Stunned (The Lucidites Book 2) (40 page)

“Thank you all for joining us to celebrate Joseph and Roya’s s seventeenth birthday. I owe these two people so much. For that matter I owe the whole rescue team my life. They’re not getting it, but regardless I owe it to them. Please join me on center stage, Samara, George, and Trent. I have something I’d like to give all of you who risked your life to save mine.”

When we’re all gathered around Aiden, he lays a small box, about an inch and half in diameter, in each of our hands. “These gifts are to show my appreciation for your efforts. It’s not much, but it is a token of my gratitude.”

The velvet-lined box makes a popping sound when I open it. Inside sits a silver ring with a small round black disk.

“You’ve heard of mood rings, right?” Aiden says. “Well, those work off of body temperature. Here in your hands you have what could actually be considered a real mood ring. Thanks to George I’ve been able to accurately detect real moods using an advanced technology. With this ring you will know your own mood and be able to warn those around you. Won’t that be fun!?” he sings. Everyone laughs.

I pluck the ring from its box and place it on my finger. It automatically turns gray. Pasted to the bottom of the box is a legend. I scan it. Gray means anxious. That’s about right.

“Thanks, Aiden,” Trent says, looking at his ring, which is currently purple. “I’ve never ever wanted something like this and I think it’s completely useless.”

Aiden smiles. His blue eyes dazzle. “You’re absolutely welcome.”

Pulling off the ring I stuff it into my pocket and flinch when George leans over my shoulder. “Rumor is you can’t leave the Institute as planned.”

I scrutinize him for a second. “Yeah, Trey won’t let me leave. Not sure how he found out about it though.”

“You’ve been avoiding me,” George says, ignoring the accusation overloading my tone.

I bristle. “No I haven’t.” Thankfully the others have moved off to cut and distribute the cakes.

“Roya,” he says, a warning in his voice. His eyes are sharp, like they were cut from stone.

“Look, I’m sorry, George, I’m preoccupied at the moment.” I scan the room until I find Joseph in a corner talking to a girl with red hair. That figures.

“At the moment?” he challenges.

My gaze falls to the ground and as it does I catch notice of George’s ring on his finger. It’s black. Stressed.

“Fine, all the time, but especially right now.” I look straight at him. “The truth is I have been avoiding you. I was really confused when I kissed you. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not sorry. I just wished you’d do it when you weren’t so confused.”

“Well, maybe at some point life will stop being so confusing for once and then maybe I’ll get everything all figured out.”

“Yeah, maybe,” he says coldly.

Over his shoulder I check the clock. It’s almost time to meet Trey. “Look, we need to talk, but I have to go right now.”

George scans my eyes. I haven’t wanted to hide anything from him recently and so I’m slow to throw up my shield. His eyes narrow. “Roya, when I gave you permission to hurt me, I didn’t mean right now. I meant after we’d been together for a long time. Like years.”

Why does he have to make this so pathetically painful?

“George, I’m not going to hurt you.”
That’s a lie.
“We just need to talk about something. It’s no big deal.”
Another lie.
“But I can’t get into right now. I’ve got to go.”
Truth.

I search for Joseph. It’s like my new hobby. Surprisingly he’s actually already waiting by the doorway for me. I’m halfway down the corridor when I hear footsteps racing behind me. I turn around just as Aiden pulls up.

“Hey,” he says, panting softly.

“Hey.”

“I wanted to say happy birthday, Roya.”

“Thanks,” I say. That’s not all he wanted to say, but with Joseph around he’s being careful. His smile speaks volumes though. His eyes flick to Joseph behind me. I suspect my brother is giving him a dirty look. “Happy birthday to you, Joseph.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, gaining back Aiden’s attention. “We have to head out early. Trey’s orders. Thank you for the party.”

“My pleasure. I’ll save you both some cake. See you tomorrow.”

“Can’t wait.”

“Me either.” There’s a promise in his voice. I seize it for all it’s worth.

Joseph tugs my arm and I turn and stride off.

Chapter Fifty-One

T
rey stares at us across his desk with burdened eyes. After a minute he sucks in a long breath. “For almost a month now I’ve been traveling the globe, trying to figure something out. I kept thinking it was outside the Institute. I thought it was far away. And so that’s where I searched.” Trey shakes his head, looking absolutely revolted, like he’s about to be sick. “I combed the world and it was here all along.” Quite predictably Trey runs his hand through his silver hair. Joseph’s knees jitter wildly under his hands.

Trey focuses on me, eyes heavy with concern. “My sources say that Zhuang is gaining power. Turning thousands of Middlings into hallucinators again. ”

“What?” My voice comes out as a croak. “You’re just now telling me this?”

He dismisses me with a shift of his eyes. “At first we thought—we hoped—he was dead, but then our reports indicated that he was alive, but only barely. And recently I’ve been informed that he’s regaining strength.”

“Trey, you—”

His hand flips up from his desk, a small movement but it still commands my silence. “I’ve searched, trying to determine how he could be recharging. My reports indicated that someone with significant ESP had been giving their power to restore him. That’s why I’ve been away so much. I’ve been trying to find this person. You see, the only power that can heal Zhuang is clairvoyance. It’s pure. It’s everything that he needs to regain his strength and skills.” Trey snaps his attention on Joseph. “You, Joseph, have unknowingly given your power to Zhuang.”

Shock and repulsion flash across Joseph’s face. “No, I haven’t!”

“You have,” Trey argues. “You have somehow brought him back from the depths of darkness which Roya had sent him to.”

What Trey says is fathomless. Bob and Steve said he’s never wrong. This has to be his first time. Has to be.

“I’m working on something else,” Joseph says looking from me to Trey, his eyes growing more desperate each second. I want to believe his pleas, but it’s difficult as I stare into his cold, hollow eyes. Could he have done what Trey is accusing? I knew he needed help, but I never imagined…

“It may appear as something else, but Zhuang has tricked you.” Tragic disappointment brims from Trey’s eyes. “Whatever you think you’re doing is wrong. Look at what he’s done to you! He’s drained you!” Trey’s usual even voice has elevated to a level I’ve never heard him use before. He loosens a breath and when he continues his voice is more restrained. “I should have seen this. I’m so sorry I let it happen.” Again his hands sweep through his hair. “I should have—”

“Look,” Joseph interrupts him, “you don’t get it. I’ve been working on somethin’ important and it has nothing to do with Zhuang. Your reports are wrong.”

I turn and look at Trey, who’s looking at Joseph, who’s focused on Trey. I look back and forth between them again and again. “What is it then?!” I yell, the anxiety hammering my heart. “Tell me! Now!”

Joseph pivots so he faces me. Leans forward. “I didn’t wanna tell you until I was closer to being done. It was supposed to be a surprise. I haven’t been bringin’ Zhuang back.” He says it like it’s the stupidest thing he’s ever heard. A small smile pulls at his lips, a subtle triumph in his eyes. “I’ve found our father. I’ve been bringing
him
back.”

Wading through disbelief and shock, I choke out a single word. “What?”

Joseph nods, victory spreading his face into a wide smile. “Yep, I’ve found our father. You’re welcome.”

“No you haven’t!” Trey explodes, a thick vein popping on his beet red forehead. “It’s Zhuang!”

Not only have I never seen Trey so livid, but Joseph’s anger matches his. “He’s not Zhuang! It’s Stark’s and my father!” Joseph turns to me, frantic. “I’ve seen him. You have to believe me. He’s not Zhuang. He’s old and gray-haired. And
not
Asian.” He fires the last sentence at Trey.

“It’s Zhuang.” Trey’s voice is steadier when he repeats himself.

“No he’s not,” Joseph hisses. Then he turns again and focuses on me. “Look, he loved us. He was wiped of all his power when our mother died. He’s been ill this whole time, withering away in an awful slum.” From the corner of my vision I see Trey shaking his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. “But he can draw power, like life force, from people, but only if they’re willing. I’ve been givin’ someone my power, but it’s not Zhuang. It’s our father.”

A tenderness I haven’t seen since I found out Joseph was my brother visits his eyes. Hope, that’s what it is. And I know him enough to know he believes this, whether it’s true or not. My heart palpitates like a snare drum. I want it to be true too.

Joseph reaches out, grabbing my hand. His fingers, frigid and bony. “He’s much stronger now and I believe he’ll survive. Stark, I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

“It’s Zhuang!” Trey stands, pushing his chair back with a screech that assaults my ears. “He’s used a projection to fool you. During the Day of the Duel he must have read your thoughts. Later he knew how he could lure you to him. And you have brought him back and almost killed yourself in the process,” Trey’s voice drips with disgust. “He’s right too. He does need permission to leach energy out of someone and he has yours. Zhuang was too weak to steal life force. The only way he could recover is if someone willingly gave him theirs, but not just anyone. He needed a clairvoyant. He needed you. And he read your thoughts and knew he could manipulate you.”

Trey puts his hand to his head like he’s in pain. When he speaks his voice sounds a million miles away. In a hushed tone he says, “He’s not only stronger now, he also has clairvoyance. You’ve restored this part of him. If my findings are correct, which I believe them to be, then Zhuang is more dangerous than ever before.”

“But how do you know all this?” I ask.

“It’s a part of my gift,” Trey says, not taking his eyes off my brother. “I know for certain Zhuang has been revived and now I know it was Joseph.”

Joseph stands. He’s shaking his head furiously. “NO! NO! You’re wrong! This isn’t true! I didn’t bring Zhuang back! The person I brought back is our father!” Tears well up instantly in his red eyes and race down his face. Raw ache envelops me immediately. I want to fold him in my arms, erase this pain and Trey’s accusations. But I don’t. I remain planted in the leather seat, unable to move.

“No, Joseph! It’s Zhuang!” Trey erupts again. “You’ve brought him back and now he’s going to come after Middlings, and Dream Travelers, and…”

Without him finishing his sentence I know what he’s going to say. If Zhuang is alive he’ll come after me. He’ll finish the fight. He’s wanted my consciousness for so long and only death would stop him.

Trey’s anger, the yelling, this heart-wrenching news, and Joseph’s desperation all combine to create an intense pressure in the back of my eyes. My head feels like it’s going to detonate from the force.

Joseph throws his head in his hands. Shakes side to side. Over and over again. Crying. Moaning. Gasping. “No, no, no. You’re wrong. You’re so wrong.”

“I’m not,” Trey says through clenched teeth.

Joseph looks up, his face red. Frightened. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know. I’m one hundred percent sure you’ve brought Zhuang back,” Trey says in a cool, but irate tone.

“But how!? How do you know the man I recovered isn’t our father?!”

“Because I know who your father is!” Trey fires back.

Stunned, I whip my hand to my mouth, and a startled gasp breaks through it.

“What?” My voice comes out like a shiver. “Who is it?”

Trey’s eyes close for a half beat. It’s enough to make me crazy. When he opens them he doesn’t look at us. “It’s me.”

The End.

To continue your journey with the Lucidites purchase your copy of
Revived.

Acknowledgements

While I was writing this book I kept calling it a “Monster.” I’m 1126% sure I’d never have tamed it if it wasn’t for the numerous people who supported me and my work. The first thank you for this one goes out to my husband, Luke Noffke. His unwavering support stuns me at times (yep, I just said that). I’ve abandoned him many a night when writing and editing this book. Too many mornings he’s awoken (yeah, I did it again) to an empty bed. And every day he’s expressed his encouragement to me for the efforts I put into this project. It’s so much easier to write a book when you know the ones you love support your crazy routine and neurotic behavior.

Speaking of neurotic behavior, I want to thank Colleen Maliski for indulging my neurosis. I think I’m to blame for making you a little crazier. Yeah, I said it. You’re crazy. Even more so now. I know that without you to bounce ideas off of I would have delivered a much lesser book.

Thank you to my daughter, Lydia. You’re stronger than Roya, smarter than Aiden, sweeter than George, and funnier than Joseph. Again, my muse.

Thank you to my beta readers: Dane Maliski, Jennifer Wilkerson, Fay White, Heidi Magner, and Meghan Toledo. I seriously have the smartest, most insightful beta readers in the world.

Thank you to my friends and family. When I came out of the writer’s closet I was embraced by such love and encouragement. It’s intimidating to be a writer, but you all make it so much easier. Thank you to my father, Kathy, and Bea. Thank you to Randy and Edie Noffke. Thank you to my Anne, Chelsey, Cathryn, and Jason for all your support and to all the other family members who have shown me support throughout the years. I’m blessed with such a wonderful family.

Thank you to my editor, Christine LePorte. You did an even more spectacular job on this book than the last. Is that possible? And you’re encouraging words made my heart sing. Yes, I used that corny phrase. Sue me…no, please don’t.