“I bet the tree is impressive.”
She chuckled. “Impressively black.”
“I have no desire to fell a tree this afternoon. I think it should stay. If this property is ever sold, you’ll know where to find the stone.” He slowly ascended an incline. “Are you rested?”
“Yes. And you?”
“You needn’t worry about me. I drew in healing light from the sun this morning. My clothes are still loose, but my energy is restored.”
“Kira’s cooking should fatten you up in no time.”
“Perhaps I should raid Wyatt’s snack machine.”
She smiled. “If you do, grab me a package of donuts. Rumor has it he’s charging five dollars.”
“Obscene.”
Gem adored Niko’s dry sense of humor. Mostly everyone else’s was either crude or dark, and Wyatt’s was downright inappropriate. It was refreshing to get to know Niko on a different level, especially away from the team.
“Niko, can I ask you something personal?”
He switched the shovel to his other hand as they walked. “Yes, you can.”
Despite a twinge of guilt, she simply couldn’t contain her curiosity. “What do you regret the most about being blind? I know you can see energy on different levels, but is there anything you’d like to see if you could?”
Without breaking stride, he answered, “Butterflies.”
“Really? Not clouds or people’s faces? Or what about animals or the Grand Canyon?”
“Many things I can feel with my hands, or their energy is shaped in a way that allows me to see their form. But smaller creatures aren’t visible. A few reveal a small sparkle of light, but not enough for me to understand. Children chase them in meadows, painters add them to their landscapes, and people are awestruck by their colorful wings. No matter how many centuries go by or where I am, people are always quick to point one out. They’re delicate and small, and though I’ve held one in my hand, I have no sense of its shape or color. I crushed it by accident.” He turned his gaze skyward. “Of all things in this world, I think I would very much like to see a butterfly.”
Chapter 12
Earlier that morning, before Niko buried the stone with Gem, he’d pulled healing sunlight from a bright window so he could work out. Sunlight didn’t have the capability to restore his weight, but he felt remarkably energetic. A Mage’s body was self-regulating and would return to its original size from when they had their first spark. It was possible to manipulate one’s appearance, but it required regular conditioning.
Or extreme starvation.
After burying the gemstone, Niko and Gem returned to the house for lunch. Kira had prepared a hearty meal of baked chicken and fresh bread. She’d loaded the quinoa salad with beans, chopped vegetables, chickpeas, and what he thought was feta cheese. Gem sat across from Niko, and they ate every bite. Niko didn’t know how to communicate with Kira since others seemed to use hand gestures, so after his meal, he went into the kitchen and searched the fridge for leftovers before settling on a bowl of black-eyed peas and a glass of milk. He ate the peas cold and drank the milk over the sink. Niko was determined to restore his body weight, so he needed to consume more protein than usual.
Meanwhile, Gem had gone to spy on Switch. He didn’t like interruptions when he was tutoring Hunter, claiming it distracted the boy. But Gem was curious by nature and said she wanted to see what he was teaching. Niko assumed Gem’s interest had to do with her lack of formal education. She was self-taught. Gem had learned from books, whereas Niko had learned from experience.
Niko headed to an empty room near the courtyard. Dusty sheets covered the furniture. After finding a chair, he dragged it to a warm spot by the window and sat down. It relaxed him to listen to the sound of birds chirping through the pane. He took a moment to reflect on all that had happened and felt so much gratitude for the fates giving him a second chance.
About five minutes later, a call came in on Niko’s cell.
“Hello?”
“I have news,” Viktor said, his grave tone triggering alarm bells in Niko’s mind. “Kallisto went to the apartment. Christian subdued him, but when Claude arrived, there was a scuffle, and he escaped.”
Niko leaned forward. “Was anyone hurt? Do you need me?”
“Nyet. Kallisto sliced Claude with a katana and flashed away. Christian healed him.”
Niko could tell by Viktor’s tone that Claude must have resisted Christian’s offer. Most people wanted nothing to do with drinking a Vampire’s blood, but without Niko around, Claude might have bled to death if the blade had severed an artery or pierced his heart.
“How is Gem?” Viktor inquired.
“She’s awake, but her light is still weaker than normal. That’s something only time can heal.”
“The fates are generous to return you both to me.”
“Gem deserves a lot of credit. She’s hard on herself, but what she did took a lot of courage. I don’t think anyone else could have destroyed that book without killing themselves in the process. She has a very special gift. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Da. Gem is… how you say? One of a kind. And you are resting?”
Niko relaxed against the armrest and formed a tiny ball of light between his fingers. “Unlike Gem, rest isn’t what I need to recover. I’m eating twice my normal calories and building up my strength.”
“Good. I called to inform you of Kallisto’s escape. I do not think he will have reason to go to the mansion as he does not even know where you are, but you should be watchful. Lock the doors and windows, and keep the boy inside. I do not want anyone leaving the mansion or wandering the property.”
“We’ve already implemented those plans. Switch was in the courtyard, but I called him back in. Keystone is secure.”
There was a long pause before Viktor spoke again. “Do you have any idea what Kallisto might do?”
Niko squeezed his fist and snuffed out the ball of light. “I don’t know who Kallisto is anymore, but I would imagine after centuries of following Cyrus, he won’t know how to survive without a leader to make all the decisions. Revenge would be my first assumption.”
“Mine as well.”
“You’re safer in numbers. Corner him if you can, but be careful. He’s a skilled archer, and if he’s following the team, he’ll pick them off from afar, one by one.”
While Viktor mulled over their situation, Niko considered Kallisto’s strengths and weaknesses. He had a temper, but he was also a patient man. That made him a skilled hunter. Niko remembered a time when Kallisto had sat in a tree for three days, picking off travelers one at a time so he could steal their horses. It was better for Viktor to keep the team together and hunt him using everyone’s special gifts of hearing, scent, and emotions.
“You know him best,” Viktor finally said. “I will take your advice and keep everyone together. You and Gem stay alert. We cannot predict what this man is capable of doing now that he knows his brothers are dead.”
Niko switched the phone to his other ear. “Has Wyatt seen any sign of Plato’s ghost?”
“Nyet.”