“What about football practice? And orchestra?” They weren’t much, but they were the most normal things he had. He wasn’t ready to give up either activity yet. He’d always known he might have to choose one, but there was no question which he would pick.
“We will continue to work around your schedules as we always have. At least for your junior year, but I cannot promise you won’t have to choose next year.
“Good thing I don’t sleep much.” Between school, football practice, rehearsals and now extended training sessions, he didn’t have much time left for resting.
“It won’t always be this difficult,” Gregg said. “Eventually you will reach your Proving and you won’t have to work quite so hard to maintain control of your power. And then you can have a life.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He hated this almost more than Aidan did.
“I can handle it, Da.”
“You still aren’t sleeping well? I thought that was getting better.”
“I’m just never comfortable and it’s hard to turn it all off.”
“It should be getting easier by now. Sasha was restless for the first few weeks, but she’s found what works for her. Maybe you just need a little more time than most? That seems to be your M.O.”
“Are you saying I’m slow?” Aidan asked dryly.
“Nah. You’re just stubborn, lad. Now come on, I have a few surprises for you.” Gregg’s sudden grin was contagious.
“New weapons?”
“Just a prototype for now.” He led Aidan over to the glass cabinet where he pulled two wicked looking, curved daggers from the case. The blades were rather long and the weighted pommels could easily be used as a blunted weapon.
“They’re beautiful.” Aidan stroked the razor sharp edge of the blade.
“We’ve been training with the Italian rapier and dagger for a few months now, but I’m not convinced it’s the right weapon for you. You were better with the quarterstaff when you were little, but you haven’t faired as well with anything we’ve tried since. Your natural inclination to lead with your dagger tells me you might be more comfortable with dual blades. But check this out.” Gregg snapped the daggers together where the pommels joined.
“Nice!” Aidan reached eagerly for the double bladed weapon, each end curving in the opposite direction. Where the pommels joined, it created a single handle that fit his grip perfectly. He could use it like a quarterstaff, with one hand, while the intricately linked crossing guards would offer him protection.
Aidan twirled the weapon, going through a few practice elements to get a feel for its range of motion. It was familiar, like the quarterstaff, but the diversity of the weapon would bring a whole new level to his training. Aidan couldn’t contain his grin when he saw how easy it was to separate the blades in mid-motion.
“Good job, old man!”
“The length is modeled specifically to your height and wing span, so it should feel like an extension of your body as you move.”
“I’m over Italian swords, Da. Let’s focus on this for a while.”
“Aye, we’ll give it a few months and see what adjustments we need to make but I think this will suit you better.”
“It does feel more like me.”
“Now, on to your second surprise. Come with me.” They left the gym and made their way down the hall. “Starting next week, you will begin training Chloe.” Gregg stepped into the small office that Aidan’s older siblings, uncles and aunt used when they visited.
“Huh? Why would I train with Chloe?”
“Not with, son. You will be teaching her.”
“What?”
“This will be your office.”
“No!” Aidan refused the set of keys his father offered. “Absolutely not! I’m no teacher! I can assist, but I’m not—I have nothing—” Aidan’s power boiled up inside him.
“Calm down, son. Take slow, deep breaths.”
“Da! I’m only sixteen!” His voice broke in frustration.
“And Chloe’s training will be part of your training,” Gregg said. “I know you’re young and I hate doing this to you, but your friends already see you as a figure of authority. They have since you were small children. They naturally defer to you and you don’t handle it well. In the not so distant future you will be a very young man with a great deal of responsibility, and you must be able to lead.”
“That prophecy is not about me!”
“Whether it is or isn’t does not matter. You will always be surrounded by those less powerful, and they will always see you as either a threat or a leader. You must learn to command that authority now while you have the opportunity to do so with someone who looks up to you like a big brother.” Gregg’s tone indicated the topic was not open for discussion.
“What’s wrong, little bro? I heard your screeching down in the kitchen,” Darius said as he sauntered into the room.
“Don’t you have some detective work to do back in the city?” Aidan snarled at his older brother.
“Pawned it off on my partner. What’s with crabby pants?” he asked Gregg.
Aidan stood, clutching the edge of the desk with white knuckles as he struggled for control.
“He’s not thrilled about training Chloe.”
“Are you really surprised, Da?”
“Did you bring Kate with you, son? Your mother will want to see her,” Gregg asked, giving Aidan a moment to catch his breath.
“Kate broke up with me again. I figured I’d get out of Dodge while I had the chance.”
“What did you do this time?” Gregg asked.
“I have no idea. Apparently I’m an ‘immature-butt-munch’—her words. And I’m ‘driving her batshit.’” He shrugged. “That’s what I get for trying to date so far out of my generation.”
“You can’t deny she’s got a point,” Aidan interjected.
“Better now, are we?”
“Yeah.” Aidan let out a shaky breath. “So, it’s just once a week with Chloe, right, Da?”
“Yes. We’ll try it for a few months and see how it goes.”
“I don’t need an office.”
“Take it.” Gregg handed him the keys.
“Give it to Dare.” Aidan shook his head.
“I don’t need it,” Darius said.
“No, I don’t—”
“Aidan,” Gregg reproached.
“Just let me use your gym when I work with Chloe. I don’t need this. It’s ridiculous.”
“Darius and the boys can use my office when they’re here. I want you to have a place that’s just yours. An escape. Somewhere you can do your brooding where I’ll know you’re safe,” he added.
The room was furnished with a large desk and a sectional sofa at the center of the room. Two sets of doors flanked the fireplace; one led to a gym, the other to a private room.
“This is especially for you.” Gregg opened the door. “I’ve asked Darius to soundproof it while he’s here.”
“It’ll just take a minute and a little wave of my mojo.” Darius waggled his fingers.
Aidan stepped through the door and knew he’d lost the argument. He couldn’t resist the little music studio, complete with a piano and recording equipment.
“There’s a small bedroom at the back where you can spend your waking evenings, when you wish.”
“You play dirty, Da.” Aidan sighed as he accepted the keys to his very own office.
~~~
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Acknowledgments
The journey to create this book has been a difficult one. I struggled to find a balance between the way I wrote the first book (aka the wrong way lol), with everything I've learned about writing since the concept of Emerge was just a story in my mind.
My biggest thank you is for all of my readers who have waited patiently for The Judgment after the massive cliffhanger of The Awakening. I promise there will be much more to look forward to in 2017.
To my family and friends, I could never do this wit
hout you. A special thanks to my mother, Debby, who never tires of talking about Allie. And to my awesome dad, David, for giving me his very special gift of sarcasm. To Jenny, thank you for the fantastic family tree and saving me when I tried to update it myself.
A huge thanks to all my beta readers: Kayla Howarth, Michelle Lynn, Stacy Randolph, Kimberly Readnour and Jenny. Your feedback has been priceless. To Chase Night and Robin, my new editing team, Thank you! I was very nervous about switching editors but you both brought some much needed expertise to the table. And to Zoe Shtorm for the amazing cover art. She never ceases to blow my mind.
A big thank you to the city of Cleveland and to Kelleys Island especially. The island as it is portrayed in the book is purely fictional, but is based on the real Kelleys Island near Sandusky, Ohio.
The last eighteen months since I published my first book has been the biggest learning experience of my life. To all of my author friends across the world, thank you for your constant support, encouragement and sense of community. The indie community is an amazing place and it is such a comfort knowing I am not doing this alone. To Kelly St Clare, my BFF author friend from down under. One of these days we need to meet for reals. You're a blast to work with and your books are amazing.
To C.J. Redwine, Author of The Shadow Queen and my YABC mentor. Thank you for bringing me on as the site indie manager and for providing ALL the books. The experience has been invaluable and I look forward to the future of YABooksCentral.com
Finally, I thank God for the constant reminder that I am doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Over the past years, circumstances always bring me back to writing—my favorite thing to do in the whole world.
About The Author
Melissa A. Craven (the “A” stands for Ann—in case you were wondering) was born near Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to Cleveland, Ohio at the age of seventeen. She still thinks of Cleveland as home, so it was only natural for Emerge to take place there.
Today, she’s back in Atlanta—for some reason she can’t seem to stay away from the ungodly heat that makes her long for things like “lake effect snow” and wind that will knock you flat.
Melissa decided a long time ago that the “life checklist” everyone else was clutching so tightly in their fists, just wasn’t for her. She does everything backward because she’s weird like that.
She is an avid student of art and design, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of West Georgia in 2009. She worked as an interior designer and partner in an architecture firm for several years, and continues to work part time from home.
She is also the indie manager for YABooksCentral.com where she manages a team of reviewers dedicated to reviewing the best books from the indie community. (You can follow her featured reviews and contributions to the YABC blog here.)
In her spare time, if she has any, she enjoys oil painting and refinishing odd pieces of furniture because she likes to be different.
Emerge: The Judgment: (Book 2) Page 33
