“Ivy!” Natalie jogged up to me where I stood at the doorway. I smiled up at her, reaching for her hands.
“I haven’t seen you since the ordeal, or whatever.” Natalie smiled.
“Yeah, it’s been an eventful couple of days.” I nodded.
“He’s in a surly mood.” Natalie turned to stand next to me, facing the room as well. Ryker was hitting a gigantic punching bag so hard it was swaying.
“Yeah, it hasn’t been a good day for him.” I nodded. “We had our first session with the therapist earlier this afternoon,” Natalie grunted.
“I like Meredith, she’s helped me a lot.” She offered. I hadn’t thought of Natalie seeing a therapist, but that was common for those who were transgender, and I should have known better.
“I like her too,” I admitted. Natalie let out a giggle.
“I’m sure he’s told you about the Knight Ceremony, where he came strutting in and showed his sword to the whole room. Everyone was in utter and complete shock.” She explained with excitement. No one but Ryker and Agent Rogers knew that Owen and I were at the ceremony, and we were going to keep it that way.
“It must have been something.” I nodded.
“Yeah,” She grew quiet after a moment. “You know, there’s quite a divide in the knight world right now. Mostly it’s looking like old versus young, but it’s deeper than that. The older generation wants to keep with tradition, but the world isn’t that simple anymore. The knights need to be updated again, and that’s what the younger generation is fighting for. In fact, if it were up to the older ones, I wouldn’t have been knighted.” Natalie admitted. I gave her a look of shock. “Agent Rogers fought hard for me, and since I met all the qualifications, they couldn’t really argue against it.” I saw the runic tattoo symbolizing the Order of Knights on the left side of her chest. As she usually only wore a sports bra and spandex leggings, the tattoo was more than visible.
“Well, you deserve to be knighted, just as much as anyone else.” I offered her. She smiled at me and squeezed my hand. She was so smart and tough and capable, it shouldn’t matter that she was a girl. The entire thing was just ridiculous.
“Well, I assume you came here to see our King.” She made a face of excitement as she said it. “I can’t believe it, our first official King of Knights since Arthur.” I couldn’t believe it either, and I was new to all this.
“I’m going to go hit the showers, I’ll see you later.” She winked and then walked back down the hallway towards the locker room.
Taking a deep breath, I walked across the large room towards Ryker. I caught several greetings from the other knights and acknowledged them politely in turn. Garret grabbed my arm before I could keep walking past the weight benches. I turned and gave him a long look.
“You know Ryker once killed a man for grabbing me like that.” I teased. Garret let out a long booming laugh. His red beard was coming in nicely.
“Oh lass, you always get me.” He chuckled, wiping the tears from his blue eyes.
“We want to talk to you for a minute.” Hector Gawain appeared next to me.
“Well, all the Knights of the Round Table do.” Garret clarified.
“Can you meet us tonight, at midnight? Without the King?” Hector asked, his deep brown eyes showed gentleness and respect.
“Where?” I asked, intrigued.
“At the greenhouse.” Garret said.
I nodded and then walked on. Ryker hadn’t noticed them talking to me, and I thought it was best that way. Whatever the knights wanted to show me that night, I would share with Ryker, but it was best that he be left in the dark for now. As I stepped closer to Ryker, I could hear the booming sounds of his fists hitting the dense bag. He had his earphones on as he launched into a sequence of punches and kicks. Once he hit the last movement, he grabbed the bag, heaving his breaths. I caught his eye then, and he gave me a nod, taking out the earbuds.
“Hey, you alright?” He asked. I took a moment to admire his shirtless, sweaty body.
“Yeah, I just thought about something,” I said stepping closer to him. He held my hands between us. “You know, if you don’t want to go out tonight, I totally understand. It’s been a hard day and a rough week. We don’t have to start this now.” Ryker gave a relaxed side grin and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear.
“What about if we just stay in for our date? I’ll order some food and rent a movie, how does that sound?” He asked me. I gave him a wide smile.
“That sounds perfect,” I replied. He gave me a smile and then kissed my forehead. I still wasn’t used to him showing me affection in public and my stomach clenched in response. I was so used to being secretive that my body still reacted that way.
“Alright, I’ll see you later.” I smiled, squeezing his hand. He gave me a nod and then put the earbuds back into his ears.
Turning, I spotted Owen at the entrance of the gym. The look in his eyes told me immediately that something was wrong. Glancing over my shoulder, Ryker was gazing toward Owen’s direction as well, a look of concern on his face. Owen gave us both a nod to follow and then turned back down towards the long hallway. We met back in the greenhouse, which seemed to be like our clubhouse these days. With Excalibur there, it seemed to be the only place that fit.
“What is it?” Ryker demanded as soon as we entered the glass doors. Owen let out a loud, shaky breath and then handed Ryker his phone. He couldn’t even speak, and his eyes were red and watery.
Ryker took the phone, which was directed to the voicemail screen. There was one recording in the log and Ryker pushed play, setting it on speaker.
“Hello Mr. Emrys, this is Janet Jones at New York Presbyterian Hospital. I wanted to let you know that your mother was admitted early this morning and, well, to be honest, it doesn’t look good. If you want to see her before. . . Well, her time comes, you might want to head up here as soon as possible. Thank you and feel free to call back.” From there she gave us the phone numbers and then hung up. I felt the shock of it resonate through me as I looked back at Owen. He raised a shaky hand and wiped his eyes with more effort than necessary.
“I’ll get the car, you two get packed, and I’ll meet you in the parking lot,” Ryker said, handing Owen back his phone and then marching off. He wasn’t even wearing a shirt.
“Owen.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“I wish he wouldn’t just storm off like that.” Owen said with a weak smile, “We have to get permission for leave.” I stepped forward, wrapping my arm around his and gently pulling him towards the door.
“I’m sure by the time we see him again, he would have all that taken care of,” I assured him. Ryker was good like that. He always followed protocol. I’m sure the first stop he is going to make is at the administration office.
Owen and I walked in silence, arm-in-arm, across campus to our dorm building. I asked him if he needed help packing, but he shook his head and left me at my room. In a hurried frenzy, I scooped up clothes, phone charger, and my bathroom products. Shoving all that into a small duffle bag, I strapped my knife to my thigh. Agent Rogers had suggested it and found me a holster that I liked.
Exiting my room, I knocked on the door across the hall. Owen answered, tears pouring from his eyes. I pretended not to notice, as I knew guys appreciated that sort of thing. I stepped through and went into Ryker’s room, packing a few changes of clothes and his toothbrush. Then I did the same for Owen. Touching the large mirror in the living room, I dumped all our school books and work into it, and then I scooped up Archimedes.
“You know, I could be a big help. You guys don’t have to leave me behind anymore.” He was saying.
“Sorry buddy, maybe next time.” I gave him a scratch behind the ears as I set him inside the dimension. He released words of outrage at me until I flipped off the mirror.
Grabbing Owen’s hand, I set the strap of his bag on his shoulder and then grabbed Ryker’s and mine. Leading him out of the room, Ryker was pulled up to the building, t
he motor running. I handed him a shirt, and he told us to sign a couple of documents about our leave of absence. We did that, and after a quick stop at the administration office, we were off north, towards NYC. I had never been to New York, but this wasn’t the time for sightseeing.
We had sat in silence for the first hour or so of the trip. They sat in the front, and I was on the back seat, behind Owen. I could feel Ryker’s rage and Owen’s devastation.
“How long have you known?” Ryker asked. Owen let out a deep breath.
“The day that we exploded the lab my father called to tell be about it for the first time,” Owen started.
“The first time!” Ryker bellowed, hitting the dashboard with his fist. “Damn it, Owen.”
“You were a little busy,” Owen muttered. Ryker let out a foul stream of curses and then glared at his best friend.
“I am never too busy for this, you understand me, never.” He then asserted.
Constance Emrys, Owen’s mother, had raised the both of them. Ryker and Owen, over the past year, had regaled me with stories of their childhood. In fact, for the first nine years of Ryker’s life, he lived in the Emrys home, sharing a room with Owen. They did everything together, and Constance raised Ryker as her own. I still wasn’t sure what went down to make them so angry with their fathers, but I do know now that she was checked into a Mythos mental hospital. It sounded like schizophrenia, but they both had blamed it on the Emrys druid magic for scrambling her mind.
“She suffered a stroke that day.” Owen explained in a quiet voice, “but they said she was going to be fine.” Ryker let out a long deep breath.
“And that’s when she went to New York?” He asked. Owen nodded, taking a moment to compose his emotions. I had wondered about that too, as I had gone with them to visit her in the mental hospital in Arlington. I had never met her before, as Owen and Ryker always asked me to wait in the lobby. I never argued with them because sometimes-silent support was more important that ones own vanity.
“Have you talked to your father?” Ryker asked.
“He sent me a text.” Owen muttered, “Said he’d meet us there.”
“And the general?” Ryker asked.
“He’s coming too.” Owen nodded. Ryker squeezed the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. I was surprised he didn’t crush the wheel under his grip.
The engine roared as Ryker pressed the gas. We were going much faster than the speed limit dictated, but I was never afraid with Ryker at the wheel.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” Owen muttered after a moment. Ryker released a deep breath, and I felt the tension fade.
“I can’t help you if I don’t know.” Ryker snapped.
“I know.” Owen hung his head.
“I know you’ve been distracted lately, but I thought it was because you were figuring out your magic stuff.” Ryker went on.
“That’s part of it.” Owen nodded. Ryker let out a long deep sigh, his shoulders falling.
“I’ve been distracted too. I’m sorry.” He said in a quiet voice.
The next portion of the trip was filled with phone calls. Owen called the hospital to tell them we were on the way. He then handed me a small black address book. It was my job to contact all of the Emrys clan. He just didn’t have the energy for it. I started with his mother’s brother and then worked my way out to cousins, aunts, uncles, and other extended relations. Every single person I talked to, without fail, were flabbergasted when I told them who I was.
“A Le Fay, huh?” One of his cousins drawled. “Well ain’t that the most interesting truth to be told.” One of his aunts called me a liar and demanded to speak to Owen. Other than that, it was a conversation of condolences and promises that they would go support Owen and his father if a funeral came about.
By the time I was finished with that, we had entered New Jersey. Ryker was flying down the interstate at breakneck speeds. I handed Owen back his address book, and he thanked me, giving my hand a squeeze. I had never encountered a death of someone I deeply cared about. Sure, there had been deaths in my family. My fathers’ parents had passed away a year apart when I was a kid, but I wasn’t really close to them. I had no experience to rely on. Mostly, I just tried to support and not say anything stupid.
It was late by the time the New York Skyline emerged into view. It was beautiful. I pressed myself against the window to get a better view as the car roared towards it. Entering Manhattan, I had never seen so many cars in one space in my life. There was no space on the roads, just cars bumper-to-bumper all going about fifty miles an hour. It was actually amazing to see the synchronization of it. The Lincoln Tunnel was a little nerve-racking, as there was no shoulder, just wall-to-wall with cars. Besides, as part of our intelligence classes, they were training us to see threats. An attack on the tunnel would be disastrous. I tried not to think about that while we were in it.
On the other side, we took several turns and side streets until the gigantic hospital appeared in sight. Ryker parked, and we entered the main lobby of the hospital. It was well past midnight by now, but I had sent Garret a text telling him I couldn’t meet with him and the knights. He understood. I wondered what they wanted to meet with me for, but that was a mystery that had to be solved at another time.
The gentleman at the desk directed us to the right floor and wing. Once at the nurses’ station, they directed us into an ICU room. Owen’s mother lay in the bed, her raven black hair curled in ringlets was splayed across the white pillow. She had beautiful cocoa colored skin that was much darker than Owen’s. As we entered, she opened her eyes, revealing that Emrys blue.
“Mom.” Owen sighed, going to the side of the bed. Ryker went to the other side, and I stood by the door, trying to stay out of the way.
“Hey, you.” She said in a weak voice but gave a smile. Turning she looked at Ryker. “Hello, little knight.” Ryker smiled at her and squeezed her hand.
“You just missed your fathers.” She said and then tried to sit up. Owen and Ryker helped her get into position.
“Good,” Owen grumbled.
“It’s not their fault.” She said, holding his hand. She then looked at me. Her eyes unwavering as she studied every aspect of my physical form.
“Is there a young lady with you or am I just seeing things?” She asked in a serious tone.
“Uh, yeah, this is Ivy Le Fay,” Owen said, reaching his arm out to me. I stepped forward, giving a smile and a wave.
“Oh, so it is that time then.” Constance sighed, leaning back into her pillows and closing her eyes for a moment. “Owen, there are things we need to discuss.” She started.
“No, mom, just rest, that can wait.” Owen tried to deter.
“Owen.” Her eyes opened, the blue in them crisp with seriousness. “I don’t know how long I will have my mind.” Owen pressed his lips together and then pulled up a seat.
“Have you started on the cookies?” She then asked, closing her eyes.
“Yes.” Owen nodded. Constance smiled.
“Has he come to see you yet?” She then asked. I wondered who she meant.
“Yes, he said he didn’t have much time either,” Owen replied.
“None of us do, which is why the three of you are so important.” Her weak voice was nothing more than a whisper. Then she proceeded to tell us the most disturbing story I had ever heard.
Chapter Seven:
Owen:
I couldn’t stand the sight of my dying mother, but I also couldn’t bear to look away. Her skin was pale, and her body was skinny and boney. She was a long way away from the strong witch I had once known. She held my hand, mostly lucid for now, as she told me the story I always knew I never wanted to hear.
“A little over two years ago now.” She started, “I entered the mental facility.”
“Yeah, I know.” I snapped. She gave me that sharp look that told me to shut up.
“It was my idea, Owen.” She then said gently. I closed my eyes shaking my head. �
�Owen, you have harbored so much anger towards your father, and he has taken it for your benefit, but it was not his fault.” If it wasn’t his fault, then where did all this rage go?
“No, it was my father’s fault.” Ryker piped up.
“No, son, it’s not.” Constance turned her head to glare at him.
“That day, many moons ago,” She released a raspy series of coughs. “I’ll never forget that day,” She started again. “I knew that my mind was slipping, that I saw things that weren’t there. We knew this would happen as it had to my grandmother and a few others in the generational line. I was coming down the stairs when I saw an old man standing in the living room. He looked odd with his long white hair and beard and wearing a black tunic with a leather belt around his hips.”
That sounded like the old man who made the cookies and gave me Merlin’s journal.
“I asked him what he was doing in my house, and he turned to face me. I knew right away who he was.” She said faintly. “Owen, I want you to remember that this man is your greatest ally and your worst enemy.” I didn’t understand what that meant. How could someone be an ally and an enemy?
“When I met him that day, he was the enemy, but I thought he was the ally. He asked me if I saw visions and I told him I had. He said he was creating a magical vaccination to save the next generation, you. I told him I knew who he was and that he had no reason to help us.” I didn’t understand her ramblings, but I tried to pay attention. “He told me that he had every reason to help us. And then he asked if he could take a piece of my magic. He was truthful and warned me that this was the last bit of control I had over it, but it would ultimately lead to the cure. I gave it to him willingly.” I shook my head. I’ll never forget that day, and that is not what happened.
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