Electus (Regnum Series Book 1)

by K. M. Link

  “Did you complete your task?” Mr. Avery inquires. Tia crawls around to peer down over his head. I want to see his face. She catches sight of some dark hair and an ear, but nothing more. She is going to need to climb inside for a better view. Taking her chances, she crawls through a crack in the window. Javan follows shortly behind her.

  “We ran into a little problem,” the man answers, “our target is nowhere in sight.” She considers flying over to the desk. Unfortunately, it is too risky, since Mr. Avery has a hatred of insects. Tia can not catch sight of the man’s face, but the sound is less muffled. She concentrates on the voice.

  “Find it then! I don’t care if it takes all night!” Mr. Avery screams and shuts off the computer screen. He puts out his cigar and exits the room. Tia figures he must be heading for bed. They pause for a few moments, until he is out of ear shot.

  She flies over to the glass desk with the built in keyboard. It senses her motion, and the screen returns, requesting a password. Yay another challenge, she thinks.

  Tia attempts multiple word combinations. Urbi, Vetus, Cib inc, anything to do with the capitol or his company. She follows with scotch, avery, neither one working. Then, Javan types Carmen, giving them access to the system. Tia wonders what made him think of that, but quickly focuses, once more, on their mission.

  The message Mr. Avery was reading is still visible on the screen. It appears to be a rough draft of a news article.

  Alim Co is a corporation dedicated to feeding Novo, as well as providing resources to other countries throughout Regnum. However, do we truly know the man behind the company? Javan Leporem was the CEO of Alim Co for over five years, building the corporation from the help of investors such as Lenis and Frater Tersus. After the suspicious death of Lenis Tersus, Mr. Leporem stepped in as leader of Elatus.

  Many officials find it odd that a man as young and unknown as Javan Leporem could build up a company so rapidly and successfully. Then, miraculously, he takes over as our leader. The agents performing the investigation to this murder have yet to rule him as suspect, due to his iron clad alibi.

  According to sources, Mr. Leporem was at a charity function, in Solum, where over two hundred witnesses heard his speech about his company’s efforts to end hunger, during the night of Mr. Tersus’s murder. Later that evening, he checked in to a near by hotel, for the remainder of the night. So, does this leave a man so powerful completely innocent?

  According to a recent interview with Anscom Avery, CEO of Cib Inc and head of capitol Urbi, Mr. Leporem was “withdrawn and evasive” with the other leaders during the Electus this past week. He also reported that Mr. Leporem may be having an affair with recent candidate and now new employee of Javan Leporem, a Miss Conscientia Trumble.

  “A young Regnumian candidate, who I recently hired, informed me that he witnessed the two kissing outside her hotel, late the evening before the bidding,” Mr. Avery revealed. “He also noticed that she was absent from her hotel room most nights this week,” Mr. Avery recalls.

  In case some of you forgot, Miss Trumble was the only candidate to receive one-hundred and fifty points in the Electus. Could it be that this young Regnumian worked her way to the top by getting under Mr. Leporem?

  If that is not enough to convince you, then listen to this. Mr. Leporem claims to be a native of Maior in Vetus. I decided to research his past by visiting the capitol of Maior. There are no records of his birth or registration for schooling in Maior. Why would this man feel the need to lie about where he grew up? My question is, what is this man hiding? Can he really be trusted?

  Javan pushes the delete button on the keyboard, apparently disgusted by the article. Tia wonders why there are no records of Javan Leporem. Then again, other parts of the article are incorrect. It’s possible that this man is making a mockery out of journalism. They flip through the files under Mr. Avery’s documents. There a hundreds of folders and sub folders. Most of them are associated with his business, meetings, or the Electus. Then, they stumble across one labelled Extinction.

  Tia taps the enter key to access the file. Her heart pounds at the excitement of discovering his huge secret plan. Suddenly, the screen turns blank. Then, a piercing siren rings throughout the room. Tia and Javan fly away from the computer desk. Their bodies feel weighed down, as they morph back into themselves.

  “Something in the sound must dissolve any use of magic,” Tia whispers to Javan.

  She runs over to the window and throws it open. Tia crawls out reaching for the tree branch across the window. Climbing is second nature to Tia now, however, Javan is hesitant.

  “Come on,” she whispers. He inhales deeply and stretches for the branch, as well, pulling himself out of the window. His grip slips, and Javan dangles in mid air, one hand on the branch. Tia leans down to grab his free hand, pulling him up towards her. They can still hear the siren from the window.

  “I got you,” she whisper pulling his body up to rest on the branch, beside her.

  “How the hell are you not afraid?” he answers, catching his breath.

  “Really, Javan? After everything you’ve watched me do this week, your big question is how are you not afraid to climb a tree?”

  “Good point, what’s the plan?” he inquires, shaking his head.

  “We need to reach the gate to let ourselves out,” she responds. Javan’s eyes avoid the ground below, in fact, he is hugging the tree trunk.

  “How do you propose we do that?”

  “Climb down, then run,” she reassures him. He stares at her as though she suggested they dance naked in front of the entire Electus audience.

  “What the hell is going on?!” Mr. Avery’s voice rumbles.

  “We need to hurry, just follow me.” Tia descends the branches. There is only twenty feet from where they are at to the ground below, but Javan clings tightly to each branch, as he follows her down the tree.

  Tia arrives at the last branch and jumps to the ground. Javan repeats the same action, although, he doesn’t land on his feet. She fights the urge to laugh at him. For someone so suave, sometimes he can be so clumsy. He dusts off his black pants. They no longer hear the siren. Tia glances up toward the window, which is now shut.

  “Welp, he probably saw us,” she sighs.

  “Have you thought about how we are going to get past the gate?” he questions, hobbling over.

  “Climb it, of course,” she answers, smirking at him.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  Tia doesn’t answer him, just smiles and heads for the gate. It’s an ornate, iron gate that is at least ten feet high. She grabs hold of the bars, utilizing the loops as places for her footing. It doesn’t take long for her to reach the top and descend the other side.

  “See, it’s easy, Javan.” She peers through the gate, but he is missing. “Javan?” she repeats. Next thing Tia feels is a hand covering her mouth with a soaked cloth. Tia’s body feels limp, as the world around her fades out.

  Cool air passes over Tia’s face, once again, as the fan above her comes into focus. Golden luminescence highlights the green ceiling. Tia senses someone in the room with her. She jolts up in the bed, uncertain where she is waking. Her eyes scan the room that is decorated with old oak furniture and cob webs. Tia is not tied up or gaged, but she senses whoever is with her does not wish her good will.

  “About time you woke up,” a voice calls over from her right. She snaps her head around, catching a man sitting in a cushioned chair. His eyes are deep pools of grey, his cheek has large scar across it, and his teeth are rotted out.

  She doesn’t know what to say, just stares at his face, eyeing every detail. He stands up and slowly approaches the bed. “Don’t act like you don’t remember me.” The man caresses her cheek with his rough, dirty hand. “We shared a special moment together, once.” Tia suddenly recognizes the voice. It’s Merve.

  “Don’t touch me.” She slaps his hand away.

  “Is that any way to greet an old
friend?” he remarks, his voice sounding like someone grinding nails.

  “Where’s Javan?” she interrogates, moving back away from him on the bed.

  “He’s fine, doll. No worries.” He stands, drifting around the room. Tia watches him, thinking of a way to escape. Not without Javan.

  “What the hell do you want from me this time?” Tia scoffs, hoping she can lead the conversation to how she can save her new leader.

  “You don’t already know, Miss Trumble?” he smirks, revealing his teeth and making Tia cringe. She stares at him blankly. Tia wonders if he is going to try to rape her again. He would have me tied up, he would have done it by now, she rationalizes.

  “This entire week we’ve kept a close eye on you, watched you, not only perform in the Electus, but behind the scenes,” he continues. “Every time you thought you were alone, everything you believed was private, we knew about.”

  This whole conversation is throwing Tia off. She remembers them pumping her for information on Javan during the first kidnapping. Why would they be watching me, then?

  “Aren’t you curious as to how, Miss Trumble?” he quizzes, not standing still for a second.

  “What does it matter how?” she answers, cooly. He wants me to play along, but I refuse.

  He smirks, “Oh, my dear. How is my favorite part.” He finally is still, reclining in the chair and crossing his legs. “Two words. Javan Leporem.” Tia remains silent.

  “You see, Tia, may I call you that? Javan works for Mr. Avery. I mean, he is a leader of a capitol, of course, but that is all because of their agreement. If it wasn’t for Mr. Avery, Javan wouldn’t be leader at all. In return for that favor, Javan agreed to help him kill your father, and devise a plan to capture you.”

  Tia’s heart hammers in her chest.

  Merve continues, “The night Javan asked you to dance, he was working his way in, grabbing your attention. Then the dinner the following evening, him rescuing you from your ‘kidnapping’, as well as kissing you outside of your hotel, all were designed to captivate your interest and gain your trust. From the way you look at him, it appears to have worked.”

  She is speechless, absorbing the information. It all makes sense.

  “Tell me, Tia, do you really believe that a leader would be so attentive to a Regnumian if there wasn’t any personal gain involved?”

  Tia runs through the events of the week. Now that she thinks about it, Javan sought her out. He asked her to dance and invited her to the hotel for dinner. He knew exactly where to find her after the kidnapping. He showed up at the restaurant her and Fera had lunch at. To top everything off, he killed her father.

  “You see what I’m telling you, Miss Trumble? Javan Leporem was the bait that caught you. He also knew where to hide the camera in your room when he dropped off your gift”

  “Why would he try so hard to protect me?” Tia inquires.

  “As I said before, to gain your trust. Do you think it was a coincidence that Mr. Avery showed up at his hotel room, this evening?”

  Tia remembers the conversation that led them out to Mr. Avery’s house. All the pieces are falling into place. Javan knew her well enough to know she would offer searching his home. Her chest tightens, she has never felt more betrayed.

  “Or that Javan Leporem knew how to access your room this evening, while you were busy drowning yourself? Someone had to let us in the night we captured you.”

  “If he was really working with Mr. Avery to get to me, then why would you be telling me all this? Why wouldn’t you let me continue believing I could trust him?” Tia questions, feeling her eyes turn pink and holding out any hope that he wouldn’t hurt her this way.

  “It’s sweet that you think that you are leaving here. There is no ‘continue’ at this point, my dear. We now know you are the blood descendant of the family that founded Erue. You are the tool we need to fish out your parents.” His eyes light up, as he speaks.

  “What makes you think I won’t just let you kill me, rather than use me as your tool?” Tia replies, her hands shaking. He stands up, moving over to the door. While his back is turned, Tia grabs an old oak clock from the night stand and hides it behind her back.

  “Bring him in,” Merve calls to someone in the hall. A large man drags Quade into the room, his hands tied behind his back. His face is covered with bruises, and his nose is bleeding.

  “Because if you don’t do as we say, your friend here will be the one to pay for it.”

  “Quade, are you alright?” she cries at the sight of him. “I’m fine...” he begins.

  “Shut up!” Merve smacks Quade across the mouth. “I don’t want to hear another word out of either of you, unless spoken to. Understood?”

  Tia nods, Quade just stands there, his entire face swollen. She knows there has to be a way to save him. Merve walks over to the chair and sits down. “Release him and leave. Don’t forget to shut the door behind you,” he commands to the larger man holding Quade. The man glances over at Tia, and his face turns pink at the sight of her. It dawns on Tia that he is the one who cut her the night she was kidnapped.

  “Quickly!” Merve reiterates. The man releases Quade, then exits the room. “First thing, I need you to sit in that chair against that wall over there.” Merve points to the opposite side of the room where he has a video camera set up. She attempts to move, then Tia grabs her knee as if it is in pain.

  “What’s your problem?” Merve snaps, staring at her.

  “It’s my leg, I think I hurt it when I jumped over the fence earlier. I don’t know if I can move it,” she winces, rubbing her knee.

  “Let me take a look at it,” Merve grumbles, moving towards her. He leans down to examine her knee.

  “It doesn’t appear swollen,” he remarks as Tia reaches behind her for the clock. In one swift motion, she swings it at his head. Merve catches her arm in mid air.

  “Nice try, Miss Trumble.” He smacks her and pushes her out of the bed, onto the floor. “Get up!” he yells, kicking her in the ribs.

  “You son of a bitch! Leave her alone!” Quade screams, coming at Merve the best he can with his hands tied. Merve knocks him out, and Quade falls to the floor.

  “Quade!” Tia yells, tears pouring out of her. “Leave him! Please! He has nothing to do with this!”

  Merve picks her up and drags her to the oak chair in front of the camera. “You are going to tell your parents that you are being held captive and will not be released until they call off the rebellion and surrender.”

  Tia just sobs, wishing she had more strength at this moment. She could have easily transformed and escaped, but now Quade is in danger. Her best friend, first kiss, and the kindest person she knows, is in harms way, all because of her irresponsible moves.

  “Say it!” Merve commands, turning on the camera.

  “Mom, dad. Wherever you are, save yourselves. Don’t fall for this trap!” Tia pleas at the camera. Merve walks over and smacks her across the mouth. “We can do this all day, sweetheart. Now, fucking say what I told you!” He restarts his camera.

  “Mom, Dad. I never met you, but I know the truth. I know who you are. I understand what you did and why. I am being held captive by men who will not release me unless you give yourselves up and stop the rebellion,” Tia recites between breaths. Her entire body is shaking.

  “Please, come for me. I’m somewhere in Urbi. I don’t know where they have me hostage, but I know it can’t be far from where I lived with Osborn and Edwin. I need your help.”

  Merve approaches Tia, then smacks her across the mouth. His hands grab her shirt. “Make me believe you,” he demands, releasing her shirt. Tia begins to cry harder, concentrating on what she needs to do to save Quade.

  “Help me!” she screams at the top of her lungs. “I’m being held hostage by men who won’t release me unless you surrender. Please,” she sobs, “don’t let me die here. They already killed Osborn, I don’t want to be next.”

 
Merve shuts off the camera. “Good enough, for now.” There is a rustling noise behind him. He turns to catch Quade standing up.

  “Haven’t had enough yet?” he asks Quade. Tia quietly stands and grabs the chair she sat on. With all of her might she swings the chair at Merve’s head, knocking him to the ground.

  Tia’s arms shaking, she grabs the tape from the camera and throws it to the ground. Tia stomps on it, repeatedly, until there is nothing left. She runs over to Quade and unties him. They embrace, quickly.

  “Are you alright?” he questions, grabbing her face.

  “Yes, Quade. I’m so sorry for all of this.”

  “Don’t even say that,” he responds. “We need to leave, though, and fast, before the other goons return.”

  “I can transform, but what will you do?” Tia inquires, knowing that was Quade’s weakest magical skill.

  “We won’t need to,” he smirks, pulling out a small bottle with clear liquid. Tia reads the label marked with two little words, So Long.

  Chapter 19

  Quade and Tia arrive outside of the Urbi hotel, right after the sun breaks the horizon. She wonders how they are going to explain his bruises to the others when they meet to leave in a few hours. She also wonders what to do about Javan. If he is truly working with Mr. Avery, then she is in trouble, no matter what happens. There is no way out, she is Javan’s property now, he can track her. Since Quade used magic without being scanned, Javan will also pick up on that. It’s only a matter of time before it’s all over.

  Tia assists Quade to the lobby, and he hobbles as they enter the doors. The few guests and hotel workers present, that early in the morning, gawk at them as they head for the elevator. Tia just pretends not to notice their staring. Her face is slightly bruised, as well, but it, in no way, compares to the damage on Quade’s body.

  They are the only two in the elevator on the way to their floor. Tia examines his face; each mark on his body leaving her twisted with guilt. If there isn’t blood, then his skin is black and blue. If it wasn’t for his tousled ash brown hair, she would not know it is even Quade.