The Ravaging in Between (The Reanimation Files Book 3) (6 page)

I don’t know why, but my throat suddenly grew tight. It wasn’t that she reminded me of my grandmother, because Grams had a much tougher disposition than sweet ol’ Leora here, but the fondness and caring she had for Taj was what I missed about Grams.

But now wasn’t the time to get sentimental. Taj indicated moving into the diner for the interview, and as we were about to, Micah’s phone rang. After a brief conversation, he looked at me apologetically.

“It’s Tielle,” he said. “She’s over at the memorial site and wants to speak to me before it starts.”

“It’s OK,” I said. I wasn’t pissed that he was running off because it felt like I’d just be getting mad at an old issue and there was no point to it now. I might be hesitant about being interviewed, but I didn’t need handholding.

“We’ll meet up when you’re done,” Micah said. I agreed, and he said good-bye to Taj and Leora and jogged off.

“Shall we?” Taj held the door for us ladies, and we headed in and got a booth in the back. While Taj and I sat, Leora stood off to the side with her arms clasped in front of her. The place was mostly empty, which I was glad for. I would not have wanted to do this in the middle of a crowded, hustling diner. The waitress came over and Taj ordered a ginger ale while I opted for hot chocolate and a jam tart. After she left, Taj took out a tape recorder, along with a pen and notepad.

“Is it OK if we begin?”

“Bring it on,” I said.

“Great.” He started to record. “First of all, how are you feeling?”

“I’m doing well. I’ve made a full recovery and my physical therapy helped get some strength back into my body.”

“So there are no side effects from your ordeal?”

“None that have shown themselves.”

“That’s good. As you can imagine, just about everyone out there has a theory on how you survived the death of Renton Morse, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. It’s true that he had transferred your reanimation power to himself, correct?”

“Yes. Renton took my reanimation power and used it for his own deadly purposes.”

“And why did you decide that killing Renton was the only way to stop him?”

“Because my reanimation power was at the core of everything bad that was going on. If it no longer existed, it would bring everything to an end. There was a way for me to take my power back, yes; but I would still be living with the Rot, which would have eventually killed me. So I concluded that I had to kill Renton, even knowing the risk to myself.”

“That was incredibly brave of you,” Taj said. “It takes a very strong person to make that kind of sacrifice. Yet Renton is dead, your reanimation power is gone, but you survived after dying for two minutes and being in a coma for a month. Do you have any idea as to why?”

“Your guess and the million other guesses out there are as good as mine,” I said. “I’m just grateful to be here, and thankful that Renton’s terrorism was brought to an end. I am honestly not sure what it would take to explain why I didn’t die permanently.”

“It’s a question that may have to stay unanswered,” Taj said. “But one that will continue to fascinate us all.” He made a lot of notes as he spoke and I hoped I was coming across OK. The notes were in braille so I couldn’t even read what he was jotting down. Guess I’d find out when his article was published.

Taj flipped to a new page in his notebook. “Now, Alchemy was at the core of Renton Morse’s experiments. He was able to use Alchemy to go so far as recreating human bodies. It’s a topic that has been hotly debated in the media over the past month. What is your take on Alchemy?”

I had to be careful with my answer here, because I didn’t want to let it slip that part of the reason I found Alchemy terrifying was because of how Renton had saved my life. Micah said Tielle had covered up that part, and as painful as it was to live with, it had to stay covered up. I wouldn’t be able to weather the storm if it came out that people had died so I could continue living. I hadn’t even come to terms with that myself.

“Alchemy has its positive uses, there’s no doubt about that,” I said. “Renton himself came up with various useful runes using Alchemy. But there is always a dark side when it comes to things like that. Just as you can experiment to do good, you can experiment to do bad. Renton did both. The power to re-create bodies isn’t something anyone should have. It’s—in essence—playing God. No one wants to die or experience someone they know dying, but it is a natural part of life.”

“So do you think the Paranormal Sector should disband their Alchemy department altogether?”

“I think it needs a lot of restructuring if it is going to continue on. There is always the potential for there to be another Renton. I don’t know if closing down the department is the answer, because that could just mean someone will conduct dangerous experiments on their own, and who knows what trouble that could lead to. At least with a public department, things can be monitored. Although, let’s face it, the ball was dropped with Renton.”

“You echo the sentiments of many,” Taj said. “Yet the louder call is for Alchemy to be done away with altogether. The general public holds a lot of fear over the power it has.”

“Understandable. I myself am no longer in awe of it as I once was. I’d rather have nothing to do with it.”

“That must create a bit of tension between you and Micah Stone, then.”

“Because his uncle was so involved with it? Yeah, it has not always been easy…”

“No, I mean because he’s accepted a position within the Rune Development Department that’s been established within the new Paranormal Control Center. They are going to continue using Alchemy to develop new advancements with runes such as the ones Renton worked on.”

I took a moment before I spoke so I wouldn’t fumble over my words. I didn’t want Taj to hear the surprise in my voice over what he’d just said.

Micah had failed to mention that he was working for the new Paranormal Control Center. In their Rune Development Department, no less. I’d thought we were both booted from Affairs of the Dead and unemployed.

Anger rippled through me, but I composed myself. This was too reminiscent of the recent past when Micah had been keeping secrets from me. I had really hoped we’d moved on from that.

“Oh right, of course. Well, whatever tension there may be is something we will work on privately, so I’d rather not comment further.”

“Of course, sorry for overstepping. It’s just that there’s a lot of noise over Renton’s nephew joining the ranks Renton was in.”

Man, I should really watch the news. I had avoided it because I wanted to give myself a chance to clear my head, and watching the news would just beat me down with the things I had endured pre-coma.

“Let me guess, people are afraid he will be a copycat. That he will take what he learned from Renton and become an even bigger monster.”

“That pretty much sums it up.”

“I can assure you that Micah is nothing like Renton. But he will be under the thumb of the Paranormal Sector and, more directly, the PCC, who I am sure will not let history repeat itself.”

“I do hope you’re right,” Taj said. He again flipped to a new page in his notebook. I tried not to be nervous about all the notes he took.

The interview went on for about fifteen minutes more before Taj declared he had everything he needed to write his article. He put away his notebook and recorder.

“Thanks so much for giving your exclusive interview to the
Guardian Sun
,” he said. “The story should run in a week or two.”

“Great, just make me look good.”

Taj smiled. “Your courageous efforts against Renton have already done that for you. The ceremony should be starting soon. Shall we?”

That nervous flutter in the pit of my stomach was back, but I gave Taj the affirmative. After we paid, we left the diner and headed over to the park. A large crowd was already gathered in front of a platform stage. Behind the stage was the memorial, which was a large, abstract-shaped sculpture that had the victim’s names etched onto it.

Micah was behind the stage with people I assumed were officials from the government, judging from the way they were dressed and how they carried themselves. He saw me and beckoned me over, and Leora guided Taj to where the other reporters were set up in front of the stage. They had their notepads, cameras, and recorders ready. Once people spotted me, they started cheering, which flustered me a little, but I smiled and waved as I hurried over to Micah.

“Where’s Tielle?” I didn’t spot her among the officials. I almost said “where’s your new boss,” but I was going to refrain for bringing up what I had just learned from Taj. It wasn’t the time or place for an argument.

“She got pulled away by something important at the office,” Micah said. “She’s sorry that she will miss it, but wants to meet up with you soon.”

“Yeah, sure.” I wondered what was so important that she had to miss the ceremony.

People were still cheering and calling out to me. Positive things, but I felt like ducking down and hiding behind the stage. It was polarizing to be treated like a hero when I was standing near the names of so many people whose deaths I felt responsible for.

Micah introduced me to the government officials. Some were from the Paranormal Sector, others were from the regular U.S. government. They all gave me a warm handshake and made polite inquiries about my recovery, as well as complimented me about my bravery in stopping Renton. I endured the meet and greet as best I could.

While some official or another was making small talk with Micah, I surveyed the crowd and was surprised when my gaze landed on Jacob McNabb standing near the front row. I had never seen Jacob in person before, but there had been a large portrait of Andrew, Jacob, and their father, Ernest, hanging up in Andrew’s office. Jacob was three years older than Andrew, so he was approaching fifty. He had a similar build to his brother—tall and broad-shouldered. Their father did too. Guess it was genetics or family gym time to thank for that.

Jacob also had blue eyes like Andrew, but his hair was brown where Andrew’s was more of a dirty blond. His facial hair was neatly trimmed. Of the two, Jacob resembled their father more. But like Andrew, he was all about maintaining an impeccable look. The charcoal gray suit he wore looked expensive and well-tailored.

He caught my eye before I could look away and his expression tightened. He had no smile for me. It hadn’t crossed my mind that he would be here, but I realized that Andrew was as much a victim of Renton as anyone else whose name was on the memorial. I was certain Andrew’s would be there too. Jacob’s piercing gaze definitely fell into the “if looks could kill” category. I hoped I would be able to avoid him. That was an awkward encounter I did not need. I looked away.

A short time later, one of the officials went up onto the stage to give opening remarks, which finally quieted the crowd. Although there had been cheers, there were many somber, tear-streaked faces, and I knew they belonged to the friends and family of the victims. My heart suddenly felt like it weighed a ton. As much as I felt off balance without my reanimation power, I never wanted evolved power like that again. The damage it could cause was not worth it.

At some point during the speech, Micah nudged me and I zoned back in. Someone was being introduced. A young woman left the audience and walked onto the stage. She looked to be in her early twenties.

“Who is she?” I whispered to Micah. “What’s going on?”

Micah gave a small smile. “You’ll see. I wanted you to be surprised so I didn’t mention it before.”

I frowned, but soon had to turn that frown into a more neutral expression because moments later, I was invited to come onto the stage. I took a deep breath, gathered my strength, and headed up.
I could do this. I could totally do this
.

“Selene.” The speaker, a balding older man named Jerry, put his arm around my shoulder. I didn’t realize we were that close.

“This is Margaret,” Jerry said. Margaret smiled at me.

“Margaret was on the Brooklyn Bridge during the rampage caused by the ghost monster Renton Morse was in control of and she was severely injured,” Jerry said, addressing the crowd. “She was pregnant—almost full-term—and it is only because Selene was able to bring the massacre to an end, thus allowing paramedics to get to her in time, that both she and her baby were saved. Margaret would like to thank Selene personally.”

My eyes widened as Jerry stepped back and Margaret came closer and offered me her hand. After giving me a handshake, she threw her arms around me and gave me a hug. I was caught off guard but I returned the hug, even though it was a bit awkward.

“I remember thinking that even if I died I wanted my baby to live,” she said after she pulled back. “But I knew that if I didn’t get help soon, we would both be lost.” She pointed to where an older woman she bore a resemblance to stood in front of the stage with a stroller next to her. No doubt that was Margaret’s mother and her infant.

“Because of you, my daughter has a chance to grow up, and I am around to watch her do so. Necromancy runs in our family, and when my daughter was tested at birth, it was revealed that she carries necromancer power.”

That elicited cheers from the crowd. Necromancy could be detected in a newborn using runes if the parent chose to have the baby tested. Reanimation power usually wasn’t detectable until adulthood, which was when a lot of reanimators either got caught or went into hiding. Mine had awakened when I was a teenager, but that was a rare case and my grandmother had kept me protected.

“I hope that one day Leah can grow up to be a strong, working necromancer like you, who helps others. Whether it is by helping ghosts with unfinished business, or as a member of the Paranormal Task Force.”

“I hope so too,” I said. “Although I certainly hope she doesn’t end up in the kind of trouble I did.” That got a murmur of laughter from the crowd.

“Thank you for the sacrifice you made,” Margaret said. “By whatever means you’re still here is a blessing, and I think it means you are meant to do great things in the world.”

“Thank you, Margaret, I can only hope—”