Mari Mancusi - Scorched

“Caleb,” she tried, but her lips were so dry and cracked she found she couldn’t get the words out. Not that she had any idea what she really wanted to say. He shook his head at her, then grabbed her by the hair, yanking her out of the fitting room and dumping her onto the floor of the empty store. She hit the ground hard and cried out in pain as her knee wrenched from under her.

“How could you do this?” he demanded, glaring down at her. “How could you go and betray the Dracken?”

“I—I…” she tried to say, but a sudden voice in her head silenced her.

Trinity, listen to me.

She startled, confused. With her mind still hazy, it took her a moment to realize what he had said—and, more importantly, how he had said it. He flashed her a warning look, then glanced back at the two guards. Don’t let them know.

“Those boys were innocent,” he continued. “And yet you let your dragon murder them.”

I’m so sorry. I would have never brought you here if I had known. I thought it would be safe.

Somehow Trin found her voice. “I didn’t ask Emmy to kill them. She was trying to protect me.”

Caleb, it’s not your fault. They lied to everyone. You, me, the Potentials…

“And what about the wireless laptop we found in your room?” he sneered. “Who were you talking to?”

“I was just playing a video game. Fields of Fantasy . It’s my favorite.”

You have to get us out of here, Caleb. Before they break me and Emmy’s bond.

“A video game? Please. Do you think we’re stupid? You were contacting someone. I want to know who.”

I know—but how? There’s too many of them. We’d need a flecking army to even stand a chance.

She frowned. Well, I’m sorry. I don’t have a spare army in my—

Trinity stopped short. Wait a second. Maybe she did.

What about your friends who broke into the museum? The government guys. They’re probably still out looking for the egg. If they found out it was here, they could raid the place. And in all the confusion we could escape.

Caleb seemed to consider this for a moment. It’s not a bad idea, he relented. But how can we let them know? Darius has the place on lockdown now, thanks to your little escape attempt. And there’s no phone or Internet.

“Um, is everything okay, sir?” asked the guard behind Caleb, looking at the two of them suspiciously. Trinity cringed, realizing they’d gone too long staring at one another without talking out loud. In desperation, she managed to scramble to her knees before Caleb, holding out her hands, as if in prayer.

“Please,” she begged. “Just let me go. I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll be good. I won’t try to escape again. Just don’t de-bond me from my dragon. I can’t live without her.”

What about Connor? Can you reach him through the Nether? He could pretend to be you and put in a call.

Caleb sneered. “Can’t live?” he spit out. “Funny, that’s kind of the whole idea.”

No, Trin. We can’t trust my brother. We both know what he was sent here to do. And now that Emmy’s hatched…

Trinity fell back, burying her face in her hands. “Please. I’m begging you! I don’t want to die.”

We don’t have a choice. He’s the only one left. And he promised not to hurt me or Emmy. We have to believe him.

I don’t know, Trin. If something happened to you—

Something will happen if you don’t get us out of here. Connor’s our only hope.

Caleb turned to the guards. “Throw the traitor back into her cell,” he commanded. “I can’t stand to look at her pointy little face anymore.”

All right. I’ll try to contact him. But, Trin—if he even looks at you sideways, I promise you now, I’m going to shoot first and ask questions later.

The guards sprang into action, grabbing her by the arms and dragging her back to her cell. She fought and clawed at them like an alley cat, her eyes locking onto Caleb. “Screw you, you bastard!” she screamed. “Go back to the Nether with your little sluts. That’s all you’re good for! I never want to see you again!”

A ghost of a smile flickered on Caleb’s face before he quickly masked it again. He turned away, heading out of the Hot Topic, leaving the guards to deal with Trinity on their own. But just as they were about to throw her back into her cell, she caught his whisper echoing through her mind.

Oh and for the record? I never took anyone else to the Nether. He paused, then added, No one but you.

Come on, Connor. We’re running out of time.

Trinity winced as the guards yanked her roughly down the corridor, on their way to the de-bonding ceremony. It had been three days since Caleb had promised to contact his brother through the Nether to see if he could help rally the troops. But whether Connor had answered his brother’s request or was able to get the government on board, she had no idea. Caleb had never returned to her cell to let her know what had happened—probably too worried that Darius might notice too many visits to his prisoner.

The Dracken had gathered in the main ceremonial chamber and the de-bonding ceremony was about to begin. In just moments, she realized, she and Emmy would be torn from one another and she would be put out of her misery. She tried to console herself with the fact that at least the dragon herself would live on, but the thought wasn’t very comforting. While Emmy wouldn’t be physically harmed, she was doomed to a life of captivity as a backyard breeder of biological weapons of mass destruction. Stuck in a cage, never seeing the sun, never allowed to spread her wings and fly. It was a fate worse than death for a dragon.

And then there was her mother. Her poor, sweet, innocent mother who’d been locked in a dark cage of her own for the last two years, her mind lost and her body atrophying. Would she even have the strength to bond with Emmy and help her lay her eggs? And what would happen to her if she didn’t?

The ceremonial chamber was adorned much like the birthing room, a former anchor store now bathed in silver runes, a high balcony circling the perimeter. The senior members of the Dracken had gathered at the bottom level, while the Potentials had camped out above. In the center of the room stood a tall pole, which uncomfortably resembled a funeral pyre. Trinity guessed that was for her.

As the guards dragged her over to the pole, tying her hands and feet with thick rope and gagging her mouth, her eyes lifted to those watching from above. The faces she found—once happy and welcoming—were now solemn and disapproving, the judgment rich in their eyes. If only she could tell them the truth. On impulse, she tried to send to them but was quickly shot down. They’d all blockaded their minds against her. She imagined Darius instructing them to do so, so they wouldn’t find themselves lured in by her lies.

Her eyes fell to Caleb, who stood among his Dracken brothers, helping them at their tasks. He caught her look and glared back at her with cold eyes until she dropped her gaze. She knew it was only an act, but his expression and his garb managed to chill her all the same.

An angry squawk resounded through the chamber and she looked over to see Emmy being wheeled through the room, encased in a golden cage. The dragon was putting up quite the fight, hissing and spitting fire at her handlers. But the cage had some kind of force field around it and the dragon’s efforts proved ineffectual. Emmy had grown since the last time Trin had seen her, now about the size of a small cocker spaniel. Soon she’d be big enough to ride. Trinity felt tears spring to her eyes as she remembered her own amazing dragon ride through the Nether. Would she ever be able to feel so free again?