31.
Shades of a Schism
Life went by quickly over the next three days. Vance, Cliff and Eden spent
their days in relaxation, exploring all the things that Ieon City had to offer.
Cliff invited Eden on a date, which she quickly shot down. Cliff's affection
for her was overwhelming, especially after the way he'd kissed her in the
Kantor District, and for the first time in a long time, she felt excited to be
completely alone. Whether it was due to her experiences over the past few days,
or simply due to her newfound power, Eden felt freed from the fear of isolation
she'd been encumbered with through her teenage years, and happily set out to
explore the city on her own.
Equally exhausted, Vance also spent his vacation in solitude. The
enigma of Averyl was ever present in his mind, along with his mother, and
despite how badly his body ached, he found it hard to truly relax. The Guild
wasn't exactly helping that, either. He’d traveled all the way into another dimension,
something he'd always fantasized about as a child, but it had been anything but
a magical adventure. Getting along with Cliff was a challenge, and he felt like
he didn't know how to connect with Eden, and he hated himself for it.
I thought things might work out somehow...but maybe I really should leave
the Guild after our training ends. They’re just tolerating me for now, but no
one here really needs me around. Just like on Earth.
On the eve of the third day, Azuka took a break from her many duties
and met up with her pupils for dinner, where she informed them about their travel
plans. She also ordered special training outfits for the trio. One more night,
and their intensive training would begin.
Vance could barely sleep as he dreamed of all the amazing feats Azuka
would teach him. Gravity-defying leaps, monstrous attacks, and true psynergy
finesse. It was a teenage boy's dream come true, and it empowered him
like nothing else he’d ever experienced.
Eden stirred that night as well, although her three days of peace had
been amply pleasant. More than anything, she looked forward to getting to know
Captain Azuka, and hopefully absorbing some of the woman’s power and confidence.
Dreaming of tomorrow, Eden softly closed her eyes.
As Eden slept, Cliff dreamed of her, of all the things he loved about
her, and how he'd be able to support her as they trained together. She'd turned
down his date, and he'd accepted it, even offering an apology for his behavior
in the Kantor District. I know I screwed up...I just care about her too much.
I'll do better next time. I have to.
In another dimension, Frank also slept. Three days ago, he reunited
with his wife and daughter without much trouble after he intercepted them on
their way to his office. He made excuses and smoothed it all over as best he
could, and a wonderful family night had even followed, the kind Frank and his wife
really treasured. In fact, it was the perfect chance for Frank to "take off
work" the next few days. His family was overjoyed, and things seemed to be
working out perfectly.
And so, they'd enjoyed three sleepy, surreal days inside their home,
swimming in the backyard pool, playing board games and watching old home movies.
Frank tried to put Grayson and the Zexaron Corporation out of his mind,
treasuring what he had left before his time ran out. He felt that the lack of
contact from Ed was not only a protective measure but also an indirect sign that
he was safe for the time being.
Edward's end of the week was also rather uneventful. He helped Naomi
arrange the furniture in the house multiple times and took her for a drive in
his company car. Grayson had been out of his hair ever since that day at the
airport, which actually made him feel more suspicious than relieved.
Worst of all, Edward still had no news of where Vance was, and Naomi
seemed to be in no hurry to find out. And so, the night before Vance left for his
training, Edward finally decided to involve the authorities.
Naomi screamed at him that it was a waste of time, so Edward screamed
back, then told the officer about all that had happened in the past few days.
He understood it when the officer rebuked him for going to California so soon,
but Edward continued to plead for their help.
The conversation continued for a good hour as they hammered Edward with
questions regarding Vance's past. Since he was 17, and almost an adult, they
imagined it would be hard to track him down. In the end, Edward left the police
station exhausted and hopeless, wondering if all was lost.
He slouched over the dinner table and dropped his head into his arms. Victoria...what
have I done?
*
Cliff approached the tunneling station with a proud stride. He wore a
brand new duster coat, and his shotgun was slung comfortably over his shoulder.
Spotting Azuka at the entrance, he waved. "Good morning, Captain.
I see the other three divisions have already left."
"Yes," Azuka said with a smile. "But we may as well give
them a head start. After all, they don't have the unique students I do –
yourself included."
Cliff grinned proudly. He lived for compliments from his captain.
It didn't take long for Vance and Eden to arrive, both clad in their
new blue Guild uniforms. Vance, of course, wore his black jacket over top.
"Good to see your uniforms fit," Azuka said. "They're
made from special nano-fibers infused with protective psynergy. Those clothes will
allow you to withstand stronger attacks, so your training will progress much
quicker."
"You mean your outfits are like these too?" Eden pointed toward
Azuka and Cliff.
"Of course," Cliff answered. "Both of our outfits were
custom-made by psynergy tailors within the Guild. You think we'd just walk around
in normal clothes?"
Eden rolled her eyes. "Okay, Cliff."
After watching the awkward exchange with discomfort, Vance hurriedly
blurted something out. "So are we gonna get going or–"
"Why, if it isn't the 4th division!" The Seneschal's
voice rang out from behind them. "I’m glad I managed to catch you before
you shoved off. The second and third have gone off to other dimensions, while
the first will remain in the Vipassanarium just in case something happens to the
Guild."
"Understood," Captain Azuka said with a nod. "We were
just preparing to tunnel toward our chosen dimension."
"Ah, I apologize for holding you up then." He turned to Vance
and Eden, still beaming. "I just wanted to give my best wishes to your two
new pupils."
Tao slowly placed his hands on their heads and began to mumble
something in another language that neither of them could place. Slowly, they felt
his honeydew psynergy slip into their bodies and take root.
He opened his eyes and stepped back. "Godspeed, all of you."
Azuka waved for the three to follow her. "Let's go, Knights."
The Knight Captain opened up a portal in the wall, then dashed inside. Vance,
Cliff and Eden energized their legs and followed her lead, rocketing through the
gateway to the next dimension.
*
Naomi lifted her coffee cup, pointing her little finger out as she always
did. "It's so nice that we can get together and talk face to face, Mr.
Lee. This is so much better than talking on the phone when Edward's always
bugging me."
"Indeed." Grayson stirred his cup. "Now we can truly get
down to business."
They were sitting in The Java-Head, an old-fashioned coffee shop
in western Bakersfield. Naomi was clad in one of the brand-new outfits Edward had
purchased for her over the weekend. Her hair, nails and toes had also been done,
and it was all topped off with a pair of diamond earrings that she had bought
herself as a welcome-to-Bakersfield present.
Naomi watched Grayson with sharp eyes, wondering how smitten he currently
was with her. It's true that he was much more respectable and dangerous than
her current husband...not to mention sexier. She wanted him, and prayed that
God would let her have him.
Grayson continued stirring. "I believe I spoke to you a few days ago
about the current status of your husband."
Naomi nodded, entranced.
"Well, he has shown significant improvement since then. I believe
he will become a great asset to our company in the near future."
"I won't argue with you," Naomi said sweetly. "After all,
you promoted him, so I simply have to agree with you."
"Oh, there's no need for that." Grayson slid his glasses up
the bridge of his nose. As he did so, the sun reflected off them like mirrors,
masking his eyes completely. "I would never fire Edward. That's completely
out of the question. His deceased wife Victoria had a large hand in starting
the company in the first place, after all."
Naomi slurped her coffee loudly.
"Now then..." Grayson watched his prey closely. "I would
like to shift to a new topic of discussion."
Naomi turned back to him, batting her eyelashes sensually.
Grayson continued without interruption, seemingly able to ignore
Naomi's attempt at seduction. "You seem to have an object in your
possession that belongs to the Zexaron Corporation. Not only that, but it's an
absolutely crucial item to our research. Do you know what I am talking
about?"
"I...I don't," she said, trying to figure out what he was
talking about. She racked her memory, trying to think of anything she had taken
from Zexaron. Her thought process eventually brought her back to the first time
she had met Grayson. "Is this about...four years ago?"
Grayson frowned. "No. And if I remember correctly, you were told
never to speak of that."
Naomi sat up straight, shutting her mouth. She’d been walking out of
her weekly bible study class four years ago when she saw Edward Darcouver for the
first time. He looked lonely, walking down the street with a forlorn look on his
face, and he’d caught her eye for some reason.
Soon after their initial meeting, Naomi received an invitation to the annual
Zexaron summer picnic. Edward had been there, for whatever reason, sitting off
to the side of the festivities like a lifeless mannequin. That was when she met
Grayson, a man who had mesmerized her from the start. He was a man of God. She remembered
the red tattoo of a cross on his back. He understood Naomi, and he cared for
her...but he spurned her advances, and instead introduced her to his 'single
and looking' friend, Edward Darcouver.
From that moment on, it seemed like wherever she went, she found herself
with Edward somehow. Even when she was doing things totally unrelated, she would
suddenly think of him, and wherever she went, he was there. Eventually, she gave
in – it was much easier than arguing with the voices – and they started dating.
Now, she stared into the eyes of the catalyst. Grayson gazed back at
her with an alligator smile, and Naomi Darcouver felt incredibly weak.
The lenses of Grayson's illuminated glasses flashed, and memories flooded
back into her mind. You're a bad girl. That's why you have to suffer. When
you do something bad, God punishes you. That's how this world works.
"Naomi!" Grayson snapped, yanking her back to reality.
She blinked, dabbing sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, and
looked into her lap helplessly. "I, I don't know what item you're talking
about, Grayson."
"Fine, I'll just tell you then." Grayson took a sip of his
latte. "Naomi, inside your luggage was a clock. Do you know what a clock is?"
Naomi thought it was a trick question, but she answered anyway. "A...a
clock is something that tells time...right?"
"Wrong," Grayson cut her down. "This clock is not something
that tells time at all, Naomi. It is a gateway to the end of the world."
Naomi stared at him blankly. Clearly, something hadn't registered.
Grayson sighed. "I'll skip the details. In any case, Naomi, I
simply must know where you found that clock."
Finally, Naomi realized Grayson was referring to the small grandfather clock
she’d taken from Vance’s room. "I found it on Edward's son's bed. Last
Sunday, he brought it home from the city. I think he might have stolen it."
Grayson thought for moment. "And when exactly did he disappear?"
"The following morning."
Grayson couldn't help but laugh. He was not laughing at Naomi, Vance,
nor even the circumstances in which they had fallen. He was laughing at
himself, for he had somehow made a colossal error.
"It makes so much sense!" He cried out loud. "He seemed so
insignificant...but yes, he seems to be her son after all – how interesting.
Well, well. I suppose I really do know where Vance is, then."
"You do?" Naomi’s eyes widened.
"Yes. He's in another dimension," Grayson said casually.
"And he's trying to do something very bad, Naomi! In fact, he may very well
be trying to ruin our entire business. He's jealous. He hates us, and he hates God.
He doesn’t want us to be happy."
Naomi listened to him, nodding deeply. "That sounds like
him alright."
"I'm sure it does," Grayson said with a smirk. "We simply
must put a stop to his meddling. Let me drive you home, Naomi. You may tell
Edward that we are in the process of securing his son, but nothing more than
that. After you finish up at home, you will return to my car, and then we'll drive
back to Zexaron and prepare you."
"Prepare me? For what?"
"Your journey." Grayson stood up and moved to the cashier.
"I'm sending you to go find Vance."
Next: Eyes of the Abyss
