Sky hadn’t realised his breathing had turned sharper. He could feel his blood boiling. Before he knew it, he had literally flown down the stairs and right into his sister’s bedroom.
“Jeez, Sky!” Sophie exclaimed at his sudden appearance.
It only then occurred to Sky that he perhaps should have knocked first. Sophie was standing in front of him, only half dressed. She was already wearing jeans, but as for her upper body… she was only wearing a bra. In her hands she was holding the shirt she was just about to pull on.
The sight of her didn’t faze Sky in the slightest, and Sophie didn’t seem to care either. They were brother and sister, or as close as they could be. And Sky had seen his sister with less than this on before.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Sky exclaimed.
“Okay, I’m going to need more information,” Sophie responded mildly. Her tone surprised him. There was a lightness about her that he hadn’t seen in a while; that he hadn’t seen since Gayle Mendosa died.
“Jacob? Jacob? Are you kidding me?”
“That’s what this is about? How about, hey Soph, good to see you again. We missed you in Brazil, since we apparently can’t think of any spell without you,” Sophie said sarcastically as she pulled the black t-shirt on over her head and pulled her long blonde hair out of the neckline. Much to Sky’s disgust, her hair was wet. Just like Jacob’s had been. The thought of the two of them showering together made him want to throw up.
“Don’t change the subject,” Sky snapped.
Sophie rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine. What about Jacob?”
“The guy is a nightmare! How could this possibly have happened?”
“He’s only a nightmare to you,” Sophie pointed out.
Sky narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to tell me if he’s taking advantage of you,” Sky demanded.
Sophie looked at him incredulously. “You’re joking, right?”
Sky stared her down. He was going to pummel that son of a bitch into the ground if he was doing what Sky suspected him of.
Sophie straightened, her grey eyes starting to boil with anger, reminding him of a looming thunderstorm. “You’re not joking. I really hoped you were joking.”
“And I really hoped you were smarter than this,” Sky snapped. A distant voice in the back of his head was telling him that he was going too far. But there was a roaring in his ears that blocked out any voice of reason. This was his sister. His sister. If that guy did anything to hurt her…
“You did not just say that,” Sophie growled. “You think I can’t take care of myself? Jake is not taking advantage of me.”
“Oh, so it’s Jake now?” Sky spat.
“Don’t be childish,” Sophie snapped. She went over to the chest of drawers near the door and pulled one of the drawers open.
“You know how he is. You know what he wants more than anything. He could be manipulating you without you even realising it!”
Sophie shot Sky a look over her shoulder as she pulled a jumper out of the drawers. “If you’re just going to shout at me like I’m some stupid girl, then you might as well leave.”
“I don’t want to be shouting at you like you’re—”
“Then don’t!” she interrupted. “Just get out if you have nothing else to say.”
Sky took a deep breath. “You’ve been through a lot,” he said, forcing his voice to be calm. “I don’t want to see him using you like this.”
“And that’s what you think is happening?” Sophie asked angrily.
“Yes! I think he’s using you. I think he’s buttering you up so he can get whatever information he wants so he has a better chance of becoming an Aster, especially now that there are two spaces that need to be filled!”
Sophie literally growled at Sky. “Stop treating me like some broken puppet that can be manipulated to anyone’s will!”
“Then stop acting like one!”
The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
“GET OUT!”
“Soph…” Sky began, and then stopped. It was slowly dawning on him that Sophie had changed since the last time he had been with her. She wasn’t a puppet. She hadn’t been acting like she was being manipulated. She had looked happy, or like something close to that. There was more colour in her cheeks than there had been for the past week. Whether Jacob was manipulating her or not, he knew deep down that she wasn’t stupid enough to fall for it.
“Get. The Hell. Out.”
“Sophie, I didn’t—”
But she wasn’t paying attention to him anymore. She pulled on her jumper and headed for the small bathroom that was connected to her bedroom. She didn’t even wait to see whether Sky had left before she slammed the door behind her.
A day had gone by and Sophie had not spoken a word to Sky since their fight. When the five of them were at breakfast on the morning of the Memorial, Sophie was still clearly angry at him. Sky didn’t blame her, but he still didn’t trust the boy she had chosen to be with. The way Jacob swaggered around like he owned the place, even more so since he was with Sophie, just didn’t sit right with Sky.
The two of them had spent last night together as well. Sky put in a lot of effort not to run into Jacob in the common room, or anywhere else for that matter. He knew that if he did, there would be a confrontation. Sky knew it was better to just stay out of the way.
The other Asters knew of the relationship now, too. None of them seemed too thrilled about it either, but they still couldn’t deny that Sophie looked more alive than she had done since Gayle’s death. The therapy was helping, too. Sky overheard Sophie telling Nathan about it the night before; how it was refreshing talking to someone about her life who wasn’t an Aster, but who had seen practically everything and who had worked with almost everyone on the island at some point.
The door to the dining hall opened and Diallo Madaki and Rose Radbourne entered. The two Ceders smiled at the five Asters before heading over to the breakfast buffet.
Nathan turned to Matu after waving at his mother and asked, “Have you spoken to your father lately?”
Matu looked up from his toast and shook his head. “No, why?”
“Because he and Madeleine are going to be leaving for a mission tomorrow,” Nathan said.
Sky frowned at his brother. “What are you talking about?”
“My mother told me yesterday that your parents are going to investigate the situation in North America,” Nathan revealed.
Sky dropped his knife; it clattered onto his plate. “We are on stand-by for anything that happens in North America. Why are they going?”
Nathan shook his head.
“Your mother didn’t say anything else?” Lian asked.
“Not about that, no. But there’s something else. According to Axel, not all the Disciples we ran into in Brazil were detected by our sensors.”
“What does that matter as long as a few are detected?” Matu asked.
“The Small Council will send in the wrong number of reinforcements if they don’t know how large the threat is,” Sophie said. “Our sensors should pick every one of them up. Have the local Affinites had any more run-ins since you came back?”
Nathan shook his head again. “Not that my mother knew of, but Axel is definitely on edge. The mission to find the bones has been entrusted to Katherine and Mum to handle while Percy is responsible for the investigation into Gayle’s death, but apparently Axel is worried because they might be facing more Disciples than the Small Council can detect.”
“Do we even know yet why those Disciples were in the Mendosa’s house?” Matu asked.
Nathan shrugged.
“Why is your mother telling you all of this?” Sophie asked Nathan.
“More importantly, why aren’t we being told any of this?” Sky snapped. Sophie glared at him before turning back to her breakfast.
Nathan gave the
m a look that said he didn’t know that either.
“I think it’s time to ask our dear Ambassador a few questions,” Sky said, starting to get up from the table.
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Lian asked doubtfully.
“Undetectable Disciples in Brazil, and two of our parents are going to investigate something that we were supposed to be on stand-by for, and we know nothing of this? Yeah, I kind of want to know why. Don’t any of you?” Sky got up from the table and looked around the group. Both Lian and Nathan nodded, but remained where they were.
“You don’t need all of us to storm the Board Room,” Lian said as an explanation.
Matu got up from his chair and said, “I’ll go with you.”
Then Sky’s eyes found Sophie’s. She just glowered at him. “You tell me, since I’m so easily manipulated these days.”
Sky rolled his eyes and marched away. Matu caught up with him outside of the dining hall.
“What was that all about?” Matu asked.
“I told her I think Jacob is either taking advantage of her or manipulating her.”
Matu let out a long sigh.
“What?” Sky asked irritably.
Matu glanced sideways at Sky. “You really are an idiot.”
“Call me what you like,” Sky muttered. They were heading along the corridor and down a flight of stairs that led to the Board Room.
“I’m calling you an idiot. Anyone can see he’s not manipulating her.”
They rounded a corner and passed a few Affinites who were on their way to breakfast.
“I just don’t trust the guy,” Sky declared.
“You don’t have to trust him. You just have to trust her. Saying that she’s being manipulated and too stupid to notice won’t help. You might want to apologise for that.”
“When she stops sleeping with the guy, I will.”
“Oh please, Sky, don’t be an arse as well as an idiot. Just apologise and move on. Maybe not be a complete hypocrite.”
They turned down another corridor. This one was much quieter. The Board Room was all the way on the other side of the castle, and it would take them at least another few minutes to get there.
“How can you possibly be okay with it?” Sky asked Matu. Sky was not the only one Jacob was a complete jerk to. There had been plenty of times where the boy had belittled and annoyed the brother standing next to him.
Matu snorted. “Oh, believe me, I can’t stand the guy. But it’s not about me. Sophie seems to be doing fine. Better even.”
“How do you know?”
“Sky. She can take care of herself, you know.”
“Can she?” Sky interjected.
Matu let out another one of his exasperated sighs. It got on Sky’s nerves. “You can’t possibly be comparing her being with Jacob with her over-using her magic. I just told you not to be an idiot.”
“I’m not… I’m just—”
“You’re worried about her. I am too. But you have to let her make her own decisions. She seems to be doing better now that she’s seeing Doctor Masalis, and being with Jacob doesn’t seem to be making anything any worse. You’re just going to have to accept it, whether you like it or not.”
“I just don’t know if she can deal with another loss,” Sky murmured, chewing his bottom lip.
“Jacob Henderson is not going to die,” Matu replied, irritation now edging into his voice.
“He might if I kill him,” Sky muttered.
Matu chuckled at this. “And why would you kill him?
“I don’t know. Could be anything. He gets on my nerves.”
Matu looked at him, his expression one of annoyance. “Okay, if this is where this conversation is heading, then I’m out. Just accept her choice, Sky. It’s all we can do.”
“It better not last,” Sky grumbled.
“It might not,” Matu said. “You don’t have to like the guy, but if she’s okay, then that’s really all you need to be worrying about.”
Sky rolled his eyes. “Why are you always so rational?”
“It’s a gift,” Matu said proudly, a twinkle in his eyes.
“It’s annoying is what it is,” Sky muttered.
“Yeah, well, you might want to hide that annoyance for the next few minutes, all right?” They had arrived at the Board Room.
“I can’t promise anything.”
“You never do.” Matu sighed. He knocked and pushed the door open.
Axel and Sylvia were already in the Board Room. It hadn’t occurred to Sky that they could’ve found it empty, since it was only eight-thirty in the morning. But the Ambassador and Consul were there nonetheless. Both of them were sitting at the table, which was covered in papers and files.
“Sky, Matu,” Sylvia said as the two of them entered. “What can we do for you?”
“We want to know what is going on in North America and what is happening in Brazil,” Sky declared. His voice was steadier than he had expected it to be; he was glad he didn’t sound like some whining child who had been left out of playing a game.
“What has brought this on?” Sylvia asked.
“We know that my mother and his father are going to North America for an investigation, and that you hadn’t detected half of the Disciples I fought off in Brazil,” Sky explained.
Matu cut a sideways look at him and said under his breath. “Fought off. Really?”
Sky shushed him with the shake of his head.
Axel Reed and Sylvia Allen exchanged looks.
“That doesn’t concern you at the moment,” Axel claimed.
Sky felt like his head was about to explode. “It does concern us actually. Percy said we were on stand-by for North America, and the next thing we hear is that two of our parents are being sent there for an investigation. How does that not concern us?”
“All right,” Sylvia said after a pause, seeking to keep the peace. Axel shot her a look, but the Consul continued anyway. “We are still monitoring the situation in North America like we have done ever since we last spoke. There have been developments, but—”
“What kind of developments?” Sky interrupted.
Sylvia glared at him. “But, you will be informed of those after the Memorial, since that is where your attention should be. You’ve experienced a great loss and you each need to say goodbye and have closure before we send you anywhere else. As for Brazil: since your work on the veil and the street, that place is no longer your concern. Nicholas and Felix are working on why we couldn’t detect some of the Disciples as we speak, and we will not be divulging any information on that matter with you until needed.”
“And the developments in North America?” Matu asked calmly.
“If they are in need of our attention then you need to send us there now,” Sky urged.
“The only developments are that there are more Disciples on the Surface of North America than when we last spoke—” Sylvia started.
“Sylvia,” Axel warned.
The Consul cleared her throat and shot Axel an apologetic look. “If there was a dire need to send you, we would. However, there is not, so we won’t. You will get an update after the Memorial, all right?”
Beside him, Matu nodded slowly. “All right, thank you.”
Sky cast Matu an angry glance. How was this enough of an explanation for his brother? Why wait until after the Memorial? They were here now, just tell them now.
Matu shook his head minimally, telling Sky to leave it alone. He turned around and headed for the door.
Sky gritted his teeth, and managed to get out a “Fine,” before following Matu out. Something was happening in North America. It might not be dire enough for them to go there now, but Sky had a bad feeling. News must be spreading in all seven territories of the Underworld that the Queen was dead, and North America was making its move; Sky could feel it. He just hoped they weren’t one step behind again, and this time would be able to stop whatever that particular King was planning before it was too late.
Chapter 7
The Memorial for the Mendosa family was different from any other Sky had witnessed before. Memorials normally took place on the courtyard in front of the castle. Wooden logs would be stacked on top of each other in the form of a pyramid, but with enough of a flat slab at the top for a body to be laid out on. The courtyard was also a big enough space for a large number of people to gather to watch as the bonfires were lit and the bodies were burnt.
The Mendosa Memorial wasn’t outside.
And there were no bodies to burn.
It was being held in the Throne Room on the top floor of the castle. It was the largest enclosed space in the entire castle. Two beautifully carved oak doors opened up at one short end of the large rectangular room. The long sides of the room were lined with benches, each slightly higher than the one in front, so everyone had an unobstructed view of the centre. High along the long walls and above the oak doors were balconies, each also with benches as well as room to stand at the back. The high vaulted ceiling was made completely of multi-coloured glass, and when the sun shone through it, a beautiful kaleidoscope effect with greens, blues and oranges would light up the dark wooden floor. But those magnificent colours weren’t the most impressive thing in the Throne Room. At the other end of the room was the throne itself. It was made entirely out of green and brown vines, roots and branches, and dotted with red and orange flowers. The twisting and curling nature covered the entire wall, leaving space in the middle near the floor in the form of a single seat. Three wide steps led up to the dais. Before the steps was a large wooden altar, on top of which stood two black cauldrons. An ancient-looking book lay in between them.
Sky stepped into the room and stared at the throne. He felt his heart ache. None of this seemed real. It was like there had always been a part of him that had hoped that it was all a lie. That the Mendosas weren’t really dead. That Gayle was still alive somewhere, and that she was coming—coming to sit on that throne.
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