Oh my goodness, you will never guess what's happened? I bought 'Stealing Phoenix'! I'm only a few chapters in, but i definitely want to do a Yves' POV for that. Ok, so here's the next chapter, and i added a little extra because i was intrigued and thought we all deserve a little more Zed insight. So enjoy and don't forget to review!
When we came back home, Sky wandered off on her own, the tenor of her thoughts brooding and ever so slightly distressed. I let her go – I didn't want to suffocate her, and I needed to learn when to let go anyway; there would be times in our future where Sky would need some me-time. So I retreated into my bedroom, lying back on my bed and letting my mind wander. I tried to stay away from Sky's thoughts, concentrating on Mum, cooking in the kitchen, or taking peeks into the adrenaline-filled future (because no matter how many times you do it, it never stops being at least a little cool to be able to see what's coming). I kept track of where she was, always, just to make sure, just to check –
I was interrupted by a tentative knock on my door, and looked up in shock. No one ever knocked in this house – they just barged in whenever they wanted, or used telepathy so that you couldn't ignore them.
"Come in." I called carefully, fearing I was just going to be the victim of a terrible practical joke. I saw nothing in the future, but I could never be sure with my brothers. Xav peeked his head around the corner, then stepped in, followed by Yves, Will and Uriel.
"What's going on?" I asked, then my heart skipped a beat and I sat up straight from where I had been lounging on my bed "Oh God – is it Sky? Has something happened?" I hadn't felt anything through our bond – was this more Savant trickery, numbing my mind to her? I was really starting to hate Savants – I could see why Sky couldn't trust us. Was it her memory? Or maybe –
"No – Sky's fine." Yves reassured "She's in her room, reading or something. We just" – he cleared his throat (ahem) – "came to ask about" – ahem, ahem – "you know, about –"
"Oh, get on with it, Yves!" I interrupted, rolling my eyes to myself "It can't be that bad."
"We came to ask about Sky." Uriel stated blankly "About what it's like to have her – to have your Soulfinder."
"Ahhh," I made the sound almost without realising, leaning back onto my hands with my legs hanging over the end of the bed "Why don't you ask Mom and Dad?"
"We have, remember?" Uriel said "They just gave me this mumbo-jumbo about sharing a heartbeat, thinking as one, yada, yada, yada. But we wanna know, you know?"
"Yeah, I get it." I sighed, and leaned forwards on my knees, thinking. My brothers settled down too, sitting on chairs and on the floor like kids gathering around their grandfather for story time "It's hard to. . . put it into words. It's like – it's like walking into a room full of girls and immediately knowing you don't fit in. But then she comes along, and suddenly everything fits; with her, I don't feel so left out."
"Are you saying you're a girl in a guy's body?" Will joked with a wicked grin "Someone should tell Sky." I chose to ignore him. For now.
"I feel," I continued, not looking in any of their faces "like if I have her, I have everything I'll ever need; food, water, warmth, shelter? They are her. Sky is my food, my water, my warmth and shelter. And without her, I have nothing. Without her, I'm just a blind man, stumbling around in the dark." I blinked, suddenly very aware of my little audience. I think I had been speaking to myself; over the time that we had been together, I hadn't really had a chance to really think about what Sky was to me. I was too busy worrying about what I was without her.
"And when you touch there's an electric spark that feels like a million fireworks, blah, blah, blah." Will finished, rolling his eyes "We know that – we don't want lovey-dovey metaphors, we want details! Examples." I filled my cheeks with air and let it out slowly.
"Like what?"
"What's it like with her compared to other girls?" Xav piped up the courage to ask.
"No comparison. You know that feeling when you catch a cute girl's eye in the corridor and she smiles at you?" they nodded eagerly "Feels good, right?" again, they nodded eagerly "Well when Sky smiles at me, it's about ten times that feeling. In that second she smiles at me, she is the most important thing in my life; making her smile again and again and again is my only aim. And I'd do anything for it." My voice hardened with threat – not at them, but at the world. You dare hurt my Sky and you will pay.
"I'm sorry." Yves finally said after a long pause as they all took it in.
"For what?" I asked, even though I knew already.
"That all this happened to you, and to Sky; that you had to watch her suffer and not want to see you and everything. I'm sorry."
"Don't be." I said hoarsely "I would gladly suffer a million times this if it meant Sky would be safe. And we're together – that's more than I hoped for." I felt slightly self-conscious revealing so much to my brothers, but I owed them the truth and answers to their questions.
"Can you" – ahem – "can you feel her, now? Can you feel Sky?"
"Yes." I replied immediately – when we were apart, there was always some part of me keeping track of her, making sure she was safe and keeping her close to me. If this was selfishness, then I was Mr All-About-Me "Always. I can always feel her, even when she's inches away from me."
"What is she feeling right now?" Will challenged, as if I was lying.
"It doesn't always work like that." I countered "At the moment she's brooding. I can't tell you how she feels, per se."
"Why not?" Uriel asked, and I speared him with my gaze.
"Because it's rude." I said steadily, then frowned, noticing something "But there's a haze in her head. Something is troubling her mind. A presence, and cloud. It's still there, just. It scares me." I snapped back to the present. Will, Xav, Yves and Uriel were staring at me. I shook my head, as if that could send my dark thoughts flying from my ears "Is that it? I need to. . . do something."
"Dream away, little Zeddie." Will suddenly grinned, and I dodged as he tried to ruffle my hair "It's been a long day for everyone; enjoy your quiet time while you have it, because this isn't over. And, er, thanks, Zed."
"No problem." I smiled and nodded, feeling awkward "You'll know what I mean when you get your soulfinder."
"Yeah, if." Shrugged Will sourly.
"No." I corrected, gripping his arms "When. After everything I know about Sky, her past and how minute the chances of her coming to just the right part of America and meeting me were, I believe that anyone can find their soulfinder. Even a stupid moron like you." I joked a little, punching him lightly in the stomach. Will smiled tightly and left without a word. As the others filed out, each shooting me a thanking smile, I wondered where Vic was. I knew this was hard on him, as the oldest. He was running out of time.
I checked the small clock on my bedside table and decided Sky had been mulling on her past long enough. Takeaway cup in hand, hoping the sugar in the hot chocolate would disturb her from my overbearing clinginess, I found her at the back of the house by the woods where we had been shot at. I wondered if she had come here consciously, or something in her head was leading her to the place where this mess had began without her realising.
"Sky, are you all right?" I called, the memory of that funny haze around her mind fresh in my mind.
"I'm OK. Just thinking." I knew that 'just thinking'. It was the 'just thinking' that girl used when they were thinking too much, when they were so wrapped up in their own heads that they couldn't bear to use their mouths. I handed her the takeaway cup, and she took it eagerly.
"You've done enough of that." I said "Here, I made you a hot chocolate. Not as good as the cafe's, I know, but it should warm you up."
"Thanks. I need chocolate right now." Pleased with my correct judgement, I took her elbow and steered her towards the house.
"Did you know that chocolate had special chemicals in it to make you feel happy?"
"I don't need an excuse for chocolate." Sky hummed, taking a sip and glancing at me while I tried not to burst out laughing. If Sky was made of chocolate I would be scared she would start eating herself "And you, have you been sneaking some of the same chemicals?"
"Hmm?"
"'Cause you look happy." I hadn't realised I'd looked sad before.
"No, not chocolate," I laughed "just you. That's what being a soulfinder is all about – you're my happiness shot." For a second, I thought I saw something falter in her eyes, but then it was gone, and she beamed up at me in a way that reassured me I had just been seeing things.
That evening, with the whole family at home (Sky included) we started decorating the house for Christmas. Sky gaped in open admiration as we rolled out boxes and boxes of tinsel, silver bells and every other decoration possible from the attic.
"You take this seriously, don't you?" she asked wonderingly, holding a delicate glass bauble in front of her eyes with the ends of her lips turned down.
"Of course, Sky," Mum said "we collect as we travel. My family in the Savant Net, they send me special decorations to add to it each year. It would be an insult to the giver if we did not use them." That same explanation was the reason why, at Christmas, the Benedict house looked like Santa Claus had exploded in it every single year, but somehow we always had enough space for everything. Sky looked to me and I rolled my eyes.
"Mum doesn't think one decoration enough when ten will do. You'll think you're standing in the Christmas department of Macy's by the time we finish." While Sky helped with the decorating (she really had no eye for interior design, and I saw Mum go back and rearrange her decorations when she wasn't looking more than once), we 'men' went out and cut down the tree we had dubbed Mr Santa since summer, when we had decided which tree would be the main attraction for that year. It was the perfect height, and all of us were needed to haul it to the house. When all the appropriate cables and spare bulbs had been found (or not found, but managed without), we put the baubles on the tree, me with Sky on my back so she could reach the upper branches. All the while, Mum told story after story of each decoration, her voice blending into the background like lounge music.
"Now we have the carols!" she sang, coming in with a tray of mulled wine, hot chocolate those of us who were underage, and sweet cinnamon biscuits. Trace groaned and whined, but he smiled all the while. Everyone knew that Trace couldn't carry a tune, but it didn't stop him from belting out albums' worth of songs in the shower. This was my favourite bit, when the dysfunctional Benedict family tuned up their instruments, 'ooh'ed and 'eehh'ed their voices into warmth, and made music together. I leapt up the stairs three at a time to retrieve my guitar, returning before Dad had finished testing his violin, and with Uriel's flute to complete the trinity we ran through the well-worn classics, being sure to let every finishing note linger and shiver in the air like snow falling on a still night. I peeked at Sky; she switched between staring at me and Uriel with wide, haunted eyes.
"We need a vocalist." Uriel announced, like he always did "Trace?"
We all laughed.
"Sure, if you want to spoil the moment." He joked, getting up before I leapt on him and lightly wrestled him down again.
"Sky?" Yves suggested, and suddenly all eyes were on her. Her mouth flapped open and closed for a second like a fish, before she shook her head firmly.
"I don't sing." She said, as if she was telling someone she couldn't save their life.
"You're really musical – I played with you, remember?" Yves pressed.
"I don't sing." She repeated, panic flashing in her eyes. Uriel's eyes drooped closed a little.
"You did." He reminded her.
"Not any more."
"Why not, Sky?" I asked softly "That's behind you now. You've looked at the memories and can put them away. Today's a new start." Mum, sensing that we were heading down a very un-Christmassy vein, interrupted with the tray of biscuits.
"Leave the poor girl alone, you three." She tutted "No one has to sing if they don't want to."
"Come on, I'll sing with you." I smiled lazily, holding out my hand to her.
"We'll all sing." Uriel suggested hopefully "'Joy to the World'?"
"I'll play my sax." Sky compromised, running off to fetch the instrument before we could object. Together, we turned my family into a choir worthy of a King's ears – even Trace put his shower voice into practice with a few rumbling bass notes. In the end, I hugged Sky close to me.
"You've a great touch on the sax." I told her "You know it's the closest instrument to a human voice." Sky nodded mutely, and I hugged her again. We stayed up as late as we could, but in the end Mum forced us to bed – I insisted that she take my room, sleeping with Xav so she had the room to herself. I knew the second she fell asleep, and it made it easier for me to relax and let myself drift off. . .
"ZED!"
I jumped awake and scrambled out of my sleeping bag, grabbing Sky, who was standing in front of me, close to me and protecting her with my body, my eyes scanning the room for the danger.
"W-what? What's happened?"
"I know who took me!" she yelled excitedly, forgetting, for once, to keep her voice down and play the timid mouse. Xav's snoring hitched and broke.
"Sky?" he grumbled "Wha's'matter?" he looked at Sky, and suddenly I noticed what she was wearing – not very much. She wore one of my old 'Wrickenridge Water Rafting' shirts that fell to mid-thigh. For all I knew she could be wearing nothing under there–
"Um, can you get Trace and Victor, Zed?" Sky mumbled, her cheeks a furious red as her hands tugged the shirt down "I've got something to tell them." Seeing her hands, I grinned and patted her butt.
"Go put on my dressing gown." I told her "I'll get them out of bed and meet you in the kitchen. Mum and Dad will want to hear this too."
Sky told us what she remembered over a good ol' cup of tea. I concentrated on her accent to avoid actually hearing what she said, what they did to her – sharp t's; u's that sound like 'you' not 'oo'. . .
I was aware of Victor scribbling down notes while a recorder took every breath she made down for later reference.
"Another family of savants outside the Net," Dad mused when she was finished "ones with no soulfinders to add balance. And they had O'Halloran on the payroll. Sounds to be that there's more out there than we thought."
"I know how to manipulate people's minds," Victor said, tucking the recorder away "but I would never think to do it to such an extent."
"That's because Kellys evil and you're not." Sky suggested "I'm not joking when I said it was like brain mugging. He stole from me, trying to make me hate you." Sky's hand found mine under the table "The pictures are still there in my head even if I know they're false."
"Have you heard of a gift like the son's before?" I asked Dad, squeezing her hand supportively "I don't like the way he went after Sky, making everything worse." Dad rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"The Ute talk of people who thrive on the emotions of others. They are the parasites in the savant world."
"And the daughter, what can she do?"
"Maybe she has a gift with shields – at least she talked about breaking through mine but it wasn't strong enough to Daniel Kelly. He's very powerful. I resisted for as long as I could." I tightened my jaw, grounding my teeth together.
"Probably longer than she expected." Victor commented, looking at her keenly "And it didn't take properly, did it? You questioned all the time."
"Are you going to arrest him?"
"Ah." He sipped his coffee, and I was reminded of the outrageous time "The thing is, Sky, this isn't evidence that I can use to apprehend Daniel Kelly. He's a powerful man; his money buys a lot of silence. No judge would accept your account, especially after the confused version you've already given to the Las Vegas police accusing others." Sky's hand was limp in mine.
"Zed and Xav." She said coldly.
"Yeah. They dropped their investigation when I proved that they couldn't have had anything to do with your abduction, but it discredits you as a witness." Vic had his police head on, nodding factually as he spoke.
"I see." She huffed "So there was no pint in telling you all this?"
"Of course there's a point." He contradicted "We have the truth now and it ties up the things we didn't understand or couldn't know. It is invaluable that we are aware that there are other savants out there working on the dark side." He smiled at the Star Wars steal "Yeah, we have a dark side too in the savant world. We could've walked into all manner of traps if we'd remained in ignorance. And it raises the possibility that the mole in the FBI does not even know they're doing it. Daniel Kelly could have got to one of my colleagues and forced them to betray us. I'll have to review who's had contact with him." Sky nodded, and her eyes went towards the clock. I almost groaned – please, don't see it, don't see it. . .
"You know something? I want to go to school today." She declared, and I almost dropped my head into my hands.
"What? You have the perfect excuse to miss class yet you want to go?" I repeated.
"I don't like skiving. It makes me feel as if I'm sick, and if I'm letting Daniel Kelly win." She frowned.
"Well, if you put it like that, then we have to go. I'd better get ready. Man, I didn't bother to revise for my physics test thinking I'd be with you here today." I said, mentally slapping myself.
"I you're using Sky as an excuse to duck work, Zed. . ." Dad started. That was my cue to leave.
"Meet you down here in twenty minutes."
"I'll just let my parents know what I'm planning." Sky chirped, as if the thought of school actually cheered her up. Of course, Sky's parents were fine with it, and before I knew it we were zooming to school together.