Star Gods, стр. 46
“How are they in your book if you haven’t met them?”
“This drawing happens in the future in a field my dad created.”
“This here is a future event? You tell the future?”
I shake my head. “No. When I took Levi’s telekinesis I somehow tapped into Levia’s precognition.”
“You have Levi’s telekinesis?”
“C’mon.” I spread my barrier and land us in the kitchen next to Ashe looking at the paper.
Ashe jumps. “Seriously, Zeke, some warning next time, or walk—you do have two legs.”
I drop my sketchpad onto the table and point. “Maliki’s dad and brother are alive and well and part of the battle.”
Ashe stands and examines the drawing while everyone joins us. “I assumed you were a twin, Maliki, and you were in the same predicament as Abby. How old is your brother?”
“Eight. I have to get to them. Levi will use them and kill them right in front of me for punishment.”
“No.” I shake my head. “This battle isn’t going to happen. We’re going to stop it from happening.”
“How are you going to do that?” Maliki asks. “Do you know exactly when it’s going to happen?”
“No. I don’t. Levi has to be stopped, and if I was born to stop him, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
“You and your sister we’re born to stop the entire Assassin race, which includes me.”
“I’m not going to kill you, Maliki.”
He gives me a look. “Are you sure about that?”
“What happened earlier, I have no idea why it happened. I wasn’t in control.”
“And if you lose it again, Zeke, what then?” He pulls on his ability.
“Okay, hold on,” Ashe says stepping between us. “Let’s just take a breather here.”
I ignore Ashe. “You’ll get to use your electrokinesis against me.”
“Why? So you can take it?”
“I can’t take it unless I touch you.”
“Oh, so if I do this…” He brings his ability to the surface.
“Maliki,” Ashe warns. “You need to stop.”
“…and then do this…” He lets a portion go.
I stand there and let it hit me, dropping me to my knees. I cringe as electricity travels through my body.
Sage draws on the paralyzation ability and I grasp onto it.
“It’s all good, Sage. I lead him to do it.” I shake my arms. “That smarts.”
“You wanted him to electrify you?” she asks angrily.
“I deserved it.” I get to my feet. “And I needed to make sure he could do it.” I shake my hands. “That really packs a punch.”
“Why did you need to make sure I’d attack you?” Maliki asks, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Not necessarily me. I needed to make sure you’d fight, Maliki, if the need arises.”
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks. “Do you think because you’re an omnipresent being you’re above an Assassin?”
“I’m not omnipresent, and no one is going to tell me otherwise. I needed to know if you would be hesitant in doing what needs to be done, or if you only get pissed and walk away.”
“You’re an ass. This is my family. Their safety comes first.” He turns on his heels and runs down the basement stairs.
“All I needed to know.” I turn to find my family and friends staring at me in disbelief.
13
Monday, April 18, 2039
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this,” I admit, staring out at the sunshine outside my window. “I miss school. I miss getting up in the morning and rushing out the door because I overslept. I miss arguing with jerks, and laughing with friends. I miss seeing Adrianna standing by her locker and waiting for me, and I miss Tyce leaving me behind at school because I missed my ride with him.”
“Adrianna, huh. She must be someone special,” Sage says.
“She’s beautiful beyond description, inside and out.”
“And you haven’t officially asked her out, have you?”
I chuckle. “As a matter of fact, I have. We would’ve gone on our second date if I hadn’t been attacked and the world hadn’t turned upside down.” The smile I had on vanishes. “And if this legend comes true, I can say goodbye to the everydayness of being half-human.”
Sage sits on my bed. “Why? If we are who they say we are, why can’t we set the rules and continue our lives as we want?”
“Because if Maliki is right and I am the future Luminesce, I’ll have no choice but to live on planet, have unnecessary meetings that will bore me to death, and wear white cotton outfits for the rest of my life.”
“Why can’t you be Luminesce on Earth?”
“There isn’t one.”
“Maybe it’s time there was.”
“Maybe it’s time there isn’t one at all.”
“Every community, dictatorship, whatever you want to call this needs a leader. It’s how it’s done.”
“A sixteen-year-old shouldn’t be leading anyone, except for making sure he doesn’t die a virgin.”
Sage laughs. “Now there’s a selling point.”
I grumble. “C’mon, let’s go use Tyce as a target. You need the practice.”
She jumps up. “I’m game.”
Ashe is on the house phone as we pass the kitchen, he nods once and turns away. “Thanks, Mr. Hansen, for understanding and for checking up on Zeke. I’ll make sure he has the required paperwork when he returns to school.”
“And how will he be doing that?” Sage mutters close to my ear.
“He’ll find a way.”
I stop when Maliki gets to his feet with his upper lip curling and his eyes flashing in anger. The odd sensation I felt earlier starts up again and I cringe at the sound. Maliki glares at me with pure hatred, and the most unexpected realization comes to me.
“What’s going on?” Sage whispers.
I wish again we were able to communicate telepathically. “Follow my lead.” I put one hand behind my back and pool a barrier into it hoping my brothers catch on. “We were going to ask Tyce to assist in Sage’s training, but maybe you’re game, Maliki.”
“Why?” he sneers, and I feel an ability being pooled by him. “So you can kill me?”
“I’m no killer, Maliki. Just relax, otherwise this is all going to turn very ugly very fast, and you’ll end up