“Do you have any memories at all of this place?” he asked.
I wanted to smile, to cry, I didn’t know which was worse.
“Lara. I remember holding my daughter. Feeling her kick inside my belly. And her eyes, I remember how bright they are. But it’s odd, I can’t remember their color.”
I wanted to see their color confirmed. I still didn’t trust what the Paleo had written.
“Blue-green,” Cleo said softly. “Very beautiful.”
“That’s true!” I exclaimed, her eyes suddenly coming back to me clearly. “I remember.”
“Do you recall the night she was taken?” Kendor asked.
“No. Is it important?”
“Your point of view on that night might help us. We know your father has explained how a spell of extraordinary potency was used against us. We lost all sense of time and place.”
“None of us had experienced anything like it before,” Hatsu added.
“Were you two guarding Lara?” I asked.
Kendor gestured to Mirk and Hatsu. “You hardly saw us, but the three of us never left her side from the moment she was born.”
“So you anticipated an attack?” I asked.
Kendor nodded. “We believed the Lapras would come for your child. And for the other one, Huck. But we didn’t imagine for a moment they would succeed.”
I turned to Cleo. It intimidated me to do so, her stare was so intense I could only withstand small doses of it. But I wanted her to answer my next question.
“That’s another point that puzzles me,” I said. “Why did Kari have Jimmy’s baby in the real world? While I had his child in this world?”
“It wasn’t part of our plan,” Cleo said.
“Your plan? Do you mean the way you manipulated who I was with? And my ancestors?”
“I wouldn’t use the word ‘manipulate,’ ” Cleo said.
“Please, just explain it so I can understand,” I said.
“For centuries we followed your bloodline. We knew it possessed many witch genes. We watched over other bloodlines as well, especially ones that had different genes from the ones your line carried.” Cleo paused. “Your father explained this. For a long time we hoped to bring into this world a child who had all the witch genes. But it wasn’t possible until your mother married your father and you mated with James.”
“It sounds like you bred us like cattle,” I said, failing to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
Cleo shook her head. “If that were the case, we could have produced a child with ten genes centuries ago.”
“Why didn’t you?” I asked.
“We needed the child to be born of free will,” Kendor said.
“We needed it to be born of love,” Cleo added.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
Cleo spoke. “None of us fully understands the ingredients that gave rise to a child such as Lara. But we know in the past, when we tried to force the mating of individuals with many witch genes, it always led to disastrous results.”
I was afraid to ask. “What happened?”
Kendor spoke bluntly. “The infants either miscarried or else they were born . . . bad.”
“Bad?”
“Evil,” Kendor said.
Cleo spoke. “A powerful witch, if not conceived and raised in love, cannot know love. All it can know is power. Balance is impossible for such a soul.”
“They had to be destroyed,” Kendor said.
“While they were still kids?” I gasped.
“Younger,” Kendor said.
It took time for me to absorb the immensity of what they were saying. They were implying that the emotional side of my union with Jimmy was as important as our complementary genes. Indeed it was obvious that Cleo saw our “mating” as a spiritual event. Here I considered myself an agnostic, and the ancient one was acting like I had given birth to a saint.
“But you placed me near Jimmy,” I said. “That was all prearranged, wasn’t it?”
“I encouraged your mother to buy that house in Apple Valley once I knew James was living there,” my father admitted.
I thought how barren Apple Valley was.
And how my father had not seen my mother in years.
Had I really been conceived in love?
“Couldn’t you have arranged a nicer place for Jimmy’s family to settle?” I asked, trying to make a joke of the matter to hide my thoughts from Council members. However, I sensed that not even Cleo could read my mind, not now.
“The two of you met when you were supposed to,” Cleo said.
“My original question still stands. You act like Jimmy and I are soul mates. If that’s the case, why wasn’t I the mother of his child in both worlds? There should just be . . . Lara.”
“Jimmy was with Kari before he had a chance to get to know you,” Kendor said. “We can’t control fate.”
“We try to interfere as little as possible,” Cleo added.
I shook my head. “But even when Jimmy and I were dating, he still left me to go back to Kari. I hear everything you say but it still feels wrong to me.”
“It’s painful to be rejected,” Hatsu said gently.
I wanted to laugh but I think it came out as a grimace.
“Rejected? I hardly got a chance to know him.”
Cleo frowned. “You may be right about it feeling wrong. There’s a mystery here we have yet to solve. Nevertheless, the fact remains we can’t go back in time and change the sequence of events. Huck is alive in what you call the real world. Lara is alive in witch world. If we can, we’ll rescue both children.”
“But Lara is our priority,” Kendor said.
I held up a hand. “Wait a second. James—I mean Jimmy—doesn’t know Lara. He knows Huck. I promised him that even though his son doesn’t have a perfect string of ten genes, we’d rescue the boy.”
“But a moment ago you said Huck shouldn’t exist, that there should just be your daughter,” Kendor said.
I went to speak, realized he had me, fell silent. Kendor merely stared at me, they all did, waiting. I felt I had to say something.
“I’m just trying to spare Jimmy a lot of grief,” I said.
“Is that your only reason for wanting to rescue Huck?” Kendor asked, his tone casual, yet the meaning behind his words as sharp as the sword he had used to behead the two Lapras outside my father’s condo.
I lowered my head. “What other reason could I have?”
Cleo spoke in a kind voice. “It’s clear to us that you worry about your boyfriend’s love for you. You know he stayed with you in witch world. But in the real world, he left you, and so your heart feels torn. You fear James loves you more than Jimmy. But you feel a desperate need to gain Jimmy’s love by saving his son.”
I wanted to argue but couldn’t. Everything she said was true. James must care for me more than Jimmy, I thought. James never left me. He never said good-bye without one word of explanation.
My unshed tears were close to boiling. It took all my strength not to weep in front of the Council. For all the good it did; they knew I was an emotional wreck. Cleo leaned over and patted my arm.
“It’s true he stayed with you in this world,” she whispered in my ear, so soft I knew the others couldn’t hear. It was almost as if she spoke to my heart. “But have no doubt, his love for you flows through both worlds.”
“How do you know?” I said.
“Such a love is so real, so deep, it’s easy to see. And because it streams between both worlds, it can’t be measured, nor is there a scale that says it’s greater in witch world than in the real world.”
“Are you just trying to cheer me up?” I asked.
“You know what I say is true,” Cleo said.
“How do you know?”
“Because nothing matters to you as much as love.”
I smiled at her words and Cleo hugged me, and it was the greatest hug any human being had ever given me. Thousands of years of affection had polished her
heart into a diamond. I felt as if the wound in my own heart finally began to knit together, to heal.
But not completely, not yet.
Alas, we had to get back to business. All my worry about whether Jimmy truly loved me was silly when the children were beyond our reach. I asked a question I had put to Russell and my father, but which I felt the Council might be able to answer better.
“Why did the Lapras steal my daughter?” I asked.
Kendor spoke. “Lara’s something new. We’ve never seen anyone like her before. Her potential is vast. For all we know, it could be infinite.”
He was quoting the Paleo-Indians.
Once again, his perception of Lara made me nervous. I scarcely knew my daughter, but I wanted her to have as normal an upbringing as possible. The way Kendor was talking, it sounded like the whole Council was ready to anoint her. I told them how I felt, and Hatsu responded in his thick Chinese accent.
“We’re not saying she’s the next Krishna or Buddha or Christ,” he said. “Please don’t get the idea we wish to deify her or build a religion around her. History has seen enough of that madness.”
Then Cleo spoke and her words shook the room.
“But who is to say those great souls did not have the same genetic makeup as Lara?” she asked. “It’s unfortunate none of us on the Council ever met those men, but it’s possible your daughter could be the bright light we’ve been hoping for.”
“You act like you want to mold her into some kind of savior,” I said, annoyed.
“What do we need saving from?” Cleo asked. “Satan? The world doesn’t need Lucifer when it has the Lapras. On the other hand, you don’t need a lecture on how desperately the earth needs help. You have only to pick up a newspaper. And there’s nothing shameful in admitting we have come to an impasse. Yes, even we, the Council, are not sure how to save the real world or witch world. But it’s our hope that Lara can help us.”
“Excuse me, but aren’t we supposed to help ourselves?” I asked.
“True,” Cleo said. “Whenever a soul looks outside itself for help, it reduces its strength. But we believe Lara has been born to help us see deeper into our own being.”
“How?” I asked.
Cleo shrugged. “I have no idea.”
I chewed on that a moment. “Well, one thing’s for sure—she can only help witch world.”
“Why not both worlds?” Kendor asked.
“Because she doesn’t exist in both worlds,” I protested.
Hatsu smiled. “We doubt that will stop her.”
I shook my head. “You all act so confident the Lapras won’t hurt her. I’m afraid I don’t share that belief.”
“The Lapras are nothing if not pragmatic,” Kendor said. “They see Lara as a valuable tool. Why would they harm her before they’ve had a chance to develop her?”
“How long will they wait?” I thought of the two men my father said they had murdered outside the meat locker and added, “My dad told me they’re prone to violence.”
Kendor nodded. “They have no qualms about killing.”
“They’re animals,” Hatsu said. “They have no morality.”
“Great. And they have my daughter.” I paused. “Why didn’t you destroy them long ago, before they became so powerful?”
Kendor nodded. “That’s the most reasonable question I’ve heard all night.” With that remark he threw Cleo a harsh glance, before adding, “Too many on the Council opposed the idea.”
Cleo didn’t rise to the bait. Hatsu smiled in my direction. “You see we’re not all of one mind,” he said. “It’s our hope you see that as a strength. Everybody’s opinion is important. Yours is especially welcome here.”
I could feel our time together slipping away. “All right, tell me about your plan,” I said.
“Our plan?” Hatsu asked innocently.
“To get her back,” I said. “Russell and my father said she’s here in Las Vegas.”
“That’s correct,” Kendor said.
“Do you know where she is?” I asked.
“Just when we figure out her location, they move her,” Hatsu said.
I gestured to Russell. “You’re high up in their organization. How come they don’t trust you enough to tell you where she is?”
Russell hesitated. “They have their own inner group. They call it the Order. It’s made up of a dozen members. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. But the fact that they’re allowing me to bring you to them tonight indicates they’re about to accept me into the Order.”
“Then you’ll know where Lara’s being held?” I asked.
“I should,” Russell said.
“Do you have other spies in their group?” I asked the room. “Besides Russell?”
There was a lengthy pause before anyone spoke.
“Certain things must be kept private,” Kendor said.
“In case I’m taken captive?” I said.
“Yes,” Kendor said and smiled. “Captured and tortured.”
“Lovely,” I said.
“They want your help,” Cleo said. “It’s doubtful they would be so foolish, so soon, to resort to physical violence.”
“But not out of the question?” I said.
“Violence is always an option with them,” Kendor said.
I grew impatient. “None of you has explained how you plan to get Lara back. Or is that secret knowledge as well?”
“Consider how embarrassing it must be for them to have to contact us,” Kendor said. “It’s only been three weeks since they kidnapped Lara. It shows how desperate they are.”
“My dad said that,” I said. “Why are they so desperate?”
Kendor shrugged. “Lara must be torturing them.”
“Be serious, please,” I said.
“I am,” Kendor said.
“How did you guys react when the Lapras said they wanted to talk?” I asked.
“We ignored them, at first,” Kendor said. “We wanted you to arrive here in town and get connected. That way we could deal with you directly, while you dealt with them.”
“So you have been making plans,” I said.
“We haven’t been idle,” Kendor said.
Cleo spoke. “But it’s Lara herself who has been our biggest ally. She’s an especially aware child who wants her mother back, and she’s made her desire painfully clear. To keep her happy, Jessica, the Lapras are forced to deal with you.”
“What kind of deal will they try to make?” I asked.
“They’ll probably offer you the same kind of incentive Kari offered Jimmy,” Cleo said. “They’ll allow you to see Lara as much as you like, as long as you agree to remain in a place that’s under their control.”
“Where would that be?” I asked.
“Somewhere in or near Las Vegas,” Kendor said.
“I take it I’m to reject their offer,” I said.
“No,” Cleo replied. “You’re to give every sign that you’re interested. But you want to consider their offer first. They won’t like that but you must insist.”
“Why?” I asked.
Kendor leaned over. “Because if you don’t prevent them from taking control of your life, we might never see you again.”
“I’m confused,” I said. “It sounds like you’re using tonight’s meeting to buy time and a little information. But tomorrow night I’m supposed to go back to them forever.”
“You’re mistaken,” Cleo said. “We hope to gain a great deal of information from this meeting.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Like how they were able to bring bafflement,” Kendor said.
“That’s what we call the cloud that swept over us the night Lara was taken,” Hatsu explained.
“And the night they took you from the meat locker,” my father added.
I hesitated. “What was it like?”
Kendor sighed and shook his head. “Let’s not discuss it tonight. Not before you’re to meet with them.”
“You’r
e scaring me,” I said.
“Fear can help keep you alert,” Cleo said. “But know that they’re not invincible. They should have anticipated that Lara would resent having her mother taken away. They made a mistake when they didn’t abduct both of you. I believe that single mistake will lead to their ruin.”
I forced a laugh. “Hell, they can make up for it in a hurry. They can kidnap me tonight.”
“That’s another reason Russell is going with you,” Kendor said. “He’ll help with your security.”
“Can you come tonight?” I asked him.
“The Lapras are too afraid of me,” Kendor said.
“But I’m heading into their stronghold,” I said.
“Russell can summon us, if need be,” Kendor said.
“So you’ll cover my back?” I asked.
“Only in an emergency,” Kendor said.
Cleo shook her head briskly as if she wanted to halt my line of questioning. “We have to move carefully. If we marshal our power and attempt a frontal assault, they’ll kill Lara rather than let us have her.”
“In other words,” Kendor said, speaking to Cleo and not me, “our power is not our strength. We must rely on our patience.”
Cleo met his fierce gaze. “Patience and wisdom,” she told him before turning her back to him and taking my hand. “The future is always in flux. All we know is the unexpected will happen tonight. There’s a good chance it won’t be pleasant. For the same reason we want you to meet with them—to gain knowledge—they want to meet with you. They suspect you’re in contact with us. You’ll deny that, of course, but they’ll know you’re lying. It doesn’t matter. It’s their hope that through you they’ll discover what we know.”
“But you don’t seem to know anything,” I protested.
Cleo squeezed my hand and I was suddenly reminded of how my father said she could see in both worlds at the same time. “I’m glad you feel that way,” she said, a mischievous note in her voice. “It means this meeting has been a success.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AT MIDNIGHT, RUSSELL AND I stood outside the entrance of the Mirage as per the Lapras’ instructions. There were more people coming and going than there would have been in the real world. But their pace was markedly slower, more guarded, as if they were afraid to move too fast lest they call attention to themselves. That was one thing I had noticed about most people in witch world. They were scared.