Page 87 of Visions of You

"Found something?" Keegan asked.

Altair nodded, a small, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. "I did. An amulet, specifically designed to counteract mind-control spells."

He swiveled the monitor around to give them a clear view. On the screen was an image of an antique amulet, made of a dark metal that caught the eye.

"Looks… impressive," Jaron remarked, leaning in to get a better look. "Where can we get it?"

"From a supplier I've dealt with before." Altair leaned back, folding his knuckles lightly under his chin. "Normally, Mordyn would close the deal, but considering the circumstances…"

"He's still out there looking for Apollo," Keegan finished, sensing an unspoken concern from his boss.

"Exactly. So, I'll go myself once the sun sets."

It was unusual for Altair to go himself, but it made sense. With his ability to read minds, he could make sure the article he was being sold wasn't fake.

"You got the money?" he asked, turning his attention to Jaron.

Jaron stepped forward and handed him a credit card. "That should cover the asking price, whatever it is."

Altair turned the credit card over in his hands, then pocketed it. "All right. I'll return this to you once the transaction is complete."

Jaron nodded. "Is there anything else I can do?" His tail flicked restlessly, but he seemed unaware of this.

Altair shook his head and an air of kindness softened his voice when he spoke again. "Get some sleep. It's still a few hours before it gets dark enough for us to really do anything."

Keegan exchanged a glance with Jaron, sure that neither of them truly felt like resting. He wasn't going to talk back to Altair over this, though. "Let us know when you've got the amulet," he said instead.

"Of course," Altair said by way of dismissing them.

Keegan and Jaron left Altair's office and made their way back to Keegan's room. Inside, Keegan fell back onto the bed. Jaron lounged beside him, propped on one elbow.

"So, what now?" Jaron asked. "Nap time?"

"Do you really want to nap?"

"No," Jaron admitted. Idly, he looked around the room. "Tell me something, Kee. What do you like to do when you're not charting the future? What kind of life would you live if you didn't have your powers?"

The question surprised Keegan. No one had ever asked him such a thing.

"I don't really know," he confessed. "My powers are as much a part of me as my need for blood."

"Sure," Jaron said, nodding thoughtfully, "but imagine if they weren't. What would you do? Who would you be?"

Keegan closed his eyes, allowing himself, for the first time, to truly entertain the thought. "Maybe I'd travel. I don't know. Just… live."

"That sounds nice," Jaron remarked softly, a smile audible in his voice. "Where would we travel?"

Keegan opened his eyes to look at Jaron. "Where would you want to go?" he turned the question around.

Jaron took a moment to think about it. "I've always kind of wanted to see the Fringes."

His response surprised Keegan. The Fringes weren't exactly a popular tourist destination. "Isn't that where Apollo is from?" he wondered out loud. "I've heard it's a lawless place."

"That is what makes it so appealing," Jaron said. "There aren't any dragons there who lord over everyone else. No one there would care about the way I dress."

Or about your lack of magical prowess? Keegan wanted to ask but didn't, knowing that the question would have hurt Jaron.

He put it a different way. "Do you think your life would be very different if you had more power?"