by Allie Burton
“You trust a robot made by our enemy, programmed by our enemy.” Hokima reminded me of the conversation seconds earlier.
“Seven seconds.”
I’d trusted Stone to get us this far. I’d trusted Rye.
“If the SCUM are coming, where do you think they’re coming from?” I pointed to the door we’d come through and the one we headed toward. It was logical to me.
“Six seconds.”
“If we go through the exit, I know the fastest way to get us to a safe room.” Stone’s expression flashed with panic. “I don’t know what happens by way of conveyor belt.”
“Five seconds.”
Tos jiggled her shoulders. “The conveyor belt might cut us up and throw us into a scrap garbage pile.”
“Been there. Done that.” Glancing between the two doors, I had to persuade them. It wouldn’t make sense for the SCUM to be coming from the way we came. They had to be marching towards the door in front of us and we had no other way to escape and not much time. I cleared away another cyborg. “I’m getting on the conveyor belt. Follow me or not.”
It had to be each of their own choices.
“Four seconds.”
I jumped onto the cleared space of the black rubber belt and laid down, so I’d fit through the door.
“Ellery!” Stone’s panic bulleted through his shout. He tried to grab my arm.
I yanked it away.
Hokima struggled to sit on the belt. He pushed a cyborg off. “I’m with Elle.”
“Three seconds.”
“I hear them.” Keltie’s sharp ears must’ve picked up their approach. She pushed a metal man off and jumped on the belt. “They’re coming through the far door.”
Just as the cyborgs had warned.
Stone grumbled something about me being right and he picked up Tos and put her on the belt between two cyborgs. He cleared a space for himself and climbed on with his gun drawn pointing toward the door.
If the guards saw us, they’d switch off the conveyor belt and capture us. I hoped I made the right decision.
“Two seconds.”
I slid through the small entrance door and into a darkness. I heard no shots or calls of distress, so my little group must’ve made it inside the conveyor belt’s black hole before the guards entering the room noticed.
The belt continued traveling, and I relaxed for the first time in what seemed days even though it had been less than twelve hours. My muscles melted into the warming hum of the black belt and my eyelids fluttered. Fighting off sleepiness, I started counting.
Bum. Bum.
A loud clatter startled me. The noise grew louder and closer. The belt shook with each stomp.
My eyes flew open in time to see a metal rod with a flat plate at the end stamping the belt. It barely missed my feet. My heart jumped into my throat. I was going to be made into mashed fairy. Jerking, I rolled to the side narrowly avoiding the plate.
“Watch out!” I called up the line.
Literally, because we were on a production line. None of us just happened to be what was being made.
I sat up. No harrowing screams or smushing innards. “Everyone okay?”
Each of them answered affirmative.
“Is there anything else able to kill us ahead?” Stone’s sarcastic-heavy voice filtered to me.
“Hard to tell. It’s pitch-black.” I tried to sound nonchalant, when I was pissing in my pants. “And you’re welcome. You know, because I got us out of there alive.”
He murmured something I couldn’t make out.
“He said, barely.” Keltie chuckled.
Stone growled. He must’ve forgotten how well elves could hear.
“We should jump off.” Tos’ voice quivered at the end of each word.
“I can’t see any type of ground.” I swung my legs over the edge. “Can’t even tell if there is a ground.”
“I don’t hear anything.” Keltie chuckled again. She was enjoying her game of historical telephone.
“I can’t see much of anything either. Just varying shades of black.” Hokima had excellent sight in the dark. “We’re going up.”
“How can you tell?” Stone asked before I could.
“Because I feel sick.” Hokima emphasized his point with a loud burp. “Trolls can easily get motion sickness because we never leave the ground, even though we live in the mountains. Nice, sturdy mountains.” Homesickness swelled in his tone.
“Good thing you’re not flying on a dragon.” Tos sounded excited at the prospect.
Paying attention, I perceived the movement too. The way the conveyor belt tugged slightly upward, how with each minute my body rose.
“Are we still beneath the palace?” Keltie asked.
“The cyborg maintenance center is on the ground floor, not beneath.” At least Stone was acquainted with the palace layout.
I’d noticed how the hallways and corridors slanted. Underground in the dungeon had been cold and damp, but in the cell and running through the corridors the space had gotten warmer. Guess, I noticed more than I’d originally thought.
“We’re moving up in the world.” My joke fell flat.
My dream had been to move up in the world through Continuum and finally graduation. I’d inherit my house and officially become Lady Milford. The entire dream had changed overnight. Now, I dreamed of survival. Of saving my new friends. Of finding Arbor. And then…
I needed to consider Gardenia’s offer.
“These cyborg servants are complete and being delivered.” Something clanged and I realized it must be Stone examining a robot. “The question is where?”
The conveyor belt continued to climb in the blackness. If the maintenance facility was on the ground floor, we were higher now. The grand ballroom had been on the second floor and had been lined with balconies leading to other rooms.
“I can see the ground.” Hokima’s voice rose with excitement.
Now, maybe we could get off this never-ending carnival ride.
Our surroundings lightened, more gray than black. Small grates vented the room circulating fresh air. The floor was a glassy surface which made sense since the upper part of the castle was crystal and glass.
“I’ll go first.” Stone was always ordering us around, especially me. Sure, he rescued me and my friends, but that didn’t mean I owed him my life.
Well, maybe it did.
He thundered to the ground. “Six-foot drop.”
I inched toward the edge. Before I could jump, he dashed and grabbed me. His large hands spanned my waist. His fingers held me tight as if I was a precious fruit easily bruised. His powerful masculinity made me feel safe and protected, and yet he’d followed me onto the conveyor belt. He trusted me to make decisions.
He helped me jump down and held me for a second. His gaze captured mine trying to communicate something. An electrical tension sizzled to my toes. How could I be crushing on him while liking Rye.
I’d probably never see Rye again. My shoulders rounded inward, and my energy flowed out. I stepped away and out of Stone’s grasp. “I could’ve jumped a few feet.”
“Of course you can.” His complete confidence brought a small smile to my lips. The only other person who’d had confidence I’d get something done was Gardenia.
Of course, she’d expected me to assassinate the prince, and my plan from the beginning was to avoid the royal teen.
The rest of the gang had jumped off and watched. Good thing it was dark because I knew I was blushing. What did they think was going on between me and Stone? They’d already accused me of flirting.
“Keep your voices down,” Stone whispered. “I’m not sure exactly where we are in the palace and what those grates lead to.”
The grates let in a little light and my sight adjusted. Since most of the servants were cyborgs it made sense we were near the servants’ quarters.
Stone tiptoed to the closest grate. I held my giggle at the giant male on his toes like a ballerina. Wanting to see too, I snuck
in front of him. The warmth of his body heated imitating a blanket. One I’d pull out on cold and lonely nights.
Voices came from the room below. I pressed closer to the opening trying to ignore my unwanted attraction to Stone.
One wall in the room had shelves filled with classic textbooks made from real paper. The other wall had multiple vid screens and enlarged text capability. An old-fashioned desk sat in the center of the room with a large velvet chair. Two smaller chairs were situated in front of the desk. A tray of sandwiches and fresh fruit sat on the desk.
My stomach growled, and I sucked it in trying to control the noise.
Regent Theobald strolled into view. He wore purple robes and black pants with a crisp pleat. His gut stuck out and a crown glistened on his head. I’d seen vids of him and didn’t realize how short he was, or how bald. From this angle, the bright white patch of skin, which would be covered by the crown, was circled by thin patches of blond hair.
“The majik prisoners don’t need livable conditions because they’re not going to live long.” The regent picked up a sandwich, took a bite, and tossed the rest in the trash. “I mean, they’re not going to live long in prison. They’re going to be transferred.”
“Transferred where?” The male voice rang with authority as if he had every right to question Regent Theobald.
I gasped recognizing the tone.
Rye.
I warmed. He was asking about better conditions for the majik prisoners. He was doing what he’d promised to do. Squishing my eye closer to the grate, I wanted to see him.
Stone’s body stiffened.
I ignored him focusing on Rye’s words. I imagined how his mouth would shift when speaking, and for a second I lost myself remembering those lips on mine.
“Does it matter?” The regent moved out of the way, unblocking the view of half the room.
A second guy came into view. He appeared to be around my age and wore a nice suit. His blond hair was clipped short and his gaze darted between the regent and I’m assuming Rye.
This other guy must be the prince.
I fisted my hands together willing myself not to propel forward to kill him. Surprisingly, I felt nothing. No urge to assassinate as my mission dictated. Then again, I didn’t have the enchanted dagger anymore. Stone had taken it when he’d taken my magical bag.
Rye paced into view. He gripped an odd-shaped piece of glass with white fingers, holding it too tight. The negotiations with the prince and regent must not be going well.
I believed in him, though. He was bringing our concerns to their attention and he was going to blast the royals about their unfairness. He was going to tell them what needed to be done. He was my hero.
I leaned forward even more, not wanting to miss a single word.
Rye twisted the glass piece and I caught a better glimpse. I sucked in a breath. The glass piece was a shoe. My shoe. He must’ve found the one I’d lost. My heart softened, and my bones melted like goo. I wanted to call out to him, to tell him I was okay, and that he needed to be strong.
Besides his white fingers, I couldn’t tell if he was angry or upset. His expression didn’t redden with anger. He didn’t tilt forward to press his point. His expression stayed neutral. Blank.
What he said next almost made me gasp.
“No. Of course it doesn’t matter. Majiks don’t matter.”
Chapter Eighteen
Rye’s cold response struck in the center of my chest and wallowed in trembling waves. He’d seemed so genuine, as if he’d wanted to help the plight of the imprisoned majiks. He had the opportunity. He was in the presence of the regent and the prince, and yet he hadn’t even tried to persuade them.
My heart seemed to shrink, and my body slackened. I leaned against Stone using him as a crutch.
“You okay?” Stone whispered keeping his voice low.
“I guess.” I didn’t want to confess what a fool I’d been. I hadn’t believed Rye would be successful, but I’d believed he’d try harder.
Stone tucked me closer. “You know the majik prisoners aren’t being transferred anywhere or being sent out of the kingdom.”
I gulped. Knowing and fully comprehending were two different things.
“Were you one of those foolish girls who crushed on the handsome prince?” His tone rose in a tease trying to lighten the atmosphere.
“No.” It wasn’t the prince I’d been attracted to. Rye wasn’t the guy I thought he was. To cave so easily. To not care what happened to the majiks being transferred. To not demand something be done. “We should get out of here. Get to your safe room. Make a plan.”
A new plan. One that didn’t include Rye and his obvious lack of principle. One that saved Arbor and the other majiks. All of them.
Slowly, Stone slipped his arms from around me, almost reluctantly. “Yes, we should.”
Gathering the group, he led us away. Once he’d figured out where we were, he knew what direction to go. We followed the conveyor belt’s path for a while, then through numerous hidden corridors used by the cyborg servants. The few robots we came upon either didn’t notice or didn’t care.
Walking in a daze, I dealt with a second loss. We’d lost Bim to death, and I’d lost Rye to the regent. His convictions weren’t strong. Similar to how I used to be. Knowing atrocities happened in Alandaska, and yet content to live my life trying to achieve my goal of being accepted as one hundred percent human.
Not anymore.
This one night had changed me. I’d been hoping to save Arbor and return to my regularly scheduled life. Even if I couldn’t save my friend, I’d planned to go home and pretend nothing had happened, pretend I hadn’t gone rogue. Sure, Sybil would punish me for not completing my chores. I could handle that. What I couldn’t handle was pretending to be blind when I could see.
See the unfairness in our world.
See the suffering of the majiks.
See the torment and the dying.
I understood to the depth of my being. I couldn’t sit back and watch.
“This is it.” Stone had led us through the back of the podship station and into a supply closet filled with cleaning supplies and spare parts. He pushed the wire shelving unit away from the wall and tapped on an outlet from historical times. Something no one would need with today’s electronics. A hidden panel popped open. He typed a code and a small doorway slid on silent hinges.
Shuffling through, I examined the door. When it had been shut you couldn’t even see the seams. The craftsmanship was amazing.
“It’s a place to rest until we head out again.” He waited until we all entered and sealed the door.
“Who built this place?” Keltie’s thoughts must’ve gone to the same place.
“Combination of humans and majiks. When they worked together instead of against each other.” He waved in the direction of one wall. “There’s food stored in the cabinets.” He paced across the room. “And there’s a small bathroom through the door. Sleeping pods over here.”
My stomach growled again at the mention of food. I hadn’t eaten anything since lunch the day before.
“Hungry?” Stone’s chuckle sounded less stressed than any I’d heard earlier. He believed we’d get out of here alive.
Tension leaked away from my muscles and bones. The knots in my back untied. The daze I’d been in cleared similar to fog after the sun shone.
He pressed a button and a cabinet popped open. “Nothing fancy. Protein tubes to keep up your strength.”
I snatched a tube and ripped open the cap. Sucking down the flavorful paste tasting of chicken and peas, I filled my belly.
He tossed Tos a protein tube and showed Keltie how to work the bathroom. He helped Hokima get comfortable on a sleeping pod and pulled a second one out for Tos. Both of them climbed in and went to sleep. Stone had been there for us since we’d met, getting us out of the cell, figuring out a new plan when the first had gone awry, bringing us here to recover. He was the hero.
Not the guy who sh
all remain nameless.
My lungs expanded. Stone resembled one of those gods from ancient Rome or one of the Alandaska fighters who’d left the kingdom to fight amongst the humans during one of their multiple world wars. Handsome and daring. Bold and courageous. Hunky.
“What’re you staring at?” He must’ve noticed my intense inspection.
My cheeks baked at being caught studying him like a piece of cake. “Nothing. Nothing.”
“Here.” He trekked toward me on light feet. He held a small wet towelette. “You’ve got something on your cheek.”
The red stains of embarrassment, no doubt.
Gently, he wiped my skin in a slow, circular motion. Mesmerizing, the way his thick, strong fingers proceeded with a delicate, subtle touch. He was taking care of me again, treating me special. His expression softened.
The white cloth came away with the color red. Not embarrassment, but blood.
Bim’s blood.
A blow struck. Loss, strong and hard hit me. I gaped at the red stain knowing I’d never forget the dull, reddish-brown color. Knowing I’d never forget Bim.
Stone must’ve realized where my thoughts had gone because he pulled me into his arms. His muscled strength brought comfort and his big body oozed protection. I lifted my head to stare into emerald eyes changing with his emotions. His eyes swirled with longing and pulled me toward him. His full lips appeared hard. Would they contrast and be cushy like so much of the enigma of Stone?
Hard and soft. Caring and cold. Teasing and all-seriousness.
I ran a nervous tongue across my lower lip. He stared at my mouth. Did he plan to kiss me? I wasn’t ready for a kiss from a different guy.
He cleared his throat and pulled away with a jerk.
This time heat flooded my entire body, not just my cheeks. He was providing comfort because he cared. He didn’t want to kiss me. Romantic e-books spoke of how during times of high stress, emotions went haywire. That must be what had happened. I’d gotten caught up in the moment. My feelings simmered close to the surface with the fighting and the risk, the loss of Bim, the sellout by Rye.
