Behind |First book in The Risen Saga|

Chapter forty one-Emma

She quickly scribbled out one word on the folded paper, lying it on the pillow. Emma hoped Seth would see how wrong this was but if he didn't, she couldn't be fighting on the wrong side of the battle. She sighed and slipped on her boots, tucking her coiled whip into her belt and walking out of the room. 

Emma knew Seth was lying but she couldn't confront him about it. She remembered the way he held her, saying he loved her, a tear escaping her overflowing eyes. But it was a lie. It was all a ploy to get to Ava. 

She stomped down the hallway, throwing her hair into a high pony tail and then taking it out, then doing it again. She was stressed and when she was stressed so messed with her hair. She took the long stairs that were hidden beside the elevator. She picked up speed and was down them in no time. 

Just like Emma thought, vampires were pouring out of the building. She ran behind the secretary desk and knelt behind it, peeking out of the corner. They were the outer clan of the rebellion. There were so many of them. How could Seth not have known?

Emma watched as they left the building, entering cars and quickly driving off, making room for more cars to park up front. She had to ask them something but she knew they wouldn't trust her. 

Her eyes grazed over the group and landed on someone she knew. Or someone she knew of. Zachariah Williams. The leader of the rebellion. That was who she needed to talk to. She quietly darted to his side, lightly tapping his shoulder. He whirled around so fast it was a blur, causing Emma's hair to puff up around her. 

"Before you hurt me, let me speak," Emma whispered and stared at his bad side. Emma knew how that happened. She had hated Seth for a while after that. 

"Better make it fast," he snapped, dangerously low. Emma swallowed down her fear and straightened up. She wasn't going to let someone like this see how much he intimidates her, how much he makes her want to cower. 

"I knew Seth was lying the moment he told me that you guys were lying to Ava," his expression slightly softened, but his hand slid down to his hips gripping the hilts of his haladie swords. "I want to fight on the right side. I don't want to fight against my friends and the only thing I can say is that I'm sorry that I didn't see it sooner but you have to let me fight. Please." Zachariah narrowed his eyes at her. Emma could basically see the wheels turning in his head. 

"You'll have to take that up with Ava," he snapped, "Jump in one of the cars with the other Night Children and then wait for me right when you get out." Emma nodded and entered the crowd. Take it up with Ava. Emma wondered how Ava felt about her now. Betrayed? For sure. Sad? Maybe. Angry? Emma would have been is she were in her position. 

The eyes of the other Night Children burned into her skin as they all made their way to the cars waiting patiently outside. Emma watched as another car pulled up and the door opened. She was up next. 

A vampire was standing by the car, asking names and quickly writing them down on a clipboard that was cradled in his hands. "Smith, Jones, Taylor..." he read off the names as the vampires got in the car. "What's your name?" he asked, looking at Emma suspiciously. She didn't know what to say. Should she tell him the truth? What would happen if she wasn't already on there?

"Em-Emma," she stuttered, silently cursing her nerves, "Emma Livingston." He looked at her for a rough ten seconds and then down at the paper, nodding his head in surprise. 

"Jump in Emma," he waved her forward and she could barely move. How had she already be on there? Maybe Zachariah got there before she did. The door closed behind her and she was cramped in with a few other vampires. 

She threw her hair up for the last time and left it there. The war was supposed to start tomorrow night. Seth had called her and told her all the important details: his plans, how he killed a hostage by the name of Damon, where Jason and Jesse were. She pursed her lips as the car rolled out of the driveway. Seth had lied to her, yet again, and she wanted to make him pay. But she was going to leave that to Ava. All that depended on whether or not she would even accept her.