Starborn (The Order of Orion Book 1)

by Samantha Jane

  Granger shouted across the crash of the waves on the nearby rocks. “Who’s got the balls to go first?” It was like Granger was making a bad pirate joke—walk the plank into the turbulent seas.

  No one answered as they stared at the ropes hanging in mid-air and the plank sticking out leading to nowhere except the water below. The energy around her shifted to fear. Paige clung to Gabriel’s arm and even Isobel looked scared. Squaring her shoulders, Willow stepped forward.

  “That figures.” Granger bowed and waved her forward. Obviously, he was still smarting over the bitch slap.

  Willow looked down at her scuffed shoes, almost ruined by her adventures of the last twenty-four hours. Without taking her eyes off them, she inched across the plank, one step at a time. When she reached the end, she glanced back to meet Lucas’ eyes briefly. His gaze gave no sign of his thoughts or feelings. Straightening her spine, she took a deep breath and stepped off the plank and landed on a timber dock. In shock, she scanned the now visible structure, her mind trying to wrap around what she was seeing. Some sort of mind trick? The rest of the Queensgate group disembarked and cried out their amazement. Together they were led along the dock to the entrance of what she first thought was a cave. On closer inspection, she realized it was a modern underground building, with the entrance carved into the cliff face. Electric doors opened at their approach, revealing another world. The walls and floors were bright white. The ceiling was bright white. Everything in sight was bright white.

  Corridors led off in various directions. Dozens of people, all dressed in black, stood in front of the many rooms, watching their arrival with interest. She scanned each person’s face hoping for a glimpse of her sister, not caring that Lucas had said Eve wasn’t here. Hope had driven her for years; she wasn’t about to give up now.

  “Look at this place,” said Paige in wonder, her brown eyes taking everything in as they continued down the endless corridors.

  “I wonder if they have a full sport facility.” Gabriel ogled the indoor squash and tennis courts.

  Isobel’s eyes danced with excitement and her blue hair even more vivid with the backdrop of the endless white. “Look at that hydro-garden! Anyone else feeling like Alice down the rabbit hole?”

  Willow noted the security cameras and electronic systems, and said nothing, unable to give herself completely over to the place. Uneasiness held her back, fear for Isobel ever present in the back of her mind, and if she was honest with herself, fear for all of them. There would be no quick escapes from an underground bunker on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. They’d made a choice that put them at the mercy of some ancient society, a society that had its own private military. After what happened to her as a child she wasn’t a fan of the government, but it had its uses, like laws. Checks and balances. Options.

  At last they came to a standstill in front of a segregated area marked Neophytes. An older woman with a French accent greeted them at the door. “Welcome to the Sanctuary. I’m Juliette. You’ll be staying in this section of the facility for the next few days during your auditing period. Women will be housed in the dorm to our right, while…” She looked at Gabriel, “…you’ll be in another room down the corridor.”

  She handed out red clothing to each of them consisting of a simple T-shirt and pants.

  “Wait, are you serious?” Isobel held up the clothing with disdain. “We have to wear these ugly red outfits? Why not black like the rest of you?”

  Granger snorted behind them and Willow turned to see him and Lucas, as well as the tiny brunette from the ship, observing them.

  “Cherie,” said Juliette. “You’re new to our home. And new to your abilities. You’re a potential threat to our safety and probably yourself.” She smiled gently. “The red helps us identify you from our regular population.”

  Isobel held the outfit up against herself. “It’s like a prison jumpsuit.”

  Juliette’s smile slipped. “You’ll be shown to your beds where you’ll find toiletries and other personal items. Food will be sent to your room and you’ll have the chance to rest for the day before having an early night.” She picked up a clipboard from a nearby desk. “Your auditing process will begin tomorrow at 08:30. Please don’t leave your room or attempt to tour the Sanctuary before then.”

  Isobel’s eyes bulged. “What? We’ve been cooped up in a van and then a boat, and now you’re telling us we have to stay in a room all day and all night? Prison, much?”

  “You need your rest, Cherie,” said Juliette.

  Gabriel was escorted by a male guard down the corridor while Juliette gestured the women to follow her in the opposite direction, taking them right past Lucas. Willow’s gaze sought his as they approached him and his comrades. He nodded to Juliette and then his green eyes met Willow’s gaze as she drew close. Almost against her will, her feet slowed. Irrationally, she didn't want to leave him. “Will we see you again?” she said, hesitating.

  The brunette from the dock smiled with her teeth. “Not likely, honey. Lucas prefers to be out on missions than hold the hands of the newly arrived Starborn.”

  Willow’s smile froze in place. She activated her aura to get a better read on this unfriendly woman, but her aura was impenetrable. It didn’t matter. The woman’s attitude said it all. First. Rate. Bitch.

  Lucas’ deep voice cut through the awkward silence. “You’ll be okay. You’re safe here.”

  “My sister?” Willow asked quietly.

  He nodded. “I’ll get the research team to look into it.”

  The brunette frowned and Willow repressed the juvenile urge to flip her the bird.

  Granger nodded his head toward Juliette and the Queensgate women, who were walking down the corridor. “Hurry along, Doc. Off you go like a good girl.”

  Willow’s gaze returned to Lucas but he said nothing, his lips firmly pressed in a tight line. No goodbyes then. She nodded at all three of them and with her head held high, followed the women to their new quarters. She wouldn’t think about him, or his green eyes she told herself. She’d focus on finding out all she could about this place and hopefully find her sister in the process.

  8

  Lucas

  After watching Juliette escort the Queensgate group to their dorms, Lucas and Granger headed to the Starborn military department. They passed under the familiar crest of The Order, the constellation of Orion, and entered the large open plan room. Inside, officers were discussing current and future operations in various booths. Video screens lined the walls, broadcasting maps and images of people. The murmur of general conversation halted when the two men were sighted. Most officers stood and stared. Lucas wasn’t surprised. It was the first time in recent history a mission hadn’t been completed as ordered; a serious violation of the strict Starborn codes that protected the secrecy and safety of the society. If the Council Elders disagreed with his decision to spare Willow Trilby, there would be serious fall out. Granger responded to the stares with exaggerated waves of hello, playing the cocksure fool, unwilling to act contrite or undermine Lucas in front of their colleagues.

  As annoying as he was, Granger had stepped up with the Queensgate fiasco. While Lucas had carried Willow to safety, Granger had eliminated the security footage and ushered the terrified Starborn patients out to the van. No easy task for a rookie, but he’d proved himself. Now, as they checked in their weapons at the depository, Granger said nothing, content to follow Lucas’ lead.

  A guard from the Elder’s Council appeared. “Sir, you and Granger are required at the Council immediately.”

  Lucas nodded. Keeping his favorite Beretta in his shoulder holster, he secured the last of his weapons in the weapons hold and left for the Council room. Carved into the cliff face, it was one of the few rooms to have a window in the Sanctuary. The six Elders sat in a horseshoe formation facing the ocean; floor to ceiling glass allowing them to watch waves crash against the rocks below. Visitors didn't get the view—he and Granger stood with their backs to the window
in the testimony area.

  “Lucas Black. It has come to our attention that you’ve brought your kill order back here to the Sanctuary, our safe haven for over a century. What say you in your defense?” said Wren Farrow, the Council’s leader.

  In her forties, her petite form belied the power she could wield amongst ordinary humans and other Starborn. As a gifted cognitive telepath, she could detect deceit presented to the Council, as well as judge a Starborn’s commitment to their secrecy and safety pledges. It made her a strong leader and a formidable opponent. She’d been voted in four times by the Starborn community, and this was her twelfth year on the Council. Her gaze zeroed in on him and he felt her try to enter his mind. As Mercurian Starborn, they could block each other’s ability, and instinctively he pushed back at her power. Her eyes narrowed when she couldn't penetrate his shield.

  In deference, Lucas bowed his head. “Council, I continue to pledge allegiance to uphold the safety and secrecy of my Starborn sisters and brothers.”

  “Yes, yes. Your recent actions, however, suggest otherwise. Bringing back a kill order. Tell us the reason for your insubordination?”

  She was severely pissed and again tried to access his memories. Although it went against his nature, Lucas lowered his shield.

  “Doctor Willow Trilby is Starborn,” he said. “I couldn’t in all honor proceed with my mission without giving her the chance to prove herself.”

  “And do you have proof?” asked Oliver, an Elder with animal telepathy. Balding and ruddy-cheeked, he was a strong supporter of Wren’s traditionalist approach to running The Order of Orion.

  “Not fully, but I have felt her power.”

  Wren stood and placed her palms on the table. “We can’t have our teams flagrantly ignoring protocol.”

  Lucas’ gaze sought the rest of the Council, his gaze stopping at Isaiah. A Sola Starborn with dark brown skin, he was greatly respected because of his gift of foresight and measured approach to Council issues.

  “I did what I thought was right,” he said, looking directly at Isaiah. The Elder Starborn stared back, saying nothing.

  Oliver turned to face Wren. “We have rules, procedures. Things that keep us united.”

  Thea, one of the younger and less experienced Elders, spoke up, “Madame Wren, I think it would be wrong to make a judgment without hearing more.” Her hazel eyes, framed by chunky black glasses, were alight with interest. Ignoring Wren’s thunderous expression, Thea motioned him to speak. “You must have been convinced about her power to ignore your mission brief. What is her power? What made you think she might be one of us? ”

  Lucas shifted uneasily. “I felt feelings that weren’t my own.” As soon as it came out of his mouth, he wished he could retrieve it. Granger jerked beside him as he tried to hold back laughter. He refused to cower and addressed the whole Council. “Years of experience have taught me to trust my instincts. I believe she is an emotional telepath.”

  Wren’s expression lost some of its stone-faced superiority, and the other Elders murmured excitedly. Wren waited until the Council quietened before speaking. “It has been decades since we have had someone with such a gift. The implications are interesting.”

  He’d known his statement would catch their attention. An emotional telepath had the potential for significant power. Creating false feelings in another could lead to control of their behavior, and although cognitive telepaths could read another’s thoughts and even project their own, this allowed only communication. Without the accompanying emotion, they couldn’t influence another’s behavior. Willow on the other hand, could possibly gain control over others if her gift was fully realized.

  “What else do we know of her?” asked Wren, her voice still severe.

  Lucas addressed the room with a neutral voice. “She’s been obsessed with telepathy and telekinesis. Her PhD examined the rates of suicide in patients with delusional disorder with a belief in supernatural ability. This is why The Order red-flagged her as a threat.” He addressed each of the Elders. “Her ability does not easily reveal itself like others, but I am confident she is Starborn.”

  Wren and the Council conferred for a few minutes before she announced their verdict. “From your testimony today we’re satisfied you chose the path you thought best for our society. It is our decision that she will join the others to undergo auditing tomorrow and proceed through the induction process.” Wren walked around the semicircle of Council Elders until she stopped in front of him and Granger. “If she is unable to demonstrate her ability at the final initiation ritual, you’ll eliminate her as originally decreed.”

  Lucas noticed a look pass between Thea and two other Council Elders, Chen and Ethan, at Wren’s words. The three of them favored a more lenient approach to dealing with ordinaries and lobbied for a ban on kill orders as a first point of call in trying to keep The Order secret. He hoped Willow would pass her audit and not be a test case for Council solidarity. Isaiah had said little today and Lucas worried that the Council was being cleaved in two.

  Bowing to the Council, he tried to show no emotion. “As you wish, Madam Wren, Council Elders.”

  Wren referred to the paper in front of her. “On the matter of the extra patient you have brought back. Isobel Stone. What is her power?”

  “I have no evidence of her ability,” said Lucas, his gut tightening. “She begged to return with us.”

  “Since when do you listen to patients from mental asylums?” Wren frowned. “All of this is most unusual.”

  Granger stepped forward. “Madame Wren, if I could address the Council?”

  Wren nodded.

  “We were under considerable pressure with Noctem getting the jump on us,” said Granger. “Again.”

  Lucas glanced at the rookie in surprise. He was referring to their mission last month when Noctem had beaten them to a teenager identified as Starborn. Maybe Granger wasn’t all brawn—distracting the Council from Isobel with talk of Noctem was a good strategy.

  Oliver addressed his Council colleagues. “The appearance of Noctem for two of our collect orders is cause for concern. We must consider a military approach to dealing with them.”

  Thea shook her head. “That way will lead to a war. One that might cost us hundreds of lives.”

  Oliver rolled his eyes. “Would you have us hold hands with an enemy? You’re too soft. You want to modernize us but our strict ways have helped keep us safe. Noctem should not be underestimated. Their power and reach is growing. ”

  Talk of Noctem set Lucas on edge. Memories surfaced of his time with them and of his brother being brutally tortured. He didn't want to get caught up in political machinations, but he needed to say his piece. “We must stop emerging Starborn from falling into Noctem’s hands. I don't know whether that is through war or better research. I’m no politician, but whatever we do we must do it better.”

  All six Council Elders bowed their heads in agreement. None had been subjected to Noctem’s depravity, but all knew what Lucas had experienced.

  Wren stood and walked to the testimony area and faced him and Granger. “You did well to eliminate Noctem at Queensgate and bring the collect orders back safe and sound. We will give Trilby and Stone a chance to prove themselves. If they do not, then you will eliminate both of them.”

  9

  Willow

  Their room wasn’t fancy, but it wasn’t a dump either, and Willow had been around plenty of dumps in her younger years. Juliette had deposited them in an apartment type room with two bedrooms. The color scheme, like the rest of the compound, was white. Crisp straitjacket white. They spent a few minutes exploring their suite, finding few clues about the Starborn headquarters. Willow plopped down on a white leather sofa and tried to lighten the mood. “It would be nice if they had given us a welcome package with activity options.”

  “Maybe the opening hours of the spa treatment,” said Isobel, who joined her on the sofa.

  Paige smiled shyly. “I would love a foot massage.”


  But joking quickly turned to speculation. “How many people do you think live here?” asked Isobel.

  “It’s hard to say, but the corridors seemed endless,” answered Willow.

  “The elevator we passed on the way here had seven levels on the panel,” Paige offered quietly.

  “Seven?” Isobel leaned forward in excitement. “That could mean hundreds.”

  Willow shook her head in wonder. “What could they all be doing?”

  “Who knows, they could have their own Hogwarts Academy going on. What I want to know is what sort of powers these people have.” Isobel looked over at Willow. “So we know Granger is spark boy...and Lucas….he can do some sort of memory wipe thing?”

  Willow nodded.

  And send my body wild with desire.

  The memory of Lucas’ hands on her body sent a shiver down her spine.

  A knock at the door sounded and thankfully interrupted the conversation. A young woman entered with a trolley full of delicious smelling breakfast food. She refused to answer their questions about the Sanctuary, and wished them an enjoyable meal like they were staying at some sort of high-end hotel. Ravenous, they ate until full and then lay prone on the sofa. For the next few hours they speculated on what might happen tomorrow. At first, their time spent chatting in camaraderie was disconcerting to Willow who had always isolated herself on purpose, finding it easier to keep others at arm’s-length because of her ability. But as the day drew to a close, she relaxed and enjoyed connecting with her patients without the boundaries and rules of therapy. The stress of the last few days though had worn them all out and by early evening they fell into their bunks eager for sleep.

  Incessant banging on their door woke them in the morning. Disorientated, the girls swung the door open to find the diminutive brunette from the ship.