Dentelle (17 page)

There was a pause.
“They do say the ability to make up after a fight is essential for a
successful relationship.”

“You got
it bad,”
I teased.

“Maybe,”
he admitted.

“We’ll
figure something out. We have to.”

“That’s
for damn sure.”

After an early morning breakfast, I met Ahanu in
one of my favorite places – the library. Even more magnificent than the rest of
the house, the library boasted floor to ceiling arched bookcases with rolling
ladders and thousands of books. As Ahanu showed me around, it became apparent
the library, with its ornate crown molding, quaint wall sconces, and brilliant
river rock fireplace, was his favorite place. The scent of lemon lingered in
the air, and the woodwork gleamed – both indicators someone had recently
polished with care. A large white and ruby-colored rug, with a Native American
motif, covered the wood floor in the reading area.

Sitting comfortably on a plush leather couch, we
admired his impressive coin collection, many of which had been his
grandfather’s. And while it was obvious several of the coins were valuable, I
was under the impression he collected more for the enjoyment. His dark eyes
twinkled as he showed me a $10 Indian-Head-type gold coin from 1918. Weaving
facts while painting a brilliant picture, he was a masterful storyteller who
easily captured my imagination. For a while, I even forgot I was at the Ranch.
I figured the walls were soundproof because all I could hear besides Ahanu’s
deep voice, was a lyrical Mozart melody playing in the background. Between the
two, I felt like I was on a magical journey, winding down a river – not sure
exactly where I’d end up – but knowing I’d be exhilarated by the end.

When he finally rose and indicated it was time
to head to the award ceremonies, I sighed. The library was peaceful with no
stage from which I had to stand upon and perform. And after last night’s
horrible news, I wasn’t in the mood for seeing people and pretending I was
happy. Giving him a hug, I thanked him for sharing his stories and his coin
collection. Deep down, I’d also appreciated the short reprieve from watchful
eyes.

“Lexi, I want you to know I will get some
answers,” he said, extra wrinkles forming around his eyes and mouth as he took
on a solemn expression. “I suspect you are right that there are a few members
on the Senior Council who are overstepping their bounds in an attempt to
control you.” I nodded and bit my tongue. But I didn’t say anything out of fear
I might reveal too much about my feelings or my heartbreak over Jason. Standing
tall, with his hands clasped in front of him, he said, “Please know that is not
what the Senior Council is all about. The Guardian Code exists so we are a
strong, unified Network. Along with our abilities and individual gifts comes
great responsibility – that of protecting the Innocents, and more recently, each
other. With new threats posed by the Ray-pacs targeting our Amethysts, it is
important we are united.”

“I agree.”

He nodded. “In striving to uphold our vows, as
well as maintain balance and harmony, there are times when it’s necessary we
move certain members within the Network. Unfortunately, anytime there is an
organization with a governing body like ours – there is potential for abuse of
power.”

“I understand what you’re saying. I also know
that if our Network is going to stay unified, you need to address those who are
abusing their power,” I said, twisting my pinky ring around on my finger.

He rubbed his chin. “I completely agree. That’s
why I will be working diligently, with those I trust, to identify the
perpetrators. But I must tell you,” he paused and shook his head, “removing
someone from the Council is basically unheard of. Only in rare cases, when a
Senior member is found guilty of actually harming or intending to harm another
member, are they terminated from their position. In your case, I don’t believe
anyone wants to hurt you. In fact, I’d say it’s the opposite; they want to keep
you safe, keep an eye on you –”

“More like control me,” I interjected, crossing
my arms. All on its own, my foot started tapping incessantly against the floor.

“Maybe so,” he said with resignation. “But once
the conspirators are identified, they will be reprimanded, but more than likely
they will remain on the Council.”

“Figures,” I said, releasing a long, frustrated
breath. Then I remembered my manners and the fact that he’d always been on my
side. I grabbed his arm and smiled, “Let’s hope that will be enough to set them
straight. If they were off my case and focused on more important matters, I
could live my life.”

His lips curved into a gentle smile, and then
his expression turned thoughtful. “One more thing. While I did not necessarily
agree with the decision to move Jason Walker out of Bellingham, I did feel it
would be in his best interest. At least for a while. After all, he admitted
pursuing a relationship with you even though he knew it was a violation.”

I dropped my head and stared at the rug.

In a soft voice, he said, “Lexi, I know we can’t
help who we fall in love with. I will do what I can to make things right for
you, but for now, this might be what’s best.”

My head shot up, and I looked at him
openmouthed.

“Your secret is safe with me, dear. I know true
love when I see it. I have the same kind of love with my wife.” A dreamy glaze
glossed over his eyes. After a moment, he released a happy sigh, looked at me, and
said, “You will find a way. True love always does.” He gritted his teeth and
frowned. “In the meantime, I’ll be on damage control with this Senior Council.
And my granddaughter…well, she needs to be reined in.”

“What do you mean?”

Busying himself, he placed some of the
individual coin cases back in their velvet bags. “She is like a wild stallion,
all spirit with an eye for freedom. But she has no sense of where she’s going
or who she might trample in the process.” His jaw squared. “She’s always wanted
an invitation to join one of the Circles in California.” He raised a brow,
“It’s going to be interesting to see if she gets one now.”

I fidgeted with my earring. “From San Diego, you
mean?”

He nodded but continued staring out the window
like he was deep in thought. “I’m afraid we really must go now or we’ll be
late. You run on ahead. And Lexi,” he said, turning back towards me, “if you
ever need help with anything – you call me.”

“I will. And thank you so much for your
support.” I gave him a big hug and then hurried towards the door.

“Oh, one last thing,” he called out.

I twirled around. “What’s that?”

“Today, if you’re up for the challenge – I think
you should take it. There is no doubt in my mind you will succeed.”

I frowned in confusion. “Huh?”

“Go now. You’ll know what I’m talking about soon
enough.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you!” I said, still baffled as
I hastened into the empty hallway. Oh well, I thought; he said I’d figure it
out, so I guess I would.

Once outside, I realized I must be running
really late, because the courtyard was a virtual ghost town. I finally spotted
a few people hurrying into the forest on the east side of the grounds,
obviously on their way to, believe it or not, the huge outdoor amphitheater
where the awards ceremony was being held. I hadn’t seen it yet but had heard it
was nestled in the woods and could seat more than five hundred people. I
sprinted after them.

“Where are
you?”
Ash invaded my mind.
“Everyone’s
asking about you, and Jason looks anxious.”

“No
worries. I’ll be there soon. Ahanu was showing me his coin collection and time
got away from us. Did the ceremony start yet?”

“Not yet.
But you’re gonna miss the pre-ceremony entertainment if you don’t hurry.”

“Got it,”
I
said, wondering what he meant. No one had mentioned anything to me about a show
before the awards.

 
Rays of
light streaked through the sparsely treed woodlands as I ran along the dirt
path. Any protection from the sun’s rays was a godsend. I was already golden
brown and had noticed an obscene amount of moles and freckles popping up all
over my body – only made me appreciate the pleasant, mild Bellingham summers
that much more. Luckily, I’d saved my ultra-lightweight running shorts and tank
for today, because the heat was already sweltering, and it was still early morning.
Eventually, the trees thinned out and the noise of the crowd echoed through the
timber. A Mumford & Sons song played from speakers strategically positioned
amongst the trees. I heard cheering in the distance and figured the show must
have started.

Normally, I loved being part of a large crowd in
a football stadium or at a concerts. Mix a little music in with screaming fans
all sharing the same emotional experience and you got an addictive electric
synergy – a perfect mix for feeling young and carefree. Except right now, I
wasn’t feeling carefree. My emotions were dark and heavy. Celebrating and
honoring people for their victories was the last thing I cared to do. I had
more important issues, like devoting my time and energy towards finding a way
Jason and I could be together. One thing was for certain, I’d matured a lot
since being on my own and hopelessness was not an option. Now, I lived for
today and believed in tomorrow. But anger was still very motivating, inciting
an I-want-to-win attitude.

All at once, the terrain began inclining, and I
reached the amphitheater soon after. Cradled in a semi-circle against a natural
slope at the edge of the forest, stone benches and swaths of perfectly
manicured grass alternated in a tiered fashion. Guardians jam-packed every
bench and stretch of grass. I noticed that, rather than clear-cutting the
entire terrain, the landscaper had left several tall, slender pine trees
scattered throughout the seating area, enhancing the natural setting. The trees
had been limbed several feet up, so they wouldn’t interfere with the walkways
or benches, but the uppermost branches still provided a nice canopy and allowed
patches of shade for the gathering spectators.

As if someone had flipped a switch, everyone
jumped to their feet and started hollering. I diverted my gaze to the open-air
stage, expecting to be wowed by an amazing performance of some kind but found
it empty. Beyond the stage, yellow fields stretched for miles then merged with
rolling hills. While picturesque, the fields were also empty of any activity.
Since I was on the top-tier of the amphitheater and everyone in front of me was
standing, my view of anything to the left or right of the stage was obstructed.
I maneuvered my way to the edge of the amphitheater and finally spotted what
had captured everyone’s attention.

To the far left of the stage was a strange
wooden structure about 75 feet long with moving parts. On each end, a set of
stairs led up to a platform, but between the two platforms, stretched a series
of shifting and rotating objects. Some looked like moving walls. They shot up
and down from the base of the platform like fast-moving pistons. Hanging from
the upper rafters, other objects swung back and forth like pendulums. I spotted
something bright red on the platform and realized it was a shirt. Someone was
attempting to maneuver through the moving obstacle course.

Sizing up the contraption with interest, I
side-stepped people and made my way towards the bottom of the amphitheater for
a better look. Once at ground level, I paused and watched wide-eyed as the
red-shirted guy narrowly avoided being smacked by a large rotating paddle. Not
long after, though, he met a wicked demise. Dodging in between what looked like
mini-wrecking balls, he got smacked in the face and went crashing to the ground
– a good ten feet below. I cringed and moaned with the rest of the crowd.

“Give it up for Jaydon from Anchorage,” a man’s
voice boomed over the loudspeakers. “What a valiant effort.” Everyone started
applauding and hollering, but I was still shuddering. From what I could see,
Jaydon’s face looked mangled, and I suspected he had a broken cheekbone. I was
about to offer assistance, but he rose and the announcer said, “All right,
Jaydon’s off to find himself an Amethyst. Please welcome our next challenger,
Sarah from Nashville.”

Everyone started clapping, and I heard someone
say, “Hey, Lexi. How’s it going?”

I turned and smiled when I saw it was Christina,
whom I’d met while dining with the Denver Circle. She was another die-hard
Bronco fan like myself, so we’d instantly hit it off. “Good. How ‘bout you?”

“Awesome.” She pointed at the structure. “What
do ya think of the gauntlet?” She tugged on one of her braids. A total towhead,
she had the palest skin and lightest blue eyes I’d ever seen.

“Outrageous. What’s the deal?”

Her eyes widened. “Haven’t you heard about it?”
She spoke loudly, because the noise level had risen. Sarah from Nashville had
just navigated through a series of spikes jutting out of the platform floor.

I shook my head. “Nope. I know nothing.”

“Oh, wow! Well, it’s dangerous and fun but
totally impossible. They bring it out every year at the end of the games.
Anyone can participate, but each Circle can only send one person to represent
them.”

“Is there a prize when you make it through, or
something?” I asked curiously.

Christina laughed loudly. “Well, the
prizes
are amazing, but no one has ever
won any of them.” She must have noticed my confused expression, because she
clarified, “Um…no one has ever made it through the entire gauntlet.”

“Really?” I asked, instantly throwing my hands
over my mouth as Sarah from Nashville was smacked across the side and shoved
off the platform by the paddle thing that Jaydon had evaded minutes before.

“Oh! That was harsh,” Christina said, making a
face and shaking her head. “Yeah. It’s funny, really. The Senior Council made
the prizes so incredible, that there’s always a line of people willing to give
the gauntlet a try.” She laughed. “And while it provides great entertainment,
everyone knows it’s impossible. See how it’s broken down into sections? All
with different challenges?” She gestured vaguely, and I nodded. “Well, those
last two sections have never been beaten. Actually, most people don’t make it
past the halfway point. Anyone who signs up knows they’re gonna get thrashed.”
She giggled.