Illusionary

by LeAnn Mason

  The shower did as I hoped it would and relaxed all the muscles in my body. I probably should have taken some time to look over what Doctor Parmore wanted of me the next day, but I was wrung out. I wouldn't retain anything, as it seemed I never did. I crawled under the covers and prayed I'd find sleep tonight.

  Sleep found me easier than expected. I had minimal dreams about broken and bleeding people sprawled out before me, and I awoke refreshed the next morning. I was a little worried that the incident hadn’t affected me more. What did that say about me?

  The sun shone through my sheer silver curtains into my room, signaling the need to vacate my bed. A bed which I found even more comfort in than normal. I groaned as I threw off the covers and put forth massive amounts of effort to heave myself up and out. Apparently feeling refreshed still didn't make mornings any easier. I trudged slowly to my dresser, and once again, rummaged through the contents until I found something I figured would be good for the day. I paused mid-search as I remembered that today I would be meeting the rest of the mixed-bag making up the commander’s new enforcer team.

  Who would be on it? Would I know the other Sages? Would we all be able to handle not only being in the same vicinity as each other, but also having to actually work together? This could all go massively awry, and quickly. Jade would hopefully be able to help keep everyone on an even keel if needed. Hopefully being the key word.

  After glancing at the clock by the bed and reading the big green numbers, I realized I had about fifteen minutes to finish getting ready if I wanted to actually make my destination on time. Seeing as it would probably be best not to draw too much attention to myself on the last day, I hurried through my morning routine of making myself presentable, shouldering my bag and starting my music. I grabbed a muffin and water as I rushed out the door and headed toward the campus. Putting the water into my bag and the muffin in my mouth, I pushed the already flowing music to my ears.

  Today's walk seemed slower than normal, I once again noticed cars, bikes, and people as we passed each other, but with my tunes surrounding me, I didn't hear much else. I just bopped along, singing, off key, I'm sure, as I made my way closer to the final moments at the schoolhouse, I hoped.

  The sun seemed brighter in the sky, its warmth infiltrating my entire being. Today was going to be a good day. That was my thought until I entered the campus and proceeded to be bumped and jostled, some unknowingly and some not, if the sneers were anything to go on, and made my way to the lecture hall.

  Tori and her groupies were arriving just as I came to the door and pushed past me, throwing my shoulder into the frame as they knocked me to the side. I glared daggers at her retreating form as she threw a hateful smirk over her shoulder. She flicked her long strawberry blonde hair off her shoulder as she faced the room once again and looked for a place to park that ass of hers.

  I made my way to my usual seat within the classroom behind the lectern. I shuffled into position and turned to face the front of the room, taking my bag from my shoulder and preparing to sit. I lost my balance and flailed, my arms pin-wheeling as I began the inevitable descent to the floor, butt first.

  The chair I had been maneuvering into, was no longer directly behind me…but directly above.

  Freaking Tori. I no longer held the slightest remorse for picking her brain. Maybe I'd find something of note while I was in there. Bring it on.

  Two hours and one massive headache later, I booked it out the auditorium doors and down the halls, most of which were rather quiet today. As predicted, Doctor Parmore had found a replacement for me rather easily so she made a point to let me go early, almost like a firing, and to state that she was quite happy her new aid wouldn’t be such a distraction to her students. I pushed my headphones in and opened the science department doors out into the sunlight once again.

  Jade was waiting at the base of the stairs. She smiled and waited for me to reach her side. Her thoughts were buzzing with different scenarios of what we could walk into when we met with Commander James and the other team members.

  "You’re nervous," she chimed, all false cheer.

  "So are you," I returned with a cracked smile, which Jade reciprocated. The tension began to wane with just that one action. A smile from my best friend. With her by my side, I could do this. I could do anything. "Let's grab lunch on our way over. We'll be a bit less volatile that way." Jade burst out laughing at that. "We? No, you're the one who lets her inner Primal out to play when hunger strikes."

  She took a deep breath and wiped at the moisture escaping her eyes along with her mirth. I gave her a playful shove, not too hard or my strength would hurt my little friend. Man, we needed each other. We would wither and become husks without the lightness and understanding each brought to the other.

  We ran across a good number of students emerging from their test rooms, or who were soon to be starting. All groups came to the one campus for higher schooling, though the types of classes were often more divided, and there was virtually no mingling between them. The division was extremely noticeable here and I scanned the groups I saw as we walked.

  A younger group of Sages were all laughing as they used telekinetic gifts to upset and confuse Primals in the area. I watched as they moved a Primal girl's hat, which had been lying over her face as she dozed, to repeatedly smack her in the face until she awoke, then moved back to its original position as the girl looked around in confusion. Each time, she became more agitated.

  As we passed her, she released an honest hiss of aggression and swung her eyes our direction. Whatever color they were regularly had been entirely engulfed in black. She was about to flip her switch, and it looked like Jade and I were the targets. Perfect.

  My telepathy was not usually much help in these situations, but I removed one earbud so I could readily hear those around me. Jade and I stopped, preparing for the girl's onslaught. She was livid and having trouble thinking past her anger. Luckily, she narrated what she wanted to do, so I had a heads up. "We are not the ones messing with you." I put my arms up, hands extended with palms facing the girl as I attempted to gentle her. "It would not be in your best interest for you to injure us."

  "Why do you mess with me?" Her voice was almost unintelligible, gravelly as it was with anger. "I do nothing to you." She was nearly vibrating. We needed to end this confrontation, and I wasn't sure talking would do it.

  "Jade," I spoke softly, hoping to avoid angering the girl further, "you may have to use your persuasion on her." My eyes never left the Primal, and I made sure to not lose track of her thoughts. "We don't want any trouble." The last I projected toward the girl, hoping her mood would ease the longer we held off a confrontation.

  I distantly heard the Sage troublemakers snickering at our predicament. At the situation which was created by their hand. I really am not a fan of the Sage superiority complex. I breathed a deep sigh as I realized the futility of this conversation, the girl angling for an attack. She began circling us like prey.

  I was not prey, and I wouldn't let Jade be either. I made sure we turned with her, having grabbed Jade and kept her angled behind me as we assessed the situation. The Primal's thoughts gave her away, and I knew when she’d make her move, though I didn't quite anticipate her speed.

  I stepped us back and away from her grabbing hands just in time. As she lunged past us, I jabbed out with my right hand fisted toward where I knew her kidney was, leaving Jade unattached behind me.

  I knew even if the force wasn't enough to do any damage, it was a spot to cause more pain than others. As my fist impacted, the girl stumbled to the ground, landing on hands and knees, coughing from the pain. Jade took that moment to lunge past me and put a hand on the girl's nearest shoulder, thus enacting her gift.

  "Easy," she cooed. "You're fine. Breathe." Jade bent over and patted her back as she said this. "Get ready for class, relax and be calm. All is well." Then she stepped back, letting her arm fall to her side.

  She wrapped her left hand around my wrist and began
moving me forward, the conflict clearly over as the Primal girl rose from the ground and headed back to where her things still lay on the grass under the tree, grabbed her hat and backpack and began walking toward the quad. Presumably to class.

  Jade hadn’t made her do those things, but she calmed her enough that rationality won out and the Primal berated herself for losing control. She looked to be about sixteen, which meant her Primal instincts and abilities were new to her, at least to the full degree of maturation.

  Jade was practically dragging me as I watched the girl move away. "Wow," I breathed. "Jade, you are one scary capable empath." I pulled my arm out of her grip and began walking in earnest, now easily able to keep up. Jade didn't look my way but smirked and flipped her wavy golden hair over her shoulder.

  "You better remember that."

  I definitely would.

  "So," she continued blithely, "I was thinking lunch at Constantine's." I was still watching her, and she cut her eyes to me. "Well?"

  "Oh. Yeah, sounds good," I said distractedly. I was still in awe of her. She was so tiny, and wielded so much control, it was kind of scary—but cool.

  "Perfect. I could really use some tasty fries, and a shake, yum!" Jade was lost in her thoughts of grub for the moment, and I ran with it.

  Constantine's fries and shakes were to die for, especially together. Mmmm.

  CHAPTER 17

  AFTER STUFFING OUR FACES with piping hot, crispy crinkle-cut fried goodness, not to mention the cool, sweet, creamy shake deliciousness…but never mind my gluttonous ways. The point is, it was oh so yummy, but maybe not the best decision if we were to begin training today.

  We walked on in silence. Well, verbal silence. I had my headphones in again hoping to give Jade some semblance of privacy in these last few moments before we were officially training to be enforcers, which was still a surreal thought. Sages as enforcers, never thought I'd see the day Primals agreed to it.

  A jaunty country tune pervaded my ears and sang about loving a man just a bit too much as we came to the gardens, the gym just beyond. The end of the school year, there was much more activity within the confines of the gardens. Groups of Sage and Primal flocked to the peaceful area to be social, though, of course, not together. There were definite lines in the sand and it truly confused me. Shouldn't we band together in our exile? Maybe not necessarily against anyone, just together. Sing Kumbaya or something.

  Luckily we were able to continue past without a repeat incident. I was once again narrowing my focus to the sounds of drums, guitars and singing, when I must have caught an uneven edge in the sidewalk and began my headlong descent to the ground.

  Jade's startled vision permeated my mind as I watched the pavement come up to greet me with startling speed. My eyes were comically large, full of the knowledge that this fall would not be prevented, my hands out in front; ready and braced for impact. Maybe I was seeing things, but my freckles seemed to be more prominent than usual, as if they too were coming out to meet the ground. The next moment, those hands roughly impacted the concrete surface as did my left knee.

  Somehow I had fallen with a left tilt, and only the extremities on that side were now paying the price for my negligence with a slight sting.

  "Only you would actually fall from stumbling on the sidewalk," Jade chuckled. "Is Commander James aware of this Sage gene you seem to possess?"

  "It's not a Sage gene," I countered as I dusted off my hands. "I know plenty of Sage who aren't clumsy." I nodded once as if this rebuttal won the debate.

  "Sweetie, it's a physical ailment, albeit a gray area, that can keep you from doing physical things."

  I thought for a moment as we continued toward the command post and realized that maybe Jade was right. Was clumsiness a physical ailment? Maybe it was like an inner ear thing, I'd heard of that. I'm sure Dad knows. Why did I not know?

  I shelved that question for a later time as we reached the gym doors. The place didn't seem so ominous anymore, maybe repeated exposure was the key to overcoming fear. I felt like I had heard that somewhere. Shrugging it off, I lugged the heavy steel door open and waited for Jade to enter, following behind her, allowing the door to close with a bang.

  Once again, we were the focal point of all eyes in the cavernous space, but only for a moment. Most returned to their original tasks, probably to ensure they were not injured due to their inattention. Good call. This was definitely the type of place such things occurred. Note to self: do not lose focus around here. Mental note filed away, Jade and I weaved through the gym to the door at the rear. This door was steel as well so I once again heaved it open, sparing Jade the effort it would take her.

  I was distracted watching Jade while immersed in my dance-worthy tunes, so it wasn't until I looked up mid-stride of entering the actual command center that I was startled. I hesitantly continued my trek into the room and took out one earbud in order to listen to the room which was currently filled to bursting with six people other than Jade and me. I moved my eyes to the clock flashing red digital numbers which read: 15:55. Military time, but of course. Guess I need to brush up on that system.

  I returned my attention to the room, and the seven sets of eyes, and minds, now sharply focused on me and my silence. I blushed and gave a small wave to accompany my rueful smile and raised eyebrow. "Greetings, are we late?" I shot another pointed glance to the clock and its glaring numbers, "It's not yet four…right? I mean, I am reading that correctly, aren't I?"

  That little remark earned me a number of snickers and one derisive snort. I tuned to focus my attention on the owner, who happened to be the man who was in the ring and directed me to Commander James on my first visit to this Primal haven. The visit in which my father had accompanied me.

  The man was much less jovial this go around. He looked at me with nothing short of disdain, as he did Jade, and the other Sage I noticed in the room. This meeting was off to a smashing start.

  By the look of things, getting Primals and Sages to work alongside one another would be…difficult. I was getting an overload of internal insults from both sides. I scrunched my eyes closed and rubbed at my temple in an attempt to dispel the headache I could already feel barreling to the forefront.

  Can't even handle being in the room now, snort, No way she'll make it. I'll make sure she doesn't, that none of them do.

  That got my hackles up fast. Slowly, I lowered my hand and opened my eyes. My head still angled toward the floor, I looked up from lowered lashes and glared at the man, though I'm not sure it had the same effect Jade's had on me.

  A mental snort was my answer. His body still bunched in restraint, dark tattoos peeking from beneath his too-tight tee, and eyes doing their best to maim us with non-existent death lasers.

  Nope, he was not impressed. I cocked my hip and brought my hand to rest on it, taking on an unaffected air—or so I hoped—and looked about the room. The room, which before had seemed quite open, was now filled to the max with people, conference table, and seating as well as computer bank and case notes. The tangled thoughts continued. Arrogance on both sides would make sure this meeting was full of testosterone. What a mess.

  Jade and I were the only females present. Other than those I knew, there was also our derisive Primal, the arrogant Sage, and a quiet male who sat at the computer bank, away from everyone. He was concerned, but like me, seemed to be more about cohesiveness than any direct anger. He just wanted to "play with the machines" and would leave the pissing contests to the rest of us. Interesting.

  The unknown Sage male was about my height and build with wire rimmed glasses that he pushed up his nose so they settled at the apex, amplifying his mud colored eyes. He was dressed in designer jeans and a light blue button-up shirt. The boat shoes and perfectly styled blonde hair were the kickers. This guy was either from a family who did well or he wanted us to think he did. Time would tell. He would think about it at some point, hopefully I would be blissfully unaware when he did.

  Normally Sage would have a fa
cade in place for uncomfortable situations, be outwardly unaffected and either seething or trembling internally. This Sage however, wasn't. He was wholly unaffected by the large Primal's aggressive position. It fascinated me.

  "Enough, Devlin!" Commander James finally ordered, apparently at his limit of posturing for the moment, his own temper had been building since this Primal, with a chip on his shoulder, had begun his intimidation attempts. "We're all going to work together, so you all—” he paused and met eyes with everyone in the room in turn, effectively showing us all just who was alpha.

  No one wanted a piece of the commander. We all knew better. I wasn't sure as to his enhancement, but I had no doubt there was one—and that Commander James wielded it to perfection. The silence that descended was the type to have been accompanied by the sound of crickets.

  Satisfied that he had everyone's attention, Commander James pulled out the plastic chair which he had nearly crushed with his grasp and weight as he restrained himself from becoming physical. Maybe he thought it wouldn't go over well to have the head honcho knocking heads within five minutes of team assembly. The thought brought a smile to my face, and that had Jade elbowing me.

  She cut me a sideways glance as she tried, and failed, to hide her own smirk. Being able to feel the emotions, or hear the thoughts, of those around us was every so often…comical. Not often.

  Not now, woman. Don't make me laugh now. We need to show these oafs, all of them, that we belong here just as much as they do. That we are an asset, not a burden. Jade's mental speech was a bit long, but she was right. I needed to focus. I needed to show them I could do this. I needed to succeed. So I wiped clear the smile, and pulled out a chair. The screeching of metal legs pierced my eardrums as it dragged across the linoleum flooring toward my feet.

  I had just sat, Jade to my right, when the chair on my other side scraped away from the table. Startled, I looked up into Holden's gorgeous face. His eyes bore into mine briefly before he sat and turned his icy glare to the others at the table. He was still sore with me but wouldn't let anyone take shots at me either. His death glare stayed on Devlin once it landed, slicing and brutal, it promised pain to the larger male.