Fathom(41)

“Let’s go.” I pulled Naira toward the surface with Lars in tow.





Chapter Ten




Circle of Friends



When I introduced Lars to Mom, her disapproval was so obvious it made Lars clear his throat and look away.

“Can I speak with you a moment?” Aletheia whispered as she walked past me.

Crap. I followed her into the living room and plopped into a poufy chair that reminded me of a purple Peep piece of candy.

“You have to be careful who you let into your circle,” Aletheia said, easing into the opposite chair. “You don’t know this Lars and he could be from the Dartmoth side. Why did you bring him here?”

“He said his family had been preparing him for my coming and that he was supposed to be with me.” I considered what I’d just said, realizing how naïve I sounded.

“You need to do a mind sweep and see if his intentions are honorable.”

“How?”

“Focus on it and bring it through.”

That didn’t tell me a whole lot.

“I need to speak to Naira,” I decided out loud.

“Of course,” Aletheia rose and left the room. Moments later, my little sister bounded in and settled into my lap.

“I need to read Lars’ mind to see if he’s a good guy, Naira. Can you tell me how to do it?”

“You have to go into his head. It’s hard to do. Push through the wall, then pull all his memories and thoughts. Be very careful you don’t push too hard because you could hurt him. It’s hard to do,” she repeated.

“Okay, I’ll give it a go.” I knew I was probably going to embarrass myself, but I had to try.

Naira jumped off my lap and Lars watched her run past him as he entered the room. He smiled and looked back to me uneasily.

“What do you want me to do?” He asked.

“Sit here.” I patted the chair next to me. He sat, staring into my eyes.

“What?” I asked and he began to babble.

“Just a little nervous, being in the presence of The Link and all that. It’s quite an honor, especially since I didn’t think I’d actually meet you. I don’t know what you’re going to do to me right now,”

“Just hold still for a moment.” I cut him off, already feeling the energy beginning to build.

“Okay,” he mumbled in obvious discomfort.

I closed my eyes and did as Naira instructed. When I released the orb, it hesitated when it reached Lars and I held onto it, focusing it even more. A few moments later, it broke through and my mind was flooded with memories. I opened my eyes, barely able to see Lars through the video that had begun to play before me. Leaning forward, I placed both of my hands on either side of his head. Doing that seemed to slow the images down and I delved as deep as I could into his mind.

He had been telling the truth. I could see his family preparing him from infancy with the tales of my coming, his father teaching him to shoot a bow and arrow, a gun, his mother teaching him the ways of women, his grandmother caring for him when his parents had been killed. He began to shake under my hands.

Finally, I was able to fast forward to the day of the restaurant. His friend was a merman as well, one who could change water at his will. They had been admiring Mom and Aletheia and he had wondered if we were mermaids when Raif approached our table.

His thoughts consisted of being lonely, as he had no love in his life. He was eager to fulfill a destiny that was still unknown to him. He wanted a life of meaning and meant no harm to me or my family.

I let go of his head, releasing the connection, opening my eyes. His body had broken into a sweat and he trembled.

“Are you all right?” I touched one of his shoulders. When he didn’t respond, I shook him, but nothing happened. He looked as if he was starting to have a seizure.

“Mom!” I cried and she flew into the room. “What’s wrong with him?”

She knelt at his feet, placing her hands on his shoulders. The shaking stopped as the silver glow from her hands grew around his body. When she released him, he opened his eyes.

“Whoa! What a rush!” He said.

I started to laugh and Mom’s look silenced me.

“Morgan, you must be careful when you use your new powers. You could have killed him.”

Great.

“She hasn’t been taught that power,” Aletheia said from behind the couch.

“Yeah, I have. Naira taught me.”

“Naira?” Mom was incredulous. “She can read minds?”

“Yes.”

“Can she do anything else?”

“She can tame wild beasts - that I know.” Lars commented and stretched his arms backward over his head, nearly touching Aletheia who stood behind him. Her fingers hovered close to his head as if she wanted to brush them through his long curly blonde hair. When she caught me watching her, she stepped back, looking away.