A Secret Fate Read Free

reverberated through the forest. Part of the tree hit the ground and sent splinters, leaves and dirt into the air.
    The other bullet hit Gerry in the shoulder, sending him backwards as he watched Cael and Finn disappear.
    “Cael!” Addie screamed.
    Maia ran to Gerry and squatted beside him. “Oh my God. You’ve been hit.”
    “Got me in the shoulder. I’ll live.”
    “Lay back. Let me see,” Addie said.
    Bart came running into the woods and saw Gerry on the ground. “What the hell happened?”
    Breena knelt beside Maia. “Just your average day in Whisper Cape, huh, Breena?”  Maia said, placing her arm protectively around the child’s shoulder.
    “I guess,” she said, frowning. “Is he going to be okay? I’m sorry I couldn’t deflect both bullets.”
    “Breena, how long have you known you could do that, sweetie?” Addie asked, glancing back at the spot where Cael had just disappeared.
    “A couple days. Cael and I were playing catch and it happened. I’ve been practicing it down at the beach, learning how to control where things go.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “We wanted to surprise you and make sure I could do it without anyone getting hurt. We were planning to tell you tonight.”
    “What did she do? What happened?” Bart asked.
    “She made a bullet ricochet into a tree,” Addie said before turning her concentration to Gerry’s injury.
    “What the fu …?” Bart started.
    “Help me get his jacket off. This tux is ruined.”
    “Christ, like I care. Just heal me, for fuck’s sake.” He glanced at Breena, remembering what Maia told him about his language. “Sorry, sport.”
    She smiled. “It’s okay. It’s not the first time I’ve heard a swear word.”
    Addie rolled her eyes as she held her hands over Gerry’s shoulder, gently touching the wound, making him cringe with pain. “Gerry, you’ve lost a lot of blood. You’re going to need something to restore your energy when I’m finished.”
    “Nothing a piece of wedding cake won’t cure,” Bart said, then asked, “Where’s Cael?”
    No one answered him. No one knew.
    Addie closed her eyes and a tear ran down her cheek as she chanted, “Vis curatio vox secundum arts, vis curatio vox secundum arts, vis curatio vox secundum arts,” over and over again. Gerry knew she didn’t need to say those words aloud, but the fact that Cael hadn’t returned yet seemed to cloud everyone’s minds, especially Addie’s. The bullet eventually slid out of Gerry’s shoulder and his skin slowly knit back together. When she finished healing Gerry’s shoulder, Addie looked back at the spot where Cael and Finn had been struggling. “What’s taking him so long to get back?”
     
    ***
     
    G erry sat up and rubbed his shoulder. “Thanks, Addie.” He followed her gaze to the place where they had last seen Cael. It pained him, but finally he said, “Addie. Maybe he can’t get back.”
    “You don’t think Finn shot him, do you? Cael is strong.”
    Gerry shook his head but wasn’t sure if she noticed. “No.”
    “Once he got him away from here, I’m sure he used his skills,” she said. “I mean, Cael could take Finn in a fight anytime.”
    “He might not be able to come back.” Gerry brushed a strand of hair out of Addie’s face.
    “What? What do you mean?” She stood and Gerry got up with her. He moaned a little from the pain and stood next to her.
    “I don’t think he got shot. I’m not sure exactly what happened to Cael. When the bullet hit me, I lost balance. He might have received some of my …”
    “What? No!” Her face paled and she fought to take in air.
    “Breathe,” he said, stroking her back as Maia walked up and stood by her other side.
    “I don’t understand.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She walked to where Cael had wrestled with Finn. “What sort of memory were you sending?”
    “That’s the problem.” Gerry shook his head. He didn’t want to have to tell Addie that she might never see Cael