Page 2 of Hayes (Voodoo Guardians #37)

Victoria didn’t remember her parents or if she ever had a last name. The staff at the school, the teachers, all just called her Victoria. They placed puzzles and problems and books in front of her every day, asking her to read them, study them, recite them, or fix them.

At first, she didn’t mind. It was interesting and sort of fun. Then she realized what they were doing. When she started to ask questions, she was told that she was no longer able to stay at the school and would be moving on.

She didn’t understand what that meant, but in the middle of the night, someone covered her head with a hood and took her away. She bounced from one location to the next, each time covered in a hood and kidnapped.

It was terrifying.

The ‘teachers,’ who weren’t actually teachers at all, demanded that they work on the strange problems presented to them, but Victoria knew what they were doing. It would cause the world to be in such chaos that she couldn’t be a part of it.

When they were moved once again, this time she wasn’t placed in a hood. Other kids joined the small group she was with and were told they’d been sold to someone who needed their services.

She was surprised to see a handsome young man get into the van and sit between her and Chelsea.

He was very tall and very thin, but he was also very handsome.

They immediately became friends, whispering in corners, making plans for escape, and guiding the young children to not follow the directions of the adults.

It was a complete and utter surprise when they were rescued by a group of the largest, handsomest men that any of them had ever seen. Rushed off to a helicopter that fascinated all of them, they found themselves on one of the most beautiful properties they’d ever seen.

Never in her life had she been treated with such kindness, such love. Given clothing that she loved, all her own, a place to work on any of her ideas, and even more, to work with some of the most brilliant minds in the world.

Where she really got lucky was becoming the foster child of Ophelia and Moses Baird. He was tall, dark, handsome, and brave, and Ophelia was a beauty with beautifully curly hair and perfect skin.

Eventually, they requested to adopt her. But the moment she knew she was in the right place was the day they sneaked into the morning meeting.

“Luke? Cam? We need to speak with you about the new kids,” said Elizabeth, standing with Jessica, Keith, and a few of the others from the school.

“Is there a problem?” asked Luke. “Are they having behavioral issues?”

“No. No, nothing like that,” said Jessica.

“It’s almost embarrassing to say, but I’m not sure we’re equipped, intellectually, to teach these children.

They’re far above our intellect and abilities.

Whatever we attempt to teach, they get bored easily because they already know it.

Most, if not all, are at collegiate-level learning.

Some, like Victoria and Hayes, are at master’s or PhD levels. ”

“I never thought about that,” said Cam. “Usually, our kids far surpass those in other schools because we push academics so well in our own school. But I guess we weren’t prepared for a group of Mensa kids.”

“It’s not just that they are all at genius-level IQs, Cam.

These children are constantly solving problems in their heads that none of us can even conceive.

I put forth a problem that was PhD-level physics, and almost all of them got it correct.

The youngest, Monroe, had all but one component correct,” said Keith. Jessica nodded, continuing.

“Brady, he’s only eleven, gave us a complete presentation on how we could better preserve the marine life in the bayous if we added a certain mineral to the land closest to the water so that it could be washed in naturally.

He said it would give us tenfold the oyster, crawfish, and shrimp population that we’ve had in the last five years. ”

“Damn, how do we solve this problem? I’m no genius. I can’t fucking help these kids. I mean, I’m a smart man, but I’m not capable of teaching those kids,” said Eric.

“We solve this like we always have,” said Jessica.

“As a team. We have other geniuses here. What if we made a modified schedule of their curriculum for the kids, something advanced and less time-consuming? It could be taught by May, Thomas, Montana, Doug, Pigsty, Alexandra, Erin, Finley, Jean, even Tony.”

“We’re going to have one of the ghosts teach the kids?” smirked Hex.

“Do you have a better idea?” asked Elizabeth.

“These kids need to be challenged, and we can only go so far. If all of our resident geniuses chip in, we’ll keep their attention.

I even think that by involving Chipper, Teddy, Matthew, some of the older men, they could teach them life skills that these kids have never learned. ”

“What do you mean?” asked Eric.

“ Eric, these kids don’t know anything about money or how to balance a checkbook.

They’ve never been to a store and purchased something.

They’ve never been to a gym, never gone for a run, never swam in a pool or lake.

Hell, many haven’t even played a board game other than chess.

There are basic skills they don’t possess. ”

“I never thought of any of that,” said Luke. “Maybe this becomes community teaching. Maybe we all need to take a part in this, but also give the kids real time out at G.R.I.P. They could work in the labs, help the team out there with things.

“But we oversee everything. I don’t want any mad science experiments, and I damn sure don’t want anyone saying that we’re using their intelligence for our profit.

They only go out there if they want to. But most of all, I want those kids to have time with other kids.

They can’t be all about academics and nothing else.

They need to learn how to function with others. ”

“Hayes and Victoria are the oldest. Allow them a little more freedom than the others. I mean, for goodness’ sake, they know five languages, not counting all the math and computer languages,” smirked Jessica.

“It sounds like you have a good plan,” said Eric.

“I’m in favor of it. We want them to grow but also have normal lives.

If they want to be involved in athletics, we let them.

If it’s music they want, then give them music.

Mia can instruct as well as some of the others.

We have Lissa at the dance studio. We have artists — Ela, Shay, and several others.

Let them be who they want. I do not want to push these children. ”

“Mr. Eric?” said a small voice at the door. He turned, smiling at the two little boys. They could not have been more different. One black. One white. One blonde. One with black hair. Dark eyes versus blue eyes. Yet they were determined to be brothers.

“Nigel, Spencer, what can we do for you?” smiled Luke.

“What if we like math and science? I don’t want to just play ball. I don’t know how to play ball.”

“Me neither,” said Spencer. “I only know numbers and formulas.”

Luke, Eric, Cam, and Hex took a seat on the dais, making them closer to the boys’ level. They waved them over to sit in front of them.

“Boys, you don’t know how to play ball because no one has taught you,” said Cam. “But if you don’t want to play, you won’t have to. What we’re saying is that you can choose to do whatever you like. Anything.”

“Anything?” asked Spencer.

“Anything, son.”

“Can I learn to bake cookies with Mr. George and draw cool pictures like Mr. Callan does on skin?” he asked. George and Callan were several rows behind them, smirking at the young men.

“I believe George and Callan would welcome that,” said Cam. “What about you, Nigel? What would you like to learn to do?”

“I want to learn to fish with Mr. Matthew and learn about international law with Miss Georgie and Miss Sira,” he said softly. “Can I do that?” Luke looked up at his grandfather, smiling, then at Georgie and Sira.

“I believe they would enjoy that very much,” nodded Luke.

“Good,” smiled Nigel. “Miss Georgie and Miss Sira are really cute.” The men chuckled, shaking their heads. Carl gave a playful frown to Nigel, who laughed at the big man.

“Now, who else is hiding in the auditorium?” asked Luke.

All the men turned, looking for the other hidden children. Hayes and Victoria were sitting out in the open, but Brady, Marilisa, and Monroe couldn’t be seen.

“Brady? I know you’re here, son. Come on out,” said Eric.

“Y-yes, sir. Are you going to spank me?” he asked.

Eric frowned, still seated on the dais. He waved the boy down from his hiding place beneath the chairs. He walked slowly, preparing himself for a spanking.

“Brady, take my hand,” said Eric, holding out his big arm and wide palm.

The boy stared at him, looking down at his hand.

He set his small, pale hand in his own larger, dark one, and Eric carefully closed his fingers over the boy’s hand.

“Listen to me, Brady. No one here will ever spank you unless you’ve hurt someone or damaged property intentionally.

We choose to make rules, and we expect those rules to be followed, but we don’t hit children. ”

“That’s a relief, sir,” said the little boy. Eric smiled at him.

“Now, is there something special that you’d like to learn?” he asked. Brady looked around the room, finally seeing the two men he wanted. He pointed to Rory and Noa.

“They’re awful big, and I know they know how to fight and hurt bad people. I want to learn that too, so I can protect my friends,” he said.

Rory and Noa stared at the boy, then at Eric. They would be happy to teach the boy self-defense, but what they really wanted to know was why the boy wanted that. Noa and Rory turned to Hayes and Victoria, hoping they could fill them in.

“Brady lived with his father near the sea. Brady was obviously very curious about everything to do with the ocean or any body of water. His father was a fisherman, but he killed dolphins, sharks, anything he could for a dollar. He didn’t care what was in his net.

He sold what he could, keeping the rest for himself.

He often killed whales and sharks for countries or companies that wanted them for their own benefit.

“One day, a man came to speak with his father about his business. His father was gone, but Brady knows everything there is to know about the sea,” smiled Victoria.

“He told the man what his father did for a living. He was only four at the time, but as you can imagine, he sounded much older. He didn’t realize he was sending his father to prison. ”

Luke, Cam, Eric, and Hex stared at the boy, then back at Hayes and Victoria.

“The man left, but Brady’s father was hidden outside and heard everything.

He beat him incessantly with a fishing rod.

He denied him food and water for days. When the police came back, they arrested his father.

The Einstein school was there, ready to take him.

His father had already sold his son to the school.

Brady didn’t know it then, neither did the police.

They just said the father had arranged for him to be sent to a special school,” she said sarcastically.

“Brady,” said Rory in the softest voice he could manage. “Brady, I will teach you to defend yourself, but it will be a trade.”

“A trade, sir?” frowned Brady.

“Yes. I would love to learn more about the sea, about our bayous out there. I’m not a sailor, and I’ve never been very good at fishing. Can you teach me? I’m kind of slow,” he smirked. “I’m just an old Marine.”

“You’re not just a Marine, sir. You were MARSOC. I know what that means.” Rory chuckled, lifting the boy in his arms, tossing him into the air.

“Noa and I will work with you twice a week on how to defend yourself. School comes first. Always. It’s important.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What about you, Marilisa?” asked Hex. “What would you like to learn?”

“I want to learn to sew like Miss Gwen so that I can always sew my own clothes,” she said quietly. Hex nodded, chuckling at the sweet girl.

“I believe I can make that happen for you,” he smiled. “Miss Gwen is my wife. She makes beautiful clothing, and I know she’d love for you to work with her.”

“I just want to learn to sew my own clothes,” she said. Hex frowned, looking toward Victoria and Hayes for guidance again.

“She was three when she arrived at the school. Her parents dropped her off with only a pair of underwear on her body. No clothing. She’s never had anything that was just hers. It was always hand-me-downs.”

“Well, from now on, you will learn to create your own clothing with Miss Gwen. I know that Ashley and Trevor would love to take you shopping for your own things.”

“My very own?” she asked, looking back at Trevor.

“Your very own,” said Trevor, lifting the little girl in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, squeezing until he coughed with laughter.

“Monroe? What about you, son?” asked Cam.

“Um, well, I like what I study. I like math, computers, and the other stuff. Jax and Ellie are teaching me really cool stuff, including art. But I’d like to work with the animals too. Can I work out there a few days a week? The dogs are amazing.” Sniff smiled at the boy.

“I think we can make that happen as long as Jax is okay with it,” said Sniff.

“I’m okay with it,” smiled Jax. “In fact, I think I’ll come with you and learn more about the dogs myself.”

“Cool. By the way, I love the ghosts, and I’ve learned a lot already from Tony, Nathan, Franklin, and Yori.

Grip is super cool. He’s kind of big and gruff, but he knows stuff, and he’s always got funny stories.

He woulda’ made a good dad. Just so you know, it’s psychokinetic energy that causes the ghosts to appear.

It’s very cool and very strong here. I think they’re here for a reason. Just thought you should know.”

“Well, I think we have our curriculum rounded out,” smirked Luke.

It changed all of their worlds forever. The children thrived, growing strong, independent, healthy, and happy.

Except Victoria still had one fear she could not overcome. One that might take from her the only thing she ever truly desired.