"Of course. And you are Sam, and Drake. I cannot tell you how long I have been waiting to meet you both. You have no idea what this means to me, to have us all three here together. You have proven very clever at evading my men, and quite deadly, though they deserved it. They were never meant to harm you, only bring you in. No matter, the easiest solution was simply to lure you here of your own volition. And you have arrived just in time. This is so lovely."
He rose and glided with unnatural grace to light more candles around the room. A loveseat sat across from the Seeker's chair. "Please, sit. Let us discuss matters of great importance."
Sam sat on the edge of the couch, so Drake sat next to her, poised to attack at the smallest hint of provocation.
Sam cleared her throat. "We aren't here to talk. We're here to rescue our friends and all the other kids you're holding prisoner. And you're going to help us."
"Honestly, Sam, I am offended by the use of that word, 'rescue.' It implies such vulgarities. This is a place of safety and learning, a place where children with extraordinary powers can learn to use their gifts without fear. I cannot let them into the world where they would pose a threat to others, as well as themselves—not yet, anyway. It would be the epitome of irresponsibility to do so."
Drake aimed his gun at the Seeker. "We're not giving you a choice in this, freak. You will help us, or you will die."
The Seeker laughed and dismissed Drake as if he were a misbehaving child.
"Come forward, my pet. Let us show your friends who has the power here."
Drake turned in confusion as a woman walked out of the shadows.
Sam gasped. "Mary? What are you doing here?"
Mary didn't answer. Her lifeless eyes and stiff body seemed poised for another command, but held no free will.
Sam had told Drake about Mary, and he'd harbored little sympathy for the bully who had made her life miserable.
Sam's rage erupted. "What the hell have you done to her, you bastard? Release her right now. You're hurting her. Her mind—I can feel your powers eating it away."
Curious, Drake allowed his power to seek out her mind, but the pain became too much and he pulled back.
The Seeker frowned slightly. "I thought you would be pleased. After all, is this not the girl who tormented you throughout high school? Now she will never harm you again."
Drake and Sam linked together and reached for the Seeker's mind, but they hit an impenetrable wall.
"Your powers will not work on me. And now, your powers will not work at all."
Drake's heart pounded against his chest. He reached for Sam's mind, but found nothing. He couldn't compel or seek the mind of anyone. One look at Sam proved she had lost her powers as well.
Drake stood and cocked his gun. The Seeker nodded, and Mary cat-walked over to Drake. Heat exploded in his body, every muscle and nerve ending crackling with awareness. The room zeroed in on Mary, her smell and heat and the expectation of her touch.
"No! I won't be seduced by you." Drake turned the gun toward Mary, but Sam kicked it out of his hand.
Tears clogged up her throat. "You can't kill her. She's only acting on his command."
Drake gaped at Sam, shocked that she'd just disarmed him of the one weapon they had against the Seeker. Rage exploded in him. He pushed Mary out of the way and charged at the Seeker, bent on beating him until he could never hurt another soul again.
Before he could move two feet, the Seeker tore through his mind until all Drake could experience was pain.
Never-ending pain.
Chapter 50 – Lucy
The nurse handed Lucy a bottle of pills. "Take one every four to five hours as needed for pain. Come back in if you notice any puss or infection forming around the wound, or if the pain spikes suddenly or the stitches tear. Do you have any questions?"
Lucy shook her head. "No. Thanks."
She stuck the pills in her backpack and brushed her finger against the metallic sphere. The gentle thrum of energy filled her and eased the pain in her shoulder better than any medication could.
At least a dozen students filled the waiting room as Lucy made her way to the front door. Most of them had sought treatment for some kind of injury after a run-in with the guards from the night before. Lucy reflected on her conversation with the Seeker and wanted to talk to Luke about it. While the Seeker's rhetoric made sense, the reality was less convincing.
Before Lucy reached the door, Mr. Black entered alongside a young girl on a stretcher. He held her disfigured hand with such gentleness that Lucy had to follow him to learn more.
After all, know thine enemy is a basic tenant of the art of war, is it not?
Mr. Black spoke to a doctor. "I need her closer to me in these final stages. The other hospital said she might not last more than a few weeks. You have to buy her some time."
"We can make no guarantees. I've never seen anyone recover from such severe degeneration."
"Just keep her alive for as long as you can, okay? She's all I have, and I won't give up my little girl without a fight."