you any attention. He was focused on Misty and me,’ said Alex.
‘I don’t think he ever saw us together, did he?’ Misty bit her lip. ‘He did spy on me so I can’t be sure, but I think you’ll be safe from his attention as long as you don’t use telepathy.’
‘That sucks. You mean I can’t talk to you about developments backstage?’
‘Of course you can.’ Will waggled his phone. ‘Remember these devices?’
‘Smart arse,’ I muttered. ‘OK. I’ll move as quickly as I can tomorrow. I’ve also got an ally on the reception desk: she might help if I put my request right.’
Will tucked away his phone. ‘I’m going to scout around and see if I can track Davis. Alex, keep an eye on the girls for me?’
‘Sure.’
‘And we’ll keep an eye on him,’ I added, not having much patience with this macho stuff the Benedicts were into.
‘I think we should get under cover,’ said Summer. ‘Cut down the chances he’ll run across Misty and Alex.’
She had thrown me an easy ball to get my wish of hearing the guitarist. ‘Then we should go to a small venue. Folk tent, anyone?’
‘Folk?’ Alex didn’t look too keen.
‘Bob Dylan, Mumford and Sons, Taylor Swift—they all started on this circuit. You never know who you’ll see before they hit the big time.’
Taking a longing look at the bands striking up on the main stage, my friends loyally followed me into the tent. It was just a shame we arrived as the guitarist finished and the accordion player took over. I would have to apologize later.
The next morning over breakfast of croissants and coffee, Will reported that he had not run across Davis in his search of the campsite.
‘The threat level went down overnight so I’m guessing he’s staying offsite.’ Will blew the steam from his purple Thermos mug. ‘But to be safe, no one is to use telepathy until we know for certain if he still has one of Dr Surecross’s detectors. They register surges in psychic energy so your other gifts are also out unless you know how to mask the energy pattern.’
Misty went pale. ‘He’s bound to find me then. You know me: I’m hopeless at control.’
Alex brushed a tender kiss over her cheek. ‘Don’t worry: I’ll help you with that. I’ll persuade you to keep a lid on your truth power. I can do that keeping everything very low energy.’
She smiled with relief. ‘Thanks, Alex. I would hate to be sent home because I was a liability.’
‘You OK with the rules, Summer?’ asked Will.
She nodded. ‘Of course. You wouldn’t notice me using my power.’
In teasing mode, I nudged Summer with my toe. ‘Yeah, she is the crocodile of savants: skimming undetected under the water then, snap, her mind has you in her jaws.’ I mimed the action, spilling a little coffee on the grass.
‘Gee, thanks, Angel, for the flattering comparison,’ laughed Summer.
As I joined in the laughter, my plastic cup tilted and a stream of coffee threatened to pour out on my bare legs. I summoned it back with a click of my fingers. The droplets of water separated into little globes and bobbed into the cup.
‘Angel,’ said Will.
I looked up, surprised at his severe tone. ‘What?’
‘No displays of power.’
‘Oh come on: that takes next to no energy!’
‘But it’s hardly normal, is it? If you do that without thinking and someone else sees, then you’ve blown it.’
Playing with any liquid containing water was second nature to me so I went immediately on the defensive. ‘I don’t do it in front of strangers.’ Misty flinched: my lie making her teeth hurt. ‘Well, only when they really really deserve it.’ She winced. ‘Or I think I can get away with it,’ I ended. Misty’s tense shoulders relaxed as I finally gave the complete truth.
Will shook his head in disbelief. ‘I can’t believe no one’s caught you. My parents taught us all not to let anyone see what we can do. Our safety was too important.’
Now I felt protective of my parents.
‘I don’t think he ever saw us together, did he?’ Misty bit her lip. ‘He did spy on me so I can’t be sure, but I think you’ll be safe from his attention as long as you don’t use telepathy.’
‘That sucks. You mean I can’t talk to you about developments backstage?’
‘Of course you can.’ Will waggled his phone. ‘Remember these devices?’
‘Smart arse,’ I muttered. ‘OK. I’ll move as quickly as I can tomorrow. I’ve also got an ally on the reception desk: she might help if I put my request right.’
Will tucked away his phone. ‘I’m going to scout around and see if I can track Davis. Alex, keep an eye on the girls for me?’
‘Sure.’
‘And we’ll keep an eye on him,’ I added, not having much patience with this macho stuff the Benedicts were into.
‘I think we should get under cover,’ said Summer. ‘Cut down the chances he’ll run across Misty and Alex.’
She had thrown me an easy ball to get my wish of hearing the guitarist. ‘Then we should go to a small venue. Folk tent, anyone?’
‘Folk?’ Alex didn’t look too keen.
‘Bob Dylan, Mumford and Sons, Taylor Swift—they all started on this circuit. You never know who you’ll see before they hit the big time.’
Taking a longing look at the bands striking up on the main stage, my friends loyally followed me into the tent. It was just a shame we arrived as the guitarist finished and the accordion player took over. I would have to apologize later.
The next morning over breakfast of croissants and coffee, Will reported that he had not run across Davis in his search of the campsite.
‘The threat level went down overnight so I’m guessing he’s staying offsite.’ Will blew the steam from his purple Thermos mug. ‘But to be safe, no one is to use telepathy until we know for certain if he still has one of Dr Surecross’s detectors. They register surges in psychic energy so your other gifts are also out unless you know how to mask the energy pattern.’
Misty went pale. ‘He’s bound to find me then. You know me: I’m hopeless at control.’
Alex brushed a tender kiss over her cheek. ‘Don’t worry: I’ll help you with that. I’ll persuade you to keep a lid on your truth power. I can do that keeping everything very low energy.’
She smiled with relief. ‘Thanks, Alex. I would hate to be sent home because I was a liability.’
‘You OK with the rules, Summer?’ asked Will.
She nodded. ‘Of course. You wouldn’t notice me using my power.’
In teasing mode, I nudged Summer with my toe. ‘Yeah, she is the crocodile of savants: skimming undetected under the water then, snap, her mind has you in her jaws.’ I mimed the action, spilling a little coffee on the grass.
‘Gee, thanks, Angel, for the flattering comparison,’ laughed Summer.
As I joined in the laughter, my plastic cup tilted and a stream of coffee threatened to pour out on my bare legs. I summoned it back with a click of my fingers. The droplets of water separated into little globes and bobbed into the cup.
‘Angel,’ said Will.
I looked up, surprised at his severe tone. ‘What?’
‘No displays of power.’
‘Oh come on: that takes next to no energy!’
‘But it’s hardly normal, is it? If you do that without thinking and someone else sees, then you’ve blown it.’
Playing with any liquid containing water was second nature to me so I went immediately on the defensive. ‘I don’t do it in front of strangers.’ Misty flinched: my lie making her teeth hurt. ‘Well, only when they really really deserve it.’ She winced. ‘Or I think I can get away with it,’ I ended. Misty’s tense shoulders relaxed as I finally gave the complete truth.
Will shook his head in disbelief. ‘I can’t believe no one’s caught you. My parents taught us all not to let anyone see what we can do. Our safety was too important.’
Now I felt protective of my parents.
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