Edgewood Series: Books 1 - 3 (78 page)

 Really touch you,
she added

That made two of us. Before Nadia and I connected in Peru, I had no idea how addictive another person could be. I craved being close to her, smelling her, feeling her hands wander over my skin and through my hair. Day and night, thoughts of her haunted me. I replayed our times together and tried to relive the feeling of our kisses and the press of her body against mine. I said,
She can’t keep you trapped in that house forever
.
We’ll be together again.

Yeah, but when? By the time that happens you’ll have forgotten about me and be with someone else.

That’s not going to happen,
I said, sort of insulted. How could she say that? Didn’t she know everything about her was etched onto my soul?

I’ve been told it happens with teenage romances
, she said, her tone bitter.
My mother has made that very clear to me. More than once.

Well, she doesn’t know us.

I guess you’re right.

I decided to change the subject.
So what else is new?

She was quiet for a moment.
Nothing, really.

You didn’t notice anything different about your face?

Oh! Yes. I mean, thank you! I didn’t notice at first, and then when I did I couldn’t tell you. I can’t believe I didn’t thank you first thing.

I grinned.
Were you surprised?

Confused, and then surprised, and then happy. When did you do it?

On the plane, when you were sleeping.

That’s what I thought!
she said.

What did your parents say?

My dad thought it was because I was using this ointment he gave me. My mom, as usual, was highly suspicious. She asked if I'd been worshipping Satan.

She did not.
But even as I said it, I knew it was
true.

Yes she did. But don’t worry about it. That’s just life at my house. One more thing to add to the list. I'm overjoyed that you fixed my face, and really, really grateful. I can even open my eye all the way now. And I’m letting my bangs grow out. It’s amazing really. The skin looks better all the time. Like it’s regenerating. I never used to look in the mirror, but now I can’t stop and when I do, I think of you and what you’ve done for me. You've changed my life in so many ways, I can't even begin to thank you...

You don't need to thank me.

Of course I do. What you did for me is everything.

That’s just what you do for someone you love.
The words were out without a thought, but when I felt her surge of joy fill the room, I was glad I’d broken through my tendency to hold back and just put it out there.

I love you, Russ.

I love you too.
The words felt so right, but being apart when we said them was so wrong. We should be in the same room. The novelty of astral projecting had completely worn off. I wanted Nadia, the real Nadia, right next to me. Body and soul. I wanted it all.

My biggest fear
, she said,
is that you’re going to die on this mission. If that happened, I’d be lost. I wouldn’t want to live without you
.

I’m not going to die.

You could. We almost did in Peru.

I promise you, Nadia, no matter what happens, I’ll find my way back to you.

If I could go on the trip we’d be together no matter what happens.

That reminded me: The Praetorian Guard guys who are training us said they’ve been trying to get someone into your house to try mind control on your mom. Are they making any progress?

Ha! They’ve been trying but my mother is formidable. They’ve offered her free carpet cleaning, told her she’s won prizes, and said they’re from social services and that they are there to check on me.

Really?
I asked, fascinated.
What happened?

My father let them in. My mother wouldn’t even shake their hand. She wouldn’t even go within five feet of them. They pretended to inspect the house, which is spotless, by the way, asked me a bunch of questions and left. My mother told them she’d be contacting her attorney and reporting them for harassment.

Did she?

I don’t know. Maybe. She seems to have an awful lot of free time.

I really wanted you to go with us to Washington D.C.

Yeah, me too, but unless I jump out the window, it doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere.

The Praetorian Guard will come up with something,
I said.
David Hofstetter said your astral projecting would be invaluable. And Mallory’s mind control is getting to be really powerful. Maybe your mom would let her in the house?

Maybe,
Nadia said, sounding doubtful.

But the weeks went on and the Guard didn’t come any closer to arranging for Nadia to come on the mission. Her mother had eased up a little so she was able to astral project to me at night, and I kept her filled in on what we were learning. Her days were filled with homework and studying and bad television, so she listened to my descriptions with rapt attention, laughing at my observations of Jameson and speculating, with me, what it all meant.

Why would someone want to kill the president?
she asked.

I don’t know
, I said. President Bernstein was the first female president in the history of the country, and fairly well-liked by most. There was a very vocal group of dissenters that wanted her gone but it was only two years until her term was up. It seemed like it would be easier to wait than commit murder. Not to mention that the vice president would just take office and he was on the same side, so really, what would that accomplish?

Nadia said,
What do they think might happen at the Bash?

I don’t know. They said they’d tell us more when it gets closer.
I guess we’d just have to wait to find out.

Russ

By the end of the summer, all three of us had amped our powers to levels far beyond anything we’d ever envisioned. It was hard not to use it in everyday life. So many times I desperately wanted to put on a light show for my nephew, heal my mother’s headaches, or use a little mind control on Dad to convince him I could put off mowing the lawn for another day, but admirably I held back. Carly would have been really angry with me for one thing, not to mention that showing my powers in public might jeopardize the mission, and the Praetorian Guard in general. I didn’t want to be the stupid teenager who lacked impulse control and couldn’t be trusted.

One Thursday night we arrived at the burial vault factory and knew something was up. It was a few days before we were scheduled to leave and we still didn’t have a clue as to our role on this trip, other than that we were going to attend the Presidential Black Tie Bash. At some point we’d stopped wondering and asking, and just focused on the training.

That night, Carly and I were met at the door by Tiffany, one of the administrative assistants. Instead of directing us to the warehouse, she ushered us into a conference room where we were told to wait. Mallory, Jameson, and Rosie were already there; Mallory said hello as we entered and Rosie smiled, but Jameson was too busy leaning back in his chair with both feet propped up on the polished table to acknowledge our entrance. “What’s this all about?” Carly asked.

“I don’t honestly know,” Tiffany said apologetically. “Some kind of announcement, I believe.” She closed the door behind her and then the five of us were sealed in the windowless space. The conference table was large enough for twenty. The surface was polished light wood, all one color except for a glistening spiral pattern in the center. It reminded me of Dorothy’s yellow brick road or our very own lux spiral. One wall was covered with a white veneered surface, like it served as a screen for video clips or PowerPoint presentations. The two long walls were covered with photos of the founder of the company and his sons and grandsons. Generation after generation, all of whom opted to go into the burial vault business. The plaques were industry awards and commendations for employee safety. In the corner, a triangular bookcase held a decanter and glasses, along with a bowling trophy and a few random books. It looked like a standard business conference room, but I sensed electricity where there should be none. Besides the outlets and light fixtures, there was electricity pulsing out of the picture frames and the bowling trophies. Hidden cameras was my guess.

“Take a seat,” Rosie said, gesturing to the chair next to her with a smile. I’d heard her say the same phrase many times when we’d visited her in the diner. The familiar words were comforting. I sat next to her, but Carly, in a small bit of rebellion walked around to the head of the table and took a high-backed swivel chair clearly intended for whoever would be leading the discussion.

“That’s the chair I wanted,” Jameson shifted his feet to the floor and sat up straight. “But Mallory wouldn’t let me sit there.”

Carly shrugged. “You have to learn to think for yourself, young man. If you keep waiting for approval you’re going to miss out on a lot.”

“I can think for myself,” Jameson said, clearly offended. “I was being polite.”

“Being polite doesn’t get you very far, believe me.” Carly was definitely in a mood. It was like there was something in the air only she could sense and she wasn’t liking the smell of it.

“Not knowing what’s going on can be a little stressful,” Rosie said soothingly. “But I’m sure it’s all going to work out fine.”

“Where’s Dr. Anton?” Mallory said. “He’s usually here by now.” There was a hint of worry in her voice.

Rosie said, “I talked to him this morning and he said he’s going to be here, so don’t you worry about him. Probably just delayed by traffic. As long as we’re waiting though, I might as well take the time to tell you how thrilled we are at how well you all are doing. You’ve worked hard and honed your powers, but that’s just part of it. Dr. Anton and I are also impressed with your maturity and focus. All three of you make us proud. We know we’re putting a lot on your young shoulders, but we trust you’ll get the job done.”

From anyone else that speech would have sounded a little condescending, but Rosie delivered this speech with conviction. I think she really was proud of us and thrilled at our progress and everything else she said. Jameson and Mallory must have felt the same way, because they both said, “Thank you,” at the same time I did.

Mallory grinned. She’d gotten really tan this summer and it made her teeth look extra white. I noticed she’d been wearing a lot of white lately too, probably to show off her darker color. “We’re glad we’ve earned your trust,” she said. “And we’ll do everything we can to get the job done.”

At the end of the table I saw Carly roll her eyes as she mouthed the words ‘suck up’ to me. Luckily, no one else spotted it. It took all I had not to laugh.

A few seconds later, the door opened again and Dr. Anton walked in followed by Mitch and Will, along with a man and woman we’d never seen before. Both of the strangers wore business attire. The woman seemed to be in charge. The four men fell in place along the edge of the room while she strode forward, greeting each of us with an official handshake. She was tall, slender, and edgy-looking with spiky red hair and funky glasses, but her attitude was all business. “I’m Dr. Wentworth,” she said and listened as we each said our name. I sensed she already knew who we were and I also sensed that she and the other man were wired for sound. The devices, hidden underneath their clothing, pulsed in a way that was impossible for me to miss. Now that I could detect electricity I had to remind myself that other people didn’t have that ability. It was the one superpower that I hadn’t brought up during our training sessions. At times like this I appreciated my new awareness and the knowledge that someone somewhere was watching us and listening to our every word. I was careful not to say too much when I knew I could be overheard.

When we were finished with the pleasantries, Dr. Wentworth gestured to her colleague, “My associate, Dr. Habush.” Dr. Habush, a short man with a large briefcase under one arm, nodded mutely. Compared to Dr. Wentworth, he looked twitchy and out of place. Already I noticed he had a nervous habit of running his fingers through his stiff brown hair. The five of them pulled up chairs and sat, with Dr. Wentworth taking the seat at the end of the table opposite Carly. “I want to thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. This is an emergency meeting, as I’m sure you know.”

Carly opened her mouth but before she could speak, Jameson jumped in and said, “We don’t know anything. This was our regularly scheduled practice time and we were told to wait in here. That’s all we know.”

“My apologies,” Dr. Wentworth said, twiddling a pen between her fingers. “I thought you knew you were called here to be prepped.” She gave Dr. Habush an irritated look. “I won’t make any assumptions from now on.” She cleared her throat. "Let's get started. Habush, can you give the preliminary statement?"

Dr. Habush scurried to his feet, his chair squeaking as he rose. "Everything said during this meeting is confidential. There will be no note taking. No recording devices allowed. Please take a moment to turn off your phones." He waited while everyone shut down their phones, then continued. "Anyone who violates the security code and reveals what we discuss here can be prosecuted for crimes against the United States. We will follow up. The safety of every citizen relies upon your discretion."

Like a dark cloud covering the sun, the mood in the room turned somber. I glanced over at Jameson, expecting him to have a smirk on his face, but even he took this seriously.

“Thank you, Dr. Habush.” Dr. Wentworth stood, a cue that she was taking over. “We’d planned on briefing you on the flight to D.C., but something has happened and we feel the need to fill you in ahead of time. The first thing I need to tell you is that the trip has been moved up. You will be leaving a day early.”