Imagine (17 page)

XXII

imagine an eagle

Has he been here the entire time? Why is he looking at me like that? Sam notices that I am no longer focused on him.

“Trish, are you alright? What’s going on?” He
follows my gaze and looks over his shoulder, he notices Keagan and his entire body tenses.

“You guys really need to figure out what’s going on between the two of you. I really like you Trish but I don’t want to be caught in the middle of all of this.”

“We’re not…” I try to get out, but Sam cuts me off.

“I don’t know what exactly is going on but I can tell something is.
You should talk to him and figure out where you guys stand with each other before you go kissing me again. I can’t help but feel like I am being used.”

I shake my head in
denial; Sam gets up and is heading in the direction of the camp, directly past Keagan. Sam stops and the two guys glare at each other like wild animals.

Looking back and forth between Sam and Keagan I realize that even with all the time that Keagan and I have spent together, I really don’t feel like I know him
, or more importantly, if I can trust him at all. Our relationship started off well but he has put me through hell since. Sam on the other hand, has opened up and let me in. He is safe; I know what I am getting with him.

Keagan looks Sam up and down as he passes him and then gives a little shrug, clearly letting him know that he is not impressed and does not see him as a threat.

He must feel threatened though because Keagan struts straight over to me, like a peacock, so self-assured. “What do you think …” But I don’t get the words out because Keagan has thrust himself into me, his lips against mine. I melt, I go completely limp like Jell-O, and it feels amazing. There is no comfort in this kiss, just heat and fireworks. Big, bright fireworks. My eyes are shut and when Keagan nips my bottom lip with his teeth and sends a rush of heat through me, my eyes shoot open, bringing me back to earth with a thump. I yank myself out of his arms and smack him with all of the anger and pent-up frustration that I have kept inside of me for the last few weeks.

“I like it when you’re
feisty; you are such a firecracker Trish, just like your hair. I know that we have been through some rough times; you have to understand that it was my job. Would you not do the same thing to protect the people that you care about?” He looks at me with pleading eyes; I don’t know why he thinks that I will just forgive him of everything. The physical pain, the breaking my trust

“I am not saying that I would not do anything to keep my family and the people I care about safe
, but Keagan you did me so wrong. I was supposed to be one of those people you cared for. I just can’t simply forgive you.”

“Don’t pretend that you are not attracted to me, that you didn’t enjoy the kiss that we just shared. I bet you liked it a lot more than that ninny, Sam’s kiss.” He sneers.

“Look Keagan, we did have something. I am not going to deny it. I really cared about you; I was excited to see where our relationship was heading. But you betrayed me. I just don’t trust you. I need you to stay away from me from now on, let me move on.” I look behind me, trying to make a point that this conversation is now over and begin imagining the meadow the way it was this morning, removing the things Tisi and I had created, as she had instructed.

“Wow, that is really amazing Trish. I hav
e never actually seen any Creator actually use their powers. Not even my Mom. I’ve only heard about all the evil that has been done with them.” Keagan exclaims, staring at the shimmering empty space where the swing set once stood.

“You really don’t want me to have that conversation with you Keagan.” I tell him.

“What do you mean?” He asks, looking at me intensely. This might take a while so I decide to make my own seating area. Practice makes perfect, I guess. I close my eyes and
Imagine
two armchairs sitting across from each other. They are very simple, both tan in color and made of felt. I love the feel of felt. I think of how it would feel on my hands and open my eyes.

Keagan is looking at me as if I have lost my mind. I simply nod in the direction of the two chairs sitting in the longer grass, amongst the daisies. I watch with amusement as he realizes what has happened.

“Let’s go sit and have a little chat shall we?” I motion Keagan over towards the two chairs, but he doesn’t budge an inch. “Come on Keagan! Let’s go!” He gets over his shock and walks over, taking a seat opposite me. There is a slight breeze; I want to mess with Keagan some more so I envision a blanket wrapped around him. I try doing it with my eyes open this time. Apparently practice does make perfect, as I watch Keagan jump in surprise when the air around him shimmers and he is wrapped in a blue blanket. I can’t help but chuckle to myself; it’s nice to be able to catch Keagan off his guard.

But back to the task at hand. “I realize that your people and the Young Creators have a lot of history. None of it good. My ancestors have been responsible for some p
retty terrible things. You have to understand, there is a choice that only we can make. Not every Young Creator has to be evil or has to live only to cause humans harm. I really think that’s where you guys got things terribly wrong Keagan.”

“I agree” He replies, a thoughtful look crossing his brow. Those two simple words catch me completely by surprise.

He continues “Remember when I said that I realized that I did not agree with everything that was going on in Haven on the night we left? After spending so much time with you I began to question the way things worked at Haven. I realized that the things I have been led to believe by Brother Lorrus and the others may not be true. I don’t think that
all
Young Creators are evil. My Mom was once one after all, the reason why we live in Haven. A fact that she has only shared with me that night that we left.” Keagan can barely look at me, when he does I see nothing but the truth reflected in his face.

“Just so
you know Trish,” he continues. “I really did not know that you were a Young Creator when we became friends at Dalton Academy. Our dates, the flirting, they were all genuine on my part. I did not find out until the night after our first kiss at the Carnival, Eddie told me his suspicions and his plans. I don’t know if you believe me or not. I just wanted you to know the full story, if you still want then I will leave you alone, I’ll respect your wishes. Just know that it’s not what I want at all. I want to be with you. I want to help.”

I look at
Keagan; I mean really look at him. I don’t like that he is using how and where he was raised as an excuse for everything that he has done to me. I see it all of the time, everyone blaming something or someone for their own actions. If you make a choice you have to stick with it, regardless. Stop blaming the system and be accountable for your own choices.

Which is what I am going to do now.

“I don’t think that I can be friends with you Keagan, I’m sorry but I need you to leave me alone.” He looks crushed, albeit momentarily, causing a pain in my chest that disappears when he gets up and angrily says,

“Whatever, you’re the one that’s going to miss out on some earth shattering kisses.” As he saunters off like he does not have a care in the world.

Seriously? Did that just happen? Talk about bi-polar. Then I remember Porsche, who we have not even talked about. He is betrothed, he needs to man up and stop trying to run away from his destiny.

I stay where I si
t, not really wanting to move. What a day! It’s not like I don’t have enough stuff on my plate in saving the world, now there’s my love life to think about too. Why me? Why not some other red headed, green eyed girl?

It’s so nice out
here; I get lost in the clouds as I lean my head back and stare at the sky. My Mom and I used to play a game when I was little. We would lie on our back porch and find shapes in the clouds. I would usually see a fish or rabbit and my Mom would find funny things like a monkey with a banana sitting on its head. I look at the clouds and try to find something, anything at all. When I eventually find it, it’s beautiful. An eagle, wings open wide, as if gliding effortlessly through the sky, its sharp talons and beady eyes starting back at me. The eagle is a symbol of supreme power and authority in America, associated with the President and many governmental agencies. It makes me think of what lies ahead for me, the battle that I am sure will come at some point. I know I should be afraid, I simply can’t be though. The entire world is depending upon me.

“Trish, Trish.
Triiiiiish
! Where the hell are you?” I hear Riley yell, her voice is filled with panic.

XXIII

Imagine an ultimatum

Knowing that she is going to have some terrible news, I get up and run towards her voice. Who is it going to be? Is it my Mom? Keagan? Sam and Kia?

“Riley, I’
m over here. I shout. “What’s wrong?” She is sprinting towards me, I can make out from her facial expression that whatever she has to tell me isn’t good news at all. She throws her arms around me and hugs me tightly. I separate myself from her and look at her, willing her to share her urgency.

“I am so sorry Trish, we didn’t know.” She is shaking.

“Tell me Riley, what’s going on?” Instead of telling me a single word she hands me an envelope. I open it and take out a letter; it’s wrapped around a photograph. I pull at the picture and let out gasp in horror. It’s Chelsey, a hunting knife to her throat. I have to read the letter.

My Dearest Daughter,

I wish that I was writing to you under different circumstances.  

This world is an ugly place, filled with ugly, hateful and spineless

people, these people care about nothing but themselves.

It is time, time for a new beginning and that is where I need

y
our help. Together you, me and your Sister can make the

suffering come to an end,
together we can wash away all of the sins and start anew. We can begin building a new hate-free world with more selfless morals together.

Your friend here can be a part of this new world too,
if you choose. Meet us on the Golden Gate Bridge at noon on the day

o
f your birthday. She will be the first to die if you choose to ignore this letter.

Love always.

Your REAL Mother

O
h my god
, I look up and meet Riley’s eyes. She must already know what the letter contains and its implications. All I know is that Chelsey is in danger and that I have to save her. It is ultimately my fault that she is in this predicament after all. If she had not taken pity on me and decided to befriend me then she would still be back at Dalton Academy, safe and sound. She would never have been on the Artemisian’s radar and would not have found herself at Haven when the Collectors came knocking.

“Everyone has been made aware of the
situation; I don’t think that Tisiphone, Maximus, your Mom or my parents were surprised. I guess that they were expecting something from Allecto. Let’s head back to the tents and see what they have come up with. When is your birthday?” Riley says at a million miles an hour, I can tell that she is nervous and trying to portray a sense of calm by talking to me.

“Its July 31
st
, any idea what today’s date is? I have completely lost track of dates, even the time often escapes me just lately.” Riley just stops and I almost clash into her.

“Everything alright?”

“Your birthday is July 31
st
?”

I nod reaffirming what I just told her.

“That’s this coming Saturday, today is Wednesday, but it’s almost over now. Giving us just two days to arrange everything. Trish it’s so soon.”

It’s got to happen eventually, might as well be in a few days. I just hope that I’
ll have enough time to have Tisiphone teach me everything that I need to learn so that I at least have a fighting chance.

We continue towards the camp at
a jog. When we arrive at the main tent we can hear raised voices coming from inside, they sound like they’re arguing.

“She is not ready, you are going to send her
to her death.” I recognize my Mom’s voice.

“You might be surprised at
just how strong your girl is, don’t you agree Tisi?” I hear Maximus reply.

“Maggie
, I know that you love your daughter very much, but Maximus is right. Not only is your girl strong, but she is also incredibly brave. You should have seen her this morning. A few more days and Allecto won’t know what hit her. Your girl is going to blow her out of the water.”

I actually feel better hearing Tisiphone say those things about me.

“Not only that but she has all of us to support her, believe me when I tell you that she can do this.” She adds.

It gets quiet and Riley and I pick that moment to enter the tent. All eyes turn to us, I can see a light blush creep into my mother’
s cheeks as she realizes that we were outside to hear the last conversation, her telling everyone that I was incapable of doing what I am needed to do.

I can, and I will do this.

I stand even taller, my head up and shoulders back to face them all. “Tell me, do we have a plan in place?” I look at each of them in turn, making sure to make eye contact, letting them know that I am strong, that I believe in myself.

“The plan is
a fairly simple one, for the next few days you and Tisiphone will spend every second together, practicing. When you are not training you will be resting, gathering your strength and eliminating all distractions.”

When Maximus states his last part he shoots a knowing look the way of both Keagan and Sam. “The rest of us will be training too, to make sure that we can support you and eliminate any other obstacles.”

“So how is this going to work? Am I myself going to face down my mother, A Furie and my Sister, who has the same skills as I do but uses them for evil?”

“Oh, your S
ister is the spawn of Satan, she actually radiates evil. You can feel it when you are just in her presence. I have never met anyone like her; she makes me want to crawl into myself and die when I am around her.” Says Kia. Everyone looks in her direction, this is the first time most people have heard her speak since we arrived at camp. “I have never met your mother Trish, but if she is anything like your Sister then god help us all. We are doomed.” She continues.

“Kia, don’t talk like that!” Sam stands next to her and gently rubs her back.

“Why? Everyone else seems too afraid to admit the truth. The truth that is glaring them right in the face. Just admit it we are doomed, our lives are about to be over.”

I stare in shock at K
ia. She did spend time with my Sister and the Collectors, so I guess that she would know better than anyone else about what exactly it is that we were up against.

I glance around, no one wants to meet my eyes. Not e
ven my Mom, who has buried her face in her hands. I look at Tisiphone, and instead of fear or doubt I can only see determination and assurance in her face. Even though Kia may have spent a lot of time with them, Tisiphone would know better than anyone of what our chances are and I decide to lay my trust in her.

“I don’t care who, or what we are up against. We fight for humanity and for all that we love in this world. That has to mean something, right?” I notice that the downcast glances are starting to raise, hope beginning to shine in their faces again.

“Trish is right, so let’s get to it. Keagan I want you to train Trish on basic sword play. Trish I want you to play to win, regardless of what you have to do. Play dirty if need be.” as luck would have it sounds like I am once again stuck with Keagan, great!

“Let’s keep them company while they do this Kia, keep your mind off what’s going on and we might learn something we can use
to help too.” Sam says to his Sister. She reluctantly follows Keagan and I out the tent with Sam. We all head over to a big enough area that should allow us to fight.

Keagan seems to conjure up two wooden swords from nowhere. One of which he throws one to me. I catch it and I’m somewhat surprised by how heavy it is. I look at the sword in my hand and try to figure out how exactly to hold it. I look at Keagan and imitate his grip. 

He rolls his eyes and drops his sword to the ground. He walks over to me, taking the sword out of my grip he moves my hand around to gently position my fingers in order to hold the sword in the right way. My fingers seem to tingle from where he touched me, Keagan has a knowing look on his face. The bastard knows how he affects me. I wonder if he has a gift, passed down from his Artemisian ancestors, that allows him to read me like a book, just like Maximus.

“Alright Trish, let’s start with the basics, the things that the kids in Haven learn when they are about five years old.” I know it’s immature
but I stick my out my tongue at him and blow a raspberry. Making Keagan, Kia and Sam all laugh.

He slowly walks me though the basic offensive and defensive ma
neuvers. He shows me the proper stance and footwork to accompany each strike of the blade. Finally, after about an hour or so, I get to try my new moves out on Keagan.

We start out slow but Keagan quickly realizes that I am a fast learner and we begin to parry in earnest. I still am no match for him, but when I do manage to drive his attack off or on occasion successfully attack him I am met with whoops and cheers from
the watching Kia and Sam.

I remember Tisiphone’s words,
win at any cost and use whatever tool I have, play dirty if need be … My biggest tool is my powers, this time when Keagan is driving me back I
Imagine
his blade turning into spaghetti. The look of utter confusion that crosses his face is priceless when instead of a wooden sword; he is wielding a limp, well-cooked noodle.

He looks up at me and a look of understanding shows on his face. ”Not bad, not bad at all. Maybe humanity does stand a chance of survival after all.” He winks at me and then looks over at our audience. “Clearly I am at an unfair disadvantage here, why don’t we show these two ladies how we plan to protect them.” He challenges Sam.

Sam does not to falter under Keagan’s challenge and immediately jogs over to join us. I hand him my sword and pat him on the shoulder saying, “You really should not have any trouble beating Keagan and his limp noodle.” I hear Kia cackle in the background and I join in laughing loudly, the look on Keagan’s face changes to one of disdain.

“Come on Trish, stop playing! Do whatever it is that you need to do so that I can have my sword back.” In an instant the pasta is returned to its former self, a wooden sword. Keagan and Sam begin fighting and to my surprise, Sam is doing really well. He looks extremely graceful and light on his feet. Keagan’s motions are fluid and studied. Each strike is calculated and effective. The two guys go at each other for a good ten minutes before they decide to take a break. Neither one of them looks like they have taken any serious damage, but both are breathing very hard and dripping in sweat. 

During the break they are joking around, congratulating each other on their respective swordsmanship. Before Keagan picks up his sword to start again he makes eye contact with me and reaches for the bottom of his shirt, pulling the sweat-dampened fabric over his head. Revealing his chiseled, tan body. I don’t want to give Keagan the satisfaction, so I look at Kia instead, only to notice her drooling over Keagan.

Sam notices where our attention is focused and in turn decides that he should take his shirt of too.

It’s just too much for me, I don’t feel like dealing with these two hot-heads right now, so I say my goodbyes and head off to find my Mom. It’s time for that rest I was told to take, it’s been a hectic day.

I head over to the big tent and fake knock on the flap.

“Knock, Knock, housekeeping!”

I hear a man reply “Oh thank goodness, this place is a terrible mess. Do come in!” and start laughing. I enter the tent, the only person left is Maximus. I cannot believe that I have, in one day, come to think of him as Maximus, instead of Mr. Monous. He just looks so different, he acts and talks differently too. It’s almost as if they are two completely different men.

“Ah, Trish! What can I help you with young lady ?” he asks, smiling.

“I was wondering if you knew where my mother is. Where I am going to be staying tonight? The sun is setting. I have not ate or found out where I am sleeping yet.”
Maximus gets up from where he was sitting, leading the way back out of the tent.

“Follow me
.”

In the center of the camp I find everyone assembled
, except for Keagan, Sam and Kia, who must still be practicing. A large campfire has been started, around fifty people are sitting around eating what looks like some sort of meat and roasted vegetables. My Mom is in deep conversation with Tisiphone.

They both look up as
I approach, upon seeing me my Mom’s eyes light up with joy. She jumps up and gives me a huge hug. We end up enjoying a wonderful meal of venison and vegetables, sitting around the just chatting. Just when I think that I am about to head to bed, a frantic looking Sam rushes into the clearing.

“I can’t find Kia, Keagan and I have looked everywhere!”