Center of the Universe (Twelfth Keeper) Read online

  Kennedy swallowed. She had taken her own clearance tests weeks ago, but she still hadn’t been approved for fieldwork. More than ever, she wished she was. The thought of Phoenix and Fang working together…exclusively…ugh. It made her want to vomit right there in front of Professor Mason’s door.

  “I’d also like you to take Dominika.”

  Phoenix stared at Professor Mason like he’d lost his mind. “Please say you’re joking.”

  “She speaks Russian, knows the area really well. You would benefit from her expertise.”

  “Nika has not been approved for fieldwork, Professor. Matter of fact, if she wasn’t a keeper, I doubt she’d be approved for anything outside of an asylum.”

  As callous as that sounded, he wasn’t exaggerating. Just that morning, Kennedy watched Nika’s combat trainer knock her to the ground. Everyone there could see it had been an accident; Nika spun right in front of him just as he’d switched his stance, and she tripped in the process. Her retribution was to bite him on the leg. Hard. Hard enough to make her trainer howl and jump up and down in pain. Nika smiled wickedly, blood trickling from her full, pink lips. That look of satisfaction was nothing short of deranged.

  Despite everything though, Kennedy held a soft spot in her heart for the psychotic Barbie lookalike. Nika helped save her life when almost no one else would. Kennedy would never forget it, and as far as she was concerned, being a true keeper took more than a good state of mental health.

  The mental health part would be nice though.

  “I personally cleared her for this assignment,” Mason told Phoenix. “It might be good for her. The girl needs something.”

  Phoenix muttered, “Yeah, a lobotomy.”

  “I mean it, Nix. She needs this. Or maybe she simply needs to be needed.”

  “No need to run it into the ground. I’ll take her,” Phoenix said, then added, “But I won’t promise to like it.”

  “Never thought you would, but your cooperation is appreciated.” Mason cleared his throat and raised his voice a notch. “Now if you’ll kindly let the little urchin hiding behind my door inside, I’d like to speak to her as well.”

  Little urchin? Kennedy blanched. Oh God, kill me now.

  She ordered herself to run like hell, but as soon as it became clear that Professor Mason knew she was there, her body froze in its crouched position, unable to move a muscle. Seriously, what kind of keeper was she going to be, if she couldn’t manage a simple eavesdropping without getting busted?

  To add to her mortification, Phoenix opened the door, looked around, and then down. His wide-eyed gaze roamed over her, and not in the well looky what we have here sort of way. It was more of the no way am I seeing this sort of way.

  Kennedy squeezed her eyes shut, praying that this wasn’t happening, that she’d never been caught, and Phoenix wasn’t standing there staring at her in shock.

  For a second it was so quiet, she thought maybe it was all her imagination, and maybe she wasn’t a complete idiot. They never caught her because she never spied on them in the first place. No one could be so stupid. Or so lame.

  She opened her eyes. Dammit if he wasn’t still there, leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded loosely over his chest. He kept staring, probably making a mental list of about a million different ways he could incinerate her. Knowing him, there was a handy lighter in his pocket too, just itching to make an appearance.

  Never mind. She was a complete idiot.

  Before he had the chance to figure out whether or not to burn her to death, she casually stood and brushed herself off. Keeping her head held high was difficult when all she wanted to do was look at the floor. Meeting Phoenix’s gaze was out of the question. She could only imagine him piercing her with those pitch black eyes, and it would undoubtedly be her breaking point.

  Walking straight into the office might have avoided more embarrassment, but he blocked her entrance. He wasn’t letting her get away so easily.

  “I think the professor wants to see me.” She forced each word out, and still it sounded no higher than a squeaky whisper.

  He leaned towards her, pausing by her ear. “I should be angry with you.” Scents of warm things, like burning cedar and sunshine, took over her senses. His hushed voice sent tingles soaring across her neck. It was insane that even now she could be so attracted to him when that was probably the last thing on his mind. “You knew this meeting was private.”

  He had mentioned that. Which was so stupid of him really, because it only made her want know why it was private.

  His words, however, implied he wasn’t angry, and they gave her the courage to finally look him in the eye. “You’re not mad?”

  “Nope.”

  “Why not?” She couldn’t have stuck her foot farther in her mouth. Why, oh why, couldn’t she have dropped it at nope?

  Oh yeah. Because she was a complete idiot.

  “I’m leaving in the morning, and I don’t have time to be angry with you, not when all I want to do is spend the rest of today kissing every curve of this incredible mouth.” He held a finger to her lips, and her heart leaped against her chest.

  Hmm. She was sorta happy she hadn’t dropped it now.

  And then his words rammed into her like a bowling ball to the chest. “Wait, tomorrow morning?”

  He looked up at the ceiling, and then back at her—he didn’t want to tell her that.

  Professor Mason’s deep voice resounded from inside. “Anytime today, kiddo.”

  She started to walk through the doorway, and Phoenix reached for her hand. “Meet me later tonight?” he asked. “There’s a place I’d like to show you.”

  She nodded. Her answer made him smile, carving dimples into his cheeks. Watching him walk away was difficult because now she could do nothing else but face Professor Mason.

  She bought some time slowly closing the office door. It was better off closed anyway, since all evidence pointed to the possibility of yelling.

  “Miss Mitchell?”

  Professor Mason’s voice was surprisingly calm. She lowered into the seat across from his desk, unsure whether she should be relieved or terrified.

  Before he could say anything, a rush of words tumbled from her mouth. “I just want to say that I wasn’t thinking, and I realize spying on private conversations is a big no-no, and I’m totally ashamed, not just because I got caught, but because it’s beneath me to stoop to this level, and I don’t know what came over me, but please know that you have my sincerest apologies, and it will never, ever, ever happen again.”

  Kennedy took a deep breath. That had to be the longest run-on sentence ever, and she wondered if any of it made sense.

  “Never mind that,” Mason said with a wave of his hand. “We have other things to discuss, and besides, it um, sounds like you’ve learned your lesson.”

  Every muscle in her body relaxed. He dismissed the whole thing so easily. That was strange, but she didn’t dare say another word about it. There would be no more sticking feet in her mouth today.

  “So what’s going on?” Hope flared inside of her. This might be the moment she would get approved for fieldwork. If that were the case, she would beg Mason to allow her to go with Phoenix to Russia—preferably in Fang’s place.

  “It’s good news. I think you’ll be excited.”

  She leaned forward in her seat. This was it, the moment she’d been waiting for—she just knew it.

  “We’re sending you home,” he said with a warm smile. “On vacation. You’ve been approved for a month’s time.”

  What?

  Every fiber in her body deflated. That was the last thing she expected Mason to say, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Thoughts of home and family filled her mind, and while they were nice, getting clearance for fieldwork outweighed her desire to go home. Not to mention…

  “But the Sae-yers. You can’t send me home now when they’ve told us outright they’re on their way here.”

  Only a few days had passed
since Olympus received their message. All of Level 3 was in an uproar, debating strategies of defense, possible evacuation plans, and most importantly of all, whether citizens should be told about the Sae-yers.

  “Actually, that’s a big reason why we are sending you home. We don’t know what to expect, and we need everyone in top form. Spend some time with your family, kiddo. If it comes down to a fight, you need to understand what you’re fighting for.” He typed something into his computer, and the brace on Kennedy’s wrist beeped. “That’s your flight schedule. You’re leaving tomorrow.”

  She shook her head, more confused than she’d ever felt. “This doesn’t make sense, Professor. Don’t you need me here?”

  It was a valid question. After all the training they’d instilled in her over the last few months, all the education, she was starting to feel needed, like she belonged here. Sending her away after getting that threat was the dumbest thing they could do.

  “Of course we do,” he said. “When the time is right. Sae-yers aren’t going to magically appear on our doorstep without us knowing weeks in advance. We have satellites positioned all over the perimeter. And when they do come, the Peri-Guard will be the first to strike.”

  Kennedy supposed that made sense. Everyday since they’d received the Sae-yer message, more and more troops were being sent out to fill the perimeter stations.

  Still…the idea of leaving for a month, not training for all that time…it scared her. She was the last of the keepers to be discovered. Out of everyone, she needed the most preparation. “A month is a long time to be out of training.”

  “There will be plenty of time for that when you get back,” he tried assuring her. “Until then, you can spend time painting those watercolors you told me you love so much. Read a few classics.”

  “Nice one, Professor, but you’re forgetting that you told me yourself, keepers have no time for those activities.”

  “Now you do,” he said, more serious now. “Take advantage of it.”

  Kennedy sighed, pushing the memory of that conversation to the back of her mind. Whatever Professor Mason’s reasons were, there was more to it than simply understanding what she was fighting for. She loved her family; they were everything. How could she not realize what was at stake?

  Kennedy drew herself back to the present, back on the beach where darkened clouds were forming on the horizon. A storm was on its way. She wasn’t planning on sticking around for its arrival. It was bad enough, trying to get used to the ocean again. Mix that in with some rain and lightning, and her fear would turn into hysteria real quick.

  Kennedy packed up and lugged her tote over her shoulder. Her wrist vibrated as she walked back to the street. The blue flashing light let her know it could only be one person.

  Okay, not a person. But close enough.

  She pressed a button, and Matilda’s voice sprang through the metal brace. “Why haven’t you been answering my calls?”

  Kennedy rolled her eyes. Living with Ashley again, who felt obligated to catch up on motherly duties, filled in more than enough time for that parental stuff. Matilda needed to remember she was a robot and give it a rest, at least until she got back to Olympus.

  “I’ve been busy, Matilda. What’s up?”

  “Busy sunbathing?”

  Kennedy recalled the homing device programmed inside her brace. Nosy little intruder. Lying was not something she ever got away with. “Busy training,” she clarified. “The beach happens to be a prime location for someone with my skillset.”

  “My calls should always take precedence.”

  “I’ll try to remember that. Speaking of which, was there a reason for this call or were you just checking up on me?”

  “Matter of fact, there was,” came the android’s smooth reply. “You told me to call whenever I came across something important.”

  “What did you find?”

  “I’ve been scanning the airline’s logs, and I came across a few interesting ticket holders.”

  “You can do that?”

  What sounded like a snort came from Matilda’s end. “I’m a Series Seven, cupcake. I do what I want, when I want, where I want, however I want—”

  “I get the picture. Excuse me for thinking otherwise.”

  “I’ve been bored without you here. Something had to occupy my time.”

  Kennedy grinned. “I bet hacking into the airline’s computers took a good chunk.”

  “Oh please. It didn’t take long at all. Anyway, you’re missing the point. I found tickets registered under familiar names. Certain keeper names, if you catch my drift.”

  “Matilda, I told you Phoenix and a few others went to Russia to do an investigation—”

  “That’s not who I’m referring to, cupcake. These tickets were registered under an Alexia Brümfeld, a Colton Hobbs, and a Gabriella Martinez.”

  Kennedy’s steps slowed.

  Matilda said, “Ah ha, you weren’t expecting to hear those names, were you?”

  No, she wasn’t. “Where were they headed?”

  “Home, just like you.”

  Home.

  That didn’t make sense. This whole time she suspected she’d done something wrong, either that or she was still too new to be trusted, and they wanted to create the defense plans without her there. After all, she and Phoenix proved even long-term commissioners could turn corrupt.

  “So why would DOE send over half their keepers out of Olympus at a time like this?”

  “I wondered the same thing. So I ran some theories through my system, and I came up with a list of possibilities.”

  “Wow, you really were bored.”

  “Don’t get cute. Would you like to know what popped up as the most likely possibility?”

  “Sure, why not.”

  “You’re not going to like it.”

  “Tell me anyway.” Impatience ran thick in her tone. She swore sometimes Matilda dragged things out just to annoy her. Or the robot genuinely missed her. Emotions came with her developing personality.

  “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. The top pick was that DOE sent you home as a sort of goodbye.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Come on, cupcake. You’re starting to sound less human than me. They want everyone to go home in case the outcome ends in annihilation. They can’t rule it out, considering the aliens managed to obliterate China with the press of a few buttons. It is a possibility.”

  Kennedy bit her lower lip, feeling that familiar sinking feeling that came whenever she thought of China’s Great Disaster. She’d been made to swear she would never reveal the truth—that it wasn’t a toxic meteor shower that wiped out what was once the world’s most populated country.

  Goodbye.

  The time was meant to be with family and friends, in case this was the end for all of humankind. Why hadn’t the thought ever crossed her mind?

  “I think I need to go. I’ll talk to you later, Matilda”

  “Uh oh. Did I hit a sore spot?”

  “You might have.”

  “Don’t let it stress you out, kid. Do what you have to, then get your butt back here and train as hard as you can.”

  Kennedy switched the line off. Stressing out was unavoidable. Knowing what she knew, she couldn’t be near her family everyday, see their faces, and stay relaxed.

  ~ ~

  By the time she made it home, all Kennedy wanted to do was shower and take a nap. She originally planned to fit in a decent workout, but after talking to Matilda, she already felt worn out.

  Most of the time she craved a physical outlet, especially since her body was so used to being beat up all day. It was ironic too, because not so long ago the only exercise she could credit herself with was the occasional pretense of yoga and whether her class schedule included P.E. that semester. Back then she was the chubby girl, hiding behind a wardrobe exclusive to grays and blacks. Now when she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized the person staring back at her.

  The
change wasn’t just the weight…it couldn’t be, because she hadn’t been that big before. If anything, it was the strength. Strength radiated from her, erasing the soft, fragile girl she used to be. The girl in her reflection was admirable—she was strong and toned and powerful—and Kennedy liked her. But at the same time, she felt like she was losing pieces of her old self. That was something she wasn’t so sure she liked.

  “Hey, gorgeous.”

  Kennedy swung around, nearly tripping over her front porch steps in the process.

  A very sweaty, shirtless Hunter stood below her, a subtle grin playing at his lips as she gripped the side rail to avoid falling on her ass.

  She took a few deep breaths and said, “Hi, Hunter.”

  He was the last person she wanted to see, but living next door made it impossible for her to avoid him. To make things worse, lately Hunter had been spending a great deal of his spare time doing yard work, not only at his house, but hers too. He was constantly mowing, weeding, planting flowerbeds, and whatnot. She rarely ever saw that guy with a shirt anymore—and where had he gotten those abs? Seriously. Last she remembered, there were no signs of those.

  “Whatcha up to?” he asked.

  God, why did Mason have to send her home over spring break? It would’ve been nice if this vacation started off last month when people actually had school and activities to occupy their time.

  “Nothing much,” she said, and before he could invite her to hang out, she added, “I was just about to shower, and then help my mom with dinner.”

  Seeing his face drop immediately made her feel guilty. It wouldn’t have been noticeable to anyone but her. At times like these, she really missed her old friend and wished things could go back to the way they used to be, the way they were before she’d been discovered by DOE, and if she were being honest, the way they were before that kiss.

  Kennedy’s eyes roamed over the porch to the very spot where it happened. If she had never left, things would have been different. Chances were pretty good that she would’ve fallen head over heels for the boy next door. She knew herself well enough to know whatever she felt for Hunter could’ve surpassed the love she felt for him as her best friend.