Guardians (Seers Trilogy) (20 page)

Patrick nodded from across the table, but his thumb and forefinger continued to spin the green lid from the milk like a top. “Sometime around noon, probably.”

“Will he be going straight to the warehouse?”

“Yes. Jack will be there to meet him.”

“Will you go over there too?”

“I go where you go.”

Grandma may have snorted. Or maybe it was just an innocent sneeze. Regardless, we both glanced toward the open doorway that led to the family room. I settled back on him. “So am I allowed to go see him?”

He shrugged. “If you feel up to it.”

It took a bit of convincing, but my grandma finally agreed that I was probably okay to go. So just after 11:30 a.m., we walked out to my car. I almost asked if he knew how to drive a stick. Then I remembered who I was talking to—he’d probably driven a Model T.

I felt a little uneasy leaving my grandma alone at the house without a protector, but since she was planning to leave in the next few minutes for the grocery store, I decided she’d most likely be okay. She loved to cook, so Thanksgiving was really her favorite holiday. The money she spent on the appetizers alone . . . Grandpa had always teased her about her habit to overdo things. This holiday was definitely on the top of the list.

While we drove, I remembered to tell Patrick about Aaron’s party. I told him that Toni and Lee would be going, as well as Jaxon and Maria. Just like earlier, he assured me that he would go if I was. He didn’t sound overly thrilled about the prospective date, but I knew that was only because he didn’t want everyone asking about my injuries, not because he resented my ex-boyfriend at all. The mutual respect Aaron and Patrick had for each other was both unusual and refreshing. They didn’t treat each other with undertones of jealousy or bitterness anymore. In fact, they’d been almost friends since they’d teamed up to fight half the football team several weeks ago. That of course came as a great relief to me because I loved them both—in different ways, of course.

At the warehouse, Jack spent the first few minutes teasing me about head-butting a car. I took his jokes in good humor, knowing that deep down he was just relieved I was okay. Patrick didn’t seem to appreciate his jokes though, so we moved off that topic pretty quickly. By the time we’d covered cursory topics, Jack decided to go wait out in the dirt-covered yard for the expected arrival of the Seer. Patrick and I followed him because we had nothing better to do. We held hands as we walked, listening to Jack tell us about the fourth floor they’d been clearing up for the visiting Seers.

“They have the nicer spot, no doubt about it,” Jack said, accent thick. “That floor hardly looks like it belongs in this bodgy place. It just goes to show how much more Terence cares about them, I guess.”

“So they didn’t get their mattresses from the dump?” I asked glibly.

Patrick elbowed me gently. “Be nice. I have tender feelings.”

It was hot outside, but there was more airflow outdoors, so the change didn’t seem drastic. Patrick and I stood near the open doors, while Jack continued to wander forward without us, heading toward the narrow alley. I sent Patrick a queer look, and he answered my unspoken question at once. “This Seer wouldn’t be the first person to miss the turnoff.”

I nodded in understanding, and we stood together in silence, watching as Jack ambled from sight.

Mere minutes later, a gold Altima swept through the alley and up toward the building where we stood. Jack was in the passenger seat, talking to the driver. With the sun’s glare on the glass it was almost impossible to tell much about the new Seer. He looked a bit older, though—late forties or so.

The car rolled to a stop in front of us, the gentle purr of the engine dying as it was shut off. Jack opened his door and the driver was only a beat behind him.

He wasn’t very tall—about my height. He was balding and had dull brown eyes. He wore a pair of khaki pants and a simple red polo shirt. He had scuffed brown shoes and an old gold watch on his wrist. He had some thinly rimmed glasses pushed high on his nose, making him look like a smart but absentminded professor. His aura was simple, as most auras go. His life—despite being filled with the supernatural—seemed to be quite ordinary, at least in his mind.

His face was meaty and round, but his smile was wide and full. His eyes went right to me, his thick British accent unmistakable. “You must be Kate Bennett. What a pleasure to meet you!” He stepped forward at once, leaving his door ajar in the process. I extended my free hand, which he clasped eagerly in both of his. “I must say I was delighted at the opportunity to come and learn more about our amazing abilities. I’m a physics professor at University of London, you see, and I’m quite interested in learning the science involved in time travel. Since I was a boy, I’ve dreamed of these very possibilities, and as soon as I learned about our unique abilities—well, obviously I was more than anxious to learn as much as possible!” He was still shaking my hand, and his eyes were right on mine so I couldn’t look away. “It’s just fascinating, isn’t it? I was wondering if you’ve taken the time to document your experiences yet? You
have
traveled, haven’t you? I was made to believe that you had. I can hardly believe I’m even having this conversation with another human being. I’m talking to someone who’s actually ridden the space-time continuum! I do apologize if I’m overwhelming you—I’m afraid it’s in my nature to let my mouth do a good amount of my thinking. It’s not always a bad attribute, I suppose . . .”

My smile by now felt completely fake, but he wasn’t blinking, and I felt rude pulling away.

Luckily, Patrick recognized my plight. He stuck out a hand, which was hard for the new Seer to ignore. “I’m Patrick O’Donnell.”

The Seer’s words faltered, but his smile didn’t. He was quick to shake Patrick’s hand, again using both of his. “Ah! A pleasure to meet you, Guardian O’Donnell. I’m afraid I’ve been awfully rude. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Winston Radcliffe.”

Patrick nodded. “Dr. Radcliffe.” He somehow managed to slip his hand away. “How was your flight?”

“The flight from London was wonderful! But it was bloody inconvenient driving in from Colorado. Terence assured me it would be unsafe to fly right into the state, and since he supplied me with a car, I suppose I can’t complain too strenuously. Besides, it gave me more time to think about the most interesting part of this time traveling puzzle—why can we travel when others can’t? Is it a physical difference, and if so, is it a natural step in human evolution? That seems a little unlikely, but of course it’s something to consider.”

Jack was standing behind Dr. Radcliffe, giving the back of his head an almost wary look. I understood Jack’s feelings completely—
this
was the guy who’d come up with the assault plan? The Guardian Council must have believed in him, or they never would have set the plan into motion, but I was becoming just a little doubtful.

I glanced to Patrick, seeing that his face was frozen in a polite stare. I didn’t want to be the one to interrupt the doctor, but luckily I didn’t have to say anything—he was stopping himself.

“I
am
sorry if I’m overwhelming you. I assure you, I’m trying to keep myself in check. It’s just that it’s all so fascinating! But more of that to come, I suppose. Here, here! Would you men give me a hand with my bags? I’m afraid I’ve never been one to pack lightly. It gets rather expensive, I must say!”

Patrick squeezed my hand, then released it to follow Jack to the back of the car. Dr. Radcliffe pressed a button on his remote, popping the trunk open. They each grabbed a bag, Jack grunting heavily. The strap creaked as he drew it up over his shoulder, and Dr. Radcliffe urged him, saying, “Do be careful! My encyclopedias are in that one!”

“What sort of doddering fool travels with his whole library? Hasn’t he heard of the Internet?” Jack grumbled under his breath. I caught the words easily on the breeze, but the Englishman didn’t seem to hear anything. He was snatching up a briefcase from the front of the car.

He then pulled himself out and shut the door, walking back toward me with a smile. “Not exactly a five-star hotel, is it?”

I didn’t have much to say to that, so I only smiled. There was a lot of dialogue as we tried to get him settled, but finally Dr. Radcliffe—or Winston, as he was perfectly fine with being called—told us he’d like to catch some rest.

Back on the main floor of the factory, Jack was shaking his head. “Asking that dill over here might have been a blue. If that bloke doesn’t drive me crazy . . .”

Patrick shrugged a little. “It takes all kinds.”

“Yes, well, I can see why his Guardian was fine with just putting him on a plane. I certainly wouldn’t want to go to another country with the good doctor. ”

“How many others are coming?” I dared ask.

Jack’s words were spoken in an exhale. “Four. Blimey, I think it’s almost time I retired from the Demon hunting gig. About time I got myself a job and just donated some of my moolah to the cause.”

Patrick looked to me. “We might as well head back to your house, if you’re done here.”

“Gee, thanks for bailing out on me, mates,” Jack grumbled before I could respond. “I’ll love you forever for that one.”

***

That night, Lee and Toni were in the backseat of the Altima, with me and Patrick in front. Toni and Lee weren’t saying much, but they really hadn’t communicated much since Toni had rather abruptly asked her out. It wasn’t awkward between them—just different. Lee’s aura was more confusing than ever. Her emotions were so jumbled it was almost impossible for me to figure out what she was feeling at the moment. Things had been going so well with Rodney, I hadn’t been worried about her crush on Toni for weeks. Now it seemed like everything was back to how it had been in the first place. I had mixed feelings about this because as much as I loved Toni, I didn’t really want my best friend stuck in the same sort of impossible situation that I was.

Patrick was quiet too, though his silence seemed reflective more than anything else. It made me anxious to know what he was thinking.

Aaron’s little brother Tim invited us in, giving me an extra wide smile. I tousled his six-year-old hair with old familiarity, which made him squirm away with a laugh. My own mouth was twisted into a wide grin. I’d missed the little guy.

Lee and Toni had walked past me toward the sound of Jaxon’s booming laugh, but Patrick was still behind me, watching me closely. His expression made me hesitate to ask about his thoughts. He looked grave. Almost sorrowful. Then the moment passed and he was forcing a smile. But in his eyes the sadness lingered, even when he took my hand and we walked together in the direction of Aaron’s muffled call.

“Come on down! We’re in the basement!”

We wandered downstairs where I saw Lee—wearing white pedal-pushers and a wispy pink scarf around her neck—shaking hands with a pretty girl with rich brown hair that fell around her shoulders. This must be Alyssa Meadows, Aaron’s girlfriend. She was tall and slender, and she matched Aaron in a natural way. More important, her aura seemed to be an extension of his; both were billowing with blue contentment, yellow happiness, and sparks of pink excitement.

Aaron stood at Alyssa’s side, shaking Toni’s hand while offering a basic nod of greeting.

Lee was already past introductions with Alyssa and deep in conversation—as if they’d been friends forever. “I’m so jealous. Aaron said you’re homeschooled?”

She nodded, her smile easy. “Since first grade.” Her voice was a beautiful alto, and she spoke with a smooth grace that hinted at quiet intelligence.

“Wow. That’s really cool. You’re lucky.”

“There were days I wasn’t so sure, but . . . I’m really grateful to my parents now.”

“You’re a senior?”

“Yep.”

Patrick and I had paused at the base of the stairs, lingering just outside the edge of the conversation. Jaxon was standing near a bookshelf full of DVDs, his girlfriend, Maria, arguing good-naturedly about what to watch.

“Kate, Patrick!” Aaron had spotted us. “Welcome.” He winced at my head. “Lee told me about your fall. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m feeling a lot better, thanks.” I extended a hand, which Alyssa took quickly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Same.” She smiled easily. “Aaron’s told me so much about you. I’m really glad you could make it tonight.”

“Me too.” I gestured to my Guardian with one hand. “This is Patrick.”

He reached around me, shaking Alyssa’s with a gentle firmness. “Hello.”

“Hi. It’s good to meet you, Patrick.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

Once initial greetings were out of the way, Aaron tried to shoo his brothers out of the room. Tim wouldn’t go until he showed me his tooth, which he’d lost earlier that day. Aaron’s mom came down carrying two deep bowls of popcorn. Toni took one from her right away and moved to claim the edge of the sofa, with Jaxon only a second behind him for nabbing the second bowl of popcorn.

Aaron’s mom promised to keep the boys out, and then she came over to embrace me quickly.

“It’s good to see you, Kate,” she murmured softly. “How’re you and your sisters doing? What about your grandma?”

“They’re good. We’re all fine.”

Her arms flexed comfortingly around my shoulders. “Well, you let me know if you need anything, okay? Pass that along to your grandma.”

“I will. Thanks.”

She gave me a smile that bordered on sympathetic before herding Aaron’s two young brothers back up the stairs.

Jaxon and Maria couldn’t agree on a movie to save their lives, so Lee and Alyssa wandered over to the shelves. Jaxon took his bowl of popcorn and he and Maria crashed down into the giant beanbag that dominated the floor space. Patrick tugged gently on my hand, pulling the two of us to sit on the long sofa, taking the end Toni hadn’t sprawled on.

“Oh, I love this one!” Alyssa said over the sound of crunching popcorn—Toni wasn’t exactly quiet.

Lee glanced at the movie Alyssa had plucked from the shelf and let out a happy cry. “Oh my Oreos, I haven’t seen that in ages!”

“What is it?” Aaron asked, standing in front of the love seat.