by H. L. Burke
Fade let out a long breath. “Marco, definitely. The kid is all heart and based on what he’s said about his life, I don’t think he would’ve survived this long without a spine. My only worry with him is that he’ll try too hard and get himself hurt. Laleh? Heart’s not her problem, but growing up in the lap of luxury doesn’t provide much of a chance for spine strengthening, you know? I mean, she has her little rebellious pity party thing going on, but I need to see her face a real trial before I’ll make bets on her ability to stick this out. Jake—” Of all the kids, Jake was the one he could see himself in the most, the anger, the resistance to authority, the lack of direction. “He’s maybe got a little too much spine. Kid’s gonna believe what he wants and do what he wants. I’d like to think you can bring him around, Luce, but you can’t be easy on him. He needs a firm hand and a good dose of cold reality. You can’t just love him into submission.”
Her eyes twinkled. “So you’re saying he needs a strong example, some tough love ... maybe a masculine role model?”
He balked. “I told you when we started this. I’m here for support, and I’ll back you up as long as you need me, but I don’t have the patience for any of that touchy feely crap. I’m not a role model, and I’m not a mentor. ”
“Sure you’re not.” She leaned into him.
“And don’t you forget it.” They kissed for a long moment. No matter what came of this venture, he’d have her back like she had his. At least that one thing was certain.
Chapter Nine
Laleh lay, stiff and still, in her bed, afraid to breathe in case someone heard her stirring and came to check on her. Mr. Ferret, however, had no such fears. He skittered up and down her body, tunneling through her blankets before clawing his way across her torso and perching on her chest. He poked his nose against hers and chirped.
“Shush!” She put her hand on his slinky back. “We need to be sure everyone else is asleep.”
The ferret chattered then dove back beneath the sheets. With the only light in the room being the readout from the digital clock on her nightstand, she couldn’t tell if the ferret was currently visible or invisible. He seemed to prefer to be invisible most of the time—which made him scampering around her bedroom all the more unnerving.
Finally, she sat up. The clock read 1:00. From the way Prism and Fade had talked about being tired at dinner, they were probably asleep, and even if the boys weren’t, they wouldn’t care what she was up to.
She sat cross legged on the edge of her bed and hovered her hand over the disruptor cuff on her ankle. Her powers tingled to life.
At first Laleh had assumed the disruptor cuff would totally short circuit her powers, rendering them useless. However, some experimentation had found that it only weakened them, and mostly just the ones used to create electric shocks. She could still sense the inner workings of electronics when she hovered her hand over them. She’d fiddled with the alarm clock before bed and found that while it was no longer effortless to change the time or reset the alarm with her powers, she could manage it with concentration.
Which means my powers are the natural foil to a disruptor cuff.
Her mother and grandfather had identical powers to hers. She wondered if they knew about this ability, but there was a good chance neither of them had ever worn a disruptor cuff, so there was a high probability that they didn’t.
Now she placed her hand on the disruptor and pushed past the irritating prickle of its energy. She could feel the various functions of the device’s inner workings. While it was tempting to fully disable it so she could have full range of her powers again, she didn’t need to do that right now, and if she did, Prism might notice and take other measures to restrain her abilities. Instead she focused specifically on the elements of the disruptor tied into the tracking system. She wasn’t sure if Prism was watching the tracking data closely enough to notice one of her charges sneaking around the house at night, but Laleh didn’t want to risk awkward questions.
Tiny claws gripped her back through her t-shirt as Mr. Ferret scrabbled his way to her shoulder.
“Ugh, do you have to do that?” Laleh winced.
The ferret nosed her ear.
She ignored him and adjusted the tracker ever so slightly on her anklet, creating a feedback loop that would repeat the same data over and over for the next half hour, making it appear as if she’d never left her room.
“Okay, little slinky dude.” She plucked the ferret from her shoulder and held him in her arms like a baby. “Let’s go get you something to eat.”
According to a quick Google search, ferrets were obligate carnivores. Not the ideal pet for a vegetarian, but Laleh wasn’t naive enough to think that animals could be forced to eat tofu. Potentially she’d like to have him eating insect protein—she didn’t feel as bad about dead bugs as she did about smarter, cuter animals like cows—but for now she’d have to stomach getting him whatever was available in the camp’s kitchen.
Clutching him close for fear he’d jump out of her arms and disappear somewhere in the cabin, she exited the room and crept into the hallway. Two night lights lit either end of the hall, providing enough illumination that she could now verify that her ferret was, in fact, still invisible.
Did he even know he was doing that? She should try holding him in front of a mirror and seeing if he put it together. Weird little critter might not care, though.
The wooden stairs creaked underfoot, and Laleh froze for a moment. When nothing happened, she picked up her pace before winding her way to the kitchen. The hardwood floors were cold against her bare feet, though the house itself was a tolerable temperature. Once in the kitchen, she peeled her ferret off her shirt and placed him on the island.
“Stay,” she ordered. The creature didn’t move ... well, at least she didn’t hear him moving. To an extent she’d have to take it on faith that he wasn’t.
She opened the fridge and poked around. “Bacon okay? I think you’re supposed to eat it raw, and all this other stuff is cooked.” She pulled out a Ziplock bag filled with strips of fatty pig flesh. In spite of her determination to do what she needed to do for the well being of her new pet, she still held it at arm’s length as she turned back to the island. Trying not to breathe through her nose, she pulled out a single strip, pinching it with the very tips of her index finger and thumb.
Mr. Ferret gave a chirp and flickered back into visibility, his eyes glowing in the light from the fridge.
“Ah, so for meat you’ll be visible. I see how it is.” She sniffed.
Laleh plopped the bacon in front of her ferret, returned the rest to the fridge, then went to the sink to wash the grease off her fingers. She left the fridge open so they could have a little light.
“You better be grateful for this—”
“Whoa! You have a pet weasel? Sweet!”
Laleh spun around, heart in her throat. Marco stood in the entrance to the kitchen, wide-eyed. For once Mr. Ferret didn’t bother to invis himself. Instead he continued to gnaw furiously at the bacon.
Stupid rodent. Now you want to be seen.
“He’s a ferret,” she blurted out, uncertain how else to address the situation.
“Cool. What’s his name?” Marco crept forward and gingerly stroked the animal’s elongated spine. The ferret’s concentration didn’t break from his meal.
Laleh paused. She’d been calling him Mr. Ferret, but now that she had someone to share it with, the name seemed dumb.
“I haven’t named him yet,” she said. “I just got him. No one knows I have him here, though. Don’t tell Prism, okay? I’m not sure she’d let me keep him if she found out.”
“Oh, no worries. I can keep a secret. Just ask my mom!” Marco’s smile faded, and he fell silent, eyes never leaving the ferret as he continued to stroke it.
Laleh studied the younger boy’s face. Based on what she’d overheard, he wasn’t here for the same reasons she and Jake were—and for the most part he seemed to be the only one of the three kids wh
o wanted to be here. There was something off about it all.
“What kind of secrets did you keep for your mom?” she murmured.
“Bunch of little things. Like the school was always poking into our lives, wanting to know how things were at home, about who was at the apartment with me or where she was working ... one time I found a cat on the way home from school, and we had to keep that a secret because we weren’t supposed to have it in our apartment. It got out and ran away though. I miss that cat sometimes.” He sighed then his eyes lit up again. “It’s nice here, though. I bet Prism and Fade wouldn’t mind us having a pet. They seem cool.”
Us? Laleh arched an eyebrow. “Maybe. I’d rather not risk it, though. So, you like it here?”
“Yeah, of course.” He tilted his head to one side. “Don’t you?”
“It’s not the worst, but I didn’t choose to be here.” Needing something to do with her hands, she walked to the cupboard and foraged for snacks. She found a box of cheese crackers and brought them back to the island. As she opened them, Mr. Ferret slinked over to sniff the box, perhaps hoping it contained more bacon or maybe something even better. After a couple of cursory whiffs, he shook out his whiskers and returned to the remnants of his bacon.
“I didn’t really either, but it was better than the juvie center. Plus I need to learn to control my powers if I ever want to get home. Mom was scared after the apartment fire. Like ... I tried to explain what happened, and that it was an accident, I swear, but she still ... it was like she’d never seen me before.” His mouth tightened. The next time he spoke, his buoyant tone had an obvious tint of effort to it. “Having superpowers is cool, though. I always thought sables were like celebrities, kind of. People you hear about but probably never meet, and now here I am living in a house with four of them. That’s really neat.” As he continued, his voice grew more sincere, almost like he was talking himself into being happy again.
Dang, there’s something either very wrong or very right about this kid. I just wish I knew which.
Laleh offered Marco a cracker which he took. “I guess. My whole family is superpowered, so to me it’s normal.”
“That’s cool.” He crunched on the cracker. “There’s a superhero team located pretty close to where we live. I’m thinking if I can learn to control my powers, and when I’m a little older, obviously, I can work for them and then Mom and I can live together. Then she won’t have to work any more or be gone so much. Maybe if DOSA pays enough, we can get a bigger place that allows pets.” He scratched the base of the ferret’s neck.
The ferret gulped down the last bit of bacon, threw his head back with a satisfied sound almost like a cluck, then flickered out of sight.
“What the heck?” Marco yanked his hand back. “Where is it?”
“Right here.” Laleh rolled her eyes before reaching out and scooping up the invisible creature. She held him out to Marco. “He does this all the time. It’s annoying.”
Marco regarded her as if she were nuts before poking the apparently empty space between her hands. He inhaled sharply as the invisible ferret wiggled and squeaked. “Wow. That’s super cool.”
“I guess that’s one way to look at it.” Laleh placed the ferret on her shoulders where he balanced like a parrot. “I’m kind of over it.”
A grin spread across Marco’s face. “That’s his name! Wherezit!”
Laleh chuckled. “That’s pretty clever, and I don’t have a better idea. All right, Wherezit it is. Come on. Let’s get back to bed before Prism catches us.” She put away the box of crackers and brushed all the crumbs onto the floor before she and Marco headed up the stairs. As they reached the hallway, Laleh paused.
Jake loomed in the doorway to the boys’ bedroom, his eyes dark in the dim lighting.
“Hey, Jake!” Marco waved to him. “We were just—”
“Went downstairs for a snack,” Laleh cut him off. She shot Marco a stern look. Confusion flooded Marco’s face, but he kept his mouth shut.
Jake grunted. “Careful. The DOSA types catch you roaming around past curfew and you’ll lose your good kid status.”
“You don’t know me,” Laleh said stiffly.
“I know a spoiled little rich girl when I see one.” Jake took a step towards her. “What did you do to get here? Draw on the walls of your family’s private jet? Kick the butler?”
Laleh opened her mouth to lash out, but as she did, Wherezit shifted on her shoulder and made a chittering sound.
Jake frowned. “What’s that?”
“Nothing.” Laleh resisted the urge to make a grab for the ferret. Wherezit poked his nose in her ear, making it even harder for her to concentrate.
“She’s actually really cool, Jake,” Marco piped up. “You should give her a chance.”
Jake narrowed his eyes. “Whatever. All I know is if Prism caught me roaming around the house at this time of night, I’d be back in a holding cell before I could blink. We’re not the same, kid.”
Marco’s face fell as Jake disappeared into the bedroom again.
“Don’t pay any attention to him,” Laleh whispered. “He’s a jerk.”
“I don’t know ... I think he could be kind of cool if he wasn’t so angry,” Marco said. “Maybe he’s just grumpy. He isn’t sleeping well. Part of the reason I was awake was because I could hear him tossing around in the bunk beneath me, and he was the same way at the hotel we stayed at last night. I know I get grumpy when I get tired.”
Worry squeezed Laleh’s heart, and she put her hand on Marco’s shoulder. “You don’t need to make excuses for him. You’re a good kid. Jake’s not. Be careful around him, okay? If he gets you into trouble ... just be careful.”
“Oh, I will, but I also want to give him a chance.” Marco smiled again. “Everyone deserves a chance, don’t you think?”
Laleh opened her mouth, shut it again, then just said, “Sure. I guess. Get some sleep, Marco. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“You too!” He disappeared after Jake.
Laleh let out a long breath. Whatever happened to her or Jake, Marco did not deserve to be in the same boat. She’d have to look after that kid. If Jake hurt him, she’d do a lot more than zap him.
Chapter Ten
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jake lurched up only to find his body so tightly wrapped in his own blankets that he couldn’t sit up properly.
“If you want breakfast, you need to get downstairs in the next fifteen minutes!” Fade’s voice came through the door. “Eggs are getting cold.”
Jake moaned and rolled over onto his side. His head ached, and his eyelids felt glued shut.
Eggs are for losers. More sleep.
“If you don’t eat breakfast, there’s not going to be anything else available until noon. Just sayin’.” Fade’s footsteps faded down the hallway.
Jake’s stomach gnawed at him. He forced his eyes open before sliding out of bed.
The clothes he’d been wearing since his capture lay in a pile on the floor. The sweatpants Prism had provided him were a little too loose, even with the drawstring pulled tight, and had the stiffness of never washed, never worn clothes. After glancing at the upper bunk to make sure Marco wasn’t lurking, he sloughed them off and pulled on his own jeans. This accomplished, he ambled out of the room and down the hall towards the bathroom.
As he passed Laleh’s room, his nose itched. What was that weird, musky smell? Weren’t girls supposed to be cleaner than boys?
His business finished in the bathroom, he emerged back into the hallway and took a long pause to inspected Laleh’s door. She’d only been there for a day. How much of a mess could she have made in that time? He inhaled again. It almost smelled like old corn chips. Super weird.
He took a step towards the stairs.
Scritch, scritch, scritch.
He paused. That was coming from the door.
“Laleh, what are you doing in there, you freak?” he called out, not loud enough that anyone downstairs could hear him.
He didn’t want Fade and Prism rushing to Princess Laleh’s rescue. No one answered. The scratching stopped.
Something weird is going on here. Is that spoiled princess hiding something? Sure would be nice to have something over her.
He placed his hand on the knob.
What if I get caught in her room, though? She might think I was trying to steal from her—or worse.
He started to pull his hand back only to hear it again.
Scritch, scritch, scritch.
That’s it. I have to know.
He opened the door.
Nothing. An empty room stretched before him. Her purple backpack sat beside the window. Both bunk beds were made so neatly he couldn’t tell where she’d slept. He frowned. Nothing in here looked dirty enough to smell.
“Weird,” he mumbled. He turned away.
“What are you doing?”
He spun around. Laleh stood at the top of the stairs.
Before he could speak, something brushed against his ankles and skittered out into the hallway, chattering as it went.
Laleh’s mouth fell open. “Oh, no! You idiot, Jake!”
Jake squinted at the area of the floor where the sound was coming from. There was nothing there.
Laleh dove onto her knees, patting the floor as if looking for the world’s largest contact lens.
“Don’t just stand there!” she said in a tone that threatened tears. “Help me!”
Discomfort filled Jake. Yeah, he didn’t like Laleh, but he hadn’t really seen a girl cry before. If she started doing that, he wouldn’t know what to do ... but at the same time ...
“Help you what?”
“Find him!” she wailed.
Still uncertain what was going on, Jake crouched down and mimicked her movements, skimming his hands back and forth across the hardwood floor and coming up with nothing more than dust.
She has to be punking me. Dang, though. What was—
His fingers brushed up against something warm and furry. Something clamped down on his hand. Something sharp and needlelike.
