BRIDGER (40 page)

He looked down and away, gripping the seat of chair tightly.
 
“No, I suppose not.”

Rebecca was choosing her words carefully.
 
“Wouldn’t you think that to be a useful tool?
 
Seeing as if she can mimic our abilities perfectly
and
shift…well, that would make her quite impressive.
 
As it is, you can only shift to things you’ve touched.
 
Emily can shift to people only.
 
Ashlyn is bound by no rules, it seems.”

Memaw’s face turned an ugly color of puce, but she managed to bite her bottom lip and refrain from commenting.
 
I could practically see the cogs working behind Memaw’s eyes, connecting invisible dots behind Rebecca’s words.

Reuben closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them, looking my direction.
 
“I still disagree with this decision.”

“Well it doesn’t matter anyway, because I vote yes. That’s three, no matter what you think, Reuben.” Rebecca jumped from her seat and in a flash was in front of me, hands on either armrest of the chair. “Emily, where would you like to do the ceremony?
 
Here, or in the traditional room reserved for these special moments?”

Memaw shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
 
“Rebecca, aren’t you forgetting that Ashlyn must make the final decision in the matter?”

Rebecca looked offended at the comment; as though no one in their right mind would ever turn down such an irresistible offer from her.
 
“Ashlyn, would you really not want immortality?
 
To live forever with your grandmother and us?”

The situation was quickly becoming dangerous.
 
It was also becoming clear how desirable I was to all sides of the party lines.
 
Ankou wanted to find out how to duplicate me.
 
Rebecca wanted to create a powerhouse no one could contend with.
 
Memaw seemed to want me to remain human and ultimately stay with Liam. It was beginning to seem like there was no way to stay neutral, but there was no good choice in the situation.

Choosing my words with the utmost care, I finally gave a response.
 
“May I have time to think about this?
 
It’s a serious decision.
 
I’m honored by the possibility, but it should be considered from all angles first, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Rebecca looked taken aback at my kind decline for immediate immortality.
 
“I’ve never had someone turn down my offer.
 
I can’t guarantee I’ll leave the offer extended indefinitely.”

I inclined my head in acknowledgement and took her hands into my own. I was going to have to lay it on thick so she wouldn’t be left offended. “That’s completely understandable.
 
Would you be kind enough to leave it on the table for a short while so I have time to weigh my options?”

Rebecca looked back at the rest of the committee.
 

“I see no problem with that,” said Antony.

“Nor do I,” agreed Memaw.

Roslin murmured her consent, making Rebecca outnumbered.
 
Although she was clearly the leader, she couldn’t move with the rest of them on my side.
 
Nodding her head, she turned back to me.
 
“Very well.
 
I’ll give you three weeks to decide.”

“A year, perhaps?” I asked, hoping to negotiate to something in the middle.

“Six weeks.”

“Six months?”

Rebecca shook with irritation.
 
“Fine.
 
Six months.
 
At that point, we’ll reconvene here, you bringing us your decision. Agreed?”

Everyone nodded in agreement.
 
Finally pulling her hands from mine, she consented defeat.
 
“You may go now.”

Memaw came forward and began to pull me into the hallway before Rebecca called out once more. We stopped short as Rebecca spoke from behind us. “Before you leave, please take the spare coat on the rack.
 
I believe it will fit you well, and you may find you enjoy the way you look in it.
 
We’ll see you in October to hear your decision.”

I turned to say thank you, but the room was empty.
 
Looking at Memaw, she shook her head slightly.
 
I walked to the coat rack and pulled the black jacket off, sweeping it around my back and putting my arms through.
 
I buttoned up three of the four silver rimmed buttons just like the others, allowing the collar to brush my own jaw line.
 
I felt a thrill of invincibility, knowing only five others wore these jackets.
 
I smiled at Memaw, who reluctantly returned the smile back.
 
“I match you now,” I said, gesturing to the jacket she was wearing.
 

“You do indeed.
 
Ready to head home?”

I nodded.
 
“I’m ready to see Liam.”

“As you should be,” Memaw said, smiling.
 
“Let’s go.”

For some reason I felt like the next six months were going to go too fast for my liking.

THIRTY-ONE

When we found ourselves back in the shower of the basement, the water was still on.
 
Jumping out quickly, Memaw followed suit.
 
I reached to turn off the water but Memaw grabbed my arm with one hand, wrapping the other around my mouth.
 
I jerked from the sudden headlock she had put me in, trying to crane my neck to understand what she was doing.

“Don’t. Say. A. Word.” She breathed.
 
“Ankou is here.”

Every muscle in my body tightened as though they were rubber bands stretched to their limit.
 
Memaw whispered so low I almost missed it.
 
“Do you promise not move if I let go of you?”

I nodded slightly, unable to do anything more.
 
Memaw released her grip and I whipped around to look at her. “What are we going to do?”

She grabbed my hand, tip-toeing out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, scanning the entire place.
 
Nothing looked out of the ordinary.
 
“No matter what, don’t tell them where my port is.
 
We’re sworn to secrecy to protect the ports to Adaire.
 
Do you understand?”

I nodded again.
 
There were creaks from upstairs as someone stepped on the loose floorboard in front of the pantry door. Memaw kept my bottom jaw in place, locking it shut before any words could come from my lips.
 
“Chris may be up there as well if Ankou is still here. If nothing else, Jamie’s here. Liam is obviously upstairs and may be in serious danger. No matter what, there’s going to be a fight when they see us.
 
You understand that, right?”
 

Unable to do anything else, I blinked my eyes and pushed against her rock solid grip. As I closed my eyes and began to focus on shifting, she gently shook me. She looked hard into my eyes, then nodded, apparently resigned.
 
“You don’t need to shift, Ashlyn.
 
You know how to fight in your own form.”
 

After saying that, she placed the palms of her hands together and rubbed them as though she was warming them up.
 
Pulling them apart, a spear was emerging from nothing.
 
My mouth fell open.
 
“You’re teaching me that trick if we don’t die up there,” I said, trying to make light of the situation.

She teased back.
 
“I can’t die, I just have to cover for you.”
 
Winking, she brushed past and in a flash was up the stairs, slinking around the corner.
 
She looked back just long enough to motion me forward.

Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and then followed Memaw up the stairs, preparing for whatever was in the other room.

* * *

Memaw had tried to ready me for whatever was around the corner.
 
However, after peeking around the wall that we were hiding behind, there was no way to not freak out.
 
My stomach rolled from the sight in the living room.
 
Before turning to vomit, Memaw caught and pulled me against her chest, my face hidden from the view.
 
“It’s okay, Ashlyn, we can handle this.
 
It’s okay,” she whispered.
 

She let go and I swayed for a moment before collecting my balance once more.
 
As I did, Ankou’s wheezing voice filled the air like a noxious gas.
 
“The Assassin and her granddaughter should be back anytime.
 
I wish I knew where they would enter so we could position our guests just right,” he lamented.

Jamie’s voice trilled out an excited sigh.
 
“My Lord, Ashlyn’s unskilled.
 
When she sees the mortal she’s so attached to, she’ll throw a fit.
 
Let me take care of her.”

I seethed in indignation. Unskilled? That’s what she thought. My fingers were blue from squeezing the spear, waiting on Memaw’s motion for action.
 
She didn’t look in my direction.
 
She was totally focused on the conversation.

“Why do I have to be bait?” whined a voice I would know anywhere.
 
Chris hadn’t been in the room when I caught a glimpse of Liam, bound, gagged, and bleeding profusely from his head.
 
Liam had filled my vision and broken my heart at the same time.
 
It was lucky Memaw had grabbed me before I could gather enough courage to run to him.

“You’ll do as you’re told, child,” Ankou hissed.
 

Jamie was still playing her role as seductress.
 
“Chris, love, you have such an important role. When we have them where we want them, if you’re hurt, we’ll mend you immediately.”

My heart stuttered.
 
Was Chris maimed in some way? I could taste blood from biting down on my tongue so hard.
 
Why weren’t we moving in on them?

“What about our guest of honor?” Jamie said.

Ankou breathed in a voice that was almost a whisper. “Ah.
 
Let’s wait to introduce them to one another if need be.
 
It doesn’t need to happen any sooner than necessary.
 
I want to break Emily slowly.
 
She deserves to feel some of the pain she has inflicted on me over the years.”

Memaw whispered, crouched low beside me. “Wait for my move.
 
Don’t look at Chris, Liam, or whoever else they have out there.
 
Focus only on your target.”

I blanched, knowing that inevitably someone would die today.
 
Memaw would hopefully be able to finish them off without my help. “Who’s my target?”

Memaw closed her eyes tight. “Unfortunately, Jamie.”

I grinned. “Awesome.”

“Don’t get so excited. I’m warning you right now – ” Memaw stopped in midsentence, listening to Jamie talking.

“I can’t wait to see Emily crack,” Jamie continued, obviously relishing the thought.
 
“She’s losing her edge as it is.”

This put Memaw over her personal limit.
 
The insult to her supposed decline came too soon after losing a fight to me.
 
It seemed hit home a little harder than it would have any other time.
 
Stepping out from behind the wall, she responded pleasantly enough to my once best friend, but at the same time making it clear she was anything but happy.
 
I followed her, assuming our cover was blown anyway.
 
“Losing my edge, am I?” she drawled.

In a motion that was invisible, a flash of orange light shot across the room from Memaw to Jamie.
 
Lifted off the floor, Jamie hung in the air, terrified.
 
I looked at Memaw with wide eyes as she pushed both of her hands forward, palms toward her target.
 
Jamie slammed into the wall behind her, rattling two photos off the wall.
 
They crashed to the floor but were muted in comparison to Jamie’s crash.
 
She slid into a crumpled mess on the floor, unconscious.