Echoes of Memories (Nepherium Novella Series Book 2)

by Samantha LaFantasie

“Ah, here she is! Apparently being naughty.” He made a ticking sound with his mouth, approaching us, then leaned to the side and spoke to the person behind me. “How long had she been standing there?”

  “Long enough.” Jenna’s voice filled my ears.

  I bit her finger, tasting oil from the leather. With a scream, she released me. I rammed my elbow into her side and ran into the hall. A line of five men met me at the elevator. I skidded to a stop as they took notice.

  One of them charged me.

  I swung my leg in an arc and brought it down on his shoulder, hooking his neck with the top of my foot and sending him sailing to the floor. His friend met me, losing a few teeth before I sent a blow to his nose. He fell to his rump, cupping his face and crying like a two-year-old. The other three came all at once, taking turns throwing punches and kicks while I tried to block as many of them as I could but missing a few good blows.

  One of them rammed my back with the force of a wrecking ball, sending me face-first to the floor. I let them get in a few more good kicks before going still. With my eyes closed, I listened to the movements around me.

  “That’s enough,” Alexander said near my feet. “I want to know how much she heard. Tie her up in a chair and wake her.”

  Steps shuffled away as hands grabbed my arms and shoulders. My feet dragged behind me; the toes scrapped against the red runner with a less than appealing thurp-thrup-thurp. When we stopped, I peeked at the chair in front of me and used the seat and back as steps to flip myself over so I stood behind the two that carried me. Before my position change could register, I kicked the back of one then shoved my fist into the side of the other’s face.

  “Always so difficult.”

  I turned to Alexander. He rolled his sleeves up like he was preparing to teach me a lesson. My lips pulled into a dangerous smile. One which Alexander met with a smirk of his own, not lacking in venom.

  “I’ve waited a long time to fight you,” I seethed.

  He chuckled. “Well, darlin’, you’re gonna wait a whole lot longer. I’m not going to fight you.” He nodded to Jenna. A smile and fire lit her eyes. “Jenna is.”

  “A human?”

  “No. Not a human. A creation. A masterpiece!”

  At the passion and pride in his words, I gagged on the bile that rose in my throat. Ugh.

  “She’s a vision of the future. And now it’s time to test her out. See what she’s really capable of.”

  With little warning, she attacked—faster than I thought necessary. I dodged the swing aimed for my face and sent a blow to her stomach. I grunted and shook out my fist. She laughed as if I had just tickled her. My fist felt like it hit a stone wall instead of strong abs. My brows pinched together as a small ball of fear formed in my stomach.

  “You’ll have to try harder than that to hurt me.”

  My eyes caught hers. Dread mixed with fear created a tight knot in my stomach.

  “How?” I croaked out.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about the schematics,” Alexander said. “Soon enough, all the Nepherium will become meaningless wastes of time. Who will they have to worship them then? Who will turn to your precious saviors when humans become stronger, more powerful?”

  While I was distracted, Jenna took her chance to land a blow to my gut, doubling me over and making it hard for me to breathe. Before she could get in another, I climbed to my toes and swiveled. When I slammed my outstretched leg to the back of her knees, she fell to the floor. I jumped to my feet and ran back into the hall.

  If I stayed and fought, I would die. I needed to get to my team. The information I received would have to be enough.

  Alexander shouted, “Don’t let her escape! She knows too much.”

  I stopped halfway down the hallway then slipped my hand into my pocket. I gripped my retriever and pressed the button. Just as Jenna came into view of the hall, I locked my eyes on her and charged. She smiled with poisoned anticipation and braced for impact. I shifted to the side just before hitting her and dove through the window. Buildings rushed up to greet me. Vehicle lights moved in lines. Icy air snapped at me. The alley below widened its mouth to swallow me whole. Then the transporter appeared, leveling out and bracing for my arrival. Shifting myself, I prepared to land on my feet, hitting a little harder than a thud then slipped into the opened hull.

  “Harringson,” I said with a smile. “You had me worried there.”

  “Sorry ‘bout that kid. Had a hard time locking onto you.” He pressed a button to close the door and moved on from the location. “Where to?”

  “Avalon.”

  “I take it things went sour pretty quick? I hope you did more damage to them than they did to you.”

  “I barely made it out,” I muttered, pulling out my communicator then punched in: Call the team. I’ve just intercepted heavy information.

  NINE

  “OPEN YOUR EYES, ELSABETHA.” Bear’s voice pulled me from the dark fog in my mind.

  I blinked away the blur and settled my eyes on Blake and Captain Morrigan standing on either side of Bear. Blake had his hands in the pockets of his pants, a soft look of worry in his stone grey eyes. The flecks of blue and green shadowed and darkened. He wore a beanie over his head, leaving short shafts of his close-cropped blond hair sticking out from under it. Captain Morrigan held her arms across her chest and most of her weight on one leg. Her long red hair was pulled from her shoulders, and she wore the standard Vanguard uniform. Blinking her green eyes at me, light reflecting off the silver and gold specks, she had a sense of caution about her.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, unable to hide the hurt in my voice.

  “I’m sorry, Ghost. I didn’t know what else to do. None of us did.” Bear shrugged and stood from the floor.

  “So you set me up? Bringing Morrigan in as soon as I was in the middle of the regression. And you,” I said to Harringson, “you went along with it?”

  “You are working yourself to death in this room all day and night,” Blake said. “You hardly eat, and when you do, it’s not enough. Then you don’t sleep. We know when you’re still having the nightmares. We hear you screaming. Lately there hasn’t even been much of that. We were at a loss, kid. I mean, how much more do you want us to take?”

  I dropped my gaze, not willing to let his words give me one more thing to feel guilty for. I shifted to the captain. “And what is your play in this game?”

  “To observe … and apologize for not believing you. Please accept my most sincere apology. I had no idea things were so …” Her voice trailed off as a pinch appeared between her brows.

  “We weren’t trying to play a game with you, kid. Just grasping at straws with ways to try to help you gain your memories back,” Blake said. “The boss isn’t here to do that, and what he did do was supposed to have a failsafe. If you remembered him, you were supposed to remember everything.”

  “But it didn’t work,” I said, frustrated. I stood from the floor and dusted off my hands on the back of my pants.

  “I—no, we—have been doing everything we can to find a way to help you remember. We tried to give you time, lettin’ you work through this on your own, waiting for you to come to us. Then we figured we had to go to you. Ghost, girl, c’mon, whatever is locked in your mind is your ticket to getting outta here. You can clear your name and set the record straight, but you can’t do this on your own.”

  I shook my head. “First, the Council won’t listen! It won’t matter how much proof you bring to them. I’ve told you this already! I’m not being paranoid. The Council is corrupted. Second, you should’ve told me.”

  “We tried! You wouldn’t listen,” Bear said. “You were too occupied by runnin’ yourself into the ground you didn’t want to listen to anything we said to you.” He rested his hands on my arms and looked deep into my eyes, a thin line of brown with gold specks were all that was left of his irises. “That kind of drive and focus only leads down dark roads.”

  I shrugged out of his grip. “Non
e of that erases the fact that I feel a little betrayed right now.”

  “Ghost, c’mon, we’re trying to help. Why can’t you see that?”

  “Look, kid. We tried to talk to you. Several times. You wouldn’t listen.” Blake’s attempt at reasoning with me made my feelings worse. Justifying their betrayal. I never expected my team to do such a thing, ever. Not to me. Not to anyone.

  I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Sergeant Ehlers,” Captain Morrigan said. “What was done was necessary to prove your innocence, be it by the Council or otherwise. I can now move forward with our investigation into the whereabouts of Alexander. You are free to leave. I advise you to not act on any leads unless given a direct order. You are too close to this situation to remain levelheaded.” She steadied her eyes on mine then shifted them to Bear and Harringson before she turned to walk out of the room.

  “Wait. That’s it? It was that easy to get you to believe me?”

  She stopped and refaced me then took in an exaggerated breath, clasping her hands in front of her, and said, “I too have shared in your suspicions of the Council. Though I could never come up with any physical proof. Yet I believe we are one step closer to gaining that evidence, thanks to you. It was unfortunate, what they did. Not a moment goes by that I don’t wish I had been there to prevent that from happening.”

  “And now you trust me, just like that?” I couldn’t believe something so simple would’ve changed her mind. Then again, there was too much of a coincidence there. Both the Council and the captain were after my memories. Was she aligned with them? Could she be trusted?

  “There are few things I can put my trust in anymore,” Captain Morrigan said. “One of them is my people. Now, even that has faltered. I’m sorry for the indirect motives. I realize they made me seem erroneous, but I needed to be sure you were uncompromised.”

  “Uncompromised? A simple regression proves that enough to your satisfaction?” I averted my gaze to Bear and Harringson. They shifted their weight, looking uncomfortable with the way I was speaking to the captain.

  Yet, Natasha seemed to ponder my question, searching her mind for the right words and appearing to be unaffected by my tantrum. “Satisfied enough. At least we now know what Alexander plans to do. How, still remains a mystery. But with your help, we now have a direction.”

  She let me search her energy, poking and prodding away to find that shift in her that would tell me she was lying. When I couldn’t, my mouth dropped open for a fraction of a second then clamped shut. Well color me surprised.

  After clearing my throat, I said, “And the Council, what do you plan to do about them?”

  “If possible, one would lead us right to the other. Alexander is the head, the mastermind behind everything. If we get him, we’ll get enough evidence that points to the Council. Until then, I want you to leave the Council be. I’ll have some of my people look into it.”

  My gaze went back to Bear and Blake, taking in their hopeful gazes before meeting the captain’s. Something flashed through her eyes. Sadness? Hesitation? Perhaps it was another emotion, hidden under the layers of her energy. I could never be sure nor was I positive I cared enough. But as the saying goes … curiosity killed the cat.

  “What is it, Captain? What are you not telling me? I can tell by each of your energies, something is off.”

  She shifted her gaze to Blake and Bear, then she sighed, heavy and loud. “Noah is awake.”

  My heart thudded hard like my blood had turned to sludge. “When can I see him? Is he okay?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Wha—what do you mean you don’t know?” Desperation filled my voice, making it shake and come out raspy. I tried to clear my throat and calm my nerves.

  “Ghost, c’mon, she doesn’t know,” Bear said.

  “Captain,” I said, emphasizing every syllable, overcome with the need to know how Noah was.

  “I mean, I don’t know. I don’t know when or if you can see him, and I don’t know that he’s okay. The best thing I can tell you is to be patient and wait for when he’s ready to come back.”

  A lump developed in my throat, choking off my air and making my eyes water. I tried to shove it down by swallowing, but it hurt. I clenched my hands into fists so tight my nails bit into my palms. “He doesn’t want to come back, does he?” I didn’t want to voice that I already knew this. He blamed me for what happened. I knew he would.

  “He’s changed, Elsa.” The captain’s voice was soft and tender. “Just keep that in mind, if and when he does decide to come back.”

  “What do you mean he’s changed?” I asked.

  The captain said, “Just keep that in mind.”

  “There’s one more thing,” Blake said.

  “What?” I asked, almost afraid of the answer.

  “Your mom is recovered and at home, doing well. She’s been calling Justin for an update every day. I think she’s getting worried, and a little worn thin with the same excuses.”

  “What have you told her?”

  Justin strutted into the room with a bright smile. “That you’ve been busy doing missionary stuff.” He approached with his arms open, wrapped them around me, and squeezed tight.

  “When did you get released?” I asked, pulling from him.

  “About three days after you came back.”

  “You waited until now to tell me?” I glared at each of them.

  Captain Morrigan lifted her hand to stop the oncoming assault that sat on my tongue. “Before you lash me, we tried to tell you. Just like with Noah and asking you about regressing. You wouldn’t listen. You’ve either ignored us or muttered short responses that had nothing to do with what we asked. I was close to ordering you sedated. Bear, here, and Harringson, insisted that we give you time. They assured me they could reach you. I’m happy they did.”

  Justin sniffed, his face scrunched up. “Elsa, you need a shower. You stink.”

  “Yeah. I should,” I muttered. “You were here this entire time?”

  “Nah. I’ve been doing what I do best.”

  I pursed my brows and muttered, “I don’t get it, but whatever. I’m going to get cleaned up.” I met everyone’s gaze. They all seemed confused with pinched brows and worried expressions. Their energies shifted. “What is it?”

  “You still don’t remember everything, do you?” Blake asked.

  My mind raced through the memories I gained … the night that started this whole mess ran through my mind. I shook my head. He seemed disappointed. Even Bear’s shoulders slumped. Justin stood by with a blank face and the captain seemed less than surprised.

  “Regardless, she has my faith and trust,” Captain Morrigan said. “Despite our past, I hope to have yours as well.”

  I met her gaze for a split second before nodding and stepping out of the room.

  TEN

  SOMETHING HUNG SUSPENDED IN the air, thickening it and making it harder to breathe. It was heavy like a sheet of glass held up by a thin, delicate thread. I held my breath for fear the thread would give and let the glass fall on my head. The invisible threat was all that remained of the innocence and safety I found in my childhood home. The last time I walked this path was when I ran down it, tears blurring my vision, and my father’s words burned into my mind, echoing the hate and anger he held within himself. Hate toward something I couldn’t understand much less remember. If I stepped through that red door right now, and that thread were to snap, would it shatter what was left of the welcome? I didn’t know, but I had to try.

  A layer of snow frosted the stone path and blanketed the lawn. It sparkled in the soft light seeping from the windows. The bushes near the porch steps held clumps of white, sticking out against the evergreen needles like frozen balls of cotton. The red door beckoned me, luring me to the handle and what would forever remain a changed, emptier, and broken house.

  Upon stepping inside the door, I was greeted by the smell of my mom’s homemade cinnamon apple potpourri. Holiday mus
ic played over the speaker system, humming along just louder than a soft whisper. My mom worked on something in the kitchen, the cabinets clunking opened and closed.

  I expected things to look different. I expected things that reminded of the loss and the emptiness in the home to be removed and the furniture shifted to different places in the rooms. I expected picture frames to be missing and things to feel different.

  But everything was the same.

  Nothing had changed.

  I looked over my shoulder at the transporter parked on the street. I gave a nod, the signal for Blake to pull away. The transporter’s engine revved higher, and then it lifted into the air. I waited for the transporter to leave before closing the door and walking to the table, where the bowl of potpourri sat on a circular linen. I fingered the soft, silken tassels of the cloth before reaching for a curl of cedar and bringing it to my nose. A smile pulled on my lips. Something I thought I would never do again, but it felt good. I replaced the curl of cedar then moved toward the kitchen. The aroma of a roast filtered toward me from within.

  For a moment, I panicked. My mom was cooking roast. She lived alone. Now anyway. She wouldn’t go through the trouble of making a big meal for just herself. Which meant she was expecting someone. I didn’t want to interrupt the dinner for whatever company she expected. Then talking came to me, muffled through the door, making me hesitate just on the other side.

  “Did they call and tell you she was on her way?” Mom asked.

  “Yes,” Justin said. “She should be here any moment.”

  Justin was in my house? Why?

  I pushed the door open enough to see Justin sitting at the small island in the center of the kitchen while my mom worked at the stove. Both had their backs to me.

  They didn’t say anything else. Justin continued to watch my mom as she worked on something in front of her. I stepped in and leaned against the wall. “What’s for dinner, Mom?”

  Both turned around with a look of surprise on their faces.

  “Oh, sweetheart! I didn’t hear you come in.” Mom ushered herself toward me with her arms outstretched until they found me and wrapped around my torso, squeezing me to her. The love and warmth in her embrace surprised me. Shouldn’t she blame me for the death of her husband?