by AJ Anders
“Max is upset with me. So is Caleb and the Shadewolf team. I think. I don’t know anymore. I told them something, but they didn’t believe me. Why would I lie?” The last sentence Evie practically yelled as anger replaced her guilt.
“What did you say to upset them? I’ve known those boys a long time. They’re not quick to anger, especially Max and Cyne.”
Evie picked at her sandwich, her appetite totally gone. If she took a bite, she wasn’t sure she could hold it down. At Inian’s question, she shrugged, not able to force the condemning words past her dry throat.
“Now, I’m dying of curiosity. Put this old man out of his misery.”
Avoiding eye contact, Evie stared about the coffee shop, watching the people in line who waited for their turn. “I know what’s wrong with Cammie.”
“I see. And what is your diagnosis, if I may ask?” Elbows on the table, hands steepled, the elder waited for her to speak.
Evie took a deep breath and forced the words out once more. “She carries a demon’s mark.”
Inian exhaled loudly and leaned back in his seat, the rest of his meal forgotten. He stared out the window, lost in thought. “That’s a pretty serious assertion. Our best healers have looked her over and found nothing. Please don’t allow my next few questions to aggravate you, they must be asked. How do you know? What did you find that Mestari Ardon and the rest of his staff, including Jaoel, one of our most talented healers, missed?”
Evie didn’t answer right away. She wasn’t sure what to share. Should she lay all her cards on the table, exposing herself even more? Inian hadn’t immediately accuse her of lying, though.
“I can sense a stain on a person’s aura, soul, whatever you want to call it. Even ones not visible to others.” Evie peeked at him, then forged on when he didn’t dismiss her claim. “I’ve seen the stain like the one Cammie carries before. On people I’ve come across. Those marked individuals were spies for the camp who interacted with the Surmata on a regular basis. I know all Surmata warriors can sense a demon’s mark, and that those humans who carried the stain were identified and detained. But since I came here, I realize there are others that are marked walking around freely.”
“Interesting. You believe there are contaminated humans we can’t identify with our normal protocols? And also Surmata?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I am saying.” Evie stared at him hard, conviction in her every word. She knew she sounded crazy, but she also knew she was right. She had this ability, and she was tired of hiding it from those she called friend.
“Alright. Let’s go talk to Ardon.” Inian pushed away from the table, picking up his plate and cup. Evie scurried out of her seat, collected her own items, and threw her trash away in the bin located next to the entrance. Inian held open the door for her, and they walked side by side toward the medical building.
“Just like that? You believe me?” Evie huffed, a little winded at the fast pace he set. Almost at a run to keep up, the backpack she carried grew heavier with each step.
“You’re special, Evie. Something I discovered upon meeting you. You’ve done nothing to make me doubt you. If you say you have this ability, then I believe you. It won’t hurt to investigate your claim and have another look.”
The students they passed gave them a wide berth as they made their way up the stone stairs and down the long hallway to the administration offices and clinic. The healers conducted routine visits out of this walk-in office. A secondary hospital existed for more serious cases elsewhere on campus.
Inian didn’t slow down when they entered. He walked up to the front desk and asked for Mestari Ardon. The human nurse, dressed in pink scrubs, snapped to attention. “I’ll call him right away, Selja Inian, sir. Please wait here.”
The master healer arrived quickly. He walked into the waiting room with a big smile on his face. Upon spotting the elder, he bowed and lowered his eyes in respect. “Selja Inian, it’s an honor. Is something wrong? Are you in need of a healer?”
“Today is not my day to meet the goddess, Kuuri. Please be at peace. And for shits sake, how many times do I have to ask you to call me Inian?”
“Of course, Selj— I mean Inian.” Mestari Ardon stumbled over the familiarity. “Whatever you wish. If you are not ill or injured, what has brought you to my doorstep?”
“Is there somewhere we can talk privately, Ardon?”
“Yes, yes. Of course. Follow me to my office.” Mestari Ardon led them down a hallway past the closed doors of the patient rooms. After a sharp left, they entered a large, spacious office. Inian took a seat in front of the desk, and Evie followed suit. Mestari Ardon closed the door, then sat down in his chair, forearms lying flat on the desk with his hands cupped.
Without preamble, Inian launched into Evie’s tale. When he finished, Mestari Ardon grilled her, questioning every detail she revealed until satisfied.
“Remarkable, young lady. If what you say is true, then this is a serious situation. We can’t fight an enemy we can’t see.” Mestari Ardon frowned in thought. “However, I think we need to tread carefully. If Evie is correct, there’s no telling what influence this stain has on Cammie. We need to bring her in without her knowing we suspect something.”
A knock sounded at the door, and before anyone could speak, it swung open. “Mestari Kuu… What the fuck are you doing here, Evie?” Jaoel’s large body moved through the doorway as he glared at her.
“Kuuri Jaoel! That is quite enough. Please step outside. I will deal with you in a minute.”
Hatred filled eyes met her own before Jaoel turned and stormed from the room. The glare he cast back promised retribution.
“I don’t know what has gotten into that young man lately, but rest assured Miss Saunders, his attitude will not be tolerated.”
Evie scratched an imaginary piece of lint on the thigh of her jeans. “He’s infected as well,” she admitted, almost whispering the confession.
Her quiet statement sent a shockwave around the room. No one spoke for a good minute.
Finally, the master healer slumped back in his seat. “Well fuck.”
Inian nodded. “Couldn’t have said it better myself, Ardon.”
“Alright. This may make things easier.” Mestari Ardon tapped the arms of his chair. “We’ll examine Kuuri Jaoel. If what Evie claims is true, maybe, I can find some evidence. At this point, I’m desperate enough to figure out the cause of Cammie’s personality change, that I’m willing try just about anything. “
Mestari Ardon picked up the phone and barked into it, “Jaxon, we have a situation. I need you and another Soturi in my office, stat.” He slammed the phone down, cutting Jaxon off before he could ask any questions.
They didn’t wait long for Jaxon. He, along with a Surmata Evie didn’t recognize, appeared within minutes, practically standing at attention in the small office. When Jaxon noticed Evie sitting beside Inian, the head of security quirked an eyebrow in silent question. Unable to say anything, she pretended not to notice.
Bowing at Inian, Jaxon said reverently, “Selja. It’s an honor.” Turning his head toward Mestari Ardon, he continued, “How may we be of service to you?”
“Was Kuuri Jaoel still in the hallway when you arrived?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Please call him in.”
Jaxon did as asked. Jaoel came in, confused and still angry. “Yes, Masteri Ardon?”
“Jaoel, Selja Inian wants me to demonstrate a noninvasive procedure for him.” The master healer rose from his desk. “For your earlier outburst, you will assist me by being my guinea pig.”
“But…”
“Enough.” Inian stood to his full height. “You heard the order, son. Do not embarrass yourself further.”
“Yes, Selja.” Jaoel tempered his anger and bowed his head in submission.
The group relocated to a large examination room.
Masteri Ardon ordered Jaoel to lie on the table while Inian talked quietly in the corner with Jaxon and
the other large man. Jaxon looked pissed, but he nodded his head in defeat at whatever Inian told him.
As the four men surrounded the bed, Evie hung back, wanting to stay out of the way.
Jaoel’s head turned to focus on the master healer. “What now, Masteri Ardon? And why is Jaxon here?”
Without answering, Jaxon and the other warrior grasped Jaoel’s arms and legs, holding him securely to the bed. The master healer lifted a syringe filled with clear liquid and plunged it into Jaoel’s neck.
“What the fuck is going on?” Jaoel fought against the warriors who held him down. The drug acted fast, and he fell unconscious within seconds. As a safety precaution, in case he woke up prematurely, straps located on the underside of the frame were used. One across his chest, and a second one across his thighs.
The man who arrived with Jaxon moved to the side of the room to stand sentry. Evie expected Jaxon to follow suit, but the male surprised her by coming up behind her, his arms encircling her waist. He pulled her tight into his body. When she glanced behind herself, haunted eyes met hers. It hurt him to see his brother helpless, strapped unconscious to the table. That he sought comfort from her caused her heart to skip a beat.
Evie placed her arms on top of his in a parody of his hug, grasping his hands in hers. “He’ll be fine, Jaxon. They won’t hurt him.”
With a heavy sigh, his arms tightened a little more. “I know. I just hate seeing him like this.”
Masteri Ardon walked over. “This should only take a few minutes. Evie, Inian has a unique ability. He’s able to see through another’s eyes. As I do my exam, my aura will envelope Jaoel. At that time, Inian will touch my arm or shoulder every few minutes, allowing him to see exactly what I do. Jaxon, this will not harm Jaoel in the slightest.”
Jaxon nodded, but kept Evie within his embrace.
Beginning the exam, Masteri Ardon placed his hands on Jaoel’s arm, and a soft blue light encompassed the unconscious man’s body. Evie, surprised to witness the magical exam so vividly, watched Masteri Ardon in fascination as he closed his eyes to concentrate. Every few minutes, after Inian touched him for the briefest of moments, he would open his eyes and stand at a different angle, then follow the same procedure. Jaoel never twitched.
Ten minutes passed before the healer released his power and opened his eyes fully. He regarded Evie sadly. “I do not sense a stain anywhere.”
“What? What stain? Evie claimed Cammie was marked.” Jaxon thrust Evie away, the rage in his voice making her cringe. “When I questioned you, you said it was a standard exam. You lied to me!”
A calm reply came from Inian. “No, Soturi Jaxon. We did not lie. You saw the exam. There was nothing different about it.”
Inspiration struck Evie. Carefully, she analyzed it, searching for weaknesses or flaws. Critiquing it before she gave it a voice.
“Inian?” Evie interrupted. “Does your skill work on humans? Could you see what I see?”
“It’s possible in theory.” The elder nodded in thought. “Not something I have really tried before with a human. It might feel a little invasive to you. Are you sure you want to do it?”
Evie nodded before she lost her nerve. “It’s the only way to be sure.”
Inian came over to her and placed his hand lightly on her arm. “When you are ready, begin your exam. When you see the mark, say something, and I will try to see through your eyes.”
Evie took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Concentrating on Jaoel, she dismissed the others from her thoughts. Her ability must be getting stronger. It took hardly any effort on her part to focus it. The luminescent light of his aura shone brightly, a deep blue color except for one small area. A dark spot, like a watermark, marred the brilliance. Constantly in motion, it never settled in one place. “Now.”
Inian’s grip on her arm tightened as power tickled her skin. “Well, I’ll be damned. I see it. Ardon, come over here. I’ll try to extend my power to you.”
Excited, Masteri Ardon hurried over without argument, allowing Inian to place a hand on his shoulder. When the healer’s face lit up, Evie knew Inian succeeded. Together, they examined Jaoel, discussing plans on how to best deal with the new discovery.
An hour passed, and the two men noticed Evie’s flagging energy. She never used her ability for such a long period of time. The healer ordered her back to her room to rest. They would need her at full strength the following day to run more tests.
Chapter Twenty-One
Dusk crept over the horizon by the time Jaxon escorted Evie back to her dorm room. Inian and Masteri Kuuri remained back at the healer’s center, strategizing how to eradicate this new infection. Inian mentioned something about contacting a council, but Evie didn’t understand what he meant.
“I can’t stay long, baby.” Jaxon’s regretful eyes met hers. “Jaoel should be waking up soon, and I need to be there for him.”
“I understand. Inian had the professors forward the assignments I missed today to my email. I’m going to stay in and get caught up.” Evie stepped through the doorway, edging over to make room for Jaxon to enter her room.
Closing the door behind him, Jaxon leaned against it, arms folded across his chest. His gaze searched hers before he admitted, “About this morning, we should have stopped you from leaving. Your confession caught everyone off guard, and we didn’t react well.”
Evie shrugged. “I understand. It was a pretty farfetched explanation. If the positions were reversed, I probably would’ve reacted in a similar fashion.”
“It’s not okay. We should have sat you down. Listened to you. We let Jaoel get in our heads, make us doubt you. For that, I will always be sorry.” A hand reached, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Grasping her hand in his, he turned her palm face up, his thumb tracing the lines delicately.
“Syameni, you are a special young woman. I wish things could be different between us.” Sad eyes met hers.
“What do you mean by different?” Evie’s heart skipped a beat, tingles spreading up her arm from where he touched her. “And what does Syameni mean?”
“It’s a term of endearment among my kind. You have the heart of a Surmata. I’ve grown jaded, viewing all humans as a necessary nuisance. In the short time I’ve known you, you’ve changed me, changed my perception. You’ve restored my faith in mankind once again.” He stared at her palm as if mesmerized by the sight of his thumb rubbing against her skin. “Because of you, there’s a chance my brother will be saved from a fate worse than death. A fate we didn’t even know was possible. I will always be grateful. Even if you aren’t mine, Syameni. I will always be here for you. I will be your shield against anyone who wishes to harm you. That is my pledge.”
During his whole speech, the giant Surmata never once looked up. He’d spoken earnestly, Evie couldn’t help but believe him. Shaken by his declaration, she swallowed her natural shyness and lifted up on her tippy-toes. Removing her hand from his, she used both to pull his head down to her, kissing his cheek lightly.
Her cheeks warm at her boldness, Evie released the smiling man and stepped back. Awkward now, she shifted from side to side. “Will you let me know how it goes with Jaoel?”
“Of course, Syameni. Get some rest. I need to speak with my Kaveri. Break the news to them. As soon as I know more, I will come for you.”
Evie nodded, grateful not to be excluded. She had mixed feelings about the others. She didn’t know where she stood with them. Would they be mad at her for not speaking up sooner? Did they really believe Jaoel’s accusations? Did they think so low of her?
Once Jaxon left, Evie tackled her homework. Now further behind since she missed her second day of classes, she worried she would never catch up. She needed to buckle down and concentrate on her assignments.
~
Hours later, Evie stretched and checked her watch. Past dinnertime, she decided to take a break and grab something to eat from the small kitchenette. Ravenous, but not wanting anything too heavy, she perused the offerings
and grabbed a prepackaged sandwich, then headed back to her room. She had another chapter she wanted to finish. She’d eat while she worked.
A group of girls approached from the opposite direction in the hallway, and Evie stepped to one side to allow them to pass by. They whispered and giggled as they headed for the stairs. Evie shook her head, wishing sometimes she could be so carefree. She had no female friends. It would be fun to confide in another girl, sitting around, talking about guys. It would help her figure out all these feelings she had about each member of the Shadewolf team. She found all of the men attractive and even developed a crush on a few. Was that normal?
Closing her dorm room door, she dismissed her wayward thoughts, time to get back to work. As she crossed the carpet, a small scraping noise came from the closet. When she paused in her steps to listen, the sound didn’t repeat.
Stepping closer to her desk, she placed the food on top of the smooth wood. She twisted off the top of the bottle of water she left sitting there, taking a swallow of the now warm liquid.
Crash!
Evie jumped in fright, dropping the bottle onto the floor.
The noise came from her walk-in closet. Someone was in her room. Anger sparked in her veins, replacing the fear. It had to be Dominick or one of his friends, there to either spy on her or scare her.
Maybe they thought their little prank would send her screaming from her room, making a fool of herself. She would show them. She would not let them win.
She weighed her options. Ignore them and leave the room, or open the closet and confront them.
Boom!
Evie jumped again, almost screaming as the noise reverberated all the way through the room. Whoever was in the closet made a loud racket.
She dug the switchblade out of her bag. If this turned out to be more than a prank, she wanted protection. She crept towards the closed door, saying a quiet prayer as she reached for the door handle.
Knife in hand, she turned the knob and flung the door wide open. Evie’s eyes couldn’t penetrate the closet’s heavy shadows. Moving over to the right of the doorway, she lifted her hand, knife and all, searching for the light switch.
