Unfortunately, Elvira wouldn’t be as easy to manipulate as his slave. She’d see right through him.
The car stopped and he looked out the window. He recognized the building immediately.
“We’re doing this already?” he asked.
“Guess so.” Elvira opened her door and left the car without so much as a glance in his direction.
The car drove off as soon as Soren was out. Wenton Pace and Barath Voclain emerged from the shadows.
“Arriving so openly?” said Barath. “That’s bold.”
“Where would they go?” asked Elvira. “We already have guards below their balcony.”
The president emerged from the shadows behind them. “What took you so long?” he demanded.
“Soren was busy pining over a photo of his slave, so I burned it,” Elvira said bluntly.
Soren’s cheeks flushed.
“Good girl,” said Saevus. “Let’s get this over with. I’d like to have Xander back in our possession within forty-eight hours.”
“Yes, sir,” they all said in unison.
The president led them to the front of Xander’s old building. He scanned his wristband at the entrance. The door opened. They headed for the stairs, everyone being quiet on their feet.
It was late, well past curfew. Even if Xander’s friends somehow managed to get out, their presence would immediately trigger a S.U.R.G.E.
Saevus stopped in front of the door on the third floor. He motioned Elvira forward.
His obedient daughter took out her Element. She didn’t even pause before lifting her leg and kicking the door so hard the handle broke. It flew open.
There were several gasps as shadows moved clumsily in the dark.
Elvira switched on the light while Barath, Wenton and Soren hurried inside.
“Nobody fucking move!” shouted Elvira, firing her Element just past the head of a woman reaching for her gun.
Soren recognized her immediately and smiled. “Odette Von. You’re still alive?” And then he noticed the man beside her. “And Neo Boyce! Oh, this is lovely.”
“Yes, a lovely reunion,” said Elvira, stepping forward. “Baldric Bronson and Mason Quigley! You have ten seconds to get out here or I turn these two traitors into ash!”
The farthest door opened immediately. A tall and handsome man emerged in a pair of drawstring pajama pants and no shirt.
Soren noticed Elvira blush as she took in Bronson’s appearance. Barath also reacted, but not in the same way. He was ready to attack, looking back at the president but getting a head shake in response.
The other door opened and Mason Quigley stepped out. He looked surprised and who could blame him? This certainly wasn’t part of the deal he’d been offered.
“We’re missing one. Where is he?” demanded Elvira.
Bronson gulped. “This is it.”
Elvira laughed. “Sure it is. Chace Moffett has another ten seconds to show himself or you all die. Ten. Nine. Eight. Sev -”
Bronson’s door opened wider and Chace emerged, his hands already in the air.
Barath chuckled. “Oh, I can’t wait to tell Luka about this.”
Bronson’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything.
Wenton already had Odette and Neo’s wrists bound. He shoved them toward Barath and moved on to Chace and Bronson.
Once they were all bound, Saevus stepped into the apartment. “It appears we’ve crashed quite the slumber party. He stared at Odette and Neo, smiling as if he were seeing old friends.
“Well, well. If it isn’t two of my former guards. Your father will be so happy to see you, Odette. But, Neo, I’m afraid to inform you that your parents passed on quite some time ago.”
Neo scoffed. “When you say ‘passed on’, do you mean poisoned by you?”
Soren smiled. Actually, he was the one who’d poisoned Neo’s parents. By order of the president, but still. Saevus wanted his civilians to know that everyone was affected by the toxic air, even Guardians.
“An unfortunate tragedy,” said Saevus without missing a beat. His gaze moved to Chace. “And Chace Moffett. I’m told you were once Veli’s mind-controlled puppet. What happened with that?” He glanced back at Soren, who shrugged. “Pity that didn’t last. You’d be much better off now if you were still fighting for our side.”
Saevus skipped right over Bronson and went to Quigley, giving him a soft smile.
“Hello again, Mason. I am so thrilled that you have agreed to accept my deal.”
Quigley flinched as all eyes burrowed into him.
“Quigs, what is he talking about?” asked Bronson.
Quigley was staring at the floor, his body shaking. “This ... this wasn’t part of the -”
“Forgive me for taking extra precautions, but you really never know who you can trust these days.” Saevus glanced at Elvira, who looked away ashamedly.
Quigley finally looked up at the man. “So you’ll let them go when you have what you want?”
The president frowned. “Unfortunately, no. These three are criminals and will be prosecuted as such.” He pointed at Odette and Neo, and then at Chace. “That one you can have back when this is all said and done.”
He was pointing at Bronson.
Barath whipped his head. “But, sir -”
Saevus gave him a stare that quickly shut him up.
“Found it!”
Wenton came out of Bronson’s bedroom with something in hand. It was a small, black device, the shape of a large bean. By the way Bronson lurched, Soren could tell it was important.
“Perfect,” said Saevus with a clap of his hands. “It’s time for us to depart.”
He turned and walked out the door. Elvira grabbed both Odette and Neo, who fought her every step of the way. Barath went straight for Bronson, who he proceeded to kick in the shins several times until he keeled over.
Quigley just stood there, too stunned to move.
“What the fuck have you done?” shouted Bronson as Barath dragged him past his friend.
Quigley gulped and said, “They know about Fiona. I had to -”
“You had to leave us in the dark and get us all killed! They’re not going to let me go, Quigs! You know they’re -”
Barath lifted his fist and knocked Bronson on the side of the head. He fell down and hit the floor hard. “You’ll die a lot faster if you don’t shut up.”
Wenton tossed a mostly cooperative Chace to Soren and went to help Elvira. She was trying to shove Neo and Odette out the door, but Odette had spread her legs and braced herself in the small space.
Once they had the two of them under control, Barath dragged a bloodied Bronson from the apartment, barely conscious enough to stay on his feet.
Soren didn’t even bother to grab Quigley as he guided Chace away, knowing very well that he would follow.
One of the slave trade vans had arrived and Odette and Neo were being shoved inside.
“Wenton, take Quigley to Eagle Center and prep him for his mission. The rest of us will be along shortly,” ordered Saevus.
Wenton nodded. “Of course, my president.”
Quigley had just stepped out of the building, the only member of his group who had the luxury of putting on shoes and a coat. He carried a spare.
“Where am I going?” he asked as Wenton grabbed his arm.
“To hell, if your friends have anything to do with it,” said Wenton with a laugh.
Quigley shook him off and hurried toward the van. He searched the dark interior for Bronson, throwing the spare coat at his friend once he found him.
“Please just cooperate until I get back.”
Bronson kicked the coat away and Odette spit on it.
“Bronson, please.”
“They’ll kill her,” said Bronson, finally looking at his oldest friend, the person he loved most in this world. “They’ll kill Deryn once they have her. Forget about me for a damn moment and think about her, will you? The girl who these people spent five years destroying, who
came back from hell and somehow managed to find a reason to smile every day and practiced making us fucking pancakes in the morning.”
“They only want Xander.”
“Then she’ll come for him. She already did once and they barely made it out. What makes you think they’ll be that lucky twice?”
Before Quigley could answer, the doors to the back of the van closed and he was being dragged in the opposite direction. As the van drove away, he kept staring back at it, unsure if he would see his best friend inside ever again.
• • •
Finley sat on the couch in the president’s parlor and rubbed her eyes. Most of the Guardians were there, all awakened by an alarm summoning them, promising they wouldn’t be affected by curfew. They’d all arrived safely, but President Saevus wasn’t even there.
Finley blinked her eyes and glanced at Luka, who was sitting beside her. His eyes were wide open and focused on the diamond ring she wore on her left hand. She put it in her lap and covered it with her other hand.
“Nice ice,” he said. “What does your father think about the pending engagement?”
Finley glared at him. “Not funny. Speaking of Father’s, where’s yours?”
Luka shrugged. “Heard him leave about an hour before my summoning. I’m guessing he’s part of whatever brought us all here in the middle of the fucking night.”
Finley bit her cheek to stop herself from giving away her feelings. The truth was, she was terrified about this summoning. Something was starting that night. She could feel it in her bones.
The front door opened. Lona popped awake on Finley’s other side.
The three of them stood, along with the other Guardians in the room fortunate enough to snag a chair. For a brief moment, she and Atticus locked eyes, but both were quick to glance away.
Luka, of course, noticed. He noticed everything these days.
Barath walked in first with a big smile on his face, which only broadened when he saw Luka.
Four people were dragged in behind him. One was cooperating, another was looking woozy as he bled from the head, and the last two were fighting every step of the way. One of the fighters was a woman Soren held over his shoulder while she kicked relentlessly.
As they got closer, Finley’s breath quickened. She knew these people.
Lona was shaking beside her. She tried to catch her father’s eye but he ignored her.
Neo kicked Soren’s shins, trying to get him to release Odette while Chace and Bronson were placed in the center of the parlor. Finley had to fight off the instinct to inspect Bronson’s wounded head. By the satisfied look on Barath’s face, she knew that he was the one responsible.
Luka had no reaction. If he was acting, he was far better at it than her.
“Ah, good. Everyone is here,” President Saevus said once Odette and Neo were in the center of the room with the others. He smiled at his prisoners. “So how did you all meet?”
No one answered.
“You.” He pointed at Bronson. “How did you meet your companions?”
Bronson looked up, his eyes needing a moment to focus.
The president. “Really, Barath, was it necessary to hit him so hard?” He glanced sideways at Luka, but still no reaction.
“Forgive me, my president. I was caught in the moment,” said Barath.
“We met at the Black Market,” Bronson finally answered. He seemed to be regaining some of his composure. None of them wore shoes but only he was shirtless. Even though he was the closest to the fireplace, he was still shivering. The blood dripping down his neck obviously didn’t help matters.
Elvira frowned beside her father. She stepped forward, giving Bronson a pouty lip. “Now, Baldric, if there was ever a time to come clean about all of your lies, it’s now. Tell us the truth. You met them through Xander, didn’t you?”
“No,” he said. That was not a lie. “I met them through Deryn.” But that was.
Elvira grabbed Bronson’s jaw and held it an inch from her face. “But you met that toxic trash through Xander?”
“No,” he said again. “She approached me on her own.”
“But Xander -”
“Is under mind-control,” finished Bronson. “Has been for years. Ever since he first came into contact with Adelaide Saevus at the Black Market. He informed the Resistance of Deryn’s escape and was given the task of finding and aiding her. Xander is nothing but her puppet.”
Elvira’s eyebrows furrowed as her grip on his jaw tightened. “Stop lying, you filthy -”
“That’s enough, Elvira,” the president ordered. “We won’t know what is true and what is false until Xander is back with us.”
“But he doesn’t have a wristband! It was removed!”
Bronson chuckled. “What makes you think the Resistance does things your way? They have their own methods.”
“I don’t understand,” said Neo, looking at the president. “Guardians have betrayed you and left your forces before. Why is Xander so important to you?”
Elvira was about to smack him for speaking out of turn when Saevus lifted his hand. “There is no need for that.” He took several steps closer to Neo. “I have killed every last Guardian who has betrayed me. Why should I stop now?”
“Because you’re poking the lion,” spat Bronson.
The president’s head turned ever-so-slightly toward Bronson, his eyes narrowing. He stared at him for a long moment before finally smiling. “Luka, step forward.”
Luka obeyed, his eyes falling on Bronson for the first time since he was brought into the room.
“Torture him,” Saevus ordered.
Luka didn’t move.
“Did you not hear me? Torture him. Now.”
Luka nodded. He lifted his Element and stared into Bronson’s eyes. “On your knees.”
“Bet that’s not the first time he’s said that to him,” Gordon Mackey whispered to Barath, who was far from amused.
If looks could kill, Gordon would be lying on that floor in pieces.
Bronson ignored the snickers and obeyed. A moment later, a streak of blue light shot through the air. A pain like no other ripped across his back.
“Harder,” the president commanded, watching Luka closely.
Luka nodded and struck again, bringing his arm farther back so the whip rung through everyone’s ears.
Bronson wasn’t sure if the second strike was harder or not, but it hurt like hell.
“Again.”
Luka lifted his Element.
“Stop it!” shouted Odette, running over and kicking Luka’s shins.
“Odette, don’t!” screamed Neo, grabbing his wife’s bound wrists. “Please, just cooperate!”
“Why? He’s not going to keep all four of us alive! He doesn’t need us! I’d rather go out fighting than be a sitting duck!”
Throughout all of this, Chace stood off to the side silently, his eyes focused on the flames flickering in the fireplace.
“That is true,” said Saevus. “I need you.” He looked at Bronson. “A little extra reassurance that your friend will do what I’ve asked.”
Bronson sneered at him.
Finley’s heart quickened. She’d realized that Quigley wasn’t there, but she’d just assumed that meant he’d escaped somehow.
“Now, as for you three.” He looked from Odette to Neo to Chace and back again. “I am unsure of your worth, but I’m positive I won’t need all three of you. Lona, step forward.”
Lona had barely even blinked since her sister was dragged through the front door, but she somehow managed to take a confident step forward.
“Lona, do you know this woman?” Saevus asked, pointing at Odette with his long, bony finger.
“Yes, sir,” she answered in a cool voice. “She’s my sister, but I haven’t seen her in years.”
“And how about you, Finley?” Saevus glanced over Lona’s shoulder at his betrothed. “She’s an old friend of yours, isn’t she? How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”
<
br /> Finley’s jaw clenched. “Judging by your tone, I’m guessing you already know that I saw her the evening you proposed to me.”
Saevus smiled. “Smart girl.”
“She’s my oldest friend and we’re still in contact. So what?” said Finley with a shrug.
“She’s a traitor,” said Elvira.
“She didn’t want to be a Guardian and it was being forced on her. Not everyone is cut out for this work.”
“She fled outside!” shouted Elvira.
Finley stood up straight. “Prove it.”
Elvira was struck mute, so Finley took advantage of the moment.
“She and Neo fled to the underground, not outside.”
Finley stared tensely at the president, hoping he would believe her. If she could prove that Odette and Neo weren’t traitors, just cowards, he would have to let them go. Her heart thumped in her chest as she waited for him to say something. Anything.
“While I commend your loyalty,” Saevus finally said, “your friends have too many charges against them to be spared. And if I find out you ever helped them throughout their criminal history -” He stepped closer to her. “- I’m not against using mind-control on my future wife. You will be kept in line. Now step back.”
Finley obeyed, never once taking her eyes off of him.
Saevus smiled at her before turning his attention back to Lona. “Kill her.”
All color drained from Lona as those words swept through her. “What?”
“Kill her,” he repeated with little patience. “Kill her now or suffer the consequences.”
“I ... I can’t kill my -”
“Lona, kill her!” shouted Arron Von. “Do not disobey your president!”
Lona looked at her sister. She frantically shook her head. “No! I can’t! I ... I won’t kill my sister!”
Saevus scowled at her, a truly frightening look on a man so hideous. “Luka. Come here.”
Luka walked those few steps over to the president.
“You were close with Odette at Eagle Center, were you not?”
Luka nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“You were friends?” asked President Saevus.
Arise (Cruel and Beautiful World Book 3) Page 43
