I shook my head. "She was real, and she was there."

He got that look on his face that he puts up when he doesn't want to argue. "If you say so."

"What the...?" Kurt slowed the car as we approached the end of the dirt road, ready to turn onto the highway. Off to the side, a car was wrecked against a tree, the hood crumpled, smoke pouring from underneath. "Hope they've got AAA."

"Look further," Andromeda said, "and you will see."

"What's she talking about?" Kurt asked.

"Over there." Zack nodded his head in the opposite direction, where there were two bodies laying on the ground, wearing black suits. "Are those ours?"

He was out of the car, Kurt and Scott a few steps behind him. Scott ran the fastest, pounding across the pavement and off the road. I followed, aided by Andromeda and Reed. When I came up over the edge of the road, I could tell it was definitely Directorate agents, prostrate in the gra.s.s, tire marks in the dirt around them. One of them was stirring as Zack slapped him gently across the face.

"Jackson!" Zack shook him, and the agent blinked his eyes a few times. I recognized his face, but didn't know his name. "What happened?"

The agent named Jackson blinked again, staring up at him. "Zack? Where am I? What are you doing here?"

"You were supposed to be backing us up at the Omega site," Scott said. "What happened?"

The agent looked surprised, then pondered that. "I...don't know. I don't remember." He looked around, startled. "I have no idea how I got here."

"Where's Kat?" Scott was looking around, frantic. "Where is she?" He went back to Agent Jackson. "Where'd Kat go?"

Jackson stared at Scott blankly. "I don't know. Was she with me?"

"Wake the other one," Kurt said.

"It won't do any good," Reed said. "He'll have had his memory drained too."

Something vague and totally improbable caused the wires in my brain to cross. "Just like those convenience store clerks."

Reed raised an eyebrow at me. "Finally getting it now?"

Scott stared back and forth between the two of us, impatience on his face. "So who did it? What kind of meta can steal memories out of someone's head?"

"A succubus or incubus." Reed stared back at me, not breaking eye contact. "But only one that's disciplined enough that they don't want to kill."

I thought about it again, about the whole trail. A willingness not to kill innocent people even when it was inconvenient. Discipline. That ruled out Charlie, and James as well, actually. Only one left. The rest of them were staring at me, but Reed was the only one who did it knowingly.

"Mom."

Chapter 23.

Someone Else I kept calm all the way out of the room, able to keep myself from looking back at Sienna only through years of ridiculous, rigorous discipline. After I was through the doors, I started to run, making my way through Omega's labyrinthine base. I burst through the exit and smashed the window out of a car that was parked outside. This one looked like something one of the Omega guards might drive, a sedan that didn't look too old. I hotwired it, and it started without a bit of fuss. The engine roared to life, and I paused, taking a breath after what I'd just accomplished.

"Good luck, kiddo," I whispered as I put the car into reverse and made a three point turn, angling it toward the road that would lead me off the premises. "If anyone can do it, you can."

I gunned the engine, scaring the h.e.l.l out of a few guards. I picked up a few bullet holes on the way out, but nothing too serious, I thought. Then I felt the pain in my shoulder. I looked down, and sure enough, blood was streaming down my arm. Dammit. I hoped my daughter had better luck than I'd had. She should. After all, now she had Andromeda looking out for her.

I swerved as I made my next turn; the wheel was getting harder and harder to control and I felt a little faint. I shook my head, trying to clear the little sparkles of light from my vision. Something was in front of me though, big and black, and very close. I jerked the wheel to the right and my car went off the road. After all this time, I finally had a decent car and I ended up*

I woke up after a few seconds, I thought. I was still bleeding out of my shoulder. I forced the door open and pulled myself out, to my feet. I snuck a quick look in the rearview mirror; at least I didn't look as bad as Sienna had when I left her behind.

I walked across the road in as close to a straight line as I could manage. I recognized the car when I got closer; government plates, men in suits in the driver and pa.s.senger sides. The first one was getting out as I got close and I used my meta speed to cut the distance between us, putting my hands on his face. I heard a scream from the back seat, and I could see the other agent pull his gun, aiming it at me, too scared to shoot through his partner. I pulled the pistol out of the holster of the agent I had in my grip and shot the other in the chest, twice, aiming for the kevlar vest I knew he was wearing.

He slammed against the door behind him with each shot, and I let the first agent drop. The door to the backseat of the SUV opened and a blond girl stepped out, flushed and angry. She was tall, willowy, pretty in that annoying kind of way a cheerleader is. I rolled my eyes when I saw her, and she put up her hands, as though she was ready to fight. I grabbed her fist when she threw her first punch, and held onto it until her expression changed.

It was kind of funny to watch. She grunted and strained, and even with my shoulder oozing blood, I still managed to keep a grip on her until her eyes rolled back in her head. I felt good after, which was normal, but when I moved my shoulder, I realized it didn't even hurt. "Persephone," I whispered as she dropped to the ground.

I went to the pa.s.senger side and pulled out the agent I'd shot. He was still breathing, so I touched his face, draining him until I was sure he wouldn't remember anything. "Sorry," I said to his unconscious body, "but it's best you don't remember running into me." That done, I pulled the blonde girl into the pa.s.senger seat and slid into the driver's seat myself. I started the car and let it run for a second before I put it in gear and pulled back onto the main road.

When I went to make the turn to the right that would take me back to town and eventually an interstate, my eyes caught on the Persephone. I didn't owe her an explanation, not really, especially since she was unconscious, and it was pretty unlikely she would remember. Still, I looked at her, and she reminded me a little of Sienna, mostly in the age, and I told her anyway.

"Sorry, kiddo, but I need you." My eyes traced the lines of her face, the slack, relaxed musculature that reminded me of a little girl who used to be so innocent...but most of that was gone when I'd left her behind just minutes earlier. I wondered when it had gone away, and who had done it. I felt a flash of anger, and knew who to blame. "He doesn't give a d.a.m.n about human agents, you know, but I bet he'll care about you. That's how he always was. Metas first." I shook my head. "Not that you care, but that's it. That's why I took you with me. You're my insurance, for when we collide...because it's coming soon. I can feel it. Real soon, and after all, I'm just one girl, alone against the whole Directorate. So I'm gonna need some help, and that's you, blondie. You're it. My fulcrum.

"You're my leverage for Erich Winter."

A Note to the Reader If you enjoyed this book and want to know about future releases by Robert J. Crane, you can CLICK HERE to sign up for my mailing list! I promise I won't spam you (I only send an email when I have a new book released) and I'll never sell your info. You can also unsubscribe at any time.

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading this story. As an independent author, getting my name out to build an audience is one of the biggest priorities on any given day. If you enjoyed this story and are looking forward to reading more, let someone know * post it on Amazon, on your blog, if you have one, on Goodreads.com, place it in a quick Facebook status or Tweet with a link to the page of whatever outlet you purchased it from (Amazon, Barnes & n.o.ble, Apple, Kobo, etc). Good reviews inspire people to take a chance on a new author * like me. And we new authors can use all the help we can get.

Thanks again for your time.

Robert J. Crane

Acknowledgments.

Third time around, and thrice charmed I have been as an author of this particular series. There are again thanks aplenty to be doled out, and here are the responsible parties: Heather Rodefer, my inestimable Editor-in-Chief (she keeps earning that t.i.tle) once more deconstructed this ma.n.u.script from top to bottom, from left to right. She has my thanks for keeping me between the (electronic) lines.

Shannon Garza gave me feedback on the emotional highs and lows of this piece (in addition to searching tirelessly for all those pesky errors I sneak in to give her something to hunt for) and helped it achieve whatever emotional resonance it may have (for me it held a lot, your mileage may vary).

Debra Wesley once more a.s.sisted me in finding errors, eliminating inconsistencies, and picking up little details that I hope my more eagle-eyed readers find (hints for the future, so read close).

Calvin Sams also read over this particular work, giving me some notes on his thoughts, and for that, I thank him.

Robin McDermott also provided a great deal of editorial input, helping to shape the way this ma.n.u.script was written, and helped me catch some very important errors.

Wendy Arnburg took time to help me figure out exactly which guns Sienna would find most comfortable. She would want me to tell you that the choice of Sienna's back-up gun (a Walther PPK) was totally the author's choice, and a nod to the world's most famous fiction user of said firearm, and was against her advis.e.m.e.nt.

Janelle Seinkner took time to answer a few medical questions about things that I wondered about (for Sienna, not for me). That help was much needed, and my thanks go to her for it. Any medical errors that remain are probably there because I should have listened closer to her rather than tried to go with what was best for the story.

The cover was designed by Karri Klawitter (Artbykarri.com). Exceptional covers, exceptional prices.

Thanks also to Nicholas J. Ambrose of www.everything-indie.com, who did the edit and format work here once more. Nick is truly a t.i.tan, and one of those most responsible for my work upholding the level of professionalism that it does. During the final phase of publication of this book it was driven home to me in a very obvious fashion how much Nick has contributed to every one of my books, and for that, I thank him.

And in the last part of the roundup, thanks to my mom and dad, wife and kids. You know who you are.

About the Author.

Robert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's s.p.a.ce Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a subst.i.tute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time. He makes his home in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.

Sienna Nealon will return in Family.

The Girl in the Box, Book Four.

Just hours after finding Andromeda and crossing paths with her mother, Sienna finds herself back at the Directorate and up against a bigger threat than ever before. Omega, the organization that unleashed Wolfe and others upon her, has declared war on the Directorate and the first strikes have already landed. Facing the seemingly unstoppable forces of Omega and Sienna's own mother, the Directorate seems poised for defeat when a new threat rears its ugly head * a traitor in their midst, one that may mean the destruction of everything Sienna has come to care about.

Coming Fall 2012.

The Sanctuary Series.

Epic Fantasy by Robert J. Crane.

The world of Arkaria is a dangerous place, filled with dragons, t.i.tans, goblins and other dangers. Those who live in this world are faced with two choices: live an ordinary life or become an adventurer and seek the extraordinary.

Defender.

The Sanctuary Series, Volume One.

Cyrus Davidon leads a small guild in the human capital of Reikonos. Caught in an untenable situation, facing death in the den of a dragon, they are saved by the brave fighters of Sanctuary who offer an invitation filled with the promise of greater adventure. Soon Cyrus is embroiled in a mystery - someone is stealing weapons of nearly unlimited power for an unknown purpose, and Sanctuary may be the only thing that stands between the world of Arkaria and total destruction.

Available Now!

Avenger The Sanctuary Series, Volume Two When a series of attacks on convoys draws suspicion that Sanctuary is involved, Cyrus Davidon must put aside his personal struggles and try to find the raiders. As the attacks worsen, Cyrus and his comrades find themselves abandoned by their allies, surrounded by enemies, facing the end of Sanctuary and a war that will consume their world.

Available Now!

Champion The Sanctuary Series, Volume Three As the war heats up in Arkaria, Vara is forced to flee after an ancient order of skilled a.s.sa.s.sins infiltrates Sanctuary and targets her. Cyrus Davidon accompanies her home to the elven city of Termina and the two of them become embroiled in a mystery that will shake the very foundations of the Elven Kingdom * and Arkaria.

Available Now!

Crusader.

The Sanctuary Series, Volume Four.

Cyrus Davidon finds himself far from his home in Sanctuary, in the land of Luukessia, a place divided and deep in turmoil. With his allies at his side, Cyrus finds himself facing off against an implacable foe in a war that will challenge all his convictions - and one he may not be able to win.

Coming Fall 2012!

Savages.

A Sanctuary Short Story.

Twenty years before Cyrus Davidon joined Sanctuary, his father was killed in a war with the trolls and he has never forgiven them. Enter Vaste, a troll unlike most; courageous, loyal and an outcast. When Cyrus and Vaste become trapped in a far distant land, they are forced to overcome their suspicions and work together to get home.

Available Now!

A Familiar Face.

A Sanctuary Short Story.

Cyrus Davidon gets more than he bargained for when he takes a day away from Sanctuary to visit the busy markets of his hometown, Reikonos. While there, he meets a woman who seems very familiar, and appears to know him, but that he can't place.

Available Now!

(Free for signing up for Newsletter at RobertJCrane.com!) The Girl in the Box Contemporary Urban Fantasy by Robert J. Crane.

Alone.

The Girl in the Box, Book 1.

Sienna Nealon was a 17 year-old girl who had been held prisoner in her own house by her mother for twelve years. Then one day her mother vanished, and Sienna woke up to find two strange men in her home. On the run, unsure of who to turn to and discovering she possesses mysterious powers, Sienna finds herself pursued by a shadowy agency known as the Directorate and hunted by a vicious, bloodthirsty psychopath named Wolfe, each of which is determined to capture her for their own purposes...

Available Now!

Untouched.

The Girl in the Box, Book 2.

Still haunted by her last encounter with Wolfe and searching for her mother, Sienna Nealon must put aside her personal struggles when a new threat emerges * Aleksandr Gavrikov, a metahuman so powerful, he could destroy entire cities * and he's focused on bringing the Directorate to its knees.

Available Now!

end.