Blue Violet

chapter 32



A few weeks later, after school let out for the day, Ellie and Lila were headed to the parking lot.

Lila was in the middle of a story about her first date experience. “…So we got to the ice skating rink and I strapped on Mom’s gorgeous old-fashioned skates. And after about two laps, my feet started cramping up.”

Ellie giggled. “No way. Were the skates too small or something?”

“Yeah. We had to stop. And that poor guy hadn’t really wanted to go ice skating anyway--”

Lila cut off her next comment when, out of nowhere, a tall man appeared before them. Dressed all in black, with ebony hair and onyx eyes, his face could be described as almost beautiful with high, sharp cheek bones and a sensuous mouth. Extremely handsome… but in a sinister way. He stood directly in front of the two girls blocking their way.

Ellie came to an abrupt halt. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lila tense and glance nervously at her. Nothing scared Ellie. She knew she was probably giving her friend a heart attack when she subtly repositioned her body protectively between Lila and the creepy stranger.

“I’m honored that you would come in person, Gideon,” Ellie finally said, bitterness lacing her words. She felt Lila flinch at the name. She reached back for Lila’s hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

“You know me?” the dark man asked.

“Yes.”

“Then you know why I’m here…”

Ellie heard the smug self-satisfaction. “Not entirely.” Of course Ellie had tapped into Griffin’s mind reading power the second she’d seen Gideon, but she heard absolutely nothing. Perhaps that’d been the reason why her ancestors hadn’t been able to prepare for the attack that decimated their entire clan.

“Are you trying to listen to my thoughts, Ellinore?” his voice rasped in her mind.

Her eyes widened slightly, but other than that she gave nothing away with her expression or body language.

“I thought so,” the voice continued. “But don’t worry. We’re blocking your very talented brother from listening. As well as any communication you may be trying to send him.”

Ellie didn’t respond.

“Have you guessed yet?”

Ellie remained silent and still. Lila, unable to hear the mental conversation and taking her cues from Ellie, assumed the same stance.

“It’s you, Ellinore. You are why I’m here. You are destined to be one of our pack. I’ve seen you shift myself. You should be with others like you.”

Ellie didn’t betray the frenzied thoughts in her head by so much as a twitch and returned his gaze with feigned serenity.

“You have nothing to say about this?”

Ellie simply shrugged, catching Lila’s glance at the movement. She deliberately used a technique that often got Griffin to talk more than he would in most circumstances. She said nothing when he clearly wanted a conversation. Worked like a charm every time. She also tapped into Lila’s emotional manipulation abilities, attempting to rile Gideon… make him feel frustrated.

“You would’ve joined us sooner, if it weren’t for your brother,” Gideon continued, growing agitated. “I’ve been looking for you since our first meeting. But your brother is somehow able to block my view of you. Of any of you.” He frowned, betraying his irritation. “I’ve come to offer you a deal.”

Ellie arched an eyebrow but still said nothing. She was more concerned with Lila’s safety at the moment than she was in some arrogant, blowhard shape-shifter.

“You come with me,” Gideon said. “Just you. Join our pack. And I will guarantee the rest of the family safety. We will not harm them as long as you are with us.”

Ellie, using Lila’s power to see the truth, could tell that he was being sincere and was relieved her friend couldn’t hear them right now. “Why do you want me so much?”

“You are a wolf,” he answered simply. “You belong with the Vyusher.”

Her face a blank mask, Ellie thought quickly. It seemed like something about Griffin’s powers could be blocking Gideon from knowing the abilities possessed by the Jenners or Pierces. She wasn’t sure why, but regardless of the reason, she felt grateful for it at that moment. He knew about Griffin’s mind reading and her sharing powers, but what else? If he really couldn’t see which skills they possessed, perhaps she could use her own ability on him.

“I have to think about this,” she said aloud. “May I have your word that you and your wolves will not come near any of my family until I’ve had time to make my decision?”

“You have one week. We will not approach any of you during that time,” he conceded.

“Shake on it?” she asked innocently. Gideon hesitated then lifted his arm.

Letting go of Lila, Ellie moved forward and grasped Gideon’s hand, taking care that he didn’t feel the electric zap of her power at work. She focused all her energy to absorb as much about him as she could in that brief amount of time.

Releasing her grip, Gideon stepped back. Still only speaking through their thoughts, he said, “I will see you in the woods outside the Jenner’s house, the place where you defeated a handful of my pack. Midnight, one week from tonight.”

With that he disappeared. No sound. No warning. Just… gone. As if he’d never been standing there.

Ellie stood silently for a second, her mind spinning.

“Will you please tell me what just happened?” Lila’s trembling voice broke in.

“That was Gideon.” Ellie tapped her fingernail against her teeth, thinking.

“Well, I figured that much out for myself. Thanks.” Lila’s hands shook as she ran her hands through her hair.

“He wanted to meet me face to face.”

“What?… Why?”

Ellie sighed and resumed walking to the parking lot. “Apparently something about Griffin’s shield has some hidden facet that works to block Gideon’s tracker. At least, I think he has a tracker.” She glanced at Lila, who’d fallen into step beside her. “It seems like Gideon has someone in his pack, I don’t think it’s him, who can see anyone with our powers. Anywhere in the world. Although they see us better when we’re gathered in groups. The larger the group, the easier it is to hone in on us. But as soon as Griffin and I arrived in town, the Vyusher tracker could no longer see any of us. It forced them to recon in person to try to figure out how many of us there are, what our powers are, that kind of thing. Gideon eventually decided to come in person. I tried to get a read on Gideon’s power, but something odd seemed to be preventing me. I could see bits and pieces, but none of them seemed like his actual ability.” Ellie pursed her lips, frustrated.

“I can see that you’re holding something back, Ellie,” Lila said with a knowing look. “But I assume you have good reasons.”

“I do,” Ellie replied. “Let’s get to the car and get home. We all need to talk through this together.”

As they rounded the corner of the building, Ellie could see Alex practically pacing in the parking lot with Nate and Adelaide watching him apprehensively. As soon as they approached him, he said, “Where have you been? Griffin sent me a mental message that he suddenly couldn’t access your thoughts.” Alex clearly attempted to control his apprehension.

Lila and Ellie glanced at each other.

“Let’s get home first, and then we’ll tell you all about it,” Ellie suggested.

Alex looked ready to argue with her.

“Go with your sisters, Alex,” Ellie gently urged him. “I’ll be right in front of you.”

Finally he nodded his agreement and hustled his sisters and Nate into the car.