Page 41 of Dark Flame

“Yea, fucking Superman,” said Kane, “I guess we all thought we could be him.”

“But we can, Kane. That’s the irony of all this. This team, this group of people, we are fucking Supermantogether! We are nothing apart, but when we act as one, we’re going to be able to accomplish amazing things. We have skills that are only written about in comic books and superhero movies. No one in this world can comprehend what we have on this mountain. Not even Karena Viskoff. She has no clue what we are together, what we can do together.”

Kane nodded once more, looking out at the night sky, the soft flakes falling slowly, their crystals flickering in the light like fireflies in May.

“We have to kill her, Kane. Like it or not, we have to hunt down Karena Viskoff and kill her. If she lives, we will always be in danger.”

“Yea,” he said, letting out a long, slow breath, “yea, I know. I just hate the idea of putting any of us at risk.”

“We have the upper hand. We know we can communicate with one another telepathically now. She thinks Regan is dead. The files are burned, so she’s only relying on her memory. I think, just like with Cullen, Uri, and the others, we find the men she has working for her and offer to get them out. We get them help, or we go in with a plan A, plan B, and a fucking plan Z if we have to, but we rid ourselves of this woman and focus on saving the rest of the world or at least doing a little bit of fucking good.”

Kane nodded again and gripped the shoulder of the big man beside him. Flip was changing for the better. He was calmer, more composed, much more relaxed, and at ease. Kane knew it was because of Nat and wondered what would happen to Flip if anything were to happen to her.

“Nothing will happen to Nat.”

“Fuck! We have got to learn to control that!” said Kane. Flip laughed and nodded, shrugging his shoulders. “Alright, let’s meet tomorrow morning, everyone.”

And in his head, like a massive answering machine, Kane heard the sounds of every member of their little band of misfits.

I’ll be there, Kane…

Me too…

See you there…

Get some sleep, big man…

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Kane looked out at the faces of their small community. Everyone was seated, anxiously waiting to hear what their unwilling fearless leader had to say or think. The light dusting of snow made the meeting meadow, as they now called it, seem magical.

Circles of wooden tables, boulders, and tree stumps for sitting and dining were artfully arranged in the clearing. A large fire pit was burning bright, the warmth spreading across the grove. The landscape, beautifully created by Ivy, made it an idyllic storybook setting. Except this was no storybook, and Kane was having trouble seeing the happily-ever-after.

“Good morning, everyone,” he said slowly.

“Morning,” came the replies of the group.

“Akin and Ashley? Can you block out our sound in case anyone walks up?” The twins nodded, holding hands and smiling. Kane immediately knew that no one would hear their conversation.

“I know you are all aware of why you’re here,” he grinned at the group, and they smiled back. “Now, we just have to figure out how we’re going to do this. We know that we have the upper hand. Aislinn has not had a dream or vision with Karena, so we are safe for now, but we know that we won’t be for long. We have to get to her first.”

“We’re with you, Kane, all of us,” said Hawke. Kane nodded at the young man.

“Can you all hear me?”he asked in his head.The nods of everyone in the meadow sent chills up his spine.

“Well, then, I guess it’s true,” he said, grinning. “Are you able to speak to everyone?” They all nodded once more. He pushed his hands through his hair and cursed under his breath.

“Anyone have any ideas how to turn it off so that we’re not all hearing everyone’s personal thoughts?” he asked. “I, for one, would like my personal conversations and thoughts about my wife to be between her and me.”

The group laughed nervously and smiled.

“I think,” said Mary softly, “I think if we simply don’ttunein to that individual, we don’t hear. The sounds, the thoughts are out there, and if we’re constantly focused, we hear everyone. But I think if we don’t think about the person’s thoughts, they don’t come through. Does that make sense?”

Ben squeezed her hand, making Kane smile.

“I think it makes sense. I’m trying to only focus on Aislinn’s thoughts right now, and it seems to be working. It’s like the rest of you are just white noise in the background. Does everyone else get that?” he asked.

Once again, the crowd of people nodded.

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