Reporter:Thank you Dean. What about the Caelian Council, Frank?
Frank:I cannot speak for the entire council, but the Koenig and Lane families believe along the lines of the Order of Caelum. We believe our new DNA is the next step in human evolution. Just like the finches on the Galapagos Islands, humanity has evolved to become a better version of itself. Norms should celebrate that they are witnessing the human race become ‘more’ in their lifetimes. Eventually, norms will be extinct and Caelians will become what is normal. Registration will not hinder nature, only cause hatred and breed violence.
Reporter:Hatred and violence. Is that something the Koenig family endorses?
Frank:Violence is sometimes necessary to prompt change. Would you agree?
Dean:Yes, and I feel it will be required to keep you Caelians under control.
Reporter:Frank, does the Caelian Council share the Koenig family values?
Frank:Not all of them. Some are sympathetic to the unification principle Timothy McCredie and his organization the Human Caelian Alliance has been pushing, but we feel it will not work. Norms and Caelians cannot live together in peace. It is why we don’t tolerate organizations like the HPC or the HCA, especially since the HCA is known for harboring fugitives and hiding people of value from the council.
Reporter:We will continue this lively discussion after weather on the 5’s with Meteorologist Sandra Storm and a short break.
Chapter 6
“So what was that?” My voice was firm, but my body shook from the confrontation I knew was coming.
“What was what?”
“You barging in on my conversation with Luca and going all caveman, commanding him to back away from me. You have no right.”
He released a huffed breath and threw his arms in the air. “That guy has been going after you since you arrived, and I know his reputation with the women here.”
“Do you think so little of me? That I would just fall into his arms?”
“He’s a siren!”
“Exactly! So is Rebecca, but you don’t see me going after her. You have to be attracted to them, Kian, and have to be seeking their affections on a subconscious level.” I shook my head and walked past him. “After this morning, you should know how I feel. You walked out after insinuating I was manipulating you. You have trust issues and I need friends here that trust me. Luca offered to be a friend and I plan on taking him up on it.”
I left him in the hallway and stepped into the training room. Instead of the usual sounds of fighting and the rank smell of sweat, the group—including the instructors—were gathered in the back corner watching a news broadcast.
Glad I wouldn’t have to explain my tardiness to the Sergeant, I released a silent thanks to the ceiling as I walked over to the group. My eyes scanned each person as I grew closer and my heart sunk. Their faces displayed various degrees of anger and worry.
The broadcast was wrapping up with a forecast prediction for the day. As soon as the commercials began, voices filled the air in a belligerent roar. The noise was so deafening and sudden, I had to cover my ears until they had a chance to adjust. Although rain in the Texas summer would mean nasty humidity, I doubted the weather was what caused everyone to be so aggravated.
Luca was standing at the back next to a small norm girl. I stood there for a moment trying to remember her name before approaching the two, but after a few frustrating seconds, I gave up and slunk around the outskirts of the assembly toward my new friend.
Unlike the others, he was standing there in quiet contemplation while his partner glared at the wall.
“What is going on?” I placed a gentle hand on his arm, forcing him to come back from his deep thoughts. His eyes met mine and we stared at each other while the voices around us railed. Strong vibrations grew in intensity behind me as Kian approached. I felt the heat roll off his body as he stepped close.
Of course he would show up while I was touching Luca and we were looking into each other’s eyes. It seemed I wouldn’t be catching a break today.
“What’s all this?” Kian’s gravelly voice boomed over the noise.
Luca shook his head and looked from Kian to me and then back to Kian. “Channel 5 just had an interview with a representative with the Human Purist Coalition and the Vice-Chair of the Koenig family.”
“I don’t see how that would cause a reaction like this.” I motioned to my fellow soldiers with a wave of my arm.
“At the end, the VC threatened the HPC and the HCA. She specifically mentioned that the HCA were hiding something of great importance to the Director.” Luca’s brows rose as he met my eyes again. Unlike the others in the room, he understood the allusion after my revelation not five minutes ago.
“Wow. He actually threatened both organizations?” Goosebumps covered my arms at the ominous threat. What was his plan? I couldn’t see the logic in exposing the true depth of his hate for the norms or his hunt for me. What would he gain from everyone knowing?
“Not in so many words, but yeah.” Luca’s gaze shifted throughout the room.
“It’s a good thing Mrs. LaMotte arrives today,” Kian broke through my contemplation. I noticed my hand was still on Luca. I looked around at the various heated discussions going on around us. Even though everyone was distracted, I didn’t want to take any chances. I grabbed Kian with my free hand and dragged both boys to the opposite end of the training mats, leaving Luca’s sparring partner to stare at us before joining in on the discussions around her.
“What is his endgame? I don’t understand how going public with his agenda will gain supporters.”
“He’s probably not looking for more support. This is a mind game. He wants chaos,” Kian suggested.
“I’m new to this whole situation, but why is your grandfather after you now?” Luca asked me while he glanced at Kian with curiosity.
“It’s a long story, but the short version is that I was raised in an orphanage after my mom died in childbirth. No one on my father’s side knew of my existence, other than rumors, until the mall incident.” I didn’t have to explain further. Everyone in the HCA knew of my Talent and of the public manner in which it had manifested.
“About that. How are you not on the news? I mean, you nearly killed a guy. In public.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Luca, I don’t know what to tell you. Mrs. LaMotte said the Moreau family were taking care of it.”
“Interesting,” Luca mumbled.
“It’s not like Sadie is the first Caelian to discover her Talent in public. There are cases spanning generations of this happening. It’s less common now-a-days because most Caelian children are either born within a family or grow up in an orphanage, but it happens.” Kian crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, glancing back and forth between the two of us. “She probably wasn’t newsworthy with the threat of a second world war and with unrest among citizens.”
“True,” Luca agreed. “But the Koenigs still found out, which means the HPC can too and I hate to think about what those crazies would do to you, Sadie.”
My entire body shuddered. “I’ve never thought about that and I don’t really want to. There are bigger issues, like how did the Koenigs find out?”
“They have a network of freelancers who report rumors or sightings of Caelian children outside of the system and also when there is any strange Caelian activity to the Director. It’s how they recruit.” My mouth dropped open at Kian’s admission, and from the wide-eyed stare Luca was giving Kian, he must have been just as shocked. Seconds passed before I could close my mouth. In the meantime, Kian scanned the room, giving both of us the time to collect ourselves.
“How? Why?” My mind struggled to reason through the information Kian had dumped on me.
“I don’t know much, because after my first go around with the Koenig family, I avoided all jobs associated with them. But they have a history of ‘saving’ Caelian children from situations. They were famous in the 60’s for saving four Caelian children, three boys and
a girl, from their Uncle who had them hidden away on his farm. He was accused of physical and emotional abuse and there were rumors of abuse of a sexual nature. However, there wasn’t much proof to accuse the man of any indecent behavior except the boys’ testimonies. Their Uncle lost custody and they stayed with the Koenig family.”
“Being saved from a shitty situation would incite some intense devotion,” Luca added.
Kian tipped his chin in agreement. “Their family is small, but every member is dedicated. Which is why Sadie’s father’s betrayal was such a scandal.”
My face flushed at the mention of my father. Adrian Koenig. Another name. Another person my grandfather took from me. My eyes narrowed at the thought of my grandfather and I ignored the boys as I focused on my breathing in order to calm my Talent, buzzing below the surface of my skin. Once calm, I shifted my focus to the room and I noticed the discussions were winding down. We would be starting soon.
Luca and Kian had stopped talking while I was quiet and when I looked back at them, they were both staring at my hand. Against my breast, my fist was clutching the necklace my mother had left for me after she died. My fingers glided over the deep grooves of the engraved ‘M’. I chose to ignore their stares.
“We need more information.” I hiked my chin toward the group across the room. “Training will begin soon.”
“What do you suggest?” Kian asked. The excitement of doing something outside of following me around danced in his eyes and my chest bloomed at the sight.
“Kian, get in touch with your contact within the HPC and see if they know about me yet.” He nodded and turned, but I grabbed him.
“Oh, also find out more about the Koenigs: the director, their hunters, and find out more about GenCorp.” Kian flinched at the mention of GenCorp. I raised my eyebrow in question, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. He shifted his eyes from Luca to the room and then nodded in agreement. I turned to Luca. His gaze was narrowed on Kian, his lips screwed into an ugly frown.
“Luca.” I snapped my fingers and Luca turned back to me, the angry scowl gone. I shifted my eyes between the two men, wondering what that was all about before shaking my head and continuing. “Luca. From what I’ve seen, you seem to have a shrewd mind. Can you work with Kian and try to figure out what the Koenigs are up to? And…”
I stopped and grabbed the pendant, giving it another loving stroke before taking the necklace off and laying it in Luca’s hand. Both of my hands encircled his large hand. “Find out who my mother was.”
It was Kian’s turn to look shocked as he stared at Luca’s fist. Luca nodded his head in agreement before placing the necklace around his own neck, tucking the pendant under his white t-shirt.
“I don’t know why, but Sadie is trusting you. If you hurt or betray her you’ll have to answer to me.” Kian rose to his full height which was a good five inches shorter than Luca, but what Luca had in height, Kian doubled him in mass.
A soft sigh escaped my lips as I shook my head, one corner of my lips turned upward. I sashayed up to Kian, pressed my body against his, and placed a hand on his crossed arms. “Kian, you got it all wrong. If Luca hurts or betrays me…” I twisted around, facing Luca, removing my hand from Kian and reaching it out to Luca instead, releasing a sliver of vibration from my Talent. My face tilted forward, every move calculated, threatening. I gave him a chilling smile.
“He’ll answer to me.”
Chapter 7
Lacy was late. Hands shaking, I pulled at the suffocating bun and released my hair in a cascade, reveling in the freedom as the tightness in my scalp dissolved. My feet scuffed the lacquered concrete as I paced my room. My gaze flickered to the phone on my nightstand as I waited on Lacy to return my message. Today was her 18th birthday and I needed to know that she left her father’s house without incident. I couldn’t figure out what to do with my trembling hands. My heart beat inside my throat, choking me with the stress.
What if something happened to her?
Beep. Beep.
I lunged for the phone and reviewed the text.
Lacy: FREEDOM!!!!!!
Sadie: YES! What time should I expect you?
Lacy: I’ll be there by evening chow. I can’t wait to see you. I MISS YOU!!!
Sadie: Miss you too! See you at dinner.
Now that Lacy was safely out of her parents’ house, I released a long breath of relief and threw myself on my bed, one arm thrown over my eyes to block out the glaring light. The stresses of my life were giving me a headache, but once Lacy arrived, I would only have to worry about my friends at St. Vincent’s. They were safe at the orphanage and that knowledge would be a huge relief. With my friends on my mind, I sent them all a group text.
Sadie: I love you guys!!! It’s killing me that you’re out there and I’m stuck down here. Hopefully soon, I will get an assignment and be able to see you.
The alarm I set earlier blared across the room and I groaned as I rolled over to look at the wall console. Talent Lesson with Mrs. LaMotte blinked on the screen in a bold, vibrant red. As I jumped out of the bed and threw my hair back up into the tight bun, a stray thought flitted through my mind. I remembered how Kian didn’t like the hairstyle before tying the knot tighter in a fit of anger. Stupid boys.
Mrs. LaMotte’s training room was down training hallway B. This hallway was unfamiliar, as its primary focus was on Talent training and since arriving at the Underground, I had only focused on my physical and weapons training. Since my primary Talent required my hand to be touching another’s skin, I wanted to be prepared in case I had to remove myself from a situation without the aid of my Talent. I tried to sign up for Talent training, but most instructors were terrified of my Talent and refused to train me.
Right outside of room 4, two voices in a soft murmur flowed out of the crack in the door. It didn’t take long for me to register who they were; both voices were as familiar as my own.
“Physically she’s fine. Her leg bothers her some mornings, but nothing she can’t handle. However, emotionally…” Kian’s voice trailed off. I could picture his broad shoulders heaving in response.
“She’s still determined to kill her grandfather?” Mrs. LaMotte’s voice was layered with worry and maybe frustration. I wouldn’t be able to tell without looking at her. With that thought, my mind pictured her fierce gaze narrowed, focusing her frustrations at me. All of the excitement of training left in a whoosh, along with my breath.
What the hell? Why were the two of them talking about me?
I strained to hear if any more was said, but all I heard was the whirr of the oxygen transfer pump system. The concrete wall felt like ice against my back as I leaned against it for support and turned my head so my ear aligned with the door crack.
“Maybe I can talk to her,” Mrs. LaMotte whispered. Kian must have answered her previous question with body movement.
“You can try, but she gets defensive if you doubt the plan,” Kian answered. His voice dripped with sarcasm whenever he mentioned my plan. My jaw clenched, forcing my teeth to grind together in order to prevent myself from opening my mouth and scream. I pressed both hands into my thighs and curled them into tight fists. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to punch Kian in his perfect mouth.
“Maybe you should back off.”
“From trying to talk sense to her or from her entirely?” My jaw relaxed. Kian’s previous dig at my plan momentarily forgotten at his acrid question.
“One or both. It doesn’t matter to me. Your interest in her bothers me.”
“You want me to walk away from her?” The controlled anger was boiling beneath the surface with each word. I bit my lip in worry. Not for either of their safety, because in a fight, I don’t know who’d win. I worried because even though I wasn’t done being angry at Kian, I didn’t want Mrs. LaMotte pushing him away.
“She has plenty going on in her life without the addition of a doomed romance.” She was momentarily interrupted by a deep grunt from Kian before continuing. “It
will be for the best.”
“I don’t believe we’re doomed. We have a connection on a primal level. I felt it the moment she bumped into me. Besides, every relationship goes through trials and require hard work. If it survives, in the end the relationship will be stronger. By the end of this, Sadie and I will be better people. I have faith in her. In me. You, on the other hand, are one bitter woman. It’s not surprising, with your past.”
My heart soared at Kian’s declaration of his faith in me and the hint of us possibly being in a relationship, but the high only lasted until it was shot down with his snide remarks about Mrs. LaMotte’s past. All my life, she had been a mystery. No one knew of her life before Saint Vincent’s and since arriving she had kept to herself, never leaving the property, and only befriending other staff members.
I used to think of her as a sad, lonely spinster, but I heard her sudden intake of breath after he spoke and that shallow gasp told me more in seconds than I had learned in years.
Mrs. LaMotte had a past, and from the sound of it, it was shady.
“What? How?”
“It’s my job to know things about people. Call it habit, curiosity, or protecting myself, but I make an effort to discover all there is to know about those with whom I keep in regular contact. I found some interesting information in the orphanage’s records.”
“Have you told her yet?” Mrs. LaMotte demanded.
“About you? No. It’s not my place, but you should. And soon.”
“The time isn’t right.”
“It’s your call, but if you wait too long she’ll discover it on her own and if she’s mad at me for disagreeing with her choices, I hate to be on the receiving end of her wrath if you don’t confess.”
I stifled a gasp and stepped away from the door. Not once in my life did I suspect Mrs. LaMotte was anything more than a teacher. What did Kian know? What did she do in her past that would cause me to be angry with her?
The Caelian Cycle Boxed Set Page 18
