Emerge- The Heir

by Melissa A. Craven

  “And the only evidence of that is still locked up in the crypt,” Allie said bitterly. “Can they search the underground?”

  “They don’t know it exists. They’ll never find him.” Darius took the official summons from her, his eyes scanning the archaic looking document. “They haven’t changed their methods in centuries. This bullshit is handwritten in calligraphy.”

  “Just another sign that they’ve grown stagnant and lazy,” Allie said.

  “What do you want to do?”

  “That’s why I’m here, trying to decide my next move. I don’t have much time. The trial is in three days in Barcelona. I either need to run, taking everyone I love with me into Sterling Tower where they’ll be relatively safe and out of the Senate’s reach.”

  “Or?”

  “Or, I go to this farce of a trial and make a deal with them to pardon Gregg and Naeemah.”

  “That’s not a viable option, Allie. I hope you aren’t considering it.”

  “I know but I am.”

  “After all the sacrifices everyone has made to get you into this position of power, you can’t give up now.”

  “I know.” But she knew what she had to do.

  “You’ve seen something, haven’t you?” Darius asked.

  “I have.” Allie nodded, gazing out across the lake at the beautiful sunset. She wished they could go back to simpler times when all they had before them was a lifetime of beautiful sunsets.

  “You’ve already decided, so out with it.”

  “I have to answer this summons.” She’d seen it in her visions. The charges against Naeemah and Gregg were a means to lure her out, likely orchestrated by Marcus himself. She had to go. It was time they met.

  “You can’t do this, Allie,” Darius said.

  “Trust me, it’s the right decision. But I’m not going alone.”

  “Damn right, you’re not. I’ll be with you.”

  “I need Livia and Liam, too, of course, and Sasha and Quinn. Santi. My grandparents. Emma and Daniel. Gregg can’t be there, but I need everyone else willing to stand with me to come to this summons.”

  “You know Dad won’t stay behind.”

  “I know.” She sighed. “But it’s far too dangerous for him to be there.”

  “What do you intend to do once you get there? I don’t want you sacrificing yourself for Mom. She wouldn’t want that.”

  “I don’t know yet. I just know I need to go to this thing, and I need numbers on my side. Once Gregg and Naeemah are released, I’ll just have to trust my gift to show me what comes next.”

  Chapter Thirty

  “I trust you, Allie,” Gregg said, “but I don’t like this.”

  Allie stared up at the sleek glass structure that was part of the Barcelona skyline. It blended seamlessly with the other nondescript buildings of the modern era in this ancient city. “That makes two of us, but they have Naeemah.”

  “She wouldn’t want you sacrificing yourself for her.”

  “She’s been like a mother to me. I can’t leave her like that.”

  “She’s not like a mother, Allie. Naeemah has a bond with you as her daughter. It’s one-sided, and she never expects it to be anything more, but she’s loved you as one of her own since you were sixteen years old.”

  “She’s never said anything.” It pained Allie to think of Naeemah living with a mother-child bond that was not reciprocated for all these years. But Allie had a mother. Bonding with Naeemah would be a betrayal of Lily. “All the more reason to walk in there and bargain for her freedom. I still don’t like the idea of you being here. We’re making it too easy for them to apprehend you.”

  Gregg blew out a breath as they made their way up the stone steps to the building that housed the International Senate. “I won’t let you walk in there alone.”

  “I’m not alone.” Allie gestured back at the others. Darius, Livia, and Liam followed closely, with Sasha, Quinn, Santi, Alísun, and Alexander bringing up the rear. “You don’t need to be here; we can do this without you.”

  “I can’t abandon you any more than I can abandon my wife. I won't. And if this goes badly, then I will be with Naeemah.”

  “It shouldn’t,” Allie murmured. “I’m exactly where I need to be.” The green aura of her clairvoyance shone all around them. It would all come to a head here.

  “I can’t say I’m not nervous about walking in there without a plan, but we’re all behind you.”

  “They can’t … hurt you, can they?” She paused at the huge glass doors, trimmed in gold.

  “They have the authority to execute criminals, but it is rare and only in extreme cases. We are likely looking at a hefty fine. Possibly a prison sentence of a few decades, which we will handle if we have to.”

  “Not if I can help it.” Allie turned and stepped through the double doors. She was the one summoned here today. She would face it like an adult. But she wasn’t about to let them take Naeemah and Gregg or anyone else for her sake. If anyone was going to jail today, it would be her. And it wouldn’t be for nothing, either. Those back at Soma would see her as a martyr. It would only strengthen their cause, and they would carry on in her stead.

  “This way,” Gregg said, leading them across the grand lobby entrance to a pair of antique looking doors guarded by a bank of security officers. Allie showed her official summons to the bailiff. The other officers cast a skeptical glance at everyone behind her.

  “Witnesses,” she said by way of explanation.

  “You sit with the observers. And no talking.” The bailiff waved them through. “You’re early. They’ll call your case in about an hour.”

  Allie followed silently with Darius and Livia at her side. The others stepped into the ancient, crumbling domed building behind her. The green aura pulsed and shimmered, telling Allie she was right where she needed to be.

  “They’ve built around the original Senate building time and again, keeping it protected and concealed.” Gregg gestured at the open oculus in the ceiling. Late afternoon sunshine flooded the room, casting the center dais in a haze of golden light.

  “So far, so good,” she whispered. The full Senate was in session, and it looked exactly like the American Congressional court. hundreds of elected Senators sat in a semi-circle around a raised dais that housed multiple seats. Six of those seats occupied the lower dais for the four Chief Justice appointed secretaries and two seats for the Chairman of the Senate. A second raised dais sat elevated above them all, housing the four seats of the Chief Justice. Two of those seats were empty, but Sarah and Charles Madison currently occupied the other two.

  Allie eyed the small man and woman seated on the lower dais below the seats her mother and father once held. What would the secretary of a dead Chief Justice still be doing in their office? Whom did they serve?

  Allie sat down to await her case. She took the time to carefully examine each of the Senators, searching for Marcus. He was here. There was no way he would miss this.

  As she scanned the faces, she sorted the familiar ones she recognized from Soma contracts. Too many faces were regular customers, but the majority was not. That boded well for her case. But still no Marcus. He blended in far too easily.

  “Look,” Darius said, gesturing across the room to the area reserved for criminals awaiting their trial.

  Naeemah sat with a collar around her throat, and her hands secured in her lap with magnetic cuffs binding her wrists.

  Without a word to her family, or an invitation from the Senate, Allie charged down the aisle to stand before the court. She wasn’t going to sit and wait like a good girl. This had gone far enough.

  “Do you even have a plan?” Darius asked frantically as he and Livia followed her.

  “Following my gut here,” she whispered. She didn’t feel anxious or scared. Allie was angry. Angry they’d taken Naeemah from her family. Angry the two people responsible for governing the Immortal world were nothing more than puppets in Marcus Servius’s pocket. Angry they dared to rule
as a democracy when this was clearly a dictatorship. Angry they were all too stupid to even realize it.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Sarah Madison asked from her perch high above everyone else. “Who is this child who dares to interrupt the Senate while in session?”

  “I’ve been summoned,” Allie said simply. Gregg came to stand behind her, giving her a nod of approval.

  “You wait until you are called.” Sarah sneered down her long nose. “I believe you were given a time and place for your trial. That time and place is not now. Bailiffs!” She snapped her fingers and a pair of bailiffs stepped forward to escort Allie to her seat.

  Allie held up her hand to dismiss them. “I am not here for a trial.”

  The bailiffs paused, looking to their leader for direction.

  “Very well, we shall do this the hard way. Greggory McBrien,” Sarah said. “You and your Complement have been found guilty of neglecting your duty as Governor of your region. Take him into custody,” the Chief Justice ordered.

  “No,” Allie cried.

  “It’s okay, Allie,” Gregg said. “Follow your instincts, and do not worry about us.”

  He went willingly as the bailiffs read him his rights and placed a magnetic collar around his throat. She breathed a sigh of relief when they placed Gregg beside Naeemah. She desperately needed them to stay in the courtroom.

  “Call special forces,” Sarah said. “This young woman can’t be trusted.”

  “And how do you know that? You don’t know me. You accuse me of having questionable abilities, but you don’t know me or my gifts. What right have you to take me into custody based on that alone? What right have you to find Naeemah and Gregg guilty without the benefit of an actual trial?”

  “It is the court’s prerogative to punish you for your crimes.”

  “Crimes worthy of the International Senate’s time?” Allie turned to face the elected officials. She saw the questions in their eyes. The way they checked their dockets for information on her case. They were just as confused by this as she was.

  As Allie turned back to face the Chief Justice, she heard the pounding of footsteps charging up the stairs behind the dais. She felt him before she saw him.

  Special forces? Of course, she meant the Syntrophos of the Milan Initiative. But why did she have them here in plain sight? Aidan? She stared at him as he and his team of armed Syntrophos filed into the room. She wasn’t at all prepared to see him again. Not like this. His raptor gaze was glued to her, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword like a vise. Like he was fighting with himself not to cross the room to her side. Whether to throttle her or kiss her, she couldn’t tell.

  Allie’s heart twisted in agony with the desire to go to him. But they were not on the same side. She tore her eyes away from Aidan. She had to have her head in this and not focused on why he was here.

  “Look, they aren’t separated this time,” Darius whispered.

  Naomi stood beside Aidan, reluctant, but ready to do the bidding of the court. Four more Syntrophos pairs lined up behind them.

  Only the court couldn't see what they were with their bonds concealed.

  Why did you come, Allie?

  She shivered at the sensation of Aidan’s thoughts in her mind. Once such a burden, it was now like a sweet reward. You expect me to leave your mother here, alone?

  I had hoped you’d let me handle this.

  How was I supposed to know you’d even be here? That you’d even know what was happening?

  “Guards, take this young woman into custody immediately,” Sarah ordered.

  Allie flinched as Aidan and Naomi moved to do as she said. “That won’t be necessary.” Allie stepped toward the podium. “You won’t be arresting me today.”

  Allie don’t. You don’t know what she’s capable of.

  I think I do. Please, for once in your life, trust me?

  “Who are you to presume so much?” Sarah snapped.

  “You know exactly who I am, Sarah. Let’s dispense with the pretenses.”

  “Very well, Alexis Carmichael, by showing yourself here today, you have agreed to the terms outlined in your summons.” Sarah stood. “Your presence is an admission of guilt. We are done.”

  “You misunderstand, Sarah. I am not here admitting guilt for anything. I am here to negotiate the release of Naeemah El Sadawii and Greggory McBrien, Governor of the Great Lakes Region of North America.”

  “Negotiate?” Sarah smirked. “That is not an option, my dear. We were told you wouldn’t show,” she muttered irritably. “And if you did, you’d come quietly.”

  My bad, Aidan said.

  “We don’t negotiate with children,” Sarah said. “Besides, their case has been decided. And you will address me as Chief Justice Sarah Madison.”

  “Come now, you and my parents were good friends once,” Allie said disdainfully. “Surely, we are all on a first name basis here.”

  “I do not know your parents, child. Stop wasting the court’s time,” Sarah said.

  “My parents once sat right beside you, ruling as the Senate was meant to be ruled with proper checks and balances.”

  “You dare to speak of the dead with such lies?”

  Allie turned to face the Senate, frantically looking for Marcus. He was here somewhere. “How dare you allow this government to become a dictatorship? My parents died eighteen years ago, and you still haven’t elected a Chief Justice to replace them? You all are so careless with time. You see it as an endless commodity. No need to act now, we’ll have another election in a few decades. Yet how can you not see how much damage can be done in that time? You’ve lost control of our government and in your complacency, you don’t even realize it.”

  “Who are you, young lady?” A senator seated to her left asked.

  “I am Alexis Carmichael. Don’t I look like my mother, Kassandre?” She turned, smiling as she saw the light of recognition register in his face. “It’s the hair.” She brushed her long locks over her shoulder. “But I have my father’s eyes.”

  “Kassandre and Ashar had a natural child more than two centuries ago,” Charles Madison spoke for the first time. “She was the image of her father, with her mother’s eyes. Do you expect us to believe you are their second natural child?” he snarled.

  “Yes,” Allie said simply.

  “We have heard enough of this nonsense,” Charles said.

  “I don’t think we have,” Aidan said. “She has done nothing wrong.”

  A collective gasp swept the courtroom. All eyes turned to Aidan.

  “Who are you to question this court?” Sarah said. “I have been told your training is complete, but I will not tolerate this kind of insubordination in my courtroom, young man.”

  I’m stalling here. Keep looking for whatever it is you’re looking for. “See something, say something.” Aidan shrugged. “Our trainers have taught us to seek justice. That is our job as special forces to the Chief Justice, isn’t it? I am no one, but I am not seeing justice in this courtroom today.”

  With all eyes on Aidan, Allie continued her search of the crowd.

  What are you looking for? Aidan asked.

  An empty seat that shouldn’t be empty. Marcus would be alone. The seat meant for his wife would be vacant. Porcia left him years ago.

  “I apologize, Madame,” Aidan said. “Perhaps I have overstepped in my desire to serve this court.” Left Center, about midway down.

  Allie followed his directions. She almost missed him again. He was so commonplace her eyes wanted to slid right over him. It was the empty chair that led her to him. When her eyes finally landed on Marcus Servius, he smiled.

  Allie leaned back and whispered instructions to her sister to have someone keep their eyes on him at all times. They couldn’t afford to let Marcus slip away.

  “I am afraid we agree with the head of your special forces.” A handsome ancient stood from his seat on the lower dais. “Has this young woman committed a crime so heinous that she does not deserve a tria
l? As Chairman of the Senate, we must remind you, once again, to follow protocol.” The man took his seat beside his Complement who shared the position of Senate Chair with him. “We ask that her formal charges be read for the court’s approval, since they are not recorded on today’s docket.”

  “She was raised as an unknown and has failed to register with the Senate,” Sarah said simply, although that was not what Allie’s summons claimed. “We have received multiple reports that she possesses questionable abilities.”

  “That is all?” the Chairman asked. “That does not sound like a crime that would interest the International Senate, much less the Chief Justice. Alexis’s local authorities should be handling her case. As I see, they are in custody.” He gestured at Naeemah and Gregg. “I must ask the court to be more specific concerning their crimes of neglect.”

  “Their case has been closed,” Charles Madison said.

  “Perhaps we were too hasty. Please, tell us what specific crimes the governor has committed.”

  “They have harbored this young woman, in full knowledge that she was an unknown.”

  “The governor adopted Alexis then?”

  “No, but they took on the responsibility of training her,” Sarah Madison said. “Which is why this court has charged them with neglect of their official duties.”

  “I see.” The Chairman nodded. “That is a huge oversight on their part, but does the crime warrant sentencing when a fine would be more appropriate?”

  “The Chief Justice does not believe a fine is severe enough punishment for this crime and asks the court to support their decision.”

  “Very well. The Chair requests permission to question the girl.”

  Sarah looked like she wanted to deny the request, but she had little choice but to comply. With a nod, she gave her permission.

  Allie jumped on the opportunity to lead the Chairman’s line of questioning her way. “The Chief Justice has failed to inform you that I have also taken over the institution known as Soma,” Allie said. "My summons claims charges of treason have been filed against me, but perhaps the Chief Justice wishes that aspect of my crimes to remain secret."