Geneva Sommers and the Secret Legend Read online

  What if we try and it doesn’t work out? What if we break up and he breaks my heart? Would I never recover from that? What if it does work out? Am I ready for what a serious relationship means? Nova is older than me. He’s probably so much more experienced than I am. I’m blushing just thinking about the prospect of it. He’d probably be better off with someone like Jemma or the dozens of other Beto girls who have been throwing themselves at his feet since we got here. I just feel like I can’t compete with them. He’s Nova! He’s the most amazing, beautiful, talented, bravest, kindest person I’ve ever met. Why would he want to be with me? I’m not just a normal girl. I’m the Eva. I come with a whole slew of problems. I have a country to unite and rule, and crazy unheard of powers that I don’t even really know how to control that well. I’m sure there’s probably some that I don’t even know I have yet. What if I accidentally hurt him with one of them? Or what if someone hurts him to get at me? And, how could I forget that I have an army of crazy Ravin supporters hunting me? Yeah, I think it’s safe to say that I’m no ordinary girl.

  And then there’s Remi. I have to tell Nova that I kissed him. I hate keeping it a secret, but I know it won’t go over well no matter what I say. Remi has always been my best friend and I’ve never looked at him any other way. But now, after that kiss, I feel so confused. My heart and head are a jumbled mess . . . I probably should just save all of us the heartache and stay single . . .

  29

  Once her last dance partner graciously excused himself, Jemma was surprised to find herself alone at the party.

  “Where did everyone go?” she muttered to herself scanning the dance floor for her friends. “I can’t believe they never even said goodnight!”

  Then she had a thought. “Oh, if they think they’re going to go off and have an after-party without me . . .” she said, half running toward the tents, panicking at the thought of being left out of the fun.

  The first tent she came to was Geneva’s. It was still and quiet, but it looked like there was candlelight flickering inside.

  “Eva?” she whispered poking her head in.

  Her sister lay asleep in her hammock, with Niv nestled beside her. Jemma noticed the candle next to her was still burning and crept inside to blow it out. She paused for a moment, gazing at her long-lost sister’s pale features glowing in the moonlight. She still found it hard to believe that her baby sister had come back to her. Never in a million lifetimes, would she have imagined she could be so lucky to be reunited with her. She had given up hope of ever seeing her again after the Flood. It was cruel to think they had grown up together, but never really knew each other. Losing her family in the Flood had hardened Jemma’s heart and ironically, she took her anger out, most severely, on Jane #65 at the Troian Center.

  Jemma shook her head and swiped away a tear as she pondered the irony of their situation. Their circumstances were unique in the fact that Jemma remembered more of Geneva since she was the older sibling. Like how she used to sing to her and gave her the nickname of Eva, long before it meant she was the savior of Hullabee Island. To Jemma, they’d forged an inseparable bond as sisters, and it hurt that Geneva couldn’t remember it.

  Jemma moved closer, instinctively humming the soft lullaby she used to sing to help Geneva sleep when she was a baby. When she realized what she was doing, she quickly stopped herself for fear that Geneva would wake and catch her in such a vulnerable moment.

  She regained her composure and leaned over to blow out the candle. That’s when she saw it. The worn and tattered journal, that lay open next to the glowing flame. Its pages were exposed, beckoning her to sneak a peek. Jemma knew it was wrong, but the temptation was too much.

  She told herself it was to get to know her little sister better, but once she read the alluring musings about Nova, she couldn’t put it down.

  “How typical that we share the same taste in boys,” Jemma whispered to herself bitterly as she flipped the page. “I guess that’s just another thing I want that Eva will get.”

  Her eyes widened as they focused on the passage outlining Remi’s kiss and her mouth dropped open! She gasped, then quickly covered her mouth to stifle her tiny yelp, but not before she dropped the journal. Jemma noticed Geneva starting to stir and quickly blew out the candle and fled from the tent.

  Once outside, she breathed in the safety of the surrounding stillness. Everyone must be asleep and she was confident no one had seen her go in or out of Geneva’s tent.

  “That little harlot!” Jemma whispered to herself as she slipped through the night, toward her own tent.

  After slinking inside, she still found herself bewildered by her discoveries. It was obvious to the entire world that Geneva loved Nova, but no one ever would have suspected she had Remi on the side!

  “And I was all ready to give her Nova! Huh! Maybe she’s more devious than I give her credit for. After all, she is my sister.” Jemma smirked, as she gave voice to her thoughts. “Well, two can play at this game. Bring it on, sister.”

  Jemma blew out her candles and lay down for the night, storing away her newly acquired revelation. She smiled as she closed her eyes, knowing she’d spend the night dreaming of how best to use it to her advantage.

  30

  Kobel knocked on the heavy door, peeking inside to find his master seated at his ornate desk. He was eating a peach, skinning it effortlessly with a razor sharp blade. The black hilt of the dagger glinted as it caught the afternoon light filtering in from the high, narrow windows.

  Kobel didn’t wait to be waved in. He’d seen his boss like this before, obsessively pouring over maps and manuscripts. He didn’t even look up, but he seemed to know who entered the room regardless.

  “What is it, Kobel? I’m busy.”

  “Master, I really wish you wouldn’t use that for eating,” the old man said as he approached the desk. “It’s a sacred relic, you know?”

  “Did you come here to badger me about my table manners or did you have a valid reason for interrupting me?”

  “I’ve located the Eva. She’s moving west along the interior ridgeline of the forest.”

  “West! I thought you said she would be returning to the Troian Center?”

  “That’s still the plan, but they’re stalling, preparing.”

  “So, she knows about us then?”

  “Yes, Master, I believe so. She has the ear of the Beto leader. He has his shadow scouts with him at all times, cloaking his thoughts, so I have no way of knowing what he’s shared about us, but we have to expect the worst.”

  “If Jaka is helping her, then we’re running out of time, Kobel.”

  “I gather more information each time the Eva uses her powers. And I’ve discovered she keeps an enchanted journal. When she uses it, I can connect to her; learn her thoughts, her secrets. Last night she left it open and I’ve found their location.”

  “Well, what are we waiting for? Send the mercenaries!”

  “The Betos are protecting her and they’re very wise. They move to a new location every day. They travel through the Bellamorf trees. It’s impossible to pinpoint their next move.”

  “Nothing is impossible, Kobel! I’ll flood the forest with my men if that’s what it takes! Burn the whole place down if you need to!”

  “There may be another way, Master,” Kobel said, timidly.

  “What is it?”

  “I may be able to connect to her mind. If she’s weak enough, I may be able to influence her thoughts and get her to come to us. I just need some time, Master.”

  “I’m not wasting any more time. I’m sending the mercenaries.”

  31

  The next morning, when the sunlight started seeping in through the seams in the tent, I awoke well rested. I rousted Niv from his sleep. He was always grumpy when he woke up and his rumpled fur made me giggle. I tussled his silky hair and scooped him off my chest as I swung my legs off my hammock. I noticed my journal was lying open on the floor. I must have fallen asleep writing again.

/>   “Restore,” I mumbled as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and watched the words vanish.

  I stretched and quickly changed, eager to meet up with everyone this morning and continue our plans for returning to the Troian Center.

  Niv ran off to forage for food and I headed back toward the center of camp. The Betos were all finishing the last of their packing, preparing to move on to their next destinations. It was obvious that the majority of the visiting Betos were already gone. Those who remained waved and smiled at me. I returned their greetings, grinning when they caught themselves about to bow to me.

  I passed over the trodden earth, strewn with flattened petals. They were the only remaining evidence of the ceremony. I smiled fondly at the memories we’d made here. I stopped to pick up a velvet soft red petal, feeling the nostalgic need for a souvenir. I drank in its delicate, sweet scent and laughed to myself. Because of Jovi, I had a feeling the rest of my reign as Eva would be synonymous with the color red and that idea warmed my heart. I cherished the time I spent with Jovi and I loved the fact that every time I saw a red blossom, I’d think of her.

  Suddenly Jovi was at my side, as if she knew I was thinking of her. She was breathless and excited, as always, cutting me off before I could even rib her about the red flowers.

  “Good morning, Geneva! I made you something!” she said, shoving a large folded palm frond into my hand. “Well two things really. My mom made you breakfast,” she said holding up a basket, “and I made you this,” she said, pointing to the package in my hands. “Open it! Open it!” she squealed.

  “All right, all right!” I laughed at her exuberance.

  I unfolded the large leaf and it revealed a small fold of leather, lined with deep blue patterned satin. It reminded me of the shining night sky, speckled with stars. The leather pouch was expertly woven together with a single, long piece of twine. I marveled at the beautiful tool marks that adorned the leather with geometric shapes matching the crest I had painted onto all of my friends at the ceremony last night.

  “Jovi . . . It’s beautiful,” I said, tearing up, while slowly turning her gift over in my hands.

  “It’s for Niv! It’s a marmouse pouch! I noticed last night that you didn’t have anywhere to put him when you were all dressed up, so I stayed up all night making it! Now you have a pretty bag for him to ride in so he doesn’t have to miss any parties! And I put your crest on it too!”

  “Jovi! That’s the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever heard of. Niv will love this. Thank you so much,” I said hugging her and meaning every word.

  “It’s the least I could do with all the trouble Quin causes him,” she said sheepishly.

  “It’s perfect,” I said squeezing her again. “Absolutely perfect.”

  Jovi never ceased to amaze me. I was already admiring how she’d impacted my life and then she goes and does something like this? No one had ever given me a gift before. Being orphans, we didn’t own anything or celebrate our birthdays. We just barely survived. We were more concerned with food and shelter. It’s not to say I didn’t envy the finer things I saw when I visited Lux, but gifts were lavish things that just weren’t part of our lives. I looked at Jovi. This tiny girl lived simply as well. She didn’t have many things of her own, nothing more than she needed, yet I knew she wanted nothing more. Perhaps the most lavish thing she owned was her hopeful innocence. It allowed her to be eternally kind and have a full and giving heart. She found it in herself to make me something more extravagant than she even had for herself, simply because she wanted to. I was starting to see why Vida wanted to keep her secrets from Jovi. I hugged her tightly and swiped away the unexpected tears of joy that overwhelmed me.

  “Are you okay?” Jovi asked, noticing my tear streaked cheeks when I released her. “You like it, don’t you?”

  “Yes! Yes, Jovi! I love it more than you know,” I said, smiling at her and taking her hand. “Come on, join us at our meeting.”

  We met at the center of camp to continue where we left off with our planning. Everyone seemed to be in great spirits, still riding the high from the post ceremony festivities. They were examining their newly painted tattoos as I walked up. Everyone except Nova. He was glumly standing away from the group, working on sharpening the head of a spear. His mood didn’t strike me as odd after the way he took off last night. He was, no doubt, still stewing over what he thought he saw between Remi and I. I shrugged it off and figured we’d address our issues later. Right now, we had real matters, which affected us all and possibly the fate of our whole civilization, to deal with.

  “Your marks are holding strong, Eja,” I said with a smile, pointing to the tattoos I’d painted on him.

  “Ah, yes for now they are, but it takes a full celestial rotation. We will have to wait and see if it pleases the sun tomorrow morning, my Eva,” he said. But I could tell he was having trouble keeping the hope out of his normally steady voice.

  “So, where did we leave off?” Remi asked.

  “Based on our findings in the Book of Secrets that ‘all must oblige,’ we decided that we will all return to the Troian Center at the earliest time, after the proper preparations have been made. Which include acceptable training on how to use our powers and procuring the safest route of travel,” Eja rattled off as though he was reading from a book.

  I smiled at him, grateful for his impeccable memory.

  “As you requested, my Eva, I’ve come up with a schedule for scouting, training and studying the Book of Secrets. We can start today as soon as we address a few more things on the agenda,” he smiled.

  “Great, let’s get started,” I said.

  The few more things on the agenda turned into a lengthy discussion—during which, we ate all of the sweet bread Jovi brought us. But the good news was we came to some solid decisions and a plan was taking shape. We decided Eja would come with us. Even though he wasn’t bound to help us by the Book of Secrets, he happily volunteered to accompany us. I was grateful to him and happy to have him along, since he was the best one of us to read and translate the Book of Secrets. With his flawless memory, he was practically a walking history book.

  Sparrow suggested it would be a good idea to bring Quin with us. The wex was so fast and stealthy, she would be an excellent way to deliver messages to the Beto tribe, should we run into any trouble or need their help. I didn’t like the idea at all, because Quin was useless without Jovi and I was already too attached to the young Beto girl as it was. Involving her in our mission would put her at risk and that was out of the question. There were so many unknowns awaiting us at the Troian Center, but of course that didn’t scare Jovi. She was eager to be part of the team and I was furious when I was outvoted. And to make matters worse, I was also nominated to ask Jovi’s mom for her permission to include Jovi in our expedition. That seemed like the scariest part of the mission so far.

  Since I wasn’t eager to start my day with another discussion with Vida, I asked Eja if he thought I’d be able to get a meeting with Jaka.

  “Yes, he always has time for you, my Eva. May I ask what it’s in regard to?”

  “Well, a few things really. I shared a power with Jemma yesterday and it sort of spawned an argument among the group.”

  “Oh?” Eja asked, raising his faint eyebrows. “And why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”

  “I thought it best to table any decision making until after the ceremony. We all deserve a night off to have some fun once in a while, right?”

  He nodded. “What else did you want to ask the chief?”

  “Let’s just start with that,” I said, not wanting to get into my visions with Eja.

  “I will find him and arrange a meeting. In the meantime, why don’t you study my most recent translations in the Book of Secrets with Remi and Sparrow, while the others practice powers with Nova?”

  “Works for me,” I smiled.

  32

  I was working hard to concentrate on what Sparrow and Remi were reading from the Book of Secrets, bu
t I kept getting distracted by the shouts and applause coming from behind me. Journey and Nova were aggressively sparring each other, while Jovi and Jemma cheered. Nova was sending blasts of flames Journey’s way, as he used his hunter skills to dodge them, even turning a few to stone right before they hit him. It was terrifying and amazing to watch.

  “That seems a bit excessive for practicing powers,” I mumbled under my breath.

  “Geneva, are you listening to anything Remi just read?” Sparrow asked disapprovingly as she caught me glancing over my shoulder.

  “I’m sorry. I’m trying, but they’re making quite a racket!”

  “Just ignore them. They’re showing off for some reason,” she said.

  “I’ll try. Sorry, Remi, continue,” I apologized.

  “It’s okay. You’re not missing much. It’s just a bunch of names we don’t recognize and vague descriptions,” Remi grumbled.

  “Remi, it’s important that we read through all of this. It might seem inconsequential now, but I’m sure it’ll help us identify the Pillars,” Sparrow chided.

  “How? Rhys, Hazel, Mase, Finn, Jax, Kalen . . . we’ve been over this. We don’t know any of them. Names don’t help us when we only know each other as numbers at the Troian Center. And all it says about the Pillars is that each possesses qualities similar to their element. What kind of help is that? The water sign is going to be wet and the earth sign is going to be what . . . dirty?”