As she was leaving the jail she walked right into a group of officers who were deployed as a second layer of protection on the off chance that the riot spilled out of the jail. Corinne tried to avoid them by ducking around the side of the building, but a firm hand grabbed her wrist and tugged her back before she could.
“Corinne what are you doing here?” Daniel asked with a severe frown. His fellow police officers hung back out of respect, but they were quite curious about Corinne's involvement.
Corinne was still reeling with the emotions of the riot and the criminal who had been so bent on murder. She found it difficult not to express those emotions toward Daniel as each time she tried to pull away from him; he drew her back closer to him.
“Tell me why you are here.” He demanded, finally slipping an arm around her waist to loosely restrain her. “You came to see him didn't you?” He asked just beside her ear.
She nodded as she crumpled into his grip and reveled in the pleasure of his closeness. “I just had some questions I needed answered.” She explained as he sighed with relief that she was no longer resisting him. Corinne was lost in a myriad of emotion, with her only anchor being the love she could feel pouring out of Daniel's heart for her.
Daniel's eyes glimmered with hurt as he looked at her closely. “Let me help you with this Corinne, please.”
When she sensed the hurt within him, she regretted not confessing her plans for the day.
“I knew you didn't trust Conner, so..” Her voice trailed off as she recalled the man escorting Sam out of the jail.
“I'm sorry.” Daniel said genuinely. “I trust you, and if you really think this guy is for real then-”
“-I'm not sure anymore.” Corinne interrupted. Her beautiful features creased with frustration as her head began to throb with the emotions of the others around her. “I have never been so confused.” She whispered as she let her forehead come to rest on Daniel's chest.
Daniel cupped his hand around the back of her head, and wrapped his other arm around her protectively as he wished he could somehow build a different world, a different life for her.
“I promise you,” He murmured. “We will figure it out together.”
29
Aaron sat alone in his small room. It consisted of a single bed with a thin mattress and a small desk and chair that was wedged into the corner of the room. It was lit by a bare bulb in the center of the room. Prisoners had larger living spaces, with more personal accommodations. But it this room was all Aaron had ever known as his home.
He was retrieved as an infant and brought back into this sterile environment to be raised by scientists and doctors. He was studied and evaluated on a regular basis, the way most kids studied and took tests in school. At first, because he knew nothing different, he felt as if his life was normal.
That was until he began to read stories about life outside of the walls. In the world outside, there were families. There was nature. There were even places specifically designed and reserved for children to play. He found it difficult to understand why he could not live this type of life. It was these thoughts that began to plant the seeds of rebellion within him.
Along with watching Lisa grow. She was his only playmate, and solace. He felt as if he was responsible for her, and though for some reason she had limited ability to express true emotions, she did bond with Aaron. Together they formed a makeshift family, headed by Conner, their dysfunctional father.
He insisted that they work on a regular basis, constantly challenging them and their abilities, pushing them to grow stronger both mentally and physically.
It created a sense of not ever being able to do well enough to please him. As Aaron grew into a man he found himself angry more frequently.
As he sat on the edge of the bed, his thoughts were centered on Corinne. He was jealous that she had lived outside of the walls. He was furious that she was given the freedom to walk away. He wanted more than anything to have that same freedom.
Ever since he slipped out to save Corinne, he had been on lockdown. His every move was being observed, and it made his skin crawl to be aware that there were eyes always on him. Until she had come into their lives, things had been miserable, but not unbearable. Now he felt as if they could only get worse.
“Corinne.” He mumbled into the darkness around him. “I know you can feel me.” He let his eyes fall shut, and he expanded his emotions within him. He was certain, that just as he had been able to sense her, she would be able to sense him. He wanted her to feel a little bit of his torture, as he had suffered with the unavoidable sensation of hers.
Corinne sat upright in the bed beside Daniel. He had insisted that she stay with him, as he was worried about the way she had been behaving, and the illness she had suffered. He felt as if no matter how he tried to protect her, he was never successful.
As she grasped at her chest, feeling a rage and resentment fill her with such bitterness that she desired to punch anything she could, her breath shuddered from between her lips and formed a name.
“Aaron.”
The next breath she drew was a gasp as she suddenly became certain that Aaron was in trouble. It was not that he was in danger exactly; it was more as if he was captive. As Corinne's heart rate slowed to a normal pace she caught glimpses of Aaron's life. She gradually realized as she sorted through these memories that Aaron was as much a prisoner as the men in the jail she had visited that day.
“I am coming.” She murmured into the darkness that surrounded her.
The next morning Daniel agreed to show her the building he had tracked Conner Mitchell to, on the condition that she not sneak off without him present, and allow him to help her figure out what he was up to. Corinne had not revealed her concern about Aaron's safety, nor had she confided the full extent of her abilities. She was not even sure herself.
As they pulled into the parking lot, Daniel cast a worried glance in her direction. She had been silent for the entire drive, and her expression was darkened by an emotion he could not place. Daniel parked the car and opened her door for her. Then the two walked right up to the building. There was no way in. There was no way to ask for entry.
This did not bother Corinne. She closed her eyes and expanded her energy, summoning her most recent memory of Conner's face. She focused on his features intently, until she could feel the heat of his skin.
In his office, Conner suddenly felt a sharp headache start at the top of his neck. It raced up along the curve of his head until it settled in the center of his forehead. The pain was excruciating as it heightened with a demanding throb.
“Corinne.” He winced as he reached up and pulled off his reading glasses. He tossed them aside and rubbed at his forehead, hoping to ease the pain. It was in that moment that he realized she must be close by.
He tapped a few keys on his keyboard to summon up the video feed from the cameras on the outside of the building. He was startled when he found her staring back at him, expectantly.
Her fiancé was beside her. Conner knew that this might be a problem considering his profession. Still, he did not have much of a choice. That fact was augmented by a sharp resurgence of pain through his head.
He struck a button on the desk beside him, and a voice wafted into the room.
“Yes Mr. Mitchell?”
“Please send an escort to the front of the building. Bring only Corinne.” He said firmly.
“Yes, Mr. Mitchell.” The voice replied, after which the office was bathed in silence. Conner steepled his fingertips against the curve of his chin and contemplated how to handle what would happen next.
He watched the video feed as two muscular men in suits stepped outside of the building and spoke with Corinne and Daniel.
“Mr. Mitchell would like you to come inside.” The large of the two said.
Daniel tilted his head back as he laid a hand on the butt of his gun. “If she goes, I go.” He stated sternly.
“I am sorry sir, but this is a secure facility, and
only Corinne may enter.” The other man said politely but with pure authority.
“Then I am not coming inside.” Corinne said flatly. She had made a promise to Daniel and she intended to keep it.
“Yes, you are.” The first man insisted. “Mr. Mitchell requested that we bring you inside.” When he reached up to place a hand on Corinne's arm, Daniel was quick to step between them. He had his gun out of its holster swiftly, but before he could aim it he felt a strange need to lower it.
In his office, gazing at the video feed, Conner was commanding him to lower the gun.
“Corinne will be fine.” He murmured within Daniel's mind. “Just walk away.”
Daniel looked over at Corinne vacantly. “You'll be fine.” He said casually. “I'll wait in the car.”
He was walking away before Corinne could protest. At first she was stunned by his behavior, and then she realized that Conner must have been behind it.
“Oh yes.” She said wickedly as the two men turned their attention back to her. “Let's go inside.”
Now she was the angry one as she was led through a maze of corridors to a single elevator. She did not like the idea of Conner toying with Daniel's mind.
When the elevator doors opened she was on the same floor as Conner's office. She began to walk down the hallway without waiting for her escorts, when Aaron stepped out into the hall from another room. He was startled by her presence, though in a way he had expected it. Conner had been right again. She did come to them.
“Corinne.” He said curtly.
“Aaron.” She responded compassionately. When she looked into his eyes, there was no animosity within her. “I am here.” She said clearly, as if to reassure him. Aaron lowered his gaze quickly, afraid that she would catch him in weakness.
Conner emerged from his office and smiled at the two as they turned to face him. They looked remarkable beside each other, like works of art to be appreciated. Their features mimicked one another’s, and their eyes held the same fire and fury that they had on the day that they were born, that their mother's eyes contained.
“Finally, we are together.” He declared as he spread his arms wide open as if he was expecting them to run into them. Instead the two siblings glowered equally at the man.
“I came for Aaron.” Corinne said passionately as she stepped toward Conner.
Conner took a slight step back as he could feel how intense Corinne's determination was.
Aaron was surprised by her words as she pushed past him. It had never occurred to him that Corinne might want to rescue him. Or even truly, that he needed to be rescued.
“Corinne I understand that you are confused.” He paused as he shot a warning glare in Aaron's direction. “You saw me today with Sam, which must have upset you.” He gestured toward his office. “Come in and sit down, I can explain everything.” His patient tone was very convincing, but Corinne could not lose sight of the memories she now shared with Aaron, or the fact that Conner had influenced Daniel's mind.
“There's no way to explain it.” Corinne insisted as she folded her arms across her chest and refused to budge from where she stood.
Conner took a calming breath and reminded himself inwardly that he needed to tread carefully around Corinne.
“I hired Sam because you were placed in the system before I could get to you Corinne. Once you were in foster care it was hard to find you. I hired a police officer to help me find you, and when he did, I continued to pay him to keep track of you.
At that point if I tried to take you out of the system it would expose our work, something that the world is not ready to understand.” He sighed as he leaned back against the doorway of his office and watched her steadily. It still amazed him that she was standing before him.
“I had no idea of his activities, I swear to you.” He shook his head remorsefully. “I would never have allowed him near you, if I had known.”
Corinne frowned as Conner's words sank in. His story made sense to her. It also explained why she was never adopted, she was sure that Conner had something to do with preventing that. Although her entire childhood was riddled with deception, Conner's story actually made her feel a subtle warmth inside. For her entire life she had assumed that there was no one else out there that had any interest in her well-being. It was comforting to think that Conner had done his best to protect her.
“You know what he did now.” Corinne pointed out, not completely swayed. “And still you broke him out of jail. Why?” Corinne reached up and touched her cheek lightly as she recalled the beating she had suffered at the hands of the only man she had ever envisioned as a parental figure. She did not overlook a mark that resided in a similar place on Aaron's cheek.
Conner folded his hands in front of him in a pleading manner. “Sam knew too much, Corinne.” He grimaced as he thought of the mistake he had made by hiring the man. “He knew my name, your name, and that there was a connection between us. He had ideas about this place. If I had let him sit in jail for too long, he would have begun talking. How can I risk all we have learned, all we have worked so hard for?”
Aaron shifted uncomfortably as he felt a surge of annoyance. Conner was rambling about the research, and the work, but had not once mentioned the safety of Aaron or Lisa. He was showing, as usual, what his priorities were. Corinne did not notice this.
Instead she was being drawn in by Conner's words. She could believe what he said about the risk that Sam posed. She could even forgive him for it. Still the memories she had felt of Aaron's plagued her. The control he had exerted over Daniel infuriated her. She needed him to prove that he was not running a prison rather than a research facility.
“If everything you are saying is true, then I am free to leave?” She asked as she began to turn away.
“Of course.” Conner said in a friendly tone. “Though I would rather you stayed, at least for a little while.”
Corinne smiled pleasantly as she took a step back, until she was side by side with Aaron. She reached up and placed her hand gently on his forearm, which tensed instantly beneath her touch. She knew that reaction. She knew what it meant, when even a soft touch frightened you into anticipating violence and pain.
“Well, I would prefer to leave. In fact, I was hoping Aaron and I could spend some time together.”
Conner raised his eyebrows swiftly as he realized her intentions.
“Uh, that's not such a good idea.” Conner argued, he had not anticipated this turn of events. “If you want to visit with Aaron, you can do it here.”
Corinne pursed her lips mildly. “Why? Is he not free to leave?” She waited expectantly for an answer. Conner was briefly at a loss as he tried to summon a good excuse as to why Aaron could not leave.
“Is he your prisoner?” Corinne pushed; she was not going to give him a moment to think up an excuse.
“No, of course not.” Conner smirked faintly as he glanced at Aaron's hopeful expression. He could tell that the young man was yearning for the chance to leave. He knew it was a risk, but Conner was masterful at playing the hand that he was dealt. “If you insist, and Aaron agrees.” He smiled charmingly at Aaron. “You two may spend as much time as you like together.”
Aaron was stunned by his agreement. He did not let himself fully believe it was true. Surely Conner would let them get halfway out of the building, and then send his security to retrieve them, or at least Aaron.
“Do you want to go with Corinne, Aaron?” Conner asked, showing his teeth as he grinned.
Aaron's mind filled with dread as he wondered what game Conner was playing. He knew that the moment he agreed to go with Corinne he would be blatantly disobeying Conner, and there would be consequences.
“Yes.” He said in a trembling tone. A hint of a smile crossed Corinne's lips to see such a strong man quake. To her, Conner did not seem so frightening.
“Well then, you should pack a bag.” Conner laughed jovially and clapped Aaron on his shoulder as if he was sending him off on a summer vacation.
Abruptly Aaron turned back. “Not without Lisa.” He said in the same moment that he met Conner's eyes, and recognized the power held there. Conner stepped up beside Aaron, and leaned close to him as he whispered.
“As long as you are outside these walls, Lisa will belong to me.” His voice was too low for Corinne to hear, though she did try to listen. Instead she felt a sudden fear wash through Aaron, as Conner added. “Try me boy, and she will suffer.”
Aaron swallowed thickly as he lowered his eyes to the floor. He realized now what a grave mistake he had made.
“I am sorry Conner, I'll stay.” He said reluctantly.
“Oh no, Aaron. It will be good for you to get out, and have some time with your sister.” Conner's smile was as endearing as ever. “Go, on now, get out of here.”
Corinne knew something was not right between the two men, but she was not going to wait to figure it out. She tugged at Aaron's arm.
“Come with me.” She hissed as he resisted. His mind was focused on Lisa. He could not be moved if he did not choose to be. “It's okay.” Corinne promised him and when she tugged on his arm again he allowed her to lead him to the elevator. This time rather than being assaulted from behind, she made it to the elevator.
When the elevator doors opened, her heart was racing with the expectation of someone harmful standing on the other side. As convincing as Conner's argument had been, she still did not quite trust him, and she could tell that Aaron did not either. Her brother was perfectly silent as they wound their way through the maze of corridors until they reached the front doors.
Corinne smiled as she saw a figure at the door pounding with all of his might. It was Daniel, who had apparently been released from Conner's control. When he saw Corinne he pounded even harder.
Corinne (Book One of The Red Diamond Saga) Page 8
