His hand runs the length of my loose tresses. "I've got you, Birdie. I've always had you."
But in my mind I know the truth: he doesn't. How can someone who is falling apart make such promises?
#
Breakfast is a disgusting mix of animal products and pancakes. Nothing at all like the delicious fritatas or omelets Bethina used to cook, or the berry parfaits I get at home. But since I'm the guest, I can't complain. Still, the thought of eating pig makes me sick to my stomach, and I refuse the plate of brown grossness when it's offered to me.
I look down the long table. As I thought, all the Dark witches are eating only pancakes, while the Light witches - except for Henry - are eating the sausage.
At least there's orange juice.
Now seems as good a time as any, so I say to Mr. Channing, "This is a beautiful feast you've prepared for us, Patrick."
"Thank you."
"It's a shame more of our people can't enjoy breakfasts like this."
I'm testing the limits of what I can and can't do. But the truth is, I'm not leaving here until I get at least fifty Light witches to commit to the Ag Centers work.
"It is. You'd think the Dark witches would have come up with a way to feed the people on their own."
"Patrick, you know we can't. We need you. We need the Light witches."
"Malin didn't think so." Patrick Channing grimaces and stabs a piece of something called bacon. "In fact, she did everything she could to keep us contained and away from the State."
Is that true? Did Mother really keep the Channings out? I thought they chose to live off the grid by choice.
"I am not my mother." I set my fork down. "I'm telling you, I - the entire Society - need you. We need you badly."
"How convenient," Margo Channing says. "For years, Patrick offered his services, but no. She banished us here, away from everything. Paraded us out for the Founders' Ball and then put us away. We weren't needed or wanted then, so why should we be now?"
My face is a mask of non-responsiveness, but inside my brain whirls. The Channings feel like they were banished and kicked out, and Mother alienated them for some unknown reason.
"I'm sure you weren't banished. Surely you exaggerate."
Mrs. Channing purses her lips. "Surely, Lark, I don't."
I throw my hands up in the air, and everyone at the table jumps, including Beck.
Wonderful. Everyone is afraid of me. What was it that my imaginary mother said, "Make them fear me?" Well, I think I have that part down.
"I'm just frustrated, that's all," I say, and everyone relaxes. "I've offered you Council seats; I've offered to bring more Light witches into the State; and I'm trying my hardest to be inclusive, and yet you keep telling me 'no.'" I rest my hands on the table, a sign that I'm trying to be peaceful. "What is it that you want?"
Margo Channing tilts her head, much like Beck does, and says, "First, I want to keep my son safe. Something you have very little concern about."
"Mom," Beck shouts. "Lark is my mate. We're bound for life, you know that."
Mrs. Channing shoots Beck a narrow-eyed look, and he backs down. "The second thing I want is something Malin stole from me years ago while I was visiting her at Northwoods."
"Northwoods?" I exclaim. "You were there?"
Down the table, Henry goes slack-jawed. How odd, wouldn't he have been there too?
"Was I there? I visited Bethina every summer. Don't you remember, Henry?"
He shakes his head. "I don't recall ever seeing you."
"Are you calling me a liar?" Mrs. Channing asks, her tone implying insult.
Desperate to get the conversation back on track, I say, "So you knew my mother well?" I'm curious about the connection the two women may have had beyond Bethina.
"No one knew Malin well. Apparently, not even her own brother." Mrs. Channing scoops some fruit from a bowl to her plate.
This is going nowhere, and I decide to dive in to what I really want to know. "What is it you want back?"
Mrs. Channing touches her middle left finger. "My ability to see glimpses of the future."
I grit my teeth to keep my gasp inside. Like Annalise, Mrs. Channing is accusing Mother off being able to steal people's magic. How many others has she done it to?
I shove back from the table and drop my napkin on the chair. "We can discuss this later - after you give me fifty Light witches for the Ag Centers.
Mrs. Channing laughs. "Good luck with that." She dips her head toward Beck. "You, too. No one wants anything to do with your reign of nothingness."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Beck finds me out near the weeping willow tree. "Hiya, Birdie."
"Hiya," I say in a dull, listless voice. I pluck at a long strand of grass and wrap it around my finger, cutting off the circulation. "That didn't go well."
"No, it didn't, " Beck says, taking my hand and unwinding the piece of grass.
"I should have let you speak to them. They would have listened to you."
Beck drops my hand, and his arms hang to his sides. "I doubt it. What they're not telling you is that there probably aren't fifty witches to give you. My parents have been all but abandoned. That's why no one is here - not even with the evacuation orders."
Despite the blistering heat, a sudden coldness hits me, and I shiver. "I knew they had lost some witches to the Splinter group, but to lose nearly everyone? This isn't good. It isn't good at all. " I stare across the now-empty field that once housed thousands of tents. "What are they doing about it?"
He shrugs. "What can they do? Join forces with you and make the Light witches trust them less?"
He has a point. "If we could end the food shortages, wouldn't that go a little way toward building good will?"
Beck runs a hand through his shaggy blond hair. "I don't think it's going to be enough. You know the Splinter group wants control of the State. That's their end game, and they're not going to stop till they get it."
"But don't you think people want peace more? If we can offer stability and safety--"
"The war is coming no matter what we do." Beck's voice is monotone and his normally bright eyes, dull.
"It's already here, only we're just now seeing it." I lay back in the tall grass, letting the branches of the weeping willow shade me from the sun. "Eamon and the Splinter group are coming for us. The attack was just a warning, I think."
Beck kisses my cheek. "I won't let them get to you."
"Chivalrous, but I can do anything you can do, and just as well, if not better."
He takes a strand of my hair and tickles his face with it. "I've decided to leave for the Eastern Society in the morning. We need a win somewhere. Are you going to be okay taking this all on on your own?"
"I'll be fine. I'll have Annalise and Henry. But do you think it's wise to go to the Eastern Society despite the Council's advice?"
"I'm going because I see no other options. We need food. Specifically their food." He looks down at me. "Do you have any other ideas?"
I suck on my bottom lip and nod. "I'm going to the Ag Centers to see if I can be of any help. Maybe drum up support there."
Beck studies me closely. "Do you think that's a good idea? After what happened last time?" It's like we have little care for our own safety, but are instead focusing on the other.
He means Mother's assassination. "I'll be okay." The truth is, I'm terrified, but I have limited options. Despite what Beck thinks, I believe getting the people food is the best way to fight the Splinter group.
"And if you can't get Crispin on board, then what?"
"I'll go to Northwoods. Annalise told me a story about my Mother, and your mom more or less confirmed it. I need to find out what really happened there, and who my Mother was. It may help me figure out who I am and how to stop whatever is happening between us."
He pulls me closer to him so that I'm basically lying in his lap. "I'm sorry about yesterday. About how rough I was with you. It should never have happened."
I look up into his eyes. "It gets better, less mind-dizzying. You just have to learn to control it."
"Can you?" Beck asks.
I should tell him the honest truth - that I still have outbursts - but I want him to have hope. "I get better each day."
He bends forward and kisses my forehead. "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you, too. More than you know."
What I don't say is that part of me is glad to see him go. Maybe if he's away from me, he'll heal and get better with no bad, magical influence to send him off into crazy land.
I reach up and pull his head down to mine. I kiss him like that, upside down. It seems suitable for the situation we're in: me being the calm, collected one and Beck being hot-headed.
I don't tell him I worry about him being held captive by the Eastern Society, or that he may explode in anger over something trivial. Instead, I focus my thoughts and energy on trying to convince Beck that he's going to return home successfully, with treaties in hand and food for our people.
Now if I could only convince myself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
In the morning, I kiss Beck good-bye, lingering just a moment longer than I should, and savoring every inch of him. I'm keenly aware that we're surrounded by guards. Half of our detail is traveling with Beck, the other half will stay with me. "Be careful," I say, running my hands up and down his arms. "And good luck. Bring back a treaty for me."
He laughs. "Nice pun, Birdie."
"I'm serious. We need this. If the Eastern Society will give us food rights, we may just have a chance to bring down the Splinter group."
He presses his palm against my cheek. "The problem is we have no idea how many witches we're up against, or how long their reach is. We suspect, but we don't know."
I flip my ponytail over my shoulder. "I believe there has to be some Light witches out there who are still willing to compromise. Look at Eloise and Henry. They haven't abandoned us."
Beck touches the tip of my nose with his finger. "He's your uncle, and she's his soon-to-be mate."
"She's also Eamon's sister. Don't forget that," I add, trying to show him all hope isn't lost.
"Still, she's your friend."
"So? Your parents aren't with us."
"They aren't against us either. They're just playing the middle ground."
I huff. "How nice for them to have the luxury of sitting back and waiting to pick a side."
"They're in a tough spot. Don't be so hard on them, Birdie." Beck touches my necklace. "They're doing the best they can."
He pulls me deeper into his arms, and I savor his warmth. "I'll miss you every minute I'm gone," he says.
"Be careful."
"I will."
"Tell Callum I said hi," I say sarcastically. My brother is meeting Beck there.
Beck rolls his eyes. "I'll be sure to do that."
"I love you," I say.
"Love you more," he whispers back as he disappears.
#
Shortly after Beck departs, I leave with my entourage. Mr. and Mrs. Channing do not object. In fact, they nearly push me out the door.
"We'll let Beck know if the situation changes," Mr. Channing says. I'm not sure what situation he's referring to: his leadership of the remaining Light witches or his and Mrs. Channing's desire to help us.
I don't bother to ask.
Off to the side, Ryker and Landon are conferring. I can't hear their words, but Ryker looks agitated.
"Are you ready?" Landon asks.
"As always," I reply. Transporting isn't my favorite thing. It's dark and cold, and I often come out looking windblown. But it beats train travel, and walking is out of the question.
"On three," my head guard orders.
I close my eyes and focus on the Ag Centers. So far, my greatest accomplishment as a transporting witch has been not ending up in the wrong place. It happens with younger witches all the time.
"One, two, three."
I step forward and am immediately overwhelmed by the spinning sensation that accompanies transporting.
As hoped, I land in a secure zone just outside the largest Ag Centers - the one where I worked with Crispin not too long ago. The one near where Mother was murdered.
Next to me are my guards – eight of them, plus Henry.
After waiting for Landon to confirm the area is safe, we file one-by-one past the empty checkpoint. There's no Enforcer on duty.
The hair at the base of my neck pricks up. We never leave guard stations unattended.
How odd.
Landon must think so too because he holds up his hand, and we all come to a halt. "Maria, Tal, and Katrina, you go ahead and secure the facilities. The rest of you stay here with me and protect Lark."
This is ridiculous, I think. Surely I don't need five guards to stand near a checkpoint.
"I'm going in," I say, pushing my way past a guard I barely recognize. "I'll feel safer inside."
Ryker holds out his arm, blocking me from entering, and as tempted as I am to proceed, I know he's right. I have to wait. "Just for a moment, Lark. Let us make sure it's safe for you."
I wonder if he's a nervous about being here as I am. After all, he was with me last time when Beck was pretending to be Ryker, and Mother was killed. He remembers how safe we felt – like nothing was going to happen way out here in the middle of nowhere.
He presses the feed behind his ear, listens for a moment, narrows his eyes, and then gives me a curt nod. He looks at Landon as if waiting permission.
"It's secure," he finally says.
Henry and I follow Ryker down the path while Landon and the rest of the guard bring up the rear. Eloise isn't with us. She was sent back to San Francisco to search out any Light witches she can find and to convince them to join our side. Until now, fruitless work, but work that must be done. Maybe with the new evacuees, she'll have better luck. Especially since they have me to thank for their protection.
Behind me, the guards mumble amongst themselves, but I pay little attention to their words - not when the humid air of the Ag Centers beckons me forward. As I step through the doors, the smell of fresh dirt fills my nose, and I inhale deeply, savoring its rich, earthy smell. How I miss working in the fields.
"Lark," Ryker says, drawing me out of my trance. "Look around you."
Half-turned over wheelbarrows and garden supplies are everywhere. But the Ag Centers, itself, is empty. No one. Anywhere.
I frown. How can this be? Henry assured me, Crispin, the head of the Center, would be here.
I turn to my uncle and stare at him quizzically. "Where is everyone? Where is Crispin?"
"I...I..." he stutters. "I don't know. I just spoke to Crispin yesterday."
"And he said he'd be here?" I ask.
Henry furrows his brow. "He did. He said he had a team in place and was eager to hear your proposals."
"Does there appear to be foul play?" I ask Landon.
My guard surveys the facility. "It appears whoever was here abandoned it quickly. Look." He points to an area close to Kyra stained a reddish brown and kneels down to examine it more closely. "Blood."
"Over here too," says the guard I think is named Tal.
"And here," says another guard.
My uncle and I lock eyes. He says it before I can, "A battle."
"They're forcing Light witches to join them, aren't they?" I ask. "Just like in Riverview, if you don't join up, you risk being killed."
Henry nods slowly. "I'd say that's a fair assessment."
My heart is in my gut, and I feel like puking. "Which means we have no one growing food now. No one."
Our entire Society is on the brink of starvation, not to mention collapse. If it happens, it's all on my shoulders. It will be my fault because Mother kept everything so well hidden from the public. I close my eyes and hope Beck can negotiate that treaty. We need it more than ever, because right now, it may be the only hope we have to feed ourselves.
"Lark?" My uncles asks. "What do
you want to do?"
Without a second thought, I say to Henry, "Plow the fields and plant a crop."
"Lark," he touches my arm. "Even you can't farm all this on your own. Not even with my help."
"We have to try."
He shakes his head. "No."
"But the Splinter group is getting food. From where?"
Henry surveys the Ag Centers. "Not here."
I fall to my knees and order my guards to do the same. "Then we will plant these fields the old fashioned way, and you and I, Henry, will use magic to make it all grow. We can do this."
"Lark," he says, but I hold up my hand, cutting him off.
"We will do this. We will grow something." Desperation drips from my voice, but I don't care. I am desperate. Let my guards see how important this is to me. Let no one say Lark Greene didn't try her hardest.
"This war, Lark, won't be fought in fields, or even face-to-face. It's going to be dirty."
I smile up at him from my position on the ground. "Good thing I've never been afraid to play in the dirt."
#
Soil covers every square inch of my body. After showing my guards, who are less than enthusiastic about planting, how to properly till and place the seeds, I get down to business.
In under an hour, Henry and I plant and harvest five rows of mixed greens: kale, lettuce, chard, collard greens, and spinach. Our bounty sits to the side in huge bins, awaiting transportation.
As we work planting corn and wheat, I realize I have no idea how to distribute the food to the people. How does it get from the Ag Center to where it needs to be?
"Henry, do the trains take the food?"
"Typically."
"So there's a possibility the Splinter group can intercept all of this." I gesture to the bins of food.
He furrows his brow. "What do you propose?"
"Can we transport it to the neediest areas first? A place secured by the Dark witches...like Ottawa?"
My uncle runs his tongue over his teeth. "We could, but let me ask you this, how long do you plan on staying here? How long can you do this on your own?"
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