by Rebecca Ann
“Your best friend’s mother works in the palace after twenty years in prison. She was instrumental in getting LIs out of Ada during the experiments. The last few months, we have been working on a program to bring LIs back to Ada where they will be safe and free.” Madalina took a step forward. “After I heard what you did, I knew you would be a great addition to the Watcher force on Ada. I need someone to convince the people you’ve helped hide to come to Ada.” She spoke like she’d had too much coffee.
I stared at her. Was she seriously suggesting I go to Ada? “If you think I’ll help you, you’re delusional.”
Madalina stopped moving, and some of the light in her eyes dimmed. She straightened her back. “Lindsey, I assure you, I only want to help. I don’t agree with what my stepmother did all those years ago. I want her gone before she does something else. It’s why I took over getting LIs back home once we got word of what the Caldwell president was doing.” Her voice went down an octave. Wow. Guess she could get serious.
“So maybe taking LIs to Ada isn’t a good idea right now,” I countered.
Madalina sighed in defeat, shoulders slumped, gaze downcast. “Look, I don’t have a choice, okay? Caldwell’s president is sending LIs back whether I think it’s safe or not. I’m just trying to make it safe for them until I can get Carmella dethroned.” Her words took on an edge. “I’ve waited my whole life to take down Carmella, but I can’t do it alone.”
I tilted my head back, staring at the bright lights. “But you’re putting the entire population of LIs at risk by doing this. We can go somewhere else. Another country. An island. Another planet.”
“No viable planet will take LIs,” Madalina said. “Believe me, I’ve looked. I’ve pleaded.” She exhaled, eyes glossy. “There’s another reason I’m pushing this program. It’s kind of a selfish one. I’ve been looking for my best friend for years. Her mother was a maid. She and her family had to flee. Her name is Shannon Babcock.”
“And what does that have to do with me or the LI population?” I narrowed my eyes again. Good grief, this girl was a piece of work.
Madalina smoothed down her green dress and tucked a strand of her long, straight black hair behind her ear. The gold and silver rings on her left hand caught the light. “I want to keep her safe and get her out of here as much as I do the others.” She sniffed, tears glistening in her eyes. “Look, you can either sit here and feel sorry for yourself, or you can help your people.”
I sucked in a breath of cold air. I couldn’t immediately agree to this plan, but it was better than sitting in prison. “Tell me what it is first,” I demanded. “In what way are you going to make the lives of Lighters and Invies better? Send them all to Ada and lock them up?” For once, the sarcasm didn’t come easy as images of Victoria in a jail cell flashed in my mind. I shook my head to clear it. I reacted too quickly to the Lighter boxes. I wasn’t going to do that with this.
“She’s telling the truth.”
I glanced up to find a tall, slender woman with long blonde hair standing in the doorway of the cell. Wait. Was this... “Are you—”
“Elizabeth Mathews. Victoria’s mom.” Elizabeth stepped further into the room. “I’ve been waiting out in the hall. I understand why you’re skeptical. I was too at first. I saw firsthand what those experiments did to LIs. I was experimented on myself, but Madalina... She only wants to do the right thing by LIs. She wants to give them a better life despite what Carmella did. And selfishly, I want my daughter back with me. I want to get to know her again. I was hoping I could see her. That you would find a way to get me to her until she can come to Ada.”
What? This woman was either being mind-controlled, or she really believed in Madalina’s plan. “How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Because her father knows where she is and has agreed to take me there.”
I blinked then glanced at Madalina. “Madalina, can you give us a moment please?” There was no way I was having this conversation with her in the room.
Madalina hummed and disappeared. The door shut behind her.
“I know you’re in the resistance. Victoria’s father is too. It’s something I’ve kept from Madalina. I know you’re skeptical. I was, too. I’ve been keeping a close eye on Madalina. I think you should take this deal. Go check out the program, and I’ll make sure Victoria is safe until you can report back.”
I exhaled a big breath, staring at the white tiles on the floor. Doing this would mean separated families would be reunited, but it could also mean more experiments and laws. “I want to see proof of this program. Pictures. Video. Send Madalina back in here.”
Elizabeth went to the door but turned back around. “I know you’re skeptical, and I know you don’t know me, but I promise I won’t put anyone in the hideout in danger.”
I looked away with a sigh. “I can’t stop you from seeing your daughter, but I swear, if you do anything to get the people down there discovered...”
“You have my word.”
I ignored her. My priority was my people, not reuniting Victoria with her mom. Something she probably didn’t want right now. “Send Madalina back in here please.”
Elizabeth opened the door enough to stick her head out. A second later, she moved aside, and Madalina entered the room, followed by Melody.
“Have you made a decision?” Madalina asked as if I was deciding between curtain fabrics.
I fought back an eye roll. “No. Not until I see some pictures and video.”
“Of course.” Madalina turned toward Melody. “Can I see your net-screen?”
Melody handed Madalina her net-screen. Madalina typed in a few words and turned to face the wall. “Show image of District One in Ada,” she instructed.
I turned. “What am I looking at?” Four images of multi-story buildings appeared onscreen.
“Enlarge the image at the top left.”
I opened and closed my mouth at a picture of people standing in front of a building, smiling at the camera. “What is this? What does this have to do with anything?”
“That is just one of the many apartment buildings your friends would be staying in.” She faced the bed again. “We’ll provide housing and jobs. We have several factories that need workers. We’re also in desperate need of teachers in this district. The district is run by LIs and some Controllers.”
I stared at her in disbelief, heart thrumming. “Controllers? Are you serious? LIs fled because of Queen Carmella, who happens to be a Controller.”
“Not every Controller is like Carmella, Lindsey. What you’ve learned about them just isn’t true. They’re just like you and me,” Madalina said. The cheerfulness was back, and she sat down in the chair by the bed, crossing her legs.
“Or I’m like them,” I muttered. Wow, did I feel about two inches tall. I’d believed the stories about Controllers when I tried hard to fight against rumors about LIs. Turning to Madalina, I said, “We’ll be free to use our powers?” I kept my tone sharp. I wasn’t going to give this woman what she wanted. A civil conversation.
“Yes,” Madalina said. She held up a finger. “Remember when I said the district is run by LIs? That means electricity too.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she held up her hand.
“Don’t worry, it’s on a volunteer basis.”
I snorted. “You think a bunch of pictures is going to make me believe you?” I barked out a bitter laugh.
“Madalina, Melody.” A familiar voice came from the doorway. “Let me talk to her.” Bill Thompson stepped into the room, dressed in his Watcher’s uniform.
“I thought you left for Ada,” I said as he approached, his expression placid. “What’s going on, Bill? A woman who looks like she stepped out of a fairy tale just told me she has this program to help LIs. She knows about the resistance.”
Bill held out his large hands, palms out. “Look, I know what you’re thinking, but you can trust both of them. I’ve known Madalina since she was a little girl.”
I sigh
ed as my gaze flickered to the ceiling. What did I do? Pretend to like this woman and let my guard down enough to get everyone here or refuse and possibly send my family and people to a program that didn’t even exist? “Bill, I don’t understand. Carmella experimented on LIs, and yet she’s letting Madalina run this program to get us back there. I know we’re being sent back there anyway, but how can she allow this? I thought she hated Earth.”
“Linds, Carmella has never had a problem with Earth or its leaders. Not that I know of, anyway. And if she did, it was before I became a Royal Watcher. She has actually signed a trade agreement with Earth.”
‘Yeah, probably to get LIs back on Ada,” I muttered.
“I know you’re worried, but this deal is a chance to see for yourself what Ada is like now. Elizabeth wouldn’t have asked, but she really wants to see Victoria.”
I sank to the bed. I wasn’t going to deny Victoria a chance to get to know her mom. “Tell Madalina to come back in here. I need to know about this program.”
As if she’d read my thoughts, Madalina reentered the room with a gracefulness that I could only marvel at. “All LIs that wish to are coming to Ada, including the ones from Caldwell Prison. I’m going to announce the program to the Caldwell president and other countries in a few days so they can start preparing to get LIs to Ada. It’s why I’m here. Your president wants to send LIs back to Ada, and this will help do that. As for your other question, I need you to basically sell this program to your people and your friends,” Madalina said. “They trust you. If you say this program is going to give them freedom, maybe they’ll believe it.” A pause and then, “I’m going to go grab you something to change into. I suspect that Watcher’s uniform isn’t the most comfortable. I’ll also see about getting you some food. I want to leave for Ada as soon as possible.”
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it. On one condition. I want to see this Sector One, and I want to make sure there are actual jobs. And your so-called queen has to stay away from us.”
“I’ll do the best I can,” Madalina said, “but I am the princess. She’s my stepmother. Now, let me get you a change of clothes.”
“I’ll get them,” Melody spoke up. I’d forgotten she was even in the room. She must’ve gone out into the hallway when I’d talked to Elizabeth and Bill.
Madalina held up a hand. “I’m the princess. It’ll get done faster if I ask for it. You two talk. Get to know each other.”
“Thanks,” I whispered. As Madalina disappeared through the door, I smirked. Keeping my guard up always worked on people like Madalina, who was so desperate to have me trust her she’d do anything to please me. Once my family arrived, I could figure out plan B: escaping if the program ended up a scam.
“Look,” Melody said, breaking the silence that had settled between us. “I know this is random and strange, but you’re not a stranger to us. You know Shannon Babcock. She’s why I’m here. All three of us grew up together in the palace.”
I arched a brow. “You know Shannon?”
“Yes. I’ve been trying to find her for years. Contact to anyone outside Ada is forbidden unless you’re a royal or work with them. So, I trained to become a Royal Watcher. I’m Madalina’s personal Watcher, which means I go everywhere with her.” Melody sat down in the chair by the bed, pushing a strand of her chin-length hair out of her face. “She really does want to help. I’ve known Madalina since we were kids and were in what we like to call Castle School together.”
“Why are you telling me all this? Come to get me out of prison? You think I’m going to tell you where Shannon is? Well, you’re wrong.”
“I know her father had to disappear years ago because the government wanted access to that drug,” Melody spoke up as if I hadn’t just bitten her head off. “Ada’s government, I mean.” Melody came closer. “I know more than you think. You were a teacher at the Lighter and Invisible school here in Caldwell. Your father was the principal. You became a Watcher, and you’ve been hiding Controller abilities for your entire life.”
“Okay, so you know all about me. And you know about the resistance. That doesn’t mean I’m going to give you permission to seek out its headquarters.”
“Elizabeth wants to see her daughter.”
I opened my mouth but didn’t get a chance to reply before heels clicked against the white floor. Madalina appeared in the doorway with folded clothes. I hid a laugh behind my hand. The princess of Ada running around getting clothes for a prisoner was like something out of a movie.
“I’m sorry. Getting anyone to do anything in this place is next to impossible,” Madalina said as she put the folded clothes on the bed. “I was also getting your transfer papers ready, Lindsey. In order for me to take you to Ada, I must prove that you’re going to work as punishment for your crimes. It’s only a formality. Once we arrive on Ada, your sentence will be dissolved.”
I said nothing as I picked up the white pants and shirt, holding them up with a frown. “Oh good! I can look like a cotton ball.”
A low chuckle vibrated in Madalina’s throat as she stood at the foot of the bed. “Sorry about that. We’ll get you some new clothes once we reach the palace. Now I’ve got to go. I’ve got some things to do before we can leave. Melody, would you mind staying here and making sure everything is in order?”
“Sure.”
“And tell Bill to take Elizabeth to see her,” I said. Victoria would hate me forever if I denied her the chance to get to know her mother.
“Thank you, Lindsey,” Elizabeth said from the doorway. “I really appreciate it! Really! You have no idea!” She turned to go as tears welled in her eyes.
Madalina turned back to me with a sly smile. “I’m so glad you agreed to do this. We leave in the morning.”
“Wait!” I called as Madalina headed toward the door. “I want to be the one to escort my family and friends to Ada. I don’t want some random Watchers doing it.”
“Deal!” Madalina walked toward me again. “This could be good for you, Lindsey. You’ll not only be helping your people legally, you’ll be helping them be accepted. That’s our whole goal, right?” Her words might as well have had sugar thrown on them, they were so sweet. “Why do you want to be the one to bring them there?”
“They’ll go willingly. I don’t want them to feel like they’re being arrested. Even if they do trust this program will make them free, I’m not sure they’re going to trust a bunch of Watchers bringing them to Ada, especially if there are Controllers among them.” I took a step forward. “Let me do this. I can get a team together. My friend Mark can help me.” Mark’s name left a sour taste in my mouth. I hadn’t seen him in a few hours. Was he still mad at me?
“Understood. I’ll go inform Commander Scott of your decision.”
I waited until Madalina’s footsteps retreated and the door closed before I unbuttoned my Watcher’s uniform. I ran my hands over the rough material. They’d taken my badge, but what did it matter? I didn’t need it anymore. I’d botched that up real good. I should’ve waited to have a solid plan before attempting to rescue people from the boxes. My hands shook, partly from cold but mostly from the fury that still raged within me. As strong as one of Victoria’s bolts. When I undid the last button, I flung the shirt across the room. How many more screw-ups did I have left before I ran out of second chances?
Taking off the pants, I tossed them onto the chair Madalina occupied moments before and picked up the uniform. It was actually soft. I put on the shirt and tied the pants as tight as they would go. God. I wanted to teleport out of here, but I knew Watchers would find me before I could get very far. Stupid Ada Monitors.
I glanced over at the net-viewer that had been left on, the pictures still onscreen. “Mark, can you hear me? Say something please?” Why hadn’t I reached out to him sooner?
“Linds!” Relief flooded his voice. “I’m sorry about earlier, but what you did was reckless and stupid.”
“I know. I’m sorry. They drugged me, and I woke up in some hold
ing cell. Madalina talked to me.” I gently pushed the conversation with Madalina, Elizabeth, and Bill into his thoughts.
“Whoa, Linds! You sure you wanna do this? What if she’s lying? Ada isn’t exactly known to have honorable residents, and she seems overly confident about this program. I don’t trust her.”
I paced around the room and finally tried the door only to find it locked. Of course. “I know. I don’t either. But if I check out this program beforehand, we can come up with another plan if things aren’t what Madalina says.”
Mark said nothing for the longest time. So long, in fact, that I almost barged into his thoughts again. “It’s not the best idea, but it’s all we’ve got right now. Did Madalina say what we’d be doing on Ada?”
“No, but she did say something about my sentence being dissolved.”
“We need a backup plan if this goes south. We both need to get in good with the staff, especially people that drive the ships.”
“Yeah. I was thinking about that.” I stared at Madalina’s images of District One on the wall. There was one person I could get close to.
Melody, Madalina’s personal Watcher.
Chapter Thirteen
VICTORIA
I trudged up the steps of my apartment building, my legs burning with each movement. Between donating and then spending the last three hours scheduling, I was ready to sleep for a week. Before I could rest, I had one more person to visit. My stomach tensed as I knocked on the door. I could already hear the worry and fear in her voice. The same worry and fear that had been with every Lighter I’d scheduled to donate.
“Victoria!”
I jumped, not expecting Jackie’s excited tone. It was going to make this that much harder. “Hi, Jackie. Do you have a minute?”
“I know why you’re here. You want to schedule my time to donate.”
I exhaled. Yes. This was harder because Jackie wasn’t a stranger. She was a friend and coworker. We’d worked at the LI school together for the last year. “Yes. And I want to thank you for signing up. I know it wasn’t an easy thing to do.”
