Page 43 of Exordium

“Did you say you already gained Nathan’s abilities?” Grumpy gasped incredulously.

I nodded my head without looking up, absently rubbing the spot between my breasts that had started stinging again. I noticed Mom watching me intently.

“Are you absolutely sure?” Pop had a look of amazement on his face.

I swallowed and nodded my head again. “If you don’t believe me, I have three eyewitnesses.” I laughed remembering the panic the Moons were in when I returned to the dorm.

“Of course, we believe you, Tator Tot. I’m just in shock.” Pop rushed to say.

“Eyewitnesses? Who are they, and more importantly, will they keep their mouths shut? Tell us exactly what happened.” Grumpy said in rapid succession.

“Take a breath, John." Turning to me, Mom smiled in reassurance. "Explain what happened before your father loses it.”

“I was in my dorm eating pizza with my roommate and her brothers. Suddenly, I felt a tingle in my stomach and was in my Jeep.” I lowered my head peering up at Mom through my lashes." Nathan discovered he could communicate mentally with me. When I teleported, I was so freaked out, I thought I would try to contact him for help. It took a minute, but I could. Have you ever heard of anything like that happening?”

“Not unless your Faction is whole.” Grumpy jumped to his feet and started pacing. “Is there anything else?”

“I might have found two more Faction. My roommate's brothers,” I whispered.

Grumpy sat back down, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes wearily, “Anything else?”

“Let me think. Punching a bit- girl in the face,” I decided Grumpy had just about reached his limit, so I changed my wordchoice, “teleporting, telepathy, communicating with animals, gaining a Fellat. Yep, I think that’s it.”

“Brat,” Pop laughed despite the situation.

“And yes, my roommate and her brothers can be trusted.” Trying to lighten the mood, I said, “the brothers are identical twins.”

“I highly recommend twins.” Mom wiggled her eyebrows. “Double the trouble, but double the love, if you get my drift.”

“Adelaide Ophelia, that is our daughter you’re talking to!” Grumpy said in a stern voice with a blush rising on his face. Pop died laughing, Mom tried but failed to look innocent.

“She’s almost nineteen and already has one Faction member. She knows what sex is.” For once, it was my Pop and Grumpy making gagging noises. I was laughing too hard to be grossed out. “What are their names?” Mom asked.

“Chloe, Zeke, and Zane Moon, they’re from Ohio, and I think they’re all amazing,” I smiled. “I felt a connection to the twins as soon as I met them.”

Mom smiled at me fondly, “I’m so happy you’re already forming a support system.” She looked at me with caution, “Why are you rubbing your chest?”

“Ever since I bonded with Pantar, it’s been bothering me.” I felt the stinging again and brought my hand back to rub the spot.

“Can I look at it?” Mom asked, getting up out of Grumpy’s lap.

“Yes.” I dutifully got up and she followed me into the downstairs bathroom. Mom came in behind me and shut the door. I unbuttoned my shirt and pulled down my bra. I heard Mom let out a gasp behind me but was too amazed by the sight in the mirror to turn around.

“What the hell is that?” I finally pried my gaze away from the glowing triquetra now tattooed between my breasts and looked at my mom’s stunned reflection behind me.

“That’s the mark of a Nexus, but I’ve never seen one quite like that.” She had a look of awe on her face.

I turned back to the mirror and admired the silver lines that formed the triquetra, there was a circle interwoven to form six spaces the top space had an oak or ash tree with widespread branches in glowing amber, in the space slightly below it to the right, was a dagger in emerald, green, the remaining four spaces were empty. Between the lines forming the circle were the words, Exordium, Inter, and Exitus.

Mom held up her wrist, so it was reflected in the mirror. I used to trace it with my finger when I was a child. It was a triquetra with an ash tree in the center surrounded by flames. Nowhere near as detailed as mine, no words and no extra symbols like the dagger. The four extra spaces that looked like they were waiting to be filled was unique too.

“Sweet baby girl, I knew you were special the minute you took your first breath.” She turned to me, straightening my clothes. “The mark usually shows up after you’ve bonded with your Fellat. I never told you any of this because I thought all the Fellats had died out. No one has gotten the mark in over twenty years.” Mom pulled me into a tight hug, “Let’s go back out and join your fathers. I’ll try to research this and see what all of it means.”

Grumpy and Pop were looking at us in question when we walked into the dining room.

“She’s gained her Nexus mark, but it has symbols and words that I’ve never seen appear in a mark before.” Mom sat in Pop’s lap this time. Both of my fathers looked at me in amazement.

“This is unbelievable!” Grumpy sounded excited and scared all at the same time.

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