Unmarked (28 page)

I
wanted to be a black dove, but it turns out I’m a white one.

I’m also the Vessel.

A cage for a demon.

The only person capable of holding Andras.

I should’ve been shocked or terrified—emotionally devastated and changed in some irrevocable way. Instead, an overwhelming sense of calm settled over me.

I am the Vessel.

The only person capable of saving Jared. I wasn’t ready to think about what that entailed—not yet. The verses in Faith’s journal were cryptic at best.

I didn’t know how to make sense of them yet, but I understood what they
meant
—there was still a chance to save Jared’s life and stop Andras. The possibility existed, and for today, that was enough.

It was too late for Faith and the seventeen dead girls, and for all the other people who were dead because of Andras—including our family members. I couldn’t take any of that back, but maybe I could finally make it right.

I took a crumpled piece of paper out of my pocket and unfolded it carefully. It was the ripped piece of
Lady Day
. Her dome was still split in half—like the girl herself. As I smoothed out the creases, I realized that sometimes we have to step outside the walls and fight. Sometimes the armor we thought was protecting us was actually weighing us down.

I remembered the night at the penitentiary, lying in the mud with my legs tangled in razor wire. After I forced
Jared to leave me behind in the rain, I made him a silent promise:
I’ll find you.

Instead of keeping my promise, I lost myself in a storm of emotions that had almost destroyed me. But now I would need all of them—heartbreak and loneliness, pain and rejection, rage and sorrow—to survive what lay ahead.

The white dove is the Vessel.

I stood outside the cell door, watching Jared’s chest rise and fall. The boy I loved was lost somewhere inside the body he was sharing with a demon.

I’ll find you.

This time I would keep that promise, not only to Jared but to myself.

I was the white dove, and I would find a way to carry the people I loved. And set myself free.

D
RAWING FROM
F
AITH’S
J
OURNAL

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This book truly took a Legion. From listening, plotting, hand-holding, and cheerleading to reading, editing, designing, and shepherding this book into the world—these are the people who made it happen.

Jodi Reamer, my agent, who is so much more than an agent—for answering millions of e-mails and thousands of phone calls and solving hundreds of problems (all mine). Your brilliance and unwavering belief in this series—and in me—enabled me to write this book. I am so grateful to have you in my corner.

Erin Stein, my editor at Little, Brown—for your creativity, insight, and never-ending patience. This book took forever, but you kept nudging me along to the finish line. (Okay, maybe you gave me a piggyback ride part of the way.)

Julie Scheina, my consulting editor—for finding all the things I could’ve done better and convincing me I
could
do them. A thousand thank-yous would never be enough.

The Legion at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers—Dave Caplan, for designing this heart-stopping cover; Jennifer Corcoran, for your publicity genius; Hallie Patterson, for telling the world about my books; Rachel Poloski, for all your help; Barbara Bakowski, for tolerating all my ridiculous commas (and fixing them); Adrian Palacios, for the gorgeous digital content; Victoria Stapleton, for making your authors feel like rock stars and giving us a personal avatar; Melanie Chang, for leading the PR & marketing charge; LBYR’s amazing sales team, for convincing booksellers to join the Legion; Andrew Smith, for your energy and creativity; and Megan Tingley, for believing in this series.

Jacqui Daniels and SallyAnne McCartin of McCartin-Daniels PR—for thinking outside the box and telling anyone and everyone about
Unmarked
and the Legion series. You are forces to be reckoned with, in the very best way.

Writers House, my literary agency—for representing me and the Legion out in the world. Special thanks to Cecilia de la Campa, my foreign-rights agent, for sharing your enthusiasm for
Unmarked
with so many different time zones; and Alec Shane, for dealing with all my crazy requests and the Nerf guns. I still owe you that sword.

Kassie Evashevski, my film agent at UTA—for your intelligence and passion, and your belief in this series; and Johnny Pariseau, for your enthusiasm and hard work.

My foreign publishers—for making the Legion series your own.
Merci. Grazie. Danke. Obrigado.…

Chris Berens—for the beautiful and haunting artwork you created for
Unmarked
. Your work was woven into Kennedy’s story before we became friends, but what your imagination and generosity have brought to this series is impossible to define. If there is a magical athenaeum anywhere in this world, it exists in your studio.

Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs, and Holly Black—for reading my draft, giving me amazing revision notes, and plot twisting and untwisting with me. Thank you for talking me off those ledges.

Margaret Stohl, my friend and Beautiful Creatures and Dangerous Creatures coauthor—for the endless encouragement and cheerleading.

Erin Gross—for your social media genius, tireless work ethic, and unparalleled creativity and honesty, and for keeping me together even when I’m coming apart at the seams. Most of all, for your friendship.

Chloe Palka—for moving across the country to help me finish this book, for doing hundreds of hours of typing and dictation, and for the creativity you brought to this project. You are made of fire and blood.

Yvette Vasquez—for creating the playlists that kept me writing and that captured the heart of the book and the characters. You are one of my favorite people in the world.

Ransom Riggs, Marie Lu, and Jonathan Maberry—for offering quotes for
Unmarked
that truly blew me away.

Robin Quick—for knowing the difference between the Illuminati, the Freemasons, and the Sons of Liberty, and for sharing your knowledge with me. The cornerstone in this book is for you.

Lauren Billings—for giving me a summer-school science lesson when I needed it.

Vania Stoyanova—for the author photo on this book, which I love.

Lorissa Shepstone of Being Wicked—for designing the most gorgeous author and novel websites, and a million other things.

May Peterson—for translating my sad excuse for Latin into the real thing.

Eric Harbert and Nick Montano, attorney and brand manager, and my heroes—for being the two guys outside of my family who I can always count on. I value your friendship more than you know.

Alan Weinberger—for making sure my knees hold up on tour and for always taking my calls.

Readers, librarians, teachers, booksellers, bloggers, and everyone who supported
Unbreakable
—for being the
real
Legion and the reason I write.

Mom, Dad, Celeste, John, Derek, Hannah, Alex, Hans, Sara, and Erin—for your love, support, and encouragement. You always make the impossible seem possible.

Alex, Nick, and Stella—for giving me stories to tell and listening to me tell them. Everything begins with you. I love you.

Unbreakable

“Red Run”: A Short Story

Dangerous Creatures

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Darkness

Beautiful Chaos

Beautiful Redemption

Dream Dark: A Beautiful Creatures Story

Dangerous Dream: A Beautiful Creatures Story

“A rare sequel that
surpasses the original
.”

—R
ANSOM
R
IGGS
, #1
New York Times
bestselling author of
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
and
Hollow City

“Get ready to be
scared, surprised, and thoroughly entertained
. A fantastic read.”

—M
ARIE
L
U
,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Legend

“UNMARKED is both gorgeous and hideous. A frightening and disturbing tale spun with great beauty.
Absolutely riveting
.”

—J
ONATHAN
M
ABERRY
,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Rot & Ruin
and
V-Wars

“
Tense and deliciously twisty
, UNBREAKABLE is a breath-stealing midnight run through some of the creepiest locales I’ve seen rendered in fiction.”

—R
ANSOM
R
IGGS
, #1
New York Times
bestselling author of
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
and
Hollow City

“
A fast-paced race through a world of demons and spirits
, darkness and light.… I can’t wait for the next book!”

—A
LLY
C
ONDIE
, #1
New York Times
bestselling author of the Matched trilogy

“
Unbreakable
is
a haunting, chilling tale
that reminded me of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Creepy places, believable characters with some of the best teen dialogue I’ve seen, and plenty of suspense. I loved it.”

—J
AMES
D
ASHNER
,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Maze Runner series

“
Paranormal action, secret societies, and romantic suspense!
The Legion series is now definitely on my must-read list.”

—R
ICHELLE
M
EAD
, #1 international bestselling author of
Vampire Academy

*
“
Edge-of-your-seat paranormal activity
keeps this book moving at an astronomical rate.… Garcia brings a fresh new take to the supernatural and the world of secret societies.”

—
VOYA
, starred review

“
UNBREAKABLE keeps you engaged and on edge.
I found myself intrigued in Kennedy Waters’ world and not wanting to put this book down. Looking forward to book two!”

—J
ASON
H
AWES
, cocreator and star of
Ghost Hunters
and a
New York Times
bestselling author

“Strong, engaging characters and
a romance to die for
.”

—R
ACHEL
C
AINE
,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series

“
Supernatural
meets
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
. Kami Garcia is Joss Whedon’s talent-sister!
I didn’t just read UNBREAKABLE; I lived it. When it comes to supernatural suspense, Garcia is the Slayer.”

—N
ANCY
H
OLDER
,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Buffy: The Making of a Slayer
and the Wicked saga

“An
eerily fun and emotionally accurate
venture into the complex layers of paranormal encounters from both sides. Looking forward to book two!”

—G
RANT
W
ILSON
, cocreator of
Ghost Hunters
and a
New York Times
bestselling author

“In a fast-paced series opener, Kennedy Waters encounters a ghost, loses her mother and meets a love interest—all in the first few pages.… Garcia shakes it up with an ending that will leave readers reaching for the next book. This
vivid, thoroughly imagined paranormal world
will draw readers into its icy realm.”

—
Kirkus Reviews