Bound by Duty

Chapter Twenty

The gym was dark and Micah was already sitting in Cole's office when we arrived. All three of us were on full tilt and Charlie was just as agitated by the magical overload. He paced back and forth in the hallway, emitting a short growl every few steps, his ears pricked. Cole motioned to Micah and we went out into the training area. It felt good to be in an open space again after all that time in the car. I looked haggard in old ripped jeans and a sweatshirt with my hair in a knot on top of my head. Cole and I had both been so worked up, we hadn't even talked about what we would or wouldn't discuss with Micah. I let him take the lead in the conversation.

None of us sat down as we came to the center of the room and stared at each other. The only sounds were Charlie's nails clicking on the cement on the outer edge of the training room as he continued to pace.

"Micah, I'm sorry we weren't here and you couldn't find us." Cole's apology caught both Micah and me by surprise.

Micah's eyes widened just a fraction before he nodded. "I know. And I shouldn't have blamed you. But, what are we going to do? We clearly cannot allow Amelia to go meet them alone. You know she's who they want." He ran a hand back through his hair and I could see his pained expression. We were all worried about what Bethany was going through.

I harrumphed a little, "Well, normally I'd be offended by that, but I don't particularly want to go out there alone. I just don't see a way around it."

Both men turned and started yelling at me at the same time. It took a supreme amount of control not to lay them both out on the mats and leave them pinned there. I was sure I could do it, especially right now. So, instead, I put some power behind my voice and yelled, "JUST STOP IT!"

They both shut up and took a step back. Before they could come at me again, I started talking.

"Let's get real, guys. These people want me. Not you. Me. And they have Bethany. I can defend myself. She can't. I can defend both of us. This isn't a choice and you both know it. On top of that, you both care about her, just like I do." I sent Cole a look that said "You know you do so just shut it" and he looked back at me a little sheepishly.

"Micah, you and I can open our connection so that I can keep you both updated on what's happening. Even where they take me, if they do. You'll come for me, right? If it comes down to it, you'll find me?" Those last words came out far more quietly and with less strength than I had hoped.

The fear was sneaking in again, but I wouldn't have it. This was for Bethany. I stood up straight and sent a ripple of electricity running through me once again. As I had calmed down, I pushed the darkness back into its corner, making promises that she would get her chance. When I lifted my eyes to Cole's, and then to Micah's, I saw what I needed to see. Cold determination.

We decided we would meet back at my apartment to finalize the plan. Micah said he had some potential reinforcements he might tap into, so he went his way and Cole and I went ours. Once we were in the confines of the car, I turned to him.

"What if I can't stop her, Cole? When I lose it, she takes over, and I can't always stop her." I had taken to referring to my power source as her own being, at least to Uncle Derreck and Cole, who understood what she actually was. "If they've hurt B, I won't be able to stop her. I won't want to."

Cole turned to me and placed his hand over mine, reassurance and strength filling the void my fear had left when I forced it out. "You can't, Amelia. You can't let them know who you are — what you are. They can think you're an Elder, that's fine. But we don't even understand what being a Keeper means for you. If they figure that out, you'll never get out and you have to. It's not a choice, Amelia."