Star Gods, стр. 48
“Can you stop him and his Assassins?” Cesar asks.
“I’m damn well gonna try. He’s getting damn good at mimicking the Luminaries. This message came through as if it were them with Levi attempting to block it.”
“This isn’t from Levi,” Maliki says from across the table. “These here?” He points to various pictures. “These are strategy placements Levi has been instructing the Assassins with—block all entrances and exits, come in from the corners and block everyone in so they have nowhere to go. I never understood what we were training for until now.”
“You’re saying Levi had previous knowledge to plan this?” Cesar questions.
“His twin sister has precognition,” I answer. I watch Maliki as he scans the page and I rub my aching forehead.
“You need to take a break,” Sage says moving her leg next to mine so we touch. “I can feel your headache.”
I move away from my twin and Tyce reaches toward me. I put up my hand to block his. “Stop, I’m okay. It’s fading, and besides, Ashe already tried healing it.”
Sage crosses her arms. “Let him suffer if he wants to be stupid.”
I ignore her and drum my fingers on the table. “Maliki, how did you know about the message?”
He looks up from my drawing and grins. “You caught that, huh?”
“Yeah, I caught it. How did you know?”
Ashe’s gaze shifts between the two of us. “What are you two talking about?”
Maliki reaches out a hand. “Ready to find out?”
“You have an ability I didn’t read before, don’t you.”
He shakes his outstretched hand, grinning.
“I can’t read it now, Maliki. What makes you think I’ll be able to when I take your hand?”
“You still don’t trust me completely, do you?”
Without another thought, I grab on. I feel his electrokinesis and his healing ability. What I find next is completely unexpected. My brows furrow, and I let go. “Levi doesn’t know, does he?”
“No. I don’t think it’s meant to be found, except by you.”
“What does that mean?” Sage asks, crossing one leg over the other. “What’s this ability?”
“I don’t think there’s a name for it.”
“How about you explain it to me anyway so I’m not in the dark.”
Maliki snorts jutting his chin at me. “Go ahead, Zeke.”
“You want to make sure I read you right.”
Sage harrumphs and Maliki laughs.
“Okay, okay.” I lean back in my chair. “Maliki knows specifically where all the Luminaries are.”
“All of them?” Tyce asks.
Maliki nods.
Ashe leans in closer. “Even our dad?”
“At one time, yes.”
“If you know where all of them are, then you should know where our dad is,” Ashe encourages.
“I know where they are when I’m focused on them,” Maliki explains. “Your dad keeps moving, staying off the grid as much as he can. Right now, I don’t know where he is. Recently though, he was here.”
“In our house?” Ashe asks.
“Inside and out.”
“And you’re sure Levi doesn’t know about this ability?” Tyce asks.
“No one but Luminesce, my dad, and your dad knows.”
“Our dad knows?” I ask.
“He was there when Luminesce discovered it.”
Ashe leans back against the counter, crossing his arms. “Does it work in finding Assassins?”
“I’m not entirely certain. When I was recruited I kept it contained because of Levia’s precognition. I was afraid if she found it she’d kill me, or worse.”
“What’s worse than being killed?” Sage asks.
“Being forced to find whomever Levi and Levia want found.” I rub harder at my forehead.
“Exactly,” Maliki agrees.
I leave my chair and wander. Something is bugging me and I’m trying to figure out what it is.
Tyce sets his foot on a chair and leans onto his thigh. “Definitely can’t have him try now. If the Satan twins get wind of it we put everyone in danger.”
“I might be able to use it with your protection in place,” Maliki says. “It should keep Levia from knowing who it is.”
Ashe shakes his head. “We can’t take that chance.”
“I’m willing to take the chance.”
“No,” Ashe replies sternly. “I won’t allow it, especially with your family not under added protection.”
I move into the living room to pace, rubbing the back of my neck with one hand. Ashe and Maliki are having some difficulties agreeing on things, and if they don’t take a break soon, their discussion is going to get even more heated than it already is.
My barrier shoots out in front of me and I step right through it. “I know when you’re using my ability, Sage, and you know it doesn’t work on us.”
“I know, but I’ve been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes.”
I sigh deeply and stretch out stiff, stressed muscles. “You have successfully gained my attention. What is it?”
She moves closer and speaks quietly. “Dad was here recently.”
“Yeah. I was there when Maliki said it.”
She makes a guttural noise and gives her foot a little kick in annoyance. “As Abby said, are you connecting the dots?”
“Apparently not,” I respond, keeping my voice low. “Why don’t you connect them for me…”
My sister smirks as my voice trails off. “Ding, ding, ding.”
“Neil was here,” I say, hope finally filling a void. “He’s wearing that bracelet—says he can’t tell us anything.”
“Exactly. But he still can’t tell us anything with that thing on his wrist.”
“If it comes off, he can.”
“How do we get it off?” Sage questions.
“We don’t, he does.”
“How?”
“Once he affirms who he is, I’m pretty sure the bracelet will fall off.”
“And if we’re wrong?”
“You know we’re not.”
She smiles. “Call him.”
I glance into the kitchen. Everything is about to change. “Neil!”
The silver shimmer appears as everyone else joins us in obvious confusion.
“Zeke, what’re you doing?” Ashe asks.
“You’re about to find out.” I dart my gaze to Maliki, but his expression doesn’t tell me anything.
Neil stands in the center