The Starborn Saga (Books 1, 2, & 3) (19 page)

I close my eyes for a brief moment.

Connor. 

He’s looking right at me. When I open my eyes, I know where to turn my head and he smiles when our eyes meet. I raise my eyebrows and shrug, and he does the same. But then his face turns serious, and he gives me an affirming nod to show me that I have his support. For some reason, this makes me feel much better. Looking out over the sea of heads, I see Danny, Heather, and Evelyn, all blending in with the others.

Heinrich walks up next to Aaron ~eat ap>

As I listen to Krindle make introductions, I don’t even know if I’ve decided to be a friend to Screven, or an enemy. 

“Every now and again,” Krindle says over the loud speakers, “something or someone so wonderful, so powerful comes along to show us the next step in the direction of our lives.”

A murmuring moves over the crowd. I imagine they aren’t usually keen on changes made by Jeremiah and his guards. But today, that change is supposed to be led by me and Aaron. 

“Every day,” Krindle continues, “the threat of the greyskins grows. Every day, we are in more danger. But thanks to our leader, Jeremiah, we no longer have to face that fear alone.”

I can’t help but let my eyebrows crinkle at the words. I can’t help but think that Jeremiah must have had his input on the final draft of this script. 

The crowd’s murmuring grows louder as some question Krindle about what he’s saying. 

“The answer for all of us lies with two people who call themselves the Starborn.” Krindle looks at Aaron and me from the stage. He starts to clap, and with a look, he commands the entire crowd to join him in the applause, though their confused faces show that they have no idea why they are doing so. Krindle then motions for us to come up on the stage with him. 

Aaron looks at me, waiting to see what I will do. I’m sure that I disappoint him when I take the steps and stand next to Krindle. Aaron walks slowly behind me. Krindle has this stupid grin spread across his face, probably barely able to contain his excitement. 

“Many of you have known Aaron,” Krindle says. “But Mora is a newcomer here. Her powers of the Starborn are truly amazing.” He turns to face me from the side, but my gaze stays on the giant crowd in front of me. 

“Mora,” Krindle says. “Please tell everyone your story. Tell us how you discovered your power.” He shoves the microphone in my face, but I’m frozen. I can’t seem to make the words form as my mouth feels like the sandy ground outside of Salem. 

My story…

I look at Aaron, who is standing next to me, staring at the floor beneath his feet. 

My story is meant to inspire other Starborns to come forward. I could speak of the death of my parents. I could start from there and work my way up to the point of when I gained my abilities. This moment determines the side that I choose. I now become a friend of Jeremiah’s and protect my family for a time, or a friend of Evelyn and the other Starborns, risking my family’s immediate safety.

But Evelyn said that my family would be in more danger if I go along with Jeremiah. 

“Mora?” Krindle says. Drips of sweat streak down his face. 

My story…

“My village has been under attack by the greyskins so many times,” I say, then swallow hard. “I wanted to find help. I needed to find help.”

I wonder if Aaron is considering running away from the stage. 

“And what did you discover about yourself?” Krindle asks. 

My story…

A moment of silence passes and Krindle asks the question again. 

“I know you’re nervous,” Krindle says with a fake smile. “But we’re all a big family here in Salem. It’s okay.”

I turn my head to stare Krad m">“I knindle in the eyes. “I discovered that the people of Salem are truly kind and willing to help a common stranger.”

Krindle laughs nervously at this. “Yes, but what about yourself? What did you discover as a Starborn?”

I take a deep breath. What I’m about to say will change the course of everything, but I can’t help but realize the truth. I cannot fight it any longer. 

“I don’t know anything about being a Starborn,” I say. “I don’t have powers or special abilities. I’m just a normal person like the rest of you.”

The crowd’s murmuring and shuffling becomes more severe. I sense that Aaron has snapped his attention to me, and I can see a thankful smile on Evelyn’s face in the crowded distance. The look of shock and anger on Krindle’s face can’t be matched. 

“You’re a liar!” a voice shouts out from the crowd. I look around until I see Rob storming up to the stage. When he is next to me, he snatches the microphone away from Krindle and speaks into it. 

“I was there the other night at Garden’s Peak to witness both Aaron and Mora using supernatural powers,” he says. “Others were there with me. Even Heinrich.”

A sea of heads turn and eyes narrow to focus on Heinrich’s face. “Tell them, Heinrich,” Rob says. 

Heinrich shakes his head. “I know nothing of what you speak,” he answers loudly. 

The crowd is growing louder with confusion, as Rob stands in front of me with his jaw hanging open. Krindle covers the microphone with his hand and starts muttering curses at me, demanding that I stick with the program. This is when I feel Aaron’s hand grab my arm to pull me away from the stage. 

I have made my choice. The Screven guards have been made to look like fools and the entire restless colony had been there to witness it. Heinrich steps forward to the edge of the stage to lead Aaron and me through the crowd and past more guards. We haven’t broken any laws so the guards don’t try to follow us. Krindle is still too stunned, trying to explain himself to the confused crowd. Heinrich moves us through a maze of back alleys as far from the chaos as possible. It’s not until we reach the secret trap door that leads outside of Salem that I realize where we are. 

“Might be a good idea for the two of you to lay low for a couple of days,” Heinrich says. 

“What’s going to happen?” I ask. 

“I don’t know,” he answers. “Jeremiah isn’t going to be happy, but I’ll do my best to calm Krindle down.” Heinrich lets his gaze linger on me for a moment and sighs. “I’m glad to know that Jeremiah’s reign is about to end,” he says with a sincere smile. But I don’t think his words have the effect that he intends. Perhaps he thinks I know more than I do. Maybe he assumes I want to lead their little rebellion against Jeremiah, but the truth is, I care only for my family’s safety. Aaron and Evelyn have only succeeded in convincing me that Jeremiah wouldn’t actually help Springhill in the end.

Heinrich gives a short bow and walks away from us while Aaron leads the way into the tiny bunker that goes to the other side of the colony wall. Once we’re through to the other side, we begin our second journey to the secluded house in the woods. 

Along the way, all I notice are the rumbling storm clouds in the distance. The rain begins before we reach the house. Even though it’s summer, the hard-hitting drops feel like they are freezing. We are silent most of the way, and before I even realize where we are, I look up and see the same house I left this morning, only this time it’s completely empty. 

When we walk iWheealnto the house, we’re both soaking wet. Aaron leads me through the front hallway to the stairs at the end. Once we reach the top, he leads me to a large den. On the far side of the den is a wall-sized set of windows, giving a perfect view of the storm unfolding outside. There are several couches and chairs scattered about the room, but what catches my attention the most is the fireplace to the right. My cold chills are begging for it to be lit. 

Aaron leaves for a moment and comes back with several towels, one of them big enough to wrap my whole body in. In his right hand, he’s carrying what looks like a small battery pack. 

“What’s that for?” I ask. 

He smiles at me and sets it next to the fireplace. “Now you can see how I use my gift in a normal situation.” He grabs some logs from the hearth and carefully piles them on the fireplace grate. Then he shoves some small sticks underneath for kindling.

While on his knees, he closes his eyes and lifts his palm. I can hear the charge of electricity as a blue streak of light transfers from the battery, to Aaron, to the wood in the fireplace. Blue sparks then turn into an orange flame as the logs catch fire and I can feel the warmth that my skin has been begging for. But my wet clothes are still clinging to my shaky frame. 

Aaron stands and pushes a couple of chairs in front of the fireplace, and hands me a bathrobe. It’s soft and plush like the towel I just used to dry my arms and face. 

“Stole it from a Screven guard in the Vault one time after an inspection. We don’t usually have the luxury of such items in Salem. You can hang your clothes on the chairs,” he says. “I’m going downstairs to change.”

“Thank you,” I say. 

I watch him walk out of the room and down the stairs. For some reason, my heart is pounding harder than it was before. It’s almost like I went for a light jog.

The wet clothes stick to my skin as I try to peel them off of me, and when I’m finished, I can’t help but feel like a queen in the soft robe. I’m dry now except for my hair, but it’s a little awkward being in nothing more than a robe despite its comfortable texture. But at least I’m covered. 

I sit on the couch, facing the wall-sized windows. The storm outside is beautiful. Through a break in the trees I can see grass in the fields beyond waving back and forth. Leaves tear from their branches. Every now and then, a flash of bright blue lightning hits the ground in the distance. 

“Is it alright if I come up?” Aaron yells up from the bottom of the stairs. 

“Yeah,” I say, pulling the robe around me tightly. 

My favorite part about storms is almost its most scary aspect: the lightning, the wind. All of it. 

Even though it is still the afternoon, the clouds make it look like dusk. Aaron’s heavy footsteps sound through the house as he makes his way to the den. He’s wearing fresh clothes and his hair has been brushed to the side. He sits to my right in a comfortable chair and stares out at the storm with me. I can’t help but wonder what he thinks about our earlier conversation. Where do we go from here?

“So, what happens next?” I ask. “I’ve done what you wanted.”

“I’m not sure,” he answers. “Obviously, we have to find out a way to recruit more Starborns on our own, but I haven’t figured out what to do yet.”

He rubs his fingers through his wet, black hair. “Heinrich wants to move forward with our plans and he thinks this will bring more Starborns to our side.”

“What plans?” I ask. 

“To get rid oT with f the Screven influence for good,” he answers. “That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you all along. Jeremiah is a powerful enemy, especially against the Starborns. A rebellion may have to start with us, but many more will join up, I’m sure.”

“Us? You mean you and the others. I’ve done my part, Aaron. I’m going back home to take care of my family.”

“But it’s not that easy, Mora. Screven has Springhill now too. After what you did today, it might not be the best idea to just charge in there.”

“But the deal was that he would leave his men there if I helped him. I didn’t help him, so the guards will just leave. That was the agreement.”

Aaron shakes his head. “You think Jeremiah cares about agreements? As it stands, he’s in control of your village. In a way, he now holds your family hostage. He’s not just going to let go of Springhill.”

“He’s going to try and use them against me,” I say, sitting up. 

“We don’t know that yet,” Aaron says. “Remember? He doesn’t even know who your family is.”

“Springhill is my family, Aaron. Every one of them means something to me. He can use any of them against me.”

“But he’s not going to yet. Jeremiah is patient, and that works in our favor right now.”

I hang my head low, staring at my bare feet as the rain taps against the windows. “So, what do we do now?” I ask. 

“We wait. We don’t know what effect your words had. We might be overreacting about all this anyway.”

For some unknown reason, my eyes begin to sting as I try to blink back tears. It isn’t an emotional response, or at least I don’t think it is. I feel so tired. I want to be done with all of this. I never meant to get involved in anything this big. 

I try to cover my head with a towel. This is the second time I’ve let Aaron see me cry. I feel so stupid. The couch sinks a little to my right as Aaron sits down beside me and puts a strong arm around my shoulders.

“It’s okay,” he says. He holds me tighter as I lean my head against his chest. 

“I know,” I say.

He lifts my chin with his hand, making me look at his deep blue eyes. 

“I’m sorry that I got you into this,” he says. 

“No you’re not,” I answer back. The statement seems to take him by surprise because his eyebrows lift. He is about to say something in defense, but I don’t let him get that far. Before I can stop myself, before I even know what I’m doing, my lips meet his and I pull him tighter to me. My hands grip his face and the room gets hotter as he kisses me back. 

At first, I don’t notice the rumbling. But after a few m
oments, it feels like the house is shaking. I open my eyes briefly to see the lights flickering. Aaron sees it too. Behind me, the windows are cracked. The rumbling has stopped and the lights go back to normal. 

“Was that us?” I ask. 

Aaron’s dumbfounded look turns into a grin when he, too, realizes what just happened. I can’t help but laugh at this. I look back at Aaron who is also laughing. I’m not exactly sure how he felt about the kiss we just shared. Truth is, neither am I. He doesn’t seem unhappy when I decide not to continue. Instead, I lay my head down on his lap and close my eyes. He must not have felt too awkward about it, because he begins to stroke my wet hair until I drift off into a dreamless sleep.

T w him

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The rage of the storm has stopped, but the rain is still falling heavily outside, tapping against the cracked window. Though it’s overcast, the light is brighter than it should be. Is it morning?