Paradox (Travelers Series Book 2) (9 page)

“Just what do you think you were doing? Your father told me about your ability to astral project. Only, I didn’t think you were foolish enough to go exploring when you don’t know what the consequences are.”

I totally feel like a heel for making my aunt worry. But then again, I didn’t expect to get caught. After I regain my senses, I sit up from my lying position on the bed. “I need to find her Aunt Maggie. Somehow I feel like all this is all my fault.”

She immediately envelopes me in a hug. “Oh, no honey, don’t ever think for a moment any of this is your fault.”

Maybe it’s almost getting caught in that medical supply room, or I’m still woozy from the trip, but I begin to cry. “Do you think she knows I’m looking for her and that I miss her?”

My aunt gently rocks me in her embrace. “Shhh, sweet girl. I’m sure she knows. And furthermore, I have a feeling she’s safe.” My aunt’s soothing voice calms me somewhat. I’m sure she’s right, but I have to try. I’d like to believe Jaime would do the same for me. Yeah, she’s a bit thoughtless sometimes, but she’s my best friend. Back when I was an orphan at Dominion House, it was us against the world.

I pull away from my aunt and look up her with tear brimmed eyes. “How can you be sure?” But I know my aunt’s right. I don’t think Thornberry would actually do anything to harm his daughter, but at the same time, I’m sure Jaime has to be confused and scared.

“Because as much as I hate to say it, the only thing Oliver Thornberry seems to be concerned with is you. I sincerely doubt Oliver wants to do her any real harm. I’d be willing to bet that when he ran off, he took her only as an afterthought.” Leave it to my aunt to be honest and direct.

My breathing begins to regulate itself and I let out one last sniffle. “Are you going to tell Victor about this?” The last thing I need is a lecture on using my powers when I don’t know what I’m doing. But who I’m really worried about finding out is Cooper. For some reason, I know he won’t be pleased to know I’m messing around and putting myself in danger.

“I suppose not, but your father suggested we have a family meeting so we can discuss everything further. I think it might be a good idea to have Cooper present for this, as I’m sure he has some input in these matters. In the meantime, don’t, under any circumstances, let me catch you doing that again. You almost scared me to death, with you lying there in a cold sweat.”

So, that’s how she figured out what I was doing.

•  •  •

We meet a few hours later in my dad’s study. I’m still nervous about getting caught astral projecting, but I’ve had time to calm down before having to face the music. I don’t know if my aunt talked to my dad prior to our little family meeting, but hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to explain myself.

“We’re just waiting for Cooper,” my aunt says as I enter the room. My palms are sweaty and I’m getting worked up all over again. I don’t know why my stomach is all tied up in knots. It’s not my fault I have these powers. Then again, I’ve never really been in trouble before—I haven’t been in this reality long enough, so I just sit and wait for the punishment to commence.

My dad’s at his usual spot behind his desk. I take a seat next to my aunt and I catch her wink at me.
Whew.
I guess my little outing this afternoon is still a secret, for now. I wonder if she’ll end up telling my dad, as we sit here waiting for Cooper in this uncomfortable silence. I realize this meeting was set up by my dad in order to further discuss everything that’s not only transpired these last few days, but to consider the possibility that my future really is tied to the other reality. As far as I’m concerned, I’m destined to lead the group that’ll undermine Thornberry’s hold. This alone should make the subject closed, but the mood in the room is still tense. It’s like my dad still doesn’t want to admit I’m somehow the leader of this mission.

Cooper finally shows up; he must have let himself in, per usual, and takes his seat next to me and my aunt. He’s closer in proximity to my dad than we are, so this gives him the opportunity to talk directly to him. I know he still has a lot of explaining to do and it doesn’t seem like he’s going to be intimidated by my dad’s resistance to the idea.

“O
ut of the question,” my dad says, with full authority in his voice. Gone is the man who seemed so beaten the other morning. Tonight, he seems to be in full command of his emotions and is determined to make his point. I think I like his more thoughtful personality better. This one’s a bit more critical regarding the whole situation.

“But, Victor,” I begin to protest. I’m still not comfortable calling him ‘dad’, especially given the circumstances. “This is my decision and if Cooper thinks this is the best way to go about doing it, then I think we should hear him out.”

“Nonsense. It’s because of me that you’re in the position and it’s going to end with me. I’m not going to have you traipsing around alternate realities in order to fulfill a destiny this young man claims is your future.”

Always the silent one in the group, my aunt decides it’s time to take a stand. “Now, Victor. Let’s hear the children out. Yes, you did start this whole mess, but unfortunately it’s up to Etta to fix it. You may not want to be responsible for the outcome, little brother, but it’s out of your hands at this point.”

He considers this and realizes it’s three against one on the matter. The look of resignation is clearly written all over his face as he carefully observes me and Cooper. “Son, what exactly do you have in mind? Etta may think she’s in charge, but you seem to be the one pulling the strings.”

Clearly, my dad isn’t budging on compromise, but due in part to my aunt’s prodding, my dad seems willing to at least listen to what Cooper has to say.

“I’m not a puppeteer, Victor. The whole reason I’m here is at the request of Etta. She sent me here to make sure the operation goes as planned. You should consider her being here proof that this intervention fails.”

My dad’s not willing to give-up completely, I can tell. “That might very well be, but I still don’t see why it’s important for Etta to join you. She’s seventeen, here in the present, not the future you came from. I appreciate you’re here at my daughter’s request and I accept everything you have to say with respect to Etta being the leader of the Council, but I don’t believe it’s necessary for her to go off with you in order to recruit members. If everything you claim is true, she’ll ultimately join you in the other reality in her own time.”

“I think you’re missing the point, Victor,” I say.

“And what is that, Etta?” He’s clearly irritated I can tell, but I’m not backing down.

I rise from my chair, almost knocking the chair over in the process. “You said it yourself, I’m their leader. What does that say about me if I can’t go and find my team? These are people I’ve asked to help me take on a pretty dangerous psycho and yet, I can’t give them the courtesy of introducing myself to them? It’s not fair to have Coop do all the dirty work for me, nor should it be expected.”

“Is that all?” My dad asks, clearly not amused by my outburst. I’m not being very respectful and he’s not going to stand for it. I don’t blame him, but at the same time, I don’t really care. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

“No,” I challenge. “This is my fight dad. Everything that’s been done to me has already happened. That’s the whole point. Don’t you get it? And it’s up to me to make things right. That’s why Coop’s here. Because if I’m not the one in charge of stopping Thornberry, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

After my little outburst, I know there’s not a whole hell of a lot more I can say to convince my dad, but I feel better knowing I’ve said my piece. Even if it means getting grounded for being curt with him. Oh, yeah, using my powers when I’m not supposed to.

My dad shakes his head, as he’s struggling to understand the logic behind what I’m saying. “I just don’t know. We don’t even know who these people are and yet you stand here determined to convince me to let you go off with Cooper, to other realities let’s not forget, in order to find them.”

Cooper clears his throat. “They’re not exactly unknown, sir. I believe you’re quite familiar with the team we plan on enlisting for this mission.”

I swing my head towards Cooper in total shock. Is he really going to tell my dad? It didn’t occur to me when we gathered for this family meeting that he’d actually come out and say exactly who we were going to recruit. “Coop,” I say, before he cuts me off.

“No, Etta, your father needs to know exactly what we plan on doing in order for this to work. We still need his help.”

“Just what are you implying?” My dad, who earlier was prepared to stand his ground, is now sitting uncomfortable in his seat. I think he has an idea of what Cooper’s going to say next.

“Your test subjects, Victor,” he announces. “We need to gather those that were affected by your experiments all those years ago.” He allows my dad to process this information. “Well, some of them anyway.”

Shock registers on my dad’s face. “But why?” He blusters.

“As you know, the travelers in the other reality don’t have any real powers of their own, aside from having the basic ability to travel to other alternate universes. Oliver Thornberry jumped into that reality and created a world of chaos and havoc. In order for Etta and the rebellion to succeed, we need the others from the experiment. With our combined powers, we stand a good chance of defeating him.”

“You think of yourselves as superheroes,” my dad finally says. He doesn’t even defend his participation in the experiments he put us through as children. I know it’s a touchy subject for him, considering I was also part of the drug trials that left me with powers I still don’t have control over.

I never thought of us as being superheroes, but I like the comparison, even if my dad didn’t mean it as a compliment. Armed with our powers, the seven of us could create a pretty good stronghold against Thornberry. Kinda like the X-Men with their mutant abilities. Not that I’m about to voice my opinion on the matter. My dad’s pretty much set on putting the kibosh on anything I have to suggest.

“No,” Cooper corrects him. “We like to think of ourselves as having the upper hand. Look, Victor, whether you like it or not, I can tell you right now we succeed in enlisting a few core individuals from your drug trials. The reason I know this is because they’re my closest confidants, as well as your daughter’s. I come from a reality seven years into the future and everything I know right now is due to them and what we already know of the future.”

For most of the conversation, Aunt Maggie says nothing, leaving us to argue with my dad, as if she doesn’t like the plan we’re suggesting, but she seems willing to accept what Coopers’s saying. “I think you need to let them do what they need to do, Victor. I can’t say I necessarily agree with putting Etta in danger, but if this is the direction she must take, we ought to at least let the course of history continue as planned.”

My dad suddenly reverts back to the man he was several mornings ago. He lowers his head in defeat. He tried to put up a front, wanting nothing more than to put the past behind him. “So when do you leave?”

•  •  •

After the incident in the quad with Alex at school on Monday and Jenny’s verbal attacks from yesterday, I make the executive decision to stay home from school today. Not that Alex has bothered to contact me since, but there’s no better time than the middle of the week to take a mental health day. I’m feeling a little bit empowered from the confrontation last night and I figure missing a day of school isn’t going to hurt anybody.

I take my time getting ready for the day, not that I have anything planned, but I go through the usual routine of showering and dressing just the same. After I indulge in taking an extra long hot shower, of course. It’s one of the few luxuries I let myself fully enjoy in this new reality of mine. Having spent almost twelve years as a foster kid, you tend to appreciate the little things, like hot water.

My wardrobe on the other hand, is still something left to be desired. I never did get to go shopping with my aunt, so I’m stuck with limited choices. I guess I’ll just stick with the few pair of jeans I already own. I look through the drawers for a t-shirt—finding decent tees is a bit of a challenge around here. I finally spot one in the last drawer I go through and pull it over my head. The one good thing about attending Dominion Hall is the uniform. At least I don’t have to wear the fashionista ensembles currently residing in my closet, those which even Jenny would approve of.

Not caring if anyone notices I’m playing hooky, I tromp down the stairs and make a beeline for the kitchen. If I know my aunt, I know there’s still fresh coffee in the pot. It would totally bite if this reality didn’t have coffee. I would’ve demanded Cooper take me right back to the orphan one; my addiction is that bad. There are some things I just can’t live without.

“I assume you’re taking a break from your studies,” I hear behind me.

“Oh, God! Victor, you scared the crap out of me.” Why is everyone so determined to sneak-up behind me lately? But as the words come out of my mouth, I regret them instantly. I don’t want him to think I can spook easily, less he think I’m not ready to take on the challenge of being Council leader.

For the first time since he’s been home, I notice him chuckle. “Sorry. Couldn’t help myself. Come on over and take a seat.” He pats the table, inviting me to join him. “I think I owe you an apology for last night.”

“No, you don’t. You’re just being a dad.” I’m still sore from the go-around we had last night, but at the same time, I’m not all that annoyed that it took so long for him to give in. I know it’s because he truly cares about what happens to me, regardless of what happened in the past. At least, I think it’s because he cares about me. For the moment, I’ll let it go, I don’t want another fight on my hands.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. I’m sure you understand my concerns on the matter.”