The Elders (Mind Dimensions #4)(15)

“You’ll fly to Tallahassee, right? That’s the nearest airport to that town,” Bert says.

“No,” Hillary says. “My parents are too far from there. They’re closer to the Jacksonville or Orlando airports.”

“Okay, let me see what I can do,” he says and starts typing. He’s about to repeat that trick where he bumps people off the plane. At least the airline will comp them, which marginally beats Hillary or me Guiding people to give up their seats—my plan B.

“You know,” I say once I verify that I got my boarding pass on my phone, “this plan also takes care of something else. If I learn this Level 2 phasing, I’ll be able to protect you guys should the Super Pusher show up again.”

“Yeah, about that.” Hillary looks uncomfortable. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to bring this up, but how do we know this whole kidnapping isn’t, at the core, this Super Pusher’s doing?”

“And if it is, this person will be waiting for us at the Temple,” Eugene says, his forehead creasing with worry. “She’ll be ready to turn me, and even you, Hillary, against you guys.”

“Right.” Hillary gives me a steady look. “So you see how we can’t ignore the Super Pusher issue?”

“Wait,” I say, recalling one key element. “This plan has a fatal flaw.”

“What do you mean?” Hillary asks.

“Remember when you first told me about the Level 2 ability and how it was rumored that some of the Elders possessed it?”

“Yeah,” Hillary says. “At that pizzeria in Miami.”

“Right. You didn’t mention this at the time, but can anyone other than the Elders utilize Level 2?”

She bites her lip. “No one that I know of. I was hoping to talk to you about this on the way.”

“Wait,” Eugene says. “You’re walking Darren into a possible enemy hideout?”

“No,” Hillary says tersely. “At least not exactly.”

“It’s sure starting to sound that way,” I say. “If the Super Pusher is an Elder, is going to see her friends such a good idea?”

“Yes, it is,” Hillary says. “Given all that I know about the Elders, they wouldn’t sanction what this person has done. Which means that if this is an Elder, she’s working on her own and you might learn who it is once you’re there. And then you can figure out a way to neutralize her.”

“So besides convincing them to teach him some secret technique, Darren will need to play detective as well?” Eugene says incredulously.

“The detective part might not be as hard as it seems,” I say slowly. “We know this person was at, or near, Kyle’s funeral.”

“Exactly,” Hillary says. “And the Elders are also reclusive, so the list of suspects will likely be small. This plan still beats going to the Enlightened Temple unprepared and risking getting everyone’s minds f*cked with.”

“So,” Bert chimes in, clearly trying to defuse the tension between Eugene and his girl, “even if Darren doesn’t learn the identity of the enemy, if he learns how to do this Level 2 thing, could he undo what was done to Mira and Thomas? What about preventing you two from being Guided?”

“I think Darren was right when he said the effect on Mira and Thomas wouldn’t last,” Hillary says. “But you’re also right that yes, in principle, he could undo things done to us, though not really prevent them.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Eugene says thoughtfully. “There are too many variables in this equation. Something is bound to go wrong.”

“Darren’s life wouldn’t be in danger,” Hillary says. “The Elders, as a group, don’t want him harmed.”

“What makes you so sure?” I ask. When it comes to people wanting to kill me, my curiosity works overtime.

“If the Elders wanted you dead, you’d be dead,” Hillary says. “Trust me.”

“Knowing Darren’s luck, they might want him dead once they meet him,” Eugene says. “No offense, Darren.”

“I make my own luck,” I say., waving my hand to show I’m not offended. “Given what Hillary just said, I’ll be super charming to these Elders. You just wait and see.”

“Oh, they’ll love him,” Hillary says. “My vote is to stick with this plan, with your research as a possible backup.”

“Since Darren is the one who’s walking into the potential hornet’s nest, I say he makes the final call,” Bert says. “It’s only fair.”

Everyone goes quiet and looks at me expectantly.

I look at each of them.

Hillary looks worried, Eugene is tense, and Bert looks very serious.

I can’t bear the idea of my friends turning on me again. If for no other reason than that, I decide to go with this plan.

“Come on, Aunty,” I say. “We have a plane to catch.”

Tension dissipates, except Bert’s face changes from serious to sad.

“So this is goodbye,” he says, looking at Hillary like a puppy that lost its favorite chew toy. “I’ll see you in a bit?”

Instead of replying, Hillary walks over and kisses him.

I look at Eugene and see a hint of laughter in his eyes, but then he’s serious again. I phase into the Quiet to say a few words to him in private.