Rebel Heart

by Young, Christine

  Tori stayed with her father and the men who still lay motionless on the ground in the clearing. Two of them murdered ruthlessly--by thieftakers. She hated thieftakers.

  "I do know the laws, know them by heart. But the thieftakers use the laws to their advantage--to do horrible things."

  Her father sighed deeply, and it seemed as if he looked at her in a different light. "Not all the thieftakers are bad."

  "What will happen if the thieftakers gain more power? What if there are too many bad ones for the good ones to control?"

  Her father, watching her, shuddered suddenly. He held her close. "Then evil will rule the land."

  "I only wanted a moment of freedom. I've done no harm."

  "Look around you and tell me your adventure has done no harm. You cannot disregard the laws or the thieftakers!" His voice escalated with every word.

  "You saw what they are capable of," she finished for him. "Crime syndicates control the thieftakers. They are a law among themselves, as was proven today. I hate them--every one of them and I always will." She began to tremble and her voice shook with indignation and anger at all the injustice.

  Her father gave her a rueful smile before speaking again. "Well, my dear, you are well versed in current events. You'd make a formidable opponent, I admit. But then I'm not your opponent. I'm your father, and by that right, you are mine to command. You have backed me into a corner. We still have virus-free confines in other provinces. If I send you to one of these refuges, you will lead a very, very austere life. You will have plenty of time to think on all that went on here today, all the disappointment and grief you have brought down upon the City, and the loss of your sister." He offered her a comforting smile before he touched her cheek. "This is not an easy task for me either. But you have tied my hands."

  "I will fight the thieftakers--all of them."

  "There is a reason and purpose for everything, my dear. It will take time and a strong hand to bring about peace and understanding between the people."

  Tori knew what her father said was true. He was a dependable and good ruler with endless patience. Authoritative and domineering, he believed in justice and the uniting of the planet.

  She looked at her father. "So, you will punish Nessa for my crimes, and send her away also. Isn't it enough to separate us? I never thought of you as unjust or unfair. You know as well as I that she could never say no to me."

  "And because she has not learned to say that very important word, I will banish her. It was a lesson she should have learned years ago. Saying no is such simple thing."

  "You don't understand. She is sweet, pure, and so very loving. She does not have the strength within her to defy me."

  Her father brushed tears of his own from his eyes then hugged her dearly. "True enough. But she followed you, without a thought to the passes and their safekeeping," he told her ruefully. "But my little one, think on this--if she is removed from your influence, perhaps she will learn to make decisions for herself."

  He looked around the clearing as if he suddenly remembered the hidden sniper who had stunned all the thieftakers.

  She nodded, and he touched her cheek with the palm of his hand. As if he had not meant to show a softer side, he looked away from her and directly at the men sprawled on the ground.

  Three more gliders returned, one to pick up his daughter, the other one for the dead thieves, the third for his own use. He helped Tori inside the first one then moved away.

  It was time for his daughter to begin her lessons. Oh, she wouldn't like the first one, purification, but perhaps she would begin to understand. "Go on now," he spoke to the pilot. To Tori, "I'll see you before you leave." He needed a moment alone.

  The land gliders started back to the City. DeMontville stood in the clearing, listening while the distant sound of thunder reverberated in the hills to the east, the air muggy and hot. Yet he was certain the watcher would present himself.

  A sudden roar emanated behind him. He whirled around. One of the thieftakers raced across the grass ready to throttle him, ready to do murder.

  He was ill prepared. City Dwellers had long since evolved beyond hand-to-hand combat. There was no time to learn the skills now. DeMontville tensed and waited for the attack. He could only pray this man would come to his senses.

  He hated to think of all the work and time he'd wasted if anything happened to him here. Surely, all would be lost. Open warfare would rule the land again.

  "Halt!" The voice rang through the air.

  A man stood at the edge of the trees, gun drawn and ready. The weapon was pointed at the thieftaker.

  The thieftaker faltered for a split second. Although he'd surged forward with the intention of doing murder, the thieftaker fell, his body stunned, shot by the newcomer.

  DeMontville looked at the thieftaker then back to the man who had saved him. No, this person was not a man but a youth several years older than his daughters.

  He was tall. His dark brown eyes looked almost amber in color as the failing sunlight flitted across his face to vanish again. He was confident, with well- chiseled features and a strong jaw. And DeMontville knew him well.

  DeMontville smiled slowly. "Cameron. Cameron Savage. Or is it The Phantom?"

  The young man nodded and he appeared anxious now that he'd been discovered. "The meeting got out of hand," he said in his own defense. "I could not let them hurt your daughters, or kill you. They'll be fine in a few more minutes."

  "There is nothing to justify here."

  "And of course that big one woke up before he should have. I don't think the Council of Representatives would have liked the explanation. Actually, I did us all a favor."

  "Oddly enough, you did. But you needn't fear. I won't let word of this reach your father."

  Cameron blanched. "I'll tell him. You have my word."

  DeMontville hesitated a moment. "It's for the best. Yet, if you would follow in his footsteps, I suggest a more passive role. You cannot assume to shoot everyone you disagree with."

  A slight chuckle followed DeMontville's comment. "I will consider what you've said."

  "Fine!" DeMontville said quickly. "And for keeping my silence, I would ask a favor of you."

  "Anything. What do you have in mind?"

  "Nothing at the moment. But when the time comes, I would like your solemn promise that you will honor my request."

  "You have it."

  "You won't regret the vow."

  Cameron nodded and a moment later was gone, vanishing silently into the forest.

  DeMontville stepped inside the glider left for him. He powered up and turned the vehicle toward the City.

  He thought on his daughters, so different, and yet they looked so much the same. They'd not easily forget this day. No, it would live in their minds until he could call them home, and he prayed to God they would both learn the needed lessons.

  Tori had vowed to fight all thieftakers.

  He tried to smile and remember all the goodness and innocence within each one. He would miss them both terribly.

  The rain fell in torrents then and lightning sizzled, hitting the ground near his glider. Indeed the day was dangerous.

  The conspiracy had just begun.

  Advisor DeMontville

  DeMontville scrawled his signature on the legal documents that would send his twins away. Then his gaze swept over the multitude of papers littering his desk. Legislation regarding the laws his children had broken all put forth by Quentin Morray. A heavy weight settled inside him pressing him down, his insides curdling at what he was about to do to Tori and Nessa.

  He walked around his desk to look out over the city but instead he chose a window that looked toward the forest. He could barely see the trees through the bubble that surrounded the city. All incoming light was muted and he longed for a bit of pure sun on his face. The warmth of it...

  And when it rained outside the drops sounded so peculiar hitting the bubble. Did anyone inside ever want to feel the rain, or the sun on
their face? Smell the water drops when they hit the earth?

  "Here, sir," his scribe handed him a stack of papers and sealed folders. "Can I get you anything else? Coffee? A snack?"

  "No, don't think I could eat a thing.

  Is that all then?" he asked, setting them on his desk and pausing a moment waiting for his dismissal from the room.

  "For the moment, but I will have need of you later." How much later? He would be here until midnight he supposed. And he expected his poor scribe to wait here too? No, go on have a nice evening."

  "I have to be here for another hour or so. My ride home. Just give me a buzz if you have need of me," the scribe said.

  "Very well." DeMontville rocked back on his heels, his hands clasped behind his back, thinking, remembering. Was there ever a time of peace? He couldn't remember.

  The thieftakers had made the situation between the barbarians and the city dwellers so much worse. It had not started out that way. DeMontville remembered the first thieftakers. The city dwellers had been so proud of the thieftakers who had caught the men stealing the viruses from 'Lanta. All knew the profit as well as the risk. Shivers racked his body and a strange tingling sensation in the tips of his fingers crept up his arms to the back of his neck.

  As he studied the first document, he rubbed his temples. Knots tightened his muscles. He frowned then rubbed his face, hoping he would begin to feel better.

  The legislation concerning and banning the genetic allele transplant surgery was his to sign. It had been voted on in the senate as well as the house, passing both bodies of laws each by just one vote. He could veto this but he knew in the end his veto would be futile. Perhaps not...

  Perhaps if he vetoed the bill, the next time through it would pass.

  How many years had passed since the first surgery? Ten, perhaps twenty...

  Desperation had forced the painful surgeries that killed and maimed more than they had saved. There was still no serum that would kill all of the mutating viruses...

  New research had brought genetic surgery back into debate. New techniques and new instruments made the operation more plausible than before. Setting that one aside, he pulled the next document from it's folder--mandatory viral insurance. He couldn't help but give a frustrated laugh. Most of the city people couldn't afford the insurance, and the serums this was supposed to pay for rarely worked. The coalition was all about stuffing money in their pockets.

  "Daddy, is it all right?" Tori's hushed voice followed a soft knock. Her head peaked around the corner.

  "Come in." She was obviously forcing a smile. But she didn't have to do that for his sake.

  The girls entered the room, both with heads held high. He grinned inside at that. Even Nessa, taking a leaf from her sister’s book was showing signs of rebellion.

  "You wanted to see us?" Tori knew the answer, but DeMontville understood she wouldn't make this easy for him.

  "I remember when the two of you were born."

  "I do as well," Lady DeMontville stepped into the room.

  A wave of displeasure swept through him. "I did not except you." Yet the disapproval was only because Kaitlyn would make this all the harder. He had asked her to stay at home. Dealing with another set of tears was not part of his plan.

  "And you thought I would allow you to send the girls away while I sat at home doing nothing."

  "I've signed the papers. There is no other way." DeMontville rose, pushing his chair back with his legs. An already bad day had just grown that much worse.

  "There are always options," she told him. "I will take them to the mountains. They would not need to be purified." Her voice was stiff, her eyes red and that determined tilt to her chin meant an argument she knew she couldn't win but she meant to go down fighting.

  "That would not do. There are people, even friends and family who are calling for punishment. We have indulged the girls and news of their exploits reaches all places--even the mountains."

  "They have my blood and they are immune. The laws are foolish and should be reexamined."

  Sunlight caught her golden hair and danced around her. She was the most beautiful lady he'd ever seen. She had stolen his heart that long ago day and she still held it fast. If he had the power to grant her this wish, he would. He motioned to his desk. Her gaze followed and she nodded, seeming to understand without the words that those were all laws that were being reexamined.

  "They have been changed. Just this past month. If anything the laws are harsher. The people of the cities fear the diseases that can wipe out entire populations in a blink. I cannot..."

  "Will not." She defiantly crossed her arms in front of her chest. She looked at the girls then back to him. "They are only children."

  "Please, I do not want to argue. The gliders will be here within the hour. I assume their bags are packed."

  "We are ready, father," Tori said her head held high, a look of defiance in her beautiful grey eyes. Her mother's eyes.

  "Yes, I see that." DeMontville stroked his chin. Sudden admiration for his girls filled him. "You are determined then to be brave."

  "We are both brave," Nessa said, stepping up to her sister to put her arm through Tori's. "We will do this with no complaints."

  "Where are they taking them?" Lady DeMontville asked. "I have a mother's right to know."

  "Despite your god given rights, I cannot tell you. But I chose each of their destinations carefully. If they follow the laws, listen and respect their elders, they will develop into adults everyone will be proud of.

  "I'm already proud of them."

  "Of course you are and I am as well. But when they return to us, they will be equipped in so many more ways and ready to run the labs in the tower that you have so painstakingly worked on over the years."

  "We are ready down here," the intercom buzzed.

  "Father, I have accepted what is to be," Tori began. "I understand that in theory we broke one of the laws of the city, but in truth, if I could have produced the passes you gave us, this would not be happening."

  Silence overpowered DeMontville's office. It was all-consuming and seemed to sound a death knell in the little room. Tori had never spoken truer words. If he had been there for them as he had promised this would not be happening. If...

  "What Tori is trying to say--"

  "I understand, but Quentin Morray and his trained lap dogs tied my hands. I must, for your own protection, send you away. I fear for your lives if you remain in the city. I cannot send you to the mountains as your mother wished because it isn't any safer there. Morray has spies everywhere. He hears everything and seems to know what I am thinking even before I know."

  "Then no one will know where the girls are located," Lady DeMontville said, furrowing her eyebrows in anger and perhaps disbelief.

  "No one."

  "Do you think that is wise? What if something happens to you, Robert?" Lady DeMontville asked. "Who will be able to find them?"

  "I have left directions in the codicil of my will if anything were to happen to me. I cannot tell you where the will is located."

  "I'm their mother." Her fists were clenched, her eyes blazed and he gave in almost told her.

  The words formed even as he squelched the desire to give her at least that much. "For all I know this room has ears as well. I don't dare speak any words that might bring our daughters harm or you for that matter. They are our heirs."

  "May I go to the gliders with them?" She pulled Tori close, giving her a hug, tears spilling from her eyes.

  The door opened and DeMontville's scribe stood in the opening.

  Tori strode to her father, "I will make you proud," she told him.

  Nessa's courage seemed to have wilted away. The tilt to her chin had vanished and her eyes were clouded with tears. DeMontville knew Nessa did not deserve purification or the punishment. He wrapped his arms around both girls, the moment so tender and desperate he knew he would hate himself into eternity for not being able to prevent this. Tori, on the other hand,
there wasn't a doubt in his mind. She would have eventually come to this. Her lack of common sense coupled with her fiery temper would have placed her in a compromising situation. He only hoped the good sisters at the convent would find a way to calm her temper and help her think rationally in every situation.

  He stepped back, "Did anyone check their luggage?" He was suddenly concerned Tori might take something she shouldn't.

  "Whatever for?" Tori asked.

  "You did understand you were to bring nothing with you save your clothing and a few personal items. Everything else will be provided for you. And you, Tori, were expressly forbidden your research."