“And Mac won’t do anything to your father and brothers,” I promised. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“And how do you expect to do that?” he demanded.
“I can control people, remember? If it comes to it, I’ll do whatever I need to,” I swore, even though I wasn’t sure that was a promise I’d be able to keep. I’d never actively tried to control Mac and after all the mental conditioning I had done with him, I wasn’t sure I could.
Erik still had his doubts, but some of the tension ebbed away. His arms tightened, pulling me closer. Snuggling against him, I relaxed a little, too.
“I’m sorry, Tals. I shouldn’t be taking all this out on you. I know how stressed you are,” he apologized, kissing my forehead affectionately.
“You should be confiding in me,” I urged. “That’s what I’m here for.”
Erik’s mind quieted, and his guards went back up as he privately contemplated something he didn’t want me to be privy to.
“There’s something else. What is it?” I demanded, fearful that something fundamental had changed in our relationship, making him want to distance himself.
Erik said nothing for a long time and my fear turned to panic. Was he going to breakup with me? Was he trying to find a way to tell me it was over? Now that he’d had me and the thrill of the chase was over, was he bored with me? Had the conversation that morning made him think I was crazy? Maybe he’d finally reached his limit with my jealously and spastic mood swings? Panicked sobs started gathering in my chest, screaming to break free.
“Calm down, Tals,” Erik sent, his mental voice gentle. His soothing only made me fear the worst. He’d seen what I had done to Donavon’s cabin when we broke up and probably worried that, given my unstable health, I would fly off the handle.
“It’s nothing like that, Talia,” he insisted. “Although, I’m not gonna lie, this fighting is getting old. I know that you can’t control it, but I can’t keep doing this with you. I love you, but you just have to trust me sometimes.”
His words felt like a slap to the face. I scrambled across the bed, putting as much distance between us as possible. Erik closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He breathed in and out several times, trying to collect his composure. I buried my head in my hands, my cries breaking free, and I openly wept.
“Come here, Tal,” he said softly, reaching for me.
“No,” I cried, swatting blindly at his hand. “If I’m so much of a burden, then just go.”
Erik’s jaw clenched and I thought that he might take me up on my offer. “Look at me, Natalia,” he commanded. I shook my head, fighting the control he was attempting. “I said look at me, or I really will walk out that damn door,” he threatened.
I hesitated. I didn’t want him to leave, but I was ornery and if I looked at him now, then he won.
Erik groaned loudly. “No tricks, Tal. I’m asking you to please look at me, please talk to me,” he said patiently.
Slowly, I raised my head to meet his eyes. “I can’t help it,” I sniffled, “I’m sorry. I just don’t understand what’s wrong with me.”
“I know, Tals.” He looked sad and my anger turned to guilt. “Can I touch you?” he asked.
I jerkily bobbed my head up and down and Erik crawled over to collect me in his arms.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated.
“Me, too, love, me, too,” he gently stroked my hair, rocking me back and forth.
Erik held me until I calmed down, which I did only under his manipulation. I hated myself for being so ridiculously out of control, but I didn’t know how to stop it. I was constantly ruled my emotions and no matter how hard I tried, I never realized that I was overreacting until it was too late. Erik deserved some kind of award, or a medal at the very least, for putting up with me.
“Having you is the only reward I need,” he whispered. In spite of myself, I giggled. He was so cheesy. “We’ll get through this, Tal,” he promised.
“Will you tell me what you were thinking about earlier?” I asked, hoping that my question wouldn’t start another fight.
Erik didn’t so much as flinch. “It might be nothing,” he warned. “I didn’t want to say anything until I had a chance to think about it more.”
“Okay, but if it has to do with me, I want to know,” I said childishly.
Erik groaned audibly. “You’re awfully nosey,” he commented, playfully tickling my side to let me know he was at least partially joking.
“So I’ve been told,” I replied dryly.
Erik went silent again, and in a rare display of patience, I didn’t push. I knew he was going to tell me if I just gave him time.
“It was something that girl, Ingrid, said,” he started slowly. Well, that was unexpected. I’m not sure what I’d expected, but not that. I tried recalling the conversation we’d had with the little blonde telepath and couldn’t, for the life of me, remember her saying anything bizarre.
“When she said that my mind didn’t buzz like yours,” he added, sensing my confusion.
“What’s odd about that? Your mind doesn’t have the same patterns as mine. We have different Talents,” I replied.
“I know, but I was mimicking your abilities. We should have had the same brain patterns,” he answered.
“Are you sure about that?” I questioned him. “Mimics are rare and we don’t really know much about that kind of thing.”
“No, I’m not sure, which is why I didn’t want to say anything to you,” he admitted. “I haven’t spent a lot of time around other Mimics, so I can’t be positive, but I think that when I mimic another Talent, I should take on their brain patterns. Have you ever noticed when I’m mimicking Henri whether I have the same pattern?”
I’d never actually paid attention before. The question rendered me speechless for the space of several minutes.
“Okay,” I finally sent, “say that is the case, and I’m not sure it is, but let’s just assume it is, what does it mean?”
“I don’t know, but that, combined with what Anya said about the suppressant, makes me wonder if maybe you have a second Talent and that is what the injection is supposed to block.”
“You’re joking, right? That’s not possible,” I insisted matter-of-factly. Unless, of course, being a raging bitch half the time was a Talent. “I’d know if I were a dual Talent. And I didn’t need the drugs before everything happened in Nevada.”
“Research has shown that some people’s abilities manifest later in life. Maybe your second Talent started to come out after your…incident,” he reasoned.
I thought about that. Mac had told me that late onset powers were a problem the Agency was trying to deal with. Was it possible that experiencing a traumatic event, like, say, getting shot, caused a second Talent to emerge?
“Why wouldn’t Mac just tell me if that’s the case?” I wanted to know. “I was at school. I could have worked with someone to learn to use whatever this alleged other Talent is.”
“Dual Talents aren’t always stable, Tal. And a lot of Manipulators aren’t, either. An Elite level Manipulator that also happens to have a second Talent would be at an increased risk for insanity.”
Insanity? Instability? I hated how much sense Erik was making. The mood swings, the erratic behavior, all the crying. Was it possible I was seriously just losing my mind? Were my multiple Talents causing my mind to fracture?
“I hate to admit it, but it sort of makes sense that the Director would want to stop the second Talent from emerging to prevent the side effects,” Erik was saying. “You said you’ve noticed that your senses are stronger. I picked up on that, too. I’ve known there was something different about you for a while, since your return.”
“And you really think this might be it? That I’m a dual Talent, and I’m losing my marbles?” I demanded.
“I can’t be sure, Tal. About the dual Talent thing, anyway. You are not going crazy, though.”
I couldn’t look at him when I asked, “How can you be
sure I’m not?”
Erik laughed. Actually laughed. I glared at him. There was nothing funny about this.
“In addition to the physical examination that every Operative gets periodically, I have to have a psychological one. Mimics are at the greatest risk of all for insanity because they can possess every Talent. It’s a lot for one mind to handle. I know you aren’t crazy because I know what to look for.”
“Oh.” I hadn’t ever thought about it before, but it made a lot of sense. I knew Manipulators had to be careful since it’s so easy to get lost when invading another person’s mind and I supposed the same principle applied to Mimics, particularly one that spent so much time mimicking a Manipulator.
“We’ll know more once we hear back from Anya,” Erik promised. “Try not to worry about it until then.”
“Okay,” I agreed, but that was easier said than done. Erik was worried, really worried, which overshadowed his assurances that I was still holding on to my sanity. I might not have lost it yet, but he undeniably thought there was a real possibility I would go insane. Otherwise, getting him to fess up about what was bothering him wouldn’t have been like pulling teeth. And if the whole dual Talent thing turned out to be true, then Erik wasn’t the only one trying to protect me from myself. Mac had an entire medical team working around the clock to find a cure.
“Try and get some sleep,” Erik sent, bringing his mouth to mine, his hands firmly locking my hips against his side and pulling my leg draped across his waist tighter to him. And for just that moment, I knew all I needed to know: Erik loved me, Erik would do whatever it took to keep me safe.
Chapter Sixteen
An irritating ringing pulled me from uncharacteristically pleasant dreams. I blinked awake, disoriented and agitated. It took me a minute to realize the ringing was not in my head. My damn communicator was going off.
“Answer,” I told the machine groggily.
“Are you still asleep?” Mac asked, sounding tired himself.
“I was,” I mumbled. “Why, am I late?” There was no sunlight brightening the dark curtains that hung in the solitary window across from my bed.
“No, it’s still early, but I need to speak with you. Can you come to my room now?” Mac asked.
“Sure. Can I get dressed first?” I replied, feeling instantly queasy. Mac wanting to see me before sunrise undoubtedly didn’t bode well.
“Of course, but do not take too long,” he warned before breaking the connection.
I groaned. Mac was the one who’d been claiming I needed rest, yet here he was disturbing one of the first good nights’ sleep I’d had in a while.
I dressed in the first clothes I could find, dark jeans and a green t-shirt. I hastily brushed my teeth. When I looked in the oval mirror over the bathroom sink, I snarled at my reflection. My dark curls were stuck to my still slightly sweaty forehead and the beginnings of dreadlocks threatened in several places. When I tried to brush out the tangles with my fingers, they caught part way down and I gave up the fruitless attempt at grooming. Instead, I secured a blue and white bandana – Erik had left it in my room – over my head to hide the rat’s nest.
Mac’s hotel room was on the tenth floor of the Hamilton. But to call it a “room” was like calling a castle a cottage. His was one of two doors on the entire floor and when I entered the foyer, I learned the suite stretched the length of the hallway. Ceiling to floor windows made up one wall. The curtains were open, revealing a magnificent view of the D.C. skyline. A sliver of the previous night’s moon hung orange in the sky. The sun was rising on the opposite side of the building, casting a pinkish glow to the otherwise blue morning. The streets were starting to come alive with the early morning commuters. Hover planes bearing Toxic’s logo flew low, patrolling the city limits.
The smell of burnt coffee wafted from the small kitchenette off to one side of the large room. Mac stood with his back to me in front of the wall of windows, his silhouette illuminated by the first light of day.
To my surprise, Erik and Cadence were already seated – and looking rather uncomfortable – on the black leather sofa in the middle of the room. Cadence’s presence lessened my unease. On my five-floor elevator ride, I’d worried Mac wanted to see me in private to admonish me for my less than chaste behavior. But if he’d requested Cadence come to the early morning meeting, my indiscretions were unlikely the reason.
Erik smiled tentatively at me as I made my way to one of the two unoccupied recliners in the living area. His bruises were fading slightly, thanks to Toxic’s miracle medicines, no doubt. The skin of his face and throat were now tinged a slickly yellowish green. The welts on his neck were no longer visible. Only a slight discoloration remained. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, but unlike me, he’d taken the liberty of dressing in pressed khakis and a navy blazer. Cadence, too, appeared better outfitted for the meeting in black pants and a black blazer.
Self-consciously, I smoothed my baggy jeans as I took my seat.
“Good morning, Natalia,” Mac addressed me without turning.
“Morning,” I muttered. I searched Erik and Cadence’s faces for some hint of understanding, but they both looked perplexed.
“I have a special assignment for you three,” Mac began, finally facing us. A white mug with steam escaping the lip in curly wisps was clenched firmly in his meaty hands. The circles under his eyes were more pronounced and with a pang of sympathy, I realized he’d had another sleepless night.
“Are you sending us to Bethesda?” I blurted out, dread filling my hollow belly.
“Bethesda? No, I am not. We have sufficient forces out there. Your assistance isn’t necessary,” Mac replied absently.
“Then where are we going?” I inquired. Maybe he was going to send us to interrogate the prisoners. I perked up at the thought. I caught Erik’s eyes and my brief moment of excitement passed. His expression was grim and I knew that we weren’t being sent to Tramblewood.
“Not all children make it to testing,” Mac began, his hard gaze drifting to Erik. My breath caught in my throat. “Irrespective of the fact that failure to submit a child for testing is a punishable offense, the bigger issue is that when those children start to appreciate their powers, it can cause problems. Without the aid of instructors to teach them properly to use their abilities, these children often become hazardous to those around them.
“One such child has been discovered in Pennsylvania. Ordinarily, I would send a task force in to retrieve the child and the parents would be disciplined accordingly. However, the increase in uprisings in the recent weeks has made me reconsider the normal protocols. The most important thing right now is getting the child safely to the school so she may be trained. I have no interest in sanctioning her family or incurring more bad press for Toxic.” Mac met each of our eyes in turn. All three of us remained straight-faced, but Erik’s anxiety increased with each word of Mac’s speech.
“So you want us to go and what? Covertly take the child from her home?” I clarified, making sure my sleep muddled brain understood. It sort of sounded as though he wanted us to kidnap her.
“Yes and no. I am not asking you to kidnap her, just convince her parents to let her go to the school. I am sending a small group of other Operatives with you in case the situation gets out of control. Part of your job is to make sure it does not. I do not want there to be a scene.”
“Who all will actually go into the house?” Erik asked thickly. My heart went out to him as I saw the images of his own retrieval cross his mind.
“Just you and Natalia. I trust the two of you can make sure the parents agree that it is in the best interests of the child to let her go with you,” Mac replied pointedly.
I got Mac’s unspoken meaning and I didn’t like it. He wanted me to manipulate the adults in to agreement. This was preferable to the alternative, black clothed Operatives raiding the house, guns drawn, and forcibly taking the child, but the whole situation didn’t sit well with me. My discomfort paled in comparison to Erik?
??s.
Mac had partially requested Erik for this assignment because of his abilities, but I also wondered if he were hoping it would serve as a reminder of what he, Erik, had personally experienced and what would happen if Erik didn’t continue to walk the line.
“Maybe Cadence and I should go in,” I suggested, attempting to spare Erik. Not that Cadence would be hugely beneficial to me when it came to convincing some kid’s parents what was in her best interests, but it also wasn’t like I actually needed the help. I was perfectly capable of controlling several people on my own; the moral support would be nice, but not at the expense of Erik’s mental well-being.
“Mr. Kelley’s talents will better serve the mission,” Mac answered with a note of finality that warned me not to argue. It was early in the morning and my temper was already short where Mac was concerned, so I steeled myself for the impending argument I was about to engage in.
“Don’t,” Erik silently begged me.
I met his eyes; the pain in his turquoise irises caused the angry words to die on my lips.
“Besides, Ms. Choi has another purpose.” Mac turned his attention on Cadence. “You will take custody of the child once she is safely away from her parents. I trust you have had instruction on how to handle these types of situations?”
Cadence nodded. I wondered how often “these types of situations” arose. And what could Cadence possibly say that would make being taken away from your parents okay? At least with the testing, the children had adequate time to prepare for the separation. This kid would be scared and upset. I doubted Cadence’s less-than-friendly disposition would do much to absolve the girl of her fears.
“Good. I want you all to leave immediately. Natalia, if you could change into something more official.” He studied my causal clothes with a look of disapproval. “Then meet the rest of the team in the lobby.”
I rolled my eyes at him. He had said to hurry. If he had told me this was an official meeting, I would’ve dressed accordingly – maybe.
“Then we’re done here?” I asked, standing to leave.