CHAPTER TWELVE

Sunday, October 2nd

THE TEAM GATHERED IN THE LIVING ROOM, sipping vodka. Even Lance took small drinks. Kandice finished explaining the other night, and Blake sat silent taking it in. Lance had gone first, to explain how he got into the house.

"The best option is to cut power," Blake said, after a few moments.

"How?" Lance asked.

"I've read that if you shoot the power line's transformer, it will release an electromagnetic pulse, and knock out the power," Blake said. "That would be enough to get you inside, if you time it right."

"What about police?" Kandice asked.

"Slava?" Lance asked.

"There are ways to stop phones," Slava said. "We have done it before. It will buy you some time."

"It will all come down to timing." Lance raised his glass, "To victory."

They all clinked their glasses together and finished their drinks.

Slava had been keeping an eye on the mayor's compound for a few weeks. He explained that, at most, the mayor would have four guards. Three walk the grounds, and one inside. He also had the woman that stays close to him. She left and came back throughout each day. He wasn't sure if she slept at the mayor's house, but she was there most nights. He decided they must plan for her to be there.

They agreed that Slava would be the lookout, and Blake would only go inside once Lance and Kandice cleared the house. Slava and Blake discussed a plan to get Lance and Kandice inside. While they got into the details of the plan, Kandice asked Lance to speak with her alone.

They went upstairs, leaving Slava and Blake to their planning.

"I can't stop thinking about you," Kandice said. "I know you said it's only because I'm new to changing, but it's not."

"I feel the same for you," he said. "Trust me, I want this just as much as you do."

"Waiting is pointless. Life is too damn short. I saw two young women die last night. I'm too young to die with regrets."

"You're not going to die. That's part of my point. We have to keep our distance until the mayor's dead. You have to be willing to walk away and let me die if it comes to it. I promise, I'll do everything I can to protect you, even if it means dying to save you."

"If you feel that way, why not be with me?"

"Because, if we were together, you might try to stop me."

Kandice tried to move in closer to him, but Lance stepped back.

"I'm sorry, Kandice. I won't allow this to happen. When the mission is over, we can talk about it more."

Lance ran to the grocery store. Kandice assumed it was to clear his head. Something she could use herself.

She sat in the living room while Slava and Blake kept talking about ideas of how to get them all on the compound without being caught. Slava noted they had added cameras all along the wall of the property after Kandice and Lance had tried to break in.

They continued to ask Kandice questions, but her short answers weren't helping move the plan along. Her mind was far away from their conversation. Lance's response left her in a foul mood.

Slava walked towards the front door, "Mail is coming."

He went outside, and sure enough, the mailman pulled up to the street mailbox shared by several houses. Kandice and Blake watched as Slava received his mail after showing a key to the mailman.

"How do you do that? How did you know the mailman was there?" Kandice asked, once Slava was back inside.

He laughed, "I can see around me."

"What do you mean?"

"It is hard to explain. I see the whole street in my mind. The people who pull onto it and those driving down it."

"Wow," Blake said. "That's awesome. How do you do it?"

"I gained sight when I shifted the first time," Slava said.

"Can Lance do the same?" Kandice asked.

"No," he said. "Each person gains their own ability, and sometimes, it will take years to discover what ability it is."

Kandice looked up at the mail Slava was holding. There was the typical junk mail everyone got, bills, and a letter in an envelope made of paper that looked expensive. The paper danced between gold and brown, with royal-blue lettering on the front.

Slava pulled a knife out of his pocket and used the blade to cut along the top of the envelope. Kandice could smell cedar even though the letter was six feet away.

Slava's face grew stern as he read it.

"The Council has learned about your presence here. They want to meet you."

"May I?" She held out her hand to read the letter.

 

Dear Mr. Pukher,

 

It has been brought to our attention that you and your grandson have been in contact with a young woman who can see Them. The Biancardi twins will meet with you on the 5th of October, at 13:30 at your home.

Please plan accordingly and accommodate them. It would be best if the young woman in question were present.

 

Sincerely,

Cara DiNapoli

 

Kandice read the letter twice and gave it to Blake.

"They didn't mention Blake," she said. "Do you think they know about him too?"

"I do not know. However, it is best you come."

"Who are these people?" she asked.

Slava poured them all drinks, "This will take a while."

He started by explaining ancient Rome. Aether Walkers had been a part of the world since before then, but it was in Rome that they were first written about. What he and Lance call The Council, was just older families that had seen them for several generations.

Some families could trace their heritage back hundreds or even thousands of years. During times of great turmoil, many families would die out, so only a handful could trace their heritage back to ancient Rome.

The older families didn't hunt down Aether Walkers, but instead led newer families. There was a constant power struggle where the older families would try to get new families to swear loyalty to their own causes. Slava explained it was close to feudalism—except there were no serfs farming, and families almost never fought against each other.

Slava and Lance weren't tied to any other family, but they worked for many. Cara had asked them to look into Austin. There were no established families in the US. Leaving it up to other European families to look after it.

He went on for over an hour, explaining history, and how some wars had been about ridding the world of Aether Walkers who gained too much power. Through his story it became clear to her why getting rid of the mayor was so important. If he continued to gain more power, he could end up gathering enough influence to be governor of Texas and that would be disastrous.

That's putting it lightly. He could be the next Bush.

The Biancardi twins were excellent fighters, but their main job was to keep an eye on other hunters of Aether Walkers.

"She called the Aether Walkers, Them," Kandice said. "What does everyone else call them?"

"There are many names," Slava said. "So, she calls them, Them, because the name is unimportant."

"Should I worry?"

"I doubt it."

"Are you really going to meet with them?" Blake asked. "These people sound dangerous. Like a secret government."

"They are only dangerous to Aether Walkers," Slava said. "They will not attack you. They just want to find out who you are and what you can do."

"Do you think they know Lance taught me to shift?" Kandice asked.

"Maybe," Slava said.

"We need to go. I need to think this through. I'll call Lance when I've decided if I'll meet them."

"Kandice," Slava said. "It will be best you do. Lance and I will protect you. You are not in danger."

"Okay."

It was important to think it through, but if Slava felt it was safe, that was reassuring.

Blake followed her to the car, and Slava closed the door only after they pulled out of the driveway. They kept quiet the whole drive back to Jackie's house.

Kandice kept running through scenarios of what could happen. Slava saying they would keep her safe, gave her the impression there was more to this visit than he said. It seemed impossible for them to protect her from a group that had unlimited resources. They had discovered her existence without anyone other than the four of them knowing about her abilities.

When Kandice dropped Blake off, Jackie came outside. Kandice waved to her and drove away. It wasn't the time for a heart to heart with that woman. There wasn't a reason in her mind she'd ever need to speak to her aunt again.