He nodded as he slowly pulled himself up. He sulked over to the control station with his head down, stepping over limb after limb of Novak’s fallen army.
When he finally made it over to her, Emery held out the omega pendant. She waited for him to extend his hand, then dropped it into his open palm. “You should be the one to do this.”
He looked up at her. His voice shook. “Are you sure?”
Emery nodded. “I’m sure.”
Torin squeezed his eyes shut as he wrapped his fingers around the key. Emery carefully led him to the mainstation, one step at a time, as if they both might crack at any second.
When he was facing the open indentation, she stepped behind him, watching intently as he hacked into the system and typed in the Latin word for disarm, exarmet, just as he had the last time they’d attempted this elaborate scheme. The words Disarmament Initiated flashed across the screen and a familiar voice began to count down from thirty seconds.
She looked down at the embedded symbols in the mainstation, the alpha ring nice and cozy in its place. She drew her gaze upward until it met his. “Ready?”
Torin’s chest rose as he took a deep breath. He nodded slowly. “Ready.”
He placed the omega pendant into the open slot. A soft green glow illuminated from underneath the keys.
10 . . . 9 . . . 8 . . .
The room was quiet as the voice continued to count down.
7 . . . 6 . . . 5 . . .
Emery clenched her fists at her side as she took a deep breath.
4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . .
Out of nowhere, she felt Torin’s hand grab her own.
1 . . .
She continued to hold her breath as the last number was counted.
0.
The control station powered down, the screens going black. Emery let out her breath, waiting for some sort of sign to indicate that the deactivation was complete. When nothing happened, a flurry of panic swirled in her stomach. Please work. Please let it be over.
Finally, white letters flashed across the screen. Disarmament Finalized. Deactivation Complete.
They watched in astonishment as the ring and pendant suddenly dissolved into the station, filling the embedded areas to make the shapes whole again. In mere seconds, the keys were gone, having become one with the machine. In that moment, all Emery wanted to do was scream and celebrate and yell and curse for all the things she’d been through over the past year.
Torin turned toward her and pulled her in for a hug. “It’s done,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
As angry, sad, and disgusted as she was with his actions, she met his embrace. They sat there for a moment, arms intertwined, rocking back and forth in victory.
“We did it,” she whispered.
A sputtering fool interrupted their moment. “You think this is over? You imbeciles,” Victor coughed as Byron tightened his grip. “This is far from over. There’s always another way.”
Emery released herself from Torin’s embrace, then slowly made her way toward where her father had the chief pinned. “Oh, I’m pretty sure it’s over,” Emery responded, picking up her dagger along the way. The currents buzzed and pulsed in her hand. She felt angry and powerful, vengeful and fearless. “It’s definitely over for you.”
Victor eyed the dagger with contempt. “You wouldn’t dare kill me.”
She swirled the handle of the dagger in her hands. “Oh, really?”
“You don’t have what it takes.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” She drew in a deep breath as her eyes met her father’s. He gave her a solemn nod. She lowered her eyes back down to Victor. “You will never see the twisted society you so desperately wanted to create come to life. You will never have the power to oppress humankind. You will never harm another human being again. But most importantly, you will never, ever take away our freedom.”
She smiled as the words left her mouth. “Alpha, a new beginning for humankind, the one it’s always deserved. And Omega, the fall of the Federal Commonwealth, the termination of your reign. Your time here has reached its end.”
As Victor opened his mouth to respond, Emery drew the dagger back and plunged it deep into his chest, feeling the electrified blue currents penetrate straight into heart. His mouth closed as she pressed harder, digging the blade in further.
“You messed with the wrong alpha,” she whispered into his ear. She watched as the light left his eyes, his head rolling to the side. His body slumped lifelessly against her father’s arms.
Emery pulled away, making sure to leave the pulsing dagger in his chest. She gazed down at her own two hands, surprised by the ferocity that had just overcome her. She looked at her father and Torin, who also appeared to be shocked by her own brash behavior.
“You did the right thing,” her father assured. “It had to be done.”
Emery nodded slowly as she wiped her hands on her pants.
“Careful, you don’t want to leave this behind.” Byron grabbed the handle of the dagger and pulled it out of Novak’s chest. “I’d say this is a lucky dagger.”
Emery turned the blade over in her hands and, for the first time that day, smiled. “I’d say you’re right.”
Epilogue
Peaceful.
It was the one word that came to mind as her eyes fell on Mason’s motionless body. They’d stitched up the gaping hole in his head from the gunshot wound, making it look as though it had never happened. He’d been dressed in a navy blue suit with a pale yellow tie fastened around his neck. His hair had been smoothed down and slicked to the side, far from its usual wavy demeanor. His hands lay across his stomach, one on top of the other, his fingernails perfectly trimmed.
Serene.
Emery leaned her head against the side of the pew as the ceremony music began. Good Day Sunshine by The Beatles. She grabbed her father’s hand, squeezing it tight throughout the remainder of the song.
Torin sat one row in front of them with his head bowed. Emery stared at the back of his head, wishing that she could comfort him or that he could comfort her, or that somehow they could comfort each other. But, given the circumstances of Mason’s death, she knew this wasn’t the time nor the place.
After killing President Novak, she’d walked over to where Mason lay and wept, holding his head in her hands. She’d sobbed until there were no tears left, then slowly closed his eyelids with the tips of her fingers. They’d woken Naia and, albeit her many injuries, traveled downstairs to the underground chamber. Dormants began to emerge from the pods, one by one, and then all at once, looking more frazzled than ever. Emery had tried to locate her mother and sister in the crowd of people, but it’d been nearly impossible.
Byron had called in 7S back-up to assist with the transfer of the civilians back to their homes. He’d decided it’d be best to tell everyone the truth, rather than play off what had happened as yet another failed government experiment. It would take time for the population to resettle and heal after years in a comatose state. It was hard to gauge how long it would take, but one thing was for certain: this new world needed to be one of trust, and that first step started with their leader, with 7S.
Emery turned her attention to the ceremony speaker, Mason’s father. It was unfortunate that the first time they’d meet had to be under these circumstances. She’d much rather have met Mason’s family when they were close friends. When he was still alive.
A single tear rolled down her cheek and splashed onto her lap, leaving a barely discernible wet spot on her black dress. She shifted her focus back over to Torin, who was hastily wiping his face with his hands.
I can’t even imagine how he feels right now.
A week before Mason’s funeral, Torin had shown up, unannounced, on Emery’s doorstep. This was especially confusing seeing as he’d ignored every holomessage and holomail she’d left for him over the past two weeks, since the time they’d deactivated Dormance together. When Emery had
opened the door, it was blatantly obvious that Torin hadn’t slept in days. The bags under his eyes were a deep purple, and the stubble on his cheeks had transformed into more than just a five o’clock shadow. She’d stood at the door, waiting patiently for him to speak.
“I want to apologize for everything that has happened. For everything I’ve done.” He’d paused, struggling to make eye contact. “I’m sorry for not answering your calls. I just needed time.”
Emery had taken a step forward. “I understand,” she’d whispered. “But where does this leave us?”
He’d looked at her, shaking his head. “I don’t know. But seeing you again for the first time after . . . after . . .”
She’d looked down at her feet and closed her eyes, knowing what was coming next.
“After what I’ve done, I just can’t do it.” His voice had cracked. “I can’t be around you knowing how much pain I’ve caused. I’m sorry.”
Emery had opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. What could he possibly do or say to make her feel better? He’d murdered one of her closest friends, someone she’d shared a unique connection with. He could say he was sorry. He could beg for forgiveness. But deep in her heart, Emery knew that it would take time. And without the passing of time, his words meant nothing.
She’d bowed her head as Torin turned and walked away, noticing that he’d dropped the decoy omega pendant at her feet. It wasn’t entirely clear if he’d been trying to signal that this was the end of them, but it sure felt that way.
Emery snapped back to reality as Mason’s father closed his sermon. The priest returned and led the final prayer. She waited until the final “Amen” was uttered before raising her head, then slowly rose from her seat as people began to file out of the pews, moving gradually toward the casket to say their final good-byes.
She held her breath as Torin’s row rose to their feet. He walked by without so much as a glance, his eyes trained on the ground below him. Her row was the next to rise and file into the main aisle. She stayed close behind her father, like a baby duckling too afraid to venture off into deep water. There were exactly ten people in front of her, that she could count, anyway.
What do I say to him when I get there?
The line shrank by two people.
Do I ask for forgiveness? Do I tell him I’m sorry?
Three more people.
Do I tell him it should have been me and not him?
Four people.
Do I tell him that I wish I could have gone with him?
One person.
And then, it was her turn. All the waiting in the world couldn’t have properly prepared her for this moment. She approached Mason’s casket, her bottom lip quivering.
She stood there for a moment, searching for the right words, but they wouldn’t come. Then, as if Mason herself were telling her to, she did something that felt so natural, it had to be right. She unclasped the decoy pendant from around her neck, her finger tracing the shape of the horseshoe.
The words came easily.
“Remember what you told me?” she whispered, her voice shaking as she dropped the pendant into the casket. “Behind every dark cloud is a ray of sunlight waiting to shine through.” Emery lowered her head. “Please stay with me,” she murmured, more to herself.
With one final look at his innocent face, Emery turned away and walked down the draped aisle. She kept it together long enough to reach the double doors that led outside. A flood of tears ran down her cheeks the moment she pushed them open.
There was such finality in death. A person was only here until they weren’t. Whether it was by mistake, on purpose, or part of a greater plan, no one garners the ability to truly embrace death and everything that comes along with it until it actually happens. Until it finally arrives.
And by then, it’s always too late.
Emery stepped outside of the chapel and gazed up at the sky. Dark rainclouds threatened the view, and she was certain it was going to storm. How perfectly the weather matches the tone of this day.
Then, out of nowhere, a sliver of sunlight emerged from behind one of the clouds, lighting up the sidewalk the same way Mason’s smile could light up any room. She extended her arms before her, opening her palms as the light shone brighter. She lifted her head toward the sun, allowing the heat to warm her body from the inside out.
Even though he was no longer living, she could feel him, right there with her. Mason was here.
Behind every dark cloud is a ray of sunlight waiting to shine through.
So long as the sun continued to rise, he would always be right there with her, every step of the way.
And that was all the finality she’d ever need.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The second book in this series was a very different writing experience than the first. I was presented with different challenges and obstacles to overcome and while it was difficult at times, I’m also reminded that writing is a journey and that in order to succeed, you must enjoy the ride.
First, I’d like to thank God for all of the blessings bestowed upon me. I am eternally grateful.
To the team at Damonza, for their amazing design skills and for creating an incredible second book cover. It’s like you can read my mind and know exactly what I’m picturing in my head. Thank you.
To fellow writer, beta reader, critique partner, and friend, Vivien Reis. I am so happy we met and are able to inspire and help each other along our writing journeys. I can’t wait for your book to come out. Love you, girl!
Thank you to my sister, Erin Martin, for being such an incredible advocate for the first book and for promoting the heck out of it. Your excitement makes make me even more excited to write. I love you.
I’d like to thank my parents, Barb Marvel and Ed Martin, for being my biggest cheerleaders, no matter what crazy ventures I decide to take on. Your support means the world to me and I wouldn’t be half the person I am today if it weren’t for both of you. I love you.
To my fiancé, Jonathon Bills. You always push me to grow, be better, and do more. Our late night snuggles and Parks & Rec marathons keep me grounded. I love you.
Last but not least, to YOU, my readers. You guys rock. Your praise and support inspired me to make this second book even better than the first. Thank you for making my dream of being an author come true. It’s the best job in the world, and I owe it all to you. So thank you!
DON’T MISS THE FINAL INSTALLMENT IN THE ALPHA DRIVE SERIES:
RESTITUTION
The world that Emery Parker grew up in no longer exists—she'd made sure of that. Adjusting to a new lifestyle is no easy feat, but Emery is more than ready to leave the past behind. With the promise of a fresh start and a new beginning, it is a place where she can finally let go of all her painful memories and replace them with better ones.
But Emery's new reality is more unsettling than she ever could have imagined. The sustainability of this world is at risk, and it's up to her to find the solution. To do this, she must follow her intuition and put aside any feelings of guilt and uncertainty, even if it means betraying someone close to her. Once again, Emery must search for new truths and question old ones at the expense of the ones she loves, all while facing conflicting choices about life, death, and love.
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1
Sixteen.
Sixteen days had passed since Mason’s death. Emery had been told that time was supposed to heal. That the more time that went by, the easier things would be. But that was a lie. This was beyond any sort of hell she’d ever experienced.
Emery stood, motionless, in the middle of her living room, in a place that was supposed to be her home, but it certainly didn’t feel that way. Her home was back in Dormance, in a world that no longer existed, thanks, in large part, to her.
The house was empty, her mother nor her sister nowhere to be found. Once Dormance had been deactivated, the civilians had b
roken out in a giant state of frenzy. Those in the FCW’s underground lair were released, their bodies weak and frail from being in a comatose state for so long. The Seventh Sanctum had moved fast, releasing statements and press releases to help the masses assimilate back into their societal roles. There was still a lot of work to be done, a lot of broken hearts to mend, and a lot of questions that needed answering.
Emery glanced down at her wrist as the time floated in the air from her holowatch. One o’clock in the afternoon. Her visit to the cemetery was at two. Sighing, she walked over to her mother’s room and opened the closet door. There has to be a black dress hanging in here somewhere.
She rifled through hanger after hanger of pants, skirts, and blouses, until she finally landed on a lacy black long-sleeved dress. It was perfect. She pulled the dress from the hanger and slipped off her shorts and shirt. The dress fell over her body with ease.
Emery turned toward the bathroom mirror as she smoothed the bottom of her dress. She couldn’t help but feel taken aback as her eyes met her reflection. Her face was au natural, her olive complexion paler than usual, her deep crimson hair fastened into a messy bun. Her eyes were tired, and it looked as though she hadn’t slept in days. She reached for some blush and mascara, hoping that the two would bring some life to her face. When they didn’t, Emery searched through the counter drawers for a red or pink lipstick. She pulled a red one from the drawer and applied it to her lips. It was bright, probably too bright for the occasion, but she didn’t care. Mason would have liked it. And that was all that mattered.
A pair of black pumps poked out from underneath her mother’s bed. Emery slipped them on and slowly made her way to the T-Port in the living room, dropping the crystal dials onto her wrists along the way. She checked the name of the cemetery again, even though she’d visited every day for the past two weeks. “St. Augustine Cemetery in Burbank, California.”
The Order of Omega (The Alpha Drive Book 2) Page 21