Catalyst (Forevermore, Book Two) (20 page)

“
That’s normal. Starting out, even little things can drain you. It gets easier. Like, that earring? I was just doing it like that to show you what to do starting out. Watch this.”

Iris started humming
some song and I couldn’t believe the spectacle behind her. Dozens of pieces of jewelry floated into the air, lava lamps rose up and lowered, lamps and other things turned on and off, then it all went back to its original place.

“
Holy crap… you’re amazing …”

She smiled wide.
“Pft, ain’t nothin’,” she said with a fake accent, rubbed the side of her nose with a thumb and laughed again. The accent made me remember Lydia.

“
Now go on, try again. But this time keep your eyes closed.”

“
What?” I blinked. “You can’t be serious …”

“
Me? I’m always serious.” She stuck out her tongue and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“
The earring?”

“
Nope. The lamp.”

“
How am I going to see it if my eyes are closed?”

“
See it in your mind. Go on, you can do it.”

I took a last look at the lava lamp to try to get a good, pristine image of what it looked like. I closed my eyes tight and pictured it. I saw it lifting. I saw it floating through the air.

Iris squealed. “You’re doing it!”

Her sudden voice caused me to open my eyes just in time to see the lamp crashing to the floor. Iris ran over to it.

“Oh, my God, Iris, I’m so sorry … I … I’ll buy you a new one.”

She lifted it up, thick liquid pouring out from a long, jagged crack. She looked like she could cry.
“This … this was a gift from my mom. And now … now she’s gone and so is this!”

“
Iris, I’m so, so, sorry. I …” Her laughter interrupted my apology. I scrunched my eyebrows at her in confusion.

“
I’m just joking. I mean, I liked it, but it damn sure wasn’t from my mom.”

I laughed, then, u
sing up the remainder of my energy, I summoned a lamp with black liquid and silvery-white globs inside it. Iris stared at me in awe and went to observe the new object. Dizzied and tired, I laid back on her bed; I wouldn’t be using my gifts again anytime soon.

“
That’s so awesome,” she said and turned on the lamp.

“
Iris?”

“
Yeah?”

“
How’d you end up here, anyway? If you don’t mind me asking …”

“
I don’t mind. Let’s just say I got kicked out and Artemis found me.”

“
Kicked out?”

“
Yeah. My mom and dad kicked me out of the house when I was fourteen.”

“
What!? Why …?”

“
I told them I was gay. Well, bi. They didn’t like that too much.”

“
Are you serious?”

“
Yep. Straight out. My dad was a preacher. Anyway, haven’t seen them since. Hitchhiked from Montana —”

“
You’re from Montana?”

“
Yeah, why? Wouldn’t have thought that since I’m not wearing a cowboy hat and smelling like cow and horse shit?” She snorted and giggled again. “No, seriously though, that’s where I’m from. Probably best. I never fit in in that tiny speck of a town anyway. Of course what were the odds that a Nefastus picked me up and brought me here?” She laughed again. “Artemis saved me though. That’s a story for another time though; we should probably go tell the old man what we found out.”

I laughed at her calling Artemis an old man, but wondered
just what the rest of her story was like. I definitely wasn’t the only one with a strange, troubled initiation into this magical world.

“
Oh, yeah, sure,” I said and got up, my legs wobbling underneath me.

“
You shouldn’t have done that,” she said with a frown and helped steady me. “I mean, I appreciate it, and I
love
that freaking lamp, but you’ve gotta be careful with your energy.”

“
Trust me, I know,” I said glumly and thought briefly back to when the group of witches attacked me outside Hannah’s apartment.

“
You get used to it after a while. The energy loss, I mean. It becomes kind of natural and you realize it’s diminishing before you let yourself get to the point where you’re going to make yourself well, like you are now. And like I said, the better you get at it the easier and more efficient it all is.”

“
Good to know,” I said and let her assist me in walking down the hall.

Artemis was luckily back from wherever he’d been and was in his chambers at the end of the motel. He opened his door and welcomed us inside without question. My eyes scanned every inch of the room that was visible to me in search of the
Codex
, but I didn’t see any books that stood out. Iris told our Clan leader all about what had happened in her room and that I was a quick learner, her voice and hands moving animatedly as she relayed everything to him. I wished I could have been as excited as she was, but instead, I was left worrying and pondering what it could possibly mean.

Having two gifts was one thing
... and even that was worrisome because it was unheard of … but having
three
... what could that possibly mean?

Then again, I had no evidence that I had three anymore. I hadn
’t dreamt of anything in days, and I couldn’t seem to get through to anyone’s thoughts. I couldn’t tell Artemis that, though.

“
Can you demonstrate for me, Castus Young?” Artemis asked, breaking me out of my reverie. He pointed to his desk where a glass paperweight sat on a pile of papers. “Bring that to you, if you will.”

“
I-I can’t.”

“
What do you mean you can’t?”

“
She sort of wore herself out. Out of energy, I mean,” Iris spoke up.

With an understanding nod, Artemis hovered his hand over my forehead and I felt the lightheaded sensation fade.
“
Now
, bring it to you.”

Obeying his command, I willed the paperweight toward me and he gasped in astonishment. It didn
’t shake or falter as it flew through the air and landed delicately in my hand.

“
Amazing, simply amazing. But …” he muttered and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“
Now that I went and did all of that ... tell me what you know about Mathias. Have you found anything out?”

Artemis exhaled deeply and rubbed his temple.
“I have already told you that I am working on it; it takes time.”

“
Mathias may not
have
time!”

“
Castus Young, you must learn to be patient. I am leaving soon to continue looking into things regarding Mathias’s ... condition. While I continue to do so, please keep practicing your newfound gift. I do not understand how it is possible, but it is important that you use it and hone the skill. Thank you again, Castus Abbot, for your assistance.”

“
My pleasure,” Iris said and waved at me before she stepped out of the room. “Bye now.”

“
Take that with you,” Artemis said, pointing to the paperweight. “But do be careful. It’s somewhat of an heirloom.”

“
I don’t —”

“
Please,” he said dismissively. “Just go. I trust that you won’t break it.”

“
That wasn’t —”

He pointed toward the door, interrupting my explanation without saying a word.

“Fine.” I huffed, wrapped my fingers around the glass object, and stomped out of the room.

I sat in the lobby
, tapping my fingers on the couch arm and waiting. I had initially thought of just retreating to my room, throwing myself down on the bed and sleeping the rest of the day away, but had an idea, partially thanks to Iris. Without knowing how long I would have to wait, I practiced moving the paperweight from the coffee table to the entertainment center across the room, after having a small meal of cottage cheese with fruit cocktail. Seven times of moving the object back and forth had already passed and I was running out of steam.

Artemis entered the lobby and observed me with a satisfied smile.
“Very good. Keep it up. I will return later.”

I put on my
best fake smile as I watched him slip through the door and step out into the frosty world beyond. I pocketed the paperweight and leapt up from the sectional and rushed down the hallway, heading straight for room twelve. Only two knocks before Alan opened the door; he looked surprised to see me, but I didn’t blame him.

“
Uh, hi,” I blurted out and glanced down the hall to ensure no one was nearby. “I’m sorry ... about before, in my room... ”

Alan looked amused and shook his head.
“You shouldn’t be apologizing.
I
should. I came onto you, remember?”

“
Either way, it doesn’t matter. I was kind of hoping you could help me with something.”

He looked hesitant at first, then smiled.
“Sure, anything.”

“
I’ll remember you said that.” I looked down at my shoes and, for a moment, contemplated not putting this plan into action. “I am going to break into Artemis’s room and I need your help.”

H
e opened his mouth, then shut it. “I … what? Madison ... Don’t be foolish.”

“
Look, I’m going to do it, with or without you ... but it would be a lot easier if you came with. I think Artemis is hiding something or knows about Mathias’s illness — whatever it is — and he just isn’t telling me. I was hoping to use your gift to help me find something.”

Alan
’s shoulders slumped and he sighed. “It always comes back to Castus Forsythe, doesn’t it? Regardless, my gift doesn’t work that way. I can’t just go into our Clan leader’s room, pick up a random object, and magically know what he’s been doing recently. My gift picks up the history of items, more often than not they’re old memories. Plus, there’s always an intense emotional connection to the item. Usually a negative one.”

“
Exactly! Mathias’s condition
is
negative. So, it could be linked to something ... right? Maybe? I know the chances are slim, but this is all I can think of now. Please …”

He looked uncertain and
I was sure he was going to decline. “Why don’t you just wait for Artemis to figure this all out? If anyone can fix this, it would be him.”

“
Mathias might not be able to wait long enough, he could die ...”

“
I really don’t —” He paused and looked at me, my eyes pleading. “Very well,” he said reluctantly.

I wasn’t surprised in the least to find Artemis’s door locked. I knelt down and peered through the keyhole, then stood up in defeat; Iris may know how to pick locks, but I didn’t have the first clue. I looked at Alan.

“
Can you like, kick it open or something? Like they do in the movies?”

“
That wouldn’t be obvious at all, would it?” he said with a shake of his head. “Why don’t you just use your Telekinesis to turn the lock from the inside?” Alan suggested.

I stared at him in surprise and felt stupid I hadn
’t thought of that first. I glanced once more at the doorknob, then back at him. “How’d you know about that ...?”

“
Word travels fast, remember?” he said and anxiously looked down the hall. “Hurry. Try it if you’re going to.”

With a nod, I pictured the opposite side of the doorknob in my mind and imagined the lock turning. I jumped in surprise and excitement when I heard the lock click.
“Yes!” I turned toward Alan, a wide smile on my face. He didn’t seem amused.

I stepped cautiously into Artemis
’s bedroom, wondering if by chance he had some sort of alarm mechanism setup. Nothing happened, though. Alan followed close behind me as I scanned the room, partly hoping to find the location of the
Codex
, but it wasn’t on the top of my list this time. There weren’t many objects in the room that stood out to me — books, stacks of paper, a telescope, a bronze hourglass — until I spotted the golden chalice with a ring of silver ivy embedded into the metal cup. I pulled the paperweight out of my pocket and set it on the desk and went over to get a better look at the cup.

“
That,” I said, pointing at the chalice on the other side of the room, perched on a shelf. “Touch it. Please.”

With a hesitant grimace, Alan reached out to grab hold of the cup and I latched onto his free hand. The pull of being dragged into the vision came over me and I found myself viewing a familiar clearing surrounded by dense foliage, a
group of hooded people, and the half-circle rock. It was the same place where I’d received my Mark.

A man with wheat-colored hair and an anxious expression, younger than I now knew him as, stood in the center of the circle half-formed by rock, half-formed by witches. The golden chalice sat atop the lectern, glittering beneath the moonlit sky. He bowed his head, hair falling over his eyes and a pale glow emanating from his chest where his shirt was torn open.

One of the hooded figures ap
proached him, wielding the chalice in his hand. Liquid the color of ocean water frothed within the confines of the cup, sloshing to the side as the
holder walked. They stopped in front of Artemis, dabbed a cloth into the liquid and pressed it against the Mark of Luna upon his flesh.

He writhed in pain, trembling at the knees, even as the witch held the fabric to his
skin; two other cloaked figures approached from behind to steady Artemis. He screamed into the night, stirring the animals awake in his agony.

“
Upon this night of the full moon, we unite to grant this man
—
this witch
—
the power, the privilege, and the leadership he has earned and deserved. From henceforth, you shall no longer be merely Castus Arundale
—
”

The tight grip I’d had on Alan’s hand broke free and I stood, staring and gasping, at the brown-haired boy. He set down the chalice and frowned.

“
Has anyone ever even heard what Artemis’s last name is?” I asked, having never thought about it before.

Alan shook his head and sighed, clearly still unhappy being
there. “He has always requested to be known simply as Artemis. I’m not sure if that’s typical among Clan leaders, though. Either way … now we know. Let’s just carry on, I guess.”

“
How do members become leaders ...?”

“
So many questions,” he mused. “It’s a ritual similar to becoming a full-fledged member of the Clan, as you witnessed. I don’t know all of the details. I’ve obviously never been to one as it is conducted by other leaders only, but supposedly it’s even more agonizing than becoming a member.”

“
It looked like he was being tortured.”

“
Some pain is worth the outcome, Castus Young,” Alan said and, to my surprise, started searching for things along with me.

There weren
’t many significant memories tied to any of the items I had him touch. The telescope showed Artemis watching a falling star with a young black-haired boy at his side. I couldn’t help but wonder if it had been Mathias before his gift had consumed the color of his hair.

“Do you think my parents are out there somewhere and seeing this at the same time?” the boy asked.

Artemis stared up at the night sky and scowled, although the boy couldn
’t see his expression as he was too focused on the darkness. “I don’t know, Mathias. They could be seeing something completely different, or the same, or not at all.”

“
Not at all?” Mathias sounded hurt and finally turned his attention away from the star.

“
I do not know the whereabouts of your parents who left you at the orphanage, but I am here with you now, that is all that matters.”

The boy looked sad, but seemed to accept the answer, his gaze turning once again to the night sky.

“
That was so sad,” I said and handed him an old inkwell. “Here.”

Alan didn
’t bother replying any more, he just let the images play through his mind and I latched on to witness them with him. Nothing emotional had been attached to the item, so we went on to an old leather-bound book. There was a brief glimpse of Artemis and a young brown-haired woman with one arm, but Alan pulled away before I got to see much else. He pushed it aside and said it seemed like it might be too personal for us to see.

I felt like
we’d been searching for hours, and we were getting nowhere. I headed for a pile of papers on his desk, hoping that maybe something was hidden underneath it all, when Alan called my name from across the room.

I followed the sound of his voice and was shocked to find that Artemis
’s closet held a podium with a dagger resting atop a plush fabric, concealed in a glass case. With nimble fingers, Alan opened the glass case and wound the violet velvet around the hilt of the blade. It was bejeweled with rubies and glimmered majestically even in the unlit room.

“
Do you think —” I began to ask, but before I could even finish the question, Alan’s finger ran across the length of the blade and I was once again pulled into a memory that was not my own.

Everything was hazy, as though the clouds had descended from the sky and enveloped everything around us. Someone screamed. Some of the fog had cleared and I could see a figure wielding the dagger, and someone else was lying beneath them, struggling. The dagger rose and lowered toward the struggling body again and again
—

“Oh, my god!” I yelled as Alan let go of me and the dagger both, releasing us from the horrid vision. “What did we just see?”

He frowned and placed the dagger back underneath the glass.
“I don’t know. And I don’t know if I want to know. I’m fairly certain this blade was used to murder someone, or
something
.”

“
What do you mean
something
? Like a vampire?”

He shrugged.
“Maybe.” He looked visibly shaken by what we’d seen. “We should stop, Madison. We’re prying into things that we don’t even know what are ... who knows what else we might accidentally stumble upon?”

“
No,” I said stubbornly and shut the closet door. “I’m not giving up.”

There weren
’t many places left to search. I sent Alan to check the desk again, even though we’d already been through everything on top and inside it. He looked like he was starting to get tired of searching, but continued anyway. I went to Artemis’s dresser and started shuffling through the contents.

“
Just clothes,” I mumbled as I went through the top left drawer. “More clothes ... and more clothes. Wait. What’s this?”

Concealed within the third drawer, beneath a layer of neatly folded
laundry, I uncovered an ornate wooden box. Carved into the top of the wood was an inscription, but I couldn’t decipher the words. I popped the top open and looked inside. There were a couple of rings, and some necklaces. One of them was a Celtic talisman — a leather necklace with a knotted Pentacle dangling at the end. Observing it in my hand, I turned toward Alan and said, “This one. This is it.”

He looked at me skeptically, his arm still searching through a drawer.
“Why that one?”

“
I don’t know, but it is. I can feel it. I just know,” I said, wishing it didn’t sound as stupid to him as it did to me.

“
Madison,” he said wearily and stood up, “this is enough. There’s nothing here about Mathias. Let’s just get out of here before Artemis comes back and has us both exiled or something.”

A look of horror flashed
across my face at the thought. Could he really do that?
Would
he? I pushed those thoughts aside and refocused on the present.

“
No. Please. Just try this one; it will be the last one ... even if it doesn’t show us anything. I promise.
Please
.”

Alan looked apprehensive, then shut the desk drawer and came over to me.
“This is not good for my energy, either, I hope you realize that.”

“
I know,” I said guiltily. “I’ll make this up to you somehow, I promise.”

He smiled weakly and looked at the necklace in my ha
nd. The smile faded. “A Celtic Pentacle?”