In the space of the dramatic pause he’d left, I asked the question Smith was waiting for.
“Were you able to find the original source?”
“You betcha.” Smith gave us the closest thing he ever managed to a smile. He paused, relishing in the way the rest of us squirmed. “Felix Remwald.”
I gave Smith a blank look.
“Do you mean Edwardian Remwald?” A.J. asked. “You know, the ex-Director who started the MagLab fiasco and then got murdered four months ago?”
“No,” Smith replied, at the same time that Graysen said, “Didn’t Remwald mention he had a brother? A Level 10 Alchemist, right?”
I nodded. “But we all heard Remwald say his brother died during the Slaughters.”
“That’s the part that doesn’t make sense,” Smith acknowledged, his face falling a little. “Felix Remwald was born in 2005 in Detroit, Michigan. He also died there.”
Smith flicked his hand, and a news article popped up on the wall. It was a picture of a building that had been razed to the ground. Bodies were everywhere. The article was titled Worst Slaughters Tragedy: Detroit Public’s Magic School for the Gifted.
“That was a school?” Kaira asked, pressing a hand to her stomach.
When I looked closer, I saw that most of the bodies on the ground were too small to be adults. Backpacks and books were littered among the corpses.
All at once, the smell of food was making me nauseous.
“What does this have to do with Felix Remwald?” Graysen asked in a tight voice.
Smith tapped the wall, underneath the article that described how a school had become the epicenter of a gruesome battle between Mags and Nats. There was a list of names…all of the victims whose lives had been claimed in the battle.
Hundreds of names, all crowded together. They looked like nothing more than words on a page, until I thought about all the lost lives those words represented.
My heart gave a painful squeeze.
I skimmed the article, which described how a nearby Slaughters battle got out of hand when a Teleporter accidentally brought himself to the school. Nats had tracked him there, and then the rest of the fighters had reconvened in the school parking lot. A combination of magic and homemade bombs had resulted in the horrific cover page photo.
Smith pointed to the list of faculty & staff. About a third of the way down the long list, there was a single name I recognized. Felix Remwald.
“This happened fifteen years ago,” Smith said. “So, someone else must have access to Felix’s money and is using it to fund the mine.”
I remembered the note we found in the foreman’s office that was addressed to Remwald, and the personalized notepad with the R and signature that looked like Remwald.
But both Remwald brothers were dead.
“Any chance of another Remwald relative we didn’t know about?” I asked.
Smith shook his head. “Nothing that I could find.”
“Okay, so we know someone is using Felix Remwald’s fortune to pay the foreman’s salary,” I said. “I’m not sure how that helps us.”
“Could be good to know at some point,” Smith said, but even he looked dubious.
“There’s something else,” Diego said. “I was wondering about those spinal needles that we saw on the foreman’s list, since there’s no reason they should be needed for anything to do with the MRP.”
“Did you figure it out?” Graysen asked.
In spite of his obvious dislike of Diego, Graysen couldn’t disguise his scholarly interest. While I’d rather just go beat some people up, Graysen excelled at logic puzzles.
Diego nodded. “My parents tested a lot of the earlier MRP formulas on me, to see how different compounds would interact with so much magic.”
“Monsters,” Kaira whispered.
“I wanted it,” Diego snapped, showing the first real emotion since this conversation started. “But that’s beside the point. The point is that, during their experimentation, they found a way to make magic stronger.”
“How do you mean?” Graysen asked, folding his arms across his chest and giving Diego a skeptical look.
“I mean, they theoretically figured out how to make a Mag’s power more…well, powerful. They couldn’t create Magic where it didn’t already exist, but with a few adjustments to the liquid Agent S, they thought it might be possible to make a Mag stronger.”
“So, are you saying—” Graysen began, but Diego cut him off.
“I’m theorizing that the reason for the mine isn’t to produce shitloads of Agent S for the MRP.”
“Watch your mouth,” Oliver growled. “There are children present.”
“Keep going,” Desiree said, leaning forward to catch Diego’s every word.
True horror stirred inside me as I began to process what Diego was saying.
“I think,” Diego said, “the foreman and whoever’s pulling his strings is planning to inject Agent S directly into Mags’ spinal fluid. Kind of the opposite of the MRP, where their magic will be permanently enhanced.”
“Synthetic Super Mags,” Kaira whispered.
Diego nodded.
Holy shit.
All I could think about was Blade’s army of psycho Californians, and what it would mean for the country if any of those people got enhanced magic.
Nothing good.
“That’s insane,” I whispered.
“Some Mags would do anything to become more powerful,” A.J. said. “This could start another round of Slaughters.”
Mags would want the magic-enhancing substance as much as Mag-hating Nats wanted the Magical Reduction Potion.
“There’s an obvious solution to magic-enhancing and magic-reduction,” Smith said. “Once we destroy the mine and all the Agent S in there, we won’t have to worry about any of this stuff.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Diego’s jaw tighten.
“You’re right, Smith,” Kaira said. “We have to get the slaves out, and then we’ll obliterate the mine. We just have to figure out how to do it.”
I could have sworn I heard Diego grinding his teeth. I ignored him, focusing on my friends.
“I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer,” A.J. said, raising a finger, “but it’s going to take more than the 7.5 of us to rescue hundreds of slaves, deal with that maniac foreman and his boss, and destroy a five-level mine that’s full of Agent S.”
“I think I have an idea of where we can get some help,” Graysen said, his brow furrowed in thought.
By now, we’d all come to recognize his Level 10 Brainiac face, and we just waited for whatever revelation he’d had.
“I’m going to talk to Emory and see if we can get him and Charlotte on board.” He patted his pockets, which were empty, and then turned to Kaira. “Can you text Adam? We’re going to need the crew team.”
“Didn’t Adam get a new phone?” Kaira asked, flipping through her contacts. “I don’t think I have his number.”
“I have it,” I said, pulling out my phone. “I’ll text him.”
Diego’s head snapped around at that. It probably made me a terrible person, but it warmed me to see him squirm. Just a little.
“Let’s all convene first thing tomorrow morning,” Kaira said. “That’ll give us time to get everything together and then head to the mine.” She started to get up from her chair before her attention caught on Diego. She’d clearly forgotten he was still with us.
“Thanks for the info,” she told him stiffly. “You can go now.”
“But I just got here,” Diego said, stretching like a cat.
I tried not to notice the sliver of stomach he revealed when his shirt rode up.
“Besides.” Diego gave me a shrewd look that instantly put me on high alert. “I’m not going anywhere until you keep your end of our bargain.”
My stomach dropped out.
“What bargain?” Kaira demanded. She glanced from Diego to me.
I gave Diego a look that promised a slow, painful de
ath. Then, I focused on my friends. I swallowed.
“In exchange for Diego rescuing us from the isolation chambers, I agreed to get him as much Agent S as he can carry before we destroy the mine.” I said the whole thing in a single breath, with some of the words melting together.
I cringed as I waited for my friends’ enraged responses. They didn’t disappoint.
“Are you out of your goddamn mind?” Smith demanded.
At the same time, Kaira and A.J. screeched, “What?!”
Even Sir Zachary let out a little yip, not wanting to miss out on all the excitement.
Graysen didn’t say anything, but his flashing turquoise eyes spoke for themselves.
“I gave him my word,” I said helplessly. “But I swear I’ll make it right.” I pinned Diego with my gaze. He returned the challenge without blinking. “I won’t let him get away with this.”
“I feel faint.” A.J. pressed the back of his hand to his forehead.
“I feel murderous,” Kaira snarled. She rounded on Diego. “You took advantage of us when we were in a helpless situation, and now you’re taking advantage of Bri’s integrity. You are—” She glanced at her younger cousins, who were soaking up every word of our conversation, and sealed her lips tight.
I sat motionless, listening to Kaira defend me when I’d been lying by omission to the Seven for days. I should have told them about my bargain with Diego sooner.
Instead, I’d been busy sneaking out of my window to go flying with him.
“You don’t owe him your loyalty,” Graysen told me. “If our positions had been reversed down in that mine, any one of us would have helped Diego without demanding anything in return.”
“I’m not going to apologize for going after what I need,” Diego said. “From everything I’ve seen from all of you, you’re no different.”
My friends ignored him. All of their attention was on me. Their trusting gazes said they knew I would make the right choice.
The only problem was I wasn’t sure what the right choice was. I understood Diego’s reasoning behind his actions. I knew that he believed he was doing the right thing…not just for himself, but for all of the Super Mags. He’d spent his life obsessing over this mission.
If I sided with my friends as I knew I should, I’d be depriving Diego of all of that. If I took away his last chance at becoming a Nat, it would destroy him.
How could I do that to him, especially after I’d already given him my word that I would help?
“Actually,” A.J. began, and then shook his head. “Never mind.”
I gave him a questioning look, but it was clear that, whatever he’d been about to say, he’d decided to keep it to himself.
“What will it be, cariño?” Diego asked quietly.
“My friends are right,” I said, ignoring the ache of regret that pulsed through me. “You did stop the Pyro before he could kill anyone else.” I swallowed. “But you also took away the power of Super Mags who hadn’t done anything wrong. There are too many ways Agent S can be used to destroy innocent lives. I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do this.”
An emotion flitted across Diego’s dark eyes so quickly I would have missed it if I hadn’t been watching him. Disappointment? Betrayal?
I felt awful.
“I thought you might say that,” Diego said, his tone deceptively light. “So, I kept a little extra incentive tucked in my back pocket, just in case.” He crossed his arms and looked straight at me. “You will do what I’ve asked…what you already promised…because I have something you’ll be wanting in exchange.”
“There’s nothing that will make me change my mind,” I said, feeling sick.
Diego raised an eyebrow at me. “Then, I guess you won’t be interested in hearing that I found your niece.” He stared straight at me. “I found Lilly.”
CHAPTER 35
Ileapt to my feet, already titanium. I grabbed Diego by his shirt and slammed him against the wall with so much force a crack shivered up to the ceiling.
“Where’s Lilly? Where’s my niece?!”
Diego didn’t reply, his dark eyes holding mine.
“Sweetie, he can’t breathe,” A.J. said, giving my arm a gentle tug.
He was right. I loosened my hold enough for Diego to answer my question.
“She’s alive?” My voice cracked.
Diego nodded.
“How did you know it was her?” Kaira cut in, her voice full of suspicion.
When Diego answered, he looked at me. “Ojitos bonitos. She has your beautiful eyes.”
My throat felt like it was closing up. It was what the slave girl had said, too. Diego could be lying, since he’d been with me when the slave girl had spoken to me. One look at his face, though, and I knew he wasn’t.
“Where is she?” I shook Diego hard enough that his head slammed back against the wall. “Where is she?!”
“All I’ll tell you is that you won’t be able to get her without me.”
“Get Michael,” I snarled without looking away from Diego.
“Bri,” A.J. began uncertainly.
“Get Michael!”
“I’ll do it,” Kaira said, giving Diego a death glare before she left the kitchen.
Silver sparkled at the edge of my vision. I blinked furiously, refusing to let my tears hit the floor.
“Believe it or not, I’m not doing this to punish you,” Diego told me in a low voice. “It’s an even trade—what you want most for what I want.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t speak.
“It won’t matter if your Whisper forces me to talk,” Diego continued. “You won’t be able to reach her without me.”
“We’ll see about that.”
I was a Steel. I would tear apart whatever cage was holding my niece with my bare hands.
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind, I remembered what that slave girl had told us when we were searching the foreman’s office. She’d said the littlest ones were on Level 1 and only the foreman could get to them.
“Bri.” Diego leaned close enough so only I could hear him. “If you let your Whisper force the information out of me, you’ll know I’m telling the truth. And you’ll also be crossing a line you won’t be able to uncross. You and me…we’ll be finished.”
“We already are,” I said in a voice I barely recognized. I was shaking, even in my titanium form. I was so angry. “We were finished from the second you tried to use Lilly against me.”
“I wouldn’t have had to if you’d kept your word,” Diego snapped, his anger rising to match mine.
“You’re using a child to manipulate me,” I said, unable to keep my voice down or stop my tears from falling. “My own family.”
“And I’m trying to save all of us from a Super Mag losing their shit and destroying the whole city,” he shot back. He jerked his head at my friends, who were poised to grab Diego if he tried his vanishing trick. “You all claim to care about Boston, but you’re so obsessed with your idea of equality that you’re blind to the threat my kind poses. I’m the only one who has the balls to do what needs to be done.”
“Oh yeah.” I laughed bitterly. “You’re a real do-gooder.”
Click. A titanium tear hit the tile floor and bounced off. Click click click click.
“Bri, honey.” A.J. tugged on my arm, trying to get me to let Diego go. “Can I talk to you for a hot second?”
“I heard shouting,” Yutika said, coming into the kitchen with a towel wrapped around her hair like a turban. “What are we—Oh, hey Sexy Cinnamon Man.”
Diego didn’t respond. His attention stayed locked on me as he and I continued our faceoff.
I let go of Diego when I heard Michael and Kaira’s footsteps coming down the hall.
As soon as Michael stepped into the room, his gaze went straight to Yutika. His posture slouched, like he was trying to make himself less threatening. For several seconds, the two of them just stared at each other.
Michael’s hands opened and
closed at his sides. “Yutika, I—”
His attention flicked to the wall, where the image of the news article was still posted. All the color drained from his face. He staggered.
I managed to grab his arm before he fell.
“Michael?” Yutika asked anxiously.
“Smith, switch it,” Kaira hissed. She planted herself in front of the wall, trying to block Michael’s view of the massacre with her body.
The wall went blank, but the damage had been done.
“Why?” Michael asked, his stunned expression transforming to one of betrayal. He gave Smith an accusing look. “I thought we didn’t pry into each other’s pasts.”
Smith began twisting the cord of his hoodie around and around his finger. “I was looking into Felix Remwald,” he explained. “This has nothing to do with you.”
Michael’s chest rose and fell as his gaze searched all of us for the truth. I got the sense that we’d done something unforgivable…I just didn’t understand what it was.
“Smith traced a million dollars that was paid to the mine foreman,” Graysen told Michael. “It came from a blind trust that Smith linked back to Felix Remwald.”
“And then, Gray remembered that Felix was dead, and so we were just trying to figure out what was going on,” Kaira said quickly.
“What does that massacre have to do with Felix Remwald?” Michael demanded, his voice uncharacteristically harsh.
“He was a teacher at the school,” I said, needing him to know we hadn’t betrayed him.
“No, he wasn’t.” Michael shook his head.
“His name is on the list of faculty and staff casualties,” Smith said.
“Show me a picture of him.”
“Michael, what’s going on?” Yutika asked. Her voice was gentle, but her eyes were wide. She seemed a little afraid of him.
At that moment, I thought we all were.
I glanced back to where I’d left Diego. A curse died before it passed my lips. The heat of his magic and scent of cinnamon were gone. He must have camouflaged himself and disappeared while the rest of us were distracted.
He’d be back, I thought bitterly. He still needed me for the Agent S. And right now, whatever was going on with Michael was more important than Diego.
Mags & Nats 3-Book Box Set Page 94