“I’m no one special,” Cressa responded.
Kev’s eyebrows winged upwards. “Really? No one special? Cressa Karmine, the only child of billionaire businessman Nyles Karmine, isn’t special? You’re the heir to one of the greatest political dynasties since the Kennedys. And you’re clearly a latent, same as me—with a little training, you’d be more powerful than any of these jokers.”
He stared intently into her eyes, then shook his head and laughed. “You really don’t know how valuable you truly are.” It wasn’t a question.
More confused than ever, Cressa couldn’t decide which question to ask first. What the hell was a latent? How did Kev know so much about her and her lineage? Was the Dame really planning on taking over their bodies?
“I need everyone’s attention,” Leslie Abbot announced, before Cressa could pose a single question to Kev.
The room quieted again, every ear eager to hear whatever Leslie had to say.
“The 1Ps are being brought up to speed now. As soon as they are finished, I will take the 2Ps to the ascension floor. The 3Ps will follow shortly thereafter, and so on. Due to time constraints, only a select few will receive additional abilities. The rest of you will be activated with only the abilities you currently possess. In time, that will be rectified, and you will all receive the powers you are owed as Privileged. Is this all very clear?”
Every voice in the room replied in unison, including Cressa and Kev. Cressa was too scared not to respond, and Kev was back to playacting.
“Very good. Now, 2Ps, line up in alphabetical order. Then, as soon as the Dame sends word, we will depart for the ascension floor.”
Kev and Cressa didn’t speak again until they were in line. Because their last names were only one letter apart, she stood directly in front of him.
“It’s now or never, Cressa,” Kev repeated, this time with more urgency.
Becoming Privileged had been her dream for so long. Even before she knew it was an option, really. Many of her friends at boarding school counted themselves lucky to be born without talents. Not Cressa. She’d always wanted powers, to be special, unique.
The hopes and desires of a stupid child, Cressa thought bitterly.
There were a lot of things Cressa still didn’t understand, but she knew what the Dame was doing at the Institute was wrong. If the Dame ran the world the same way she ran her school, Cressa wanted no part of Privileged society. She wanted to be like Cadence Choi, like Natalia Lyons; willing to fight for what was right, no matter the cost. That would only be possible if Cressa were on the outside, if she were free.
“What do you need me to do?” she asked.
“I just need you to trust me,” Kev whispered. “Eyes front.”
Leslie Abbot was walking up the line of 2Ps, inspecting each one as she passed. She paused for only a moment by Cressa, looking her up and down before nodding in approval. When she got to Kev, she stopped. Cressa angled herself so she could just see him out of the corner of her eye. He immediately began shaking again. For good measure, he sniffled several times and even produced real tears.
His theatrics had no effect on Leslie. If anything, the older girl looked appalled by Kev’s behavior.
“I don’t want to do it. Don’t make me do it.” Kev grabbed Leslie’s arm and stared down at her through wide, frightened eyes. “The voices—the voices are so loud. Why me? Why do they want me, Lessie?”
Disgusted, Leslie tried to shake free from Kev’s vice-like grip. But he was like a starving python that’d finally located his first meal in months.
“Sir Tate?” Leslie called. The older guy strolled over to join Leslie. “I believe we have one for Dr. Wythe.” She indicated Kev with a nod.
“Of course. I will escort him myself.” Sir Tate tugged on Kev’s arm, both to pull him out of line and free Leslie’s purpling hand. This time, Kev didn’t resist. He released Leslie and transferred his focus to Sir Tate.
Sir Tate started to walk, attempting to drag the vid star along with him. Feet firmly planted, Kev refused to move. Sir Tate gave one hard yank on his arm, and Kev pulled free from him.
Hands covering his ears, Kev sank to his knees and began rocking back and forth.
“No, no, no!” he wailed piteously. “I’m special! I was chosen! It’s time to ascend. The voices don’t want me to, but I can’t let them win.”
His performance was flawless, garnering the attention of every eye in the room.
“Yes, he is definitely a candidate for Dr. Wythe,” Leslie said dryly.
Kev suddenly grabbed Cressa’s leg, locking his arms around her thigh in a steel embrace. Surprised, Cressa yelped. Then, she started to convulse. Every part of her body, from her eyelids to her pinky toes, was instantly wracked with spasms. The pain was horrific, and Cressa let loose a bloodcurdling scream. Still twitching violently, she collapsed on top of Kev.
“Make that two candidates for the doctor,” Leslie said. Those were the last words Cressa heard before silent darkness claimed her.
Talia
London, England
The Night Before the Vote
“No, Erik, you can’t,” I pleaded.
“This isn’t up for discussion. You are running, and I am going with you,” Erik insisted.
Victoria hadn’t sounded all that surprised to hear from me when I called for medical help for Bryn and Riley. The councilwoman also didn’t ask any questions beyond the basics. All she’d wanted to know was where to send her team. As soon as I’d disconnected, Erik had started fighting with me.
“I can’t let you do that,” I protested, albeit it weakly. I did want Erik to come with me. Being separated from him was agony. It was also necessary. UNITED would protect him. They would keep him safe on the islands, far out of reach of Nightshade and whoever else was hunting me. And he was Victoria’s golden boy; she wouldn’t let the council punish him too harshly for letting me go. Love was blind after all.
“Besides, I won’t be alone. Kenly will come with me, won’t you?” I glanced at my mentee beseechingly. She’d recovered from her encounter with the fake Erik and was focusing all of her attention on Bryn.
“I—yeah, of course. But Bryn…” Kenly trailed off, fresh tears welling in her eyes.
“I’ll stay with her,” James said.
“What? No. UNITED will arrest you,” Kenly replied.
“Not likely. I’m not Created, Kenly. They have no reason to arrest me,” James said.
“He’s right,” Penny interjected. “And, if he stays with his sister, they will both be taken to the islands, where they will be safe. Staying with Bryn guarantees them both spots. It’s the best plan.”
“No!” Erik shouted. “There has to be another option, a better option. I’m not leaving Talia. Brand? Help me out. How fast can Crane’s people get here?”
Brand ran his hands through his dark hair. “I don’t know. Not before UNITED. Is there somewhere safe you guys can hide until the medics get these two out of here?”
“The bunker,” James suggested.
“They’ll search this entire place looking for Talia,” Kenly said.
“I can help with that,” Brand responded gravely.
As a Perception Manipulator, Brand was able to disguise people and places. The trouble was, he didn’t actually alter appearances. His gift made it so that a specific person thought they were seeing something they weren’t. He was strong enough to manipulate large groups at once, but an entire platoon of trained UNITED agents was stretching it.
“He just needs to cloak the trapdoor to the bunker,” Kenly put in, growing excited by the prospect. “If he makes it look as though nothing is there, that it’s just a floor, it might work.”
“They’ll feel Talia,” Erik interrupted. “She’s too powerful. Her essence will be a dead giveaway. No door will prevent that.”
I smiled, finally seeing a ray of hope through the gloom. “No, but Emma will.”
Three minutes later, Kenly, Brand, Erik, and I were clim
bing through the trapdoor to the bunker. Penny and Miles stayed behind to wait for the medics, and the strike team that Victoria had likely sent to retrieve me. I hated Penny risking her freedom for me, but she’d insisted that this was the only option she’d go along with. She’d also pointed out that her uncle was a member of the UNITED council. Even if she was arrested, there was no way she’d serve much time.
Erik, however, wouldn’t let me out of his sight. Only after Brand explained that Crane intended to give me sanctuary in the States, for whatever that was worth, did I agree to let Erik hide with me. If our plan backfired, or Brand or Emma wasn’t strong enough to block us, at least we’d be SOL together.
“Okay, I’ve seen all I need to,” Brand said, surveying the bunker with mild interest. “I’ll make it so that no one will see the trapdoor. If they feel the floor though, they will still feel the handle. Other than that, I can make this space appear solid if they do an imaging scan.” He started back up the ladder.
I put my hand on Brand’s shoulder. He glanced down, grass green eyes full of alarm.
“Thank you. Honestly, Brand. I really appreciate this,” I told him sincerely.
“I’m not doing this for you,” he said gruffly.
“I know. That’s fine. I still appreciate it.”
Brand didn’t like me any better than the last time we’d seen each other. He was helping me for Penny. That was okay. The only reason I ever pretended to be play nice with Brand was for Penny’s sake. For some unfathomable reason, she loved the surly asshat. So, for her I tolerated his existence.
“Talia? What’s going on?” Lids still heavy with sleep, Emma emerged from one of the cubicles. Blonde hair stuck to one of her cheeks, and the other had creases from the pillow she’d slept on. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she laid eyes on Erik. “You’re him!”
Kip popped his head out from behind the divider. Dark circles and bloodshot eyes suggested that he hadn’t slept, but more likely watched Emma catch some Z’s instead.
I made quick introductions, giving Emma an overview of what I needed her to do.
“There is another option,” I told her after I finished explaining the plan.
“Talia,” Erik groaned inside my head, having read my intentions from my mind.
I ignored him and soldiered forward. “You and Kip can go upstairs. A woman named Victoria Walburton will be with the medics. If you tell her who you are, who Kip is, she will take you to the Isle of Exile.”
I understood that by sending Emma and Kip away, I was as good as caught. Erik was right when he’d said that UNITED’s agents would feel my essence. There was no way that Victoria would take Penny’s word that I’d left the club. Agents would tear this place apart looking for me. Emma was my only chance at escape. But her safety was more important. Kip’s safety was more important. The best place for him was in UNITED’s care.
“No.” It was Kip who answered. “We’re staying with you.” He held up a hand before I could make my first protest. “Em and I already talked about it. It sounds like our home has been compromised. I can’t go back. Not right now, anyhow. And I don’t want to hide behind UNITED. I want to know why those crazies want me. Maybe, I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Maybe they’re the ones who took my dad. If so, I might be able to learn the truth about his disappearance. If not, I still want answers. I deserve answers.”
Erik remained silent through Kip’s speech. I felt him sifting through my thoughts for the answers to the many questions running through his own mind. The more he uncovered, the angrier he became. It was hard to tell whom exactly that anger was directed towards, but he needed to calm down before those emotions manifested in an outpouring of power.
“Okay. That’s settled then,” I said to the surprise of both Emma and Kip. They expected me to argue. I might have, had Erik not been so close to losing control and UNITED agents not been about to bust through the club’s front door.
“They’re here,” Kenly said softly.
I glanced over at her. She pointed towards the wall of monitors with fingers covered in Bryn’s blood. Sure enough, one of the screens showed a raiding party strong-arming their way past the line of would be partiers, past the bouncers, and through the front doors of Pure Bliss.
“Emma? Can you do this? Can you mask my essence?” I asked.
“I already am. I can’t control my powers that well. I’m like the island, I just mess with that sort of thing.”
“Good. Thank you.” I turned back to Kenly. “Why don’t you get washed up? Where’s Willa? She can help you.”
Kenly nodded mutely.
“Willa’s resting. I’ll get her,” Emma offered. She started down the maze of dividers calling Willa’s name, Kip trailing on her heels.
I guided Kenly to one of the chairs behind the desk by the monitors. Shaking slightly, she clasped her blood-smeared hands in her lap and stared straight ahead at the screens. I didn’t know how to work the controls, but figured it couldn’t be that hard. I wanted to track the UNITED agents’ movements. Unfortunately, Kenly’s system was more complex than I’d anticipated, and Erik scooted me out of the way with a gentle nudge of his hip.
“Hey, sorry. I wanted a bit of lie down. Things have been…” Willa trailed off when she saw Kenly. “What’s happened? Is it Riley? Is he okay?” Her hazel eyes darted to the monitors, her hand flying to cover the gasp she let out when she saw him curled on the lounge floor.
“Medics are on the way,” I promised Willa.
As if on cue, six medics entered the lounge and headed directly for Bryn and Riley.
“I should go to him,” Willa said, but she didn’t move.
The four of us watched as the medics quickly assessed the damage and began administering first aid.
“Can you bring up the footage from the other cameras in the club?” I asked Erik.
He nodded and began typing away on the desktop. Seconds later, eight of the screens showed the club from varying angles. Downstairs, in the main bar area, the lights were on, and UNITED agents were moving through the crowd of stunned partygoers. More agents were filing into the kitchen, shouting words I couldn’t hear since the sound was off. Then, I saw her, Victoria Walburton, striding down the back hallway towards the VIP lounge. Frederick and Henri were with her, and all three wore grim expressions.
By the time Victoria and her entourage reached the lounge, the medics had Bryn and Riley on hover gurneys and were ready to transport them.
“Turn it up,” Willa insisted. “I want to know where they’re taking him.”
Erik obeyed. “It’ll be a UNITED base, Willa. You won’t be able to get on without credentials.”
“Buggar that.” This time Willa did move. She headed straight for the trapdoor, intent on following Riley.
“Wait! Willa you can’t. They might—” Kenly started to call after her.
“Don’t Kenly. You can’t stop me going after him. You’d do the same if it were James.” With that Willa disappeared through the trapdoor.
From the security footage inside the storage room, I knew the agents hadn’t reached the sub-levels yet. As long as Willa was quick, she’d be upstairs before anyone realized where she’d come from. Getting out of the club was a whole other issue, since UNITED was detaining everyone inside.
“There are several discrete exits,” Kenly told me hollowly, as though she’d read my mind.
This was exactly what I’d hoped for, and it came as no surprise. The bunker had been built long before Kenly needed a place to hide, and a lot of planning had gone into the production and concealment.
“Including one out of here?” I asked.
Kenly nodded.
“Good. We might need it,” Erik said gravely.
For the next two hours, Erik, Kenly, and I kept our eyes glued to the monitors. Emma and Kip joined us for parts of the show, leaving only to pack bags of food and clothing in case we needed to make a quick exit. While the news of a second way out of the bunker was up
lifting, Kip’s announcement that he’d regained enough strength to teleport was even better. We had one syringe of the booster left. I’d intended for Kip to use it to get him and Emma home, but if things turned south, he would need it to get all five of us out of the bunker.
Though we both wanted to say so many things to one another, Erik and I barely spoke. Our reunion would have to wait until we no longer had an audience.
Thanks to a very pointed conversation between Penny and Victoria, we were able to confirm that Riley and Bryn would be taken directly to the islands, via a fully equipped medi-hover. James refused to go along. Personally, I didn’t believe this was the smartest decision, but I understood. Even without reading his thoughts, I knew that while James cared about Riley and his sister, Kenly’s safety was most important. And, truthfully, there was nothing he could do for Bryn or his friend. They were in proficient hands, with the best medical team available treating their injuries.
Victoria stayed to oversee the entire operation, and though she said all the right words, I could tell that her heart wasn’t in the search. She took Penny’s word that I’d fled with Erik and Kenly. To my immense relief, there was no mention of sanctions, and Victoria also seemed glad that I’d dodged her bullet. Almost. Worry lines were etched into her expression. I was positive they had more to do with the treaty vote than me, but I couldn’t help thinking that deep down the austere councilwoman was concerned with my wellbeing. Or, at the very least, she was worried about my talents falling into the wrong hands. Either way.
Two of the mysterious assassins—the woman who looked like Penny, and the second man I’d barely taken notice of—were alive. On one level, I knew this was best. UNITED would interrogate them, find out who they worked for and why they were surgically altered to look like the people closest to me, and maybe even learn the identity of the mastermind who had hired Nightshade. The problem was I wanted to interrogate them. I wanted firsthand knowledge of the secrets lurking inside their heads. Yes, Kenly and her nimble fingers could unearth UNITED’s reports on the interrogation sessions. That would take time, though, and I was impatient.