chapter 19
Selene woke to the low tones of a muted conversation. She rolled over and saw Griffin standing in the doorway talking with Ellie. The urgency of their gestures broke through Selene’s sleep-clouded mind.
“What is it?” she asked in a groggy voice, propping herself up on her elbows.
The grim expression on Griffin’s face as he glanced at her told Selene all she needed to know. Her nightmare was real. The girl she’d seen – all that blood – she really was dead.
Ten minutes later, wrapped up in her comfy robe, Selene sat on the living room couch as Griffin and Ellie and their entire family debated the situation. She barely heard them as she sat there numb… silent. Her initial suggestion that she return to the Vyusher was one point of the deliberation. A point that Griffin had not vetoed but had not agreed to either.
“What about leaving the area?” Lucy suggested.
Hugh shook his head. “I don’t think that would make any difference, honey.”
“What is it that we know? You’re sure Selene didn’t kill the girl?” Alex asked Griffin.
Griffin nodded, his mouth set in a firm line. “Positive. She got pulled into the dream; she didn’t manifest it.”
“Then the only logical conclusion is that someone else is doing these killings and trying to make Selene – and maybe us - think she did it,” Alex said.
“Why do you say that?” Lila asked. “It could all just be a horrible coincidence. Or maybe Selene’s power is growing into some kind of precognition thing.”
“You’re right,” Griffin agreed. “Except for the feeling of how she got pulled into that nightmare. If I had to put money on it, I’d say someone else is manipulating this situation.”
“So what do we do about it?” Lila asked.
Ellie snapped her fingers and stared at Griffin. “I’ve got it!”
Everyone grew silent, and Selene could see a very subtle glow coming from the twins, although it was brighter in Griffin. She realized that they were talking to each other using Griffin’s telepathic power.
After a few minutes of hushed nods, Alex nudged Ellie with his elbow. “Out loud, baby. The rest of us would like in on your brilliant idea.”
Ellie gave a satisfied grin. “We do what we did when we defeated the Vyusher.” She glanced at Selene. “Sorry, but you know what I mean.”
Selene waved away both the comment and the apology.
“So you turn into a great, hulking dragon?” Nate asked, confused.
“No, silly.” Ellie rolled her eyes. “We combine our powers. At least… the ones that would be relevant.”
Selene frowned. She’d seen their wagon-wheel formation in battle, of course. And she’d seen their coordinated use of their powers and Ellie’s ability to control powers of any being physically connected to her. But she didn’t quite see how that could work in this situation.
“I think you’d better explain, honey,” Charlotte prodded. Nods around the room echoed that sentiment.
Ellie leaned forward. “The first thing we need to figure out is who is doing the actual killing, agreed?”
Nods all around again.
“Right… so this is the second death related to her nightmares that we know of for sure. My guess is the killings have to be occurring in the physical world somewhere. Lucy, we use your precognition to try to tell when the next attack is coming. Maybe you weren’t aware of what feeling to look out for. Look out for it now.”
Lucy nodded.
“Also we use Griffin’s mind reading during Selene’s next dream to see if he can figure out where it’s happening. Selene, you look for landmarks and clues about where you are. Griffin and I can tap in and watch and then use Charlotte’s teleportation to take us there.”
“What about Selene’s powers?” Griffin asked.
Ellie shook her head. “I thought of that too, but if someone else is doing all of this, using her power will alert them that she’s aware that something might be coming. She needs to act as if nothing is different. It’s the only way…”
“That could work,” Lila mused.
“Yes,” Selene allowed hesitantly. “But you’re assuming that it’s not me who is doing the killing.”
Adelaide moved to stand in front of Selene. “Why are you so determined to blame yourself?”
Selene’s lips compressed, and she didn’t speak for a moment. “I’ve only shown you a little of what Gideon was capable of. What if I’m wrong about how much he controlled me? What if he left behind something evil? And now I’m killing those people? It’s just so like something Gideon would’ve had me do. And these nightmares… they’re all from my point of view.”
Eleven sets of eyes trained on her face, and an eerie hush fell over the group. Selene rose gracefully from where she was seated. Even in the midst of her despair, she was elegant and poised.
“I appreciate your support, especially given our history.” Selene glanced briefly at Griffin, whose expression remained closed. “But what if it is me? I know you don’t think it is. But shouldn’t we have a plan just in case?”
“I could use Griffin’s telepathy to force you to use your power on yourself and permanently extinguish your own abilities… all of them. You said that that was possible,” Ellie suggested.
Selene was already shaking her head. “Maybe. But only Gideon has ever been able to control me, and he was the strongest tele-manipulator I’ve ever encountered.” She glanced around. “If it is me, you have to promise to kill me.”
“No!” Griffin protested.
Selene recognized the stubborn look in his eyes from all the times she had visited him in his dreams, trying to convince him to go find the Jenners and Pierces.
“You of all people know exactly what I am capable of,” she thought, knowing he could hear every word. “Promise me, Griffin. Please… This time I have the choice. And I choose to never knowingly harm another living being again without cause. Promise.”
Griffin closed his eyes. “It’s not you,” he answered aloud. “Regardless of your role in previous attacks or how evil your brother was, none of this is your fault.”
“Then you have nothing to lose by making this promise,” Selene whispered.
Griffin opened his eyes and stared at her with an intensity that took her breath away.
“I promise,” he slowly murmured.