Seeking Crystal by Joss Stirling
It hit me as we made our way home in the early hours of the morning that I’d fallen a little in love with him.
The streets, so rarely quiet in Venice, were hushed. A few fishing boats were making their way down the Guidecca Canal, returning from their night’s work in the lagoon; their engines purring against the lap of the waves. Soon they would be unloading their catch at the fish market on the Rialto; the cooks would emerge to buy the fresh seafood and haggle over the fruit and vegetables; the city would shake off sleep and go back to business; but for now it belonged to us and to the cats that prowled the alleyways. At night the streets could not help appearing sinister, haunts for assassins and ghosts; present melted into the past; canals whispered broken promises in old voices; ancient grievances lurked in the shadows.
Xav took my hand. He swung our arms between us, humming softly. His playful mood kept the bad spirits away as if we were walking in our own bubble of happiness.
‘You know, Crystal, we might have to revisit the question of whether there is a bond between us or not. We never did really test it properly, did we?’
Mellowed by the moonlight and the peace, I did not respond with my usual counter attack. ‘I tried to explain to you in Denver. I can’t do telepathy.’
‘But you have a gift?’
‘A small one. I find stuff for people—things that belong to them.’
‘Like Trace does?’
I shook my head. ‘Nothing as fancy as that. He can track anything that someone has touched. With me it’s got to be something you own, like your keys or favourite teddy bear.’
He squeezed my hand. ‘I don’t know why you call that a small gift; there are millions of little children everywhere that would love that. Their parents would go down on their knees and thank you for finding their kid’s comfort blanket.’
I smiled at that picture. ‘Yes, I know. My brothers and sisters find it useful sometimes. Not that they’ve ever gone down on their knees.’
‘They’ve taken you for granted, I guess. So why are you scared of telepathy?’
‘You think I’m scared?’
‘Aren’t you?’
Perhaps I was. ‘It’s just always been so bad for me. Like a bird strike on a plane’s engines—my brain being the engine and all that stuff that surrounds people the flock of seagulls. I can just about manage when I chart my own course through people’s minds, but when they reach out to me I get overwhelmed and crash.’ We paused on the top of the Accademia Bridge. Who would not stop when the moon is silvering the inky waters of the Grand Canal? ‘I think I’m really scared of finding out that I’m not a proper Savant like the rest of you.’ There: my secret was out.
‘Then what are you?’ He turned to face me.
I was grateful he was not making fun of my fears. ‘I don’t know. A kind of offshoot maybe? Have you ever met another Savant who can’t communicate telepathically?’
‘No, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I wish you’d let me take a look at you with my gift. I might be able to tell you why you find telepathy so hard.’
Last time he had proposed this I had immediately panicked and run. Fear had driven that reaction. Now, feeling a lot calmer and a lot closer to Xav, I no longer felt so afraid of him; it was only the prospect of finally knowing what was wrong that scared me.
He put his arms around my waist and I moved to lean against his chest. After hours of doing so for the cameras, it no longer felt strange. It was almost as if I now had a reserved parking spot right there against his heart. I smiled at the thought.
‘I don’t know what we are to each other, Crystal, but I do know that I want at the very least to be a friend. You can trust me to take good care of you. If there’s something wrong, isn’t it better to know from me than from a stranger?’
I nodded. ‘Yes, you’re right.’
He shook with silent laughter. ‘Can I have that in writing? You think I’m right about something.’
‘No, you can’t because you’d never let me forget.’ He smelt so good: a hint of aftershave, the lotion they had used to take off our make-up and something that was just Xav. I had to stop myself nuzzling at the skin on display through the open top buttons of his shirt. ‘I’ll let you take a look but not now.’
‘Not now,’ he agreed. ‘It must be four in the morning. Definitely not now.’
I forced myself to move away. ‘Maybe we should wait until after the wedding? If it’s bad news about my Savant gift, I don’t want to know yet, and if it’s good, it won’t matter if I hear it later.’
To my surprise, he agreed. ‘Yeah, I’d prefer to do it with my family around. With Zed’s help we can pool our skills and give you a thorough examination. My older brother Victor is very gifted with mind control so can find out if someone’s tampered with your head at any point.’
I hadn’t agreed to let his entire family in on my flaws. ‘But Xav, I don’t know them. I wouldn’t be happy to have them all involved.’
‘I wasn’t thinking all of them—just Zed and Victor. Zed as the seventh son has a touch of most of our skills and can hold us together when we do a joint investigation. He’s a pain in the neck but a useful one.’ I could tell from his tone that he meant nothing of the sort; Xav was much closer to his brothers than I was to my family. ‘Both Sky and Phoenix in different ways had bad stuff planted in their heads when they met my brothers. It was tough for a while until they got sorted. It isn’t unusual in the Savant world for some of us to fall victim to such abuse; there are as many of us out there doing bad stuff and mind control is an obvious way to go.’
‘But I’m sure no one’s ever done anything to me. I’ve always been like this. From what Sky and Phoenix told me, they fell into the hands of some evil people; I’ve had a sheltered life—school, family. Nothing’s happened to me.’
‘Then we won’t find anything like that. But I just want to be sure.’
‘OK. But I’m not promising. Let me meet Zed and Victor again. Don’t tell them what you’ve planned. I want to decide for myself if I can let them in.’
‘Please, Crystal.’
I held up a hand. ‘Stop right there, Xavier Benedict. I’ve given enough ground tonight.’
‘Xavier Benedict! Now I know I really have overstepped my bounds when you use my full name.’ He swung me into a waltz twirl around the Campo di Santa Agnese, a little square near our apartment with some of the few trees growing on the Dorsoduro. ‘Are you going to box my ears too?’
‘Don’t tempt me.’
He lifted me onto a bench to promenade me to the end, and then bowed as I stepped off. ‘Will madam ever forgive the presumption of her humble servitor?’
‘I see the eighteenth century dress has rubbed off on your manners.’ I rubbed my knuckles against his skull. ‘Dimwit.’
‘That’s Sir Dimwit to you, my lady.’
When we reached the bridge near our gate, we both realized at the same moment that the tide was high once more.
I raised my foot and displayed my boot to him. ‘Another piggyback?’
‘No, my pride can’t take it.’ He sat down on the hump of the bridge and pulled off his Timberlands. He thrust them in my arms. ‘Here, hold these. Don’t, whatever you do, drop them.’ Then before I could think what he intended, he swept me into his arms and strode into the calf-deep water.
‘Xav! I’ve boots on—there’s no need.’
He hugged me closer. ‘There’s every need, my lady. Have you not read the Gentleman’s Guide to Gallantry?’
I shook my head, giggling as he hissed when his toes registered the cold water.
‘On page twenty-eight, it definitely says something about being drummed out of the ranks if a gentleman accepts a second piggyback from a lady. He must sacrifice his toes to keep her dry.’
‘But not his Timberlands?’ I held the boots by the laces over the water.
‘Not his Timberlands.’ Grinning, he put me down by our gate. ‘I think I’ll take those back before they come to h
The thaw in our relationship carried over to the week that followed. Though I was still busy at work, I no longer avoided our houseguests and Xav even came running with me a couple of times. He was much fitter than me and thought my little jog along the Zattere a very tame event as he had been brought up in the mountains with endless forest tracks at his disposal, but his remarks were teasing rather than sneering so Rocco and I gave him a pass. The dog’s short legs provided me with the excuse I needed when I took a break and Xav was kind enough to go along with the ruse.
Where we were competitive was over our rival hen and stag night parties. After my shaky start, I had got the bit between my teeth and had begun organizing in earnest. Neither of us would divulge the full details of our separate plans but were not above throwing a tantalizing hint to the other to make them worry that theirs would be overshadowed.
‘Diamond, don’t forget, you have to get a really special dress for Friday—top designer, top dollar. I don’t care if we eat off paper plates at the wedding as a result, but you can’t let the side down with anything less,’ I announced to my sister on Monday evening over supper, making sure the Benedict brothers heard every word.
Xav raised an eyebrow. ‘You haven’t stolen my idea of going to the casino, have you? I should never’ve let so many details out at the beginning.’
I waved my hand dismissively. ‘Casino? No way: that’s far too predictable and, dare I say, ordinary. Any old tourist can wander in there.’
Xav spluttered into his glass of wine.
Trace took Diamond’s hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. ‘So, honey, where are you going that needs a bank raid to fund your clothes? Remember, I am a police officer so I should warn you that anything that you say may be used against you when this comes to trial.’
She laughed. ‘Don’t worry, darling, I’m not going to do anything illegal … ’
He grinned.
‘No, I’ll just get your mother, Sky, and Phoenix to do it for me.’
Trace groaned. ‘Don’t even suggest it, Diamond. The three of them would make an unstoppable team: Mom sees the future, Sky is pretty amazing at moving stuff with her mind now, and Phoenix can freeze time. Between them they could break into Fort Knox and no one would be any the wiser.’
I really had to ask the girls more about their powers next time we met up; that all sounded intriguing. ‘It’s OK, Trace, you should know by now that Diamond has quite a healthy little business going so she won’t need to do a smash and grab to pay for her wardrobe. I, however, as your impoverished sister-in-law-to-be working for a pittance, should be the one who would need to take desperate measures.’
I could tell by his expression that Trace did not know if I was joking. The guy spent far too much time with criminals. ‘I remember that it’s tough when you just start out on your own. If you need anything, Crystal, you must let us know.’ He glanced at Diamond but she was smiling fondly at him.
‘At ease, officer, Crystal is far more resourceful than you can imagine.’ Diamond patted his cheek.
Aw, they were so sweet together. ‘Yep: I work in a costume shop; I’ll be making my own outfit, not lobbing a brick through the window of the Versace boutique.’
Xav grabbed the salad bowl from his brother. ‘While the girls are fooling around with dresses, Trace, I need to know your measurements for your suit and the other equipment you’ll need.’ Xav sprinkled olive oil on his lettuce. ‘Lola was very particular that it all had to fit properly.’
‘Lola?’ squeaked Diamond. I wanted to warn her not to rise to the bait Xav was dangling in front of her but it was too late.
Xav added some Parmesan and pepper. ‘Suspicious, Diamond? You should be. This is a bachelor party I’m organizing, not a school outing, and it is going to tick all Trace’s boxes. Lola is either a very efficient water sports instructor or an exotic dancing girl; I’ll leave it to your imagination.’
I rolled my eyes at Diamond. ‘Maybe she’s both. I mean, the guys would really go for that, I guess. Don’t worry, Di, Luigi and his crew will not disappoint us girls.’ Luigi was in fact Contessa Nicoletta’s little bespectacled chef with whom I had been consulting about the menu for Friday, but the Benedicts weren’t to know that. ‘He has promised to provide something suitably spicy for our tastes.’
‘Um … Crystal.’ Diamond now looked anxious, making me wonder if anyone in the room really knew me. ‘You haven’t taken things too far have you? I mean I went to Marie’s hen night and the male strippers were a huge step beyond the bounds of good taste.’
I mustered an innocent expression. ‘Oh, of course not. Luigi and co are going to be the very epitome of tastefulness.’
Diamond’s eyebrows winged up until she saw my wink. She sat back in her chair. ‘Excellent. Roll on Friday.’
Trace and Xav exchanged a long look. Both knew Diamond would never hire a team of Italian Chippendales but neither quite trusted me. Oh, I was enjoying myself!
I leaned forward, sharing confidences with my sister. ‘I’ve told Luigi, nothing too raw, you know? I stressed that we were all ladies of refined palates. He should make the display hot, but not too hot.’
‘Oh my!’ Diamond flapped at her cheeks with her napkin.
Xav was now studying me with suspicion. I may have pushed the cooking metaphor a touch too far. He nudged my foot under the table.
‘What?’ I mouthed as Trace and Diamond went into one of their little romantic whisper routines. In consideration of me, they didn’t use telepathy when I was around.
‘Hot but not too hot? Cupcake, that doesn’t suit you.’
‘I’m thinking of my sister,’ I said primly.
‘Good, because I’ve kissed you and I can say that you are the female equivalent of red chilli.’
I blushed. ‘Sssh!’
‘Why? It’s all there on film for the world to see.’ His gaze dropped to my mouth.
‘Stop it!’ I was worried that Diamond might notice. Fooling about with her brother-in-law was not the most sensible thing I could do for the future harmony of family relations.
He shrugged. ‘Can’t seem to help myself. Maybe I should give Lola a ring to adjust our plans for Friday. Looks like I’ll be needing a distraction if I’m not to succumb to temptation.’
Succumb! My rebellious mind shouted, even though it knew it would drop me in so much trouble. I concentrated on feeling aggrieved that he could even consider exotic water ski instructors a distraction.
‘Fine, phone Lola.’ I gave him a smile that was all teeth and no humour. ‘But just bear in mind, cupcake: your party may be mildly diverting; mine is going to be unforgettable.’
On Wednesday, Diamond was called to Rome on an emergency reconciliation job with two feuding members of the same Savant family. Writs had been exchanged and tempers running dangerously high. Trace and Xav went with her for the ride. That was just as well because Lily turned up in the shop with a proposition I knew none of them would approve.
‘Crystal, will you do me an enormous favour?’ Lily asked as she breezed into the shop. Dressed in a vibrant red jumper and skirt, accessorized with lightning bolt silver earrings, she seemed to run a thousand volts through my quiet afternoon of sewing.
‘I’m not sure—depends what it is.’ I threw my work to one side. ‘I always read the small print before I sign up to stuff.’
‘Wise girl.’ Lily leaned on the counter. ‘But you are going to love this. In fact, I’m the one doing you the favour really.’ She picked up my discarded dress—blue, hand-embroidered silk—which I had been hemming. ‘Nice.’
‘For my sister’s hen party on Friday.’
‘Hmm. It’ll look fabulous. But first things first: what are you doing tonight?’
I wasn’t expecting the others back until late. ‘No plans. Signora Carriera will keep me busy I imagine.’
‘Then I will ask her to release you early. I have a mission for you.’
‘That sounds promising.’
I grinned. ‘I might just have noticed him.’
‘Well, he’s coming out with James and me to the opening of an art exhibition this evening. His agent thinks it looks good on his profile to be pictured doing high culture. He needs a story to counter some bad press about a broken relationship.’
‘James and you?’
She waved that away. ‘We’re friends—just friends. Or don’t you know about his boyfriend back in LA?’
‘Oh, sorry.’
‘Back to Steve. Girlfriend du jour was given the old heave-ho last week over some kiss-and-tell story she sold to the tabloids.’
‘Love rat.’
‘Exactly. Now Steve needs some pretty young thing on his arm tonight to show that he’s so over her and has moved on—someone he can trust.’
Was this leading where I thought it was leading? ‘I don’t do pretty.’
‘Bad choice of words: I meant stunning and unusual. And what better start to your modelling career than to have your name linked to Steve, however briefly? Your face will be in all the gossip columns from here to Seattle.’
‘Steve wants me to go with him?’ I felt a strange mixture of emotions—part exhilaration part terror.
‘Er … he doesn’t actually know it is you I am lining up for him.’ Lily tapped my nose. ‘Don’t go getting all romantic about this—it is one date, a photo opportunity really. He’s not going to fall in love with you and whisk you away to his Hollywood palace so dial back those expectations.’
Actually, I didn’t want him to take me anywhere; there was only one guy that made me think of happily ever afters and his name did not start with S. ‘I know all that, Lily, but it is a bit lowering to find I’m just a name on a list you are running through.’