Time Mends (27 page)

True stuck out her tongue, which meant I got
to see the bar she had running through it. The Russian responded
with a lift of the middle finger without even looking over her
shoulder in True’s direction.

“
Let me guess, she can See
whatever is going on in a room, even if she’s
blindfolded.”

“
No, True is just
predictable.” The blonde threw a thick braid back over her
shoulder. “I See potential, if you must know.”

“
Potential?”

“
It’s a very important
gift,” said Freckles. She was definitely the youngest, and her
accent was American of some sort, but I had no idea as to the
particulars. I just knew she wasn’t from New York, Boston, or
anywhere south of Kentucky. “She can hold a baby in her arms and
tell you if you should encourage her to explore music because she
could become a great pianist, or warn you to be cautious because
she has the tendencies of a serial killer.”

“
Does it only work on
babies?”

“
Of course not.” Another
toss of the braid, which seemed to have trouble staying put. “All I
have to do is touch any living thing and I can See where its
greatest potential lies.”

“
So it would work on
me?”

Mandla, who had been statue-like up to this
point, snapped his head around. “I do not think that would be
wise.”

I had asked in a theoretical sense, but now
that Mandla was against the idea, I was all about it.

“
It’ll be fun. I want to
know where my greatest potential lies. Maybe I’m supposed to be one
of those hairdressers who enter crazy hair shows. I’ll never know
if she doesn’t tell me.”

Mandla didn’t even think before he said,
“No.”

“
Awww… c’mon,” True
whined. “Let her do it. What is the Thaumaturgic going to do? Bite
off her fingers?”

“
Well, fingers are
tasty.”

Mandla cut me a
climb-in-a-handbasket-and-take-a-trip-down-South look. The flames
shooting out of his eyes didn’t dissuade the Russian, however.

“
I want to
See.”

“
She is a Thaumaturgic,
Mischa. What if she shows you the very depths of Hell? Would you
really want to See that? Do you think you would ever
recover?”

“
I’m willing to take the
risk.” Mischa’s nose climbed into the air, obviously displeased he
thought there was something she couldn’t handle. “I think it’s
important we know.”

“
Are you sure about that?”
I asked. “I mean, what if I really am supposed to be one of those
competition hair dressers? I’ve seen those hair shows on public
access, and some of those ‘dos are scary. You may have Flock of
Seagulls themed nightmares.”

True giggled, which only cause Mischa to be
more determined. She swept up to the cage, one palm up in the air
as if she was telling me to stop. I raised my hand in a similar
fashion, walked forward, and then pressed it to hers. At first I
couldn’t tell anything was happening, but then her pupils grew
large as her breathing accelerated. When Mandla ripped our hands
apart she was gasping for air.

“
Mischa! Are you okay?
What did you See?”

Mischa didn’t answer. She was still trying
to catch her breath while her eyes remained locked on mine,
although I’m not sure she was actually seeing me.

I really, really didn’t want to know what it
was she did See.

“
Mischa! Damn it, answer
me. What did you See?” Mandla grabbed her by the shoulders and
shook her hard. She finally snapped out of her trance, but started
shaking so hard I don’t think she could’ve answered if she
wanted.

I was so absorbed in the drama, while
keeping an eye on Hashim who looked as if he might leap onto Mischa
to get answers, I didn’t see Travis admit another person into the
room. Big mistake on my part. Because it would have been nice to
not squeak like a little girl when the Alpha Female stepped
forward.

“
What is going on here?” a
tiny girl with dark skin and darker eyes and hair asked. She was
wearing a Manchester United t-shirt, ripped jeans, and flip-flops,
which made her look all of nineteen. If it hadn’t been for the
power radiating off of her, I would have actually considered her
harmless.

The Seers all went down on one knee, even
Mischa, who almost collapsed trying to get there.

It was Hashim who answered his queen.
“Mischa touched the Thaumaturgic. She’s refusing to tell what she
Saw.”

The Alpha Female cocked her head to one
side, sending a heavy curtain of hair cascading over one shoulder.
“Mischa?”

“
I… I can’t remember.”
Mischa’s eyes darted to mine for the briefest of moments. In that
fleeting look one thing was overtly clear: She was lying. “I’m
sorry, your highness.”

“
Are you certain you can’t
remember? You do understand the penalty for lying to me, don’t
you?”

Mischa visibly paled. “I promise. Let Lizzie
read me.”

The Alpha Female nodded at the red head. “Do
it.”

Lizzie placed her hand on Mischa’s cheek,
closed her eyes, and started swaying as a strange humming noise
emitted from her throat. She went on like that for longer than was
entirely comfortable before releasing Mischa and opening her
eyes.

“
I only get confusion and
fear, your highness. I believe her.”

“
Can you See the truth?”
It slipped out before I remembered I should be attempting to be
invisible.

Lizzie blushed, which made her look even
younger. “I’m a Soul Seer. I pick up on emotions and the occasional
stray thought.”

Emotions and the occasional stray thought?
Talley could totally kick her butt in a Soul See-Off… not that it
was a competition or anything.

“
Harper is it?”

“
I prefer Scout,” I said,
sounding more calm and collected than I actually was.

“
My name is Sarvarna, but
I prefer ‘your majesty’, ‘your highness’, or, as you Americans are
so fond of, ‘Alpha’.” The funny thing was, she wasn’t trying to be
ironic. The chick really thought I would want to know that she
preferred to be addressed royally.

“
You’re the Alpha?” When a
healthy dose of pissed off flicked across her face I backtracked.
“Sorry, it’s just that I’m confused. I was under the impression the
Alpha Male and Alpha Female were mates.”

One corner of her mouth lifted. “We
are.”

Oh. Okay. So, her and Stefan…

Ewww. Just,
ewwwwwwww.

As the realization and my feelings on the
matter played across my face, Sarvarna’s smile widened, showing
teeth just as small and perfect as the rest of her. “It took quite
a bit of doing,” she said, “but eventually I was able to win him
over.”

She looked rapturous. Mischa and Lizzie both
looked a bit uncomfortable. True looked as ill as I felt.

“
How… fortunate for you,”
I said. “Stefan seems… nice?” God, what were you supposed to say to
a real life Lolita?

“
Your approval means the
world to me, Thaumaturgic.”

I made my tongue bleed to keep from saying
something ill-advised. Lizzie spoke into the stilted silence my
efforts caused. “Want me to take a turn, your highness?”

“
Are you certain?”
Sarvarna asked.

Lizzie’s head nodded as her fingers drummed
on her thigh.

“
Causing her harm will
forfeit your life.” The words were severe, but the Alpha Female’s
expression was bored. “Are we clear?”

“
As a bell.” Because it’s
really hard to get that confused.

With a nod from Sarvarna, Lizzie approached
the cage. Her steps were smaller and more hesitant than Mischa’s,
but I admired the way her eyes didn’t waver from mine. She was
young and scared, but she had bravery in aces. Under different
circumstances I might have liked her.

When she stopped in front of the bars, she
did the same palm up routine. I placed mine on hers, and then as a
spur of the moment decision, tried to project the way I did with
Talley.

Take what you can. I have
nothing to hide,
I thought at
her.

Her eyes widened in shock before narrowing
in concentration. I started feeling a slight pull where our hands
met, as if the leeching of my thoughts and emotions had a physical
representation. Lizzie probably would have stayed that way for half
the day, but on a nod from Sarvarna, Hashim stepped forward and
pulled the Seer back.

“
Well?” Sarvarna asked.
“Did you get anything?”

Lizzie’s cheeks flamed red once more. “Just
bits of memories and emotions.” Once again I felt as though a Seer
was lying about what she pulled out of me. Oddly, I found that
comforting. “But I didn’t feel anything bad or sneaky. I…” She
cleared her throat and stared at her bellybutton. “I don’t think
she’s a Thaumal… Thaumam…” Another clearing of the throat. “I don’t
think she’s a witch.”

The thing about the power surrounding
Sarvarna is it was different than the Shifters. Take Travis, for
instance. As long as he was within five hundred feet of me, I knew
he was there because Wolf Scout acknowledged the existence of
another predator. I could feel the competency of his wolf, the
strength and the cunning. It was a constant, no matter his mood or
the situation. The power was like a favorite hoodie. It just draped
over him, there but not screaming for attention.

On the other hand,
Sarvarna’s power didn’t just scream, it pitched a full-on temper
tantrum. Instead of a hoodie, it was an
every one is going to be talking about this for years
Oscar gown. A living, breathing, reaching out to
choke you Oscar gown. And Lizzie’s declaration of my innocence
pissed it right off.

Sarvarna took a deep breath, the power
around her quivering in anticipation. “I think Scout and I need
some time alone.”

Even without telepathic
abilities, I knew exactly what True was thinking.
See you later, dead girl
was written all over her face. Lizzie and Mischa, on the
other hand, kept those carefully blank expressions.

“
Are you sure, your
highness?” Mischa bowed her head slightly. “Your safety is
important to us.”

“
Lizzie has assured me
there is no malice in the Thaumaturgic’s mind. Besides, the
Strategos will be waiting at the top of the stairs. I will be well
protected.”

Apparently, the Strategos atop the stairs
bit was news to Mandla. “Your highness, I think it would be in your
best interest for us to stay. The Polemarch ordered us to ensure
your safety.”

“
And I’m ordering you to
wait upstairs.” The power focused on the African. “Will you defy
me?”

“
No, your highness.” He
bowed with stiff shoulders and firmly set jaw. When he rose he
turned his glare to me. “If even one hair on her head is harmed,
you will come to a slow, painful end.”

I nodded - because how else was I supposed
to respond to that? - and Mandla followed the others out the
door.

Which left me alone with the chick who would
one day stab me to death in the middle of a field.

Awesome.

“
How do you find your
accommodations?” she asked, leaning against the wall opposite my
cage. She crossed her ankles and arms, looking for all the world as
if she was comfy and relaxed. I may have believed it if I hadn’t
been able to feel the power whipping around or seen the way her
pulse skipped in her throat.

“
The Ritz has nothing on
you Alphas.” I plopped down on the mattress, tucking one leg up
underneath me. Two could play at this
It’s
All Cool
game.

Her chin pitched up a fraction of an inch
and those dark, dark eyes met mine. “It’s meant as a punishment,
not a restraint.”

“
Really?” They didn’t mean
to restrain me? Good to know the steel bars and generator backed-up
force field were just for show. “And what am I being punished
for?”

The curve of her lip told me something I
hadn’t even considered until then. She didn’t believe I was one of
the rumored Thaumaturgic. No, this was personal between she and I.
Problem was, I had no idea what her issues were. After all, I just
met her.

“
Crimes against our
species, of course.”

“
Of course,” I said,
infusing my voice with a healthy dose of sarcasm. “All this is just
a rather elaborate form of being grounded. Has nothing to do with
the fact that you’re scared to death of me.”

A surge of power. “I am not afraid of
you.”

“
Then why are you all the
way over there?”

Jase has often accused me of being
antagonistic. According to him, the reason I had less than a
handful of friends in school wasn’t because the general populace
was as mentally deficient and unkind as I suspected, but because I
met even the hint of conflict or criticism with a snarl and
complete disdain. I think he exaggerates to the point of lying, but
there was something in me that felt the need to push when things
started getting ugly. Usually, it wasn’t a big deal. Loud,
obnoxious boys backed off when they realized I wouldn’t cower like
a little girl. Snarky, condescending girls tended to shut their
mouths when insults got slung back in their direction.

Perhaps the battle techniques which worked
well for the war known as school wasn’t best employed on the Alpha
Female.

The concrete walls nearly vibrated with the
power slamming through the basement. Sarvarna jerked from the wall
and strode over to the cage, mouth tight and eyes hard.