Out Of Darkness (The Starborn Saga) Read online

  One glance at Aaron shows me that he is unfazed by all of this. But Aaron doesn’t need Jeremiah like I do.

  Although he says he already knows who we are, he doesn’t say anything else, as if he’s expecting me to say more. I look at Aaron again, but his face is like a statue, and his eyes are unwavering from Jeremiah.

  “I’m here to seek protection for my people,” I tell him. “I know that is something you offer. I was able to witness your guards in action when a herd was coming for Salem. That’s exactly what I and my people want.”

  Jeremiah says nothing for a long time. After a few moments, I feel like I should say something, but I choose not to. Perhaps he’s thinking about it.

  “Springhill, is it?” he finally says.

  “Yes sir.”

  He thinks for another minute then shakes his head. “No.”

  “What do you mean?” I demand. It makes no sense to me. Why would he refuse Springhill? We are in need too.

  “This is a business,” he says. “In exchange for the services I provide, what can Springhill provide my city? How many people are even in Springhill?”

  “About a thousand of us,” I say.

  Jeremiah seems to stifle a smile that only serves to make me angry.

  “I’m sorry Mora, but that would hardly be worth the time or money spent on guards. Do you even make enough food for yourselves?”

  “We get by,” I say.

  “Your payment would starve you. It’s senseless.”

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I never thought I would be rejected so easily. It’s as if he had planned this before I even came here.

  “But you provide protection for Salem.”

  “Salem is on some of the richest farmland around,” Jeremiah says. “Not to mention they have twenty times more people than Springhill, yet they produce enough for ten times that amount. Springhill truly has nothing to offer Screven. I’m sorry.”

  “With your protection we could grow,” I plead. “We only lack the proper defenses.”

  “I’m ready for the next item of business,” he says, ignoring my logic.

  “No!” I slam my fist on the table in front of me. The plate of cookies and the cups of coffee go flying across the room as if I had thrown them. I feel the look of shock on my face as the realization comes that I have just displayed my abilities by accident. The guards step forward, but Jeremiah holds up a hand for them to stop.

  “Yes,” he says. “That’s exactly what I want to discuss with you. Your powers.” He stares long and hard at me. My fist is still clenched, though I can’t believe I let myself lose control like that.

  “You possess the power to move objects with your mind,” he says. “Large objects?”

  “Yes,” I say, fuming.

  “Fast?”

  “Smaller objects as fast as a bullet,” I say.

  He turns his shaded face to Aaron. “Your powers involve electricity?”

  “I’m gifted with the ability to use an outside electric source and convert it to use as I wish,” Aaron answers.

  Jeremiah nods at this, bringing a hand to his chin. “Screven would have a lot to gain from people like you.”

  “What do you wish to gain?” Aaron asks boldly.

  “Well, with people like you, I can deploy fewer guards, which would enable us to stretch out; to make more colonies.”

  “But not colonies that can’t benefit Screven,” I say, allowing my disgust to come through in my voice.

  He looks at me for a long, uncomfortable moment, then clears his throat. “I brought you here to make a deal with you. I’ll give Springhill the protection you ask in exchange for your services.”

  “What kind of services?” I ask.

  “I know there are others out there just like the two of you. I want you to recruit them.”

  I look at Aaron, but his expression has not changed.

  “I mean…I don’t really know how to find them,” I say. “I’ve barely had my abilities for a week. I didn’t even know about the others until a few days ago. I wouldn’t know where to start.”

  “It’s quite simple really,” Jeremiah says. “You make public appearances, display your power. Ask others to come forward for the betterment of the colonies –to help keep the herds away. Perhaps even to get rid of all those freakish greyskins in the world.”

  “Wouldn’t that put you out of business?” Aaron asks.

  “There will always be greyskins somewhere,” Jeremiah answers. “At least there will be during my lifetime.”

  He leans forward and takes off his hat. Gray hairs fall from his head when he does this. Then he takes off his sunglasses. I can’t help but stare at his drooping eyelids that expose the wet, red insides. Maybe this getup he wears has nothing to do with fashion, but rather he’s covering up some sort of illness. I try not to let it affect my thoughts, but it’s impossible.

  “You show me that you will work hard to do this,” he continues, “and I will send guards to Springhill. You will start with Salem. If there are others, they will come to you. They may not come in public, but in private. That’s just as good. Have them join with you.”

  “But what are they joining?” I ask. “What do we tell them?”

  “Tell them they will be joining a coalition. The Screven Coalition. Each person that joins will be handsomely rewarded and treated with great benefits.”

  “Such as?” I ask.

  “They would be given command over the rest of the Screven guards in their designated colony. They would not have to pay any dues. They would answer only to me. Their people would love them because of the power they display.”

  “Just like we love the Screven guards?” Aaron asks.

  “It will be a different system,” Jeremiah comes back. “A better one.” He places his sunglasses back on and sits back in his chair. “You will not go without knowing how to do this,” he says. “I want the two of you to go back to Salem. For now, you will both be under the watch of Krindle. He will evaluate you and pass along any messages I send.”

  He looks at us both for several seconds. I can see his jaw muscles clench. He’s grinding his teeth as if chewing on something that isn’t there.

  “There are many ways to recruit,” he says. “Going out in public is one way, but it is not the only one. If you can come up with a better means, then I support you. But I will expect a progress report every week.”

  The two of us sit here, not knowing what to say. I know I can’t refuse Jeremiah because of my village. Aaron can’t refuse him because he’s technically under Jeremiah’s rule. Personally, this meeting has left an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I don’t care for Jeremiah and I don’t care for the way he runs things. Maybe Evelyn and Aaron have a point. Maybe there really is a good reason for trying to get rid of the Screven influence on their colony. Besides, if we recruit all the other people that are like us, wouldn’t we be able to protect the colonies? Wouldn’t we be able to fight off the greyskins on our own?

  I don’t know Aaron enough to really see what he’s thinking right now, but I bet I can make a guess. Looking around the room, I imagine he’s thinking there’s plenty of voltage to take out Jeremiah, the two guards, and anyone else who might stand in his way. Truly, unless Jeremiah also possessed a supernatural skill, the only thing stopping Aaron from destroying everyone in this room is himself. Obviously, I don’t want him to harm my chances of getting protection for my village, but come to think of it, don’t I have enough power to do that now? Maybe not enough to save them by myself, but Springhill would stand a much better chance with me now than it ever has before.

  “Mora, I can’t make you do anything for me,” Jeremiah says. “But I’ll send Screven guards to Springhill today if you agree to all of this.” He looks at Aaron. “And I’ll make your rank high. At Salem you will lead the Screven Coalition.”

  Aaron says nothing to this, and at first, I’m not sure I want to either. This is what I’ve wanted. Isn’t it? I can picture Jake and my grand
ma. The fear that looms over them and the rest of us at Springhill every day.

  “I’ll do it,” I say. Of course I will.

  A strange grin forms on Jeremiah’s face. I look at Aaron. He shrugs.

  “I’m not sure,” he says. I think he’s just trying to be civil.

  “Well, I’m not really asking you,” Jeremiah says. “I’m ordering you to do it.” Aaron stares at him with pursed lips, but Jeremiah pays him no more attention.

  “Once you see what the Coalition is capable of doing,” Jeremiah continues, “I’m sure you will be more motivated.”

  “Oh, without a doubt,” Aaron says.

  I easily catch the double meaning behind Aaron’s words, but I wonder if Jeremiah sees it. I know right now that I won’t let Aaron get in the way of Springhill’s safety. Maybe I can convince him that this Coalition is actually a good idea. But even if I can’t, I’ll fulfill my part. My grandma and brother will be safe. They will never have to fear the herds again.

  Jeremiah stands while Aaron and I do the same. Despite his sickly appearance and reeking cologne, I can’t help but feel a little pleased by what this man has offered me. Even though Aaron has warned me about not trusting him, I don’t care. I’m interested in finding out about others like me anyway. This is a good way to do that.

  I reach out a hand to shake Jeremiah’s, but he ignores it as he turns away.

  “Trevor will show the two of you back to your vehicle,” he says. “More instructions await you at the Salem Colony. Mora, guards will be at Springhill by early morning tomorrow.”

  “I’m very thankful to you,” I say. “My friends and family will be too.”

  He turns to us at the bottom of the stairs. “The Screven Coalition is born today. You two will make it strong. For that, I am truly inspired. Take care.”

  Almost as if on cue, Trevor comes through the door at the other end of the room and motions for Aaron and me to follow.

  Before leaving the grand office, I take one glance back to see Jeremiah having some kind of coughing fit. If I had to guess by looking at him, I’d say that Jeremiah isn’t long for this world. I just hope he stays alive long enough to make Springhill’s protection secure.

  Chapter Ten

  Perhaps more aggravating than Aaron telling me that Jeremiah is not to be trusted, and that I’m crazy to seek his help, is Aaron ignoring me completely. I understand that he doesn’t feel free to talk in front of Rob on the drive back to Salem, but I wish he would talk about something. Anything.

  The drive is so long and boring that my thoughts are all over the place. Was Jeremiah being serious about sending the Screven guards to Springhill? Is he just playing me, as Aaron seemed to think he would? I hope beyond all hope that I’m not being naïve. Jeremiah knows that I have no way of checking if the guards are protecting my family while I’m at the Salem Colony. Perhaps I can have Krindle contact the guards there somehow. Maybe I can even talk to little Jake or Grandma.

  When we get back to the Salem Colony late in the afternoon, the Screven guards, Heinrich, and a few others meet us. For some reason, I look to the highest point in the colony to see Connor peering down on us from the crow’s nest with his binoculars. I give a slight wave and he returns it. I can’t really tell if he’s smiling. Something in me is actually very excited to see him. When I left, I wasn’t sure I would ever get the chance again.

  With the distraction of all the guards and Krindle telling me that he’s been updated on what’s supposed to happen next, I lose sight of Connor. When I look up at the crow’s nest again, he’s gone. Maybe he’s coming down to see me. Maybe he’s trying to avoid me. I have no idea. All I know is, he’s the only one that seems to truly support me in all of this, essentially making him my only real friend.

  “Does that sound alright to you?” Krindle asks me.

  I shake my head. “What?”

  Krindle sighs at me and repeats his previous sentence. “I said, are you alright with a room in the Vault? We don’t exactly have another place for you to stay.”

  “She’s got a place,” Aaron says. “She can stay with me.”

  “Yeah, sure,” I say, not really knowing what to think. I don’t exactly want to stay with Aaron, but I don’t want to stay in the Vault either. After what I experienced in there before, I can’t really imagine going inside again.

  “Very good,” Krindle says. “Get yourselves some food, and clean yourselves up. I want to meet with you in two hours to discuss what’s going to happen next.”

  We agree to meet at the front gate. Soon after, I overhear Heinrich saying that he wants to meet with Aaron briefly and Aaron agrees.

  “Listen,” Aaron tells me as he breaks away from Heinrich. “I have to do something right now, but my shack isn’t far from here.”

  “I’ll be alright,” I say. “I’m not really hungry or tired. I thought I would just look around, maybe get to know a few people. I might see what Connor is up to.”

  He gives me a double take at this, but says nothing. He only nods.

  “I’ll see you soon,” I say.

  I watch from the middle of the dirt road as he walks away toward Heinrich’s house. For a moment, I contemplate whether I should follow him and go into the basement that Evelyn showed me so I can listen in on their conversation. But I don’t really see the point. I already know what they are going to say. Aaron is just going to talk about the meeting and express his concern about my willingness to cooperate with Jeremiah. I don’t care about what either of them has to say right now.

  Connor is something else, though.

  I walk down the street until I see Evelyn’s shack on the left. I don’t see her, but I remember again that she had wanted to talk to me before I’d left. With a mental shrug, I turn to my right facing Connor’s shack. When I get to the door, I raise my fist to knock, but hesitate. If Connor hasn’t come out to greet me, then maybe he doesn’t really feel like seeing me. For some reason, I thought he would be excited to see me again. We haven’t known each other long by any stretch of the imagination, but in all reality, he seems to be my only ally in Salem.

  With a deep breath, I knock on the wooden door anyway. It doesn’t take long for him to answer, and he does so with a welcome smile.

  “I wasn’t sure you were coming back,” he says, motioning me to come inside. As I step through the door, a scented cloud from a pan of sautéing vegetables hits me and my stomach instantly starts to rumble. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “Anything interesting happening from the crow’s nest?” I ask as I take my seat on the couch.

  He shakes his head. “Just that you’re here. I have to say it’s a pleasant surprise.”

  “It’s a surprise for me too,” I say. “I got my deal with Jeremiah.”

  “That’s great!” he says.

  “There are conditions.” I then explain those conditions as he listens without interruption, preparing the food. As I’m talking, he motions me to the table in the small kitchen and sets a plate of vegetables in front of me. I don’t even acknowledge the gesture except by shoving the food in my mouth while I keep talking. I tell him everything about the trip. The meeting, Jeremiah’s clothing and smell, the wonderful room I stayed in. The only thing I leave out is talking to Aaron on the balcony. I don’t feel right about sharing that because Aaron talked to me in confidence. I do, however, tell him how Aaron has been quiet and maybe even secretive. I want to say something about seeing his meeting with Heinrich, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.

  “Aaron isn’t the most open person,” Connor says. “Obviously even I have a lot to learn about him.” He looks down at my clean plate. “You want more? I’ve got plenty.”

  I shake my head, embarrassed. “Thank you.”

  He stares at the vegetables on his own plate, slapping a fork against a piece of broccoli. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I wasn’t the most pleasant person. I just…it’s just hard to believe that Aaron has had these powers for so long and never told me. I’
m over it, I guess. I don’t know. I just feel like I don’t even know my own brother anymore.”

  “Aaron may have had the right idea keeping it from you though,” I say.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Jeremiah jumped at the chance to use him as soon as he found out,” I tell him. “He’s already named Aaron the leader of the Screven Coalition. I know for a fact that Aaron doesn’t plan on being a part of it.”

  “You’re right about that. But what is he going to do? He can’t just ignore Jeremiah.”

  “Then maybe this is the start of something,” I say. “Maybe this is where Aaron is forced to rebel against him.”

  Connor shakes his head. “The people of Salem aren’t ready for that. I’m not the biggest fan of Jeremiah either, but I’m not going to fight him. People won’t soon forget what the Screven guards have done for us. You remember the herd incident the other day. That could have claimed colonists’ lives. But it didn’t.”

  “You don’t have to tell me, Connor. Why do you think I’ve agreed to Jeremiah’s deal?”

  “What if Aaron doesn’t go along with you?”

  “Then I suppose I’ll be named the leader of the Screven Coalition. Maybe Aaron will be punished. I really don’t know how things work with Jeremiah.”

  “Well, we’ve never really had this situation before, so I don’t know either. It’s rare that he gets involved with the lives of the colonists. We only hear from him when he introduces new rules or policies over the loudspeaker.”

  “So what about you?” I ask. “Why do you go along with it all? Everyone else here wants me to reject Jeremiah and Screven, but you don’t.”

  Connor shrugs, still playing with his uneaten food. “I have enough food to eat. I sleep at night, knowing I won’t be attacked. I don’t have a grand house or nice clothes or anything, but who needs that stuff? Screven keeps us safe.”