Page 8 of Resolve
“I’m giving them a purpose to use their abilities to build a better world. To free them from human shackles that bind them to rules that are not meant for gifted like us. I’ve spent the last decades protecting children from non-gifted families who wouldn’t understand; who would ridicule or shame those of us with gifts; who would despise and fear you for what you can do. I’m building a world where you can control them instead of the other way around.”
“No one should control anyone,” Evie counters.
“In a perfect world, I agree. However, if it ever gets out that people like us exist, that result is inevitable. Either they control you because of their fear, or you control them with my method, where there will be no resistance and no fighting as they remain blissfully ignorant of who holds the power in this world.”
The Hall is silent.
My heart pounds the longer he talks, and the condition of Raegan and the others stays unknown.Leave. The sooner he goes, the faster Reid can bring us back. But I can’t abandon the Guild to this man. And if Reid was able to sense his arrival, then he might be able to sense us leaving if we go before him.
Charles’s expression never changes as he scans the room, and no one agrees or steps forward. “Your loyalty is admirable. I’ll admit, I’m envious. It would be an honor to accept you into the fold at Gifted Enterprise, should you be willing.”
Cibrina straightens, shifting to the front of the group. “Please leave.”
“I’m aware that losing someone important to you can be...emotional,” he says. “It can make people become irrational and make poor choices. Of course, you still need time to accept the unfortunate passing of the Guild Master, someone you hold in such high regard. I could never ask anyone to rush a decision as important as this. Take your time. Say your goodbyes. And truly consider my offer.”
Charles looks to the GE agent he’d arrived with, and the other man crosses the room to place a hand on his back. “I’ll give you until the end of the month to make your decision, as I assume you’ll be coming upon a new month of bills and debts to be paid. Join GE, and you’ll have a better place to call home. Or decline, and I’ll be forced to see you as an enemy and potential threat to GE.”
They disappear.
“Is he gone?” Tinsley whispers to Reid, staring at him like he’s her knight in shining armor.
Reid closes his eyes, his brow pinched with concentration, then nods. “He’s gone.” He stands, bringing Tinsley with him, while Dane and I follow suit.
Dane grabs Reid’s arm. “Take us back to the beach house!”
“Jackson wanted you both here. I need to find Cassandra and bring her back.”
He yanks himself from Dane’s grip, but I snatch his wrist and squeeze. “We’re not asking,” I growl. All I can think about is what Charles said about Aiden. How we’d last seen Raegan fighting with the GE president, and yet he was able to appear here, unscathed and without her. “You’re wasting time.”
Reid releases Tinsley from his other arm, gently pushing her behind him. She grips his shoulder anyway. “I’m not going anywhere without Cassandra. Aiden won’t survive without her, if he isn’t deadalready.”
“She’s in the infirmary helping the ones you rescued or who were hurt here,” Cibrina says as she rushes by, her heels clicking on the floor. “I’ll get her!”
“Is what he said about Aiden true?” Evie demands, running up to the bar with the others close behind. “Where is he?”
“Where’s Raegan?” Gabe adds. “And the ninja?”
Dane takes Reid’s arm again. “Infirmary, then beach house.”
Reid nods, and the four of us reappear in the middle of the infirmary.
Cassandra jumps at our arrival, her hand flying to her chest in a gasp before scanning a critical gaze over each of us. “If you aren’t severely injured or dying, we have a door,” she admonishes, returning her attention to a patient in bed. “We’ve got five rescued members, six still out from that sleeping mist and tranquilizers, and another four with significant zombie-related injuries. Thankfully, Holly’s here to help, but—”
Tinsley uses her gift to reach Cassandra and pull her to our group, and we teleport before she can finish.
Chapter four
Jackson
Beingoutonopenwater is like being lost in a void. There are no markers to act as a guide or tell me where I’ve been. The deep blue ocean looks the same in every direction once the beach and cliffs are out of sight. Now that the sun’s dipped below the horizon, taking its light with it, my chances of finding Aiden slim even more.
I’m reaching the limit of my gift before I’ll need to pass out for a day to recover. My fight against Thorne, against zombies and GE agents, plus keeping the weight of me and the door airborne over an ocean of combating wind, is taking its toll.
Even with that looming expiration, I refuse to give up, expanding my search with every loop over the area where I think he dropped. Sending out sharp whistles and waiting for the slightest sound over the waves.
It’s after one of my whistles that I hear something.
Drawing it closer, I focus on the sound of splashing water. It’s similar to the crash of waves, but too close together to be natural.
