Transcender Trilogy Complete Box Set

by Vicky Savage

  “That’s a really twisted way of looking at it, if you ask me. Still, I guess it could work. But how are we going to get the body out without alerting IUGA to what we’re doing?”

  He replaces his glasses. “I’ll simply inform them that you wish to have your body discovered in Connecticut, as a way to make a clean break with your family there. That’s consistent with IUGA’s belief that you’ve elected to remain in Domerica. I’ll requisition the princess’s body and make some behind the scenes arrangements to have it diverted here instead of Madison.”

  “Eww.” I scrunch up my nose at the visual. “This whole thing is getting kind of convoluted, Rals.”

  “The plan necessarily involves some complexities. But it’s nothing we can’t handle. It’s crucial that there be witnesses to your death. We’ll arrange for you to be in hiding up here in the tower. The palace will be heavily secured during the planned attack, but IUGA will be able to identify your exact location. The Noirs will likely then dispatch a small party of black knights to your hiding place. But we’ll be ready for them.”

  “Wait a minute. How will IUGA know where I am if I’m hiding? Nobody really knows about this room.”

  “They have your imprint, my dear. All objects—living, nonliving, animate, inanimate—have a certain energy field or illuminosity unique to that object. It’s more distinct than a fingerprint and cannot be faked.”

  “How did they get my imprint?”

  He sighs mildly. “If you must know, I recorded it at the time of your first shift in order to protect and keep track of you. Instruments exist which can locate and track these energetic imprints. Your TPD bracelet contains a similar device. That’s how it pinpoints the location of all other Transcenders.”

  I throw up my arms. “Well, that’s just great. So you’re saying I can never hide from IUGA?”

  “Not on this earth, old girl—which is why the assassination party and your own guards must witness your actual fall. You simply take your spill and make an immediate shift to Arumel.”

  “You’re kidding, right? You want me to swan dive off that walkway? Can’t I use a stunt double or something?”

  “You’ll have your bracelet. You’ll be fine. We’ll alert Narowyn and the other Transcenders to our plan and seek their assistance. The princess’s body will be staged down below in your clothing to be discovered by those on the ground. And, thus, your death will be confirmed. It’s quite simple really.”

  It sounds the opposite of simple to me, and I’m the one likely to get pancaked on the ground if this whole thing fails. “Geeze Rals, how can you be sure you’ll have all the timing calculated correctly?”

  “I’ve been working on this ever since I was informed of the Noirs’ plan. My abilities to sort and assimilate information into a cohesive strategy are rather extraordinary, if I may say so myself. I’ve worked out most of the specifics, but certain variables must still be finalized.

  “That’s where you come in, my dear. I have the computer power, but you have all the contacts. You should visit with the Transcenders tonight. Then, I suggest you ask your father to meet us at Prince Andrew’s estate tomorrow after Ryder’s return. I believe we can safely discuss our plan with them at Meadowood.”

  Cool beads of sweat collect at my hairline. “That’s a hell of a lot to accomplish in a week. Do we really stand a chance pulling it off?”

  “We’ll do our best to ensure the highest odds of success, but one can never be one hundred percent certain. I do have something here that will give us a significant edge.”

  Ralston reaches inside his jacket and draws out a compact black case. He opens it out flat on his knees. It resembles a small computer with two screens. He presses a button and a three-dimensional holographic figure composed of hundreds of tiny colored dots rises from one screen. It looks like a miniature mountain range.

  “What’s that?”

  “A little something I pilfered from headquarters. It’s a mini QP. A quantum predictor, used to generate sophisticated prediction models. State of the art, really. This scatter graph depicts our chances of success against the upcoming attack. Each dot corresponds to a specific variable that could impact our plan positively or negatively. Blue represents the highest probability of success,” He points to the mostly blue end of the model. “Red is the highest probability of failure. Yellow, orange, and green are everything in between.”

  “Seriously, Rals? You stole a prediction model thingy?”

  He nods soberly.

  “So we can use it to find out everything we ever want to know about our futures?”

  “That’s not what this is about, Jaden. This is about making certain we have futures. Now, look here.”

  He presses another key, and a figure composed of only blue dots rises from the opposite screen. “I’ve structured a plan based upon all variables falling within the blue spectrum. It’s our best shot. We’ll plug in this new tower room location as your hiding spot and run a reassessment. A few adjustments may be required. But, all in all, we should have a decent chance of saving the royal family and ourselves.”

  “Decent! That’s it? That’s the best you can do? I’m not feeling real warm and fuzzy here, Rals.” In reality, I’m scared witless and reasonably convinced his whole plan is doomed.

  “Maybe we need to rethink this,” I say. “If I can’t stay with Ryder, and I can’t go back to my family in Connecticut because IUGA will hunt me down and kill me, is this even worth it?”

  I rub the knotted muscles in the back of my neck. “I mean if I’m going to be forced to move to a foreign earth with a bunch of weird strangers because they’re the only ones who can protect me, maybe I’m better off letting destiny unfold the way IUGA wants it to. I don’t know … maybe I am better off dead.” Tears topple down my cheeks once more, and my throat seizes up.

  Ralston sighs heavily. “Jaden, please spare me the teenage histrionics at this crucial juncture. You are perfectly capable of facing this obstacle and overcoming it brilliantly. Do not underestimate me or yourself. Remember, other lives are also at stake here—mine included. Now is not the time to fall apart.”

  His words sink sharp teeth into my pride, and my tears instantly dry up. “Fine. I’ll just schedule falling apart for a later date—if I’m still alive. But I sure as hell hope we can work together to improve our chances of survival to something slightly better than decent.”

  His lips press together in the barest of smiles, then it’s all back to business. “Let’s begin with what you will need to tell the Transcenders this evening. We shall require their assistance in a number of areas.”

  “Okay, but wait a second. What’s going to happen to you when this is over? What will IUGA do when they find out that you stole their machine and are helping me to escape?”

  He runs a hand across his wispy sandy-colored hair. “I suppose they’ll dismantle me and use me for parts, if I’m lucky. Betrayal is not taken lightly at the agency.”

  I reach over and put my hand on his arm. “That’s a no-go, Rals. We need to find a way to get you out of here before IUGA can touch you. I know the Transcenders will help us. I’ll ask them tonight. You can choose where you want to end up, but I hope you’ll think about coming to Arumel with me.”

  His eyes soften and he pats my hand. “I’d be honored to accompany you to Arumel, my dear, if the Transcenders are in agreement.”

  “They’ll agree, or you and I will find someplace else to land. If we can really make this work, Rals, I’ll owe you much more than my life.”

  “Just keep your wits about you, my dear. This is not going to be easy, but I’m confident we can beat IUGA at its own game.”

  Ralston and I plug the new information into the QP and finish going over all the details of his plan. He swears it’s air-tight, and everything on his computer model is flashing blue, but I’m still not completely convinced. A lot of planets and stars will need to align perfectly over the next several days for this to work.

  TWO

>   Shortly before dinner, Ralston and I climb quietly down from the tower room and put the wheels of our plan in motion. I quickly dispatch a messenger to my brother’s estate to let him know we’ll be visiting Meadowood tomorrow and would like the use of one of his guest houses for the night. I send a second messenger to my father’s home at the Enclave with a letter requesting that he meet Ryder and me at Drew’s tomorrow evening. Finally, I dash off a note to General LeGare, head of the Royal Guard, asking to see him for a few minutes in the morning.

  Ralston goes off to arrange for a small dinner to be served in my office, as a cover for my planned visit to the Transcenders tonight.

  Narowyn Du Lac, head of the Transcenders, is a nice lady, but I can’t predict how she’ll react to me showing up unannounced asking for some huge favors. The last time we met, I stubbornly assured her that I’d never change my mind and decide to join the Transcender community. Yet, in a matter of days, I’ve made a complete turnaround. Now I’m going to her, hat in hand, asking not only that she put her people in harm’s way for me, but also that she make room for Ralston and me at the Chateau du Soleil in Arumel City. I hope to god she still wants me, especially after she hears I’m predicted to be her replacement someday.

  At six o’clock, my maid, Maria, breezes into my room for our usual evening ritual of making me look regal for dinner at the palace. To her and everyone else at Warrington Palace it must appear as if nothing’s changed, but while she brushes out my hair, my brain obsessively goes over everything Ralston and I discussed. I can’t afford to forget even one small detail.

  Ryder’s due to return early tomorrow afternoon, and now that the initial steps of our plan are underway, the realization hits me—tomorrow may be my wedding night. All at once, a frenzy of pixies begins using my stomach as a bounce house.

  Maria lifts a gem-encrusted tiara from the jewelry chest. “No crown tonight,” I tell her. “Ralston and I are having dinner alone in my office.”

  She cocks an admonishing eyebrow like I’m supposed to wear it anyway, but I stare her down until she replaces it in the chest. A dab of make-up here and there and Maria deems me fit for dinner. Ralston and I have arranged to meet up in my third floor office at seven o’clock, where we’ll pretend to have weighty matters to discuss privately.

  Within a few seconds of leaving my room, I’m joined by my dark and strapping personal bodyguard, Patrick. “Good evening, Your Majesty,” he says with a slight bow.

  Patrick’s been practically glued to my hip since the brutal attack on my traveling party last week left several of my guards dead. I was the obvious target, and until Ralston discovered this plot to assassinate me, we didn’t know who was responsible. I feel bad keeping Patrick in the dark, but the risk of a leak is too great for me to share the information with anyone in the palace.

  “Hi, Patrick,” I say. “I’m just on my way to meet with Professor Ralston. We have several important things to go over before our foreign wedding guests arrive, and we don’t have much time to get all the details in order and …” I realize I’m over-explaining myself, so I shut-up.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  When we reach the office, my conference table has already been set with sparkling crystal, shiny white china, and glittering silver. Dinner waits for us beneath gold domed platters, and a uniformed butler stands ready to serve. I never experienced this kind of luxury growing up in Connecticut, but now it’s become my normal chowtime routine. Ralston stands and bows as I enter.

  “Good evening, Professor Ralston.” I promptly dismiss the butler and turn to Patrick. “Please make sure we’re not disturbed for any reason.”

  “As you wish, ma’am.” He follows the butler out and closes the door.

  I can’t resist a peek under the golden food warmers on the table. Roast pheasant and vegetables, strawberry and spinach salad, and chocolate cake for dessert. Looks delicious but my insides are still doing the rumba, so I decide to pass on having samples. Traveling across dimensions leaves me a little queasy anyway.

  “Would you care for a bite before your journey?” Ralston asks.

  “No thanks. But save some of that chocolate cake for when I get back.”

  I push up my sleeve exposing my gold TPD bracelet, and twist it so that the Transcender coat of arms medallion with the three shooting stars is positioned on top. When I flip open the medallion, a holographic map of the city of Arumel rises up. The coordinates for the Transcenders’ headquarters are already programmed into the trans-dimensional positioning device inside, and I use my index finger to lock-in a spot near the entrance.

  “Will you be okay here, Rals?”

  “Yes, I have this fine meal to eat, and your shelves are amply stocked with pithy reading material if I get bored. Don’t worry. I’ll handle whatever arises here.”

  “Wish me luck.” I double click the latch on the side of the medallion and Zzzt!

  Instantly, I’m flying through silken space. My body glows brilliantly leaving a wake of tiny golden stars streaming behind me. The whole thing lasts only seconds, but it’s a rush like nothing else imaginable.

  Arumel is bathed in muted purple twilight when I alight on the sidewalk outside the Chateau du Soleil. I hurry through the gate and up the steps to the cerulean double door. As I reach for the brass lion head knocker, the door swings open. My heart pirouettes in my chest when I stare up into the striking pale green eyes of Asher Steele. I open my mouth to ask how he knew I was here, but he takes my arm and whisks me inside before I have a chance to speak.

  “Jade.” He pulls me into a quick embrace and then holds me out at arm’s length studying my face. “It’s great to see you, but why are you here? Is everything all right?”

  “Hi Ash,” I say, realizing how foolishly happy I am to see him. He looks amazing as usual, dressed in a loose linen shirt and jeans, and he smells wonderful—kind of spicy and masculine.

  “Actually, things aren’t okay. That’s why I came. I need to speak with you and Narowyn.”

  His eyebrows quirk up. “That doesn’t sound good. I think Narowyn is in her office. Let’s check.”

  I follow him down a side hallway. The Chateau is nearly castle-sized. Most of the Transcenders have apartments on the upper floors. In addition to the main kitchen, dining rooms, and other public spaces, a number of offices are located on the first floor. The décor is sort of shabby French-chic, with impressionist paintings, Persian rugs, softly plinking fountains, and comfortably worn furniture throughout. I’ve always found it charming and inviting, but tonight I scrutinize it with new eyes, knowing it will soon be my permanent place of residence. If the circumstance weren’t so stressful, I might actually enjoy the idea of living here.

  When we reach Narowyn’s office, Asher opens the door and pokes his head inside. “We have a visitor,” he says.

  Narowyn lifts her head from her work and smiles. The little crinkle lines around her eyes convey warmth and welcome. She rises fluidly and comes around her desk to embrace me. “Jaden, so good to see you. Please sit down.” She motions to a small sitting area in the cozy lamp-lit room.

  “Thanks.” I seat myself in a silk-upholstered chair, and Narowyn and Asher take seats opposite mine. The scent of citrus potpourri wafts from a bowl on the table next to me.

  “Despite my pleasure at your visit, I sense this is not a social call.” Narowyn clasps her hands on her lap. “Is there something we can do for you?”

  “Well, yes.” I take a deep breath. Ralston and I rehearsed everything I need to say, but now that I’m here, it’s hard to know where to begin. “I just found out that Dome Noir has plans to kill me and as many other members of the royal family as possible next week on my wedding day.” My delivery is not as eloquent as I’d wished, but it’s succinct.

  “That’s extraordinary. Are you quite certain of this?” Narowyn asks.

  “Yes. Ralston described the whole plot to me today.” I quickly fill her in on the basics of the scheme as it was reported to him at IUGA hea
dquarters.

  “Then IUGA is aware of this plan and is prepared to ensure that it will not happen?” she says.

  “Not exactly. IUGA’s aware of it, all right, but they’re doing everything they can to make sure that it does happen. They want me out of the picture, and the sooner the better.”

  She and Asher exchange surprised glances. “What possible reason could IUGA have for wishing to see you assassinated?” she asks.

  It’s embarrassing to have to say the words, but I need to lay it out for them the way Ralston told it to me. “The prediction models indicate within a ninety-six percent probability that eventually, I will succeed you as Chief Executive of the Transcender Society, and I will spearhead a campaign that seriously weakens and eventually leads to the downfall of the agency. Long story short: the Inter-Universal Guidance Agency goes kaput, and I’m to blame.”