Chapter 16Harbor
Chapter 16
HARBOR
I 've finally got a few hours to devote to researching what got Bethany killed. I'm determined to take advantage of the cancellation of my next class, and I already messaged Talon to meet me at the library. I just have to wait for this professor to dismiss us.
As I sit here, she drones on about the Fallodorian Civil War, and I allow myself to think back to two nights ago. Talon invited Kane to stop by Talon’s house, and we discussed the possibility of all of us...getting to know each other. I did not expect Kane to get up and leave right away, but when he kissed me, it brought back so many memories. Then he turned and kissed Talon, and I almost combusted right there. When the food was delivered to Talon's doorstep, it sat outside for a while. I couldn't help the need that came over me, and well, Talon was happy to oblige. I don't remember when we came up for air, but I do know the food tasted just as good reheated. The bliss from my song allowed me to refuel without worrying about the flavor, and we kept going late into the night.
“Alright,” the professor says as everyone starts packing up. “Make sure you study chapters fourteen through sixteen. We'll be having a test soon, and it will be important to your overall score.” I jot down a note on my phone about which chapters to study tonight before I pack up my bag. I have to rush to the library; these next few hours are vital. I don't normally have this much time during the day, but I already saw the note on the Elemental Magic message boards today saying classes were canceled. I'm not sure why, but I don't care. This is the time I need.
Slinging my bag onto my shoulder, I edge my way between the lingering students and rush out into the hall. I look down, typing out a message to Kane, letting him know I'm meeting Talon at the library. When I turn the corner to leave the building, I trip and crash to the ground, and my phone goes flying across the floor and smashing into the wall.
"Umph!" I wince as I push up to my elbows. Fuck, that hurt. What did I trip on? A shadow slowly passes over me just as I tilt my head to look around. Fucking Silas Oramar. The dickhead still has it out for me, and I'm sick of his shit.
“Ah, it's the little slut. This view looks familiar. I'm up for recreating that day if you want to try to beg for forgiveness, Princess.” What an absolute fuck wad. Fury rages inside of me, building a strength that I've never felt before. I burst to my feet, getting up in his face. With an explosion of energy, my hands rise to his chest, and I shove. I don't know if I expected to have the strength to move him, but when he falls back into the wall, a look of surprise flashes across both of our faces.
I freeze, not expecting to produce such force. I guess I'm finally pissed off enough that I can stand up for myself. Yeah, I am pissed, I realize.
“You got away with that because you caught me by surprise in her room. I was literally grieving for your sister at that moment. You took advantage, and that's on me for allowing it. It doesn’t excuse your inappropriate behavior, and I’m done. I'm tired of you pushing me around because you can't accept the guilt.”
Fury burns in his umber eyes as he stands and pushes away from the wall. He steps back into me, shoving me back. “You fucking bitch. You're just a whore who doesn't know anything; not even your place. You should still be on your knees, begging for my forgiveness with my dick down your throat!”
When I'm pulled away, I don't recognize the blonde hair swinging in front of me. It's not until I hear Colette's voice do I realize she's stepped in between Silas and me.
“Back off. You don't need to get expelled, do you?” Colette gestures at the growing crowd. “Look at all these witnesses to your attack on Harbor. I bet your father wouldn't approve.”
I might be hallucinating, but is that smoke drifting around his head? No… Is it?
“Fucking bitches. All of you! Stay out of my fucking way, or you'll learn your lesson the hard way.” Silas storms off, retreating before any issues come about for him. Hmm… He's afraid of his father?
“Colette? What the fuck is going on? Why are you sticking up for the trash? Get over here.” One of the stuck up bitches Colette was walking down the hall with, beckons her back to them. Like I could tarnish their reputation by Colette standing near me. The thought makes me roll my eyes as I lean down to pick up my bag and phone that fell.
“You all don't understand. I've learned a lot in the past few weeks, and that information opened my eyes to the hypocrisy in the school. I know the truth now, and it would do you all good to take a look at the underworld controlling the politics here at Terranea. It's not all respectful, and I want to be known for my standing and integrity.”
“Whatever,” the redhead calls, flouncing off. The remainder of the clique turns and follows behind the new leader of the mean girl pack. Good riddance.
I turn, facing Colette, and wrap my arms around her shoulders. “I'm sorry,” I whisper into her ear. “I appreciate you standing up for me, but I never meant for your friends to turn on you.” I'm surprised when she returns my embrace, but her words are more shocking.
“It's okay. Truly. I'm glad I finally know what his motivations are. I always knew he wasn't a nice person, but I've seen more of him recently, and I'm glad I never truly knew his potential when I was associated with him.” We release our hold on each other, and she continues. “You knew I dated him on and off, but nothing really progressed. Our parents considered a betrothal, mostly because of standing. I'm the daughter of my pack's Alpha, and I stand to inherit the pack one day. My father considered an agreement with Mr. Oramar, but ultimately, we decided it just wouldn't work. Silas didn't want to live on pack lands, and he would never submit to me. That would have to happen when I become Luna.”
“I know I told you about the apprenticeship, and I'm thankful for it, but I'm learning that Silas, while he's independent and hates his father, is very much an asshole like his father. It turns out this apprenticeship is glorified slave labor. I can't quit until the six months is up, though, or I risk tarnishing my name and my pack's reputation.”
“I hate that you're stuck, now,” I say, my brows drop in concern.
“It'll be alright,” she says. “I'm tough, and I have learned a lot about business while I've been watching him. I've also learned a few things I don't think Myles meant for me to overhear, and that's another reason I'm sticking around. Secrets are one of the best weapons in politics, and I'm willing to suffer to build an arsenal.”
“What about your friends, though?”
“Girl,” she laughs, “those girls stuck their noses so far up my ass, I was walking with a constant limp. I am actually glad I won't have my phone continually blowing up from them. I swear, those girls were the cattiest I've seen, and I had to always top them in order to keep control.”
“That sounds miserable,” I say. “But at least you had people to do things with? To talk to, or get opinions from?”
“Yeah,” she concedes. “They always had amazing opinions when shopping. I will miss that, but they were never ones I share my closest secrets with. Besides, I can always go home. I have a lot of friends I grew up with on my pack's land, and I don't have long left in school, anyway.”
“I'm glad you still have friends and family back home,” I say as we both turn to walk out the door. I'm genuinely thankful for those Colette considers worthy. “I don't have anyone but my mom back in Thalassia.”
“That must suck. Was that where you grew up?” she asks.
“No, it was a little over four years ago that my mom and I had to pack up everything we owned and move there. I was required to arrive the day before my fourteenth birthday, because my mother noticed I was becoming a syren. My powers arrived the moment I turned fourteen, and immediately I was thrown into isolation. I didn't understand why, but within hours, I figured it out. My song erupted, and I became insatiable. My song wanted to call out to anyone. My mom, being a blood relative, was immune, but everyone else I came in contact with was at risk. At that point, my power was so high, I could've pulled the life force from someone without even knowing it.”
“That's terrible!” she exclaims. “How long were you in isolation?”
“It took three months before anyone other than my mother could visit me, and even then, they had to take blocking potions.”
“Oh my gods,” she says, her mouth dropping in shock. “Three months?!”
“Yeah,” I say, “the leaders were confused. It's normally only a couple of weeks. My song did temper down, though. After that, I had to work with trainers to control it. Eventually, I could physically train with other fledglings, as we have to build our stamina in order to withstand the call from my syren to sing.”
“So, you never had friends?”
“No one close,” I say. “I had one friend, Rio. He wasn't someone I'd consider a boyfriend, but we shared a lot of our firsts, just to figure out what it felt like. He was the person I told if something scared or upset me, but we didn't talk to each other every day. I barely even saw him once a week, when we were in a training regimen.”
Colette doesn't say anything for the longest time, and when I turn to look at her, she has tears streaming down her face. She tries to wipe them away discreetly, but I still see.
“What's wrong?”
“I'm so sorry, Harbor,” she says. “I never really took the time to truly get to know you, assuming you were pretentious just like everyone else. Now I realize just how strong and humble you are. I wish I could take back everything I ever said and did, because you are an amazing, beautiful person, inside and out.”
Smiling, I reach out and grab her hand. “I appreciate your kind words. And for you sticking up for me. I know that we didn't start off on the right foot, but you're proving that you honestly regret what you did, and I forgive you. I'm glad we can start over, and I hope I can call you my friend one day.”
“I'd like that,” she says, truth shining in her emerald eyes. “Would you like to exchange numbers? Maybe we could take a weekend day in town to go shopping and pamper ourselves.”
“I'd like that,” I mimic, a tight smile spreading across my face. I hand her my phone, and she hands me hers. As I finish saving my number on her phone, mine vibrates in her hands.
“Uh, you just received a message. From Talon?” She hands my phone back when my eyes open wide. I was supposed to meet him!
“Fuck, um, I have to go. I need to get to the library. I'll message you?”
“Sure,” she says. “Bye!”
I run, swiftly turning down the path that leads to the library. Within moments, I'm jogging up the steps. I take a moment to catch my breath, but before I can reach for the door, Talon pushes it open from inside.
“Where were you?” His concern is obvious, his voice deep with worry.
“I'm okay, I was just…delayed. Colette and I had a chat, and I think she's beginning to change. Now that I'm here, though, I’ll be busy, doing more research. Do you have anything to work on?”
“I do, but I can help you if you'd like,” he says, escorting me inside and toward the research computers.
“That's okay. I don't even know what I'm looking for, so just having your company will be nice.”
I settle in and start researching that code name Colette told me about. I start by typing in the name NAUTILUS and pressing the search button, but it's obviously too generic, and the results show tens of thousands of options. Adding Silas's name doesn’t help, offering zero results. The likelihood adding that would produce results was slim, but I had to try.
Next, I cross-reference the term with Myles's name. That had zero hits as well. I'm beginning to get frustrated, but then I consider another option–Myles likely didn't link anything to himself directly, so I need to find out his business name.
A basic search for “Myles Oramar,” provides me with a lot of information about his history. He quickly became the governor of Fallodorn, the dragon region of Naesala. Once he completed his term, he moved to Kalakai Cove and started working at a bank. Within five years, he took over control, leading that bank and its investors to record profits. He went on to create Trinity Securities. I immediately crossed that with NAUTILUS and found two results.
The first is a proclamation from four years ago announcing Trinity Securities successfully negotiated a deal with Cauldron Biotech, but it didn't reveal what the deal was for. The other result, only a year old, offered more answers, as well as more questions. Cauldron Biotech developed a militia-grade potion available for sale. What is Myles Oramar doing funding a militia potion?!
The further I look into this, the more I begin to worry. This potion was announced as being able to target individuals and small groups, and, with mass production, the ability to eliminate the target base. So this is about assassination? Possibly even mass murder? I can't be reading this right, can I?
Glancing up at Talon, I debate telling him this. I should, but also, I don't know if what I'm reading is accurate. I know he'd worry, but it's no secret that Myles works at the bank. He's always worked there, as I remember from when I lived next door to Bethany. The information on Trinity Securities does list him as the CEO, but that's the only thing that links him to this. Surely he's not behind weaponized potions? The only link is his title, so I can't say for sure he's behind this.
Nudging Talon, I nod to let him know I am ready to head out. I've got a lot to consider regarding this investigation. Without proof, I can't make accusations when the risks are so high. It is crucial for me right now to make sure I have solid information before I act. People's lives, including my loved ones, could be in danger if I make the wrong move.