Muse (Descended From Myth) (11 page)

Sirens wailed outside the library, and a couple of uniforms dashed through the double doors on the opposite side of the library. I was pretty sure there would be nothing left for the cops to find, but at least sirens have a way of forcing the ba
d guys from their hiding spots.

Campus Police and the Muncie Police Department took turns asking us questions and taking our statements. I gave them a shortened version of the attack, editing my rather extreme defensive tactics. But, I tried to be as detailed as possible in the description of the attackers themselves. The local authorities might happen across whoever had perpetrated this and at least give us a starting point. As I spoke with the officer, I felt the thick warmth of Anna's Influence. I'm fairly certain she convinced them to believe our story, and discouraged them from searching me. I would have had a very difficult time explaining the knife otherwise.

One of the campus officers gave us a ride to Anna's apartment building. I checked the door and cleared everything before I let her come in, then started packing things we would need for our trip.

“Daniel, what are you doing?” she asked, sounding more st
ressed than I'd ever heard her.

“I have to call Gabriel and set up a safe house. That was way too well executed to have been random. There's something major going on here. We need to get away from the places they
're going to expect you to be.”

“But Daniel, I have classes! I can't just walk away now. I have two wee
ks before finals!” she pleaded.

“Anna, it's dangerous!” I yelled back, every fiber of my being was screaming, demanding that I stop standing here talking about it and DO something! “I have to figure out who is after you. I don't even know why anyone would attempt this. I haven't even told Gabriel how strong you're getting.”

Anna placed a calming hand on my arm, kept her voice soft, soothing. “I don't want to run away, Daniel. We've been doing so much here, and if I leave now, then I'll have to take all of these classes over again. This is my life we're talking about! This might not have even been about me, maybe we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Can't we call in some extra help from the Guardians and just stay someplace different until you figure it out? I'll move somewhere different every night if you want me to, just please don't make me go away. Besides, what if it's nothing?”

I jerked away, needing to move while I thought. I checked all the windows and the doors, making sure nothing had been tampered with and stuffed anything Talent or Guardian related in a bag. I couldn't buy that this was random. If those guys were just looking for a girl to snatch, then they could have found at least twenty easier targets than Anna tonight alone. Even from a distance, I'm big, I'm muscular, and I'm obviously protective. A girl on her own, maybe someone talking on her phone or otherwise not paying attention to her surroundings, would have been easy to snatch off the curb. No, there was something
going on here.

I took out my knife and used a swab to wipe the blade and flake some of the blood into a sandwich baggie. I could send it to Gabriel to see if they could get a DNA match through the FBI's labs, but that would take a lot of time that we might not have.
Maybe
if we did stay put and call in reinforcements, then we might be able to lure whoever was responsible out. Bringing in more Guardians would mean more eyes on Anna, though. Even though most of the others couldn't feel when Influence was being used, they had been trained to watch for its effects. They were pretty good at picking up on it, too. I took a deep breath, trying to force myself to calm down and think like a professional. I'd melt down about my failure to protect Anna yet again when, and only when, I knew she was safe. I'd talk it over with Anna. She had a right to know what our options were and what was going on. After a few minutes, we'd come to a decision that she was much happier with than I was. We decided to call in Gabriel and his crew.

Anna and I borrowed a car from a guy who lives on the floor just below hers because her VW bug was just a bit too easy to spot. I drove around for half an hour until I
was certain we weren't being followed. Then I pulled onto the interstate and drove for forty-five minutes, until we found a hotel next to a twenty-four hour supermarket. We'd already shut off our phones, just in case they were being tracked and I refused to use them. I bought us both throw away cell phones with my stash of emergency cash, then checked into the hotel using one of my “alternate” identities.

“Tonight, we're Mr. and Mrs. Stone,” I informed Anna grimly.

She smiled faintly. “Not much of a honeymoon destination, but I think given the circumstances it will have to do.”

I pulled the car in so that the plate was at least partially obscured, but it was a liability no matter where I parked it in a small town. We were staying in the only hotel within walking distance. Once inside, I called Gabriel on my new phone and told him about the attack and my theory that it was
actually an abduction attempt.

“Gabriel, I need you to only send me the best, the men you're absolutely certain are loyal to thei
r oaths,” I explained urgently.

It was time to come clean and explain how I hadn't been completely honest with him during my status reports. “I withheld information because I felt it was in the best interest of my Talent, not because I didn't trust you. But I know you're going to need full disclosure in order to pull the strings to make this protection detail come together quickly and discreetly.”

“Daniel, why don't you just come to the point of the matter?” Gabriel interrupted. “What is it that you haven't told me?”

I took a deep breath, praying that I was making the right decision. “Anna's more than you've been led to believe. She's a true Muse, Gabriel. The first one we've protected in over five hundred years. I think she was gifted by Calliope herself. I've documented everything. You can see for yourself once you get to meet her, but in the meantime, you've got to send me what I need to keep her safe.” I expected that Gabriel would have a thousand questions, but instead I was met with a long silence.

“Gabriel?” I prompted, not sure what I could do if he refused to help.

“Where do you need us and what do you have planned? The full resources of the Brotherhood of Guardians are at your disposal,” Gabriel answered solemnly. Hope rushed through me as I launched myself into the flimsy desk chair to map out a plan of subterfuge and counter-assau
lt with the Master of my order.

Anna dozed on the bed while I fielded calls and plotted strategy throughout the night. We had already decided that she could easily take a sick day from classes today, but she was adamant that she wanted to be back in the classroom and on campus tomorrow. That gave me about 24 hours to establish invisible, airtight protection around her. The real question was, how do you manage to blend thirty men between the ages of 30 and 67 seamlessly into a college campus? Ball State's adult education program was going to have a few extra faces for a while. We'd also decided to have her parent's house covered, just in case someone showed up there. It took hours, but eventually I had arranged everything I could while hiding ou
t in a hotel room.

Anna still slept peacefully, stretched across the queen size bed at a diagonal. Her face looked so peaceful, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Watching her, I felt the familiar ache build in my chest. The last few weeks had given me a glimpse of what a life with her could be like. I hadn't let things go too far, but I
had
allowed myself more closeness. Once we'd returned to campus, away from the watchful eyes of her parents, it had been too easy to forget the reasons I needed to keep my distance. It was time to be honest with myself, because I had come too close to losing Anna tonight. Again. I could keep holding myself back, refusing to admit that I was in love with her, but ignoring it wouldn't make it go away. I might never be able to marry Anna, we might never have a family together or celebrate a silver anniversary; but if I opened up to her, then maybe we could make the most of the time we
did
have, what we
could
have. I would be a broken mess if she was gone, whether we'd been together officially or not. I wasn't protecting myself from anything this way. As soon as there was a private moment, I had to explain to her why I'd been holding back and give her a choice of our own. If she was willing to be with me, then I was going to do everything in my power to make her happy enough that she'd choose to stay here.

We'd be checking out of this hotel in just a few hours. I'd made arrangements to rent apartments in a newly finished building close to campus. It had been extremely expensive to arrange a month to month rental agreement, especially for all sixteen apartments, but we needed a safe place to stay and the other Guardians needed to sleep somewhere as well. Luckily, our organization could easily afford to rent out an apartment building. I probably could have purchased the
place if it had been necessary.

Gabriel was coming to personally assess Anna's abilities and to help me try to ferret out the person or persons responsible for the abduction attempt. The next several days wouldn't allow me much time alone with her. I kicked off my shoes and crawled onto the bed next to her, tucking Anna's head into the crook of my shoulder. She sighed and s
nuggled close against my chest.

“Nothing matters more than this,” I whispered against her forehead. “I love you, Anna.”

Gabriel Rexworth reminded me of my father. He had the same aura of authority about him in the way he moved and in the confidence of his voice. Some people find that intimidating, but for me it was comforting. After all, he was on my side.

I'd woken up early in the morning when Daniel's cellphone started ringing. We'd both grimly loaded back into the borrowed car and came here. The newly completed apartment building smelled strongly of paint and carpet glue, but it was close to campus and had enough space for everyone who would be arriving to take over my security. I felt like I'd suddenly been elected president, since I now had what essentially amounted to my own secret service and all. I made a mental note to ask Daniel for a cool code name. Maybe something mythological and awesome like “Phoenix” or “Medusa.”

Gabriel had been one of the first to arrive and right away he'd asked Daniel to leave us alone for a bit so that we could get to know each other. Daniel seemed reluctant, but when I told him it was fine with me, he'd stepped out. Gabriel didn't
look
like the head of a secret brotherhood, he looked more like an expensive accountant. He wore an expensive, but conservative, charcoal gray suit and wire rimmed glasses, and had a bit of a paunch around his midsection. His face was lined, but clean shaven and his hair had started to thin quite a bit on top. We stood staring at each other awkwardly for a minute, until I realized he was waiting for me to make the first move. The sterile apartment only had a few basic pieces of furniture, but it did have a couch. I invited Gabriel to sit, and we made small talk for a few moments.

“Daniel told me you would probably want me to give a demonstration,” I finally said, eager to move
on to the point of this visit.

Gabriel smiled, and nodded calmly. “We'll get to that,” he answered. “Why don't you tell me why
you
wanted to meet with
me
?”

I fidgeted and looked around, feeling a little like I was abusing Daniel's trust by doing this, but
I needed some answers and he was too distracted to explain certain things. At least I might get some information that would help me know the right questions to ask him later. “I'd like to ask you some questions, actually,” I said, gazing over his shoulder towards the blank wall on the opposite side of the room. I couldn't seem to make eye contact with him at the moment.

“About your parents?” he pro
mpted, catching me by surprise.

“No, actually. I wanted to know about Daniel, and about the rules he has to follow as a Guardian.”

Gabriel lifted an eyebrow, but he nodded his consent. “Are there rules against Guardians being...involved with the Talent they're protecting? You know, romantically involved,” I explained, feeling embarrassed and hoping I wasn't getting Daniel in trouble just by asking these questions.

“No, there's no specific rules against it, provided that the Talent is agreeable,” Gabriel answered.

“So, have there been Guardians and Talents who were together long term, like married?”

Gabriel looked startled by the question, almost as if the subject was taboo. “Married? Is that something that you and Daniel are considering?” he asked in a rush, his voice sounded worried.

“We haven't talked about it yet, it's just that whenever the future comes up Daniel acts very uncomfortable, like there's something standing in the way. At first, I thought maybe the Guardians weren't allowed to get married or something, but then I've heard of others who are married so...” I trailed off, not sure how exactly to explain what I was thinking.

“Many Guardians and Talents have felt drawn to each other, but with the knowledge that each Talent will be called for the choice at any moment, most of us feel that marriage would be irresponsible. If it has been done, it was not with the knowledge of the Order,” Gabriel said s
tiffly, as if I'd offended him.

“Called for the choice? What cho
ice?” I asked, completely lost.

“For Ascension,” Gabriel responded, as if that cleared everything
up.

“I think maybe I've missed something here,” I shrugged. “I have no idea what you're talking about. Ascension to what?” I was startin
g to feel like a broken record.

Gabriel stared at me again, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. “I see. Well then, I will have to explain, since you shouldn't go into this unprepared. As a Talent, you have inherited a spark of divinity. As your strength grows, we believe that the Fates monitor your progress. Once you have reached your full potential, you will be visited and given the choice between remaining in your mortal body or ascending in spirit to join the Realm of Influence.”

“The Realm of Influence? Is that like heaven? Because it sounds a lot like you're telling me that I have to choose between living or dying!”

“I can't answer what the Realm is like, and I can't tell you what the visitation is like. I can only assume that whatever is offered is quite compelling. And for those of us left behind, it is very much like dying. The spirit moves on and only the body remains.”

I felt numb, at least that explained why so many of the Talents I'd researched had died young. They hadn't died really, they'd “Ascended.” I doubt that was a big comfort to the young children they left behind. “Is there someone I can talk to who chose to stay? I'd like to know what I'm going to have to face before it gets here,” I said softly, thinking hard about my family and friends...and Daniel. Would he want me if I wasn't special anymore? I thought he would, but I had to wonder why he hadn't told me about this looming choice already.

“No,” Gabriel said sadly. “I'm afraid there's not. It's never happened. There's simply never been a Talent who hasn't chosen to ascend. I believe you will find that
that
is the source of Daniel's reluctance to plan a future with you. He's quite well aware that the two of you simply do not
have
a future, no matter how much both of you may wish otherwise.”

So that was the trade off: I get to have these amazing abilities that allow me to help the people around me but only for a limited time and then the universe will rip me away from everything and everyone I love. No wonder Daniel and I were stuck in a kind of relationship limbo. He knew I wouldn't be
around for happily ever after.

I met Gabriel's eyes, determination steeling my voice. “I'm not going to just give up everyone I love. If there's a choice involved, I already know what mine will be. I'm staying right here, and I will fight like hell to make sure that happens.”

Gabriel eyed me speculatively, plainly doubting that I would keep my word. “I suppose we will just have to wait and see. Now, I believe we should try for a demonstration.”

Gabriel didn't have Daniel's ability to feel Influence. Instead, he had an even rarer ability. He could see the energy emitted from a Talent. He called in a guy who looked much younger than me, who he called a “novice.” I guess that meant he was a Guardian trainee. The new guy was introduced to me as Stefan, and I noticed he had a thick German accent when he politely returned
my greeting.

Stefan stood at attention in the living room, waiting for Gabriel's instructions while sneaking glances at
me from the corner of his eye.

“I'm trying to think of a suitable test of your abilities. So much of what a Talent does involves inspiration, which is sometimes too gradual to provide us definitive evidence. I think first we will try to influence Stefan here to perform a task for you without telling him anything. I will whisper the command to you, and you try to communicate that behavior to Stefan.” Gabriel thought for a moment, the leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Have him move the coffee table, please.”

I formed the image in my mind of Stefan leaning down and picking up the flimsy coffee table, then walking across the room with it. I carefully added as many details as I could, feeling the image solidify in my mind. Then I pushed it out at Stefan as hard as I could. I'd barely released the image before the poor kid was throwing himself at the table and snatching it up, a bewildered look on his face. He marched the thing about six steps and sat it down, then turned to Gabriel. “Sir?” he asked, looking embarrassed. I wanted to know what Gabriel's reaction was too, but he had a pretty good poker face. I couldn't tell how I had done.

“Stefan, bring in the box I left on the back seat of the car, please?” Gabriel ordered. Once he'd left the room, Gabriel explained his plan. “Stefan is a very serious, intelligent young man, but completely lacking in creativity. He doesn't have an artistic bone in his body. The box has a variety of art supplies in it. See what you can help him create.”

Stefan came in carrying the cardboard box. “Okay, Stefan, let's see what you've got in there,” I said kindly. We moved into the little kitchen and emptied the contents onto the small rectangular table. We spread out a large pad of drawing paper, some crayons, a package of markers, and a block of cellophane-wrapped blue clay. It was like craft time at a summer camp.

“Well, what would you like to make?” I smiled at Stefan, who shrunk away from the table like I'd asked him to eat the clay. This was going to take some effort. I put a hand on his shoulder and asked him to take a seat, then pointed at the pad of paper. “Why don't we try out a portrait?” I asked, already forming the image in my mind and concealing a grin. Ten minutes later, I was fairly pleased with Stefan's efforts. He revealed the picture to Gabriel only after being ordered to do so. The caricature was quite detailed, and it really did look like Gabriel, down to the thinning hair. Stefan might have been mortified, but Gabriel was delighted. He laughed and clapped Stefan on the back, thanking him for a job well done and then asked him to pack everything up
and wait for him with the car.

“Well, is there another test or d
o you have a verdict?” I asked.

Gabriel smiled. “Why don't w
e have a seat while I explain?”

I was impatient, but took a seat anyway and
then stared at him expectantly.

Gabriel settled onto the couch, patting the pockets of his suit jacket as though he was looking for something. For some reason, it immediately reminded me of Peter Falk in
The Princess Bride
and that helped me relax a little bit more.

“I think Daniel explained to you that I can see Influence in its energy form?” Gabriel inquired, settling back against the couch arm without removing anything from his jacket pockets. I nodded, so he went on. “It looks slightly different depending upon the Talent, but most of the time it looks quite similar to the effect that you get from heat distortion, like the shimmer that rises off of asphalt on a hot day or the way an image seems to ripple around a flame. The strongest Influence I've seen has a glow to it as well, and the distortion is
milkier. I've only seen that a few times, although you should know that your own mother was one of the few I've seen who was capable of that level of power. Yours, however, is something completely different. I'm not entirely sure how to describe it. It, well, I suppose it sparkles with a shimmery light and is almost iridescent. It's quite beautiful really.”

“Uh, thank you?” I responded, not sure what else to say.

“So, what I'm saying is that you are a remarkable young lady and I believe that Daniel's assessment is quite possibly be correct. You may truly be a Muse,” he said solemnly.

Maybe that news was supposed to be really earth-shattering for me. Maybe I should have felt more gratitude. But in all honesty, all I felt was irritation. The more power I had the more drawbacks there seemed to be. Sure, I wanted to help people as much as possible, but I could have done that as just a plain Talent. Maybe this was all too much responsibility for me. There sure didn't seem to be a way out, so I needed to know how my life was going to be affected.  “So what does this mean
for me?” I asked skeptically.

Gabriel steepled his fingers against his lips, thinking. “We will have to keep an expanded security presence around you, even after this threat is handled. There will be groups that may try to use you for their own interests. There will be some who will say that you would be better protected by a more experienced Watcher than Daniel, but I disagree. I doubt there is anyone on this earth more dedicated to your safety. Unless you request a change, of course. How you choose to live, where you choose to live, is entirely up to you. We will offer advice and protection, but we won't force you into an exist
ence not of your own choosing.”

I suppose that was what I wanted to hear, but I needed to make myself clear about one thing. “I won't cooperate with anyone as my Watcher but Daniel. You can tell anyone who questions his place that. I trust
him
, not the Guardians just yet.”

Gabriel nodded, a small smile flickering across his face as he stood to call the Watcher in question back inside. “I think we've kept him in suspense long enough.”

Daniel was back in the apartment in a heartbeat. I wondered if he'd just been pacing out in the hallway the whole time. The moment he walked through the door, his eyes found mine. I felt flushed, my pulse fluttery, just from the intensity of the look on his face. At least now I had a better idea why we had this weird dynamic going. I just needed to convince him that it was safe for us to really be together, because I wasn't going anywhere.