by Jasmine Walt
Hell. Did I really just consider that someone in the Alliance might be responsible for the murders?
“Interesting,” said Markos. “Well, I wouldn’t normally get involved, but a notice went out to the higher-ups earlier—I heard them talking on the stairs. Turns out something went missing from the stores the night of the murder.” He paused. “Someone stole a bunch of bloodrock from the Alliance’s storerooms.”
Wait. “Someone… that girl. We saw her.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me.”
“Bloodrock,” I said. “She stole bloodrock?”
“That’s what went missing. Several bags of it. Carl was talking to the head of the guards. Seems he was supposed to be watching the back door, but the killer threw everyone off.”
“The girl broke in after the murder.” Unless she’d already been here. But I knew how to tell when someone was lying. She’d been angry, defensive, but her body language told the truth. When she said she’d never killed anyone, she’d meant it.
The question was, when we’d caught her in the Passages… what had she been doing?
“So she’s a smuggler. Or an offworld trader. She stole from the Alliance—well, that takes guts.”
“Too true,” I said. “Actually, that makes sense. It fits with what she told me, or didn’t tell me. Well, that changes things. If bloodrock’s valuable, then that’s a whole different ball game to breaking and entering…” I stopped, realising I was thinking aloud.
“Yes, there isn’t a standard protocol for thievery. It just happens so rarely.” The centaur frowned. “I have to admit, I admire the girl for courage, even if her timing was terrible. She’ll get the worst of it, for sure.”
“Yeah.” She would. And yet that just didn’t feel right, even though she was the one who’d broken the law, whatever her reasons. It was my job to stop that from happening.
The bloodrock…
“Where are you going?” said Markos.
I turned back from the entry to the stairs. “I’m going to talk to the prisoner again.”
And I left him staring after me, bemused. Okay, I was definitely acting out now. But if no one else had made the connection… I had to make sure.
On the way downstairs, I saw that someone had cleaned the blood from the left elevator, but it was still out of use. I shook my head to push the image away. It wouldn’t do any good to dwell on the horrific way Alan had died. Not when I could be the next victim. If it really had something to do with the bloodrock, then it wouldn’t be too big a leap to figure that I’d had the file. Unless they went after Ms Weston next. And no one had seen her all morning.
I couldn’t get downstairs fast enough, and only when I’d reached the corridor to the prisoner’s room did I stop. No one seemed to be around, but a door was open farther down. Not the prisoner’s, of course—that was closed, but not locked, and I could hear the muted sound of voices within. Ms Weston.
I hesitated a second, then continued down the corridor like I’d intended to go that way all along. I knew what was behind that other door—it was the nurse’s room, because last night, I’d put Ms Weston’s clipboard back in there before heading back upstairs. Of course, Ms Weston would have all her notes with her, but it couldn’t hurt to take a look.
“You again,” said a voice as I walked in. The nurse, Saki, glanced up from behind a row of test tubes containing what looked like blood. “What do you want?”
I gestured towards the test tubes. “Is that—did you take blood from Ada? The prisoner?”
“Yes, after a fashion,” she snapped. Still angry, then. “What are you doing in here, Walker?”
“Could you please not call me that?”
She blinked. “You know, I don’t think I ever heard old Walker say ‘please’.”
So that’s it. She had some issue with my father. Well, I didn’t need to ask.
“Believe me, the name’s all we have in common,” I said. “Did you work out which world Ada’s from, anyway?”
She blinked again. “Yeah, I did. Never would have guessed, but the tests don’t lie. She’s from Enzar.” She shook her head. “Not mageblood, either.”
I stared. “What? But she can use magic. How can she not be mageblood?”
“I don’t know, but it’s… look, you can’t say a word about this to anyone, Walk… Kay. I shouldn’t even be telling you this. But I’ve never, ever seen anything like this in all the years I’ve worked here. She’s got some sort of anomaly in her blood. Someone… someone tampered with her.”
I stepped back. And again.
Tampered with her.
It hit too close to home.
The image flashed before my eyes before I could push it back—the gleam of a needle, point shining with a black sheen unlike anything on Earth.
I had to get out of there.
Ignoring Saki’s startled expression, I spun around to leave and came within inches of colliding with Ms Weston.
Damn.
13
Kay
“What were you doing in there?”
Words failed, for a moment. It was like listening to a distant recording to hear my own voice say, quite calmly, “I was just curious about the prisoner’s test results. It intrigued me that I couldn’t guess where she was from.”
Her suspicion faded somewhat. Right answer. Not that it helped.
“Yes. Enzar. I never would have thought I’d get to meet an Enzarian, let alone a Royal.”
“She’s… Royal?” I asked.
“So it seems,” said Ms Weston. “It somewhat complicates matters, because royal status would guarantee her protection under our roof, not to mention exemption from the trespassing charges. She’d be acting Ambassador for Enzar.”
“Ambassador?” Damn. I could only imagine what having Enzarian royalty at Central would mean. If nothing else, the Alliance couldn’t ignore Enzar’s conflict any longer, whatever the reasons for blocking all contact.
“Yes, as a non-Alliance world. Blast those antiquated laws. I’ve had her scanned and she doesn’t appear to have brought anything across the borders. It seems she’s lived on Earth her whole life.”
“I heard she stole from the storerooms,” I said.
“You seem to have heard a lot of things, Kay.”
I held her stare. What do you know? Is the bloodrock really connected with the murders? Is someone covering something up?
I had firsthand experience of how quickly the Alliance could fabricate a cover story or just make evidence disappear entirely. Hell, the Alliance itself was founded on secrets—that was how they’d remained hidden from most people’s sight until they’d gone public thirty years ago. Even within the Alliance, certain information was allowed only to the higher-up members, and with good reason. Like whatever was happening on Enzar. Like the details of most Ambassador missions, even the ones where people were killed.
Like…
An image—the gleam of a needle. I pushed it away.
No one knew. But there had to have been others at the Alliance involved, even if the instigator was long gone.
“Let me talk to her again,” I said, surprised how steady my voice sounded. “Is she still resisting questioning?”
“I just told her the truth,” said Ms Weston, not giving any sign of our silent exchange. “That ought to occupy her while I confer with the Law Division. Keeping royalty imprisoned reflects terribly on us, but she’s dangerous, if not the killer we’re looking for.”
“You believe she’s not the killer?”
She inclined her head. “The matter of the theft, we still have to deal with. But we have our suspicions. Carl told me about your report on the other night. It seems we have an unmapped Passage.”
“That staircase,” I said, getting it. “They sent someone back to investigate?”
“Not yet, but we will. I would hazard a guess that this girl and whoever her accomplices are were using it to transport the stolen goods. A clever operation. If you want to talk to her, I�
�m sure she’ll be more inclined to discuss the matter with you, especially anything concerning illicit activity in the Passages.”
What the hell? How could she possibly know that?
“Your fellow graduate certainly had strong opinions on illegal trespassing,” said Ms Weston. “If it wasn’t for these sorry circumstances… but I need to go and meet with the Law Division. I’ll give you half an hour, then I expect you back upstairs.”
Damn. What the hell had I landed myself in now? So Aric had told my boss about the incident. I couldn’t even wrap my head around that one, not after everything else. I was starting to feel like the world was shifting out from under my feet, slowly, inch by inch.
Dammit, Kay, pull yourself together. I drew in a deep breath, and headed for Ada’s room.
ADA
The last thing I wanted was to talk to Kay Walker.
“What?” I said hoarsely, as he came into the room. There was no hiding that I’d been crying, and I thought I saw a flash of pity in his eyes before his expression blanked again.
“I wanted to ask you something,” he said. He didn’t say Ms Weston had sent him, but I wasn’t an idiot. What was he, her lapdog?
“I’m not in the mood,” I said. “You locked me in here overnight, sealed the place shut.”
“You didn’t give us an option, Ada!” He seemed edgier than he had before, though I could tell he tried to keep his voice steady.
“Yeah, I don’t want to hear it,” I said. “I am through with this shit.”
“Sorry,” he said, and for once, he met my eyes with something other than blankness. Like a person, not an Alliance guard. “I’m sorry I locked you in.”
I blinked. Was he trying to catch me out by apologising? Implying it was my own fault I’d been locked in?
“Ms Weston—my supervisor—she’s gone to plead your case to the Law Division.”
I stared. “You what?”
“It’s true.”
I shook my head. I’d had it with the mind games here.
“I just wanted to know,” he said, “why you stole bloodrock from the store rooms.”
They know?
Like things weren’t bad enough already. I slumped down, not even caring that he was watching. “They found it was missing.”
“Why did you take it? It’s important.”
He didn’t say to whom. Why would anyone want to know that? Perhaps… perhaps Kay Walker was just genuinely curious. But there was an urgency in his voice now, and although he assumed a casual stance, the tension in his shoulders gave it away.
Something had spooked him.
“I don’t understand why it matters to you,” I said.
“You didn’t have it when I arrested you,” he said. “So where is it? Did you sell it? Is that why you were in the Passages, you’re involved in illicit offworld smuggling? Because bloodrock’s a severely dangerous substance to be taken offworld, especially in the Passages.”
Oh, he was back in condescending dickhead mode again.
“Please. Don’t talk about what you don’t understand. There are people who needed that stuff more than the Alliance does.” Did it matter if he knew? There was no way it could be traced to all the places I’d taken it, least of all offworld.
“Enlighten me,” he said. “Bloodrock is classified as a highly volatile magic-based substance for good reason. You’re aware of the Balance, I’m sure? Even untrained magic-wielders know that there’s a reason for our offworld trade laws.”
“Oh, gods, shut up already,” I said. “Yes, I’m aware of the freaking Balance. I’m not trying to destroy the Multiverse, I’m trying to protect my family.” I stood, hands curling into fists, and glared. “Don’t you have anything you care about? Wait, don’t answer. I honestly couldn’t give a shit. There’s a whole Empire tearing itself to pieces out there and you bastards won’t even lift a finger to help.” I fought back angry tears. “I would do anything to protect my family. If you had a heart, you’d understand that.”
Something flashed in his eyes. Through clenched teeth, he said, “Don’t you assume anything about me, Ada.”
His tone was calm, too calm. A shiver broke out on my arms. I’d really pissed him off.
And then I jumped out of my skin when a sudden vibration pounded against my ear. Kay’s eyes widened. Oh, shit. The earpiece.
“Ada? Are you there?” said Jeth.
I froze and glanced at Kay, panic rising in my chest. He could hear.
My last chance to escape had gone.
“What is that?” he said. “Where did that voice come from?”
“Ada!”
“I’m here, Jeth,” I said, dully. “I couldn’t get out. I’m sorry.”
Kay stared. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Jeth,” I said. “I’m going to make a run for it now. Is there anyone outside?”
“Yeah, Nell is. We’ve been taking turns. Skyla stood out there half the night. Wait a minute and I’ll give her the signal to create a diversion.”
“Sure.” I looked back at Kay, who still stared, completely bemused. “Really sorry about this,” I said to him, and reached for the magic.
Boom.
The blast knocked me off balance before I’d had the chance to attack. The air rippled like someone had thrown a hit of magic and it had come spinning back at them. From Kay’s expression, he hadn’t been responsible, but he went for his communicator all the same. Calling for backup, maybe? It was too late for him, anyway. I was done. He was between me and the door and that was reason enough to hit him with everything I had.
Next thing I knew, I was pinned in a restraining position, flat on my stomach with my hands behind my back. “Stop that!” I gasped. “I use magic, I’ll take out both of us.”
“That’s kind of the idea,” he said, resting his knee on my spine. “Didn’t you hear what I said? Ms Weston’s pleading your case. You won’t have to stay here much longer before you’re free. You won’t have a criminal record. You won’t have to submit to the Alliance, not if you don’t want to. Hell, you don’t even have to tell me why you wanted that bloodrock so badly—but two people have died for it already and I’m not going to let you escape and put more lives in danger.”
The air trembled again. I could see the threads of magic pulsing, purple and red as sunset, which made no sense, because it wasn’t supposed to be visible on Earth.
“What the hell is going on?” Kay said. “Whatever your friends are doing, tell them to stop it before someone gets hurt.”
Then Jeth’s voice in my ear. “Who’s there? Who was that? Is he threatening you?”
“I’m trapped, Jeth,” I said, the side of my face pressed into the carpet. “Look—maybe I was a bit hasty. They know I’m not the killer. I think. Apparently, they might let me go the legal way…”
“I wish you’d told me that before I gave Nell and Skyla the go-ahead to bust you out of there.”
A pause. “Oh,” I said.
Another blast rocked the room. Now I could tell what was happening. Someone had caused such a magical disturbance, it had a ripple effect on all the other magic in the vicinity. But my arms were held above my back and Kay wasn’t budging despite the trembling floor. I wriggled, trying to grab for the communicator still in his hand.
Boom.
This time, the blast shook one of my hands free, and the split-second advantage was enough for me to touch the communicator. My skin buzzed with the magic, so strong it blanked out my thoughts, and before I could hesitate and think about how stupid my plan was, I’d already sent a bolt of magic into the communicator.
Kay swore and let go of me as the magic exploded. The device burst in a shower of bright, purplish sparks and sent both of us flying back. I recovered first and ran for it.
“Ada!” Kay’s shouts followed me as I pelted out the room and upstairs. Again, I found myself weaving through panic. Guards ran everywhere, and with every step, the noise grew louder. Purple sparks flew overhead, and I pick
ed up speed, cursing the stairs for slowing me down—hands grabbed for my feet and I kicked out—like hell was I going to be dragged back now.
And then I was out in the entrance hall. I ran flat out for the exit, my heart lifting when I saw the silhouette of a familiar figure, one I’d missed more than I’d ever thought possible.
Nell.
A beam of red light whizzed over my head, and sparks ignited the air. Skyla. She was throwing magic, and each blast triggered a backlash that made the air vibrate. Hell—that’s second level! Guards ran about, dodging the blasts, and it was easy to strike out a path through the centre—to freedom.
Nell and Skyla stood back to back by the exit, and a few unconscious guards lay around them. I laughed with relief and sprinted the rest of the way out the door.
Nell’s hair straggled loose from its bun and she’d acquired bruises on her face, but appeared otherwise unhurt. “Skyla, that’s enough!”
Skyla laughed. “God, I’ve always wanted to do that. Okay, okay. Let’s run.”
And damn, did we run. Nell must have taken out an entire guard patrol. I recognised one of the fallen guards as Aric. Ha. We skirted the building and made for the gate, while shouts and bangs from Skyla’s magical assault echoed in our wake.
“Thanks,” I gasped between breaths. We turned and headed down the road. “I mean it—thanks.”
“We’re not safe yet,” said Nell, who as usual was several strides ahead of me despite us being the same height. “We need to find a crowded place.”
We aimed for London Bridge, running out of a tangle of side streets, and saw the tube station ahead. Crowds of commuters poured in and out of the station, and the streets were clogged with people. I half-expected Nell to order us to run out into the road.
“I’m not going to get mowed down by a bus!” I said, clutching at a stitch in my side. “At least use the crossing like normal people.”
Nell shot me a glare. “Normal people don’t break out of prison and escape through the middle of London!”