
“Okay. Shift us back to the real world,” she said, and I shifted back. Samara waited for confirmation that she understood now. She nodded to him.
“I’m disappointed. You should have been able to figure that out,” he said.
“We’ve been a little busy, Jasper,” she replied.
“What is the bigger picture here?” he asked. “Who is behind all of this?”
She went into a long tale about the GEA and all of its members. Samara watched her intently. She told him the theories on the man-made earthquakes, and she told him about Gabriel’s warning.
“You’ve spoken to Gabriel?” he asked.
“Yes, he visited me on the island,” she said.
“He showed you the vision. Was Tadeas there?”
“He was on the island at the time, but he didn’t speak to Gabriel until he met him in the church in Paris,” she explained. He looked back and forth at us several times.
“If you are looking at us in the spectrum, we know about the bond,” she said.
“What do you know about the bond?”
“It’s purple and red. The red is Tadeas’ natural instinct for protection. Agape, unconditional love. We aren’t sure if the purple strand is tied to Lincoln working his magic for us long before we ever met,” she said.
“The purple is not a bond that Lincoln placed on you,” he said.
“What is it then?” she asked.
“I’m not sure,” he replied and dropped the subject. “The GEA board members, I’m curious, you said Edgar Donovan. Are you absolutely sure?”
“Yes, the Master Wizard and your fellow fraternity brother, Edgar Donovan,” Abby said. “However, we saw him yesterday at Andy’s funeral. He swore that he no longer participated in their activities.”
Cassidy interjected, “He’s my daddy.”
Samara spun to look at her, and she flinched. “You are Edgar Donovan’s daughter? I assumed you were Fae.”
“I am. My mother is Lianne Theodoard.”
“Abby? What is she doing here?” Samara asked.
“Aunt Li made me take her. She’s Lianne’s heir, but she refuses to train her magic. Lianne compelled me to take her,” she said.
“She’s powerful, but she doesn’t use it. If not developed, she will destroy herself, and all of you,” he said.
“I have no idea what to do with her,” Abby replied.
Cassidy pouted. I expected to see Lukas try to comfort her, but she stared at me. I turned my gaze away from her, but Samara noticed the exchange.
“Abby, these entities have been around for a while, why would they try to destroy you overtly now?” he asked.
“Destroy me? They are trying to destroy the world.”
“They will have to kill you to do it, right?” he asked.
“Tell him about the contract,” I suggested.
“Grandfather wants to transfer his power to me,” she admitted. Those in the room that didn’t know about the deal gasped. Lukas hung his head. Ashley closed her laptop and leaned back. “I don’t fully understand what that means. I know that I don’t want it.”
“Divine Inheritance. I should have known he’d want you for his heir. Where is he going?” he asked.
“I’m not sure, but he says he has to go. I have a year to decide,” she said softly.
“This is why they want to destroy you. They will use every single person in this room to do it if they have to,” he said looking around at all of us.
“I’ve said this before and I will repeat it now, I love you all. You are all welcome to leave anytime. I will never hold a grudge against you for wanting to get out. In fact, since you are all here, I’ll tell you. Aiden and Fayola have left the team. They will disappear and hopefully have a wonderful life together,” she said sadly. Cassidy stood up to leave. “Sit down,” Abby snarled at her. Cassidy obeyed. The child had no sense whatsoever in how to act properly.
“Outside of you missing your home, why are you and Tadeas co-meditating? It takes a great deal of trust and power to do it. If you are doing it successfully, then it’s quite an accomplishment,” he said.
“The shadow returned,” she admitted.
He looked shocked and moved to sit down across the room. He slowly sat down in the high-backed chair. “Abigail, the shadow does not control you. You control it. Lincoln taught you that many years ago.”
“It’s not that simple, Jasper. The portal is gone, and I can’t go home. Boulder was compromised from the inside. The Atlanta proxy was killed in front of his own building, and it’s an inside job. The Malibu proxy put a bullet in my chest and had to be terminated. His family was shot in coercion. Two of our students are dead because of the necromancers. Jay Stafford died in Boulder trying to save Tadeas and I. My grandfather wants me to be something I don’t want to be. Lincoln paid for his association with me with his life, and now his daughter that we searched the globe for is a necromancer. She wants both Tadeas and me dead. Lukas will forever be tortured because he loved me. Gabriel had to give me part of himself to save me after the incident in Paris. I died, again! And George told me that Gabriel…” her voice trailed off. Lukas sat down in the floor and buried his face in his hands. I raised up to sit on the edge of the couch with her, and I wrapped my arm around her waist.
“I knew about Gabriel,” Samara admitted.
“You knew?”
“I’ve always known. Do not forget that I met the Almighty’s son when he came into this world. I have a few connections, and one of them is your surrogate father,” he said.
“What?” Ashley said shocked. Lukas stood back up and approached the chair Cassidy sat in, but his eyes were fixed on Abigail.
“I don’t completely understand it,” she nervously said as everyone in the room stared at her.
“You knew, Tadeas?” Ashley asked.
“Yes, she told me immediately after George told her,” I said. It felt good to know something about her that none of them did.
“I don’t know why he got involved with your birth, Abigail, but I do know that despite the failings of your biological parents, he has always watched over you. He always will,” Jasper said confidently. “You should ask him about the bond.”
“Huh?” she said.
“I will speak no more of it. Ask Gabriel,” he said, waving his hand to dismiss it. “Tadeas, you are the stability in her life. I suggest the two of you find common ground and hold on to it dearly. She will need you, and you can watch over her like no one else in this room can. I know you are up to the task.”
I nodded at him.
“I’m okay now,” she mumbled.
“I see that. It should never happen again. You can rely on Tadeas; however, you are powerful enough to contain it on your own. I’ve told you many times that your power could surpass all of ours. Even after the incident, you hold yourself back. You cannot erase the mistake of isolating yourself from the world. You were here and people got hurt and died. You left and people got hurt and died. These things are not due something you did or didn’t do, Abby. It is the evil that lurks in this world, and it has done so since the beginning of time. It is drawn to you because you fight it. They all want you dead, because they know the moment they go toe to toe with you, it’s over for them. You’ve got to think things through and be steady like you once were. Even tonight with Mwenye, you could have taken them both. You’
ve just got to remember how to wield that power in yourself. If Meredith Spence is a necromancer, Lincoln would want you to kill her. If you get chance, don’t hesitate. What is your next move?”
“Tadeas and I will go to New York City tomorrow and deal with the regent problem there. I intend to bring the new proxy back with us when we return. We will establish a headquarters here and proceed to track the GEA’s moves,” she said.
“You need to quit reacting to their moves and make your own. Strike back at them when they don’t expect it. Remind them who you are,” he said confidently. “You all look exhausted, and dawn is upon us. I should be going.” He got up and crossed the room to her. She stood up and met him with a hug.
“Thank you for coming,” she said to him. “We could use you in the fight.”
“I will help, because this is bigger and deeper than I imagined. I’m going to go poking around and see what I can find. In fact, I need to call my old friend Edgar Donovan,” he said. I stood up and shook his hand. “I know, Tadeas, that you probably get this a lot, but I’m going to add my warning on the pile. You look after her. If you do anything to hurt her, I will hunt you down.”
“Yeah, I get that a lot,” he smiled.
“Go rest, child,” he said and faded from view.
“Bed. Sleep. Everyone, now!” Abby said. The room erupted in noise. Everyone started scattering to various places. Vincent approached, talking about something new he discovered about the osmium. I guessed it couldn’t wait. I heard her explaining to him the holes we found in Alabama and asked him to look into it since Aiden was gone now. He agreed.
I grabbed Ashley by the arm. “Hey, party planner, in the morning, get everyone out of this house please. I don’t care where they go, but you get them out.”
“Consider it done,” she smiled.
“Where is Matt?” I asked.
“He’s down at the pool house with the housekeeper. It’s quieter down there, and she’s a unique individual. She is watching over him,” Ashley said. “Goodnight Tadeas.” She took Ichiro’s hand, and they went upstairs.
I looked back at Abby as she approached Cassidy. I decided to let her have her say, because if she did train Cassidy, that would include understanding boundaries.
“Cassidy, your mother wanted you to be part of this team. I’m sure you have exceptional computer skills. The magic inside of you could be used to help us greatly. Aiden was my associate wielder on the team, but he’s gone now. Your father asked me to train you, but I told him I wouldn’t do it unless you desired to do it. You have made it abundantly clear that is not what you want. I said all of that to say this, if you don’t leave my man alone, I’m going to cut your heart out and send it to your mother in a box. Are we clear?” Cassidy flinched and tried to walk off. “I’m not done. If you want to be part of this team, you will do whatever you are instructed to do by myself or Ashley. No one else is your boss. The men in my team are off limits. If I catch you with any one of them, so help me Cassidy, I will end you.” Abby paused and let it sink it “Okay, you may go.” She rushed out of the room, but at the last moment, she looked back and made eye contact with me. I gave her a blank stare.
Lukas was the last to leave. He looked at me as if he were asking permission to speak to her. I sat back down on the couch. He could talk to her all he wanted. I wasn’t leaving her alone with him. “I want you to stop worrying about me, Abby. When you recruited me, you told me all the consequences of my association with you. It was no different when we were together. I always knew what could happen. But you are right, what we had is gone, it’s in the past. I know you still care, as do I, but Tadeas is what you need and he will take care of you. Also, I’m not interested in Cassidy, so you don’t have to worry about that either. I will go to the office here in Atlanta in the morning. Let me handle the situation here. You go take care of Giordano and bring back your proxy. If you take Giordano out, I will cover everything. You know I can do it.” If I didn’t think this was just an angle to get her back, I’d actually like the guy. He was genuine and strong. He knew when to step in and fill a role. I could see why she chose him, and I could see why she loved him. “Thank you, Tadeas, for letting me speak to her.”
“Dude, you know I have no control over that,” I said smiling.
“Actually, you may fool everyone in this room, but I see you with her. You can control her. It’s impressive,” he said.
“Um, right here,” she said.
“Goodnight to both of you. Have a good trip to New York. Come home safely.” He left the room, and she watched him go. I felt her emotion, the lingering parts of her that still cared deeply for him. I wasn’t offended by it. It was part of who she was, and I loved her. Every part of her.
By the time the meeting was finished, my head was spinning. I kept going back to what Jasper said about Gabriel and the bond. First of all, I would never summon him. That was a disaster waiting to happen, and when I did talk to him, he had his own agenda. I never knew when I might see him.
“What did you think of him?” I asked as we went upstairs.
“Well, he’s powerful and cares a great deal about you, but it’s hard for me to see you training under him. I do know a few things about training you,” he said.
“Actually, he wasn’t strict at all on me. He gave me free reign. Besides you know nothing about training me, because I was pretending to be bad,” I admitted. “But he knows me. Inside and out. I suppose you are the only other one that knows me like that now.”
“Not Lukas?” he asked. It surprised me that he felt confident enough bring up that subject.
“No, not even Lukas. I met and fell in love with Lukas when Lincoln had his fling with Meredith’s mother. While we were together in Los Angeles, we had an incident that caused a relapse with my shadow, and even after I recovered, I didn’t go back to him. He found me after Lincoln died, and it was several years before I allowed him to get close to me again. I was stubborn,” I said.
“Go figure,” he smiled.
“Part of it was I knew no matter what I felt for Lukas, he was mortal. I had such a hard time loving someone I knew would leave me. Then they turned him. He was immortal, but I couldn’t feed him. He had to eat, so I left again,” I said. “But I never let Lukas completely in. He gave me everything, and I held back.”
“You regret it?” he asked.
“Regret loving him? Or holding back?”
“Holding back?” he clarified.
“Yes, he deserved better,” I admitted.
“You aren’t allowed to hold back with me. Just so you know,” he said. The whole conversation had not phased him. He laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
“I don’t think I have a choice,” I said.
“There is always a choice,” he said.
I curled up next to him. “I don’t have a choice anymore. I already gave in.”
He sighed, and I waved my hand to the light switch, clicking off the lights. “The metallic orb thing is better than that hand wavy thing.”
I laughed. “It is pretty damn cool.” I yawned.
“Tired?”
“Yes.”
“No mind racing in fifty different directions?” he asked.
“I’m pretty sure I could only go in two directions right now,” I smiled, forcing my thoughts to him to see if he picked up on it.
“Two very good options,” he replied. I felt him push his thoughts to me.
“Really?” His decision surprised me, but I felt his hope of a moment where we could explore the other option without all the other people in the house at the same time. I smiled and thought about the connection between us. An interesting new way to communicate. It had lots of possibilities.
He laughed. “Goodnight, Abby.”
“Night, night,” I said, and slept.
I woke up when he kissed me on the cheek. “Morning, I’m going downstairs for some coffee. I’ll be back in a few minutes. You stay here.”
I grunted a little to af
firm that I heard him and closed my eyes again. I drifted off to sleep. A new, fresh hell interrupted my slumber. A vivid dream of a giant pyramid temple rising up out of the jungle. A ritual was being performed. As I stepped through the trees, the copper stench of blood assaulted my nostrils. I crouched down behind a stone wall and peeked over to see a group of men on their knees praying to a central altar. On each corner of the altar, a giant bowl held a flickering fire. Upon the altar, a man laid prone. His arms were spread wide and blood flowed from different parts of his body. He looked to be unconscious.
As I circled around in the darkness, and a tall figure descended from the temple wearing the mask made of the pelt from a black jaguar. He dipped hand in the man’s blood, smearing it over his chest. My stomach lurched, and I wanted to throw up. I continued to watch as the man, painted beyond recognition chanted and danced around the man on the table. The other men continued their prayers by raising their hands to the sky, then bowing down before the altar. I shifted my sight to the magical spectrum, and there were blackened shadows swirling around the masked man and the others. The man on the table had a swirling purple and red glow around him. I jumped to my feet and pulled power to my hand. I screamed his name, “Tadeas!”
“Wake up, Abby. You are having a nightmare. Wake up!” he shook me hard until I opened my eyes. My throat was dry, and my body was covered in sweat. My outstretched hand held a pulsing ball of lightning. Out of instinct I pushed him back a little, but he did not let go. “Whatever it was, it’s gone. Look at me. Say something.”
“You. They had you,” I managed to get out.
“Who had me?” he said.
