“Ronald’s so boring, though! I doubt he’s ever had an original thought. Everything he says sounds like a regurgitation of the King. So, yeah, he’s powerful, but it’s all good investments and business sense. He has zero people skills.”
Alec couldn’t argue. He’d had the misfortune of sitting in on about a dozen too many meetings with the man. It was rare that he made it through without yawning. “You could always bring up the subject of his cats. He loves talking about those. Probably has lots of original thoughts involving them. What’s he up to now, eight?”
“Oh, man! Alec, if he starts talking about his cats again, I’m bailing. I can’t take it.”
“You’re not bailing. You’re spending a couple hours working. It won’t kill you. Did you know that your brother doesn’t even want to celebrate his birthday this year? He scheduled meetings all day long. I wouldn’t complain about a business lunch.”
Liam’s brow furrowed. “What? That’s not right.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and pressed the fourth speed dial. “Killian? What’s this about you not celebrating your birthday this year?”
Killian’s voice came through with a note of surprise. “Good evening to you, too, Li.”
“Evening? I call too late? What time is it there?”
“Only six. I’m on my way to meet with Harold, though. What’s going on?”
“Alec said you’re not doing anything for your birthday. Please tell me that’s not true. Tell me there’s something left of the brother who broke into the school in the middle of the night to throw me the best sixteenth birthday bash ever. Took them forever to get that desk out of the tree!”
Liam could hear the smile in Killian’s voice. “Well, that brother got suspended, and read the riot act by Josephine. And it’s not like I did it alone. It was Sam’s idea.” Killian’s levity died when he mentioned his former best friend’s name. “I don’t really feel like celebrating my birthday this year.”
Liam gave the pause that lingered its proper respect before continuing. “You never feel like celebrating anymore. I don’t like how all about work you are, Kill. It’s not right. When are you going to have any fun?”
“Fun?” Liam heard Killian take a bite of something and continue speaking with a mouthful of food. “Who says my life isn’t fun? I get to sit down with Harold as soon as Isaac drives me home, and get briefed about Amsteron’s proposal to move the O-blood facility to Asia. See? I get to talk about Amsteron while you’re meeting with the head of Amsteron. It’s almost like we’re hanging out, Li. I can feel the fun already.”
Liam sighed. “No, you can’t. You haven’t been fun since you and Sam…broke up?” He couldn’t think of the right words.
Killian laughed, choking on his sandwich. “Jeez, Liam. Sam wasn’t my boyfriend. It’s okay that people stop being mates. It happens. Besides, now you two hang out more. He’s a much better fit for you, anyway. We got into way too much trouble.”
“I wish it could be how it was.”
Killian’s voice sobered. “Well, it can’t. I made my bed, now let me lie in it. I don’t mind working on my birthday, Liam. After the change, they all sort of run together anyway. You’ll see. It’s just another day.”
“Please, Kill. Please do something fun. I’m stuck over here, and can’t take you out to celebrate properly.”
“I love that your definition of ‘proper’ probably includes strippers or clowns and massive amounts of liquor.”
“Well, liquor’s required when you set out to watch a striptease put on by a brothel of clowns.”
“Yikes. Now that’s in my head.”
“Sorry. I’ll fix it. You think Harold would make a good clown stripper? You think Isaac’s got a few loose bills on him to wave around and make Dad’s royal advisor dance?”
Killian laughed again, and Liam could tell his brother hadn’t participated in such cheekiness in a while. “Man! America’s a lucky country to get your humor for a few weeks.”
“Yes, and it’s wasted on Ronald Cho and his cats.” Liam fiddled with his seatbelt. “Killian, please do something fun for your birthday.”
“I’ll think about it. Everest called me yesterday and invited me to his new island. Thought I’d fallen off his radar.”
Liam smiled. “I thought you didn’t party anymore.”
“I don’t, but there aren’t any cameras on his off-island. Honestly, I could use a break from campaigning. I don’t know how Dad keeps up.”
“Good! Do it! Go see Ever, and he’ll fix you up. Just don’t drink anything without a sealed cap.”
Killian chuckled. “I won’t. I actually kinda miss Ever. Haven’t seen him in a while. Said he needed me to come rescue him from his father. He was all theatrical. Kinda funny.”
Liam grinned, glad to hear a little life in his older brother’s voice. “Run, Killy! Run! Go hang with E for your birthday. Take that fiancée of yours with you and go topless surfing till she’s tanned in all the right places.”
Killian’s voice turned to scolding. “Bernice isn’t the topless surfing type, which is exactly why I chose her.”
You mean why Harold chose her for you, Liam thought bitterly. He would never voice his true feelings aloud to his brother, though. “Alright. You go and have a laugh with Ever. Don’t be old.”
“I love you, too,” Killian said before ending the call.
Liam turned his attention to Alec. “I like sitting in the front seat for a change. Can’t do this back home, but since not as many people recognize me here, I get to do all the cool stuff.” Liam pressed a few buttons on the dashboard.
“I’m so glad,” Alec replied in monotone. “Really. I love it when you mess with the radio.”
Liam wished Sam was in the car with them. He could distract from Ronald’s boring chatter and liven up the afternoon. Alec was great, but he was always a little testy when they kept him out too late for too many nights in a row.
Liam cast around for something to talk about with his bodyguard. “So, what do you think about Bernice?”
“She’s fine.”
Liam snorted. “Wow. You hate her!”
Alec raised his eyebrow. “It’s not my job to think. It’s my job to keep Killian and you all alive. Bernice is fine. She doesn’t pose a threat, so I have no opinion.”
“Come on!” Liam urged, bordering on whining. “Don’t be Adult Alec. Be Fun Alec! Entertain me, darn it!”
“Are you thinking I’m a bodyguard-slash-clown stripper?”
Liam howled. “Now that’s all I see when I look at you! That’s wicked!”
Alec grumbled as he exited the freeway, glad that, at the very least, he’d unwittingly provided Liam with a pleasant visual distraction from Ronald Cho and his tiresome cats.
Chapter Fourteen
The Storm Cellar
The Waywards were worn out as Baird drove them back to the hut that night at one-thirty in the morning. Grettel was so exhausted that her eyelids drooped, but she fought with them when Baird announced that they would be going to the storm cellar before their bed.
The soft moonlight barely illuminated the creepy contents of the storm cellar, but Blue didn’t need the light to recall everything that was down there. There were seven different dulled knives that had been discarded from Master Joe’s kitchen and various Vemreaux garbage bins, four pool sticks, two wooden baseball bats and eight pieces of strong wood that were comparable in size, a 2x4 set up as a balance beam, five bowling balls, two unmatching chairs, a chart on the wall marking the rotation of training, a dartboard, several boxing gloves and a punching bag that stood upright rather than hanging from the ceiling.
Baird made the conscious choice to allow his sister’s personality to come out in the storm cellar. He figured it was the safest place she had to be somewhat herself. He smirked at the life that revived in her as she looked around at their family secret. “Alright, then. See what damage you can do in two minutes.”
A tired Elle picked up one of the pool sticks
and moseyed over to the 2x4, willing her body to gear up for the sparring session with her friend. Rolling her shoulders and cracking a stiff bone in her neck, Elle hopped up on the beam, holding her broken pool stick up at the ready. Blue lifted a second stick off the floor and joined her friend, standing at the opposite end.
Baird pulled out the two chairs, lining them up together so he and Grettel could more comfortably watch the fight. “Have a seat, shorty.” He patted the chair next to him. “I don’t want any marks left on Elle because she’s got the testing tomorrow, so make sure you don’t aim to wound. First one off the beam loses.” He eyed his sister speculatively. “Try it one-handed, Blue.” When she made to dip her left hand behind her back, Baird amended his command. “Use your left.”
She sighed, but obliged by tucking her dominant hand to the base of her spine, taking care that it did not tense up into a fist. It would serve as her focal point. If her hand remained limp back there, then she was in control of the fight. Even if she won the duel, she would know that she had lost if her fingers curled into an unbidden fist.
“Alright, two minutes. None of this sweet little best friend waste of time. Go!” His raised voice coerced a squeak from Grettel, who was now more awake. Her eyes were painted with unease as she watched a scene she had viewed different versions of many times before.
Immediately, Blue struck out at her friend. She and Elle sparred often enough that the forward point of Elle’s left toe told Blue everything she needed to know to win. Elle countered with her stick, blocking the sudden blow. Instantly, Blue came at the base of Elle’s shoe with the weapon, knocking the outer sole just hard enough to distract from her actual plan. Elle’s attention was successfully diverted as she moved her left foot out of the way, so Blue shoved her right shoulder backwards, throwing her off balance and spinning her slightly sideways. Blue smiled as she lightly struck her friend’s fleshy backside just enough to make her fumble on the beam. Anticipating Elle’s exceptional balance, instead of waiting for her to pitch forward, Blue placed her hand on Elle’s chest and shoved her back and downward. In only eighteen seconds, Blue successfully knocked Elle completely off the beam without leaving a mark.
Elle stood, rubbing the sting from her backside as she tried to work the furrow out of her brow. “Were you sparring with anyone in The Way while we were gone?” she asked, confused as to how she had been taken down so quickly.
Blue swung the stick in front of her through the air, aiming at an imaginary foe. “You test soon. Tomorrow, in fact. I just thought you’d like to be as sharp as you can. No point in toying with you, right?”
Elle’s lips pursed, and all the play went out of her. Suddenly she felt foolish, their plan laughable in its simplicity. “I won’t make the first round. I’ve been practicing five days a week, and I can’t even last a stinking minute? There’s no way they’ll choose me.” Her shoulders slumped as defeat mingled with regret on her face.
Before her brother or Grettel could speak, Blue held up her hand. “I don’t think it matters anymore. I’ve been thinking about it and, I mean, I’m out now, right? Baird’s my boss. No one’s watching me to see if I’ll be the Wayward Light. Even when I talk to the Vemreaux and take their orders, they don’t notice me enough to really remember me.” Her eyes darted to Baird, who looked wary. “I say you purposely do bad on round one so they won’t ask you back. You don’t have to be the diversion anymore, Elle.” She dropped to the ground and gently took the stick away from her friend. “You can just be you.”
Grettel stopped breathing with the suggestion.
Blue’s words so staggered Elle that she couldn’t wrap her mind around the concept. Elle looked to Baird for confirmation.
Baird dashed the newly formed hope by shaking his head. “As soon as they figure out none of these candidates are actually the Light, do you think they’ll just stop looking? Elle’s been considered since they started the search. Even if she did stop parading around as the potential Light, her name’s still down in their books.” He stood up and collected the sticks from his sister. “Blue, important people from all three countries’ll be in town for this first test. They’ll want to get to know the players. Everyone around here knows she’s likely to be chosen. We can’t just all of a sudden drop the act and expect them to buy it. Some of ’em will probably come to the bar to meet Elle before and after the big day.”
“How far does this go, then?” Blue asked petulantly. The stale underground air filled her nostrils as she crossed her arms. “How long do we have to keep this up?”
Posturing at her attitude, he stood in front of his sister to fully confront her. “Until you get your calling. Until you figure out how you’re going to destroy the predator and put an end to the tyranny. Isn’t that how the prophecy goes? As long as we wait for it, Elle needs to be the diversion. No one even looks at you when she’s around. We can’t quit now.”
His comment made her voluntary stealth feel like a joke. Like anyone would want to look at her when her gorgeous best friend was around. Inwardly she cringed at the insinuation, but outwardly she held her head up. She swallowed and leveled her voice to iron out any hurt she might otherwise betray. “Okay. Let’s say she makes it past round one, which we all know she will.” Elle’s chest lifted with the vote of confidence. “Let’s say she makes it through all the testing and is declared the big, bad Light. Then what? What if I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do? Is she supposed to go off and get herself killed so my identity can be secret?” She shook her auburn hair. “Where do we draw the line, Baird?”
Despite his constant quest for control, an emotion that looked shockingly like pain surfaced on his face before he could flush it away. “Okay. Fair point. Let’s think it through. The predator’s on the O-blood island, right?”
“I heard a table talking about it today,” Elle chimed in. “They’re thinking of moving the O-bloods from the island because they’re having trouble finding Vemreaux to replace the ones working the blood farms that’ve been disappearing.”
“Okay.” Baird processed this new information quickly. “So, that’s where you need to go, Blue.” He thought through a few different possibilities, each one putting his sister in more danger than he would’ve liked. “The only thing I can think of is buying you a plane ticket and letting you go off and kill the predator.”
Elle and Grettel both spoke out at once against the idea. Words like “insane” and “cruel” were piled atop phrases like “she can’t do this alone”, “she’ll be a criminal” and “won’t allow a Wayward without an escort overseas”. The latter complaint stuck, and he had to admit that it was a hindrance.
Waywards who were bought as opposed to freed were not truly people as far as the law went. They were property. Joe owned Blue, and although she had never met him, none of them felt that he would be too keen on letting her go after just putting out five hundred thousand bills for her purchase.
Grettel timidly suggested, “Couldn’t we just tell Joe that Blue’s the Light? Maybe he’d give her up at least temporarily if she could put an end to the predator.”
Baird and Elle immediately vetoed the motion. Baird spoke louder. “No one can know about Blue’s identity for her own safety’s sake. If whatever this predator is has time and the mental capacity to study her, it would make her chances of survival that much worse.”
“I’m not banking on survival, guys. The prophecy says that the Light will have to make the ultimate sacrifice. You guys all turn a deaf ear to the last part, explaining it away whenever you can, but it’s going to happen.” Blue had long since accepted this. Baird took a little longer. He tried many different approaches to give her a way out, but with so little information known about the predator, his efforts grew lax over time.
After much speculation (that, because of the late hour, mutated quickly into arguments), it was decided that they would follow on the path they’d set out on with a few alterations.
Baird ran his hands over his face as he spoke.
“Elle will compete as the Light during the first round. During the second round, I want you to fail out. Can you do that?”
“Did you see how quickly I hit the ground tonight? I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” Elle joked.
“Fine. Blue stays here under Joe’s ownership for now. We’ll think of some way to get you over to the O-blood island covertly so you can put an end to the predator once and for all.”
“Sounds good to me,” Blue nodded.
Elle breathed with new life. “Really? One round and then I can drop the act?”
“That work for you?” he asked.
“Yes, Baird! Yes. That’s perfect!” She nearly choked on her happiness.
Blue looked at her brother and caught the elation that hit him when Elle was truly joyful. She immediately made plans to get them alone so Elle could capitalize on her window of opportunity. “You look tired, Grettel. Why don’t you go on to bed? I’m gonna go for a run, guys. See you in the morning.”
“Subtle,” Baird criticized, rolling his eyes at his sister.
“You saying eighteen seconds on the beam is enough training for her for the night?” Blue challenged. She dodged his punch of gratitude and followed Grettel up the stairs.
Chapter Fifteen
All the Effort
Baird took every available moment to practice with Elle, so as soon as she was awake the next morning, he beckoned her to meet him in the storm cellar again before Grettel woke. He ignored his sister’s knowing look and swallowed anything that might turn into a fight between them.
Elle was good at attacking, but slightly less than amazing at blocking on the beam. The third time he tapped her shin with the toe of his shoe, he knew that her head was elsewhere. “Hey, where are you?” he asked.
The Way Page 14
