“Cold?” Braden asks. When I nod, he slips his arm around my shoulders. The honest concern in his eyes keeps me from resisting. That and the way he can warm me up instantly, no matter what. “You really shouldn’t be reacting to the cold still. It’s been months. It’s starting to worry me that you’re still feeling the effects of that night. Maybe we should talk to Dr. Hanover about it, or your own doctor, the one you said has set all your broken bones.”
“I’m fine. It’s nothing, okay?” I do not want to see any doctors about this. Whether it’s Dr. Layton or Milo’s dad, they’ll want to run tests, and that means going to the hospital. No way.
“Libby, you’re not fine.”
“I’m just cold. It’s barely spring. There’s nothing wrong with being cold this time of year,” I argue. Trying to show that I really am fine, I lean away from Braden so his arm falls away. I’m still cold, but the shivering has stopped at least. He doesn’t look anywhere near convinced. I sigh and try again. “I’m sure it’s just because I haven’t had any rest or a decent night’s sleep since that night. I train all evening and I’m up every night in the spirit world. You know you don’t get much rest doing that. I’ll be fine once we finish this.”
“I don’t know. This is lasting too long. Besides,” he says, “you looked like you were sleeping pretty comfortably on the plane, just now, but you’re still shivering.”
“So?”
“You haven’t been in the spirit world the last few nights. If you’re sleeping that well when you do get to sleep, it should be enough. You shouldn’t be reacting to the cold still,” Braden says.
My cheeks flood with red, and Braden notices before I can turn away from him. His eyebrows rise expectantly.
“I don’t usually sleep that well,” I admit. “Usually, I have nightmares and wake up a lot.”
“Hmm,” he says with a wicked grin, “maybe I should keep a closer eye on you at night from now on, make sure you’re getting enough sleep.”
He’s already broken into my motel room once. After learning about his juvenile vices, I have no problem imagining he could do it again. “Don’t even think about it, Braden.”
“I’m only thinking of your health.” Braden is still grinning, but he’s genuinely worried about me, too. He is so frustrating.
Grinding my teeth, I glare at him. “Just drop it, okay?”
Braden gives in and settles into his seat. I contemplate accidentally making contact with Braden so I can go back to that perfect sleep, but I’m afraid of falling in too deeply again and showing up at the Dallas Inquisitor’s home all bleary-eyed. The drive proves too short, anyway. Half an hour later, we’re pulling up to a gorgeous home. The doorman greets us at the car and ushers Braden and me inside.
At least as old as Inquisitor Moore, the man who greets us in the foyer introduces himself as Inquisitor Joseph Rutherford. His own hands are trembling as he shakes our hands.
“The young man is this way,” he says, and starts leading us deeper into the house. He pauses at a set of double doors and Braden tenses behind me. Inquisitor Rutherford turns and asks, “What exactly are you going to do, Miss Sparks? I have never approved of handing Ciphers over to the Guardians, but I won’t trade the enemy I know for something worse either.”
“I’m not going to hurt him.” I place my hand on one of his in an attempt to reassure him. “All I’m going to do is perform a second Inquest. Ciphers are bound to me. I’m the only one who can unlock their talents.”
“But what happens after that? I still have to make a report. What do I tell the Guardians?”
This is the part I’m not so sure about. Braden’s hand slips up to my shoulder. He knows this is the most risky part of coming here. I take a deep breath and give my answer. “What you tell the Guardians will be up to you and the boy’s parents. You really only have two options. You can submit the report saying that you were unable to perform an Inquest on him and claim he escaped afterward before your resident Guardian could get to him”
“Where is your resident Guardian?” Braden interrupts.
Inquisitor Rutherford’s stance firms. “Since Cassia was revealed, the Guardians have been hunting Ciphers more fervently. Some Inquisitors have been scheduling Inquests off the books. If the Guardians don’t know the Inquest is happening, it’s easier to get them out of the way just in case another Cipher turns up.”
Braden nods and gestures for me to continue.
“Your other option is to put in your report that the parents brought him to me after the Inquest failed, and I unlocked his talents. The first option means the young man will have to leave his family for sure. We’ll take him with us, of course, if he wants to come. The second option is more delicate. They’ll know they can’t lock him up like the other Ciphers, which may keep the Guardians away from him, but it may not. They may simply try to kill him if he stays here.”
“You don’t want me to just try and falsify the report?” Inquisitor Rutherford asks. “I know they require photos of the diktats now, but I could think of something. It would be the safest way.”
“No, it won’t, sir,” Braden says. “The photo has to show the diktats newly raised. They can spot a fake easily. They’re checking every report very carefully these days. It will be flagged and both you and the boy’s family will be punished.”
“But if I go the second route and tell them you did another Inquest, they’ll suspect me of being a sympathizer and they’ll know you’re gathering Ciphers. The boy has a chance of staying safe that way, but it’s the most risky for everyone else,” he says.
“Put in your report that they ran and came to me, not the other way around. It’s something of a buffer for you, at least,” I say knowing it isn’t much.
The old Inquisitor shakes his head. “I’ll let them decide. None of the options are great, but they’re all better than watching this young man die. Come on in.”
He pushes the door open, and a wave of panic blasts out of the room and hits me. I take a step back without thinking and run into the support of Braden. He gently pushes me forward. The strength and calm flowing into me from him working to counteract the intense emotions. I pull myself together and take in the huddled group of three sitting on a chaise against the far wall. They are terrified. Inquisitor Rutherford ambles over to them and starts speaking with them quietly, relating everything I just explained to him.
The parents grow even grimmer as he speaks. The poor young man looks lost in the shock of the experience. Their discussion seems to last forever, but in reality, Inquisitor Rutherford comes back to me only a few minutes later. “They don’t want their son being hunted. They want to try admitting they came to you for help and hope for the best. But if the best doesn’t work out, they’ll call you.”
“I’ll make sure they have all my contact numbers before I leave,” I say.
He nods and goes back to the family. He almost has to drag the young man back to the seat. My heart breaks as I watch him slump into the chair with a blank expression. I wonder what he was hoping to hear tonight. What dreams of his have been crushed? Pulling away from Braden’s steady presence, I kneel in front of him.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
It takes him a few moments to respond. “Dean Whittaker.”
“Hi, Dean, I’m Libby Sparks. It’s nice to meet you.” I offer him my hand. He just stares at it. I know he’s too numb even to process being polite, but I keep my hand extended. I need him to focus and come back to himself before I start. Inquests are ten times harder with an unwilling body and spirit. I have to count to thirty-three before he finally shakes my hand. He even manages to look at me.
“Dean, I know this has been a difficult morning for you, but I need you to be strong for just a little longer, okay?”
He nods.
Pushing up from my knees, I take the seat opposite him. He doesn’t resist when I take his hands in mine. My own nervous anxiety begins to break through my control. Will he be the same as Milo? I have no i
dea. I could certainly use more Milos. I don’t know what to expect, though. Dean could end up with only a single talent and the lowest class and name, too. It’s time to find out.
All of my talents, with the exception of Perception, bury themselves deep inside me after I open the Inquest as simply as possible. I remember having to really concentrate on pushing my Perception into Milo when I did his second Inquest. My practice sessions must be paying off because it is much easier this time. Or it could just be having Braden near me. I sweep through Dean quickly and feel a smile growing on my face.
“Dean, you have been gifted with many talents, Speed, Strength, Concealment, Spiritualism, Naturalism, and Perception. You have been blessed with so many talents because you are meant to do great things in your life. Your purpose is to help restore fairness and equity to a world that has lost its way. You are a member of the Guardian Class, and your true name comes from the Warrior line. Your name even means warrior. You are Kai.”
I keep holding his hands through the painful experience of the diktats forming on his left wrist. His grip digs into my hands, but I don’t let go. Slowly, the agony levels out and his fingers uncurl from mine. The sullen, almost vacant, expression is gone. He starts to pull away from me, but I encourage him to wait and watch. He doesn’t seem to know what to watch for until his diktats start darkening to the obsidian color that marks him as one of mine. Amazement lights up his features. Dean turns his wrist back and forth as he stares at it. I don’t think the fact that he is bound to the most hated person in the world has really sunk in yet. He’s too shocked by the nearly complete ring of diktats on his wrist to process anything else. That’s probably best for now.
His parents rush over to him, and I step back. Braden is already taking care of giving Inquisitor Rutherford our contact information. I’m ready to slip out the door and let Dean and his parents enjoy whatever happiness that can without me hovering nearby when Dean’s voice stops me.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” he asks.
“I’ve given the Inquisitor all my information. You can contact me any time, Dean. I’ll definitely be checking in on you often, as well.” I need as much help as possible. Turning new Ciphers will be much harder than the ones who’ve been locked up for years.
“Contact you?” Dean asks. “What are you talking about? I’m coming with you. You told Inquisitor Rutherford the Guardians might still come after me. I can’t stay here and put my family in danger.”
His mother gasps and starts crying again. I don’t start crying, but I’m surprised as well. “Dean, are you sure? You’ll be leaving everyone you know behind.”
“I’ll still be able to call my parents and my friends, but if the Guardians do come after me, being with you is going to be the safest place for me. If they never come, I can come back home, but I think I should go with you for now.”
I can’t argue with his reasoning. His parents look absolutely crushed, but I think they both realize what the alternative might be. Their son is alive, even if he won’t be with them. At the very least, he can stay with us until we’re sure the Guardians aren’t going to snatch him. Training with the other guys ensure sure that if he wants to go back at some point, he won’t be an easy target. I turn to Braden for reassurance.
He nods with a sad frown. “We knew taking him back was going to be the safest option before we came. I don’t want to make him leave any more than you do, but if he’s willing to come … I guess we should take him. His parents won’t be able to protect him. It will be what happened to Milo all over again.”
I know he can’t like the idea of pulling this kid away from his family, given how familiar he is with feeling abandoned, but it needs to be done. Still, I hesitate. Braden wraps his hand around mine and squeezes it tightly. At least we both understand what he’s about to go through. Together we can help him survive this break.
“Okay, Dean, if you’re sure, we’ll take you back with us. Go ahead and get whatever you need and say goodbye. Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of time.” With my rigid schedule and the fact that Inquisitor Moore needs his jet back by tonight, it’s going to be a rushed farewell for Dean. But to be perfectly honest, leaving immediately might be better.
Two hours later, Dean’s bags are being stored on the jet. Arrangements have been made for him to change schools and stay with a family friend in Albuquerque. Goodbyes have been made without knowing how long they will have to last. Dean is brave and strong through all of it. He’s only sixteen, though. In front of his parents he holds it together, but as soon as the jet’s doors close he asks for some privacy. The flight attendant is kind enough to escort him to a private chamber where he probably broke down.
Even more drained than before, I find myself sitting in my seat staring blankly ahead of me. Silent prayers drift from my mind that there aren’t very many other Ciphers out there waiting to be found. I don’t think I can survive having to do this very often. When Braden sits down next to me I hesitate moving away from him. His presence calls out to me. The promise of peace proves too hard to resist. My head falls against his shoulder as my eyes close in search of sleep where I can forget about breaking up families and being hunted by Guardians. My skin hums with the contact, but the guilt for allowing myself this one indulgence surfaces as well. This has nothing to do with Braden, I tell myself firmly as my mind drifts toward blackness. I just really need some sleep.
Chapter 2
0
The Real Question
I don’t bother knocking. The Hanover home adopted an open door policy a while ago. They had to. With everyone on our team roaming in and out at random hours, I think Milo’s mom got tired of answering the door so often. I’m not even sure if she’s here right now. Usually a little flighty, Mrs. Hanover has really buckled down lately trying to coordinate with the Inquisitors and Cipher families who’ve agreed to help us with getting safe houses set up, choosing handlers to pick the Ciphers up once they’re rescued and then look after them, figuring out how to keep their presence as secret as possible, and dealing with the never-ending questions and phone calls from the Ciphers’ families. Even when she is here, she’s practically always on the phone. I really hope she has unlimited minutes on her cell phone.
Pushing the door shut behind me, the raucous banter spilling out of the den makes me shake my head. I pause just outside the doorway and listen to them. Lance is by far the loudest and most adamant, but Milo is a close second. Lance has always been a bit too pushy, though. He takes after his dad, thinking he has some God-given right to take control of every situation. When Lance argues back it annoys me, but he usually ends up being right. Milo will stand up for what he believes in no matter what. He isn’t always right, but I do love his conviction.
The argument raging between the two of them is about the route through the Guardian compound. It’s the same thing they’ve been arguing about since we got the schematics. I’ve spent as much time going over them as anyone, but these two have almost turned it into a competition to see who can find the route first. Dean can’t even get two words out before one or the other of them is talking over him. Cole, my miniature vigilante who keeps worming his way into these kinds of meetings, is being completely ignored by everyone but Braden. The two of them sit off to the side as Braden goes over the schematics with him, pointing out different areas of the compound. I wonder if Braden is even listening to Lance and Milo.
I’m fairly familiar with everything they’re discussing, and even though I’ve only heard the tail end of the conversation I can tell Lance’s idea is much better than Milo’s. Still, Milo keeps pushing it. Lance sounds as if he’s about ready to punch Milo if he doesn’t shut up. I sigh in frustration. I don’t understand why Milo is acting like this. It’s been happening a lot more often lately. Small issues become big fights with him for no reason at all. He argues with me often enough as he always has when he thinks I’m wrong, but now it happens with everyone else too. He’s so focused on getting the Ciphers out and on
hurting the Guardians that he pushes and pushes to move forward regardless of whether it’s the right path. I don’t like it.
This doesn’t look as if it’s going to end any time soon, so I step forward to break it up just as Braden says, “Guys, that’s enough.”
You would think Braden bossing them like that would only make things worse. Surprisingly enough, Milo and Lance both back down. I don’t know how long that will last, though, so I walk into the room and the conversation dies away immediately.
Lance takes in my heels and black satin dress with one raised eyebrow. Dean looks up from the plans and stares at me for a second before going back to them. Cole is still absorbed in the schematics that will hopefully help us get his brother back home. Braden, he’s a different story. I don’t even have to look at him to know he’s watching me. I can feel the slow caress of his emotions sliding over me from here. Not closing my eyes and relishing it goes way beyond difficult. At least I can feel confident that Milo has his shield up so he can’t feel what I’m feeling. I keep my shield in place to buffer out most of the emotional noise I feel, but not all of it. I still like to be aware of what people are feeling around me just in case I need to prepare myself for a bad or dangerous reaction.
“What are you all dressed up for?” Lance asks.
“It’s Milo’s birthday,” I say with a smile. I’ve been waiting for this all week. “We’re going out to dinner.”
“Huh?” Milo asks, looking over at me. My smile falters just a bit as I realize he didn’t even notice me come in. Now he does, though. His eyes light up as they travel up to my eyes. The argument he was having a few minutes ago seems to have been forgotten completely. Standing, he walks over to me and slips his arms around my waist. “You look amazing.”
Secret of Betrayal: Book Two of The Destroyer Trilogy Page 20
