It always took Allie a moment to remember how to breathe. With a great gasp, she finally inhaled and then promptly spewed the contents of her stomach behind the wooden Piedmont Park sign.
Livia closed her eyes, swaying on her feet, the only indication she’d experienced the same discomfort as Allie.
“Ugh. Haven’t done that in a while.” She wiped her mouth, freezing in the eerie silence of the dreamworld as a dozen heavy footsteps sounded in the distance.
“Relax.” Quinn clapped her on the shoulder, beaming with the vibrant health and vitality the dreamworld gave those like him. “My walkers are here to help.” He jogged across the lawn to meet them on the sidewalk across the street from Sterling Tower. Rather, the shadow of Sterling Tower in the dreamworld. It was and was not the real building.
Allie eyed the twelve men and women who followed Quinn in this world. Some of them were ancient, bearing the physical signs of spending far too much time in the dreamworld. Some were haggard, tattooed, and aged more than any Immortals she’d ever seen—a consequence of staying here too long. The others were young, like Quinn. As a whole, they were a rough looking bunch, but they were loyal to Quinn and that was good enough for Allie.
“Spread out,” he instructed, sending his walkers to take up their positions around the building. “We will have to be quick about this before Brecken suspects what we’re doing. He’s the only one who could stop us. Allie and Liv, Navid will be helping you patrol the perimeter. This place needs to be empty before we’re done sealing the border.”
“Got it.” Allie and Livia watched as Quinn and his walkers set to work, creating the barrier that would encompass Sterling Tower like a thin soap bubble. They moved slowly around the building in a clockwise pattern, arms spread wide.
“Will anyone inside the building realize what we’re doing?” Allie asked.
“Probably not, and if they do, it’s already too late for them to stop us,” Navid said. “There are no dreamwalkers inside Sterling Tower.”
The screams began as the walkers moved. It took a little while, but they always came. The dreamers. The whispered words and frightened voices of those caught up in nightmares echoed all around them. The voices were the only sounds here. No wind or rain. Thunder or lightening. The utter stillness of this world was disturbing.
With his walkers in place, Quinn spread his arms wide. The air above him seemed to ripple like fabric on a breeze, until a horrible ripping sound echoed like cannon fire. The tear across the sky was clean and edged in golden light. As the rip widened and stretched to the ground, Allie stumbled back. The edges of the tear began to rise, folding in opposite directions.
“Time to go, girls,” Navid said. “You two will circle the property, and I will go straight down the middle between the tower and parking garage. If you need me, just whisper my name and I’ll hear you.”
Allie turned and raced east along Monroe Drive to make her first sweep of the perimeter. They would meet back at the entrance to Piedmont Park, but she had a job to do before the building was completely enveloped in the world of dreams. As she took a right down Cooledge Avenue, she shoved innocent dreamers outside the growing bubble and back into their own dreamscapes. It was her responsibility to make sure no one was trapped inside the barrier once it was sealed. She heard the voices, dreamers calling for help in the throes of their nightmares. Others laughed, urging her to join them in their blissful dreams. She ignored them. Allie had learned to resist the lure of the voices a long time ago. She was unaffected by them now.
Livia was busy hunting for any enemies who might try to stop them. Allie could sense them, too. There were precious few dream walkers left. Most of them were loyal to Quinn, but there were still some who opposed him. Those who’d given into their addictions long ago and never left the world of dreams. They were the terrifying stuff of nightmares.
Allie passed four of Quinn’s walkers along Cooledge Avenue, moving counter clockwise now. They were nearly done. She had to hurry.
Livia’s scream of fury came from just around the corner on Park Drive. Allie ran faster, sai blades at the ready. Nearing the rear of the building, Allie saw Livia locked in battle with an ancient walker. He lunged at her, weaponless and more beast than human; she shoved him back toward the edge of the new barrier. Allie raced to help her. Whirling into a high, round house kick, she struck the walker’s jaw. He stumbled and turned his attention on Allie.
“That’s right, ugly, come get the redhead.” Allie lured him away from the sidewalk and into the empty street, allowing Livia to sneak up behind him.
“You’re here with him,” the pale man hissed, lunging for Allie like a wild dog. These guys didn’t like Quinn and Navid very much.
Livia aimed a swift kick to his backside, sending him staggering across the street and through the barrier to haunt someone else.
“Navid.” Allie pointed at the end of the street where their father battled two ancient dream walkers by himself. They ran to help him, but by the time they got there, he shoved the last one through the barrier, sheathing his sword at his side.
“We better hurry.” Navid glanced up at the sky. The barrier was almost complete.
“You don’t have much longer before you’ll be in trouble,” Livia said to Navid.
He nodded. “I’m still okay, but the clock is ticking.”
If he stayed here too long, it would become harder and harder for him to leave willingly. At that point, he would start losing the battle with his addiction and begin the slow transformation into the things they just fought.
“Let’s go.” Allie ran with her sister and their father down Virginia Avenue, making quick work of the dreamers wandering aimlessly down the street. They arrived back at the park entrance just in time.
“We’re clear,” Navid said, looking healthier than she’d seen him in months. It was good for him to be here—but bad for him to stay much longer. He was at the tipping point.
Quinn’s hands fell limply at his sides as his walkers stopped their slow progression around the building. “It’s almost done. Allie and Liv, check the perimeter one more time before we seal it.” He dropped to his knees in exhaustion.
Allie and Livia ran in opposite directions again, making one last sweep. The barrier had to be a no man’s land for it to work. A wasteland of the dreamworld cut off from all sides—once the barrier was sealed. She searched long and hard, hunting for stragglers. She still heard the voices. That was just part of the dreamworld, but the barrier was eerily still.
Allie walked along Virginia Avenue, doing a careful sweep of the area. It was strange; she couldn’t actually see the barrier so much as feel it. A replica of the city streets stretched in a grid pattern in all directions across Midtown, but Allie could sense the way the barrier followed the area enclosed by the city block where Sterling Tower stood. If she crossed the street to the opposite sidewalk, she would wander into the huge world of dreams and be lost forever without a guide to lead her. Once the barrier was sealed, she could walk across the street and keep walking forever in circles, trapped like a goldfish in a bowl.
“All clear,” Allie called when she arrived back at the park entrance. “We need to wrap this up soon.” She glanced at Navid. His eyes were glassy, and his face was flushed from the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He was past the tipping point.
“Navid, take Allie and Livia back,” Quinn said. “We’ll be right behind you after we seal the rift. I’ll be leaving four of my walkers to patrol the barrier.”
Navid nodded and reluctantly took his daughters’ hands. His natural instincts told him to stay in the dreamworld where he was most powerful, but Allie knew he had enough experience with his gift to realize that was the road to ruin.
Allie took one last look at the narrowing rift, still glowing with a golden light. It was done. She felt an immense sense of relief. Now, no matter what happened next, the people inside Sterling Tower were safe.
Chapter Twenty-One
“You o
kay?” Darius asked, a doubtful look on his face.
Allie nodded, trying to remember how to breathe in the waking world. With a lurch, she bent over, dry heaving with her head between her knees. It always took her a minute to leave the dreamworld behind. “You’d think I’d get used to that after all this time.” She stood, wiping her clammy hands down the front of her jeans.
“You’d think,” Livia agreed.
“You sure you’re okay.” Darius took her hand. “You look a little green.”
“I’ll be okay. Where is everyone?”
“They’re gathered on the other side of the park.” Liam came to join them. “We need to move quickly before someone raises the alarm when they realize they can’t get in or out of the building.”
“Jayesh has issued a lockdown inside,” Livia said, returning her phone to her back pocket. “The kids will all be in their rooms within ten minutes.”
Allie nodded at Liam. “Send them over.” She stepped back and stared up at Sterling Tower. It was a beautiful building. And after today, if the takeover went as planned, it would be hers.
“It is done, sister,” Livia said. “We’ve nothing left to do but step inside.”
“I’m not ready,” Allie said. “I’ll never be ready for this … crushing reality of what my life will be. That my life was decided long before I was even born.”
“Prophecy be damned.” Livia took her hand. “You have a mind of your own, Allie. Use it. This doesn’t have to play out as some preordained sequence of events our parents planned for us. It is for you to decide how it will play out. You mold the future as you see it. Not anyone else.”
“Your sister is right, Allie.” Navid said, giving them a strange look, as if he was finally seeing them clearly for the first time. “Everything your mother and I have done—all the manipulation and deceit was to get you both here. Possibly to this very moment. We’ve seen a thousand different futures for you both, but right now, I see two young women ready to take on the world and make their own futures. My work is done.”
"We will always need your guidance," Allie said.
"We can't do any of this without you, Dad," Livia agreed, holding her hand out to their father.
Liam approached with an army of McBriens and Loukases in tow. Armed and dressed in fatigues, they were prepared for anything once inside. Allie wanted a peaceful takeover, but she wasn’t naive enough to think they could do it without a display of force, even with Jayesh on their side.
Allie crossed the grassy lawn of Piedmont Park to the stone entrance. The dreamworld pulsed around Sterling Tower. The busy city sidewalks filled with mortals, coming and going about their day. None passed in front of Sterling Tower. Their natural instincts led them around the barrier. Any Immortals nearby would sense the danger, but even if they wanted to cross the barrier, they couldn’t without a dream walker.
Once Marcus learned of the takeover, he wouldn’t be able to retaliate. Those inside were safely out of his grasp now. She just needed to get inside and let them know they were free of his influence. Those who wanted to leave would be escorted by one of Quinn’s team.
“Is it safe?” Tessa asked as she approached. Her eyes were glued to the building where she grew up. For her this was a homecoming in a bizarre, twisted sort of way.
“It won’t be like it was in South America,” Dean replied, coming to stand beside her.
“It’s safe,” Allie said. “Soma is no longer a prison. No one will keep you here if you don’t want to stay.” She could see the fear and distrust in the girl’s eyes.
“But they need you in there,” Allie said, nodding at the building. “I can’t imagine how difficult it is for you to come back here after all you’ve experienced. After all they have done to you.”
Tessa wrapped her arms around her middle like a child afraid of the dark.
“I need you to tell your story, Tessa,” Allie said. “These people trust you. They remember you and admire you. They will listen.”
“They are the only reason I’m even here right now. Them and you. You’d better not let me down, Allie.”
Allie nodded, feeling the true weight of her new responsibilities. “Let’s go.” Allie and Darius followed Quinn and Navid to a secluded corner of the park, just across the street from Sterling Tower.
With everything they’d done to make a move against Soma, Allie couldn’t contain her visions. There were so many of them swarming the park, seeking her attention. She saw faces and settings all around her; things she should study but there wasn’t time. There was never time. She would have to focus despite them.
With Allie and her team guarding Quinn from curious eyes, he stood at the barrier entrance, his eyes glowing with the presence of his power. Holding his arms aloft, a tiny fissure in the thin veneer of the dreamworld began to spread. Edged in smoldering golden embers, the rift grew wider as Quinn created a narrow tunnel through the dreamworld to the front door of Sterling Tower. It was like walking through an aquarium. They weren’t actually in the dreamworld this time.
“We go one at a time,” Navid said. “Follow me and do not wander off. Don’t listen to the voices urging you to leave the tunnel. Stay close.” Navid entered first, using his gift to extend the tunnel, pressing against the walls of the dreamworld and creating a safe pathway through. Allie and Darius followed with Livia, Liam, and the others bringing up the rear. They were few in number, but they didn’t need numbers. Sterling Tower was already theirs.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Livia?” Eric jumped to his feet the second they entered the tower. “We didn’t expect you back so soon. I will call Jayesh at once and let him know you’re here.” The concierge lifted the white phone from its cradle.
“No need, Eric. I’m already here.” Jayesh stepped off the elevator. “Make our guests feel at home,” he added.
“Would anyone like coffee or wat—Tessa?” Eric stammered.
“Still here?” She offered a watery smile.
“Same old, same old.” Eric frowned, eyeing her from head to toe.
Allie could imagine after four years as a slave, Tessa wasn’t the same girl Eric remembered.
“I think all that’s going to change now,” Tessa said softly.
Allie turned at the ding of the elevator and a slow smile spread across her face.
“Lucien? Imogen?” Sasha’s voice broke on a sob as she rushed to throw her arms around her sister and brother-in-law. Four years ago they were taken captive the night Livia’s people attacked Imogen’s home. “You’ve been here all this time?” Sasha asked through her tears.
“We’ve been helping Jayesh.” Imogen smiled. “But we had to stay under the radar until now.”
“You couldn’t have told me?” Sasha turned on Jayesh, her eyes flickering with anger.
“No. It wouldn’t have changed anything and you know it,” Jayesh said.
“You could have—”
“Can you read him the riot act later?” Allie leaned in with a whisper. “We’re kind of in the middle of something here.”
“Right.” Sasha blew out an angry breath. “I’m not done with you.” She pointed at Jayesh.
“I’m not surprised.” He gave her an arrogant smile.
Allie shared a last look with her grandmother before she stepped forward with a confidence she didn’t feel. “There will be time for catching up later, I promise. Right now, I need Eric to call the entire security staff to the front lobby to speak with my team.” For this to work, she needed Jayesh to coerce the security team to follow her orders. They wouldn’t question his leadership.
Eric shook his head. “On whose authority?” He eyed Allie like she was a child in way over her head. “We cannot pull all of security away from their posts. What exactly do you think is going on here?”
Alísun stepped up beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Allie’s shoulder smoldered with heat, radiating from the queen’s hand and down through her arm into her fingertips.
She lifted her chin, aiming for one of her grandmother’s most regal looks. “On my authority as the named heir of Indriell, Sterling Tower belongs to me now.” Allie closed her eyes. There was no turning back now.
The scalding heat of the queen’s power swirled inside Allie’s chest as the ancient mantle of the Indriell queens settled around her shoulders. The room grew thick with tension and the resounding presence of the queen’s authority.
From the gaping looks of those gathered around her, there was no doubt everyone in the room felt the heavy burden of the power exchange.
“Oh—” Eric sputtered. “Oh.” His eyes grew wide as the enormity of what he just witnessed registered. He lowered his head in reverence.
“You heard the heir,” Jayesh said with a hint of awe in his voice. “Call security.”
“Yes sir—er, yes, yes, ma’am.” Eric fumbled for the phone and gave the order to the head of security. The dozen or so guards manning the front doors craned their necks to get a good look at the heir. Their eyes glazed in confusion as Quinn and Navid outlined the rules for anyone leaving the building.
“Thank you, Grandma,” Allie whispered, grasping her grandmother’s hand. Passing the torch to her granddaughter must have been bittersweet as well as an enormous relief.
“Grandpa?” Allie turned around, looking for Alexander.
“I’m here, Allie-girl.” He stepped forward. “You need me?” He seemed surprised she would ask for his help first.
“You’re probably already doing it.” She smiled, taking his hand. “I need you to be the Scholar. Watch and record everything that happens inside and around this building. Alert me to anything that might need my attention.”
“Of course, darling. I’m already on it.” He shuffled back to sit on a bench along one of the lobby windows, clutching one of his leather journals in hand. His eyes clouded, growing opaque as he entered an omniscient trance that allowed him to see everything happening at once.
Emerge- The Heir Page 14