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  Katie shrugged. “They seemed anxious to see you. They advised that as soon as you arrived, to send you in.”

  With Caitlyn’s heightened hearing, she heard him mutter, “This is not good. This is not good at all.”

  Caitlyn’s only response was to put her hand fleetingly on his arm reassuringly. Garrett led the both of them to the elevator.

  “Destination floor nine. Garrett Stevens. Temporary Level Two security obtained. Caitlyn Young. Temporary Level Two security obtained.” When the doors opened up, it led them both down a corridor similar to others in the building.

  They were both quiet as they walked down the hall, nerves of what the meeting was in regards to finally getting to Caitlyn. They reached a large set of doors at the end, and Garrett paused.

  She gave his hand a quick squeeze. “It will be okay.”

  He sighed and opened the door slowly. The room was formal in nature, and the Councilman’s chairs were in a large semi-circle. Completing the design was a set of tables and chairs that faced the council. The room was designed to be somewhat intimidating, and Caitlyn could easily imagine that one facing the full twenty members of the Council would be. However, in front of her sat two men, each of whom wore an easy smile on their lips, their look anything but intimidating at the moment. Caitlyn immediately relaxed.

  “Garrett. Caitlyn. Please have a seat. This isn’t as formal as you think.”

  Garrett took a seat at the table, motioning for Caitlyn to do the same. “Good afternoon, Councilman Riley, Councilman McPherson.”

  Garrett had turned first to a man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, wide in stature, but relaxed in nature, this was obviously Councilman Riley. The second man, Caitlyn recognized from the party as Councilman McPherson.

  “Good Afternoon, Garrett.” Councilman Riley stated. “I am sure you are both wondering why you are here. As you know, Garrett, you have told us many incredible things regarding Caitlyn. Her capacity to learn at such an accelerated rate is nothing short of amazing, and her learning has not slowed down. Garrett, I am equally as impressed at your mentorship of her. Caitlyn obviously respects you a tremendous amount and that is an extremely admirable thing you have accomplished. Caitlyn, Councilman McPherson and I wanted to ask you a few questions.”

  “Of course, Councilman. Please ask me anything.”

  Councilman McPherson appeared pleased at her response. “Thank you. Caitlyn, Garrett advised Councilman Riley that you have shown an amazing aptitude for mental block and attacks. He has also advised at the same time you can levitate at the level just below that of a specialist. Is this true?”

  “Yes. Everything that Garrett has shown me, I have been able to replicate.”

  “Garrett, have you tried teaching her Projectile Telepathy yet?”

  Garrett looked at Caitlyn briefly before turning his attention to the Councilmen. “Not yet. While Caitlyn is now at the level of levitation that I am at, Caitlyn does not have the instant recall capability that I awoke with and therefore will most likely not have the ability for it. I was going to still attempt to teach her later in her training, but it is a well-documented fact that only those who awoke with that instant recall have been able to perform that skill. It is not a skill that I believe she can master.”

  Caitlyn hated when he claimed that. She knew he was probably right, but she did not like being told what she could or could not do until she tried it.

  Councilman Riley cocked his head to the side. “Garrett, how much further do you think you need to train Caitlyn?”

  Garrett mulled it over in his head for a few minutes before responding. “She is almost done, Councilman. I believe she could take the Threshold now and pass.”

  McPherson jotted down some notes before responding. “In three months’ time? Caitlyn awoke at the end of May, and it is just the beginning of September. Do you really think that she is ready?”

  “I do. I’ve covered all the material required of the Threshold.”

  Councilmen Riley stood, clearing his throat. “Garrett. I want to thank you for all the work that you have put into training Caitlyn. We are very proud of what you have accomplished and you should be as well. Caitlyn is going to make a fine addition to the Trust and we will welcome her with open arms. However, we feel that her training is not complete yet.”

  Garrett’s fists clutched. “I mean no disrespect, Councilman, but what do you mean, not complete? She is more than capable of passing the Threshold. Most Actuals could not pass the Threshold after almost a year. Caitlyn’s instincts are amazing, her intuition is dead on.”

  Jonathan McPherson stared down at him, completely unintimidated by Garrett’s glare. “We agree. At this juncture, the Trust has decided that we need to take a different approach to training. The Council, as well as with the backing of the Tribunal, have agreed that the Trust needs to take a more aggressive approach in how we train. We feel that we need to begin to expect more from the training, have training that is more regimented. With that being said, we needed to re-evaluate if a trainee should be reassigned to a new mentor to learn more, gain more knowledge. Caitlyn, you are an outstanding case. A person with your abilities has not been seen in the past ten years. That is why we would like to couple you with a new mentor, someone who is equipped to handle your special talents, who will help you pursue your true potential.”

  Garrett spoke up. “I will not accept that. I am her mentor. I should get a say in what her next steps are going to be. I’ll be setting her up with several specialists so that she can continue to learn under with my guidance. That is my right. I’ve earned it.”

  Riley, sensing the tension, tried to word the decision differently. “Garrett, we are not claiming that you did not do a fine job as a mentor. Within your abilities, you have taken her beyond what we could have hoped, but her capacities are outside what you are able to assist with. I could not mentor her myself even if I wanted to. This is not a reflection on your performance.”

  “And just who do you think is going to train her then?” Both Councilmen were silent as they exchanged a quick but meaningful glance. The look that had passed between them apparently was not lost on Garrett as he laughed bitterly. “Oh, no. I should have known.”

  Councilman McPherson stared at him then, his figure moving from one of ease to one of an imposing figure. “Garrett Stevens, I am asking you to remember your place and quickly within this organization. Your placement can always be re-discussed.”

  Caitlyn was not sure exactly what that insinuated, but whatever that meant, it quickly put Garrett in his place. He clenched his jaw tightly. Caitlyn figured that this would be the best time to interject. “Excuse me Councilmen, but I am feeling a little confused from this whole exchange. I understand that you want me to continue to pursue my training.”

  She paused for a brief moment. Caitlyn hated the idea of being separated from Garrett as her mentor. He had been extremely supportive during her Awakening and now that they had just announced their feelings for one another, they were going to be separated. Underneath the anxiety of that notion, there was an undercurrent of excitement at the prospect that someone was going to be teaching her more about what she was capable of, what she really might be able to accomplish. The guilt she felt as she squashed down that fleeting thought unnerved her. She looked at the men in front of her.

  “Who is it that will be taking over my mentorship and will I be able to remain here?”

  Garrett was angered at the first question, but she could see that he was curious about the second.

  Riley meaningfully glanced at Garrett for the briefest of moments before answering. “Councilmen McPherson’s son, Declan, will become your mentor from this point forward. As to where you will be training, that will be up to Declan and yourself. You have the training facilities here, but there are other training facilities elsewhere as well. We will let the both of you discuss that. Declan normally resides in Boston, but has agreed to move up here temporarily if you should wish it.”

>   Caitlyn knew she wanted to stay here as long as Garrett was here. She was comfortable with Trish and the others she had met, and her heart wretched at the idea of being away from Garrett. They were just beginning to explore their relationship, and to be pulled away so quickly would end the relationship before they had a chance to really begin.

  Garrett spoke up. “Since I obviously have no say in the matter, can I at least ask when will the change in mentorship take place?”

  “It is effective immediately, but we would still like you to try to teach her projectile telepathy at a period that would be convenient to Caitlyn and Declan. It is the one ability that Declan is not skilled in.” Councilman Riley looked sympathetically at the both of them. “Caitlyn, I know this is a shock to you but we truly on have your best interests at heart. We have some things that we need to discuss with Garrett at this time in private. I promise, should you decide to train elsewhere, you will have your time to say goodbye to Garrett. But for now, we have arranged for you to meet with your new mentor today. The official training will not begin for a week, but as stated before, the mentor change is effective today. We feel that everyone needs time to adjust to this change and for you to develop your relationship with your new mentor. The relationship, as you should now well understand, is a relationship based in trust, and that trust cannot be built in mere minutes.”

  Caitlyn smiled at Garrett in her most encouraging manner. She had never seen him more miserable in her life. “Thank you Councilmen. I appreciate all the opportunities you have given me. I would like to take this time to have it noted that I cannot picture someone providing a better mentorship than what Garrett has provided me. Without him, I would not have had the confidence to perform so well, and I would not have advanced as far as I have.”

  “Thank you, Caitlyn. I can assure you, Garrett’s mentorship of you will only reflect positively on him. We appreciate what he has done for the Trust and you. But now, I must ask you to leave the way you came in. I’ve sent for Katie. She will show you to the room where Declan is waiting for you.”

  Caitlyn looked at Garrett one last time. She was sure this was not goodbye, but her heart pulled at how his shoulders slumped, the defeated expression he wore. She wanted to run over there and console him, let him know that it was alright, that they could both now pursue their relationship without any guilt about their current roles or any conflict of interest.

  She walked out the door she came from, her mind processing everything that was just laid out in front of her and practically ran into the assistant. “I am so sorry! I did not mean to…”

  Katie just waved it off. “No problem. It happens a lot when people are called into that chamber. You get used to it. Councilman McPherson had advised when you left for me to bring you to the Maple room. It’s this way.” She led her back down the hallway, taking a left, then a right to a large door. “Let me know if you need anything, okay?”

  “Thank you.” She gingerly opened up the door, slowly entering. The room was small but well furnished, and on a couch in the corner sat Declan, his head in his hands, obviously deep in thought.

  “Hello.” It wasn’t a cheerful greeting, or a hostile one, just noncommittal. Caitlyn did not know how to feel about this change. She was frustrated, excited, and unsure, but strangely at ease about the prospect of a new mentor. It was maddening to feel so many conflicting emotions all at once and she knew her mood would not be a completely pleasant one until she figured it out.

  Declan looked up, embarrassed. “Caitlyn. I’m sorry. I was lost in thought.”

  “I can see that.”

  He stood up, shaking her hand before sitting back down. “I’m not sure if you remember me, I am Declan McPherson. We met at the party over a couple of weeks ago. Please, take a seat.”

  She did as he instructed. “I remember.”

  “I am sure you are bothered with this change. I can’t blame you. To restart the mentorship with someone completely new after all this time, it has to be annoying at the very least. I just hope that you can look at the big picture and what this could mean for you.”

  “I can see the big picture.”

  Declan pressed his lips to a thin line. “Okay. I understand that you are not going to like me in the beginning. I get that completely. I knew this would not be as smooth a transition as I hoped for. You have every right to dislike me.”

  Caitlyn’s eyes shot up at him. “Declan, I don’t dislike you. I don’t even know you. I’m just not sure how to handle all of this. In less than a half an hour, I’ve gone from losing my mentor whom I am very close to, to meeting a new one whom I know virtually nothing about. It’s overwhelming. I am not going to lie and state that that I am not intrigued by the idea of learning more from you. But I feel guilt over feeling that way, like I am cheating on Garrett somehow.”

  Declan shifted in his seat. “I can understand. I hope that I can come to earn your respect the way that he has earned it.”

  “So where do we go from here?”

  “Well, we spend the next few days together, getting to know each other. Then, we begin training. I plan long hours training, with rigorous demands on the mind and body. My goal is to push you, see how far you can go, and see how much you can truly absorb. It will not be all fun and games. Does any of this bother you?”

  “No.”

  Declan’s smile was genuine. “I somehow knew you would say that. I promise, I’ll take you further, make you stronger than you dreamed of. You just need to trust me.”

  She trusted Garrett. She did not know how easy trusting Declan would be. “So when do we start?”

  “Right now.”

  Chapter 13

  Caitlyn discovered over the next few days that Declan was more of a quiet soul than Garrett was. Her new mentor was not shy per se, but the flirtatious nature that she had gotten used to with Garrett was nowhere to be seen. Declan was reserved, observant, and determined.

  She was cautious about her approach with Declan; she wasn’t rude, but she was not overly friendly to him the first several days either. She still reeled from the loss of Garrett and was hesitant to believe in someone else on the same level that she had Garrett.

  It was the fourth day, and Declan had picked Caitlyn up at an insanely early hour. Caitlyn could only assume to remove her from the town that she associated with Garrett, was an attempt to make her more willing to know the Descendant.

  “Where are we going, exactly?” They had left at four in the morning and Caitlyn suppressed a yawn as they drove down I-95.

  “Into Boston. I understand you have not had an opportunity to visit yet?”

  She couldn’t help but to be pleased with the answer. “No. Garrett and I drove through on the way to the Cape for the Gala, but the furthest away I had the opportunity of visiting is Bangor.”

  He strummed his fingers along the steering wheeling. “Good. I have a couple things planned that I thought you might like and then if it is okay with you, I’ve planned a dinner at my childhood family home.”

  “Your family home?” Caitlyn had to admit that she was intrigued to see what kind of home he grew up in. “Is it in Boston?”

  Declan shook his head. “No. It is actually in Salem. Our family has resided in Massachusetts since 1685.”

  Caitlyn laughed. “You are kidding, right?”

  Declan eyed her sideways. “No. Is this amusing?”

  She laughed harder. “Oh, come on! Salem? Your family moved to Salem in 1685? Around the time of the Salem witch trials?”

  “Yes. We did. Along with several other Actual families. There were some whom were not exactly discreet, and unfortunately, there were some innocent women that were accused of witchcraft and persecuted because of the carelessness of a couple our kind.”

  She turned her body towards his in the passenger seat. “Did your family do anything?”

  “No. My understanding is that they tried to dissuade the people of the town, but there were quite a few zealots and they were not successful in
doing so. It is not a proud moment in my family’s history.”

  “And you stayed there?”

  “Our family, being of the original eight families, had the authority to banish those responsible from the area and the Council punished them accordingly. Our family kept our heads low and therefore could stay in the area.”

  Caitlyn wasn’t quite sure how to respond. She covered her mouth to repress another yawn.

  “Why don’t you close your eyes and get some more sleep? We still have another four hours of driving.”

  Perhaps it had been for the best that they had left the seclusion of upper Maine; now surrounded by Boston’s bustling streets, Caitlyn found herself finally willing to get to know Declan on a more personal level.

  As Declan took her on a walking tour of the Freedom Trail, they talked openly about her past and a little of his. He revealed to her that his mother had died from cancer as well when he was twelve years old. He had sympathized greatly with her and they spent a great deal of time talking about how difficult it was watching their parents fade away from the disease.

  He was also forthright with her; he did not hold back what he expected from her, the reasons why he wanted to mentor her. It purely had to do with what was best for the Trust. This did not bother her, in fact she found the blatant honesty quite refreshing.

  The end of the afternoon found them at Boston Public Gardens, watching the swans and ducks swim in the pond. Caitlyn threw a piece of bread into the water, watching the ducks fight over the food. “Thank you for today. It was nice getting to see Boston.”

  “Good, I’m glad. It is nice getting to know you, Caitlyn. I know that all this has been difficult.”

  She methodically ripped apart the little bit of remaining bread in her hands. “I’m just worried about Garrett. This was all so sudden and I haven’t been able to reach him. He has had his blocks up and is not answering his cell.”

  Declan turned his head towards her. “Are you worried that he is angry at you?”