Believe: The Complete Channie Series (101 page)

Vince's features were frozen by his scars, but his energy field bloomed with bright-red light when Josh mentioned the evil queen. It helped that Vince obviously hated their mutual enemy, but it wasn’t enough to make Josh trust him.

“How did you find me?” Josh suspected Vince was last night’s intruder. He didn’t know how he felt about that. He’d rather it was Vince sneaking around than a tracker, but he didn’t like being spied on.

“Rider told me you raced mountain bikes. He showed me the course you traversed during your escape. I must say, I’m very impressed with your skills. It’s hard to believe that you’re satisfied with this.” He nodded at the arena.

“Hey!” Josh was sick of people comparing BMX to mountain biking. They were both legitimate sports.

“I wasted a lot of time looking through biking propaganda for the wrong sport.” Vince opened his coat and pulled a magazine out of an inside pocket then handed it to Josh.

He stifled a groan when he saw his face on the cover of
BMX Today
. The caption,
Rising Star Falls to New Low,
hit him like a fist. A sense of shame crept up the back of his neck, heating his cheeks and ears.

Vince took the offensive magazine and slipped it back into his coat. “It was tucked behind the last copy of
Mountain Bike International
.”

“Figures. They always bury the BMX stuff behind everything else.”

“I couldn’t believe my luck. The article didn’t give your address, but it mentioned the tracks where you like to practice. I didn’t expect to find you so quickly. Some might call it fate.”

“I don’t believe in fate and you make your own luck.”

“You’re a bit cynical for such a young man.”

“Look, I’m not trying to be a smart-ass, but I’d really like to know what it is you want from me.”

“My
mother…
” Vince practically spat the word, “will destroy everything and everyone in her path. She wants to rule the entire world, not just ours. I need your help. We all do.”

“How can I possibly help? I don’t know anything about how to fight a magical war.” Just because he’d been able to curse Eric, didn’t mean he’d stand a chance against another mage.

“I don’t want you to fight. Our clan needs someone they can rally behind. They have a cause worth fighting for, but they have no hope. They need a leader that can inspire them.”

“You’re next in line for the throne. You inspire them.”

“If word gets out that I’m still alive, my mother will divert all her resources out of the field and hunt me down like a dog.”

“And if I reveal myself, she’ll come after me. Is that what this is about? You want me to take the heat off you?”

“For all I know, she’d welcome you with open arms and make you the crown prince. But I don’t recommend you try that tactic. She’s just as likely to execute you.”

“Which is why I don’t want her to know I was ever born.”

“She’ll find out eventually.”

“How? Are you going to turn me in? Is Rider?”

“Someone is spreading rumors about a Book of the Dead prophesy. They’re claiming an unknown, royal mage will reveal himself as the rightful heir to the throne and unite all the clans.” Vince turned to Josh. “I assume they’re talking about you.”

Josh wiped the sweat off his brow. “What else are they saying?”

“They’re predicting a decisive battle during the lunar eclipse on Solstice night.” Vince leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “It’s very clever propaganda. Mages tend to be superstitious. Especially the uneducated hillbillies that make up ninety percent of our population.”

“It’s not propaganda.” Josh slid down until his knees bumped against the underside of the dash. He closed his eyes and repeated the words from the Book of the Dead…
“Son of Vengeance seeking light,
Grasp the hilt and join the fight.”
 

He rolled his head to the side, to gage Vince's reaction. “Sound familiar?”

“Where did you hear that?” Vince pressed his lipless mouth shut and inhaled through his nose, making an eerie whistling noise.

“From a book?”

“You have a Book of the Dead! Where is it?”

Josh’s shield popped into place, but it didn’t stop Vince from wrapping his claw-like fingers around Josh’s bicep.

He leveled his gaze at the man. “I’ve already said too much.”

“That’s a Book of the Dead prophecy and since it mentions me by name, I have the right to read it!” Vince's grip tightened.

“Cut it out!” Josh jerked his arm out of Vince's grasp. “I don’t have the book anymore. Someone stole it.”

“How could you let that happen?” A flash of red light shimmered in front of Vince for a moment. He crossed his arms and leaned away from Josh, sucking the light back into his body. He was obviously trying to control himself. “Was it the same mage that cursed you?”

“What makes you think I’m cursed?” Josh lowered his voice. He didn’t know anything about him, but with Vengeance for a power-name, it wouldn’t be a good idea to piss him off.

“There’s a barrier in your mind. And you didn’t put it there.”

“You can read my mind?” Hunter had specifically said that mind reading wasn’t possible. Josh didn’t like the idea of someone else having access to his memories, especially when
he
didn’t.

“You don’t know much about magic, do you?”

Josh snorted then tried to cover it up with a cough. “Whatever I know is hidden behind that barrier. Can you remove it?”

“I can’t read your mind and I can’t fight another mage’s magic. But you can.”

“How’s that?”

“If you can’t break the barrier, find a way around it.”

“And just how am I supposed to do that?”

“I haven’t got a clue. Like I said it’s your mind.” Vince tilted his head to the side, as if he were looking out the window, but Josh knew he was using the reflective surface to watch him. “What do you know about the rebellion?”

“All I know is that there are two opposing groups…clans, whatever…that can’t get along.” Josh wasn’t about to share any details of the small amount of information he had. For all he knew, Vince could be a spy.

“I am not a spy.”

“I thought you said you couldn’t read my mind?”

“Your energy field is pulsing with suspicion.” Vince turned his shoulders towards Josh. “Do you know what a death pledge is?”

Josh’s heart skipped more than one beat. “I’m not swearing a death pledge to you or anyone else.”

“I wasn’t asking you to. I’m willing to swear one to you. I need you to trust me and I can’t think of any other way.” Vince shifted his gaze to his lap. “I hope you aren’t squeamish.”

“It depends.”

Vince tugged his gloves off his disfigured hands then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, exposing a web of scars. “You need to tug the collar of your shirt aside, or let me slip my hand under it.”

“What for?” Josh didn’t like the idea of a man’s hand under his shirt. Scars or no scars.

“You don’t know how a death pledge works, do you?”

Josh shook his head. Diego told him that Channie swore one to save his life, but he hadn’t shared any details about the actual spell.

“We need to clasp each other’s wrists with our left hands and place our right hands over each other’s hearts. And it has to be skin-to-skin contact for it to work.”

Josh held his shirt open so Vince could press his palm against the bare skin of his chest. Then did the same.

Magic was already in the air, but when Vince grabbed Josh’s wrist, the hair on his arms stood on end.

“I, Vincent Javick, formerly known as Vengeance Veyjivik, do hereby solemnly swear, upon pain of death, to never intentionally harm Valor Veyjivik, also known as Joshua Vincent Abrim. This I pledge, else my life be forfeit.”

Red light poured out of Vince's chest. It was nearly the same color as angry energy, only darker. It spiraled up Josh’s arm and into his heart. He tried to pull away, but he couldn’t let go of Vince's wrist or lift his hand off his scarred chest. The magic bound them together.

Vince stared at Josh for a few seconds then said, “You need to accept my pledge.”

“How do I do that?”

“Just state your name and say the words, but don’t promise anything in return.”

“Okay. I, Joshua Abrim, Valor Veyjivik…whatever…accept your pledge.”

Magic circled Josh’s heart then flowed out of him. It entered Vince's chest then disappeared. The bond released. “There. Do you trust me, now?”

“I trust you; but that doesn’t mean I trust your judgment.”

Vince's mouth twisted, contorting his scarred features, but the way his eyes shone revealed the expression as a smile.

I wish I could see him the way he wants to be seen.
The air in front of Vince's face shimmered. The scars disappeared. A fringe of salt and pepper curls peeked out beneath the brim of his hat. His full lips curved up into, what could only be called, a ‘charming’ smile. Fine wrinkles fanned out from the corners of his sapphire eyes and deepened as he frowned.

“Valor?” The illusion dissolved. “What are you doing?”

Josh blinked then shifted his gaze away from Vince. Somehow, knowing how handsome the man should have been, made his disfigurement all the more tragic.

Josh suddenly wanted to open up to him. Something deep in his gut urged him to spill it all. Was it a spell? He didn’t detect any weird energy, but what did he know? Maybe his desire to trust Vince was a natural reaction to seeing him without all the scars?
Am I really that shallow
? The man’s appearance shouldn’t make any difference in how Josh felt. He needed time to sort everything out before he shared any more secrets. There was too much at stake.

“I need to get back inside and disqualify myself so they’ll let the guy that came in third advance to the final.” The disappointment Josh felt was way out of proportion for the situation. It was just one race. Or was it? Something told him that it was his last race.

“There is still so much we need to discuss. Will you meet me somewhere tonight?”

“Heritage Park. Under the pavilion next to the playground. Midnight.”

Vince opened his door and put one foot on the ground but remained seated in the car. “And, Val?”

Josh cringed. “Don’t call me Val. That’s a girl’s name.”

“You need to be more careful about using the Veyjivik name. It could get you killed.”

Josh
didn’t feel like hanging around after withdrawing from the race. He wanted to go back to Dad’s house and study the damn poems some more before it was time to meet Vince in the park. He doubted he’d gain any more insight but it was worth a try.

“Josh?” Mom lifted her hand, as if she were going to touch his face, but she curled her fingers into a fist and lowered it to her side without touching him. Whatever disagreement they’d had must have been ugly. “Why don’t you come home for a few days? Your father is staying at the hospital with Liz. And with Channie out of town, you must be terribly lonely in that big house all by yourself.”

“How did you know that Channie was out of town?” He hadn’t even told Dad yet.

“Mary told me.”

Thanks a lot Aunt Mary.
“Kassie has a big mouth.”

Mom’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second. “Are you and Channie having problems? Is that why you didn’t go with her?”

“We’re fine.” Josh didn’t mean to snap at her, but he didn’t like the hopeful tone of Mom’s voice. It was obvious she didn’t like Channie.

“Will you come home? Just until she gets back?” Mom’s eyes filled with tears.

“I don’t know. All my stuff’s at Dad’s.”

“No it’s not.” Elijah blinked then swiped at his cheeks with his fingertips. “Everything’s just the way you left it. Your bed’s not even made. And you still have lots of dirty clothes on the floor. But I’ll help you clean your room. I’ll even do your laundry.”

“I meant my books, squirt. I have a ton of homework.” Josh sighed. How could he say ‘no’ with Elijah looking at him with his eyes full of hope and tears?