Apostate

by Frankie Robertson

  Dave pulled Julie into his arms and held her tight. It was about time they had some good news.

  Cam held Tasha back when the others went downstairs. “They won’t need you for a while. We want to talk to you.”

  Tasha looked from the big man’s intent expression down to the fox. It seemed to grin at her with his sharp teeth gleaming. “Okay.”

  They sat on the sectional couch, Tasha with her back in the corner piece. Cam sat as far away as possible, as if he knew his size could be intimidating, but Bhodan took a place right beside her. He put a paw on her hand.

  **You should know what you are. The U’dahmi woman taught you to explore your nature, but most of what she thinks she knows about the Fey and the Gaians is guesses and inferences. War is coming, and you should be prepared.**

  Tasha looked from Bhodan to Cam. “War is coming?” The ominous words sounded like ad copy for a movie.

  “Bhodan misspoke,” Cam said. “The war between the Celestials and the Apostates never ended. It moves from one theater of conflict to the next, heating up in one place while cooling in another. You learned about the Cold War between Russia and America in school? For decades they tested each other’s defenses, played dirty tricks on one another, and readied themselves for the day when their conflict might escalate. That pretty much describes what the Celestials and Apostates have been doing.”

  “What has that got to do with me?”

  **You and your sister are Fey, as Cam is. I am a Gaian, a companion to Gaia. When the Earth was forming we came to the Terrestrial Realm and joined with it, bringing it life, and changing us forever. Sometimes humans worshipped us, and we used that to guide you. Sometimes we created children with you. Those children, the Fey, bear a measure of our gifts, as the Progeny have abilities given them by their progenitors, the Celestials.**

  “What about the Apostates, did they have children, too?”

  **Yes.** Bhodan said nothing more.

  Cam frowned. “Tell her the rest.”

  **They mated with women before the Veil was put in place. It was a long time ago, as humans measure such things. Their offspring’s blood is thin, but they are out there, and like their forebears, they seek power.**

  She already knew about people who wanted more power. She’d been kidnapped by some of them. And Kellan had told Tasha about the Veil. The Celestials had created the barrier to prevent both Celestials and Apostates from meddling with human development. It kept both groups from traveling easily between the Celestial Realm and the Terrestrial Plane. Celestials like Jared and Gideon could only do it with considerable help from their kind. Apostates had to be summoned with magic used by humans. Because of the Veil magic was weak on Earth. The U’dahmi and the Gaians had been trapped on the Terrestrial Plane for thousands of years without access to the main source of their strength.

  **Yes. Humans grew their civilizations and their science without much interference. Sometimes Guardians give a person a little nudge to avoid danger, or a Lightbringer will whisper a good idea into the mind of someone in the position to pursue it, but for the most part, the Celestials have left humans to find their own way. The Apostates want to change that.**

  “So you should be ready.” Cam leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees.

  “Ready for what?” Tasha threw her arms wide. “No offense, but while this is all very interesting, your warning is so vague I hardly know what to do with it.”

  **I will teach you how to use your Fey gifts while the U’dahmi searches for his friend. Then you’ll be ready.**

  Tasha’s reaction was instantaneous. “No. Kellan needs me. I won’t abandon him.”

  Bhodan growled softly and nipped her finger. **You need the training more than he needs you.**

  “Hey!” Tasha jerked her hand away from the fox. “If it’s that important to you, you can teach me later, after we find Jasper.”

  Cam laughed. “I told you.”

  Bhodan bared his teeth at him.

  “Don’t be a sore loser, little fox.”

  **You teach her, then.** Bhodan jumped down and trotted out of the room.

  Tasha watched him go then turned to Cam. “Which begs the question, why is he a fox? A dog would be less conspicuous. Can’t he take any form he wants?”

  “Don’t let him hear you suggest he become a dog.” Cam chuckled. “Dogs are domesticated. Foxes are wild, as are the Gaians. They’re Elementals, which is why we have affinities for Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Light, and Dark—”

  “Light and Dark are Elements?” Tasha interrupted.

  Cam waggled his flattened hand. “For want of a better name. I probably shouldn’t have included them. They split off from the other Gaians even before there were Elements. I don’t know much about them. What I do know, is that Bhodan is an Earth Elemental. That’s my affinity. That’s why he’s my…guide, I’d guess you’d call him. The fox form suits him for now.”

  “So you could wake up tomorrow and he could be something else? Like a honey badger?”

  Cam chuckled. “That would suit his temperament, but changing shape isn’t easily done. He could do it, but the background level of magic is so low with the Veil in place that changing takes an effort.”

  “Why do you have a guide? Ana doesn’t have one. I don’t. Are you special somehow?”

  “You mean aside from being incredibly handsome and charming?” Cam’s eyes twinkled. “I’ve asked him that myself. His answer hasn’t been particularly illuminating. I gather they go where they choose and help who they want. He paid you a compliment when he offered to teach you.”

  Tasha glanced over at the doorway through which the fox had disappeared. “I didn’t mean to offend him.”

  Cam’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “If he thinks you’re worth teaching, he’ll probably offer again. In the meantime, let me show you a few things that may keep you from killing yourself.”

  Kellan watched as the pendulum in Ana’s fingers swayed toward California on the large map. It pulled northward of San Diego and hesitated over Camp Pendleton before pulling further north. It settled over Irvine. Jared flipped through a stack of charts and then pulled out a detailed map of the area. This would have been so much easier if they’d been able to use a tablet to shift and zoom in the image, but that wouldn’t work with Ana’s magic. The pendulum circled and then froze as if drawn tight to one spot.

  “That’s where he is now,” Ana said.

  Kellan peered at the map, noting the cross-streets. “We’ll take the next flight out. Would you do this again when we get there?”

  “Ana needs rest,” Gideon objected. “She worked all day and then did this search for you.”

  “You’re taking Tasha with you?” Ana asked, ignoring her husband. “Wouldn’t she be safer if she stayed here with us?”

  The idea of leaving Tasha behind tied a knot in his gut. Logically, he knew he wasn’t the only one who could protect her. He’d left her with Monique for six months, after all. But that was before. Now the idea of walking away from her was intolerable. And he had a good reason not to. “Jasper can hide himself—even from me—unless I’m touching him, but Tasha can detect what he is once we get close enough to him. She’s the only one who can.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Dave stood to one side of Jack’s hospital bed. His friend was still somewhat fuzzy from the anesthetic, but he’d bumped fists with Dave before turning his attention to Julie, who held his other hand.

  “I’ll be fine. Don’t cry,” Jack murmured, and Dave realized his sister’s face was damp with tears.

  “Don’t mind me.” Julie wiped her cheeks with her other hand. “I’m just glad you’re going to be okay.”

  Jack smiled as his eyes drifted shut, but he pulled her hand up to his lips for a kiss.

  Alex’s gaze took in Jack with his I.V., cardiac leads, and nasal cannula lying pale in his bed with the monitor blinking beside him. His eyes grew round. “Is he going to be okay?” he whispered.

  Pete
appeared at the door. “That’s what I want to know.”

  “Yes. But he needs to rest.”

  A woman in scrubs appeared at the door. “Yes he does. I’m sorry, but you all have to go. Ms. Hopkins, you can stay.”

  “Why does she rate?” Pete asked. “I’m his best friend.”

  The nurse spoke as if to a slow child. “As his fiancé, she counts as family.”

  WTF? Fiancé? This was the second time a nurse had called her that.

  Pete’s mouth dropped opened. After a pause he said, “Oh. Kay.”

  The nurse’s eyes narrowed.

  “It was a whirlwind romance. Pete hasn’t caught up yet.” Dave wasn’t sure why he was supporting this fabrication, but if that’s what Julie and Jack wanted the staff to think, he’d go with it. “Jack proposed right before he was shot.”

  The woman’s expression transformed into one of sympathy. “That’s terrible! I mean, congratulations. But you all still need to leave.”

  “Dave, would you stay with Jack for a minute?” Julie asked. “I’m going to walk out with Alex.”

  The room emptied. Dave gazed down at his friend. He’d seen more than a few of his brothers in arms wounded and killed. It never got easier.

  Jack opened his eyes. They were surprisingly sharp and clear. “You didn’t lie, man.”

  “You asked her to marry you? For real?”

  “Not in so many words, but—”

  Anger flared, but Dave clenched his jaw and shoved it down. He wasn’t going to threaten his wounded friend, but he wasn’t going to let his sister be toyed with, either. “Don’t mess with her. She’s been through a lot.”

  “You know me better than that. She’s the one.”

  Did he really know Jack anymore? It had been years since they’d served together. Then he gave himself a mental slap. He’d trusted Jack with his sister’s and Alex’s lives. “How can you be sure? You barely know her.”

  “I just do. Take care of her for me until I’m back on my feet, okay?”

  “I will,” Dave agreed, too flabbergasted to say anything other than what would let Jack rest and get well.

  Jack’s eyes drifted shut again.

  Shit. Maybe he should add matchmaker to his resume.

  Kellan gripped the steering wheel and muttered a curse at the California traffic. Tucson International was a second-tier airport and there’d been no late-night flights to Orange County, San Diego, or L.A. He’d considered driving, but Gideon had talked him out of it. It had been a long day for everyone, and Tasha needed more rest after her prodigious feat earlier at the country club. So did Ana, if she was going to do another search for Jasper when they got close. Instead, they’d taken the first flight out at six o’clock and rented a car at the airport. He’d had to check his bag and guitar case, because he couldn’t carry on either his blade or his gun. He’d wrapped a spell around them both to keep the airline from losing them or becoming too nosy.

  By nine they were almost to Irvine. An accident on the 405 had slowed them down, but they were past it now and traffic, while slow, was at least moving.

  When they passed a sign saying Irvine next 3 exits, Kellan told Tasha, “You should call Ana now,” and took the Jamboree exit. He pulled over in a parking lot and waited for Ana to do her thing.

  “What are you going to do when you find him?” Tasha’s tone was tentative.

  She probably expected him to say, “Kill him.” That’s what he’d implied the last time they’d touched on the subject. It’s what the Council would expect of him. But even if Jasper had possessed a man against his will, they’d been partners for too long for Kellan to just execute him out of hand. “I’ll talk to him. I need to understand…” His throat tightened and he glanced away, out the window.

  Tasha reached over and squeezed his hand where it rested on his thigh. She didn’t say anything, she just offered her support. It was just what he needed and he wrapped his fingers around hers.

  Gideon called back less than ten minutes later. Kellan put him on speaker. “He’s on the university campus, just south of McGaugh Hall. That’s adjacent to a parking lot, so he could be about to drive away.”

  “Shit. Okay, thanks. I may be calling you back soon.” Ana’s search spell was a huge boon, but it didn’t work like a drone camera. Her pendulum might be able to follow his movement for a while, but not for long. And every time she recast the spell it took something out of her. Kellan looked at Tasha. “This could be tricky. If we’re lucky and we catch up to him, it’s broad daylight and the campus will be full of people. I’ll need you to tell me which one he is but I don’t want you to get too close—or any closer than you have to. And he may run as soon as he sees me.”

  “Then let me approach him. He doesn’t know me. I’ll look like any other student. Once I ID him, I can distract him by asking directions.”

  “He could be dangerous.”

  “What can he do on a crowded campus? I’ll be fine.”

  Tasha got out of the car and walked toward McGaugh Hall. Kellan had parked in a spot closest to the exit, so he could follow Jasper if he bolted, or maybe even block the exit. It was mid-class, so fewer people were about. But on a big campus like UCI that still left plenty of onlookers if something unusual happened. A quick call to Ana reassured them that Jasper was still in the area, but there were at least twenty-five people in the area that he might be.

  She surveyed the parking lot. One guy nearby was tossing his backpack into his car, so Tasha veered to intercept him. She wasn’t sure how close she’d have to get, but she’d been able to sense Seketh and Kellan from several feet away.

  “Excuse me!” Tasha raised her voice to catch the man’s attention. “Can you help me?”

  The man was older than the average student, maybe closing in on thirty. He stopped with his hand on the driver’s door and turned in her direction. When he saw her, his expression took on a curious interest.

  Tasha closed the distance between them, until she was a normal comfort-zone distance from the guy. No tingling awareness crawled over her skin alerting her to an otherworldly nature. It wasn’t him. But she still needed to say something to explain her contact with him. “Can you tell me where the Student Health building is?”

  “It’s about half a mile that way.” The man pointed north, away from the car where Kellan waited. “Do you have a map? I can show you the quickest way. Or I could drive you.”

  “Uh, no.” Tasha took a couple steps back. “But, thanks!”

  Several people had left the parking lot while she’d talked to the first guy, and three more were getting into cars. She couldn’t talk to all of them. She could so easily miss Jasper this way. But her eyes fastened on a couple of men holding an animated conversation near the McGaugh building. Jasper hadn’t moved in over ten minutes, from Ana’s first reading until the second. Tasha’s instincts said one of those two men could be her target. She ignored the other people in the parking lot and headed straight for them.

  She was maybe eight feet away when she felt it: that familiar tingling sensation that indicated a Celestial or U’dahmi was near. She’d been told that most Fey and Progeny, even Ana and Cassie, only felt it when they touched, and even then they didn’t recognize the U’dahmi. For some reason she was different, and that meant she could help Kellan. But she was still too far away, or maybe they were too close together, for her to tell which one he was.

  She’d have to get closer.

  The men stopped talking as she approached. “Sorry to interrupt. Can one of you tell me where the Student Health Center is?”

  The Anglo man on the left pointed in the same general direction that the first guy she’d talked to had indicated and began to give her directions. She leaned closer, as if concentrating on what he was saying. The feeling didn’t get any stronger—or any weaker. Damn. She was going to have to touch him, and when she did, he’d know she was Fey. She could spook him—if he was Jasper.

  The guy finished talking and looked at her, gaugi
ng her understanding. She smiled and held out her hand. “Thanks.”

  His response was automatic. He smiled back and took her hand.

  It wasn’t him.

  “I’m Zeke. Would you like me to show you the way? Troy was losing the argument anyway.” He grinned at his friend.

  Troy, an Asian man about twenty-five, smirked. “You keep telling yourself that. Maybe someday it’ll be true.” He pulled out his phone. “Look at the time. I gotta go. I’ll see you around.”

  He was walking away and Zeke still held her hand. She jerked it free. “Thanks for your help!” she called and ran after Jasper.

  “Hey!” Zeke exclaimed. “That’s not the way—”

  Troy stopped abruptly and turned. “What?”

  Tasha couldn’t stop in time to keep from running into him. Troy/Jasper absorbed the impact easily and steadied her with a hand on her arm. “Whoa! Are—” His eyes widened slightly and he snatched his hand away. Then he took a step back regarding her warily. “Are you okay?”

  Tasha just stared for a moment. The touch had confirmed it; they’d found Jasper and he was sharing a body with Troy. But Jasper had broken the contact too quickly for her to know if it was voluntary cohabitation or if Jasper had stolen the other man’s body. “Sorry! I, uh, I’m fine.” She ran her fingers through her hair. That was the signal she and Kellan had agreed on to indicate she’d found Jasper, but Kellan was all the way across the parking lot and she wasn’t sure he could see her from this angle.

  Troy/Jasper obviously sensed she was Fey, but he couldn’t know she was with Kellan, not from such a brief contact.

  “I’m in a hurry. Did you need something?” he asked.

  “Can I walk with you?”

  “I’m not going near Student Health. Zeke offered to go with you.”

  Now what? “Yeah. Uh, that was just an excuse to talk to you.”

  Troy’s brow furrowed, but his lips quirked up in a regretful smile. “Thanks, but I’m not interested.” He turned and resumed walking away.