“That’s an understatement,” Jet said. The twins laughed. Their expressions changed into the weird myriad display that happened when they spoke telepathically. Jet laughed again.
“Jasper.” Amber pouted, crossing her arms. “You promised not to do that.”
“Sorry, baby.” He pulled her closely to him.
She squealed before he reached down to kiss her deeply. Amber wrapped her arms tightly around him. I raised my eyebrows at the graphic display.
Mica rolled her eyes and made a sound of disgust. “Have they always been this way?”
Conroy frowned, an uncomfortable expression growing on his face. He cleared his throat. “Uh, no. Now, please, follow me. I’d like everyone to bring their bags inside and then we’ll stow the vehicles in the garage. I don’t know if O’Brien will fly drones this far from that travel station, but I’m not taking any chances.”
Flint and I again shared a look. Drones?
We walked to the home’s entrance along a series of stepping stones nestled into pristine gravel. Everything around the perimeter was expertly landscaped. Not one pebble sat out of place.
The front door, if it could be called that, was rather odd. Normally I expected a porch or doorbell or something that resembled a door at the entrance of a home. On this structure, there was only a large steel rectangle. No windows, no peephole. There wasn’t a door handle, and there certainly wasn’t a doorbell. It looked like a steel wall.
For a moment, I wondered how on earth we’d get in. Conroy, however, calmly reached for a small box on the wall. He pushed his fingertip against something. A soft click sounded and a keypad lit up. He punched in a series of numbers, pressed his fingerprint against something, and the sound of a heavy metal bolt released. The door silently opened.
“Jeez,” Jet muttered. “Are we able to get out of this place?”
We all followed Conroy inside. Lights clicked on. I figured there were motion sensors everywhere. Flint was the last to enter. With a cautious step, he finally walked into the entryway and watched the door close silently behind him. Once closed, the sound of a large metal bolt sliding into place echoed in the foyer. From the tight frown on Flint’s face, I guessed he didn’t like that.
I did, though. This house felt safe. There was no way anyone could enter uninvited.
“There are seven bedrooms on the main level and three downstairs.” Conroy nodded down a hall. “Kitchen’s down on the right, three bedrooms and the master beyond that. Three additional bedrooms are in the other wing, past the library and study.” He walked into the open living space just beyond the foyer. Lights clicked on with each step.
I stopped mid-stride, my mouth dropping. The house was huge and completely decorated. Modern décor filled the space, not like the plush sofas in Pete and Val’s house, but it did match the architecture. The thing that made me gape, however, was how ridiculously expensive everything looked. The furniture screamed money.
We followed Conroy into the living room. Three large couches and several chairs filled the space. With small end tables placed strategically, one would never have to reach far for a drink. Beyond the living room stood a wall of windows. The grounds behind the house were also lit up from pale security lights. Expertly landscaped desert plants and stone walkways weaved throughout the impressive backyard. A large pergola and barbecue area with outdoor seating interwove in the design. It fit perfectly into the environment. In the distance, an intimidating wall was visible. It seemed the entire grounds were fenced off by a solid, smooth enclosure.
“A bit like Fort Knox,” Jasper commented.
Conroy nodded. “I purchased this property because of the security.”
“So where’s this drug?” Di’s gaze grew shrewd when she crossed her arms.
At the mention of the memory drug, I perked up.
“In my study,” Conroy replied. “However, I think we should wait until morning to administer it. I’d like to check that vehicle license plate first, and proper administration and monitoring of the drug will take all day.”
“Not to mention, we haven’t decided if anyone should take it.” Flint pulled me closely to him.
“Fine by me.” Jacinda yawned. “Is there a shower around here?”
“Each room has its own bathroom,” Conroy replied. “If you all want to clean up, I’ll prepare a quick dinner. Feel free to wander throughout the house and get acquainted with the rooms. This home is yours now too.”
“Lovely.” Jacinda picked up her Louis Vuitton and walked down the hall. With her expertly styled hair and statuesque figure, Jacinda fit into this environment perfectly.
“Are we all sleeping on this level?” Amber’s dark brown hair, styled in a pixie haircut, stood out at all angles. The long day on the road and frantic zigzagging through the desert was evident in all of us.
“That depends if you want to share rooms or not,” Conroy replied. “There are enough bedrooms for everyone to sleep individually, or if you want to share, that’s fine too. Whatever you all prefer.”
“Which room’s yours?” I asked.
Conroy nodded in the direction Jacinda had gone. “The master’s that way.”
Di lifted her bag. “I’ll take the one closest to yours.”
“Jet, Amber and I can take the three down by the study,” Jasper said.
Mica sighed. “Then I guess I’ll take the other one down there.”
“Which means you two get to take the bedrooms downstairs,” Amber said to me and Flint.
I slung my backpack over my shoulder. “Works for me.”
“I get dibs on the bedroom with the biggest shower,” Jet said. With that, he, Jasper and Amber raced down the hall. Within minutes, laughter echoed from their wing.
Mica scowled and muttered something before stalking down the hall after Jacinda. That left me, Flint, Di and Conroy in the living room.
“Shall I give you a tour of the downstairs?” Conroy asked.
“No, we’ll manage.” Flint picked up both of our bags. A seamless glass railing was all that divided the hallway from the stairwell. In his typical speed, he disappeared into the cavernous depth below.
I gave Conroy an apologetic look. “He doesn’t mean to be rude.”
Conroy stared after Flint. When his gaze met mine, he smiled. The smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, he does,” he replied quietly. “Take your time down there. Dinner will be in an hour.”
Conroy turned to Di. “Would you like me to show you the rooms?” They headed in the direction Mica and Jacinda had gone and spoke quietly as they walked down the hall.
I followed Flint, holding carefully onto the glass railing with one hand as I walked downstairs. My other hand clung to my backpack. Each step was a floating, metal slab. I could see myself either tripping or falling through the gaping hole where a backboard would have been on normal steps.
“Lena?” Flint whispered.
I caught his scent before I saw him. Spice, wood and tangerines. The next second he was at my side, smiling. His strong, steady hands easily encircled my waist. Without asking if I needed help, he lifted me as if I weighed no more than a cotton ball. I sailed down the rest of the stairs in his arms. When we reached the bottom, he let go.
I raised an eyebrow. “I was doing just fine on my own.”
He grinned. “Are the others staying upstairs?”
“I think so.”
“Come on, I want to show you something.” He pulled me before I could protest.
An entire wall of glass also encompassed the basement wall, similar to upstairs. The home was apparently a walk-out, built into a hillside. When we reached a panel, Flint pushed against something. A section of the glass slid open. Another bizarre door.
“How did you . . . .” I shook my head and dropped my backpack on the floor. “What about the security system?”
“I saw the combination Conroy punched in. Since there isn’t a biometric scanner for this one, I deactivated it down here.”
“You de
activated it?” I tried to sound scolding, but the playful look in Flint’s eyes dulled any concerns for our safety. Flint was rarely playful, and since he was like this when Conroy’s antidote loomed in our minds, I knew something was up.
“Follow me.” He tugged me out through the glass door, or wall, or whatever it was. Cool, evening air swam around us. The air was dry but crisp and held unfamiliar desert scents.
I stopped just after the threshold. “What about drones?”
Flint rolled his eyes. “Babe, there are no drones. Conroy’s paranoid.”
My feet were the only thing that made a sound. Flint, as usual, seemed to glide along the pebbles in his usual graceful walk. As if he was a ghost floating through the night.
We continued along the pathway, in and out of landscaped desert plants. The house disappeared behind us. The dark walled perimeter I had seen from upstairs grew larger. The sound of trickling water reached my ears a moment later. A fountain appeared. I guessed it hadn’t dropped below freezing if the thing still ran. From the cool mountain air, freezing temps were to come.
We sailed past the fountain and didn’t stop until we reached a small rock garden.
“Lie down.” Flint pointed to something on the ground.
“What’s that?”
“A blanket. I took it off one of the beds.”
I glanced back at the house. “How’d you get it out here?”
“I did a quick run of the perimeter and grounds while you were talking to Conroy. This place sits on at least five acres.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help my smile. Flint still seemed somewhat oblivious to how unique his gift was. He probably patrolled the grounds in under a minute, while it would have taken a normal human around twenty.
“Do you think Conroy would approve?”
Flint grunted. “I could care less if he approves.”
Right, case closed. I sat on the blanket and drew my knees up.
In a flash, Flint lay beside me. Moonlight shimmered off his chestnut locks. That playful look was back on his face.
“What did you want to show me?” I smiled and savored his perpetual warmth. My sweater was no match for the cold temperature.
“Lie flat.”
I lay down, the small pebbles underneath the blanket shifting with my weight. I raised my eyebrows expectantly.
He grinned. “Look up.”
I did as he said and gasped. “Wow . . .”
“Incredible, isn’t it?”
I knew a lot of telescopes were built in high mountain deserts. The low humidity and lesser particles in the air, along with the higher elevation, allowed scientists a clearer picture of space. However, I’d never actually seen the night sky under such conditions. I’d only read about it in books I had checked out from Little Raven’s library.
The view above me was too beautiful for words. The entire sky was a shimmering array of stars. The cloudy Milky Way trailed across its midst, like an opaque ribbon stretching from horizon to horizon. The night sky here was so bright and abundant. I’d never realized how much we were missing at the ranch.
“This is amazing!” I breathed.
“I’ve already seen eight satellites.”
“You have?”
He pointed up. “There’s another one.”
I followed his finger. Sure enough, a tiny dot sailed in a steady line across the sky. We both watched until it disappeared.
“Does this remind you of anything?”
I smiled. “Yeah, although the sky’s better here.”
Back at Hideaway Hills ranch, only weeks ago, we sneaked away frequently to be alone. Often, we’d lay on the grass, staring at the night sky, just like we were right now. Flint and I both loved backyard astronomy. It was one of the many things we had in common.
We lay quietly for a while. I inched closer to his side and let his radiating warmth keep the chill away.
“It’s so quiet out here.”
He grumbled a response and stroked my hair. The fleeting movement sent tingles down my spine. I expected kisses on my neck to follow with some clothes being removed after that, but his hands stayed put.
“Babe?”
Something in his voice made me pause. “Yeah?”
“Are you really going through with it tomorrow?” His words were soft, yet I heard the catch in them.
“You mean the antidote? Yes.”
“Why?” he whispered.
I leaned up on an elbow to meet his gaze. “Do you really need to ask? I want to know about my life. I want to remember everything I’ve done.”
“Even if there are consequences?”
“Such as?”
“Side effects for one. We don’t know what this drug will do to us. Remember, these drugs are mind altering. One bad reaction and our brains could be fried.”
I frowned. “Yeah, I know, but this drug is much safer than the ones we received as babies. The chances of that happening are rare.”
“So you still want to do it?”
“Conroy tried it. Nothing happened to him.”
Flint guffawed. “Conroy says he tried it. I trust Conroy about as far as I can throw him.”
I swallowed a smile. “You could probably throw him pretty far.”
Flint tried to scowl, but his lips tugged up. “You know what I mean.”
I sighed. “Yes, but I trust him. I don’t know what else you want me to say.”
Flint glanced away, his profile a shadowy line. “Why do you need to know what our lives were like? Isn’t this enough? What we have now? Why do you need to risk that?”
“Of course I don’t want to risk this, but I need to know what happened to me. Don’t you want to remember your life too?”
A dark emotion flashed across his face before he masked it.
“What are you afraid of?” I asked quietly.
He shook his head, his eyes downcast.
“Flint. Talk to me.”
He sighed harshly. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
I tilted his chin toward me, forcing his gaze to meet mine. “There’s something more than that. I can tell.”
He looked away again. “It’s nothing.”
“Flint, you can tell me.”
“It’s dumb,” he said so quietly, I had to strain to hear. “I’m not sure I want to remember . . . what they did to me.”
“Oh,” I breathed.
I felt so stupid I hadn’t put two and two together. Of course. Flint was the oldest in the group. Conroy had mentioned that Flint remembered more about O’Brien than any of us. He’d been eight years old when Conroy took us away. I’d only been five. I’d be lucky if I remembered more than a few details, but Flint would probably remember years of details.
“So you’re afraid of what you’ll remember?”
He shrugged. “I think I’m more afraid of how I’ll react.”
“What do you mean?”
The strained look in his eyes made my heart ache. They were the eyes of a little boy. “What if it changes me?”
I took a deep breath. What can I say to that? It won’t. Everything will be fine. It was a cliché response, but I wasn’t one to make promises I couldn’t keep.
“It could,” I finally said. “I wish I could say it won’t change you, but I don’t know that.”
“And what if it changes you too?”
I cocked my head. “Do you think it would? Even though I was so young when we left O’Brien?”
He shrugged. “Or what if we both remember things that make us feel differently about one another?”
I shook my head. “No. No, I’m sure that won’t happen. Remember what Conroy said? He said you’ve always been protective of me. And remember the way we both reacted when we saw each other for the first time two months ago? There’s no way we’d feel that way if this wasn’t real. I’m sure of that. Whatever that drug does to us tomorrow, it won’t change how we feel for one another.”
He smiled. “You sound so convinced.
”
“Because I am.”
Flint sighed and pulled me to him. He resumed stroking my hair.
“There’s no way I’m going to talk you out of this, is there?”
I shook my head.
He sighed heavily. “Then I guess that means I’m taking it too.”
“You don’t have to. Conroy said you don’t have additional powers to remember. There’s no reason you have to take it.”
“You really think I’d let you take it first, without me knowing what it could do to you?”
My lips parted. “You mean the only reason you’re taking it is to make sure nothing bad happens to me?”
“I’ll never let anything hurt you.”
My stomach dropped. “Flint, you don’t need to do that.”
“And you think I’d ever forgive myself if something bad happened? Especially something I could have prevented?” Before I could say anything, he added, “No, if you’re taking this drug, then I’m taking it, and I’m taking it first.”
A heavy ache settled in my chest. I didn’t want him to do this for me, but the other part of me knew I was wasting my breath by arguing. When Flint’s mind was made up, nothing could sway it. I’d learned that months ago.
“I would try to talk you out of it, but I know there’s no use.”
“You know me well.” He pulled me closer. “I can’t let you take that drug without me knowing what it will do. Will you let me?”
I hugged him tighter and gazed at the stars. I didn’t know how to make him understand that I felt the same way. I’d do anything to keep him from being hurt, but he’d never let me put myself at risk for him.
I chewed my lip and wondered if taking Conroy’s antidote was the right thing to do after all—additional abilities be damned.
CHAPTER FIVE
We didn’t eat dinner until ten o’clock. Flint and I both returned to the backyard following the meal. I had no idea how long we stayed outside. I must have fallen asleep while we lay under the stars, and Flint must have carried me back inside.
I woke in a large bed. Soft, warm sheets and a thick duvet covered me. My eyes opened to a mass of hair in my face. I reached over, expecting to feel Flint.
The Complete Lost Children Series Page 30
