Echo

Chapter 37

Quinn's POV

Reclining back against the chaise in front of the windows of her temporary bedroom she stared outside at the sprawling grounds and clenched her jaw. It was gorgeous out there and yet after three days of being on her 'best behavior' Quinn had still been locked inside with no clue as to where she was or how to get Henri's manservant or whatever he was to crack. No matter how polite she was, or attempted to bargain with him, the man refused to let her step foot outside her luxurious suite of rooms. Quinn didn't care how big this suite was or how many books Martin brought her to keep her entertained. She. Wanted. Out. 

Quinn Harding was a social creature through and through. Never one to be stuck in one place for too long. That meant that being trapped in here without someone to talk to was pure torture for the Avenger. She also missed Steve and the longer it took for her to figure a way out of here or for him to come get her the more Quinn felt like she'd never see him again. She didn't have her connection to her visions so she couldn't see his handsome face that way. Glaring down at the power dampening cuffs around her wrists for the millionth time just today Quinn growls under her breath. For the first time since gaining her powers, she had never been so completely cut off from them before. She didn't like the feeling of vulnerability it left her with. 

When her powers had initially come online she'd been terrified of them. She'd also learned to adjust quickly so that they didn't overwhelm her. Quinn had had to so that she could escape. Only when she'd managed to get away and into hiding where no one could find her had she let them go as she figured out what all she could do. Those first few months had been hard for sure, but never once had Quinn hated her powers. They were a daily reminder that she was alive and whole. Her healing ability had completely taken care of the tumor that had formerly been her death sentence. The way Quinn saw it, was that in exchange for the life she'd once hoped to have she now got a new one. One where she got to help people. Gained a whole family so that it wasn't just her and Maggie anymore. With Wade, Al and Weasel in Chicago she'd been able to grieve her old life and heal as she accepted her new one. 

Then there was New York and all of the people and opportunities it had given her. Namely Steve. They had a very rocky start to their story, and sure the middle was a little shaky too, but she knew it in her bones that their ending was everything she and her father had ever dreamed for her to have. Steve was her happily ever after after all. She was not meant to be trapped in a beautiful mansion, who knows where, with Henri Richelieu of all people. That's why Quinn had been keeping herself occupied. Mostly by working out as best she could without any equipment to challenge her. Instead, she improvised as best she could, using the heavy furniture as replacements. She'd gotten so bored yesterday that Quinn had set up a sort of obstacle course to keep things interesting. Martin hadn't been thrilled to see the beautiful room practically torn apart, though he’d had wisely kept his mouth shut when he dropped off her lunch. 

The infuriating man had simply politely inclined his head and told her he'd be back to put the room to rights once she was done. Just for his snotty tone alone Quinn had done it herself. She might not be as strong as she was used to being, it didn’t mean that with patience and time she couldn’t do it. When Martin knocked on the door as he unlocked it his eyes widened to see everything back in its place and Quinn lounging on the couch in the sitting room with a book. Speaking to two men who had come along with him, Martin dismisses them.  

“It seems that you are not needed, gentlemen. Mademoiselle Harding has taken care of things.” Respectfully inclining their heads the two lumbering men take off while the valet comes inside and closes the door behind him. “Did you enjoy your meal?”

“I did, thanks.” Keeping her eyes on the man Quinn doesn’t move from her spot. It was pointless. The older man was much faster and stronger than he looked so she didn’t even try to escape. Besides this was all a part of her hastily thrown together plan. She would have a better chance with Henri than with Martin since the Frenchman was obsessed with her and would be more inclined to let his guard down once she plays into his delusion.