The Travelers: Book Two (3 page)

Chapter Three

Alina buried her face in shame. Everyone looked to her after Isabel stormed out and she couldn’t help but feel like it was all her fault. It was something she said that angered Aaron. She couldn’t believe that Desmond struck him! She couldn’t believe how angry Isabel seemed to be. They both seemed like such wonderfully kind people.

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Gemma said, scooting to a chair closer to her.

“We both know that’s been brewing for a while.”

Alina nodded in agreement and wiped the fat tears from her face. She’d nearly forgotten how to cry.

It was only after she stopped crying that she felt Desmond’s hand resting on her back with the lightest touch. It surprised her that someone so strong with such large hands would be able to be so gentle. It surprised her even more that she hadn’t noticed the physical contact the moment he initiated it. How long had that gone on?

“They were both way out of line,” said Gemma.

Alina nodded, “It’s the frenzy. I know.”

Carson frowned, “The shadow things? But I didn’t see one on either of them.”

She shook her head, “No, you wouldn’t. They’ve just be touched by it… exposed, tainted, whatever you want to call it. Unless they get more or develop their own magic, it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

“Great,” Carson said with a sigh. He didn’t want to think about babysitting those two until all of this was over. He didn’t know if he’d be able to keep them apart either when they both clearly wanted to be a part of it.

“I know it’s not ideal, but the best thing to starve the frenzy is to bombard it with positivity. It thrives on fear and anger; that’s why love between a Traveler and Evoker can defeat it.”

Carson’s hand reached for Gemma’s instinctively.

“You said you helped Waters; what did you do for him?” Ty asked, bringing the attention back to the important subject at hand.

Alina nibbled her bottom lip and looked up at Dez. He nodded, urging her to answer.

“I… My magic is able to track others,” she answered, looking deflated.

“When an Evoker meets her match, they’re both “activated”, the surge of magic is like a beacon to me. I can find them from miles away.”

It didn’t take long for everyone — except Desmond — to come to the obvious conclusion.

“So, you helped him find Isabel?” Carson said.

Tears welled in Alina’s eyes and she nodded, “I did. I had no choice… They threatened me, people I love, innocents — they starved me, kept me awake for days at a time… they…” her voice cracked and Desmond pulled her close. Her instincts told her to fight against him, but once his arms released her, she missed their presence.

“We understand that you did what you had to,” Gemma said, hoping that she spoke for everyone.

“So, without you, how is he finding them?” Carson asked.

“I think I have an idea,” Ty said.

He turned his laptop around and showed them a cheesy-looking website covered with tacky hearts.

“Amoreforme.com? The dating website?”

“Turns out,” Ty said, “amoreforme.com recently launched a mobile app for their users. Any guesses who they contracted the app out to?”

Trick thrust his hand into the air, jumping around excitedly.

“Preston Waters,” Carson answered.

Trick dropped his hand and pouted, sending Carson a scowl for good measure.

“I don’t know the answer often,” he said, “you could have let me have that one.”

Carson suppressed a little grin and rolled his eyes.

“It wasn’t a pop quiz, Trick.”

“I would’ve had an A if it was.”

“Do you want a gold star on your fridge before we continue or can we act like adults and actually figure this out?” Gemma taunted.

“She’s a teacher, she has the stickers to make good on that threat,” Carson teased.

Gemma rolled her eyes.

“So, Preston got access to their database when he built the app?”

“Exactly, and he left himself a back door. I’m not sure how he narrows them down beyond that.”

Alina drew her entire bottom lip into her mouth.

“They talked about building a program… a computer program that could find people the way I could. He’s always trying to force magic into technology. They don’t mix well, though. I don’t think they ever finished it.”

“Maybe they made enough progress to make it usable,” Ty suggested.

“And without Alina to pinpoint the targets, he’s having to guess at who to take. That makes him even more dangerous,” said Carson.

“Do you think you would be able to find those people still?” he asked her.

She shook her head, “I’ve never really been able to control my abilities. P-p-preston was able to focus it, but it was very painful.”

Desmond’s arm draped around her again. She tried not to flinch this time.

“That’s okay. We’ll just have to play offense,” he said.

“Easier said than done,” said Ty.

“We can do it though, patrol around town,” Trick said.

“But we won’t be able to cover everything at once,” Carson replied.

“Something is better than nothing, though,” Gemma said, her gaze still locked on Alina and Desmond.

“That’s true,” said Carson, “and I’ll be most effective as the wolf.”

Gemma whipped her head to face him, her hair flying in the process, “But…”

“I promised I would always tell you, I didn’t promise I wouldn’t do it anymore,” he said, interrupting her objection.

“I don’t like it,” she said, “the others can’t even see the shadows, how are they going to help you?”

“I… uh… I think that might be different now,” Alina offered, “If P-p-preston is getting stronger, that means the shadows are, too.”

Gemma frowned; wasn’t Alina supposed to be on her side? What ever happened to girls sticking together?

“Okay… but that’s still not a guarantee. What if something happens and I have to pull you back?” Gemma asked with tears welling in her big brown eyes.

Carson’s hands settled on her hips and pulled her into a close embrace, “I won’t let that happen, Gem.”

She clung to him for a moment longer than necessary. She wanted to remember this — the strength of his embrace, the steady beat of his heart against her chest, the warmth that flowed through her veins at the very sight of him and the woodsy smell that overwhelmed her senses when he was nearby — she didn’t want to forget a single detail. Carson was too precious to her and this plan was too foolhardy.

“We’ll wait until nightfall. There won’t be much use going out before that.”

Gemma pulled Carson aside and left her hand resting on his taut bicep.

“What about Aaron?”

“What about him?” Carson’s eyes flashed with anger giving her a glimpse of the wolf beneath.

“Do you think he’ll be sobered up by then?”

“Gemma, I have better things to do with my time than babysit a grown ass man.” He knew the minute the words were out of his mouth that he’d been too harsh with her.

“I… I would just feel better if you had more people with…” her lip quivered and Carson wrapped his arms around her, cursing himself.

“I know, I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to do about those two,” he said.

“You wanna try to switch? I’ll talk to Aaron and you can talk to Izzy?”

Carson laughed, “I’m pretty sure I’m the next to last person Izzy wants to talk to. You’re more than welcome to talk to Aaron, but you’re wasting your time.”

She frowned.

“I don’t think you should exclude him,” she said.

“He’s excluding himself. You saw him; he’s a mess.”

Gemma nodded, remembering all too well the signs of addiction and avoidance from her youth.

“I know. But aren’t we all, right now? It just manifests in different ways.”

Carson smiled and surprised her with a firm kiss.

“See! That’s why I love you. You always find a way to empathize.”

Gemma shrugged, “I just have to remember that everyone else is human, too.”

“Except when they’re not!” Trick chimed in.

“Eavesdrop much?” Gemma teased.

“Ow. It’s going to take weeks for me to recover from that burn,” Trick volleyed.

“Here’s what I’m thinking,” Gemma said ignoring Trick.

“Ooh, baby, I love to hear what you’re thinking,” Carson said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

She smacked his shoulder with a playful grin.

“I give Aaron a few hours to finish sleeping it off before I tell him you’re going out without him. He can make up his mind then if he wants to sober up to help you or not. Then, I’ll stand faithful watch over your limp body as you go fight evil shadow monsters and worry me half to death,” she feigned a swoon.

“Hmm. That’s a pretty solid plan, but I noticed a pretty sizable gap. What are your plans for the next few hours?”

“I’m so glad you asked that,” she purred. “I was going to ask if you had any suggestions.”

His hand traveled down her back, drawing out tiny shivers as he traced a line over her spine.

“I could think of a thing or two to entertain you,” he whispered, his voice growing husky.

“Oh god, please. Just get naked or get out of here. My gag reflex is only so strong,” Trick said.

Carson looked peeved, but Gemma laughed it off.

“Well, let’s give the man what he wants!” She said, reaching for the hem of her shirt.

Carson’s eyes grew ten times their normal size and his hands flew to cover hers before she could pull her shirt up. In one swift movement he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her up the stairs, her laughter trailing after them.

<<<>>>

“Ugh, can you believe them?” Trick said, making a face of disgust.

“Yes, seeing one of our best friends happy and in love is quite revolting, I agree,” Ty said.

Trick answered with a roll of his eyes.

“Yeah yeah. I’m the bad guy because I think all this mushy crap is getting in the way of more important things.”

“Oh?” Ty asked, quirking an eyebrow without ever lifting his gaze from the monitor in front of him.

“Yeah! Like why
I
don’t have super powers yet,” he said.

“You have to find your Evoker,” Alina said, drawing their attention to her. She sank back into her chair, her cheeks turning pink.

Dez urged her to continue.

“But there’s no way of even knowing if you are a Traveler…” she muttered.

“So, why haven’t we all turned into crazy people if this frenzy is so strong?” he asked, feeling like he was finally getting somewhere with figuring this all out.

Alina shrugged; the corners of her mouth fell into a frown and her eyes refused to meet anyone’s.

“The most vulnerable people are those that have damaged their souls or — in the case of Travelers and Evokers — have met their soulmate but have yet to have the chance to bond with them. It leaves a kind of… hole. The frenzy takes hold and the hole grows and grows.”

Trick drummed his fingers on the table.

“So then… the shadows move in?” he asked.

“Like some kind of nefarious hermit crab,” Ty added.

“And, according to Carson, he can sometimes pull them free, but sometimes they’re too ingrained and the person can’t survive,” Trick said.

Alina nodded, impressed with how quickly they’d all caught on.

“That still doesn’t explain how Isabel’s shadow disappeared,” said Ty.

“I think I have a theory about that,” said Alina.

<<<>>>

There was blood everywhere. Her stomach turned at the sight of it. But even worse than the gore in front of her eyes was the stench that assaulted Izzy’s nostrils. The metallic scent of fresh blood mingled with the caustic fumes of vinegar.

She was terrified. Yet she wasn’t scared at all. She knew that smell. She knew this place. But where was it?

Her heart raced, but she couldn’t feel it in her chest; she only heard the roar of her blood rushing through her ears.

The trail of blood seemed like it would never end.

The pit in Izzy’s stomach grew and turned over and over, churning a tsunami of panic.

She stepped through a doorway and the scene changed. There was rubble everywhere. A feeble cry for help. Silence.

The blood roared in her ears and she strained to hear the call again.

She stumbled over a pile of debris, catching herself with her hands; white-hot pain lanced through her but she held in her cry, hoping to hear something else. Blood trickled from her palms and dripped on the rocks underfoot.

The rocks slipped away from under her. One by one they crumbled and slid down the heap until she was no longer there.