Touch (Denazen #1)(67)

Kale didn’t seem to care that she’d done nothing to help him. His only concern was for his mother. “Why were you with my mother when I was born?”

“I was there the moment she herself came into being. It seemed no less fitting I be with her when she brought her own child into the world.”

The sharp, stubborn chin. The ice blue eyes. I hadn’t noticed before. It all came together. “Felecia was your daughter.”

Ginger nodded. “From the first moment I looked into her eyes, I knew what would become of her.” She stomped her cane into the ground. “Do you think it’s easy raising a child, each day looking into her eyes and seeing the black future she had before her? Do you think it was simple for me to stand by and watch the events that would bring upon her end unfold, day after day, unable to stop it?”

“But why not try? There had to be something you could have done. Send her away? Warn her?”

“These things are not to be toyed with,” the old woman snapped. “Each person’s future is tied to a thousand others. Change simply one thing and you have chaos. Everything is thrown out of balance and horrible things happen.”

“You let her die?” Kale asked. His face was neutral but I could hear the agony in his voice. In my hand, his fingers twitched like he was trying to flick them, but I held tight.

“An ancestor of ours, the first known visionary, learned this lesson the hard way. Newly married and with child, she and her husband Winston were the picture of happiness. They had their own home, a baby on the way, and a bright future ahead of them. Our ancestor, Miranda, being a visionary, had access to information that told her otherwise. She saw she would lose her beloved husband at an early age to a horrific stable fire.”

“She intervened.”

“She stopped him from going to the barn that night. She thanked God for her gift because it had enabled her to save her husband. But her thanks did not last. Soon after their child was born, Miranda regretted what she’d done.”

“Why would she regret saving the one she loved?” Kale asked.

Ginger’s expression softened. “Because, Kale, Winston was destined to die in that fire. If Miranda had never interfered with his destiny, then Denazen would never have been formed.”

“What?” Kale and I gasped in unison.

“It happens, but it’s rare that the offspring of a Six, even with only one parent, is born without the genetic chromosome defect. As you can probably guess, Miranda’s child grew to be a Six. Narrow-minded and foolish, Winston was unable to handle the truth. He branded the child—and its mother—evil, and drove them away. He started the organization that would become the Denazen we know today. Because of Miranda Kale’s selfishness, we live in fear, hiding from the repercussions of her mistake.”

“Miranda Kale?”

“I named you, child. I found it fitting that you, destined to free us from our chains, bear the name of its instigator.”

“What about your daughter, was she like me? This Felecia?”

Ginger shook her head. “The opposite of you. You take life, and she gave it.”

Kale’s fingers tightened in mine. “Will we be able to save Sue?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never met the woman.”

I stepped forward and placed my face inches from hers. “You’ve met me. Do we save my mom or not?”

Silence.

“You owe me,” I growled. “You sent me into Denazen to get you this damn list in exchange for something I had all along.”

“You were never in any danger. I knew you would return with the list. That is why I asked. You were meant to get it for me.”

“That’s not the point.” I was yelling now, making no attempt to keep my voice down. It’s not like anyone could hear me over the thumping beats of the party below.

“I am not a fortune-teller,” Ginger said. Her face reverted back to its usual, stony set. “Do you see a crystal ball? Am I wearing a turban? The information I am privy to is not for others.”

“So that’s it then? You get what you want and I get nothing out of it?”

“You will always have sanctuary among us. A place to go and food to eat. An offer like that, for you, Deznee Cross, is a generous one. I have sent word. Misha Vaugn has redacted your ban of the hotel. You may stay there when needed.”

“Wow. Thanks,” I said sarcastically and turned away. I wasn’t getting anywhere else with her. Time to cut my losses and focus on the important stuff. Mom. Ginger was right. I didn’t need the Reaper, I had the information needed to make it happen.

We were nearly to the outside edge of the room when Ginger called out. “One more thing.”

Something told me not to stop, but I did it anyway.

“I’m sorry for everything.”

I didn’t answer, only continued on my way. I didn’t ask, but something told me she wasn’t apologizing for lying to me.





26


It was almost midnight when we left the party. Kale and I were both tired and hungry, and as much as it bugged me, the only place we could think to go was Misha’s.

The money Brandt had given me was basically gone—a bus trip was out of the question since I had nothing on hand to make spare cash with. And besides that, the idea of mimicking anything after the last few days turned the air in my lungs to ice.I It looked like we were hoofing it across town. We were only four blocks from the hotel when I heard someone yelling my name.