None of the Brighthalls had been allowed to talk to Emma in the days following her arrest. In fact, we were all questioned to find out if we were involved in her plan. I wasn’t certain the council completely believed a teenager had managed to create so much chaos under the nose of her own family, but they hadn’t found any evidence indicting us. They wouldn’t let any of the Brighthalls attend Emma’s trial, only allowing us to watch the trial and sentencing via a satellite feed from our warehouse.
Finally, I swallowed and managed to speak. “Hello, Emma.”
I saw a muscle move in her jaw when she clenched her teeth, but she didn’t speak.
Even though Emma had admitted under interrogation by the Council that she’d been recruited by Mountain of Ash two years ago, she’d never said why she was willing to join them. She’d been recruited just before her significant ability manifested, right before she started training at the warehouse. She’d been so afraid of not measuring up to Uncle Dan’s expectations that she started doing extra training late at night in Forest Park. That was where she’d been approached by a woman who floated down from a tree to land in front Emma one night. This woman beguiled Emma by telling her she was underappreciated and her talents were being wasted by the Brighthalls. The woman hoped Emma would agree to use her many talents for another family of sorts.
Over several meetings, the woman, whom Emma knew as Cassie, explained the goals and plan of the organization called Mountain of Ash. According to them, there were too few supernormals compared to the normals, and it was necessary to level the playing field. Emma stuck to what she’d told us under the bridge. She called it the Scorched Earth plan, but all she would say was she was tapped to be one of builders of the new world.
Cassie was Emma’s only contact in Mountain of Ash. Emma didn’t know the leaders or even any other members. She didn’t even know where Cassie came from, since they only met in Forest Park and only when Emma got a text from an untraceable phone number. If the council’s search hadn’t turned up a stash of fire sticks with the Mountain of Ash’s symbol on them buried in a box Emma admitted burying in Forest Park, they wouldn’t have believed she knew anything about the group. Even so, I got the impression from Emma’s sentencing the Council was still skeptical that Mountain of Ash was really involved. No one had heard of Mountain of Ash in seven years and the Council wasn’t convinced the group still existed.
Those were the facts she gave the Council, but I needed to know what she had never revealed. Why did she hate us so much that she would betray her family and create so much chaos? Could she give me any information on how to find the leaders of Mountain of Ash?
I leaned forward, planting my elbows on the small ledge in front of me. “I’ve come for some answers.” This time I didn’t wait for her to speak. “How could you? How could you align yourself with the people who killed my mother?”
Emma gave me a condescending look before raising her chin and staring past me as if I wasn’t sitting there.
Trying to control the anger inside me, I took a deep breath and blew it out in a huff. I spared a moment to be glad of the dampening field; though I’d had my significant ability for a month, I still had some trouble controlling it as several stuffed animals and walls could prove. Aunt Kate had to lock me in the fireproof room on the day Emma was sentenced or I might have burned down the warehouse. After that, I’d spent a lot of time learning how to use my ice abilities, the counter balance to my fire abilities.
At least in Ley Prison, I didn’t have to worry about setting anything on fire.
“Emma, Mountain of Ash killed my mother, your aunt. They killed many innocent people. And from what you tell us, they plan to kill more, a lot more.” I shook my head. “I don’t understand. How can being angry at Uncle Dan be a reason to join these horrible people?”
Nothing from Emma, not even a flicker in her eyes to indicate she’d heard me.
“Emma, can you at least help me?” I hoped there was still some of the girl who had been my best friend inside of Emma. “Mountain of Ash is responsible for my mother’s death.” Repeating this fact might get through to her. I struggled to keep my voice calm and reasonable. “Please help me find them and stop them from killing more people.”
She continued to look past me, ignoring me. Anger burst through my control and I lunged forward to grip the bars of her cage. “Dammit Emma, answer me!”
One of the guards wrapped a hand around my arm and pulled me back without a word. He gave me a stern glare before releasing me. I nodded my acquiescence as I settled back into my chair. I trembled and fought to control my breathing, blinking back tears.
Emma never moved, except for her eyes, which focused on mine when I lunged at her. She pressed her lips together until they went white as if she trying hold in words. When she did finally speak, all she said was, “I’m done here; please take me back to my cell.”
The guards looked at me for confirmation. I sighed and nodded. I couldn’t believe she wasn’t going to answer my questions, but I didn’t see much point in sitting here any longer. As the guards led her away, I slumped in my chair and stared at my trembling hands.
Once she disappeared through the heavy door leading to the cells, I sat for a moment longer, absorbing what had happened. I put my head in my hands and then lifted it with a sigh. I stood up, feeling like I’d been sitting for hours when the whole episode had only lasted for about five minutes. I reached into my pocket for the paper the warden had reluctantly given me when I’d met with him earlier.
The guard said, “Take you back out now, ma’am?”
My stomach roiled with my answer. “No, there’s someone else I have to see before I leave.” I glanced at the paper I held in my hand. “Block AH-6.”
The guard gave me a sharp look. “Where the high security villains are kept?”
I nodded and clenched my fist; yes, I really wanted him to take me where the criminals with the most feared abilities were locked up.
The guard raised an eyebrow and said, “I’m sorry ma’am. I’ll need to check for approval first.”
I nodded and waited while he made the call. When he got off the phone he said, “Follow me,” in a surprised tone.
The visitors’ room was on level two, so I’d already experienced the elevator that could only move if guards with special keying abilities rode in it. This time we took the elevator further down into the earth to level six. The dampening field grew stronger the further we went down; I could feel the field like a case enclosing my body. When the elevator opened to reveal a long corridor ending in a massive door with two guards standing on either side, I barely felt any of my abilities. I twitched, unnerved by how weak I felt. Was this how normals always felt?
The two guards flanking the door watched us impassively as we walked down the long, blank corridor towards them. Neither guard spoke until we were standing in front of them.
“Inmate code?” The guard spoke without any inflection. I looked at him closely and was surprised to discover he was some kind of robot. The solid silver eyes with red pupils gave it away.
My voice trembled as I answered. “Number AH-6-67547.”
The guard didn’t move, and I almost repeated the inmate code, but finally the robot said, “Access granted. Ten minutes only once the doors open.”
I started to protest, but the human guard accompanying me said, “Don’t bother. You can’t change their minds.”
I frowned, but the doors were opening, marking the beginning of my ten-minute visit, so I decided not to waste the time arguing.
The doors were made of metal as thick as my arm, and I could see slots for heavy bars inset within the doors. Beyond the doors were more guards. Human, this time, because one of them gave me a small, sympathetic smile. I wondered if he knew who I was visiting, or if he was sympathetic to anyone who came to visit someone at the level where the most feared villains were kept.
Beyond the guards was another corridor, this one broken up with doors set on either side.
The place was eerily quiet; none of the inmates could be heard from within their confines.
One of the human guards spoke, making me jump. “Number AH-6-67547 is this way. Please follow me.”
The metal doors started to close behind me. I glanced back at the guard who had accompanied me from the visitors’ room. He said as the doors closed, “I’m not cleared for this block. I’ll wait for you to finish.” The doors drew shut with a soft click.
I was getting more creeped out by the moment. With a shiver, I followed the second guard.
I couldn’t help looking into the cells as we passed them. One woman was locked in a coffin standing upright; all I could see was her face, but it was enough to see she was awake. She glared and mouthed something furiously at me as I walked by her door.
The next door was filled with steam, and I couldn’t see who was inside. I thought I heard a thump on the door as we passed, but when I glanced back there was nothing to be seen.
Finally, we reached my destination. I waited for the guard to leave, but he just said, “Ma’am, I have to stay right here.”
I wanted him to go away, but I felt the ten-minute window getting smaller, so I clenched my teeth together. I walked to the window of the cell and peered in. The occupant was lying in a peaceful sleep on the bed in the center of the room – peaceful-looking until I noticed the many lines running drips that linked to softly beeping monitors showing the usual vital signs. There were at least three monitors devoted to brain activity.
I put a hand on the window and let my tears fall. It wasn’t fair. Ben had stopped Emma and saved us. It wasn’t right. However, the Council was adamant. Ben had used his forbidden abilities too many times. His sentence was a coma for five years.
I wasn’t dormant anymore. I’d embraced my family legacy and discovered my abilities. But I couldn’t do anything for Ben. I could only cry and feel powerless.
About the Author
Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, LeeAnn Elwood McLennan was always looking for any opportunity to read – under the covers in bed, in the car, and in class using the book hidden in the textbook trick. When her father introduced her to sci-fi/fantasy through a book of short stories from Astounding Stories, she was captivated by the possibilities in every word, and her daydreams involved other worlds, magical powers, and time travel. Despite graduating from Clemson University with a degree in English, LeeAnn has spent her career working in computer engineering related fields. She lives in Portland, OR with her husband, Andy, and two cats (number of cats subject to change at any moment).
Special Thanks
To my amazing writing group – Warren Easley, Alison Jakel, Janice Maxson, Debby Dodds, and Lisa Alber – you are my village and you manage to keep me from sounding like the idiot. Kate Scott, thank you for your advice on matters bookish.
Since it has been far too long since I was a fourteen-year- old girl, many thanks to Alexandra Fig for answering my questions about what it’s like to be a teenager in Portland. Growing up in Portland is very different than growing up in Fort Worth, Texas!
Thank you to Benjamin and Paige Gorman and all the folks at Not a Pipe Publishing for taking a chance on my series and for giving me the opportunity to tell Olivia’s story to a larger audience!
Thank you to the dedicated editors Madeleine Hannah, Brionna Poppitz, and Sydney Culpepper for giving Dormant the once (or thrice) over. I’m grateful for the time and effort spent on my words! I promise to get better at comma use in the future.
To my sister, Sally Beezley, her husband Mark and their son William Maxwell, for your encouragement.
To my mother, Ann Elwood, thank you for installing and supporting my love of reading. It was heavenly growing up as the kid of reading teacher!
To my father, William Elwood, thank for introducing me to science fiction and fantasy books! I wish you were around to read my stories.
To my husband, Andy McLennan, I’m grateful every day that you’re in my life. And that you take conversations about supernormals as seriously as I do.
Sample of
The Supernormal Legacy:
Book 2
Root
Coming in June from
Not a Pipe Publishing
Chapter 1
I jerked awake, fully alert, jumping out of bed and calling flames to my hands before I was completely aware of my surroundings. Crouching down, I searched for the menace that had interrupted my sleep.
I was all alone in my bedroom, except for my cat Boo Radley glaring at me from atop a bookshelf. Peaceful, early Saturday morning light filtered through the window shades, utterly failing to highlight any danger. I slowly came out of my defensive posture but kept my hands alight with fire.
Something was wrong. My head felt jittery as if I’d had too much Red Bull, even though, like all supernormals, I now avoided energy drinks. We risked becoming too hyped up and losing control over our abilities. The last time I’d had an energy drink was two months ago on Christmas Eve when I’d set fire to the Christmas tree after downing two in quick succession. Luckily, my intense training with Uncle Dan paid off when I quickly called on my ability to extinguish fires. Only a few branches of the tree were actually charred. Dad merely sighed and turned the burned part of the tree to the wall. He also threw out any caffeinated drinks – except coffee. I’d probably have to burn down the house before he gave up his morning cup of coffee.
Boo growled softly, his tail lashing while his amber eyes fixated on the flames covering my hands. I stayed still, listening and smelling for danger since I didn’t see anything hostile in the room. Nothing pinged, unless the smell of Dad’s Saturday morning waffles disguised a threat. I could hear him clattering around in the kitchen downstairs, but the noises sounded like standard kitchen racket for a weekend.
I let the flames in my hands die out and drew a deep breath, my heart still racing. Despite all the signs of a calm morning, I was still convinced something was wrong. I sat down on my bed, trying to think, but a murmuring voice distracted me. I twisted around, searching for the source of the voice.
Boo crept out from his hiding spot and jumped on the bed, nudging my hand with his nose. I rubbed his head absently. A glance at the clock made me wince – I’d only gotten three hours of sleep. There’d been an unusual amount of supernormal beast activity in Portland over the past two weeks. Typically, only a few monsters a month invaded the area, but there’d been at least seven hunts in the past fourteen days. Beast hunting used to be exciting, but now it was becoming an unattractive chore, especially since I had to balance it with high school. Rolling my shoulders, sore from using my sword so frequently, I hoped for a slow hunting weekend.
The murmuring voice swelled in volume, and I realized the soft, insistent noise in my head was what had awakened me so abruptly. Closing my eyes, I focused, trying to make out any words in the garbled sounds. Boo meowed in protest when I jerked, my hand accidently pulling his fur. I barely noticed his leap from the bed because I was too busy gasping as flashes of images, like little Instagrams, fragments of ripped up photos, joined the whispering voice in a quick onslaught on my senses.
I clenched my fist on my pillow when the words and images synchronized into a brief, coherent burst before dissipating altogether. All that remained was the afterimage of a blond woman, dressed in a prison jumpsuit, sitting down directly in line of sight, leaning forward intently and saying, ‘Emma, we must go soon. They won’t wait much longer before acting.’ Her cold, calculating expression left me with a feeling of restless uneasiness, making me want to shove her away, get her out of my head.
The smell of smoke broke into my jumbled thoughts. My pillow had caught fire under my hand. I sighed as I reached out and pulled the flames back into my hand. Not good – setting something on fire without realizing it – I’d trained hard over the past six months to govern my abilities, energy drinks notwithstanding.
“Olivia!” Dad banged on my bedroom door. “Are you okay? I smell smoke.”
; “Yeah.” I stuffed the ruined pillow in the trash can and walked over to open my door. Boo ran past me into the hall, disappearing down the stairs – either scared or hungry. “Sorry, I had a…” I stopped short of saying the word vision. “...bad dream.”
Calling what I’d seen a dream made more sense than explaining that I’d seen a vision. Supernormals didn’t see visions. It just didn’t happen. We could develop a varied range of abilities, but, for some reason, psychic powers weren’t one of them. The truth was, if a supernormal did see visions, it was a sign of insanity. I thrust away that awful thought. Anyway, I already had my supernormal significant ability of fire and ice on top of my basic package powers of super speed, smell, sight, strength and hearing. No one ever got an additional significant ability after the first one manifested.
Dad frowned, looking concerned. “Must have been some nightmare.” He glanced at the pillow stinking up my trash can. “Do you need to talk about it with me or your mom’s family?”
My eye caught the date on my Yoga Cats calendar.
March 1st. Emma’s birthday.
My subconscious sure picked a crazy way to remind me. Nice job, mind. Why it decided to think of her in prison instead of a happy memory was incomprehensible to me.
“Olivia?” Dad prompted me.
“Oh, no, I’m good.” Emma’s birthday triggered a weird image of her life as it was now – yeah, that was it.
Despite my assurances that I’d imagined it, I couldn’t forget the image of the woman. Her face disturbed me, but I couldn’t figure why because there was nothing alarming about it. The woman’s prison-pale skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair combined to create a face that was attractive but forgettable. She could have been any of the moms who volunteered at my high school. However, there was something off about her appearance, as if the bland face was a mask that didn’t fit quite right.
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