Drawing Bloodlines (12 page)

“Okay, let me get this straight,” said Lafonda with a frown. “The Fallen Ones are technically still after us because of this medallion, right?” With a scrutinizing glare, she turned to look at Nathan and he eagerly nodded. “And b
ecause we have this medallion, several people died at the concert tonight. And almost Jonas.”

Immediately, Nathan frowned. “I know where you are going with this Lafonda,” he said, while diverting his eyes toward the fire. “But I just had the dream…” Lafonda co
ntinued to glower at him. “Today!”

“But you could have warned us, Nathan!” she yelled, her long dark hair bouncing on her shoulders. “Several people died today! We can’t afford for you to keep this stuff to yourself!”

“But I’m not keeping it to myself!” yelled Nathan.

Quickly, Lafonda pursed her lips. “Oh?” she said, moc
kingly cocking her head to the side. “Well, let me guess. Who did you tell? Malick?”

Rigid, Nathan rolled his eyes. “Yes,” he said, r
eluctantly. “But also Jonathan.” He turned to look at Leah. “And of course I would have said something sooner if I knew that Leah had the medallion.”

“That just it, Nathan,” said Lafonda. “We can’t afford for you to wait until there is a crisis to tell us these things. Why are you waiting? What are you waiting for?” Irritated, she laid her arms across her chest. “And by the look on your face, I’m sure tonight isn’t the first time you’ve heard about the prophecy, or Dr. Colvers. Or London. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t already know about Argus’s powers t
onight.”

“Amen!” said Alan aloud. “But can we stop calling it a prophecy?” Quickly, Angela smacked him on the shoulder. “I’m serious. He hasn’t even finished deciphering it yet.”

“On the contrary,” said Jonathan, slowly. He was examining the gold chain and charm, holding it in the air again. “Yes — learning about Argus’s healing powers was a bit of a surprise to all of us, but it definitely provides more food for thought.” Meticulously, Jonathan examined the charm as light from the fireplace cast shadows of the firewalker symbol around the room. “Plus, in combination with his tattoo, it definitely validates our suspicion that Argus is a member of the Order.”

“A member of the Order?” blurted Angela.

“Unbelievable!” shouted Lafonda. She turned to look at Malick. “And I’m sure you already knew about this too.”

“Oh my God, I knew that red colored tattoo looked fami
liar!” shouted Alan. He dramatically rubbed the back of his forearm with his index finger. “The tattoo of the little native-looking man surrounded by fire on his arm is definitely a knock-off.” There was a frantic look on his face again. “Why are we sitting here speculating about the Order when we should be questioning him?”

“Yes!” Lafonda said. “And not just Nathan, Jonathan, and Malick. We should all be que
stioning him. We don’t need you to protect us, Nathan.” She turned to look at him. “We don’t need you to play savior.”

“Savior?” interrupted Nathan; there was a sudden ser
iousness to his voice. He stopped to stare disapprovingly at Jonathan and then snatched the gold chain from his fingers. “I’ll be taking that back, thank you.” Jonathan looked at him confused and Nathan placed the gold chain into his pocket. “Look, I really don’t have time for this!”

“Well, what do you have time for, Nathan?” blurted Leah. “Because you said nothing to me about a dream when I was with you earlier and now Jonathan’s research is not only connected to some group called the Order but also
some prophecy?”

“My thoughts exactly,” sighed Lafonda. “Argus has been pulling the wool over our eyes all this time. And really, you’re not doing anything di
fferent than he is — and you’re supposed to be on our side!”

“B–but wait,” said Angela, her face looking sorrowful and confused. “Does this mean that A
rgus is bad now?” She looked precariously into the faces around the room. “Because if so, why did he just save Jonas’s life?”

“Damn it, Lafonda!” Nathan shouted. “Do you really think that I want to be anyone’s savior, that I enjoy keeping everyone in the dark?” Frustrated, he started to pace the room. “You think I like getting these dreams? Watching you die in my arms? Watching Leah get tortured?” He turned to look at Malick. “I didn’t tell you guys a lot of things because Malick said it would keep you safe!”

“And what good has that done?” muttered Alan, sarcastically.

Lafonda had a sympathetic look on her face. “You guys,” she said, turning to look at Alan and Leah. “I’m sure N
athan…,” she paused. “And Malick meant well.”

Nathan suddenly stopped pacing. “Ugh!” he groaned aloud, startling everyone. “Why on Earth do you keep spea
king for me?”

“W–what? I’m not,” said Lafonda, her face turning red. Meekly, she looked at her friends. “I’m not trying to speak for you.”

“Just stop!” shouted Nathan, promptly heading toward the door. “Just stop. Stop telling Roy, Leah, and whoever else what you think I think — or mean!”

“Nathan!” Lafonda yelled after him. “Where are you g
oing?” She had a worried look on her face. “We haven’t figured anything out. What are we going to do about getting to London, Argus and the medallion?”

Abruptly, Nathan stopped. “I don’t know,” he said, with a melodramatic shrug. “Definitely not going to play savior. You figure it out!”

“Ugh, come back, Nathan!” she yelled, as he continued toward the door. “I’m sorry — your visions or not — we’re all in this together!”

“Uh, like Disney together?” mocked Alan. “I don’t think so, Lafonda. Speak for you
rself.”

8

HE NEEDS TO KNOW

The hallway leading from the den of the Devaro Mansion was a lot darker and quieter than Nathan was used to. Usua
lly, the hallways were well lit, but it was late and Nathan thought the ambience was perfect. Quickly, he stormed through the house and headed straight toward the kitchen. Nathan’s mind was going a mile a minute; he couldn’t believe that after everything he went through to keep everyone safe, Lafonda would think he had a hero complex and that she would consider him in the same league as Argus.

“Just as bad as Argus?” he thought. “Really?” Slowly, Nathan began to grit his teeth. “I just can’t do this anymore — if Lafonda and ever
yone else wants in, then by all means have at it!”

Immediately, Nathan noticed how quiet the hallway to the kitchen was and the kitchen itself seemed oddly dark.
Let’s bring everything to light
, he thought to himself.
No more secrets
—
starting with Argus!
I want to know everything
—
his involvement with the Order
—
about his powers
—
everything!

Suddenly, Nathan stopped in his tracks. The kitchen was completely dark. “I thought they were meeting LaDonda in the kitchen?” he muttered. He looked around the hallway t
oward LaDonda’s office, but the light was off, and it was equally quiet. “Are they done talking already?”

Nathan started to walk away, until he heard what sounded like voices coming from inside. “No!” he clearly heard.

“What the frig?” he muttered, stepping inside the kitchen and onto the ceramic floors. Guarded, he peered around the room. “Uhh–Hello?”

Nathan reached to flip on the lights, but froze. “No, A
rgus!” he heard again.

“That’s coming from outside,” he said, walking blindly over to the kitchen backdoor. His eyes hadn’t adjusted to the darkness. “What are they doing outside?”

Nathan peered out of the window and could see Roy talking to Argus. He reached to turn the knob to the backdoor, but stopped when he heard his name. “He isn’t ready,” said Roy. “I’m sorry, but I agree with LaDonda — none of them are.”

“LaDonda?” mumbled Nathan, straining to hear.

Nathan could see that Argus was frustrated and he had a worried look on his face. “You heard what Jorge said,” urged Argus. “Now is the time to get them ready — these kids aren’t prepared for this.” He frowned. “After tonight, what more proof do you need? It’s happening now!”

Roy stood quiet and stared out toward the pool area. N
athan could see the small waves that flapped quietly around the pool edges from the wind. “They have to be scared,” said Roy. “We almost lost Bart’s boy today.” There was a hint of sadness in his eyes as he turned to look at Argus. “And I know Nathan must have a lot of questions.”

“Well, of course he does,” said Argus
. “I’m sure they all do — but they’re already using Pneuma, Roy. They’re not the best at it, but they’re definitely past the hand-holding stage and need to be trained.”

“I understand,” said Roy, while running his hands through his thick white hair. “But we promised LaDonda that we would wait for her return, before we approached the children.”

“W–wait for LaDonda?” stammered Argus who quickly turned away. He then quickly snapped back around. “Understand — do you — do you really understand?” He looked intently into his face. “But how can you? You haven’t seen what I’ve seen, Roy. We’ve lost so much already — Jackson — Melanie — Diego — Sanford….”

“Jackson?” muttered Nathan, moving his head closer to the door. “Is he talking about Lafo
nda’s grandfather?”

“And LaDonda doesn’t understand?” snapped Roy.

Argus quickly lowered his eyes and shook his head. “We were prepared — trained — and look where we are now.” Suddenly, he raised his head and his silver-haired ponytail flapped behind him. “And what about Michael, Roy?” Quickly, Nathan’s stomach dropped and then twisted in knots at the sound of his dad’s name. “I know you haven’t forgotten about him!”

“I know what I’ve lost,” said Roy sternly. “I might not have fought on the front lines like you and others have, but I’m ready to do what I have to at all costs. I’m not going to lose N
athan.”

Nathan reached to turn the knob to the backdoor again, but stopped.

“Good!” said Argus. “Then training begins tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” cried Roy. “What part of waiting for L
aDonda to return translates to training starts tomorrow?”

“Okay, okay, I’m not going to continue to argue with you,” said Argus with raised hands.

There was a moment of silence and Roy appeared ready to enter the house. “But when do you plan to tell him?” asked Argus.

“Not again,” sighed Roy. “We’ve discussed this many times already.”

The frown lines on Argus’s tanned and weathered face seemed to deepen. “He needs to know, Roy!” he said, in an angry whisper. “It’s only a matter of time before he finds out — and with Charles’s grandson running around.…”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” interrupted Roy.

“Find out what?” mumbled Nathan, looking at his hands. His stomach continued to twist in knots as he listened intently from inside the kitchen.

“Man — are you blind?” shouted Argus. “With Malick around he’s closer to the truth — more so than ever!” Roy seemed annoyed by his su
dden outburst, so Argus drew in closer. “We made a promise, Roy, to that boy’s mother….”

Nathan felt his hand hovering over the doorknob again, but hesitated to open it. “B–but their talking about me,” he muttered. “And I’m so freak’ in tired of all these secrets!”

“What promise?” blurted Nathan, yanking the door open. “What did you promise my mother? What is it that I need to know?”

Argus and Roy turned around stunned as Nathan stood impatiently in the doorway. “Uh–Nathan,” stuttered Roy. Roy had a blank look on his face as his eyes looked helples
sly at Argus. “We were just.…”

“Don’t even try it, grandpa,” demanded N
athan, stepping outside. “I’m tired of all the secrets and want to know everything.”

Argus looked happy to accept Nathan’s invitation to tell him everything as Roy frowned. “Nathan,” said Roy, symp
athetically, before Argus could respond.

“What?” asked Nathan, with a shrug. “How about we start this conversation by talking about
— hmm, let’s see — the Order maybe?”

“Nathan,” said Roy again.

“Well, on second thought, maybe we should let Argus handle that one since he is the one with their crest on his arm.”

Argus’s face suddenly lit up. “It looks like they know a lot more than we realized,” he said with a smile.

Roy turned to look at Argus and frowned. “Don’t encourage him,” said Roy. His eyebrows were raised. “I’m sure Nathan could have a better attitude right now.”

“Better attitude?” asked Nathan, defensively. “Let’s talk about adjusting my attitude after we talk about what you h
aven’t been telling me.”

There was a moment of silence as Roy, Argus, and N
athan looked at each other. “He needs to know,” said Argus, after clearing his throat.

Ardently, Nathan nodded his head. “I concur,” he said. “I’m not going to let this go. I know Argus has powers and that people from the Order have powers too.” Nathan paused, laying his arms defensively across his chest. “I also know that Pneuma Novo is hereditary so
— does this mean my mom had powers? Is that what you have to tell me? Was my mom a part of the Order too?”

Argus cleared his throat again and
then opened his mouth to speak.

“No,” said Roy, firmly. “Now isn’t the time….”

“Then when will be?” interrupted Argus. He turned to look at Nathan. “I’m sorry Roy, but now is the perfect time in my book — yes, your mother was a part of the Order.”

Roy’s eyes suddenly grew as big as saucers and his face turned so red that Nathan t
hought his head would explode.

“And there’s more,” said Argus, pausing to look at Roy and then swallowing hard. “See, your mother….”

“We’re related,” said Roy, bluntly, before Argus could continue.

“W–what? Related
— to my mother?” blurted Nathan. Suddenly, his face was seriously contorted. “Are you saying my mother and father were related?”

“No, no,” said Roy, taking a pause. “We’re related.” He pointed to Argus, and Argus sighed. “I meant that Argus and I are related
— Argus is my brother.”

“Oh,” said Nathan, sounding relieved. “B–but wait, your brother?”

“Yes, it’s true,” said Argus with a smile. “Roy here, is my little brother.”

Nathan looked down at his hands and then scanned over his grandfather. “So, does this mean…?” he said, hesitantly.

“That Roy has powers?” Argus chuckled, taking delight in the question. “No….”

“And neither did your father,” chimed in Roy.

Argus suddenly had a more serious look on his face. “Sometimes the ability to do Pneuma Novo skips a generation or two,” he said. “And in some cases — like us — it skips siblings.”

“So why all the secrecy?” asked Nathan. “Why didn’t you tell me that you guys were brothers
— about my mom — about my heritage?” Soon, his hands were pressed against his sides and balled into fists. “Do you know what I’ve been through these last couple of months? All these secrets have put me through hell!”

“Hell?” asked Argus, mockingly.

“Yes!” exasperated Nathan. “Prophetic dreams, blue flames coming out of my hands — the Order — and the symbols in the caves. Not to mention the Fallen Ones!” His chest heaved rapidly, but he suddenly found himself choking back the tears in his eyes. “And tonight — with Jonas.”

“Sorry, Nathan,” said Roy. “But isn’t it obvious with ev
erything you’ve just said that we wanted to keep you safe?” Gently, he placed a hand on Nathan’s shoulder and then turned to look at Argus. “It was always the plan to keep you guys safe as long as possible.”

“So, none of this comes as a shock to you,” said Nathan, staring down Argus and Roy. “All this time you’ve known about Jonas and the others
— about our powers — about the Fallen Ones and the Order.” Slowly, Roy nodded and Nathan shook his head. “So, now that you see that your secrets aren’t working … when were you planning on telling us? After one of us was murdered?”

“I’m sorry,” said Roy, again. “If it was up to me, I would never expose you or anyone else to any of this.” His eyes pleaded helplessly with Nathan’s as Argus looked away, rolling his. “We wanted to keep you guys away from all of this as long as possible.”

Agitated, Nathan abruptly stepped back, causing Roy’s hand to drop to his side. “Who is 'we'? My mother?” asked Nathan. “Is that the promise — is that what you promised her?”

“Well,” said Argus, self-assuredly. “Yes, but not exac
tly.”

“I know this is a lot.
Argus and I understand your frustration,” said Roy quickly. He placed a hand on his shoulder again. “But it’s getting late and it’s been a trying evening for all of us. You should rest and give yourself a chance to digest it all.” Roy gestured his head toward the cottage. “Besides, you should check in on Jonas. We can discuss this more in the morning.”

“W–wait
— in the morning?” shouted Argus, stepping in between them. “You think the Fallen Ones are resting till morning?”

Nathan turned to look toward the cottage and gladly tuned out Roy and Argus. He noticed that the small house seemed oddly dark and almost went unnoticed, nestled amongst the tall evergreens. “Is the house usually that dark?” asked Nathan, abruptly.

Roy and Argus stopped arguing and for a moment, there was a blank look on Roy’s face. “Uhh,” he stuttered, glancing toward the house. “It’s just that the lights are off. Jonas must have turned in for bed.”

Slowly, Nathan nodded, but twisted his mouth off to one side as he continued to stare at the house.

“And I guess with LaDonda gone, you’re expecting me to stay at the mansion tonight,” complained Argus.

Roy nodded. “You’re the one with all that fighting exp
erience on the front lines, remember?” he said with a smile. “Besides, I can’t watch over the cottage and the main house by myself. Either you or I need to stay at the main house with the kids.”

Argus took a deep breath, nodded, and sighed. “Well, I guess we will find out if these old bones still got it,” he said. “Because you best believe Lauren and the others aren’t res
ting.”

“W–what, Lauren?” said Nathan, blinking his eyes and breaking his trance. He turned his focus to Argus. “You know about Lauren?”

There was a brief silence as Argus sought permission with his eyes from Roy to speak. “Let me tell you,” said Argus, firmly. “I am no stranger to that woman or Lucas.” He paused after his eyes connected with Roy’s again. “Let’s just say those are not fond memories that I wish to keep.”

There was silence again as Roy stared down Argus. “So,” said Roy, with a hint of frustration in his voice. He gestured with his head again. “Let’s all get inside.”