The Water Queens (Keeper of the Water) (38 page)

Ashley looks as disappointed to hear those words as I feel to be saying them.

“This was going to be the first story I reported on in years,” she says with a frown. “I was looking forward to it, even if my audience was going to be a lot smaller than I was used to.”

I’m tempted to at least
guess
at a couple famous names but once I learn one bit of information, I’m afraid the temptation will be too great and I’ll insist on learning everything else. Besides, I have a feeling that sharing info isn’t the
only
reason Ashley’s here.

“Why
else
were you sent?” I ask.

Ashley nods. “The Keeper
said
you’d be suspicious. She wanted me to warn you that Janey is starting to remember more about her past.”

Her words grip at my heart. Did she follow Janey and me from the party and hear what we were talking about? Are my instincts so dulled that I wouldn’t have been able to sense her so close? I felt her presence once we neared the house but not before. But even if she
had
been able to sneak up on us, how could Harriet have known to send Ashley at
this
moment? It doesn’t make sense.

“How could she know that?” I ask suspiciously. “Did she have a dream about it?”

“All she told me was that she shares a bond with your daughter,” Ashley says.

That obviously makes me think of the bond I shared with Cassie, which doesn’t exactly make me feel comfortable. But I remind myself that I never recognized the connection I shared with Cleopatra, the Keeper before me, a connection that let her sense the moments
I
was in danger and needed help. I’m not sure how this Keeper connection could’ve formed between Harriet and Janey but I can’t think of a better person – except for
me
, I think jealously – to be on the lookout for my daughter’s well-being.

“Tell Harriet I said thank you for the information. Just tonight, in fact, Janey began to tell me some of things she’s remembered,” I admit. “Apparently tonight wasn’t the first time she began to have these memories so I’ll be sure to have her come to me whenever she needs to talk about it.”

“Your little girl is very special, isn’t she?” Ashley asks.

My stomach begins to churn nervously. It’s not the same type of worry I felt when Mary unexpectedly showed up here but I have a feeling this conversation is heading in a direction I’m not going to like.

“Yes, Janey has shown abilities unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” I say, wondering if I’m admitting too much.

“The Keeper has sensed that as well,” Ashley says. “She’s very excited to meet the girl again now that she’s no longer an infant. She wanted me to find out if Janey could come spend time with the Amazons since her destiny seems to be that she’ll lead us someday.”

The thought of Janey being taken away
again
brings back a familiar sense of dread, even though I know the Keeper now is not my enemy. Besides, a part of me realized years ago that my daughter’s abilities made her the ideal candidate to be an Amazon, though I doubt I’ll
ever
be comfortable with that idea…

“I still think she’s too young now for that,” I say, trying to sound diplomatic once I get my emotions under control. “But maybe in a few years – and under the right conditions – Janey can spend time with the Amazons to learn more about your way of life.”

Ashley smiles. “The Keeper knew that would be your response. She’s a very wise woman.”

“She certainly is,” I agree.

“But she swears that she’s nothing compared to her mentor. She says you taught her everything she knows.”

“
Harriet
said that?” I ask, wondering how much being Keeper must’ve mellowed her stern demeanor.

Ashley nods.

“In that case, she’s being a bit too kind and
way
too modest,” I say. “Harriet Tubman knew
plenty
about being a brave, strong leader long before I ever recruited her.”

“That may be the case but based upon stories she’s told us about the Amazon’s history, I think
you
are the one being modest. I knew there was something special about you the moment our paths first crossed,” Ashley says. “The rest of my sisters-in-water will be jealous that I got to meet you a second time. But now I must be off. The Keeper insists that my newer sisters stay close to her and the water so that leaves me to go on all the recruiting trips; these trips really test my ability to keep a low profile. I have to make a quick stop in Madrid before returning home to… are you sure you don’t want to know?”

I frown,
not
completely sure though I eventually nod. “Tell Liliana that I’m proud of the woman she’s become.”

Now it’s Ashley’s turn to look shocked.

“How did you know I was going to see her?” she asks.

“Call it a hunch,” I say. “But at least wait until after the closing ceremonies before you have her disappear. You wouldn’t want to hang a black cloud over the entire Olympics.”

She nods before turning and rushing off down the mountain. I lose sight of her within seconds though I don’t try to follow her movements. Instead I stare out over the valley that I’ve once again made my home. I still hear the faint screeching of violin music and think about how much fun John would’ve had tonight. Quiet moments like this are when I miss him the most but I hope he’s looking down on Janey and me from wherever he is. I look toward the heavens but eventually my gaze turns toward the top of the mountain. I can almost hear John now.

“Thinking about that water again?” he always asked.

I smile and head back inside, where I sit at the end of the couch and watch Janey sleep. She reminds me so much of her father, who gave his life to make sure we could have these quiet moments together, completely safe. But no matter what John sacrificed – and no matter what
I
do in the future – nothing will stop Janey from facing the dangers of becoming an Amazon one day.

I eventually close my eyes and feel my mind drifting off, content that I at least have a few more years alone with my daughter before she learns what she really is and starts on a path that’ll lead her to becoming a greater Keeper than I could ever be…

MY PLEA TO READERS – As an independent author, it is difficult to convince readers to try my books; for that, I thank you. But to help spread the word, please leave me feedback on the web-site where you purchased this book. I’ve found that reviews are the most important determination in whether many readers will try a new author.

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Thanks for your support!

-
       
Kevin

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DRINKING LIFE – BOOK ONE

RECRUITS – BOOK TWO

THE WATER QUEENS – BOOK THREE

LIFE, INC. – If you could learn the exact moment of your death, would you? If you could see a deceased loved one for one more day – at the cost of one year of your life – would you? These are the answers Life, Inc. wants to know…

FLEA’S FIVE CHRISTMASES

THE NORTH POLE CHALLENGE – BOOK ONE

THE RUDOLPH CHALLENGE – BOOK TWO

THE JACK FROST CHALLENGE – BOOK THREE

THE FROSTIE CHALLENGE – BOOK FOUR

THE SOUTH POLE CHALLENGE – BOOK FIVE

CRYO-MAN SERIES

CRYO-MAN – BOOK ONE

ROBOTROPOLIS – BOOK TWO

BOOK THREE coming soon…

COMET CLEMENT SERIES

THE INNER CIRCLE – BOOK ONE

INTERCEPTION – BOOK TWO

THE NEW SPACE RACE – BOOK THREE

THE THREE ARKS – BOOK FOUR

EVACUATION EARTH – BOOK FIVE

FINAL DAYS – BOOK SIX

IMPACT – BOOK SEVEN

UNINVITED – BOOK EIGHT

TAKEOVER – BOOK NINE

MISSION: SURVIVAL – BOOK TEN

RELOCATION – BOOK ELEVEN

A SECOND CHANCE – BOOK TWELVE