Ascended (7 page)

Chapter Seven

Recruits

Vie was getting ready to report to the arena to start training with the new recruits. She felt anxious about something
, but she couldn’t figure out where her anxiety was coming from. Something didn’t feel right. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t ignore the feeling in the pit of her stomach, the unshakeable notion that something big was about to happen, something horrible.

Gabriel knocked at the door. “Vie,
can I come in?”

Vie was glad to have a few moments alone with Gabriel.
She wanted to speak with him about Carter communicating with her. Gabriel started talking first, but Vie quickly interrupted, not able to contain her thoughts. She needed so much to tell someone about hearing Carter’s voice, and the only person she trusted with her secret was Gabriel.

“I hear Carter,” she started. “He speaks to me.”

“Vie, I’m sure you do. You and Carter were very close and I know you’re missing him very much,” he said.

“You don’t believe me?” she
was disappointed in his reaction.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. I
’m sure you’re hearing him, but not because he’s speaking to you. I believe it’s because you’re channeling memories of him,” he replied.

“No, you’re wrong. I am not channeling anything
; in fact, quite the opposite. I’ve done everything I can to block him out of my thoughts. I’ve heard his voice clearly—twice now, Gabriel, and it is not my imagination,” she said.

Gabriel could see Vie believed wholeheartedly that Carter was trying to communicate with her.
Though it seemed impossible, Gabriel did not dismiss her claims; too many strange things had been transpiring all around him recently to simply ignore this. Plus, Carter was unique, and no one knew the power he held, not even Carter himself. Perhaps it was true. Perhaps Carter Stone could do what no other Guardian could: communicate with Vie through telepathy.

“So when did these
messages
from Carter come to you?” Gabriel asked.

“Well, they seemed to come…” she though
t about it for a minute and then said, “precisely at the very moment when I needed him. In fact, both times I heard him speak to me were when I was losing it, really losing it. I needed him…and suddenly, he was here.”

Gabriel
thought it was interesting that Carter could feel Vie’s pain even after she had returned to the Gates. “Well, if Carter is really speaking to you, then this is great news, Vie. It means that he’s continuing to develop his abilities. It also means, given the nature of them, that they are proving to be just as we’d thought: uniquely powerful assets.”

“So, what did you want to speak to me about?” Vie asked
, switching gears.

Gabe
had a moment of reservation, wondering if it was the right time to discuss things regarding Camulus.

Vie could see the worry in his eyes and probed further.

“Gabriel, I confided in you and now it’s your turn. Come on, Gabe, we’re in this together,” she said, smiling at him.

Gabriel knew she was right. It seemed
as if they were involved in something big together. Although he enjoyed being on Vie’s team, he wondered if she would be able to conceal what he was about to tell her, or if she would go off like a renegade Guardian with his information. He decided he trusted no one more than Vie, and really needed to confide in someone who could share the burden of the suspicious acts he’d uncovered at the Gates.

“I caught Camulus in a lie about the
Angel Blade, the one Lucian had in his possession. Camulus told me he hadn’t discovered the blade was missing until after we had left for our mission, but that can’t be the truth. Reese left before we did, remember?” Gabe asked.

“I do remember. Maybe Camulus believed that was what happened
,” Vie suggested.

“No, Camulus knew Reese was gone
, because he questioned me about it just before we left. He’s hiding something Vie; I’m sure of it.”

Vie was completely shocked by Gabe’s story. She paced around the room in deep thought for a moment and then began assessing the situation by talking out loud.

“Let me get this straight. Reese wasn’t here when the blade was stolen. So that means someone else took it. And if Camulus is lying about it, then one might conclude he is covering for that particular someone. So there is a traitor among us—and Camulus knows who that person is. Right, Gabe?” she questioned.

“Right
!” he answered, relieved he’d shared his information with her.

“So it looks like you and I
are going on a mission, huh?” she asked, excited at the prospect.

“Vie, this is serious. We
’re in deep,” Gabriel said, worried. “If Camulus was willing to lie to me about this blade, then there’s no telling what he’ll do if he finds out we’re on to him.”

“Well
, if Camulus is hiding something, we will find it, Gabe. We’re a team, you and I, and our mission is to find the truth,” she said, thrilled to begin.

Gabriel knew that look in her eyes all too well. Vie was again like a dog with a bone
, unwilling to stop questioning the inconsistencies of Camulus’ story, eager to figure out the mystery plaguing the Gates. Gabriel wanted to find the person who’d betrayed the Guardians as much as Vie did, but he was worried about where the truth might lead him. Whoever was responsible for the betrayal had to pay for taking Reese’s reputation, dignity, honor, and life.

As they spoke about how to proceed,
Gabriel and Vie figured the only way to find out who had taken the blade was to first find out where the blade had come from, and why it was so important to Lucian.

“Vie, I know I’ve seen that blade somewhere before. I just can’t remember where
or with whom,” Gabe said.

“Bet you wish you were me right now
, huh?” Vie asked.

“How’s that?” he replied curiously.

Vie simply pointed to her head and said, “Hello…photographic!”

“How could I forget,” Gabe smiled at Vie. “Tha
t blade seems to be the key to figuring out everything right now, Vie. We have to find out where it came from and what power it holds. Are you ready?”

“Are you kidding?”
she responded with enthusiasm.

They arrived at the arena, and Gabriel couldn’t help but notice a different Vie. She was focused and poised in a way that he’d not seen in over a month. This mission seemed to have granted her the permission she’d needed to move forward. She could not change her situation, and he finally saw her making the change within herself that was needed in order for her to continue on. She was once again the fierce warrior Gabriel had known before their mission—before she’d met Carter—disciplined, controlled, and ready to take charge of the arena and her life. Gabriel stood at the entrance of the arena and watched in awe as Vie stood front and center, ready to command her new recruits. All eyes were on her, including the proud eyes of her best friend.

The training began and Vie saw many promising new recruits. She sat with Gabriel, critiquing each one of them and the abilities they possessed.
She was impressed by one new recruit in particular, Restoria.

Restoria
was focused and poised, different from the rest somehow, her every move calculated and precise. Day after day, they watched her move with grace and speed, as smooth as a missile in flight.

Vie decided to pull her aside to commend her on a job well done.
As she approached her, she was struck by the way Restoria seemed to greet her with familiar eyes; Vie was intrigued.

“
Have we met before?” Vie asked, feeling as though they somehow already knew one another.

“I don’t believe we have,”
was the response.

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” Vie stopped, not quite able to explain what she felt.

Restoria leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I have the answers you seek. Meet me at the entrance of the Gates and tell no one.”

“What are you talking about? What answers?” Vie replied.

“They’re watching us. Please…meet me at the Gates if you wish to get the answers.” Restoria turned away and joined the other recruits who were getting ready to leave.

“Wait,” Vie called to her. But
Restoria was gone.

Vie ran to the hall to search for her
, but it was as if she’d disappeared into thin air.

“
Vie, what is it? What’s the matter?” Gabe asked.

“Oh…nothing, just thought I saw someone,” Vie replied
, stretching the truth. She wanted to tell him about the odd exchange but she was afraid if she did, she wouldn’t get the answers promised to her by the mysterious new recruit. She figured she could tell Gabriel about it after her meeting, but decided not to jeopardize getting whatever information Restoria had for her.

Would
Gabriel do the same?
she thought, not thoroughly convinced that he would. She knew she had to avoid Gabriel for the moment because there was no way she could lie to his face, especially after what had happened between him and Camulus; Gabriel didn’t need to feel betrayed again, especially by a friend.

Vie waited anxiously for the time to pass
, then headed out for the Gates. She was almost there when she ran into Gabriel.
Great
, was her first thought when she saw him.

“Where are you headed
, Vie?” he asked.

“
Ummm, nowhere in particular, just taking a walk,” she replied.

“Can I join you?”

“You know, Gabe, I kinda need to be alone right now, if you don’t mind,” she said.

“Alone? Sure
, Vie, no problem,” Gabriel said, surprised by her response.

Gabriel knew something was up with Vie
; he had just watched her transform from ‘gloomy’ into ‘full speed ahead’ mode, so he wasn’t buying into her story about wanting to be alone.  Although she may have thought she was a good actress, Gabriel thought otherwise. In fact, he thought hers was the worst example of acting he had ever seen. He decided to follow Vie and see for himself what she was up to.

Gabriel
watched as Vie talked to one of the Guardians who stood guard at the entrance of the Gates. Then he saw the Guardian leave, and Vie looking around nervously.
What is she up to?
he wondered.

Then he saw s
omeone coming toward her, a woman from the other side of the gate. She was dressed in a long white gown and her head was covered with a scarf so her face wasn’t visible. Gabriel knew immediately where she had journeyed from; she had come from the other side. The woman standing before Vie was an angel who seemed to have a message for her.

Gabriel moved closer so he could hear their conversation. There was a moment of silence when they met
, and then the woman spoke.

“You must go back,” she said
.

“Back?
Back where?” Vie sounded confused.

“You must go back to save Vivian,”
the woman said.

“I can’t. It’s not allowed,” Vie said
wistfully.

“You must find a way. You
’re the only person who can save her. He will stop at nothing to have her soul,” she said.

“Who are you, and why do you think I can help her?” Vie asked.

“I am Lily, Vivian’s mother—your mother,” she announced.

“What? You can’t be,” Vie
looked perplexed.

“I am
, Violet. My sweet, sweet, Violet,” Lily said, reaching her hand through the gate and touching Vie’s face. “You are my daughter and Vivian is your sister; I gave birth to two sweet daughters, not one. I am begging you, Violet; you are the only one who can save her from Lucian. Please, Violet,” she said, beseeching Vie.

“I don’t believe you. If what you
’re saying is true, then prove it,” Vie said, daring her.

The woman looked in Vie’s eyes, communicating to her word
lessly. She moved Vie’s hair back from her shoulder and gazed at the amethyst earrings Henry had given to her the night of the dance. “I see you’ve received my gift. I knew they would find their way to you. I saved those earrings in a special place, hoping I would be the one to give them to you someday, but things don’t always work out like we plan. They’re amethyst—your birthstone, Violet. A rare and precious gem, just like you.” She fought to hold back her tears.

Suddenly, Vie noticed the guard returning to his post. She
looked back at Lily and could see her eyes looking through the white veil she’d worn to conceal her face. A light flashed in her eyes and Vie saw her mother’s face looking back at her, the day she was born; it was in those flashes that Vie became aware the woman was indeed telling her the truth. These eyes were the eyes of her mother.

Vie remembered looking at a portrait Vivian
had painted of her mother, and remembered feeling a strong connection to the eyes of the woman displayed on the canvas. It all made sense to her now: the recognition, the resemblance she had to Vivian, the feelings she had for Henry. It all fit.