I wasn’t planning on telling any of them, but Andromeda’s remark sure as hell makes me curious. I wonder if her problem has anything to do with Stephan. I know Principal Fallon wants to return to Saturn’s Bay as soon as possible, but she can wait a little longer. Andromeda has saved my ass countless times. I’m not going to turn my back on her now.
“Okay, don’t worry. I’ll be there in a few.”
When I end the call, Rosie stares with a question in her gaze. “What happened now?”
“Andy needs my help with something. I’m going to meet up with her.”
She stands. “Can I come? I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Sure. But promise me you won’t be rude to her.”
A blush creeps up Rosie’s cheeks while guilt shines in her eyes. “I know I’ve been acting like an ungrateful brat lately. I see now that I was wrong to put every Idol in one bucket of evil.”
“Yeah, you were wrong,” I reply, though not to be mean. I’m done sugarcoating things for her. “But I’m glad you can see that now. Better late than never, right?”
She lifts her gaze to mine. “Right. Well, if we want to sneak out without a security detail, we’d better get going. I’m sure one or all of your boyfriends will be here any minute.”
Rosie isn’t wrong. No sooner do we step foot in the hallway than I sense Morpheus and Bryce getting near. They must be inside the elevator.
“We need to take the stairs,” I say.
We break into a run. If I can sense them, they can probably sense me as well. Crap. That won’t leave me much time to find out what Andromeda needs.
By the time Rosie and I reach the ground floor, her breathing is coming out in bursts.
“Shit. Why are we running?”
“I sensed Bryce and Morpheus nearby. They’re probably on their way here.”
“What are they? Bloodhounds?”
“Something like that. Come on. Let’s go.”
We race out of the gates of Paragon Academy, following the directions I typed into my phone. It leads to an intersection where there are more commercial buildings than residential homes. Restaurants and small convenience stores are still open and bursting with activity. The directions lead away from the busy pedestrian traffic into a narrow alleyway between buildings. Soon, the cacophony from the street behind us fades away.
Rosie steps closer to me, pulling on the sleeve of my jacket. “Are you sure you have the correct address?”
I check Andromeda’s text again. “Yes.”
“This doesn’t seem right.”
A sense of dread licks the back of my neck, giving me goose bumps. I’m getting a bad feeling about this too.
Something small crashes ahead of us, making my heart leap up to my throat. Tense now, I focus on my powers, letting them flow freely through me.
“Andy?” I call.
Someone steps from the shadows, and my heart expands in relief when the small streetlight shines over Andromeda’s lavender hair.
“Hey, Daisy, thanks for co—” She stops abruptly as her gaze settles on Rosie. “Why is your sister here?”
“Uh, you said not to bring my boyfriends. I didn’t think you would mind Rosie.”
“I’m not here to be a brat. I swear,” she says.
Andromeda drops her chin for a second. At the same time, her chains fall from her wrists and circle around her. “I really wish you had come alone.”
She throws her arms forward, launching her deadly weapons in our direction. Rosie screams, and I’m too slow to block Andromeda’s attack. Her chain wraps around me faster than I can blink, squeezing me like a boa constrictor. She yanks both Rosie and me forward, and trapped like that, we both fall on the dirty ground.
“What the hell! Why are you doing this, Andy? I thought you were my friend.”
She glances in my general direction, her blind eyes cold and hard. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, Daisy, but I don’t have a choice. I just wish you hadn’t brought your sister with you.”
I struggle against my constraints, but it’s futile. Shit. There’s only one option. I have to use my Unmaker gift against her. I don’t know why it hasn’t been triggered yet. I haven’t learned to control it, after all.
I focus on the energy in her chains, using it as a guide to the source of Andromeda’s power in her core. But when I try to pull it into me, I can’t. Damn it. She’s stronger than I am. No wonder my powers weren’t triggered automatically.
“Andromeda!” a male voice yells from behind us. “Let them go at once.”
“Walk away, Soren. This doesn’t concern you.”
A gust of wind flies by me, colliding with Andromeda a second later. Her chains slacken right before they release Rosie and me. Quickly, I jump back to my feet and reach for Rosie. Andromeda is distracted now by Soren, so that’s our chance to run away. But I can’t leave him.
“Go, Rosie. Run back to the school and get the guys.”
“What about you?”
“I have to help Soren.”
Rosie races toward the end of the alley, and I whirl around, trying to find an opening. Soren is moving so fast that he’s nothing but a blur. The same can be said of Andromeda’s chains. They’re like golden flashes of light.
If I can’t take away her powers, I have to try to slow her down. I stretch my right arm, palm facing forward, and will Andromeda to stop moving. The air ripples in front of me, and a moment later, Andromeda’s movements become sluggish. She glances at me in slow motion, her long hair whipping in front of her face.
Soren, who is unaffected by my slow-motion trick, takes the opportunity to shoot her in the neck with a tranquilizer. Seconds tick by. All I can hear is the sound of my heart racing. Finally, her eyes roll back in their sockets and she collapses, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, Soren spares a fleeting glance at Andromeda’s crumpled form on the ground before he turns to me. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. I can’t believe she attacked me.” I walk over. “Do you think she was somehow forced or brainwashed to turn against me?”
Soren opens his mouth to reply, but his attention switches to a commotion behind me.
My boyfriends are here.
“Daisy, are you okay?” Bryce pulls me into his arms, crushing me against his chest.
“I’m fine.”
“What happened to Andromeda?” Morpheus asks.
“She turned against me. I don’t know why.”
“I do,” Soren replies. “She’s a Neo God spy.”
“What?” we all ask in unison.
The sound of tires screeching nearby draws our attention to the main street. A black SUV has parked at the mouth of the alley, blocking the way. Mr. Silverstone exits the vehicle, sporting a grim expression on his face. I expected to see Stephan with his father, but it seems the man came alone.
Rufio stops next to me but leaves enough space between us that it feels like a chasm. His eyes remain trained on Andromeda when he says, “If she’s a Neo God spy, she’s not working for my father.”
At once, the Silverstones turn to him. “How do you know?” Soren asks through a frown.
“The man is too arrogant. He’d never, ever recruit an Idol with a disability, no matter how powerful they were. Which means she must be working for someone else.”
“That’s something we have yet to confirm,” Mr. Silverstone replies. “Soren, would you take the girl to the car?”
“Where are you taking her?” I ask.
“Don’t worry about Andromeda. She’s our problem now.”
Morpheus steps into Soren’s path. “Hold on.” He lifts her limp right arm and, through slits, inspects her hand.
“What are you doing?” Soren asks.
“I sensed something peculiar.”
Mr. Silverstone steps closer. “What, son?”
“The mark of a demigod.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Rufio blurts out, stepping away from us. My body angles to follow him
, but I catch myself. I don’t dare approach him, even if it’s to offer comfort.
“So not the island god,” Phoenix pipes up, wide-eyed.
“Island god?” Soren raises an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t mind Phoenix,” Bryce replies, frowning at his friend.
Morpheus releases Andromeda’s hand and then glances at Mr. Silverstone. “I’d like to be present when you interrogate her.”
He jerks his head back. “I don’t think that wi—”
“I must insist.” Morpheus’s shadows make an appearance, circling only around his wrists. But no one with a pulse can miss the threatening aura that surrounds him now.
“If you’re staying, shouldn’t we all?” I ask.
“No. We have to get back to Saturn’s Bay ASAP,” Bryce replies.
Rufio has his back to us, and since he remains quiet, I don’t know what his thoughts are on the matter.
“Bryce is right, Daisy.” Morpheus looks at me. “You should return. I’ll get back home as soon as I can.”
He leans closer and then kisses me on the cheek. My face becomes hot in an instant, but I try my best to keep my reaction from showing.
I watch them go without saying another word. My heart is wound tight again. Andromeda’s betrayal was a blow, but I suspect there’s more to the story than meets the eye. I hope Morpheus is able to uncover the truth.
“Damn. I can’t believe we didn’t suspect anything,” Phoenix mutters.
“Did you guys notice Stephan’s absence?” Rufio finally speaks. “Don’t you think that was odd?”
“Totally.” Phoenix nods.
“Yes, it was strange. But discussing the matter in a dark alley is not going to help us.” Bryce turns to me. “Come on, Daisy. Let’s head back. I’ve had enough of Hawk City.”
2
Morpheus
The atmosphere inside the car couldn’t be tenser if it tried. I’m riding shotgun, and Soren is in the back seat with Andromeda. We’ve been on the road for about five minutes, and no one has said a word. I’m usually the quiet one, but I can’t keep my mouth shut any longer.
“How long have you known she was a spy?” I ask.
Mr. Silverstone’s grip on the steering wheel tightens, matching the hard clench of his jaw. “We should wait until we arrive at a secure location to talk about this.”
“Are you afraid your own car is bugged?”
“I’m not taking any chances.”
“Where’s Stephan? I’m surprised he didn’t come on this tag-and-bag mission.”
“My son is not dealing well with the truth about the girl. He’ll come around.”
Of course. It was obvious there was something going on between Stephan and Andromeda. If they were involved romantically, Stephan would take the blow the hardest. But I’m only making assumptions, and that leads to nowhere. I need facts. But as much as I’d like to keep grilling Mr. Silverstone, I don’t want to waste my breath. He’ll only talk when he’s ready.
It takes another twenty minutes to arrive at a house in the suburbs of Hawk City. Not exactly where I imagined the Knights’ secure location would be. Mr. Silverstone parks the van in the garage, and only when the door is shut does Soren exit the vehicle with Andromeda in his arms. She’s still out cold.
“What did you do to her?” I ask.
“Tranquilizer. The effect should wear off soon,” Soren replies.
I follow them inside the house and quickly realize this is not a secret hideout. This is Mr. Silverstone’s home.
“Uh, I thought we were taking her to a secure location,” I say.
“This is it. Our headquarters in the city has been compromised,” Mr. Silverstone replies.
“Compromised how?”
“We had a mole.” Soren takes Andromeda to a large room I can only assume is his father’s office. He lays her on the leather couch and then pulls up a chair in front of the desk.
“You’re not going to detain her? She’s a spy.”
Mr. Silverstone walks around the desk and takes a seat as well, looking mighty casual about the whole deal. Something isn’t right here.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask.
“Relax, kid, and take a seat.” Mr. Silverstone points at the vacant chair next to Soren’s.
“No. I won’t fucking relax. Andromeda ambushed Daisy in a dark alley. I need answers.”
I sense the darkness uncoiling in the pit of my stomach, churning as it gains strength. I have better control of my powers now, but it’s still linked to my emotions.
Calmly, Mr. Silverstone links his hands together, leaning forward as he rests his forearms on the desk. “Fine. It was all a ruse.”
“What do you mean? Is she a spy for the Neo Gods or not?”
I glance briefly at Soren, who is staring at a random spot on the desk. His expression is somber, closed off. The fact that he’s not tossing out cocky remarks as he usually does is troublesome.
“A few months ago, Andromeda came to me. She was recruited by the Neo Gods when she was fairly young, duped into propaganda that’s far from the truth. Like many other Neo God members, she regretted her decision immensely, but once you take the pledge, it’s almost impossible to get out.”
Finally, I begin to get a clearer picture. “She’s working as a double agent, isn’t she?”
“Well, yes, but the information she’s been giving to the Neo Gods is mostly harmless to us. However, we know now that there’s dissent among their ranks, and that’s something that can greatly benefit us.”
“Rufio was right. She isn’t working for his father.”
“No. But it seems the son of a bitch who has her on a leash is far worse than that Kent asshole,” Soren spits out.
“You said you felt something in the alley,” Mr. Silverstone continues. “You believe Andromeda was marked by a demigod?”
I swivel on my chair to glance at her. My gaze drops to her hand, but what I’m searching for can’t be seen by the naked eye. The demigod signature is there, underneath her skin, almost dormant. Normally, I shouldn’t be able to sense it, like I couldn’t sense the mark Phoenix’s disgrace of a father used to control him. Why can I sense Andromeda’s when it’s not even active?
She stirs in her sleep, and her eyelids begin to tremble. Her eyebrows furrow, but she doesn’t wake up. Instead, she begins to move restlessly on the couch, turning her head from side to side as if she’s having a nightmare.
“What’s happening to her?” I ask.
Mr. Silverstone stands and walks over to the couch. “I don’t know.”
Andromeda reaches for her right hand, letting out a screech of pain. The mark of the demigod flares up in an instant, becoming a hot beacon of energy to me. It’s probably still invisible to everyone else though. Her noises become louder and laced with agony. Mr. Silverstone drops next to her and tries to wake her by shaking her gently.
Soren jumps from the chair, body tense as he watches the scene unfold. A cloak of uneasiness has wrapped around him. I can sense it without even looking in his direction. I’m not sure why I can tune into the emotions in the room like that. It’s never been one of my abilities. But I push those details to the background. The longer I watch Andromeda struggle, the surer I am that I know the identity of the demigod who marked her. His signature feels familiar somehow.
“Move aside,” I say as I walk over to the couch.
Mr. Silverstone glances at me with eyes that are rounder than before. His surprise is obvious, but at least he doesn’t offer resistance and moves away from the girl.
I take his spot, crouching as well, and then grab Andromeda’s hand. I’m not surprised that her skin is burning up. My guess is that’s exactly what she must be feeling right now—like her hand is on fire. I close my eyes, blocking out all external sounds so I can focus on the energy emanating from her mark.
I sense the will of the mark’s creator, strong and malicious. I try to block it, stop the pain it’s inflicting on
Andromeda, but the harder I try, the further I’m sucked into the dark chasm of the mark’s power. I can’t let it trap me in that void. I unleash my shadows, letting them envelop my body in a protective barrier. I sense the antagonizing energy diminish, but before it vanishes completely, I hear the sound of wicked laughter in my head. It makes my skin crawl. I’m still holding Andromeda’s hand when the laughter ceases, but a voice speaks in my mind.
“Hello, brother.”
My eyes fly open, and I let go of Andromeda’s hand. Immediately, bile pools in my mouth while my stomach clenches painfully. I drop onto my ass, breathing hard as I try to grapple with what just happened.
“Are you okay, dude?” Soren asks.
I don’t answer right away, and while I attempt to recover my voice, Andromeda opens her eyes and glances at me. Her eyes are unseeing, and yet I can still feel the weight of her stare.
“You stopped him,” she whispers.
“I’m not sure what I did.”
“Stopped who?” Soren looks from me to her.
“The Neo God who controls me.” She sits up.
I get back on my feet, still jittery from the battle I waged in the nether. “Did you know who he was when you pledged your life to him?”
“Do you mean did I know he was a Neo God?”
“No. Did you know he was a demigod?”
The blood drains from Andromeda’s face, turning her complexion even paler than before. “Nathaniel is a demigod?”
“If that’s his name, then yes, he’s a demigod.”
Her shoulders sag forward. “Now everything makes sense. No wonder he wasn’t worried about Daisy using her Unmaker powers against him.”
“Why would a demigod pose as an Idol and join the Neo Gods?” Soren asks. “It makes no sense.”
I pass a hand over my face. “I don’t know. But not all demigods are created equal. Some have limitations.”
I acquired this knowledge once I learned about my lineage. The thought is bitter, but my lingering feelings of low self-esteem are not important right now. What the demigod said is. He called me “brother,” and I don’t know what to make of that statement. He can’t be a lost sibling, which only leads to one conclusion: he was messing with my head. But to what purpose?
Broken Knights: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 4) Page 2
