The Naturals Trilogy

by Madeline Freeman

  The pressure of his fingers on her wrist steadily increased as he spoke and Morgan winced. “Kellen, you’re hurting me.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, but he didn’t relax his grip. “This is the way it has to be, Morgan. Trust me, it’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

  She tried to pry his fingers off her, but his hold was unrelenting. “I don’t understand. When you came to me in the dream, you were warning me, trying to help me. Now, what? You’re going to deliver me to Orrick yourself? Did you just want to be the one to get the glory, not this Aurelia girl?”

  Something in his eyes softened as she spoke. “Morgan, I—”

  “Kellen!” called a male voice from the front of the store. “We’ve got this one secured. Bring the girl. We’ve gotta get outta here.”

  Abruptly, Kellen released Morgan’s wrist. “Hit me,” he said quietly.

  “What?”

  “Morgan, hit me.” When she didn’t make a move to comply with his directions, he continued. “If you’re going to escape, it has to look convincing.”

  “Kellen?” called the voice from the front of the store. “You coming, man?”

  “Morgan—”

  She didn’t need to be told again. Balling up her fist, Morgan punched Kellen’s face with all the power she could muster. He staggered backward, and Morgan pushed him to the ground for good measure. Then she turned and ran out the back door.

  It took every ounce of her will to keep her body from moving to the front of the store where Corbin was being held. She could Feel him, his terror, and all she wanted was to go to him. But she was also positive that trying to free him now was a fool’s errand. She focused her energy on Corbin, hoping she could convey these feelings to him. She knew she was successful when, moments later, she Felt his elation that she hadn’t been captured and his urgency that she must leave—now.

  She didn’t stop running until she got to Lia’s car. Throwing herself into the passenger seat, she slammed the door behind her. “Drive.”

  Lia just stared at Morgan. “But where’s—”

  “Go, Lia, go! They have Corbin! And they’re gonna get us unless you go now!”

  Without another word, Lia put the car into gear and sped off down the street. After a dozen or so miles had been put between themselves and the shopping complex, Lia reached out her hand and placed it on Morgan’s forearm.

  Morgan sniffed and realized only then that she was crying. She pulled at the sleeve of her shirt and wiped her eyes with it. “They got Corbin,” she whispered. “They got him.”

  “We’ll get him back.”

  Morgan opened her mouth to ask how she intended to do that, but stopped herself. Fresh tears streamed down her face.

  When Lia finally stopped the car, they were in the parking lot to a mall Morgan didn’t recognize. She turned toward Morgan, a closed, almost detached look on her face. “Was your mom there?”

  “I didn’t see her,” Morgan said. “Someone stopped me before I could get through the wall.”

  “Wait—someone stopped you? How’d you get away?”

  Morgan closed her eyes for a moment. “Kellen let me go.”

  “Kellen just… let you go?” she asked, sounding disbelieving.

  “It was weird. At first, he was going on about how I had to be with the Veneret and help Orrick and then… he let me go.”

  Lia just watched her for a moment. Finally, she asked, “Okay, so what do we do now?”

  Morgan shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  Just then, her phone rang.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It seemed to Morgan that a geological age passed before Tesin’s Range Rover pulled up beside Lia’s car. Morgan had been pacing outside since Lia announced that Morgan’s incessant tapping was driving her crazy. When Tesin parked, Morgan was at his door before he could open it.

  “Morgan.” Tesin embraced her as he climbed out of his SUV. “I’m so sorry. I never would’ve sent you if I thought—”

  Morgan pushed out of the hug. “How do we fix it?”

  “Well, do you want the good news first? Or the really good news?” Tesin asked, managing a small smile.

  “How about the bad news?” Lia offered, joining them between the cars.

  Morgan glared at her for a moment before turning her attention back to Tesin. “I could use some good news.”

  Tesin nodded at her. “After I called you, I… Well, I kinda put myself in a trance. It’s something Knowers can do when they’re trying to be especially open to visions. I wanted to make sure everything was gonna turn out okay with you and your mom. The vision didn’t make sense to me, though. It didn’t have anything to do with your mom. It was all about Corbin.” He offered a genuine smile. “I know where Orrick’s keeping Corbin. And there’s someone there who can help you get him.”

  “Really?” Morgan asked, a wave of relief washing over her. “Is he okay?”

  “For now, yes. And he’ll be great once you guys go get him.”

  “Yeah, because that worked out so well last time,” Lia snapped.

  “Lia,” Morgan warned.

  “What?” she asked, not stepping down. “Do you have brain damage or something? We just went on a rescue mission and that didn’t exactly turn out well. Now you want to jump into another one? What if we both end up captured next time?” She closed her eyes for a moment, exhaling. “I think we have to call—”

  “Don’t even say it,” Morgan said.

  “This time it’s different,” Tesin said quickly, coming between the two girls. “Last time I just had information I got from within the organization. This time I actually had a vision and I Know you’ll be able to get Corbin.”

  “Oh yeah?” Lia asked. “And who’s this mysterious person who’s supposed to help us with that?”

  Tesin shook his head slightly. “I’m not sure.”

  “Then how can you be so sure—”

  “You’re not a Knower, so you can’t understand,” Tesin said firmly. “Visions are kinda like regular dreams—some things are clearer than others. But it doesn’t change the central facts. In my vision, the three of you got away safely. I even saw the three of you trying to explain things to Greg and Ellie.” He frowned slightly. “That doesn’t go nearly as well as this rescue.”

  For a moment, Morgan and Lia just looked at Tesin. Finally, Morgan broke the silence. “What’s the other news?”

  “Ah, the really good news.” Tesin smiled. “I know you weren’t able to get to your mom earlier, but, apparently, she was able to take advantage of your attempt anyway.”

  Morgan gaped at him. “Are you saying—?”

  “Yeah,” Tesin said, nodding. “She was able to get away in all the chaos. Orrick doesn’t have your mom anymore.”

  Morgan laughed. She grabbed Tesin and hugged him. Then she hugged Lia. Then she hugged the two of them together. “I can’t believe it!” She clenched her fists triumphantly.

  “Believe it,” Tesin encouraged. “I was in Desideration Tower when the news hit. To say Orrick is pissed is an understatement.”

  Morgan turned to Lia. “See? Something good came from it. And now we’ll go save Corbin and… and everything’ll be okay.” She touched Lia’s arm. “You’ll help me, right?”

  Lia stared straight ahead, lips in a tight line. She shook her head.

  “Lia!”

  “Morgan!” Lia looked at her. “I don’t understand how you can think this is a good idea! We need help. We need backup.” She looked at Tesin. “Have you even told Mr. K and Miss Scotford about this? I mean, you are supposed to be a Watcher, right? If they know Corbin’s been taken—”

  Tesin looked down, shaking his head. “I haven’t told them.”

  “Why not? I mean, how do we even know you’re really on our side?”

  “Besides the fact that Wen told me he was?” Morgan asked.

  “She’s right,” Tesin said quietly. “The very first thing I should’ve done when I found out about Chelsea is tel
l Greg and Ellie, and I didn’t. But it’s because of what I’ve seen in visions. I know that Chelsea changes things, and I also know that if I told the Watchers, they’d already have taken you guys out of play. And if I tell them about Corbin now, they’ll hide the four of you and they’ll send in a team of Watchers to get him.”

  “That sounds like a good thing!” Lia said.

  “Except that’s not what I saw in my vision. The future… It’s very temperamental. If just one thing changes, everything can change. That’s why I can’t even go with you two to help—it’s not what was in the vision.” He pulled out his phone, his eyes on Lia. “But if you want me to call Greg right now and tell him everything, I will.” He pushed a couple buttons and looked back at her, a question in his eyes.

  Lia looked from Tesin to Morgan and back again. Her expression broke and she sighed. “Don’t call.” She rubbed her eyes. “It’s partially my fault they got Corbin. I… I couldn’t live with myself if I did something to make things worse.”

  “You’ll help me?” Morgan asked.

  Lia didn’t meet Morgan’s eyes. “I’ve got to help make it right.”

  Morgan reached down, taking Lia’s hand and squeezing it. “Okay, Tesin. Where’s Corbin?”

  “He’s downtown in the warehouse district—by the river. I’m not sure exactly where, but in my vision, you guys were in a red building.”

  “So, what?” Lia asked. “We drive down to the warehouse district and walk into the red ones we see?”

  But Morgan just shrugged. “How many red ones can there be?” She turned her attention back to Tesin. “Did your vision have any indication of time. I mean—when should we go?”

  “It was just getting dark in my vision—right about sunset.” He glanced in the direction of the sun, which was already dipping behind the mall. “Looks like you should probably get going.”

  Lia took in a breath. “Red warehouse. Got it.” She gave a curt nod and headed to the driver’s side of her car.

  Morgan embraced Tesin one last time. “Thank you.”

  He nodded, looking slightly pained. “I’m sorry you have to go through this.”

  “It’s okay,” Morgan said. “After tonight, everything will be alright.”

  He managed a tight-lipped smile. “I really hope so.”

  ***

  The sun hung low on the horizon, glittering against the river as Lia approached the warehouse district. Many of the buildings looked to be in disrepair and their colors were muted against the growing dimness. Greys, blues, creams, but no red buildings.

  “I don’t see anything,” Lia said for the fourth time as they approached the end of the street.

  “It’ll be here,” Morgan said quietly, though her own faith was beginning to wane. If this part of Tesin’s vision was incorrect, what would that mean for the rest of it?

  “Wait,” Lia said, slowing the car and pointing. “Does that one look red? It’s kind of behind—”

  “Yeah, I see it!” Morgan’s pulse quickened. “That is definitely red.”

  Lia stopped the car and put it in park. “So, do you… Feel anyone?”

  Morgan allowed herself to revel in relief for another moment before pushing her elation down and calming herself. She reached out with her mind and Felt the common energies of people in the city. When she focused on the warehouses specifically, relief flooded her anew. “I Feel him,” she said quietly. “He doesn’t Feel the same as usual, but since I’m not sensing any Veneret in the area, maybe he’s sedated?”

  Lia nodded. “Makes sense, I guess.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, yeah. I mean, clearly the location they were holding your mom at was compromised. With Corbin, probably they wanted even fewer people to know where he is. Less likely for there to be a leak then.”

  Morgan grinned. “Unless your source is a Knower.” She unbuckled her seatbelt. “Ready?”

  Lia took in a breath. “As I’ll ever be.” She undid her seatbelt as well and the two of them exited the car. As they crept toward the red building, Lia found Morgan’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Morgan squeezed back.

  “Do you think the door will be unlocked?” Lia asked as they approached the structure.

  “Probably not. But I think we can handle it.”

  They approached a door and Morgan tried the knob. It was indeed locked. Closing her eyes, Morgan summoned the desperation she felt about saving Corbin. Then, as she’d done earlier, she focused herself on the problem of opening the lock.

  It took longer than it had the first time, but Morgan was finally able to unlock the door. When she pushed it open, she looked at Lia and offered a smile. “Wanna go first?”

  Lia nudged Morgan toward the doorway.

  Inside the warehouse was dark, and Lia’s hand clamped like a vise onto Morgan’s. Morgan barely noticed, so intent was she on scanning the shadowy depths of the large space. Corbin had to be here—he had to. But the room was so dark that Morgan couldn’t make much out.

  “Morgan,” Lia whispered. “Is he here? Is Corbin here?”

  Morgan shushed her. Taking in a deep breath, she reached out with her mind, searching for Corbin’s energy in the room, but all she felt was a void. “No. There’s no one here.”

  “No one? But Tesin said—”

  “I know what Tesin said. But no one is here—”

  But just then, Morgan felt something in the air change. Something shifted and Morgan knew they were no longer alone. She reached out again, but Corbin’s energy wasn’t near. But there was something familiar about what she Felt. She couldn’t place it, but it was familiar.

  “I Feel someone,” Morgan said quietly.

  Lia squeezed her hand again.

  Suddenly, a sharp snap sounded through the space and light blazed, illuminating the warehouse. It was largely empty, with several shapeless hillocks covered in tarps spaced at odd intervals. Morgan’s eyes scanned the room, but she couldn’t see the person whose energy she Felt. The energy was cloaked in such a way that Morgan may not have noticed it if she weren’t searching so hard. It was as if the person were putting out just enough energy to detect. As if the person were waiting for someone.

  “Who’s there?” Morgan called.

  “Sh!” Lia hissed. “They might hear you!”

  “I want them to hear me!” Morgan responded. If Corbin wasn’t here she needed to know who was. She needed to save Corbin, and Tesin had said they would meet someone here to help her do that. Shaking Lia’s hand off hers, she stepped out further into the warehouse, where she could be seen. “Hello?” she called, her voice reverberating off the distant walls. Her heart thudded in her chest, but she ignored it. “Who’s there? Come out where I can see you!”

  A beat passed, then the click of shoes on the cement floor echoed throughout the warehouse. Morgan turned around, looking for the source of the sound, but it seemed to come from everywhere at once.

  Morgan noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Her head whipped around in the direction of the movement, but nothing was there. She felt fingers on her upper arm and knew Lia was at her side again.

  “Morgan?”

  The voice was female and unfamiliar. Morgan and Lia spun until their eyes landed on a woman standing beside a particularly large covered mound. Her face was obscured in shadow.

  “Who are you?” Morgan asked, her voice a few notes higher than usual. “Where’s Corbin?”

  “He’s near,” the woman said. “He’s safe.”

  “But…” Lia ventured tentatively. “But who are you?”

  “I’m here to help you.” The woman’s voice was firm and there was something melodic in its sound. “Morgan knows that.”

  Morgan glanced at Lia, whose eyebrow was raised suspiciously. Morgan shrugged, bemused. Did the woman mean Morgan could tell that she was on the level?

  The fear and apprehension in Lia’s mind radiated off of her, but when she spoke, her voice was firm. “If you’re here to help, why don’t you
step out of the shadows and help already?”

  A thrill of dread coursed through Morgan’s body as she saw the woman in the shadows shift toward them. Immediately, she wished she had called Mr. K, she wished she had not come here. As much as she wanted to rescue Corbin, she realized now that, despite Tesin’s vision, coming here with only Lia for backup was not only reckless, it was stupid. This woman could be anybody. The most likely scenario was that she worked with Orrick and that she would be bringing them to him in a matter of minutes.

  But then the woman entered the light. Her wavy brown hair was swept up into a casual yet elegant updo, with a few wisps of her wavy tendrils caressing her cheeks. She wore a soft gray tunic top with a thick silver belt slung at her hips along with a pair of tight, dark jeans tucked into high, black boots. Morgan drank in all of this information as she searched the woman from head to toe. She pored over the curve of the woman’s face, the bow of her lips, the shape of her soft brown eyes—eyes so reminiscent of Joss’s. There were a few extra lines, perhaps, around the eyes—lines that weren’t present in the picture resting on Morgan’s bedside table. But even still, there was no mistaking who stood before her.

  Morgan’s breath caught in her throat. The woman’s image blurred as Morgan blinked back tears.

  “Mom?”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Lia looked from Morgan to the woman and back again. “Morgan… Are you… sure?”

  Morgan glared at her incredulously. “What do you mean, am I sure? Am I sure this is my mother? Of course I’m sure!”

  But Lia just stared at the woman, as if asking for verification.

  The woman smiled and took a few steps closer to them. She reached out a hand toward Morgan. “She’s right. I’m Chelsea Abbey.”

  Morgan reached her hand out tentatively, as if expecting the woman before her to disappear. Slowly, she brushed Chelsea’s fingertips with her own, then she took hold of her hand, entwining their fingers. “Mom… where have you been? Why’d you leave?” She choked on the last question: Is Orrick my father? “We tried to get you earlier—”

  Chelsea closed her eyes, smiled, and sighed. “I know you did, honey. I heard you call to me.”