Finding Sky

‘I want your brothers to know I’m tel ing the truth.’ I didn’t need to open my eyes to be aware where everyone was. The two older Benedicts hovered protectively by the door into the rest of the house.

Their father’s emotions were mixed—fear, concern for me, and puzzlement. Wil leaned on the counter, glowing with a cheerful spring green. Xav was concentrating on healing my feet, his presence a cool blue of concentration. And Zed, he was glowing with golden love and a purple edge of desperation to do something to help me.

‘You don’t think I’m here because someone sent me to hurt you, do you?’ I murmured, rubbing my cheek against his sweatshirt.

‘No, baby,’ he replied, nuzzling my hair.

‘Your dad said I could come.’

‘I know.’

Saul picked up the phone lying on the table.

‘What’s her number?’ he asked.

I’d forgotten al about my parents. ‘They don’t know I’m gone.’

‘Better to wake them up to tel them you’re safe than to let them discover your empty bed and worry.’

Zed reeled off the number and Saul had a quick conversation with Simon. I knew they would want to jump in the car and fetch me, but I didn’t want that after having come al this way.

‘I want to stay,’ I whispered. Then I found a stronger voice. ‘I want to stay.’

Saul glanced at me and nodded. ‘Yes, Simon, she’s OK, a little cold but we’re looking after her.

She’s sure she wants to stay. Why not come and col ect her after breakfast? No point turning out in the middle of the night when there’s no need. Yep, wil do.’ He put the phone down. ‘He’l drive over in the morning. He says that you were to get some rest and not worry.’

‘Am I grounded again?’

Zed ruffled the hair at the back of my neck.

‘He didn’t mention that.’ Saul smiled.

‘I bet I am.’

‘Until you’re fifty,’ said Zed.

‘I thought as much.’

Xav let go of my feet. ‘I’ve done what I can for your soulfinder.’ He used the term with relish. ‘She needs to keep warm and sleep it off now. The cuts are pretty much healed.’

‘Thanks.’ Zed lifted me up. ‘I’l put her in my bed for tonight. Mom’s going to lend her some dry nightclothes.’

Snug and warm under Zed’s duvet, I didn’t feel sleepy. He was sitting on the window seat, guitar in hand, ru

Zed leant his forehead against his mother’s, a gesture I found oddly touching seeing how much tal er he was than her. ‘Tel me what you see, Mom.

I’ve dropped my shields.’

Karla sighed. ‘I see you standing guard over her and behaving like a perfect gentleman.’

‘That’s right.’ He winked at me. ‘Sometimes having a mom who sees the future is a blessing.’

Now gazing at him framed by the night sky, I thought I’d never seen anything more perfect.

‘I love you, Zed,’ I said softly. ‘I don’t need to wait to sort out my memories; I know I do.’

He stopped playing. ‘Wel , now.’ He cleared his throat. ‘That’s the first time you’ve said it to me face to face like this.’

‘I’ve told you before; I’m sure I have.’

‘No, you’ve hinted but you’ve never just come out with it.’

‘I do, you know—love you, I mean. I’m a little shy so I don’t say it easily.’

‘A little shy? Sky, you’re possibly the shyest person I’ve ever met.’

‘I’m sorry.’

He came and sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Don’t be. It’s part of what I love about you. You never think anyone’s going to like you and have this vaguely surprised expression when we al fal for you. It’s cute.’ He tapped the end of my nose.

‘I don’t want to be cute.’

‘I know, you want to be taken seriously.’ His expression was solemn but his eyes were laughing.

‘And I do—I swear it.’

‘You don’t—not about this.’

‘You don’t believe me?’

I shook my head. ‘I can read emotion you know.’

He brushed the hair off my forehead. ‘I may not have a poker face but I can’t believe I’m that transparent.’

‘You don’t understand. It’s my gift—I real y can read what you’re feeling. My gift—it unlocked.’

He sat back, his colours shifting into the mauve of bewilderment. I could see him processing what I said, the emotions moving to the warm colours of his love for me as he came to terms with it. ‘That’s OK

then, so you know that when I say I love you, I real y mean it. You know you’re my soulfinder.’

‘Yes. But I can tel if you lie to me too about other things. People have a shifty yel ow cloud to them when they tel a fib.’

‘Oh, wel now, that isn’t fair.’

‘You can see the future.’

‘Not al the time—and not so much with you now.’

I smiled sleepily. ‘Then you’d better watch your step with me.’

He trailed the back of his hand over my cheek.

‘You’re enjoying having the advantage for once.’

‘Yeah, I’m ahead of the curve, or whatever you say here.’

‘God help us al .’ He nudged me over and stretched out beside me. ‘When did you discover this?’

‘In the warehouse. It was how I knew that you hadn’t hurt me even though my brain was tel ing me you had.’ I paused, the images were stil so vivid.

‘Are you sure I never shot you—not even in make-believe like that fake knife?’

He groaned. ‘Don’t remind me of that. And yeah, I’m sure. It’s not something I’m likely to forget now, is it?’

‘I’m crazy, Zed.’ There, I’d admitted it.

‘Uh-huh. And I’m crazy too—about you.’

I came down to the kit

chen wearing clothes much

too big for me, jeans and shirt sleeves rol ed up, a pair of Zed’s wool y socks on my feet instead of slippers. I was getting used to seeing my parents regard me with that shocked, disappointed expression, the one where I knew I’d let them down but they were too scared to tel me off in case I col apsed on them.

‘Hi, love, ready to come home?’ asked Simon, a touch impatiently, jingling the car keys in his palm.

Zed came up behind, giving me the silent encouragement of his presence.

‘I’d like to stay a while, please. I think they can help me.’ I reached for Zed’s hand at my back.

Sal y touched the base of her throat. ‘For how long?’

I shrugged. I hated hurting them. ‘Until I know if this is going to work.’

Karla closed her eyes for a moment, feeling out to the future. She smiled when she looked at me. ‘I honestly think we can help Sky, Sal y. Please trust us. We’re just a short drive away. You’l be able to reach her in a few minutes if you’re worried about her.’

‘Love, are you sure?’ asked Simon.

‘I’m sure.’

Sal y hadn’t reconciled herself yet to this separation. ‘But, darling, what can they do for you that we can’t?’

‘I don’t know. It just feels right.’

She hugged me tight. ‘OK, we’l try it. You’ve got your boy to take care of you then?’

‘Yes, I have.’

Sal y nodded. ‘I can see that. If it doesn’t work, don’t worry. We’l just try something else and keep on going until we solve this.’

‘Thanks.’

My parents reluctantly headed back home leaving me with al nine Benedicts in their kitchen.

‘I like your parents,’ Zed said in a low voice, putting an arm around me. ‘They keep on fighting your corner, don’t they?’

‘Yes. I’m lucky to have them.’ I was very aware of our audience. I was stil to meet Uriel—he was the slim dark one standing next to Wil , both were eyeing me as if I was an exotic creature. Zed’s soulfinder.

The least physical y imposing of the Benedicts, Uriel was the one I most feared—the one who could read the past.

Karla clapped her hands. ‘Right, my little ones—’