Clara maneuvers the car onto the highway and says, “Calli, I want you to know I won’t tell anyone about the diamond piece in your heart. I figure you won’t be telling anyone either,”
“Thanks, Clara. Maetha told me to keep it secret.”
“Are you able to tell me if you still have all the powers?”
“Yes . . . and yes. However, I’ll be trying to keep them a secret as well.”
“That’s why we’re driving instead of running back to the compound. Hopefully this will encourage the belief that your powers are gone. We will have to get a little creative when we get to the border because you don’t have your passport with you. I’m sure we’ll think of something.” She smiles.
I don’t know how to respond, but I feel the need to tell her something else. I say, “I know about Chris and his dual life. I read his mind and saw his future. Justin’s too.”
She nods her head. “I sense a big change is coming for the Runners’ Clan. But we’ll get through it. We always do.”
We continue talking about the happenings at the clearing as we make our way toward the border checkpoint to get back into the U.S. I can’t believe it has been only a handful of days since I was spotted at a track meet and whisked away to Montana with Olympic dreams. My parents will be told I was involved in an automobile accident sustaining injuries that prevent me from being able to compete. They won’t be told anything about the diamond or the delivery.
Clara tells me that after the Death Clan died, Maetha talked to the clans about nature’s will. Her explanation was simple and basic, leaving out many of the points she told me in private. Her main focus, according to Clara, was to address rogue clans or individuals who seek after ultimate power. Maetha said, “Nature always finds a way to eliminate this type of bullish thinking.”
I respect Maetha’s decisions, even though I don’t fully understand them, and I don’t tell Clara anything I’m not supposed to, but I can’t ignore the double-standard with Maetha.
When we are a couple miles from the border checkpoint, Clara pulls the car to the side of the road. “Do you still have the running power?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good. You’ll need to leave Canada the same way you entered—running. I’ll look for you about five miles down the road.”
“No problem.”
I get out of the car and watch her drive away. When the coast is clear, I take off, running south. Having the diamond piece in my heart gives me a little bit of pain at first, but I use my healing ability to eliminate the pain. I can tell I’m not as fast as I was with the whole diamond, but I’m still faster than a human.
I meet up with Clara on American soil and we continue the several hour drive. Clara and I talk about the amazing powers I demonstrated on the mission and the mysterious clues she’d tried to figure out—like the fact she could tell from the beginning something was different about my ability.
She says, “I wondered if you were a new kind of Runner and thought perhaps the running power was dwindling in strength. When Chris called and reported you were displaying multiple powers, I figured it must be part of the new breed.”
I chuckle. “In the end, I’m just a regular human. Ironic, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I was relieved to discover you had the diamond.”
“Relieved? Why?”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “The Sanguine Diamond has been the stuff of myths for centuries. Usually when the diamond appears, an Immortal is also present.”
“I thought you said Immortals weren’t real.”
“I never said that. The legend of Immortals and their existence has been chronicled by Spellcasters throughout many generations. Spellcasters have added their accounts of witnessing the diamond and an Immortal in action. Only other Spellcasters have access to these records. The clans have all but forgotten the real stories. I’ll be adding my account of what I’ve witnessed, leaving out sensitive information, of course.”
“You think Maetha is an Immortal, don’t you?”
She looks over at me. “Yes, I do. I’ve known her most of my adult life as a Spellcaster. Sometimes she crosses the line of nature’s will. However, her involvement with the delivery of the Sanguine Diamond and her special attention toward you leads me to believe she is an Immortal. Pretending to be a Spellcaster is the perfect disguise to hide behind.”
“What do you think she wants with me?”
Clara shrugs her shoulders. “All I know is what Immortals have done in the past. My records only describe past events, not motives or overall endgame strategies.”
“I’d love to read your books sometime.” I smile. I wonder how being an Unaltered fits into the legend.
“I’m sure you’ll get the chance.” She gives me an all-knowing look, leaving me wondering what is meant behind it.