I slung my feet off the edge of the bed. I still wore my outfit from the night before. Inside-out blouse and jeans.
What the hell?
My legs were jelly when I put weight on them. The second I stood upright, blackness clouded my vision and I was forced to wait until the dizzy stars went away.
While I waited, I spotted another note in Leila’s handwriting. I snatched it off the dresser.
You’re part of the experiment.
Horrific thoughts flooded my mind. My blackouts. The Others. Leila had written the last note when The Others took over. This meant only one thing. They did it again. I was part of the experiment. All those names against the lab results. What if my name was now in that book? Or worse… what if they were using me to do the experimenting? That meant Bruce could know about The Others.
Panic laced with fury rose inside me so violently that I clenched my teeth to the point of pain. I was fuming. Livid. I shoved on some shoes and ripped open my door. Immediately, I opened Lincoln’s door.
In the center of his room, he slept soundly on a bed. Bare-chested and wearing a pair of designer boxer shorts.
Behind him, the fake window showed a different scene to mine. The sky, equal amounts of purple and blue with the dawn, was beautiful. It rained on the field of horses, creating a soft ambient white noise for sleep.
Lincoln had changed out of his tuxedo, but I hadn’t undressed. Little things niggled at my senses. I didn’t like this. I didn’t like this one bit.
My fists opened and closed, pumping as I watched my brother sleep.
And then: “Wake up.” I shoved him.
“Huh—what? Where’s the fire?” He opened his eyes and rubbed them. “Sis? You’re awake.”
“Damn straight I’m awake. What the hell happened last night?”
He smiled sheepishly and closed his eyes dreamily. “Last night I had the time of my life. That girl from Lyra House really knows how to move in the bedroom. Must be that Lyra affinity with music and rhythm.”
“What the fuck, Lincoln, when did you have time for a booty call?”
“What the fuck, yourself. Dinner got canceled because of you, sleepy head—and you know how daddy dearest hates to cancel those dinners.” His eyes widened, and he sat up. “Oh, you don’t know.”
“Don’t know what?”
“You’ve been asleep for days, sis.”
My blood ran cold. “Say again?”
“You were so tired after dinner with Cetus House that you went straight to bed. You didn’t wake up.”
I lost control of my legs and perched on the edge of his bed.
“How long was I out?”
“Three days. I came and sat with you for a bit. Left you a little something.”
“Lincoln—” He sat with me? The hobby horse. That was from him. I didn’t know what to think. Three days… That would explain the weak legs and hunger. “Why didn’t anyone do something?”
“As long as you woke up today, there was nothing to do.”
“What’s today?”
“The first trial.”
Vomit.
I wasn’t ready.
Lincoln hit the lamp on his side-table and the room illuminated. The purple sky in the fake window adjusted to allow more light in the room as though it read Lincoln’s need. The rain stopped and bright morning sun bloomed in the scenery revealing a field of horses whinnying and nibbling at the grass. He picked up his watch from the side-table.
“In half an hour, actually.”
“Half an hour?”
“That’s what I said.” He rolled off his bed and slipped on the discarded clothes he found on the floor. “Suppose I better make a show of actually trying to pass.”
I had to find Cash.
But I had no time.
A stab of pain gripped my stomach, and I doubled over, clenching it.
Jeez, I was hungry.
Lincoln brushed past me, dressed haphazardly, and went into the hall, leaving the door open behind him. The smell of breakfast cooking caused my stomach to clench in sharp agony. Yup. I hadn’t eaten in days. I wiped my eyes and cautiously followed my nose to the table where my father and brother sat.
The surreal picture my eyes took was of a traditional suburban family.
Oddly, Bruce read the newspaper, and Lincoln nibbled over a bowl of cereal, checking the latest on his phone. The phone I never got to borrow for reconnaissance.
My father glanced up from his paper. “You’re awake.”
I was desperate to eat, but I had to know. “What happened to me after dinner?”
“Sit down and have something to eat.”
“No.” I dug my heals in. “I need to know.”
“You got tired and went to bed. You slept for a while.”
“No, before that. Why did you speak with Cygnus and I?”
He folded the paper. “We needed to speak with the two of you privately about your arrangement.”
I glanced at Lincoln but he ignored me and ate his food, metal spoon clinking on the china bowl.
“Is everything okay, Roo-Roo? You look a little, unsettled.”
Bruce’s use of my childhood nickname sent a flood of nostalgia and helplessness rushing through me. My tears threatened to come back. My fingers heated, wanting to spark. This slip in control must be my survival instincts manifesting.
“The arrangement,” I said. “You mean the one that’s not supposed to happen until I fail?”
His lips pressed together. “You had two weeks to train with Samson and you messed it up. Don’t blame me for your shortcomings.” Seeing my horror, his expression softened. He walked over and placed a steady hand on my shoulder. “I know sleeping for three days must feel frightening. We had Corvus House come and check you over, so you were always safe. We knew you’d come out of it, eventually.”
Lincoln’s spoon slipped from his fingers and clattered to the table. “Sorry.”
Bruce cleared his throat. “But I promise, after your trials, we’ll investigate the incident further.”
I didn’t know what to think. Did he force The Others to the surface, or was he experimenting on me like the rest of the names on his list. Either way it was not good.
“And Cash? Did he come around?”
“Your mentor was nowhere to be found.”
My gaze shot to Lincoln for confirmation. He shrugged and took another spoonful of food. As far as I could tell he told the truth. All of my instincts rebelled against that. Cash would never leave me for days, not after our planned date.
“The cook is still here, do you want me to order you something?” My father asked, taking his seat again and lifting the paper.
“No, thank you,” I mumbled. “I’ll just eat cereal.”
I poured myself a bowl and ate with my head resting on my hand, trying not to feel the heat of Lincoln’s stare on my face.
Chapter 17
We went to the second basement sub-level. The first trial was being held in a small auditorium similar to what I’d expect at a university. At the entrance to the door, a scanning device searched bodies as they passed through.
A small crowd made up of Players… sorry, contenders—they weren’t officially Players, yet—crowded around the entrance. Their mentors were there, to see them off and give them well wishes. It all had a rather bourgeois vibe to it. Bored, rich parents seeing their children off at summer camp.
We shuffled forward in our place in the line. My breakfast hadn’t gone down well and rolled in my stomach. What had happened to Cash? Three days had gone past since I was supposed to meet him. Our date. He was going to cook for me. I closed my eyes briefly and remembered the way he looked at me in that hallway after training. Unfettered desire burned in his eyes. His warm touch on my cheek. Our bodies pressed together. My hand reached into my pocket for the Ducati keyring. I had to make it up to him.
A kerfuffle sounded from the back of the line. I craned my neck to look back. Despite myself, my heart flipped. Cash.
/>
With Jed. They were elbowing their way through the line to get to us. I felt my father stiffen beside me. A space opened before us and we were almost at the entrance to the auditorium.
“Roo,” Cash said, face hard. “We need to talk before you go in.”
“You don’t have time,” Bruce said.
“You. Don’t talk to me.” Cash pointed at my father’s face, then he turned to me. “You don’t have a choice. Come with me.”
“I’ll be back in five minutes,” I said to Bruce.
He was about to protest, but something in Jed’s eyes stopped him. Being an ex-police office must give you a vibe not to be messed with because Bruce backed down. “Fine. Five minutes. That’s all you have.”
I caught sight of a group of people coming up behind Cash. It was House Cetus: Mathieson, Cygnus and Wren. I waved briefly at them as they walked by to take their place in the line. Wren gave me a small smile, but Cygnus, he completely shrunk away from me with a frightened feral look in his eyes. Alarm jolted through me. What was that about?
I didn’t have time to think on it because Cash promptly led me away from the bustling crowd to a quiet spot out of hearing distance where Jed waited.
“Hi Jed.”
“Hi Roo.”
“Jed, give us a minute.”
Cash watched Jed step away and when his gaze locked back on mine, his penetrating stare drilled down to my bones. Then he moved us further down the hall.
“Are you okay?” Cash asked.
I frowned. Everyone acted weird. On edge.
“Roo, are you okay?” he asked again. “Are you hurt? We’ve been trying to get access to you for days, but—why is your shirt inside out?”
I glanced down. I’d had no time to change.
“Look, it doesn’t matter,” he continued. “Just tell me you’re okay.”
“I think so. But, three days? Why didn’t you—” I cut myself off, bit my lip and kept my eyes on the floor. Now wasn’t the time to make a scene.
“We couldn’t get to you, and short of starting a war by breaking down the doors, we were stuck. What happened?”
That’s what I’d like to know. It could have been a number of things. “I’m still piecing it together. I blacked out.”
“For three days?”
If I told him about the voices in my head, he might think differently.
He punched the wall next to my head, jarring me awake. Plaster crumbled to the floor, and my ears echoed the blast. But I wouldn’t shrink away. I wouldn’t be intimidated by his violence.
“Damn it, Roo. What aren’t you telling me? Tell me the truth.”
“I’m sorry, I blacked out.” I shook my head, but he cupped my jaw and forced me to meet his eyes. When I did, I saw such raw emotion that I almost lost my footing. “You weren’t there, Cash.”
He exhaled and dipped his forehead to mine. “I know.”
We didn’t move for a while.
“Something happened, and it scares me,” I whispered. “In a way, I can’t begin to comprehend, and I need to discuss it with you, but we can’t talk about it now.”
Cash pulled away from me and studied my face. “You’re right. Too many people around. We’ll continue this after the trial. But, don’t do that again.”
“What?”
“Fall asleep for three days and then avoid me. I could see it in your eyes when I approached you in the line. You thought about going with your father.”
“For a second, I believed him when he said you hadn’t come around to check on me.”
“Bastard. I stood vigil outside your door for twenty-four hours. I only left when Jacine told me there was a better way. If you didn’t turn up this morning, we had a plan. Thank the gods you woke up. When this is over, you’re coming with me.” He tugged me into his embrace.
I sighed and softened myself to his body. How could I ignore this ocean of emotion between us? He buried his face in my neck.
“Say you’ll come.”
“I—”
“I won’t wait next time,” he said into my hair. “I don’t care what they say. I’ll break down the door. Urser is not to be trusted.”
I thought back to my father’s poor excuse for what happened and Lincoln’s reaction to his words. The spoon dropping. Bruce had lied.
I wasn’t safe there. Not anymore. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Of course you’re right. Forget the evidence.”
“Hallelujah. We have Jacine’s and Felix’s vote. That’s two votes already in the Tribunal. If Urser wants to fight you coming to mine, he’ll have to overcome that. Concentrate on passing the trial, I’ll work on the housing arrangement.”
“Easier said than done,” I mumbled.
“You only need fifty-one percent to pass. And if you don’t, there’s two more trials you can do. You just need an overall pass. We went through the major points during training. As long as you’re with me, you’ll be fine.”
We started to walk back to the auditorium when Cash frowned and stopped me. He cocked his head as though listening to something.
“What is it?” I whispered.
He placed his finger on his lips. “Your father. I can hear him talking.”
I cast my senses out and felt the unique signature of my father’s aura a few feet in front of us, hidden in the alcove of another corridor. With him was another signature I recognized. Mathieson Cetus. The expression on Cash’s face darkened as he listened. He glanced at me and frowned.
“What is it?” I whispered again.
“Shh.”
I strained my ears to listen, but my hearing was nothing like Cash’s.
Cash murmured, “They’re arguing about proof. It wasn’t what Cetus expected.”
“That’s what they spoke about at dinner the other night. Bruce wanted more of something, and Cetus gave him seventy-three.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll sort it out. Focus on your test and I’ll see you later.” Cash took my hand and continued to guide me towards the entrance to the auditorium. The line had thinned, and there were only a few stragglers being scanned.
Bruce appeared. “That was longer than five minutes.”
“Well, I’m here now,” I said.
He noted my hand linked with Cash’s and smirked. “Lover’s quarrel over I presume?”
Cash’s hand tightened around mine. He leaned in to kiss my cheek. I felt something press into my other hand. When I looked down, I found my phone. Earphones wrapped around the handset.
My heart swelled. My music. My center of gravity. I hit the home button, and the screen reanimated. Fully charged. I could’ve wept.
“Thank you,” I said.
“It took a while, but we found your luggage. When Jed handed it over for inspection, it got mysteriously rerouted. Very suspicious considering Jed’s and mine weren’t.” He darted a glance at my father. “I have a charger at my place. You can grab it when I see you later.”
I nodded.
“Good luck,” he said and left to meet Jed who was waiting down the corridor.
I stepped through the scanner. Similar to something you’d see at the airport, I expected it to be searching for metal, or other dangerous objects. But it beeped when I walked through.
The half asleep attendant jumped to action.
“Please walk through again, miss,” said the man who looked familiar. I thought I’d seen him at the registrar’s surgery. He hit a few keys on his laptop computer.
I stepped back and tried again.
Angry red lights flashed.
What the hell?
For a minute, I panicked. The Cauldron used to have a ridiculous little scanner at the front to check for witches. It never worked on me before, despite what I held inside. Why would it freak out now? Unless this scanned for something else.
“This happened at her registration,” my father said from his spot outside the door. “The nano-trackers went haywire. I would’ve thought you’d have it fixed by now. Just let her through.”
/> The attendant narrowed his eyes, but nodded.
Suddenly I had the urge to pull the machine apart and help him locate the issue. It was such an odd urge. I’d never pulled anything electrical apart before. But Cygnus had… and I had a metallic taste in my mouth when I woke up. Could this mean that Urser made me drink Cygnus’s blood to capture part of his soul? I stumbled away, barely registering Bruce’s words: “Don’t forget, Roo. When you fail these trials, you’re mine.”
Chapter 18
By the time I entered at the small auditorium, most of the seats were taken. I felt on display as I stood at the lower level, hand to my eyes, squinting up the steps for a vacancy.
There’s something. Right up the back.
I took two steps and then face-planted the staircase. Pain sliced my forehead when it hit the edge of the hard carpet covered concrete. I raised my hand to inspect the damage. A sliver of blood wet my finger, but the wound closed over before much seeped out. I wiped my hand on my pants.
A snicker to my right confirmed the source of my pain.
Ava.
You’ve got to be kidding me. She tripped me. How childish can you get?
I levered myself off the floor and stood, taking time to dust off. I considered giving her the evil eye, but thought I’d be the bigger person.
Then she leaned into the aisle and said, “I hope you fail, cheater.”
Cheater. The word rolled in my gut. I knew she referred to the fact that she had been scheduled to download into this body, not me, but I refused to feel guilt over it any longer.
I kept walking and found a seat a few more steps up, next to Cygnus. I gave a weak smile as I landed next to him. The horror that stole over his face was the only warning I received before he jumped up, moved his lanky legs over the desk and into the row in front of me. Then he excused himself and bumped his way along the row until he exited at the opposite aisle-end and found a seat somewhere else.
Jeez. What was that about? I surreptitiously smelled my armpits, hoping his reaction was from my three-day-old sweat. But, no, I didn’t smell that bad. My shame became real. His actions cemented my earlier suspicion—I had somehow stolen a piece of his soul.
The Game of Gods: Series Box Set Page 57
