SAVANTS

The Chapture 47

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the car park anymore, but sitting on my lap in Zed's circle of arms, warm, affectionate.

''You saw it, right?'' I whispered, not daring to look at him.

''Yes. Thank goodness they dumped you before they killed you.'' Zed rubbed his chin lightly on top of my head.

''I still don't know who I am. I didn't hear them ever mention my name.''

Aunt Sarah, Phil, and the freak, that's how I called them when I was six. If my mom and dad, Franny and Ian gave me names, I'd forget about it.

My parents are Savant, they kill each other because they can't control their powers.

Leaving me with an addict as guardian. I felt very angry with them for the betrayal.

"A storyteller is not very good at living in a merchant's house.'' Zed hooked his finger with my finger, rubbed my palm to gently calm me down. ''I've seen such trash before working for Trace and Victor. You're lucky to get out.''

As a child, I didn't understand such a transaction, but I understand now. "I always make him (Phil) continue to be angry because he always foils his plans and he is angry because of my actions."

"And he hurt you more than once." Said Zed.

I was horrified to have so many bad things seen like this in front of the Benedict family. ''I think so.''

Zed's anger created a red aura, aimed not at me, but at the person who dared to hurt me in the past. "I want to catch them, then make them feel what they did to you."

''She (Phil) is a bad guy, using my aunt. I think they're still together.''

"Both may be dead. Drugs and the illicit drug trade do not make longevity and happiness, Uriel said without further ado.

I slumped back against Zed's chest, exhausted and mentally drained. I need time to put what I've seen, adjust my memory.

We didn't talk about it, but I had to accept what my mother's obsession had done to go to her soul mate.

"You've seen enough, '' said Zed. "We don't expect you to remember everything right away."

''But we have found the foundation, ''' Uriel said. "We can build on that."

Looking around at the others in the room, I knew they weren't expecting any answers today.

Victor and Trace were the ones who were the most impatient to get the information but tried to hide it.

''You need a break. Get your girlfriend snowboarding, Zed, Trace said. "We'll make sure you're safe."

I put away those gloomy memories with great difficulty. ''With a break, you mean I have to break a leg, because that's what would happen if I tried to skate?"

Trace laughed, the serious cop's face smiling sweetly as he looked at his sister. ''No, Sky. He will take good care of you, she said as she pointed at Zed with her chin.

°°°

It makes it easy to get out. Memories of our time on the ground hang over my head like clouds. If I concentrate, I can count every pine tree, every cone, every snowflake, my vision is very clear. The mountains do not frighten me today but are exhilarating.

I borrowed a snow suit from Zed's mother, which made me look like a dumpling, but Zed seemed to find it funny.

''Novice slopes?'' I asked, my breath breathing like a dragon.

"No, there's too many people there." Shading her eyes, she observed the mountain mountain, giving me a chance to appreciate how long and dangerous she looked in her fitting naval ski suit, a shark on the slope. He grinned when he saw me admire him and wiggled his eyebrows seductively. ''As you can see?''

I elbowed. ''Be quiet! You really need to learn on the subject of humility."

She laughs. "I'll learn—if you promise to teach me."

''I thought it would be useless if I taught you.''

My answer gave him more entertainment. When she finally stopped laughing, she hugged me next to her.

''So, Sky, are you ready? Because we're going up. There's a good place I want to show you. At first I'll take you there the day we get shot in the woods, but I think it's better if it's midwinter. We will take the elevator and walk there.''we also take the elevator together.

"Is this a good idea? You know what happened the last time we went into the forest.

His arms wrapped around my shoulders, he rubbed my upper arm to reassure me. ''Father and Mother put up barriers around this place. Trace, Vick, and Will are standing guard. We should be fine.''

''Thinking barrier?''

''Yes, it will make people leave when approaching its barrier, such as making them think they are letting the headlights of the house turn on or have to meet someone in the city. What surprised me was how did you get past the raiser that Dad made last night?''

I shrugged my shoulders. "I feel it, but I'm too desperate to care."

''You shouldn't be able to do that. That's why Trace and Vick are so suspicious of you that just show up.''

''Maybe this barrier is not as strong as you imagined.''

''Maybe you are stronger than we realized. We have to find out later." He said while pinching my nose.

''Not now, please.'' I don't want to deal anymore with the savant—they're too weird. Am I a savant?

''Not now. This is play time.''

We walked out into the open and I could see a cliff that was curved smoothly like the letter J. The peak across the valley towered high on the horizon, a very beautiful sight. All wrapped in white snow.

"Wow.''

''Great, right? Not many people come here because of the dead end, but I like it. You can do some extreme techniques here without skiers like my brother who always bothers."

"I'm not prepared for the extreme."

''I-i know. We can do it slowly and gently too.'' He flipped his skateboard over the snow. ''Are you ready to surf?'' ask her.

I laugh. ''You don't know much about London, do you? We're not beach girls in Richmond.''

He grins. ''So what do you do all day?''

''We have a deer park. You can go riding. There's a River Thames if you like paddling.''

''Is that really?"

''I .. er .. shop. I got Olympic gold in that. And I also play music, of course.''

''It's time to broaden your horizons. Run and slide."

''What?''

"Trust me, just do it."

Feeling more than a little stupid, I did what he asked.

''Ok, so your right foot is leading when skating."

"You can tell me the details how?''

"Your right foot in front when gliding. Now, I'll get you in the right position.'' He adjusted the board and showed me where to put my feet.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and swung me to and fro. "It's about balance."

''This is just an excuse for you to hug me.''

''I-i know. Nice, right?''

How is he doing?