by Nina Walker
As we approached the royal suite, I almost missed a step. Jessa.
She stood at the door, biting her bottom lip. Our two guards glared at her. Her expectant gaze seemed to indicate she was hoping to talk to someone on the other side of that door. Me?
“Jessa.” I narrowed my eyes, and Celia squeezed my hand. I’d forgotten we were even holding hands. It wasn’t like I’d initiated it—or like I even would. “What are you doing here?”
“I was…” She faltered, taking us in. “I was hoping to talk to your father.”
Of course. She knew to stay away from me.
“He’s with Officer Faulk, dear,” Celia’s mother, Sabine, said.
Jessa nodded and skirted past us. I tried not to follow her with my eyes, but I failed miserably. In a second, she was gone.
As we gathered in the dining room, my mind wouldn’t stop thinking about her. I wanted to talk to her so bad. I wanted to explain. I’d stayed away because she’d told me to. But maybe that was a mistake. And now she’d seen me holding Celia’s hand, going to dinner with my fiancée’s family.
“Was that girl an alchemist?” Celia asked coolly as I pulled out her chair. The table was dressed with silver domes at each setting, our first course waiting for us to dig in. She eyed it with an apparent lack of interest.
“Yes,” I said, careful that my voice sounded indifferent.
“Dangerous little things, aren’t they?” Mark said, adjusting his large frame in his chair. “But I suppose I should be thanking them.”
“Why’s that?”
“Without them we couldn’t possibly face a foe like West America and expect to win. But with them? Well, it’s good for business.”
“Business?”
“Your father and I have an agreement,” Mark continued and cleared his throat. “What’s good for the war is also good for me.”
Who was he? I wracked my brain, trying to remember what he did. At some point, someone must have said something. Celia caught my confusion because she added, “Daddy manages the food supply for New Colony. He’s very good at getting the farmers to do what they’re supposed to. And now, we’ll have more for everyone.”
Not more for everyone. More for New Colony.
It made sense. We didn’t live in a traditional economy, far from it. Everyone was given a job according to their station, schooling, and skills. If someone wanted to move up, they had to apply to do so. The highest-ranking officials controlled everything, under the direction of the monarchy, of course. Mark must run the farming sector, controlling what seeds went where and who was paid what. It was an important job. One I’d paid little attention to.
Fortunately, dinner didn’t last too long. When the plates had been cleared, I insisted Celia leave with her parents, pretending I had a headache. “They run in the family, you know,” I said, rubbing my temples. They nodded, probably having heard about my mother’s mysterious migraines before she died.
The staff cleared out as they said their goodbyes quickly. Celia even kissed me gently on the cheek. Then they left me sitting in my chair. The second they turned the corner, I grabbed a white rose and pinched the petals. The magic filled me in a rush of prickly heat. I watched as my body faded away. Yes, I was going against my normal way of conducting alchemy—which was not to do it at all. But was the risk worth it to follow Celia’s father?
I intended to find out.
I held my breath and followed the Addington family out the door.
15
Jessa
I lay on my bed, counting all the reasons why I hated the tests. But I was starting to understand the purpose of them. All this magic was forcing me outside my comfort zone. And I was getting better with each one. Even though the tests themselves were pretty screwed up, so were the people who created such extremely dangerous scenarios.
First the water, then the interrogation, then trying to save the girl in the forest. They’d grown in intensity with each one, the worst of them being the experience with green alchemy. I still had the image in my head. The pain still fresh in my memory. And the blood, it had taken a scalding shower to get it off me. I’d had to throw my pajamas in the trash.
Would orange possibly be more terrible?
I trusted that Jasmine would tell the truth. I held onto that trust, because I was too terrified to imagine the worst. No. Orange will be fine. It won’t be so bad.
I had gone about my day as normal on the outside, but inside, I was full of jitters. I kept expecting to be taken away for the test. Nothing happened. I couldn’t handle the anticipation. The waiting.
Sitting up for a second, I plopped my pillows back into place and fell back with a huff. I couldn’t believe how dumb I had been!
I’d gotten it into my stupid head to go and talk to the king directly. He wanted me initiated. I had reasoned that another test wasn’t even necessary. I would pass since orange alchemy wasn’t that hard for anyone. But pass or fail, I was confident I’d be joining the guardians. King Richard wanted my red alchemy. That was what everyone had been saying for weeks. So I figured I could just go right up to him and ask for my initiation.
Besides, I had an even bigger reason to get it over with: the Resistance.
Jasmine said I’d be tested in the morning, and the next day would be my initiation. Well, nothing had happened this morning. The Resistance was ready to attack. I didn’t want there to be any delays. I was ready for this. Ready to help the cause.
I had sat outside the royal wing, waiting—hoping to catch the king and praying I didn’t see Lucas. My heart was shredded because of that boy. But of course life being awesome, he walked right up to me with his fiancée’s hand tucked perfectly in his own. I had scurried away as quickly as possible. So angry for putting myself in that situation.
I never should have dated him.
I groaned and rolled over. My pillow was all wet and pathetic. Of course after seeing Lucas and his new fiancée, I’d locked myself in my dorm room. I had thought for sure Lucas would have come to me with some explanation for his engagement, but he never did. And seeing the two of them like that? The tears I’d been holding inside for days came bursting out. More than anything I just wanted to go home. You don’t have a home.
I curled up into a ball, so sick of feeling sorry for myself. This wasn’t me. I needed to get past this.
A loud knock sounded on the door. I held my breath. I was so not ready to face anyone. Maybe if I was extra quiet, they’d go away.
“Open up,” the unmistakable voice of Faulk said. “It’s time for some orange alchemy.”
“One second,” I called.
I quickly ran to the bathroom to wash and dry my tear-stained cheeks. I ran my brush through my hair at record speed and called it good.
I opened the door.
Once again she was surrounded by officers. Was she ever alone? I was pretty tall, even taller than most of them. But from the way they assessed me skeptically, I felt small. I spotted the man on whom I’d secretly performed red alchemy at the back of the group and looked away. No need to stare, Jessa.
“How can I help you?” I tried to keep my tone level. Lately, I suspected Faulk was warming up to me as much as an ice queen could. She wasn’t so suspicious around me. Nor was she so angry. She didn’t snap at the things I said or watch me with cool contempt. I’d take any improvement I could get! Still, I didn’t want to ruin it. If there was one thing she hated it was defiance, something I had in spades.
“It’s time for your last test,” she said. “This should be easy.” Then she turned and marched down the hall. I followed behind, my thoughts flying in a million different directions.
“It will come as no surprise to you that this last test is in orange alchemy.”
I rolled my eyes at her back. “Yup. Thanks for warning me this time.” If she caught the indirect complaint about the green test, she made zero indication.
Deep breaths.
“So when I’m initiated, then what? Will I be able to t
alk to my family?”
I really hated asking the question I already had the answer to. I knew for a fact the Resistance had my family and they weren’t even in New Colony anymore. But Faulk and Richard didn’t know where they were. They’d lied to me. They pretended to have them in custody. Leverage. I couldn’t give away what I knew, so that meant acting like I believed their stupid story.
“Everything in due time,” she said over her shoulder.
Liar!
“Well, I’ve worked really hard to prove my loyalty to you,” I said. “But I can’t help it. I’m worried about them. I just want to make sure they’re being treated okay. They never did anything wrong.”
She didn’t say anything.
“I know you’re not afraid to put people in prison,” I pushed, “but you’ve got to have good reason to do it or it’s just cruel.”
I’d been detained in holding cells twice. Once when I was first discovered, and again when I’d been questioned about Sasha’s disappearance after I’d run away. The places I’d been were completely gray, not a shred of color anywhere. Nothing an alchemist could get their hands on and manipulate to their advantage. I wondered where they put non-magical people.
She stopped abruptly, turning to meet my gaze. Hers was cold, calculated. She watched me carefully, scanning for something. A break. A lie, perhaps? Shivers ran up my body. I had to play into this game of theirs. If I didn’t, I’d appear even more suspicious.
“They’re fine,” she finally said. “You have nothing to worry about. We’ll talk about it more after your initiation.”
I nodded and looked to the floor, no longer able to meet the eyes of someone who’d done nothing but lie to me. Her job wasn’t to protect me. It was to protect everyone else from me, and use me to do it.
We began walking again. I kept my mouth shut.
One good thing had come out of our conversation. She’d basically confirmed it. I was going to be initiated! This final test was just for show, a customary event. The king wanted what he wanted, and even though I’d failed blue and purple, I could still do them. I was more than good enough. Besides, it was the red he cared about…
I tried to imagine what would happen tomorrow during my initiation. They would have their attack, and even though I couldn’t participate, I could still pray they accomplished what they came for.
What if they hurt Lucas? That thought had been running circles in my head for the last twenty-four hours.
No. They won’t.
Would they?
He used to be one of us, but lately, he’d gone so far in the other direction. He was spending more time with his father than ever and was engaged to the exact type of woman his father expected. He’d even been on the stage when they’d executed Thomas and when Richard had made his threats. There will be no mercy for traitors.
I shook the thought from my head. Lucas was all over the place lately, and it pained me to even think about what would happen to him.
“Tell me something, Jessa.” Faulk turned. We now stood outside a closed door in the same wing of the palace I’d first stayed in. I had a feeling that I wouldn’t like whatever was on the other side. “How much do you know about orange alchemy?”
“Umm.” I faltered, eyeing the door. “It’s an enhancer, used for emotions.”
“And what else?”
I wasn’t sure. My mind traveled back to when I’d spent weeks studying the color wheels and all the different attributes of each. “Creativity.”
“Very good,” she said.
“But I don’t know how to use it for creativity,” I mumbled.
“Orange can help you figure problems out. It can help you see solutions that you might not normally see,” she said. “You just have to use it the same way you would for emotions, with the focus of trying to understand something.”
That was interesting news to me. Useful.
“Why are you helping me?” I asked. I had every right to be skeptical of her sudden interest. What was in this for her?
“Because passing this test will not only guarantee your initiation, something I tried to fight but now see as inevitable—” She frowned. “But it will help your kingdom. More specifically, it will help me.”
“I don’t understand…”
“Of course not.” She stepped closer. “Your test is simple enough. On the other side of that door are two people who may or may not be sympathetic to our enemies. They don’t know what you can do. They don’t know the nuances of alchemy.”
“And what do you want me to do?” My voice cracked.
“Use orange alchemy to enhance their emotions. Help us figure them out, Jessa.” She smiled ruefully, the skin around her mouth tight. “I already have a good idea they’re against us. Your job is to prove it. It’ll be easy.”
I nodded as she placed a corded necklace with an amber pendant around my neck. Then she pushed open the door, and we entered a sitting room. It was much like the one I’d been brought into months ago when I’d first arrived here. Cozy and welcoming; everything about the space appeared safe. But I knew better.
A fire crackled in the wood-burning fireplace, and plush leather couches faced each other in the intimate space. A dark burgundy, plush rug covered some of the polished wooden floor. Orange pillows rested on the couches, and orange succulent plants were placed in a woodsy centerpiece on a large coffee table.
A young man and woman stood by the window, talking in low voices. They jolted when they saw us, but turned and smiled. Their nerves rolled off them in waves of fear as their eyes shifted between us. I didn’t blame them. It seemed Faulk had brought them in for interrogation. But first, she wanted to see what I could do. Orange test, huh? I had a feeling this was a little different than a typical alchemist’s test. I ignored my resentment and strolled into the room.
“Hello again,” Faulk said. “How was your dinner?”
“It was great.” The woman smiled weakly. “Thank you.”
Faulk nodded. “Please, come and have a seat.”
The couple moved to one couch, and Faulk and I took the other. The frantic energy was palpable; it wasn’t just coming from them. I can do this.
Now would not be the time to use the orange alchemy. All I would get from anyone would be more of the same. And nervous didn’t tell us anything.
“Jessa,” Faulk said, smiling. Her face turned into the picture of joy, and she looked nothing like her normal self. I bit my lip and stared. “I’d like you to meet Jane and Parker Abbot. Remind me, you two are newlyweds, aren’t you?” Faulk’s charm was nothing but creepy!
“We’ve been married a year now,” Jane said, reaching for her husband’s hand. “But I guess you could say we’re still new to this whole marriage thing.”
He looked at her with fixed adoration, and she blushed. What they had was real. They loved each other and had gotten married for no other reason than that. It was how marriages were supposed to work!
“Wonderful,” Faulk said. She turned to me. “These two were invited to the palace for a little tour. Isn’t that wonderful?” I nodded, a little confused. People didn’t just get invited for palace tours. “They were both there that day, you know? Terribly tragic.”
“What day?” I asked. Jane’s and Parker’s faces flushed simultaneously as they looked at the floor.
“The day of the attack, of course,” Faulk continued. “These two were rather heroic, I must say.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Jane said.
“We just did what anyone else would do,” Parker added.
“Oh, nonsense.” Faulk laughed amicably. “When everyone else was running away from the gunman, you two were running toward him. Tell me again, why on earth would you do that?”
There was a long pause. “Instinct, I guess,” Parker said. He shifted, running a hand through his dark hair. “I had to take him down, and Jane came after me.” He shrugged.
Jane nodded, her chin shaking. “I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help it. I love
Parker. I wasn’t going to let that terrorist kill my husband.”
“Like I said, very brave.”
So that’s why Faulk had these two here. It was odd that two citizens would run after a gunman like that. But that hardly proved anything, right? At the very least, it was an act of bravery. Still, something about the discomfort between them told me there was more to the story. I briefly wondered if they were part of the Resistance and whether I should try to protect them. But if they were involved in that attack somehow, no way they were Resistance. A trickle of curiosity wormed its way in.
“You’re very brave,” I said. Putting my hand over the necklace so no one could see the magic, I allowed the orange to filter into me. Faulk was right. By using the magic during that moment, I had enhanced my feelings of suspicion. Suddenly, every rise of an eyebrow or held breath or shared look was part of a puzzle. I wasn’t sure who these people were. My initial instinct was to like them, but that didn’t mean I should. And it didn’t mean they were innocent. Maybe they really did have something to do with the shooting. Maybe they knew the shooter.
“Did you ever figure out who the shooter was?” I asked Faulk. Officially, King Richard had said it was a spy with West America. Maybe that was the truth, but what if it wasn’t?
“Oh, that information is still classified,” Faulk purred, then pointed to a tea trolley in the corner. “Jessa, will you do us the honors?”
I stood and wandered to it. I began pouring hot tea into cups. This was my moment; Faulk had set me up on purpose. I pulled a little of the orange magic into my hand while my back was turned and deposited it into the cups. It only enhanced the dark color of the tea and was pretty much unnoticeable. This would be easier than actually touching our guests, but it would work the same. At parties, orange magic enhanced true feelings. It would work here too.
“Well,” I said, “you two are wonderful for doing what you did. You probably saved lives that day.”
“They did,” Faulk said. “They took the man down before we even got there. Of course, it would have been nice to keep him alive for questioning, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?”
