Smoke (Smoke Series Book 1)

by Mariah Esterly

  Getting behind the wheel of the car had been terrifying. Echo had said she would be able to guide Gertie through driving the car, the shade had been all but useless. Snapping commands at Gertie when she was already overwhelmed, hadn’t helped her confidence.

  She driven for almost an hour down winding mountain roads, slow, so slow compared to how quickly they’d gone up the mountain. Echo hissing that she wasn’t going fast enough, while Gertie’s fingers ached, knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel so hard.

  She’d almost sobbed when they’d seen the convoy of guards, relief that she wouldn’t have to drive any longer flooding her, overwhelming the trepidation that she felt at being found.

  She’d pulled the car over to the side of the road as they approached and stepped out, her hands over her head as they rolled to a stop. They’d known who she was instantly. In moments, they’d bundled her into the back seat of a car, not one of the armored vehicles that made up most of the convoy. She watched as four guards poured over the car she’d arrived in, pulling it apart, trying to find any sign of who she had been with.

  She knew they wouldn’t find anything. Echo had made sure of that, and Gertie trusted her shade to have done a thorough job. She wouldn't have left a sign in the car that would lead them to Graves, Dicie or Vail.

  Gertie felt a stab in the region of her heart as she thought of Vail. She’d gone into his bedroom before she’d left, after Echo had done her job, and pressed a kiss to his forehead, his cheeks, his lips.

  She hoped he’d be able to forgive her for what she’d done. For leaving him again.

  She forced thoughts of him down in the same way she’d forced down thoughts of Kay. It was too painful.

  “We’re almost to the city,” one of the guards commented, turning slightly.

  Gertie wasn’t sure why he’d bothered to tell her anything, she was less than nothing to them. Only a job to complete. Find Gertrude Penn, bring her to the Section 1, to the Chancellor. She wondered if they would get a special commendation for being the ones to bring her to him, if they would be elevated to new ranks.

  She hoped so, someone should get something from this.

  Someone beyond Liam. Honest, trustworthy Liam. Who had tried so hard to get her to just tell him the truth, the truth about Vail, so that he could protect her, help her when the shit hit the fan.

  And he had paid the price for it. Not her. Not Vail. Liam.

  Gertie gripped the edge of the seat and leaned forward. “How much longer?”

  The guard in the passenger seat turned toward her, his lips twisting into a sneer. “I just said we’re almost there.”

  Gertie’s mouth tightened as she scooted back on the seat, looking out the window again. Maybe she didn’t hope they got anything from this. Some small, bitter part of her secretly wished that they would somehow be punished, punished for bringing her back to a city where she had experienced so much pain, where so many people had experienced so much pain.

  Not just her.

  She took a shuddering breath when the wall came into view in front of them, looming larger than she remembered. All the times she’d been outside the city to help on the farms, those walls had meant safety, returning home. Now, Gertie felt a weight settle on her as they bypassed the short line of cars and buses awaiting entrance.

  There would be no going back now. Not that there had been the option before. It wasn’t a choice, it was a requirement, a need. Liam would die if she didn’t do as the Chancellor asked. And that would have killed her. Especially, since it was in her power to stop it.

  They passed through the small ring of trees on the outside of the city, a joke compared to the wilderness that Gertie had just come from, an illusion that they weren’t trapped in the city behind a towering wall.

  They’d entered the city through an entry point in 2nd, and within a few moments the car was passing through the checkpoint into 1st. Gertie watched the immaculate buildings pass by, the sprawling houses with neat and orderly gardens surrounding them. Apparently, the checkpoint they’d come through led right to the residential portion of 1st, she saw no businesses.

  It occurred to her that maybe there were no businesses in 1st, maybe only the palatial residences that stretched before her.

  They pulled onto a long winding drive, passing through a set of towering iron gates. Huge oak trees lined either side of the road, shading the way to the Chancellor’s house. If her stomach hadn’t been tied in knots, her knuckles white from clutching the edge of her seat, she might have thought it was pretty. Sunshine filtered through the green leaves to dapple the ground below in a motley pattern of light and shadows.

  They pulled up in front of a house far larger than any she’d been in before, white columns stretched from the first floor to the fourth. A large sweeping porch took up the front of the house, a matching balcony on the second floor. There were guards placed at regular intervals along both, their guns held at the ready.

  They eyed the car as it slid to a stop in front of the house. Gertie waited for the two guards who had accompanied on her journey to open the door for her, not because she was expecting to be treated like a lady, but the door wouldn’t open from the inside. They’d gleefully told her that when they’d stuck her in the backseat. As if she would try to escape, when she’d so obviously sought them out.

  The door opened and Gertie scooted out of the car. Jasmine and some citrusy smell reached her, wafting to her on a warm breeze. She shivered. This place should not be so idyllic.

  This was where her family, her biological family, had resided when they’d been in power. This was where her grandfathered had spent his days in the dirt, working alongside Princess Katherine, her biological mother. This was where they’d concocted the plan to smuggle Gertie out to the palace as a baby, to keep her safe.

  The Guards flanked her, both of them taking a secure grip of her elbows and propelled her up the short flight of stairs and up to the huge double doors. One of the guards along the porch broke away from his spot and opened the door, letting it close on its own after Gertie and her escorts had passed through.

  She couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her at the sheer size of the entry hall. Matching stair cases swept from the first floor to the second on either side. A giant crystal chandelier illuminated the painted frescoes that adorned the soaring ceiling. The floor was tiled in some shimmering stone that Gertie couldn’t name, white with hints of gold that twinkled and shimmered with each step she took.

  The light periwinkle blue walls were adorned with gold molding, and giant paintings of the Chancellor and his family, smiling down at any and all visitors.

  The double doors on either side of the entry way were closed, but they no doubt led to grand rooms more decadent than the one they walked through.

  The guards ushered her through the entryway and to a single door under the stairs. There they found a short hallway with another door at the end and an elevator. They rode up to the third floor, and the Guards hustled her down a hall and then took a left.

  Gertie tried to keep her wits about her, to remember how many lefts and rights they took before stopping outside a large red wood door. Guards flanked either side of portal and one of them gave a brief nod before opening the door. Gertie hung back as her escorts moved forward.

  She clenched her fists to keep her hands from shaking. She wished that they hadn’t drugged her when they found her, wished she at least had Echo with her.

  One of the guards turned back for her, raised his eyebrows and held out his hand motioning her forward. She took a deep breath and stepped into the room, ignoring the outstretched hand.

  The room she stepped into was beautifully decorated. The walls were lined with floor to ceiling bookshelves, leather books lining them. There was a group of plush chairs in front of a stone fireplace. At the far side of the room was a large wooden desk with two wood frame chairs covered in black leather in front of it.

  Standing behind the desk was Mr. Saunders, grey as ev
er. Light filtered through the window behind him, glinting off his grey hair, almost giving him a halo around his head. Gertie paused at seeing him, her stomach tightening. He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a knowing nod.

  Gertie had a flash of Liam strapped to a chair, bleeding, begging her not to come back, while Mr. Saunders stood in front of him and demanded that she did.

  She had to look away from those grey eyes, boring into her own black ones, as if he was reading her thoughts.

  Her gaze drifted down to the Chancellor, sitting behind the desk, smiling in that familiar sickly way. His blue eyes examined her, taking in the dirt smeared jeans and olive green jacket. He motioned toward the chairs in front of his desk. “Miss Penn, please have a seat. I’ve been so anxious to talk with you.”

  2

  Gertie

  Gertie clenched her fists and moved further into the room. The Chancellor’s blue eyes flicked to the guards. “Thank you, you may go.” The door clicked shut as Gertie took a seat in one of the chairs. She folded her hands in her lap and waited, not wanting to be the first to speak.

  Chancellor Duncan leaned back in his chair, considering her, as though he too were waiting for her to speak. Mr. Saunders stayed by the window, the sun still illuminating his hair. Gertie carefully kept her eyes away from him.

  “Well, I am pleased to see that you have some sense at least, Miss Penn. This whole business is just distasteful.” Gertie tried to hide her surprise. The Chancellor spoke quite eloquently, nothing like the speeches he’d given in the past where he repeated words for emphasis.

  “Where’s Liam?” She demanded. The Chancellor didn’t answer. “Where is he? I want to see him.”

  A wolfish grin spread across his face. “You know, Miss Penn, I don’t think you fully grasp your situation here, so let me explain. You are not in a position to ask for anything. I already have what I want. You are here. You should have thought to make seeing Mr. McDonagh a condition of your returning to the city. However, you didn’t.”

  Gertie gripped the arms of the chair, realizing her mistake. In her rush to save Liam, she hadn’t even considered making demands. She’d just done as Mr. Saunders, as the Chancellor asked. Chancellor Duncan must have read her thoughts on her face and he waved a hand. “Don’t worry, Miss Penn, you’ll see Mr. McDonagh in time, when it suits my purpose. I can assure you that he is alive and actually faring quite well, considering the position he’s in.” The Chancellor glanced over his shoulder, grinning at the grey man behind him. “Mr. Saunders has been doing a very good job of keeping him company.” Mr. Saunders bowed his head, and Gertie gritted her teeth, knowing what sort of company he’d been giving Liam.

  Echo stirred. Let me out, so I can end this. Her voice was faded, tired.

  No, not until we know where Liam is.

  I can make him tell us.

  There are guards on the other side of the door, I’ll be dead before you finish.

  Do you think I can’t protect you? Echo snarled, sounding more like her old self. Gertie let out a relieved breath.

  No, right now, I don’t think you can. You aren’t at your full strength. We have to be patient.

  If they try to hurt you in any way, I will force my way out.

  Understood.

  “Fascinating,” the Chancellor murmured. “You were just having a conversation with your shade, weren’t you?” Gertie opened her mouth to deny it, to say she had no idea what he was talking about, but the Chancellor’s blue eyes were piercing her. She had a feeling he would know that she was lying. So, she tightened her lips and gave a brief nod.

  “Fascinating, truly.” He repeated. “However, we can’t have your shade interrupting us, that would be rude.” As if on cue the door opened and they were joined by a tall pretty blond, dressed in a knee length black dress with a white apron covering it. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, emphasizing her high cheek bones.

  She was dressed so demurely that Gertie almost didn’t recognize her, but as she leaned over the desk to place the silver tray she carried in front of the Chancellor, her eyes blue eyes slid to Gertie, and her mouth formed a surprised ‘o’ before she soundlessly mouthed the word “no”.

  “Kay?” Gertie breathed, her eyes locked on her friend. Kay, her one and only friend in 3rd. Kay who had taken Gertie under her wing when she’d started in the data entry office. Who had made a point of going into Mr. Lott’s office with Gertie to dissuade his unwanted advances. Kay, who had disappeared after having a meeting with Mr. Saunders, after she and Gertie had fought. “Kay?” Gertie repeated, wanting to ask a million questions.

  Kay gave a brief shake of her head, her face becoming passive as she stepped back from the desk and folded her hands in front of her. Gertie flinched, seeing bruises on her friend's arms, exposed by the short sleeves of her uniform. “Is there anything else I can get for you, Chancellor?”

  The Chancellor gave her a winning smile, the one that had no doubt convinced the bulk of the country to vote for him sixteen years ago. “You and Miss Penn were friends before, weren’t you, Kay?”

  Kay kept her green eyes on the Chancellor. “We worked together, sir, but I wouldn’t say that we were friends.”

  The Chancellor continued smiling. “Don’t be impolite, Kay. You know I don’t like that.”

  Kay’s eyes dropped to the carpet in front of her. “I’m sorry, sir,” she murmured. Gertie’s fist clenched, seeing her outgoing and vivacious friend reduced to such a meek shadow of who she was.

  “That’s better. Mr. Saunders tells me that, according to Mr. Lott, you two were quite close. You know I don’t appreciate it when you lie to me, and you know that we can tell, so why bother?”

  Kay didn’t respond. Instead, she kept her eyes focused on the dark sapphire blue carpet. The Chancellor sighed. “I can see we won’t get anywhere with this. Kay, would you please pick up the syringe?”

  Gertie’s stomach clenched and she felt slightly sick. Kay’s eyes flew to the Chancellor, before sliding away. Her hands shook as she reached over the wide desk and picked up the item from the tray she’d brought in.

  “Good. Now, would you please inject that into your work colleague?” The Chancellor emphasized the last two words, mocking Kay.

  “What?” Her voice was flat and icy.

  “I would like for you to stick that needle into your colleague and inject her with the substance in the syringe.”

  Wordlessly, Kay shook her head. The Chancellor’s jaw tightened. Gone was the smile, the polite demeanor. The Chancellor stood from his chair, leaning his hands on his desk. “Are you telling me no?”

  Kay met his gaze, and her back straightened, sweat broke out on her forehead. “Yes, sir.” She gasped out.

  The Chancellor’s face went red, and Mr. Saunders took a step forward, resting a restraining hand on his shoulder.

  Shaking, Gertie shrugged out of her olive jacket and began rolling up the sleeve of her plaid shirt. “Kay,” her voice was soft, urgent and Kay tilted her head slightly to look at Gertie. “Kay, it’s alright. Just do as he says.”

  Kay’s full lips tightened, and Gertie thought she would refuse again. But she took a step toward Gertie and another, until she was next to her. “I don’t know how to do this,” She murmured, kneeling to take Gertie’s arm in her left hand. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Gertie nodded. “I understand.” She started talking Kay through how to stick her with the needle. “Hold the syringe up so the air bubbles are at the top, and push on the plunger until liquid comes out of the needle.” Kay did as she instructed. Gertie held out her arm, revealing, blue veins. There was a small mark where her captors had stuck her with an IV, to keep Echo quiet while they tortured Gertie. “Okay, just go ahead and aim for that spot there, and you should be fine.”

  Kay’s hands were shaking. “I don’t want to do this,” she whispered.

  Gertie closed her free hand over Kay’s, guiding her toward her own arm. “I know,” she whispered back
. She winced slightly as the needle punctured her skin. Kay let out a breath as she pulled the needle out and turned back toward the Chancellor, clutching the syringe as though she’d like nothing more than to stab him with it.

  Chancellor Duncan had sunk back to his chair, when Gertie had interjected, and he’d remained silent through the entire exchange. “Thank you, Kay. I appreciate your assistance.” He practically purred at her. “You may go.”

  Kay’s lip curled into a snarl, but she scooped up the silver platter from the desk and strode toward the door.

  Gertie’s head began to feel heavy and she couldn’t feel Echo in her at all. This wasn’t the same drug given to her while she’d been stuck in the tiny room, that drug had kept her on the edge of passing out, a weird cross between wakefulness and exhaustion. This one just made her head go quiet, muting the sounds and thoughts that usually clamored for her attention, as if she’d just meditated for an hour. It wasn’t all that unpleasant, only lonely.

  She leaned her head against the back of the chair as the Chancellor looked at her. “I want to see Liam,” Gertie stated again, knowing it would do no good.

  Chancellor Duncan smiled. “Not today. Maybe tomorrow.”

  Gertie clutched at that hope, that maybe, holding it tight against her. Tomorrow. She might see Liam tomorrow. To apologize to him for doing this to him. She should have demanded that he came with them when she’d told him the truth at the wall, while he’d held a gun pointed directly at her chest. She should have had Vail knock him out and carry him through the hole in the wall.

  But she hadn’t thought that he would be in any danger. He was a Captain of the Guard and managed the guards at the checkpoint between Sections 3 and 4. He was respected by his colleagues and admired by those in his command.

  He should have been safe.

  Gertie narrowed her eyes at Duncan. If he noticed, he didn’t let on. Instead he glanced over his shoulder at Mr. Saunders. “Would you be so kind as to take Miss. Penn to her room? I do believe that she is feeling the effects of the drug Miss Barnett gave her.”