Fusion Page 7

  After Bruno dropped off Olivia, he drove away, leaving her in the care of the leader of the Elders. Constance kept the conversation light and impersonal while they’d worked away in the kitchen. Although Olivia had hundreds of questions, Constance’s formal demeanor had kept her from probing. She was happy when the other Elders finally arrived, full of smiles and chatter. Although Javier, Lars, Morgana, and Inez nodded formally at Olivia—a reminder that she was the new sovereign’s wife—they quickly settled back into relaxed banter. Once Bruno, Larry, and David arrived, Constance passed around the food while they waited for Rupert.

  A hush filled the room when three shapes appeared by the window. Rupert emerged, sending Olivia’s pulse racing. She rushed over and jumped into his outstretched arms, peering over his shoulder at the two women who’d come with him, recognizing Alexa at once. She was taken aback by the other woman, who stared at her with eyebrow-devoid, large blue eyes. Olivia’s own eyes were momentarily drawn to her blue-streaked hair but came to rest on the woman’s abnormally long arms, which extended all the way to her knees. She forced herself to look over at Alexa and smiled at her. Rupert held on to her waist as he turned to the group.

  “Constance, thank you so much for getting everyone together. I’d like to introduce Trina, my assistant, and this is Alexa, who most of you have met before.” He turned to the odd-looking lady by his side. “Trina, this is my wife, Olivia. You already know Bruno. And these are the Wanderer Elders of Mountain View—Constance, their leader, Inez, Morgana, Lars, and Javier. David is Inez’s son and Arizona’s guardian Wanderer, and Larry is a family friend.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Trina’s voice took Olivia by surprise. She certainly did not expect the deep baritone with the Texan twang.

  “I haven’t got a lot of time, so I’ll get to the point,” Rupert said. “We have a critical global issue that threatens our international paranormal infrastructure. Add to that several missing sovereigns and a complete breakdown of some of the city councils. I have to do what I can to help restore stability before this affects the human population any more than it already has.”

  “What exactly is happening?” Olivia asked.

  “We are still trying to figure that out, Ollie. It’s a mess.”

  “Does it have anything to do with the boy who came to fetch you—Jagger?”

  “It does, but he’s only a small, yet important, part of this. Right now, Trina and I are meeting with all the leaders and assessing exactly what’s going on, so we can formulate a strategy.”

  “Is Potomal involved? Raj? Simla?”

  “Yes, Potomal is involved, but I don’t know about Raj and Simla yet. However, even if they are, they won’t be a concern. We have them in our custody.”

  “Rupe, please tell us what exactly is going on,” Olivia beseeched.

  He looked at her thoughtfully, as if struggling with the decision whether to tell her anything.

  “Please. I am your wife, and it’ll be better for me to know what’s going on, so I can take care of things at home.”

  He sighed. “That’s true. I don’t have time to fully explain it or even give you time to absorb it at the moment. It may be better to leave it at this for now, and let me explain when I come back home.”

  She shook her head. “Give me the short version. Just something. I promise not to question it, not now.”

  He looked over at Inez, who nodded, then he pulled Olivia into Constance’s study and sat her down. “Ollie, you’re going to get a very short version. I really have to get back. And I know your reaction will be one of disbelief, but that’s okay. This is going to be hard to swallow, especially all at once.” He waited for her to signal him to go on.

  She nodded.

  “Each major city in the world houses a paranormal council made up of representatives from the different paranormal groups. An objective of the councils is to maintain secrecy from the human population. Each representative is responsible for maintaining order within his or her group.”

  “What kind of paranormal groups?” Olivia asked. “Different kinds of Wanderers?”

  “Actually the Wanderers are a group that doesn’t require much control. Thus, I am the global leader, and there are no individual city leaders. I travel around and attend meetings where I am needed.”

  “Okay, so what kind of other paranormals?” she persisted.

  “I was hoping not to get into that at the moment.”

  “Why? If there are other types of paranormals, I feel like I need to know.”

  “Okay, well, there are witches, demons, va—”

  Olivia burst out laughing. “Oh, be serious, Rupe! Don’t make fun of me.”

  Rupert smiled widely. “Hon, I knew that would be your reaction. So, let’s just leave it at paranormal groups for now.”

  Olivia started to protest, but she was laughing so hard at the thought of pronged creatures sitting around a table making policy decisions that she couldn’t get a word out.

  “Do you want me to go on?” Rupert asked.

  She nodded, trying to stifle her giggles.

  “The councils maintain global peace among the paranormals. Our well-structured order, this well-controlled peace, is in danger from a group of subversive paranormals threatening to replace key councils and take control of not just the paranormal, but possibly also the human, population. For example, you know the recent killings in London… that was the responsibility of this subversive group. They are creating havoc and terror.”

  “Gosh, yes! Those were awful. Is Potomal the force behind the subversive group?”

  Rupert shook his head. “No, but he is part of it. How involved he is, I don’t know yet.”

  “Do you know who is responsible?”

  “We know who the key players are.”

  “Well, tell me.”

  “Ollie, you’re just going to laugh again, but here goes. All evidence points to the demon King of London’s daughter, Katarina.”

  Olivia shook with laughter. She wasn’t sure whether it was mirth, nervous terror at the possibility that her husband had lost his mind, or the possibility that she was actually living in an HBO show.

  “Ollie, don’t even try to absorb this right now. You wanted to know, so I tried to explain, but even as the words left my mouth, I could see how ridiculous it all sounded to you. Let’s go back to the others. I have assignments to hand out before I head back.”

  She stood up, grabbed his outstretched hand, and walked back to the family room. All eyes were on them, glowing with anticipation.

  Trina leaned into Olivia and brought her lips to her ear. “Did he tell you fairy tales about vampires and witches?” She cackled as Rupert shot her a look. She rolled her eyes at him.

  Ignoring Trina, Rupert turned to the group. “I am going to ask you to watch my family while I am gone. Bruno, please stay on here until I get back. Morgana, thanks for keeping an eye on Ella while I was sorting things out. Alexa can take over now. Harry is going back to college for now, so I have arranged cover for him there. David, as always, I appreciate you looking after Arizona.” Rupert smiled kindly at David.

  Olivia noticed David’s lack of eye contact. That was very unlike him. He was usually so forthcoming, happy, and warm. She glanced up at Rupe and saw that he’d noticed that something was up as well.

  “David?” Rupert said. “Are you okay? You seem a million miles away.”

  David finally looked up and met Rupert’s gaze. He shifted in his chair. He finally threw a beseeching look at his mother.

  “Inez, what’s going on?” Rupert demanded, his patience clearly tested.

  “David has asked to be relieved from his Wanderer duties.” Her voice shook.

  Several gasps were heard around the room, and everyone glared at David in shock and confusion.

  Constance was on her feet. “Your Highness, I am so sorry. I would have dealt with this before your arrival had I known.” She shot Inez a harsh glance. “I am shocked, having had no inkling that David
was in any way considering leaving us. David, what are you thinking?”

  David looked at the floor ahead of him, clearly dismayed and unable to speak.

  Constance was unyielding. “David, look at me,” she demanded.

  David jerked and brought his face up. All color had drained from his skin, and his pallor made Olivia worry that he might pass out. She wanted to tell Constance to go a bit easy on him, but from the leader’s expression, it was clear that this was her domain and no one dared interrupt or interfere. As if to confirm this, Rupert squeezed down on her hand, pulling her half a step closer to him.

  Constance’s face had softened a bit, but she still stood firm with both hands on her hips. “David, I—all the Elders in this room—have known you since you were a baby. Many questioned your decision to become a Wanderer so young, but you were so persistent, and your mother was convinced that you were ready. We haven’t doubted our decision for a moment. You are without reproach. Your loyalty to Arizona has been unwavering, even after what she put you through last year. And now, when she probably needs you the most, you’ve decided to forsake your calling. It makes no sense, and you certainly do not have my permission to do so. You will carry on with your duties as required. Is that clear?”

  He nodded silently.

  “Good.” Constance looked across to Rupert. “My apologies, Your Highness, please continue.”

  Rupert remained silent for a moment and then turned to Inez. “A word, please—in private.”

  Although Olivia was tempted to follow them to the study, she remained behind to make sure David was okay. An eerie silence pervaded the room with no one daring to lighten the mood. Olivia walked over to David and sat down beside him. “Hey, it’s going to be okay,” she whispered, and he nodded gratefully.

  Trina snorted and exploded in a fit of laughter.

  “Stop!” Alexa snarled at her.

  “Pffft! Here we are in the middle of a global emergency having to deal with teen hormones. Gimme a break!”

  “What are you talking about?” Constance demanded.

  Trina smirked at David, whose pallor had been injected with a shot of blood-red fury. He sprang to his feet and glared at Trina.

  “Yep, I can read you like a baby’s picture book,” she laughed.

  “Don’t,” he growled.

  “Watch the attitude, young whippersnapper.” She snickered. “My lips are sealed.” She formed them into a duck-like bill and pretended to zip them shut.

  “Trina, what are you talking about? What have you seen in David?” Constance asked firmly.

  “I have nothing to tell,” Trina snipped. “I work only for His Highness.”

  Olivia noticed Constance’s struggle to keep her temper under control. She sympathized. However, much as she also wanted to know what Trina had seen, no one had the right to invade David like that, and to share would be completely unacceptable. She was glad when the uncomfortable silence in the room was broken as Rupert and Inez returned.

  Inez sat down without looking directly at anyone in the room while Rupert faced the group again. He addressed David first. “David, you will be relieved of your assignment as soon as I can find a suitable replacement. I ask that you give me time to do so.”

  Grateful relief poured from David’s eyes as he nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Darley… I mean, Your Highness.”

  Constance was on her feet again, clearly ready to protest, but Rupert waved her to sit down.

  “Constance, I know that this is technically your territory. However, I ask as a personal favor that you let me handle this.”

  Olivia smiled. Rupert certainly was born to lead. His style was respectful and uncompromising at the same time.

  Constance took a moment and looked to her Elders—all except Inez. One by one, they nodded, Morgana first, followed by Javier, and Lars. She finally nodded at Rupert.

  He smiled. “Good, that’s settled. Now that I know my family will be safe, it is time for me to go.” He walked over to Olivia and held out his hand. She grabbed it, stood, and relaxed into his embrace.

  “I know you have to go, but this is so hard,” she whispered.

  “I know. I hate going.” He closed the distance between their lips, moving his against hers.

  “Cut it out, King!” Trina cackled. “You’re getting me all hot and sweaty!”

  Olivia laughed, thankful that, although Rupert was heading off to serious business, he’d have this funny woman to keep him company.

  “Sorry, hon. I’ve got to go.”

  He let go of her and nodded at Trina. They stood beside each other and faded away.

  The visit with Ariele left me even more overwhelmed than before. One thing had led to another, and before we knew it, we’d decided that we needed to find a way to travel back to Ariele’s old life. It made sense that we’d probably find answers about my other life there as well, especially since Ariele claimed that we’d hung out there together just before she moved here, just over a year ago.

  I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling, my head swirling with questions. Our conversation with Ariele had come to an abrupt end when her parents walked through the door. Kellan and I excused ourselves, and he’d brought me back home. I wished he had stayed around so we could talk, but he’d been firm that he needed to get on with his project. He had plunked himself back down in front of the computer in the study, leaving me to ponder on my own.

  The easy option would be to just ask David about his girlfriend. If she was, as we suspected, the other Arizona, my doppelganger, then he must have a way—wandering, no doubt—to get to her. He could take us. The alternative, which I really didn’t like, would be to try to use the Portal.

  It was October, so the Portal was active, but we’d have to find a way to access it as soon as possible. I had spent many evenings at Mom’s work with her, especially during October, which was her busy month. I was no stranger to Ames or to how difficult it would be for us to simply walk in there and use a piece of equipment. It would be impossible, in fact. And, of course, Kellan, Ariele, and I didn’t have the first clue as to how the Portal worked. However, we each had parents who worked at Ames. Ariele said that her mother would be of no use as she wasn’t directly involved with running the Portal, which left Mom and Kellan’s dad. I couldn’t see either of them just letting us use it to vacation into another dimension. We’d actually have to tell them what we were planning to do. No, my first port of call would have to be David.

  “Hey!” Kellan stepped into my room and flopped down beside me. “What are you thinking about?”

  “I am thinking that Ariele is right. But how are we going to do it? Sheesh, we’re being so closely watched that I don’t think we can get away with even taking off to San Fran on our own, never mind another dimension.”

  He nodded.

  “I really don’t think there is a way for all of us to go, but maybe I can go on my own?”

  “Eh?” he muttered.

  “Well, I could maybe get David to take me. He could wander me…”

  Kellan turned onto his side and propped his head on his hand. “He won’t do that.”

  “I think I can talk him into it.”

  “It’s not a matter of that. Wanderers have very strict policies. David would have to get permission from Constance and the Elders to do it. Can’t see that happening.” He lay back down.

  “What if he didn’t and took me over anyway, without their permission?”

  “He’d probably be in deep shit. Anyway, he wouldn’t do it.”

  I pursed my lips. I’d hoped that my charms might have gotten him to break a rule or two.

  “Don’t take it personally.” Kellan laughed. “That whole Wanderer thing comes with a lot of conditions and rules. That’s precisely why I won’t be joining them, even though the whole time-travelling thing is really tempting.”

  “That would be so cool! You could wander me to Paris for lunch whenever we wanted!”

  “If that was the case, I’d jump to do it, but
it’s not. Every wander has to be approved, and I’d be at their beck and call. Just look what’s happened to your parents’ lives. I don’t want that for us, not yet anyway. I’d like to enjoy a normal life. Well, as normal as it can be when dating the daughter of the Wanderer sovereign.”

  We heard the roar of a bike pulling into the driveway.

  “I guess that’s David,” Kellan said.

  We got up and went to the front door as David knocked on it. I opened it. He wasn’t alone.

  I smiled widely at the beautiful, goth-looking girl I had met a couple of weeks ago. “Alexa!” I hugged her and then ushered her inside, with David following. “Ella is going to be so excited to see you!” She looked exactly as she had the last time I had seen her, down to her heavily blue-lined eyes.

  “I can’t wait to see her! Is she home?”

  “No she’s over at a playdate, but she’ll be back soon. Come on in. Can I get you something to drink?”

  “I’m fine, but thanks,” she said. “Your dad sent me to watch Ella, so if you give me the address of the playdate, I’ll head over.”

  “Sure, hang on. I’ll get a piece of paper.”

  “Just tell me. I’ll remember.”

  She wandered off as soon as I told her Jonas’s address.

  “I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to people fading in and out like that,” I remarked to Kellan and David. “It’s just bizarre.”

  David smiled. “Yeah, I guess we just assume that you’re okay with it and don’t even think of hiding it from you anymore. I’ll be more careful.”

  “No, no, it’s fine. Just strange. Don’t mind me. I mean it.”

  David took off his leather jacket and hung it in the hall closet. “Kell, you can leave if you want. Arizona, I am going to be with you all the time starting now. Your dad wants you to have twenty-four/seven Wanderer cover until he gets back.”