Beyond Reach Read online

  For my beautiful little niece, Alexa. Welcome to the family, Lexie.

  Table of Contents

  PART I - ARIANA CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  PART II - ZANE CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  PART III - ARIANA CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

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  A Special Note from the Author

  About the Author

  Light of a Thousand Stars sample

  Books by Siobhan Davis

  Copyright

  PART I - ARIANA

  CHAPTER 1

  The accusation still haunts me, despite the seemingly undeniable evidence. His betrayal cuts deep. I wouldn’t believe it, except that I’m looking at it with my own two eyes. Cal is on the steps of NSAF, shaking hands with President Calavero as his father looks on proudly from the sidelines. The troubling part is the image pre-dates the commencement of the pageant, ‘The Calling,’ and was weeks before we became an item.

  If that’s what we were, because now everything feels like it was fake. But try telling that to my treacherous body, as every part of my being aches for his arms, his lips, and his touch. I hug myself tightly, though it in no way compensates.

  Zane, my strangely familiar, yet totally unknown ex-boyfriend, brought the recording to my attention the day after we arrived back on Earth. Stealthily roaming around the Novo government systems, he’d happened across a bunch of confidential files.

  The incriminating recording floored me completely. I’ve watched it over and over again, and the pain never lessens. The questions are never-ending. What did he do? And why? Did I mean anything to him at all?

  No one would’ve blamed Zane for saying ‘I told you so,’ but he’s taken the moral high ground, not that I’m overly surprised. As we slowly get reacquainted, I can see the many admirable qualities that I fell in love with. Or presumably did, because I still don’t remember any of it. President Calavero and his controlling regime on Planet Novo had seen to that, cruelly wiping all our memories of those we had so easily left behind on Earth.

  I’m still trying to de-code it all, much to the frustration and annoyance of Micha Kloon. Chancellor Corrs’ right hand woman is a law unto herself. I used to think Cal was impatient, but he isn’t a patch on the witch; that’s my new name for her, I think it’s rather fitting. We’ve reached a form of ‘stalemate,’ a standoff with Micha Kloon in the red corner and Ariana Skyee in the blue. Except this isn’t a game, and people’s lives are at stake—namely my mom and fourteen-year-old sister Lily. And Cal. Despite what he may, or may not have done, I still desire to get him safely off Novo. But my loved ones are of no consequence to Chancellor Corr, our leader designate. Or to any of the administration in Clementia: the underground resistance movement on Earth, the owners of my new claustrophobic home.

  I was utterly shocked when we first landed to see the devastation wrought on Earth by the dual atrocities of Mother Nature and the authorities: Complete towns razed to the ground; buildings and houses leveled; woodlands extinguished; and roads upended. Connecticut is like a shell of its former self—ravaged beyond all recognition, destruction evident around every corner.

  Everything the government presented to us on Novo was a lie, deliberate deceptions designed to garner continued support for their power-hungry regime. People were driven out of their homes, their neighborhoods, even their state. Only those who secured work in one of the two approved industries in Northern Connecticut—Ceut or Arma—were permitted to remain here. Everyone else was forced to find work in other states or reside in the ghetto-style warehouses, built in obscure pockets of the worst affected areas. Only basic facilities and infrastructure have been re-established, all part of the government’s plan to keep the downtrodden permanently under foot. These people are no better off than prisoners, virtual slaves in the new world order. My sense of loathing and disgust accelerates with each passing day.

  The one resolution I’ve steadfastly adhered to is the one I made that awful day, the day we fled Novo for Earth, without three of the most important people in my life. I refuse to divulge the whereabouts of the precious, stolen information, despite Micha’s many threats. Entrusted to me by my late father, he requested that I safeguard it until I can release it into trustworthy hands. Even without the need for a bargaining tool, I know I’m right to continue to protect it. My sixth sense affirms it.

  I don’t trust Clementia. Okay, so maybe I’m generalizing. I don’t trust most of them, certainly not the controlling factions, the part of the organization that I’m supposed to. Something feels wrong, and I’m not going to ignore my psychic warning. But that wasn’t an excuse I gave the witch. I told her I’ll deliver the information when they rescue the others from Novo, but apparently, another salvage mission is totally implausible and far too dangerous. I don’t care about the risk, the ‘how’ or the ‘why,’ just the ‘when.’

  Micha’s gone on a daily offensive, trying to twist my mind and destroy all good thoughts I have of Cal. Attempting to mess with my mind is a real sore point, considering what’s gone before. According to Micha, Cal was playing both sides all along and feeding information to President Calavero and Zolt Rada, Operations Director for ‘The Calling’ pageant. She completely over-stepped the mark this morning.

  “He played you, you silly girl. As if someone like him would fall for someone like you. Even now, you foolishly defend him at the expense of everything we stand for.” I had relished the zapping sound of the slap as my hand impacted her face. How dare she speak to me like that! Agent Dale had stepped in and diffused the situation before it became a full-on fistfight.

  It’s probably not smart to make an enemy of someone like her, but I dislike her intensely, and she certainly knows how to push my buttons. The implication I’m not good enough or attractive enough for Cal hurt. Though, it’s not a new sentiment. There was a time when I used to think like that myself. Raking over old wounds is nothing but painful, particularly when I’m so confused and upset over Cal’s apparent disloyalty.

  So, we’re still at an impasse, and nothing is moving forward.

  A firm knock on my door interrupts my thinking. Just one rap, his signature knock. “Come on in, Zane, it’s unlocked.”

  “Just wondering if you want to go for run?” he asks, stepping into the room.

  “Not really.” Focusing on my feet, I’m too ashamed to meet his gaze. I can’t pluck up the courage to go out running—not without Cal. I probably shouldn’t give a damn, not with what he’s accused of, but I can’t switch my emotions off. I’d suspected something was up with Cal those last few weeks on Novo, remembering the aggression that seemed to erupt from nowhere. But I hadn’t ever contemplated the fact that he might be betraying me, that the whole situation was an orchestrated ruse arranged by the government. Sure, we were both guilty of keeping secrets. But was he keeping the biggest secret of all? Was everything we shared together on Novo all part of some plan? Maybe I’m naïve, but I can’t believe he would do that. I refuse to believe it.

  Sighing loudly, I peek up at Zane. He’s looking at me expectantly. A run would be beneficial; I know that, for I always do my best thinking when I’m out jogging through the woods. It’s also obvious that my body is feeling sorely neglected. The fact that some of my clothes are getting tight hasn’t gone unnoticed with me. My rigorous sessions in the training unit are clearly not keeping me in good enough shape.

  “What about a walk? Some fresh air would be great,” I suggest instead. I’m sure Zane’s expecting this response; it’s my usual. The air always seems so dank, so cloying in the underground lair. It makes me feel clammy and gray and does absolutely nothing to help lighten my mood. So I’m not opposed to a trip outside, once it doesn’t involve dredging up any unpleasant memories.

  “A walk would be good.” Extending his hand, he helps me up from the couch. His eyes flicker to the screen and the frozen image of Cal, but his expression remains neutral. Zane is probably the most restrained person I’ve ever met, I think, before letting out a small laugh. How the hell would I know? Half the people I knew no longer exist in my mind.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here.” I’m suddenly impatient to escape above ground.

  “How’s Deacon doing?” he asks, as we walk.

  “Slight improvement, but he’s still barely talking to me. Not that I blame him, it is all my fault.” The vision of my heartbroken little brother swims in front of my eyes.

  “Come on, Ari, I know you don’t really believe that. No one’s to blame for what happened. Besides, if anyone should feel guilty, it’s me.”

  “How is this your fault?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.

  “I’m not saying it’s my fault, but I should’ve sensed it was a trap and avoided capture. Then you would have been with your mom and Lily, and Cal wouldn’t have been left behind.”

  “We’re not doing our
selves any favors thinking like this, are we? I’m sick to death of analyzing it. It’s all that goes through my mind at night, and reviewing it time and time again won’t change the facts. It’s just that I feel utterly helpless, and I’m so worried. Have you discovered anything new?”

  Shaking his head, he looks me directly in the eye. “The government has rebuilt their firewalls, and I’m back at the starting line. It’s going to take some take to break into their systems again.”

  “It’s hopeless,” I admit, exhaling loudly. “The witch won’t budge, I‘ve no way of contacting Lily or Mom, and you’ve been shut out of their technology. What are we going to do?”

  “We’ll figure this out, Ari.”

  He’s always so confident, so self-assured. Sometimes, his cool demeanor really grates on my nerves, though mostly I’m appreciative that he’s consistently in my corner. “Every day increases the chance that I won’t see them again. Dad’s gone, and if anything should happen to Mom and Lily, I’ll never forgive myself! We need to devise a plan, and fast.”

  Placing his hands on my shoulders, Zane looks earnestly into my eyes. “We will figure this out, I promise.” And it’s not that I doubt his confidence; it’s his ability to deliver on it that seems insurmountable.

  Gently extracting myself from his grip, I twist around and notice that we’ve reached the entry tunnel to the woods. Zane steps aside to allow me to climb up first.

  Reaching the top, I insert the five-digit code and press my thumbprint against the tiny digital screen on the inner lid. As it slowly retracts, I feel the cool fresh breeze blow softly on my face. Stepping out into the density of the forest, I breathe deeply. Zane quickly alights behind me, and we shut the hatch together. No one would ever find their way into the Clementia underground barracks, not unless they’ve been specifically told of its exact location and someone has breached protocol by handing over the access codes. It doesn’t do much to quell my anxiety though. Existing in a constant state of agitation now, I’m always on edge, relentlessly worrying and my sixth sense prickling in nervous anticipation.

  Glancing down, I spot Zane’s hand twitching instinctively at his side. I know this is hard for him—to be back together in Connecticut, without being together. But my feelings aren’t exchangeable, and I can’t trade one boy for another. Anyway, romance is the last thing on my mind. All I can think about—every minute, of every hour, of every day—is how to get the rest of my family to safety. I wish there was a way I could use my psychic ability to help resolve the situation, but it’s redundant in a scenario like this.

  We’ve gone at least a mile or two, and Zane hasn’t uttered one word. Not that he needs to, he could easily communicate silently with me. The depth of our bond is inexplicable; we survived forced separation and hundreds of miles that had distanced us from one another. We’d been dreaming of each other—seeing snapshots of our lives—before we’d been reunited when he came to Novo to rescue me. Clueless for months, I had been desperately trying to figure out the mysterious dreams, until finally it became clear.

  Apparently, he was the love of my life. Until I was divested of those memories, stolen by an unscrupulous government. Of course, that was before I fell for Cal, my chosen suitor on Novo. Our wedding had been scheduled for today. If I’d stayed there, I would now be Mrs. Remus. Today is the worst day I’ve faced yet, and my craving for him is at an all-time high. Cursing my feeble heart, I wonder if he’s thinking of me at this moment, as I’m thinking of him. An unintentional sigh escapes my mouth, and I frown. I feel so lost without him.

  Thinking about Cal causes my heart to spike in painful peaks. I wish I knew the extent of his betrayal. I flit between reasoning, which says he’s clearly guilty of deception and deserving of my revulsion, to rationale, which says he was only hiding some things to protect me. And didn’t I do the same thing? Concealing the pertinent details of my father’s posthumous letter from him, deliberately omitting to tell him about the furtive, stolen information lodged in my arm? We both had our secrets. I know mine were hidden in order to keep him safe, but his motivations are pure guesswork at this point.

  Of course, Clementia wants me to think the worst of him, and maybe I would, if there were more proof of his deception. But all they have on him is that recording. Okay, even I think it’s pretty damning, especially considering Cal never revealed that he’d met the President before his visit in Illumina. But he at least deserves a chance to explain.

  “I know it’s a silly question, but are you okay?” Zane asks.

  “No, and I don’t know if I ever will be,” I say, rather dramatically. “Does it help?”

  “What?” He arches an eyebrow.

  “That I’m such a drama queen all the time.”

  “Some things never change.” His lips pull into a playful smirk as he elbows me. Despite myself, I return his smile. “I’ve missed your smile, among other things.” I can’t work out if he’s being suggestive on purpose. But I can’t go there, not yet, not when my mind is still so fragile.

  “How’s the lovely Isla today?” I ask silently, knowing full well that it’s a deliberate tactic to avoid the conversation we still need to have.

  “I haven’t seen her yet this morning, but I’ll pass on your regards.”

  “While you’re at it, give her a smack in the mouth on my behalf.” Isla is another name definitely knocked off my Christmas card list.

  “Please don’t do that,” he replies.

  “Sorry, I’ll try to be more pleasant, but it’s damn hard. I don’t get your friendship.”

  “I meant, stop talking silently. We don’t need to. I spent years longing to hear your voice, so don’t deprive me of that as well.”

  While I know he isn’t being spiteful, the bitter tone of his voice betrays the hurt he’s trying to conceal and enhances the guilt I feel. Rubbing my palm against my forehead, I try to ease the permanent headache I’m plagued with. “Zane, I know I’m being unfair. But I can’t talk about us, not yet. It’s too much.”

  He stops abruptly, and his arms grip my shoulders as he faces me. “I’m grateful that you’re here, safe and out of harm’s way, but we need to discuss this. My feelings haven’t changed and being unable to express that, to show you how much I love you—it’s killing me.” He looks so forlorn that I act without thinking. Reaching out, I gently take his hand in mine. His skin feels smooth and warm to the touch, just like Cal’s. I want to pull away, to wrest my hand from his and bury it in my mouth to stop the scream that’s forming there. But I can’t hurt him again. Not after all he’s done—is doing—for me. And no matter how wretched I am now, I know it’d be so much worse without him. I’m thankful for his constant support. So I leave my hand in his, happy that this small gesture appeases him, for now. He gently squeezes my hand and smiles.

  “Give her time.”

  “What?” I ask, confused.

  “Isla. She isn’t what she appears to be.”

  “She detests me, Zane. Though I sense that’s more to do with you than me.”

  “Maybe. We can add it to the agenda for our heart-to-heart, if we ever have it.” I glare at him, grinding down on my teeth. “I didn’t mean anything by that.”

  “I’m sorry, I know you didn’t. Ignore me; today isn’t a good day.” I exhale slowly. “Actually, can we just head back?”

  “Sure. Come on,” he says agreeably, firmly grasping my hand. Damnit, I should’ve known I’d set a precedent. One I can’t backtrack from.

  We are almost back at the entry-point when Zane darts suddenly behind a tree, tugging me along with him. My back is flush to his chest, as his arms tighten around me. “What the …” His hand clamps over my mouth.

  “Don’t speak out loud or move an inch. I’ve just spotted some mini-drones.”

  “What the hell are mini-drones?”

  “They’re government-deployed, low-level surveillance drones. I’d heard that the authorities were using them to identify Clementia sympathizers, but this is the first time I’ve seen them sniffing around here. This isn’t good. I’ll need to advise the War Council.”

  My heart is pounding in my chest, my breathing labored, but I keep still and silent as instructed. Warm breath cascades over my neck, and my body tingles all over. Zane is pressed so snugly behind me that I can easily detect all the hard, taut lines of his body, and I blush furiously. Resisting the urge to squirm, I spend an uncomfortable ten minutes locked in his embrace. His arms rest precariously close to the swell of my breasts, and I’m self-conscious as hell.