“You’re reading history?”
“No, maths.” He flipped over a page, and stared at the print, undoubtedly attempting to ignore her.
Annoyance at his flippant, sarcastic manner began to supplant the nervous fear from earlier, and she answered almost without thinking. “You don’t have to be rude about it.”
“Then you shouldn’t state the obvious.” Only partially paying attention to the conversation, his words were muffled.
Tay hesitated, conscious of both his patience and the weight of the apparatus in her pocket. By rights, she should head back up to her room, but the small pile of books before the man called to her. The history taught in the Factory school was minimal, and reduced to a list of what was owed to those in power. The chance of reading a possibly accurate history was a powerful draw, and she didn’t want to leave.
“Can I join you?” she asked, her voice nervous but excited at the same time.
He glanced up and stared at her quizzically. “You’re in your dressing gown,” he noted, with a raised eyebrow. “And I’m fairly certain that you’re breaking some code of conduct.”
Tay glanced down at the dark robe with a flush of embarrassment. “I won’t tell if you don’t,” she hedged, with an effort at a conspiratorial smile.
A slow smile creased his features, and he laughed. “Fine.” He indicated the pile of books before him. “Knock yourself out.” He then returned to the book before him.
Tay took a couple of steps forward and sank into one of the other chairs. Like the armchairs in her room, the seat was well sprung and comfortable. She reached out, picked up one of the thickly bound books from the table, and began to read. A comfortable silence settled over the pair of them as they both lost themselves in the history that laid before them.
Chapter 16
“Come on.” A hand shook her awake, and she jolted upright as a heavy book slid off her lap to land with a thump on the floor. The man stepped back as she dragged herself to her feet, and stared about her in consternation. “It’s nearly six,” he noted, with a small smile. “You dropped off.”
Tay glanced up at the clock in the corner of the room, and almost choked at the time displayed on its face.
“I’ve got to get back to my room,” she announced unnecessarily, as he retrieved the fallen tome and returned it to the table.
“And without being seen?”
She nodded, wondering how she could have fallen asleep so readily. “Can you…?”
Another quick grin flashed across his features, and he smiled. “Of course.” He beckoned her to the corner of the room, and pressed down on a small knot hidden in the floor. A door in the panelling slid open, and the tunnel beyond led off into the distance. “Just follow that, it’ll take you to the second floor.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, as she pushed past him, and ducked into the passageway. Cobweb and dust free, it was clearly in frequent use.
She took several paces down the tunnel before she heard him call from the other end. “What’s your name?” Tay stopped moving and stared back over her shoulder. The door was still open, and he was leaning against the frame, a curious look on his face.
“It’s Maria,” she lied quickly, unwilling to provide him either her real name or her alias. Despite the strangely companionable few hours she had spent in his company, she did not wish to draw too much attention to herself. Turning on her heel, she continued to head down the tunnel and back to her rooms.
True to his word, the tunnel opened out onto the second floor, and she turned onto her landing with relief. Quickly, she rushed along the corridor and pushed open the door to the suite.
“What the…?” She froze and stared out at Darius who was sitting at a newly added table, clad in a dressing gown. For a moment, neither said anything, both too stunned to speak.
“What are you…?”
“I went for a walk.”
They spoke at the same time, stopped, and Darius indicated that she should continue.
“I woke early,” Tay explained, unwilling to go into the events of the night. While she was convinced that Darius had something to do with the rebellion, she wasn’t willing to trust him with her secrets. “And I wanted to take a look round.” She attempted nonchalance, hoping that he would buy her rapidly constructed lie.
“Like that?” he asked, nodding at the dressing gown that covered her form.
“Yes.” A rapid nod to confirm the tale. “I didn’t expect to see anyone.”
“I see,” he noted, a small smile playing about his lips. “And did you?”
“Did I what?” she asked, flustered as she always was by Darius’ presence. She had expected a more intensive interrogation or at the very least a demand for an explanation. This calm, questioning manner confused her, almost as though he cared little for her night-time excursion.
“See anyone?” He reached forward and poured himself a cup of tea, seemingly disinterested in her answer.
“No,” she answered, far too quickly, and she bit her lip, expecting him to call her out on her obvious lie.
“That’s alright then.” He set the pot of tea back down on the table and picked up his cup. “Breakfast?” he asked casually, after he took a sip of the steaming liquid, eyes fixed on her nervously twitching form.
“In a minute,” she replied, moving toward her rooms with rapid footsteps. “I’ll need to get dressed.” She reached the door and depressed the handle.
“You’ll need to improve before tonight,” he said, as she pushed open the door and prepared to step into the room.
“Pardon?” She turned back, puzzlement on her face.
“Lying,” he answered calmly, a concerned look on his features. “You’re awful at it.”
“I…” Tay stammered, struggling to find an answer for him.
“I need you to be better than this.” His voice was still calm, yet he stared at her with an intensity she found unnerving. “My sister’s future depends on it.” With that said, he returned to the repast before him and began to attack it with gusto.
Tay stared at him for a long moment. “I’ll try to be better,” she whispered, before turning toward the door and walking into her quarters.
“Where the hell have you been?” Beth rushed forward and flung her arms around her. “I came up to wake you and”－she indicated the rumpled bed with a wave of her hand－“I thought something had happened to you.”
“I’m sorry.” Tay rested her head against her friend’s shoulder, as she tried to sort out the events of the night. “I had something to do for Lars.” She pulled out of Beth’s grasp, and sat on the bed, disappointment running through her as she realised her failure.
“And did you?” Beth reached into the wardrobe and drew out a simple dress in royal blue, before placing it on the bed.
“I tried,” Tay replied. “I couldn’t get to the office.” She reached into her pocket, feeling for the brass recorder. A troubled frown crossed her face. “I’ll have to try again later.” She searched the other pocket, a sickening feeling running through her.
“What’s wrong?” Beth asked, watching Tay root through her pockets with concern.
“Where is it?” A raw note of panic ran through her voice as she checked her pockets for the second time.
“What?” Beth looked on with concern as Tay jumped off the bed and began to rummage through the sheets. “What’s wrong?”
Tay could not answer, too distraught with the loss to formulate a sentence. The search of the bedding proved fruitless, and she began to pace the floor, peering for a gleam of brass in the vibrant red of the carpet. Beth watched in shock as Tay whirled round, and headed for the door, anguish written in every angle on her face.
“Tay.” Her hand whipped out and snagged her by the arm, pulling her to a stop. “What is it?”
“The item your brother gave me is gone,” she whispered, the shock robbing her voice of any volume. “I dropped it.”
“What?” Beth took hold of her upper arms and guided her ba
ck to the bed. “Just sit down and tell me what happened.” The bed sank beneath her weight as Tay sat on the soft surface and began to chew her fingernails. “Stop that.” Beth gently removed Taya’s fingers from her mouth and sat before her. “Now tell me what happened?”
Tay rubbed incipient tears from her face and took a deep breath. “Your brother gave me a recording device so I could copy the shipping records.” Agitated, she stood up again and began to pace across the floor.
“Where did you leave it?” Beth let her pace, but her voice was tinged with concern. “In the records room?”
“No, no”－Tay stopped pacing and shook her head－“I never got into the records room.” She closed her eyes and steeled herself for what was to come. “I heard the guards, so I hid in the library.”
“So you dropped it there,” Beth interrupted, sure that she had solved the problem.
“I think so.” Tay covered her face with her hands and sighed. “But it’s worse than that, I saw someone in there when I hid… If he saw it fall…”
“Is everything alright?” The door swung open, and Darius poked his head into the room. “I heard raised voices.”
“Everything’s fine,” Tay began, only to be cut off by Beth who faced Darius directly.
“She dropped the recorder in the library.” As Tay stared on in shock, Darius turned to face her, a visibly frustrated look on his face.
“Was anything on it?” he asked, his voice mild.
“I don’t unders…”
“Was there anything on it?” he asked again, overriding her words with some impatience.
“No.” Tay glanced from Beth to Darius in confusion. “I didn’t get the chance to use it.”
“Well that’s a blessing at least,” he uttered, as he sat down on the bed. “Tell me what happened?”
“Why should I?” Tay replied, anger finally winning out over confusion. “What’s your part in this? I thought you just knew her through her working at your home?” Darius began to interrupt but she kept going, fury fuelling each word as the sense of betrayal began to deepen. “What else are you keeping from me?”
“Alright, so we’ve lied a bit.”
“A bit?” Tay threw a furious look at Beth, who had the decency to appear ashamed. “Was this all a set-up?” She thought back to the week with his sister, and beyond. Had they all lied to her? A sick feeling rushed through her body, and she sank into a chair, holding her head in her hands. “Your sister?” She glanced up in pure loathing as another thought occurred. “My father?”
“No.” Darius shook his head as he reached out a hand toward her. “Your father was a good friend of mine.”
“You claimed not to know him.” He drew his hand away as Tay slapped at his fingers.
“Not true,” Darius corrected. “I downplayed my association.”
“But you still let me believe that I had to pay this debt.” Horror flowed through her voice. “Why make me go through this if you would have helped my father anyway?”
“Because I couldn’t just tell you about my association,” he replied, his rich voice comforting despite her rage. “I didn’t know how it stood with you; Caleb never mentioned that you were involved.” Tay raised her head and looked into his eyes. “People know that I can fix certain things, but they all know I don’t do it for free.” He glanced skyward and continued. “If I hadn’t asked for the favour, it would have been out of character.”
“He wasn’t going to ask for it,” Beth replied, “until Lyana.”
“So Lyana is pregnant?”
“She is, and I did need someone to take her place.”
“He would have used me,” Beth interjected smoothly, “but I don’t look anything like her.”
“But why did your brother ask for those files when he”－she pointed at Darius－“could have gotten them?”
“I’m being watched,” he replied simply. “They know that someone in the nobility is aiding the rebellion, and I’m under suspicion.”
“Why couldn’t Beth?”
“Because my brother never asks me to spy for him,” Beth replied. “He wants me to stay under the radar as much as possible.”
Tay took several deep breaths as she tried to reconcile this new information. “So you just decided to use me for your own ends?”
Beth winced at the anger in her voice. “No… We just…”
“Why couldn’t you just tell me?” Tay’s gaze fell on Beth and Darius in turn, and both looked away. “I wouldn’t have been involved in this shit if I had known…”
“Yes, you wouldn’t be here,” Darius retaliated, his voice sharp. “I apologise for misleading you, but it’s done now. Make no mistake, you’re in as deep as we are.”
Tay took a deep breath as the implication of his words hit her. “You would turn me in?”
“No.” Beth reached her side and glared at Darius. “No, we wouldn’t do that.”
“But you are guilty by association,” he noted quietly. “They won’t care that we tricked you into this, with your parent’s records and the falsification of the ration records against you.” Tay felt her stomach lurch as he spoke.
“They’d…” She couldn’t finish the sentence, thoughts of the Mine, and worse, raising an ugly spectre in her head.
“We won’t let it come to that,” Beth reassured, casting a disapproving glance at Darius as she spoke.
Tay barely heard the words, still fixated on their betrayal, and the thought of being incarcerated. Lifting her head, she glanced across at Darius, and he flinched at the raw hatred on her face.
“No.” He softened his voice, apology coating each word. “We will keep you safe.”
“How thoughtful,” Tay finally replied, her voice snarling out from behind clenched teeth. “You’ve managed to snare me into this, and now you expect me to trust you?”
“Tay…”
“Get out,” she ordered, anger making her voice sharp. “Leave me alone.” Darius stared at her for one long moment before he bowed his head and turned to go.
“Both of you.” Tay turned her gaze to Beth and waited.
“I’m still on your side.” Tay barely lifted her head at her words. “I wasn’t lying all the time, I’m your friend.”
“And I only have your word for that.”
“I guess I earned that,” Beth murmured, as she walked toward the door. “I’m sorry for lying to you.” Tay looked away, unwilling to find any forgiveness for the pair of them. Beth followed Darius to the rooms beyond. The door shut behind them, and Tay threw herself across the bed, large tears of anger streaming down her face.
Chapter 17
The tears had long dried by the time she plucked up the courage to leave her bedroom and face the world beyond. The small sitting room was empty, yet she could hear voices coming from the main suite. Taking a deep breath, she laid a hand on the handle and opened the door. Darius and Beth stopped talking as they watched her enter the room. A hard knot of emotion almost choked her as she looked across at their faces. Though she had wanted to, she had never really trusted Darius, but Beth, her mood dropped further as she looked at the girl she had considered a friend. It was Beth’s betrayal that hurt the most. With Darius, she had always known that he had some other agenda, and his betrayal, while hurtful, was not a surprise.
“Are you…?” Beth’s voice petered out as she took in the look on Tay’s face.
“Well, what do you want me to do?” In a tone leeched of emotion, her question whipped across the room, and they both winced at the dead note to her voice.
“Who was in the library with you?” Darius asked, his voice the same steady calm that it had always been.
“I don’t know,” Tay replied.
Darius expelled a long breath of air, troubled by her words. Beth opened her mouth to speak, but Tay deliberately turned away, ignoring her. Beth closed her mouth as disappointment flooded her features.
“I’ll deal with this,” Darius said, noting the chill silence between the two
women. Beth nodded and left the room, a wounded expression on her features as she did so. Darius waited for the door to shut fast before turning to face her.
“Don’t be so hard on her,” Darius noted. “I’m the one who lied the most.”
“But I expected you to,” Tay shot back, her voice raw with anguish. “Not her.”
Darius nodded and stepped back to the table where a fresh breakfast awaited. “She wasn’t totally lying.” He poured a cup of tea, and returned to stand before her. “Not about being your friend or caring.” He took a sip of the steaming liquid and continued. “You expected me to lie, I’m not sure how I should take that.”
“I’ve always known you had an agenda,” Tay argued, wondering just what it took to shake that insufferable calm. “I always expected some form of betrayal, you lying isn’t a shock because in my heart I knew that you would.”
“Then why did you agree to my terms?” She stared up into the icy blue of his eyes. “Why did you put yourself on this path?” With a nod of his head, he indicated the door that Beth had gone through. “Her brother told me that you didn’t want to join, that you were happy to struggle through on the barest possible existence, with your life in the hands of those guards.” He took a deep breath and kept going. “If you are so desperate to remain ‘safe’”－he framed a set of quote marks with his fingers as he continued－“then why even bother?”
“Because they’d imprisoned Father, and I couldn’t let that go.”
“Sure you could.” Her eyes narrowed as he spoke. “Lots of people in the Factory let that happen. They take the hit in rating, and their family struggles on the barest of life’s essentials. You could have managed the reduction in ration, particularly if your sister got a job.” The cup was placed on a nearby table. “All you had to do was give in and knuckle under.” She took a deep breath, as the flood of words continued to assail her. “Why didn’t you?”
“Because I didn’t want them to win,” Tay finally shouted, provoked to answer by his needling jabs. “And they’ve won so often that I can’t let them win again.” Without realising, she stepped closer to him as she faced him down. “You don’t know what it’s like to stand on a knife edge all of your life, knowing that some small slip will destroy you.”
Amber Sky (C.O.I.L.S Of Copper and Brass Book 1) Page 16