The Mapmakers Union (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 3) (8 page)

“Guess I’m more like my dad after all.”

“Perhaps.” He didn’t seem convinced. “What I am trying to tell you is that your mother was much like you when she was younger. She was bright and had many friends, even those among other Societies such as your father. But her path led her to where she is now.”

“You think being friends with people other than her own Society made my mom a nutter?”

“No, I am trying to impress on you that people always assume that their point of view is correct. Your mother, whatever her reason, feels that she is doing the right thing. Just as you do when you start fights and act out.”

“Sorry, I don’t see the correlation between fighting with a twit like Darla and my mom trying to kill my friends and me.”

“Be that as it may, I think it would be best if you and your friends left dealing with the dire situation to the more experienced and skillful Council.”

“Yeah, cause you guys have done such a bang up job so far.”

“Ms. Masters—” He paused a moment and energy surged like a coiling snake around him and I balled my hands into fists activating my own powers. “This is not a request, but a command from the head of the Council.”

“Is that a threat?”

“An order, you will do nothing regarding the First Kind without the permission of the Council.
Do
I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Very well, then we are done. You can show yourself out.” He waved me off like someone brushing away a gnat and I bit my tongue. I wanted to tell him off but it wouldn’t do me any good. It really didn’t matter since I intended to do whatever I wanted to anyway, no matter what he said.

I reached the portal door he had left open and reached out to grab the handle. He’d left his Skeleton Key in the door and my fingers brushed against it. My abilities flared and the doorway pulsed with crimson energy before I yanked my hand away.

I snatched hold of the Doorknob, twisted it and rushed through the portal. When I looked back I saw that Mr. Tower had been watching me, his eyes narrowed and followed my every move.

He’d seen me activate the Skeleton Key.

Status: I’m great at wrecking things.

After my meeting with Mr. Tower I found Edgar and Slade and we left school and headed down Washington Street. We passed through the pedestrian Mall and cut across Beach Avenue to make our way towards my house on Mission Way. I peeked into the Cape Beanery to see if Val had started her shift and continued on when I didn’t see her behind the counter. When we turned onto Mission my eyes went to the peak of my house where the sun glinted off the window of my attic room. Somewhere up there I had stashed my DS Handbook and it was going to take some serious digging to find it.

Edgar and Slade were having an in depth conversation about the latest stats on the Old Kind racing circuit, while I found myself worrying about just what Mr. Tower had seen me do. I wanted to call Gavin and tell him what had happened but I couldn’t do that with my friends around. Plus, I was still beating myself up over Jess. She hadn’t talked to me in some time and I was worried that maybe I had screwed things up beyond repair. I figured I should talk to Gran about it again and see if maybe she could help. Dad was busy getting ready for a new tour of his magic act, leaving me with Jess and Gran. That didn’t seem like a good idea if Jess actually hated me, Gran would constantly have to be a buffer between us.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Masters.” The melodic voice made my back stiffen as it drifted down off the porch at our approach. I looked up to see DeAndré’ ’ Morgan leaning against the column at the top of the stairs. His dreadlocks were pulled back in a ponytail and his size seemed even more impressive, his arms appearing as thick as tree trunks. I had thought Slade had thick muscles, but he paled in comparison.

 My eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?” That was supposed to be a thought but it sought of slipped out. I worried that he had found a way to track me and finally realized that I was the one he has been searching for.

 Gran pushed the door open and walked out onto the porch a mug in her hand. She extended it to DeAndré’ ’ and he took it with a smile and sipped the hot liquid. “Chloe, this is DeAndré’ ’ Morgan he’s from the Skeleton Key Guild.”

“We’ve met.” My eyes remained fixed on him and he smirked at me and stepped aside as the three of us climbed the steps to the porch.

“Boys, why don’t you go grab a snack; I need to talk with Chloe.” Gran opened the door waving my friends inside. Slade looked at me with a raised eyebrow and I nodded that it was okay.

“Yes, we’ve met but not properly. I thought it was about time with all the trouble that you’ve had with the Guild that I formally introduce myself.” Morgan placed his mug on the bistro table.

“Did you now?” I crossed my arms and gritted my teeth. I hated not knowing if that was the real reason he was here. It seemed as if the Skeleton Key Guild was all about getting in my face today.

“Chloe, it was my idea.” Gran placed her hand on my shoulder and with a chance that he might not be lying, I relaxed... a little.

“With the truces called off and after what happened at the Diesel Factories, I thought it would be wise to meet with someone from the Guild. It would be best for all of us.” Gran titled her head at me and I knew she was referring to Jess.

 I could still recall the look on Jess’ face when fellow Guilders had shouted at her that she was a traitor. I took a deep breath and sat across from Morgan. If this could possibly help my cousin, then I could handle it.

“Sorry about all that stuff at the Diesel Factories.” I pulled my school bag off my shoulder and let it slide to the ground beside my feet. My hand instinctively slid over my doorknob in the pocket of my jacket and the feel of it reassured me.

“After talking with everyone it seemed you were only defending yourself. You can see why some people might be offended that you were wearing a Guild member’s jacket. You aren’t exactly known as a friend to the Guild,” Morgan said as if he had just acquitted me of a crime.

 Annoyance bubbled in my gut and while I certainly didn’t feel that I owed him an explanation, I wanted to make sure he understood one important thing. “Nightshade and I were friends. His mother gave me the jacket and I intend to wear it.” Morgan nodded and leaned back in his seat. “I understand; it’s hard to lose someone you’ve been close with. Your grandmother is right though. With the truces called off, you have no protection if an argument with a Guilder escalates into something much worse.”

“I don’t need protection.” It was difficult getting a handle on Morgan. It might appear that he was trying to help but I had my doubts. There was something else going on, though I couldn’t pinpoint it and I prayed that it had nothing to do with the other day when he was chasing me.

“I could see that,” Morgan chuckled, “but a spark like that could set off a much larger conflict and no one wants that, Chloe.”

“He’s right, dear.” Gran smile, though her shoulders were slumped as if weighted with concern and she kept wringing her hands. How was it that I always managed to make the people that I cared about the most, worry? “It makes it difficult on others as well.” Her smile had faded and I knew that I wasn’t getting the whole picture.

“What do you mean?”

“Your cousin has been having some problems,” Morgan said.

“What kind of problems?” My hand squeezed my doorknob tighter.

“She’s gotten into a few fights with other Guild members. Apparently, they haven’t taken too well to her siding with you at the Diesel Factories.”

I stood, my anger boiling and rushing up to flush my face. “Fights, with whom?”

“Sit down, Chloe. There is nothing you can do about it now.” Morgan was all matter-of-fact and I hated to admit that he was right, which of course I didn’t verbally, though I did sit down.

 I turned to Gran, her face suddenly looking older to me. Had I been the cause of those added wrinkles and worry lines? I felt contrite, something I very rarely felt. “What can I do?”

“Well for one thing, no more fighting with Guild members, or at least not antagonizing them,” Morgan said.

“Fine but I’m not taking off the jacket.”

“Fair enough,”—Morgan turned to Gran with a smile—“Mrs. Grimm, may I have a moment alone with Chloe?”

“Certainly, and thank you for coming Morgan.” She stood and patted his hand before going to the door “I’ll be right inside, Chloe.”

I kept my eyes on Morgan as I heard the door close behind me. Was he truly concerned about me or was he setting a trap and waiting to spring it?

“Your grandmother was one of my trainers when I first joined the Guild. She was a wonderful instructor, I owe her a lot.”

That’s how Gran knew Morgan, I remembered she had been some kind of teacher but I had never given it much thought. “That’s why you’re here?”

“That... and you.” There was that stare again, I could swear the man was trying to dig into my soul.

“What about me?”

“You’re powerful, Chloe, more powerful then you realize. You could have really hurt someone if I hadn’t stepped in at the Factories.”

“I was in control.”

“No, you weren’t. I’ve only seen someone draw that much energy when they are close to losing control. Your grandmother is a dear friend of mine. She’s already lost her daughter; I don’t want to see her lose a granddaughter as well.”

The words stung and I had to bite my lip before I made one of my trademark stupid comments. Was he suggesting that I was going off the deep end like my mother had? I didn’t like anyone comparing me to my mom, in anyway, not after what she had done to me. But I worried that he might be right.

 Ever since Nightshade’s death I had pushed myself harder and harder as if trying to right the wrong I felt I had done. But it seemed that I had forced all those I loved to suffer my penance along with me. Jess was getting into fights and not talking to me. I had strung Slade along, not letting him know how I felt. Dad was more concerned than ever and now it seemed that I had aged Gran with worry. Maybe I was out of control?

“I can handle myself,” I said but not with my usual self-confidence.

“Chloe, you’re not a Guild member. There is only so much I can do to help you if you get into trouble. I’m asking you to be careful, if not for yourself, then for the people who care about you.”

“I get it.” I actually did and it bothered me.

“I hope you do.” He stood and walked down the porch steps.

My mind was reeling with guilt for hurting those I loved and annoyance at my own foolishness.

“One more thing,” I glanced over at Morgan who was standing on the stone path leading to the house. “I’m sure you’ve heard about the incident that caused the truces to fail.”

“Who hasn’t,” I said trying my best to remain nonchalant.

“Would you happen to know anything about that?”

There was the look again, as if he peered into me searching for the truth. I kept my voice steady and stared him right in the eyes as I lied through my teeth.  “Nope, not a thing.” “Well if you hear anything let me know.” He turned and walked off without another word.

I let out a long sigh and dropped my head back against the chair. Man that was just way too close for comfort. I needed to be careful with Morgan; I got the feeling he wasn’t going to let it go. Nothing was going to stop him from hunting down the person he was after. And sooner or later he’d discover that person was... me.

I shivered, the cold having settled in my legs. I grabbed my school bag and went into the house. The smell of food wafted down the hallway and I walked into the kitchen to find my friends at the island and Gran feeding them.

“Everything okay?” Slade asked over his shoulder.

“Yeah, fine.” I pulled open the fridge, pulled out a water bottle, threw my school bag on the counter, and leaned against it taking a drink.

“Do you know where the book is?” Edgar asked between mouthfuls of food and I shook my head having completely forgotten why we’d come to my house in the first place.

“Let me go look for it,” I said and headed up to my room. I passed Jess’ room on the second floor, the door was closed and I wasn’t even sure she was home. With her being finished with school, it wasn’t exactly easy to keep up with what she was doing. I hesitated for a moment and considered knocking, but thought better of it. I continued up the stairs to the attic taking them two at a time.  My room was a mess as usual. I yanked off Nightshade’s leather jacket, tossed it on the bed, and looked around trying to remember where I had stuffed my DS Handbook.

I went to work searching through my drawers or anyplace else I thought I may have put it. After a few minutes I leaned back on my bed and let my thoughts drift to where I had last left the book. I glanced around the room and realized that after spending so many years traveling the world with Dad, living out of hotel rooms in one city after another, I’d finally found a home here and the mess confirmed that I had really settled in. I was completely clueless as to where I might have left my damn handbook.

I rested back against the headboard, pulling my knees up to my chest, and looked over at my dresser. The picture of Nightshade and me at last year’s school dance stuck out from the edge of the mirror. I smiled at the image of us happy, him looking down at me with such intense emotion and me completely oblivious. I closed my eyes and imagined his face near mine, his smile crooked as always.

Maybe I was going off the rails, but what else was I to do? How could I explain to anyone that in a weird way Nightshade had been one of the few people who had totally understood me? Maybe it was because we were both overloaded with issues, my mom deserting me and him losing his dad and girlfriend so violently. I’d come to rely on our arguments and his annoying habit of calling me on my bull. Nobody else but him had the guts to do that or even recognize it.

How was I supposed to live without him? Someone who loved me in spite of it all. Someone who didn’t mind all the broken pieces that were me. What scared me more than anything was that the already broken pieces had shattered yet again and I worried that I would never be able to piece any of them back together. I rested my head on my knees and rocked back and forth.