Scarlet (40 page)

chapter twenty-six

Red and Morgan spent a restless night in the cell. Red couldn't stop thinking about Roark's threat. She had to do something. Even if Raphael and the new recruits were searching for her by now, they'd never get here in time. Roark would have Morgan taken out and shot somewhere in the desert. Hell, he may dump him in Nuria, so that he could go back and finish what he'd tried to start.

She knew that if their roles were reversed that's what she'd do. It bothered her that she was beginning to think like him. She'd learned to over the past couple of months. At first it had been to try to figure out what he was up to; now she needed to think ahead. Determine his next move before he made it.

Red faced the corner. Roark had set up the vid recorder close to the wall. It was trained on Morgan. She looked over her shoulder and spotted another mini-vid recorder in the wall.
Clever,
she thought.
But not clever enough.
If she angled herself right, the lens would only see her back. Roark still had no idea that she was an Other. That gave them the advantage. She hoped.

Red turned away from the vid and stilled her mind, concentrating on the wolf. It yipped excitedly. She chased it. willing it to come to her. It stayed just out of reach, shaking its black fur in her face as she pursued it. She opened her eyes and once again, a lone claw stuck out from her hand. This time it was shorter than usual. Terrific. Instead of getting better, her one ability was getting worse. She sighed, letting her forehead fall into the wall.

"Gina, are you all right?" Morgan whispered.

"I'm fine," she said, keeping her back turned until the claw receded into her hand. "I was just. .. It's not important."

Morgan twisted toward her. The chains binding him groaned. "I need you to listen to me. I don't know how much time we have before Roark comes back to get me."

Her heart thudded, pounding her chest. She wouldn't let him go. No matter what he said.

"If I don't manage to escape, I want you to call out to Raphael. I assume he showed you how to do that."

Red nodded.

"Good," Morgan said. "Call to him. I'm sure he'll hear you and come."

She shook her head. "I think he might be too far away. I've already tried."

“Try again. He'll be looking for you. I know I would be." he said with a small smile. Morgan reached out and their fingertips brushed.

"I will," she said. "But we still have time to figure a way out of here."

Morgan stared at her, his heart in his eyes. "You really are beautiful," he said softly. "Remember that I love you."

Tears blanketed her lashes, but she refused to let them fall. "I will."

"I want you to do one more thing for me," he said, watching her closely.

"What's that?" Red asked, biting her trembling lower lip. One wrong word and she'd shatter.

"I want you to give Raphael a second chance." Morgan's voice cracked.

"What?" She couldn't have heard him correctly. There was no way he'd just asked her to be with Raphael, not after everything they'd talked about.

"He's a good man. I've known him for years. He'll take care of you."

Her eyes narrowed. "I don't need anyone to take care of me. What I need is you."

Morgan's gaze was steady. "You have me. Forever. But I need you to think ahead right now. I know this conversation isn't pleasant, but these things have to be said. Raphael will come for you. And he will protect you if I'm gone. Let him."

Red shook her head in denial. He was giving up. She could hear it in his voice. "You don't know what you're asking."

"Yes." Morgan swallowed hard, as if the words were clogging his throat and he needed to clear them before he choked. "I do."

"It won't come to that." Red searched frantically for escape. She wouldn't allow it to come to that. She'd think of something. She always did.

Morgan's head shot up and his attention locked on the door. "It already has," he said as the door slid open and Roark walked in.

Red couldn't breathe. She wouldn't allow Roark to take the man she loved away from her again. She needed to keep him distracted. "Back to taunt us some more?" she asked, venom dripping from her words.

"Now, would I do that?" he asked.

She cocked a brow. "Yes, you would, because you're an asshole."

Roark laughed. "You have such a way with words. No wonder the monster likes you so much."

"You won't be laughing soon," she warned.

“Why? What are you going to do?" he asked, looking at her chains. "Oh, that's right. Nothing." Roark stepped forward, swatting at her as Red tried to get her hands on him. If she could just reach a little farther, she'd have him. But she knew that was the point. He kept himself just out of range. She tried again. As long as she continued to struggle, he wouldn't take Morgan. At least until he tired of their game.

*    *    *

Raphael stared at Demery. "Are you sure you can do this?"

"I can, if you shut up and let me concentrate." He shot him a dirty look through his protective suit. "I need absolute silence in order to get in the right frame of mind to remote view."

Demery went back to concentrating. It would take awhile for him to hone in on Red's location. He pictured her, then let his mind drift across the land, seeking the threads that would eventually narrow down his search.

His eyes darted side to side beneath his lids as various images flashed in his mind. Sand, lots of sand. It was too general. He focused harder, controlling his breathing within his trancelike state. Buildings popped into his mind. Too nondescript to be of help. He latched onto their cylindrical shape anyhow and pulled his mind forward for a closer look.

A building with gold lettering came into view, then stairs leading down into darkness. He saw rooms, many rooms, and then bars. Demery came out of the trance with a start and grabbed a pad of synth-paper. He started to draw everything he'd seen. After a few minutes, the shapes took form. When he was sure he had all the information down on paper, he turned and gave it to Raphael.

"Do you recognize this place?" he asked.

Raphael's lips thinned. "Yes, I do. It's Roark Montgomery's offices. Or at least the building they're housed in. I was there not long ago, visiting my brother."

Demery met his gaze. "That's where he's keeping her. She's in the dark somewhere beneath the stairs."

"Then we have no time to lose. Gather your equipment. We leave for the Republic of Missouri within thirty minutes."

*    *    *

Roark had left them after an hour. He'd been called away. Had he not been, Red was convinced he would've taken Morgan and killed him. She looked around the cramped cage he kept them in. Morgan was sleeping again. He'd been doing that a lot. Enough to make her fear for his health. If he'd been able to change, he could've healed himself by now. But he wouldn't. Not as long as Roark continued to record their movements.

It was like seeing a glimpse of freedom outside your window and knowing you could never get there. Red slumped against the wall and rubbed her tired eyes. Her hands were filthy from twisting the chains and she'd have to burn her boots if she ever made it out of here, because the stench would never leave them. She wasn't sure if it would ever leave her. It would take at least three showers to even break through the first layer of grime.

She glanced at the door. Roark could return any minute. She needed to come up with a plan. She tried concentrating on Raphael. He hadn't responded thus far. Not that she'd thought he would. There seemed to be a distance limit to his abilities. She'd only spoken to him for a short while and that was at close range. Or maybe it was her. First an inability to shift and now this. Red concentrated and sent out her plea.

Raphael, if you can hear me, I need your help.

Silence met her.

Red kicked the wall hard enough to make her toe throb. Morgan started from his sleep.

"What?" he said, his voice disjointed. "Has he returned?"

"No, he's not back yet." Red reached out to touch him, only able to brush his fingertips. But it was enough. "Rest. I'm keeping watch."

Roark returned hours later. He looked haggard and a five o'clock shadow covered his jaw.

"What's the matter, meeting go bad?" Red asked.

His eyes narrowed. "The republic leaders are often shortsighted. That will change once I show them the threat the Others pose to our way of life."

Red snorted. 'The Others? Please, you're the one living in a fantasy world. The republics don't want a new leader. They already have their leaders in place. Your dream is dead."

Roark's face reddened. "It's not over. It is just beginning. Once I air my proof, things will change. You'll see. Unfortunately, your friend here," he pointed to Morgan, "won't be around to witness the change. Perhaps I'll see if Raphael is available."

Fear vibrated through Red's entire body until she was trembling from head to foot. "I won't let you have him," she said quietly. Had the room not been silent, she doubted Roark would've heard. "I'll kill you first."

"Are we talking about Raphael or Morgan? Either way, you don't have a choice," he said stepping toward the cage. He produced a key and opened the door. It creaked ominously under its own weight.

Red stood perfectly still, her mind a mixture of panic and rage. She glanced at Morgan. He was awake now and watching Roark's every move. The politician reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a laser pistol. He waved it in front of Red's face.

"Anticipation makes the wait so much better. Don't you think?" Roark asked, teasing her as he swung the weapon between the wall and Morgan. "Where will the first shot land?" he asked.

"You bastard," she cried, taking a swipe at him.

"Tsk, tsk," he said. "So close, but not quite close enough." Roark laughed. "Maybe if your arms were a little longer."

Red zeroed in on him. All her life she'd felt like an outsider. Been treated as something less. Even among the people who should've accepted her. She'd feared the beast lurking beneath her skin. Feared what it would do if it ever got out. But not anymore. Red closed her eyes and reached for the wolf with both hands, embracing the thing that scared her the most.

Warmth swept over her body, followed by excruciating pain. She opened her eyes and knew without seeing them they were glowing. The room looked different. The shadows were gone. Everything held a crimson haze.

Roark dipped toward her, a smile splitting his face. This time when she reached out. she latched onto him. Red wasn't sure who was more surprised, her or Roark. His pistol clattered to the floor and his eyes widened as he looked down. Red followed his gaze and saw that her hands had grown claws. She'd hooked the trunk of his body, sinking in to the knuckles. Her arms still looked like her arms, until they reached her hands. Gone were her fingertips and soft palms. They'd been replaced by rough pads.

Red met his eyes and smiled, running her tongue over her canines. She glanced at the camera and pulled him closer. From this angle, it would look like she was hugging Roark. Only she, Roark, and Morgan knew the truth.

"You're a—" Roark said, unable to get the words out.

"I know," Red said, giving him a genuine smile. "Surprise." She flexed her fingers.

Roark winced in pain and sweat beaded his brow.

"Now, you are going to give me the key to these shackles and we are going to walk out of here together. If you even think about calling Michael or anyone else for help, I will slice you open. Do you understand me?"

Roark nodded and he slowly reached toward his pocket. His eyes narrowed as he dug inside for the key.

"One wrong move and you'll be picking your intestines up off this godforsaken floor."

Roark plucked the key out of his pocket, using two fingers.

"Good, now hand it to Morgan."

Red turned him, keeping her claws buried in his flesh. Blood seeped beneath her hands and down the front of his dark shirt. A few drops hit the floor with a thick, fat splat. Roark reached out as far as he could.

"A little farther," she said, putting pressure on his abdomen.