Jayden was gripping my left bicep so hard she was sure to leave bruises. To my right, I could feel the tension in Michael building, like a wind-up toy solider with maybe one turn of the key left before he would be ready to spring into action. I really hoped he wouldn’t have to.
All two thousand or so eyes in the room were trained on the scene taking place on the floor. The other six members of the council looked extremely uncomfortable at their table beside Pennington’s pulpit. Mom was in a standoff with the man who had been acting as lord and king over the Society since my father’s absence, and she was bringing him to his knees, before his subjects. He may have been the most powerful man in the world, more powerful than the President of the United States, and Marion Marquet had him pinned under her heel.
Tollack cleared his throat, and turned to the Council’s table. He clearly didn’t like being challenged, especially not in a public Society forum. Mom folded her arms across her chest, and started tapping her foot. Murmurs and whispers spread throughout the room, but it was the grousing down at the Council’s table that concerned me the most.
Pennington cleared his throat again, “Mrs. Marquet, with forgiveness for the manner in which you have addressed me and this Council, I will allow a recess for reconsideration.” He slammed his gavel on the table. “We will return in one hour.”
The Council rose in unison and followed him out of the room.
***
It seemed impossible that a room with so many people in it could remain as silent as a tomb, containing only the dead - but a lot of impossible things had been happening. I fumed the whole time over the Elder’s arrogance. He forgives Mom for what? Standing up and telling the truth? No wait, it was for the manner in which she spoke it.
Nearly an hour passed before everyone rose to their feet, and the council returned to the room, and not so much as a whisper had been uttered. Once they took their places, the Elder spoke, “We have decided that we will allow the matter to be put to a vote of the Society, under one condition. Samantha, you will bring us the Flamella Tree, so the Philosopher’s Stone may be protected here, as it should be. Give us this as a show of good faith, and then we will have a vote. If it is the consensus of the Society to allow it, you and Ms. Gage will become full members of the Society and be granted access to all of its various resources.
“The lovely Ms. Gage and our Sister Marion will remain as our guests until your return.”
I stood up, “Out of the question!”
Michael grabbed my arm, and pulled me back into my seat. I saw a look pass between him and Mom, and he stood up, “Samantha and I will do as you wish.”
Tollack Pennington smiled, smug with satisfaction. “I always knew you were a man who has his priorities straight, Michael. See to it that you fulfill our request quickly. You have fourteen days, starting now. ”
With that the room quickly emptied until only the members of the Shadow Watch in the room and our group remained. The other Shadow Watchers blended into the walls so well I had forgotten they were there. It gave me the chills. Alec led the way, and I didn’t hesitate to follow as we filed out to our quarters.
***
Safely back in our suite, Jayden observed “We waited an hour for that? It was awfully quick.”
“Tollack didn’t want to leave himself open for another tongue lashing,” Michael answered.
Mom countered, “No, he just doesn’t want to waste another second before getting his hands on the Philosopher’s Stone.” That was probably most accurate.
I was still angry. “But how could you agree to those terms?”
“It was the only way, Sam. You have to see that.” Jay agreed with them.
“No, no I don’t. There is always another way.”
Mom sighed, “Honey, they weren’t letting me walk out of here again anyway. Not after how your father and I betrayed them. But we had to, we needed to protect you.”
I shook my head in disbelief, “Then why did you come back?”
“Because this is the only way we can have full access to the Society to protect you now. Besides, once you and Michael return with the Flamella Tree, all will be set right in the Society’s eyes.”
The notion of what could transpire between now and then had me worried, “Mom if they’re that angry....”
She smoothed my hair and kissed my forehead, “I’ll be fine and so will Jayden. They know they won’t get what they want, if they harm us. It will just be like we’re under house arrest until you return.”
I looked at Michael, “How long will it take?”
“About a week, maybe ten days to get there, it will depend on the weather.” He stooped down and was fiddling around under the end table by a sofa. “Then we’ll hop back, right to this room.”
I looked back to Mom and Jay, “I still don’t like it.”
Jay hugged me, “We have Alec, Annika, Neve and Kristoff to look out for us.”
“Yes, you do,” I winked, “and I expect you will make good use of your time. Still....”
Mom put her arm around my shoulders and squeezed them, “Samantha, I know you can do this.” She stepped around in front of me and took my face in both hands. “I’m afraid you must. Without the tree we have no power. There simply isn’t any other choice.”
CHAPTER 22
09/29/2006
Capability
There was a black two-seat hover car waiting in the hall outside the suite. We climbed in, Michael tapped on the touch screen and we raced off to our car, waiting in the parking structure cavern.
We must have had priority because, unlike the trip in, this route was simple and direct. In less than half the time it took us to reach the inner chambers from the same cavern, we arrived and found our car already waiting. Without a word, we got in, Michael started the engine and we drove off.
When daylight became visible at the end of the tunnel, the impending sense of doom already coursing through my veins seemed to flow faster. A feeling I had just said my last goodbye to Mom and Jay coiled around my heart and began to squeeze. As we cruised out into the sun, I turned around and watched the rocks reform, sealing the entrance to the mountain behind us.
There was no turning back now, we had to find the Flamella tree and bring it back with a fresh harvest within fourteen days, or Jay was dead. Mom, maybe not, but Jay was of no use to them. Pennington didn’t have to say it for me to know it was what he was thinking.
“Don’t forget your shades,” Michael reminded me, so I put them on. “If you see anyone with the mark besides me, use this,” he handed me a red Hopper. “It will take you back to the Society. Then, get to your Mom and Jayden, and use the green one you already have to go back to the Mansion in the Mountain. The Society has suspicions about the Hoppers, and it doesn’t know about the Mansion, so you will be safe.”
“What about you?”
“I always find you.”
I let Artemis out of the bag and held her on my lap for a little while before she decided to go explore the backseat.
Another few minutes passed before the silent treatment got old, and I finally spoke, “So where are we going?”
“Santa Cruz.”
“The tree is in Santa Cruz?”
“No.”
“This is not the time for you to get all stoic on me again, Michael, talk to me.”
“Samantha, I know you’re scared for Marion and Jayden, but honestly they are going to be fine. They are probably getting ready for dinner right now, and will be getting drunk on hundred year old Flamella wine a little later.”
“Wine?”
“We don’t let the excess fruit go to waste. The trees are in season year round, and since only the seeds of the original Flamella tree work the real magic, the seeds and fruit from the other trees are used for more frivolous purposes.”
“Hmmm,” I thought about it for a minute.
“Did you bring any shoes that would be better suited for...well, anything other than making you taller?” He ges
tured toward my current footwear, boots with three inch heels.
“Not funny. If I kicked you right now, it wouldn’t feel too good.”
“I know. But even so, it’s hard enough to get your sea legs.”
“My sea legs?”
“We’re ditching the car pretty soon, and hopping to-”
“Poseidon's Gift,” my father’s yacht. “Isn’t Catalina the wrong way?”
“Zhou is already on board, and cast off with a receiver. He’s ready and waiting for us.”
“So, we’ll hop straight there?”
“Yes, but we might need to get you some more appropriate shoes, if you didn’t bring them.”
I rewarded his effort with a giggle. “I’ll probably stay barefoot on board, but my tennis shoes are in my bag, if needed.”
“They will be when we get there.”
I knew he enjoyed his air of mystery, so I decided to stop asking questions and take in the scenery for a little while.
***
I became so lost in my thoughts I didn’t notice we’d turned off the main road and onto a long gravel drive. When am I going to wake up from all of this? The crunching and popping sounds of the pebbles under the tires brought me back to the moment just as we were pulling up in front of a secluded cabin.
Michael parked the car, and turned off the engine. “I’ll just be a minute, just need to go open the garage.” He opened the door and got out.
I turned in my seat to wake my sleeping cat, “C’mon Miss Mis, time to get hopping.”
She yawned and uncurled herself, stood up and stretched, before gracefully bouncing over the center console and landing on the driver’s seat. Looking out of the windshield, she flattened her ears and hissed, so I turned my head to see what she saw.
There was movement at the edge of the trees on the far side of the cabin, to my left; Michael had gone the opposite direction, and apparently entered through the front door. A black clad figure, appearing to carry an assault rifle, darted from the tree line to the edge of the structure and back out of sight. I slid down in my seat, as a second and third figure followed. The fourth didn’t have his headgear pulled down far enough to cover the mark of a Traveler, which was clearly visible with the special lenses in my glasses.
Not knowing what else to do, I scooped Artemis in the backpack, and hooked the strap over my left arm. Taking a chance, I reached under the driver’s seat, hoping I would close my fingers around something cold and in the shape of a pistol grip. Feeling along the floor, I panicked when the sensors in my fingertips reported back only the texture of the carpet and a penny.
I turned my hand upward, frantically grasping at the bottom of the seat and found my reward; I withdrew a Marquet Special just as the first of the Travelers came around the corner of the house and made for the front door. Six more followed, assembling on the porch. I knew they were about to kick in the door.
The horn was blaring before I realized I was the one hitting it. Leaving the door intact, they turned in my direction. I heard the rounds being fired as two of the Travelers jumped the railing and came my way.
About to throw myself to the floor, I saw the garage door open out of the corner of my eye - drawing their attention away from me again. Michael rolled out with an automatic something of his own as soon as the door was high enough, and was shooting before he was on his feet. He took down the two closest to me, leaving him vulnerable to the other five who were already off the porch. Two rushed at him, while the other three appeared to be taking cover.
What the fuck do I do? I watched the first of the Travelers reach Michael, and get smashed in the face with the butt of his rifle, but the second one caught him around the waist, and they both went to the ground.
The passenger door faced away from the action, so I opened it with the intent of taking cover behind the car. I found one of the first two Travelers Michael shot about to open it from the other side. I didn’t notice him drag himself across the yard. Note to self - going down doesn’t mean dead. Without thinking, I pointed the gun and shot him in the face. He won’t get up again now.
I managed to clamber over the body without looking at it, and fired at the man who had taken cover behind the porch, and was taking aim at Michael. I missed. Michael had his opponent pinned to the ground, and turned his head enough to make me think he’d broken the Traveler’s neck, but he was still fighting back. I fired again, and my second shot found the target, which hit the ground with a thud.
The Traveler pinned under Michael was no longer moving, and Michael rose to his feet as the last man rushed from around the other side of the garage, a machete in hand. The one Michael hit earlier with the butt of his rifle was getting up again, so I shot him, and he went back down. Before I could turn to the other one, Michael pulled a knife from his trench coat, threw it, and hit him in the throat.
He looked over his shoulder at me and called out, “You okay?”
I nodded and shouted back, “You?”
He grinned and waved his hand, “Pull the car in the garage.”
***
He hit the button to close the garage door, and waited until it stopped. “Be right back,” he mouthed before he went through the door back into the cabin.
I opened the car door and got out, only to find myself sitting back down because I was nauseous and dizzy with the shock of what had just happened. I killed three people. Granted, they were there to kill me, and technically, they hadn’t even been born yet. The whole situation was more than any person should have to absorb.
Maybe if they know they will die in the future, they won’t come back again. Then I wondered if that was possible, or if it was just my conscience trying to find a way to absolve itself of guilt.
It was different than the other attempts to get to me before; this was well-planned and coordinated. It was of military design. It must have been a fresh team of Travelers from the UCE - assassins like Michael - I knew at least one bore the mark.
“You did what you had to, Sam.” Michael was back.
“I know. It’s just....”
“You don’t have to say it, I know.” He knelt down in front of me, and took my hands in his. “But, I do have to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saving my ass.”
I blinked at him for a few seconds, mesmerized by his eyes. “I was saving my own ass by default, I won’t make it anywhere without you. They would have had me a long time ago if it weren’t for you. I’m guessing years ago?” He nodded. “I think I owed you one or two by now anyway. Besides, it was Artemis who tipped me off - she saw them and hissed - so when all is said and done, she’s the real hero.” Her purring was loud enough to hear. I looked down and freed my hands to open the bag and scratch her chin.
Michael reached in to pet her too, “I told you she was invaluable.”
“I didn’t need you to tell me that.” My eyes met his again and I saw concern.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.
“Physically, yes. The rest, I think I’ll manage without therapy.”
He didn’t look convinced, but went along with my story. “I have to make a phone call and then we need to get out of here.”
He paced away, toward the rear of the vehicle, “Yeah, I need a clean-up at the cabin, we had a complication.” There was a pause for a response from whoever was on the other end of the line. “Six, one captive, but the wolves may get him first if you don’t hurry.” Another pause, and then, “That was a joke. He’s out for now, I’ll leave him in the garage. Squeeze everything you can out of him, try to keep the Society out of it.” He waited again. “That sounds about right, but see if you can confirm it. I have to go now, but I’ll be in touch.” He put the phone in his pocket, and then said, “I’ll be right back.”
He went through the regular door on the side of the garage, and returned a few minutes later, dragging one of the unconscious Travelers. He propped him against a wall, and handcuffed him to some steel pipes. “Tha
t should do it until they get here,” he muttered to himself.
He came back over to me, “Ready?” I nodded. “Then grab your bags and let’s go.”
CHAPTER 23
10/02/2006
Tipping Point
I immediately recognized the master suite of Poseidon’s Gift, my parent’s yacht, and took in a deep breath of salty sea air. More than a year had gone by since the last time I had been out on the boat, but my sea legs didn’t skip a step as I crossed the small room, to look out the window. I was enchanted by an obsidian sky filled with stars, reflecting back upon itself from the onyx sea below.
Without looking away from the stars, I asked, “Where are we?”
“On our way to Santa Cruz,” he took my hand, pulling me toward the door. “Come on, you’ll have a better view from the deck.”
Outside, I made another quick scan of the stars - the position of Grus and Pegasus told me he couldn’t mean the Home of the Banana Slugs. I pointed to the sky, “Bullshit, we’re nowhere near California.” The stars placed us much closer to the Equator. “I can’t believe you spent a hundred years with my father, and don’t know how much he loved astronomy.”
“Hmm, I suppose I just didn’t realize how much he taught you,” he teased. “I never said Santa Cruz, California. We’re probably about five hundred miles from Santa Cruz, Costa Rica.”
I could only shake my head. “How did Zhou get here so fast?”
“He’s been waiting for at least a day,” Michael grinned at my confusion. “Zhou left when we arrived at the complex. Plus, he’s made some modifications to the boat,” he winked. “Something that uses sound to push the water out of the way, from what I understand. Can’t be on deck when he uses it.”
I remembered we probably skipped several hours of time, if not a day. “And is it Friday, or Saturday night?”
“It’s Monday night.”
Three days? “Okay, so why Santa Cruz, Costa Rica?”
“Well, it’s not the exact location, just the closest major city I could think of. Santa Cruz is a little further inland, but once we get that far south, the macaws will meet and lead us where we need to go.”