by Ivy Baum
I hadn’t had great luck with aiming. But if I just got something in that neighborhood…
“Stop.”
I was hoping the cell phone would do something dramatic—like explode, or catch on fire.
Instead, the dozen or so candles lining the shelf behind Syd’s bed, which were currently unlit, flared to life.
Cool—useless, but cool. And, hopefully, convincing.
Syd lowered the phone. “You did that.”
“Yes.”
Syd looked to Rain. “I told you—”
He shook his head. “It’s just a rumor.”
He was looking a little worse for wear, I thought. Everything used to roll off his back—that was his trademark. One of the reasons he was popular—and one of the reasons I’d loved him.
Now, he looked haggard.
“There’s no such thing as magic,” he said.
Then he grabbed the phone out of Syd’s hands.
Shit. If he was calling the police, I was done.
Now I needed something really dramatic. And I’d already drawn on my magic twice. I might have enough magic to do something impressive…or it might fizzle out and let them know how little control over my power I actually had.
I walked up to Rain—he saw the movement and paused, his thumb hovering over the screen.
Then, before he could react, I reached out and snatched the phone from him.
He stared.
The Kes he knew would never have done that.
I said, “You’re right. I am part of Blood Right. They’re outside your house right now, and if I don’t come out, you’re going to have a problem.”
“You’re part of that cult?” Syd’s eyes were wide.
I nodded.
For a moment, I relished their fear. No one had ever been afraid of me before—least of all Syd.
But it was temporary. Any minute now, it’d wear off like fairy dust.
I had the cash and some dry clothes. Now I just needed one more thing—and this one was most important of all. The lynchpin of my entire plan.
But when I looked to Syd’s neck, it was bare.
For a second, I panicked. Then I remembered what Syd had told me.
So you never take it off?
Only when I’m about to hook up.
“Where’s your necklace?”
She didn’t answer—but her gaze went to the nightstand near her bed.
I followed it, and saw the necklace.
I met her eyes, and felt an incongruous smile.
I knew what it meant—and so did she.
Her expression changed to one of half-guilt, half-defiance. “I was lonely. You just left. Junie did, too. Nobody knew what was happening.”
In three long strides, I’d walked over and plucked it off the nightstand. Maybe I was imagining it, but I thought I felt an electric charge as I picked it up.
I could only hope my suspicion about it was right.
I was nearly out the door when I heard Syd call after me.
“What’s going to happen, Kes? My dad said we might have to leave.”
This gave me pause.
Dr. Sotheby must have known Blood Right was about to turn the world upside-down. Even if the Capitol wouldn’t admit it.
Had he shared his worries with his daughter?
Syd seemed to sense she’d hit on something. “He wouldn’t tell me why. But I think he was talking about the cult. I want to know what’s going on.”
I gazed at Sydney. I didn’t want to hurt her, and didn’t want to see anyone else do it, either.
But I couldn’t protect her. I had my own work to do.
“Be careful,” I said. “Stay inside.”
I hurried down the stairs, then realized I still had the phone in my hands. I tossed it in the freezer.
I mean, I wasn’t a thief. But it would be nice if they had something to distract them for awhile.
As I headed for the side door, I heard something behind me.
I turned and saw Rain.
I tensed, ready to run if I had to.
But he had his hands up defensively.
“Kes, I’m sorry. I’m sorry how things turned out between us. Syd and I—we were just lonely.” There was an awkward pause “I…I still have feelings for you.”
These were words I’d have killed to hear only a month ago. Now, I felt a ripple of impatience. “Don’t worry about it. It’s done.”
I moved toward the door, but he raised a hand, as though that might hold me here.
“All this stuff you’re doing, Kes…is it because of me?”
I was so taken aback that I didn’t answer right away.
“I mean, running away, joining this terrorist cult…Is it some kind of rebellion? Is it because we broke up?”
Now I understand.
I couldn’t help it; I laughed out loud. “This isn’t about you, Rain.” I smiled as I put my hand on the door and looked at him for what might have been the last time. “Not everything is about you.”
Chapter 53
“This is as far as I go.”
I peered at my guide through the thick drizzle. “You said you’d take me to the Capitol.”
“You’re lucky I took you this far. Most wouldn’t venture this close to pureblood territory.”
We stood on a rocky outcropping. Below us, choppy gray water pounded against the rocky shore.
We’d had to take a ferry just to get to this point—an island off the coast of British Columbia. There was a small, isolated outpost on the other side of the island.
But we’d crossed a lot of damp wilderness since then, and I doubted I could find my way back even if I wanted to.
I squinted out at the water, searching the endless gray vista for something that looked like an island. But everything was swathed in thick clouds.
“What am I supposed to do? Swim?”
My guide, an inscrutable man named Darius—or at least that was the name he’d given me—pointed down to the narrow strip of shore. If I squinted, I could just make out the shape of a rickety dock.
He glanced over. “You wait there. The ferry will come for you.”
A treacherous path snaked down from where we stood. It didn’t look like an easy climb.
Now he grinned, a twisted look of dark amusement. “Don’t you worry. The purebloods won’t make you wait long.”
For the millionth time, I wondered if I could trust him.
To say I’d been paranoid going into the Common Market again was an understatement. I went in anonymously, under a false name, and put it out there that I had something very valuable to trade. And that I was looking for a very unusual favor.
Darius wasn’t the first one to respond, and he certainly wasn’t the most eager. But I’d gotten the sense that, unlike the others, he knew the dangers, and would take the proper precautions.
“I can’t see it.”
He looked amused. “You’re not meant to.”
The driving rain continued to pelt down. I was beyond cold, beyond exhaustion.
I also had no plans of turning back. I wasn’t even sure if I could turn back. I was in a foreign country with a passport whose quality I wasn’t entirely confident in. It had been procured by Darius and his shadowy network of contacts.
Besides, I had a mission.
I turned to dismiss Darius. But he was already gone, swallowed up by the thick forest.
I picked my way down the steep path. It was uneven and slick with rain, and more than once, I nearly tripped. By the time I made it to the rocky beach, I was trembling from head to toe.
Close up, the dock was in better shape than it had looked from afar. I blinked several times, trying to make sense of the fact that it wasn’t half-underwater.
An illusion…?
I peered out across the dull gray water. If there was anyone out there—anything out there—then I wasn’t seeing it.
Not that it mattered. I would stay here as long as I had to.
I had given up
my very last item of value to Darius. Now I could only hope that I hadn’t been fleeced.
I hadn’t been entirely certain about Syd’s necklace.
It had only been a hunch at first. But the more I thought about it—and Syd’s almost religious compulsion about wearing it—the more sure I became.
It was some sort of fixed magic. Something Syd’s Aristoi father thought was important enough for her to wear all the time.
Of course, I hadn’t known for sure until I got to the Common Market.
I had thought about seeking out Roche. Ultimately, though, I’d balked. There was no way to know whether he’d been involved in the set-up that had landed me in Lucan’s trap.
And so I’d gone in friendless, anonymous. And I’d walked out with a fake passport and the taciturn Darius.
A dark smudge appeared on the horizon. I squinted, wondering if I was really seeing it. The cold and rain had started to dull my mind, and I didn’t entirely trust my senses.
But soon the amorphous shadow resolved itself into the shape of a boat.
The ferry was approaching.
It looked perfectly ordinary. Non-magical.
It drew up to the dock, and I went out to meet it.
A man emerged from the cabin. “Show your Mark.”
His voice was worn and raspy, and even from here, I could see that he was wiry and stooped. If he was indeed a pureblood, then he was the first one I’d seen who actually looked old.
“I’m Unmarked.”
“Then you have no business here.” He turned away.
“Wait! I need to go to the Capitol. I—I wish to speak to the Council of Elders.”
He turned, and through the drizzle, I saw him give me a hard look. “You’re a half-blood?”
“Yes.”
He pointed across the water. “You go in there, you don’t come out.”
“I have information. About Blood Right.”
“That won’t save your life.”
“Take me anyway. Please.”
“Then you’re as much a fool of a half-blood as I’ve met.” He turned and headed back toward the cabin.
I thought it was all over—but then a gangway appeared over the side of the boat.
I scrambled aboard before I could change my mind.
Chapter 54
“The Island of Knossos. So named for Atameus of the great and honored House Knossos.”
The ferryman’s voice was completely flat, without inflection. “May the Covenants preserve and protect our honored Leader.”
The sun was shining on the Island of Knossos. The ferryman hadn’t invited me into the cabin, so I’d seen first-hand as the sky went from a thick, cottony gray to bright and clear.
I couldn’t see any sign of civilization, magical or otherwise—only another island blanketed with trees, and a narrow strip of rocky beach.
We approached the dock. That was when I saw them: a half-dozen men had emerged from the seemingly impenetrable wall of forest.
By the time we docked, they were fanned out along the shore in a semi-circle.
My welcoming party, apparently.
Four of them were dressed in plain, dark tunics, and had the bearing of soldiers—right down to some sort of ceremonial sword.
Another man stood slightly apart from them, looking more relaxed, and wearing something that looked like an abbreviated toga.
One man stood at the front of the group. He wore a fussily embroidered tunic and something that looked suspiciously like a beauty pageant sash.
He was the one who approached. “Kestrel Adler.” His tone was formal, bordering on peevish. As though, by crashing his secret magical hideout, I’d ruined his day. “I am Panadon of House Naxos.”
I climbed down from the dock, but kept my distance.
“You are in violation of the sacred Covenant of Purity. I will be taking you into custody.”
He seemed to be waiting for a reply. Was I supposed to deny the charges?
“Um…okay?”
I could’ve sworn I heard the other white-tunic guy snicker.
But my answer, such as it was, seemed to satisfy Mr. Beauty Pageant Sash. He gestured, and one of the soldiers came to stand next to me. The one who’d snickered was on my other side.
Neither of them made any move to handcuff me.
Which made sense. The ferry was already shrinking on the horizon. What was I going to do, swim back to shore?
Panadon stood before me, still formal and definitely a little snippy. “We will escort you to your detention chamber, where you will await judgment by the Council of Elders.”
Uh oh. This was not in my plan. I needed to throw my bargaining chip on the table in front of everyone, in the most dramatic way possible.
“I need to talk to them right away. I have important information about—”
He cut me off. “Save it for the Council of Elders.”
“But—when will I see them?”
He smiled—a very cold smile. “So eager to meet your fate, half-blood?”
I squared my shoulders, fully aware that even Sydney’s slightly-too-long designer jeans and expensive jacket probably didn’t look too hot after my hike in the rain.
“I have information that has to do with the security of the Capitol. I know the identity of the leader of Blood Right.”
He gave me a sharp look. “You’re one of them?”
I shook my head.
“A deserter trying to score some points, then?”
“No, I—”
He waved a hand and started to turn away.
The soldier took my arm and began to lead me into the forest. Tentatively, I reached for my magic—just to see what would happen.
But just as that hollow space began to open up and the energy began to flow, I felt something push back—hard.
The man in the plain tunic caught my eye and grinned. It was a surprisingly good-natured smile. “Half-blood magic? Yeah, that doesn’t fly here.”
Panadon, who was ahead of us, looked back. “Azoros is here to ensure that you don’t try anything…stupid.”
Ah. So I had a Damper assigned to me. But that meant—
“This isn’t a Dead Zone?”
Azoros smiled slightly. “Weapons and magic are both freely allowed in the Capitol. Anyone who chooses to use either, however, will soon find himself facing the consequences of his actions.”
Up ahead, the trees had thinned out.
Then we were in a clearing, with something large looming ahead.
It had appeared out of nowhere. But there it was, towering above even the trees. I had to crane my neck to take in the whole thing.
We had arrived at the Capitol.
It was hulking and solid, made of dark, heavy stone—and, from what I could see, windowless. At least from this vantage point.
But it didn’t look crude or medieval. In fact, it had a cold, remote beauty that made me think of a monument—or an ancient temple.
A pair of massive doors loomed up ahead, but Panadon veered to the side and took a path that snaked around to the side of the building. Apparently, prisoners didn’t get to go through the front door.
Panadon led our little group through a series of corridors, dark and maze-like.
We stopped at the mouth of a massive hall. I tried not gape—unsuccessfully.
It had been built to an enormous scale. The ceiling vaulted so far above that I nearly tripped backward as I tried to take it all in.
Everything was sleek, smooth, and surprisingly modern. I felt an unexpected pang of longing for the seedy chaos of Outlaw City.
Soon, we had passed through the cavernous hall and into yet another maze of corridors. I marveled at how empty it felt. The halls seemed to be deserted, and an unnatural hush was in the air.
Abruptly, we stopped.
I peered around the soldiers, trying to see where we were. Then I saw it. Someone new had appeared.
He had a clipboard and an even more elaborately-decorated sash. After a
minute, Panadon departed, looking annoyed.
The officious man was now in charge of our little group.
He said, “The prisoner will proceed straight to the Council of Elders. They wish to take care of this business without delay.”
Well, that was good, right? I’d have a chance to negotiate with them right away.
I was sure they’d want to hear the information I had.
“Almost there,” Azoros muttered.
Up ahead, a pair of massive doors loomed. Several dark-tunic soldiers stood guard out front.
The officious man pulled out his clipboard, had a short exchange with the head guard, and then the doors opened.
The guard turned to face me.
“You are being admitted to the Chamber of Judgment, and will stand in the presence of the revered Council of Elders. Though you are unworthy of it, the honored Atameus of House Knossos, for whom this Capitol is named, will be addressing you. Speak only when spoken to.”
He didn’t wait for a response, but turned to Azoros. “You may escort the prisoner into the Chamber. The Council is ready to proceed with the judgment.”
Chapter 55
I stepped into the Chamber of Judgment.
I remembered how intimidated I’d felt in front of the hooded judges in Outlaw City. But that was nothing compared to this.
As I walked into the Chamber, I passed several men in deep robes, their faces obscured. I felt a chill.
Azoros murmured, “The Hooded Guard. Don’t worry, they creep everyone out. Just do as you’re told and they won’t bother you.”
I had been brought to the center of the Chamber. Directly in front of me was a raised dais, atop which sat thirteen men in what looked like formal robes. The Council of Elders.
I craned my neck to get a good look at them. Unlike the Hooded Guards, I could see their faces.
In spite of the name, none of them looked particularly elderly. A few had salt-and-pepper hair, but all possessed a look of uncanny vitality.
The rest of my entourage had melted away. Even Azoros was standing off to the side.
Yet another fussily-attired clerk appeared. This place seemed to have an endless supply of them.
He stepped forward and addressed the Council.