"At first they thought I was being stubborn, you know, a teen trying to outwit them, but in the end, after endless cajoling, threats and talks, they gave up. I don't know if they were convinced I really no longer could do the work, or if I just was too much trouble, but they released me just before my twentieth birthday."
"And we found you," Lissa said with great satisfaction. "You and Lexi are our little sisters and we'll protect both of you. This is a safe place."
Their farm had always felt safe--until now. Airiana hugged herself tightly. Fear clawed at her belly and bit at her throat until it swelled and she felt as if she was choking. She needed to get to work, to smell the compost and feel the morning fog on her face just to block out the feeling of trepidation growing in her.
There was no real way to convey the feeling of danger to the others. They believed no one in their government would commit such a horrendous act--torturing and murdering a woman so they could keep the daughter isolated and alone, working on a project that could change the world.
In spite of the excellent counseling she received, there was no way to ever get the sight of her mother lying on her bedroom floor covered in blood from her mind. That image was stamped there for all time and no one had ever been caught. As far as she knew, the investigation had been dropped once she was back at the school. She'd asked numerous times, but they simply told her that Marina had been selling information and it was best Airiana not be involved for her own safety.
"Do you think the murder of your mother had anything to do with the murder of Damon's assistant?" Lissa asked.
Blythe shot her a look that told her to back off, but Airiana was grateful to Lissa. At least someone wanted to try to piece together the puzzle with her even though it might hurt. She knew Blythe wanted to protect her emotions, but Airiana wanted to know who had killed her mother and why.
"As far as I know, Damon's assistant died nearly two years ago. My mother's death occurred a good six years before that. Nearly seven. So how could they be related?" Airiana asked aloud, but her brain was already working. Click. Click. She could feel and hear the pieces of the puzzle being put together.
Why would Damon Wilder suddenly want to talk to her? There could only be one reason. He had been given her project all those years ago to work on. That was the only answer. He had come to her school once. He must have been one of the people who had knowledge of what she was working on. She had refused to continue with her project, and the government wasn't about to let something that promising go by the wayside. Damon had to have been given her work.
She closed her eyes. Her project had been worth killing for. Worth torturing other human beings over. She had created it, or rather the beginnings of it, and most likely Damon--and maybe a few others--had finished her work . . . or . . .
She bit her lip hard. Or maybe they couldn't finish it and Damon wanted to talk to her about it. Why else would he suddenly be interested in her after two years of knowing she was living close by? Had he come to Sea Haven because he'd known? Now her mind was really going crazy with the possibilities.
"Airiana?" Blythe said her name gently, calling her back to them. "What is it?"
"I don't want to talk to him, or to anyone else, about anything having to do with what I used to do. It isn't that I'm unhappy because I didn't have a childhood, I wanted to be there. I loved learning. I loved what I was doing. But I know that whatever my brain was conceiving turned from something good to something horrific."
"This is our home," Lissa reminded. "You aren't a child. No one can force you to do anything. You're safe here. Spend the morning with Lexi in the greenhouse. I've got two appointments this morning in the shop. I've got to finish the glass chandelier for the hotel in France and two other metal pieces as well for their gardens, but I'll be home before Damon gets here, even if I have to reschedule the two appointments."
Blythe nodded and glanced at her watch. "I'm heading to the village to take over Judith's shop this morning. I promised her I'd keep it open while they were gone. They closed the gallery part time. Frank Warner, Inez's fiance, agreed to help them out and keep the gallery open four hours a day during the week, which was good of him. I won't be able to be here, but Lexi and Lissa will be. Unless you want me to close for a couple of hours in the afternoon?"
Airiana found she could breathe much easier. There it was. Love surrounding her. Keeping her sane when the world around her seemed to be caving in. Three women who would stand by her and believe in her even if she couldn't always believe in herself. She knew if she called Judith she would immediately fly home from New York, from her important art show, to be with her. Rikki would leave her beloved sea and join her without question.
"I love you all," Airiana said. "Lexi will take good care of me while you're both gone and no, Blythe, you don't need to be here when Damon comes. We can handle it."
Blythe smiled at her. "Of course you can, but call me if you need me for anything at all." She stood up. "I still have to shower and change before I open the shop, so I'd better get moving, but . . ." She trailed off when Airiana shook her head.
"I really will be fine, Blythe," Airiana assured. Her stomach was still in knots, but her mind had settled and she wanted to examine the theory that the patterns she'd always considered part of the walking-on-the-edge-of-madness might actually be air communicating with her.
Lissa stood up as well, gathering up the teacups to put back on the tray. "I will come home before he gets here, so no worries."
Lissa was small, but fierce. She was definitely their warrior woman and she had no compunctions about going up against an enemy three times her size if need be. Anyone threatening her family was considered an enemy. Even her red hair crackled around her with her fierce energy.
Airiana caught her breath. She could see patterns in the air around Lissa's silky red hair. It gleamed like living flames with every movement Lissa made. She knew exactly what those patterns were and what they meant, which had never been the problem. Now, she could study them intently instead of fearing them, believing air was giving her information, trying to convey something important.
She had always known Lissa loved her and she could see that love clearly in the fierce patterns of determination surrounding Lissa's red head. There were no dire warnings of impending doom. Only her sister's deep resolution that she would protect Airiana and Lexi with her life if need be.
Lissa sent her a small smile. "Stop looking at me with that mushy, goofy look. You know I don't cry and I'm not in the least bit girly. I refuse to get all teary-eyed with you." She picked up the tray and turned toward the kitchen.
Lexi burst out laughing. "Lissa, you're the most girly-girl I know. You can try to hide in your most excellent baggy jeans and tees, but there's no hiding the way you walk. Just because you refuse to be a sympathy crier like me doesn't mean the tears aren't there. That's why you're running away to the kitchen."
"I can pound you into the ground, little sister," Lissa reminded. "We have self-defense class tonight."
"You can try," Lexi said with a little sniff, "but I've been improving. Working on my moves." She made chopping motions in the air with her hands.
Airiana found herself laughing. The image of little Lexi, who had trouble killing snails, fighting warrior woman Lissa was just too funny. "I want to believe you could take her, Lex, but seriously? Lissa can score on Levi and Thomas occasionally."
"I wish," Lissa said, and left the room.
"I'll take a shower, get dressed and meet you in the greenhouse," Airiana promised Lexi.
Lexi nodded. "Take your time, eat something. I'll have everything ready for us. You do know we're really working with compost, right? And you're going to shower first?"
"Yes, I am. I am a girly-girl and I'm not going outside without a shower and clean clothes," Airiana declared with a small laugh.
Lexi shrugged. "You'll want another one when we're finished."
"Llamas? Really, Lex? For their manure?" Airiana asked as Lexi
headed toward the door. "You weren't kidding, were you?"
"There are studies done about concocting a sort of tea with their manure and using it on the plants . . ."
Airiana held up her hand. "Don't use 'tea' and 'manure' in the same sentence or I'll have to pound you into the ground."
"You're such a baby," Lexi said. "It's science. You're supposed to love science."
"I draw the line at foul-smelling llama-manure tea."
Airiana watched Lexi leave laughing before she got up and made her way to the kitchen. Lissa had most of the teacups washed. Airiana leaned her hip against the doorway and watched her for a long moment.
"I love you, Lissa. If anything happens, I want you to know that you and the others mean the world to me. Being in our family has changed me, made me a better person. You've instilled confidence in me that I never had, and I appreciate you more than I can ever say."