Obsidian (Mystic Stones Series #1) (32 page)

Kapono’s large friend took the money and counted it quickly. He went to a spot in the rickety wooden floor and pulled up a few loose boards. Under them were eight vests. They were high quality; something the military would use. I’d seen similar ones in a warehouse I managed for the military in my time at Herrick-Peyton. Each of us grabbed two, but Jesse wasn’t quite finished.

“Have any guns?” he asked.

“I got a few,” he answered.

Apparently he was a little more trusting of Jesse because he went straight to a cabinet and opened it to reveal a small arsenal. There were about seven rifles and around fifteen handguns. Ammo filled the bottom shelf, which was almost overflowing. Jesse walked to the cabinet.

“I’ll take that one, that one, and those two,” he said, pointing out two assault rifles and two handguns. “And a box of ammo for each,” he stated with money in hand.

“One noddah thirty,” he said.

Jesse handed him the rest of the cash from his pocket. The man counted it again and slipped it into his pocket with the rest of the money.

We each grabbed a gun and a box of ammo along with our two vests. Jesse thanked him in the Hawaiian language and nodded his head. Kapono’s friend replied with his own, “Mahalo.”

“See ya, brah!” Kapono called on their way to the car.

The man just waved and called back, “Kipa hou mai,” before returning to the confines of his shack.

“Kipa hou mai” meant “come visit again” in Hawaiian. I assumed that Kapono’s friend most definitely wouldn’t mind making that kind of money in again.

Once everyone got back into the car, I turned to Jesse. “You know, you really shouldn’t be waving that kind of cash around, people will think I’m a gold-digger.”

“Well, I am old, but unfortunately for you, I won’t be dying anytime soon,” he replied with a grin.

“I can’t believe you were walking around with 85 hundred dollars in your pocket,” I said.

“Don’t forget about the 15 hundred I gave to the owner of the café,” he said.

“Ten thousand dollars? You had ten thousand dollars in your pocket? What if someone would have mugged us?”

Jesse laughed, “I’d like to see someone try to mug me, an immortal with special skills, and you, a siren. That would be a good show,” he continued laughing.

I rolled my eyes. “I still think it’s crazy. What if it had fallen out of your pocket?” I countered.

“Then I suppose I would’ve had to go back to the boat for more,” he smiled.

“You’re crazy,” I said.

“Crazy in love,” he whispered into my ear.

“That was gnarly, brah, I never saw Nahele deal with a haole before,” Kapono commented.

“Intimidating guy, but I guess business is business,” Jesse replied.

“You lucky, brah, that moke don’t even talk to haole, most of the time. He only talk to natives and kama’aina. It good ting he didn’t bus you up,” Kapono explained in amazement.

“Who’s up for some ice shave?” Hiu asked as we passed a sno-cone stand.

“Sounds ono!” Kapono replied.

I thought it would be a good morale booster to bring back to everyone else. “Let’s get some for everybody,” I added.

Soon, we arrived back at the dock and unloaded the gear we’d just procured. Back on the boat, everyone was happy to see more guns and our new vests. The ice shave reminded me of better times.

At dinner, the plan for the next day was solidified, and everyone had their part. Alani, Nalani, and Latoria would stay at the boat. They would have a radio, and if anything went wrong, Alani could pilot the boat to our secret spot.

In town, Jesse would find a truck to load the devices into and Hiu, Kapono, and Moana would drive it. Jesse and I would be the first through the gate to create a distraction so that the others could get in and load up the truck. When they loaded all they could, Jesse and I would get them out and follow soon after. If they had drudges or vamps on their tail, we’d lead them away from the docks and the truck full of devices. We’d all be in contact by radio.

I hoped everything would go to plan. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. With the ocean being about five blocks from the Psytech building, my powers may not work, and that worried me a little. The river was nearby, but I didn’t even know if the river would be susceptible to my influence. Dinner wrapped up as I thought all of it over. Jesse and I withdrew to our cabin.

“What’s wrong, my love?” he asked.

“I just don’t want anyone to get hurt tomorrow,” I explained.

“We’ll be fine. We have plenty of guns and daggers. Everyone has protective jewelry and a bulletproof vest,” he replied.

“I know, but bullets don’t just hit the vests. I’m not even sure if my powers will work,” I said.

“Even if they don’t, we’ll be okay,” he reassured.

“I hope so.”

Jesse could likely tell I was still worrying. He went to the stereo system that was in the cabin and pulled out a CD. He waited patiently as the ancient CD player came to life and finally opened its disk holder. Then he pushed play, and the sound of tango music filled the room.

“Do you tango?” he asked as he held out his hand.

“I know a few moves,” I said before taking his hand.

He spun me into himself and out again. I smiled. His moves were fluid. I hadn’t danced the tango in a long time and I was out of practice, but his confidence flowed into me and soon I kept up with his steps. The dance was the most romantic one of my life. I felt myself floating from one end of the room to the other with more ease than I thought possible.

He dipped and twirled me. Our steps were perfectly mirrored and quick. The song came to an end, and as Jesse dipped me one last time, he kissed me passionately.

Jesse brought me upright and pulled me out of his kiss. I was smiling at him and trying to catch my breath. His glance switched to the window which was getting darker and darker. I looked out the window as well and then back at him.

“I wish we could continue our dance, but it seems we’ve run out of time,” he said desolately. His voice was thick with sorrow and regret.

I sighed, “That’s too bad. I’ll miss you, Jesse.”

“I’ll miss you too,” he said as he sat in his usual chair and pulled me into his lap.

“I’m going to practice for a little while, but I’ll be back soon,” I said.

“Don’t stay out too late. We have a big day tomorrow. We strike at 12:15,” Jesse reminded me.

I stood up and gave him one last kiss before I walked to the door. His grasp lingered until I exceeded his reach and then he smiled at me before once again, turning to stone before my eyes.

I wanted to work on my speed and accuracy. Tomorrow would put my abilities to the test, assuming I could even use them. The river was the closest body of water to the Psytech building. However, it wasn’t actually part of the ocean and I didn’t know if I could influence the river water. The moonlit crevasse revealed something I hadn’t noticed before. There was a thin waterfall barely visible in the dull light streaming from the top of the cliff. I realized that if I could manipulate the water coming from the little waterfall, that I should be able to manipulate the river water.

I focused on the waterfall and zeroed in on the sound and the path of it as it fell freely from the cliff edge. I lifted my hands and tried to catch the water in mid-air before it hit the ocean water below it. My success provided relief. The water slowly built up into a ball and I hurled it at the cliff side. The water exploded on impact and trickled down to the ocean waves.

My connection to the water was weaker than my connection with the ocean water, but I could still use it to help me defeat drudges and at least stun the vampires. I was more at ease about the ambush we planned for the next day. After practicing a little more, I gained confidence and found that sleep came on easily now that I knew I could do everything in my power to keep my friends safe.

The next morning I woke early, just before the sun came up. I watched from the bed as Jesse came back to life.

“You’re awake already,” were the first words he said to me.

I smiled at him. “Well, I can’t sleep in every day,” I said.

Jesse stood up from his chair and came to me. I was eager to kiss him and I could tell he was too. Today our kisses were different. They were more urgent as with the cloud of dangerous uncertainty just over our heads.

“Everything will be okay,” he said as if he’d read my mind.

I nodded and we began to prepare for the day. I put on my khaki cargo capris and a black tank top with my black jacket. I wore tennis shoes and pulled my hair up into a loose bun to keep it out of my way. I watched Jesse as he put on his clothes. He wore a black t-shirt and tennis shoes with gray cargo pants.

I couldn’t help but think we were preparing for war, but then I realized I wasn’t far off. Stealing the virus blockers would most definitely start a war between us and the vampires. Revenge would follow us as we flee from the Psytech building.

After we dressed, Jesse and I met everyone else on deck. Jesse divided the guns and ammo, Hiu got the shotgun; his favorite, and Kapono and Moana each got a pistol. Moana also had a rifle. Jesse and I each had a pistol and Jesse took a rifle. Latoria and Alani had two rifles and a pistol between them. Nalani refused to use a gun, she was old-fashioned and she’d never used one before. She did, however, take an obsidian dagger. Everyone else had at least one dagger as well. Hiu gave me the obsidian throwing spikes he’d been working on. I had six in all and they were neatly held in a sheath I could strap to my belt.

Jesse laid out the plan one more time. We’d get in through the main gate and cause a commotion in the parking lot. When most of the vampires and drudges were busy with the distraction, Hiu, Kapono and Moana would get in through the same service gate Hiu and I used the first time. They’d pull the truck in and load up all they could.

Moana was the best shot, so she’d be the lookout and take care of any stragglers that weren’t preoccupied with Jesse and me. After the devices were loaded onto the truck, we’d receive a signal and the five of us would make our escape and get to the dock.

Alani, Latoria, and Nalani would guard the boat and if needed. Alani would pilot the boat to the crevasse.

When the plan was finalized, we went on our way to find a pick-up and another motorcycle. Jesse spotted a pick-up near the docks with a “FOR SALE” sign. It was perfect for our needs and it even had a topper. There wasn’t a phone number, so Jesse and I went into the nearby store to find the owner. The others waited in the car.

Inside the outdoor sports store, we found two men, one behind the counter and one in front of it, chatting like they’d known each other for a long time. Jesse put on his easy-going charm and approached them.

“Aloha, I’m wondering if either of you know who owns that truck out there. It’s got a “FOR SALE” sign, but I didn’t see a number,” he said.

The man in front of the counter spoke up, “That’s my truck. You interested in buying it?” he asked.

The man wasn’t Hawaiian in blood, but I could tell he had been on the islands for a long time. He was probably a rancher.

“Yes, as long as it runs. How much are you asking for it?” Jesse said in a friendly tone.

“I’m asking six thousand for it, and she runs great,” the man replied.

Jesse took another look at the truck before making a counter offer. “How about five thousand cash right now?” Jesse asked.

The man thought for a moment. He turned his gaze toward his truck, and then at Jesse who pulled out his money. After a glance toward the man behind the counter and a nod from his friend, he agreed.

“I’ll take it,” he said. He held out his hand for a handshake. Jesse shook his hand and then gave him the cash. The man counted it and pulled out his keys and then tossed one to him.

“I just gotta get some things out of the cab,” he said.

Jesse and I followed him out and soon he’d retrieved his belongings and we were on our way to find the next item on our list: a motorcycle.

“Why don’t we see if that one is still at my house?” I asked.

“I did like that Ducati,” Jesse said with a smirk.

Jesse and I lead the way to my house in the truck while Hiu and the others followed in my car. Once we arrived, I found that my house was still untouched and the motorcycle was still in my driveway. I decided to put my father’s car back in the garage for now. We wouldn’t need it today.

It was about eleven o’clock. Moana had brought sandwiches for everyone, so we ate and went over the plan again—just to be sure everything went smoothly.

After we ate, we all put on our bulletproof vests. Hiu, Kapono, and Moana piled into the truck, and Jesse and I hopped on the motorcycle. My heart began to race as we sped toward the Psytech building. My nerves jumped all over the place and I struggled to get a hold of them.

Finally, I focused on the nearby ocean and used its strength to steady myself. Hiu and the others got into position while Jesse and I found a place in the alley near the café we’d used for surveillance. The plan was coming together.