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IT was virtually pitch black around the borders of the Bertram property. Tristan walked the grounds over a hundred times in the last few weeks. Today he wasn’t walking the perimeter to test their security.
In truth, Tristan knew that the security system wouldn’t keep out the one person he waited patiently to appear. If Caleb wanted to get through unnoticed, he would.
Tristan heard a noise behind him but didn’t turn around. Somehow, he knew that Caleb intentionally alerted him by snapping some twigs that fell from the large cypress trees lining the borders of the property. When Tristan turned around he saw Caleb kneeling about ten feet away. Even with his super sensitive hearing he didn’t hear Caleb’s approach and that made the anger that was simmering inside him boil.
Caleb stood up.
Eye to eye now, Tristan looked for a sign of humanity or compassion in his father-in-law. He searched in Caleb’s eyes for what Cianne saw or what she wanted to see. Cianne and her father had the same eye color, but to Tristan that was where the similarities ended. Cianne’s eyes reflected emotions like love, compassion, empathy, and desire. In Caleb’s eyes, he saw nothing.
“I don’t know what your reasons were for helping me but I wanted to say thank you. That aside, I knew it was just a matter of time before you came here and I don’t like it. I think you’re a monster and I don’t trust you around Ci or my kids. The only reason you’re standing here is because I love her and I want her to be happy even if what makes her happy is being around you. And her wanting to be around you, I do have a problem with. I want you to know that if you say or do anything to upset or hurt her in any way, I will not rest until you regret it.”
***
CALEB tilted his head as he stared back at Tristan. The guy his daughter had chosen was definitely something. What, he didn’t know just yet.
The kid narrowed his eyes and took a step toward him but with a slight move of his hand, Caleb froze Tristan in place. Caleb then stepped closer, standing shoulder to shoulder with him but facing the opposite direction.
Caleb turned to face Tristan’s frozen profile. “The only reason you are standing here, as opposed to six feet under, is because I love my daughter and I want her to be happy.” Caleb looked toward the house then back to Tristan before he walked slowly away.
He thought about how Tristan found the almost unnoticeable tracks he’d left in the very spot he was frozen in, last week. Caleb couldn’t make it easy but had left the tracks to test Tristan. He needed to know if the kid would call Cassius and report his visit.
But Tristan hadn’t. It seemed Cianne’s happiness was still more important than the hold the Coesen had on Tristan. Their requirement for blind obedience hadn’t taken hold of the young man yet which meant there was still hope. Though he wondered how long Tristan’s resolve would last.
Caleb entered the home through the patio door. Shortly after, Cianne arrived in the entry way of the room. When she saw Caleb, she gasped and raised her hand to her chest.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said. “My apologies.”
Cianne whipped her head around. “Tristan,” she said, looking at the doorway, “does he know you’re here?”
“We’ve talked.” Caleb sat in one of the chairs. “I think we understand each other now.”
“Do you?” Cianne sounded concerned as she walked into the hearth room. She placed her book on the table and sat on the sofa that faced him. “Then that means that I am the only one who’s confused. Do you think a visit from you every few months is going to help us create some sort of relationship?”
“So, you want a relationship?” Caleb asked.
“Well, yeah,” Cianne said, “I don’t know.” She sighed. “Yes. I do want a relationship with you, Caleb. I don’t know what you’ve done and I don’t want to. The only thing I want from you is to be here for us, and the truth from this point on.”
“I’ve always given you the truth and will continue to do so.”
“Ok then,” Cianne said as if she’d accomplished something. “Alright, so we can start off with a clean slate.”
Caleb didn’t answer.
“The slate is clean, right?”
He could almost see her mind working.
Cianne frowned. “How long have you been here...in town?”
“I arrived a few days after Tristan rescued you from the abandoned school.”
Caleb watched as Cianne bit on her bottom lip. It was something so familiar to him yet foreign at the same time. “Did you...uh, were you involved in what happened to Nick and Jason?” The words came out slow and quiet.
For the first time in decades Caleb was astounded. He was certain, by the way Tristan looked at him earlier, that he knew all about his deeds concerning the Coesen. Why didn’t Tristan tell Cianne yet? It wasn’t like Tristan kept his dislike for him a secret. And Tristan knew for certain that he was the one who killed Patton but still he kept that information to himself.
Apparently, Tristan truly meant to keep Cianne happy.
Caleb wanted nothing more than for her to accept him but he was not in the habit of lying, especially not to her. “And Patton,” Caleb said with no emotion.
“Why did you do that?” Cianne gasped. “Are you...they said you are so detached from the world that you kill without a second thought?”
“Contrary to popular belief, I am not detached and I do not kill without carefully thinking it through.” He studied her reaction carefully. He thought it odd that she cared enough about those oafs to question his decision to take their miserable lives. It was almost endearing.
“How much time does it take you to decide if you’re going to kill another human being?” She frowned.
“Faster than most I suppose,” Caleb said, halfheartedly. Cianne looked worried. “I watched each one of those men for weeks. Neither was innocent.” Caleb looked to the fireplace. “Especially your friend Nick.”
“And that gave you the right to take their lives?” she barked.
He moved to the edge of the seat. “I saw the way Tristan reacted to them in the police station. If I didn’t, he would have.” Caleb held her gaze. “Would you rather he’d gotten his hands bloody, because killing can change a man, Cianne.” Her eyes widened then her expression changed from worry to anger, then shock to doubt. “I want you to know that I hadn’t killed anyone in over eighteen years.”
“So, you killed them because of me.” Her words were clearly not meant for him but more for herself. “What do I say to that?” she asked.
“I didn’t tell you for you to feel guilty. I just wanted you to know that I don’t take pleasure in killing. I’m not a monster, Cianne. I’m a father.”
***
CIANNE kept her eyes on Caleb. His face was smooth, almost perfect, and he didn’t look a day over twenty-five. He was very handsome. His bone structure was strong and distinct but gave off a boyish quality. Caleb’s eyebrows and thick lashes matched his evenly trimmed dirty blond hair that flipped at the top and lightened at the tips. But it was his brilliant green-blue eyes that drew the most attention, and their eyes were exactly the same.
“How old are you?” she asked.
“I was born Caleb Scott in the year 1806.”
“My god, that would make you over two hundred years old,” Cianne exclaimed. “You look as young as I do. How is that possible?”
“Would you prefer me to look like a man who has a teenage daughter?”
Right before her eyes, Caleb’s face aged twenty years. Cianne wasn’t prepared for what just happened. She was a little shaken, and a low cry escaped her before she covered her mouth. Once she was able to speak again, she said, “Okay, that’s different.” She inspected the lines at the corners of his eyes and the aged skin that now was his face. “But this isn’t what you really look like is it?”
“No,” Caleb admitted. Just as quickly as he changed to a mature middle aged man, he changed back to the twenty-something Caleb she was familiar with. “This is my true form. I stopped aging in my twenties.”
He can change his appearance. It all makes sense now.
“You were the boy at my engagement party, the one who sat with me in the hall.” She shook her finger trying to remember the boy’s name. “Turner,” she said with excitement.
“Turner was my mother’s maiden name,” Caleb told her. “Which Caleb do you prefer? I can be either.”
Cianne’s brows wrinkled. “Um, I guess I would rather see you as you really are.”
“Then this is it,” he said.
Can I change my looks like he can? She wondered about the extent of his ability. Can he copy another person entirely?
Cianne looked at him and an alarm went off in her head.
“Did you kill Dr. Garri—” Cianne was just about to finish the sentence when she saw Tristan out of the corner of her eye. He was panting and shivering. She ran to him. “What happened to you?”
***
“NOTHING,” Tristan strained. He eyed Caleb as Cianne held him in a partial embrace. He spent the last few minutes using every bit of strength he had to get to the house. He couldn’t move any part of his body no matter how hard he tried for several minutes after Caleb did whatever it was he did to him. Each appendage tingled like a small electric charge was running through him. And when he finally regained control, he fell to his knees, gasping for air. It was as if he was a stone statue.
“I wanted to get a work out in before bed.” Tristan looked down at Cianne. “To see how fast I could actually run.” He pulled her into him, again eying Caleb over her shoulder when he spoke. “I may have overdone it a little. No big deal.” Tristan kissed her on the cheek then held her at arm’s length. “I’ll be upstairs if you need me.”
***
CIANNE watched Tristan walk out of the room. “I’ll be up in a bit,” she said. When Tristan was out of hearing range she swiftly turned to Caleb. “What did you do to him?”
“Nothing really,” Caleb said. “As I said, Tristan and I understand one another now. You had a question for me before he interrupted.”
Cianne asked, “He’s going to be alright, right?”
“He’ll be fine.” Caleb grinned.
Seeing him smile for the first time almost had her smiling in response but she was too upset. “I promise,” he assured her.
Cianne shook her head as she returned to where she was sitting before Tristan came into the room. As far as she knew Tristan never lied to her before, which meant that she had no way to tell when he was, but somehow, she knew he was lying tonight.
“Did you have anything to do with Dr. Garrison’s disappearance?”
“I did,” he answered plainly.
“What did you do to him?” Cianne held in her anger, not wanting to lash out.
Caleb stood. “His heart gave out.”
Cianne looked up at him. This man, who looked like he could be her brother rather than her father, had no compassion for human life. She wondered if he truly cared for anything or anyone at all. “How could you? He was my friend.”
Caleb looked down at her. “Dr. Garrison was never your friend. You only met him once, on your first office visit. He died that weekend, when he took what he thought was an unsuspecting teen by the name of Turner to his home. Dr. Garrison was a perverted child molester. He took advantage of those who brought their children to him for help. He was also responsible for the disappearance and death of two boys from Utah where he once practiced. You can take solace in the fact that he didn’t physically die by my hands, and I can promise you his death was more tolerable than he deserved. It was me who you befriended.” Caleb walked toward the patio doors. He was gone before she looked up.
Beginning of April
Vivian sat at the large desk in the office. She wrote a few more words on the piece of paper before folding it three times and placing it in an envelope. She sighed as she lay the pen down and looked out of the window. It had been almost a month since Cianne moved out and the Council was still not convinced that her granddaughter wasn’t a threat.
Vivian understood their apprehension. She would have concerns too if she were on the outside looking in as they were. There was nothing she could do to ease their worries.
She continued to stare out of the window into the darkness. Something moved out there or she thought she saw something move. Vivian narrowed her eyes and moved her head slightly to the side, narrowly escaping the bullet that came through the window and imbedding itself into the wall behind her.
Vivian spun around in the chair, avoiding the assailant’s second and third shot as he dove through the same window and into the office, shattering glass all over the carpet. The assailant landed on his feet behind her. Vivian knocked the gun from his hand.
When the gun dropped to the floor an all-out battle ensued. Her long loose satin robe swung in the air as she avoided his skillful attacks and turned them back on him. Their skills seemed matched but Vivian had something extra on her side. When she finally knocked him to the floor and took two steps back, she was sure that she had broken his leg but the man got to his feet and dove at her again. Vivian wrinkled her brows at this but raised her foot over his other leg and broke it in the same place as the other.
To her amazement, that didn’t stop him either. With his eyes fixed on her, the assailant dragged himself across the floor attempting to get his hands on her. Vivian kneeled in front of him, just out of his reach. He extended his arms out trying to get her in his grasp.
“Cassius,” Vivian whispered the summons.
Cassius appeared just inside the doorway a moment later. His eyes moved from Vivian, who was still kneeling, to the inching figure of the man who was struggling to get her. With a bolt of speed Cassius stood over the man. He placed his foot on the assailant’s back, applying enough pressure to flatten him so that he was face down and unable to move forward.
“Why didn’t you summon me sooner?” he asked angrily.
Vivian ignored Cassius and his disheveled appearance. She stood, then slowly walked a few steps to her right and stood still. She stayed there for a few moments before taking few steps to her left.
“Have you noticed how he’s tracking me?” she asked Cassius. “He hasn’t taken his attention off me for one second.”
Cassius lifted his foot off the attacker’s back and walked in front of him then kneeled. He waved to Vivian to move again. He kept his eyes on her as she walked around the man who lay on the floor. Vivian stood behind her attacker.
The man strained, arching his back to reach her. Using his arms, he tried to turn his body in her direction. Vivian watched as Cassius brought his fist down hard on the right side of the man’s face. That seemed to have no effect and didn’t distract the assailant at all.
“Do you know him?” Cassius grabbed the attacker by the jaw and held his face up. They both watched as the man struggled to see her out of the corners of his eyes.
“No.” Vivian walked over to the desk where she was sitting before she was interrupted. She picked up the phone receiver and dialed a number. “Yes, I am sorry to wake you. There’s been an incident here. I need a window repaired.”
***
ZETA leaned back in a relaxed position over the kitchen counter while Cassius was seated in a chair directly in front of the attacker. Vivian joined Cassius and Zeta in the kitchen. Her attacker was tied up tightly to a wooden chair.
Zeta looked to Vivian. “Should we set John Doe’s leg?”
“Cassius,” Vivian said. Both Cassius and John Doe, who had been entranced by each other’s gaze, turned and looked at Vivian at the same time. Her attacker once again tried to free himself from his bondage when he saw her.
Zeta walked over and steadied the chair so the man didn’t fall over. She looked to Cassius who turned his attention back to the man.
“I do think we should have a doctor look at him but not for his legs. Is Bannerman still in town?” Cassius looked back at Vivian.
“I’ll give him a call,” Vivian said.
Tristan stared at the man everyone was referring to as John Doe. “How long has he been like that?” Tristan asked.
Zeta looked at her watch. “He’s been this way since about four this morning,” she said then shrugged, “so it’s been about seven hours.”
Tristan walked over to the John Doe and snapped his fingers in the man’s face.
“He won’t respond. We’ve tried everything.”
“It’s like he’s a zombie.” Tristan bent down so he and Zombie Doe were eye to eye. Then he slowly backed away. “What are they going to do with him?”
“According to Dr. Bannerman it’s not much they can do,” Zeta said. She sat on the kitchen counter facing the prisoner.
Tristan walked over and stood next to her. He continued to stare at the man in the chair who kept his eyes on the doorway as if he was waiting for someone. “So,” Tristan said to Zeta, “what time is your flight?”
“I’m taking a red eye. I need to be at the airport by eleven pm.” She kicked her feet out then back in a rhythmic fashion he often saw little girls do.
“And you’re sure you have to return now?” Tristan peered over at her. He didn’t understand her urgency. Zeta was still in her three-year service to the Royal Guard.
Zeta didn’t face him. “I have no choice,” she said sadly.
He never considered that there would come a day that he would enter this house and not see Zeta. He totally understood how his friend Brian was swooped away by life but Zeta...was where she belonged. Tristan never considered them being apart.
“You can’t wait until after the wedding?”
Zeta playfully punched him in the shoulder. “I would never miss you guys’ special day.” Zeta hopped off the counter top as Cassius entered the room. She and Tristan stood up straight as their commanding officer approached.
Cassius looked at Tristan and lowered his head slightly. Tristan returned the nod and relaxed. Zeta had to wait until Cassius made eye contact with her before she could relax.
“Training is canceled today.” Cassius informed him as he casually walked over to Zombie Doe. Cassius placed one hand under Doe’s chin and the other on the back of his head. With a quick motion, Cassius snapped the man’s neck. “Take him to the garage,” he ordered.
Tristan nodded as Cassius walked by him and out of the kitchen. Zeta stepped toward the body but stopped. She took a deep breath then moved around the chair and began untying the knots. Seeing how bothered she was, Tristan quickly walked over and helped untie the man.
Neither of them spoke a word as they loosened the ties. Tristan could see her face was losing color so he lifted the limp body over his shoulder before she could.
“You alright?” Tristan asked her as they walked toward the garage. She looked at him with wide eyes and nodded. He knew Zeta had seen death many times before today. She had killed.
What is going on with her?
Tristan glanced her way as they entered the garage where Dr. Bannerman and Officer Perkins were waiting. Dr. Bannerman motioned for Tristan to place the body on a metal table he had set up. Tristan gently placed the body on the table as he looked around the garage that now resembled a makeshift operating room.
“Tristan,” Vivian said as she entered the room. Vivian gave him a smile but somehow it wasn’t quite right. It was forced and looked uncomfortable versus comforting. Tristan lowered his head. “Has Tristan been brought up to speed?” she asked Perkins.
Tristan looked at Officer Perkins. He was still getting used to the fact that Officer Perkins was a Coesen. Vivian apparently called him in to infiltrate the local Police Department when Cianne was kidnapped.
Tristan gave Perkins his full attention. As Perkins spoke, Tristan found himself looking at the body that lay on the table. When Perkins finished, Tristan was now aware that there was an attempt made on Vivian’s life. Apparently, Zombie Doe, whose body was being cut open at present, was also a Coesen. His name was Leroy Fenton and he bore the mark of the Quende tribe.
Quende, as in Cassius’ tribe, that was governed by the Royal, Chandra.
Dr. Bannerman also explained what was done to Fenton. Tristan learned about Jzerect, a type of Coesen black magic that is forbidden. Combine this form of science or black magic with the voice of a powerful Wheddler and you have a Zombie on a never-ending mission.
“So, you’re saying he’s possessed,” Tristan asked.
“In a sense, yes.” Bannerman nodded. “All his needs and wants have been replaced with one single objective. That is to kill Vivian Harper.”
Tristan crossed his arms then looked over at Vivian. “Why would someone want you dead?”
“The same reason why some people want to kill your President,” Perkins spoke up.
Zeta told Tristan that Perkins was once a Protector. When his ward was killed, his abilities faded as do any Protector’s whose Coesen passes on. Tristan wondered what exactly happened with Perkins and his Coesen but Zeta didn’t go into detail.
Tristan turned back to Perkins. “This isn’t the first time?”
“Hazard of the job,” Vivian answered.
“That’s why we’re here,” Cassius said as he entered the garage. “I’d like to say this attempt was like the others before it, but this is the first time this method was used. Whoever sent him had no regard for this man’s life. He had no choice in the matter.”
As far as Tristan could tell, Cassius wasn’t an emotionless pit but the man also didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve. It was clear that this bothered him. The question was what part bothered him the most. Was it because black magic was used? To practice the black arts was a death sentence for Coesen. Or was Cassius feeling some kind of way about Fenton? Killing isn’t easy but it must be harder to deal out death to one of your own tribesmen.
“Will they come after Cianne?” Tristan’s words came out more calmly than he felt.
“I’m the target,” Vivian said.
Her words didn’t convince him, and for a brief second Tristan thought he saw a look of fear flash across Vivian’s face. She recovered her queenly demeanor so quickly that no one else seemed to notice.
Tristan watched Vivian give the body on the table one last look before going back into the house.
Cassius waited until Vivian was in the house before he spoke again. “I’ve been investigating these attempts for some time now and I’m no closer to finding out who’s behind them.” For the first time since Tristan had known him, Cassius looked angry. “Every time I get a step closer to finding something out, I get pushed several steps back.”
“So, these attempts...you think they are all related?” Tristan asked.
“Yes,” Dr. Bannerman answered. He looked up from the corpse that lay on the table. “Each assassin has some similarities. Their finger prints and birthmarks were removed. But this one is different. He was reported missing a month ago. I doubt he was a willing assassin.”
“He was programmed,” Cassius told them.
“Bannerman is the most gifted Wheddler we have and he wasn’t able to get through to Fenton. Killing him was the only way to stop him,” Perkins added.
“How is something like this possible? To make a person a killing machine that cannot stop,” Zeta asked. She kept her eyes on the dead man.
“It isn’t easy,” Dr. Bannerman said. He pulled off the plastic gloves and threw them on the table next to the corpse. “The Dark Arts were outlawed for a reason. When paired with a powerful ability, it can be disastrous.”
Tristan looked at Cassius. “So, what do we do?”
“You, will do nothing. I am going to shake a few trees.” Cassius cracked his neck then said, “And see what falls out.”
“I think we should follow up on Fenton. Maybe trace the drug,” Perkins said. “Fenton is different from the rest so the person behind this may have made a mistake with him.”
“We’ve already been down this road, Perkins. You think they left us some in-plain-sight evidence. These people are smart and we aren’t going to catch them because of some error that only happens on crime television shows,” Cassius said angrily. He walked around Zeta and Tristan. Cassius looked back before stepping through the door. “You need to leave this to the professionals Perkins, and stick with solving Middling crimes.”
After Cassius disappeared into the house, Perkins placed his police hat on his head, stood up, then placed the stool he sat on back under the work bench. “I’ll be back for the body when it gets dark,” he said. Perkins didn’t wait for a response. He left through the same door as Vivian and Cassius.
What was that about?
Knowing that it wasn’t the right time to ask, Tristan decided that it was best to get Zeta away from Fenton’s body. By her rigid posture and focus, he could tell she was wired. When he took her by the hand, she turned her wide eyes on him then her shoulders slumped as she visibly relaxed.
He led her to the media room where Vivian and Cassius retired. Tristan entered the room with Zeta and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. When Tristan noticed Cianne, his body reacted immediately. He knew at least half the room heard the change in his heart rate but he held his head high.
Smiling at Cianne, he kept hold of Zeta’s hand. But Zeta pulled her hand from his and sat on the arm of the sofa where Vivian and Cassius were seated. He gave Zeta a questioning look, but went to stand a few feet away from Cianne. No one seemed to notice that he didn’t greet Cianne with a kiss like he usually did.
“I was just telling Cianne that postponing the wedding would be foolish,” Vivian said. “I wasn’t able to see Kayla get married and I regret it. This wedding means a great deal to me.”
“Alright,” Cianne said with some hesitation.
Over the last few months, eloping sounded better and better but they did promise Vivian and his parents that they would let them plan the wedding. All the bride and groom were required to do was attend. In truth, it was a small sacrifice to make for two women they both loved.
“Great!” Vivian said then gave Cianne a curious look. “Where are the children?”
“Tristan’s parents are keeping an eye on them for me,” Cianne answered.
Tristan glanced around the room, noticing each appeared to show signs of worry on their faces.
“Do you think it wise to leave them unprotected?” Cassius asked.
Tristan smiled as he looked over at Cianne. Cianne looked back at him and gave him a slight nod. Tristan raised his hand and moved it slowly toward her. Heat rippled over his hand and through him as he got closer. Instead of his hand contacting her body, her image dissolved in front of them like a wave of heat. He would have been touching her shoulder if she had actually been in the room.
“She’s working on staying visible even when matter goes through her, but it takes an immense amount of concentration,” Tristan said.
Everyone was completely silent as they looked at him then the empty space beside him. Zeta’s mouth fell open. Cassius stood and moved his hand over the spot where Cianne had stood. And Vivian just sat there. After a few more seconds of silence, Vivian did something Tristan had never seen her do. She began to laugh. Not just a chuckle, but a boisterous all out laugh.
By the way Cassius and Zeta looked at Vivian, Tristan was sure the woman hadn’t laughed in years.
