Monty didn’t hesitate before answering. “It should be Liam.”
“I agree,” Lawson and James said simultaneously. I gave Liam a guarded look.
“So what exactly are we supposed to do?” Liam asked, his expression unreadable.
Monty ate a few spoonsful of soup. “You and Charlotte need to pretend that you are heading north for unification. Many people do it at the Mason Falls. It is much like the cathedral at Bellgard; it is connected to the Source. A union is our equivalent of a marriage.”
“I see. So Charlotte and I are going to pretend to be engaged so we can get through a checkpoint?”
Monty smiled. “Yes, that about sums it up.”
“I think we can handle that. Can’t we, hon?” Liam winked and put his arm around me.
“Sure thing.”
I tried to act as relaxed about it as Liam, and pretend it was a joke, but it was different for me. First of all, I was in love with Calvin, and secondly, it brought me back to being eight years old and staging our wedding with Barbie and Ken as stand-ins. I was really glad that Liam had no idea of how big a crush I used to have on him.
Chapter Nine:
Kevin
After a day and a half on the boat, I was more than ready to get back on land. I split my time between sailing lessons from Bry and staring out at the water, trying to prepare myself for meeting the council. The former I did because it seemed like a skill I should have, and the later was unavoidable. Everyone kept telling me to follow my blood, but I had no clue what that meant. I was glad Monty was with Charlotte, but I could have used his insight and encouragement. For the first time since discovering Energo, I started to picture what my life would have been like had I been raised there. No matter what blood I had running through my veins, I clearly lacked the experience I needed, and I wondered if Charlotte felt the same way.
As Bry pulled the boat into the busy marina, I took a deep breath and swallowed my insecurities. Whether confident or not, I couldn’t show any hesitation.
Henry had told me that Alak was the largest port city and the center of trade, but what awaited me was even bigger than I expected. We walked onto the dock, and once again, I was in another world. Energo looked like something out of the Middle Ages, whereas Alak appeared more like a bustling modern city. Bright neon billboards filled with languages I didn’t recognize lined the streets, and I had to anchor my feet to avoid becoming lost in the crowd.
“Follow me.” Bry took the lead, and we wordlessly tailed him. I hoped he knew where we were going. The water continued throughout the city in an intricate network of canals. Pedestrian walkways full of rows upon rows of people lined the canals. Buildings surrounded us, some only a few stories high, while others soared as skyscrapers. Instead of the stonework that dominated Energo, the buildings were built of glass and metal. Still, Alak showed signs of distress. Once the initial shock of seeing such a modern city faded, I noticed boarded-up buildings and several signs with only half of the bulbs lit.
“Energo was not the only place to enter hard times without the Essence.” Henry answered my unasked question. It still seemed hard to believe that the fate of my mom and sister had an impact on so many people.
I blindly trailed Bry through the crowd, nearly falling into him when he stopped to push open a large metal door. I assumed we had reached our hotel, but since I couldn’t read the lettering on the outside of the modern building, I wasn’t sure. We stepped into a small pitch-black hallway and walked for a moment before a bright light hit my eyes. A large elevator stood opened before us, and I was pushed inside. The ride lasted for several minutes until we came to an abrupt stop. The doors opened, and I finally had some breathing room.
We walked into a room with both the walls and floor made of glass. The windows gave an incredible view of the city. We must have been seriously high up. The skyline looked funny with the alternating short and tall buildings, and I felt disoriented when looking down at the glass floor. The effect of watching the city below was dizzying. Gazing up, I was struck by the tall ceiling that seemed to continue on forever. The only furniture in the room was an oval desk and a pair of matching chairs, all of which appeared to be made of glass. Bry approached the desk.
Behind the desk stood a woman who looked as if she were covered entirely in diamonds. The sparkling reflections made it almost difficult to look directly at her. Despite the brightness, her figure left little doubt that she was a woman.
Samantha’s slap brought me back to attention. “Did you just slap me?”
“We already warned you to hide your reactions. Drooling over a Zale is not going to help anything.” I couldn’t help but notice that Samantha blushed as she made the comment.
“Sorry. I’ve never seen anything like it… um, her before.” I tried to hide the smile that automatically appeared when I realized that Samantha might have actually been jealous. “Wait. Did you call her a Zale? Like Zales, the jewelry store at the mall?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about and really do not care. Stay serious, Kevin.” The blush was gone, and I wondered if I had imagined it.
“There are only two rooms available, so we are going to have to bunk up.” With all of my attention directed toward Samantha, I hadn’t noticed Bry return to our group.
“We made it work on the boat, so we can do it again.” Naomi yawned, and it was contagious.
“It works for me.” I figured that no matter how tired I felt, I wouldn’t be sleeping well anyway.
***
After stashing our gear in the rooms, we headed back out onto the busy streets of Alak. The consensus was that the sooner I met some of the other leaders, the better. Evidently, the other leaders liked to hang out at a particular drinking establishment.
Homina’s Aqua looked like a hole-in-the-wall from the outside, and for once, looks were not deceiving. The long wooden bar was lined with stools, most of which were taken. The walls were littered with worn advertisements, some of which seemed ready to fall off onto the floor. About a dozen smaller tables dotted the room, several of which were pushed together to form one long table. I made sure not to stare at anyone for too long, and thankfully, the near darkness of the bar made it easier to hide my surprise at the different types of people sitting around.
I followed Bry over to the bar, and he ordered a round of drinks. I was grateful not to have to do it myself because nothing on tap sounded even vaguely familiar. It would have been just my luck to have ordered something putrid.
“Over here.” Naomi had grabbed her drink and taken a seat at the long table.
I looked around again as I headed to the table. As different as the clientele appeared, the bar wasn’t that different from a bar back home. Men and women sat close together, talking and laughing over their drinks. Some were flirting, and others appeared to be fighting. It was nice to see that some things were the same.
“So this is the Winthrop?” a man sputtered, as the rest of the group took seats at the table. He had the appearance of an ox with wide-spaced nostrils and thick, wrinkly skin. He had to weigh over four hundred pounds. Calling him intimidating would be an understatement.
“Yes. This is Kevin. He is the brother of the Essence.” Naomi barely even glanced in my direction as she introduced me, letting me know that I was on my own. Great.
“Well, Kevin, I’m Ollis. I speak for Kenset.”
I probably should have spent time learning about the different nations in the Pact. Maybe it would have helped my cause if I didn’t stare at people blankly when they told me where they were from.
“Nice to meet you, Ollis.” I extended my hand and wasn’t surprised by Ollis’s bone-breaking handshake.
“Are you ready for another drink, Kevin?” I couldn’t help but notice that Ollis’s attention was directed completely toward me, as he ignored everyone else.
It didn’t sound as though he were really asking a question, so I looked at my nearly full glass before taking the rest down in a single swallow.
“Sure.”
Ollis signaled for a waiter, who quickly brought over two more drinks. Still tasting the bitterness from the last drink, I hoped it wasn’t the same stuff.
“Bottoms up.” Ollis slammed his drink before the waiter was halfway back to the bar.
Henry leaned over to whisper, “I think you are going to have to drink that one fast, too.”
He was right. Ollis seemed like the kind of guy who only took a man seriously if he could hold his drink. It was going to be a long night. I drank, barely registering the bitterness that time.
Ollis ordered another round of drinks, and I began to get worried. My first thought was that I was glad Coach Williams wasn’t there to see me. After the third drink, my head started spinning—whatever they were, the drinks were strong. However, the more I drank, the better it tasted.
Ollis’s sharp gaze intensified. “What do you think of Alak?” If he was drunk, he didn’t show it.
“It’s… uh, bigger than I expected.” I didn’t know what he wanted to hear.
“Is your home not this way? I had heard that your world was rather modern.”
“It is. It’s just that I assumed Alak would be more like Bellgard.”
Ollis laughed. “Not all of us like to live in the dark ages if we do not have to.”
“So the people of Energo choose to live that way?”
“Of course. Did you really think we lacked the technology?” Samantha spoke sharply, and I realized I had insulted her.
“Maybe?” My head started to feel foggy, and I couldn’t come up with a coherent response. Those were some serious drinks.
Several hours later, the table was littered with empty glasses, and Ollis was once again shaking my hand. “Kenset will give you our full support. Please give my regards to the Essence.” I watched in stunned silence as he got up from the table and walked to the door.
“Good job, Kevin.” Bry slipped into the seat Ollis had vacated. Looking around, I saw we were the only ones left in the bar. Somewhere after the third drink, I had quit noticing the crowd.
“I didn’t do nothing,” I muttered in unintelligible grunts. My thoughts were hard to organize.
“You showed Ollis that you could come to his table and that you would not back down; that was sufficient.” Samantha looked exhausted, but I ignored that and focused on the fact that she had complimented me. She no longer seemed angry about my insinuation that Energo was technologically backward.
Although it was difficult to stand, it felt good. I had gotten us another ally, and had impressed Samantha at the same time. Somehow, I knew that convincing the rest of the nations wasn’t going to be quite so easy.
Chapter Ten:
Calvin
I left the barracks and walked back to the castle, ignoring the drizzle of rain that hinted at a larger rainstorm to come. Nodding at the guards, I walked through the massive stone entryway. I found no humor in the realization that the structure that once represented such promise had become my prison. Since Charlotte left, everything about the castle seemed gray.
I listened to the deep echo of my boots on the stone floor, as I headed toward the library. Once there, I stopped and peered inside. Blake sat with another member of Emma’s Guard, Norman. Something about Norman had never set well with me. From the first time I met him, I questioned his loyalty to Energo.
“Calvin! Precisely the man we were waiting for.” Blake’s words sounded perfectly sincere, but I sensed something entirely different was behind them. The longer I spent in Bellgard, the easier it became to see behind the gilded façade Blake created. There was a darkness about him that became increasingly visible over my months at Bellgard. Even armed with that knowledge, I was unsure of my next move. I was not a weak man and did not hold back out of fear, but I was cautious. Blake had an uncanny power of persuasion, and I struggled to even remember my concerns once he engaged me.
“What news do you have?” I sat down across from Blake, but I did not meet his eyes. I had discovered that it was easier to repel Blake’s influence if I avoided eye contact.
“I have received word that your Essence reentered Energo.” I could almost feel Blake’s gaze boring into me, imploring me to look up, but I resisted.
I let out a small gasp and hoped it came across as shock and not fear for Charlotte’s welfare. “When? Where is she?” Blake studied my reaction, and I could not afford to let him know of my prior knowledge. Since Blake had not been Emma’s true Gerard, he might not have been aware of the real power of the crystal pendant.
“She was last spotted heading north with a small group.” Blake’s voice was even and held no emotion, so I dared to look at him. His eyes appeared empty. I turned away again.
“Is she attended by all three Guardians who left with her?” I was scared for Charlotte, and until I could be with her, I needed to know she was protected. As thrilling as the knowledge of her return was, I understood that in Energo, she was exposed to greater danger. Energo was at war. No one was safe, let alone the Essence.
“Surprisingly, no.” Blake laughed dryly. “It seems her Guardians may not value her quite as much as we would expect.”
“What do you mean? How could they leave her unprotected?” I blurted without thinking. I knew that Blake was only trying to upset me to ensure my compliance.
“I do not know why, but my son is the only Guardian with her.” Blake made it sound like the word son was painful to say.
I felt ill. James the only one guarding Charlotte? “I must get her at once. My Essence must be protected.” I hoped Blake did not sense that his men getting hold of her was what I feared most. I had stayed at Bellgard when Charlotte left because it was my duty, but I would never allow her to fall into his hands again. Blake viewed her as a pawn. Charlotte had recognized Blake’s ulterior motives so quickly, I cursed myself for doubting her.
“We will not let anything happen to her, but I understand your concern. I will be sure to keep you updated as I receive reports.” Blake did not try to hide his amusement. He enjoyed watching the effect his words had on me.
“What do we do until then? Do we just sit and wait?” That was exactly what I wanted to do, but I did not want to tip Blake off to my growing unease.
“We have her where we want her. It is possible that she will lead us to more traitors. The Resistance has help all over Energo that must be vanquished.” Blake slammed his fists on the wooden table, making the pile of books in front of him topple.
I caught sight of a few of the book titles but they were written in an old language rarely used. I did recognize one title—Mortis Resurgam. Before I could try to decipher more, Blake pushed the books away forcibly. I flinched when they hit the floor, and it took me a moment to regain my composure. “And you will alert me when you are ready to move in on her?”
“Absolutely. As always, any decisions regarding the Essence are entirely up to you.”
“If that is all the news, I will go work with my men.” I needed to get away to organize my thoughts. I pushed my chair out, nodding to both men. As soon as I walked through the entryway, Norman slammed the door behind me.
I paused outside the doorway, letting out a breath I had not realized I was holding. Even though I did not wish to speak with Norman, I wanted to know his intentions. I pressed my ear against the door to listen. I did not expect to hear much, since Blake had not bothered to post a guard outside the door, but any information could be important.
“What are we going to do with them when we find them?” Norman asked.
“Kill them, of course.” Blake’s voice was hollow and completely devoid of emotion.
“Even the girl?” Norman sounded surprised. I could hardly breathe as I waited for Blake’s response.
“We will put her with her mother, but allow for entrance so we can take her out often enough to stop another Essence from being born.”
Anger engulfed me. He discussed Charlotte as though she were an animal. I tensed to reenter the room, but held back, aware
that I would accomplish nothing if I were too hasty.
“James must have told Charlotte where her mother is being held. They are headed straight for Icentris.” Blake’s words took time to sink in. All of the time Charlotte had been robbed of her mother, Blake had been keeping Emma in a prison. How he was able to keep the Essence against her will evaded me, and I knew that the answer would not be pleasant.
“And what of her Gerard? Surely he will figure it out.”
“It is not as though I have never had to slay a Gerard before.” Blake laughed dryly. Blake was readily admitting that he had killed Emma’s Gerard, a crime he had pinned on a Zatamanian, setting off war.
I heard the scratch of a chair move and quickly walked down the corridor. I wanted to hear the rest of the conversation, but I did not want to risk Blake’s wrath. I had to make sure Charlotte was safe.
Rage swelled inside of me. Blake had admitted to kidnapping Emma, intended to do the same to Charlotte, and planned to kill me. I knew he was dark, but I had no idea how cruel and macabre he could be. I wanted nothing more than to march back into the room and kill him, but I understood that, Gerard or not, I did not have the means to dispose of him. Blake held the power in Bellgard. In my naïveté, I had believed Blake was only trying to mentor me and would eventually abdicate. I could not have been more wrong. I forced myself to continue walking back to my room, even though it hurt to fight the natural urge to kill the person who wished to harm my Essence.
I needed to see Charlotte. I had to protect her, and I knew we would both be stronger if we were together. Charlotte’s departure had played right into Blake’s hand, weakening me and strengthening his stronghold. I went to my room and penned a letter to Charlotte, imploring her to meet with me.
Understanding that I would arouse suspicions with an immediate departure, I went in search of William. I found him in the barracks, preparing for bed. “I have an important job for you.”
“Anything you need.” William put on his tunic and eyed me seriously.
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