He thought back to the fluffy towels and plush mattress. Somehow, they didn’t seem worth his self-respect.
“Oh, that brings me to one more thing.” Endetta pressed a few buttons on her datapad. “You are not to leave the compound on Bellerophon without my express permission, and I guarantee I will only be offering that for sanctioned events.”
Gavin blanched. “I’m a prisoner?”
“It’s for your safety, of course,” Endetta said. “And the safety of your image. Don’t worry. The excursions I plan will be enjoyable. We need you seen with girls, fast cars, and the like.”
Gavin felt heat rise to his face, though whether he was embarrassed or angered, he couldn’t say. “I don’t want fast cars, and I certainly don’t want a lot of girls. I only want my girlfriend—” Roslyn? “Windla.”
“Don’t worry. We have plans for breaking the two of you up. Something rather public, I think. You’ll be single in no time.” Endetta laid a hand on Gavin’s arm. Her cold fingers brought goose bumps to his previously warm arm. “We’re not cruel, though. You can still see your family. They can visit whenever you want.”
“Gee, thanks.” The angry sarcasm rolled off Gavin’s tongue. He didn’t want to see his family. If he spent the next year pretending to be an asshole to the entire system, he doubted his dad would want to see him, either. He would be packed off to boot camp faster than he would be able to ask about medical training. Not that Chora would accept the playboy games winner just because he had performed one amateur surgery the year prior. “Now, if that’s all, I apparently have some reading and memorizing to do.”
Endetta ignored his tone. “Indeed, you do, and I have some preparations to make as well. I look forward to working with you, Gavin. I’m sure ours will be a memorable partnership.”
Chapter 39
Present Day
“Lexi, I can’t help but feel you’re keeping something from me.” Her father had arranged for her transport to Daphne so they could have dinner together while he was in the city on business. The restaurant was beautiful, with crystal chandeliers and white tablecloths. Each table had five servers. The bread was baked to perfection, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The tangy house dressing tasted luscious, and her rare steak was seasoned with coffee and molasses. Her conversation with her father had focused on her, his beloved daughter, the apple of his eye. It was the life she wanted. But every clink of crystal, every bite of her chocolate torte, and every word of praise dripping from her father’s mouth reminded her that she didn’t belong there anymore.
Where to even start? she thought. Should I tell you I met a boy? He’s a conspiracy nut, and he may be sleeping with my roommate, but I think he loves me. Maybe I should say you’re not really my father, at least not by our reckoning. My real father died thousands of years ago. You’re just some kind of host whom I will long outlive.
She didn’t tell him any of that. Instead, she giggled. “Well, of course I can’t tell you everything, Daddy. I’m at university now. I’m allowed to have some secrets.”
“My little girl is growing up.” Her father sniffed, fighting back the tear forming in the corner of his eye. “You are keeping your grades up, aren’t you? I know you’re pursuing your music performances, and I support you in that, but you need to have a university education to fall back on.”
“Of course, Daddy!” Not that it’s hard. She’d always assumed she was a natural at music history and theory, but it turned out her past lives provided all the answers.
She took another bite of her torte. The fudgy center was rich and delicious, and she didn’t want to think she would have to walk away from the luxury her father lavished her with. In her past lives, she had apparently traveled the system with Will, sometimes in a crappy ship of their own, sometimes in a ship belonging to some blonde called Tegan. She didn’t want that life anymore. She didn’t want to strap herself to someone content with life as a poor wanderer, no matter how much he adored her. She’d had a taste of the truly divine, and she wouldn’t settle for anything less. I’m also pretty sure that Tegan girl is a murderer.
Lexi’s father stole a bite of her dessert. He closed his eyes, no doubt appreciating the exquisite flavor and texture as it rolled across his tongue. “There’s not some boy I should know about, is there?”
“Of course not! You’re the only man who matters to me!” Lexi said with a wink. It’s true. I am done with Will Turin.
She glanced out the window at the passersby. The thoroughfare was largely empty, though that wasn’t surprising for a Saturday evening. Only a few people strolled by—an olive-skinned girl walking her dog, a man with shockingly ugly yellow hair and sporting a silver shirt, and a blond-bobbed woman striding with purpose down the sidewalk.
As she passed the restaurant, the blonde looked in the window, and Lexi stared into her glass-green eyes. Lexi gasped as the woman stopped in her tracks. She knew that slim-yet-curvy figure and the dusting of freckles across her nose.
Tegan O’Leary smiled as if to say, “I’ll be back for you,” then continued on her way.
Lexi wiped her mouth with her napkin to cover her gulp. “Daddy, you don’t mind if I take off a bit early, do you? Midterms are coming up, and I’ve just remembered something I need to do.”
Bliss lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She knew she should worry about her life as a Transient, her vengeful roommate’s declaration of hatred, and the fact that she was sure to fail all her management midterms. Like some lovesick heroine in a romance novel, though, all she could think was I can’t believe I kissed Will. What kind of asshole kisses her roommate’s boyfriend?
Although Will and Lexi were on the outs, Bliss had no doubt they would get back together. Will had been Lexi’s since before she had met either of them. Lexi had said in her last life that she didn’t want Will to find her, but she had a penchant for the dramatic. She hadn’t meant it. Will adored her, and Lexi loved to surround herself with adoring fans.
Before Bliss could contemplate all the horrible things Lexi would do to her as vengeance, the woman herself burst into the room. She didn’t look angry, though. She looked terrified.
“I saw her!” were the first words out of her mouth.
Bliss sat up in one smooth motion. “You saw who?”
Lexi didn’t hear Bliss, or at least didn’t listen. “Oh Cronos, I saw her, and she saw me, and now she’s going to kill us all!” Lexi paced in circles around the room.
“Who’s going to kill whom?” Bliss wanted to make her roommate stop moving around, but she was too scared to touch Lexi. “Do we need to call the police?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Lexi stopped acting terrified enough to give Bliss a disgusted look. “I’m talking about Tegan O’Leary.”
Bliss needed a moment to place the name. For all of Lexi’s insistence that she was not a reincarnating alien, she seemed to have a better grasp on their histories than Bliss did. “The woman who killed Roslyn in our last lives?”
“The woman who tried to kill all of us in our past lives!”
Bliss’s stomach sank. If Lexi acknowledged that she was a Transient, no doubt she would acknowledge her relationship with Will next. “So you admit you’re one of us.”
“Hardly,” Lexi said. “Being one of you seems to involve lying low, staying off the radar, and not becoming famous. I say, ‘No, thank you’ to that. Besides, I still haven’t forgiven you for sleeping with Will.”
“I did not sleep with—”
“But I concede that Tegan O’Leary thinks I’m one of you, so our interests align for now.”
I guess I’ll take what I can get. “Where did you see Tegan?”
“On a street in Daphne.”
“Lexi, we’re a hundred miles away from Daphne. She’s not going to track us here.”
“She saw me,” Lexi said. “She saw Daddy. She could use him t
o get to me!”
Bliss had a hard time believing Tegan would try the hostage route with Lexi, who was unlikely to sacrifice herself for others. Of course, if Tegan knows Lexi and I are together, she might kidnap Lexi’s father in hopes Lexi would exchange me for her meal ticket. “What was she doing in Daphne?” Bliss asked.
“I don’t know! Probably tracking down another Transient to murder for funsies!”
“Lexi, that’s not very helpf—”
The door chimed. “Bliss, are you in there?” Will.
“‘I didn’t sleep with Will,’” Lexi mocked. “Yet he comes here looking for you and not me now.”
“You told him you never wanted to talk to him again!” Bliss said, though she had to admit Lexi’s temper tantrums had never driven Will away before. Maybe Bliss had changed something with that kiss. She pressed the button on the door to let Will in.
Will burst through the door and did a double take when he saw Lexi. “Oh, hey, Lex. You’re going to want to hear this too. Do you watch the Bellerophon Games?”
Lexi studied her nails. “Do I look like someone who watches the Bellerophon Games?” she asked, her voice cool.
“Wait, did something happen to Gavin?” Bliss asked.
Will nodded. “He won the games. I figured he was safe on Bellerophon, but now he’s coming to the far-less-secure Orpheus. Tegan will almost certainly make a move to capture him. She has to be aware of his location.”
Bliss clutched her comforter. “Lexi just saw Tegan in Daphne.”
“We’ve got to get over there! We have to stop her!” Will said.
Bliss turned to Lexi. “You in? This is your brother we’re talking about.”
Lexi pursed her lips, as if considering. Finally, she said, “Fine, but I’m driving.”
Chapter 40
Present Day
Detrick’s face popped up on Tegan’s datapad. She pressed the button to answer. “Tell me you’ve got good news.”
“I have Jack and Cobalt Zhao locked in my bathroom. Does that constitute good news?”
“It does.” Tegan smiled. Things were finally going according to plan. “I’m coming out of orbit. I’ll be there in a few hours.”
“Okay. Tegan?”
“Yeah?”
“Hurry, please. I have to pee.”
Tegan still had a smile on her face as she took the elevator up to the twenty-second floor. She had no intention of going after Lexi—Phedre had forbidden it—but she liked to watch her squirm. Lexi had never been her favorite Transient—or anyone’s favorite Transient, except Will’s, of course. Even Gavin, noble until the end, had a hard time getting along with his self-absorbed sister.
Tegan rang her brother’s doorbell and didn’t have to wait five seconds before he let her in.
“Where have you been?” Detrick was shaking. “I told you to hurry.”
“And I told you I would be a few hours.” She swept inside, ignoring her brother’s plight. “It takes a bit of time to land, park, and walk over here. They’re in the bathroom?”
“Yup. I took these from them.” He gestured at a pair of laser pistols.
Tegan picked one up and looked it over. “Not bad. Eurydice issue.” She eyed the laser cannons that were still hanging out of the hatch in the ceiling. “Of course, there’s no question as to which side is better armed.”
“Can I please let them out now?” Detrick jumped out of his chair and bounced in place.
“Yes, fine, go.”
As Detrick ran toward the bathroom, Tegan did a brief scan of his monitors. One was replaying the closing ceremonies of the Bellerophon Games. Gavin Ibori stared like a deer in the headlights as the announcer named him as the victor. She understood his fear. No doubt Demitrius was stewing, trying to find a way to solve the exposure problem. Little did he know, Tegan already had a solution.
Footsteps sounded softly behind her, and without looking away from the monitors, she aimed her pistol at Jack’s head. “Don’t even think about it.” She pressed a few buttons on Detrick’s datapad, and the laser cannons pivoted to back her up.
She turned to see Cobalt raising his hands. “We surrender.”
“We do not surrender,” Jack said.
Tegan pressed another button, and a purple pulse rocketed through the laser cannons as they powered on.
“Okay, so we surrender a little.” Jack put his hands halfway up, looking more defensive than submissive. “Look, lady, who are you, and why do you want to kill us?”
She studied him for a minute then looked at Cobalt. “Does he really not remember anything?”
Cobalt shook his head. “Not a thing. I explained what was going on, and he forgot all of it by the next morning.”
Tegan cocked her head. That sounds like… She laughed. “Wow. I guess old Demitrius decided you weren’t good enough for his daughter after all.”
Realization dawned on Cobalt’s face. “You think Demitrius blocked his memories. It makes sense. He could have found us while we were babies. Not many Zhao twins are born in any given year.”
Jack looked at Cobalt then Tegan then back at Cobalt again. “What are you guys talking about?”
Cobalt sighed. “If you still remember this conversation in the morning, I’ll tell you.” He glanced at Tegan. “Well, and if we’re still alive.”
“You’ll still be alive tomorrow.” Tegan made her voice as rock-hard as she could. “The plan’s not quite in place yet, and we’ve got a bit of traveling to do.”
Cobalt closed his eyes. “Arachne.”
“That’s right. I’m going to find out where we came from, with your support or without it. I’m—” She broke off when she saw Jack grinning like the fool he was. “What is so funny?”
Jack’s face lit up like a police cruiser in space. “Arachne. Seriously. This is the best adventure ever! We get to go to Arachne!”
Tegan shoved the laser pistol in his face. “You’re going to die on Arachne.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Lady, you have no idea who you’re dealing with. My brother and I are the smartest people in the system, and we’ll get out of any trap you set for us.”
Tegan laughed that time. “Oh, Jack. Dear, sweet Jack. I do know you. I know every trick up your sleeve better than you do. You’d better start getting used to the fact that you’re not going to make it out of this one alive.”
Chapter 41
Present Day
“Roslyn? Roslyn!”
Someone shook her, and her head flopped in slow motion on her pillow. She squeezed her eyes shut. The world was too bright.
“Roslyn!”
She opened her eyes. The room was almost pitch-black except for the glow of a flashlight. A woman with sleek brown hair and strangely familiar features was sitting on the edge of Roslyn’s bed, holding a glowing rock.
“Dr. Tanner?” Roslyn glanced at the stone. The strange sigils on it shone with an eerie green light. “That’s the rock from my dreams!” She shook her head. No. The dreams aren’t important. “I mean, from your office.” The memory was fuzzy and vague, like everything around her. Her fingers felt thick as she rubbed them along the linen sheets, and her brain was stuffed full of cotton.
“I was wrong about everything,” Dr. Tanner whispered. “I was wrong about you and your dreams. You knew this rock meant something, and I didn’t listen.”
“I don’t understand.” Roslyn tried to focus. Something was wrong. Dr. Tanner shouldn’t be here in the middle of the night.
“I was working late at my office, and I knocked it on the floor. It lit up, and I realized you were right about it being an alien device. If you were right about that, who knows what else you were right about?” The light was dim, but Dr. Tanner’s eyes were fervent, as if she had discovered a miracle.
I suppose she has. “You have to give
that back,” Roslyn said. “It belongs on Arachne.”
Dr. Tanner grimaced. “I think you’re right, but I need to shut it off first, and I don’t know how.”
Roslyn moved as if on autopilot, taking the device from Dr. Tanner. “You have to turn it all the way on first.” She pressed the keys in sequence, her voice sounding distant. “Elleks, tsufo, kel.” The device whirred to life, and Roslyn turned the top the opposite way, reverting it to a dull stone. She handed the stone back to Dr. Tanner.
The psychologist smiled. “Thank you very much, Roslyn. You have been most incredibly helpful.”
Something’s wrong. I know that smile. Why do I know that smile? She lay back, unable to think anymore. She would worry about it in the morning.
“See you in the next life, dear,” Dr. Tanner whispered as she turned off the flashlight.
Roslyn drifted back to sleep.
Twenty Years Ago
An Old Earth song blasted through the camp.
Roslyn smiled as she sorted through the “relics” in the trunk. Hannah was convinced every rock on the moon had the potential to be an alien artifact. Evenings must be getting a bit dull here if I’m working through them, and Jack can’t stand a dull moment.
She wasn’t surprised when, a few minutes later, Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, “Dance with me, Rosie.”
Roslyn stood and turned around, never leaving the circle of his arms. She kept her hands to herself for a moment, trying to gauge his expression. He’d been completely devoted to her the last few days, and devoted was not like Jack. Every look, every gesture, and every glance said, “You are the most precious thing in the world to me, and I am never losing you again.”
She slipped her arms around his neck and swayed to the music. Though she was almost embarrassed to meet his eyes, so intently was he staring at her, she couldn’t look away. She had never seen a look that full of desperate love on anyone, not even Gavin.
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