"Then I should warn you," Jacques said. "Tristan is no longer a child. He's determined to learn and no one can stop him."
44
-
H
OME
S
WEET
H
OME -
DORIAN TOWEL-DRIED HER HAIR on the front porch, watching as Landon and Victor approached the cabin. She'd been furious when they wouldn't let her stay in Ireland to help find Tristan, and overjoyed when the plants reported his return. She could be nice to them for that, no matter what organization they were with.
"You should probably go look at his knee," said Landon. The thought of such an excellent excuse to see him filled her with a happy thrill. "How's your grandmother?"
"She's resting. I'm sure everything will be fine once this is settled." Dorian eyed the pair and shook her head. She'd never guess people so young would be involved with the Makai. "Do you think Sabbatini will come here?"
"Eventually. But right now, we suspect he'll continue looking for you on his home turf." Landon kept his hands in his pockets and wouldn't look at her directly. "There's additional security in place," he continued, "but one of us should go back and stay with Tristan," Landon added to Victor.
"Meeting first," Alpheus said. Oliver and Eric appeared beside him in the grassy clearing. They hung wet coats over the railing and entered the cabin, finding places to sit. "How is Dissa?" Alpheus asked.
"She's okay," Dorian said, carrying a tray of cups and a kettle from the kitchen. She couldn't possibly leave Gram to check on Tristan, could she? "You sure came back fast. What happened?"
Oliver mumbled bits of bitterness before speaking more clearly. "It would seem our little Tristan took out the entire army."
"That was
not
Sabbatini's army," Alpheus said on Tristan's behalf, then faced Dorian. "There's no need for us to fight for no cause, now that you and Tristan are safe."
"Who knows what he did to four of them," Oliver continued, "and three are flat-out dead."
"It's like he ducked in the middle of a circular crossfire," added Eric. "But I can't imagine Sabbatini's men are that stupid."
"Completely dead?" asked Dorian. "I wouldn't have thought he'd kill anyone."
"We saw it." Landon glanced at Victor, apparently needing confirmation. "They had him surrounded, total self-defense."
"Did he learn from you?" Victor asked. "We were a little nervous to approach him afterward."
"I only worked with the kid once," Oliver said, firmly absolving himself of any wrongdoing. "I gave him a few basics for self-protection and some things to do on his own time. But that's it. I never taught him any attack strategies. Defense only."
"I can vouch for that," Dorian added. No way should Oliver have to take the blame. How could she be so fooled by him? Maybe sweet and nice only ran skin deep.
"And I never worked with him at all," Eric said, glancing around the room as if he would be the next suspect.
"You told me if he got out of hand, you'd take care of it," Oliver said to Alpheus.
"Are you saying self-defense warrants a death sentence?"
"No, but we don't know it was self-defense."
"We don't know it wasn't," Alpheus said cooly. "Why don't you fill us in, Dorian?" The tension lessened with the change of subject. "Tell us what happened while you and Tristan were being held."
Dorian set the tray of refreshments on a table and started her tale.
"Did you find out what the perkonian was going to be used for?" Alpheus asked.
"We each had our own theory." She paused a moment, debating how much she should tell. "I found out there was a vicious murder, completely unnecessary. Sabbatini wanted something from some defenseless old woman and got it without a fight, but they killed her anyway. He left three witnesses: a fichus tree, an asparagus fern, and a sweet baby aloe. They spread the word to start a protest."
Landon glanced at Victor, whose serious expression appeared to be on the verge of faltering. Did they believe her? She doubted it. "He didn't have to kill the poor woman, especially the
way
he killed her. Word's been traveling about what happened and everyone who's heard is actively involved in the campaign. From what I gathered, the story has pretty much gone around the world." She waited for a response, or other questions, then continued with a shrug when no one spoke. "Well it wouldn't take long, a few days is all. That's why they refused to cooperate in his potions."
The room remained silent.
"Plants are surprisingly well organized. They
do
talk to each other, you know."
Alpheus finally broke the uneasy silence. "What do you suppose the perkonian would be used for?"
"I think Dr. Morley planned to duplicate one of his creations, which was some sort of plant, but more like an animal. He called them planimals. He thought its acid could literally dissolve the world's garbage and pollution problems, and the plant was fine with that at first. But he was used to murder the woman and everything changed. Don't you get it?"
No one answered. She rose from her chair and dumped her unfinished tea into the sink. "Dr. Morley's been combining plant species. Mixing chromosomes and creating deadly meat-eating things mutated with reptilian genes. Most plants like that feed on flies and insects. Small fish. This one hunts rabbits." She scoffed. How could she make it any clearer? "He wanted to duplicate the one that was most evolved…the one most successful…in his opinion."
"Would the potion work on a plant?" Landon asked.
"It wasn't a plant, it was an animal. It could move on its own and hunt for its own food. It can aim its acid to attack something if it chooses."
"You saw this?" Alpheus asked.
"Of course I saw it! You think I'm lying? The poor thing was miserable, refusing to eat. He wanted water, not blood. He was completely devastated when he found out
he
had been involved with the murder, that
he
was part of the story going around to everyone in the whole world, used to torture some defenseless old woman." No one responded. "Well? Wouldn't you feel the same way? I set it free."
"You set it free." Victor bobbed his head with a skeptical looking smile growing wider. "So, you can't prove it?"
"I don't need to prove it."
"What was Tristan's theory?" Alpheus asked, keeping Victor from responding.
"Well…." She glanced around the room, at all the waiting faces. She liked Tristan. A lot. But she'd promised herself she wouldn't be as enthralled as the plants, yet somehow she'd fallen into his trap, misled and betrayed by a shell of charisma. How long had he been messing with her? He probably didn't like her at all. "Maybe he should tell you."
"He's not going to be available for a while and this is important." Alpheus reclined in his chair with a heavy sigh. "So let's hear it."
"Tristan's theory is a little strange. He said there were statues in some meeting room, and a little box. He thought whatever was in the box had something to do with it."
"Something to do with what?" asked Landon.
Dorian gulped. If they didn't believe her theory, they'd never believe Tristan's. "He thought the statues were real people, that the box was turning Sabbatini's men to stone."
Alpheus sat forward. "What kind of box was it?"
Landon glanced at Victor.
Dorian's stomach tightened. Of course they'd believe him. "He never said what it looked like, but it was about this big." She made a rectangular shape, three by four inches with her fingers. "Tristan thought we should steal it because he heard Sabbatini telling someone the world was his if he could figure out how to use it. Oh yeah, he also thought there might be a spy on our island, but it simply isn't true." She'd never believe that one and glanced at Oliver and Eric. They didn't seem to have a reaction.
"Tristan didn't steal it, did he?" Victor asked.
"I didn't want him to, but he planned to replace it with a jewelry box about the same size. He said it was covered, so they probably wouldn't know right away—if it looked like the box was still there, covered. I never asked if he actually did it or not. I'm not a thief." A pain stabbed her heart and she reconsidered her answer. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, I mean, I'm glad he showed up."
Alpheus tapped his pursed lips as his head nodded. "So you're saying Tristan moved around inside the building, without being detected?"
"He could've been making it up. I mean, he never actually left. He hid under the bed for most of it. Not that he was afraid, I just didn't want someone finding him."
"It doesn't make sense that Sabbatini would conduct business with the emerald in such a weak location," Victor said. "He just wouldn't, would he?"
"Tristan did manage to find a way in when following Dorian to begin with. Whatever was concealing the location doesn't exist anymore. I'm not sure if Sabbatini is aware of it yet, but his base is completely exposed now. As for Tristan's wandering, perhaps Sabbatini only secured the perimeter and not the inside."
"Yeah, but that's just…." Victor was still shaking his head. "I can't picture Sabbatini being that careless."
"It's good to know about Tristan. It can be surprising what's possible when you haven't been taught otherwise. Anything else you can tell us?" Alpheus asked Dorian.
"I don't think so…except all the plants, including the ones on this island, are in fact not cooperating with Sabbatini. Even the chamomile." She poured fresh tea into her cup. "Plants have morals, too, you know." Though apparently not enough to dislike Tristan for his. She wiped a tear from her eye before anyone might notice.
"We'll talk to Tristan when he comes around." Alpheus stood, signifying the end of the interview.
"Can you do something for his knee?" Landon asked again. "It looks blown out to me."
"Everything in the shop is destroyed and my bag is probably still in Atlantis. And Gram! I just got here. What if—"
"I'd be happy to stay with Gram," Alpheus said. "I have much catching up to do, and I've been told how innovative you've become in the past few years. Perhaps you could find something fresh to help him just a little?"
She couldn't exactly say no, but just the thought of being close to him…alone. Her heart said one thing, her brain another. Could she overlook murder? She bit her lip and pasted a smile on her face, hoping her cheeks weren't showing the blush of color. She grabbed the nearest wicker basket and headed out the door.
Alpheus, Landon, and Victor stepped out behind her.
* * *
"You don't believe she can talk to plants, do you?" Victor asked.
"She does have rather unique abilities, according to Dissa," Alpheus answered.
"I guess we've seen stranger things," Landon concluded, looking across the lake at the cliff house.
"But Tristan couldn't have taken the box," Victor added. "Sabbatini wouldn't have left it in the open for one. Second, he would've been turned to stone."
"The box itself is harmless. Maybe that's why Gwenna handed over the genuine emerald. She knew there would be consequences if Sabbatini ever broke the seal."
"Why would Tristan risk stealing it if he thought it was turning everyone to stone?"
"Perhaps he really does have dragon blood. After I speak with Dissa, I'm heading back to headquarters. I've already called a meeting to update the others. I trust Sabbatini will be prevented from coming here?"
"Everything's under control." Victor's broad smile faded as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's a little too good actually. I'm cross-referencing to see what's up."
Alpheus nodded. "In light of this new information, I'll want both of you here on the island at all times. Notify me immediately when Tristan wakes. When Sabbatini discovers the emerald is missing, there'll be hell to pay."
45
-
T
RUST AND
B
ETRAYAL -
"DORIAN?" TRISTAN OPENED HIS EYES, instantly aware of something wrapped tight around his knee, cutting off the circulation to his foot. He untied the cloth, staying in the hammock, and stared at the moss growing between planks in the ceiling.
He'd always wanted to go to Ireland, but it wasn't what he'd expected. He rubbed at his temples to ease his headache. The entire event seeming surreal. "What a weird summer."
He rolled out of the hammock and tested his knee, surprised by the lack of pain. The leather pouch containing the coral waited on the table; he hung it around his neck and stepped outside. Across the lake, someone stood on Dorian's beach. Tristan hiked down to make sure it was really who he thought, smiling with relief when he got close enough to be sure.
"Nice to see you up and around," Landon said, skipping a flat rock across the glassy water.
"How long did I sleep?"
"Two days."
"Where's Victor?" It seemed odd to see one without the other. Why did he trust them so much? They weren't really even friends at school.
"He went to get Alpheus."