The Mapmakers Union (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 3) (3 page)

“There are maps in the Infinity Library that have information on the Tavern, though not its location. Those maps combined with the Legend should be able to point me in the right direction.”

“Looks like we’re going to the library,” I said eager to get started.

Levi stood. “Then we all know what needs to be done. Once you have the location of the Tavern inform us. I need to return to Paladin Academy.” He gave each of us a nod, as if telling us to be careful, before leaving.

 Dad waved me over to him with a non-to-happy look.

“Dad?” I leaned against the edge of the table where he sat figuring I was in for some type of lecture.

“We need to talk.” He gestured for me to follow him. I trailed behind him as we left the room, not looking forward to what was about to come. We stopped at the end of the hall and Dad rounded on me. “What the hell is going on with you?”

“What do you mean?” I shrugged.

“This whole attitude of yours lately, like you could care less about anything? You need to knock it off.”

 He was angry and doing his best to keep his cool, but I was tired of everyone telling me what to do and tired of trying to keep my cool. “Do I really?”

“Yes, you do, and it’s time to get rid of the attitude.”

“Wellllllll,” I said drawing out the word to try and keep my calm. It didn’t work. ”Let’s see about my attitude. Could it possibly be because my friend is dead? Oh wait, I forgot... he died so that I could live, but what does that matter? Then there’s Mom, bless her black heart. She intended to kill me, but hey, why should that bother me. But best of all is the fact that I’m secretly working for my dad against the Doorknob Society, placing my life and that of my friends in danger. Tell me, which of those wonderful things should make me not have an attitude?” I hadn’t realized how my voice had risen but then my anger had boiled over. I wasn’t surprised that Dad remained calm. He had a way of doing that when my temper flared.

“Chloe, I know you’ve had a lot thrown at you, more than anyone ever should. And while I would love to protect and keep you away from this whole mess, I can’t. You’re in the thick of it and there’s no turning back. I’m sorrier than you’ll ever know about Nightshade, but I’m also grateful. He’s a hero to me, giving his life so that my daughter could live. As far as Mom is concerned, I wish I knew what made her betray us, made her want to kill you when she had been such a loving, caring mother to you. Maybe when this is finally settled we’ll have answers. However, right now I need your help and I need to know if you can handle it.  If this is too much, if you’ve reached your limit, tell me now.”

Of course it was too damn much, but what was my alternative, sit in my room and cry in my pillow? I sure as hell wasn’t going to do that, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to let Dad know, so I did what I had to do... I lied.

“Of course I can handle it, I’m a Masters.” I kept a good poker face, something I had learned to do lately, and I was glad I had. Dad had a way of studying my face to see if I was being honest, which he was doing now, so my new talent came in handy.

He reached out, grabbed my shoulders, and pulled me close. “Look, if I could trust the DS to do this I would, but right now we have no idea if the First Kind infiltrated our ranks. We can only rely on those who have proven trustworthy, and that’s basically you and your friends. If I could do this I would, but I’m still looked at with suspicion. DS is watching me like a hawk since I was readmitted and even more so now that the truces have been revoked. You’ve already done more than your share so if you can’t handle this I’m fine with it, just tell me.”

I sighed and rested my head against his chest, a spot I always sought when I needed comforting.  And he had comforted me once again just as he always had. It was good to know he thought of Nightshade as a hero and that he was as confused about Mom as I was and that he believed me trustworthy. While a part of me wanted us to run away and escape the madness, it just wasn’t possible.  Too much had changed and life would never be the same again. “I love you too, Dad, and don’t worry, I’m fine. I can do this and more.” I hugged him tight not wanting to let go.

He kissed my forehead, stepped back, and brushed my hair out of my face. “I’m glad to hear that. Now what’s going on with you and Slade?”

“What do you mean?” I titled my head confused by the question.

“Well, a few months ago you were a couple, now you don’t even talk to him. Not to mention he came to me and asked me to talk to you. Did you know that he still refers to himself as your boyfriend?”

“Seriously?” I sighed and rolled my eyes. Why do men have to be such pains? As far as I was concerned Slade and I broke up the moment he left me behind and chose that artifact over me. We had just talked and he knew damn well we weren’t together anymore. Now I was going to have to “break up” with him. My day just keeps getting better and better.

“I take it that means you’re not dating anymore?”

“No, not dating, not at all. And not wanting to date anyone right now.” I glanced down at the tip of my combat boot and an image of Nightshade popped into my mind. I could see him as clearly as if he was standing in front of me. He wore his signature, I-don’t-give-a-shit-smile when he actually did care more than anyone knew. Then there were his two different colored eyes, one bright blue and the other light gray. Damn, but I missed him.

“That’s fine by me.” Dad laughed and I punched his shoulder.

“Shut up.”

“I know it’s hard to lose someone you care about, but trust me time fades the pain.” Dad smiled and I realized this must have been how he felt when Mom deserted us.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“No problem, just do your dad a favor and try not to do anything
too
crazy.”

“Who me?” I smirked.

“Yes you.” He took a fortifying breath as if he had more to say but was reluctant to say it. “I’ve got some leads on the First Kind. I’m going to start tracking them down, which means I won’t be around much.”

I didn’t like the sound of Dad being away and all alone. Ever since Mom had left it had always been the two of us looking out for each other.

“What type of leads? You can track them and still come home at night, can’t you?”

“No, I’m going to use my magician act as a cover, so I’ll be traveling all over the place. I’ll keep in touch and pop in from time to time and if you need me, I can be here quickly. Don’t worry about my leads, they may be nothing but I need to check them out anyway.”

 It was my last year of school and after it was over I had given thought to leaving Cape May and apprenticing with the Doorknob Society. A decision that was relatively normal. With Dad and I having traveled so much, the last few years of being settled in Cape May were more of an abnormal lifestyle to me. But I had never thought that Dad would leave before me or without me.

“Who’s going to assist you?” I’d helped Dad with all his magic tricks.

“I’ve got a few people in mind. The real trick will be to keep the First Kind off my trail so I won’t be taking any Old Kind.”

“You’ll be careful right?” I didn’t want Dad to go. I’d lost too many people I cared about already; I didn’t want to lose him too.

“Aren’t I always?” he grinned trying to reassure me. “I’m doing a few dates leading up to the holidays, and then I start the main tour.”

I wanted to tell him that he couldn’t go; he couldn’t leave me. I was afraid of losing him and if he was nearby I could keep him safe. At least I wanted to believe I could. But just like he knew he couldn’t stop me from doing crazy things; I knew I couldn’t stop him. So I reluctantly said, “Okay, but you better keep in constant touch or else.” I shook a finger at him and Dad hugged me and I hugged him back, not wanting to let him go. We parted and Dad threw his arm over my shoulder and we walked back to the room where my friends waited for us.

“By the way, Faith wanted me to tell you to call her. She wants to talk to you,” Dad said then gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and headed toward the portal that would take him home.

 I nodded, waved with one hand and with the other reached back scratching at the base of my skull. I felt like there was something I had forgotten, but couldn’t think of what it was, though I had this overwhelming feeling it was important. Faith had been a great friend the last few months. I’d even considered showing her the Reliquary, but Jess had talked me out of it. She still had issues with Faith.

Truthfully, I was starting to confide in Faith more than most.

Status: Secrets and lies are necessary or so I keep telling myself.

“What are you going to do?” Val sat on the stool opposite me and slid a steaming cup of coffee across the table. I’d promised to meet her on her break at the Cape Beanery.

“I’m going to tell him we’re over.” I tapped my fingers on the sides of the cup. It was mid-November and the weather had taken a turn toward winter.

“I thought he might still be hung up on you. I told Edgar we should set Slade up with someone but he didn’t think it was a good idea, since Slade was always talking about you.”

“Great, so this’ll be nice and easy then,” I said sarcastically and lifted my cup and took a sip, savoring the taste.

“When are you going to do it?” Val asked eagerly and I knew she had something in mind.

“Why?”

“Well, there’s this dance at my school and I want Edgar to take me. I wanted to set Slade up with a girl from school so Edgar wouldn’t feel so lonely— or you know— seem so odd.” She shrugged.

I loved Val. She was right there with me, hooking my ex up to get him off my back. “When is it?”

“Two weeks.”

“Fine, I’ll do it before then so you can set up your little shindig.” I laughed and took another sip. Actually, her plan really helped me out. I needed something to push me to have the conversation with Slade and at least this put me on a timetable.

“How is everything else going? Any news?” Val leaned in conspiratorially and grinned.

When she had been kidnapped and learned the truth about me and my friends and about the Old Kind, protocol dictated that her memory of the events be wiped. Jess and I had convinced Dad not to do it and ever since Val has been voracious about anything having to do with the Old Kind. I suppose it didn’t help that her boyfriend was a Mapmaker. It also was nice having an outsider’s point of view on the craziness that was my life.

“Not really, I’m sure Edgar will fill you in.” I took a swallow of my coffee and glanced out the window.

“He told me about your near miss the other night,” Val said like an irate parent and cocked an eyebrow and gave me her best disapproving look.

I was tired of everyone trying to talk sense into me when they were really reprimanding me. “Edgar already talked to me about this and I get it. You’re all very worried about me. ”

“We’re concerned that’s all. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for you with what happened to Nightshade. I want you to know that you can talk to me whenever you need to.” Val clasped my hand and squeezed tightly.

 I smiled at her and patted her hand reassuringly. Val was a good friend; they all were, though lately the only one not giving me hell was Faith.

The bells on the door rang as customers entered the Beanery and Val rushed off to greet them. I clutched my coffee cup letting the warmth seep in and stared out the window.

Why did she have to bring up Nightshade? Why did everyone for that matter? It was difficult enough keeping the memories at bay without everyone reminding me about him every five seconds. Even when I did think about him, more often than not, we were arguing. The man had had a way of driving me nuts. The few quiet moments we had spent together were the ones I held onto; our embrace in a narrow, dark closet, a night under the desert stars, and the night of the school dance forever frozen in a picture. If I concentrated hard enough I could even smell his familiar scent and naturally there was a hint of leather to it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath trying to conjure it up in my mind.

His eyes came first, the blue and then the gray; next I saw his crooked smile. I smiled recalling the self-confident way he would talk or stand beside me. The pain returned as his image faded. I had assumed he would always be there, but he was gone and now I was alone. The man I had thought was a pain-in-my-butt and wanted to get rid of, was the one person I wanted desperately to see now more than anyone.

“Are you trying to inhale that coffee?” Faith’s voice cut through my memories and I opened my eyes and turned to her sitting across from me with a wide smile on her face.

An itch tickled at the base of my neck and I laughed at her comment as I reached back to scratch it. “Where’d you come from?”

“Just finished practice.” She pulled her bag off her shoulder and slung it over the back of the chair. Faith had been given her own DS team after our last misadventure. They’d wanted me to take on a team full time, but I declined and told them that she deserved it.

“How’d it go?”

“Not bad, the team is coming together. I think if the First Kind showed up, we would give them a run for their money. Of course, we would do a lot better if you were a member.” She winked at me and I smirked at the implication.

“Sorry, I’m done listening to DS for the moment.” I’d had enough of the Old Kind and their ways to last a lifetime. I was more interested in staying on the outside and working for Dad and my other side job with Gavin that no one knew about.

“For not being active with DS you certainly do keep busy. I haven’t seen you in over a week. What’ve you been up too?” Faith leaned forward and I knew she didn’t believe for a moment that I hadn’t been doing stuff on the sly.

“Nothing much, just school stuff,” I said.

 “Yeah, right, school stuff. Well, whatever you’re up to be careful. The Societies are practically at war with one another. All its going to take is one match to light the fire.”

 Faith sat straight on the stool and for a moment I thought I caught a hint of satisfaction flash across her face. How could that be? It didn’t make sense, Faith wouldn’t want a war. We were fighting to prevent that. I realized I must have misread her.