Two Tribes, page 31
part #1 of Young Atlanteans Series
* * *
Xavier had never been happier. He left the mooning over Alexia’s hissy fit to JJ. She was only acting out and always had to be so dramatic.
His group of geeks had formed a cabinet around him, as was the general idea, leaving him and Paige to review the clinical trials that were proving more successful by the day. It was now the time to schedule a meeting to reveal what he’d been doing.
JJ answered his summons and sauntered into the science block after school. Xavier held Paige’s hand and it wasn’t just to show JJ, he honestly didn’t know what he would have done without her in the last few weeks. Now he understood what his father had meant when he said it was lonely at the top. His eyes fell on JJ again, thinking he was so right about that.
Xavier straightened up when Alexia strode in confidently. She looked ordered and smart. Her uniform was pressed and her hair neatly tied in a bun at her nape. She seemed surprisingly together. Good even. His eyes shot to JJ’s; who looked as surprised as he was. He tried not to feel so pleased about that, but he was. He felt triumphant at how the tables were turned. ‘Take a seat,’ he said to both JJ and Alexia, pointing at two vacant seats facing the white screen set up at the front of the classroom.
Xavier watched JJ sit moodily after Alexia ignored him and the geeks shifted in their chairs so she could sit nearer to them and further away from JJ. JJ continued to look at Alexia while she faced front and projected, Get on with it, for god’s sake, straight to Xavier’s head.
Xavier took a step closer to the screen. ‘As you know, we’ve been working on ways to generate cash for the funding of the school. Dr Henry confirmed to me this morning that the necessary applications for the change have been submitted.’
JJ paid attention to that. He sat forward in his seat, pausing whatever he’d been communicating to Alexia, and began to listen. ‘Thanks for telling me,’ JJ snapped.
Ginger edged his chair away. Xavier he’d grown used to, but his tattooed and volatile brother was way out of his skill set.
‘Let’s begin,’ Xavier said, taking a step back as a succession of short films began, each showing one of the arms of their clinical trials. ‘The athletes,’ he announced. Then he watched JJ closely as he watched the film of basketball players making baskets, high jumpers clearing bars and runners sprinting way ahead of the field. It soon became obvious that he registered the subjects performing way ahead of their peers.
The next section went on to spelling tests, maths, science and general knowledge. All the things the school usually tanked on, being performed by average students not usually renowned for top marks.
‘What is this?’ JJ asked, eventually. He looked up at the ceiling and slumped back in his chair.
‘What? What is it?’ Alexia said, finally talking to JJ for the answer.
‘We said no drugs. We agreed,’ JJ said, clearly annoyed.
The rest of the science club looked at each other, nervously. However they were not so scared as to miss the show and remove themselves from danger completely.
‘Meh!’ Xavier said, shrugging at the semantics. ‘These are harmless.’
* * *
It was a long moment before JJ tuned in to Alexia tugging on his arm, forgetting she wasn’t talking to him to ask over and over, ‘What is it? What’s happening?’
JJ stood up as he said to no one in particular, ‘Murr drugs.’
In a single step, Xavier was there in his face. ‘This is my project and it works. You’re just sour you didn’t think of it first. It’s the fastest way of generating cash and you know it,’ Xavier said through gritted teeth.
The geeks had scattered to a circle around them and Alexia was already marching for the door. JJ was too at a loss to even respond to him. ‘I’m out of here,’ he said, turning, knocking a chair over in his haste.
As Alexia looked back at the doorway, JJ called out, ‘Wait!’ He quickly caught up when she disappeared into the corridor. ‘Alexia,’ he called after her. ‘Are you OK? Where are you living?’
She tutted and continued to walk so he had to run to catch up with her. ‘So now you’re interested, after all this time?’ She laughed derisively. ‘Tell Mum sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be home for Christmas.’
JJ’s heart was racing now. He was guilty for neglecting her in his competition with Xavier for the school, but she was his favourite person in the whole world and he loved her. ‘I miss you, Lexie. Talk to me, please. I’ll make it up to you. Promise. Don’t leave.’ He stopped walking and waited in the middle of the corridor.
Alexia finally turned with a roll of her eyes. ‘What for, JJ? For you all to control my life, then forget I exist? If any of you took any notice, you’d know I’ve been feeling shit, JJ. Shit!’ With that she shook her head and stepped out of the exit.
JJ was forced to run after her again, stopping at the doorway. ‘I’m having a big launch at the club,’ he called after her. ‘It’s this Saturday, come!’
Just before she disappeared across the quadrangle, she turned, but continued to walk, backwards. Just for a moment, JJ saw the expression of love and regret he remembered. The one she reserved only for him when he was hurting and then it was gone.
‘Can I bring a plus one?’ It was as if she was issuing a challenge.
It took JJ aback. For the first time he was forced to no longer see Alexia as a little girl. It was clear she’d left the Johnsons and didn’t care about school. They’d been so locked in their battles that he’d believed Xavier when he said their father would watch her. Had he, though?
She was living with someone. His favourite sibling had grown into a woman. Be careful, Lexie, he projected straight to her mind.
No one calls me Lexie anymore, she replied, before she disappeared from view, leaving JJ with a hole in his chest.
* * *
Alexia ran and ran until she’d cleared the school gates. She shouldn’t have come. It had taken all her willpower not to run to JJ, cling to him and ask him to make her a little girl again.
But she was no longer a little girl. She was a grown woman living with a mature male and she should have stayed in the bubble she and Yaro had created. She had no doubts, then. He made her feel beautiful and made sure she had everything she needed.
A delicious pain hit her lower abdomen when she thought of the bed she now shared with him. It had happened quickly, as you would expect from a male of his years and experience. The night she’d met him she was broken and he’d rebuilt her, smoothing her fears and making the petty power struggles of her brothers a million miles away. The love she thought she’d had for Dwayne had shrunk to nothing more than a memory of a teenage crush. He was a skilled lover who obliterated anyone else in her life, overrunning her senses like an attack on all fronts, until there was nothing else but him. He had charm, wealth, great intellect and brute force sex appeal, like nothing she’d ever experienced. He was a real male. An Atlantean, royal and of standing, from a lineage as pure as her own. He was simply perfect and no one could dispute his eligibility for her. She loved him and he had declared that he loved her.
They would never understand. Even her mother, who’d pleaded with her that very morning to come home. They had to allow her to be herself.
Her father was just worried because he couldn’t control her anymore. They were all the same – her parents, her brothers. They just couldn’t let her go. That’s why Yaro was so perfect. Because he was as powerful as them. Not even the king’s Santalini guardsmen had been able to find her.
The blacked-out SUV pulled up next to her and she got in, saying, ‘Home,’ a little sadly, wishing they could all understand how meeting Yaro changed everything.
* * *
Alexia hadn’t resurfaced and Xavier finally had to admit that she was missing. JJ had called his father, Jay, who would undoubtedly tell their father, the king. Deep down, Xavier still believed she was acting out, but even he had to concede this was the longest she’d ever kept it up and he was a little worried. It was clear by his reaction that JJ hadn’t seen her, the Johnsons kept asking after her and she hadn’t been back to school. He’d been so busy with his plans to beat JJ that he hadn’t really paid much attention to her. She’d turned up to the reveal of his clinical trials and then disappeared. At least she’d seen fit to prove she was alive, he supposed, But who with?
‘This is your fault,’ JJ said, pressing the buzzer to let Keenan and his men in downstairs. ‘If you’d kept quiet, she would at least be talking to one of us.’
That was so typical. ‘Why should I, JJ? You were as much a part of controlling the Johnson brothers as I was, and I’m not going to let you continually label me as the bad guy.’
Xavier knew JJ better than he knew himself and that he was panicking on a level far deeper than he showed. JJ also knew he was right. Alexia was the one person he loved more than anyone and Xavier had ruined that for him, but he remained unrepentant. It was about time Alexia knew that JJ was as devious as he was.
‘Sometimes it’s more important to do the right thing than win, Xav,’ JJ said, his temper evident in the firelit aura bursting out of him.
Xavier would have pointed out that he was just as ambitious for the crown, but the lift clanked meaning Keenan had reached their floor.
‘Our fathers will get involved now, they’ll have to,’ JJ said, shaking his head. ‘Not cool, Xav.’
Xavier ignored him and, smiling sweetly, turned ready to greet Keenan. However, he was concerned. For JJ to make that call, meant he was seriously worried. For a moment his confidence in her being OK wavered. He reminded himself that it was salvageable. They’d done the right thing – albeit a little late. They’d called their fathers, she’d be reprimanded, then they’d all go back to their usual petty arguments.
JJ did have a point, though; they should have sorted this out if they were proving they could rule. Family intervention was the last thing they needed. There was no way he wanted their fathers hijacking their plans. ‘Maybe we should call Cooney. He will know everything that goes on around here.’
JJ came and stood next to him to offer a united front and nodded. ‘If she’s still around here, he’ll know.’
Men’s boots and voices sounded from the hallway. ‘Nice digs,’ Keenan said with a wolfwhistle.
He and his three cousins came in and seemed to fill the large open space. ‘I’ve contacted your father, he’ll be here this evening.’
‘Which one?’ both Xavier and JJ said at the same time.
‘Jay! If she doesn’t turn up by morning, then the king will travel here himself from Malta.’
Those final words hit Xavier the most. For the king to come himself, it was serious. The niggling feeling that Alexia could be in real danger was becoming harder to squash. This was the first trial of their so- called ‘going-it-alone’ phase. They’d managed to fail in the most fundamental responsibility of a king: keeping people safe. They’d neglected their own sister. If they didn’t come up with something quick, their father, the king, would come crashing in, blame them and smash everything they’d built. ‘We have one thing we’d like to try first?’
Keenan’s eyebrows rose as he waited to hear what that was, exactly.
Xavier was already tapping his phone and put it to his ear. ‘Cooney?’
Two rings. ‘Yes, Son?’
‘My sister, do you know where she is?’
There was a low chuckle as Cooney played to his usual gallery of onlookers. ‘Took your time, didn’t ya?’
Fury reared up in Xavier so fast he almost crushed his phone. To think he could have saved them all this shitstorm and worry. Keenan stiffened and JJ took a step closer to listen. ‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’ll make a few enquiries.’
* * *
While Xavier ended the call and Keenan questioned him closely, JJ took a moment to step away. He tapped a text into his own phone: Alexia. I’m sorry, we were genuinely trying to keep you out of something to keep you safe. Please come back or message to let us know you’re OK. If you don’t, our dads are coming and they’ll ruin everything for us all.
He played a hunch that she was perfectly safe, stewing somewhere and prayed to the five moons that nothing had happened to her. If that was the case, then she wouldn’t want to be dragged home any more than they did.
A final flash of inspiration made him add: It’s Dwayne’s battle with Trick tonight at the club. Come? He hit Send and joined the conversation between Keenan and Xavier which was becoming quite heated on Xavier’s part. Keenan remained in his usual state of calm. The kind of confidence a male has when nothing much scared him. All the Santalinis had it. Although Xavier was trying him. There was a stiffness to his jaw, a tension in his brow that showed he was showing extraordinary restraint. Anyone else wouldn’t dare talk to him like that.
‘Can I make a suggestion?’ JJ said, trying to defuse the situation.
Xavier glared at him as if he’d thrown mud in his face and Keenan raised an eyebrow that totally said, Yes please, before he squashed him.
‘Tell everyone to hold off until after tonight. We’ve got something going on at the club; she might turn up to.’
Xavier’s eyes lit up and he nodded animatedly. ‘That’s true. She fancies one of the Johnsons. He’s DJing, she’ll definitely turn up.’
Keenan rolled his eyes and looked at his cousin Reeve, who shrugged.
Xavier leapt on it as a yes, but before he could get too excited, Keenan poked him in the chest. ‘That’s if nothing’s happened to her in the meantime.’
Xavier scowled at him. There wasn’t really anything either of them could say to that. Keenan was right. They’d taken their eyes off the ball on this one.
‘She’ll turn up. I know she will.’ Then JJ sent up a silent prayer that she did.
* * *
Rhythm and Booze was decorated everywhere with B2H launch night banners and balloons. It added a real excitement buzz to the evening and thanks to the standard social media jungle drums, was filling up early. The battle between Dwayne and Trick was scheduled for ten and the resident DJ was keeping the growing crowd hyped with old favourites.
JJ was watching Xavier closely. He’d changed. They both had since they’d arrived. Tonight was important and he was bricking it as much as he was. They were both now in it for the long haul.
Paige was noticeably absent. Meaning he’d left her at home on purpose. That was another way Xavier had changed. He was in a real relationship that meant something. Her not here meant he didn’t want her to see what might happen.
JJ’s stomach churned at that thought. He had no such control over Latitia. She was here with her friends to support her brother, so he had to constantly watch her to make sure he stayed off her radar.
A doorman tapped him on the shoulder. ‘Cooney wants you out back.’
JJ looked around and seeing Xavier busy talking to someone, he followed him to the door next to the downstairs bar that took them to the manager’s office.
He tapped the chest of his jacket to make sure the mysterious box was still safely in the inside breast pocket and relaxed at the hollow thud. He’d sneaked it out past Xavier.
Cooney was as sarcastically jovial as ever, dressed in what he thought was a sharp suit. He’d thrown a lot of money at it, but you couldn’t make a good frame out of an old clothes horse and he’d ended up looking like a dressed chimp. JJ nodded at his greeting in his usual piss-taking way.
‘Tonight’s the night. Exciting, eh?’
JJ smiled. ‘Any news on my sister?’
‘Yes!’ Cooney said, as if it had totally slipped his mind. ‘As a matter of fact, there is. She’s safe and staying with my partner, Rasputin. Remember the guy I told you about? She’ll be here later. He said ’e’s proud of ya and wished ya luck, ’e did.’
The rest melted into blah, blah, blah. All JJ could think of was getting the hell out of there to tell Xavier that their sister was being held by the worst possible person he could think of.
‘Who … What?’ Xavier spluttered, incandescent with rage.
JJ had to grab his arm before he went and did something they’d both regret. ‘Stop! All we have to do is wait. He said she’ll be here later.’
Xavier pulled the roots of his hair and screamed; he was so angry. A couple of people looked over, but most of it was drowned out by the noise. ‘It’s him. That Atlantean. He has her … leverage. I should have known. That box. We didn’t deliver it.’ His eyes were wild and darting.
JJ had never seen him so agitated. Seeing him like that made him calm his own nerves. One of them had to keep their head. Xavier was right about one thing and he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out the box. ‘I planned on giving it to my dad tonight.’
Xavier looked so relieved; he completely missed the fact he’d gone behind his back.
‘I didn’t know if I was going to give it to him or not,’ JJ said in all honesty.
‘Well, we have to now,’ Xavier said, appearing calmer by the minute. ‘He’ll take it back to father.’
JJ nodded. It was all they could do. It made him wonder what the hell was in it that was so important.
‘I hate that we don’t know who he is, JJ,’ Xavier said, reminding him of the little boy he once was.
JJ nodded. ‘Me too. And, right now, he owns us.’
* * *
Xavier had never felt this way. It was the helplessness and frustration at Alexia’s sheer stupidity. He was so scared and angry for her he couldn’t think straight. Dark and dangerous was normally JJ’s department. Until today, he’d felt confident and ahead of JJ in the rivalry to be king. Calmer, more level-headed and driven. Now Alexia flouted him at every turn, putting herself in danger just to spite him. This Rasputin guy had disrespected them and Jay was forced to come in over their heads and put him in his place. Just like when they were little boys. They could have handled it. They could have.
