“What do you think, then?”
“I have no idea,” Rebecca said. “I just know when something is up, and let me tell you, Mitzi, something is definitely up.”
“Yeah,” Mitsuru said, remembering the strange feeling, at the end. “That telepathic attack. I thought for a moment that…”
“What about it?”
“Nothing,” Mitsuru decided, shutting down her internal speculation on the subject. She was not about to give any credence to Rebecca’s absurd suspicion. “Do you have anything else for me? I need to shower.”
Rebecca studied her briefly, then shook her head.
“You can go.”
Mitsuru nodded and headed for the door.
“Hey, Mitzi?”
She paused with her hand on the doorknob.
“Yes?”
“Are you coming tonight?”
“I have to, don’t I?”
“More or less. You got a date?”
“No,” Mitsuru said, trampling any feelings that might have emerged. “Why?”
“Because I’m asking you to come,” Rebecca said. “Wanna go with me?”
***
The cactus garden had been rebuilt and expanded, while the spit of sand it occupied at the terminus of the Far Shores had receded, so that the Sea of Ether crept up on the edges of the perimeter fence when the tide was high.
They strolled leisurely among five- and six-year-old agave and saguaro, imported from desert nurseries.
She wore a short white dress, though the perpetual gloom above the Far Shores blocked all but the faintest ghost of the sun, and heeled sandals despite the loose sand of the path. He wore a dark-blue suit, cut to conceal his sidearm, and a yellow pinstripe tie. His smooth cheeks were clean-shaven, and his hair was oiled and tied back. She preferred it when his curly hair was down at his shoulders, the way the dark coils bobbed and trembled with every movement, but she kept that opinion to herself.
“I want to apologize for the delay,” Kevin said, a blush appearing on his broad cheeks. “I had meant for our formal courtship to have begun by now.”
“I know that you have had difficulties, Lord North,” Emily said. “The vote for assuming control of your cartel was one thing, but it seems that consolidating the rest of the Hegemony will take some time. You are not without opposition, sir.”
“Unfortunately, that is the truth.”
“I voted for you,” Emily said, with a pert smile. “Thank you for restoring my vote.”
“That is just the beginning. Have no doubt that I intend to fulfill the remaining terms of our agreement, in full and in public.”
“You make it sound so romantic,” Emily said. “What girl could resist?”
“I’m sorry for that, too,” Kevin said. “I know our situation is less than ideal.”
“I’m not upset, Kevin. I’m just teasing you. I know that you are doing your best.”
“I appreciated your endorsement and your vote. I think it helped with some of the outliers in the Assembly. You are not without supporters, are you?”
“I hope so,” she said. “It was good to see the Muir name returned to the Assembly roles.”
“It was my pleasure to see your family’s reputation officially restored.”
“Speaking of family, I do hope that yours is well?”
“My father is consumed by his new role, and my mother is much the same,” Kevin said. “That is how they prefer it to be, so I believe they are quite happy.”
“And what of Madison? I hear that she is the star pupil of the Advanced Studies class.”
“She excels in Mr. Windsor’s class. The other reports from the Academy are mixed, I’m afraid.”
“You are worried,” Emily observed, glancing just above Kevin’s head, a strange habit he had noted in her before. “What troubles you, Lord North?”
Kevin turned his attention to the Sea of Ether.
He knew that he had to trust Emily Muir at some point, for this arrangement to work. There was no advantage to a wife who was not also his ally and confidant. He did not know when that might be the right thing to do, however.
They were not yet engaged, nor even publicly courting.
“Lady Ricci’s stubbornness does not only impact me,” Kevin admitted. “Lord Drava is adversely affected as well.”
“I remember Nathan, from school. He was always ambitious.”
“I would say that he still is.”
“Little Maddy is promised to him, is she not?”
“She is.” Kevin nodded. “The engagement will be made official as soon as he takes office.”
“I see. So, both his position and his marriage are delayed, thanks to Sara.”
“Yes.”
“Are worried for your advancement, Kevin? Or are you worried for Maddy?”
He hesitated, once again torn on how much to tell her.
“I am worried for my sister, of course. That said...”
Emily smiled and led him to a bench with a view of the Sea of Ether, where they sat, not quite touching.
“You are a good big brother, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know,” Kevin said, cheeks burning. “I like to think so.”
“I like that part of you,” Emily said. “I had an older sister, you know. Therese. She did her best for me, though I hardly appreciated it at the time.”
“I’m sure she knew how you really felt,” Kevin said. “Madison slammed a door in my face last night and screamed at me during dinner the night before. I know how she feels about me anyway.”
Emily smiled and shifted slightly closer, so that their knees touched.
“I like this side of you, Lord North,” she said, giggling. “So wise and earnest!”
“You are teasing me again,” he said gruffly, red to the ears. “Aren’t you?”
“Maybe just a little,” Emily said. “Is it Madison that you feel you can’t trust, or is it Nathan?”
He had to think about it, but she was content to wait.
“I don’t trust her when she is around him.” Kevin shook his head. “They are a negative influence on each other, if that makes any sense.”
“It would be best if you put this aside, given all that is required of you at present,” Emily said. “If you don’t mind my involvement, Lord North, please allow me to look into the matter. I will be discreet.”
“I would appreciate your help, Lady Muir. Very much.”
“Please don’t call me that!” Emily covered her mouth. “Lady Muir was my mother.”
“No,” Kevin said, looking her in the eyes. “You are.”
“Oh, my, Lord North.” Emily batted her eyelashes. “You are in rare form today. If you continue, I may swoon, I warn you.”
“Then I may continue,” he said, taking her hand. “If you do not mind.”
“I do not.”
They were quiet, and in that quiet, Kevin found himself acutely missing the sound of waves.
It simply was not a sea, in his mind, without them. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Emily stiffen.
“This is a private conversation,” Emily said coldly. “I do not appreciate eavesdropping.”
Kevin spun around, and discovered Chief Auditor Levy standing behind them, dressed casually and looking pissed. An apport technician stood not far behind her, one hand resting on the garden wall, a queasy look on his face, obviously exhausted by the effort an apport from Central to the Far Shores required. Kevin checked them for weapons automatically, but neither was armed – which made sense, when he stopped to think about it.
Rebecca Levy had no use for weapons.
“I hate to interrupt you two,” Rebecca said, popping a square piece of nicotine gum out of a blister pack. “Really. But we gotta talk, Emily.”
“Now?”
“Yup.”
“Is this official business, Ms. Levy?” Kevin rose slowly and kept a smile on his face. “Or something personal?”
“Let’s call it personal,” Rebecca said, chewin
g her gum. “For now.”
“Do you mind, Lord North?” Emily smiled at him, but her eyes were all business. “We won’t be long.”
He nodded and stepped a small distance away, turning his back as if he meant to regard the Sea of Ether. He was obviously still in earshot, but neither woman seemed to mind.
“Well?” Emily demanded. “What do you want?”
“I gotta be back in Central in a minute, so I’ll make this quick,” Rebecca said. “You destroyed the Source Well.”
“I did not,” Emily replied – and just from her tone, Kevin could picture the haughty smile on her face. “How could I?”
“You had Alex do it.”
“Alex is his own person, and he does not work for me,” Emily replied coolly. “Take it up with him.”
“I did,” Rebecca replied. “He didn’t even seem to understand what he’d done.”
“I see. Is that all?”
“It is not fucking all. I saw the request you put in to attend tonight.”
“Is that so wrong? As I recall, I was rather helpful in resolving the whole affair.”
“I don’t get you, Emily. What are you after?”
“I’m just a girl alone in a cruel world, making her way as best she can.”
“Don’t joke around with me. You’ve occupied the Far Shores,” Rebecca said, her voice so menacing that Kevin shivered. “You’ve collected quite the little crew, there, too. A vampire, a Changeling…”
“Yes, yes. While we are on the subject, let me tell you about something else I have, Ms. Levy.”
“Gonna brag?”
“Just a little,” Emily said. “Before Alex destroyed the Source Well, I had the opportunity to preserve some of the water. It was the obvious thing to do, as a good citizen of Central, I think.”
Kevin froze in shock.
“I figured as much.”
“I’m sure you did. What would you say if I offered you some, for the Academy, from my private reserve? You won’t be able to do any Introductions without nanites, after all.”
Kevin snuck a look out of the corner of his eyes, to see Rebecca fuming, cheeks flushed with rage, while Emily sat calmly on the bench, grinning smugly at the Chief Auditor.
“I’d ask what you wanted for it,” Rebecca said, her voice low and furious.
“Nothing audacious,” Emily said. “A small promise.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“I will provide you with sufficient nanites for at least a few years of new students,” Emily said, beaming at Rebecca. “In return, I ask only that you do not perform any Introductions for any of the Black Sun families, or Lady Martynova’s allies.”
Kevin watched in stunned silence while the Chief Auditor tried to kill his fiancé with a glare.
“Do control yourself, Ms. Levy,” Emily said. “I’m afraid you’re not in a position to threaten or negotiate. I’m not at all frightened of your Auditors, and if we are not equal in empathy, I have at least enough talent to defend myself.”
Rebecca balled her fists, and Kevin tensed up, wondering if she meant to attack Emily.
“I’ll think about it,” the Chief Auditor said, turning away suddenly. “Watch your back, Emily. You’ve made some enemies in all this.”
“I like to think I’ve made more friends than enemies,” Emily said brightly to Rebecca’s back. “One more thing, Chief Auditor.”
Rebecca stopped in front of the apport technician, but she did not turn around or reply.
“I expect you to approve my request to visit Central this evening, as a goodwill gesture,” Emily said, calmly smoothing out her skirt. “I do look forward to seeing you at the party.”
Rebecca made no reply. The apport technician nodded wearily in response to a command that Kevin did not hear, and then they disappeared. As soon as Kevin was sure that they were gone, he hurried to Emily’s side.
“That was alarming,” he said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m just fine, Lord North,” Emily said pleasantly, patting the bench beside her. “Shall we resume our conversation?”
“I have to ask,” Kevin said, as he sat beside her. “Do you really have the only nanites left in Central?”
“Not exactly. John Parson acquired some during the Anathema invasion of Central, and I’ve no idea what happened to them,” Emily said. “Lord Thule also had a supply, which is likely in the hands of whatever remnant of the Thule Cartel has managed to survive Anastasia’s purge.”
“How do you know that?”
“I gave it to Lord Thule, in exchange for his assistance,” Emily said, taking his hand. “I needed access to his family crypt, or I would have gone the way of all the rest of the Anathema, when John Parson died.”
“I see.” Kevin licked his lips. “Does my father know?”
“I’m certain that Chief Administrator North is quite aware of the situation,” Emily said cheerfully. “He is very eager to see us married, is he not? I believe a portion of the remaining nanites will serve as a sort of dowry, should all parties involved decide to proceed.”
Kevin blushed as he considered it.
“My dear Lord North, you have nothing to worry about,” Emily said, squeezing his hand. “I have such plans for us!”
***
Michael expected his two o’clock appointment – the latest disciplinary discussion with the brilliant and troublesome Miss Madison Morales-North – so he did not even look up when he heard a knock on his open door.
“Come on in,” he said, frowning at his monitor. “I’ll be with you in just a minute.”
“Uh, okay.”
The voice was both familiar and surprising. He jerked his head up and grinned. Michael hurried around his desk, and then gave Eerie a hug that lifted her from her feet and nearly crushed her ribs.
“Eerie! It’s so good to see you.”
“You, too, Mr. Lacroix,” she said, entirely squished. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited.”
“I completely understand,” Michael said, inviting her to sit in one of the office chairs. “Can I get you something? A soda, maybe? I have a refrigerator behind the desk.”
“Wow.” Eerie’s eyes widened. “You’re important!”
He laughed and got her a bottle of orange soda, twisting the cap off before he handed it to her.
“How have you been?”
“Things are okay.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
“I’m not,” Eerie said. “I’m happy, but I’m also lonely. Sometimes I’m frightened.”
“I can understand that,” Michael said, cracking open his third Diet Coke since breakfast. “You left a great many friends here at the Academy when you moved to the Far Shores. I think it’s only natural to feel lonely in a new place, even if you are doing well. Fear can become a habit, too – I know that from experience.”
“I can’t imagine you being afraid, Mr. Lacroix.”
He noticed that she was avoiding meeting his eyes and laughed.
“You are worried about my face, aren’t you?”
She nodded without looking.
“I feel bad. Does it hurt?”
He reached up to touch the scars automatically. There were knots on his scalp and forehead, knobby upwellings that erupted from his skin, but the worst of it stretched from above his eye all the way down his cheek, a pitted canyon that radiated pink ridges of scar tissue.
That eye was basically useless in daylight or darkness, and his vision was blurry in even optimal indoor conditions, but his other eye was reasonably intact, aside from a scar on the cornea that forced him to wear a tinted contact lens.
“It doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t bother me,” he said, with complete sincerity. The doctors at the Academy had described his recovery as miraculous, and Michael was inclined to agree. Dark moments aside, he felt predominantly grateful. “Please don’t let it upset you.”
Eerie looked at him shyly.
“I wish I was there when you got hurt,” she said. “Maybe I coul
d have helped.”
“I’m glad you weren’t. You might have been hurt yourself.”
“I feel so bad,” Eerie said. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
“What happened to me is not your fault, Eerie,” Michael said. “Alistair and I were on a collision course. After everything he did, there was going to be a reckoning. If anything, it’s my fault for not being prepared. You need to make an honest assessment of your actions before you can properly apologize, you know. I’m not saying that you’re entirely blameless, but to apologize for something you haven’t done is a bit narcissistic.”
Eerie nodded, looking miserable.
Michael held out his arms, and she hugged him, bursting into tears on his shoulder.
“There, there,” he said. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“It won’t, though,” she said, sniffling. “Nothing lasts.”
“That’s what makes it all precious,” Michael said. “We get a few beautiful moments, if we are lucky, and it’s up to us to make the best of them. Do you feel like you’re making the best of your time?”
Eerie nodded slowly, wiping tears away with her sleeve.
“I think so,” she said, “but I could probably do better.”
“That makes sense, though, doesn’t it?” Michael smiled as he handed her a box of tissues. “That’s a basic quality of any good person.”
***
The greenhouse was stifling, the humidity and heat adjusted to the preferences of orchids. That had sounded like a bad idea to Rebecca, but the reality of it was worse than what she had imagined. She sweated through her blouse before the servant led her to where Lord North was busy with clippers and a miniature spray bottle.
“Good afternoon, Chief Auditor,” Henry said, dismissing the black-suited butler with a jerk of his head. “You are only twenty-two minutes late today. A commendable eight-minute improvement over last week.”
“Fucking hell, Henry. This place is a sauna,” Rebecca wheezed, fanning her face with the manila folder she carried. “How do you survive it?”
The weak sunlight of Central necessitated a whole galaxy of grow lights, and their combined radiance upgraded the facility from oppressive to suffocating.
“I suppose I’ve become accustomed to it,” he said, looking a trifle offended. “I will be done in a moment.”
The Church of Sleep (Central Series Book 5) Page 90
