by Vicky Savage
“Yes. Use this door.” She takes me to the glass garden door. “The back gate leads to an alleyway. Turn right and it will let you out one street over. Please forgive me, Jaden. I’m so terribly sorry.”
“It’s okay, Eleanor. It’s not your fault. I’ll be in touch.”
Callie and I trot through the back gate and into the deserted alley. We make a right turn onto the street parallel to Eleanor’s. I spot a small park situated on the corner, and plow ahead to the entrance. Cutting across an expanse of grass, we manage to avoid other people. Tears stream down my face and trail inside my collar.
We don’t stop jogging until we’re deep inside the park. A small bench rests in the center of a deserted copse. I collapse onto the hard concrete seat and howl my heartbreak to the trees. I didn’t believe I could hurt like this again.
Callie sits quietly at my feet staring at me with anxious eyes. She nudges my knee in concern. It’s okay, girl.” I run my hand along her silky fur. “Everything’s going to be all right,” I say to myself more than to her.
I rest my cheek against the cold concrete of the bench for a few minutes. Then, after a flurry of hiccupy breaths, I manage to reel my emotions back in.
“Come on, girl. Let’s go home.”
We walk back to the Chateau and duck up the stairs to my apartment. I flop down on top of my bed and shed a few more tears, remembering the look of utter devastation on Ryder’s face. He was so heartbreakingly beautiful in his pain. The sorrow in his eyes was all too familiar. I see it in the mirror every morning. I also understand the final flash of loathing in his eyes. I hate him too—because he’s alive and my Ryder is gone.
A knock at my door startles me out of my thoughts.
“Jade, are you here?” Eve calls from the doorway. “You left your trophy at my place.” Callie runs to meet her, while I use my sleeve to dry my eyes.
“What’s wrong, girlfriend?” she says coming through the door.
I raise a shaky hand to my forehead. “Unfortunately, I just saw a ghost.”
“Huh?”
“Come in. I’ll tell you all about it.”
I grab two juices from the fridge, and we sit on my bed while I describe my encounter with Ryder.
“Sweet Giza! What a douche. How could he just run away like that?”
“I guess he was … I don’t know, traumatized by seeing me.”
“Still he didn’t have to be such a jerkwad.” She pats my leg reassuringly. “The good news is you don’t ever have to see him again.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Eleanor’s house is only blocks from here. For all I know he lives on the next street over. I could bump into him at any time.” I sink down into my pillows.
“Well, if you do, you just act like he doesn’t exist. He’s lower than snot.” A mischievous smile plays at her lips. “But I think you should look him up online and see where he lives, just in case. Maybe he’s got a social page.”
“What? No. I’m not going to do that. I’ve been down that road before. It’s too much like stalking.”
“No it isn’t. It’s for your own protection.”
“Forget it Eve. I just want to put it behind me.”
“Okay. I was just headed down to dinner, wanna come with?”
“Yeah. Give me a minute to wash my face.”
FORTY-TWO
On Sunday morning heavy gray clouds perch low in the sky. The air is a good ten degrees colder than it was the day before, and my mood has taken a plunge also. I call Rals to invite him over for brunch.
“I could use a shoulder to cry on,” I say. “I accidentally bumped into the local version of Ryder Blackthorn yesterday.”
“Oh my, where was this?”
“At Narowyn’s urging, I had tea with Eleanor Beckett at her home. I guess I should have been prepared for something like this, but she assured me we’d be completely alone. Anyway, come over, and I’ll tell you about it over Eggs Benedict.”
“Goodness, you’ve learned to make hollandaise sauce?”
“Nah, it’s from a carton. All I have to do is heat it up, but it tastes pretty good.”
Ralston’s a sympathetic listener. I describe my visit with Eleanor and Ryder’s surprise appearance. He’s caring and supportive as usual, and wisely advises me to try to put the incident out of my thoughts.
“Look at it this way, now that you’ve experienced the shock of that initial first meeting, you never have to go through it again.”
“I know, but it kind of ripped the scab off of all the painful memories that were beginning to heal. And that wasn’t even the worst part.”
“What do you mean?”
“For a split second, before he ran out of the room, he looked as if he hated me. I think I understand why, but I don’t want him to hate me.” I blow out a sigh. “I don’t even know why I care.”
He gazes at me with tender eyes. “I’m certain it was only his astonishment you witnessed, my dear, and you care because of the perpetual contract. Remember what I told you in Domerica? Now that you two have met and the connection has been made, it’s not unusual that you would feel something for him, perhaps even be drawn to him. The important thing to understand is that the way you handle those emotions is entirely up to you.”
After we clear up the brunch dishes, Ralston and I set up the board for a game of chess. A grueling two hours later, I finally manage to put him in checkmate. For some reason, though, I have the sneaking suspicion that he let me win.
“Well done, old girl!” he says.
“That better not have been a pity-win,” I say as we walk to the door.
“You know my pride would never allow that. I would like a rematch soon, however.”
“Anytime you think you’re up to it, old man.” I smile and kiss his cheek. “Thanks for the talk, Rals. I needed it. Would you mind letting Narowyn know I won’t be at dinner tonight. I’ll finish the leftovers from brunch, and I have a lot of studying to do.”
“Of course, my dear. I shall see you tomorrow.”
The week starts out sunny but cold. I concentrate on my classes and try to put the incident at Eleanor’s out of my mind. Eve and I go shopping Tuesday afternoon for warm scarves and gloves, but I keep my outside excursions to a minimum for the rest of the week for fear of running into Ryder Blackthorn again.
Friday morning, Eloise waits for me inside the firing range for our final Firearms Training class. A few of my paper targets are good enough to have been put on display on the wall of fame behind the counter. I can’t help but feel a little proud when I see them.
“Have you been practicing outside of class?” she asks after our session. “You were extra sharp today.”
I laugh. “I did go virtual werewolf hunting last weekend. Maybe that’s why.”
“Well whatever it is, you’ve come a long way in the past weeks, Jaden. You’re one of my sharpest pupils. I’ll be filing my report with Narowyn today, and I expect she’ll have you out in the field in no time.”
“I owe it all to you, Eloise. You really are the best. Thanks for everything. Hope to see you again soon.”
“You will, once you get another newbie in here. Seems about time y’all added a new Transcender.”
“We really don’t control that, but you never know. Maybe soon.” I hug her goodbye and head back to straighten up my apartment before Alternate Earths.
After classes and a quick lunch, I decide to see if Ralston can fit in a fencing session.
When I arrive in the large gym-like room where the fencing piste is located, Ralston is working with a student. He has taken on a few other pupils, and I wait in the stands for him to finish his lesson.
“Do you have time for me this afternoon, old man, or are you too tired?” I ask, once his pupil leaves.
“I never tire of dispensing a good thrashing to arrogant and deserving students, of which you are my favorite,” he says with a taunting grin.
I change into my silver mesh fencing suit with the protective
head gear and select an epée from the rack.
Ralston and I face each other on the strip, our epées up. “En garde,” he says, the signal that we are about to begin. “Allez, allez,” he shouts, meaning come and get me.
I lunge at him, and he deftly parries my blade, then quickly scores a touch. “Touché,” he cries. The lamé on our suits is electronically equipped to buzz when the epée touches the mesh in the target area. In epée, basically the entire body is fair game.
We separate and take our stances again. Ralston’s speed is literally superhuman this afternoon, and he quickly scores several more points on me. I squint at him suspiciously through my mask. It occurs to me that his handsome new shell must have some special, super-fast reflexes the old one didn’t.
Laughing heartily, he yanks off his head gear. “Had enough yet, Supernova Girl?”
Oh, he did not just say that. His condescension kind of pissed me off, but calling me Supernova Girl means war. He’s not the only one who’s got skills.
I pull off my mask and sneer at him. “Not a chance, grandpa. I’m all warmed up now.”
We replace our masks and take our stances once again. “En garde,” he says. “Allez, allez.”
I lunge at him. He parries the move with lightning quickness and attacks. I vanish into the air for a heartbeat, then reappear in front of him and score a touch on his chest. His suit beeps.
“Touché!” I shout.
“I trust you know that is cheating, Jaden.” He circles me warily.
“Sorry, Rals.”
“We’ll do that point over,” he says. “En garde. Allez, allez.”
I lunge, he parries. I disappear and reappear to his rear touching his back with my epée. Beep. He whirls around, and I vanish again reappearing at his side. I touch his thigh. Beep. I do the same routine twice more. His suit buzzes with each touch.
“Enough!” he shouts, smashing his epée into the floor.
I’m laughing so hard I can barely stand.
He throws off his head gear, his face flaming. “I’ve never been treated so disrespectfully in my entire life.”
“Calm down, Rals.” I take off my own mask. “I had the impression you were using an unfair advantage against me when we began. If I was wrong, I apologize. I only meant to remind you that it’s not sport unless we’re on equal footing, old chum.”
His chin juts sharply, but then he bows graciously. “Touché, my dear. And so, the student becomes the master. It is I who must humbly apologize to you, dear friend. I’m afraid my new and improved body has caused me to act rather arrogantly. I meant no disrespect whatsoever, and I hope you will forgive me.”
“Don’t worry about it, Rals. Apology accepted.”
He smiles, eyes twinkling. “And may I add that your spontaneous shifting skills are much improved. I’m quite impressed.”
“Why, thank you.” I make a little bow and stride toward the locker room.
* * *
After dinner, I put the finishing touches on my Science of Transcending homework, and I’m about to change into my pajamas when Narowyn calls and asks to see me in her office.
She’s seated in an armchair reading when I arrive, and I take the seat next to hers.
“Thank you for coming, Jaden.” She sets her book aside. “I suppose I owe you something of an apology. I heard from Eleanor Beckett that Ryder Blackthorn unexpectedly made an appearance at her home on Saturday. She was quite concerned and sorry about it, but she wasn’t certain you would wish to speak with her.”
“It was a pretty large jolt,” I say. “But I know it wasn’t your fault or Eleanor’s. So please tell her not to worry.”
“Still, it must have been painful for you. Would you care to talk about it?”
“No. Actually, I’m trying to forget it. Obviously I knew there was a possibility that he existed. Hiding my head in the sand was probably not the right approach to take. But Ralston and I had a nice talk afterward, and as he points out, now that the initial surprise is behind me, I can go on with my life as if he’s irrelevant—because he is.”
She watches me with guarded eyes. “Then you’re feeling well emotionally?”
“Yes. I feel good. I finished up Firearms Training this morning, and I whipped Ralston soundly at fencing this afternoon, so things are looking up.”
She smiles. “Yes, I got your firearms report today. You’ve progressed brilliantly in all your training, Jaden. Eloise couldn’t say enough good things about you, and of course Dr. McDonald is one of your most ardent fans.”
“They’re both good teachers. I enjoyed working with them.” I don’t feel the need to tell her Luci and I are continuing to work together on my other little project.
“Wonderful. I wanted to let you know that Ted King got in touch with me today. The IGC court granted our request for a postponement of the hearing. Unfortunately, it seems they have a rather full docket, and the earliest date they can have a panel in Arumel City is January fifth.”
“Hmm, so a few months from now?”
“Yes. Does that concern you?”
“I guess not. I’d like to get it over with before the holidays, but I feel safe with the temporary restraining order in place.”
“Good. Then since we have some additional time, and since your mornings are now mostly free, I thought perhaps you would enjoy taking on an exploration or two. We’ve just had something new come in.”
“Really? An exploration?” My stomach snaps to attention. “Are you sure I’m ready?”
“Oh yes. It would only be for a few days. And I’m afraid it’s not a terribly exciting assignment. We received word that Earth P17L, an Outlier Earth, nicknamed Twin Moons, suffered a catastrophic tsunami two days ago after a major earthquake in Alaska. Many of the coastal areas of California have been destroyed. Tragically, tens of thousands have been killed and many thousands more are missing. We’ve been offered a large grant by the government to go to Twin Moons and conduct a bit of research, in the hope of preventing a similar catastrophe from occurring here or on another Confederation earth.”
“Oh my god. That’s horrible. Is it safe to go right now?”
“Yes, with precautions. The area’s contaminated with all the detritus from the flood. But we already have established contacts there, and you’ll be provided with everything you need. I’d like to have a team on the ground quickly to put together the pertinent geological data and disaster statistics as soon as possible.”
“Who else would be on the team?”
“Asher has been to Twin Moons before, so I imagined you two would be partners on this assignment. This is not a place where we can go in as ourselves. The concept of Transcenders is beyond the understanding and acceptance of the society. You will pose as relief workers. A husband and wife.”
That gives me pause. Asher and I posing as husband and wife might get a little sticky. “It sounds interesting, Narowyn, but are you sure I’m the right person for this? I mean, I don’t know anything about geology or disaster statistics. I’m not even sure what relief workers do.”
“You would only be collecting data from other sources, not analyzing it. And I felt this might be a good initiation for you. Judging from your experience in Connecticut, you and Asher seem to work well as a team.”
It’s true we did work well together in Connecticut. But Narowyn doesn’t know about my concerns that Asher may have feelings for me that aren’t strictly professional, and I’m not prepared to share that with her just yet.
“I really appreciate this opportunity, and the confidence you’ve placed in me, but I’d like some time to think it over. I’m not sure I’m ready.”
“Naturally, dear, I do not wish to send you in if you feel uncomfortable. I’ll need your answer in the morning, though. Time is of the essence here.”
“Understood. I’ll let you know in the morning.” My stomach does a slow churn.
“That will be fine.” She stands to see me to the door. “And, Jaden, should you run into Mr.
Blackthorn again or should he try to contact you, please know that I am available any time to discuss it.”
I really wish she hadn’t said that. Her words just upped the blender speed in my belly. I hadn’t considered that he might try to contact me. I head back to my apartment and splash cold water on my face.
“This was supposed to be a quiet evening,” I say to my reflection in the mirror. One thing I know for certain, I can’t avoid it any longer—I need to have a talk with Asher tonight.
