Allie watched as the man in charge touched them each briefly on the shoulder. He shuddered when he touched Aidan and again when he marked Allie with his gift.
Is this a good idea, Aidan? Letting so many people see how powerful we are?
Definitely not, but Amrita has a strict ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy when it comes to that.
That may have been so, but Allie had a bad feeling about the way the guards were looking at them.
“Who’s paying?” one of the guards asked gruffly.
“Here,” Darius pulled an envelope from his pocket.
“Twelve grand. You’ll forgive me if I count it?”
“Twelve—” Allie gasped. That was two thousand dollars each!
Did you think it was free? Aidan rolled his eyes.
“Through the arch and into the shadows. You’ll find another patrol waiting for you. When you reach the subway tunnel, head back toward the East Bank and you’ll find the arena. The lists will be announced once everyone has arrived.”
Allie took her weapons back, tucking her collapsible quarterstaff at her hip and her sai into her boots. The late afternoon light was tinged with that eerie green light she associated with her clairvoyance.
Anything in particular I should know? Aidan eyed her carefully.
No, but we’re definitely on the right track. Be careful tonight, Aidan. I’m not sure what this is going to cost us.
~~~
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
“Up here, kids.” The Amrita patrol instructed them to follow as they passed under the shadow of the massive arch. This side of the bridge was completely deserted. Allie looked over her shoulder to the salt distribution plant several blocks away.
It’s just over there. Aidan gestured down the hill to the hat factory where she was held captive just six months ago.
Seems like a lifetime since then.
Full circle, I guess. We’re back here now, still looking for the one we lost that night.
Right. Let’s do this. That was all the resolve she needed. Allie gazed up at the mountainous bridge. It would be a long climb, but she knew she could do it. A year ago she would have been quaking in her boots, but she had a lot more confidence in herself now.
“Careful, kids. No one falls. You fall, I lose my bonus, so don’t make me have to catch you.” The guard gestured them forward. “One at a time till you get halfway and then the next goes. Plenty of foot and handholds, so up you go, and be quick about it.”
Aidan went first and he didn’t hold back as he scrambled up the massive stone pillar between two arches. He moved confidently. As soon as one foot found purchase, he reached for the next handhold.
“How high is this thing?” Allie watched him shrink in the distance.
“Oh, about twenty stories,” Graham said.
“Wish I hadn’t asked.”
“Who’s next?” the guard barked.
“I’ll go,” Allie muttered, wanting to get this part done. As she looked up, Aidan was nearing the halfway point and seemed to be slowing down. You all right?
It’s really windy up here. Be careful, Lex.
“Sasha, next time we talk about footwear, I’m not listening to you.” Allie placed her foot on the first foothold she could reach and carefully made her way up, one step at a time, until she found her groove. She kept her eyes on the wall in front of her and refused to look down as she began to move faster.
You behind me? Aidan asked.
Yeah, how much farther?
You might be nearing halfway by now. I’m not looking down to check. It turns out I’m not crazy about heights and lake-effect wind.
Oh, so I have a case of mortal brain when I don’t like tight spaces, but you get to be scared of heights?
Apparently I have a case of mortal brain. I’m not exactly afraid of getting hurt, although I’d like to avoid the long recovery. It’s the whole falling part with the sudden stop at the end that has me totally freaked out.
But you jump off my tower all the time!
That’s like twenty feet, max. This is ten times higher, windier, and scarier.
This was an odd twist for them. Aidan was never afraid of anything. Hearing and feeling how vulnerable he was caught her completely off-guard. He was always such a rock.
Let me introduce you to that pedestal you put me on … it seems I’m about to fall off it. Literally.
Just keep moving, Aidan. I’m right behind you. We’ll do this together. Allie moved faster, closing the gap between them until she was right beside him.
“Hey, so this is high as shit, isn’t it?” She looked down nervously.
“Funny.” His face was white as he reached for the next handhold. He wasn’t exactly frozen with fear, but he clearly wasn’t enjoying this either.
“Don’t look down, Aidan. Just look at me. If we fall, it’ll suck, but maybe it’ll be a fun ride down and they might even manage to catch us.”
“Don’t you dare fall, Allie.” He moved up a few more feet with the next step.
“Then let’s get off this bitch, okay?”
“Yes, let’s.”
“You’re right, you know,” she said, grasping for anything to distract him from the height and his embarrassment. “I see it now.”
“See what?” He inched up slowly with her.
“I had no idea I put you up on a pedestal too, but I totally do.”
“Nice to see my failure is doing some good here.”
“It’s not a failure to struggle, Aidan. It’s human. I don’t care if you’re mortal or Immortal. It’s a failure to give up and go home. But it’s never even crossed your mind to not conquer this wall.”
“The alternative is falling.”
“I’m just saying, it is really nice to see you aren’t perfect,” she said in a teasing tone.
“Never said I was.”
“You’re an intimidating guy, Aidan. On the surface you seem to have it all together. Everything’s figured out and the world is at your feet, just waiting for you to come into your own. I have a front-row seat in your mind, and you’re so damned confident. And you’re only seventeen! I can’t fathom what you’ll be like once you’re Proven.”
“Look at me, Lex.”
She glanced over to see him clutching the ledge with white knuckles. She reached out to stroke his hand. He needed to relax his grip or he would crush the handhold.
“Whenever you look at me and you think you see perfection, you remember this guy right here. Remember how you had to talk me up this wall.”
“You aren’t moving. Aidan.”
“I can see that, but I can’t seem to make my hand move.”
“Here, give me your hand.” She tried to help him release his grip. “Let go. I won’t let you fall.” She pried his hand off the ledge and laced her fingers over his, placing his hand on the next ledge.
“Let’s just do this, okay?” He moved forward.
“Look, we’re almost there!” She pointed up. They were nearly at the top.
“Come on, babe, get me off this wall.” His tone was full of relief.
“See, we’re not really moving slow; it just feels like it. We did that last fifty feet quick.” She babbled, looking for anything to keep him talking.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this in those ridiculous shoes.”
“I blame your sister for that.”
“Almost there, kids!”
Allie looked up at the strange voice to see another Amrita guard waiting to pull them up.
Just a few more feet, babe. You got this.
Ha! You totally just called me, babe. Aidan grinned.
Did not.
Did too.
Oh, just go already. She watched as he grabbed the guard’s hand, grateful the man was there to pull them up over the edge.
Allie collapsed on the cool stone floor, leaning against the wall beside Aidan. They were perched on the outer ledge of the subway level now, with Chloe and Graham not too far beh
ind.
“Oh my God.” Aidan peered over the edge. “Tell me we don’t have to climb down to get out of here? If we do, I live here now.”
The guard chuckled. “No, son, the climb’s just part of the price for admission. I can’t decide if you kids are all stupid or brave.”
“Stupid. Definitely stupid.” Aidan laughed.
Even in his embarrassment and fear, he owned it and didn’t try to hide it to save his male pride.
I’m back on the pedestal, really? After that?
It has that dusty, lived-in look now. Besides, we’re equals, remember? When one of us falters, the other stands up and takes point. Allie held out her hand for him. And that doesn’t always have to be you. She pulled him to his feet.
His arm slid around her waist and he pulled her close. “That is an incredibly comforting thought. Thank you,” he whispered.
She shivered at the feel of his warm breath against her ear. It was getting harder and harder to resist the pull of Aidan. Sometimes she couldn’t quite remember all the good reasons why it was such a bad idea for them to be together.
~~~
“Everyone here now?” the Amrita guard asked.
“Yeah, I’m the last,” Darius said.
“Follow the tunnel toward the East Bank and you’ll find the arena. And remember the rules, kids. No names, no phones, no cameras. Don’t ask about powers, and for God’s sake, don’t tell. ’Specially you two.” He gestured at Allie and Aidan.
“Got it,” Aidan said.
They headed down the gloomy tracks through the darkness.
“I don’t think I care for rock climbing,” Graham announced. “I prefer the indoor recreational walls without all the wind.”
“Me too, little dude,” Aidan said.
“Allie, Aidan, walk with me.” Darius gestured them to fall back with him. “I know this goes without saying, but you two don’t need to play all your cards tonight.”
“We know. Best not to talk about it.”
“What?” Allie asked.
“I trust you’ll fill her in?” Darius asked. “And be cautious.”
“Got it.”
What’s he talking about? Allie frowned.
Watch your facial expressions when we talk like this. The guards are really weirded out by us—all of us. But as you might imagine, you and I completely freaked out a couple of them.
Did you expect them to knit us sweaters?
No. He tried not to laugh. But we need to do as much as we can to appear less threatening.
How?
Well, for starters, no one here needs to know we can do this.
That’s a given.
Stick to your basics tonight, Lex. Keep it simple. You fight well, but neither of us should win this thing.
And you?
Help me stay out of the zone? If I look like I’m getting too into it, can you pull me back?
I’ll pay close attention. But what if they pair us together?
Then I’ll let you win. He winked.
Maybe I’ll let you win—
“Are you kidding me?” A familiar voice echoed down the long tunnel behind them.
“Really? Who invited her?” Allie groaned.
“Lovely to see you too, little one.” Naomi gave her a perfect sneer.
“Don’t you ever call me that again,” Allie said.
“You have clearly lost your mind,” Naomi said, turning to Darius. “Bringing the young ones with you.”
“Shut it, slim,” another familiar voice said. “They aren’t much younger than us. And I think we were even younger when you brought us here the first time.”
Allie turned to see Aidan’s cousins Erin and Dean with Naomi.
“Let’s go, guys,” Sasha said.
“Just a second.” Aidan motioned Allie and the others to come in closer. “Let’s remember why we’re here. Be careful, but if something happens and we get separated, get to me or Red.”
“Right. We all know they’re our best chance of sticking together,” Darius added. “And everyone please keep an eye on our little newbie.”
“I’ll be fine!” Chloe rolled her eyes. “Let’s just do this, guys.”
Allie and Darius moved ahead of the group. As they stepped away from the series of open arches where they’d climbed through, they entered the enclosed subway tunnel, black as night with the dim glow of torchlight far in the distance. Four lanes of track stretched out before them: two sets on either side of a wide center aisle, with a narrow aisle on the outer sides of the tracks.
Allie was in awe of the classic twenties American architecture. The Roman arches flanking each aisle held that idealistic Roman look that was indicative of the Art Deco and revival architecture of the period. The brick path was rough and cracked and some of the pillars crumbled with neglect. She could hear others ahead of them on the left aisle of the tracks and others behind them on the right. They seemed to be the only ones arriving along the center path.
The rough concrete walls gave way to white tiled walls, cracked and dull with age. The torchlight glowed brighter and she could see the paint peeling from the once-white arches. Orange graffiti-covered pillars sent a pang of regret through her. The artist in her saw this place as a work of art and she hated to see it left to crumble in the dust.
The path widened ahead and the sound of a crowd reached them.
“Nearly there now,” Darius mumbled.
The rough brick path became smoothly packed dirt. Torchlight glowed from the brackets where gaslights once burned. The sound of contemporary music filled the silence. Between the music and the graffiti, there was an air of danger—a taboo element to the atmosphere. It was perfect.
Dozens of people milled about the open arena. Some looked uncertain. Others looked like they’d been there before. A cool breeze blew in from the open arches nearby. Allie gazed out at the city that was completely unaware of what was about to take place right under their noses.
Wooden benches stood around the perimeter of the makeshift arena. The ceiling was higher there and the span between the arches was wider. In some ways it was seedy and sparse, but one glance across the river and the city skyline became the backdrop of the arena. The noises of the highway right above them filled her ears and reminded her that the mortal world was but a stone’s throw away.
It was all very well planned. A perfect place for an illegal Immortal gathering of her peers. Everyone here looked to be in high school or college at most. Several groups had formed, and some of the more adventurous were busy socializing, waiting for the fights to start.
“It’s actually a pretty clever location,” Darius said. “We’re secluded enough not to be seen, but close enough to be dancing on the edge of discovery. That’s one of the many reasons some people would like to see Amrita shut down.”
People continued to arrive, but Allie and her friends stayed together. They would venture out at some point, but for now they had an unspoken agreement to stay put until the events began.
“I didn’t expect to see so many people here,” Allie whispered, staring at the crowd building up around them as more and more people arrived.
“Hey, you guys going to skulk in the shadows all night or are you here to play?” Erin’s voice rose above the din of the music and conversation as she and Dean crossed the pit. Erin was so much like her father, Aide, it was uncanny, while Dean was more like their mother, Hélène.
“No skulking here.” Aidan grinned as he and Dean did that stupid jock-boy handshake-back-slap thing.
“Everyone gather round!” The booming call sent the crowd into silence. “Welcome to Amrita! I’m Bob, your commentator for the events.” He was clearly of Persian decent and probably the oldest one in the room by a few thousand years. If “Bob” was his name, it was short for something much more complicated to pronounce.
“Here we go.” Erin beamed eagerly, cheering with the crowd. “Ooh, how ‘bout a rematch, Red?” She poked Allie playfully.
“You’re so on,�
�� Allie giggled. “But don’t expect to win this time.”
“I bet I’d get my ass handed to me.” She grinned like she couldn’t wait.
“All right, everyone take a seat till you’re tagged for round one. My man Joe here has been busy making the lists.” Joe was the guard from the gates. “Some of you met him on the way in, but sit tight and he’ll be quick about it while I tell you the rules.”
Allie watched as Joe walked the perimeter of the arena, tagging everyone with his special marks he would use to reveal each match.
“My rules are law,” Bob continued. “You break them, you’re out! Everyone will have a chance to fight because we don’t tolerate spectators. If you’re here, you fight. We will pit you against a fair opponent. He or she might be more or less powerful, but we’ve chosen each pair to ensure a good, fair fight.”
“We’ll go three rounds. Hand-to-hand, weapons or gifts, I don’t care. Anything goes. The best of each round will compete in the final melee. The last one standing then will be our winner. And then we party.”
The crowd roared their approval, all eager to make it to the melee. Allie had no intention of moving on that far.
“‘Scuse me, princess.” Joe tapped her shoulder as he made his way through the crowd, pairing up the matches.
“No names, no phones or cameras,” Bob continued. “Once you leave here, no gossiping about talent or lack of—you think I won’t find you, but I will. No hospitals and absolutely no stealing. You break my rules, you will regret it. I reserve the right to kick you out of my club at any given moment if I feel you are even thinking about breaking my rules. If you’re caught stealing power that does not belong to you, I’ll hand you over to the Senate. If you’re an ass about it, I’ll hand you over to the Coalition. Do not test me on that. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.”
Allie was pretty sure no one was stupid enough to test this guy on his rules.
“Round one starts now. Do we have our first match, Joe?”
“We do.” With a nod, Joe revealed the first match up. The handprint on Dean’s shoulder glowed in the torchlight.
“First up.” Erin grinned. “Do us proud!” She shoved him forward.
Emerge: The Judgment: (Book 2) Page 14
