Seeking Crystal (22 page)

‘Some are billeted in a nearby chalet,’ explained Steve, ‘but most come down to Malcesine for the evening. Only the security guards will still be there. There’s too much equipment to leave without someone to look after it.’ He negotiated the icy roads with skill, bolstering my faith in his claim to be a decent pilot. In an odd way, I’d say he was enjoying doing something real rather than an act of screen heroism. The pinewoods either side of us were eerily empty—dense shadows under the branches choking off other life. A little higher and the snow began, counteracting nightfall with the glow from the white surface.

‘So tell me about this Savant world you are part of—how many of you are there?’ Steve asked.

‘More than you’d think.’ Xav took up the conversation. ‘We keep ourselves to ourselves as much as possible as we have gifts that many people would want.’

‘Yeah, like you and healing. You could make a fortune.’

Xav stiffened slightly next to me, acting like a cat with his fur rubbed the wrong way. ‘I suppose, but it’s not about money—or shouldn’t be. The reason we keep quiet is that there’s too much need and not enough of us to go round. I can’t heal everyone so I have to make my own path, do the good that comes my way rather than exhaust myself on a futile attempt to cure the world.’

Steve met Xav’s eyes in the driver’s mirror. ‘You know, the more I hear, the more it does sound like my life. My position gives me power and I have to be careful how I use it. I can only say “yes” to so many good causes or I’d never have time to live. Sounds harsh, but you have to strike a balance.’

Lily checked the map. ‘Next left, Steve.’

‘Yeah, I know. I’ve driven this a few times.’

‘Still I wouldn’t mind a gift like yours,’ Lily told Xav. ‘It must feel great to be able to make a difference—save lives, cure cancer.’

‘Not sure I could go that far—it takes a lot of energy to do a healing and a disease like that is an energy-eater.’ Xav was in a sombre mood, not replying with a joke as he normally would. None of us could stop being worried about what had happened to Karla, Diamond, Sky, and Phoenix and that was making him uncharacteristically reflective. ‘But the thing is, Lily, though we divide the world up into those with Savant gifts and those without, that isn’t really true. You have a gift too—to make things. It’s just as worthwhile in its own way.’

Lily turned in her seat to grin at him. ‘Aw, thanks. I knew I liked you.’

‘It’s the Savants who think their skills absolve them from normal rules, such as the difference between right and wrong, that you have to worry about.’

‘Like your contessa?’

‘Exactly like her—and her son and the other guys we had arrested in London. They have a loose confederation carving up the world into their spheres of influence like they had the right to do so. I’m proud we stopped them.’

‘I just hope your ladies aren’t paying the price for that,’ commented Steve.

The rescue team peeled off at the fork in the road. They were going to stash the vehicle out of sight and go into the grounds through the fence, finding a spot, thanks to Will’s gift, where security was least vigilant. Saul followed our car up to the location. The snow-glow lit up the helicopter pad even though evening had fallen in the valley of the Lake. The company had rented a large car park meant for weekend skiers and sectioned it off as hard standing for the production vehicles and aircraft. It was a good thing we had Steve and Lily with us, as the security guards were understandably reluctant to let a convoy of two vehicles invade their patch so late.

‘Hey, guys, how’s it going?’ Steve said breezily.

‘All quiet, Mr Hughes,’ said the chief guard warily.

‘I’ve just come up to take my friends for a spin in my helicopter. Just going to do some preflight checks—don’t let us take you away from your other duties.’

‘I wasn’t told about this, sir.’ The guard checked his schedule.

‘It’s not official. And it is my helicopter.’ Steve let his smile fade, reminding the man subtly just who the mega star here was.

The guard backed down. ‘OK, Mr Hughes. It was sprayed with de-icer before the techies left but go carefully now.’

‘I intend to.’

Barrier removed to let us through, we drove past the location vehicles to the helipad and parked.

‘You brought your own helicopter all the way from the States?’ asked Xav.

Steve rubbed his hands together, feeling the nip in the air now the door was open. ‘No. I rented it so I could get about without the hassle. Don’t worry: it’s the same as the one I fly back home.’ He strode over to the smallest of the three helicopters, a black Gazelle according to the writing on the tail. Relishing the association with the top box office draw, the hire company had given it a paint job especially for their celebrity client: ‘Steve’ in large letters down the fuselage. Hmm, subtle.

‘Is he for real?’ Xav muttered. ‘I can’t compete with that.’

I burrowed closer to his warmth. ‘I wouldn’t try. He lives in a world of fictional heroes—that’s who he’s trying to keep up with; I like mine to be a bit more down to earth.’

‘That’s a relief. Come on, I think he’s ready.’

We got out of the car and joined the others by the Gazelle. I could feel the telepathic messages passing so kept my distance from Mr Benedict.

‘OK,’ said Saul. ‘The boys are through the fence and heading for the back wall. I’m not sure how far the dampening field stretches but they’re still outside it.’ He paused, listening to the voices winging to and fro. ‘Steve, Victor’s given me the go-ahead. Buzz the roof a few times then let Xav off in the grounds in full view of the front door. While he’s doing that, the boys will go over the back wall as arranged. Xav, you keep in touch so you know when to call off your distraction. Yves will short the alarms and CCTV the moment the guards pursue so that’ll add to the confusion. Steve, you circle and wait for Crystal to give you the signal to land. All being well, they’ll be packing our girls out and with you before the contessa realizes what’s going on.’

‘Understood.’ Steve rubbed his hands together. ‘I’d prefer a few rehearsals but I suppose we’d better make the most of improvisation if things go wrong.’

‘I’m afraid you’re right. The telepathic link might fail if the contessa thinks to set up a dampener again. In that event, it’s essential the girls be taken to safety even if that means letting my boys figure out their own escape route. Agreed?’

Steve nodded.

‘Piece of cake,’ said Xav.

‘Xav, you’re the one who is going to be on your own the most,’ Saul said. ‘Will says to make sure you haul your butt back to the vehicle rendezvous. He doesn’t want to have to come looking for you.’

‘Tell big brother that he doesn’t have to worry about me.’

But I could tell Will and Saul were anxious about Xav’s part in this and as they both had a gift for sensing danger, I found it far from reassuring.

‘Xavier, you have given me more grey hairs than all my sons put together.’ Saul frowned, then corrected himself. ‘To be fair, you
and
Zed. Just try not to add to them tonight.’

Xav gave his dad a hug. ‘I’ll do my best.’

‘Let’s get this show on the road.’ Steve climbed into the cockpit.

Saul helped me into the rear seat. ‘Watch your backs, all of you. Karla will never forgive me if any of you get hurt trying to rescue her.’

Xav put his arm around me as we sat in the back to watch our pilot ready the helicopter for take-off. It was a small craft but could carry five passengers at a squeeze. The plan wouldn’t have been possible without snow on the ground to guide us—almost as good as landing lights; as it was we were all acutely aware Steve was risking a lot to help.

He’s not bad for a self-absorbed movie god, is he?
I asked Xav. We had to use my kind of telepathy, about which I was still uncertain, like a kid wobbling on her first two-wheeler bike; but the whine of the engine was so loud, even in the soundproofed cockpit, that normal talk was impossible and Steve would hear us on the microphone in the ear defenders we were wearing.

Hearing you loud and clear, cupcake. Boy, is that one powerful bridge you built. You might need to rein it back a bit.

Sorry.

Don’t be sorry. With any luck, it’ll bust through any barrier the old witch throws up. As for your guy here, he’s bearable as long as he keeps his hands to himself
, Xav conceded.

He only kissed me once and it was nothing like yours.

Glad to hear it.
He paused.
Mine were better, right?

I couldn’t help teasing to lighten the unbearable tension we were both feeling.
They were different, that’s for sure.

Better different or worse different?
His arm tightened around my waist, a warning to go carefully.

I turned into his embrace.
His was kind.

Kind?
Xav turned the word over in his mind.
That doesn’t sound very impressive.

Oh, I was impressed that he cared to shelter me from the press pack.

And?

And what?
Wasn’t I a little Miss Innocent?

How did it compare to mine?
he growled.

His gave me a little thrill I have to admit … but yours blew my socks off.

He kissed the space between my eyebrows above the bridge of my nose, urging the memory to stick.
Good. Just you remember that, Crystal Brook. And I can do much better, I promise.

I bet you can. It’s a shame now’s not the time to find out.

Yeah, when everyone’s safe, you and I have unfinished business to settle.

I suppose we do.
I wasn’t sure of my moves in this relationship. I know we were meant to be together but that didn’t mean I could go straight to being uber-cool about the whole soulfinder thing like Diamond had done.

Sensing my need for reassurance, Xav glanced at Steve but he was too busy flying to pay us any attention.
I’ll just take a little instalment now.
He bent down to kiss, warm lips soft against mine. I leant in, kissing him back, trying to use my mouth to say what I hadn’t yet admitted: that I loved him and was scared rigid about what he was going to do. As he had on the movie set, he rubbed tiny circles on my spine, a magic touch that melted away the tension. He shifted to hold the back of my neck firmly, taking control of the angle our lips met and I was happy to let him take command. The boy kissed like a champion and I was more than ready to pick up a few tips. For a few seconds I was worried he would notice my clumsiness but then I forgot everything but enjoying the kiss. This wasn’t a test I had to pass but a pledge, an exchange of what we felt for each other.

He broke off the kiss.
It’s OK—we’ll be OK. I’m coming back to you whatever happens tonight.

I’ll hold you to that. Just warning you: I’ll kill you if you let any harm come to you.

Excellent. Sweet, moderate response from my understanding soulfinder. Aren’t I lucky?

‘Hey, lovebirds, you might want to know that we’re approaching the castle now,’ called Steve through the mikes in our earphones, not sounding that put out that he was playing gooseberry. Probably a nice break for him. ‘I’m going in low. Time to cover up so they don’t recognize you.’

I pulled on my ski hat and glasses. Xav was already suited up in his ski gear. He put on helmet and goggles, a little awkwardly, as he had to hold the earphones to one side to keep talking to Steve.

Xav scanned the castle grounds, matching it to what he had seen from the satellite image. ‘That’s a good place to start the run.’ He pointed to a terrace outside the ground floor windows of the castle—the same sitting room where we had seen Diamond and the others. ‘How low can you get me when you drop?’

‘A couple of feet off the ground. No wind to speak of so I won’t be battling the elements.’

‘I’ll throw out the skis first then follow. I’ll need a few moments to put them on so if you can use the helicopter to shield me.’

‘Will do.’

Be very, very careful,
I begged.

With you to come back to? Sure, I’ll take care.

‘Second approach!’ called Steve. ‘And yes, Houston, we have their attention. Get ready for inane movie star mode.’ We leant to his side and whooped and jeered at the security guard who had emerged from the tunnel to check out the disturbance overhead. ‘Grab the champagne, honey. It’s behind my seat.’

‘Champagne?’ I found the bottle in a box at my feet.

He grinned. ‘I am Steve Hughes. Got my reputation to think of. Never fly without the Dom Perignon on ice. Crack open the rear window and fire the cork at him. That’ll leave him in no doubt as to our intention to be idiots.’

It was an odd moment to realize I’d not opened a champagne bottle before but I’d have to learn quickly—Steve had his hands full and Xav was readying to jump.