Heightened: The Federation Series (25 page)

I look at myself in the mirror. I am not the person staring back at me. She is cold and distant. I look closer at myself. My eyes; I see them, accusing and disappointed. I smooth my hand across my abdomen. I feel the transition from silk to skin.

Ian slips himself behind me; his hands join mine, resting on my hips. He pulls me gently into him. He pulls my hair off my shoulder, revealing my neck and grazing my skin with a well-placed touch. I shudder; chills ripple down my body.

I look at my face. I can’t see the bruise, and the swelling is gone. He was right; he fixed me. But I still look cold, dark and forbidden.

I watch him, as he kisses me. Every inch of me is heightened; my body is begging for more, but my heart is resisting with every beat. I close my eyes, and I see Quinn. I’m breaking promises and betraying him. A single tear falls down my cheek. I ache. My heart is shattered, but I know he will be safe and that is all that matters. I concentrate on Quinn; his face, eyes, and they way his lips fit perfectly against mine.

My body, my desires are my outward attachment to this world. But my mind, my heart; they are the true reflection of who I am. I am determined but weak. I have enough will and fight left in me to help Ian, to ensure Quinn survives.

I open my eyes. My dress is black silk. A single strap drapes over my right shoulder, continues down my body, caressing my skin. It covers my breast, wrapping around my left side, and then splitting into three pieces that wrap around to my front The silk gathers together and drapes into a cascade of silk, all the way to my toes; a single diamond dangles from my neck. I am breathtaking.

He looks into the mirror. Our eyes meet. A darkness that chills me to the core lingers deep in his stare. His words, his promises are empty. In my grasping for hope and salvation, I had allowed myself to believe. But I still cling to the hope that with the act of my betrayal and my sacrifice that Quinn will be saved. It is all that I have left to believe in. I am already dead

“I would love to stay here and show you what life is like unrestricted,” he says, “but we have plans.”

We head downstairs. I can’t look at him, or talk. All I can think about is Quinn; he is all that matters. My heart is breaking, but I am willing to do anything to keep him safe. Even if that means I allow Ian to take my body because my heart and mind are Quinn’s.

Words are useless to us. I drape my hand on his arm and take a deep breath. We enter the room. All eyes are on us. Ian is a handsome man with a reputation that makes everyone stop and take notice. He is feared.

I am a forbidden jewel adorning his dark persona. My mind is a wreck, but my façade is like alabaster: perfect and pristine. I float on a shadow of misery and desire. I am the smoke and mirrors to his trick.

We are noticed immediately by Rizzio. I don’t have to be introduced. His eyes meet mine in a dance of fire and pain. He leans into the man sitting with him, and he turns away.

I feel Ian’s hand tighten around my waist. He is pleased. I smile. He leads me to a table. There are two men and two women gazing up at me.

“Gentlemen,” Ian says. “I’d like you to meet Emma.”

They exchange their pleasantries. I hear their words, and I respond, but my mind has not averted from the man drinking whiskey at the end of the bar. He steals a glance. I smile at him. I know my part. I’m the bait.

“Darling,” I say, “I’d love a drink.”

“Anything for my love,” he says. Too much I think, but the others seem to enjoy the drama.

He kisses me. I watch the man. He looks at us. We make eye contact, briefly before I look away.

Ian leaves but I can see him at the bar. He looks back at me, after a quick glance towards Rizzio. I chat with the other women at the table. It seems that the North City and the West City are not very compliant with some of the Federation laws. They are border cities with Canada. Apparently a lot of trade and business is conducted across the border, and the Federation is willing to bend rules to accommodate for the purpose of good relations.

Ian returns with our drinks. He hands me a tall, twisted glass with swirls of red, yellow and orange alcohol. I taste it; it burns, but I swallow and take another sip. This time it’s fruity followed by a numbing slow burn. I can feel it spread throughout my body. First my face and then my chest, until it reaches my fingers and toes; I set the drink down.

Our food arrives, and the conversation dulls. I take a few bites; the food is delicious. I didn’t realize how hungry I am. I haven’t had anything to eat since lunch, and that was almost 9 hours ago.

I take a few more sips of my drink. My shoulders slump, and I feel relaxed. I muddle my way through my meal, enjoying every bite and only half listening to the conversations.

“Emma?” he touches my arm, looks at me and then averts his eyes over my shoulder.

I look up and see Rizzio standing behind me.

“Would you like to dance?”

I look at Ian. He gives me a slight nod of approval and then kisses my cheek. I look back to Rizzio and take his hand. He leads me out to the dance floor.

My stomach is fluttering. I’ve never danced with a man before. I have no idea what to do. He must sense my hesitation.

“I promise I will return you,” his voice is confident, “better than I found you.”

I glance over to Ian. My mind is racing. Rizzio is not a Federation citizen; he can leave the country. A small fire ignites within me; perhaps I can convince him to take me and Quinn across the border. I wonder what the price would be for such a crime.

I see Ian tense; he sits straight in his chair. He must realize that I am not under his control at this exact moment. His gaze is enough to make me think twice. He already warned me.

Rizzio lets his hand slip too far. I sigh, a week ago I would have been an uncontrollable mess of heat and desire, but now I’m aware but calculated in my responses. I am in control for the first time, in a long time.

“What are you doing with Black?” he asks.

I’m confused. I decide to act casual. “It just makes sense.”

“Ah, I see. Why wouldn’t the leader of the Under, have the most beautiful woman on his arm,” he laughs?

“Exactly,” I’m confused, I’m always confused.

“Well Black seems very interested in you,” he says. “He hasn’t taken his eyes off of you since we started dancing.”

I look over to him. A shiver erupts from inside of me; what is Ian’s plan for me? What does he expect me to do?

Rizzio pulls me closer. I can feel him against me. I look at him. He’s older than I am. He has dark hair and dark skin. His eyes are a dark brown with a golden hue around the edges. He is handsome.

The music stops, and I loosen my grip on him. He takes my hand, and he leads me towards the bar. He speaks to the bartender, and he pulls me away. I look over my shoulder. Ian is standing and staring at us.

Is this supposed to happen? Is it part of the plan? I look to Ian. He looks angry. I can feel my chest tighten and my stomach twist. I take a deep breath. I can’t panic. I have to keep calm.

I have no choice but to follow Rizzio. He leads me out into the hall. Two men in black uniforms meet us and follow behind us. We enter the elevator and head to the top floor. When the doors open, we step out into a round room; on the opposite side is a set of double doors. One of the uniformed men opens the door to us, and we enter a room, unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

“Do you like it?” he asks.

“It’s amazing,” I say. “Why am I here?”

“Cut right to the chase,” he says, “I like that. I’m successful, not because I am smart, but because I am aware.”

I don’t say a word.

He sits on a dark leather couch. A woman in a laborer uniform appears and pours him a glass of wine.

“Would you like some?”

I shake my head,” No.”

He pours me a glass anyways. He sets it on the table and motions for me to sit with him.

I do, but I keep my distance.

“Do you have any idea what you’re getting involved in?” he asks. “You seem like a nice kid, but you are involved with Black.”

“We are in love,” I say.

“Is that what he told you?”

“I am aware of my duties,” I say.

“What are they?” He asks.

“It’s not important,” I say.

A knock at the door breaks the uncomfortable moment.

“That will be Black,” he says.

A man leads him in. He stands, flanked by the two uniformed men. He doesn’t seem to mind.

“Why all the theatrics,” Rizzio asks? “Why, the bait?”

“She’s not bait; she’s tender.”

“Really?” he looks at me. “Who is she?”

“Adam’s fiancée,” he says.

“Oh my,” he says. “What do you want?”

“Weapons,” he says. “I need enough to arm my men and ammunition.”

“Done,” he says. “Take him and give him what he wants.”

He smiles at me. I feel like someone just kicked me in the gut. I can’t breathe. I can’t do anything right; even trying to kill myself to save the others.

Ian looks at me, right in the eyes. My heart is sinking. How could I have been so foolish? I trusted him, even though he is the leader of the Under and a criminal and a murderer.

He looks back at me before he steps onto the elevator. There’s something about his eyes; he looks to Rizzio and back to me.

The tears are starting to form. I don’t want to cry. It seems like I spend more time with my tears than I do with any other emotion. Maybe someday, I will know what tears of joy are like.

Someone is yanking on my wrists. I try to open my eyes but I can’t the pain is too intense.

“Calder,” I hear a man’s voice. “Get the Hell up.”

I groan. Someone grabs me and forces me into a sitting position. I swing; my arms limp and weak.

“Nice try,” Max’s voice.

I open my eye. It is Max.

“We need to get out of here,” He says. “Can you walk?”

“I…” my head is spinning. “Yeah, I can.”

I stand up, and Max grabs a hold of me. He is bigger than I am, and he has no problem lugging me along. We step out into the hall, and Smith is waiting there with Chris; the man from last week’s trip to the Under.

I don’t remember much about getting out of there. I wake up in a car. I can see the night sky. I look next to me; Smith is loading a gun.

“Where are we?” I ask.

“Sorry, we didn’t have time to drop you off,” he says. “You’re fucked up.”

“You didn’t answer me,” I say.

“We convinced one of them to tell us where they took Emma,” he said.

“Why are we in a car?”

“Looks like Anthony Benson has returned from the wastelands,” he says. “He’s Ian Black. I don’t know how we missed it.”

“I know,” I say. “I saw him.”

“Well he seems to be planning something big,” he says.

“Where is she?”

He doesn’t say anything. He looks up front to Max and Chris.

“Where the Hell is she?”

“He took her,” he says. “He’s going to trade her for weapons.”

“Who,” I ask?

“Rizzio,” he says.

I can feel the heat rise inside of me. I can’t think. It was hours ago that I saw them together. We might be too late. Rizzio could have her out of the territory by now.

“I’m going to kill him!”

I edge away from him. “Have a drink of wine,” he smiles at me.

“I’m not thirsty,” I say.

“Black is an ass,” he says. “I’ve never liked him much.”

“So why do business with him?” I say.

“It’s profitable for me,” he says. “I need contacts and he is the big dog in the Unders of the Federation.”

“What are you going to do with me?”

“I’m not sure yet,” he says. “I have plans and I need different kinds of contacts in the Federation. There are big changes coming, even Black can’t control what’s happening.”

“You’re not going to get anything from Benson,” I say. “He doesn’t care about me.”

“There’s always a way,” he says. “I need you to do me a favor.”

I sigh, here we go, “What?”

“I need a meeting with Atticus,” he smiles.

“How can I arrange that?” I say. “I’m not important.”

“You’ll find a way,” he says. He looks up at another uniformed man. “Please escort Miss Greene back to the East City.”

“I’m not good at this stuff,” I say.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re good, or not,” he says, “as long as you have the proper motivation.”

“I don’t understand?”

“If you don’t deliver Atticus to me,” he snarls. “I will kill Officer Calder.”

The tremor rocks through my body. I can’t control it. I can feel my knees weaken, and my heart slams against my ribs. How could he know about Quinn? All my efforts have failed; now he’s in more trouble than he was before.

“Just kill me,” I say.

“The fact that you are willing to die,” he smiles, “tells me I can’t count on you to deliver.”

“It’s the same as Mandy,” I say, “I can’t do this; I’m not important enough to matter to Atticus. Quinn is as good, as dead.”

“Maybe, I’ve miss judged you,” he says. “Maybe you don’t love him as much as you think. Are you willing to take a chance? Are you willing to risk his life; just because you are afraid and insecure?”

“Please,” I beg, “it’s impossible. I’ll do anything else…anything.”

“While, tempting,” he touches my cheek, with the back of his hand. He sighs. “You are more useful to me as a pawn and more profitable. It always boils down to power and money.”

I turn my face away.

“Maybe you need more motivation,” he says. He nods to one of his men.

He leaves the room. We sit in silence. I try and think of something that I have, that might be worth Quinn’s life. I have nothing. The only way to save him is to complete the impossible.

The guard returns and Pam is with him.

“How,” I cry, “you knew?”

“I am a planner,” he says. “I am always miles ahead of my competition.”

“Are you okay,” I ask Pam. “Did they hurt you?”

She shakes her head.

“I’m sorry,” I think about her warning. I didn’t listen. “I’ll do it.”

“Great,” he nods to the guard.

I sigh and look at Pam. But my brief moment of relief is shattered by the muffled sound of a single gunshot. Pam slumps and falls to the ground.

I scream. Rizzio grabs me and covers my mouth. I fight for air; inhaling tears through his clenched hands.

He pushes me towards my sister. I forcefully try to blink away my tears. He makes me kneel next to her; his hand still firm on my mouth.

“You did this,” he says. “You killed her and you will kill him too.”

I can’t look at her; all I see is her blood spread across the crisp marble tiles.

“You will do what I ask,” he grabs my throat and tightens his grip.

I can hear my sobs and my blood beating against the inside of my skull. I no longer fight for air, I want to die; I want to be punished for my actions.

He removes his hand from my face. I still refuse to breath. I hold my lips together as tight as I can. My head numbs and my face is warm, but I can’t control myself. I gasp for air.

He releases me. I can’t move. I want to scoop her up and shake her; make her breath, make her live. I know if I touch her; it will be real. She will be dead.

Rizzio’s guard pulls me up. I am no longer in control of my body; I am lost inside my mind. I can feel his hand on my arm. I can see the walls blur as we pass them, and I can hear sounds: faint and detached. But I am unaware.

The cold air slams against my face as we leave the building. I blink and inhale. I choke; the air tightens and chills my lungs. I can feel the cold.

I look out the window of the car as we drive away. I see a car pull up in front of the hotel. I see Max, Smith, Chris and Quinn get out of the car.

“Stop,” I say.

The driver doesn’t respond.

“Please,” I beg. “I have to go back.”

He keeps driving.

I don’t think. I open the door and jump out. I hit the ground hard. I roll; holding my arms over my face. I can feel the pavement tear my skin. When I finally stop, I lie still and gasp for air. I apparently didn’t think that through enough. I can barely move. I roll over onto my knees. I manage to get half way up before someone grabs me around my waist.

I kick and throw a hard elbow, but he’s too strong.

I scream. He covers my face. I can see Quinn. He’s still outside the hotel.

I bite hard. I can taste a warm metallic, liquid ooze into my mouth. He takes his hand from my mouth, and he slams me to the ground.

My lungs fight for air. I try to scream, but a solid kick hits me square in the back; dropping me to the pavement.

It’s a moment before I can move. He has me in his arms, and he’s carrying me back to the car. I dig my fingers into his face, tearing at his eyes.

He drops me. I get up and run towards the hotel. I scream, “Quinn!”

I can hear the man behind me. My back, my ankle, my head; they all ache, but I push through the pain.

I call him again, “Quinn!”

I feel the hand on my shoulder. I drop to the ground. I hear the shot, and he falls back. I look at the man chasing me. He’s dead.

I look back to the hotel. Quinn is running to me. I collapse.

He grabs me and pulls me into his arms. I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes. He groans and hunches over a bit. He’s hurt. I’m hurt. But I don’t care, I could die right now and I would be happy.

Max is standing over us, “We have to go.”

“Can you make it?” says Quinn, as he looks me over. His hands touch my face; I gasp. I’m hurt: my face, ribs, and my ankle.

“No,” I have so much to say. “You have to leave, get away from here. I can’t do this, not if you…I need to do this…Why the Hell are you here? Stay away from me, it’s not safe.”

“Slow down,” he says.

“I can’t,” I push him. “Go, I can’t have you here.”

“We can talk about this in the car,” he says. “Can you get up?”

“Yeah,” I lie. “I’m fine. I don’t need your help. You have to go.”

“I know you think you’re protecting me, but I’m not leaving you,” he says. “I need to remember. Emma, I have to know.”

“It’s too late,” I say. “I’m already dead. There’s no reason for you to die too. I’m not letting you save me this time.”

He pulls me up, and I step with my hurt ankle. I stumble and shift my weight onto my good leg. My head is throbbing, but I push him.

“Don’t Quinn,” I’m angry. “I can’t do this again. I thought you were dead. I saw you die. I can’t live without you.”

“You don’t have to,” he says.

“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into,” I beg. “Let me save you, please.”

He puts his arm around me tight, and we head to their car.

“I’m not leaving without you,” he says.

I want to feel safe, but I know that I am not, and Quinn is in more danger than I am. I want to leave. I want to pretend like my whole world is not turned upside down. I look up at the hotel and the stars above. I made a promise. Quinn’s safety is all that I care about.

I need to get away from him. If Rizzio finds him, he will kill him. Everything is happening so fast. I can’t think.

I get into the car. I’m sitting towards the hotel. I look at the double door. Quinn, Max, and Chris are still outside. Smith is sitting in the driver’s seat. The engine is running.

Quinn opens the door and gets in next to me. Chris sits beside him. Max is walking around to the front passenger seat. I am still looking at the hotel. I see Rizzio, and he has five of his guards with him.

I look at Quinn, “I’m sorry.”

“What?”

I open the door and jump out, just as Rizzio and his men burst out of the doors.

He tries to grab me, but I am too quick. I fall onto the pavement. I can’t support myself on my ankle.

Rizzio’s guards open fire.

Smith takes off. I watch them leave. My heart breaks again, but at least I know that someplace deep inside him, he still cares.

I feel Rizzio’s hand on my shoulder. “You must really love him.”

“I do,” I don’t cry. I know that I did the right thing. I know that he is safe, at least for the time being.

“It’s time to go,” he says. “They’ll be back.”

“A meeting with Atticus,” I say, “that’s what you want?”

“A small ransom would be nice too,” he squeezes my shoulder; a sharp pain shoots down my back.

“I’m ready,” I say.

“Good,” he says, “I’ve already made the call to his representatives.”

“We should know before we arrive back in the East,” a large car pulls up. He opens the door, and I slide across the seat.

He gives me a pain blocker. I fall asleep. I’m exhausted, and the lull of the ride is more than I can resist.

I’m not sure how long it’s been when he receives the phone call from Atticus. I open my eyes and roll my head towards Rizzio. He is listening. He nods his head and then looks at me. His eyes are wide, and he is smiling.

He hangs up and turns towards me. “You have been lying to me.”

“What?” I sit up straight.

“You said you weren’t important,” he leans closer to me. “It seems you are crucial. In fact, so important that Atticus is personally meeting us for the exchange, and he’s paying me twice what I asked for your safe return.”

“I don’t understand,” I say.

“Interesting,” he says, “you have no clue?”

“No,” I say, “Other than Adam, I have no connection.”

“You won’t mind if we run a quick scan on you?”

“Go ahead,” I’m hesitant.

I place my hand on the car’s receptor. He looks at the monitor.

“You have some unusual energy spikes and there seem to be some added programs, which aren’t Federation issued.” He rubs his chin and sighs, “I’m going to send this to my tech guy. He’ll be able to tell me more.”

It takes about fifteen minutes before the tech guy calls Rizzio. He only talks for a few minutes. He turns and looks at me.

“What do you know about the Federation counsel?” he asks.

“Um, only what we’re supposed to learn,” I say. “I don’t really understand what you’re asking.”

“What about your childhood?” he asks.

“My childhood,” I ask, “What are you looking for?”

“It seems you are not Federation born,” he says. “You’re online, but you’re not compatible with their systems.”

“Have you ever experienced glitches?” he says

“All the time,” I decided to not hide my secrets from him. He seems to know more than I do about myself. “I’m heightened. I can reset, and I dull for a short time, but I always regain my emotions.”

“There’s more,” he says. “You have an enormous capacity for data. We can’t see any of that data because it’s protected by a sophisticated program that even my guy can’t hack.”

“Can you access it?” he asks.

“No, I can’t even access my daily planner half the time,” I say. “I have to study manually. I’ve never passed a test or completed a task by using my programs.”

“It seems you have been living a life of secrets and lies,” he smiles.

“I’m good at hiding it,” I say.

“Does Calder know?”

“He knew about my heightening,” I say. “But he had himself rebooted.”

“He decided to forget you,” he says, “and you still love him?”

“I’ll always love him,” I smile.