Lost Energy (6 page)

LIES

N
icolette opened the portal on the
outskirts of the capital where they left her shuttle. Exemplar was never quiet,
not even late in the evening, but most sectors in the dimension weren't boisterous
or too loud, either. Noise pollution wasn't tolerated, not that anyone living
here would disrupt the tranquility with abhorrent behavior. Their arrival didn't
cause any commotion. Portal jumping was as common as walking.

Avery touched the passenger door to
let the metal read her print. As soon as the door opened, she folded her body
in the tiny vehicle. A few seconds later, Nicolette jumped in, used the
receiver on the visor to scan her retina, and adjusted the wheel as the shuttle
started.

"Do you think she'll help us?"
Nicolette's question snuck out of the dark, the Protector's eyes never leaving
the airway as she maneuvered her sleek, silver ride through organized traffic.

"I hope so." Avery folded
her hands so tight her knuckles ached. "If she doesn't, we are on our own."

"You can talk to the Wardens
again, prove you can be trusted."

"And how should I show that?
It took years for Lena to build relationships with them, and only after
Teenesee campaigned for her."

"So, we'll go to Empyrean,
make the Warden listen."

"We cannot make her do
anything. And she would as soon kill every Synod member than listen to us."

"I won't let her touch you."

Avery glanced over at her oldest,
truest friend. They'd been Paired for her last three cycles, their Pairing
always welcoming and accepted by both. "You could not stop her, my friend."

Silence answered. Both knew the
bitter truth. Without Lena's help, Exemplar would never stop its corruption. The
lines needed to be closed, and one Synod Guide and her Protector didn't have
the key–Wardens' trust and cooperation–to accomplish the feat. If she had to
use the false threat of Cassondra to convince Lena, so be it. Cassondra did
want revenge; she just hadn't acted upon it–yet. Guilt settled in her stomach,
but…so much more was at stake.

"If Lena doesn't agree, we
could force her."

"That would make us monsters."
Avery squeezed her Protector's shoulder. "However, I believe what we've
done already classifies us as such."

"Stop feeling guilty. I'm
willing to sacrifice my morals for the entire universe. You should be all right
with it too."

Nicolette had a point, yet the idea
didn't sit well. "I have faith in Lena. I only hope she will forgive me."

Nicolette set the shuttle on the
landing pad situated on the roof of Avery's building. Each building had one,
yet the one gracing all Synod members' home quarters were more extravagant,
like their apartments. As the shuttle landed, a digital reading of the
registration on the undercarriage guided the vehicle to the lift closest to Avery's
apartment.

When they got out, Nicolette picked
up the conversation where they left off. "She's not the same Lena, not
even close. She's a girl." They stepped into the lift. Avery's hands
folded tight while Nicolette crossed her arms, scowling at their reflection on
the mirrored doors.

"Yes, but she's been through
much, which undoubtedly matured her. And she is brave. Did you not see that?"

The lift gave a lilting ding. Avery
put her hand on the door and guided her right eye to the receiver above. In
moments, the door swooshed open, closing as soon as the women stepped over the
threshold.

"You give humanity too much
credit." Nicolette went straight for the stainless steel kitchen, pressing
a few buttons on a control panel situated on the counter. A second ticked by
before a steaming cup of coffee, raw sugar and soymilk coloring it a caramel
brown, popped up.

Avery waved around the sparse room
full of biodegradable beauty. "Yes, but, could you imagine what a gift all
this would be, how we've managed to live with the environment, if we had not
lost
our
humanity somewhere along the way?"

Nicolette smiled, blowing the steam
from the top of her mug. "You're such a romantic."

She smiled, her face heating. "One
of us must be."

"You're my favorite person,
you know."

"And you are mine." Avery
winked and went to her computer. "I need to catch up on some
correspondence. We have been gone far too long."

"It's been two days, not long
enough to be missed." Nicolette set her mug on the counter and headed to
her room. "I need to take this suit off, give me five."

Avery nodded without looking up
from the thin screen. She decided years ago living with her Protector wasn't
only convenient, but helped staunch the monotony that plagued life in a
dimension that thrived on maintaining the status quo every day, every year…for
centuries. Nicolette managed to spark passion whether in a debate or being in
the same room. They were two halves of a whole. Sisters.

More than sisters.

As promised, Nicolette came back
into the main room five minutes later, wearing comfortable, loose clothing and
looking nothing like the warrior she was. All soft around the edges, she
grabbed her mug and shuffled over to the over-stuffed couch, snatching up her
hand-held from underneath the dark screens.

Rubbing her neck, Avery scrolled
through her notifications regarding new energies and recycling Exemplian
energies–her areas of expertise as Creation Lab overseer. Funny how she handled
the most reprehensible parts of her world, yet led the fight against it. The
irony was never lost on her. At least while she and everyone else had to play
by the rules, the new energies and recycled Guides and Protectors were treated
with compassion and respect. Well, apart from being lied to.

A document popped up on a lab
missive, showing seven new energies added to the population. Her shoulders
tensed. Much higher number than normal, seeing as the usual number added up to no
more than two new energies per year. The amount was the second largest instance
within the last six months. Twenty new energies in less than a year. A problem
she'd have to bring up during the next sequester.

Avery massaged her temples, the
headache that accompanied the job sneaking in. High new energy percentages
weren't the lone problem.

Peculiar…

She squinted, looking closer at the
new energy entries. All Protectors–like the batch of thirteen six months ago.
Her stomach dropped. If she were being truthful, the oddity of recent events
resembled too closely to a recruitment of sorts. A trip to the Creation Lab
reached the top of her to-do list, too.

Yawning, she forced her mind to
still, a technique that took centuries to perfect. The guilt she carried when
dwelling on the atrocity done to innocent energies, especially her
participation in it, used to keep her awake for days. Nicolette would go crazy,
trying to get her to leave the apartment, eat, and bathe…any function that
required her to do more than punish her psyche with images of innocents living
as slaves in the guise of privilege.

Then Lena came to her, changing
everything. A brilliant Guide with unique empathy and talent for finding truth
waltzed into her office on the rare occasion she made it there and gave her an
out she'd been unknowingly pining for.

Shaking her head, to clear even
Lena from her foremost thoughts, she concentrated on the final task. One quick
look into her private messages and she'd retire for the evening. After punching
in her password, she skimmed a few messages until one caught her eye. Dread
filled her to the core. "Oh, no."

Nicolette jumped up from the couch,
her loose clothing no longer hiding the warrior. "What is it?"

Avery's lips grew numb and her
hands trembled. On unsteady legs, she walked over to the screens that fed the
satellites' images–screens that had been ordered to remain blacked out since
Mateusz's death for fear others may use them as he did for selfish gain. Synod
elders had demanded a period of Exemplian isolation from other dimensions to
allow for what they deemed a strong need for contemplation. In truth, the
blackout was simply another form of control.

But someone decided the isolation
was over.

 She touched a button, and the monitors
came to life, showing dimension images at random. "They've turned on the
screens."

WILMA

D
reams were great, especially when
they starred blond giants with dimples and gray eyes.

"Wake up!" Wilma didn't
agree.

I snuggled deeper. "I'm not
done yet. Come back in an hour."

Thwack.

"Ouch!" She probably left
a palm print on my ass.

Next went the covers.

"Get out!"

Then went the bed. She yanked my
foot and pulled me to the floor.

Still, I crawled over to my
comforter, more out of spite than anything. "Give me a minute, for Christ's
sake!"

"You got five."

I squinted through eyes not yet
ready to open to find my Protector looming over me, arms across chest and
tension straining her blue eyes. Her normally frizzy, curly hair was in worse
shape than usual. With all the extra color compliments from a stay in Arcus,
she looked a little deranged, too.
Somebody didn't like sleeping on the
cabin floor.
"Make me breakfast?"

Wilma shook her head, mumbling
about ungrateful brats. Before she shut the door behind her, she said, "Five
minutes and make your own damn breakfast." As the door slammed, she yelled
down the hall. "Farren! Make coffee!"

I smiled.

The boss was back.

∞
∞ ∞

After I took twenty minutes to
shower, change, and make some eggs, we all sat in the living room, including
Mom and Jake, to figure out the next step. Farren squeezed in between Mom and
me on the couch, his fingers dodging my fork as he snatched food off my plate.
Jake took the chair while Wilma held council, standing in the middle of the
little room, blocking the television.

I watched her as I chomped on
toast, swerved my plate away from Ginger's greedy paws, and tried to fake calm.
If she didn't give the okay, I wouldn't be seeing Tarek outside of my dreams
any time soon.

With an annoyed huff, her usual MO,
she cleared her throat. "Thought we'd have more time before the bastards
came creeping round."

I swallowed some eggs. "Avery
isn't bad, Wilma. I could tell."

"Oh, could you now? So, what's
the plan, Lena? Listen to a Synod member? Send you to other dimensions?"
She quit with the questions. "Your punishment is to be here. If you go
traipsing around on false information, your energy is in trouble."

"I don't give a shit about my
energy. Didn't expect to live more than once, anyway." I handed my half-empty
plate to Farren, no longer hungry. "Besides, Avery said I'm in trouble regardless
of how good I live this time around. My energy'll read Tainted." Mom
reached over Farren and squeezed my leg as my voice got higher. "Do you
think we should do nothing? Write her off as a liar?"

As my temper got hotter, Wilma managed
to stay calm, albeit irritated. "Now, I didn't say that either, girl."

"Then what're you trying to
say, Wilma, 'cause all I hear is nothing."

She narrowed her eyes and came
right into my personal space, bending until our faces were level. "What's
got you so anxious to start a war?"

Stunned, I sat back. Farren gave me
a sympathetic punch on the shoulder the same time Mom felt the need to come to
my aid. "That's unfair."

Wilma didn't even look at her. She
kept me pinned with her blue daggers, waiting for my reply.

Well…shit. She found me out. Shame
warmed my face while I inspected my fingernails. "I'm…having a hard time
figuring out the answer to the question." Wilma backed up as I raised my
gaze to meet hers. "What do you think we should do?"

After another sigh, she re-crossed
her arms, hitting us with her stare. "Well, you're right about one thing.
We can't sit around and do nothing. But that means everyone who's close to her,"
she pointed at me, "will be in danger whether it comes from Avery or
Cassondra."

Shame dug in deeper, setting up
camp in the pit of my stomach. I'd never even considered Mom, Jake, and… "We
need to tell Belva."

Farren stiffened next to me before
handing the plate to Mom, already heading to the door. "I'll go get her."

The door slammed on Wilma's command
for him to sit back down. "That's just great." She ran a hand through
her messy curls. "Another lovelorn Protector to contend with."

I barely registered her dig. But
she was right about one thing–my priorities were screwed up. Something I'd
worry about later. "What's the plan, then? We can't leave them here alone."

Before Wilma could answer, Jake
spoke up. "I won't let anything happen to your mother, Lena. She'll be
safe with me."

With a tight smile and a quick look
at Wilma, who nodded, I said, "Maybe, if one shows up, but Tarek wasn't
the strongest, not by a long shot, and neither is Farren."

Jake's shoulders sagged when he
looked to Wilma who again nodded in agreement. No time like when he's down to
kick him harder. "You can't protect her, not alone." I stood, wanting
to be on level with Wilma when I addressed her. "Avery said Cassondra
wants revenge."

"I know what she told you.
What do you think? Farren came to Arcus for a vacation?"

"Yeah, so I'll bet if anyone
can help us see if Avery is lying, Teenesee would."

She stayed silent, worrying her
bottom lip.

I didn't let her in on the little
fact that Farren and I had everything figured out already. But Wilma might not
see it our way. She needed to be handled delicately, like a thorny flower.
Guilt ate at me, though, because my main objective was still Tarek.

"Farren can stay here." I
looked to Jake. "With you two, Mom and Belva should be safe. We won't be
gone for long, just long enough to see if Avery is lying."

Wilma walked to the window, leaning
against the sill. "We definitely need to have a chat with her. And…shit. I
guess you need to come, too. Safest place for you is by me."

Wow, that was easy.

"All we have to do is wait for
Farren to come back, then." Really, I tried hard not to smile. Cassondra
could be on her way right now, but…Tarek.

She didn't say anything while
giving me that hard stare she kept for special occasions–like when I really
pissed her off.

Squirming a little, I went to stand
by Mom. She wrapped an arm around my waist, while Jake snatched my hand. But I
couldn't take my eyes off the angry Protector perched on the windowsill. "What?"

She bit her bottom lip, shaking her
head.

"
What
,
goddamn it
?"

"What happens next, Lena?
After we talk to Teenesee?"

"Ah, if Avery's telling the
truth, Cassondra needs to be stopped."

"Uh-huh, and who's supposed to
do that?"

With a shrug, I held out my hands. "Well,
you and Farren. Who else?"

Her frown deepened. "I see,
and what do you think you're gonna do?"

My own anger crept in. I peeled Mom's
arm from my waist, stalking the few feet to the window. "Where're you
going with this?"

If I thought for a second me
looming over her had any effect, I must've been high. As if enjoying the
challenge, she stood, meeting my glare. But we all knew my tall, lean body was
no match for her chubby, short one. "Sit. Down."

I thought about refusing her. The
look on her face, and the knowledge that she could pretty much make me do
anything she wanted, changed my mind. The attitude stayed as I flopped on the
couch, my arms crossed. Wasn't gonna admit to pouting, though.

When she hovered over me, the frown
still in place, I managed to throw a little more irritation her way. "Well?"

Uh-oh
. I trusted the frown more than the
smile. "So, the plan is–if the Guide isn't lying–for me and Farren to
waltz into Exemplar, kill Cassondra? While you, what? Hide in Arcus with Tarek,
maybe?"

The squirming took over again. "Not
kill her... I don't know, go above her head? Try to close the lines? Avery said–"

"I know what she said! Close
the lines? Going against Exemplar is a death sentence." She bent low, her
voice getting lower. "Whatever move we make will start a war, girl. If it's
true some Exemplians like Avery are tired of the rules, they'll rebel as soon
as an aggressive action is taken against any Synod member. And do you think
those self-righteous assholes are gonna sit back and let a bunch of unhappy
campers ruin what it took centuries to create?"

"I…" Yeah, hadn't thought
that far ahead.

"And what're you gonna do when
you get to Empyrean and Zander finds out you're there? Say, 'nice to see ya,
but I'm off to be with my boyfriend'?"

Now that question threw me. I hadn't
even considered him. "What do you care about Zander?"

Her lip curled and disdain deepened
the blue of her eyes. "He hasn't stopped fighting for you, not even for a
minute."

I leaned back on the flowered
cushions. "He made his choice, and I'm not gonna feel responsible for it."

Her eyes widened and her heavy
cheeks burned red. "
He made his choice?
"

Oh, no.

She waved her hand and the plate on
the floor crashed against the front door. Another wave brought me off the
couch, suspending me in the air. Mom's scream filled the room as she tried to
come to my side, but Jake grabbed her arm and shook his head.

"
You
are his choice. He
gave up his world…went against his own Protector, for you."

I couldn't even kick my feet, just
stayed frozen in the air. Her rage scared me a little. It also forced me to
search for the right thing to say to calm her down. "Why're you so mad?"

"That you can't see why pisses
me off more." Her hand waved, and I landed in a crumbled heap on the
floor. "You don't get how serious this is. If that woman told you the
truth, she risked her life–another person you can add to the list of people who
gave up everything for you."

Ouch. That hurt. I swallowed. "I
understand exactly what people have done for me."

She grabbed the front of my shirt long
enough to lift me to my feet, waving at Mom who broke Jake's hold.

"Let me go, Wilma." Mom
stood, frozen by Wilma's hand, seething.

"You're done making excuses
for her. You all are." Wilma returned her attention to me, and I held my
eyes level with hers, refusing to let the tears fall. "After everything,
you've learned
nothing
. Yeah, you found a backbone. So what? What good
is it when your one goal is to find a way to be with a man? And you wanna know
something else? The man you put above everyone understands the problem. He
gets
it."

The tears escaped, and there wasn't
a damn thing I could do to stop them. I searched out Mom, whose eyes filled
too, but she stood frozen, unable to help.

I willed my lips to stop trembling.
"I do get it, Wilma."

Faced with her disappointment–the
anger was easier to swallow. "No, you don't. All you see is an opportunity."
She wrapped a hand around my wrist and closed her eyes. After a few seconds of
reading my thoughts, she said, "And no amount of denying is going to
change what's inside." Her pointer finger pierced my heart. "Right
here."

She straightened, waving her hand
at Mom as she stormed into the kitchen. I tried, really tried, to staunch the
tears leaking from my eyes and running down my cheeks. But one look at Mom's
tortured face and Jake's resigned one, as though he agreed with Wilma, gave my
pity party permission to continue.

Jake stayed where he was, watching,
but my mother rushed over, throwing her arms around me, guiding me to the
couch. "She's wrong, baby." She stroked my mussed hair.

Her words made me cry harder. "No,
she isn't." I buried my face and let her console me anyway. I tried not to
get her blue blouse messy, but when I finally dragged myself from her arms, a
big wet spot in the middle of her stomach proved my efforts futile. "Sorry."