The Takeover

by Teyla Branton

  “On his way. But while we wait, let’s get to the introductions. I don’t believe you’ve met David Ropte.” Again, his gaze went to the man by the window, and this time Ropte turned to regard us with hazel eyes that today seemed calculating.

  “No, I haven’t had that pleasure.”

  “David,” Stefan said, angling his body toward the windows, “meet Erin Radkey.”

  Ropte came forward, his hand outstretched in greeting, but Catrina shoved a cup of coffee in my hand, coming so close to touching me that I shied away. Some of the hot coffee sloshed over the cup onto my skin.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said, dabbing with the napkin that had come with the cup. Ropte frowned and dropped his hand. I felt a rush of emotion from him, but I didn’t know what it meant.

  “Would you like a scotch instead?” Stefan’s mocking grin softened the hardness in his eyes and reminded me of Jace.

  “No thanks,” I said.

  Stefan drank the contents of his glass and crossed to the minibar to pour another before rejoining us. “Are you sure? I thought you might want to toast our pending victory. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To concede the battle and offer the terms of Renegade surrender?”

  “Not even close.”

  Stefan’s grin vanished, and he barked a laugh. “Whatever you’ve come here for today, you have to know you won’t be leaving us. Not this time.” His hand ran down my arm in an unmistakably sexual way, his eyes slipping over the curves of my body. “Believe me, we have a place for you.”

  What?

  My world tilted. He’d touched me before, but never in that manner. He might be an evil murderer, but he wasn’t into incest. “I would think,” I said acidly, “with the shared genes between us that I would be afforded more respect.”

  Stefan chuckled at my expression, and Ropte laughed with him. “I admit we share a common ancestor with the Renegades, but make no mistake: we won’t let any of you stand in our way.”

  I knew then that someone had told him he wasn’t my father. Jeane? Lew? Jace? I knew my brother would rather die than give me up, but if Catrina had tampered with his memories, he might have been deceived enough to betray me. Or maybe Stefan had taken my DNA from the bo staff after our fight—I didn’t know if that was possible.

  I floundered, feeling sick to my stomach. Did they know about my ability too? But, no, unless they had learned I could channel, they couldn’t know—and how would they even think to ask that question of Jace?

  Jeane arose from the couch, where I’d spotted Lew shooting glances at her—tender ones that had his heart written all over them. Stefan would be blind if he hadn’t noticed, and my bet was that Stefan hadn’t gotten to where he was by not being observant.

  “Oh, Erin,” Jeane said, moving with her customary swaying gait, “you don’t have to worry about uniting with the Emporium. My brother will make sure you’re treated well regardless of what you decide.” She put her arm around Ropte, who returned the gesture. They looked good together, more like a politician and his young trophy wife than brother and sister.

  Stefan’s eyes turned angry as he stared at them, but within a breath he turned those ice blue eyes in my direction again. I kept my mouth shut and waited for the other shoe to drop, for him to say Jeane had told him everything. For them to throw me into a shielded cell and disrupt all our plans.

  I’d never free my brother. Or see Ritter again.

  Instinctively, I checked my connection with Edgel, planning to use his ability to determine everyone’s threat level in case I had to fight. I guessed Stefan was the greatest challenge, but Ropte’s guard could be just as dangerous. Not to mention whoever was altering memories.

  What I saw in Edgel’s mind froze me.

  He was sickened at the way Jeane held on to her brother. He remembered how she’d cried after Ropte had come home with her lover’s blood on his hands. Delia’s orders, but Ropte had carried out the deed. Edgel had been with him that day as a witness, and when they returned with the report, Jeane’s cries had made him feel regret. Cries that reverberated in his head for years afterward.

  Yet here she was clinging to her brother and smiling.

  If Edgel’s memories were correct, I would expect Jeane to null Ropte’s ability and kill him instead of asking for favors and babysitting his wife.

  Edgel wasn’t the only one upset. Lew was now on the edge of his seat, his jaw locked and his eyes angry. His shield reached across the space separating him from Jeane, enveloping her body entirely, as if to keep her apart from Ropte. Whatever Jeane currently felt—or thought she felt—for her brother, Lew didn’t share the feelings.

  The tampered memories! Hope flared through me because maybe Jeane hadn’t given me up. Maybe no one had.

  Yet someone had definitely been tampering again, someone who didn’t want Stefan to remember he had a daughter. Why?

  I released a thought into Edgel’s sand stream, causing him to remember this morning and also the last time he and Keene had brought me to Stefan. What I found make the fear inside me grow. He had no memory of me ever being considered Stefan’s daughter, and I could see that the sands holding those memories were a different color, the grains layered with a shimmering translucence. I reached my hand in to touch them, thinking maybe I could pull the glow off.

  Edgel jerked around, bringing his hand to his head. He stared at Catrina, scowling. His shield bucked at me, and the next minute I was thrown from his mind with the violence of his reaction.

  One thing was clear: any safety I might have been afforded as Stefan’s biological daughter had ended. In light of Catrina’s presence, they didn’t really need to keep me alive for breeding purposes, either. I wanted to panic, but I knew what Ritter would say: “The lie got you inside. That was all we needed.”

  My eyes snapped back to Stefan. “I did come here with an offer.” Silently, I reached out to Mari. How much time left before the outside power goes off?

  Eighteen minutes, thirty-three seconds. I plucked the thought from her head, giving her a quick thanks.

  I could do this.

  “But first, as much as I appreciate the coffee, I’d rather have tea.” I turned and crossed to the bar where a stack of cups and a basket with tea bags sat next to thermoses of hot water. “Tihalt is on his way, isn’t he? You did say that he was.”

  Under Ropte’s stare and Stefan’s amused smile, I filled a cup with heated water and plopped in a tea bag. At least it couldn’t be poisoned. I dumped in a package of sugar as well, and then another, and stirred slowly before cleaning up the discarded packets. Eyes and silence followed me as I crossed the room to the farthermost couch where I could see the door and, with a little luck, reach the weapons on the wall behind me. Catrina had already settled on the couch opposite, so I was as removed from her as I possibly could be.

  “So we begin negotiations?” Ropte said. To my annoyance, he sat kitty-corner on the couch next to me, his back to the window. His leg brushed Lew, who scooted away, leaving no doubts how he felt about the man. Lew’s tension didn’t leave even when Jeane sat next to him. Ropte’s guard took up position directly behind Ropte’s couch.

  “Then we’ll excuse you, Jeane.” Stefan said, the only one besides Edgel and the guard who was still standing.

  Ropte shook his head. “You have your two sensing Unbounded; I’d like Jeane to remain with me to protect my interests.” Ropte’s eyes landed on Catrina as he spoke.

  Stefan’s mouth pursed. “Very well, she may stay. But her ability won’t be necessary.”

  “Only as a deterrent,” Ropte agreed.

  Stefan glanced toward the door. Too late, I saw Edgel open a panel and turn a switch. At once, glowing red lights emerged from holes set at intervals in each of the black pillars, casting a red grid pattern over the walls, ceilings, and floors. They ran under the couches and coffee table, perfectly aligned to avoid the legs. At once, the life forces in the building vanished from my mind, except for those in the room.

&nbs
p; Immediately, I recognized the technology that had given birth to the portable grid.

  Whatever link I had with Mari was gone. I was completely alone.

  ALONE. NO WAY TO SIGNAL Mari to set off the relays and bring everyone inside. I could try triggering the relays myself once the city power was cut and hope Mari noticed and began shifting our people inside, but would my transmitter work past the grid?

  Ropte smiled at my discomfort. “Not what you expected, is it?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean, but these lights are distracting.” I set my tea untouched on the coffee table and waved my hands at the red lines crossing the walls and ceilings. Red crisscrossed my feet as they met the floor, cutting off some of the line, but the overall grid remained strong. The color lent a macabre haze to the room.

  “Distracting but necessary.” Ropte sat back. “Delia told me what you are. I don’t know why you’re here, but I suspect you have some kind of ridiculous plan, which I refuse to allow you and your misguided allies to carry out. Get used to this room because you are never leaving it—or one like it.”

  Stefan stood behind the couch where Catrina sat. “You’re not making sense, David. What’s going on here? You have one minute to explain, or you’ll be the one I throw into a dark cell. She’s my captive, and I will determine what happens to her.”

  “I’m saying she’s a sensing Unbounded. That’s why I requested the grid for the meeting.” Ropte’s tone held barely concealed derision. “If you weren’t so blind, you would have noticed it before. She’s not here to offer a deal, she’s here to take you down, to put herself in your place.” Ropte’s eyes again met mine. “It’s what I would do.”

  Stefan’s hand went to the gun he carried at his back. “Impossible. Oh, I’ve heard the rumors, but she’s definitely combat. I tested her when she arrived.”

  So he did remember something from our meeting this morning. My initial panic was fading. When Mari couldn’t see my location, she’d quickly realize that something had happened. Regardless, this grid should go off for at least a second or two when the outside electricity was compromised, and I’d be able to tell her to proceed without me. After the generators kicked in, she could set off the relays and shift Ritter and the others here.

  “She has two abilities then,” Ropte said, “because Delia told me she was the strongest sensing Unbounded she’d ever come across. She had big plans for her, which was why she kept it a secret. Unfortunately, Delia’s plan failed.”

  Stefan glared at me. “Is this true? Have the Renegades found a way to breed in multiple abilities?”

  My muscles bunched as I readied to defend myself. I had no doubt this would get ugly fast. “He hasn’t told you everything,” I said to Stefan. “Ropte and Delia were plotting to take over the Triad, and from what I’ve seen here today, I suspect he still plans to get rid of you and take control of the Emporium. Do you think you’ll be any use to him once he has what he wants?”

  I didn’t know if what I was saying was true, but why else had Ropte waited until now to tell Stefan about me? And then there was the matter of the changed memories.

  Stefan’s gaze flicked to Ropte and back to me again. There was fear in that single look, and I wondered if Stefan had the same thought. “Are you a sensing Unbounded?” he demanded.

  “What I am is your biological daughter,” I said.

  Ropte barked a laugh, but Stefan held my gaze. “Explain.”

  “Near the time of my conception, Renegades stole genetic material from your lab—your genetic material. You tagged the canister so you knew where it went, and you sent someone to retrieve me when I Changed, but I escaped. Now you have no memory of that, and apparently neither does Jeane.” I didn’t spare a glance in her direction. If she did remember, she was on Ropte’s side and wouldn’t help me. “There have to be records somewhere that show the truth.”

  Ropte’s nostrils flared. “Impossible!”

  Stefan rotated in his direction, staring down at Ropte. “Oh, but it is possible—I’ve just learned I have a son from that event.”

  “My brother Jace,” I said. “Weren’t you going to let me see him after this meeting?”

  Stefan took a deep breath, confusion in his eyes as they rested again on my face. “I was going to have him . . .” He broke off, as if wondering why he would have allowed Jace to meet me. He looked at Edgel, still standing near the door. “Have you heard any of this?”

  “She must be lying.” Edgel gave me a dark glare.

  Ropte laughed. “She can sense your thoughts, I tell you. She breaks down shields like Delia. You can’t trust anything she says.”

  “Yet I do have a son. And he did come looking for her.”

  “Renegade lies.” Ropte arose, his fists clenched at his side. His guard’s hand rested on his gun. “I will take responsibility for her. I’ll get her tamed. I know how to break people like her.”

  I really hated him.

  “No hypnosuggestion now,” Stefan shot. “I want to get to the bottom of this. If there’s any chance she’s as powerful as you say, do you really think I’ll hand her over to you?” He took a step around Catrina’s couch, moving past the coffee table in my direction. He was still several feet away, but towered over me. I’d have to break through Edgel’s shield to fight him, but with the other guard, Ropte, and Edgel himself here, I had no real chance at winning.

  Catrina stared at me with her mouth partially open. Her shield completely enveloped her now, and I extended mine to my whole body as well. No use trying to hide what I was from her any longer. Without backup, I’d need the shield to stay alive.

  “Okay, then,” I stalled, calculating the effort to catapult myself over the back of the couch. Maybe I could make it to the swords on the wall. “I have proof. Delia ordered Ropte to kill Jeane’s old lover. It took Ropte at least two attempts, but he succeeded. Jeane swore she’d never forgive him, but she doesn’t remember that now. Someone has tampered with her memories.”

  Jeane gasped. “No! That’s not how it happened. David tried to stop it. I-I—”

  “Ask Edgel,” I said. “He knows.”

  “She’s right,” Edgel and Lew said simultaneously.

  Jeane’s eyes showed pain. “No, no, no,” she whispered. But there was doubt in her voice, doubt that made me think about the many tiny memories attached to that single, traumatic event. Maybe whoever replaced her memories wasn’t good enough to find and replace all of them.

  Ropte looked at Jeane. “Who’re you going to believe? Besides, no one can replace memories. This is just another Renegade trick.”

  “Actually, memories can be manipulated,” Catrina said, her soft voice cutting through the harsh silence.

  I’d been waiting for her to speak, to confirm Ropte’s accusation about my ability, and this shocked me. “Is it you?” I asked her. “Who’s behind you?” My bet was that she was working with Ropte.

  Whatever Catrina’s response might have been was lost as Ropte leapt to his feet, reaching for his gun and setting off a chain reaction in the room. Edgel pulled both his sword and his gun. Stefan drew his gun, moving backward away from the couches, closer to Edgel. I jumped over the back of my couch, the mental version of my machete banging at Edgel’s shield. Ropte’s guard, gun in hand, edged closer to me around the back of my couch, as if to prevent me from reaching the swords on the wall. Lew and Jeane hurried away from all of us to crouch in the corner between the windows and sword wall, his shield spread out to protect them both. Only Catrina remained sitting on her couch, her green eyes wide and interested, her face calm and unafraid. Her shield looked almost silver now.

  At that moment, the overhead chandeliers blinked off, barely noticeable in the light coming from the huge windows, and then only because of the lingering clouds. Yes! Our Renegades had cut the outside power. I should have a moment to talk to Mari before the generators kicked in.

  I reached out, but the red lines of the grid were still in place, except around our feet, and I could
feel nothing beyond the room. The columns have internal batteries, Catrina sent to my surface thoughts, and I wondered why she bothered.

  Two seconds later, the overhead lights flickered back on, signaling that the generators had kicked in. My chance was over. Even if Mari triggered the relays, I wouldn’t be able to reach beyond this room to let her know what was happening.

  Ropte was watching me, plainly gloating over my dismay. I recovered my expression and hacked harder at Edgel’s shield. I was in! Still, getting out of here was a long shot, unless I could convince Lew and Jeane to work with me. I glanced in their direction to see them both staring murderously at Ropte, their hands tightly locked.

  “Check to make sure the building hasn’t been compromised,” Stefan barked at Edgel. “I want the guard tripled and all soldiers ready for battle. Send an alert to the entire building.”

  So much for our surprise. I’d blame Ropte and that stupid red grid, but Stefan probably would have checked anyway.

  Edgel jumped to open the panel near the door, bringing up the cameras on the huge wall screen. He talked briefly into an intercom inside the panel before facing Stefan. “All areas secure,” he reported. “But there is a power outage in the neighborhood. Phone service seems to be out as well.”

  Stefan whipped his head toward me, his lips twisted in contempt. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

  With all the guns in the room, I needed a weapon. I’d have to mentally control Edgel and his gun until I could find something to fight with, regardless of how much energy it would cost me. I only hoped Mari and Keene could get backup here before I ended up permanently dead.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I told Stefan. “I think you have bigger problems right here. Someone tampered with your memories. How much else have they changed?”

  A series of short beeps made everyone look toward the door. It opened to reveal Tihalt McIntyre drawing his hand away from the handprint reader. With him was Keene. I schooled my face not to show relief that I had at least one person for backup. I hoped Mari used the relays soon. If she could bring Ritter anywhere inside, he’d find his way to me.