Soul Catcher (23 page)

Dane nodded.

“We need to get started with Dane’s training right away,” Lillian said. “I’d like to add one power at a time until D-day. Who wants to go first?”

All eyes turned toward Ethan. Was it so obvious that he was the most likely candidate? The person who wouldn’t stall at being the first, the guinea pig.

Ethan slid his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “I’m ready.” His voice broke a little. “Let’s do this.”

Dane met his gaze and swallowed hard. Good lord, this was actually happening. His stomach fluttered as he approached Bonnie to tell her the basics about his family, his father’s illness, and the hospital where she would find them. And then, his doppelganger walked out the front door to take over his life.

* * * * *

Inside Lillian’s dojo, Dane paced with his hands on his hips, avoiding eye contact with Ethan by counting the weapons on the wall. Neither of them could hold still, and nervous energy ricocheted off the walls. The thought of taking Ethan’s gift was both exciting and terrible. A Soulkeeper’s power was a sizeable part of their identity, a part of their soul, and Ethan’s gift had saved his life once when he was younger. He’d been beaten badly for being gay, and his telekinesis had protected him. If Dane took it, he might not be able to defend himself.

“I don’t want to do this,” Dane said.

Lillian gave him a disappointed scowl. “This isn’t the time for cold feet, Dane.”

“It just seems cruel, stripping him of his power like this.” Dane shifted from foot to foot and crossed his arms over his chest as if his hands might accidentally bump into Ethan and steal his gift.

For his part, Ethan was twitchy and wide-eyed. Dane could practically hear the guy’s heart pounding across the room, and despite his recent revelation he might want to be the cause of that particular physical reaction, this was far from the reason he had in mind.

“Just do it,” Ethan said. “All of this…waiting is just making it worse.”

“I don’t want—”

“Dane! Come on. Nothing you can say is going to make this easier. I’m here, and you have my permission, so take my gift.”

“Lillian, would you give me a moment alone with Ethan?” Dane asked.

She seemed reluctant, glancing between the two of them, but eventually caved. “Okay. I’m going to go get some water.”

Dane waited a moment, watching his friend. Only,
friend
didn’t seem like a strong enough word, and in the end, he decided now was the perfect time to tell him so. If he was expected to take his power, it seemed only fair that Dane leave him something in return. He’d known for a long time he had feelings for Ethan; he just couldn’t admit them to himself before. But now, faced with his impending and probable death, he didn’t have the luxury of denial. If he was going to tell Ethan, it was now or never.

With intensity and purpose, Dane charged forward, jaw tight. He reached for Ethan, sliding his fingers behind the nape of his neck. There was no thinking, no analysis, only feeling as Dane’s mouth crashed into Ethan’s.

Everything stopped.

For a moment, he thought he might have misinterpreted Ethan’s signals. His lips were hard, his body frozen, even fearful. But only for a moment. Ethan responded, his strong hands gripping Dane’s hips and pulling him closer, setting the two of them off balance. He retreated, taking Dane with him until his back smacked the wall. With equal parts passion and abandon, he returned the kiss, pressing into Dane’s mouth hard enough to leave a bruise.

For months, they’d been friends. For months, they’d carried a torch for each other. Ethan was his other, and his heart almost broke that he’d waited so long to admit it. Ethan shifted against his mouth, completely lost in the kiss, and that was when Dane took his gift.

Under his skin, the power shifted, the telekinesis slipping over his tongue like a hot drink on a cold day. The transfer sent shock waves through both their bodies. The energy of the exchange broke them apart, both panting from the experience. Ethan’s eyes shifted to the floor, and Dane realized that he might think the kiss was simply how Dane exercised his power or a clever distraction to numb the effect.

Dane had to set him straight. There was only one thing he could say.

“You’re the first to know.” He shrugged his shoulders.

Ethan’s face relaxed as the words settled in, and Dane remembered how he demanded to be the first to know.

“You are…?” Ethan prompted.

“Falling in love with you. Yeah. I think that’s the only label that matters.”

A radiant smile broke across Ethan’s face but was soon replaced by fear and dread. “We’ve got to get you out of here. You can’t do this. It’s suicide.”

“I have to, Ethan.” Dane blinked slowly. He’d thought they were beyond this.

“No, you don’t. We could sneak away. I’ve got money on the outside, plenty. You could shove Cheveyo into the first human body we come across, and you and I could leave this place and never look back.”

With a shake of his head, Dane cracked a sad smile. “As tempting as that sounds, we both know it’s not going to happen.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re not that person anymore.”

To Dane’s utter disappointment, Ethan jerked away. “I’m glad you told me first,” he said. “But I can’t do this now.”

Confused, Dane spread his hands. “Right now is all I got, Ethan.”

“Bullshit. I fully expect you to kick Watcher ass and come back home…to me. We’re not done with this conversation.”

Ethan stormed out the door, passing Lillian on her way back in. She crunched her eyebrows together and turned to Dane expectantly.

“It’s done,” Dane said. With a little effort, he used Ethan’s power to flip a horrifically large knife off the wall and into her hand.

With an elated wail, she forgot all about Ethan and attacked.

Transfer

A
s much as Dane would have liked to spend more time with Ethan before he went to his probable death, Ethan had no interest in long goodbyes. He left the following morning at sunrise, telling only Dr. Silva of his plans. He’d gone to help Bonnie but promised her he’d check in after Dane and Malini began their mission. His absence stung, but Dane understood. Ethan had always been protective, and if he stayed, especially if things between them advanced, he’d never be able to let him go.

Luckily, Dane had enough to keep him occupied from the loss that weighed his chest like a barbed anchor. After Ethan had left the dojo, he’d sparred with Lillian, using his new telekinesis until a migraine hit him so fast and hard he thought he might die. He’d been able to sleep the pain away, but a new day meant a new gift. Time for him to continue his training.

Ghost volunteered to go next. He blinked into the dojo without notice and scared Lillian half to death.

“Damn it, Ghost! I hate when you do that!” she yelled.

He chuckled and pointed his chin toward Dane. “Hey, he doesn’t have to kiss me for this to work, right? Because from what I saw yesterday, I don’t think I could handle the heat.”

Embarrassment flamed up Dane’s cheeks. “You friggin’ eavesdropper!”

“It’s what I do.” Ghost’s smug attitude filled the room.

Lillian ignored the exchange. “Let’s hustle boys. Dane and I need time to practice after the exchange.”

“My pleasure.” Dane struck quickly, snatching Ghost’s bare wrist and yanking his power from him in the metaphysical equivalent of arm wrestling. Compared to Ethan, whose gift had tasted like a hot beverage, Ghost’s was all grit and ice. The flow chilled his fingers, and Dane released him promptly as soon as the transfer was complete.

“Oh.” Lillian gaped in their direction.

Ghost’s eyes were blue, instead of their usual purple, and his dishwater blond hair was now honey brown with platinum highlights. He was tan, and the red Quick Silver shirt he wore stood out against the wood grain and white rice paper of the dojo. Ghost was no longer a ghost. He was
stunning
, more than noticeable.

“Huzzah,” Dane said, allowing his mouth to drop open.

“What you said,” Ghost murmured. “Lillian, do you think the Watchers will notice his eyes?”

Eyes? Dane leaned left to see his reflection in the wall mirror. His body looked blurry, nondescript even, and his eyes were…purple.

Lillian shook her head. “I’ll ask Grace to get him some contacts to be sure. He’s forgettable this way.”

“True.” Ghost smiled. “Hmm. Gives me an idea of showing Samantha how unforgettable I really am.” He made a face like he had to go to the bathroom.

“Are you okay?” Dane asked.

“Yeah, it’s just been a really long time since I had to walk out of a room the old fashioned way.” He cleared his throat. “Old habits.” He nodded his goodbyes and made a hasty retreat.

Dane spread his hands and looked at Lillian who seemed slightly taken aback by his appearance. She composed herself and retrieved a bladed staff from the wall.

Her eyes flashed. “Don’t die.”

* * * * *

“You’ll need to be aware of her,” Jacob said the following day.

Dane had been practicing in the lab, manipulating the water in ever more creative ways while Jacob coached him with tips and advice. They’d decided to take a break when Dane’s head started to throb, a sure sign he was pushing his limits again. Every day he’d added a power, but every day the length of time he could wield them grew shorter. He felt stretched to the limit, and although he wanted to listen to what Jacob had to say, he struggled through the pounding hammer in his brain.

“Say again,” he slurred.

“You’ll need to be aware of Malini. She won’t be careful with herself. Your job, well, my job through you, is to care for her. Use the water to heal her if she burns herself.”

“I’ll do my best.” Dane cradled his head in his hands.

“No,” Jacob insisted, yanking his arm so that his head jarred painfully. “Do better than your best. I’m not fooling around here, Dane. You’ve got to be willing to die for her.”

Dane turned his head to scowl at Jacob.

“I’m not kidding. It sounds harsh, and I’m sorry your life is on the line. I’d go in your place if I could, believe me. But she’s more important than you or our powers. Do what you have to do to get her out alive.”

What did he think, anyway? Dane wasn’t doing this for his health. He’d resolved that he would die on this mission. Of course he’d give his life for Malini if he needed to. He took a deep breath and nodded for Jacob’s benefit.

“Cool. Maybe you should go lie down or something. You don’t look so good.”

“I don’t feel so good.”

“Do you think…Is it Cheveyo?”

“I don’t think so. I haven’t heard anything from him in days, but he’s still alive in there, at the back of my head. He’s just too weak to communicate with me anymore.”

“What happens if he dies?”

“No one knows.”

Jacob swallowed. “Everything will work out,” he said, but he didn’t look like he believed his words. Not at all.

* * * * *

Dane wasn’t sleeping well. All the stuff he had going on in his head, the new powers and Cheveyo’s soul, fought for room against the synapses and neurons keeping his body running. Dark circles had formed under his eyes, and his training sessions had grown shorter and shorter. He’d tried his best, but there was only so much he could give before his body quit on him.

As Friday grew closer, he became competent with each of the skills provided him. Lillian, as head of field operations, had given up her gift last, and with some reluctance turned his training over to Master Lee. The man was older but spry. Though Dane would never admit the truth to Lillian, Lee was a more empathetic teacher.

“Your nose is bleeding,” Lee said, grabbing a towel from the stack near the door of the dojo and tossing it to him. They’d been training for only three hours, but Dane’s body was already breaking down.

“Yeah, my head is pounding too. I’ve got to sit down.”

Master Lee helped him to the floor.

“I’m not getting stronger, Lee. I’m falling apart. I’m not sure I can do this.”

Lee took a seat next to him on the wood floor. “Breathe with me, Dane, in and out, in and out. Life is breath.”

Dane did as he suggested, closing his eyes and opening his lungs.

“What you have to hold inside yourself is greater than your human body can handle. You have pieces of four souls and Cheveyo caught inside the web of your mind. The mind is a powerful thing, tightly connected to the heart and soul. If you survive this, it will be by the power of your spirit not of your body. Your spirit is bigger than your body.”

“No offense, but I feel like even my spirit has a nosebleed these days,” Dane said, mopping his face.

Patiently, Lee sat in silence until the bleeding stopped.

“Should we practice some more?” Dane asked.

“Not fighting.” Lee shook his head. “Sit like this, cross-legged.”

Dane obeyed, mimicking the man.

“Relax your head, your arms, your neck, your shoulders, and try to clear your mind.”

“Clearing my mind isn’t easy these days. It’s pretty crowded in there.”

“Breathe,” Lee said again. “Relax. Clear. Close your eyes.”

Again, Dane tried, and this time pictured the web of his mind and the five souls caught in the crisscrossing fibers. The spider woman climbed into his thoughts and began to weave, expanding the network of threads. His body was weak, but this part of him, heart, soul, and mind, was limitless. Red and pulsating, the web expanded beyond the confines of his skin.

Inside this inner world behind his eyelids, he simply stopped thinking, stopped worrying about how he might die tomorrow, stopped beating himself up about not pursuing Ethan when he had the chance, and stopped dreading what might happen if he did live and had to deal with his family and the farm. He just stopped.

Spider Woman smiled.

When he opened his eyes, the room was dark, Lee was gone, and Malini was standing in the doorway.

“Lee told me you’d be here,” she said softly. “I hope I didn’t disturb you.”

He stretched his arms above his head and cracked his neck. “How long have I been sitting here?”

“About twelve hours, I think. It’s after midnight. I had a sense you were coming out of it. With all of those pieces of Soulkeeper inside of you, the Healer in me can smell you a mile away.” She smiled.