Adam Rowan and the Heart of the Mountain: The Heart of the Wayshower Saga, #2

By Michael Dawn Brooks

A week ago, Adam Rowan thought he understood life and his place in it. But after meeting Misty Fairchild in an exploding diner and becoming embroiled in her life-or-death struggle, everything is flipped on its head. 

 

His family is not who he thought they were, and now he has to deal with the fallout of Mentor's machinations. His home overrun with refugees from the New Mexico base, he's figuring out his new-found feelings for Misty and how to deal with her ex, Jason, all while coming to terms with a lifetime of lies from his family. 

 

Oh, and did we mention the aliens? Yeah, Adam's life has blown up in his face. Maybe if he can figure all of this out, he can focus on his super-secret mission.

 

This heart-racing and heart-rending follow up to Michael Dawn Brooks' debut novel, Misty Fairchild and the Heart of Alignment, continues the journey for our beloved band of teens as they figure out life, the universe, and everything with wit and humor, and a few tears.

 

In Adam Rowan and the Heart of the Mountain, readers continue on a thrilling urban fantasy adventure ride, filled with sci-fi and contemporary fantasy elements and a touch of paranormal romance that fans of Supernatural and Vampire Diaries will love. 

 

Follow Adam and the gang as they fight against nefarious forces trying to subjugate the earth and control humanity's destiny! 

If you enjoyed books such as Anne Bishop's The Others or Kate Griffin's The Midnight Mayor, you'll love The Heart of the Wayshower Saga. 

 

Content Warning: Adam Rowan and the Heart of the Mountain is recommended for readers age 15+ due to language, adult situations, moments of peril, traumatic death, and non-graphic depictions of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and sexual assault.

 

Praise for Misty Fairchild and the Heart of Alignment, book one of the Heart of the Wayshower Saga:

 

★★★★★ "I was hooked within the first few pages. Couldn't put it down. Characters are relatable with lots of wit. The writer has extensive knowledge of Ancient wisdom school teachings. From Law of Attraction to Law of One. Highly recommend. Can't wait for her next book!" --Good Reads Review

 

★★★★★ "...An adventurous read for anyone looking for a Stranger Things type vibe." --Amazon Review

 

★★★★★ "Misty Fairchild is a fun read, and like butter, just melts in your mind. Sparkling wit and nuggets of cultural references light the way on a delightful romp through a dark underworld peopled by young heroes and nefarious characters. Courage and love tempered with a dollop of sarcasm show the way. Action packed mysticism at its finest!" --Amazon Review

 

★★★★★ A breath of fresh air! "This book is pure gold! It had me laughing, crying, swooning and shaking in my boots the entire way through. Michael Dawn Brooks is a master at sucking you into her story. I literally binged it in three days (Mother of three, ya know, I don't have much time to read). I adored the homage to pop culture that all ages will pick up on. The storyline of light and dark, the potential of human consciousness and conjuring magick from within is one of the best I've ever read. If you like the Stranger Things vibe, you'll love this book." –Amazon Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: EleventyFirst Publications
• Release date: Oct 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798986704425

Book preview

Chapter One

Adam Rowan was pissed. His parents had known.

They sent him on a bogus excursion like it was supposed to be some fun family road trip. We thought you would like the chance for an adventure, his mom had said. You know, get out of the Mountain, see the country. Glamping across America in the autumn. Who could ask for more?

He gripped the steering wheel of the Ghoulie Schoolie, the renovated Blue Bird school bus that was supposed to be the means for said glamping and ground his teeth. They knew. They fricking knew that they were sending them on some clandestine mission.

Kidnapped children. Lost girls. Psychic twins. Underground effing lizards. Adam pounded the steering wheel.

Sure, they gave his older cousin Jeremy a heads up, but the slight amount of info they gave him hardly qualified as a briefing. Secrets. Half-truths. Lies.

Little things had niggled at his brain the whole trip home from New Mexico. Like the tattoos.

His folks had never explained the matching tattoos that each of them had. A blue ring around a white circle with a six-sided star inside. All of them; Pam, Franklin, even Steve Jones back at the Institute; sported the same image on the inside of their wrists. His parents and aunt and uncle had never acknowledged the tattoos.

They’d just always been there. Now that he thought about it, it had never occurred to him to even ask about them. He’d just assumed it was perhaps something they’d done together back in their college days.

Was his entire life built on lies and secrets?

The tickling sensation of hairs raising on the back of his neck sent a shiver down his spine. He briefly closed his eyes and took a breath. He opened them again and focused on the road. That had been happening a lot this trip.

Can I help you? He immediately regretted the gruffness in his voice. He didn’t take it back though.

Misty Fairchild, she of the aforementioned kidnapped children, lost girls, and psychic twins, hesitated slightly behind him. I couldn’t help but—

Adam huffed a breath. None of this was her fault. He shouldn’t take his frustrations out on her. Acidic guilt and shame dripped into his stomach. No. That wasn’t her fault either.

He nodded. Yeah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I’ll try to stop ‘thinking so loud.’

She continued to stand silent just behind his right shoulder. He actually really hated when people did that. It bugged the ever-living shit out of him. But he couldn’t gripe at her. Not after what he’d done.

She stepped away and moved onto the bench seat that wedged between the railing to the steps and the small kitchenette table. No, it’s no problem.

He didn’t want to hate the fact that she could read his every thought. Under better circumstances it might even be charming. But at the moment, it grated like broken glass in his chest.

I’m sorry, they said simultaneously.

Misty let out a soft, nervous giggle. How far is it?

Not far. Straight ahead, the sky had begun to pale as dawn approached, the sun still hidden by the mountain range. They had left the turnpike behind them and now traveled winding mountainous roads choked with trees. We’ll be there pretty soon.

It was with a breath of relief that he turned onto the road that led to Rowan Mountain. He checked the mirrors to make sure that the white passenger van driven by Jeremy was still behind him, the black SUV driven by Jason Campbell behind them, and Franklin Carter and Pam Fairchild taking up the rear with Adam’s dad’s Galaxie 500; each vehicle filled with psychic teens. Twenty-three of them. Twenty-three goddamn psychic twins.

Does the road go straight into that waterfall?

Adam roused himself from his thoughts once again and glanced at Misty, pointing forward. In spite of his gloomy ruminations, he couldn’t help but grin. Yeah. Why? he asked in the most nonchalant fashion he could muster.

Misty’s eyes grew wide. Aren’t you going to slow down?

Adam shrugged. Nah. The old Ghoulie could do with a wash.

Misty stared at him, then back at the waterfall. Are you going to drive into the waterfall? Her voice rose in pitch.

From the back of the bus, people had begun to stir and approached the front to see better. After three days on the road, Adam could not wait for a shower and his own bed. But this moment was almost worth the anguish of the past week. Eager faces pressed forward, and ooohs and aahs echoed as he drove through the waterfall, sparkling in the early morning sun like diamonds, into the underground cavern that served as the main parking garage for Rowan Mountain.

As gratifying as it was to see Misty’s face when they pulled in, he felt relieved to be done with the trip. He couldn’t wait to dump all of these kids on someone else’s lap and shed himself of the responsibility.

Gloria Rowan-Beaumont met Adam and the crew in the expansive Marble Hall when they arrived. The Marble Hall, so called because of the gorgeous mosaic starburst of marble tiles that emanated from the center, sat as the main level of the mountain interior. Near to the top of the mountain, it covered the greatest internal square footage, with chambers and passages radiating in every direction. The hall itself sat smack in the center of the spiraling levels up to the summit, several stories above.

Each level was demarcated by the intricately carved wooden railing that swept through the entire interior, flowing up flight after flight. Like the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, one could walk from the base of the mountain all the way to the top just by following the wide looping spiral, although it was faster to use the network of elevators to get from point A to point B most of the time.

More levels could be found below, but they were the unseen corridors and caverns, not for general use. The living spaces all existed above the Marble Hall. Adam rarely went into the bowels of the mountain anymore, but when he was younger, he and Jeremy used to explore a lot.

Gloria ushered the crowd of children into the den, located just off the Marble Hall. The space nearly rivaled the Hall itself in size. It housed three massive fireplaces, one at each end of the room and one in the middle. Bookcases filled with every genre rose to the high ceiling and flanked each fireplace.

It was called the den rather than the library due to the fact that there was indeed an actual library in another part of the mountain, even larger, and more impressive. Generations of Rowans had contributed to the scope and breadth of reading material throughout the mountain. The Rowan boys were seldom without a book.

An eclectic hodgepodge of overstuffed chairs, loveseats, and sofas furnished the den; hardly any of which actually matched, alongside all manner of coffee and end tables.

When he was little, Adam pretended it was a Hogwarts Common Room and he still felt that sense about it. It was a favorite place for all three boys to hang out growing up.

Today, it was transformed. Adam had never been to a FEMA camp, but he had to imagine it looked something akin to this. The usual furnishings were pushed aside in one quarter of the room. Stations with food, water, and boxes of clothing and toiletries filled the space.

Several adults that Adam recognized as friends and family busied themselves at the various stations, alongside the corps of staff that helped his folks run the inner workings of the mountain.

Mom! Dad! Adam and Dylan ran to meet their parents, who were sorting clothes in boxes.

Cynthia Rowan leapt to her feet and ran to greet them. She swept them both into her arms and immediately burst into tears.

Garrett surrounded his family with his arms. Welcome home, boys.

Adam’s throat constricted and his eyes stung. A breath hitched in his throat.

Cynthia pushed them out to arm’s length. Her eyes were puffy and red. Clearly, she hadn’t just started crying. I’m so sorry. Her voice was thick with tears. I wish I’d never sent you boys out there.

Garrett squeezed her shoulder. Adam flicked his eyes between his parents’ guilt-ridden faces.

His eyes narrowed. You knew the whole time. Before you even sent us.

Garrett drew in a sharp breath, then nodded. Obviously we didn’t expect what happened, but we knew what was going on, yes.

Something in Adam’s chest quivered. He held back the blue streak of swearing that rose to his lips. What else haven’t you told us?

His uncle Dwayne, as large as Jeremy with a low, rumbling voice, leaned in. This conversation is better held in private. It spoke to how big of a deal this was that Dwayne had come all the way home from his work at the European Council for Nuclear Research in Switzerland, also known as CERN.

A flare of rage made Adam’s vision go red. He glared at Dwayne.

Private, Uncle Dwayne? Really? His voice came out louder than he intended but he didn’t really care. He looked at Jeremy, who stood beside Dwayne. How many ‘private’ conversations have we missed out on by now? He swept his arm to indicate the room full of teenage psychics he’d just brought home. Check it out, Mom and Dad. Did you know they can all remote view? Every single goddamn one of them? And read minds? Yeah, we’ve had some really interesting conversations the past few days. You want ‘private?’ There’s not a damn thing private here anymore, and I want some goddamn answers.

The room was silent, all eyes on him. Rage seethed in his chest.

Garrett grabbed his arm and dragged him aside. Lower your voice and get a hold of yourself Adam. You aren’t doing yourself, these kids, or us any good by making a spectacle. He cast his eyes around the room and back to Adam. He dropped his voice even lower. I get that you want answers, and you deserve them. You will get them. But right now, we are in a situation, Adam. I need you to keep it together a bit longer while we help these kids. You’ve done a lot already, more than should ever have been asked of you. And I’m sorry. Garrett’s voice broke. His eyes glistened. I am very sorry to have put you in this position, son. Please. He pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. Our work’s still not done here.

Adam clenched his jaw. He glared at his father, then looked back at the kids. His gaze caught on Misty’s gray eyes. A bubble of red-hot emotion popped in his chest, oozing searing magma throughout his body. He cut his eyes away quickly. The anger deflated, replaced by shame and guilt.

He nodded to his father. Yeah. Okay.

Garrett gathered him into a hug. I’m sorry, Adam. I am so, so sorry. He didn’t let go.

Adam stood rigid in his father’s embrace, but still Garrett did not let go.

Okay, Dad. Adam sucked in a deep breath, his discomfort in his father’s arms growing. Yeah, I hear you. He gingerly patted his father’s back. Let’s just… do what we gotta do.

Garrett pulled back and looked Adam in the eye. He grasped him by the neck and jaw. I know it’s not okay, Adam. We’re not done here. I promise.

Yeah. Adam dropped his gaze and broke away from his grip. Unless you really need me down here, I’m gonna go to my room.

Garrett opened his mouth to say something, but to his left, Adam saw his mother catch his father’s eye and shake her head. Garrett flicked his eyes from Cynthia back to Adam. Sure, son. We’ve got this.

Adam made his way through the crowd. He passed Misty. A shiver of red-hot guilt rose up in his heart again. He cast a side-eye at her and hastened his steps out of the den. As soon as he was out the doors and into the Marble Hall, he broke into a run and didn’t stop until he was on the other side of his bedroom door.

An hour or so later, he was roused by a knock on the door.

What? he barked from his bed.

The door opened and Dylan stepped in. Hey. Um… Mom says we gotta do a check-up thing. His eyes shifted from Adam to the floor. Apparently all the kids have to get exams and she wants the doc to look at us, too. Y’know, to make sure we’re okay.

Adam glared at the ceiling. "Of course. Now, they want to know we’re okay."

Dylan shuffled his feet and shrugged.

Adam rolled his head to look at Dylan. Do you feel like you’re okay?

Heh. Dylan shrugged again. I dunno. I guess?

Adam looked at the ceiling again. Yeah, alright, I’m coming.

Cool. Dylan didn’t move towards the door.

What?

Mom said to make sure you come.

Adam’s eyelids fluttered in exasperation. Right. He heaved a sigh and rolled out of the bed. Let’s go.

Dylan led the way back to the mountain infirmary. They passed the den on the way, where the kids were being sorted into groups and handed boxes of clothing and toiletries.

He received a complete physical. They drew several vials of blood as well. Once dressed, his parents came in with Franklin Carter, husband of Misty and Melody’s cousin, Pam. In the brief amount of time that Adam had come to know Franklin, he really liked and respected him. The man radiated calm competency.

Was such a thorough exam really necessary? he asked. I didn’t know we were doing anal probes these days. I thought we left that shit up to the aliens. Adam’s terse joke seemed to fall flat when his parent’s exchanged a nervous glance.

Franklin smiled a weary grin. I hear ya, Adam. But we need to be thorough. These kids have been through something unimaginable, and so have you. Franklin’s eyes were bright, despite the dark smudges beneath.

Adam eyed his folks. So, what’s next?

I thought you might want to tell your parents about what happened. In your own words.

Adam’s eyes narrowed. What, you didn’t tell them already?

Franklin cut his eyes to Cynthia and Garrett, who gazed at Adam with haunted eyes. I wanted to know if you were ready to talk about it.

Adam’s chest squeezed. His vision dimmed. He clutched the arm of the chair next to him and sank down into it. What do you want me to say? His voice trembled. He locked gazes with his father. The part where the underground lizard people were going to eat us? He flicked his eyes at his mother. Or when Mentor made me— He choked on his words. He tore away from Cynthia’s teary gaze.

Cynthia gasped a sob. I am so… so sorry Adam.

Adam glared at the floor. I really don’t want to talk about it.

Franklin drew in a deep breath and nodded. I get it, Adam. And you don’t have to decide anything right now. But your folks and I agree that it would be good if you began therapy sessions with me. I know your mom is trained in this stuff, but since she is your mom, it would be difficult for you both.

Adam continued to glare a hole in the carpet.

So, if you are willing, we all think it would be helpful for you and me to work together to navigate the trauma you just experienced.

Pin drop silence hung in the air. Adam had nothing more to say.

Franklin broke the tension. Okay. We can decide how to proceed later. But we will revisit this. We aren’t going to leave you to figure this out on your own, Adam. You aren’t alone.

Adam cut his eyes at Franklin. He looked at his parents. Aren’t I, though? I don’t know any of you people. You’ve been lying to me my entire life. You have this secret double life and you’ve hidden me and Dyllie away in your secret mountain, and I know jack shit about what is real and what isn’t. Hell, I don’t even remember when Mentor forced me to rape Misty, but I know it happened.

Nausea rammed the back of his throat as visceral memories of Misty in front of him on Mentor’s bed rose; the helplessness he felt as his body moved against his will. Hot and cold flashed over his skin; his insides trembled. He gulped a breath and shook his arms against the remembered sensations.

Cynthia pressed her knuckles against her mouth; silent tears coursed her cheeks.

Anger built a head of steam, which felt better than the terror and helplessness. His voice rose in volume and octave. You can be sorry all you want, but you sent us to the slaughter, and we had no clue what we were walking into. We escaped with our lives. What if it had been Dyllie on Mentor’s bed? What if that monster did all those— Adam couldn’t finish the sentence. His face contorted in despair and disgust.

Adam. Garrett’s voice was calm and even. You have every right to be angry and to feel everything you are feeling right now. We let you down, son. We didn’t mean to. But we did. And I cannot even imagine the depths of your hurt right now. But we will do everything we can to make this right. Please let us help you.

Adam glared at his father. Garrett gazed back with compassion. A brittle, glass-like sensation broke in Adam’s chest. A tear slipped down his cheek. He swiped it away with the heel of his hand. With a parting glare, he pushed himself out of the chair and stalked out of the room.

Gloria sat at her desk and rubbed her temples. Dwayne massaged her shoulders from behind.

After all the times I told them to never bring anyone back to the mountain and here they come with carloads of exactly the people we didn’t want. Gloria closed her eyes. Her head dropped into her hands, propped on her desk.

Garrett sat on the corner of her desk. He ran a hand over his face. Apparently they never picked up on any instructions of discretion we’ve tried to impart.

Cynthia glared at her husband from one of the overstuffed chairs in front of Gloria’s desk. They learned compassion, which if it’s the only thing they’ve picked up from us, I’m glad. The fact that their instinct to help overrode everything else is something for which I’m very proud.

Franklin and Pam occupied the other chairs.

I can’t help but feel responsible for all of this, Franklin said. I never wanted to compromise the Mountain. At the time, it just seemed like there was nowhere else to go.

There wasn’t, Franklin, Cynthia said with finality. You made the right call. She glared around the room for anyone to contradict her. What else are we here for if we can’t help these children?

Gloria dropped her arms heavily on the desk and tilted her face at her sister-in-law. These children are feral, Cyn. She leaned back into Dwayne’s strong hands.

What did we learn from the exams? Pam asked.

Nothing reassuring, said Gloria. Every one of them has been highly indoctrinated and mind-controlled for the last five years. Some have resisted programming better than others, which I guess is why Misty and Melody were even candidates for escape in the first place, but others are fragile at best. From what you all have told us, that Campbell kid scares the bejeezus out of me.

I dunno, the McGanns are far more frightening to me. Cynthia stared wide-eyed into the middle distance.

Physically, they’re healthy… barely. Gloria blew out a breath. Every one of them has a vitamin D deficiency, which goes without saying, and it’s too early to tell, but so far the initial blood work looks like they’ve all been pumped with a chemical cocktail of nutrients, drugs, contraceptives…

Pam blanched. Contraceptives?

Gloria raised a sardonic eyebrow. It would appear that nearly every one of these kids are sexually active. How much of that has been voluntary, it’s hard to say. Toss two dozen teens together with minimal adult supervision for years and see what happens. She raked her hands over her face. I don’t want a baby boom a year from now.

How are we supposed to control them all? Pam gazed at Gloria in horror.

The room fell silent as everyone pondered this question.

We can’t. Dwayne broke the silence. They’ve been controlled for the last five years in ways we cannot duplicate, and frankly goes against everything we hold dear to even attempt.

Yeah, Dwayne, but we can’t just love and compassion them into compliance. Garrett raked a hand through his hair. There has to be an intermediary step. How can we take them from military regimenting to freedom?

Gloria snorted a laugh. These kids cannot handle freedom.

Garrett looked at his sister. Our boys couldn’t handle it, and I thought we’d prepped them better.

Cynthia crossed her arms over her chest. Actually, I think they handled freedom quite well. I’m proud of the choices they made.

Garrett looked at his wife and shrugged. Well, here we sit on a mountain of troubles, any one of whom can bring everything crashing down around our ears. It’s not just the mountain that’s at risk of being compromised, it’s the entire organization. We’ll need to bring Milt in on this.

Yes. Cynthia agreed. And I want to bring the boys in on it too. They deserve to know.

To know? Or to be recruited? I thought we agreed we’d bring them in at twenty-one, same as me and Glo.

Cynthia raised a hand to stop Garrett. Anything we agreed to was before our children were nearly eaten and before Adam was used as an instrument of torture on that poor girl.

Dwayne sighed heavily. I agree with Cyn. I know you Rowans have your family traditions, but these are our kids too. And she’s right.

Garrett and Gloria exchanged a long look. Finally, he blew out a breath. You’re right Dwayne. He looked at Cynthia. You’re both right. We’ll figure it out. In the meantime, we can’t lose sight of the main mission.

Yeah. Gloria blew out a breath and stretched back in her chair. About that. Astar’s been in touch.

Misty and Melody had never had their own rooms in their lives. Before they’d been taken to the Institute, they’d always shared a bedroom. But the Rowans offered them a beautiful suite with two bedrooms that flanked a shared living space, complete with furnishings. There was even their own private bathroom.

The girls stood in the center of the luxurious hotel-like suite and marveled. The walls were the smooth, raw stone of the interior of the mountain, with one large, deep-set window that faced south. Misty reasoned that the rooms on this side of the mountain must be right near the surface. It felt very hobbit-like.

In front of the window sat a table and chairs. The living area was furnished with a sofa and two overstuffed chairs with a low coffee table between them. The beautiful antique furnishings looked like they had been set in the room in the early twentieth century. They also looked like they hadn’t been used much in the interim.

Go ahead and sort through these. Pam indicated the boxes they had brought with them. All o’ them folks with the Rowans brought stuff for everyone, so whatever don’t fit, or that you don’t want, just put back in the box and we’ll see if it’s right for any of the other kids. She handed them another paper bag. There’s toiletries in here so you can stock your bathroom. She gazed at the girls, her gray eyes red and teary. Me and Frank are just down the hall. I think we’ll be safe here now.

Misty and Melody looped their arms around their cousin.

Thank you, Pammie, said Misty.

Don’t thank me, I’m as much a refugee as you kids.

The girls dug through the boxes and picked out some fresh clothes, then took turns in the bathroom. Misty went after Melody.

The bathroom was spacious and beautifully decorated. It reminded Misty of a fancy hotel, but with touches of the natural stone to remind her that they were underground. It was vastly different from her previous underground experience of military sterility.

A heavy, claw-footed, soaking tub sat beside a natural stone shower with a rain shower head. She looked between the two, trying to decide which she wanted more. In the end, the shower won out, simply because she didn’t want to wait for the tub to fill.

The bag of toiletries Pam handed her had full-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, soap, and deodorant, as well as toothpaste and a toothbrush. She opened the shampoo and sniffed it. The scent of roses launched her into a sensory memory of the diner, no longer blown up, Adam seated across from her, Mary eating chocolate pie, assuring them that they would be alright.

In a flash, an image of Mentor was before her, his face twisted in rage. Thank you for your service, she murmured. She touched her lips, realizing she’d spoken the remembered words out loud. What a weird thing to say. What does that even mean?

At the moment when she’d first spoken to them, she was more than half channeling Mary and she didn’t really understand a lot of what she was saying or what was even happening. She remembered the knife. She remembered bright light. She remembered Adam and Jason appearing beside her. And so much love and peace.

She stepped into the shower. The stone floor had just enough texture to not become slippery. Hot water flowed over her body. She braced her hands against the stone wall. Hot tears mingled with the water over her face.

There wasn’t enough soap in the world to purge the sensation in her flesh of whatever it was Mentor had done to her and Adam. She breathed in the scent of roses again. Mary had promised healing. In time.

When she finally stepped out of the shower, it was a relief to put on fresh clothes.

Back in the living room, Pam balled up the drab green tracksuit Mel had worn, and the gown Misty had escaped in. I’m just gonna burn these, yeah?

Misty and Melody allowed sardonic grins and nodded. Please do.

There was a knock at the door.

Come in, Pam called.

Adam ducked his head in. His eyes caught Misty’s, then dropped to the floor. A tremor of unease rippled through Misty. She looked away from him as well.

Hey, um, he cleared his throat. Dinner is gonna be in the Banquet Hall. I’m s’posed to show you the way there.

He opened the door a little wider in invitation for them to follow. Jason and a few of the other kids were already out in the hall.

Misty, Melody, and Pam followed Adam as he led the way through the winding corridors. Misty had no concept of how big the mountain actually was, either from the inside or outside. But she sensed it was huge.

She really hadn’t had a minute to process any of what was happening or had happened. She and Adam had not had a real conversation since their escape. She was beginning to realize that was intentional on Adam’s part.

The past couple of nights had found them both in an empty void on the astral plane while they slept. In the white void, Adam gazed at her from a distance, his face inscrutable. Neither spoke.

Not that she knew what to say to him anyway.

She watched the back of his head as they walked down the corridors. Melody held her hand on one side. Jason walked along on her other, casting occasional concerned looks at her.

"I’m okay," she thought at him.

Jason huffed a mirthless laugh. Sure, he said out loud.

Adam flicked a glance over his shoulder at Jason then faced forward once more. He led them to large double doors, propped open into an even larger room. Round tables, each surrounded by six to eight chairs, filled the room. A buffet was set to one side of the room, and already the rest of the Cohort as well as the several strangers that had greeted them with the Rowans lined up to fill plates.

The kids filtered into their particular little clumps and cliques at the tables. Misty and Melody got their plates and sat at a table with the kids they had aligned with once Jason and Joey had disappeared, before Jason showed back up as part of the Brute Squad with Damian and Adrian Lee. Hunter and Jordan Parker, Noah and Felicia (Fil) Harrison, and Angelina and Isabella Johnson.

Jason walked up and looked at the table.

Aw, we’re all full up, Campbell. That’s too bad, said Hunter. He didn’t sound sad about it at all.

Misty looked at Jason and then the rest of the kids in dismay. She was just about to stand up when Dylan shouted, Hey Jason, come sit with us. He waved him over the sit with himself, Jeremy, and Adam.

Misty closed her mouth and set her plate back down. Jason hesitated and looked between Misty and the Rowan’s table. She smiled reassuringly and shooed him to go join them.

Chapter Two

After the physical that afternoon, Jason met with Franklin and Cynthia in a room near the Infirmary. She seemed nice enough. Attractive, with a wispy, mystical air about her.

He held Franklin in a bit of awed respect. The way the older man had taken charge back at the facility and helped Jason focus and calm down in the midst of chaos impressed him. His easy-going vibe belied a powerful presence. Jason knew Franklin was someone to keep an eye on.

How are you feeling, Jason? Franklin’s smile reached his blue eyes but didn’t cover up the fatigue there. As he spoke, he gestured for Jason to take a seat.

Jason considered him for a beat before answering. Fine. He remained on his feet.

I bet you’re tired. Jason slid his eyes over to Cynthia. She had a musical voice to go with her whimsical appearance. It was pitched low for a woman, but soft and soothing.

He shrugged. His gaze bounced between the pair. He crossed his arms over his chest and felt into the room. The ping of an energetic probe from both of the adults brought up his vibrational walls. They weren’t going to get anything from him for free. If they wanted information, they’d have to work for it.

Cynthia settled into a chair, as did Franklin. How old were you when you arrived at the facility? she asked.

Jason chewed the inside of his bottom lip. Thirteen.

And you’re how old now?

Eighteen.

So, you came in at the same time as the rest of the kids?

He didn’t dignify that with a response. The questions all seemed obvious. They knew he’d come in with the rest of the kids at the same time, and that they’d been there for five years. What more was there to say?

We can’t help but notice that everyone else has a twin, Jason. Franklin’s eyes bored into his own.

He raised an eyebrow and returned the gaze without speaking.

Cynthia cleared her throat. Do you… did…?

His eyes narrowed on hers. The rattle of pens in a cup on the desk nearby drew her attention. She turned a shrewd side eye back to him. Okay. We don’t have to talk about everything right now. We just wanted to let you know that you are not alone here. We are here to help you.

Jason sniffed a sardonic laugh. Back at the bunker, Evil Bitch Trissa had given similar spiels on more than one occasion about helping tap into their greater potential and unlocking their abilities. Blah blah blah.

Her weekly pep talks about how special each of them was and how important they all were for the greater good had never inspired him so much as pissed him off. Cynthia could shove her feel-good hippie mantras up her ass as far as he was concerned.

The exam took longer than Jason cared for, but once it was done, Dylan Rowan bounced up to him in the den. Wanna see your room?

I get a room?

Dylan cracked a grin. Of course. We can’t have the Tracksuit Mafia living in the den. That could get awkward. Here. He shoved a box of clothes and toiletries at him. Take this.

Jason took the box and Dylan bounced away, not looking to see if Jason followed. He hitched the box in his arms and looked around as each pair of twins were given similar boxes and told to follow with various adults. He jogged to catch up to Dylan.

How long do you think we’ll be staying here? he asked once he caught up.

Dylan shrugged. I dunno. Forever? ‘Til Tuesday? He shrugged again. You got somewhere else to be?

Jason huffed. Uh, no. Not really.

Dylan led him across the Marble Hall and down a corridor to an old-fashioned elevator in the opposite direction of everyone else. You might want to pay attention. It’s easy to get lost. So, whatever you do, don’t get lost. He pulled the brass grating aside and gestured for Jason to enter.

Jason huffed another laugh. I’ll do my best. He stepped in and Dylan closed the grate behind them.

For looking so old, Jason noted that the elevator’s motion was swift, silent, and smooth, in direct contrast to the juddery, creaky elevator that used to take him down to Mentor’s chamber. He wondered how deep the caverns of the mountain dove, and how much of that was livable space.

Dylan stepped off onto a floor several levels up from the den and Marble Hall. The elevator doors faced the swooping balcony railing that spiraled around the Marble Hall, now far below. Jason glanced over the edge at the mosaic starburst, the full pattern of which he could take in for the very first time. A wave of nausea and vertigo swayed him on the spot, and he quickly stepped back from the railing to hug the smoothly finished stone wall.

Each instance that the natural stone was left exposed, which was practically everywhere, it was either polished to a smooth, flat finish, or left rough and natural. The rough parts seemed to be more of an aesthetic, stylistic choice in most of the areas he’d been to so far. He wondered how long it had taken the ancient Rowans to design all of this.

Directly across from them was the enormous crystal chandelier that lit the