The corner of his mouth twitched. “She’ll go fast enough for this. What happens if he doesn’t agree?”
All the emotions of the last twelve hours churned in my gut. “He’s taken everything I hold dear. He doesn’t have any other options. He does it my way, or I’ll destroy the box.”
“And how do you think you’ll do that?”
My smile wasn’t quite kind. “I know what’s in that box, and even if he isn’t sure, he has an idea. He’ll believe me.”
Ephraim pushed off from the metal beast and studied me for a moment. “Worthington was right about you.” He opened the door for me. “There’s more to you than anyone thinks.”
I sniffed. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
We loaded back into the auto and I checked my timepiece. Nearly an hour left. We’d be early. It wouldn’t faze Kreios one bit. My teeth worried at my lip as we drew closer. Still a good distance away, I couldn’t draw my eyes from the outline of the factory. Even at this hour the smokestacks poured huge grey streams into the sky.
A flash of light sparked at the edge of the roofline, and a small figure dashed out of sight. We’d been sighted. Butterflies danced in my stomach and my feet tapped an impatient rhythm on the floorboards. Thomason leaned forward and looked out in the direction I had been. He stayed still for a few moments then returned to his rigid position. His yellow eyes swirled for a moment and a voice curled through my mind.
Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.
My entire body came up from the seat. “What? Was that you?”
My hand hovered over his leg and then lightly touched the fabric. It was hot, but not so that it would burn. I asked again with my mind.
Blank silence was the only response. I sat back against the cushions and glared. “I don’t understand why you won’t talk when I ask.”
He lifted his hands, palm up. If he could have shrugged, it would have been the same motion.
I sighed. “Fine. But I’ll figure it out eventually.”
Thomason nodded once. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or worried. I yanked the rags from around the real box in my bag and wrapped them carefully around the replica. Kreios would know that I had touched it, had seen what it held. He would know I didn’t want to repeat the experience.
Shouts drew my attention to the scene outside the window and breathing became a little more difficult. Terry stood, chained, between Kreios and Spiros. Both looked like they’d rather be ripping a small animal to shreds than waiting for me. Anger crackled in the stiff lines of their bodies and the hard, sharp glint in Kreios’ eyes.
Terry’s face had a purple bruise down one side, and his body and clothes were nearly black with grime and soot. Several of Kreios’ overseers had lined up behind the trio, waiting. I’m sure it was intended to intimidate. Instead, as I stifled a laugh. This was a lot of show for a teenage girl Kreios didn’t find to be a threat.
I stepped a few yards away from the auto until only ten feet separated me from Terry. Around us, from the corner of my eye, I could see small faces pressed against the window panes. With their overseers outside, the children in the factory were curious.
A shaft of pain shot through me. I was saving one, but what about the others?
Kreios cleared his throat. “Do you have what I want?”
I flipped one edge of the cloth up, revealing the gleaming metal. When I saw him take a deep breath and his eyes fix on it like an addicts to opium, I replaced it.
“Now, release Terry.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“You really believe the two of you’re leaving after all this?” Kreios’ lips twisted into a sneer. “More naive than I thought.”
“What’s to stop me?” I scoffed. Underneath my bravado, I started to sweat. I only needed him to believe it a little bit.
Terry watched me with a mixture of confusion, disbelief, and fear. He didn’t understand, and I could only hope he went along with this.
Spiros motioned to the men behind them. “Please, tell me you’re joking.”
My spine was rigid. Catching Spiros’ gaze, I held it. “Lord Kreios knows I’m not. We both know what this can do. Shall I put it to the test?”
“Playing that card so early? I thought you’d try to finesse your way around this.” Kreios sounded bored, but worry began to creep into his eyes. “I thought the Colonel taught you better than that.”
“You’ve killed Colonel Worthington and taken every family I’ve ever known from me. Finesse is the last thing on my mind. I just want you to return what you’ve stolen.”
“Funny. I was going to say the same to you.”
All the anger I’d been ignoring bubbled up, squeezing my throat and making my hands shake. “I didn’t take anything. This was given to me. I’ve more right to it than any of you. You’re the thief. I might have been a thief before, but I stole what I had to in order to survive. You steal people’s lives. When we get to the Pearly Gates, no one’s going to argue against my entrance.”
Kreios’ laugh rolled around me and drew goose bumps from my flesh. “You assume I’m interested. I’ll let you in on a little secret, my dear. I only care about this life, and the Devil offers a much better package.”
“Then I suppose the decision is up to you. Either you give me what I want, and I’ll leave this damnable box here on the ground, or I’ll open it and see who laughs then.”
He hesitated, and a thousand things ran through my mind. What if he called my bluff? What if he didn’t? Could we escape? Would it matter when he started to hunt for us? And he would. I knew that as surely as I could feel my heart beat.
Anger and mad desire flitted across his features, the lines around his mouth and eyes deepening and tightening. Spiros shifted beside him, his eyes glued to Kreios. His frustration shone from the frown carved into his face and the cruel glance he cut to me. Oh yes, I had thwarted Spiros’ search, and he wanted revenge.
“Fine,” Kreios spat. “I accept your offer. You leave the box and I’ll give you Terry.”
With a nod, I stepped forward and placed the box on the ground. I started to unwrap it and stopped. No reason to give him the opportunity to examine it before we were on our way out.
“Now release Terry.” I demanded.
Spiros unlocked the manacles and pushed him forward. He stumbled, but caught himself, taking the distance between us in three long strides. His hands caught my shoulders as Spiros moved to pick up the box.
“I can’t believe you came after you promised—”
“Shut up and get in the auto, Terry.” I snarled.
He jerked back, his eyes widening with surprise. “What?”
My hands tugged on his as Thomason threw the door open. I risked a glance over my shoulder where Kreios watched us with an intensity that made my pulse jump. Spiros tucked the box under his arm and made a motion with his hand.
The line of muscular men moved forward.
Terry was in the auto, and I threw myself in, yelling at Ephraim, “Go. Get us out of here!”
The auto groaned, shuddered, and leapt forward, even as my feet still hung from the doorway. Terry cursed and hooked his hands under my arms, yanking me inside and against his chest. Thomason closed the door.
“You are the most amazing, stubborn, stupid female I have ever met in my life,” Terry told me.
I looked up into his green eyes and grinned. “I aim to please.” I threw my arms around his neck and squeezed, refusing to shed anymore tears, even happy ones.
Pushing back, I told him, “I think it’s the perfect time to collect that kiss you owe me.”
His lips twitched and he leaned closer. “It would seem so, wouldn’t it?”
Without another word, his hand cupped the back of my head and his lips pressed to mine. The sensation was like nothing I’d ever felt before. Fireworks lit at my lips and burst in my heart. The feel of his mouth against mine was brief, and I wanted more as he drew back, his breath warm against my ear as he pulled me closer.<
br />
That was all it took. Somehow, just being near Terry had helped stop the riot of emotions that had been spiraling out of control. I clung to him, enjoying the freedom to do so. I turned my head and got a glimpse of the scenery flashing by. Ephraim hadn’t lied about the auto. She did have hidden depths.
Keeping hold of his hand, I extricated myself from Terry. I pushed the window glass down and poked my head out. A single auto was pulling away from the factory, but it would never catch us.
As I hung out of the window, a sound sent ice through my veins.
Kreios. Screaming in rage.
About the Author
I am a Young Adult author who teaches high schoolers all about technology education (and yearbook!) in rural Virginia along the Chesapeake Bay. I am the owner slave to one cat, Molly, who looks a little like a cow when she gets a haircut, and write in my free time. I am actively involved in the YA Fiction Fanatics critique group, which is dedicated to helping its members produce the best MG and YA novels they can write. This past summer I finally bit the bullet and also joined the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators).
I’ve currently finished five manuscripts, and I’m working on several more. I love writing, and my goal is to be able to do this full time someday–or at least as a published author enjoy it as a second job. I also love long walks on the beach discussing Shakespeare while sipping large fruity drinks with little umbrellas.
Astraea Press, LLC
Where Fiction Meets Virtue
www.astraeapress.com
Into the Ether Page 13
