Two Tribes, page 17
part #1 of Young Atlanteans Series
‘Don’t be scared,’ Alexia whispered. ‘You wanted to find out about JJ’s world, well, this is your chance.’
Latitia looked intently at her and gave her a small nod. JJ was right. She was ballsy. All this would scare anyone, let alone a sixteen-year-old girl.
Keenan turned and smiled at them from the front passenger seat. ‘Weekend getaway, girls?’ he said.
Alexia nodded. ‘This is Latitia Johnson, everyone. She’s coming home with me for the weekend. Has mum organized her passport?’
Keenan looked at the driver, who looked back at him guiltily. He was Keenan’s cousin, Reeve. ‘There’s been a change of plan,’ Keenan said, finally looking back at her. ‘We’re taking you to Soho.’
Alexia sagged dramatically in her seat. ‘No, not the Bluebell. Mum promised. She said it’d be fine,’ she whined. ‘Did Dad put a stop to it?’ she said, anger suddenly shooting through her.
‘What’s in Soho,’ Latitia said, fearfully.
Keenan looked impatiently at Alexia, who was clearly scaring Latitia. ‘It’s OK, it’s JJ’s dad’s hotel,’ she said sulkily. ‘It’s just not what I was expecting that’s all … It’s been weeks, Keenan,’ she said, resuming her whining. ‘I demand to speak to her!’ she said, trying to bully her uncle, even though she knew it was futile.
They were zipping along, making good progress in the midday traffic. Keenan twisted in his chair to face her more squarely, no humour on his face at all. She braced herself for the telling off. ‘It would take a lot more notice than an hour to take a hu— A friend,’ he amended. ‘Out of the country. Your dad is tied up in Russia at the moment. Your mum just thought it’d be easier for her to come and meet you here at Jay’s hotel. And Jay thought …’ His eyes flicked to Latitia, listening avidly. ‘Things need to be broached a little more gently before throwing her in the deep end at the castle.’
‘Castle?’ Latitia repeated, snapping her head around to face her.
Alexia knew by that reaction alone that Jay had been right. However, it was still infuriating the way he always butted in like a second father and even more so because that was exactly what he was. Instead, she flipped it back on Keenan. ‘She knows some things. She’s not stupid.’
Keenan simply tipped his head in Latitia’s direction, to her alarmed expression and looked at Alexia sardonically. ‘Not enough,’ he said.
Alexia threw herself back in her seat like a bratty child. She knew they were all right and Latitia was scared, but all she wanted was to go home for one stupid weekend. Two days to be herself, with her own stuff. Doing the things she wanted to do for a change. But oh no, that was too simple. ‘It’s not up to Jay to vet my friends,’ was all she could say, moodily.
Keenan conceded with a small bob of his head. ‘Maybe not.’ Then he gave her a small wink. ‘But maybe JJ’s?’
She scowled and shut up after that. She shouldn’t be surprised they were so well informed. Her father or Jay would insist they knew everything. She glared angrily out of the window and projected so only Atlantean minds could hear. This is all crap. You know that, right?
Keenan faced front and they crossed the river in silence after that. The blue sky had clouded over.
CHAPTER 19
It didn’t take long for Xavier to catch on that both girls were missing after school. He and JJ waited twenty minutes at the gate, checking their various social media platforms for any clue where they might have gone, before they eventually walked home. ‘We’re going to have to ring the number,’ Xavier said, eventually.
JJ shook his head. ‘Not yet.
Xavier shrugged. He was worried, but it was bad to cave this soon into their self-emancipation plan. The whole point was to stand on their own.
‘Dwayne didn’t seem that concerned,’ JJ said, his face a blank canvas. As usual, he gave noting away, but Xavier knew he felt exactly the same as he did. A mixture of relief and anger that neither Dwayne nor Richie showed any interest that either of the girls were missing before they shot off to practice their DJ set straight after school. They were single-minded where DJing was concerned, since the night of the party. Richie just called back over his shoulder, ‘They’ve probably skived off together and forgot the time.’
It was plausible, Xavier supposed. Plus, it would be foolish to post anything the school could see during school time. Although Alexia was always such a goody-two-shoes and would have at least messaged JJ.
Finally, JJ voiced what they both were thinking. ‘She’s nowhere around here.’
Xavier nodded. They would have felt her. She’d simply disappeared.
They bounded up the steps to the flat, two at a time, along the landing, until Xavier put the key in the door, hoping their instincts had been wrong. He pushed into the flat, JJ closely behind him, and checked each room frantically. He was in such a panic he almost missed the note that fluttered off the living room table. Gone home was scribbled in Alexia’s handwriting. With the little heart she always put on everything.
JJ was about to snatch it from Xavier’s hands when his phone rang. He looked at the screen, then back at Xavier. ‘It’s Valarie Johnson.’
‘Answer it,’ Xavier said.
JJ looked at him as he tapped it and put it on speaker. ‘JJ?’ the clear female voice said.
‘Valarie,’ JJ answered, immediately.
‘Just wanted to let you know that I had a call from the girls, just now, and they’ve gone to Jay’s for the weekend. Latitia said that Alexia was homesick and wanted to go home to see her mother, but they’ve gone there instead.’
Xavier relaxed a little. He was still a bit angry that Alexia had swanned off without telling anyone, but Jay was more than capable of doing any damage limitation with Latitia.
JJ was a different story. He ended the call, thanking Valarie, but looked troubled. No doubt he was worried what Latitia would find out about him. ‘I think we should go there,’ JJ said.
Xavier frowned. It was the last thing they should do. It was obvious JJ was feeling vulnerable with Latitia so far out of his control. Alexia could be literally telling her anything. It almost made him smile to see JJ so on the back foot over something. In the end he relented, feeling a little sorry for him. ‘Your father is far from stupid, JJ. He’s hardly going to divulge official secrets to her.’ It was an annoying fact that he was always too discreet about everything.
JJ let out a sigh and eventually nodded. Xavier couldn’t blame him. He was probably more nervous about what annoying secrets Alexia would be divulging. Possibly making the inevitable mind wipe dangerous or even impossible.
Just then, something rattled at the front door. JJ looked at Xavier and they both rushed out into the hallway to see what it was. A folded piece of paper was laying on the mat.
JJ scooped it up and read it out loud: Top floor, The Old Papermill, The Wharf, 6 p.m. Don’t be late. C.
All of a sudden, the girls being out of the way, the boys practising and Valarie at work was the most perfect thing in the world.
* * *
Without any further conversation, Xavier and JJ showered and changed and met an Uber out on the street. They’d wasted a lot of time waiting for Alexia at school, so time would be tight. Xavier didn’t get the impression Mr Cooney would wait.
In no time at all, they were inching through the early evening traffic. ‘We should have walked,’ JJ said.
‘How much further?’ Xavier said, leaning forward in his seat to speak to the driver.
‘Five minutes,’ the heavily accented man said, surrounded by brightly coloured religious relics hanging off his dashboard and sun visor.
The driver was right. Once they’d cleared the queue for the lights, they were there in no time at all. Xavier thanked him and they both slid out of the back seat and looked up at the building.
It was an old warehouse; red brick with windows divided into small squares, painted with light-green paint. Steps led up to a set of double doors in the same colour that had a new-looking entry phone system next to them. A chimney towered over it, at least a hundred feet, with the numbers 1806 raised in the brickwork. It had definitely been a papermill at some point in its previous life.
Xavier looked around as they mounted the steps. It had been an unusually nice day and the unseasonal warmth had infused the air with the smell of stale water. A canal was no more than a hundred feet away. Once a place for effectively transporting goods, it was now dotted with houseboats and small weekend cabin boats, moored at the edge.
‘This is it,’ JJ said, pointing at a gold plaque next to the entry phone.
Xavier skimmed over the numbers, one to ten, with Top Floor written out in full. ‘Penthouse,’ he said, smiling at JJ as he pushed the buzzer.
‘’Bout time,’ JJ said, grabbing the door as soon as it clicked open.
‘Should we have a plan or something?’ Xavier said, following JJ, closely, in through the door. Xavier’s mind was racing through a list of possible scenarios, not least of which was an ambush, where the pair of them ended up dead.
JJ looked up at the concrete stairs and green railing, going up out of sight and then sidestepped to a lift and pulled open the cage. He pushed the button and smiled wickedly at Xavier. ‘I don’t think we’ve done enough to piss him off yet.’
The lift whined as it got closer and eventually opened, meaning it had probably come from the top. They locked eyes and both stepped in, Xavier pushing the top-floor button. Everything seemed perfect for what they’d asked for, but he couldn’t shake his unease. It seemed the longest lift ride of their life, when, in truth, it was probably only about six floors.
The lift juddered to a stop, pinged and the doors opened. There was just a small area of corridor and only one door, with a guy they recognized from the betting shop stationed just outside. He nodded once and tipped his head to the side to indicate for them to go straight in.
Xavier tried to look nonchalant and relaxed, but inside his nerves were taut and screaming, ready to run. JJ’s aura seemed better, with tiny flecks of red that could be nerves. He didn’t know how he did it; must get it from his father.
Suddenly they were inside and all thoughts of running disappeared. The space was superb. Just a simple empty shell, but it was perfect for what they wanted. Completely open-plan, with exposed brick and visible metal heating ducts and a floor of polished concrete. He could just imagine it filled with simple but tasteful furniture. Screened-off bedrooms, a jukebox, pool table, couple of expensive rugs. Maybe even a couple of good paintings.
Both boys ventured in further, taking it all in and imagining what could be. Xavier wandered past the L-shaped kitchen complete with American fridge, large professional hob, high-end oven and countertop, all in a matt silver and clearly never used.
Xavier couldn’t resist a peek at the view. ‘Roof terrace is just down there,’ Mr Cooney said, coming up to his shoulder and pointing to some large glass doors to the right.
Xavier turned his head and nodded in appreciation at the large area about the size of an average house covered in plants and ferns and a few lanterns. The place really was fabulous.
‘What do you think?’ Mr Cooney said.
JJ joined them and wolf whistled his appreciation. ‘What’s not to like?’
‘The catch,’ Xavier said, sardonically, turning to face them and flashing a look to JJ.
Mr Cooney laughed. ‘I knew I liked you boys.’ He put his hands in his pockets and studied them as if he was making up his mind and not the other way around. ‘I have to be honest, it ain’t cheap, boys.’
‘Whose is it?’ Xavier said. Mr Cooney was a local shark; a development like this was way out of his league.
My Cooney offered a forced smile. ‘Shrewd,’ he said, pointing at Xavier, and clearly registering the insult. ‘It belongs to a partner of mine. One I have certain dealings with. When I told him about the two of you, he offered you this place at a nominal rent, providing you work for him from time to time.’
Xavier’s hackles began to rise, reminding him of the uneasy feeling they’d both had back at the shop. He would bet his whole fortune on it being the same guy. ‘What if we’d rather pay full price and not owe him?’ Xavier said. ‘We’re good for it.’
Mr Cooney laughed and tipped his head in deference. ‘I’m sure you are. But that’s just not an option in this case.’
Xavier flashed JJ another look and they both went to turn towards the door. The last thing they wanted was to be owned.
‘Hey, hey! Don’t be hasty, boys. You won’t find anything like this in the area you want. And the favours he’d ask would be small.’
‘What are they? Let’s meet him, then,’ JJ said, clearly getting impatient.
Mr Cooney wandered back over to the large window, made up of small panes of glass. ‘That’s not possible, I’m afraid. He’s not in the country much. He’s what you might call a silent partner.’
Xavier and JJ swapped a look again and turned to face him so that their arms touched. What do you think? Xavier projected.
It must be the Atlantean.
I agree. It throws up a whole load of complications. Are we sure we want to get into bed with this guy?
Or opportunities, JJ said, then he moved away closer to Mr Cooney. ‘What kind of things do you think he’ll want from us?’
Mr Cooney whirled around and smiled. ‘Oh, nothing much. Not sure he’s made up his mind yet. I think he’s interested to see how you do by yourselves, first.’ Then the smile dropped from his face, and the real shark in him showed through. ‘I’d like to know too. This is my area, boys. No treading on toes. No trouble with gangs or bringing any trouble to my door. Otherwise you’ll be dealing with me. Clear?’
Xavier wasn’t sure what to say. They’d had a few ideas, but nothing you could describe as a plan yet. Thankfully, JJ spoke up. ‘We told you, most of our business will be going through the school. That doesn’t affect you. You’ll get your cut.’
Cooney laughed loudly at that. ‘Well OK, then. Fifty percent it is. Take it or leave it.’
Everything in Xavier screamed for him to protest, but the sudden change in JJ’s aura told him he was on it. JJ stepped forward to shake on it and Xavier turned to distract Cooney’s bodyguard with the time.
JJ didn’t disappoint. As soon as he made skin contact, he quickly entered his consciousness and flicked a few switches in his brain. ‘Twenty percent, then, boys. OK?’
‘Twenty percent,’ JJ repeated.
The guard looked over and frowned. But Xavier said, ‘Do you have six-fifteen? My watch is fast.’
The guard nodded absently and looked back at him, confused; as if he’d never seen anything like it.
‘Looks like they get on,’ Xavier said, smiling at him. ‘He’s the father figure he never had.’
The guard nodded, still distracted.
‘JJ?’ Xavier called, not wanting any more questions between the two men while they were still there. JJ nodded, seeing what he meant straight away.
‘Boys?’ Cooney called just as they thought they were getting away. They looked at each other and slowly turned. Cooney threw them the keys. ‘Get the feel of the place.’
‘Aren’t you going to at least tell us the name of our mystery benefactor?’ JJ asked, catching the keys easily.
‘They just call him Rasputin.’
‘Russian?’ Xavier said, surprised. His mind quickly working through what Atlantean family out of the five the powerful male could possibly be from.
‘You’ve heard of him?’ Cooney said, sounding equally surprised.
‘Only his namesake, at school.’ The implications were hitting Xavier one by one. Atlanteans lived long lives. This could be an actual Rasputin descendant, or simply an alias that grew from the folklore surrounding his power. This was much more disturbing than he first thought. ‘Send him our thanks and our regards,’ Xavier said to smooth over how disturbed he felt.
‘I’ll tell him you’ll be moving in right away,’ Cooney said, looking at his guard and tipping his head in the direction of the door.
‘Thanks,’ JJ said, putting a hand up. Then the two of them watched them go before either of them spoke.
Xavier immediately turned to JJ. ‘Twenty percent? I though we agreed five?’
JJ put his hands in his pockets and frowned.
‘What’s the matter?’ Xavier asked.
‘Twenty percent was the figure already fixed in his mind by someone else.’
Xavier let the disturbing thought sink in. Their new Atlantean benefactor was controlling Cooney quite closely – and particularly his dealings with them. He was obviously a very shrewd male. One who operated in the shadows and grey areas of the law, making sure he never implicated himself. ‘We need to go careful,’ Xavier said, feeling a wave of fear. Suddenly they were in a hostile, adult world where everyone played for keeps.
‘If this guy is Atlantean and we know that he is, the chances are high that he knows who we are.’
‘What if he is one of Father’s enemies?’
JJ shrugged. ‘Friend or foe, we’ll use him to our advantage.’
Xavier came up to his shoulder to see what he was looking at. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I was thinking brown leather corner unit over there. Pool table there,’ JJ said, nodding his head to the largest space.
Xavier laughed. It let out some of the tension and they needed it. They were really doing this. Separating from their father and making a little kingdom of their own.
CHAPTER 20
Alexia fumed all the way to Jay’s hotel. It wasn’t that it wasn’t a nice place to take Latitia, it was fabulous: a tasteful, small boutique hotel, off a cute little side street in soho. The small oak door on the street had a hand-painted sign above it with gold cursive, The Bluebell, on a powder blue background. Somehow it managed to look classy and quaint, all at the same time.
Friendly staff greeted them in the dark-wood-panelled entrance hall and a cute bellboy whisked them up to the top floor which was always reserved for members of her family.
