Origin of Angels: Elemental Legacy Book 1 (24 page)

AS USUAL, CREED BROUGHT DISMAL NEWS, and we were no better off for the information. He’d told of a machine allowing fae to monitor human thoughts. It only worked on humans, and there was only one man I knew who could create such a device. Leaving Creed and Faine to sort out other details, I grabbed Luke by the collar and hauled him away from the others.

He fought me the entire way, but I’d always been physically stronger. As soon as we were sufficiently alone, I rounded on him. “What the bloody hell have you been doing?”

He shoved me hard in the chest, budging me a tad. I seethed and waited for his answer. “You assume it’s me. It’s always me, right? Well, I have news for you and your informant. I did not do anything.”

I let myself consider the possibility for only a moment. Where technology was concerned, Luke was the only one of us who could manage the deed. “Are you telling me you’re not responsible for creating a device which would allow the enemy to control a human male?”

In an astonished fog, he turned green. “I did.” He held up his hands when I reached for him again. “It was long ago, and the machine was archived. I have not seen it in more than sixty human years.”

I shook my head. “How could you do it?”

Dejected, he shoved his hands through his hair. “I was desperate to help the humans. You remember the scene. I thought if I could control the one they called Fuhrer, I could end the war of wars.”

Exasperated, I punched the air. “You are not to meddle! You are not to care so deeply, Luthais!”

Anger lit his features. “Do you think I don’t know this? Do you think I haven’t lived with the humiliation of letting the humans down century after century? I was a god to them, Ammon, a god. How could I not care?”

I scrubbed a hand along my jaw, wishing the motion would wipe away the disaster unfolding. “Exactly what does the machine do?”

He gave a flick of the wrist, as if to minimize the gravity of the situation. “It is set to one human. I made sure it could not manipulate all. It allows a direct link between master and servant.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You sought to master a madman?”

“I was able to help!” he exclaimed. His eyes narrowed and hate curved his mouth. “I convinced him to attack when he had no chance of winning. I led him to reveal secrets to spies. I made sure he was in the position to end his life when the opportunity came. I caused him to behave in such a manner his supporters plotted against him. If it weren’t for my efforts, the human realm would be a much different place!”

My jaw fell. He’d taken liberties I had not thought thinkable. “Even evil is protected under the laws. How could you?”

“I did not influence him in that regard … he had others … unseen forces corrupting him.”

I had no doubt he spoke the truth. Luke was many things, but he’d never
lied to me, even when it would have served his purposes to do so. The why of it was over. Now we needed to deal with the aftermath. “How do we disable the thing?”

He shuffled his feet, crossing his arms the way he always did when he was in deep thought. Apparently, re-covering the weapon wouldn’t be easy. With Luke, nothing was simple. After what seemed too long, he shook his head. “The only hope we have is if I can override the fae link and take over as master.”

At least we had an option, even if it wasn’t a good one. “Are you sure there is no other way?”

His arms released to his sides. “Yes. I will need a quiet place to concentrate.”

We had to reach Jett. With enough time, he might be able to salvage the mission. At the very least he needed to know we were compromised. He’d instructed me to only use telepathy if absolutely necessary. I knew of no better instance than now. I spoke the code word into his mind.

He reacted immediately. Where are you? If thoughts could have inflection, I would swear his carried fear. For Jett to be
afraid, there had to be something terribly wrong on his end.

“Mexico,” I thought. Not wanting to get distracted, I dived right into it. We’ve been compromised. You are, too. We need to regroup.

We’ll be there shortly. Do not move.

It took them less than five seconds. Jett held onto Lysanne, who clutched her chest. How had she made it to his team? I would have to question her, but she was in no shape now. Smoke rose out of a burn mark bigger than two fists. Grace rushed to her side, taking support of the woman. Others in the group were likewise injured. The smell of burnt flesh hit my nose, bringing a gag to my throat.

Jett limped to my side. Before I could ask what happened, he said, “Ambush. We got a group of Elementals to the rendezvous, though.”

I nodded, relief still not settling in. Jett wouldn’t have come if the Elementals weren’t safe. “Who attacked?”

“I’m sorry to say some of our dark brethren were there. They would not see reason. When I attempted to hold a council, they let loose on us. We didn’t stand a chance with their numbers. They brought twenty of each element. No matter what, we were cornered. When she arrived, I sent Lysanne with the Elementals. I told her not to return, but she did not obey me. Headstrong woman.” His eyes lit with unexpected pride. “She was amazing, Ammon. It was as if heaven had unleashed its wrath when she started in. It took a group of forty to stop her. I had no idea we had women with such control or abilities.”

I thought for a moment about my sister. “We have left behind our greatest assets simply because they did not have a place in the Elemental equation. It was a mistake.”

He shook his head. “It was Valen. It was always him.”

I gave a nod, rage clenching my fists. “We have to find a way to stop him.”

I NO LONGER WANTED TO KNOW what my father had to tell me. A short time ago, I had life figured out. I knew what I wanted to be. I liked working with my hands, and my human dad had shown me all I needed to know to be a mechanic. I figured I’d get an Elemental who made it past the age of power, settle down, have kids and build a house right next to my parents — not necessarily in any set order. My whole world had been shifted when Lambert showed me the ways of the world. I no longer thought about the future with a wife and kids until I met my girl. I’d looked into those green eyes and saw my life. I’d live and die for her. Yet here I sat with my angel dad gaping at what he’d said. I didn’t want to believe him. I didn’t want my life to change again.

His arm came around my shoulders. “It is a heavy weight you carry. Being first is never easy, but bards will sing your fame.”

I glanced at him, not letting my gaze stick too long. Even though his blood ran through my veins, he scared the hell outta me. “I don’t want to be famous. I want a quiet life where I can be left alone … where I can be free.”

He gave a sympathetic look. “None can control what life they are handed. The only say you have is how you handle situations. The sooner you learn the lesson, the easier your existence will be.”

Words meant to calm sent anger racing through me. “I didn’t ask to be your son.”

Lips turned in a secretive smile, he said, “How would you know?”

I frowned. “What?”

“Birth erases memories prior to your current life. You have no way of remembering compacts made in the eternities.”

My jaw clamped as I tried to work out what he was telling me. “How can I start the age of angels or what-ever? I don’t even know what you mean.”

He gave a sigh. “Agreements were made for services and payment, which I cannot discuss so do not ask. We were promised progeny if we were faithful and kept order in this world.”

I frowned. “I thought the fae were supposed to run the show here.”

He pursed his lips as if in disgust and tilted his head. “They are meant to inflict judgments. We are meant to keep them in line.”

A growing dread took over my gut. “By ‘we,’ do you mean me?”

“As I said, we will not know the extent of your powers until they are tested. You do have some qualities of your mother. Take your hair, for example.”

Yeah, being a grown man with bright blond hair wasn’t exactly masculine. I used to get teased for being a towhead. I’d never understood the expression, even though Mom tried to explain it to me. “What else did I inherit from her?” Before he could answer, a thought struck me. “How do you know I’m immortal?”

He stood, the ledge feeling narrow with his presence. “Your mother was bonded when she conceived you. Her mortal characteristics were not in play; besides, your angel genes are dominant.”

His logic was thin, and I think he knew it. “How can you know?”

“As I said, the more you use your powers, we will come to understand your limitations.”

I rose to my feet, no longer interested in the cosmic scene. “Did you know Zach nearly killed me?”

With a nod, he clasped his hands behind his back. The look on his face was still passive, as if my being his child and having qualities of a god were no big deal. “I’m aware of your first test.”

Test? What a joke. “He had to stop. I couldn’t breathe.”

His expression said I was a moron. “You do not require air, my son. It might be uncomfortable for you without it, but your chemistry is not the same as a mortal. Without air for
long enough, you might lose consciousness, but you would not die.”

His words should have soothed my fears, but there was no sound of truth behind them. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Don’t be absurd. You have my genetic makeup. It would be impossible for you to be killed.”

He was guessing. Some kind of reassurance his talk turned out to be. “How will I be tested?”

He shrugged. “In battle.”

“With whom?”

“The fae. They have similar powers to you.”

Anger welled inside me. “But you don’t know what powers I possess! How can you stand there and tell me I have a chance with these people when it’s all speculation?”

Without a warning, he shot a fireball at me. My arms came out in front of my face, but it wasn’t to deflect the flames. I caught the orb and shot it back at him. It was pure instinct. My body filled with adrenaline, and my mind spun with uncertainty. I stared at my hands, not knowing who I was anymore.

His voice dipped low as a menacing scowl contorted his face. “Do you believe they are superior to you, Travis?”

I swallowed. “No.”

He grabbed me by the shirt, hauling me up to look into his eyes. “Do you?”

“No, sir!”

He stared, those black eyes so like my own. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t break the contact. He let go. “They are the dregs of the universe ... scum. Do you understand me?”

Whoa. Where had his hate come from? “They aren’t so bad,” I said because I was tired of being intimidated. Lambert had tried. There was no way I was going to let my own father do the same.

He frowned, his expression grim as a newly dug grave. Then, he smiled. A laugh followed. I sure hoped in-sanity didn’t run in the family. He laughed some more, clapping me on the shoulder before he grabbed me by the nape and twisted me to the swirling elements. “They are okay. It did me good to spend time among them, but you must remember they are not your priority.”

I smirked. “Never said they were.” Memories of my girl floated into my mind. I looked at my father and realized something: he might be able to help me. “Hey, do you keep track of the Order?”

He shrugged. “Somewhat. Why?”

“I’m looking for someone … an Elemental.”

A toothy grin overtook his features. “Aren’t we all?”

I wanted to bypass what he’d said, but I couldn’t. “Huh?”

“I still think of your mother often.”

I hardly knew the woman. Grace Keller had been the one to kiss my scrapes and give me pats on the back for getting good grades, on the rare occasion. “I don’t see her much,” I said because I didn’t know what else might appease him. I was pretty sure telling him I didn’t consider her family wouldn’t go over well.

The far off look on his face gave me no comfort. He could have Alithia
— whatever her name was. She’d bailed on me. It was all I needed to know.

His hand shot out and latched onto my neck. “One thing you should know, son. I love your mother more than anything in this universe, including you.”

I clutched at his fingers like a girl with wet nail polish. My mouth gaped, but nothing was getting through his death grip. Not wanting to test his theory of my immortality, I kicked his leg at an awkward angle. He let go and stumbled, tumbling over the cliff. I gasped for air, hoping I hadn’t gotten brain damage, hoping I hadn’t killed an angel. Well, my father. My heart raced as I waited for him to pop back onto this weird ledge in the middle of space. Hell, his whole idea of not needing air hit me hard. I was in space, or he was a mind-bending freak who had hijacked my mind into making me think I was in a void. Either way, he was immortal. Why was I worried about the guy, anyway? He’d ditched me a long time ago — his holographic memories could be fake for all I knew.

I gritted my teeth and lowered to the edge of the platform. When I peeked over the side, more space greeted me. A grapefruit sized pit of fear stuck in my throat. What if I had killed him? What if I was stuck here forever? Would I die without food? What if I needed to sleep? How could I on this narrow piece of whatever this stuff was?