Portal Combat (20 page)

"I've got a busy schedule, but I was happy to squeeze you in." His grin made Ted want to rip the man's teeth out. "How may I help you?"

Ted cleared his throat. "If I decided to endorse you, when were you going to tell me about your connection with the gatekeeper and the disappearance of Sophie Kent?"

The senator put on his best shocked face. "Those are strong allegations, Ted. Are you sure you aren't still feeling the effects of those heavy painkillers?"

Ted's heartbeat quickened. "I know you were involved. I know you were home last night when Erica LaPlante paid you a visit."

The senator smiled. "I was."

Ted hadn't expected to hear the truth. He leaned in. "And...?"

"Erica and her samurai friend did visit, but they were turned away because it was the middle of the night."

Ted used his power to search through the senator's thoughts. There had to be a lie mixed in with the truth. As he attempted to read the man's mind, Ted felt the dizziness come over him again. He steadied himself with his hand placed firmly on the table.

"I don't believe you."

Senator Kable dumped out the contents of the manila envelope in front of Ted. His look turned from polite to stern. "Ted, believe it or not, I came here to protect you."

He pushed one paper in particular over toward Ted.

"What's this?" Ted picked it up and looked the document over.

It was an inter-office memo between the President's chief of staff and a name Ted didn't recognize. There was a lot of jargon that didn't make sense, but the mention of the Go Home Alien movement caught his eye.

"To make a long story short. President Blake was the one who funded the GHA."

Ted's jaw hit the ground. The organization that had put his mother in the hospital. The people who imprisoned Natalie and tried to frame her as a terrorist. If this document meant what Kable said it did, President Blake was behind it the whole time.

Ted looked back at the door that led to the hallway. "How do I know this isn't a trick?"

Kable stood up. "The only trick, Mr. Finley, is how the government tricked you into working for them. A trick that worked quite well, I'm afraid."

Ted stood up to meet Kable's eyes. When he did, the anger that coursed through his veins caused all the chairs in the room to slide into the wall.

"What else do you know?"

Kable offered his hand to Ted. "Everything I know is in a pile right there. Like I said before, I'm terribly busy today, but it was great talking–"

Ted walked between Kable and the door. "We're not finished. You know something about Erica and the attacks."

Kable walked right up to Ted's face. The hot breath from the senator's mouth warmed Ted's cheeks.

"There are a dozen men outside who would be willing to die for me. The only ones on your side put your mother in the hospital. I don't know anything about your girlfriend, so I think it's best to play the odds, Super Ted."

Ted suppressed his ire and stepped to the side.

Kable grinned. "Good talk. Let's do this again sometime, shall we?"

Before Ted could devise a retort, the senator had left him alone in the room. He sat back down at the table and pored over the documents. While he didn't understand most of them, enough was made clear. If the documents were genuine, President Blake and the GHA were as one. After a few minutes went by, Agent Vott walked in.

"Did you get everything you needed?"

Ted spun around in his chair. "Did President Blake fund the GHA?"

Vott's eyes gave it away even before his brain did. Ted had been through Vott's head a hundred times over, but the sheer mention of Blake tied to the GHA told him everything he needed. Vott took a deep breath and closed the door behind him.

"We never meant for your mother to get hurt. We thought Cobblestone could be controlled."

Ted's rage bubbled over. The three chairs nearest Vott cornered the agent by the door. "My mother could've died. Natalie could've gone to jail." Ted felt his power grasp around Vott's throat. "You lied to me."

Vott tried to pull the grip away from his neck, but there weren't any hands to remove. If Ted wanted, he could've used all his strength to end the man's life. He released his hold and Vott slumped into one of the chairs.

"I'm done. I'm going home. Tell Harding I left the signed football in his office."

Ted opened the door.

"Ted, wait!"

He looked back at Vott. A man who'd seemed so honorable and intimidating before now reminded Ted of a rat.

"I'm sorry."

Ted blinked without a reply and slammed the door behind him.

When he got to the parking lot, he heard a pair of heels clacking after him. Ted turned back to see Allison running toward him as fast as her footwear and arm injury would allow. He slowed down to let her catch up.

"I heard about what happened." Allison shook her head. "I don't know what to say."

Ted looked through her mind. It didn't take long to find that she knew nothing of President Blake's plan or the GHA. Nevertheless, she was still part of the organization that'd done him wrong.

"Say goodbye. I'm going home."

Before Ted could walk away, Allison blocked his path with her good arm. "I know. Let me take you there."

Ted considered his options. He could use the government credit card to book a last-minute flight, but who knew how long that would take. If Allison drove him, he could be there in just under three hours.

Ted nodded. "Okay."

"Okay."

The two of them remained silent for most of the trip. He appreciated the space Allison was giving him. His thoughts failed to show him the same kindness. In addition to Erica's unknown whereabouts, now he knew that the most powerful man in the country was the one pulling the strings on that hateful organization.

No more trust. Just Erica and me. That's it.

Ted's train of thought was interrupted by a familiar sound. It was louder than the last time he heard it and lasted much longer. He looked out the windshield of Allison's car and realized they were on a bridge. Ten feet above the road, a fleck of blue caught Ted's eye in the center lane. The portal expanded rapidly until the shimmering gateway became large enough for a bus to fit through.

"Holy crap."

Allison couldn't have put it any better. Before he could put his own thoughts into words, a giant creature came tumbling out of the gateway. It landed with a crashing thud on the cars below. Ted's heart skipped a beat as the bridge shifted beneath them.   

Chapter 33

Natalie and Travis stood outside the security gate at Philadelphia International Airport. Travelers bustled past them, carrying what looked like all their worldly possessions for a three-day trip. Natalie knew she could make her rolling duffle last two weeks if she needed to. She'd engaged in some small talk with Travis for the last five minutes or so over the cacophony of chatter, but it was getting to be that time. Natalie had been surprised when Travis said he'd drive her there; after all, her parents were more than willing. Then he proceeded to act weird the entire car ride, much jumpier than normal. As he continued to yammer in the airport, Natalie stopped him mid-sentence with a hand around his jaw.

"Hey!" She squeezed, pressing his cheeks toward his mouth. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Natalie released his face and Travis scrunched up his nose. "Ow. What do you mean?"

She grumbled. "You're being a freak and I have to go. So, if there's something on your mind, just say it."

Travis' shoulders slumped. "Alright." He gestured to the security line. "This is my dry run."

Natalie looked at the security line and back at him. "Explain."

Travis looked uncomfortable, as if he didn't know what to do with his hands. "Next year, when you fly on outta here to be the next superstar, that'll be it. No more us. My life'll go back to normal."

Natalie looked at the clock above the security line. She knew that if she didn't head in that direction soon, she'd be taking the bus. She put on her best compassionate face. "I don't know why you're playing this good guy act so hard."

He threw his hands in the air. "That's just it. It's not an act. You've got me, Dormer. You really do."

Natalie looked into Travis' eyes. She loved kissing him, and when the two of them were physical. Heck, he was only a rung or two below the kind of guys you might see shirtless in an underwear ad. Natalie didn't mind them taking things to the next level of public dating. It was less work than sneaking around, but was Travis Conner actually her serious boyfriend? She wasn't at all sure.

She took his hands and ignored the passers-by who'd started watching them. "You gotta get yourself together here. I like you too, okay? I'm literally gonna be back in three days." She kissed him on the lips. "Try not to freak out."

They locked lips again for one last kiss before Natalie picked up her bags.

Travis looked a little relieved, though his posture was still droopier than normal. "Text me... text me when you land."

She tried out a girlfriend smile, but it didn't ring true. As she walked away and joined the herd of travelers, she felt something pull at her stomach.

Crap. Travis Conner is falling in love with me.

Christina Finley was waiting for her at her destination with a ridiculous sign that spelled out Natalie's name in pink glitter. When Natalie was within reach, Ted's sister put her into a tight headlock. Two-plus years of college had brought out Christina's "wild child" tendencies, but Natalie had always noticed them in Treasure. Her loud laughs became louder, her fast speech picked up its pace and her curves became curvier. The gap between her and her brother became a chasm after her time away. But it's not like anyone could tell they were brother and sister, anyway.

Christina smiled the entire car ride to town. "So, how's my dork brother doing in the hospital?"

Natalie let out a sigh. Everything she'd heard about her ex was second-hand. "I've talked to him about two seconds since summer. Hopefully he's recovering. I guess being a superhero isn't all its cracked up to be."

Christina laughed. "Oh, he'll be fine. You know, dropping his name has gotten me more than a few gentleman callers. If he doesn't want the attention, I'm happy to take it."

Natalie laughed. "You'll get yourself on TMZ if you don't watch out."

Christina made a sexy face as if she was posing for a picture. "Is hero's sister too sexy for her own good? Nine pictures that prove she's a goddess."

Natalie's first walk through a college dorm was eye opening. Christina lived in a co-ed building, and it didn't take long for Natalie to see one guy in his underwear and another in a towel. The latter was somehow even more muscular than Travis. It wasn't entirely eye candy though, as she took in the scent from at least three rooms in thorough need of a deep clean. As they walked across the outdoor balcony, she also unintentionally spotted two half-naked bodies shifting on a bed through a wide-open window. Natalie turned away as quickly as she could.

Well, this'll take some getting used to.

Christina's place was in the same four-room suite as the uncensored nudity. Ted's sister said nothing of it and led Natalie inside. The dorm room was smaller than she expected, with two beds raised on wooden slats, allowing for a little extra maneuvering underneath. Softball team posters and artwork covered the dreary, off-white walls. There was a musty odor that seemed like it'd been recently masked underneath a layer of antibacterial spray.

Christina gestured to one of the lofted beds. "Tara practically lives in her boyfriend's room, so she agreed to let you use her bed."

Natalie nodded and dropped her stuff beside a dresser. "So, this is college?"

Christina smirked. "No. This is a dorm room. Let me show you college."

Christina pointed out countless buildings and athletic fields in just over half an hour of walking all around campus. Natalie couldn't believe how big everything was. And there were so many people walking around everywhere. Natalie knew she was one of the top prospects in the country, but even she felt tiny in the vast plot of land and the sea of students. She wasn't sure if she could handle it.

Natalie shook her head. "How do you not get lost here?"

Christina laughed. "Oh, come on. It's not that crazy. Besides, you're gonna be going to like four different places, tops."

When they walked toward the basketball stadium, they came upon what seemed like the only unpopulated patch on a campus otherwise teeming with co-eds. As soon as Christina pointed toward the dome, Natalie saw a familiar face emerge from behind one of the trees. A woman with jet black hair who looked like she'd just left a comic convention held a metal staff in her hands.

"Someone's doing Halloween early this year. Hey, witch! Hey!"

Natalie clamped her hand over Christina's mouth before the gatekeeper could turn toward them.  

"Shut up! You're gonna get us killed!" She pulled Christina behind a bush.

Christina nibbled at Natalie's fingers. Natalie pulled them away. "Alright, I'll be quiet. Who is that chick?"

The woman twirled her staff in the air and slammed it into the ground. A portal opened up and three creatures emerged. They looked like two giant wolves and one of the lizards Natalie had ridden with Erica. The sun glistened off the wolves' massive fangs.

"What're those?"

Natalie slapped her hand back on Christina's mouth and pulled them tight against the tree. She heard one of the beasts begin to approach. Even its slobbery breath sounded angry as it moved toward them. Natalie knew that if one of the creatures spotted them, the whole bunch would have no issue sharing the two of them as a mid-afternoon snack. She felt Christina's pulse quicken against her chest.

"Get over here, you filthy creature." Sela Fortbright sounded impatient, as if she'd been herding these three all morning.

The wolf gave one last sniff before joining its pack. The beasts ran off behind the stadium, and the gatekeeper went back into her portal.