Vanished (29 page)

              I silently groan. Apparently, I have a lot to learn.

I wonder if our altered DNA means we will live longer than the people in the holding dimension.  If the Agarthan’s have a longer life-span and we are like them now, won’t we as well?”

              “You will.” He murmurs. 

              “Would you get out of my head? How do you do that anyways?” And when will I stop forgetting he can hear my thoughts?

              “How do
we
do it would be more accurate a question.” He answers, “Remember when I told your boyfriend that
Misea
have been touched by magic?”

              “His name is Logan, and yes” I’d been wondering what he meant by that.

              He nods, “One of the things
Misae
can do is communicate with one another telepathically.  This is a gift beyond anything Agarthans are born with or any mutations that can be designed in the laboratory.  The Empire wants to use the
Misae
as one of their tools of destruction against other, lesser species. 

Unfortunately for them, the fire was made by compassionate people and is actually intelligent enough to know when it is being used to purposely harm living things, but there are still operator errors, accidents, and when those things happen, the gifts come with the scars. With practice, you will be able to hear my thoughts, without my permission, as well. So you better get used to it.”

              “But if the Empire knew the accidents were happening wouldn’t it have been better not to have used purification-fire at all, rather than risk it getting out that people are getting burned by it?

              “No, they would rather risk the bad publicity than miss the opportunity to do what they’ve been dreaming about since they twisted our society years ago, dominating the universe. “ Renner sits back in his seat, raising his arms up behind his head and stretching, “So, how long have you and
Logan
been together?”

              Blushing, I shake my head and look away, “That’s none of your business.”

              “The burns bonds us, permanently, Trin, whether we like it or not we don’t get the luxury of having secrets anymore, like everybody else.” His voice isn’t teasing anymore. It’s like he’s giving me a warning and it’s the first time he has actually used my real name instead of addressing me as
Misea
.  A flush of shame washes over me.  Why do I like the sound of it so much? 

“
Trin, Trin, Trin,”
he whispers in my mind, then turns to grin at me.  

I look fiercely back at him. I’m getting ready to tell him that he better find
some
way for us to develop healthy boundaries with the telepathy thing, when the ship spins backwards suddenly changing our view. My mind empties of everything else except for the magnificent glowing blue ball, with patches of green and brown, and swirls of white clouds, taking up half of the screen. 

Home
. 

“War is coming,” Renner pronounces, his deep voice vibrating through me, “and
that”
he nods toward home,” is the prize.”

His words somehow bring everything into perspective and suddenly I know…

I am no longer broken, love glued me back together, and now
I’m going to fight
.

###

Vanished Playlist

1. “Crawling” by Linkin Park.
   
2. “Best of you” by Foo Fighters
   
3. “Polly” by Nirvana
   
4. “Sorrow” by Flyleaf
   
5. “Madness” by Muse
   
6. “Teenage Dirt-bag” by One Direction
   
7. “Save me” by Muse
   
8. “Rapunzel” by Dave Matthews
   
9. “I’m so sick” by Flyleaf
   
10. “Starlight” by Muse