Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)(16)
“What? I thought we were supposed to be packing,” Sasha stammered as she watched her sister shed her sari and head coverings.
“We’ll throw some clothes in a bag after we’re done here. We’ll have most of what we need when we get there. We have to arm ourselves now. Aide will be here in a minute so we need to hurry. Turn around.”
Sasha did as she said, hurrying to finish before her uncle arrived.
“I’ve never had need to tell you of all my gifts, little sister. Only our mother, my husband and a few others know of the gift I'm about to use.”
“What is it?” Sasha watched over her shoulder as Imogen reached for her power, her eyes simmering with rage and heat.
“It’s an extension of my shielding gift. I’m going to protect you, but this is going to be uncomfortable. I’m sorry for the pain, but you cannot scream.”
As Imogen laid her hands on Sasha’s bare shoulders, fire lanced through her body, covering every inch of her skin. She gasped but managed to keep her voice in check. Her skin bubbled and shifted. It was agony like she’d never felt before. Imogen’s fire traced patterns across her skin, mimicking the Vedic designs of her sister’s henna tattoos.
When Imogen released her, the liquid fire reverberated, causing Gen’s body to glow red like her eyes until the smoldering heat faded and the same lines traced her arms and legs, settling into small patches of lace-like patterns.
Both women panted with the effort not to scream.
“What was that?” Sasha gazed down at the strange markings across her body. The henna tattoos her sister always wore were obviously not henna, but a physical mark of her power.
“A weave of protection only I can give you. When you are in danger, the patterns will move to shield you from any debilitating blow. We have no idea what we're walking into, Sasha. We cannot assume that they will keep their word and bring you home in six weeks. We have to be prepared to fight if it comes to that. And in the heat of the moment, if you’re gravely injured, as young as you are, it could be the difference between failure and success. Escape or capture. The patterns will also warn you of the unexpected. If you feel them growing hot, be vigilant. There is no trace of my power in the designs and no one has ever suspected they are anything more than a henna obsession.”
Sasha nodded, grateful for the added protection.
“Get dressed and make sure you cover every inch of those markings. Aide will be here shortly and we need to be ready.”
Sasha retreated to her closet, pulling on a long blue skirt and tunic, carefully draping a blue and gold sari to hide the still-glowing marks from her sister’s powerful gift.
Sasha wasn't naive enough to think she'd been given the whole story. But her family didn’t trust the Senate. That was painfully clear now.
~~~
“You girls ready?” Aide asked with a soft knock on the door.
“Come in,” Sasha said in a shaky voice, opening the door for her uncle.
“Is it done?” he asked as he stepped into the room.
Imogen nodded. “I’ve done all I can given the short time we have.”
Of course, Aide would know what Imogen could do. His gift showed him exactly what an Immortal intended to do when wielding their power.
“Let’s get you both armed, then.” Sasha’s uncle dumped a bag of weapons across the bed and Imogen went to work, using her signature gift to conceal them from the eyes of her enemies. And in this situation, the enemy was the Senate … and the mentor they’d hired to train her.
Aide helped Sasha strap her concealed weapons across her back. The slim sword was a comfort. Just knowing it was there made her feel better about her situation now that she had the means to fight, whatever circumstances she might find herself in.
“What happens if they pat us down?” Sasha asked.
“They won’t feel anything,” Imogen said as she worked to arm herself. “When I shield something, I’m not just making it invisible, I’m also sending it to the … to a special place, and only those with my permission can retrieve it. No time to explain now. Just know you’ll never have to worry about getting caught with anything I’ve concealed.”
“You’ll be able to store your arsenal in your quarters when you get where you’re going, but I want you to keep them on you until you arrive,” Aide said as he strapped a thin-bladed knife to her upper arm, leaving the hilt accessible. She could slip her hand under her sari and up her sleeve to retrieve the knife in an instant.
“Don’t go anywhere without ample protection. Just in case,” Imogen added.
“We don't want to rock the boat until they show us they can't be trusted,” Aide said. “But the instant the plan changes from what we’ve been told, we want you armed and ready to fight. And I’ll be right behind you. I won’t show myself unless I absolutely have to. My goal is to tail you and keep an eye on your activities and your movement. You will train in the south of India, but after that, we can't trust that they'll keep their word and bring you home. As soon as you've completed your training and you're on the move again, Liam will be able to track you with his gift. But if they’ve lied about anything, we’ll know and I’ll be close enough to react quickly.”
Sasha nodded as her uncle holstered a pair of magnetized blades at her waist and looped her bow and quiver over her shoulder.