by Lyn Forester
He shrugs. “Close enough that we should have found something when we expanded our search.” He taps the long line next to the square. “That’s the Entertainment Hall, and we were right behind it.”
Connor backs out of the map to rereads the messages. “I don’t understand. How would this Rim Jumper know what the stars on Level 13 look like? Do you think they’re another student here?”
“If so, why not just approach Sparks in person?” Felix reaches for my hand, his thumb sweeping over my knuckles. “Unless they haven’t figured out which one of the first years Sparks is? The holo-vids Skittles sold only listed us as the kids of city officials. They might just be guessing she’s here. Maybe this is a way to uncover her identity.”
I still can’t believe I didn’t know the Night Pirate who sponsored me was selling holo-vids of our races on the black market. Once I found out, I was shocked my father hadn’t put a stop to my antics earlier.
Connor slides his glasses back on. “But to what purpose?” He points to a line in the first message. “And what do you think Rim Jumper meant by it will take your breath away? It sounds like a code.”
Excitement pings through me, and my fingers tighten on Felix’s. “What if it means just that?”
Felix shakes his head. “I’m not tracking.”
I point at the square of light. “Think about it. This is clearly in the ground, right? Some kind of hatch down? And what is the only time we’ve had a hard time breathing while here?”
“Every time I look at you,” Felix coos into my ear, and I release his hand to shove him away.
Realization dawns on Connor’s face. “When we get off the shuttles outside the dome.”
I bounce in place. “Yes!”
“You’re talking about an access point. A way through the levels,” Felix says slowly, thinking it through as he speaks.
“We know they exist. Maintenance has to have them to fix the water systems, replace filters, fix sky panels...” I snatch my folding-port back to study the map. “That must be what this is!”
“But why would they put it in the school where a student could stumble onto it?” Connor points out, ever the calm one. “It would make more sense to have it out at the docking station, or next to the Halls of Justice spire. More difficult to get to, but easier to protect.”
Some of my enthusiasm fades. He’s right, of course. That makes far more sense than putting it right in the middle of the school.
Felix scoots toward the edge of the bed. “Well, we won’t know until we find it.”
I close the folding-port and cram it back into my satchel. “Right now?”
“It’s already dark.” He turns to help me up. “Why not now?”
“I’m curious, too.” Connor slides off the edge of the bed and stands, then stretches, arms over his head. The hem of his shirt lifts to reveal a thin strip of muscular stomach.
Felix nudges me. “Stop drooling at my brother.”
“Why? Your brother is drool-worthy.” Heat fills my cheeks at my boldness, but I stamp down the embarrassment. I’m done backing away from what I feel, and Connor is most definitely worthy of a second glance.
Connor’s eyes meet mine, and a soft smile curves his lips. “The compliment is appreciated.”
“Hey, what about me?” Felix skips in front of me, arms spread wide. “Me, too, right?”
My eyes skim down his equally trim, muscular body. I don’t know how he manages to wear the exact same outfit as Connor and make it look naughty, but he does. I’ve felt that body in my arms, snuggled my nose into the space between his shoulder blades, curled my legs into the hollow left in his. I’ll do so again tonight. A fact I look forward to. But that doesn’t mean I’ll inflate his ego.
With a sniff, I walk past him toward the door. “You drool in your sleep.”
“I do not,” he hisses.
I nod and swipe my hand over the door pad to open it. “You do.”
“Bro?”
“Yep,” Connor confirms. “Not sexy at all.”
“You’re both liars.” Out in the hall, Felix dodges in front of me once more to point an accusatory finger at me and Connor. “Dec would have told me if I drool in my sleep.”
Declan probably would. He’s blunt like that.
Connor and I exchange a glance, and he turns to his twin. “Dec’s soft on you. He didn’t want to hurt your feelings. But if you don’t believe us, you can ask him when he gets back.”
Felix’s hands fly up to cover the bottom half of his face as if afraid drool covers his chin even now, and he spins around to put his back to us.
So vain, my Felix.
He runs ahead of us to the stairs, but slows to let us catch up before he reaches the bottom, and the three of us head for the exit.
On the stone steps, I pause to peer up at the sky. Not as clear as the last time we went looking for the access point to this mysterious racetrack, but we know where we’re going, so it doesn’t really matter.
We walk down to the circular path around the school, dodging a group of third years who sit on the steps. My attention skips over the students who lounge on the grassy circle at the center with the ancient tree. Small lights pepper the grass to provide illumination in the dark, giving the area an almost whimsical feel.
I always find it curious that the students stuff themselves onto the grass here and don’t take advantage of the much wider swath of lawn behind the school. Do they just not remember its existence? Or does its proximity to the administration building make it less appealing?
All of APA’s buildings face inward, and even the holo-windows only portray sights of the inner circle, the school designed to be self-contained to the point I sometimes forget there’s more to the school than this small area.
Instead of heading for the main path that leads between the library and the first year’s class building, we head for the narrower alley that runs alongside the Entertainment Hall to cut down the amount of time we’re visible to the administrators, should any be in office at this time of night.
The tall buildings on either side block out the minimal light of the stars, and we press closer together as we shuffle along, one hand on the brick wall to our right and one hand on the person in front of us. Felix takes the lead with Connor in the back.
As we near the shadowed expanse of grass beyond, quiet, angry voices drift down the alley.
When I recognize Garrett’s voice, I tug on Felix to slow him down.
“You think you’re funny, embarrassing me in front of Caitlyn like that?” Garrett seethes, and a soft thump follows, the sound of a body striking the bricks.
A jaded laugh rings out, one I recognize all too well. “You embarrassed yourself. I had no hand in that.”
A meaty whack answers, and Nikola grunts in pain.
My hackles rise, and only Felix’s hand on my shoulder stops me from striding forward to stop the fight. This must be about our game of 8-Ball. Garrett really is a sore loser, but I never thought he’d take it out on Nikola. I had just as much opportunity to correct Garrett’s misconception.
“You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” Garrett growls, and another thump follows. “Trying to seduce her with your nighttime walks? You need to remember your place, lackey. You serve me. You jump when I say jump, and you keep that smart mouth of yours shut.”
“We’re not at Tri-Worth anymore,” Nikola spits. “We’re equal here, and I will rise or fall on my own merits.”
“Equal?” Garrett laughs. “The only reason you’re here is because your mother convinced Councilor Lonnette to ignore how weak you are. But your twisted line ends with you. You already overplayed your hand, and Caitlyn is never going to trust you enough to sign you as her secretary. You’re going to end up in the bed of some fat old city official. Maybe even Treasurer Pulman’s. He seemed to fancy you during training. Maybe he’ll take pity on yo—”
A hard crack cuts him off, and I shrug off Felix’s hold to stride out of the alley.
Garrett lays sprawled on the grass, one hand lifted to his bloodied mouth. Nikola stands over him, hair and clothes a mess. He breathes hard, and even in the limited light, red flushes his cheeks.
His head jerks up at our appearance, and he steps back from Garrett. His expression shutters to mask his emotions as one hand moves behind his back to hide his abraded knuckles.
I keep my expression calm. “What’s going on here?”
Garrett looks from the blood on his fingers to me, and pain enters his eyes. “Caitlyn, I’m so sorry you had to witness something so disgraceful. Nikola’s temper seems to have finally gotten the better of him.” Regret comes next as he rolls to his feet. “I respect you, so I’ve kept silent until now, but this show of violence can’t go unreported.”
“I agree completely.” I turn my head toward Connor, who stands to my left. “Demi-Councilor Williams. Will you bear witness?”
“I will, demi-Councilor Lonette.” A chill fills Connor’s voice.
Victory flashes across Garrett’s face, and Nikola bows his head in resignation.
My heart twists at his acceptance. Will he not even try to defend himself?
Then, I recall the conversation I overheard in the bathroom. Sometimes, laying down and taking it is the only option. He’d said his hands were tied and that standing up for himself would mean failure. Is this the conclusion he reached? That, in fighting against Garrett’s bullying, he would look like the bad guy?
If we hadn’t stopped to listen to the conversation, if we’d come at the end and only seen Nikola standing over Garrett, if I hadn’t already seen his bruises, would I have believed Nikola was at fault?
This is where staying silent leads us.
I put steel in my voice. “I, demi-Councilor Lonette, hereby terminate my contract with acting-secretary Garrett Latven. Furthermore, House Lonette retracts their sponsorship of Garrett Latven to the Academia of the Planetary Alliance. Garrett, you will remove yourself from the school premises before First-Light tomorrow morning.”
Nikola’s head snaps up, and Garrett’s eyes widen in shock before anger twists his expression. “You have no right—”
“I have every right.” My focus shifts to Nikola. “Please, acting-Secretary Nikola, if you will record my decision.”
“At once, demi-Councilor.” With a short bow, Nikola whips his palm-port out of his pocket, fingers flying over the screen.
Garrett takes an angry step toward me. “You can’t do this. Your Grandmother sponsors me here!”
When Felix moves to step between us, I hold up a hand to calm him. “My Grandmother is not High Councilor, and my father will very much back this decision. Will he not, Nikola?”
“With enthusiasm,” Nikola agrees.
Fury narrows Garrett’s eyes. “I’ll report this. Don’t think I’m not aware of what your family’s doing with genetics. Once the Halls of Justice hear what I have to say—”
“You will do nothing.” I step forward, chin held high. “You will stay silent. You will return to Tri-Worth and seek a position with a lower level city official. Level 8 sounds good enough for you. And in exchange, I will not speak to your grandfather about your actions here. Your family will pass from the Lonette line of service peacefully and with all the respect your Grandfather has earned.”
“As if I care what that old man thinks,” Garrett spits. “He’s the one who ruined our family in the first place! Allowing our position to be superseded by that abomination your father calls a human.”
“Then let me phrase this in a way you will understand.” My voice lowers, forcing him to lean closer to hear. “If you speak a word against me, my family, or Nikola and his family, you will never speak again. You will simply vanish, and the Latven line will be struck from every record. It will be as if you never existed.”
He pales. “You don’t have that kind of power.”
“I am Caitlyn Lonette. My ancestors founded this city, and in seven years, I will hold the seat of First Councilor. Do you really think your tiny existence even matters in the greater picture? You are a blip, an error that can be erased.” I shake the fiery curls off my shoulders. “The decision is up to you. A life of ease on a lower level, or no life at all.”
“You’ll regret this,” he seethes.
“I won’t think of it again after tonight.” I glance past him to Nikola. “Is it done?”
“It is.”
I turn my head to the left. “Connor?”
“It is witnessed.”
I pull my palm-port from my pocket and hit the first number on the list before lifting the device to my ear. After only one ring, the line connects, and I don’t wait for a greeting. “Dean Koffman, this is demi-Councilor Lonette. We have an intruder on the premises. Please send a guard to escort him out of the school.”
After a short pause, her even voice travels down the line. “Someone will be with you shortly.”
The line disconnects, and I tuck my palm-port away.
Nikola circles wide around Garrett to join me. “You know, it’s a long flight from here to Level 12.”
“I am aware.” I hold Garrett’s angry gaze. “Much of it is spent off Rim.”
“It’s a long drop from up here to the forest.”
“A very long drop.”
Garrett’s hands open and close in thwarted rage.
How was I ever fooled by his good-natured persona? Was he that good at playing the part? Or was I just that blind?
After a long moment, Garrett rolls his shoulders. “What do you want me to sign?”
I turn to Nikola who extends his palm-port, the light from the screen illuminating Garrett’s defeat. “This non-disclosure should cover everything.”
I watch as Garrett angrily signs his name. “Should I question why you have that ready?”
Nikola glances at me from the corner of his eye. “If it helps, I had one prepared for myself as well, in case events took a different direction.”
“I wish you’d simply come to me,” I whisper. “We stay silent about too much. I’m not sure the consequences are worth it.”
Curiosity fills his voice. “Would you have believed me?”
“We’ll never know.” I fall silent as I spot a large figure striding across the lawn toward us.
The man stops in front of us, his cold gaze sweeping our small group before it settles on Garrett, the obvious outlier. “Is this the intruder?”
“Yes. If you check your records, his sponsorship to APA has been rescinded.” Nikola motions toward the administration building. “Please see that he does not return to the school. I fear he is a danger to demi-Councilor Lonette and to the other students who attend here.”
Nikola doesn’t point out the other student in danger is himself, and I don’t reveal that fact, either. Better to be general and allow the man to come to his own conclusions.
The large man scowls at Garrett. “Will you come peacefully?”
“Yes.” All the fight leaves Garrett with the single word, and the two men stride back toward the administration building.
“So,” Felix disrupts the quiet. “What was with all that talk about your mom and you being genetic freaks?”
Felix’s question hangs in the air, and I turn to face Nikola. I wondered the same thing but was more focused on Garrett’s betrayal than on his accusations. With him gone, a sea of questions remains in his wake.
Nikola shakes his head. “I don’t know.”
Disappointment fills me. “Nikola...”
“I honestly don’t know.” He frowns, concern pinching his brows. “But I’ll be looking into it. As far as I’m aware, Councilor Lonette keeps his hands out of the genetics market. And I find it hard to believe Garrett could know more than me about the Lonette family unless his grandfather spoke to him about it.” His dark eyes meet mine. “Caitlyn?”
I shake my head vehemently. “Grandma only cares about tea and plants.”
“I don’t know that I would simplify her interests that far.” Nik
ola prods at his stomach and winces before his hand drops to his side. “What were you doing out here at this time of night?”
I exchange looks with Connor and Felix, not sure we should reveal our purpose. Despite everything that just happened, it doesn’t resolve my trust issues with Nikola.
Felix studies Nikola. “Are you alright? Do you need a doctor?”
Nikola shakes his head. “I’ve taken worse.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.” Felix steps around me to go to Nikola’s side. “Come on. Let’s get you looked over.”
My stomach twists at the revelation. I saw Nikola’s bruises for myself, but still, hearing him admit to worse abuse makes me nauseous. I’m fervently happy Felix never had to attend such a horrible school that allowed this type of treatment to flourish among their students. Tri-Worth should be shut down.
I freeze, Felix and Nikola getting ahead of me, and Connor holds back. “Is something wrong.”
So much is wrong, but I ignore all of that to grasp Connor’s arm. “It’s always better to race with friends. Tri to find someone of worth.”
He frowns in confusion. “That’s what Rim Jumper said.”
“Nikola’s from Tri-Worth. What if Nikola is Rim Jumper?”
All In
Connor nods slowly. “That makes sense. He knows about your alter ego and that you wouldn’t trust him if he came to you directly with this information. But I still don’t understand exactly what he’s trying to tell you.”
“Then let’s stop trying to decode it and simply ask.” I grab Connor’s hand to drag him after Felix and Nikola.
“Let Felix tend his wounds first,” Connor cautions.
“Why not talk while tending?” I tug on Connor to move him along faster.
We wasted enough time on this already when the answer walks right in front of us.
When we enter the dorms, we run into Bastian and Myrrine on their way back up to our room.
Myrrine takes one look at Nikola and freezes, her hand turning white-knuckled on the stair railing. “What has happened?”
Felix propels Nikola right past her. “Nothing for you to worry your fluffy little head about.”
