Chapter Five: Two Trails

    The usual routine of Corbin rising early to drive Lydia to the academy ushered in the next day with the same welcome familiarity that he had grown accustomed to on a daily basis, even attached to. He greeted his little sister in the dining hall with a certain glowing warmness that only her presence could bring about; not that he favored one sister over another, but as the three of them were uniquely different so were the bonds he shared with them individually. They were the vessels into which he poured out all his brotherly love, and he did so with a grateful heart.


    After a quick breakfast they were off together on their weekday commute to the academy in Ridgeville. The day would not be so pleasantly benign for Shade who woke uncharacteristically early with a pressing need to prepare herself for what would soon be at hand. She had promised to help Marcus with his dilemma and that promise, kept in secret, would be called upon near sunset.


    Shade rose from bed, washed away the morning grogginess in a long, steaming-hot shower, then dug deep in the back of her walk-in closet for a cardboard box that was  intentionally buried under other boxes and clothing items. She took the box to her bed where she put it down and seemed to lose herself in a distant stare at it for a few seconds before opening it.


    Inside was a heavy leather jacket, black with zippered pockets and cuffs. Shade lifted the jacket out of the box and held it up in front of her for examination. Her dark eyes roamed all over the jacket, but she didn't see the shiny metal zippers or the well-worn creases in the leather; she saw memories from a time when she wore the jacket almost as if it were a uniform. A time many years ago when everyone in Viktor's gang wore similar jackets, a time when she thought such a jacket meant you were somebody. 


    Though those days were long behind her, and thankfully so since they were filled mostly with regret, she held onto the jacket because there were a few good memories from those troubled times. The jacket was a silent witness to both the good and the regret, as well as a gift from Marcus, a fact which shifted its secrets to the sentimental side of Shade's balance in life. She felt the coming return into the life she had abandoned was an appropriate occasion to bring out the jacket one last time.


    Shade laid the jacket out on the bed, then put its box back in the closet. The rest of the morning she spent with a mild workout session in the garage with Corbin after he returned. A few brief rounds in the boxing ring followed by a short regimen with weights capped off her physical preparation, while a lot of alone time in her bedroom the rest of the day allowed her to get her mindset ready for what she and Marcus had to do. She wasn't so much concerned about the risks involved as she was putting herself in a position that could possibly expose her secret, the Allender family secret. Not even someone who had been her closest friend knew.


    When the time came for her to leave, Shade went to the garage and put the leather jacket into the trunk of her muscular, charcoal gray coupe. Just as she closed the lid Corbin walked into the garage, next to the sparkling red twin of Shade's car that was parked beside it.


    "I'm going to pick up Lydia, wanna come?" he invited casually.


    "Um...I would but, I kinda got plans," she answered with a concealing smile meant to give a harmless facade to her admission. "Don't wait up," she quipped with her usual smirk to reassure him that all was well as she opened the door and got in her car. 


    Corbin watched as the garage door behind her car began to rise and the dark gray coupe rumbled to life. She carefully backed the car out, swinging it around on the wide concrete driveway, then chirping the rear tires as she left with an intentional rev of the engine. As the garage door came back down he smiled to himself at his sister's untamed spirit, then he got into his coupe to go pick up Lydia.


    Evening came to Allender Manor with an unexpected but very welcome surprise for Corbin when Gideon and Amanda arrived unannounced soon after sunset. Corbin and Lydia were just about to watch a dvd together in the entertainment room when the chimes of the doorbell sounded, drawing them both to the front door with curious interest.


    As soon as Corbin pulled open the sturdy front door he was assaulted by Amanda who fell on him with a kiss full of three weeks worth of want. Gideon slid past them, acknowledging Lydia with a subtle smile as she watched the reunion of separated lovers with a wide grin. Gideon finally brought their smothering moment to an end by intentionally clearing his throat to remind them that they were not alone. The pair pulled slowly away from one another;  Amanda with a satisfied gaze at Corbin, and he with a sincere gleam in his purple eyes directed at her.


    "I love the way you say hello," Corbin remarked softly with his boyish smile.


    "Wait'll ya see how I say goodnight," Amanda flirted.


    "Mmm...," Corbin moaned playfully.


     Gideon cocked a parental brow at them both. "Okay you two, keep it PG-13," he instructed.


    "Hey!" Lydia protested, folding her arms as she looked up at Gideon with an offended expression that was clearly feigned.


    Gideon chuckled at her then said,"I meant PG-14."


    His correction brought a round of lighthearted chuckles from everyone, Lydia included.


    "So if you guys are back, you must've found something," Lydia concluded after the chuckles subsided.


    "Indeed we have," Gideon informed as Corbin closed the door, then returned to the huddled group. Gideon looked curiously down the hallway behind him that led into the heart of the manor, then back at Corbin. "Is Shade around?"


    "No, she went out tonight," Corbin explained.


    "And Gale?" Gideon inquired further.


    "She's staying over at Ethan's place this week," Corbin answered.


    Gideon nodded, then said,"Very well then. You and Lydia will just have to bring them up to speed when they return."


    Corbin and Lydia both complied with nods, then at Amanda's suggestion the four of them made their way to the livingroom for a more comfortable setting in which to discuss the matters at hand. As was his custom when he had pressing news to divulge, Gideon stood near the large stone fireplace in the center of the room like a professor before his class, waiting as Corbin took the center seat on the nearby couch where he was flanked by Lydia on his left and Amanda on his right. Gideon placed his hands behind his back then began a thought-arranging pace back and forth in front of the fireplace which was prepped with split wood but not burning.


    "Amanda and I had a brief encounter with Colonel Merrick, who proved to be a bit slippery, but we were unable to learn more about the Hand of Jarell," he said with a disappointed tone.


    "We won't underestimate him next time," Amanda vowed from the couch, her words serious and dire.


    Corbin and Lydia's attention shifted between the two vampires as they spoke, then settled again on Gideon, who went on.


    "However, we did manage to acquire a laptop from Merrick with most of its files dedicated to two individuals," Gideon revealed. Following a short pause to sift through his own thoughts he continued, much to the relief of Corbin and Lydia's bulging curiosity.


    "Both people are scientists of sorts, one a DNA specialist in the field of genetics and the other a highly regarded pioneer in cybernetics and synthetics. We have all the information needed to find them, including photos to help identify them. In fact, the geneticist is working right here in Bergstad for 'The Better Tomorrow Institute'."


    Corbin leaned forward in his seat. "Great, we have trails to follow now. If Jarell was interested in these people then so are we," he stated eagerly, anxious to participate. 


    "Indeed," Gideon replied. "I shall leave tomorrow night to investigate Dr. Vincent Walsh, the pioneer in cybernetics and synthetics. Amanda will stay here to seek out Dr. Roslyn Harper, the geneticist," he instructed.


    Amanda agreed with a confident nod, but Corbin stood up to present his case to Gideon. "Look, if Merrick is spooked and has ties with these people then they might already be gone, or in danger. Time is of the essence now, and Amanda won't be able to do anything until sundown tomorrow. After I drop Lydia off at the academy in the morning then I'll have all day to check up on this Dr. Harper," he implied.


    Gideon's face grew concerned as his posture changed and he considered Corbin's intent. Amanda and Lydia waited silently for Gideon's response as he studied Corbin's pleaful expression for a long moment then sighed. "I don't know..."


    "I'll get Shade to tag along. I'm sure she'll be more than ready to chip in," Corbin persisted as he approached Gideon.


    Gideon thought to himself for another moment then folded  his arms across his chest and stared down at Corbin from under his wavy blond hair. "Very well," he conceded finally. 


    Corbin's delight in the result of his effort was obvious on his face, but before he could turn and share it with Amanda and Lydia, a firmly pointed index finger from Gideon commanded his attention.


    "But do not put yourselves at risk. Keep your distance, learn what you can by observing from afar. Remember, we do not yet know if these people are friend or foe," he advised strongly.


    Corbin consented with a solemn nod to show he understood the gravity of the situation.


    


   


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