Well, I suppose we had time for a few photos. I twisted my hips to the side, tossed my head back, and re-brightened my smile. ‘Hold that, Bremy!’ And I would have too, but Queenie bumped me in the shoulder, hard. I caught my balance and laughed, before saying loudly, ‘These up-and-coming designers can be so temperamental.’
The cameras whirled on her, clicking furiously. Queenie went blank for a moment.
‘Who are you?’ ‘Who do you design for?’ ‘What’s your name?’
I quickly studied Queenie’s face. She actually looked taken aback. I stepped forward. ‘She’s Queenie, the only designer I wear anymore.’ I posed again, this time showcasing my leg though the slit, hand on hip.
‘Oh, that’s snappy,’ one pap gushed. I gave him a quick gun with my fingers.
I held the pose for another moment, before I called out, ‘That’s all for now. We’ve got a show to watch,’ and I led the way to the tented opening of the building.
The cameras continued to click, and the paps screamed their questions, but I just rode my wave of renewed celebrity inside. Suddenly Bart was at my ear, ‘Are you going to need a cigarette after that?’
I shuddered slightly. ‘Gross,’ he muttered and stepped away. We were late, so the foyer of the aquarium was empty … empty, except for one person standing off to the side, talking on her cell, wearing a press badge. One person who looked an awful lot like somebody I needed to have a word with.
‘You!’
Cassie Mack jolted and lowered her phone as she looked my way. When she saw it was me, a smug smile spread across her face.
‘Bremy St. James,’ she said. ‘Did you like the spread? I thought it was rather … revealing.’
Bart stepped forward and grabbed my arm. ‘Bremy, we don’t have time for this.’ I was having trouble hearing him over the blood rushing in my ears.
Choden tried next. ‘Forgiveness is a divine practice that—’
‘It’s okay,’ I said, inhaling deeply. ‘Really. This is the new and improved Bremy. Who just needs a moment to have an adult conversation.’
I strode over to Cassie. Oh, how I wanted to wipe that smile off her face! ‘Well, I suppose you’re pretty proud of yourself.’
‘Not really.’
I raised an eyebrow.
‘It was too easy.’
‘Oh ho ho,’ I said, nodding my head. She raised her phone and snapped a picture in my face.
‘You know what, Cassie? You may think you’re making me feel bad, but if the worst thing you can say about me is that I tried to help someone in need, I take that as a compliment.’
She ignored me completely. ‘It was fun though. It’s your gullibility, I think, that I found most amusing. Have you even realised yet that your neighbour …’ She shook her head. ‘What’s her name? Mrs Reese? That she’s stealing your cable?’
My eyes widened. So that’s who was behind that bill! Mrs Reese! Okay, that hurt a little. I shook my head. ‘I may be gullible, I may be ignorant, and, maybe, sometimes, I do things that are downright stupid, but none of that, none of it justifies your villainy,’ I said, with a point. ‘You may think you know who Bremy St. James is. In fact, the entire world may think it knows who Bremy St. James is. But the truth is you have no idea. You don’t get to decide who I am.’ I narrowed my eyes. ‘I do.’
‘Did she just say villainy?’ I heard Kevin ask.
‘I’ll allow it,’ Bart replied.
I pulled myself up to my greatest height in my stiletto heels and tilted my chin into the air. ‘I feel sorry for you, Cassie Mack. I really do. You get up every day and turn a profit on making somebody feel bad about themselves. I’m not sure how you defend it to yourself, and I don’t really care. But the next time, in the wee hours of the morning, when you find yourself awake and feeling just a little bit disgusted with yourself, I want you to remember something.’
She furrowed her brow, waiting.
‘I, Bremy St. James, forgive you.’ I stepped forward and hugged her.
A moment later, I let her go, spun on my heel, and strode away towards the steps that led to the entrance of the show.
Choden joined me a second later. ‘I am very impressed.’
‘Hey,’ I whispered. ‘Do me a favour. Look back there, and tell me what she looks like.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘What she looks like!’ I hissed. ‘Does she look like I schooled her? Because I totally schooled her.’
‘I think,’ Choden said slowly, ‘you are perhaps missing the point of forgiveness.’
‘I totally should have listened to you sooner,’ I said, looking at him wide-eyed. ‘That forgiveness thing is like the atomic bomb of closers. Booyah!’ I shout-whispered. ‘I win. Drop the mic. Bremy out.’
He sighed.
‘Oh, just give it to me,’ I said, walking towards the double-door entrance of the auditorium. ‘Consider it a last request.’
Chapter 50
We entered the already darkened room that soared at least five storeys. The only light at all was coming from the massive aquariums. The blue glow of the water rippled across the room with the dancing slides and dips of the fish—except they weren’t fish at all. I stared at the gliding forms casting rolling shadows through the room. Yup, sharks. Every last one of them. Wait, were sharks fish?
A man in a suit and a headset hustled over. ‘Ms St. James! It’s an honour,’ he whispered excitedly. ‘We’ve been expecting you!’
My belly flip-flopped. He waved me forward. ‘We’ve saved you a seat by your father.’
‘Swell.’ I swallowed hard.
‘Bremy, wait,’ Pierce said, pushing his way through the others.
‘We can’t wait any longer,’ the man with mic said. ‘The entire show has been held up for Ms St. James.’
I shrugged at Pierce. ‘You heard the man.’
‘I need to say something,’ he said, leading me over to an aquarium wall. ‘It will only take a second.’
A moment later, I was watching the eerie light from the water play across the planes of Pierce’s face. He stared back at me, saying nothing. I knew we didn’t have much time, but I couldn’t rush him either.
‘Bremy,’ he finally said in a voice that sent chills racing up my arms. ‘I have a really bad feeling about this.’
I nodded. ‘I know, right?’
‘Please.’ He squeezed his eyes shut. ‘Please be serious about this.’ I was being serious. I did have a bad feeling. Maybe it was the sharks. ‘I wasn’t going to say anything. I know I have no right to say anything. And I know you want me to believe in you. But your father … he’s ruthless, calculating, always in control … not when it comes to you, though. None of this,’ he said, looking around, ‘is what he told you. This isn’t about Jenny. This isn’t about making you into some genetically engineered superhero. Everything in me tells me this is about showing you who’s boss.’
I nodded tightly. ‘What choice do I have? This is my mess. Maybe Ryder and my father were destined to be enemies, but I brought them to this point, and she’s counting on me.’ I put my hand on my chest. ‘Nobody ever counts on me. That means something.’
‘Bremy—
‘And it’s not only that,’ I said, turning to watch the sharks. ‘Pierce, you have to know at some level my father is never going to let me go.’
He nodded and looked at the floor. ‘And what about you?’ he asked, eyes flashing up to mine.
‘What?’
‘Can you let him go?’
I could have pretended I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I knew exactly what he meant. I wasn’t sure how to answer him at first, then I remembered something I heard on my neighbour Mrs Reese’s TV, my TV apparently. ‘Do you know how alligators do that death roll thing?’
‘What?’
‘Alligators. They kill animals by dragging them underwater and rolling around until they drown.’
Pierce furrowed his brow.
‘Sometimes I think my father and I ar
e caught in that death roll.’
Pierce waited.
‘It’s not right. It’s not healthy. But it is what it is.’ I drew my lip slowly out from between my teeth. ‘Except there’s one thing he doesn’t get.’ I paused again. My thoughts were running hard now. ‘Maybe something that nobody gets.’
‘What?’
‘I’m an alligator too,’ I said as seriously as he ever could have wanted. ‘And I’m not letting go.’
Pierce’s face dropped.
I gave myself a shake. ‘Metaphorically speaking.’
‘Bremy! What the—’ Pierce sputtered. ‘Do you hear yourself? This is nuts! I don’t want you to drown! Metaphorically or otherwise!’
‘Well, good. That makes two of us. Now stop it! You’re freaking me out.’ I fiddled with the collar of my cape and yanked it open. It was suddenly really hot in here. ‘I can’t do what I need to do if you’re going to have me thinking about what a bad idea it is. Jeez.’
‘Bremy—’
‘And don’t think that will stop me from doing it anyway.’ Did that make sense? Didn’t matter. ‘Now off you go, handsome. I’ve got a job to do.’
He studied me a moment longer before his shoulders slumped. He leaned towards me and gently brushed my lips with his own. ‘For luck.’
My fingertips reached to touch the spot where I could still feel his kiss. I watched him walk back towards the group. All I could think was, He thinks I’m going to die! That kiss wasn’t for luck! It was a kiss goodbye! What an awful thing to do to a girl headed into battle. It was going to take forever for us to get back together at this rate.
I walked back towards my group and the fidgeting man with the mic strapped to his head. Choden stepped out and quickly whispered, ‘We have chosen stations around the aquarium. We will stay in communication through the ear buds.’
I nodded.
‘Remember,’ Choden said, squeezing my hand, ‘whatever your father says, you are not alone.’
‘Thank you,’ I replied, really meaning it. ‘But it doesn’t matter what he says as long as he lets Ryder go. You don’t have to worry about me.’
Suddenly Choden was hugging me. ‘I consider it an honour to have the privilege of worrying about you.’
‘Aww.’ I inhaled sharply. ‘Now stop it. You’re making my eyes sting, and Kevin went a little heavy on the black eye make-up. Let’s go.’
I followed the visibly relieved fashion show minion down an aisle of seats towards the runway. Figures that my father would get the front row all to himself. My eyes searched the room for my friends, but the blue glow of the aquariums illuminated very little, and the glare of the white catwalk made it difficult to focus on anything else. Ooh, I did not like this. It was sad. Fashion shows were my happy place. Was I destined to die in my happy place? I gave myself a shake. I wasn’t going to die. That was just stupid. Sidekicks didn’t die, did they? Maybe I should have read more of the comics in Bart’s shop. No. No. That was crazy talk. Besides, my father wasn’t going to kill me in front of all these people. He might find a way to stop me from leaving, but even that was risky. If there was one thing I had proven over and over again as of late, it was that I had no problem making a scene. And if there was one thing my father hated, it was me making a scene. Then again, could I count on anything I knew about my father anymore? My eyes darted to the cool silhouette seated front row centre. He had been making a few scenes of his own.
The fashion show coordinator led me to the front aisle, and gestured for me to go on without him. I paused for a moment then carried on.
‘Brianna,’ my father said quietly, without turning to watch me lower into my seat.
‘Father.’
‘So glad you could make it,’ he continued, ‘as is your sister.’
I tracked his gaze. Directly across the catwalk sat my twin, a vision in white, all suited up. No mask tonight. I guess The Angel of St. James didn’t have paltry concerns like secret identities. Did she have divided loyalties though? That was the question. If Ryder was here, and my sister was on my side, we had a good chance of saving her. If she wasn’t on our side … I didn’t want to follow that trail to the end. Suddenly, my father’s hand was in front of me, palm up.
I sighed and took the bud out of my ear, dropping it into his hand. He placed it on the floor and ground it to bits with his heel. ‘Have you given any more thought to my offer?’
‘Not sure. I’ll let you know after the show,’ I said, adjusting my skirt. ‘We’ll see if evil is in this fall.’
I caught the corner of his mouth tilt upwards, almost like he was smiling. ‘Oh no,’ I snapped. ‘Don’t you dare do that.’
‘Is it so hard for you to believe that, in many ways, I admire you?’ He turned to face me.
‘Yes.’
He looked back at the stage. ‘That is my fault, I suppose.’
‘You tried to kill me.’ My voice sounded quiet. Far away.
‘But that is precisely my point. I have always prided myself on my discipline and self-control. I couldn’t have achieved the success I have without it. Yet you,’ he said, cocking his head, ‘you and your mother were always able to shake that hard-won resolve.’
‘So,’ I said, tightly, ‘if I’m following you correctly here, you’re saying that your trying to kill me is testament to how much you,’ I paused for a moment, willing my gorge to settle, ‘you love me?’
He cocked his head as though considering the idea. ‘I’ve always found love to be such a diluted word for what it is that I … feel.’
I pressed my fingers into my temples. Again, this was insane. He was insane. I glanced around at all the faces lining the catwalk. Normal faces … on normal people … thinking normal thoughts. They were all expecting a predictable sequence of events. I couldn’t help but wonder what they would do if I started screaming.
I flung my fingertips away from the sides of my head and shook them out. I couldn’t let him get to me. I was here for two reasons and only two reasons. Ryder and Jenny. None of this was about me.
‘Tonight is a new beginning for us, Brianna,’ my father said. ‘For you, me, and your sister. I let your mother go too easily. I won’t make the same mistake with you.’
Painful cold raced up my spine.
Suddenly the lights dimmed.
‘Quiet now. The show’s about to begin.’
Chapter 51
I barely registered the first swell of music or the legs scissoring past my field of view. Reality expanded and contracted around me. Then my chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. My hand moved to my neck. My heart … my heart was beating too fast.
God, not again. Not now.
I tugged at the fabric of my dress. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t sit here. I couldn’t be still and wait. If I did … it was all catching up to me. Everyone was right. I was so stupid! And they followed me here. Everyone had followed me here! ‘What are we doing?’ I suddenly whispered. ‘Where’s Ryder?’
‘She will be here, shortly,’ my father said without looking at me. ‘You will understand everything soon.’
‘I—I don’t want to understand.’
‘You helped me see that our family was always meant for more. That chip I used on the inmates … it was wrong. A step backwards. The human race was meant to evolve.’ He actually reached over and grabbed my hand. My stomach lurched at his touch, but I couldn’t seem to move. ‘That step begins with us.’
‘I don’t want to be any part of your plans.’
‘I know,’ he said, nodding. ‘You still believe you can make a difference—achieve greatness—through Dark Ryder. But you’ll soon see the futility of that dream.’ He flicked his wrist over and glanced at his watch. ‘In mere minutes, you will see.’
‘What have you done?’
‘It’s not what I have done, but what I will do. What you will witness.’
‘Where is she?’ I asked again.
My father regarded me coolly, but said nothing.
�
��Where’s Ryder!’
‘Quiet.’ He squeezed my hand, crushing the bones together. ‘It isn’t time.’
I pulled my fingers from his grasp. ‘Tell me what’s going on.’
He sighed, once again collecting himself. ‘Haven’t you figured it out, Brianna?’
‘Figured what out?’
‘We’re at a fashion show.’ He spread his hands out wide in front of him.
I said nothing.
‘There always has to be a show stopper.’
Then somebody screamed.
Chapter 52
I couldn’t figure out what was happening at first. The lights of the runway went out, setting off more screams—but a strange whirring noise coming from the top of the aquarium cut through the clamour.
My eyes flashed across to Jenny. I wanted desperately to see surprise in her face, but there was none.
I stood up and scanned the panicked crowed.
‘Brianna, sit down,’ my father ordered. ‘You need to focus. This is important.’
‘Where are my friends?’
He gave me a disappointed look.
‘Tell me you didn’t hurt them.’
My father held my gaze tightly with his own. ‘Not yet.’
Suddenly a giant spotlight clicked on overhead, illuminating one of the tanks … but the light wasn’t focused on the sharks. It was on Ryder … bound and suspended from the ceiling, hanging above the water.
While the spectators all around me had jumped to their feet to make a run for the exits, my legs collapsed underneath me. I sank back into my chair. More people screamed as they realised the doors had all been locked. My father wanted an audience. He wanted the world to see this. Part of me couldn’t believe the risk he was taking. It could only mean he now felt powerful enough that he simply didn’t care anymore what the rest of the world thought.
‘You can’t,’ I whispered. ‘You won’t.’
‘Loyalty, Brianna.’ My father’s eyes, normally steely, glinted with something very hot. ‘Loyalty.’
‘No,’ I whispered, once again rising to my feet. ‘You can’t do this. I won’t let you.’
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