Gateway (The Gateway Trilogy, Book 1) (15 page)

A short boy with brown hair and freckles shot up his hand.

“Go ahead, Jason,” Mistress Bowen said.

“From Keepers who have needed Retrievals,” Jason said. “Once they make it back, their observations are recorded. Over the centuries, certain species have been seen over and over.”

I shot Callie a glance, which she returned with a slight nod. Apparently she'd been debriefed after her ordeal. I made a mental note to ask her what she'd witnessed, wondering why I hadn't thought to do so before. I'd only seen one demon and felt scarred by it, what had she endured?

The class continued, and Callie and I were assigned textbooks that contained drawings of various demons. I recognized the Dahrak demon and shuddered. Why wasn't Callie more afraid?

Because she thinks she's safe now. None of them know the Gateway is unlocked, that it's only a matter of time before the demons try again. Even if they've seen the horror of the other world, they think they're out of harm's way. My good feeling dissipated.

***

My next two classes were Algebra and English. I shared those with Crystle, presumably since we would be in the same grade were we in a normal high school. They were a welcome break from Mistress Bowen’s lecture. By the time it was over I felt queasy from her detailed description of a race of demons that consisted mostly of pus.
After that was lunch where I sat with the usual girls. I was surprised to even realize I now had usual girls.

I reiterated the explanation I'd given Callie about my meeting with Master Dogan, adding, “Yeah, and I guess I now know the answer as to how I survived this long. It's unorthodox, but I have some sort of self-taught meditation skill.”

I couldn't very well admit that I'd been kept alive in order to help the demons escape their prison. The girls seemed appeased by the answer and moved on to other topics. When lunchtime was over, a chime sounded and we went our separate ways, Callie and I heading to Tai Chi.

It was Master Dogan who taught the class. He did so with his usual mild manner, explaining that both Keepers and Guardians in training learned the martial art as a way of centering and grounding their energies. I paid close attention and found the practice soothing.

Next up was History—the normal, human kind. After that, I had a study period which I used to pore over the textbook I'd been given on demons. There was so much to learn, and I was determined to do so as quickly as possible.

My final class dealt with Gateway theory and linking.

By the time class let out at 3:45, I was worn out and needed to do something that required zero brain power. I strolled aimlessly around the lower grounds, careful not to cross the markers that designated an end to the sanctuary. I had always enjoyed nature and found myself drawn to the path I'd seen Taren take into the woods the night before.

The dense canopy of trees filtered out much of the waning light and I zipped my hoodie against the drop in temperature. I thought about turning back, but there was still light enough to see so I continued on down the path.

I wondered how far Taren liked to walk these woods, and how long it would be until I saw him again. I noticed some rocks several yards away and stepped off the path to take a seat on one. The cold of the surface penetrated my jeans and a faintly rotting smell wafted my way. I was about to get up when it occurred to me this might be an opportunity to practice meditating. I placed my hands in my lap and looked down, noticing the pitted texture of the rock. I focused on one, and instead of falling in, I approached it gently with my mind.

I've missed you, Ember.

I froze, terror gripping me.

You must come to me more often.

My pulse pounding in my ears, I leapt from the boulder and sprinted toward the path. The putrid smell, the queasiness; I'd passed a boundary when I'd left the trail. Stupid, stupid! My feet hit the path but I kept running until I reached the clearing that marked the end of the forest. I doubled over, gasping for breath.

The crunch of rapid footsteps propelled me forward. Something had followed me. Visions of demons and Reds flashed in my mind and I was about to cry out warning when I heard his voice.

“Ember! It's just me, stop.”

I spun around to see Taren. I sank to my knees, breathless.

“Are you OK? What happened? Was something chasing you?” He knelt beside me but scanned the surroundings.

“Just you,” I said between gasps. “I thought you were…” I couldn't get the rest of the sentence out.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I heard such a commotion, I thought there might have been another attack.” He placed a hand on my back.

When I could breathe again, I said, “I was just taking a walk and I… I heard It. The Voice. The Demon.”

“You strayed off the path?” His tone wasn't accusing, just matter-of-fact.

“Yeah. If that's the boundary between sanity and Crazytown, maybe they should mark it better.”

Taren nodded in agreement. “I'll see what I can do. I don't think most first-years head out this way.”

“Apparently, I'm not most first-years.”

Taren grinned. “Yes, I think that's been well established.”

We sat there for a moment—me staring at the ground, Taren scanning the trees. His hand still rested on my back, sending ripples of warmth through me.

“So, what did the demon say to you?” Taren asked, his voice touched with worry.

“That It missed me. That I needed to come see It more often.” It no longer felt like a violation to share Its words. If anything I wanted to purge myself of them.

“I'm sorry,” he said. “That must have been really frightening.”

“Leave it to me to have a demonic admirer,” I said, trying to play it cool. “I wonder what it will get me for Valentine's Day.”

“Black roses?” Taren said.

“Ugh, I hope not. Who wants the Demon presence in their head to be that cliché?”

“Yes,” Taren said, “that would be the worst part—the cliché-ness.”

Taren rose and extended a hand to help me to my feet. When our hands touched, a tiny jolt of electricity passed between us. I wasn't the only one to notice. For a moment his gaze settled upon me. Then he dropped my hand and cleared his throat.

“It's dinnertime,” he said, “I'll walk you back to the dorm.”

I longed to feel his touch again, to know why it penetrated to my core. Twice I'd felt it and twice he'd pulled away. Was it me? For all his seeming acceptance of my Daemon-ness, was that what kept him from kissing me? There wasn't a rule against Guardians dating students—I knew that much from Crystle's relationship with Michael. I knew I should just ask Taren what was up, but the mere thought was mortifying.

We reached the back door of the dormitory and he turned to face me.

“So, I'm headed on assignment to another institution tomorrow,” he said, his eyes on the ground.

My heart sank. “Oh. How long will you be gone?”

“Depends on what I find,” he said, looking up. “But I won't be around to check on you, so you have to promise me you'll be careful. No more walking in the woods.”

“Yeah,” I said, “sure.”

I knew I wasn't succeeding in keeping the disappointment from my voice.

“I mean it, Ember,” Taren's eyes matched the intensity of his tone. “It's very important you not expose yourself to the Demon—not yet. Promise me you won't cross the boundary without permission.”

“I promise,” I said. “I'm not eager for a repeat of tonight's pants wetting.”

Nice. Nothing hotter than a joke about peeing your pants. Wait, he knows I'm kidding, right?

“Good,” he said with a small smile. “Fear is the right response. It will keep you from doing anything stupid.”

He opened the door, but didn't follow me inside.

“So, I guess I'll see you around, then,” I said, trying to salvage a scrap of casualness.

“Yeah,” he said, “see you around.”

He let the door swing shut, and by the time it did, he was gone.

***

I was quiet during dinner, mentally replaying my conversation with Taren. The other girls were happy to chat without my input.

As I scraped the remains of my mostly untouched dinner into a trash bin, Mae approached me.

“Master Dogan has requested you be granted phone privileges this evening,” she said. “Would you like to go now?”

I told her I would and followed her to a room off of the common area. Three cubicles held students talking on telephones, a fourth stood empty.

“Dial nine to get out,” Mae said, handing me the receiver, “and the call will cut off after fifteen minutes, so you'll need to plan accordingly.”

I thanked her and sat down. I dialed my mother's cell and waited while it rang.

“Hello?” It had only been a day, but so much had changed since I'd last heard her voice.

“Mom, it's me,” I said.

“Ember, baby.” Her smile traveled through the phone line. “How are you? I was so worried when you disappeared after that gas leak at Windsor.”

Gas leak? I guess any story would fly when the only witnesses were mental patients and a handful of nurses traumatized enough to believe anything.

“I'm sorry, Mom. Things got pretty crazy that night, but I'm safe now. Did someone from here call you?”

Master Dogan had assured me that things would be squared with her.

“Yes, a woman named Annys called yesterday to tell me where you've been transferred, but it's so good to hear your voice and know you're safe. You are safe, right baby?”

“Yeah, Mom, I'm fine. I like it here. Did they tell you when you would be allowed to visit?”

I surprised myself with how eager I was to see her. It wasn't just because I missed her, I was anxious to see if being on the sanctuary grounds did anything for her mental health. If being Daemon was a lineage, did that mean she was one, too? I'd have to ask Master Dogan.

“Not this Saturday, but next. And I won't embarrass you, I promise. I… I started taking the meds again.”

I had figured as much. Her voice sounded even, her thoughts cohesive. I was glad for her, but we'd been down this road before. I wondered how long it would be until she was sure she was cured and stopped taking them. I gave her the response she was hoping for all the same.

“That's great, Mom, I'm really proud of you.”

“No, Ember, I'm proud of you. Just follow the program there—do everything they tell you—so you can come home. Things will be different, I swear.”

The earnestness in her voice broke me. What would she do when she realized I wasn't coming home? She'd had me at nineteen and never been on her own before. I struggled to keep the worry from my voice.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, Em.”

We chatted for a few more minutes, me telling her what I could about life at the Institute: the grounds were beautiful, the food a huge improvement over Windsor, the education top notch. I was in mid-sentence when the line went dead.

I left the phone room and entered the bustling living area. I found I recognized many of the faces. I'd met several new students in class, and it felt nice to be less of an outsider. One of the plush recliners was empty, so I pulled
Catcher in the Rye
from the bookshelf and settled in.

An hour passed and I found myself nodding off as I read. It was only eight—that was usually the time I got my second wind. I wondered if, after years of insomnia, I was making up for lost sleep. I reminded myself that I had been up since five, and was going to be again, so I made my way upstairs took a shower, and went to bed.

Before drifting off, my thoughts returned to Taren. His hazel eyes, his just-crooked-enough-to-be-perfect smile. I told myself he wouldn't be gone long, and then we could pick up where we'd left off. I fell asleep wondering where that was.

No matter when you fall asleep, five a.m. comes too soon. I was groggy as I pulled on cargo pants and a vintage sweater I'd bought at a thrift store. By the time I brushed my teeth and made it downstairs, the cobwebs were clearing and I found myself saying hello to some students I'd met the day before. I wondered what had changed—even before my own personal demon invasion I hadn't been much of a people person—and I realized it was hope. I had hope in myself, and hope in the Institute. I believed in what we were doing and wanted to be a part of it.

Meditation began, and instead of fidgeting, I looked down at a freckle on my calf. A tiny, brown freckle… I struggled to ease in, as Master Dogan had instructed, instead of falling headlong as I usually did. I reminded myself that for once I wasn't trying to escape anything. I was safe here; I could enter slowly… It only took a moment for velocity to overtake me, but once floating in the abyss I was comforted at the improvement. I drifted. A chime sounded, indicating the end of the session and I pulled myself back into the room. I waved to Master Dogan as I filed out with the rest of the students on our way to breakfast.