The Change (Unbounded) (31 page)

So Cort had finally learned the details of the exchange and passed them on to the Emporium. “John Halden?” I asked. “You mean the man the Emporium tried to assassinate a few days ago?”

Her lips pursed. “That man has been a danger to us for many years. He has cut into our profits with his inventions, and with several advances he’s made it harder and harder to get new identities. But this latest technology could be the undoing of the entire Emporium organization.”

“What could be so dangerous?”

She arose, walked to the window behind us, and stood looking out. I twisted on the couch so I could see her better. The harsh midday light on her profile was not flattering. She looked to be in her mid-sixties, and if she’d become Unbounded at thirty-one, she would be about seventeen hundred years old. The sheer enormity of the number made my mouth go dry. This woman had many lifetimes of experience behind her. I had only thirty-one years.

“It’s not a faster computer chip or a smart house or a new medicine,” she said. “This is an identification plan that will essentially eliminate identity theft.”

“Sounds like a good thing.”

“Not for the Unbounded.” She faced me, framed in the light, looking more ethereal than human. “The general mortal population has no idea we exist, but if the world is forced to use this technology, it will eliminate our ability to create false identities. Some in our organization believe this is the mark of the beast foretold in the Bible, though that is irrelevant to me. What is relevant is that whether it’s a chip put in at birth or an eye scan, if such is required for all commerce, it would be only a matter of time before our longevity is noticed. We’re not ready to go public yet. Can you imagine the panic, the witch hunts that would ensue?” She paused and added, “Having suffered death by fire yourself, you know what that’s like. We will not be hunted as we have been in the past. Not again.”

I went to join her at the window. “Why would the Renegades develop such technology? It would put them in as much danger of discovery as the Emporium.”

“We believe they will create hidden side programs that would allow them not only to protect themselves, but to track the identities of our people.”

Now I finally understood why the Emporium was concerned. They weren’t really worried about the general population but the Renegade Unbounded. If this program became active, they would be picked off one by one until they were all gone or until they were forced to abandon their goals and join with the Renegades. Unless they discovered a way to live outside the bounds of regular human interaction.

“Anyway,” I said. “It’d take years to enact something like that.”

Delia waved her hand as if erasing my words. “Child, that is but a blink of the eye in our life spans. We would all live to see it, even if the implementation took a hundred years. This is one of the reasons we’ve fought to keep certain technologies from the mortals.”

“So you plan to stop the Renegades?”

“The deal is to take place in New York this evening, and I understand you were to attend. What do you know of the meeting?”

I shrugged with a nonchalance I was far from feeling. “I was to have helped with security, that’s all. I was never told any details. They didn’t trust me any more than you do.”

Her thin lips curled in a predatory smile. “So, you refuse to help us.”

“No, I’m saying I don’t know anything. Smart move on their part—I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”

“I don’t believe you. But no matter. We will soon have the information we need, with or without your help. Our informants have given us a Renegade safe house in New York where Renegade Unbounded will be gathering in preparation for this deal. We will surprise them.”

“You’re planning an attack?” I spoke casually, but I hoped she couldn’t sense my real emotions because at that moment my hatred for her and the Emporium burned brighter than ever.

She nodded, her eyes triumphant. “When our work is done this night, we will not have to worry about Renegades for at least a century, if ever again. We’ll obtain the technology they seek to use against us, and you can be sure we will implement it in their stead. Only then can we protect ourselves forever.”

I hated Cort even more now. With this new information he’d given to the Emporium, they’d not only slaughter the Unbounded gathered in New York, but they would soon be able to murder every Unbounded anywhere who opposed them. Laurence was right when he’d said that the world was well on its way to being enslaved.

I unsuccessfully fought my anger. I knew Delia could see it in my face, and that I was probably mentally broadcasting my feelings by now. They were too strong to contain.

“You must not resist,” she said softly, stepping closer to me. Her large eyes dominated the tiny face. “I can help, you know. I have the power to smooth out the losses, make it so they do not hurt so much.”

“Is that what you do for your people?” I retorted. “Is that why they continue to serve an organization that uses them as breeders or slaves?”

“Their contributions are of their own will.” Delia motioned around her. “In return, we give them what they need to live as gods. But you and I are special, Erin, even among Unbounded. Nothing is out of our reach.”

“As long as you get rid of the Renegades.”

Her thin smile vanished. “We’ve been at war with them for thousands of years. I do not think that will end in one night’s work. It will only be the beginning of the end.”

“I won’t help you. They’re my friends.” I realized that was true. However briefly I’d known them, I’d grown to care for Ava, Dimitri, Ritter, Stella, and Laurence. And even Cort, who’d betrayed us all.

“Yes,” Delia said. “You most certainly will help us.”

She was in my mind then, a leap I hadn’t expected.
Not a problem,
I found myself thinking. After all, the Emporium wanted only the best for all Unbounded. I should be grateful to help them. They didn’t want to replace mortals but only to demand the rights all people deserved without persecution, without having to hide in the darkness or constantly changing identities. It was natural the Unbounded, with their greater wisdom, should assure that humanity stayed on track. It was only responsible to take control.

I found myself nodding before I realized I was being manipulated. I rejected her message, pushed against it.
I’m stronger than that,
I thought, but I knew it wasn’t true. I was weak and inexperienced. Delia could teach me to be strong. We would oust Stefan and Tihalt and run the Emporium together, amassing great fortunes; the world would be at our feet. I could have anything, even my family if that was my desire.

No!

With a massive effort I backed away, putting space between us. I made a humming noise in my head, the same one I’d used as a child when my brothers were teasing me.
I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you.

Her touch was gone, and I smiled in triumph. Her lips grew white with rage. “You will have to choose sides, Erin. Everyone must choose. The point is choosing wisely.”

“I think I just did,” I said with far more calm than I was feeling. “Though that will remain between you and me. Your word against mine.”

“Your father will not believe you. I will tell him the truth.”

“That’s okay. Because I’m going to tell him the truth, too—that you wanted to use me against him and Tihalt.” I turned and started toward the door.

Her frustration slammed into me like pummeling fists, stealing my breath away. Each step I took felt like a thousand, as though I struggled through waist-deep mud. One, two, three, four. My progress was achingly slow. Pain hammered at my head. I forced one foot in front of the other, pushing outward with my mind, though I had no idea if this did any good. Silently, I cursed Ava for not better preparing me.

Somehow I reached the door. Delia laughed, and with a soft buzz, the door unlocked, though no one had used the hand panel by the door. Apparently, Delia’s talent was stronger than I’d guessed. Either that or she had a remote. The power that had held me vanished, and I nearly fell.

“Run, little mouse,” Delia called after me. “For now. There’s no place you can go inside this building that’s out of my reach. The minute you relax your guard, I will be there. You will not be able to resist me long. No one can.”

I was shaking as I opened the door. Keene pushed himself off the wall where he was lounging in the hall, one brow arching in surprise. Inclining his head at Delia who was glaring at me from across the room, he pulled the door shut.

“A little early, aren’t we?”

“I didn’t like what she had to say.”

“You don’t seem to like anyone around here.” He started down the hall, and my weary muscles rebelled as I followed.

“Except for you.” Relief crept over me at the increasing distance from Delia, but I didn’t dare let down my mental barriers yet.

“Me? You hate me most of all.”

“At least you tell the truth.”

He met my gaze. “Well, then here’s another. You look like hell.”

“That’s better than I feel. She’s a tough old bird.”

“Vulture,” he agreed.

Keene nodded at the two Unbounded guards as we entered the elevator, jabbing at a button, while I staggered near the wall. My head throbbed, and I didn’t feel I could take another step.

“Look, I haven’t been totally honest about Justine,” Keene said into the silence. “Stefan demanded a name, and I thought of one. I couldn’t do anything else with Delia there. She would have taken the true information, and used it to her advantage. I gave up the obvious person.”

“What are you saying?”

He crossed the two steps that separated us. “Justine was responsible for your sister-in-law’s death, but what you have to understand is that she would not have acted without approval from the Triad, especially from Stefan.”

“Why especially?”

“Justine craves power more than anything else. At present, Stefan is the only Triad member strong enough to stand against Delia, and it’s no secret that Justine wants into his bed. Creating a child with Stefan would give her power in the Emporium, especially if she’s lucky enough to have a child with a sensing ability—which could happen, given that she has a weak variation of the ability herself. Getting such a child from you and Tom would be every bit as good, and a lot more likely given your genetic relationship with Ava.”

I must have reached my surprise limit, because I didn’t even feel shock. His explanation fit with Justine’s near worship of Stefan on the plane and her plans for Tom and me.

“If Delia had tried harder to get the truth from me,” Keene continued, “she would have been able to pin the attack on Stefan and put a wedge between you. I didn’t want to be responsible for that. Or for causing more instability in the Triad. So I focused on Justine. I’m telling you now because I decided you have a right to know.”

“Why would Stefan order my family killed?” My voice sounded strangled.

Keene’s gaze was gentle. “My guess is that he wanted to be sure you had nothing pulling you away from him.”

“What he’s done is given me no reason to stay. There can never be a relationship between us now.” Had a part of me hoped for such? I didn’t know.

“I reported to my father after the attack,” Keene continued. “Told him that his orders to bring them in alive had been overridden by Justine. Because he knows Stefan so well, he knew exactly what that meant. He was furious at the effect the attack would have on you and your willingness to join us. Besides a few useless variations, all of our sensing Unbounded are well over a thousand years old—when the ability to bear Unbounded children starts to diminish. Paired with men who have the right genes, you could have very powerful children and grandchildren for the Emporium.”

I felt sickened at the idea of being used as a breeder, possibly for centuries, and at the thought of having as many children as possible to help those who gave so little value to human life. My father didn’t care about me as a person. He never had. “At least Justine didn’t hurt Chris and the kids once she caught up to them.”

“My father convinced Stefan to spare their lives. He agreed, but only if they were brought here. He thinks they might also be useful.”

So I’d been right about the Emporium’s plan for the children, and Chris as well. As long as my brother or his children were prisoners, I could be made to do anything the Emporium wanted.

Keene reached past me and hit the stop button on the elevator.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving you a little time to recover.”

“Thanks.” I sagged against the metal wall of the elevator. His arm was still there in front of me, stretched out toward the controls, but it felt good to touch another person. For a long moment we stood motionless, looking into each other’s eyes.

In an instant, the mood changed and the air became charged. I saw him swallow, once, twice. His face came close, his intention to kiss me quite clear. After being so honest about my feeling regarding the Emporium, I couldn’t have been more surprised if he’d stripped naked and stood on his head. For a second, I considered resisting his advances, yet shouldn’t I use any opportunity offered me? If he thought I was attracted to him, he might be willing to overlook my loyalties and help me at some point.

His lips met mine. Without thinking, I let my defenses fall and his emotions flooded over me, through me. Sensations rippled inside my body. I didn’t have to pretend as much as I thought I would. In fact, it was pleasant—exhilarating even—to kiss a man who in this moment didn’t want anything from me except what I was willing to give. Not like Tom, who wanted me blindly because of Justine, or even like Ritter, whose wanting made me lose myself.

So completely had I let down my defenses, becoming attuned with Keene’s emotions, that I felt a stab of disappointment when he pulled away.

“Sorry, I didn’t plan that,” he said in a low voice. With one arm still around me, he traced my lip with his thumb. I could feel the slight roughness of his skin. “I know this place makes no sense to you. About as much sense as what I’m feeling now, but I’m glad you’re here, Erin. You—I feel different around you. I know that doesn’t mean anything for the future, and I don’t expect anything to ever come from this moment. For the first time in a long time, I’m seeing what’s really around me. What I’m involved in. For that, I thank you.”