Electus (Regnum Series Book 1) (21 page)

Tia knocks. Edwin answers within seconds. At the sight of her, he breathes, “I guess this means he is gone.” They embrace for several minutes, both of them broken at the loss of Osborn Trumble.

“It’s good to see you,” Tia releases Edwin and wipes a tear from her cheek.

“Agreed, just wish it was under different circumstances,” he responds, glancing up at Javan. They lock eyes.

“Hey stranger,” Javan greets him.

“Long time, no see,” he replies. Tia is more than confused at the moment. Neither of them speak, just give each other a knowing glance.

“Come in,” Edwin offers, allowing Tia and Javan to enter her old house. Everything is in the same place. She notices more holes in the ceiling, cracks in the walls, and the house has a slightly stranger scent to it.

“So, this is where you grew up?” Javan inquires, sitting down on the couch in their living room. The cushions are extremely soft and pieces of the fabric are fraying.

“Yep,” she responds, still not in the best mood with him.

“Could I get you two anything to drink? I might have a thirty year old bottle of Guinness in the cabinet. We could make this an Irish wake for Osborn,” Edwin offers, again using his humor to cope. Tia catches the tears in his eyes building up as he smiles at her. She knew her father and uncle were close. They would have to be after living together for eighteen years.

“Nothing for me, thank you,” Javan answers.

“I’m fine, uncle Edwin.”

He shrugs and sits down next to Tia. “So, what happened exactly? Did he pass out, or what? I’m assuming you didn’t tell Fera, otherwise I would have an hysterical phone call by now. I can just imagine how pissed she is going to be once she finds out he was sick and didn’t tell her.”

Tia glances at Javan.

“That’s part of why we came. See, as you know, Mr. Avery has been hounding Osborn for quite some time. Tonight, he asked me to...” Javan does not know how to finish the sentence.

“He killed him, because, apparently, he claims that he had no choice,” Tia jumps in, curtly. Edwin sighs and hangs his head.

“Of course Mr. Avery asked you to do it. Just like him to use someone else to do the dirty work. Not that it matters now,” he runs his hand through his hair. This is the first time that Tia ever saw her uncle not know how to handle bad news. “At least he is done suffering this way.”

“Why are you okay with this?” Tia snaps, infuriated that he is not strangling Javan at the word of him killing his family.

“I’m trying to be calm for your sake, Tia. It’s tearing me up inside! I love that man as much as you do. Anger and resentment is not going to bring him back, though.” Edwin’s eyes are full of tears and for the first time, Tia is watching him come unglued. His face is red, and Tia can sense she is pushing it too far.

“So, what is the next step here? Do I get filled in on why he was killed or is that something I am still not allowed to know?”

“He believes Osborn was part of Erue,” Javan replies. Edwin falls silent, maintaining focus on Javan. Tia has no clue what is going on.

“I’m sorry, what is Erue?” she inquires.

“It’s a group of rebels. They believe that the capitols have too much power and should be over thrown, allowing Regnumians to be free to exercise their magic and not live in fear,” Javan answers, his eyes locked on Edwin still.

“So that is what...” Tia trails off, remembering she was not to speak of her conversation with Mr. Avery to anyone.
That’s a skill I need to tone, immediately,
she reminds herself.

“What?” Javan glances at her.

“Nothing,” she responds, quickly.

“No, Tia, what is it?” Javan pushes.
He never lets anything go.

“Mr. Avery,” she sighs, her heart pounding at the thought of what might happen. “He was interrogating me about my father and thought I knew his secret or was involved, I guess, in this...Erue, was it?”

“Yes, I see. I assume that he noticed your necklace, then,” Javan comments, softly. Tia just nods.

“What necklace?” Edwin startles Tia.

“Dad gave me a necklace before I left that day for the Electus. He said it was just between us. When I went to the dinner the first night, I decided to wear it, because he told me it was my mothers,” she confesses, her palms are sweaty and her mouth dry.

“See why I warned you about hiding it? They are a wanted group. Though, they aren’t publicly known, those who do know about them, usually are trying to take them down.”

“How come I haven’t heard anything about them before?” Tia questions.

“The capitols don’t wish for them to receive media coverage. Most leaders believe if the general public knows about them, that it will inspire other groups to form or entice people to join them,” Edwin advises.

“I don’t understand, though. What does my mother’s necklace have to do with the Erue?”

“The pendant is a symbol of the Humilis leaders’ bloodline,” Javan grabs a pen and a sheet of paper from the coffee table.

“This is the crest of the family that were believed to form Erue. It is originally a representation of two rams horns butting against each other. Rams are known for toughness, but also for surrendering when it comes to slaughter. Originally the symbol was intended to represent the humility of the bloodline. However, the interpretation has twisted to opposition since it was this family that founded Erue.”

“So, my mother is part of this rebellion, even though she is human?” Tia questions, her brow furrowed.

“Some humans are involved in the rebellion, not too many, however...” Javan glances at Edwin, who returns the look.

“However what?” Tia asks.

“Your mother is not human,” Edwin finishes, meeting her gaze.

“How? My eyes glow pink. It’s a sign of being half human, half Pruden. You are my uncle on my mother’s side. You’re human,” her hands begin to tremble.

“It also comes from being full blooded Humilis,” Edwin adds, his voice shaking.

Tia leans back on the couch, “full-blooded?” Edwin sighs, his eyes intense, light, and almost the same blue as Javan’s. Her heart pounds, as the words leave his lips, “You were adopted, Tia.”

Chapter 17

Tia's body is numb the entire ride back. The words "you were adopted" play on repeat in her mind. Her head hangs low as she fiddles with the note from Osborn. Folding it, then unfolding it, reading it, then closing it. Soon she will know the letter by heart. It is the last piece of Osborn she has to hold on to.

I’m adopted.
Tia wonders how she never noticed the signs before. Her physical attributes are not akin to her father or uncle. Also, whenever she would bring up the subject of her mother, they both avoided her gaze. Tia is unsure which is more painful, her father’s death or knowing she was never really his daughter.

Tia runs over the conversation in her mind. Edwin explained, after breaking the news, that her real parents went into hiding. Since Edwin and Osborn were good friends of theirs at the time, they decided to take her in for protection. Tia was only a few weeks old and the couple could not think of a name for her. Osborn decided to name her Conscientia, in honor of his mother.

Osborn devised a story, explaining that he had a romance with a human who he impregnated. Shortly after she gave birth to the child, she left the girl with him to raise, stating that she did not wish to have Regnumian offspring. It was enough to fool most everyone, even Mr. Avery. Edwin pretended to be the woman’s brother, so when he moved in with Osborn, it did not appear suspicious.

Quite a few times, Edwin admitted, they almost slipped in front of her, but luckily she was too young to pick up on any of the hints. By the age that Tia was old enough to grasp the concept, they had their lie well established enough that they started to almost believe it themselves.

For eighteen years, the men in Tia’s life hid everything that was true about themselves, just to protect her identity. This thought makes Tia love and appreciate them even more. She understands their sacrifice to her, even if the truth stings.

"What are we doing here?" Tia poses, as they park out back of Javan's hotel.

"You can't be left alone in your state. Just an hour ago you attempted suicide," Javan replies, unbuckling his seat belt, then hers.

"You killed my father a couple hours ago. Who should be least trusted here?" Tia retorts, folding her arms.

"I still want to know that you are safe, so you need to do as I say."

"You didn't ask my permission this time," Tia responds, glued to her seat. Javan leans in to Tia and whispers, "I asked you if you would allow me to bid on you. That is now part of the binding agreement that you do as I say." He voids her a chance to respond by grabbing her and carrying her out of the back seat.

"Put me down!" she screams, wiggling to free herself.

“Nope,” he responds, heading up the back stairs of the hotel. Tia huffs and gives up fighting him, because Javan is a lot stronger than she imagined he would be.

“You know this is ridiculous. I can walk.”

“Can you?” He holds back a snicker. “I had no idea.”

“You are enjoying this way too much,” she responds as they reach his floor. Her anger with him is increasing. No matter what he tries to convince her about her father’s condition, she can not excuse what he did. He took the life of the man who raised her as his own. She is not sure if there is any way to take that image out of her mind.

He releases Tia once they arrive in his room. Then, heads for his suitcase. This is the last place she wants to be right now. His hotel room used to make her feel safe, now all it does is remind her of his betrayal.

“You can have the bed. I’ll take the couch,” Javan declares, handing her sweat pants and a t-shirt. She rolls her eyes and rushes toward the bathroom to change.

She curses him the whole time she is dressing. The pants are yet again too large for her, leaving her to hold them up as she walks. Tia storms out to tell Javan off, catching him in his underwear.

“Oh, sorry!” she turns around and covers her eyes.

“A little over kill don’t you think?” he replies, pulling up his pants all the way. “It’s safe now,” he adds, forcing his t-shirt over his head.

Tia swings back around, her face turning pink. “So, black underwear too, eh?”

“Yes, in fact it is. Got a problem with that, Miss Trumble?”

“No. I suppose it is only fair I see you in your underwear, considering you saw me naked,” she mumbles, her head down.

“I didn’t pay attention. Too busy saving your life,” he remarks, re-assuring her. All it does is make her face turn even more red.

“Well, do you need anything before bed?” he offers. Tia shakes her head and crawls under the covers. Javan turns out the lights and lays down on the couch. The air is calm, filled with the pattern of their breathing. Neither one speaks, just absorbs the silence after their long, complicated evening. Tia rolls over and takes in the scent of his pillow, loving and hating the smell all at the same time. It’s the last thing she senses before falling into a deep sleep.

It is still dark in the room as Tia awakes to Javan shaking her shoulder. She forgets, for a moment, where she is at. Her chest weighs heavy with the reminder that her father is dead; something her mind erased during slumber.

“Tia,” Javan whispers, “it’s Mr. Avery.” She hears the knock this time.

“What is he doing here?” she whispers back, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Why can’t people let me sleep? she thinks.

“I’m not sure, but you need to hide and fast.” Tia attempts not to panic. Then, it hits her. “Do you have a scanner?”

Javan hesitates for a moment, then pulls out the scanner from his night stand drawer and scans the back of Tia’s neck. She morphs into a fly that buzzes above his head, landing on the ceiling.

“Anscom? What you doing here?” Javan answers the door, yawning, as if he just heard him knock.

"I was hoping to chat. May I come in?" Mr. Avery responds, his cheek is slightly swollen from where Tia hit him, earlier.

"Sure," Javan allows him to enter the dark hotel room.

"Are you going to turn the light on?" he requests. He is dressed in his suit still. Javan rushes over to the switch, and illuminates the room.

"What's with the couch?" Mr. Avery inquires, motioning over to the pillow and blanket laying on the sofa.

“What’s with your face?” Javan responds, staring at his swollen cheek.

"I rather not discuss it.” Mr. Avery walks around the room, scanning every inch. He sits down on the couch, peering over at the pillow and blanket. “The bed not comfortable?”

“I sometimes have difficulty sleeping on hotel mattresses. It is a personal issue.” Javan thinks quickly, searching the room for signs of Tia.

"You know, when I had these hotels built, I wanted them to put in firmer mattresses. My staff advised against it. Too costly.”

“Can’t have that,” Javan mumbles.

“What was that?”

"Did you want something to drink...or?" Javan offers.

"No, I actually came to inform you that the body has been disposed of and all evidence removed from the scene,” he mentions. “I had my young crew broken in for the task. Apparently, they never saw a murder before. Not sure where these kids grew up, but they all seemed pretty shocked. That Kira girl is rather whiny. Probably should have let her go to Letum. Sometimes I’m too kind hearted.”

“I see,” Javan responds, as calmly as possible. “Well, thank you for letting me know that was taken care of. What did you do with the body?”

“The one new employee has a special skill in making things disappear. Thankfully, there will be no remains to worry about,” Mr. Avery notes.

“Interesting,” Javan comments, appearing distracted. “Did any of them recognize him?”

“No one asked questions, Javan. No worries.” Mr. Avery slaps him on the back. “I think I will take that drink, after all. Tonight is worth celebrating; do you have any champagne?”

“I don’t believe so, let me double check.” Javan shuffles to the kitchen area. Tia flies down to land on the refrigerator door, watching Javan’s expressions. He appears less than amused about Mr. Avery’s presence.