It was a sweet gesture, but part of me still wanted to just live in denial that India wasn't actually going to happen. Even though my departure date had been set for December first and I had been working with Avalon for the past week trying to push most of my magic his way, so I could disguise what would surely give me away to Lucan.
Nothing we had been able to come up with so far had really worked. All of the other times our Magical Transference, as Amory called it, had worked so seamlessly was when we had been under extreme pressure. When it was just the two of us, it felt more like pushing Avalon out than giving him something that was mine. When there was nothing forcing us to work together, our magics were very clearly defined between the two of us.
We had also been working on finding the Brazil Team's magic together, but were having even less luck with that. We could both find the stolen magic, but neither one of us could differentiate between the individual magic that wasn't ours, especially with Beckton's magic now in the mix. And so far, we had been even more unsuccessful at bringing our two stolen entities together.
Everything seemed hopeless. I hadn't been alone with Kiran since our disastrous Dream Walk and the only communication I had had with him was to assure me he was still on for Thanksgiving in a few days.
Even my Thanksgiving dinner seemed silly now, with India hanging over my head and my life falling to ruins around me. But I made myself hold on to it. I loved the idea of doing something so completely non-Immortal that other Immortals didn't even understand the idea. And I loved the idea of doing something for just me even more. I wasn't going to give it up no matter how ridiculous the idea was.
The doorbell rang and I heard Avalon's noisy descent down the stairs to open the door. He had been a ball of energy all day in anticipation of his precious Resistance members coming over. Avalon hadn't left my side since the last attack on me and since I had barely left the house, we had both pretty much confined ourselves to house arrest. Jericho was around too, but we had separately decided avoiding each other would probably be best.
Well, I had decided that. And since he had made absolutely no attempts at any kind of interaction with me, I just assumed he had decided that as well. It was irritating though. I liked Jericho. I liked talking to him and hanging out with him, and he was always open with me, giving me more answers than anyone else. I was frustrated that he had to let his feelings get in the way of our friendship. He should have known better.
I wandered into the living room, curious to find out who had arrived first. Avalon and Jericho were both crowding whoever was here around the door, barely letting them inside. I couldn't make out who it was because the two boys towered over them, but then I saw it. A flash of red, chest high of the guys and I closed the distance to the door in seconds.
I pushed through the boys, not caring if I hurt them, or just irritated them. Lilly was here. Lilly was finally better. I threw my arms around her, hugging her so tightly I nearly knocked us over. My cheeks were wet with tears before I even knew to stop them and I couldn't help but feel like things would get better now. They had to. Lilly was finally better.
Suddenly I had a million questions for her. I released my hold and did my best to brush the tears away quickly, feeling sappy and over emotional. She reached out for my hands, tears staining her porcelain cheeks, her beestung lips swelling with emotion as well. I felt joyously vindicated.
"Oh, thank God," I sighed, bringing her into another hug. "I'm so glad you're here."
"I'm so glad to be here," she said excitedly.
The doorbell rang again and I pulled her into the kitchen, letting the boys answer the door for the remaining guests.
"So you're better?" I looked her over quickly, trying to find signs of distress or pain. She looked beautiful as always, maybe even more so. Her hair was just as red as ever in tight ringlets, framing her face. Her skin was perfect and pale; her manner was just as sweet as I remembered. But there was more to her now, almost like she was glowing; her eyes were brighter and her smile bigger. She was breath-taking and with her beauty came an almost gravitational pull to her and a desire to possess whatever it was that made her shine so.
"Yes, finally, I'm fine," she sighed, taking a seat at a bar stool with shaking hands. I realized she might not be completely healed yet.
"I have missed you so much," I said seriously, taking the seat next to her. "Ok, let's see it." I gestured towards her neck.
She rolled her eyes, embarrassed, but moved her hair out of the way and touched her pointer finger to the spot just below her earlobe. A small serpent glowed a vibrant violet and I watched her cheeks blush with pride.
"Pretty cool," I smiled, just as proud of it as she was. She had gone through something extraordinary and she had had the courage to decide what she wanted to do with her life. I knew she had feelings for Talbott at one point and maybe still did, but she didn't let those get in the way of her decision. She was a much better person than I would ever be.
"Eden, I'm so sorry I haven't been here for all of..." she began, and the tears were resurfacing in her eyes.
I cut her off with a rapid shaking of my hands. Tears were stinging my eyes again, too and I couldn't let her feel responsible for the mess my life was. "Don't!" I demanded. "Don't feel bad," I cleared my throat of the emotion threatening to overtake me. She nodded, but the tears were even more prominent in her emerald green eyes.
"Ladies, would you join us in the living room?" Amory was standing in the doorway, separating the two rooms, smiling at us graciously. I looked up at him and noticed even he was emotional. I couldn't be sure how long he was standing there, but all of these crying people were making it impossible for me to find my composure.
We jumped down from our bar stools without another word and followed Amory into the living room. By now, the room was full of Resistance members. They milled about, talking quietly, or sitting packed together on the overstuffed couches. The electricity in the room was palpable with anxiety running high and tension thick.
I followed Lilly as she snaked her way to the back of the room, a place we would both be comfortable. She found Jericho and went to stand next to him, probably thinking nothing of it. I swallowed my hesitation and found the courage to stand next to her, next to him. I leaned forward and offered a wave Jericho's direction, but all I got in return was a curt smile and a nod of the head. "Ok, let's begin," Amory called everyone's attention forward. Those standing in conversations moved into better listening positions and nobody failed to give their immediate attention to Amory. "You've probably heard by now that although Lucan hasn't made any outright threats against Eden, he has recently requested that she go through with the Eternal Walk," There was a low murmuring of disapproval from the crowd gathered and the feeling that washed through the room was one of fear. I should have been more upset at the upcoming task, knowing so many Immortals were worried about the outcome. But I couldn't help but feel a sense of comraderie knowing so many people cared about what happened to me.
"She is set to leave December first and will be flying there on the Prince's private jet. We don't have much time to plan, and I'm positive that was on purpose. I don't want to be naive about the purpose of Lucan's request. Whatever the real reason, we need to assume the worst."
Amory paused for a moment. Terrence, one of the older members of the group, although I couldn't tell how old, interjected, "And what do you believe the worst to be?"
"That this is a trap to get Eden on her own and away from me, and to expose her vulnerablility," Amory said with finality. There were gasps in the crowd and another rumble of low murmuring. I rocked back on my heels, almost knocked over by Amory's truthfulness. "Now, before we panic, even if that happens, I have full confidence in my granddaughter to be able to handle herself." He smiled at me, and there was a light behind his eyes, a desire to fight, like I had not seen before.
"I won't be alone though, right?" I interjected frantically. A strong hand was on my shoulder, and I looked over, knowing it cou
ldn't be Lilly's. I was surprised to see it belong to Jericho whose expression had changed from one of indifference to carefully masked concern.
"No, and that is my next point," Amory smiled graciously at me. "We are going to be running teams the entire way from here to India. This will be one of the most difficult and tricky missions to date and I am going to need everyone's full support. Unfortunately for Eden, we cannot even leave her alone while she is in Omaha. So along with Avalon and Jericho, Lilly and Roxie will also be moving into this house."
I looked down at Lilly beaming with excitement. I was thrilled to have another girl in the house, even if that meant Roxie would be here as well.
Amory continued. "Back to the Eternal Walk. The flight over will leave us pretty vulnerable. We will have to rely on faith and Eden's ability, trusting she will land in Bangalore unharmed. That being said, Ryder's team, plus Avalon and Jericho, will take the same trip, at the exact same time, landing hopefully only minutes behind the Prince's jet. Terrence will be running point to ensure a smooth take off and landing from here. Ryder's team, you will take Conrad's aircraft, because I think it's the most inconspicuous. Avalon will be running point, Jericho, you will be second in command." Amory paused for a second to look at Ryder, "I'm sorry to put you in an awkward situation, Son, but I need those who care about Eden the most looking after her. Do you understand?"
Ryder nodded, a steely look in his crystal clear blue eyes. He looked like a leader, tall and thin, but every muscle etched to perfection from head to toe. His head was shaved and his skin tanned. Everything about him screamed discipline and commitment. I realized Amory had to make it very clear to him how to take a back seat because it would not be something he could do easily.
I noticed Jericho's hand leave my shoulder and I glanced over at him, missing his touch. His cheeks were flamed red and there was a spot on the floor that suddenly needed his undivided attention.
I knew he had feelings for me, but I supposed he didn't want the rest of our community informed. A pang of guilt punched me in the stomach, as I realized how much I was hurting him. I decided we needed to have a talk. I liked him too much to let our friendship die because I was in love with somebody else, and he was embarrassed.
"Titus Kelly, Xander and Xavier Langley and the Australia team will join you once on the ground in Bangalore from their positions in London," Amory continued addressing the six members of Ryder's team and Avalon and Jericho. "If all goes as planned, Caden's team from Morocco and Alina's team from Switzerland will already be in place in Ooty and the surrounding jungle. Avalon, Jericho and Ryder, you will follow Eden's progress from the airport to the Ooty Palace at a distance, at a very long distance."
What's Ooty? I sent a quick thought to Avalon, feeling lost.
It's the name of the town nearest to the Kendrick Palace. It's a touristy area of India in the mountains. Avalon answered my question quickly and robotically before tuning back in to Amory.
"Eden and Avalon's twin connection should enable the teams to keep a safe, undetected distance while still maintaining contact. We have yet to test the boundaries of their connection, but in Romania they seemed to have no trouble despite the distance of the Citadel and Sighisoara. They will not be that far apart in India," Amory was answering a question when I tuned back in. "Once she enters the Cave of the Winds, she will have to sever that connection, however, and Eden," he turned his attention on me, "you will be the most alone inside there."
Everyone in the room turned to look at me, and I felt as if they could all hear me swallow. I tried to put on a brave face, but I could internally feel the crazy look in my eyes.
"Once the Eternal Walk begins, all we will be able to do is wait. Lucan and his advisors will be in the Watching Place to observe, and I expect the full traveling Titan Guard will be there as well. There will be nothing we can do until her Walk is completed and she exits the cave. During this period I will not have any teams nearby. Avalon alone will run surveillance without magic." When the entire room began to protest he continued quickly, "With the quantity of Titan Guard available for Lucan and the uselessness of standing in a humid jungle just waiting, I find it unnecessary to alert Lucan of a magical presence outside of the Caves and risk any of your lives when Avalon can do the job by himself. I have faith in my grandchildren. Eden will leave the cave and Avalon will not be found, but what happens after Eden has left the cave is more important than what happens while she is in it."
The crowd seemed pacified, or at least calmed for the moment. I glanced over at Avalon bouncing energetically on his heels like usual. He gave me a confident smile. I smiled back, despite my growing anxiety. My brother was a bad ass. Amory was right;, nobody needed to worry. Avalon was not going to let anything happen to me.
"What do you expect to happen after the Walk?" Fiona Thompson asked.
"I am not sure what to expect. Eden and Avalon have been working on a few different techniques, but we are not sure what will happen once Eden is alone in the cave. Either Eden will leave the cave by herself and be taken back to the palace, or she will leave with the Titan Guard in handcuffs. Obviously, the latter scenario will not do, and at that point Avalon will reconnect with Jericho and the other teams to extract Eden. If she is taken back to the palace, that still does not mean she will be safe. Lucan might be biding his time, or deciding what to do. Either way, reconnaissance will continue until she is back home in Omaha, safe in her own house."
"What about the Stewards?" Conrad called out, his hand on his chin, he was clearly deep in thought.
"I have thought through our options with them," Amory resonded. "They, on one hand have taken a vow of silence that cannot be broken; on the other hand, their allegiance lies with the general monarchy and not with the Immortal population. My instinct tells me to leave them out of it all together. They are after all humans and I cannot in good conscience risk any of their lives for a fight that is not their own."
Conrad, as well as several others nodded in agreement, satisfied with Amory's wisdom.
"I think that is everything for now," Amory continued. "There are smaller details that need to be ironed out, but the most important thing to remember is that until Eden is physically harmed or threatened, we are simply running a surveillance mission. The last thing I want to do is send red flags Lucan's direction. We have to proceed with the utmost caution and vigilance. For this mission we must assume at the very least Lucan recognizes Eden and has put the puzzle together. We must also assume that if any Resistance member is caught, after our success at the trial in October, that there will no longer be trials held for traitors. We must assume that Lucan will have anyone opposed to the monarchy murdered on the spot, that his end game is Justice and Delia, and that he will do whatever it takes to get them. In that respect, even though I say this is a surveillance mission, Eden has never been in more danger."
Amory's black eyes settled on me, his expression set in pure determination. In that moment I understood Amory more than I ever had. Lucan had taken his only daughter from him; because of Lucan she was forced to leave and no one knew what had happened to her. Avalon and I were the only family he had left, and the future for his beloved people. He would not let Lucan take the ones he loved from him again. I felt his resolve in my very soul and a soaring feeling of confidence came over me. India was uncertain, the Eternal Walk was uncertain, the future was uncertain. But I knew with all that I was, Amory would die before anything happened to me or my brother. And so far, that had been proven to be impossible.
My grandfather, the last Oracle, who was thousands of years old, who had walked this earth longer than any other living being, was my protector. And I found that was all the encouragement I needed to brave India. Come what may, I had the most powerful man alive on my side and the hounds of hell would not be enough to stop him, let alone Lucan.
16.
"Eden, I know you are going to feel a little crowded with everyone here, but I really think it's for the best," Amory pulled me into a
hug by the front door on his way out.
"I trust you," I smiled up at him. He was right. Things would be overly full with everyone staying here and I couldn't say I was happy he picked Roxie to join the rest of us, but I did trust him. That much I knew for sure.
"Well, good," he stumbled through an easy response, no doubt expecting he was going to have to fight with me. He kissed the top of my head and walked out the front doorto his black sedan.
I closed the door behind him and leaned back heavily against it. The India meeting had gone much longer than I had expected it to. Everyone seemed to want to hang around and offer words of encouragement to me.
I appreciated the warm words and pleasantries, especially since during my last visit to the farm I had felt sorely out of place. Really, I felt out of place, not just on the farm, but in the entire Immortal world. I didn't fit in at school. I didn't fit in on the farm. The majority of Immortals would gladly give me up to Lucan if they knew my true identity. The other part, the Resistance, wasn't happy with who I really was either. They wanted me to be someone else entirely, someone I could never be.
I was out of place, with no where to belong. Eternity felt much longer than forever, thinking about it like that. I sighed, exhausted from a future that hadn't even happened yet.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself and help us clean up. Avalon scolded me telepathically from across the room.
I thought he was in deep conversation with Roxie but when I looked up at him, he rolled his eyes. I couldn't tell if it was for me or for Roxie, but I didn't feel like getting to the bottom of it right then.
I grabbed a few plates of left over food on my way into the kitchen to find Lilly and Aunt Syl. They were talking and laughing over the dishes while Jericho was tasked with putting the food away. I dropped my plates off with Lilly before grabbing the broom and making my way around the kitchen floor.
Hopeless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series) Page 12
