Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)

by Melissa A. Craven

  Of course, Aide would know what Imogen could do. His gift showed him exactly what an Immortal intended to do when wielding their power.

  “Let’s get you both armed, then.” Sasha’s uncle dumped a bag of weapons across the bed and Imogen went to work, using her signature gift to conceal them from the eyes of her enemies. And in this situation, the enemy was the Senate … and the mentor they’d hired to train her.

  Aide helped Sasha strap her concealed weapons across her back. The slim sword was a comfort. Just knowing it was there made her feel better about her situation now that she had the means to fight, whatever circumstances she might find herself in.

  “What happens if they pat us down?” Sasha asked.

  “They won’t feel anything,” Imogen said as she worked to arm herself. “When I shield something, I’m not just making it invisible, I’m also sending it to the … to a special place, and only those with my permission can retrieve it. No time to explain now. Just know you’ll never have to worry about getting caught with anything I’ve concealed.”

  “You’ll be able to store your arsenal in your quarters when you get where you’re going, but I want you to keep them on you until you arrive,” Aide said as he strapped a thin-bladed knife to her upper arm, leaving the hilt accessible. She could slip her hand under her sari and up her sleeve to retrieve the knife in an instant.

  “Don’t go anywhere without ample protection. Just in case,” Imogen added.

  “We don't want to rock the boat until they show us they can't be trusted,” Aide said. “But the instant the plan changes from what we’ve been told, we want you armed and ready to fight. And I’ll be right behind you. I won’t show myself unless I absolutely have to. My goal is to tail you and keep an eye on your activities and your movement. You will train in the south of India, but after that, we can't trust that they'll keep their word and bring you home. As soon as you've completed your training and you're on the move again, Liam will be able to track you with his gift. But if they’ve lied about anything, we’ll know and I’ll be close enough to react quickly.”

  Sasha nodded as her uncle holstered a pair of magnetized blades at her waist and looped her bow and quiver over her shoulder.

  “You’re ready for this, Sasha. They think they know what to expect from you but they don’t have a clue how well you’ve been trained. We’ve kept your progress carefully guarded, which is probably contributing to their reasons for doing this. They believe we have neglected your training. Play their ignorance to your advantage. Don’t let them see how capable you really are. Don’t learn too quickly or too slowly. We need them to think that you’re just not as talented as they thought.”

  “Be good, but not good enough. Got it.” Sasha’s pulse pounded in her ears.

  “You take care of yourself out there. And don't forget, I will never be more than a day behind you.”

  “Thank you, uncle Aide.” Sasha hugged him, laying her cheek against his chest, taking her last moments of comfort from her family. She was almost out of time and she still needed to talk to Aidan before she could leave. He had to keep working on the Quinn situation. She could trust him with her research.

  “You have twenty minutes left. I suggest you go somewhere quiet and get yourself together. I’ll be right behind you both.” Aide nodded to Imogen and left them alone in Sasha’s bedroom.

  “You’re packed. I found this under your bed.” Imogen handed her the duffel bag she’d packed earlier. “At some point we’re going to talk about where you thought you were going. Right now, I’m going to go tell my husband goodbye.”

  “I’m sorry, Gen.” Sasha grabbed her hand. She hadn’t thought about what this would mean for her sister.

  “I’ll come back for you in fifteen minutes and we’ll head back to Mom’s office. Go do whatever you have to do, and make it quick.”

  ~~~

  The second she was alone, Sasha got to work, taking down her corkboard wall behind the drape. She gathered the information into a folio and went in search of her brother. Part of her wanted to send it to Graham, but he was so young in so many ways. She didn't want to see him make a desperate move to save his brother. Aidan was a better choice. He loved Quinn as much as a brother could, and he was capable of taking over where she left off.

  But can I really burden him with this?

  As she headed along the main corridor, Sasha heard the sounds of the vigil. She’d forgotten about it. The rest of the family were oblivious of her situation. They were down in the courtyard, celebrating Quinn’s life and drinking to his good health. She heard the unmistakable sound of Liam’s song and covered her ears. She didn’t have time to deal with the effects of his intoxicating gift. She needed to keep a clear head.

  Sasha slipped her earbuds in and turned up the volume of a random playlist. She just needed to see if Aidan was at the vigil. She leaned over the balcony railing, peering down below at the revelry. Hélène and her children were there, along with Sasha’s grandparents, Nadira and Sayid, with Seamas and George, Greyson and Naomi. Everyone currently in Agra had come out to hold vigil for the memory of Quinn. But Aidan and Allie weren’t present. Which meant they had skipped out and were probably off somewhere flirting. Or brooding. They were both good at that.

  It was apparent to everyone but Allie that they were mad for each other. Aidan would walk over hot coals for that girl and it freaked Allie out. Sasha wasn’t sure how long she would be gone but she wanted to tell them how much they meant to her and how stupid they were for not being together when they had the perfect opportunity to be happy. You guys don’t know how much time you have to be together until it’s gone.

  As Sasha headed back through the empty house, she heard Allie’s laughter and followed the sound back to her brother’s room. Their drunken laughter made her smile. They’d clearly taken advantage of Liam’s song.

  “Allie, stop. Please, baby, you’re killing me,” Aidan said, his laughter echoing down the hallway.

  “What? Now you’re com-com-plaining?” Allie hiccupped.

  “You’re drunk and this is not how I want this to happen, babe.”

  Good boy, Aidan.

  “I am not drunk,” Allie insisted. “Well … I’m drunk enough to be brave enough to tell you this is what I want.”

  Ew, I do not need to be listening to this. Sasha tiptoed up to Aidan’s door, trying not to listen. She’d wanted to leave her research for Aidan, and to tell them goodbye, but there was no way she was interrupting whatever this was.

  “Allie, stop taking your clothes off. Please? Before I forget I have a conscience and stop trying to put them back on you.”

  All the nope. I definitely don’t want to hear this.

  “Don’t be such a gentleman.” Allie groaned. “You’re killin’ my buzz.”

  “This is going to happen for us, Allie. But it’s going to happen when you’re sober and honest with me about the thoughts you’re hiding.”

  “I love you, Aidan.” Allie suddenly sounded remarkably sober. “But there are things I’m not ready to talk about yet.”

  “You know I’m never going to let you forget you said that, right?” Aidan’s voice softened. “But we will not be having a mortifying morning after of regret when you realize you threw yourself at me in front of everyone downstairs.”

  “Ugh.” Allie snorted. “It’s not like they don’t know we’re into each other.”

  “Did you forget you have a boyfriend back home?” Aidan asked.

  “Um … no,” Allie said. "And I did not forget that he is coming for a visit soon."

  “This is not how this is happening, Alexis Ann.” He sounded sad.

  God, he really does love her. Sasha looked down at the folio in her arms, trying to decide what her brother would do with it. He’d walk right into Sterling Tower and sacrifice himself, the same as me. Aidan wouldn’t even think twice about it and Quinn would kill her for giving him the means to do it. Aidan was too powerful and too important to risk.

 
And Quinn would be the first to tell all of them to give up on him and go live their lives. She couldn’t do that. She could never forgive herself for the things she’d done to cause this, but it was up to her to make the sacrifice. Quinn wouldn’t want his best friends to hit pause on their own lives for the off-chance they might be able to help him when their parents couldn't even seem to do anything.

  Sasha took a sheet of paper out of the folio and wrote her goodbyes to them both.

  No time to explain. I won’t be gone long. I love you both. Be happy.

  Love Sasha.

  She slipped the note under the door and darted down the hall to her bedroom. She quickly ditched her portfolio and notes in the back of her closet. I’ll be home soon enough. Sasha would do this thing and get it done quickly, and then she would go to Atlanta and get Quinn out of Sterling Tower, one way or another.

  ~~~

  “Remember, you have to convince them you are good, but not good enough,” Imogen said as they headed back to Naeemah’s office.

  “Right, I need them to realize Mom and Dad have trained me well, but I’m just not as talented as they expected. I’ll be intentionally mediocre at everything they’re going to teach me and hope they decide I’m not worth the trouble and the effort.”

  “Mother Raghavan will see right through it, but Jayesh is the one we need to fool. It will save us from even more scrutiny from the Senate later. If they get an inkling of how talented you really are… Well, we don’t want them to see you as an asset. You know how they use me. I don’t want that for you.”

  Sasha nodded. Imogen was a high-ranking “freelancer” with the Senate. She didn’t serve in an official capacity, but she was at their constant beck and call. Her shielding gift made her an important tool the Senate used freely and often. They sent her all over the world to conceal any trace of the Immortal world from prying eyes. Sasha suspected they had her do much more than just that.

  If these people realized what Sasha could really do, her future would look much like her sister’s. Not that Imogen had a bad life, but she could see the loss of her freedom taking a toll on her sister. They paid her well for her services to the Senate, but she was never given a choice.

  Sasha stepped back into their mother’s office, keeping her head held high. She could do this. In fact, the training might even help her in her plans to free Quinn. She would embrace the experience, learn what she could and get the hell out of there.

  “All set to go, darling?” Naeemah smiled. It was her fake smile and her fake voice. Sasha realized she wasn’t going to get a private goodbye with her parents. She swallowed her fear and nodded.

  “I’m ready.”

  “Jayesh. Keep my daughters safe,” Naeemah said. “You owe me.”

  Sasha glanced between her mother and the man in charge, wondering again what history lay between them.

  “You have my word.” Jayesh gave Naeemah a formal bow.

  “It’s been a long time, Jay. But I know the man you are deep down inside. Don’t disappoint me.”

  Jayesh nodded and gestured for Sasha to say her goodbyes. “We must be going now. Make it quick. I have little patience for women’s sentiments.”

  “Women’s sentiments?” Sasha snorted. What a douche.

  Naeemah eyed her as if to say that was the type of behavior Sasha did not need to engage in. Not with this man. She needed to keep her guard up and her tongue silent.

  “I love you, Mom.” Sasha whispered as she hugged her mother. “I’ll be okay, Da.” She turned to Gregg, letting the childish Scottish sentiment slip out. “I know you’re probably ready to bring the building down around your ears, but I can do this.”

  “I know you can, sweetheart. You just shouldn’t have to.”

  “Be careful. Both of you.” Naeemah hugged her eldest daughter and watched them leave.

  Sasha knew this was killing her parents so she put on a brave face and followed her sister from the room. It was time to get her head in the game if she was going to make it through this.

  ~~~

  CHAPTER

  SEVEN

  Quinn: Summer

  Atlanta, Georgia

  “Get out of my sight. I don’t want to see you again for the rest of the night.” Livia’s eyes smoldered with silvery-green fire as she shoved her chair back and retreated to the gym down the hall.

  How could I do that to a kid? He watched in devastated horror as Santi gathered Lennox in her arms from where she lay sprawled on the floor. Foam oozed from her mouth and her breath was slow and labored.

  I’m okay.

  He didn’t know how she was speaking to him like that at such a young age, but she’d assured him over and over that she could handle it. For the last hour, Livia had pushed him into using his persuasive gift to torment Lennox.

  I’m a monster. He lay on the floor with his face buried in his hands, too ashamed to even look at Santi.

  “Muévete, Quinn. We have to go.”

  Quinn managed to get to his feet and followed Santi down the hall. Her aura flickered with a golden light. Dim, but unmistakably there. She was using what little bit of her power she could to help Lennox, murmuring words of comfort.

  “You’ll be fine, kiddo. You’re tough as nails.”

  The sound of Livia beating the hell out of a punching bag in the gym echoed across the silent penthouse. Quinn was just glad her fury was focused somewhere else for the moment. He didn’t understand her reaction at all. He’d given her exactly what she wanted and now she was furious with him for what he’d done to Lennox.

  I’m okay. Lennox’s little voice was so weak and distant, but the kid was strong. She’d withstood more than a lot of people could. It spoke volumes about what she’d probably been through in her time at Soma. He wanted to go to her, to protect her, but he’d done this to her.

  I’m okay.

  No you aren’t. But she couldn’t seem to hear him.

  Quinn dragged himself into the living room, every muscle screaming in protest. The fire in his core had finally grown cold as ice, leaving him weak and dizzy. He wanted to die. He would rather die a thousand deaths than to ever see a child hurt the way Lennox was—at his hand.

  Not your fault.

  “Will she be okay?” Quinn asked, his words crunching like gravel in his throat.

  “She’ll be fine. Len’s tougher than she looks.” Santi gestured for him to open the door, where Ryan waited in the vestibule to take Lennox off her hands.

  Quinn hung his head. He’d fallen into a spiral of self-loathing and guilt like he’d never experienced before. He was still reeling from the sensation of so much time lost. Five years of memories that had never actually happened. Five years of hell he’d fought to survive, and it was all a joke.

  “Come with me,” Santi said as she closed the door behind Ryan. “Livia’s furious, so we’re going to lay low tonight. She’ll be in the gym for hours before she retreats to her study for the night.”

  “Why is she so angry? I … I gave her what she wanted.”

  “No you didn’t. She wanted you to refuse to hurt Lennox. And she was going to demand your total submission and loyalty in exchange. I don’t think she realized it was going to go that far. That you would call her bluff like that. She’s mad at herself. Not you. Look at me, Quinn,” Santi said softly.

  He had trouble lifting his gaze to meet hers. He was so ashamed. He hadn’t called Livia’s bluff. He’d done what he wanted. Even now his gift hungered for more.

  “Look at me.” She lifted his chin with her fingertips. “That was not your fault.”

  He shook his head, the movement making him dizzy.

  “Come on, big guy, I got you.” Her slender arm wrapped around his waist, guiding him across the cool marble tile. “You’ve had enough for one day. It’s time you rest.”

  Every inch of Livia’s home was cold and hard, but not Santi. How had she managed to survive this place all these years?

  “Not years,” he mumbled.

&nbs
p; “You’ll struggle with that for a long time, but it will get better as more time passes. Let’s get you cleaned up. You’re a mess and you stink.” She wrinkled her nose at him and he winced. When was the last time he had a shower? Weeks? Had it been a month?

  “Hey,” she said. “Remember what I told you before? It’s not been as long as it feels.”

  “Right. What year is it again?”

  “You haven’t lost that much time, Quinn.” She guided him into the enormous bathroom and helped him down to a plush covered bench at the center of the room, opposite the biggest tub he’d ever seen.

  “You remember the night we met? When you first arrived at Soma?” She turned the tub faucets on and poured something medicinal into the water.

  He nodded. It seemed like a lifetime since that night. He stared blankly at his surroundings, taking in the white-tiled bathroom—the sound of the water rushing into the tub. The warmth of the steam rising. Everything was so white it reminded him of that awful white room. He’d spent so much time there before.

  “What is it with all the white in this place?”

  “Look at me, Quinnton.” She gripped his chin, forcing him to look into her green-amber eyes. “That was less than three months ago. Today. What happened with Lennox, that was just a few hours. You have to get past the time screw. They aren’t going to wait for you to catch up.”

  “Three months. We talked today.” Quinn nodded. He didn’t trust anything about this place or his memories of it. But he trusted Santi. She was his lifeline right now.

  “Michael’s gift is psychological. He can trap you in the most frightening, awful places and make you think you’ve been there for weeks when it’s only been hours. That’s the way they get most of their captives to sign over their lives to Soma. When you come out of it and realize time has not passed the way it seems—that it’s only just begun—it does something to most. Livia was so angry when you made it through without even cracking. That’s why she did this to Lennox. She was punishing you for making her have to work for it.”

  “I did that to Lennox,” Quinn said softly.