The Fake Voice (Time Alchemist) Read online

  CHAPTER 4

  More and more I was beginning to dislike the Black Crown, but in reality, I was more disappointed in myself for getting such hopes up, chasing a lead that would have obviously ended in failure. Even as I stood on the orphanage-slash-part-museum’s door, the House of Fiona (which I stored away in my mind), boring a hole into its wooden frame with a heated glare, my mind refused to give up.

  But the owner’s poisonous eyes wouldn’t leave my sight; as if it were scarred into my brain. It wasn’t that she despised the Black Crown

  —I think I could go as far as to say she hated them—but there was something else in her eyes. A look I recognized too often.

  Pain. Loss. And most of all…regret. She saw herself as those children’s protector, and she would do whatever it took to make sure they were safe.

  It would be heartless of me to try and pursue the matter, even if I was innocent of whatever “crimes” the Black Crown was making. I had no definite proof, from what little I’ve seen and heard of them. It’s possible they simply housed young orphaned alchemists and then took them up later to train them, maybe make them part of the organization.

  I wondered if that woman was an alchemist or not…

  With a sigh, and a mental kick at my own stupidity, I shouldered my bag and stepped away; leaving any sort of lead I had to those pesky Fire Alchemists behind me. However, I hadn’t gotten ten feet when I felt a small tug on my sleeve. Startled, I looked down to see the little girl from before. Gaia.

  “You’re not here to take us away, are you?”

  I shook my head, startled at such a question. Her green eyes were wide, but not with fright. More like curiosity, and I couldn’t shake the image of a cute kitten when she stared at me. In little ways, she reminded me of Chrys—innocent to the core, yet their eyes shown with an intelligence that was lost to me.

  “They took away Lily. Are you going to take me away?”

  I bent down to her level, watching her fidget with the hem of her dress. “No, not at all. Never. I’m just trying to look for someone…” I said, then added, “A friend, sort of. But he’s not here, so I’ll have to look somewhere else.”

  Gaia cast her eyes down, muttering an “Oh,” before bending down to rest her hands on the soft grass. Odd. The weather was terrible hot, but when I pressed my own palms to the tresses they felt soft and moist, as if they were watered daily. It hadn’t rained for over two weeks, and I remember vaguely of someone mentioning to me that Atlanta had

  certain laws regarding watering lawns? There was a limit of water that could be used…

  I had my answer when light green light erupted around the girl’s tiny hands; the heavy scent of moist earth filled my nostrils, and I could only stare in wonder as I saw tiny white flowers pop out of the ground as if they had just woken from a long winter slumber.

  And if I looked closely—faint dark green Runes on the girl’s hands. Mainly her thumbs. Guess that gave the meaning “green thumb”

  a whole new level.

  Gaia looked up, snapping me out of my trance and handed over two little white flowers, looking so pure and fresh it was as if they had bloomed on the brightest spring day. “Come back to visit, okay?”

  I felt a smile tug my lips as I took the flowers, feeling how soft the petals were against my skin. “I’ll try to, Gaia—”

  But she was already gone, sprinting around the side of the large house, out of sight. Seeing such a cute, quiet girl in a large place like this made my heart feel heavy.

  “ They may not care about these children but I do.”

  What sort of fate was in store for Gaia—if the Black Crown decided to come get her? Would she be working the same way as Chrys and Ru, doing the occasional undercover, or acting as someone’s bodyguard? Would she be trained properly? Given a home to live in like

  Frankie Ann’s?

  Would she even want to be part of the Black Crown?

  Or did she even have a choice?

  ○○○

  The sky had turned a dusty orange; the big bright ball in the sky called the sun was preparing for the arrival of the moon, and all I could do was stare into oblivion, refusing to believe another day had ended with zero leads.

  Life: 1. Emery: 0.

  Sometimes I wondered if my ideas weren’t really as bright as I always thought. I always prided myself on being close to perfect when it came to organization and events. I thought if I could just get the names of those two alchemists, I would be able to find White and then get the Elixir. But with everything going on, it’s like my mind just froze up.

  What was I going to do?

  So lost in thought, I didn’t hear the sets footsteps following me on the way back to my motel. At first I assumed it was just a couple of passerby’s, until I sped up—and they followed.

  Don’t panic. Stay focused. My heart started to race, even though I knew I could take the punks following me.

  Maybe.

  Yes, I was trained (a little) on how to fight with a sword. But that was the problem: I didn’t have a sword with me. Nothing except my own fighting power and…well, I had a hardback book in my bag. The edge would do some damage. Right?

  But I had one thing those two didn’t: alchemy.

  Sure, it didn’t help much that my alchemy couldn’t physically attack someone, but it would give me enough leeway to escape. I was a pro at that, running away.

  I glanced over my shoulder. Of course. Typical thugs wearing dark clothes with hoods pulled up and shades on (this late in the day?).

  Looking around, I realized there wasn’t another soul in sight, which only made my heart skip even faster. Though I was walking on the sidewalk, all it would take for one of them to tackle me into an alley.

  I needed space.

  Just my luck, up ahead on the left was a small park. Empty, of course, but it would have to do. I adjusted the grip on my bag and made a run for it, cutting across the street into the children’s playground. The sets of heavy footsteps behind me only made me speed up and realize I was right: those jerks were after me.

  Me. A defenseless girl walking the streets almost at night. All alone.

  Brilliant, Emery. Just when you didn’t think you could get any

  more idiotic.

  I weaved through a swing set and breathed in, drawing the heated power inside my chest—my core—urging it to come out. One breath later I saw the achingly familiar golden swirls dance in the air, and felt my confidence go up just a notch. It felt like I had an invisible ally. I could do this.

  I stopped in front of the slides and turned around, planting my feet firmly on the ground. I gripped my bag, playing the role of a helpless girl trapped, and watched the two men loom over, ugly smirks plastered on their greasy faces.

  “Hey cutie, you alone?” The one in a gray hooded jacket called out.

  I couldn’t help the sarcasm that escaped my lips. “Really? You just realized that?”

  “Shut it,” he snarled back. His partner, wearing dark red, glanced over my body, lingering in certain areas a little too long for my liking.

  “You sure this girl’s the one?”

  “Matches the picture, doesn’t it?”

  “Why the hell does he want some scrawny chick anyway?”

  My skin turned cold. He? It couldn’t be…

  “Does it matter?” Gray Hood laughed, licking his lips. “He said to bring her back alive, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a lil fun while

  we’re at it.”

  “Yeah, no. I don’t think so.” I retorted, drawing my alchemy to me. Just as I mentally wrapped the golden strings around the thugs, I felt a sharp tug at my foot and found myself falling to the ground. I slammed against the sand with such force that I saw stars; a heavy whoosh of breath left my lungs.

  What the heck?! I tried to get up, pressing my hands into the dirt

  —only to see them sink right into the sand! Gray Hood laughed, and I saw with wide eyes that the one in red had a smirk on his face.
My eyes traveled down his body (not in that sort of way, geez.), until they rested on his boots; boots that sure looked a lot nicer than the rags he called clothes. They were dark brown, almost the same shade as wood, with thick soles.

  Soles covered in lightly covered Runes.

  Great. They just came in all shapes and sizes, huh?

  Gray Hood laughed some more, bending over to grab the front of my shirt. “You really are a dumbass, aren’t you? We don’t give two shits why the boss wants you, but we’re gonna have lots of fun with you before the night’s over—”

  Suddenly Red screamed. I saw him flail around like a chicken with his head cut off, slapping at his clothes that had….suddenly lit on fire.

  I was flabbergasted, and his partner must have felt the same because all he could do was stare at his dancing friend. So, I took that opportunity (since my limbs were immobile at the moment), and threw myself forward as far as I could. My head collided with the side of Gray Hood’s face and he let out a howl.

  The alchemy that was controlling the sand shifted; Red must have lost his control, and I was able to unearth my hands and legs. I scrambled up, slipping on the sand and kicked Gray Hood as hard as I could in the side before he could get up.

  He let out another yell, but grabbed my leg with one of his meaty hands and I tumbled again to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of dirt and grime in the process.

  “Stupid bitch!” he hissed through clenched teeth. “I’m going to kill you!”

  My reply was interrupted when Gray Hood let out an inhuman screech, and I watched as his entire body was enveloped in fire.

  No, that wasn’t right. It was just his clothes, but even so the heat of the flames felt as if they were melting my skin. I shoved him off as best as I could and rolled away, finding refuge under the metal slide. My skin was tingling from the heat and alarm of the situation finally sinking into my flesh and bones.

  If they hadn’t caught on fire—

  The realization of what happened hit me like a cartoon anvil smack on the head. I never realized how weak I was, both physically and mentally. I’ve faced the force of an ancient, purely evil alchemist twice and escaped death’s clutches more than I could count on one hand. Yet these two low class punks had me right where they wanted. And I had, stupidly, because of my pride, walked right into their hands.

  Their pained howls echoed in the air, and I was surprised nobody had come to investigate. Maybe I was in even worse territory than I originally thought.

  Just then, I heard someone approach. I cowered underneath the slide, peering out just enough to get a glimpse of dark red hair; of a boy tossing Gray Hood with such ease onto his partner that I actually heard something crack. No doubt a couple of their ribs were broken, and the stench of burned clothes flesh made my stomach seize up.

  “Get the hell out of my sight or I’ll burn you until there’s nothin’

  left but ash.” A familiar voice said, filled with such venom it actually made my heart stop for a full second. I recognized that voice, and my hands instinctively brushed the back of my neck. I could still feel the burn marks back there, though they had been healed by Gwen. But the reminder of that alchemist holding me down as he burned my hair off, threatening me as I had taken down his brother, Ash.

  We were enemies. Except he was saving my life.

  Why?

  CHAPTER 5

  “Are you alright—hey! Ow! What the hell?! Quit that!”

  “You’re kidding me, right?” I shouted, pelting as many stones as I could at the Fire Alchemist’s face. I gave a small victory grin when one rather large rock hit him square in the knee and he hunched over in pain, hissing through his teeth.

  He managed to dodge the one aimed for his head, leveling me with a glare so hot it could melt metal. “Is this the thanks I get for saving your dumb ass?”

  “How do I know you aren’t working together?” I shot back. I ran out of rocks so I lamely threw fistfuls of sand at his face instead. “This is some kind of trick!”

  He stopped long enough to dodge the sand, brushing off some bits left on his shoulder. “Are you that stupid? If I wanted you I would do it myself, without the help of those pieces of crap.”

  “But you three are working together.” I glared at him, scooting out the opposite side of the slide and gripping it like it acted as the Great Wall of China between the two of us. “You all work for the White Alchemist, don’t you?”

  He physically flinched when I mentioned White. “Did work for him. Past tense.”

  “What?”

  “I’m saying I used to work for him. White,” he gave a sigh, scratching his dark red locks as sand tumbled out of his hair. “Not anymore.”

  I gazed at him, feeling unease shift through my veins like sparks of electricity. I took a good look at the boy who was responsible for damaging the Sun and Moon Library; the one who hurt my friends and hurt me as well. Only, what, two or three days ago his hair was midnight black. Now it was a bright red, almost like blood, with the tips that same shade of black, like they had been dipped in ink. They brushed over dark chocolate eyes, ones that had looked at me with pure hatred when I had taken down his brother.

  His brother had looked similar, minus the dark streaks…and the scar on his lip, almost white in the streetlights. He wore a pair of dark denim jeans with boots, a black leather jacket with a scuffed up black shirt. And around his throat he wore a chain necklace with a coin attached to it.

  “I need your help.”

  His voice cracked. That’s what caused me to look up, startled, and see him for the first time. His face was twisted in pain, though he tried

  to hide it behind a steel mask. He couldn’t look me in the eyes, but he pleaded again.

  Here he was, right here: my ticket to White.

  And he wanted my help.

  I reached out my hand. “Give me your gloves.”

  He blinked, shooting me a quizzical look. I kept my stare, and he gave a sigh, relenting, and peeled off dark leather gloves that were etched with red Runes—the source of his alchemy. I was shocked to see his hands littered in scars and cracks, but said nothing as he put them gingerly in my hand. They were warm to the touch.

  “Now strip.”

  A brow rose and his lips stretched into a smirk. “I didn’t peg you for that kinda girl.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Just take off your jacket and boots. And roll up your pants and shirt.”

  The Fire Alchemist let out a sigh of frustration but did as I asked, tossing me his jacket and kicking off his boots in the sand. Once I affirmed that the inside of his jacket held no hidden Runes, as did the bottoms of his boots, and after he pulled up his pant legs (and took off his belt), and shirt, I confirmed there were no hidden notches. His powers were kept in his gloves. I tossed him back his jacket and he grumbled something inaudible under his breath.

  “And the necklace.” I learned from a past mistake that even something as thin as a necklace could act as a Rune, and I wasn’t going to take that chance, even if this boy’s own charm was just a strangely shaped coin.

  “Hell no.”

  I snapped. “You want my help? Then let me at least look at it okay? Both sides.”

  He gave in with an exasperated growl and leaned over the slide.

  But to see the coin, I had to lean halfway as I took it between two fingers, rubbing a faded insignia of an old silver dollar between my thumb and forefinger. I was acutely aware of his breath brushing along my cheek, and there was a faint lingering aroma of cigarette smoke.

  From his alchemy or an unmentioned smoking habit, I couldn’t say.

  After flipping the coin and finding a similar, I let it go. It fell to his chest with a light thump and he backed off, his mouth set in a grim line.

  “Satisfied?”

  “Somewhat.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “Now will you listen?”

  I thought of the million scenarios that could go on if I refused to listen. He was physically stron
ger than me, even without his alchemy. If I ran, he would catch me. If I tried to fight, he’d still win. And he knew enough about my Time Alchemy to sense when I would attack.

  And if I lost him, I lost my only lead to White.

  “I’ll listen.” I just hope I didn’t regret it.

  He turned on his heel and I followed, surprised when he parked himself on one of the swings, the weight making the chains creak uncomfortably. He gave me a look that read “You coming?”, so I swallowed my confusion and took a seat two swings down from him, ready to bolt like a rabbit just in case.

  I fidgeted with the chain, sliding my thumb over some of the rusted edges, waiting for him to start. Finally, he spoke up, his voice oddly loud on such a still night. “Where the hell do I even begin?”

  I pondered. “You could…tell me your name?”

  He blinked his chocolate brown eyes, as if that sort of common thought had escaped all reasoning in his mind. “Oh. Right. It’s Rick.”

  “…Rick.” I could only stare. “You’re name’s Rick.” Huh. I was actually betting on Inferno. I mean, his brother was named Ash for crying out loud. Most everyone I’ve met had some uncommon name—

  Dove, Leon, Chrysanthemum…hearing an average name like Rick wasn’t clicking.

  “Short for Roderick, so you can see why I prefer to go by Rick,” he explained. “Rick Scott.”

  My mind was completely floored. “But you’re brother’s name is Ash.”

  “Short for Ashton. Kind of ironic, isn’t it?” a smirk tugged his lips.

  “A Fire Alchemist named Ash.”

  Well color me disappointed.

  “Okay so, uh, tell me…what do you need my help for?” I asked, breaking the awkward conversation.

  Instantly Rick’s eyes clouded over and he shrugged. Digging his boot into the sand, he again refused eye contact, simply staring up into the sky that had begun to turn a shade of purple. “I don’t even know if it’s something you can help me with, but you’re my only shot.”

  I bit my lip.

  “This may sound strange,” Rick began, “But White…isn’t the same man I knew before. He’s been changing over the past few years, and I can’t quite figure out what the hell is wrong. Every little thing makes him snap, and my—our failure—the other day, sent him over the edge.”