Amaryllis

Amaryllis did not bother to conceal her disgust. 'You must know how Sheffield is using his talent.'

'I am attempting to use my God-given talent for the good of my city-state, Ms. Lark.' Madison appeared to be deeply hurt by her implied accusations. 'I will admit that I have trouble controlling it at times, but that is hardly my fault. I'm sure you are well aware that there are few if any mentors for class-ten-plus talents.'

'How would you know?' Amaryllis retorted. 'You've never bothered to get yourself tested.'

'I consider it an invasion of privacy,' Madison said. 'The founders would never have submitted to having perfectly natural, normal human abilities tested, certified, and ranked. But that is not the point.'

'What is the point?'

'I need you, Ms. Lark.' Madison's mellifluous voice reverberated in the confines of the big car.

'You want me to help you use your talent to raise campaign funds? Forget it. I do not consider that an ethical use of talent.'

Gifford shot Madison a shuttered glance. 'I told you this wasn't going to be easy.'

'I would have been deeply disappointed if it had been.' Madison's gaze warmed with admiration as he studied Amaryllis. 'I have great respect for your reservations and ethical concerns, Ms. Lark. Gifford here tried to dissuade me from seeking your assistance, but the more I heard about you, the more I knew that you were the prism for me.'

Amaryllis glared at Gifford. 'Just what did you tell him?'

'That you were a prissy, straitlaced, self-righteous full-spectrum prism who seemed to think it was her job in life to act as a goddamned conscience for everyone else.'

Amaryllis felt the heat rise in her face. 'I see.'

'A conscience is precisely what I want, Ms. Lark,' Madison said gently.

Amaryllis blinked. 'I beg your pardon?'

'It's not that I lack one of my own.' Madison chuckled ruefully. 'I assure you my parents saw to it that I was raised to uphold the strictest set of principles. My family believed in the basic tenets of our founders' values before the term became part of our common parlance.'

'How nice for you.'

'But there are few guidelines for off-the-scale talents, as you well know, Ms. Lark.'

'Such talents don't require special rules,' Amaryllis said. 'The nature of right and wrong does not alter as one rises higher on the psychic energy scale.'

Gifford rolled his eyes and tugged at his bow tie again.

'You don't understand, Ms. Lark,' Madison said gently. 'I still fumble with my great talent from time to time. As I said, it is not always easy to control it, let alone to apply it appropriately.'

Amaryllis tapped one finger on the plush car seat. 'Is that right?'

'Yes. But I am determined to use my gifts for the betterment of our city-state. To accomplish my goals I require the focus services of a strong-minded, highly principled full-spectrum prism. Someone who can guide me when my talent surges to the fore. Someone who can control and focus my psychic gifts so that they may be used to help others.'

It occurred to Amaryllis that the compelling power of Madison's voice had grown stronger during the past few minutes. She realized it was getting easier to believe that he meant every word he said.

Too easy.

She glanced suspiciously at Gifford. He did not look at her. He sat silently in his corner, gazing out the tinted windows.

'There are those who would consider a prism with your high moral standards as something of a nuisance, Ms. Lark.' Madison leaned forward slightly. His eyes gleamed with an almost overpowering sincerity. 'But I consider you to be a godsend. You are the prism for whom I have been searching all my life. I seek a helpmate and a soulmate, someone whose own psychic powers match my own and whose sense of values is in harmony with mine.'

He had been looking for her all of his life. Unlike everyone else, he didn't consider her ethical standards to be irritating and naive. He valued her skills and her integrity. Madison Sheffield needed her to help him fight the good fight.

A sense of glowing pride unfurled within Amaryllis. At last she had found a high-class talent who appreciated her. It would be so immensely satisfying, both professionally and personally, to work with such a powerful, influential man. How deeply rewarding it would be to focus for a man who sought her guidance and direction. Madison Sheffield offered the culmination of her dreams.

It would be a perfect psychic match.

'I don't know what to say.' Amaryllis shot another glance at Gifford, who was still staring out the window. 'You've taken me by surprise, Senator.'

'I realize that.' Madison smiled wryly. 'And after what happened last night, you have every right to be suspicious of my intentions.'

Amaryllis shook off a seductive urge to brush the matter aside. 'That brings up a very important issue. What you did last night was wrong, Senator. Using your talent to try to coerce people into supporting you is very unethical. I'm sure the founders would never have approved.'

'You're quite right, of course.' Madison looked into her eyes. 'But in my own defense, I must tell you that I was not really interested in acquiring Trent's support last night. It was all something of a smoke screen.'

'Smoke screen?'

'In my own clumsy fashion, I was trying to test your psychic capabilities.' Madison shook his head with admiration. 'Gifford had told me that you were a very powerful prism and that you were currently focusing for Trent. Frankly, I doubted the extent of your abilities. When I saw you at the reception, I decided to conduct a quick test.'

'I see.'

'Forgive me. But allow me to tell you that I was extremely impressed. I envy Trent. I have never had the pleasure of working with a prism as strong as yourself.'

Amaryllis considered her sudden wish to let bygones be bygones. It was very strong. Too strong.

She glared at Gifford's averted face.

'Stop it,' she said.

Gifford glanced at her. 'Stop what?'

'You're focusing for him. Stop it right now. We both know you aren't strong enough to handle much more of his talent, anyway. You're close to your limits. You may as well quit.'

Gifford sighed, glanced at Madison, and then shrugged in resignation.

Madison's compelling sincerity faded back into the normal range. It was still palpable, but now it had a practiced, superficial quality. It was the sort of sincerity one associated with politicians. Easy to discount.

'Think about my offer, Ms. Lark.' Madison's smile had not altered, but it no longer held the warmth it once had. 'Both of us know that it is unsatisfying not to be able to use one's psychic gifts to the fullest extent. Rather like wearing blinders to prevent oneself from seeing properly. One chafes under the restriction. Surely nature never intended for people like you and me to allow our powers to languish from lack of use.'

'I'm not sure what nature's intentions are, but I won't help you use your talent in an unethical manner,' Amaryllis vowed.

'I would not dream of asking you to do so. If you come to work for me, I guarantee that you will have every opportunity to use your ability to focus in ways that are completely acceptable to you. Think of it, Ms. Lark. You can devote yourself to serving your city-state. You will act as my guide and my mentor.'

Amaryllis looked at him very steadily. 'I don't have a great interest in politics. Please take me home. Senator.'

Madison's fine mouth tightened. But he inclined his head politely. 'As you wish, Ms. Lark. I trust you will consider my offer. We would make a great team. Together we can make a difference.'

'You should be ashamed of yourself. Senator. You say you hold to the traditions of the founders, but a true founder would be appalled at how low you're willing to stoop in order to get to the governor's office.'

Sheffield's gaze hardened. 'My dear, you are painfully naive. The truth is that the founders believed in doing whatever was necessary to protect the city-state. I am proud to follow in their footsteps.'

Amaryllis did not respond. She sat silently in her seat until the limousine glided to a halt in front of her home.