However, the actual capital was deemed to have had too much magic worked in it for too long, and the new regime didn’t want to take the chance of a mage sneaking up on them unawares, much like how the last pre-war president had hidden his Elemental abilities from his closest associates. Maybe he should have tried a hat and glasses—the disguise seemed to work pretty well for Max and me.
Dad, Max, and I wandered up and down the streets of Capitol City for a while, reading flyers, staring into shop windows, and trying to look inconspicuous. After about an hour of this, I asked my father what we were really supposed to be doing.
“This,” Dad replied. “I need to make my presence known. Those who are pro-resistance, and pro-Elemental, won’t rally without a leader.”
“And you’re that leader?” I asked. I’d always known that Dad was high up with the war mages, but I’d never known he was their leader. Before he could answer, Max tapped me on the shoulder.
“Sis,” he said. “here comes your boyfriend.” Max jerked his chin to the side, and I saw a full complement of Peacekeepers marching toward us led by none other than Jerome Polonsky.
My stomach plummeted to the ground, leaving me so breathless I couldn’t even remind Max that Jerome had never been my boyfriend. Not only did Jerome know exactly who I was, since he’d blatantly hit on me every time we’d met, but my family’s images were still playing on vid chips throughout the city. There was no doubt in my mind that Jerome recognized us, and that he’d soon be aiming one of those plastic weapons specially made for use against Elementals at us. We were screwed.
I glanced over my shoulder—there was only a brick wall behind us, no door. We were going to have to portal right there, on the street and in front of everyone, to escape. We weren’t just screwed—we were totally screwed.
Then, to my utter horror, Dad took off his dark glasses and stared Jerome right in the eye. Just as Max whipped out a portal of his own, Jerome acknowledged Dad with a deferential nod, and he barked an order for the company to take a quick left, away from where we stood, sitting ducks. When my heart started beating again, I asked Dad what all that was about.
“Corporal Polonsky is one of my men,” Dad replied.
“You mean you know Jerome?” I was stunned. What other creeps has my father been hanging out with?
“Of course. He’s one of my best operatives.” Dad set his glasses on the top of his head, and we began walking toward the financial district. “You and Jerome dated?”
“No,” I replied, ignoring Max’s sneer. “He stopped my car once and asked for my ID, then he tried to scam a date. I’ve only seen him two other times, and he was creepy each time.”
We approached a coffee shop, and I entered without a second thought. If I was going to spend my afternoon in the Mundane World, closer to Jerome than Micah, the least Dad could do was buy me a coffee. Once we had ordered—cinnamon cappuccino for me, black coffee for Max—we waited at the end of the counter.
“Corporal Polonsky is a good man,” Dad said, out of the blue. “I would be very pleased if you and he were together.”
“Dad.” My tone was harsh, but I meant it. “I’m married.” I held out my left hand, showcasing the sparkling emerald on my ring finger.
“Of course,” he said. “I was only speaking hypothetically.”
Our drinks were delivered, but when Dad took his cup there was a tiny paper tag dangling from under the lid. “I think they messed up your order,” I said. “They gave you tea instead of coffee.”
“No, it’s Earl Grey tea,” Dad replied. “I always order Earl Grey.”
With that, Dad strode on ahead, leaving me and Max to gape after him. The man who was single-handedly responsible for his children’s caffeine addictions had ordered tea, not coffee, on purpose. Granted, tea had caffeine, and I enjoyed a cup or two on occasion, but it just wasn’t the same as the black liquid bliss that was coffee.
I guess a lot of things change in sixteen years. “Did you know?” I asked Max as we followed Dad out the door. “About Jerome?”
“Nah,” he replied, taking a swig of his coffee. “But it makes sense if you think about how we got away that time at the Promenade.”
“Shouldn’t Jerome have told us?” I pressed. “Given us a sign or something?”
“Not if he had orders otherwise.” Max pulled out a pack of gum and offered me a piece. Normally I don’t chew gum, especially not when I’m drinking coffee, but hey, we were doing all sorts of irregular things today. As I shoved the brittle, sugary stick in my mouth, Max continued, “You’ll see. Dad always knows what he’s doing.”