She awoke in a park. No part in particular, it was just some generic park. Valentina started to wander, wondering when she put on clothes. Or how she got to the park. The place seemed empty, strange with such fine weather. Belatedly, Valentina realized it was sunny and warm.
“I got shot in a park and he moves you right next on one!” A man laughed, his accent thick. Valentina spun to face him. Tracker stood before her, older now – the Tracker from the picture, with dark circles under his eyes. Something aged him further, a little silver at the temples, lines on his forehead. He smiled and gave her a nod. “Valentina. I’ve missed you.”
“Tracker… Father?” She stammered. Valentina didn’t know what to do, or what else to say. Too many things were happening too quickly.
“He told you. Or did you figure it out?” Tracker found a bench, or perhaps the bench found them, and he had seat.
“Murroh told me, but only because I forced it out of him… I … I thought you were his secret lover.” Valentina blushed.
That made Tracker laugh. He laughed hard. “Murroh and I? Did you know that you aren’t the first person to think he was gay? I did. Your mother did. American press did. I think Abe did too, but he always hated Murroh to much to think too much about him.”
“So... You knew Abe? We are on the right track?” Valentina asked, excitedly.
“Da. You are, but do you know where this track is leading? You and your telepath are going map point to map point. But where do you want to end?” Tracker asked.
“I… I don’t know… We wanted to find you… At least, that was the initial plan. But I guess it’s not possible any more, is it?” She reluctantly sat beside him. “I guess we just keep going until there isn’t any more to go to.”
“Well if you want my advice, stay optimistic, plan ahead, plan a plan for when the first plan fails, and keep those eyes open. Especially when you get to Fairgarden. It’s a beautiful estate, and I wouldn’t want you to miss anything. Oh, and keep that telepath around.” Tracker didn’t sound like he was warning her away from her research. Not like Murroh, who wanted her to stay out of her father’s past.
“I rather like him. For more than just his many abilities.” Valentina blushed again. Did she just make a double entendre to her father?
“I’m sure he’s a real catch. But he’s also smart and powerful. Just the kind of man I’d have around me. I liked having telepaths around. I use to call them teleprispeshnik, of course not to their faces… or their minds. Keep enough around, that trust you and tap into your mind, well… The relationship can work both ways. I used to be able to triangulate locations better, with the help of the right telepaths.” She listened to him with wide eyes, soaking up his every word.
“You could backwards tap into a telepath’s mind… But you weren’t a telepath yourself, right?” Valentina wanted to hear more, hoping that she’d find out something crucial to his identity in there.
“No, born a tracker, died a … Well, still not too sure on that one.” Just as suddenly as he’d decided to sit, Tracked decided to stand. “My Ursa Minor, I must be going. And you too. Your telepath is worried for you. But remember, the stars will always help you if you get lost.” He gave her a wink and started off.
“Father? Father!” She shouted, reaching out for him. He couldn’t hear her. He was gone. The sun was gone too. And the park was gone. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Valentina struggled and turned, and hit Eli in the nose with her shoulder. She was tangled in the bed sheets, sweating and her heart was racing. Eli was holding his nose.
“Valentina, are you okay?” Eli asked, reaching for a hand full of tissues on the nightstand. Valentina felt terrible, watching his nose and the blood seeping into the tissues.
“Eli! What did I do to you? Are you okay? Here, let me look at that.” She reached for his nose, but Eli turned away.
“No, Valentina. I’m fine. It’s just a nose bleed. I’m the one that should be worried about you.” He insisted. Eli slid out of the bed and turned on the lamp on the nightstand. “But I am going to uh… Take care of this first.” He disappeared into the bathroom, and was in there for a while.
Valentina felt terribly for hurting Eli and hoped she didn’t go as far as to have broken his nose. She shivered, and realized she was naked in Eli’s bed. She went to find her overnight bag and fished out a pair of panties. Sure that Eli wouldn’t mind if she borrowed a t-shirt, Valentina began to look for one. Eli owned a lot of suits, a lot of ties and a lot of suspenders. He had several pairs of oxford shoes and dress shirts in countless colors, fabrics and styles. For a moment she was reminded of her closet back home in New York. She finally found some clothes that weren’t dressy. She pulled out a t shirt for herself and some pajama pants and clean underwear for Eli.
“Eli?” She called out to him sitting on the bed as she pulled the shirt on over her head. “I’m borrowing a t shirt, if that’s okay. How’s your nose?”
“Yeah, it’s okay.” Eli said, emerging from the bathroom, still holding his nose with one hand, and his phone with the other. “And my nose is okay, I think. Levi said it’s probably not broken.”
“I’m really sorry. I was having a… I don’t even know. But I got you some clothes out.” Valentina offered. She tried to smile for him.
“Thank you.” He put down his phone and let go of his nose long enough to get dressed. It wasn’t bleeding any more, but it still looked swollen. He’d probably have a bruise in the morning. “Do you need some ice?”
“No, I don’t think so.” He sat beside her and took her hand, “So, what did he say this time?”
“Well he called you smart and powerful.” Valentina squeezed his hand gently, “But he said that we’re on the right path. And that we need to figure out where we are going. And there’s something to see at Fairgarden.”
“He didn’t happen to tell you where Fairgarden was, did he?” Eli managed to make a joke.
“No, he didn’t. But he said the stars will help us.” Valentina managed more of a smile.
“We’ll find it, Valentina. I know we will. Did he drop any hints, or is that only Colonel Lytton?” Eli slid closer, putting his arm around her.
“Just some stuff about telepaths. That he figured out how to use them as some kind of… Amplifier?” Valentina wasn’t sure if Eli would understand that better than she did.
“He could tap into a telepath’s mind? Wow… We need to find more of his journals… He understood chaining. The things I could learn from his work, if he wrote it down.” Eli shook his head. “Okay, enough about him. Let’s put all this behind us, at least until the morning and try to get back to sleep.”
Eli helped her get comfortable in the bed again and he settled in next to her. Valentina curled against his side as he put his arms around her. “I’m sorry I hit you, Eli.”
“Valentina, you could have knocked my nose clean off my face. I’m just relieved you are okay.” He told her, pushing a bit of hair off of her cheek and tucking it behind her ear. She smiled as she closed her eyes. This time her dreams were of her own design. And the only man in her dreams was Eli.
YOU ARE READING
Looking For A Legend (Book 1)
Bí ẩn / Giật gânA young telepath is unexpectedly left with leading his class when his teacher takes leave. One of Elijah's new students Valentina leads him down a path where mysteries only get more mysterious and nothing is as simple as it looks.
