Winter's Legacy: Future Days (Winter's Saga Book 6) (17 page)

33  A Time for Truth

“Do you feel well enough to walk?” he asked. 

“I think so,” she tipped her head to the side, wondering what he was thinking.  It only took a moment for her to decide to trust Evan without question.  He
could have let her die or killed her himself.   Nodding, she carefully moved her legs to dangle off the chair she’d been draped on.

Evan moved to take her by the hands and helped her to her feet.  At her touch, he clearly saw a vision of the future—the precognition so crisp and unlike any of his previous visions.  The image made him catch his breath, but solidified his decision. 

He watched her expressive eyes for any signs of pain and was relieved when he saw none.  Once standing, Kylie moved just enough to test her muscles, rolling her shoulders and leaning to either side. 

“The level of healing is remarkable!” she breathed. 

“It is, isn’t it?” he half-smiled at her awestruck expression and began leading her to the other side of the room.

“Where are we going?”

“To meet the family.”

Kylie stopped.  Her worried green eyes glistened in the candle light. “They’re going to hate me.”  Evan felt a tremor start in her hands.

“It’s important for them to know you, Kylie.”

“They know the attack was my—” 

“Of course they know about that, but there’s so much more to you.”  Evan nodded reassuringly.   As though illustrating his point, he saw a burst of her future overlay his vision.  He blinked to dismiss it.  He didn’t need any more convincing.

“Trust me, Kylie.”  He gently pulled her forward.  Though her eyes were round with worry, she allowed herself to be led to the others.

Margo and Theo looked up from their spot on the sofa where they had been talking softly. 

“Mom, Theo—this is Kylie Monroe.  Kylie, this is my mom, Dr. Margo Winter and the guy who’s bound to be my dad someday, Dr. Theo Andrews.”

“How are you feeling Kylie?” Margo asked sincerely.

“You were shot up pretty badly, kiddo.  We were worried you wouldn’t make it.”  Theo stood and offered his hand.

Kylie took it reflexively noticing the genuine warmth in both of their faces.

“I’m feeling remarkably well, thank you.”

“Well, let’s not beat around the bush.”  Theo parked his hands on his hips.  “You work for Dr. Williams and were sent to infiltrate the family to feed information back to him.  Am I right?”

Kylie’s eyes dropped to her bare feet and stayed there.  She said nothing.

“Theo!”

“Margo, we don’t have the luxury of time.  We need to know where she stands.”

The others throughout the house had made their way back to the living room to be a part of this poignant moment.  Alik draped his arm over Farrow’s shoulders.  Cole stood protectively slightly in front of Sloan who peeked around his biceps to watch.  Creed stood alone, arms crossed waiting patiently for the scene to play out.

“It is true.  I’ve worked for the Director since age seven.  Most recently, I was sent to gather intelligence on the evolved gift of one of ‘The Original Three’.  Evan Winter was my
assignment.  All intel gathered, was reported to the Director, himself.  I am the reason you were attacked last night.”

The room was silent, simmering in the confession that hung heavy in the air.

Margo looked from the blond girl whose head was still bowed to her son, Evan.  “Evan?” she asked simply.

Evan looked over at his
mom, then back to Theo.  “Earlier I mentioned the firelight manipulation was only part of my evolved gift.”

His eyes darted back to the girl standing at his side, whose hand was trembling in his. 

“There was a second part of my evolution but before tonight it was hazy and uncontrollable.  My theory is that Danny’s healing reset my evolution.”

“What are you saying, son?” Margo stood and stepped closer to him to study his face.

“Mom, I can see into the future—sort of,” he waivered.

Margo’s jaw dropped.

“I’ve gotten glimpses ever since the fire, but I couldn’t tell you because the first vision I received was for my eyes only—mine and Meg’s.”

“What?” Margo gasped.

Creed stepped forward, clenching and unclenching his fists.

“I shared my hazy vision with Meg and told her what I truly believed at the time: She had to allow herself to be captured by Williams then Arkdone.  She had to be in those places to set the cogs in
motion, positioning us to put an end to their evil.”

“You told your sister to sacrifice herself to the enemy based on a vision you had when you were delirious with pain from your burns?”  Creed spoke through clenched teeth. 

“Yes, and I’ll never forgive myself for it.”  Evan took a deep breath.

“You can see into the future?”  Theo asked, trying to redirect the conversation.  “What are your limitations?”

“It seems I have to be touching the person to see their future.”

“What else?”

“Well, it’s all still new to me, but I think I am only able to see what’s in that person’s immediate future—an hour or so from that moment.”

“So things can change,” Margo nodded.

“Yes.”

“What was your most recent vision?” Sloan asked, stepping out from behind a seething Cole.

Evan looked back at the girl whose hand he held.  “It had to do with Kylie,” he said to the room.

Then to her he added, “Remember the ‘new recruit’ you tried to rescue from death by Infinite Serum with your act of disobedience—dosing him with the synthetic corticosteroids in hopes of saving his life?”

Kylie frowned.  “Of course I remember him.”

“Turn around and meet my little brother, Danny,” Evan said softly.

Standing in a robe that hung way too long on him was the littlest Winter.  His Cupid’s bow lips opened into a surprised ‘oh’ when he saw Kylie. 

Kylie’s face lit up with wonder as she gasped and fell to her knees.  Her hands moved to cover her mouth and tears sprang to her green eyes.

“I know you!” Danny’s surprised expression blossomed into a wide grin.

Kylie, overwhelmed with emotion, could only nod and smile at the boy with blond curls.

“You were with me when I was sick,” Danny continued.  “I remember you.” 

He looked past the girl to see his mother.  “Mommy, where did you find the doctor who helped me feel better when I was little?”

34 Fork in the Road

The family sat in a loose circle around flickering candles as Kylie shared her story.  Danny had plopped himself in her cross-legged lap, showing complete trust in her as he dozed off.  His acceptance had brought her to quiet tears as she relived her life at the Facility and the orders she followed.  Her voice took on a raspy, emotional quality when she got to the part about escaping Rais, driving to the Winter’s house to try to make her last act honorable, defending Evan against the attack she caused.  When she finished, the room was quiet.  Margo broke the silence.

“Sadly, your story is familiar to us, Kylie.  Creed, Farrow and Sloan can relate firsthand to what you’ve been through.” Margo acknowledged each of them in turn, smiling sympathetically at the haunted shadows hovering across their faces.   Kylie’s story had awakened memories in each that they
had worked hard to lock away.

“It’s true, Kylie,” Farrow offered.  “Both Creed and I were ordered to terminate the Winter family.”

Sloan nodded and added, “I was a doctor at the Facility’s research hospital, too.   I know what it’s like to be given a direct order to do something that made me want to vomit.
 
I only found the courage to leave because of Creed.”

“And I only found the courage to leave because of Meg,” Creed muttered to himself.  Then he looked up from the spot on the floor where he’d been staring and scanned the faces watching him.  “Escaping Williams and becoming a part of the Winter Clan was the best decision I ever made.”  He lifted his chin slightly.

The others echoed his sentiment.

“I believe in this family.  This is where I belong.” Farrow squeezed Alik’s hand.

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” Sloan agreed fervently.

Margo smiled widely at the three young adults.  “You gave up everything you knew to step out on faith when you chose to live and fight beside us.  Theo and I are thankful for each of you.”

Turning back to Kylie, she asked the question that hung obvious in the air.  “Well, Kylie?  What are your plans?”

Kylie glanced nervously at Evan before shrugging.  “What are my options?”

“I see two options for you,” Theo began. “You have burned your bridge back to Williams, so basically you can either go it alone—I mean, we would gladly take you back to the States and you could start fresh there—or you could join us.” 

Kylie opened her mouth to respond, but Theo put his hand out to stop her. 

“Choose carefully, kiddo.  Think it through.  Both paths have pros and cons.  As difficult as it  may be to establish yourself—find a job, a place to live, food, clothing, transportation—choosing to stay with us puts you smack-dab in the middle of our deadly fight.  Our enemies would become yours if you align yourself with us.  So maybe you should mull it over for a while before you decide.”  Theo shrugged.  “In the end, the choice is yours.”

Kylie closed her mouth and nodded solemnly. 

Margo moved to stretch and grinned at her legs as they responded easily. “It’s gonna take me awhile to get used to being able to do this again.” She finished the last part of her sentence in a yawn.

Theo smiled affectionately at her.  “Why don’t we try to get a couple hours
of sleep?  We’re going to need it tomorrow.”

Everybody looked up at the shu
ddering sound made by unrelenting gales as they shook the villa to the core. 

“Stay near the interior walls of the house.  The sandstorm isn’t ready to let go yet,” Creed scowled at the windward walls, planning to reposition some sturdy pieces of furniture against them before settling himself near the parents.

The room cleared as everybody waved goodnight and found refuge in the kitchen and hallways. 

Theo had settled Margo in the corridor on the sofa cushions and had returned to the living room for a throw when he saw Creed dragging a dresser from one of the bedrooms.

“You need sleep too, Creed.”  Theo frowned at the young man.

“Yes, sir.  I just wanted to reinforce this wall.”

“You know we’re going to get her back, right?”

Knowing exactly who he was talking about, Creed’s chest rose and fell as he took a calming breath.

“I know that’s the plan, sir.”

“She’s a smart girl.  She’ll find her way home,” he added reassuringly.

After learning of the secret plan Evan made with his sister, Creed was barely holding himself together.  Thoughts of leaving the family in search of her were blaring through his mind all night. 

“I hope so.”

“I have faith in her.  Don’t you?”  Theo let his question hang in the air for a moment before turning to leave.  “Sleep well, son.”

Creed shoved the dresser into place and stood leaning against its bulk, head hung low before sighing deeply and walking back to the rug in the center of the room.  Gracefully, he moved to the floor and la
id back, using his arm as a pillow.  Inside, images of Meg flashed through his mind’s eye as tormenting as the sandstorm raging outside.

35  I’ve Missed You So

Meg closed her eyes to the scenery blurring past the Cadillac’s passenger window. 

Though they had traveled for an hour in a comfortable silence, she wasn’t sleepy, but she was determined.

Gaining access to her emotional plane used to take her so much effort
, no longer.  She closed her eyes and willed her psychic spirit to fly.  Instantly, she saw the psychic world—a black palate with colorful signatures speckled like stars on a clear night’s sky. 

First, check your enemies,
she told herself.

Knowing better than to dip into Arkdone’s signature, she thought of people who would most likely be near him.  Meg
considered her options and chose to start with Ermos.  His mind was simple making him very easy to read. 

She propelled herself across the emotional sky with the mental picture of the man who followed Arkdone like a shadow.  He wasn’t difficult to find.  He was thinking about his “master’s” injured hand.  Then he thought about the untouched breakfast getting cold on the galley cart.  He was listening to Arkdone’s every word, trying to anticipate what he might need.  Meg listened in, frowning at a particular line the Senator spoke.  Something about “devils.” 

“There’s a pack of bottled water on the seat behind you, if you’re thirsty,” the gentle grandfather offered, interrupting Meg’s concentration. 

Meg’s consciousness was yanked back to her body instantly, but without missing a beat she responded, “I am thirsty, now that you mention it.  Can I get you one, too?”  She moved to reach behind her seat. 

“That’d be great, thanks,” he smiled happy that he could help the girl who seemed so lost. 

A quick glance at Hugh’s arthritic hands, and Meg thoughtfully opened the bottle’s top for him before passing it to him.

She took a long draw on her bottle and slipped the cap back on.  She had more work to do. 

Okay, Williams.  What are you up to?
  she thought, closing her eyes again. 

His signature was located almost instantly.  Meg hoped it was because she was so familiar with him, and that it had nothing to do with their shared DNA.  The thought made her feel like vomiting.  She never had wrapped her head around the reality that Kenneth Williams, the sick monster, was her biological father.

She swallowed hard at the bile threatening the back of her throat and focused, just to get the task over with.  Williams was also on a plane.  He was deciding whether to contact Senator Arkdone.  He was hoping to form an alliance against them with the political snake.  Meg could hold it no longer.  She had gleaned enough and was starting to tire for her efforts, but she still had one more person to reach out to.

Glad to be away from Williams’ sticky black signature, Meg flung herself back across the sky searching for her last contact.

His vibrant, royal blue signature was crisp in her mind as she searched.   

My Creed.

Meg felt herself quiver with anticipation as she felt herself pulled toward him, the one who never failed to give her strength, even in her darkest hours. 

And then she saw him.  All the other signatures floating around like gnats on the pathway disappeared in his glow.  His blue signature surged with sheer joy when she got close enough to reach out and caress his energy
with her own. 

Meg giggled aloud at the pure love she felt pouring between them. 

My Creed,
her heart hummed
.

A thousand miles away Creed whispered reverently, “Is it really you, Meggie?”

Still beaming joyfully, Meg projected a collage of images to him—memories they made together.  Pictures of private moments only they would know.

She felt him shaking with equal parts of fear and elation.  Without hesitation she wrapped her blanket around all his doubt and worry,
as she’d done in the past.  She felt him sigh with relief as she tossed the bundle into the sky with a prayer. 

She felt blessed to have a gift that could ease his heart.

She sent him an image of the ranch in Texas, lingering at the barn where he’d proposed to her.

Home!

It was the message she needed to send, and Creed understood perfectly.

Creed’s eyes opened.  It was still dark, but the sounds of sand-filled sheets of wind no longer rocked the villa.  He sprung to his feet and hurried to the front door in three long strides.  He unlocked the bolt and looked outside.  A fine haze of sand powder still hung in the air, blocking the stars and moon, but that was to be expected.  The storm was over.

He looked at his watch, debating the hour, but decided it was more important that he share the news of Meg than to let the family sleep. 

Absently, he wiped at the joyful tears leaking from his bright-blue eyes as he hurried to wake the parents.  Now that the storm had let up, Williams was just as mobile as they were.  They had to keep moving.  Besides, they had a plane to catch!