Discovery

by Lisa White

  Within seconds, she appeared at his side, breathless, with glowing aquamarine eyes even the darkness could not suppress. “Hey,” was all she said.

  “Did you deliver the package?” the soldier anxiously asked.

  “Yes, but I wish you had told me what was in it.”

  “The younger Prince thought the surprise would help your credibility. How did they react?”

  “Just as he thought they would. They have no idea what to do next.”

  “And the girl?”

  “She’s still here with Ben but I doubt they’ll be here long. If you all are going to take her, it better be soon.”

  “I’ll relay that to the princes.” The soldier started to get up when she abruptly grabbed his arm.

  “Please tell my brothers what I did. Please make sure they know I completed this part of the mission,” she said, hanging onto his arm, waiting for his assurance.

  “Of course. I’ll tell them. Just make sure you’re ready for your next part tomorrow morning,” he nodded before disappearing into the night.

  • • •

  The cabin’s expansive great room felt small, crowded with the few Misfits that Petra and Dave had invited into their home. Word had spread quickly of Carrie and Marshall’s demise but Vector’s miraculous recovery remained a secret shared only by those in this room, along with Numbers and Birch who had taken the old man home to recover from his ordeal. While other Misfits boarded up their cabins and naively prepared to battle the Anti-Powers, Grace and her small circle of Misfit friends anxiously surrounded Dave and his large pile of antique books he had scattered on the wooden coffee table in front of the fireplace. Ben sat beside him on the overstuffed couch, knowing his own superhuman powers could not help Dave in his endeavor, but wanting to be close to him just the same.

  “I just knew my father-in-law’s old books would come in handy one day,” Petra said to Rebecca in the kitchen as they fixed drinks and cake for the crowd. “Dave wanted to send them off to the Council library when his dad died, but I saw we were going to need them one day so I talked him into keeping them. At the time, I didn’t see why they would be needed, just that they would be, but who cares so long as we have them here now.”

  “Shhh! Quiet, woman!” Dave yelled at Petra from the other room. “I’m trying to think in here!” He poured over the old, musty, leather-bound history books, releasing hundreds of years of dust with each page he turned. After what felt like an eternity, he finally looked up at Grace who sat beside Ben. “Your Highness, near as I can tell between these books and what I can see from the past, no one in the Family has ever had any powers.”

  Fully aware of all eyes in the room on her, Grace shifted slightly in her seat toward Ben.

  “And on top of that,” Dave continued, “no one has had the Gift since the 1300s and even then it was very, very rare.”

  Ben reached over and held Grace’s hand with a reassuring smile.

  “What exactly is the Gift again?” Grace asked hesitantly.

  Dave took a deep breath and smiled, his eyes softening at the childlike naiveté Grace’s question revealed. “Miss Grace, the Gift is the rare power to heal the injured or resurrect life with your touch. It is the greatest power our world has ever known … and you’ve got it.”

  Grace’s fingers tingled as the image of the butterfly from the cabin’s front porch railing floated through her head. Death did not work differently in the Misfit community. Death just worked differently for her.

  “So what do we do now?” DJ looked at Ben.

  “We get Grace back to the Council and away from the Anti-Powers immediately,” Ben replied without hesitation or emotion.

  “And how do we do that with the Anti-Powers obviously too close for comfort?” Rebecca asked as she carried in a tray full of drinks.

  “I don’t know yet. But I think we’re going to need a lot more of that before the night is over,” Ben half-smiled pointing to a soda can perched on the tray.

  Petra placed a large pound cake next to the drinks. “I’ll go make some sandwiches and get a pot of coffee brewing.”

  “Can I help?” Grace slowly stood and unsuccessfully tried to release Ben’s hand.

  “You need to stay here with me,” Ben said still holding onto Grace’s hand.

  Grace wrenched her hand free. “Look, I’ve just been told I’m a freak even in your world. I need to do something normal and fixing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is about as close to normal as I can get right now.”

  Ben looked at Petra, then at Grace. “Okay, but stay away from the windows and don’t leave the cabin.”

  “I’ll keep her in the kitchen,” Petra said, patting Grace’s hand and leading her out of the room filled with the staring eyes.

  Once Grace was out of earshot, Dave looked to Ben and half-jokingly said, “Is there any way you could just speed back home and pick up some other full Powers on your way back? We sure could use some more like you right about now.”

  “I’m not leaving Grace.” Ben’s response sounded more like a military order than a statement. “She’s a member of the Family and has the Gift and she just became a lot more valuable to the Anti-Powers, if that was even possible. Now it’s way too risky for just the two of us to travel back home alone. They’d kill me and do who knows what to Grace. I’d need about five more full Powers with me to adequately protect Grace on that trip.”

  “I could go if you tell me where,” DJ spoke up.

  Ben looked at DJ questioningly. “You’d have to move so fast the Anti-Powers don’t see you leave. And then you’d have to make it all the way to South Carolina, staying invisible the entire way. Think you can handle that?”

  “Watch me,” the tall lanky Misfit grinned. “I can try. It’ll be nice to finally use my Power for something other than running the field in a ball game.”

  Ben started scribbling on a nearby scrap of paper. “Okay, here is my brother Tom’s address. Don’t use any phones. I still don’t know how the Anti-Powers knew we were here and, while phones taps are a little old-fashioned, we can’t take any chances. Get to him and he can get you to the Council. They’ll be able to send full Power troops immediately.”

  “Your brother knows the Council?” asked Dave, raising his eyebrows.

  “He does now that his younger brother is in so much trouble with them,” said Ben.

  DJ grabbed the paper and headed to the door, stopping only to hug Rebecca.

  “Please be careful,” Rebecca whispered.

  DJ kissed her full on the lips. “You too,” he winked at her and then disappeared out the door and into the night.

  “Do you think he’ll make it?” Ben asked Dave.

  “He’ll make it,” Rebecca answered him assuredly.

  Ben nodded at Rebecca before continuing, “Okay, now to strategy. What do we know?”

  Dave walked over to a desk on the other side of the room. “Here’s a map of our little community under the mountain.” He moved aside his old books to spread the map across the coffee table. “Now we don’t know for certain, but we can assume that Anti-Powers have breached our entrance and are hiding somewhere on this map.”

  Ben looked at the faces crowded around the map. “They wouldn’t come here without some sort of plan. And we still don’t know how many we’re dealing with or what kind of powers they have.” Ben rhythmically tapped his fingers on the map, analyzing the placement of each cabin on the broad canvas. “Do you have a list of everyone living here and their powers?”

  “Right here,” Sarah shoved a legal pad in Ben’s face. “Star and I started working on this while you all were looking at those old books. We all want to help Grace if we can.”

  Ben took the legal pad and looked up at Sarah. “Thanks. This list will be a big help.” Ben studied the list for a few minutes and, while he tried to hide it, his disappointment was evident to everyone in the room. “Is this everyone we’ve got? These are their powers?”

  Dave sighed, “Ben, my son, there is
a reason we’re called Misfits.”

  “But surely there’s more than this.” Ben tossed the list down on the coffee table and slouched back on the couch. With this collection of practically useless half-Powers, his strategy had just changed from offense to defense. “Okay, then we just need to hold off the Anti-Powers until DJ reaches Tom and the Council sends back full Powers. Is Vector’s the most secure cabin you’ve got?”

  “Nope,” beamed Dave proudly. “Mine is. We’ve got a secret basement. Only entrance is through the back bedroom. Petra saw we would need it one day so we designed it before we even thought about the rest of this cabin. Now, at least we finally know why we built it.” He then scanned the collection of faces in the room and sheepishly added, “Well, it was a secret basement until just now.”

  “Okay, then that’s where we’ll hide Grace,” Ben said just as Petra and Grace returned carrying sandwiches and coffee.

  “So now you’re hiding me?” Grace asked. “Don’t I get any say in this?”

  “No,” Ben replied without looking up at her, his eyes still studying the map in front of him. “Petra, take Grace down to your basement and get her settled. I’ll be down in a little while.”

  “Now, wait a second. What if I don’t want to just sit in some basement? People are dying because of me! The least I can do is stay and help too.” Grace stomped her foot, indicating a new mood swing. “I want to know what you’re going to do. What are you going to do with me?”

  Ben looked up at her, his blue eyes stern and emotionless. “I’m going to keep you alive, Grace. I’m going to keep you alive.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four: Prisoner

  The bare wooden paneling lining the basement walls matched Grace’s mood. It was dark and dismal and smothering. Even the basement air was dull and stale. And, but for the brightly quilted bed on which Grace sat, there was little furniture in the room and its starkness intentionally contributed to Grace feeling like a prisoner of war in a Nazi concentration camp.

  Because that is what she was now. A prisoner of war. A pawn. A token to be taken home by the winner. No more blending in. No more staying on the sidelines. She was now the center of some strange world she knew nothing about, nor did she want to know.

  “Here you are, Your Majesty,” Petra sang out as she nimbly climbed down the ladder in the corner of the room. “I noticed the reading selection down here was a little old. I mean you probably weren’t even born when most of these books were written. So I thought I’d bring you some newer books and the few magazines we have. You never know when you’ll get out of here.”

  The pained look on Grace’s face immediately made Petra regret her last words. “Can you see how long I’ll be down here?” Grace asked.

  “No, dear,” Petra smiled. “Dave and I have tried all night to see anything that might help but we’ve only gotten bits and pieces. The only thing we know for sure is that the Anti-Powers will be here this morning. I saw them fighting our Misfits on the main road in front of the general store.”

  Grace looked at her watch. “But it’s almost morning now.”

  Petra patted her hand. “And that’s why I wanted to check on you this one last time to see if you need anything before I head out. Ben worked all night to plan out what each of us has to do and that includes me and Dave.”

  “So you’re leaving?”

  “Not for long and not very far. We’re going to try to use our powers to help Ben’s battle strategy. But don’t worry, Dave and I know all our mountain’s great hiding places. I promise we won’t be in any danger. And neither will you with Ben here.” Petra squeezed Grace’s hand. “So, do you need anything before I leave?”

  “No.” Grace felt numb with her thoughts. “But when you saw the fight, were … were any of the Misfits hurt or … or you know?”

  Petra responded slowly, “I did not see any faces, if that is what you are asking.” She silently sat with Grace a few minutes before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a wadded up blue bandana. “One last thing. Last night I saw you were going to need this. I don’t know why. I just know you do.”

  Grace unwrapped the blue bundle and nestled inside was an antique wooden hair clip. It was crescent-shaped with two sticks running through it to hold hair in place.

  “I bought it from some guy selling them at one of the Grateful Dead concerts Dave and I went to. I loved the way the flowers were so intricately carved on that large curved piece. Even the wooden sticks are decorated,” Petra said pointing to the clip’s ornate design.

  “Thank you,” Grace said still looking at the clip.

  “You’re welcome. Why don’t we try it in your hair, Your Highness?” Petra stood over Grace and pulled her hair back through the wooden clip into a ponytail. “You know, dear, I don’t have any children, but if I had a daughter, I would want her to be just like you.” Petra leaned down and gave Grace a hug.

  Grace stood and hugged her back. “Thank you … for everything.”

  “This will be over before you know it,” Petra said releasing Grace from her grasp.

  “I hope so,” sighed Grace.

  At that moment, Ben flew down the ladder with his undetectable speed. “Petra, it’s time.”

  Petra looked at Grace and smiled, “I’ll see you later,” before she glided up the stairs leaving Ben and Grace alone.

  The two friends stood on opposite sides of the small room, their eyes not moving from one another.

  Grace finally broke the silence. “When you said ‘it’s time,’ does that mean they’re here? Is the fight that Petra saw on the main road starting now?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Ben nodded.

  “What are we supposed to do?” Grace still stood there.

  “You’re going to stay down here away from everyone and everything and I’m going to keep watch upstairs,” Ben said matter-of-factly.

  “So now you’re in Guardian mode again?”

  “Yes.”

  “And so we aren’t … you know?”

  Ben’s eyes softened a little. “Gracie, you are always in my heart but when I am acting as your Guardian, I need my head to be in control, not my heart. Do you understand?”

  Grace’s nod was barely visible.

  “I need to concentrate on what’s going on out there so I can keep you safe in here. I mean, if anything ever happened to you because I was distracted by, well — ” Ben shook his head as if shaking off a bad dream.

  “I understand,” Grace interrupted softly. “Isn’t there anything I can do?”

  “No. Not without putting yourself in danger and I can’t allow that. I’ve thought of every possible scenario and everyone here is working to keep you alive. Even Rebecca has shape shifted to look like you and is running around acting as a decoy. The least you can do is try to stay out of the way so the rest of us can do our jobs,” Ben stated bluntly.

  “I’m sorry. I just thought if someone gets hurt or … you know, then maybe I could help with this Gift or whatever it is.”

  “No way, Grace. We can’t risk the Anti-Powers finding out about your power. You just need to stay here for now. I’ll be back to check on you in a little while.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I told you. I’ll just be upstairs. Remember, sweetie, I won’t ever leave you unless I know you are safe.” And then Ben disappeared leaving Grace alone with her thoughts.

  • • •

  She waited for him. She knew what she had to do. And while it was uncomfortable watching her neighbors valiantly but uselessly fight the Anti-Powers on the road below, blood was thicker than water. So she hid beside the cabin watching the battle and waiting to play her part for the Anti-Powers. Her heart raced with the anticipation of seeing him again. Of seeing them all.

  “Your obedience impresses me,” a voice came up behind her.

  Startled, she turned, almost stumbling over a rock. “You made it,” she gushed.

  “Of course. Did you doubt me?”

  “No. I … I’m just
glad to see you.”

  “And I you.” The corner of his mouth curled up as if he was trying to smile but was unable. “Where is she?”

  “In there.” She pointed to the cabin, her aquamarine eyes now glowing with brighter tints of green. “In the basement.”

  “When did your eyes start to turn?”

  “Right after I delivered the box to them.” She could tell the prince was pleased.

  “So, you are ready?”

  “Yes.” She looked at the battle scene below. The bloody bodies of her former friends were starting to pile up. When she saw Rebecca’s lifeless body sprawled out on the side of the road near Ted’s store, her friend’s blue eyes vacant of any soul, she knew Ben’s battle plans were starting to disintegrate. “You are taking me with you, aren’t you? To see Father?”

  “I said I would, didn’t I?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then my word should be good enough. Now, show me to Grace.”

  • • •

  The stone floor was so cold, she felt its iciness creep through the thick soles of her tennis shoes. Her constant pacing did nothing to warm her, and Grace knew her chills were more likely generated by nerves and not necessarily by the frigid floor below. She had only been alone about an hour but Ben’s absence made everything feel worse. Without him, she could not even think straight right now. Knowing what was happening on the main road below, knowing it was happening because of her, was too much. In her mind, the basement walls appeared to be moving inward, crowding her, seemingly crushing what little stale air remained in the room. She needed to get out of there. She needed Ben. And just when she thought she would smother in the room’s oppressiveness, Ben slid down the ladder. He landed inches from her pacing path and his closeness immediately calmed her.

  “Hey, came to che — ,” he stopped. “Grace? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I just want to know what’s going on out there. Is everyone okay? Are … are you okay?” Her nerves pushed out the words with rapid breaths.