Shattered Illusions (Terra Chronicles Book 2) Page 12

  “No, I wouldn’t,” Silver said gently. “I was asked if I would come out here. I didn’t have to, but here I am. Ketayl, I’ve been worried about you. Especially after you sent me those images.” He brushed a lock of hair out of my face and I backed away.

  “It’s not like they were going to come to life and try to kill me,” I responded. And truthfully they would not. Lockonis confiscated my student pin and then it, along with my Researcher and Brown’s pins went to the EAC for research to make sure they would be safe for me to handle.

  Silver ran a hand over his hair, letting out the breath of air he held. “No, and I’m not about to discuss my findings right now either. You need to step away from work and I’m here as a friend. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. You could have asked me for help. You could have turned down helping me study so you could get some rest. I wouldn’t have minded.”

  I turned away. “You had enough going on and I was waiting on test results anyway while I quizzed you.” I started walking. I was never going to get back to the hotel at this rate. I did not like being cold and rude, but I had no patience left.

  “Ketayl…” I heard the aggravated tone in his voice. Hurried footsteps caught up to me quickly. “If this is so bad, what kind of vacation would you rather take?”

  I knew Silver was trying to change the topic and frankly, it was a good idea. “I don’t know. Someplace quiet where I can read and be warm sounds good.”

  Silver laughed. “So I take it you wouldn’t enjoy a skiing trip.”

  “Too cold.” I wanted to shiver at the thought. Kitteren made me watch various sporting events with her from time to time and while it looked interesting, all of that snow made me cold.

  “You wouldn’t have to be outside the whole time. I’m sure there would be a spot by a fireplace where you could curl up and read.”

  I considered it. “Maybe.” Sitting next to a fireplace sounded nice too. If I could be left in peace.

  Silence fell between us and I felt calmer. It helped before to talk to him about inane things when I felt overworked.

  “Silver, I’m sorry about earlier,” I offered. “I didn’t mean to be so…”

  A finger appeared on my lips. “Don’t worry about it.”

  I moved his hand away. Apparently he forgot I did not like being touched. I resumed walking.

  We reached the end of the dirt road Don lived off of when a familiar black rental car pulled up and Father rolled the window down. “Sorry I’m so late. Come on you two, I’ll give you a ride back. The repairs can wait.”

  Sighing, I could not decide whether to be relieved or annoyed at Father’s appearance. I reached for the door when I thought to ask Silver, “Where are you staying?”

  “The same hotel. Lockonis arranged for me to get a room there.”

  Shaking my head, I gestured for Silver to take the front seat and climbed into the back. Before I got in, I lifted Silver’s phone off of him and tucked it under my shirt between me and my waistband. Just a test, I told myself, just to see if I still could. It took some magic, but mostly to make sure no one paid attention to me.

  “Ketayl?” Father asked.

  “I’m short, Father,” I explained, “I’m fine back here.”

  Once we were off again, I settled behind Father, where it would be hard for him to see. While Silver focused on their conversation, I pulled out his phone to see what I could find. With the amount of times I forgot my own passcode, I had created an arcane solution for bypassing the lock screen. Feeling my way through the cast, I half-listened to Father and Silver talk about what needed to be repaired.

  Silver received a similar message from Personnel with the same coding. I guess it made sense - he was basically here on assignment and did not have any vacation days built up yet. I really did not need a babysitter and cursed his task. I would have to lose him somehow and that was going to be through Kitteren. I just needed to get her to stay still long enough.

  ~*~

  When we got back to the hotel, Father said he planned to turn in early and left me to deal with Silver who followed us to our suite. I had long since given Silver his phone back without his knowledge.

  I stood in the doorway, blocking Silver from entering. “Thank you. Have a good evening.”

  “Ketayl, wait, would you like some company? It seemed like you wanted to talk earlier.”

  “No, I’m fine,” I smiled and lied. I wanted to talk, but with Kitteren. My questions for Silver might be answered without having to involve him. “I think I’m just going to go for a swim.”

  “I can go with you if you want.” Silver seemed nervous as he toyed with the end of his braid, tugging on it gently.

  Crap, I had not thought my statement through. “No, I’ll be fine. I just want to relax. It’s been a long day.”

  “Are you sure?” Silver had me again questioning his orders.

  I said calmly, “Yes, I prefer to swim alone.”

  “Can’t you just leave?” a sharp voice came from down the hall. Kitteren strode over to us, Mother not far behind. “She doesn’t want you bothering her.”

  “Kitteren…” I warned.

  My sister’s face showed a level of anger I could not remember witnessing before. “No, this jerk is bothering you and I won’t stand for it.”

  Mother signaled to me she wanted to talk to Silver and I excused us, pulling Kitteren into the room. “What is wrong with you?” I hissed at her as soon as the door closed, keeping my voice low. I did not let her respond - my anger rising to the surface quickly. “You drag me all the way out here and disappear. It feels like everyone is keeping secrets and treating me like I’m made of glass.”

  Kitteren’s own anger changed to worry, or at least the way I interpreted it. “Ketayl…”

  “No, I’ve had enough! You knew about Silver being sent here, didn’t you? You haven’t been coming back at night to rest. You won’t even talk to me these past couple of days. I should have stayed back at work at this rate,” I stood inches from her face. As soon as I recognized the fear in her green eyes I backed away, pacing until I calmed down. Control, I needed control and balance. “And you haven’t told me why you had business in Ocean’s Edge. You didn’t even warn me about the rest of Don’s family. None of this makes sense, Kitteren.”

  Kitteren got in front of me and pulled me into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Ket. I didn’t mean to. Gods, I’m an idiot. Look at what I’m doing to us. To you.”

  I did not fight her and rested my head on her shoulder. “Not you, Kitteren. I… I have a problem.” There, I admitted it.

  “What do you mean?”

  While I distracted her, I lifted her phone. It took a little more effort and magic given her form-fitting clothes. “Ever since I encountered the necromancer’s spell six months ago I feel like I can barely keep my power under control.”

  Changing the way I rested my head, I tried to quickly recall where all reflective surfaces were. I think Kitteren faced away from them. I used the hug to get into her phone and look for a message from Personnel. Sure enough, there it was with the same coding. Silver, I could write off. Kitteren made no sense.

  Getting her phone back into her pocket was my next challenge. Silver had been easy because his pants were looser, but she liked tight clothes.

  “And I bet being here is making it harder,” Kitteren said, pushing me away gently. I was about to lose my opening to return the phone. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  “I was trying to fix it on my own because you kept avoiding the topic,” I said and pulled my spell.

  “Hey, what are you…?” Kitteren switched back to normal common and reached back, patting her empty pocket.

  I waved the phone in front of her and grinned, “You took my tablet.”

  “Yeah, but I need that.” She reached out quickly, trying to grab it, but I moved around to the other side of the coffee table.

  I almost stopped at the worried expression on Kitteren’s face. I tried to keep up the p
layful game. I wished I had more time to check her other messages - especially the text.

  She jumped the coffee table and tackled me to the couch, grabbing her phone roughly from my hand. “You’re not getting your tablet back until we leave.” I cringed at her weight - she was heavier than I thought.

  I rolled my eyes.

  Kitteren got off me, sitting up and obviously spending time to think about what I said before I tried to lighten the mood and cover what I did. “Have you thought maybe you’re just getting stronger?”

  Getting myself back in order, I sat up on the other end of the couch. “No, but it feels like what control I do rebuild is made out of paper. In a storm, those walls don’t hold up.”

  My sister sat silent for a moment and I gave her time to contemplate what I told her. Just as I needed time to start analyzing this confrontation. “I don’t know, Ket. I wish I knew more about the arcane. Have you tried burning some of it off?”

  I sighed, Lockonis scheduled me for training regularly. “It hasn’t felt any different. It’s my emotional control that’s the problem.”

  Kitteren chewed on her lip. “I think you may just be getting stronger, seriously. Have you had any reactions beyond the weird eye-color changing thing?”

  “No.” And no headaches either. Those were the only two benefits.

  She sat quiet for a moment before suggesting, “Then maybe it means you can let up on the emotional control.”

  “That’s too dangerous,” I reminded her. Why did I always seem to have to remind people I was dangerous? Maybe I just needed to remind myself.

  “It wasn’t when we were little,” Kitteren pointed out.

  I shifted, kicking my shoes off and sticking my toes between the cushions. She had a point, but then was not now. Then I had no training and used my abilities on an instinctual level. Now I knew how to wield that power with far more precision. “Yeah, but if your theory of I’m just getting stronger is right…”

  Kitteren sighed. “Maybe not tonight, but we’ll figure this out. I think I need a run after this to think. Do you mind?”

  I shook my head. She knew I would not join her if asked. “I’m going to go to the market. If I can’t have my tablet back, at least I can pick up a book to read. Maybe go see what some of the festivities are. Don’t really feel like a swim anymore.”

  “You better not get a book for school,” Kitteren warned, stretching for her run. Why was she not changing up? I would have to check her belongings later to see if maybe she had not brought anything for running.

  I forced a smile and said, “I’ll try to stay in fiction.”

  “Hey, what do you say we go into town and check out what’s going on tomorrow? I heard there are some interesting events lined up.”

  We were still a few days off of the actual Summer Solstice, but it was going to be the start of the weekend. I nodded. I only hoped I could get more answers out of her then.

  ~*~

  I watched as Kitteren began her run. My shoes were not made for running so I did not try to follow her. It would be pointless - I would not be able to keep up. Not under my own physical power anyway.

  I had no idea what to try next to find out more information. Kitteren said nothing when I brought up her behavior, instead taking blame for making me upset. I knew she used this run as a reason to get away from actually answering me.

  And foolishly I let her go. Maybe I was hoping she would come to her senses and tell me what was going on. I kept trying to tell myself tomorrow I would get my answers, but something nagged at me that I would once again find myself disappointed. I needed to stop letting her go like this. I needed to be more forceful with her. I just could not bring myself to possibly cause a change in our relationship.

  I leaned against the wall outside the hotel. This did me little good. I wished I knew how to track her phone. Perhaps I should spend more time with the cyber team or come up with an arcane solution.

  “This is an odd place to think,” Silver commented, coming up alongside me.

  I almost forgot he was here. “Sorry about Kitteren’s behavior earlier.” Frankly it had been more embarrassing for me than Silver catching me singing for Don.

  Silver waved it off. “I doubt she’s going to come to tolerate me anytime soon. Not without some world-shattering event anyway.”

  “Well, I should leave you to your evening,” I said, pushing myself off the wall and headed toward the market. I made a mental note to avoid the open market area.

  “Hey, wait, why don’t I come with you?” Silver caught up with me quickly. “I don’t know this city and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of it - I just got in this morning.”

  Sighing, I signaled him to follow. “Just… remember I don’t like being touched.”

  “You let Don, Kitteren, and Dayko touch you,” Silver observed.

  I mentally cursed myself. “I’m used to them.” A weak excuse, but it worked.

  Silver took my hand and hooked it on his arm. “Then you can get used to me too.” There was a broad smile on his face and I jerked my hand away, glaring at him. “Okay, so it may take half a century, but there’s hope still.”

  I rolled my eyes and kept walking. My hair billowed behind me like a cloak when the breeze picked up. I took a moment to breathe in the salty air. I had missed that.

  Chapter 10

  While I browsed the books, Silver looked thoroughly bored. Nothing caught my attention in terms of something I would like to read, but I figured if I kept this up, maybe he would leave. There was also the problem of I felt like someone had been following me. It went away while in the bookstore, but something told me it would continue once I left.

  A half hour later and Silver still trailed behind me. I even wandered into the arcane section, hoping it would only increase his desire to leave.

  I flipped through a book, a newer introduction to the arcane, when Silver finally spoke, “Aren’t you past that now?”

  “If you mean I spend most of my time in advanced arcane theory, then yes, but sometimes I like to browse the basic ones to see if someone has come up with a different idea. There’s no one solid way to manipulate the arcane despite what the Arcane College may say.” I looked up and pointed to a section not far away. “There are some divine books over there if you’re bored.”

  Silver plucked the book from my hands and returned it to the shelf. “Maybe later. Let’s go get something to eat, I’m getting hungry and the shops are going to start closing soon.”

  Mystic Port was in Neutral Territory - most places were staying open later to grab the Summer Solstice festival crowd, but they would be shutting down soon. And I could use a snack.

  Silver grabbed my hand and practically dragged me out the door. I could not get my hand free and he did not stop until we were in the open market stalls. I looked around and shuddered. I spent way too much time here and kept seeing the past. These were the easier places to steal from and comprised of most of the market area back then.

  “Are you okay?”

  I tried to pull away and head back the way we came, but he had too good of a grasp on my hand. “Can we go back to one of the other shops? I don’t want to be here.” I wanted to get away from here.

  “What’s wrong with this place? There’s plenty of choices without having to go far,” Silver pointed out, completely oblivious. As he should be - he did not need to know of my thieving past.

  “Fine,” I ground out. It had been over half a century - surely no one would remember. Most of the vendors changed from what I remembered and I received no grief when I came on my own the first morning.

  I browsed the stalls, trying to figure out what I wanted to eat and tried to ignore the wrongness of being here. I let my nose find the stall the sweet smells were coming from. They made different items from the same dough - some plain, some with salt, some with slices of meat, and others still with cinnamon and sugar.

  Turning to look for Silver, I found him standing right over my shoulder. “This doesn�
�t seem like a meal,” he commented.

  I returned my attention to the menu board, debating on what I wanted. “I just want a snack.”

  Silver seemed to consider it. “Okay, what do you want?”

  I made a face at him. “I can buy my own food, thank you. I should be getting yours as well for having you come out here. Besides, do you have local currency?”

  “We get paid in Units,” Silver pointed out. “We’re in Neutral Territory - they only take Units.”

  I sighed - I had forgotten that fact. I rarely went into Great Tree and bought anything. And even then, if I used my card, it automatically converted. With the TIO being an interterritorial organization, they did not mess with territory-specific currency.

  “You can go somewhere else if you want. I’m going to get something here.” I wish I could shake him, but he seemed adamant about staying with me. I continued to wonder about his orders. Especially with the lengthy conversation Mother seemed to have had with him. Should I ask? My thoughts sounded crazy even to myself. I was jumping at ghosts and shadows - none of it was real. Or at least I hoped not.

  Silver looked at the board, debating. “Actually, this sounds good. I wasn’t very hungry - we did have a large dinner earlier.”

  Alice went all out again on dinner and I wondered for a moment if they normally ate like that or only something she did for guests.

  I ordered what I wanted - the small bite-sized pieces coated in cinnamon and sugar. I could find a drink elsewhere if I got thirsty. I waved Silver over to order while I got out money to pay for both of us. These places did not often take electronic forms of payment, though they were starting to more. At least that was how it was in Elven Territory.

  Silver put his hand over mine as I dug through my wallet. He leaned down and whispered to me, “Put that away. I’ve caused you enough headaches.”

  The irony was I had not had a headache since I got hurt. “I will pay you back.” Who I really wanted to try and pay back were the merchants, but I could not return to the past.