Circumstellar (11 page)

W
e stared at Meissa’s overly pleased face in shock, awe, and in Ty’s and my case, complete and utter bewilderment. Locksmith? We never discussed anything about that. I looked over at Lesia again and watched as she shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable from the attention.

“Are you positive?”
Rigel asked, his voice hard. “There can be no mistake.”

“There is
none
,” Meissa stressed. “She is the one.”

“But how can this be? I thought the Locksmith had to be close to the Gate, and this is so far away,”
Kaira said.

I looked at
Meissa and was a little surprised when Rigel answered.

“Not necessarily,
Kaira. The Gate has unique properties.”

I was so totally lost in the conversation, and I began to feel annoyed. Why did everyone always have to talk like this stuff was common
knowledge. I met Lesia’s eyes again and saw her silent plea for help. It occurred to me that she might not have a clue what was going on, either. I was about to demand answers when Ty spoke up from beside me.

“Would anyone care to share what this whole Locksmith business is?” Ty asked in a good natured voice. I looked at him, and he smiled at me. Trust my friend to know when I was about to get angry and potentially violent.

In a flash of movement, Meissa raised her hand and glanced around the buildings. We stayed silent as she surveyed the area. “Not out here,” she said. “Come, everyone.”

She pulled
Lesia back inside, and we crowded into her living room. Meissa had Lesia take a seat at the table while she sat to her right. Ty and I immediately came to stand behind Lesia. Rigel took the seat opposite Lesia at the far end of the table with Kaira and Markus flanking. I watched them but noticed how they refused to even glance at me. Although this whole thing wasn’t about me, I couldn’t help but feel Rigel took the spot that put the most distance between us. Whatever. Let them shun my awesome presence. They had no idea what they were missing. Focusing on more important people, I gave Lesia’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze, and she looked back to give me a relieved look.

“Full house,”
Meissa muttered while reaching into her pocket for a fresh cigarette. We all watched in anxious suspense as she took her time digging for some matches and set about lighting it.

“As entertaining as your habits are, Sister, we didn’t come here to watch you smoke,”
Rigel snapped. “Shall I tell the story since you have more important things to do?”

“That won’t be necessary, but thank you for offer,
Rigel,” Meissa cooly responded. “I want it to be told right.”

Rigel
looked for a moment like he was about to give her a piece of his mind, and I couldn’t help but feel a little amused. They acted more like a bickering old couple than siblings. If this was what they were like now, I couldn’t imagine what it was like when they were younger.

“The Locksmith,”
Meissa began, blowing smoke in Rigel’s direction, “is a very special person entrusted with the power to locate and open the Gate once all five keystones are united. In a way, you could say they are Ourania’s successors.”

“And you think that’s
Lesia?” I asked, trying not to pay any attention to the unfriendly looks I was receiving from the other side of the room.

“I know it is,”
Meissa answered, confidence filling the air. “The shard has proved as much. Just like when you held it and it reacted.”

“So
Lesia’s like Ourania’s descendent the same way we are related to the ancient warriors?”

Meissa
tossed me an amused smirk, and I heard Kaira snort. “Not exactly. Ourania was a priestess and had taken a vow of celibacy. She had no children.”

“So . . .”

“Unlike the warrior abilities that are passed down through a bloodline, the Locksmith powers are born into a different individual. As soon as the current one dies, another is born. The new Locksmith can be from anywhere in the world. As you can imagine, this is what makes them so difficult to locate. Something that hasn’t been accomplished in nearly six hundred years. Up until today, of course.”

I felt
Lesia reach up and grab my hand. I gave her shoulder another squeeze as this new information clawed at my heart. It was one thing that I was involved in all this Ankida mess, but now my friends were getting dragged into it as well. There had to be some kind of mistake.

“But Miss
Meissa,” Ty said, and I quirked my eyebrow at him.
Miss Meissa
? “You told Lesia and me earlier that the warriors had the responsibility of protecting the keystones, but if only the Locksmith has the power to open the Gate then – ”

“Why bother protecting the stones?”
Meissa finished. “Aside from people flitting back and forth between the realms, you mean. It is possible to open the Gate without the Locksmith, however, it takes much more time and . . . effort. This is all assuming, of course, that you know the location of the Gate in the first place.”

“
Er, shouldn’t it be where it’s always been?” I inquired lamely. Last time I checked, gates didn’t have legs.

“Wishful thinking from the
Ankida?” Kaira taunted me. I glared at her and tried not to eye the pointy meteorite shard on the table.  Perhaps she needed reminding that not too long ago she thought the same thing.

“That would be too convenient,”
Meissa said. “As the Locksmith moves, so does the Gate in order to be closer to its creator. The new Gate should be somewhere in this country, but the exact location can only be discovered by one person,” she finished, looking at Lesia.

“How do I find the Gate?” It was first time throughout this whole ordeal that
Lesia had spoken.  I was amazed at how calm she sounded, though she was the center of this bizarre topic.

“That will take time and practice,”
Meissa replied in voice so gentle I almost thought someone else had spoken. “It won’t be easy.”

Rigel
leaned back in his chair and added, “You’ll be in danger. If the Ankida get even the slightest hint that you are the Locksmith, they’ll stop at nothing to capture you and make you tell them where the Gate lies.”

“It’s not too late to turn away if that is your wish,”
Meissa offered. “No one outside of this room knows, and I will assure their silence. It’s a decision only you can make, but – ”

“It would provide us with a great tactical advantage,”
Rigel interrupted, “should the enemy acquire all five stones.”

Lesia
was silent for a minute, and I dreaded what she would say. I couldn’t stand it. There was no way I was going to let my best friend put herself in danger like this. Not for some stupid Gate or “tactical advantage.”

“I’ll do it,” she declared.

“No!” I shouted. All eyes were on me, but I was only focused on one person. “You can’t! I won’t let you make yourself a target like this!”

Like a bullet, she shot out of her seat and wheeled around to face me. “Isn’t that what you’ve been doing all this time, Ingrid?” she accused. “Putting
yourself in harm’s way, while Ty and I worry in the shadows.”

I opened and closed my mouth in failed attempts to say anything. I looked at Ty for help, yet he just crossed his arms and nodded in
Lesia’s direction. This couldn’t be happening. Didn’t they understand? It was different for me. It didn’t matter when I put myself in danger, but if anything ever happened to either of them, I’d never forgive myself.

“You and Ty are always looking out for me, and now I can finally do something for the both of you – even if it puts me in danger. If there’s anything I can do that will help protect you, I will do it,” she proclaimed, determination beaming from her bright eyes.

I still sputtered for some kind of argument, but Ty clapped me on the back. “Give it up, Ingrid. She’s not going to change her mind and neither am I.”

“You too, huh?”
I sighed in defeat. “It’s not fair. You both come here for the first time, and now you’re ganging up on me with surprises. Go on. Tell me what big secret you have.”

Ty broke out in a broad smile and gave me another pat. “Well, as it turns out, I’ll still be able to hang out with you Amazons up here every afternoon. I’m a warrior descendant, too. “

“
What
?” The word echoed all over the room, and it occurred to me that a chorus of voices had joined in on my surprise.

Ty smirked around the room and straightened his back. “Let me introduce myself,” he announced, pride bouncing around the room. “My name is Ty Callahan. I’m the Leo Lockkeeper.”

I
closed my eyes and pinched my nose as the telltale signs of one of those breakneck arriving headaches began to pulse in my forehead. My bed felt so comfy and inviting from where I was sitting, and had my friends not been taking up the rest of the space, I would have sprawled out and lost consciousness in its soft embrace.

“This is so amazing.”
Lesia giggled. “I’m still trying to convince myself it’s not a dream.”

“I think Ingrid wishes it was a dream.”

“Nope, no dreams. This is a Class A nightmare,” I groaned.

“Oh, come on,” Ty said, throwing me a sympathetic look. “We get to be training buddies.”

“I suppose a tarnished silver lining is better than none.”

“Is this really so bad?” he asked, smile vanishing. “I didn’t know you were trying to escape us.”

“You know I’m not.” I sighed, looking up at the ceiling when a
thud
descended down. I really think I was still in shock from the whole ordeal. Lesia’s revelation was one thing, but now Ty as well. After his big introduction, all I could do was stand and stare like a mannequin. At least, I can say I wasn’t the only one dumbstruck. Markus gave Ty a nod so stiff it looked like his neck might be made of wood, and Kaira looked him over as if sizing him up. The awkward silence lasted a few minutes before Meissa decided that was enough excitement for one day and kicked us out.

I vaguely remember
Lesia leaving to get my uniform before we started heading back towards town. Dying to discuss all that happened, Ty and Lesia debated on whose house to go to. Lesia didn’t want her family trying to nose in on what we were doing, while Ty curtly added he didn’t think his house was suitable. So, that only left one option. When they turned to me, all I could do was let out a dumb nod and go with the flow. It’s not like Auntie would be sober enough to care.

“Sounds like some big rats,” Ty commented, following my gaze.

“Just Auntie,” I replied. “She’s recently taken to sitting up there talking to herself.”

“Weird.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“So, does she know?” he asked. At my confused look, he clarified, “About all this warrior stuff, I mean.”

“I’m not sure,” I answered. For the first time, it really dawned on me that Aunt Kaline was related to the Therion warrior like me. “She did say some things about Grandfather making her learn to fight to protect something, but I don’t think she really understood why.”

“Maybe you should ask her. You might be surprised at what she has to say,”
Lesia offered.

“You got that right.” I frowned in bitter remembrance. “Last time I asked her about the past it blew up in my face.”

“You could take her to the Orion Temple to talk to Master Meissa,” she suggested.

Despite my mood, amusement filled me at the prospect of
Meissa trying to explain anything to my flighty aunt. “Could you even imagine the two of them in the same room?” I chuckled, surprising my friends. “It’d be like trying to explain geometry to Becky. Besides, I’m pretty sure Auntie’s convinced the temple is either a spa or a rehab facility. There’s only a fifty percent chance of success.”

“Huh,”
Lesia said as though remembering something. “My dad said the same thing about the temple.”

“Must be their cover story,” Ty pitched in, laughing with me.

“Next thing you know, we’ll be the staff instead of apprentices,” I noted.

“We can beat up your enemies and get you fresh towels,” Ty chimed in.

“Speaking of enemies,” Lesia interrupted, a serious note in her voice. “It was the Ankida who attacked you the other night, wasn’t it?”

The mood in the room once again
shifted, the question sobering up any amusement that was left in me. “Yes, that’s what I think. I couldn’t see their faces, but they had glowing eyes like Meissa said.”
And like me.

“But, Ingrid, why attack you? Your father was an
Ankida, right?”

I looked at her, the most curious feeling overwhelming me. It was perfectly obvious. One look at my face and there could be no question as to what I was. Yet, with the exception of
Kaira’s taunts, this was the first time anyone had ever acknowledged my heritage, much less said it so openly. She’d been so casual about it, too, like we were talking about him being an accountant or something.

“Yeah, he was,” I responded. “But I don’t think they knew that.
Not at first, anyway.”

“They just went after some random stranger?” Ty asked, alarmed.

I nodded. “It certainly looks that way.”

We sat in silence. I took the time to organize my thoughts and figure out what I wanted to tell them since this afternoon.

“Look, guys,” I started, “no matter how hard I keep trying to protect you from this, you’re a part of it now. I don’t like it, but you’ve made it clear there’s nothing I can do to change your minds.”

“Finally figured it out?” Ty grinned.

“Against my better judgment. Just promise me that you‘ll be careful and won’t do anything too dangerous. Especially you, Lesia. This Locksmith business has me on edge.”

“Only if you promise to do the same,”
Lesia replied. “It’s not just Ty and me in danger. You need to watch out as well. But don’t worry.” She smiled at me. “We have the same after school program. We’ll be able to watch each others’ backs.”

I smiled at her assessment. “I guess you’re right.”

As it turned out, Ty’s great bright-side-of-things idea about being workout buddies was totally
off. My plan centered mainly around running laps to build up my speed and endurance,  followed by a few rounds of weight lifting to increase my strength. I figured that since Ty was about as fond of exercising as I was, he would be getting the same deal. Looks like that was not how Meissa operated.

“And what is the point of this again?” I asked while wiping the sweat from my forehead. Shortly after we arrived, Ty and
Lesia went to find Meissa, and I decided to go ahead and get my laps out of the way. I just finished the last lap when the old bird came marching into the dirt field with Ty and Markus trailing behind. I watched from the side as she ordered them to start wrestling. Markus wasted no time in getting into position, a murderous look adorning his face, while Ty shrugged and took his time following suit. They had been at it for a few minutes, and though I hated to admit it, Ty was a bit out of his league. Okay. A lot out of his league.

“It’s a test. Much like the one you had against
Kaira and Markus,” she replied, puffing on her smoke stick.

“This is nothing like my test,” I pointed out, flinching when Ty was thrown to the ground for the fifth time.

“A different exercise, but it still serves the same purpose.”

“Ty doesn’t have to run any races, but I do?”

“Of course, silly girl,” she scoffed. “Why give an artist a calculator when the brush is where his true talent lies?”

I quirked my eyebrow.
“Um, okay?” What the hell was that supposed to mean? Calculators? Artists? That whole statement was just beyond me, so I decided to move on. “Does that mean we won’t be doing the same training, either?”

“His will be centered more
around strength,” Meissa said.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I questioned, wincing again. “I don’t think Ty’s calculator is a barbell.” What she said made me pause for a moment. “You mean you’ve already decided what he’ll be doing?”

“Yes.”

“And what is the point of this again?”

“Silly girl.” Meissa smirked at me. “Haven’t you learned anything by now? This isn’t for me; it’s for him. I already know where his true talent lies, but he needs to see it for himself,” she said, flicking the ash from the end of the cigarette. “But that’s all beside the point. All you need to know is that I’m always right.”

“If you say so, Grandma,” I mumbled. At her sharp look, I made an intelligent decision to change the focus and instead yelled at Ty. “Come on, Ty! You can do this!” I cheered. “Kick his ass!”

Ty smiled over at me, giving Markus the opening to tackle him into the ground. I quickly covered my mouth, wishing I hadn’t said anything.

“That worked out well,”
Meissa sneered. “Perhaps next time you could try not distracting your ally. Petty flirtations have no place on the battlefield.”

Despite the blush that was steadily rising to my face, I still managed to snap back, “I was just trying to encourage him! It’s not like distracting him was my goal . . . and it wasn’t flirting,” I added in defense.

Meissa tossed me an unimpressed look before indicating over towards the match. “I wonder what will come out of this.”

I followed her gaze and saw what she was talking about. Markus had Ty in a chokehold and showed no indication of letting up anytime soon. Ty’s face reddened from the strain, but that’s not what had
me worried. I watched as his eyes narrowed and his lips pulled back to reveal hard clenched teeth. Looking behind him, I could see Markus’s lips moving. Whatever he was saying, it sure wasn’t a joke that Ty appreciated.

“Ah, the children of Leo,”
Meissa mused. “Pussy cats most of the time, right until you ruffle their fur. That’s when the King’s claws come out.”

I watched in amazement as Ty tore out of the hold like a fierce animal and spun around to face Markus. He picked the older boy up as though he weighed nothing and threw him to the side of the field. Markus hit the ground hard and clutched his side. Ty took a few steps forward, indicating he wasn’t quite finished yet.

“That’s enough,” Meissa called. She watched as Ty stopped and then made her way over to check on Markus. I ran up to Ty and put a hand on his shoulder. He shook his head violently and turned towards me. In his eyes, I could still see the remnants of his earlier rage, but it was remorse that shone the brightest.

“I’m sorry, Ingrid. You didn’t need to see that, but he was saying . . .” He shook his head again and smiled at me. “It doesn’t matter. Is he all right?” Ty asked, looking to where
Meissa knelt beside Markus.

Markus rolled onto his back, and
Meissa put a hand to his cheek. In an instant, Markus slapped her hand away and sprang up. My mouth opened in surprise. Ever since I started coming here, the apprentices treated the masters with nothing but respect, but seeing Markus now, well, he’d definitely thrown authority out of the window. Without so much as a second glance, he marched off towards one of the many buildings. A wave of sympathy came over me as I remembered our conversation about Lockmen.

“I think he’ll be fine,” I observed, “but you may want to avoid getting in his way for a while.”

“What are you talking about, Ingrid? Did you have your eyes closed the whole time?”

I rolled my eyes and punched him in the shoulder. “No need to get a big head.”

“Ouch,” he muttered, rubbing his shoulder. “Should have wrestled you.”

I glared at him about to make a comment when
Meissa caught my attention. She still knelt on the floor, looking in the direction Markus disappeared. Her face was a mask of indifference, but I could tell something troubled her about the incident. She must not have expected it to go as far as it had, or at least, received that kind of reaction. I certainly didn’t, but then again, I wasn’t the one that was supposed to know everything.