CRYSTALLUM (The Primordial Principles Book 1) (13 page)

"Yes, Mr. Spires? What else is there?"

"Sir..." He glanced at his feet.
How can Kadence be Jake's responsibility? She was carrying a crystal. A crystal.

"Yes, Mr. Spires?" The Warden's brow lifted.

"Nothing."

***

Cole walked the wide hall outside the Warden's office toward the double ornate doors. Jake vanished somewhere upstairs. Probably
running his mouth about something else he thought Cole was guilty of.

Drizzling rain still fell outside, and Cole found cover in the
abandoned cafe across the street, his conscience weighing on his shoulders like a coat of iron. Glancing at his open hand, the red lines spread across his right palm like a claw. They'd grown darker since
he'd left the Brotherhood. Drawing the crystal Danny found out of his pocket, its own red lines were more distinct, too, a grid of electric currents, as if the crystal was a living, breathing thing. There hadn't been any lines inside of it when they'd found it in the Hive.

Cole withdrew his own crystal and held it in his other palm. Clear. Untainted. Pure. A Ward-issued crystal. The kind that transmitted energy and maintained the electromagnetic field that
coursed through all Primordials. The energy that kept them alive and aligned with the Celestial Plane.

With a breath, Cole put both crystals back in his pockets. Not
only had he broken the Doctrine by choosing to put his life on the line for Kadence, in his panic to make sure she was okay, he'd accidentally used the crystal they'd found at the Daemoneum Hive
to stop the effects of any injuries she might have had. The crystal Cole had quickly realized, wasn't one of the Wards at all, wasn't even born of the Celestial Plane, but something, and somewhere, else entirely.

It was a fusionem crystal.

At least he understood why the Daemoneum had it in their Hive. It was the kind of crystal that used both positive and negative energy.

The kind of crystal that could create amalgamations.

The Warden entered the dilapidated cafe, shaking the rain from his gray hair. "I apologize for my abrupt nature during the meeting," the man said. "You know it is difficult in those situations. I must not play favorites, and I would rather Mr. Phillips not know any more than he has already learned." The Warden removed a small velvet pouch from the inside pocket of his suit and held it open.

"I understand." Cole retrieved the crystal and dropped the stone inside.

"It has been a long time since I have seen a fusionem crystal. Thank you for alerting me on Saturday evening that you found it, and not handing it over during our meeting with Mr. Phillips."

Cole nodded, distracted.

"You wanted to ask me how Kadence was doing in my office a few minutes ago."

"Yes. Why didn't you tell me she'd been placed in the Kinship?" he asked with too much force behind his words. "Under Jake?"

The Warden raised a brow. "Because she had not been placed anywhere the last time we spoke of it, and even if I had placed her in the Kinship, you didn't know her, so I assumed you wouldn't care."

Cole blanched. Why did he care? He never cared where anyone was placed.

"For your other question, Kadence is the same as she was when you alerted us to her condition early this morning. Unresponsive. We have decided, for the sake of her safety, that we will wipe her memory of the event."

Cole's posture stiffened. "But—"

The Warden held up a hand. "She will not forget you. Only last
night's events and the role you played in them. It is unwise to remove everything. But for her to possibly remember that you
witnessed the moon's mark on her palm, or that she was seen talking to Dracon is too risky."

"She was carrying a crystal." Cole's gaze met the elder man's light eyes. "A telum."

"Kadence is a rare case. That is why she has been hidden from our world for so long, and the reason she was not accustomed to our ways at a young age like all other fledglings. We are still learning what her role among us will be, and therefore, the less she is aware of, for the time being, the better."

"How much does she know?" Cole leaned against the cafe wall.

"A good amount, but not everything."

"I don't understand. Primeva can't carry crystals."

The Warden gave a curt nod. "And that is what makes her rare. She can."

Cole sighed. Until he became a Principal within the Ward, he wasn't privy to certain information.

"If you will, though, discreetly check on Kadence before you resume your usual duties, I would appreciate it." The Warden turned to leave. "The doctor has been alerted that you will stop by."

Cole hesitated. "You want me to go see her after I broke the Doctrine?"

"I believe Kadence needs a bit of...reassurance in her
unconscious state. Perhaps you are the one who could rouse her. No one else has been able to."

"She barely knows me."

"The boy she saved from the Nefarius? The boy who saved her from the Draconis?" The man grinned.

"But why not Giselle? Kadence seems to know her." It seemed odd to think that Kade would be roused by the sound of his voice. A stranger, really.

"Because Kadence didn't say Giselle's name a short while ago. She said yours."

Cole's face heated, and he pictured Kade lying beside him in her bed, whispering his name. "I—"

"You did the right thing," Warden Caelius cut him off. "Protecting her. I know I am asking a rather large favor of you
because she is not
one your own, but I believe it necessary that you see her. After
today, however, I must ask that you keep your distance."

Cole gave a grudging, stiff nod.

"She is at the Kinship. I thought it best she got a feel for the place."

"So, you are placing her there?" Anger spiked through Cole's
words, but he didn't care.

The Warden sighed. "When she is ready to leave her father's house, yes." He opened the door. "I received your reports from
Plumb, and I've decided to have one of the Principals lead the investigation surrounding the Mortal Coil, as well as the Araneum."

"What?" Cole shouted that time. "That's my case. I located the symbols, the Hives, and forced the information out of the Nefarius. It's my lead!”

"And you did an excellent job, but I believe the subject matter related to the investigation hits too close to home. Besides that, school has started."

"You've never cared about me not going to school before. I could pass every one of those stupid classes with my eyes closed," Cole snapped. "Half of them I'm taking again because there are no other
options left. And I can handle the investigation, and the subject
matter related to it. It's my job to handle it."

"Cole—I can't risk it." The man averted his gaze. "Not again. Not with you."

Cole was stunned into silence.

"Have you seen Tiffany lately?" the Warden asked in a lighter tone.

Cole gave a half shrug, like a sulking five year old, knowing the Warden was trying to change the topic. Of course he'd seen Tiffany. He saw her every damn day. They both lived in the Brotherhood.

"She's such a nice girl, Cole," he said. "Give it another chance."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Cole gave an exaggerated sigh. "Okay."

COLE HAD ONLY BEEN
to the Kinship once when he was fourteen years old and the common house had been identical to the Brotherhood. Deep green roof, brown log exterior, wide front porch, and a semicircular drive. The view of the mountains was similar, too, just
from the East instead of the West.

Pulling the emergency brake up on the Jeep, he stared at the double front doors. An
owl
crest rested just above them, underneath the cornice
.
Cole rolled his eyes. Jake always flaunted the crest,
putting owls on practically everything. Thankfully, he and the rest of the house were at school.

Making his way up the front steps, a sense of foreboding flooded Cole. Kadence would be living at the Kinship at some point. On this side of the mountain. Away from him. He didn't know why that bothered him so much.
Caring about someone he barely knew.

Ms. Thatcher, the Kinship’s Lead, greeted him, arms open wide, a huge grin on her narrow face. "Cole, honey." She pulled him into her arms. "Why don't you ever visit? I only get to see you at Ward meetings. What
fun is that? We all just sit there listenin' to speeches and starin' at each other."

Cole patted her back and tried to unlatch himself from her grip. "Sorry. I've been busy." His voice was muffled, his face buried in her wild hair. It had always reminded him of a bird's nest.

Thatcher grabbed his shoulders. "Look at you. You're practically a man now. And how I didn't get you in my house..." She shook her head as if she couldn't comprehend such a travesty. "Well, can't go worrying about things we can't change, now can we?" She pinched his cheek. "I guess you're here to see that poor new girl. She's down the hall." Thatcher pointed a long, fake red finger nail. "The Warden didn't tell me much," she whispered. "But I can see it. Somethin's not right with her. You know I get the feelin's."

Cole knew. Everyone knew about the feelings she got.

"I just know that girl doesn't belong here,” she whispered.

Cole cracked a smile. "I'm sure it'll be fine. All newcomers are little off at first." He started down the hallway. "She'll settle in." Just saying those words ate at him.

"Oh, it's not newcomer jitters, darlin'. I can feel it. This is
somethin' in my gut. And while we're talkin’, why are you the one visitin' the girl, darlin'? I thought you were datin' Tiffany."

The door to Kadence's room stood open, and Cole didn't hear the rest of what Thatcher said. Candles and yellow roses adorned the window sill and bedside table. Various herbs burned in small silver bowls, filling the room with the scent of vanilla and sage. Cole knew the scent from spending time in the Ward's infirmary as a boy. He'd gotten motion sickness from traveling through Leygates the first few times and had thrown up for three days straight. His father had no sympathy. The day Cole was released from the sickbed, his father
had him traveling through gates from his house in Rome to his uncle's house in England and back. The dizziness caused by traveling from one place to another within seconds took months to get used to.

"Young Mr. Spires, it is always nice to see you." The short, round doctor reminded Cole of a ground mole with his pointed nose and beady eyes. "The Warden assured me you would drop by." He motioned for Cole to come out of the threshold and into the room, but he stood frozen, staring. "She won't bite, I promise you."

Kade was on her side, blankets tangled between her legs, her small fist gripping the pillow underneath her head. The sight of her took his breath away.

"Cole, honey, are you okay?" Ms. Thatcher tapped his arm.

He nodded without taking his gaze off Kade.

"Mr. Spires?" the doctor asked.

Cole took a shaky step, unsure why he was so nervous. It wasn't like he'd never been around girls. He'd been around
a lot
of them, but he'd never been affected by one before. Like he couldn't catch his breath or remember his own name. With another shaky step, as if he were falling off the edge of a cliff, or his knees were giving out, he
reached the side of the bed and leaned against it.

Sunlight filtered through the window and cast a slight tinge over Kade's creamy skin, painting her cheeks and her closed eyelids pink. His hand rested on the sheets next to her leg, and he had an overwhelming urge to touch her, hold her hand, but that seemed completely inappropriate. Especially with the mole doctor watching him like Cole alone held the voodoo spell that would wake Kadence from the comatose
state she'd fallen in.
The Warden said she'd been unresponsive to
anyone.

"How is she?" Cole asked.

"She is...well, she is not injured," the doctor said. "Not in any
danger. She simply seems to be in a very deep sleep. She will be perfectly fine, I believe, once she wakes. She is quite cold, however. It is the only symptom I have found so far. Her body needs to warm up."

Cole nodded. Kade had been warm when he was lying next to her, hot even.

"You can talk to her," the doctor went on. "She won't remember anything you say today, or you being here. We were hoping that your voice might trigger a response within her mind. Encourage her to wake. It would be best if she went on with normal activity and put last night's...adventure behind her." The doctor made a shooing motion with his hands as if pushing Cole closer to Kade with an invisible force.

He took a tiny step closer to the head of the bed. "Kadence?" His voice was low, timid. Like a twelve-year-old kid who had a crush on
someone, and wanted to tell her, but instead pinged her with spit balls in the back.
He cleared his throat. "Kade?" He got an
encouraging smile from the doctor.

With a breath, he sat on the edge of the bed, trying not to touch
her.
He didn't even know if she liked to be called Kade or Kadence. She'd told him her name was Kade when he'd asked her the day before, but Lindsey called her Kadence, and so did the Warden, and the doctor. Shouldn't someone who was visiting a friend know what the friend wanted to be called?
He fiddled with his fingers, threading and unthreading them, trying to ignore the red lines
spreading across his palm.
Kade wasn't his friend. Not really. She was a stranger. His opposition in so many ways, and after today, he was supposed to keep his distance from her.

"So..." he began, not knowing what he was supposed to say.
Maybe she couldn't even hear him. "I'm sure you're wondering
what's going on."