Emerge: The Awakening

by Melissa A. Craven

  “The final strike is called a Crochet.” The movement seemed familiar to Allie as Ming twisted her body into a pivot, giving strength to the closed fisted hooking punch.

  “Now watch as I incorporate speed with the simple forms.”

  Allie saw it then—the reason Ming Lao chose this particular style of kickboxing for her. The complex combinations and familiar movement was something Allie could connect with. She felt a surge of confidence as she watched, feeling for the first time that she could actually do this.

  “So, that is Savate, what do you think?” Ming asked.

  “I like it.” Allie nodded. “It’s simple, but powerful and not too intimidating.”

  “Keep practicing the forms, but be prepared to dive right into sparring with Chloe on Saturday.” Ming ended their session with a formal bow.

  <><><>

  Allie darted across the common room Thursday afternoon. She was late for her session with Jin Jing, but she had a very good reason. Her advanced art teacher kept her after class to discuss her work. Ms. Santini was going to help her get her portfolio college worthy and she’d lost track of time in her excitement. She just hoped Jin wouldn’t freak out about the after school meetings once a week.

  She skidded to a stop at the entrance to his office and reached for the doorknob. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention. She took a cautious step into the empty room and exhaled in relief. At least he wasn’t waiting for her.

  Her spine went rigid as she hung her jacket on the coat rack. Something was off. She whirled around, eyes wide with fright. Without a thought, she screamed, ducked the fist barreling toward her head and braced her right hand on the floor. Her body moved fluidly, pivoting just as she arched her left leg over her head, landing a swift kick to a strong, muscular shoulder. He toppled to the ground, roaring with laughter.

  “What the frigging hell, Jin?” Her heart raced in her chest.

  “That was a perfectly executed scorpion kick!” He grinned as she helped him up.

  “That what you call it?”

  “Yeah, and you proved my point for today’s lesson.”

  “What? Scare the crazy redhead half to death so she won’t ever be late again?”

  “No, convince the stubborn redhead she’s a born martial artist. You reacted like a natural. Did Ming teach you that?”

  “No. I’m really not sure where that came from,” she said.

  “Instincts, kid. You need to start trusting them. I know it’s not easy.”

  Sure you do. She’d heard a near constant flow of such encouragement these last weeks. Everyone thought they could relate to what she was going through, but they couldn’t possibly understand what this was like.

  “Have a seat, we’re just going to chat for a bit. Did you get a chance to eat?”

  “Yeah, that’s why I was extra late. I blew through a few drive-thrus on the way home.”

  “Don’t worry, life gets in the way sometimes. Just don’t ever come to our sessions hungry. Text me next time, we can always meet later.”

  “Um, this might be a regular occurrence.” She rushed through her explanation about the advanced art meetings after school.

  “Allie, we will always encourage you to indulge in extracurricular activities. We will just meet an hour or two later on Thursdays. Just be careful not to take on too much.”

  “Thanks, Jin.” She watched him rummage through his cleverly concealed mini fridge. He wasn’t what she would expect of an ancient Chinese man. He was beautiful, like a male model. Although of average height by modern standards, he was probably considered very tall when he was young. He was muscular with shaggy jet-black hair, golden skin, and his eyes were startling swirls of blue agate with flecks of citrine.

  “Would you like a Coke?”

  “Sure.”

  “Ming insists on all organic foods at home, so I have to sneak the sugary carbs or I’d starve.”

  “Secret’s safe with me.” Allie grinned.

  “She thinks I think she doesn’t know about my stash, but this is just a decoy.” He winked. “She doesn’t approve of my sweet tooth, but I’m a fan of moderation.”

  “Okay, let’s get started. Wait! We need Twinkies. Don’t tell her about those either.” He tossed Allie several golden cakes from a hidden cabinet beside the fridge. He finally settled down beside her with an entire box of contraband snacks for himself.

  “What was that about moderation?” she giggled.

  “Mortal portions? How do they not starve?”

  “I’m sorry for ambushing you like that.” He grew serious.

  “It’s alright.”

  “I needed to see how you would react.”

  “Did I pass?”

  “With flying colors,” he said proudly. “Much better than I did when my mentor pulled the same trick on me just after I discovered I was Immortal.”

  It took Allie a moment to understand what he was saying. “You didn’t know?”

  “I did not learn of my immortality until I was seventeen years old—a full year after my Awakening.”

  “What?” Tears welled in her eyes.

  “I also grew up in complete ignorance. So I do know what you’re going through.”

  Allie choked on a sob, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief that she wasn’t completely alone in this.

  “It was a difficult adjustment, but once I accepted it, I was able to move on. I finally knew who I was. The revelation was an immense relief for me.”

  “It’s weird,” Allie whispered. “Part of me hates what’s happened, but the other part of me feels like I can finally…breathe out.”

  “It gets better, kid. I promise.”

  “But you’re a natural born? Why did your parents keep it from you?” It seemed such a cruel thing to do to a child.

  “I was raised in the palace nursery with the other royal children. I didn’t know my parents, the Emperor and Empress, until I was much older.”

  “Emperor?”

  “It’s a long, sad story. My parents weren’t exactly the most nurturing and loving parents a young, unwanted prince could have. But once I knew what I was, and I had a mentor to train me, I flourished, embracing the gifts I once suppressed. My gifts are rare. Much like my wife in her connection with earth, I have an intrinsic affinity with water. I am able to accomplish remarkable things through the element, but that is not my only skill. I am also capable of manipulating emotions, creating a rise in intensity or infusing a situation with tranquility.”

  “However, the gift I am most well known for is my ability to see statistics and probabilities as a tangible thing. I can see the mathematics and physics behind tactical maneuvers, which allowed me to influence the outcome of many battles, but these days it’s more useful in sports.” He winked. “I will share my experiences with you someday when we know each other better, but I wanted you to know I understand what you’re going through and I’m here if you need me.”

  “Thanks, Jin. I really needed to hear that.”

  “Alright!” He clapped eagerly. “Now that we have established that you do know what you’re doing, it’s time to move on. We will begin your mixed martial arts training on Saturday with an Americanized version of Karate, which is traditionally an Okinawan, empty-handed combative art. We will concentrate on the key components of the art: punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open handed blows, grappling, restrictive wrestling techniques, throws and vital point strikes. By spring, you’ll move on to Kung Fu and this summer, Taekwondo.”

  “I know we’ve had you hit the ground running and not given you much time to breathe, but I promise you are doing exceptionally well. That perfect scorpion kick proved it. I’m going to give you an exceedingly rare break and let you go early today, but be prepared for a long session with me on Saturday.” He stood and bowed slightly, her cue that their lesson was over.

  Saturdays were becoming the absolute bane of her existence.

  <><><>

  CHAPTER
r />   TWENTY-ONE

  “Where are we going?” Allie yawned as they pulled away from the dock late Saturday afternoon. She was exhausted from a long day of endless training and really wasn’t in the mood for a campout.

  “To our island,” Sasha said.

  “You have an island? Like a whole island?”

  “Just a little one.”

  “Alrighty…so what exactly is ‘camping’ code for?”

  “We’re going to drop you off in the wilds of Ohio to see if you can survive on your own.” Aidan smirked.

  “The wilds of Ohio?” Allie smacked him playfully. Only she hit him much harder than she intended, and he went tumbling into the icy water below.

  “Aidan!”

  Everyone laughed as Daniel maneuvered the boat around to fish him out of the frigid lake.

  “I’m so sorry!” Her face flushed red with embarrassment.

  “Th-that’s three, Carmichael!” he snarled as Ming Lao wrapped him in a blanket and sent him below.

  “So what are we really doing?” Allie asked sheepishly.

  “We’re going to show off—give you a little demo of what we can do,” Graham said.

  “Can we do that here?” It was drilled into her immediately that secrecy was of the utmost importance and anything remotely Immortal-like should be contained to the underground.

  “Our island is special,” Jin said. “Thanks to Naeemah’s eldest daughter, only family can see it.”

  “Then how can I?”

  “You’re family now, kid.”

  “We’re here!” Daniel announced.

  Graham, Quinn, Daniel and Sasha took off running at full speed as soon as their feet hit the sand and they were soon a blur in the distance. A miraculously dryer Aidan shot after them. Allie was just about to join them when she noticed that Ming and Jin were walking with Chloe, who couldn’t keep up with the others yet.

  “You don’t have to stay,” Chloe sighed.

  “I don’t mind.”

  “Thanks, Allie!”

  They trudged through the woods along the trail until they came to a cabin nestled in a clearing at the center of the island. Elevated on stilts over a wide rocky creek, it was small but luxurious.

  “Someone should have mentioned the glamping part of this camping trip.” Allie flopped onto a comfy seat by the fire pit.

  “Not so fast, kid.” Jin pulled her up and steered her toward the outdoor kitchen. “Everyone chips in to feed this mob.”

  Dinner turned out to be a feast of hamburgers and hotdogs, and after they had all eaten their fill, they settled in for the evening’s entertainment. Aidan and Quinn were busy toasting marshmallows for s’mores while Graham prepared to demonstrate his gifts.

  “Allie, I’m not that far ahead of you, so what I can do might not be as flashy as some of these other guys, but if I can borrow your phone, I’ll show you my best.” He set his phone beside hers.

  She watched intently as Graham closed his eyes in careful concentration, touching an index finger to each flickering screen.

  “Done,” he announced a moment later.

  “What’d you do?”

  “I reprogrammed your operating system to be less stupid, and I shared pictures, ringtones, apps and games. I also made your line untraceable and I um, upgraded your internet speed, increased your data plan, and gave you a supply of free downloads,” he said in a rush.

  “Graham Xavier Loukas!” Daniel growled. “I’ve warned you about stealing!”

  “Just for the show, Dad, won’t happen again.”

  “How does it work?” Allie asked.

  “I can communicate with just about any electronic device. I just sorta ask and they comply.” He shrugged. “I’ll hook you up with some special apps—”

  “Graham!”

  “Free apps, Dad!” He rolled his eyes, but Allie’s phone blinked silently with a new message.

  Graham: I’ll come over next week and overhaul all your gadgets

  It took her a moment to realize he’d sent the text without typing it. He also somehow managed to turn her alerts off.

  “Graham! That’s totally flashy! You’re just a few months ahead of me and you’ve made so much progress.”

  “Well, that’s all I’ve got right now.”

  “Don’t let the little guy fool you. He could build you a GPS with a toothpick, a pen, and a shoe string,” Quinn said.

  “Well, I’ve always loved playing around with things; taking them apart to see how they work and putting them back together. It might be turning into something more, just not sure what that is yet.”

  “Aw! You’re our very own little tech geek.” Allie grinned.

  “Did you just call me ‘little,’ and ‘geek’ in the same sentence?”

  “And handsome,” she added with a smirk.

  “That’s better.”

  “I’m actually starting to worry. I haven’t noticed anything yet.”

  “Sweetheart, your power is still manifesting,” Ming Lao said. “It could be several more weeks before anything surfaces.”

  “It happens slowly, Allie. I’m really not that far ahead of you,” Graham said. “Sasha, on the other hand, is much more advanced.”

  “Alright Sash, it’s about time you showed me what you can do.”

  “My gifts are a bit flashier than Graham’s, but not nearly as useful.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’ll start with the latest.” She closed her eyes and tilted her head back in concentration. Everyone waited expectantly until an odd humidity swept across the deck, instantly chased away by a blustery cold wind. Sasha laughed and the wind died just as suddenly as it arose.

  “That was you?” Allie gaped.

  “Yeah, I don’t really know what that’s all about yet, especially the temperature thing, but it’s a good party trick.”

  “Don’t be modest.”

  “It is interesting to see how her gift resembles her father’s,” Jin said.

  It really was amazing how much she took after her adoptive father in that way.

  “You’re going to love this next one!” The sparkle returned to her eyes.

  Allie watched intently, waiting for something spectacular to happen. She was utterly unprepared for the curious raccoon that scrambled onto Sasha’s lap and stared at her in total adoration.

  “Hey there, little guy. He’s curious about the marshmallows. Give him one. I’ve told him you can be trusted as long as he doesn’t bite you.”

  Graham carefully held his hand out to the raccoon.

  “Aw, he really likes them.” She laughed as he gobbled up the first marshmallow and snatched another. “He wants to take some back to his den mates.”

  “Sasha? You’re talking to him?” Allie asked in awe.

  “I can see their emotions and desires as images in my mind and they seem to understand me in a similar way. He’s young, but tenacious. I think I’ll call him Mallow. He’ll come see us next time we’re here.” Her smile was exuberant as her new friend clambered off into the forest.

  “Allie, it’s like this gift defines me,” she said passionately. “And I’ve recently learned I can heal animals the way Aidan heals humans.”

  “Yeah, but she’s much better at it than I am.”

  “My patients aren’t nearly as complex.”

  “My big sister is extremely talented,” Aidan said. “She can sense a target so strongly, she never misses and she’s wicked strong. Unfortunately for her, she gets stuck in my shadow. If it weren’t for me, she would be the shining star of this group.”

  “Little brother.” Sasha rolled her eyes. “You know that’s never been an issue. But enough about me. It’s Aidan’s turn.”

  “I already know what he can do,” Allie said.

  “Now wait a second, Red. I might still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Pass me your drink. This is something I’ve been working on for months and I’m finally making progress.”

  She handed him her bottle and watched as he held it briefly befor
e returning it to her.

  “Whoa! That’s ice cold!”

  “One more time?”

  This time, her drink was scalding hot when he returned it.

  “That’s a useful little trick.” She smiled. “Hey! That’s how my coffee’s always piping hot!” She smacked him on the shoulder, again much too hard, and his chair flipped over.

  “And we’re at four. Alexis Ann, I think we’re in an abusive relationship,” he groaned.

  “I’m so sorry! It is getting a little ridiculous, isn’t it?”

  “When we start sparring, I will get my revenge.”

  “Give her a few weeks and I bet she’ll wipe the floor with you,” Daniel said.

  “So, what else can you do?” she asked. All this talk of fighting made her nervous.

  With a wicked grin, Aidan sat back and the fire raged into a tall pillar, making everyone jump in surprise before it snuffed out completely.

  “I learned that about an hour too late.” He scowled, as the fire came back with an innocent flicker. “And I’ve hurt enough people with it.”

  “Mom healed and Kayla is making a full recovery,” Sasha said softly.

  “What happened to Naeemah?” Allie asked.

  “Oh, I set my mother on fire,” Aidan said dryly.

  “It was an accident right when the gift first surfaced,” Sasha explained.

  “It shouldn’t have happened,” Aidan insisted.

  “Aidan, you are young, and far too hard on yourself,” Jin said.

  “He’s almost as good a shot as Sasha,” Quinn said in a rush to change the sensitive subject. “And he’s the only one who’s stronger than she is, although I’m a little scared of you now that you’ve knocked him on his ass twice.”

  “Don’t forget the crushed hand and she shoved me off her tower.” He grinned proudly. “But, I think it’s time Quinn shows us what he’s got. He’s the oldest and most advanced.”

  Allie watched her friends join hands and she was about to ask why, when they all disappeared.

  She stared blankly at their empty seats, not sure if she was seeing what she thought she was seeing.

  “Nice vanishing act,” she gasped when they reappeared.