Emerge: The Scholar: A Fully Illustrated Character Journal

by Melissa A. Craven

  TALENTS/SKILLS: Allie is a talented artist and dancer. She has an affinity for music, which is a talent she hasn’t quite discovered yet. As she grows and learns, her talents will continue to develop.

  TOP SECRET NOTES: There is so much about this girl that even she does not understand. The biggest mistake anyone will ever make about Allie is assuming she is just like other Immortals. She isn't the first who has been raised to believe they are mortal, and she won't be the last. But for Allie, her identity as a mortal will probably never fade. The experience of living her whole life, isolated from a world that seemingly despised her, is not something Alexis will ever get over. She still lives with that fear––that constant ache that she will end up back there again, worse off for having finally known a fulfilling life. Allie holds a well of anger and fury deep inside her. Anger about her past circumstances. Anger toward herself for the recent events she is not responsible for, yet she still blames herself. And a cold, dark fury threatens to overwhelm her at any given moment. She is so angry now that she understands what lead her down this path of loneliness and isolation. She must overcome that anger before she loses everything.

  ~ ~ ~

  Graham Xavier Loukas

  Graham truly represents his generation. I find it fascinating to watch his gift with technology at work. Every few centuries a new generation evolves with the changing world to reflect the advances mankind has made. When I was Graham's age, I couldn't even fathom the things he can do with a simple touch––and I knew the power when it was pure. Graham might never be the warrior his brother Quinn will be, but his kind are needed now more than ever. He isn't a Scholar, but he isn't the fighter his parents are either. It's as if the world has birthed a new breed of Immortal that we've yet to recognize. These special young Immortals are talented inventors, gifted in the sciences and are technologically advanced––giving new meaning to the term "Geek Squad." What this kid can do with a smart phone is impressive, and he's barely seventeen! I cannot wait to see where Graham's journey will take him.

  AGE: 17

  BIRTHDATE: August 4, 1999

  BIRTH STATUS: Unknown Origin, born on Kelleys Island and found near his parent’s vineyard when he was a few days old.

  MENTOR: Ming Lao Long

  CURRENT LOCATION: Kelleys Island, Ohio

  APPEARANCE:

  EYE COLOR: Cornflower blue

  HEIGHT: 5’8”

  HAIR COLOR: Dirty blond

  ETHNICITY/CULTURAL INFLUENCES: Caucasian American

  OCCUPATIONS: Junior at Cliffton Academy. Plays football and baseball. Spends most of his free time eating like it's his job.

  HISTORICAL BIO: Graham was born on Kelleys Island under strange circumstances. When an Immortal senses their child is near, they are drawn to him. On the morning of his birth, Emma and Daniel grew uneasy, sensing their son was near and not well. After scouring the island, they finally found him among the vines of their vineyard—eerily similar to the way Emma found her oldest daughter, Hélène. He was tiny and shivered in the cool August breeze. As Emma held him and their bond formed, she checked him over and discovered his left foot was slightly twisted. They assumed it would heal given enough time, but when Graham began to take his first steps, he walked with a limp. By the time he started school, the limp was barely noticeable when he walked and not at all when he ran. The foot has never completely straightened, but most people don’t even notice it. Graham hoped it would heal during his Awakening, but it did not. He quickly discovered there was something about his foot that made him run faster. He still struggles with his limp, but he has come to terms with it.

  CURRENT BIO: Graham is everyone’s “little brother.” Much like Chloe, Graham tends to get lost in the shuffle with his older siblings and friends taking precedence. But Graham isn’t the type to let things like that bother him. In light of recent events that have affected his family, Graham is struggling with feelings of guilt, resentment and loneliness. He is desperate to help his family through this trying time, but he is only seventeen and dealing with an emerging gift he hasn't discussed with his parents or his mentor.

  ABILITIES: Graham is an average fighter, but his gifts are more suited to espionage and gathering intel—most likely a manifestation of his mother’s gifts. Graham’s defining gift is his ability to communicate with technology. He can reprogram a computer with just a touch. Firewalls and encryption are little more than a slight annoyance for him, so he can gain access to almost anything without leaving a trace of his tampering. Graham is one of many born to the youngest generation with these kinds of technologically advanced abilities, leaving their much older mentors and teachers uncertain how to train them. Graham will eventually need the kind of training his parents and mentors can’t yet provide––a problem many of his generation face. In all likelihood, Graham will need to learn from his mistakes and blindly move forward in his progress, leaving him little choice but to train himself.

  WEAPONS: Throwing blades, slingshot and, like his brother, he prefers hand to hand combat.

  TALENTS/SKILLS: Gifted sculptor and inventor. He has a talent for making useful objects out of the most mundane items. He enjoys casting and welding and designing new weapons, particularly concealed weapons disguised as ordinary objects. Graham and Gregg spend a lot of time together developing this talent. Graham is also a skilled forger and is learning to develop this talent with Darius' guidance.

  TOP SECRET NOTES: He has always been great friends with Aidan, but he is more affected by Aidan’s power than some of the others. Oddly, he has no such trouble with Allie. She is Aidan’s equal in power, but Graham doesn’t struggle with her as he does with Aidan.

  ~ ~ ~

  Chloe Lu Long

  I have never met Chloe in person, but she reminds me so much of myself when I was her age––what little I can actually remember from so long ago. I was also timid and shy, tiptoeing about the palace, trying not to call notice to myself. I was always told that I was powerful and would become a great man someday. At the time I couldn't believe it. I was just me. Chloe is a sweet-tempered, shy young girl now, surrounded by her talented friends and family. She feels like she has a lot to live up to and she is often overshadowed by others who have some great destiny to fulfill. But Chloe has her own destiny. It is yet to be determined, but she is special. A diamond among other diamonds is no less a diamond.

  AGE: 16

  BIRTHDATE: July 8, 2000

  BIRTH STATUS: Second generation natural born daughter of Jin Jing and Ming Lao, born in France.

  MENTOR: Greggory McBrien

  CURRENT LOCATION: Kelleys Island, Ohio

  APPEARANCE:

  EYE COLOR: Smoky Quartz

  HEIGHT: 5’3”

  HAIR COLOR: Black

  ETHNICITY/CULTURAL INFLUENCES: Chinese heritage, descended from royalty.

  OCCUPATIONS: Junior and honor student at Cliffton Academy. Class president and volleyball player.

  HISTORICAL BIO: Chloe is the youngest of her Kelleys Island friends. She struggles with feeling left out, as the last one to experience an Awakening and the last one to join their group as children. She was seven years old when her family moved from France to Kelleys Island to begin her training. She has grown up under a cloud of uncertainty. Will she manifest as a Scholarly Immortal? Or will she be powerfully gifted like her parents? The answer will determine if she will stay in the home she loves to train with her friends or if she will have to move to her grandparents home in Vancouver to train with other Scholars.

  CURRENT BIO: Within days of her Awakening, Chloe must decide where she will train. But the decision will not be as clearly defined as everyone believes it will be.

  ABILITIES: Chloe has seen the early signs of her gifts over the last year. She can see the path of least resistance, which could manifest as a minor clairvoyant gift. She can sense when someone is struggling with an important decision and she can see the choices that lie before them. She believes she will instinctively know which choice will become
the best solution—like she will see a few steps ahead. This gift would be similar to her father’s gift with probabilities, but until her Awakening, it is uncertain how the gift will manifest. She has a powerful memory already, which could become an eidetic memory or hyperthymesia—allowing her to learn at an incredible speed. It would not be at a level of superhuman—meaning she wouldn't be able to read a how to book and immediately build a perfect transmission. But she may be able to read several books, watch some videos, practice and then build a perfect transmission. Her learning will always require effort, but it is likely she will retain things faster and more accurately than the average Immortal.

  WEAPONS: Bo Staff and Tonfa

  TALENTS/SKILLS: Gifted singer and fashion designer. She makes almost all of her clothes and she makes dresses for her friends for special occasions.

  top secret notes: It has been centuries since I've witnessed the birth of a second generation natural born like Chloe. There was a time when a second or even third generation birth was a rarity but not the anomaly it is today. In the tenth century, there were factions of the Coalition that hunted the legacy children because their power was unmatched. Chloe has managed to stay under the radar in her quiet home on Kelleys Island, but it is only a matter of time before the Coalition learns of her existence and they will come for her. The question is will they find the quiet timid girl just coming into her power, or will they find the formidable, Proven daughter of Jin Jing and Ming Lao?

  ~ ~ ~

  The Mortals:

  Carson Carmichael

  It is a rare occurrence when a mortal plays a key role in the happenings of the Immortal world. Carson and his wife, Lily, always seem to be in the thick of it, yet they seem to know nothing of our world. I've never been able to perceive what their role in our future will be, but it is clear they are more informed than they let on (which tells me they are two incredibly smart individuals).

  AGE: 56

  BIRTHDATE: August 16, 1960

  BIRTH STATUS: Mortal, born and raised along Lake Erie.

  SPOUSE: Lily Carmichael

  APPEARANCE:

  EYE COLOR: Brown

  HEIGHT: 5’10”

  HAIR COLOR: Dark Blond

  ETHNICITY/CULTURAL INFLUENCES: Caucasian American

  CURRENT LOCATION: Kelleys Island, Ohio

  OCCUPATION: Dean of Cultural Anthropology at Case Western Reserve––recommended to the job by Navid, a long time friend and colleague.

  HISTORICAL BIO: Carson grew up in Cleveland Ohio and dated his high school sweetheart, Lily for more than a year before college took them in different directions. After years apart, they were reunited when they both ended up teaching at the same school. Carson's favorite professor, Navid offered him the job and he was eager to accept. He always had a strong connection with his mentor and looked forward to working with him again. Lily and Carson picked up right where they left off and eventually married. They had their oldest daughter, Josceline at a young age, but weren’t able to have any more children. When Josceline was a teenager, they adopted their youngest daughter, Alexis. For most of their children’s lives, Carson and Lily traveled the world from one research assignment to the next, never staying anywhere long enough to call it home. I've always found the Carmichael's to be an unusual sort of mortal family, and I feel strongly that they will surprise us all.

  CURRENT BIO: After nearly two decades of world travel, constantly on the move, Lily and Carson suddenly decided to retire from their lives of field research. When a long-time friend and colleague offered them the opportunity to return home to Kelleys Island, they jumped at the chance to give their youngest daughter a normal life. They have quickly settled into their new home, and Alexis seems to be flourishing.

  TOP SECRET NOTES: Carson is estranged from his side of the family. He hasn't spoken to his father in nearly thirty years.

  The man looks nothing close to his fifty-six years.

  ~ ~ ~

  Lily Carmichael

  AGE: 56

  BIRTHDATE: September 6, 1960

  BIRTH STATUS: Mortal, born and raised along Lake Erie.

  SPOUSE: Carson Carmichael

  APPEARANCE:

  EYE COLOR: Clear blue

  HEIGHT: 5’8”

  HAIR COLOR: Pale blond

  ETHNICITY/CULTURAL INFLUENCES: Caucasian American

  CURRENT LOCATION: Kelleys Island, Ohio

  OCCUPATION: Curator of Egyptian artifacts for the Cleveland Museum of Art, works directly under the head curator, Greggory McBrien. She was recommended to the job by Navid, a long time family friend and colleague.

  HISTORICAL BIO: Lily grew up in a loving home as an only child. At fifteen, she fell hopelessly in love with Carson Carmichael, but for the longest time, he didn't notice her. When he finally did, it was as if even the stars aligned for them. They were happy and completely devoted to each other through high school, but college took them in different directions. She enjoyed her time in school, pushing the boundaries of her knowledge and pursuing the career she wanted. Her college mentor was my daughter, Kassandre. Kass always loved teaching and she saw something special in Lily. The two became close friends and Kassandre even helped her land her first job. Lily knew she would end up with Carson, so it was no surprise to her when they married just a few years after graduation. Lily always seemed to know exactly what life held in store for her, so when the opportunity to adopt Alexis fell into her lap, she had no hesitation. From that day forward, Allie was her daughter and no one could tell her otherwise.

  CURRENT BIO: Lily enjoys her new job, working closely with Greggory McBrien. She's made an effort to get to know Gregg and his wife, Naeemah and tries to stay as involved in her daughter's busy life as she can. Returning to her hometown seems to have breathed new life into her.

  TOP SECRET NOTES: I suspect my daughter knew much more about Lily and her heritage than she ever divulged to me.

  I can't fathom for a second that this woman is fifty-six years old. She doesn't look a day over forty.

  ~ ~ ~

  Vince

  I have no idea how this young mortal managed to catch my eye, but there is something about this boy that confounds me. He is either completely insignificant and nothing but a passing distraction for Allie, or he will play a role in the coming future. My instincts tell me to be wary. I will not underestimate him. I should probably arrange a meeting. He will forget me as soon as I leave. Perhaps that is the best recourse.

  AGE: 17

  BIRTHDATE: March 3, 1999

  BIRTH STATUS: Mortal born

  CURRENT LOCATION: Lakewood, Ohio

  APPEARANCE:

  EYE COLOR: Brown

  HEIGHT: 6’0”

  HAIR COLOR: Sandy brown

  ETHNICITY/CULTURAL INFLUENCES: Italian heritage

  OCCUPATIONS: Cliffton Academy Senior, scholarship student and captain of the Varsity Football team. Also works for his father’s trucking company after school, but he never actually seems to be there.

  HISTORICAL BIO: Vince grew up quickly when his mother was first diagnosed with breast cancer when he was just thirteen years old. He watched her struggle with her disease, feeling an immense amount of relief when she went into remission for nearly a year. When the cancer came back, she got sick much faster. She died about a year later. His girlfriend, Vanessa also died after a long battle with cancer around the same time. Vince fell into a deep depression after their deaths. His father was absent, not dealing with his wife’s death, and Vince turned to his father's family for support. Vince hadn't spent much time with his grandfather and cousins since his father had a falling out with them several years ago. But they were there for him when his father wasn't. He contemplated moving in with his grandfather and changing schools, but Allie's arrival delayed his plans. Had she not arrived when she did, Vince would likely be headed down a very different path.

  CURRENT BIO: When he met Allie, she started to pull him out of his depression and he slowly returned to the guy he used to
be before he experienced so much loss. He is drawn to Allie in a way he’s never experienced before. He cares for her, but he knows they are not meant to be together. As their relationship progresses, he knows it will be difficult to leave her behind when he goes away to college, but he has to escape his past. She’s been good for him––she's even helped him repair his relationship with his father, but there are too many bad memories in Cleveland. If he has a prayer of escaping the life his father has had, he has to leave as soon as possible.

  TOP SECRET NOTES: I cannot decide if I trust this boy or not. Allie clearly sees something in him but that could just be adolescent hormones gone awry. I will continue to watch their relationship unfold.

  ~ ~ ~

  McKayla (Kayla) Pierce

  This girl is special. Watching the way she interacts with Allie and Aidan and their friends, I know she is a rare, trustworthy sort. I sense that Allie and Aidan will always be able to rely on her, knowing she won't ask too many questions. Most Immortals would discount a mortal ally as useless, but sometimes that is their greatest asset. I hope Kayla will continue to maintain her friendships with Allie and Aidan long after high school. Depending on the teen drama and angst of the next few years, that remains to be seen.

  AGE: 18

  BIRTHDATE: February 1, 1998

  BIRTH STATUS: Mortal born, but biological parents were killed in an accident. She was adopted when she was 18 months old.

  CURRENT LOCATION: Lakewood, Ohio