Project Sable Rose by Wolfheart (new books to read .txt) 📕

She pulled away a little, confused. As much as she wanted this, it seemed…wrong.
“Okay…” He whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Is that…guilt…in his voice?

He let go of her.
“What? Don’t like my lips, pretty boy?” Sable bluffed, trying to goad something out of her handler.
“No. That’s not it at all.” He looked at the floor. “I shouldn’t have started that. I know it would affect you and Sam’s relationship.”
“I kissed back.”
Why is this smug bastard refusing something he started? And why is he taking the blame?
“N-never mind. Let’s focus on work.”
After all of that, you want me to work?

“Make up your damn mind.” Sable snapped. “Fuck me or work.”
He smiled faintly. “Look, try to get that computer to turn on. That’s your assignment. When you need a break, play the violin or go shooting. If you want, you can even call up Sam or I anytime you need one of us.”
He was edging toward the door. “You know how to reach me and where. For the next two weeks, I’ll stop by every evening. The third week is battle simulation training.”
“Yes, of course. Leave me to fiddle with computers, guns and music all by myself after getting me all stirred up.”
She let him go, however.
Some girlfriend I am…

But her eyes were drawn to the laptop sitting on her table…waiting…

*****

Terra lay exhausted in her bed. Her mind spun and throbbed. It was difficult to breathe. Leon held her hand quietly.
"Is the pain gone?" He asked in a whisper. She felt his fear; he'd thought she was going to die.
"Yes. It's gone." She needed her bow - right now. When Terra attempted to get up, however, Alex gently - and easily - lay her back down.
"You need to rest."
"No." She growled. "I need my bow."
And she shoved his hand away to stand. It was in her hands before she could rise, however.
My...bow...came to me?

"Do you want me to leave?" He asked quietly.
"Yes. I'm sorry, Leon, but yes. I need you to leave. I'll call you if the energy is too much again..."
"Alright. I'll be in my room if anything

happens. Your meds..."
"Are in the drawer." She finished, picking up the thought by mistake. "Now out of the room so I can focus."
He opened his mouth, but his thoughts ran into her mind.
"I will, Leon. I swear I'll call you."
With a sad nod of his head, Leon left the room.
If I'm right...this bow is triggered by my mind. Not by my hands...

She felt the design, and nodded.
There's no other explanation...but...how do I make the power flow any way I want?

Knowing she couldn't stand, Terra realized there was only one way to find out...
Besides...Leon is just down the hall..this will need training, however, that he can't help me with...

Terra told the bow to return to the wall and released it. It floated through the air. Though it hit the wall a little hard, making a thud,

it worked. Then the psychic focused on another object...
I will find that limit, that control...even if almost kills me first!

******

Deseray listened to the people in the library whispering, hearing them as if they were talking loudly to one another, and felt herself grab her handler's hand tightly.
"You're hands are hot." He muttered.
"I'm trying. But they're still talking...all at once..."
Now I understand why he wanted me here, instead of somewhere even more populated.

"Focus on one thing at a time. Tell me what the three girls to your left are whispering about."
She focused hard, closing her eyes.
"I wonder why they put such a hot man with that blind freak."
"They're calling you hot...and me a blind freak."
"Okay...keep listening."
She focused again.
"Don't be so lame, Tosha." A second girl told her. "Grow up a little. It's your father's fault she's blind at all. Didn't you know that he's the reason they pulled up a painful memory when the power was unstable?"
"Yeah." A third girl remarked. "Don't be a twit. Maybe you should go apologize for ruining her life."
Tosha's breathing told Deseray that she was both insulted and guilty.
"Whatever."
Deseray rose and walked over to them.
"I don't blame you for your father's mistakes, Tosha." The blind pyrotechnic told the girl. "But I think you could learn something from your friends. How would you like to be isolated for hours on end, with only a single boy who treats you like a tool, unable to see your friends or family? Because you wanted to help people like you get better in their research?"
She was almost in tears.
"If you feel that my handler is hot, ask him out. I don't care; maybe he'll start being a little less sure of himself with somebody like you, who seems to look at the negative side of things."
"What's so positive about your situation?" She was trying to gain ground, to make herself feel better.
Deseray smiled. "This."
She held up her hand, letting the anger-channeled energy dance to the tip of her hand - and hoping her haunch was right.
Heat...smoke...fire!
The girls were on their feet, their chairs on the ground. Then one of them said "Wow! That's awesome!"
The anger left Deseray suddenly, and fire vanished.
"Not really..." She whispered. "I can't control it very well..."
"Sure you can!" The other girl told her. "You didn't blow us to ash, did you?"
She felt her lips tug into a sad smile as hope filled her. "I didn't, did I?"
Tosha brushed past her. "This is your fault! You treat her like shit, don't you? She isn't a tool, ass! She's a gifted girl with feelings!"
And the smack

of her hand made all of them laugh.

Chapter Six
Riddle's Path

Jayson jumped from his bed as his pager went off, afraid to see it was another scientist near death, ready for him to program or meet. Or another technist he'd programmed was shutting down form the abusive handlers H.A.D trained.
His shaking hand steadied as he read the number; it was Sable Rose's ID. But all it read was;
"Come to my room immediately. And don't go emo, pretty-boy."
He relaxed a little. At least she wasn't dead.
How did she get my pager number? I never gave it to her.

Grabbing his tools, - in case she'd damaged something on her mechanical limbs after all - Jayson headed for Sable Rose's quarters.
Maybe three days is too much to leave her on her own...

The door opened for him the moment he was there, only Sable wasn't at it. A computer's voice said "Please Enter Now. Lady Sable Rose is expecting you."
What's going on?

Jayson stepped inside; the door shut behind him. He looked around; his jaw dropped. Now wires lined the walls connecting to each door, and even the lights. There was a huge screen above the bed.
"What the fuck did you do to this room?!" He demanded.
Sable laughed from her bed, where her eyes glowed like a cat's in the night.

******

Leon felt something nagging his mind as he paced. He kept picturing Terra Lain calling his name. Then it hit him like a punch in the gut; it was

her calling for him! Through her mind!
But...it's been three days!

Seizing her medication and other emergency first-aid supplies, the boy rushed from the room.

Terra's door swung open when he was still about three feet away. Alarmed, he stopped. Her falcon flew out, screeching. Terrified something horrid had happened, Leon rushed for the doorway. The moment he could see into the room, however, an arrow of pure concentrated energy shot from within.
Terra stared at him with a smile, but her eyes were distant and in pain.
"Terra?"
His voice made her shade her head, and her eyes cleared. Relief washed over him like a cool wave of water.
Until he saw her legs quiver; she dropped the bow to the floor and nearly hit the ground before Leon lunged forward and caught her in his strong arms.
Man...my boyfriend isn't going to believe this...

*******

Deseray took a deep breathe, calming herself. Taking the stance that her handler had shown her, she steadied the staff in her grip. Heavy boots shifted quietly on the hard, cement floor.
She counted the hearts she heard beating; one...two...three...
One behind her, directly...one to her left...and the third front of her.
"Good...focus." Her handler's voice frustrated her. He was doing it on purpose - he had to be.
There's been a purpose in everything he's done so far. And the scolding stopped. Let's see if it lasts more than three days.

The sound of air moving from behind her, coming toward her head, had her duck. She swung around to hit only the air and growled. Something punched her in the gut. She grabbed hold of it and sent fire up the jacket.
It was quickly out, and did no harm to the man. But he staggered back in alarm. She swung the staff at his legs, knocking him to the floor. Sound of footsteps to her direct left and behind her told her the other two were moving at the same time.
She concentrated her energy on the staff until heat and smoke hit her nose.
She was accustomed to it by now, but they paused.
Even when they're protected head to toe, the prisoners around here are still terrified of my power.

She rushed at them, spinning to strike one in the knee, chest and thigh and quickly caterwauling away from his punches. Whirling behind the other man, she tripped him as well.
"Excellent!" Kyle called to her. "That's enough getting your ass kicked by the blind child now, boys!" He called as they heaved themselves up. The guards were there in a second to cuff them in the electronic handcuffs H.A.D used. Then they led them away at gunpoint.
"They weren't very dangerous." She complained. "Or very good."
"I know. And since you've made such good progress these three days...I'm going to take you to the garden for lunch now!"
"What? Really!" The news was so great, her disappointment over not getting a real fight evaporated.
"I heard Sable Rose eats there on lunch, too. Terra might be there as well, if she's recovered. We won't have time to changed..."
"That's fine! I'll go in what I'm wearing!"
Who knows if her handler is as abusive as the others that train technists? I want to kick his ass and set him aflame if I see him yelling at her!

"Calm down, now." Kyle teased. "I smell smoke."
"S-sorry. I'm used to controlling anger...but..."
"What were you so angry about?" He asked as he began to lead her toward the cafe.
"I was thinking about how abusive handlers are with technists."
"Oh. Her programmer took her for training. He's a bit too kind and way a lady's man; he won't hurt her." He sounded thoughtful as he continued. "In fact...from the sounds of it, I'm worried she

might break him!

"
"Really?"
"Yes. She's quite the...spirited one."
What have they done