Steampunk Time: Cape High Book Seven (Cape High Series 7) Read Free Page A

She gets a look from the room that says every single one of them heard that comment, and has nothing to say in response.  I don't know who Sparky is.  I don't remember a super hero named Sparky from, well, anywhere.
    Falconess walks over to the playpen, picking up the little blonde and kissing her on the cheek.  "You be good for Sparky, okay, Missy?" she says in a loving tone.  She gets a brilliant almost toothless smile and laughs before putting the baby back into the playpen.  She reaches down and pats both the blonde boy and Nico on the head.  "You two be good, as well."
    "'Kay," the blonde boy says, holding out a large Lego to Nico, who looks at it curiously for a moment before grabbing another to knock them together.  The blonde boy looks familiar, sort of. 
    "Go on, kitten.  The two you'll be helping with are Kenny and Missy," Tatia tells me, gently pushing me forward.  "You do not mind, do you?" she asks almost belatedly.
    So I’ll be helping .  Okay, I can handle helping out a lot better than being treated like a baby.  I have absolutely no experience whatsoever with kids, though.  Maybe I should mention--I look up, but Tatia's already left, leaving me with Nicolas's bag sitting on the floor next to my leg.  Blackjack is watching me, so I look right back, not about to back down.  Sure he's WAY more powerful than I am, and an illusionist and--well, you know.  He's Blackjack.  But Tatia’s words are echoing in my mind.  I'm not going to falter in the face of a little disapproval, even if it's from a super.
    Nico las gets to his feet and heads over to me, reaching up to grab my skirt and tug.  I've got no choice but to follow, I tell myself as he pulls me over to the toys in the corner.  Kenny looks at me and I swear I've seen those blue eyes--
    That short blonde haircut, those bright blue eyes--
    "America's Son?" I whisper, automatically getting on my knees as Nicolas tugs again.  Kenny grins at me.
    "Hi," he says.  He looks about five.  "Nico las, stop pulling," he scolds the other boy.
    Nico las says something that almost makes sense, then looks at my skirt for a moment.  He goes up on tiptoe, sticking his hand into my pocket and starting to pull out my phone.  I pull it out of his hand before he manages.  "No, you can't," I tell him.  "That's not for little boys."
    "If it's a problem, perhaps you should put it somewhere high.  Nico las has a habit of finding technology like that," Falconess suggests, but she has a curious expression on her face.  I think she saw it.  "Blackjack, you and I are on North duty."
    "I'm not sure we should leave a complete stranger--" he starts out.
    "She'll be fine," Falconess says  "I like to think that Sparky can handle a single thirteen year old."
    Blackjack seems a lot more uptight in this time, doesn't he?  I look over at him, wondering if I should say anything.  He's not going to feel comfortable leaving me here, even if none of the kids are his--
    "Is Banshee coming in, or did she have night duty?" Falconess asks curiously.
    "She should be in soon," Blackjack says, glancing at a chalkboard hanging on the wall.  A chalkboard?  Seriously?  That's how they keep track of who's doing what?  I stare at it for a moment, wondering if any of them have legible writing.  It doesn't look like it.  "She had evening duty with Marigold last night, but she signed up for afternoon today.  I think she's got a date planned for tonight."
    Banshee dates?  Blackjack's uptight?  This time period is almost as confusing as the last one I was in!
    "Another norm?" Falconess asks.  "We should really talk to her about that habit."
    "Hey, now, that's elitism," Blackjack complains.  "Norms are people, too."  They head out the door, with Blackjack glancing back at me once before stepping out the door. 
    “Don’t worry,” Flaconess says as she stops to look back at me, “whatever is going on, we’ll fix it.  We’re heroes, remember?  It’s what we do.”
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