Then there he was, striding toward her. A tall male with skin two or three shades darker than hers and black hair silvered at the temples. In his black suit, white shirt, and dark blue tie, he looked every inch the perfect Psy. What would he do if he discovered her planned defection?
Stop her. By any means necessary.
"Father."
"Walk with me, Faith." He turned off the main path to one that snaked deeper into the grounds. "I've heard some disturbing news."
A chill wind swept through her body in spite of the early afternoon sunshine. "Kaleb Krychek?"
To her relief, he nodded. "There are rumors he's decided to give the Council no alternative choice."
"Nothing we didn't expect."
"I want you to retire from the race."
"Father?" She turned to face him, pure surprise rooting her to the spot.
Anthony halted beside her. "You weren't trained in offensive maneuvers. Kaleb has had years of practice."
"I know that, but - "
"You're too valuable to chance being damaged."
So, her monetary profitability outweighed her father's ambition. "I understand. Business is business. But what if I wish to pursue the offer?"
"The PsyClan will assist you, of course. However, think carefully, Faith. As a cardinal foreseer, you already have considerable political power should you choose to wield it."
"I'm completely isolated."
"That can change if you want it to."
She spoke without thinking. "Can it?"
Anthony looked at her for several long moments. She wondered whether he suspected something. Then he said, "I've already lost one daughter. It's enough. I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe."
She wanted to read emotion, care, love, into his statement, but knew it'd be a self-deluding lie. "Did your sources give a time frame for any attack? Or the type of offensive?" Forcing herself to think past the needs of the lonely child inside of her, she started walking again.
"Within the next two days. As for type, Krychek is known for using the PsyNet. It's suspected he has an undocumented subset of powers beneath his Tk abilities that allow him to attack without detection."
"Do you think it's something similar to Nikita Duncan's talent?"
"Mental viruses?" Anthony seemed to consider that idea. "No. It's something else. The end result of his particular skills being utilized is unique and extremely disturbing."
"I thought his targets had a tendency to disappear?"
"They do. But I've discovered that it's not Krychek who does the disappearing. It's the individual family groups - they don't want to be associated with his victims."
"What results could cause such a radical reaction?" She wanted to gather as much information as she could on the man almost certain to become the newest member of the Council. Information was power and she was through with being powerless.
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Of course."
"Nikita's targets either die or become incapacitated to the extent that they can't care for themselves - similar effects to certain kinds of accidental brain damage. Unfortunate for the individual but nothing organic or genetic, nothing that reflects on the extended family group."
It was very unlike her father to dance around a subject. "Why is Krychek different?"
"His targets go clinically insane."