Mystics 3-Book Collection (93 page)

Did she do it properly? Would it even work
or had it been damaged somehow? Had the skin demon deactivated
it?

She couldn’t see or sense Tristan or anyone,
and she hoped that they all had made it safely across to the other
side.

Her red surroundings dissolved into blue,
and her skin felt cold. As her feet touched solid ground, Zoey
pulled the second UEC out of the bag

. . . Ten seconds . . .

“YOU THERE, STOP! WHAT’RE YOU DOING!”

Blurry shapes came towards her. She could
barely make out their red uniforms.

“STOP HER!”

She twisted the fuse, tossed the bomb into
the portal, and then ran in the opposite direction.

. . . Five seconds . . .

Three Alphas jumped inside the portal after
the UEC.

. . . Four seconds . . .

Would they reach it in time? Could they
disarm it if they did?

. . . Three seconds . . .

Zoey staggered away from the portal as fast
as she could, but her legs were stiff, like she had never used them
before. She feared she wouldn’t make it far enough and that the
bomb would kill her.

. . . Two seconds . . .

As she ran, she searched frantically for her
mother, for Tristan, for anyone she recognized—but she couldn’t
find them. Were they dead?

. . . One second . . .

She heard someone calling her name. There
was a blast of white light, and then she lost consciousness.

Chapter 24

Z
oey looked at
herself in an old mirror up in the attic of the Wander Inn. There
had hardly been any scarring. The blast from the explosion had left
her with second and third degree burns on her back and parts of her
legs. She would have been horribly scarred if the Seventh doctors
had not rubbed a cold, sticky, green mystic medicine onto her skin.
It had stopped the pain, too. And now she admired what few scars
she had left. She even thought they were cool. They were a part of
her. They reminded her that she was strong, and that with a little
faith, she could achieve anything.

“They don’t show anymore,” said her mother
as she wrapped tape around a cardboard box with the word,
KITCHEN
, written in black marker. Elizabeth’s hair had grown
a little, and she had it styled in a pixie cut that made her large
green eyes stand out and made her look like a fairy.

Zoey pulled down her t-shirt. “I know, but I
still love them. I think they’re really cool. They make me look
like a warrior princess or a pirate queen.”

“Come here and give me a hand with this,
princess
,” said her mother as she taped the box closed. “You
were very lucky the blast from the bombs didn’t do worse. You could
have been killed.”

“I know, but I wasn’t,” Zoey smiled.

She had always wondered what would have
happened if she hadn’t detonated the UECs. Had the scientists been
right? Would the Great Junction portals have destroyed the
worlds?

Simon and Tristan had paid her regular
visits when she had been recovering, so she was up to date with the
latest gossip at the Hive. Rumors had circulated that the infamous
Mrs. Dupont had never really existed at all, which made Zoey very
angry. But she also learned that an agreement had been reached
between the Agency and the Alpha Nation just a week after she had
destroyed the portals. More bloodshed had been averted. The Alphas
were leaderless and seemed reluctant to continue their war with the
Agency. Within weeks, they had faded back into whatever dark
corners they had come from.

“Aria’s really kind to give us some of her
old stuff,” said her mother.

She inspected an old brown mug that looked
like it had been painted by a three-year-old child. “We’re in her
debt.”

“Aria’s awesome,” smiled Zoey.

She helped her mother haul another box over
to the mountain of sealed boxes, bags of clothes, lamps, and books
on their old brown sofa.

“She’s been really good to me, and she
wouldn’t want us to think that we owe her anything. I know her. She
has a huge heart and just really wants to help.”

Zoey felt a little awkward speaking about
Aria to her mother, but Aria had been a real mother figure for her
while her real mother was missing in action.

Her mother smiled and wiped some dust off
her shirt.

“I know she does. So, are you looking
forward to moving into our new home?” Her mother carefully wrapped
a wine glass in newspaper. “It’s in a really great little town,
hidden from the rest of the world. It’s where I grew up, you know.
It’s where I met your—”

Elizabeth stared at the glass in her
hand.

“Where you met my father,” said Zoey. She
was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Nazar, the
white-eyed sociopath, was her dad.

“Were you guys even married? Did you love
him?”

Zoey hadn’t brought up the subject of her
real father since their escape from the Nexus.

Her mother placed another glass carefully
into a new box.

“Well, I can tell you that we were very much
in love at one point and foolish, very foolish. And against our
parents’ wishes, we eloped and moved in together. We were both
working as agents with the Agency, and things were great for a
while. But then . . . he changed. He started to hang around a new
group of friends, friends that became Alphas. He still loved me,
but he loved power
more
. And then he disappeared. A year
later I learned that he had joined Mrs. Dupont. That’s when I knew
that I had lost him forever.”

There were still a lot of unanswered
questions. Zoey had only just found out who her father was. Was he
dead? Was he trapped in the Nexus forever? Had he killed Mrs.
Dupont? Would she ever know?

“He wasn’t always like that,” said her
mother when she saw the grim expression on her daughter’s face.

“He was good and kind man at one time. And
that’s how I want you to remember him, before he became lost in
that mad woman’s schemes. Nazar was a wonderful person. Remember
that.”

Zoey nodded her head.

“I can’t wait to see our new place,” she
said quickly.

“It’s only a two-bedroom apartment,” said
her mother as she ripped a piece of newspaper and wrapped a mug in
it. “But it’s a start. We can maybe get a house next year. Would
you like that?”

Zoey wanted to tell her mother that she
would live under a bridge if it meant being with her. But she said
instead, “An apartment’s fine, really. I know I’ll love it.”

Besides she was curious. What would it be
like to live in a city filled with Sevenths and mystics?

“I’ve heard that our neighborhood is just
for Sevenths. I think it’s cool. It’ll be like here at the Hive
except
bigger
. And Tristan and Simon live there, too. I’ll
have my friends with me, so I won’t feel like a total loser. It’ll
be great to have a real home.”

Her mother smiled warmly and sighed. “Yes,
yes it will.”

She reached over and squeezed her daughter’s
hand. “Did you see where I put the pots and pans?”

“Here.” Zoey picked up an open box filled
with frying pans and worn pots.

“Thanks.” Her mother set the box down and
began securing the top with large amounts of tape.

“So, are you excited about your graduation?
It’s a pretty big deal.”

“I am.”

“But are you feeling up to it? You’ve only
just come back from hospital. I’m sure they’ll understand if you
want to sit this one out—”

“Not a chance,” said Zoey. “I’m sooooo
going. Tristan and Simon are coming to pick me up later. Simon has
my graduation robe—I have no idea what color it’ll be, hopefully
not
pink
. We’re all going to go together.”

“Well,” said her mother, “if you’re
sure.”

“Positive.”

Elizabeth regarded her daughter for a
moment. “You know, that Tristan is quite a handsome young man.”

Zoey turned away quickly. “Ummm.”

She wasn’t ready to discuss boys with her
mother. She wasn’t even ready to discuss boys with herself.

They spent the rest of the afternoon packing
the last of Aria’s supplies. And as they packed Zoey told her
mother about her years with the foster families before the Agency
had found her. She told her about foster #28, about the skin demon,
about Agents Barnes and Lee, and about her goal to become an
agent.

Zoey was having so much fun with her mother
that she had totally forgotten about the time until a knock came
from the door.

“Zoey?” called Simon.

“In here!” Zoey brushed the dirt from her
hands, but the ink from the newspapers wouldn’t come off.

“Hey, it’s us.” Simon and Tristan peered
around the corner.

Simon and Tristan were dressed in fine black
robes with gold thread weaved around the collars and sleeves. They
both looked very handsome in their new robes. The Minitian’s potion
had finally worn off, and Simon’s regular goofy face and lanky body
had returned. He held a black bundle under his arm. He pulled it
out and gave it to Zoey.

“The ceremony starts in half an hour.”

“I know. I know. I’m sorry. We were
packing—”

“You better go get ready, Zoey,” said her
mother. “We’ll finish up later. I’ll see you at the ceremony,
okay?”

“Okay.”

Zoey admired her gleaming black robe.

“Thank God it’s not pink. Give me five
minutes, and I’ll meet you guys downstairs.”

Zoey dashed out of the attic. After a record
quick shower, she brushed her wet hair into ponytail and pulled on
a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. Finally, she put on her
glistening black silk robe and admired herself in the mirror one
last time.

Just before she turned to leave, she grabbed
the gold bracelet cuff that she had used to secure her boomerang
and clasped it around her wrist. Even though she had lost her
boomerang, the bracelet had become a good luck charm. It made her
feel secure.

“Ready or not, here I come,” she said to the
mirror, and then she dashed out the door.

Taking the stairs two at a time, she leaped
towards the Inn’s front door, yanked it open, and ran outside.

“Made it!” she called as she bounded towards
Tristan and Simon. “Told you, I only needed five minutes.”

“It was more like ten,” laughed Tristan,
“But who’s counting anyway?”

He had a package wrapped in yellow and pink
gift paper under his arm. It was stiff so it was obvious it wasn’t
another robe, so what was it? He didn’t mention it, so Zoey decided
not to ask, even though she was dying to know what it was and whom
it was for.

“We should get going. The ceremonies are
about to start. Shall we?” said Simon, in a politician sort of
voice, like he was on his way to make a speech. He raised his chin
as he made his way across the grounds.

The early summer breeze was hot, and Zoey
happily inhaled the fragrances from the blooming flowers. They made
their way in silence towards the new wooden stage that had been
built especially for the ceremony. All the seats were occupied by
agents and the families of the graduates.

Zoey saw Agent Barnes and Agent Lee shifting
in their seats excitedly. They beamed at her and gave her a thumbs
up. Aria and her mother waved at her, too.

Tristan waved at a beautiful woman with
long, wavy brown hair and the same dark eyes as his. The handsome
man next to her had gray-blue skin and was covered with dark tribal
tattoos. He grinned proudly as he waved at Tristan.

“Is that your dad?” whispered Zoey.

Tristan smiled awkwardly. “Yeah, that’s him
and my mom. I’ll introduce you later if you want.”

Zoey’s throat tightened. “Okay.” She wasn’t
sure how she felt about that.

All eyes were on them as they sat with the
other graduates and waited patiently. Zoey took the seat next to
Stuart King, who smiled at her.

“Hey, Zoey,” he said quietly.

At first Zoey wasn’t sure if this was his
idea of a joke. She wasn’t planning on punching him out, but she
would if he started something. But Stuart just looked at her
kindly. Was he delusional?

Zoey frowned, but then she managed to say.
“Hey.”

When she looked down at his hands, she could
see that the ruby ring that he had once worn so proudly was
gone.

Director Hicks and all the other directors
were lined up on the platform beside a table that was covered with
gleaming gold badges.

“Ahem.” Director Hicks raised his arms.

“Good afternoon guests and family members of
the graduates, members of the Agency community, and especially the
graduates. I truly am honored to stand before you on this
monumental day. Today’s graduation ceremony recognizes your
rigorous specialized training. You’ve completed a three-year
program in less than two. Quite remarkable! Although we have
experienced some hard times, you have all shown tremendous
determination, courage, and a willingness to sacrifice.”

His eyes rested on Zoey.

“I would like to congratulate all of you for
making it to graduation and to personally thank you for the
sacrifices you have made to help save our world and the agency.

“As new agents, your mandate is to protect
the human world from those who don’t respect our treaties. You are
charged with keeping a balance between humanity and the mystics.
Your role is to uphold the laws and keep our world safe. You should
not take this responsibility lightly.

“I know that I speak for each of your
departments and for your families when I say we are proud of your
accomplishments today. As you go forward into the profession,
continue to make us proud by carrying yourself with honor, dignity,
and respect. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. I wish all
of you in the graduating class the best in your new
profession.”