Gravity by Dannika Dark Page A

People died.
    Infants and strong warriors were given no preferential treatment by death. Of course, living
    conditions were unfavorable then. If the Relic grows too ill, she should call her partner.”
    “Why don’t they work alone?”
    “Relics are paired up early on, and for most of them, it’s a lifelong relationship. They share
    information and serve as each other’s backup. There are no Breed hospitals, so Relics are the
    equivalent of private doctors. They retain clients throughout their lives. Most partners marry and
    their children take over caring for their immortal clients. It’s preferred; we like to keep our secrets
    within the family.” He pushed a crumb around on his plate. “The word immortal is thrown around
    when it simply means we have an extended lifespan. Nothing is forever. Except atoms.”
    “I met her partner. He socked her in the eye.”
    Novis looked up and his brows slanted. “I wouldn’t let Remi know about that. A Gemini closes
    off his emotions for a reason, and if they’re as good of friends as you say they are, he might do
    something regretful.”
    “Never mind,” I said. “Let’s not get sidetracked. Am I here for an assignment or are you just
    craving my cheery companionship?”
    It was between lunch and dinner, and a young mom a few tables away tried to calm her
    screaming baby with a stuffed lion that squeaked.
    “Only three people work in the lab,” he began. “They rotate schedules like clockwork. Simon’s
    been concealing his light after sensing two of them to be one of us; we’re not sure what the third
    could be.”
    I glanced around. “Is it okay to discuss this in public?”
    He quirked a smile and pinched his lip before responding. “I’m well-guarded for such
    conversations.”
    “Maybe your guards are lying in a ditch.”
    His smile stretched and he looked down at the table, shaking his head. Novis tugged at some of
    his dark hair that he kept spiked in every direction. “Never worry about such things in my
    company, young Learner. You must take my word when I tell you that we have the utmost
    privacy.”
    Hmm. Novis was full of secrets. “Do you know the names of the scientists?”
    “No. Their cars were unmarked and Simon couldn’t follow them without raising suspicion. He’s
    tracing the plates, but it’s doubtful they’re complete imbeciles. We’re not able to obtain a warrant
    without motive. Our laws are not like the human world, as you know. The Mageri will not serve
    warrants without a testimony and documentation. We cannot arrest until there is sufficient
    evidence to convict. Once a name is ruined, it’s hard to recover one’s good-standing. For immortals
    that has always been imperative due to our social circle being much smaller and our lives being
    much longer.”
    “Do you think that’s the only lab there is?”
    He broke a chicken strip in half and looked at it closely before popping it into his mouth. “Can’t
    be sure.” Novis licked his finger and wiped his hands on a paper napkin.
    “This doesn’t seem like groundbreaking news to call me here.”
    “We want a peek in the lab.”
    “Simon’s a good peeker,” I said with a smile. “I bet he can pick the locks.”
    “We can’t risk tripping any alarms they may have. It must be unlocked from the inside.”
    “And how do you propose to do that?”
    He nudged his head sideways and gave me a look, prompting me to think about it.
    “Oh… you think I could move the locks inside? I’m not sure; it’s not something I’ve had much
    practice doing.” It wasn’t so much the metal that I could move, but I had the ability to manipulate
    residual energy left from a Mage who had recently touched the object. “I’ve never tried moving
    something from the other side of a door—I don’t know if it will work.”
    “Think… or know? Why don’t you go home and practice? You’d be surprised what you can do
    when you put your mind to it. It’s time you learn to focus that