“A death touch?” she asked, her body going rigid. “That’s… impossible.”
“Kai can't turn himself in because the Fae will kill him if they get the chance. Don’t you see? He’s a hostage.”
Yemoja Roux stood quickly, thoughts racing behind her lined forehead. “How do you know all this?”
I wasn’t sure yet what she thought of the news, and I wasn’t willing to risk my phone contact with Kai.
“You don’t believe me?”
She began to pace around my bedroom. “I-I do. It’s just a lot.”
Bri’s gaze darted between us, her eyebrows raised like she was watching a TV special.
I needed Yemoja Roux more than ever, but even if she wasn’t going to help me, I was going to save Kai. My next question would tell me everything I needed to know. “Can you convince the Fae to capture Kai without killing him?”
She looked up at me. “It won’t be an easy sell, but we have to try.”
I flew off my bed and tossed my arms around her, giving her a tight squeeze. “Thank you.”
“We’re family,” she said. “I’ll always be on your team.”
Bri came up behind us and wrapped her arms around us both.
30
Kaito
The glass shattered, and my gift’s grasp of each tiny shard remained intact. I nodded to Ensley. “Okay,” she said. “Now try moving them.” I held out my hands and the black fragments rose like a wave from the pile.
“Good,” Ensley said, her pep returning. “Can you make any other shapes?”
I didn’t have enough glass in range to make a demon like I’d seen at the dance, and I didn’t want to anyway. Instead, I pulled the shards into a larger version of Reina’s owl charm. With the slightest shift of concentration, I made it flap its shiny wings, though it was my gift alone that held it afloat. It was awkward, but all the glass stayed within my grasp, and Ensley gaped at me, urging me to improve faster. The more that I thought of the glass pieces as one whole slab, the easier it was to make my design work cohesively.
“You really are Elite,” Ensley said. She bounced onto her toes and grabbed another slab of glass. “Here. Let’s add this one.”
Slab by slab, we added to the pile, Ensley’s admiring gaze filled with more awe each time.
“How did you learn to hold so much with your gift, and for so long?” she asked.
I thought for a moment and knew instantly; it hadn’t been the result of the lessons my parents dragged me to each day but rather a game I invented for myself. Shortly after my gift unlocked, I started hovering over my bed before I fell asleep, curious if I could hold myself up while I slept. I never managed it, instead waking strewn across my blankets. But, as life became more complex, and sleep eluded me, the minutes I’d once spent hovering stretched to hours, and my gift flourished. “Born lucky, I guess,” unwilling to share the rest.
We practiced for several hours before Zane showed up. His barrier gift could come in handy in a pinch, but he wasn’t going to be able to help with the glass. His tossed hair and drooped eyes said he’d taken the opportunity to sleep in. I’d conjured three glass demons at once when he entered, and he seemed genuinely impressed, but shortly after, I lost control of the first slab of glass, its pieces dropping to the floor one by one.
“Well, well, well…” a voice said, drawing our attention. “Here they are.”
My stomach dropped when DT entered the factory, his white grin sending a shiver down my spine. Then I saw the small arms and legs wrapped around him. My heartbeat raced, and my gaze slid over to Zane, whose ghostly expression mirrored the terror I felt. Gleefully enjoying a piggyback ride from DT was the cake-stuffed little girl I’d met at the party. It was Wendy, Zane’s little sister—and it was apparent in her bright smile she was completely unaware of the danger she was in.
He walked over to me and grinned. “I’m glad to see the training is going well.” He nudged me, and Wendy giggled. I allowed the glass to fall into piles in front of me.
I needed to do something before Zane did. “Hey! It’s the cake monster!” I said, hoping my enthusiasm would draw Wendy to me and away from DT.
“We went to the park!” Wendy said as she wiggled off DT but remained at arm's length as he said, “Do you want to tell them the news?”
“I got my gift!” she squealed and ran to Zane.
We both shot each other a quick glance of relief that she was no longer in DT’s range, then Zane turned his attention to his excited sister. “So soon? That’s amazing, Wen. What is it?”
She hurried over to me with a smile and said, “I saw you at the park.”
What? Her attention shifted, and she raced toward the glass with tiny outstretched hands. She’s going to get cut. “Careful. This glass is sharp.” She paused, only for a moment, before crouching down and patting the glass with her palms, and then the gray concrete beside it. A moment later, a smoky image filled the space. It was blurry at first but grew more defined until I could see it more clearly. I stared; it was me. One of my ghostly legs protruded through Wendy, and the other through the pile of glass in front of me. Wendy stepped back out of the image as he lifted his hands and conjured an owl from the translucent glass.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?” DT said.
Zane and I stared, and after a few short seconds the smoky scene dissolved.
Zane’s face brightened. “Wow, Wen! That was amazing!”
I’d never seen a gift even remotely similar. Not only did she channel my actions, but she was able to project the image back in the room for us to observe. It was beyond Elite.
“She’s a prodigy,” I said before remembering how that word had done me more harm than good.
Zane beamed. “Did you tell Mom and Dad yet?” She shook her head. Zane looked up at DT. “Can we go?”
“Of course,” DT said.
Zane pulled his sister up and carried her on his hip halfway out the door before he turned back to me. “I’ll be back before our mission. Don’t go without me.”
I nodded and he was gone, leaving me, DT, and Ensley alone. I wanted to ask DT how he ended up spending the day with Wendy, or how they came to discover her gift, but I didn’t want him to know I’d grown distrustful. Zane would, no doubt, have a story for me tonight. I hoped like hell he’d pass along to Wendy how important it was to stay away from DT. Particularly for such a vulnerable little girl. After all, no good ever came from being nearby when the grim reaper called.
31
Reina
The Fae Agency Headquarters didn’t seem like it belonged to Ancetol. Unlike the city, built with steel, glass and flashy neon lights, Headquarters was a white marble structure lined with columns and lit with two blazing torches. It was both a fortress and a monument to their importance—a pillar of wealth in the belly of Ancetol’s crime-riddled streets. Even with Yemoja Roux at my side, it had taken us nearly twenty minutes to get through all the enchantments that surrounded the gates. But as I took a look around, I knew it was well worth the wait. There were fountains in the courtyard and hedges in a similar style to GFA, only on a smaller scale. I now understood that my school was paying homage to this very place. It was, after all, the agency the Academy was training us to serve. Still, even if GFA’s courtyard was larger, the Agency’s felt grander, most likely due to its location at the center of the city. It was a garden oasis in a concrete world, but I wasn’t here for tourism. Yemoja and I needed to find a way to convince the chairman not to use lethal force on Kai at a time when that very topic was hotly debated and polarized. It was no secret what the chairman’s opinion was.
When we reached the front steps, Yemoja Roux turned to me and nervously adjusted some of my curls. “Let me do the talking. They’ll give me more latitude, and I don’t want you to hurt your chances of being picked up by them in a few years.”
I felt a lump in my throat, Yemoja’s uneasiness intensifying mine. I doubt I could find my voice if I wanted to, so I nodded instead.
&n
bsp; Being the greatest Fae on earth might’ve got Yemoja and me into the building, but it was an hour and a half before we were allowed to see the chairman. We pushed open the glass doors to find a room that appeared to be draped entirely in deep purple velvet. There were small gaps where the white marble peeked through the dusty fabric, and the room felt cramped and dark, despite being the opposite.
At the back of the room, the chairman glared down at us from what could only be considered a throne. There were torches on either side that matched those at the front of the building. The chairman’s coral-colored hair was pinned to his head in loops, and he scratched at the back of his hand with long curved fingernails sharpened to a glittery point.
Yemoja Roux stepped forward, confidence evident in her sanguine movements but not in her eyes. The chairman flashed an unfriendly grin. “What brings you to my office today so… unexpectedly?”
“We have a lead on The Fallen. We’d like to ask the Fae not to use lethal force when capturing Kaito Nakamaru as we believe he can lead us to—”
The chairman’s smile died. “I’ll stop you right there. All Fae will use lethal force, if necessary. I won’t risk the lives of our city’s heroes.”
I twitched, finding a touch of relief when Yemoja didn’t waiver.
“We think he can lead us to the real leader of The Fallen.”
He tapped his fingers, his agitation on full display. “It doesn’t matter who the real leader is. The Fallen is nothing more than an image, and for the moment, it’s the image of Kaito Nakamaru.”
“He’s innocent,” I blurted. I could tell by Yemoja’s contorted expression that it was a mistake, but there was no turning back.
His arched eyebrows rose. “Oh. I hardly noticed you, dear. Is this the famous Reina Roux?”
“It’s Bennet. Reina Bennet,” I spat. “Kai is being blackmailed by The Fallen. We have to get him out of there.”
His smile made my skin crawl. “I just love when children burst into my office and tell me how to do my job.”
“I didn’t—”
“No.” He shook his head. “You hush, now. The adults are talking.”
My jaw locked, and I could see in the reflection of some exposed marble that I’d begun to glow, a fact that didn’t seem to faze him in the least. The fire beside the throne began to thrash.
His gaze moved to Yemoja. “Of course the Agency appreciates all you do, Ms. Roux, but we can’t change the policy with so little verification.”
“I understand. I’m sorry to disturb—”
“This is so fucked up,” I said, my hands balled into fists. “You can’t just slaughter people just because you think they might be bad. Who are you to sit up there on that throne and decide who lives and who dies?”
I felt Yemoja’s hand grip my arm. “That’s enough, Reina.”
The chairman gave a curt laugh, his face settling back into a mischievous cheshire grin. He sighed, his head tilted condescendingly.
“I’m sorry,” Yemoja said, but he raised his hand to silence her.
His voice was so smooth it was as if he were reciting a poem. “I’m the law—the very bones of our society. Without me, Ancetol would be nothing but a pile of rubble in a chaotic wasteland. You can ask your new mommy what happens to a Fae who hesitates. I believe she was particularly close to Will Citrine and Raphael Mazarin.”
Yemoja’s gaze dropped to the velvet rug.
“But you want me to risk the lives of our city’s protectors to save your broody, gothed-out boyfriend from his own poor judgment?”
Disbelief over his petty response showed in my half smile. “And I’m the child here? All I’m asking you to do is to capture him.”
“And what if he attacks?”
“He won’t.”
“What if he does? What makes you so sure?”
I took a deep breath. “I’ve been in contact.”
I wasn’t sure who looked more surprised, the chairman or Yemoja Roux. I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and walked it over to him. Curiosity flared in his dark eyes as he reached for it, which gave me pause. But I opened my conversation with Kai, handed the chairman my phone, and held my breath as he scrolled through. His expression remained unreadable, except when he came to the picture I’d sent Kai when he briefly raised an eyebrow, and then scrolled back through the phone. My attention moved to Yemoja Roux, whose gaze was firmly on the ground in front of her. I knew she wasn’t happy with me, but this was the only thing I could think of to save Kai. I had to try it.
Finally, the chairman spoke. “When you’re young, it’s difficult to see the bigger picture. Fae need to consider the greater good. They cannot worry about one individual with spurious claims of innocence.”
“So, even with proof, you’re not going to give the order.”
“All this proves is that I was right about him being your boyfriend.”
I gaped. “If you do this, and he dies, you’re just proving that The Fallen are right,” I said, reaching for my phone.
He pulled his hand back.
I froze.
“Careful. That sounds remarkably akin to treason.” He stood, forcing me to step back to give him space.
“Give me my phone,” I said, but his gaze was on Yemoja Roux.
“Take her out of here while I still permit it,” he said.
“Give me my phone!” I demanded. Then, in a flash that I saw in one endless moment, he tossed my phone into the fire. Without giving it any thought at all, I threw my power at my phone and knocked it from the fire. It fell to the ground with a smack, but I snatched it before the chairman tried anything else. The phone was burning hot, so I threw it in my pocket before I risked getting burned. But, functional or not, I was glad I had it back. I didn’t trust myself to look at the chairman or Yemoja without losing control, so I turned and ran from the building.
32
Kaito
Me:
Reina, training went better than expected. I’ll be out in the field tonight.
Me:
I’m getting a little nervous. I don’t think I could actually kill a Fae. What do you think the odds are that we won’t run into anyone?
Me:
Are you going to be out there tonight? Is it too late to persuade you to stay safe on campus?
Me:
Rei?
Fuck. Something happened. No, she’s just busy. If someone got ahold of her phone and found out we’ve been texting, she might be in a lot of trouble. They might also be able to track my phone and send the Fae to take me out. Was I jumping the gun? It had only been a few hours without a reply.
“Hey, man,” Zane said, jogging me from my panicked thoughts. He had a tray of food and sat down in front of me.
I slid my phone into my pocket. “Hey, how’s Wendy doing?”
He took a bite of a chicken burger and spoke through chewing. “She’s excited.”
“I bet. That’s the most amazing gift I’ve ever seen. She’ll have no trouble at all getting into GFA.”
His blue eyes moved to me. “Oh. Uh. Yeah. Probably not. Sorry.”
How quickly I’d forgotten. Wendy would never attend GFA. None of The Fallen would. In fact, it would be a miracle if it was still standing when Wendy was old enough to apply. I hung my head. “Right. Sorry. Old habits…So what was DT doing with her? What a weird way to find out.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, man. Wendy told me she discovered her gift by accident. When she realized what it was, she ran to the tower to find me but ran into DT instead. He took her to some park so she could try it out in a larger space, then came here when she finally got tired.” His gaze was loaded.
I frowned.
“I know,” he said. “I don’t like it either. It’s hard for her to understand why she should be more careful. He’s nice one minute and then…”
“And then Carter?”
He nodded. “A total wildcard.”
Ensley dropped into the seat beside me, Rolland taking a seat be
side Zane.
Ensley’s cheeks flushed pink when she looked at Zane, but her voice came out in its normal, casual tone. “You guys having a strategy session without the rest of your team?”
“Did anyone bring me a burger?” I asked, eying their trays.
Rolland smirked. “It’s like ten feet away.”
I groaned.
“So, DT has given us specific instructions not to engage Yemoja Roux. If she’s the one we run into first, we book it back to Rolland and he’ll port us back to the tower. From there we’ll head out to another area of the city.”
Zane said, “You spoke to DT?”
This time Ensley’s face turned a dark crimson.
“What if we run into another Fae?” I asked, hoping to rescue the conversation from the awkward bomb that seemed to be on a short countdown.
Ensley said, “We whistle once, to alert the group that we found someone. We’ll follow the sound and try to corner whoever it is, with Zane playing defense for Rolland and Kai and me taking out the Fae. Whistle twice if you’re in trouble and three times if it’s Yemoja Roux, and we need to get the hell out of there.”
“Maybe we should postpone,” I said.
Rolland grimaced and I thought for a second he would speak, but he didn’t. Ensley did instead. “Losing your nerve already?”
“Of course not,” I spat. I looked down at my phone. “It’s just…” When my gaze rose to Zane, he shook his head slightly to stop me from saying more.
“DT wants the news coverage back on us. There’s too much focus on that girl being adopted by Yemoja Roux. Plus some guy from the north side claimed his gift was ‘stolen.’” She giggled. “But if you’re not down for this, Kai, we’ll go without you. I can handle the glass on my own, even without Carter.”
The Brave & The Broken: Gifted Fae Academy - Year Two Page 11
