Brush of Shade (14 page)

He was good. I
reluctantly admitted. If I left now, I risked insulting an elder. While I
wasn’t certain of the ramifications, I knew it would fall on my aunt to handle,
and she was near the end of her rope, as was I. When I turned to go back to my
seat, I saw Helena slip from the room with Mrs. Cassidy on her heels.

 “For the
good of our valley, we shall liberate your mind,” Mr. Cassidy said, standing in
front of my chair, hemming me in. “Shadow’s impetuousness need not alienate you
from your heritage. Now that you know, is it so terrible?”

Given what
Helena had just done with her hand, I was certain we didn’t have the same
definition of the word liberate. Saliva clogged my throat, making it difficult
to swallow. “It’s a lot to take in. Maybe we could continue my visit another
day?” I tried to catch Trent’s eye. But he was staring gloomily at the floor.

 “I’ve a
better idea. You should stay for dinner. That’ll give us time to get to know
one another. I feel there is so much about you that we’ve missed out on.
Granted Ethan played the proud father during his visits, but then who doesn’t
embellish upon their children’s accomplishments,” Mr. Cassidy said, smiling in
the face of my protest as he pulled his chair closer. He made a show of rifling
through the drawer of the end table. “I’ve something I want to show you. Now
where did I put it? Ah, here we are,” he said, flourishing a photo in front of
my face. “This was taken I think about five years ago on our pool deck.”

I took the
picture out of politeness. My thoughts had drifted to Aunt Claire’s reaction to
my being here. But then my attention jumped back. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Daniel was here? Dad had brought him here?”

I turned the
picture over, looking for a date. It was the summer before the accident. Just
before Daniel’s junior year. That was the year he’d used styling gel, so he
could wear his hair combed towards the front. I’d forgotten that he was
practically Dad’s height. Another inch and Daniel would have topped six foot.

“Surely you knew
your father had brought Daniel home for several weeks?”

“Weeks?
No, you’re wrong. They were doing their father son
bonding thing backpacking and fishing in Scotland while mom and I got settled
at our new posting in London,” I said, sounding troubled. Pictures don’t lie.
Mom had known. Everyone had.
Except me.
But Danny and
I had been so tight. That was how we’d survived being uprooted.

Mr. Cassidy
tapped the photo. “That wasn’t Daniel’s first trip home.”

“Stop calling
this home. We never lived here.” The words burst out of me before I could stop
myself.

He patted my
right knee. “We want you to think of Spring Valley as your home. My deepest
regret is that I was never able to convince Ethan to bring you to us.”

Something about
the way he’d said, “
to
us” made my stomach clench. I
was being overly sensitive. Naturally, folks were curious about me. After all,
I was supposed to be the next warden. Then it hit me. Daniel would’ve been the
next warden. Dad had been bringing him here to prepare him. Why the big secret?
Why was I left in the dark after Daniel died?

“See how happy
your brother looked here. He didn’t fear the clans or his heritage. Let me help
prepare you,” Mr. Cassidy said, giving my knee another firm squeeze that he
didn’t release all the way.

The pressure was
uncomfortable. I shifted my leg, pushing his out of the way. He sat back in his
chair and smiled at me slyly.

“Daniel had
quite the gift. Folks took to him straight off,” Mr. Cassidy said.

“Gift?”
I asked, staring at my brother’s smiling face,
trying to remember what he’d talked about when he’d come home from Scotland.
Only it wasn’t Scotland, but Spring Valley. How many more times had I been lied
to?

“Such a nice
firm voice for his age. It drew them.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your brother’s
call, I was commenting on his control.
Quite exceptional for
his age.
We were all encouraged. I can’t tell you how devastated we all
were when the news of his accident finally reached us.
Quite
the blow.
Naturally we expected Ethan to start bringing you around. Each
holiday and summer break the folks waited in vain. But now, here you are nearly
a grown young woman ignorant of your obligation. You can see why we’re all so
anxious to see if you have your brother’s touch.”

“Touch?”
It was a struggle to get more words out. “I’m
supposed to talk to folks?”

Mr. Cassidy
laughed as though I’d told a joke. “My dear, I’m not laughing at you. If it wasn’t
so charming, I would be quite worried about the valley’s future. As an elder,
I’ve been beset by folks who fear that you were kept from us because like your
aunt, you possess barely a quantifiable level of gift. While it is unlikely
that anyone would do something so grievously insulting or risk your fragile
health by attempting a connection on their own, patience, as we both know, my
dear Olivia, is a limited quantity. We must alleviate folks’ fears or they’ll
think you’ve abandoned them.”

I sunk further
into my seat, replaying my encounter with the hostile woman from the emporium.
Impatience hardly covered her reaction. “I . . . I’m not sure I understand what
they want from me? I’m still in high school. Why can’t you . . .” My voice fell
away. I had no idea what I was asking Mr. Cassidy to do? Save me from them?

“Dear me, you’re
looking pale. This has come upon you unexpectedly. Naturally you’re confused
and frightened. As an elder, I will gladly guide your progress.”

My fingers
curled around the crutch, dragging it upright. “Progress towards what exactly?”

“To becoming the warden.
I thought your aunt had made that
much clear.”

 Trent took
up a perch on the arm of my chair. “Her aunt hasn’t explained anything yet.” He
smiled at me. “There is nothing to be scared of. Joining minds is really quite
incredible.”

“Joining minds?”
I said over the faint drumming of my pulse in my ears. Surely I’d
misunderstood? They didn’t honestly believe it was possible.

“Joining is a
necessary first step towards a full range call. Of course this presumes you’ve
the ability,” Mr. Cassidy said, leaning closer, his nose practically touching
mine as he stared at me with fevered eagerness that reminded me of a dog that
had treed its quarry.

“I should phone
Aunt Claire. She’ll be getting worried,” I interrupted in a strained voice.
Trent’s hold on my shoulder tightened. My first thought was that he meant to
restrain me. Get a grip. This was Trent after all, not the villain in a scary
movie.

“Helena, join
with Olivia,” Mr. Cassidy ordered, motioning forward the woman who’d been
waiting in the corner of the room near a floor to ceiling bookcase. “Don’t be
skittish, Olivia. This is important. Would you doom a race for your childish
notions? Daniel was brave, would you be less? Hold out your hands.”

Air whooshed out
of my lungs. I’d been so busy not panicking that I hadn’t heard Helena’s shoes
tapping across the wood flooring when she’d returned to the room. She glided
closer. I tucked my hands together against my stomach. The furnace kicked on,
blasting the potent scent of cinnamon from the bundles on the hearth down into
my face. It was as though this house, like its owners, sought to overpower.

“The girl has
regrettably inherited her aunt’s constitution. We need to try before she hyperventilates.
Helena, you’ll have to relax Olivia first,” Mr. Cassidy ordered.

Warm, vibrating
fingers drifted across my scalp and down to my forehead where they drew light
circles. I tried to lean out of the way. Trent’s left hand pressed against the
side of my head, pulling me in tight against his body. Helena’s hand moved to
the base of my neck. I felt a sharp pinch. An electric charge flashed the
length of my body, clenching muscles tight.

 “Olivia,
don’t struggle or you’ll hurt yourself. Do not move.” Her breath pushed against
my ear and her voice seemed inordinately loud like it was banging around inside
my skull. She laid her warm palm against my brow, giving her instructions a
moment before speaking. “Elder Cassidy, she is prepared, but be warned. She is
quite worked up, and I’ve not the skill to hold her in this state.”

Unable to speak,
I tried to plead with my eyes, but wispy, white swirls blurred the edges of her
irises. Warm vibrating fingers picked up my right hand.

“Helena, step
away,” an enraged voice swept across the room, scattering the picture of Danny
onto the floor and plastering the newspapers against the fireplace grate.

“Shade, this
doesn’t involve you. Get out of my home!” Mr. Cassidy yelled, shoving back away
from me so hard that he knocked his chair over.

In a blink,
Shade was standing next to Mr. Cassidy, towering over him. “You’ve gone too
far.”

“I’m within my
rights to issue a test.”

“Not on Olivia.
I’m taking her home. Don’t interfere.”

Trent jumped to
his feet. “Don’t threaten my dad.”

Mr. Cassidy held
out his hand to silence his son. “Tread carefully, Diamond
Viber
.
Obstructing an elder performing council business is a serious charge.”

 “Elder
Cassidy, you will discover—should you choose to pursue any recourse—that I’m
acting on behalf of Claire Pepperdine, Olivia’s legal guardian. Clan Pepperdine
will guide Olivia as is our right. While you may control much of the council’s
agenda, in this matter, the Pact is quite clear.”

I very much wanted
to shove past Mr. Cassidy and make a run for the door, but my body refused to
obey. Unvoiced screams rolled through my mind, shoving me closer to the brink.
A startled gasp from the door broke the stalemate and thankfully silenced the
screams.

“What is going
on here?” Trent’s mother cried out.

“Good evening,
Mrs. Cassidy,” Shade said as if he was an invited guest, though he didn’t turn
to look at her. “I’m sorry for the interruption, but Olivia’s clan wishes to
speak with her. I was sent to collect her, immediately.”

Mr. Cassidy
crossed his arms in front of his barrel shaped chest. His nostrils flared and
his head tipped back to meet Shade’s icy gaze. “This matter isn’t finished. I
will convene the council. You can’t hide her away. We’ve a right to establish
her gift for the good of the many.”

“Olivia’s clan
will report to the council in due time. That will have to satisfy the lot of
you,” Shade warned, not bothering to hide the disgust in his voice.

“You’re not just
going to let Shade come in here and make demands? Hey, stay away from Olivia.
She’s staying for dinner,” Trent shouted, shoving Shade back a step.

“Trent, get
behind me,” Mr. Cassidy ordered, holding out his hands to keep Shade away.
“Calm yourself, Shade. I don’t want a scene in my home. You don’t want to be
responsible for frightening poor Olivia and setting back her recovery.”

By his tone, it
was obvious he expected things to escalate. But Shade was just standing there
silently staring him down. My jaw muscles refused to allow me to speak, to
defend Shade.

 After a
warning look from his father, Trent shifted to the side, allowing just enough
space to force Shade to step carefully between elder and son.

A gentle hand
swept my hair behind my ears. “How are you doing?” Shade asked.

 I stared
into frothing seas, blinking furiously to convey my dilemma. Finally, I managed
a throaty cry.

The strange
white bands in Shade’s eyes undulated. “You dared to restrain her!” His voice
boomed. The bands shattered. Churning seas thrust white blocks upward, forming
a towering ice flow. His left hand splayed across the back of my neck. “Olivia,
relax,” he said, drawing out each syllable so they corresponded with tingling
sensations radiating down my spine. Warmth massaged my body, relaxing frozen
muscles. I sagged and was caught up in his arms.

He stepped over
to Mr. Cassidy, almost knocking Trent down as we swept past. “Claire Pepperdine
and her clan will learn of this breach.”

“No slight was
intended. Do you honestly believe I’d put Olivia at risk? It was merely my
intent to alleviate her anxiety with a simple demonstration. The overreaction
was yours. Charging in here solidifies her fears. It’s obvious to me that the
girl, like her aunt, is easily upset. Can’t you see by keeping Olivia from the
valley that Ethan has ruined her for us?”

Mr. Cassidy
paused long enough to retrieve my crutch off the floor and place it in my hand.
“Shade, don’t leave yet. See how your presence has calmed her over strung
nerves? Work with us here, so the valley’s anxiety can be eased. At least
convince Claire to bring Olivia in front of the council before someone loses
patience and makes an attempt on their own, an unmonitored attempt that might
harm our young heir,” he said, sounding less and less threatening, and more
like the concerned, reasonable elder gently correcting someone less
enlightened.

Had I
overreacted? It hadn’t felt like it. Unfortunately, there might be some truth
behind his carefully chosen words. I was afraid Shade would see it that way. I
shivered despite the heat radiating off his body.

“Olivia, dear,”
Mr. Cassidy said with just the right touch of regret and sincerity in his
voice. “Please accept my humble apology. All we are guilty of is an overzealous
desire to help. It has pained me to stand idly by while my old friend Ethan’s
only daughter has been so distraught. My family only had your best interest and
the interest of all the clans at heart. It was never our intention to cause you
a single moment of fright.” He held out an entreating hand that he quickly dropped
to his side when crystals began to churn again in Shade’s frigid seas.