Page 5 of Shinji Takahashi: Into the Heart of the Storm

Betrayed, Shinji gave Oliver an incredulous look, but Priya held up her hand.

“Leave that to me,” she said. “I’ll talk to Mano and work something out, if…” She glanced at Phoebe again. “You really think bringing Shinji along will help him learn to control his magic?”

“I do!” Phoebe said enthusiastically. “Trust me, nothing awakens mysterious powers better than going on an adventure. Like walking into a dragon’s lair in North Wales smelling of fish. Be sure to have fire-resistant pants on if you do—little life advice there.”

“What about me?”

This was from Lucy. Shinji had nearly forgotten about her and felt a tiny prick of guilt when she stepped forward. She had been with them for so long, he’d just assumed she was coming, too.

“Oh, of course Miss Frost should come as well,” Phoebe stated loudly. “She’s the other half of the daring duo, after all. Having a familiar element around will also help Shinji when he is trying to tap into his powers. Besides,” Phoebe went on, still smiling at Lucy, “I heard all about your exploits in Mexico, Miss Frost. Bravo, standing up to Hightower like that. Shinji is very lucky to have you as a friend. Of course, you will accompany us on our important mission, right, Mr. Ocean? Another hand on deck never hurt.”

“No arguments here,” the ex-pirate said, tipping his cane at Lucy. “She’s always welcome on my ship.”

Lucy’s smile made Shinji weirdly proud. The Hightower Corporation was the bitter enemy of the Society, believing in completely opposite ideals. While SEA tried to preserve the land, cultures, and wonders of the world, Hightower only wanted to exploit and use them for their own gain. Lucy’s full name was Lucy Frost, and she was a direct descendant of Harrison Hightower the Third, the founder of the Hightower Corporation. Her father, Gideon Frost, currently ran the entire company.

When Oliver first met Lucy, he didn’t trust her at all. He thought she might be a Hightower spy. Lucy had to prove herself to him and everyone in the Society that she wasn’t working for Hightower, that she hated them and everything they stood for. She had earned Oliver’s trust, and even more, she had earned his respect. That was saying something.

Priya looked like she might be regretting calling on Phoebe, but she sighed. “Very well,” she said after a moment, “if you really think it will help Shinji, then I suppose I will allow it. On one condition,” she added quickly, and darted a fierce glare at Oliver. “I am trusting you with the well-being of our two youngest members, Oliver. Their safety is going to beyournumber one priority. I do not want to hear about having to drag them out of a smuggler’s den, or off a kidnapper’s boat, or from the bottom of the ocean. If things

become too dangerous, you will send these two back to the Society immediately, is that clear?”

As Oliver assured her that they would be fine, Lucy looked at Shinji and gave him a triumphant smile. He grinned back, but mixed feelings swirled inside him. He was happy that he’d be going on this important mission with Lucy and Oliver. He was happy to be doing something about his magic. He just wished Phoebe wasn’t coming along to peer over his shoulder the entire way.

And, deep inside, he was worried. The Coatl had chosen him to carry the power of the font, but…what if it had chosen wrong? What if Shinji was just no good at being a guardian and screwed everything up?

“Wonderful!” Phoebe clapped her hands together. “It’s all decided, then. This is so exciting! Oh, I should get my bags, shouldn’t I? Be right back!”

She started to bound off, but then a rumble went through the floor, like a mini earthquake. On the couch, Kali sat up with a growl of alarm as spiderweb cracks appeared in the ceiling above Priya’s desk. There was a sudden, deafening crunch as part of the ceiling came loose, and the miniature chandelier attached to it abruptly plunged toward them. Oliver yanked Lucy and Shinji out of the way as the glass fixture smashed to the carpet, where Phoebe had been standing moments before. Tiny crystals flew everywhere, peppering the carpet and walls, and Shinji’s heart nearly lodged itself in his throat.

In the stunned silence, Oliver shook his head. “And there it is,” he said dryly. “The Mystic curse is still alive and well, I see. Mano is going to besothrilled to have you aboard.”

Mystic curse?Shinji blinked. Had Phoebe been cursed? Before all this happened, before Shinji had even known about the Society, he thought he had been cursed by the Coatl statue. It was this supposed curse that caused him and the others to venture deep into the Mexican jungle, searching for the Coatl’s temple, to return what had been stolen. Shinji’s curse turned out to be fake, but he knew that real curses existed. Had Phoebe angered something or touched an artifact she wasn’t supposed to?

“Oh dear.” Phoebe gazed up at the ceiling. Bits of plaster floated to the ground from the hole left behind, ruining the mural’s image of a Pegasus. Plaster dust had settled in her hair, turning it gray. “Don’t worry,” she announced, pivoting back to the table. “I can pay for that. At least it wasn’t a one-of-a-kind eighteenth-century Ming vase like last time. Um…” She gazed down at the shattered crystals inches from her toes. “Do you have a broom anywhere?”

Priya was pressing two fingers to her forehead. “It’s fine, Phoebe,” she said, forcing a smile as she lowered her hand. “I’ll take care of it. You just…go to your quarters and relax.”Without breaking anything elsewas the unspoken request.

“Of course,” Phoebe said genially. “I need to do a bit of study on ancient Mesoamerican practices, anyway. No need to show me the guest room; I remember where it is.” She

bounced to the door, shedding plaster dust as she did, but paused and smiled broadly at Shinji from the frame. “Our first adventure together, Shinji,” she announced, raising her umbrella like a conductor’s baton. “This is going to be great!”

Shinji was pretty sure she was the only one who thought that.

Back in his dorm room, Shinji dragged the suitcase the Society had given him out from under his bed and plopped it open on the mattress. His mind was spinning so much that he could hardly concentrate on what he needed to pack.

Another adventure. Another mission with SEA. Only this time, instead of trying to find the Coatl’s temple to return a statue to the font, they had to find a sunken ship that held the ancient artifacts of a lost culture. And they had to reach it before Hightower got there first.

Also, Phoebe Mystic would be there, to “help” him learn to control his guardian powers.

Shinji clenched his jaw. He wished he could make them all understand. The Coatl had chosen him, but more important, Shinji had accepted the mantle of the guardian. Which meant it was up to him to figure his magic out. If he couldn’t learn how to control his own magic himself, he would be a failure as a guardian. He didn’t need help, especially from someone who seemed to be cursed herself.

As he was tossing clothes and other necessities into his suitcase, his phone vibrated. Pulling it from his pocket, he stared at the screen, seeing a new text had come through.

Hey Shinji. Having fun here in New Zealand but it is C.O.L.D. Hope you’re enjoying your classes and not giving SEA any trouble. Wish you were here.

The text also came with a picture of a slender Asian woman in an enormous puffy coat, waving to him against a backdrop of snowdrifts taller than her head.

Aunt Yui. Shinji grimaced. His legal guardian had been worried about leaving him with the Society while she went on a business trip to see an old friend. Shinji had urged her to go, insisting he would be fine. Aunt Yui was very understanding, but if she knew he was going on a mission for the Society, and that the nefarious Hightower corporation could be involved, she might be worried enough to come home. She might even forbid him from going in the first place. Shinji didn’t want that to happen, so after some quick thinking, he texted back:

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