Chapter Thirteen

 

Bree planned and prepared for the celebration, but there was little she could get ready without arousing suspicion. All she put aside was a small survival pack with water, a little food that wouldn’t go bad, a digital map, and a few tiny palace trinkets she knew had value but wouldn’t be missed. She would have liked a couple of firearms to throw in, too, but where would she get them?

Now the day of shadows, Kingdom Day, had come. Joo-Eun told her to look for those shadows to make her move, but Bree didn’t know what, where, or who. The sun was setting, and she hadn’t seen any sign of when, either.

Bree pulled her hair out of her ponytail and shook it free, nervously jamming the loose ends behind her ears as she walked away from the window—and away from the inevitable fall of the sun behind the secluded wooded acres around the palace.

Kyber was off making appearances at the various festivals and fairs in the nearby vicinity—with his huge contingent of staffers, government officials, VIPs, and guards. Everyone except her. “You will be safer at the palace,” he’d said, and for once she didn’t argue.

She sat down at the desk in her room. Folding the note she’d written to him in half, she slipped it under the edge of the vase of roses he’d sent her. Did people handwrite notes anymore? She didn’t know. Finding paper and an ink pen hadn’t been easy. But saying “good-bye for now” via the palace computer and hitting send didn’t seem to convey the message she wanted to get across.

Maybe she was an artifact.

She’d put her heart into that letter, hoping it blunted the hurt she knew she would cause him. It took away a little of the guilt she felt over abandoning the man who’d nursed her back to health. But only a little. Ignoring guilt was her specialty.

Of course, he didn’t love her. She was a challenge to him, a novelty. Her leaving would be like the Hope Diamond sprouting legs and walking out of its display case. Traumatic, yes; psyche-bruising, no. Kyber, she’d written, I hope you will see this as my duty, not my betrayal I have to know what’s beyond the palace gates. I don’t have your permission, but I ask for your understanding…

She’d said nothing about looking for Cam. She’d left him thinking she’d gone off to search for her ancestors.

“You haven’t touched your dinner.” Dr. Park glided over to the table wearing her all-business physician face. A server sister followed her and gathered up Bree’s picked-at plates of food. “You’ve lost almost a kilogram this week. I will have to give you supplements.”

Bree had lost all those grams from being too hyped-up to eat, but the doctor didn’t need to know that. “I had a big lunch. And, I’m tired.” Bree rubbed her eyes. “I think I may go to sleep early tonight.”

“On Kingdom Eve? And miss seeing the fireworks and the parades from the balcony? No, you cannot. I know Prince Kyber will not let you sleep.”

“He’s out.”

“He’ll be back for you.”

And that, Bree thought, would complicate things. Maybe she’d be gone by then. “I think I’ll take a bath. Maybe it will wake me up.” And deflect Dr. Park’s over-active motherly worry. Then the woman would move on to other concerns. If she had any. Her life was seemingly dedicated to her work, and thus to Bree.

The doctor followed her to the bathing suite.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to work tonight,” Bree said.

“I do have some tasks to attend to.”

“If I’m going to stay up, then you have to do something fun, too.” She practically pushed the woman out the door. “Go. I’ll see you at the fireworks.”

“I will look for you later, Banzai.” The woman’s expression went soft with tenderness. She smiled at Bree and left the suite of rooms.

Bree sighed as she watched the physician go. “Sorry, Dae,” she whispered. It would have been easier to leave if she was escaping a castle full of bad guys. Guilt, guilt, guilt. It sucked.

Joo-Eun would have accompanied her to the bathing suite, which was adjacent to Bree’s quarters in the medical ward, but the girl was absent. If not for their strange encounter the other day, Bree would have assumed she was attending one of the holiday events. Now she couldn’t help wondering what trouble the girl was getting into.

Yet, how often did she ever find herself alone? Not often. It was nice.

Bree stripped as she walked, leaving a trail of clothes, boots, and underwear behind her. Fragrant steam thickened the air, blurring the outer edges of the room so that she had a hard time telling how large it was. It was big, she knew that. Everything was always supersized in Kyber’s palace. Supersized and luxurious.

She dove into an enormous bath rimmed with swirls of pale blue and gold glass mosaic tiles. The sound system played a recording of outdoor nature sounds that Bree preferred to music. As she paddled backward, the pool’s rim of glass tiles glistened. Where would her next bath be?

Forget that, where would she be in the morning?

She was packed and ready to go, but so far, no shadows. The holiday was almost over. Time was running out, for Kingdom Day signaled the end of the summer season in Paekdusan and heralded the move to an even grander palace thousands of miles away in the city of Beijing. Had Joo-Eun lied to her? She could have. Sure, Bree knew her secret, but it had no value if the girl had skipped town.

Bree dunked her head under water. Breaking through the surface, she flipped her hair out of her eyes. The wooded scene in the window-wall was gone, replaced by a floor-to-ceiling image of Prince Kyber.

She was in the bath, and Kyber was on the wall. Holo-communication was two-way. Didn’t he know how to knock?

His eyes found her. “Ah. There you are, Banzai.” He was decked out in full royal regalia: black clothes, topped by a black cape that flowed over his shoulders and swept the floor. Scraped back from his face, his hair poured from a platinum-and-sapphire tube, flowing in a shimmering ponytail over one shoulder.

Bree ducked low in the water. Her hair, dripping wet, hung around her shoulders. “I’m naked.”

“I do not mind.”

“I do!”

Kyber looked her up and down. “The water hides you.”

“It does now. It didn’t five seconds ago.”

“Then I am five seconds too late.”

He acted so matter-of-fact that Bree had to laugh. As usual, he didn’t get it. He was a prince, used to going wherever he wanted, when he wanted, and, apparently, playing voyeur through two-way televisions when he wanted. “Next time warn me. Clothing may not be important to the other women in your palace, but it is to me.”

He inclined his head in what appeared to be an apology. “As you are important to me, Banzai.” He waved behind him, where she could see throngs of people celebrating the holiday. The dusk made it difficult to tell what they were doing, but they sounded happy. “I will be done here soon. Within the half hour. I invite you to watch the fireworks and parade from my balcony.”

Damn. Dr. Park was right. “Sure, Kyber. I’ll get dressed.”

He waited.

“After you sign off,” she hinted.

His mouth tipped roguishly. “Very well.” He dipped his head in a small bow, and the screen went black.

Bree dressed quickly in her usual soft close-fitting outfit and boots. She donned a light jacket and fastened the travel pack to a belt, spinning it around to hide it behind her waist. It was time, she hoped, to meet the shadows. Unfortunately, it looked like she’d be doing it right under Prince Kyber’s nose.

 

* * *

 

The noise from below the balcony sounded like thunder. Kyber greeted his people with fists pumping in the air. “Long live our kingdom!” he shouted, and Bree heard the answering calls from the crowd.

She watched him from the door to the balcony. Milky starlight edged his tall frame, turning Kyber into an ethereal being, a legendary prince from a fairy-tale kingdom. Toward the west, the light was almost gone from the sky. It would be a good night for fireworks.

And if that were all she witnessed tonight, if the night passed without shadows, then she would fall back on an alternate plan. That is, she would fall back on one as soon as she came up with it.

Bree alternated between disappointment and nervous anticipation as she watched palace staffers and society hangers-on flow in and out of Kyber’s apartment and the balcony. Goblets of wine and other spirits made the rounds, passed out by servants dressed in outfits of every color in the rainbow, the clothing decorated with gems that Bree guessed were priceless if someone were to pluck, pool, and calculate them.

A hush momentarily came over the people crowded around her, and an entourage swept past, leaving behind trails of glitter dust and whiffs of exotic perfumes. On the balcony, Kyber turned around. “Mother,” he said. His smile faltered a fraction. Bree wondered if anyone else noticed.

Queen Corrine of the Hans had arrived. Wrapped in a bejeweled sari and head-scarf, her slim frame looked fragile. But one glimpse of flawless skin told Bree that this was no old woman.

Bree had long wondered about the queen. She knew Kyber’s parents lived in the palace, but she’d never seen either one leave the wing in which they existed in voluntary, virtual isolation. But tonight’s events must be important enough for the queen to come out of seclusion.

A male escort supported the queen by the arm, but her gait was sure and strong. “Kyber,” she said, her voice low and honeyed. Her smooth and slender hand grasped Kyber’s, and he led her to the front of the balcony. The woman threw back her scarf, revealing the perfect profile of a goddess. Tendrils of long brown hair lifted and floated in the breeze as she laughed and waved to the adoring crowds. Gorgeous, graceful, and composed, the queen was obviously the source of a lion’s share of the genes responsible for Kyber’s good looks.

Bree stood in the background as the cheers rose to a crescendo. A hand came to rest on her shoulder. She jumped, startled, but it was only a server offering a glass of wine. She almost didn’t take it, but changed her mind. It would make her look like everyone else. She didn’t drink, though. If her chance to get Tyler Armstrong and leave with him came as Joo-Eun promised, she wanted all her wits about her.

There was a deep, muffled sound outside, like the slamming of a giant car door. Another boom followed, and Bree heard the crowd cheer. Sparkles in the colors of the kingdom’s flag filled the night sky. The fireworks had begun.

Then, the lights in Kyber’s apartment went out. For a moment, they flickered on again, as if a secondary source attempted to supply power, but the rooms plunged into darkness. Everyone gasped, but no one screamed. And then the guests laughed, as if it was part of the celebration. Bree knew better. The arrival of darkness meant only one thing: The shadows were finally here.

 

* * *

 

Eighteen slashes marred the wall above the filthy dungeon floor. Maybe his father had decided to abandon him here after all, Ty thought as he settled down to sleep propped up against the wall. The floor was wetter tonight than usual, perhaps because the days were cooling off outside, and after waking shivering and soaked the night before, he’d decided not to repeat the experience. He’d worked out as best he could over the past trying weeks, keeping his muscles strong, even when the lack of food sapped his energy. He lived in hope of release; and if not release, then escape. But so far, neither chance had come, which brought his thoughts back to his father.

Ty wouldn’t blame the general for wanting to disown his only son. Ty’s aborted treasure hunt would be an international embarrassment, and an expensive one at that. Kyber had made no secret of the fact that he’d found Ty’s UV anchored to the rocks beneath the entrance to the cave. Yes, the UV had a security setting designed to destroy the cockpit should anyone without an access code decide to commandeer it, a feature added in response to the subs they’d lost during the Pirate Wars—but Kyber hadn’t said anything about the Sea Snake blowing up. Either way, its loss was an expensive one—and humiliating. Ty’s father would not be pleased.

All the more reason to steal Banzai from Kyber and bring her back to the UCE, where she belonged, Ty decided. His personal feelings for her aside, Banzai Maguire was a shining symbol of all that made the UCE great. Once home, she’d make appearances, motivate the population, inspire the United Colonies of Earth to aim for even more preeminence in the world. And then Ty’s father would see that his son’s actions were not as irresponsible as they appeared.

Ty rubbed his hands over his face and scratchy beard. Fantasies were fine and good, but dreaming of taking Banzai home with him? He might as well wish for Rocket-man’s “shadows.”

“Look for the shadows! When they come, run!”

Sure, Ty thought, laying his head back against the wall. As his eyes closed, he decided to entertain himself with a fantasy that was even more far-fetched: his pretty little pearl, Banzai Maguire herself, showing up at his cell door to rescue him from Kyber’s dungeon, a vision that certainly merited further reflection, if for the entertainment value alone.

Ty chuckled and let his chin fall to his chest. At least this night he’d fall asleep with a smile on his face.

 

* * *

 

Kabul, Kyber’s security adviser, pushed through the throngs of people blocking the entrance to the balcony, his mouth drawn back in a snarl of a frown. Bree knew then that the blackout was more than an annoyance; it was a legitimate situation. Joo-Eun must have known it was coming, or she wouldn’t have told her to wait for the shadows.

A hand landed on Bree’s shoulder. “No, thanks,” she said automatically, turning around, “I already have wine.”

But it wasn’t a wine server who’d tapped her. It was Joo-Eun. “It is time,” the girl said softly.

Bree’s heart did an aileron roll. She nodded and set her goblet on a nearby table. Joo-Eun walked away, and Bree followed. No one would think anything of her leaving with her lady’s maid. And, in fact, no one looked at them at all. All eyes were on the fireworks, and those couples that weren’t watching the show were in corners or against walls, stealing kisses in the amusement and confusion of the blackout. And Kyber, well, he was still sidetracked by his high-maintenance mama. For a fleeting moment, Bree felt sorry for him, trapped with no hope of escape in this odd world, composed of equal parts make-believe and mind-boggling responsibility.

Joo-Eun led Bree to the trapdoor in Kyber’s floor, where he’d dropped her the first time she’d come to his room. His escape route. Joo-Eun lifted the door wide enough to allow her through. Bree dropped to the mat below. Hanging in an incredible feat of gymnastics, Joo-Eun shut the door behind her before falling to the mat next to Bree.

Joo-Eun pressed her finger to her mouth and took off running. Bree had to work to keep up in the darkness of the underground tunnels. She had the feeling that if she lost Joo-Eun, the girl wasn’t coming back for her. If the blackout was a preplanned terrorist event, Joo-Eun had risked much by returning in the middle of it to take Bree to the dungeon so she could free Armstrong and escape the palace before the lights came back on. Of course, no one would have expected this of the shy and slow-witted little clone.

Bree saw a blue-silver glow ahead. The magcycle tracks. But the glow was soon lost when Joo-Eun veered away. The girl put her full weight into pushing open a heavy door, grunting with the effort.

“Let me help.” Bree pressed her hands on the door and pushed.

“When the power went off, so did the computer assist on all the doors,” Joo-Eun explained.

The door opened. A tidal wave of stench almost bowled Bree over. She slapped her hand over her nose and mouth. “Ugh! What is that?”

“Where your UCE man lives.”

Joo-Eun disappeared down a staircase. Bree followed, her eyes watering from the smell. She didn’t want to know what it was, but it was the worst thing she’d ever smelled.

If this was what dungeons smelled like, she was glad she’d never been imprisoned in one.

The air grew thicker and more humid as they rounded the second staircase and descended into hell. Their boots made sucking noises on the stone floor, covered in a coating of something wet and sticky. Just...don’t...fall.

Joo-Eun stopped suddenly. Bree plowed into her back, almost putting them both on the floor. Joo-Eun steadied her and slid glasses over Bree’s face. Suddenly, the features of the underground came into focus, outlined in soft green. Night-vision goggles. She could see in the dark!

“When you go, use the magtrack,” Joo-Eun told her.

“But the power’s out.”

“The Halbach arrays still work.”

The motion of the magcycle created inductive current, Kyber had said. No wonder it was his escape route.

“The shadows will await you at station eight. Do not be late. They will take you to New Seoul.”

“Seoul? But I don’t want to—”

Joo-Eun held up a finger. “Go to the Cheju Precinct. In the Celadon, shadows will find you.” The clone threw a sack hanging from a strap around Bree’s neck. “Do not lose this.”

The girl took a step away, and then she was gone.

Bree heard nothing but her rapid breaths over the distant dripping of water and the squeaks of mice or rats. It was dark. And she was alone. Panic clutched at her chest. “Joo-Eun?” Her respiration doubled. Bree whispered louder, “Joo-Eun.”

No one answered. She was on her own.

Only sissies are afraid of the dark.

Bree felt like waving her hand and announcing, “Okay, I admit it. I’m a sissy. Now, someone turn on the lights, please.”

But she pressed the goggles to her face, and convinced her eyes that she could indeed see in the dark. And if she could see, it wasn’t really dark, was it?

With a shaky breath, Bree tore open the sack Joo-Eun had left her and reached inside. Her fingers closed around something cold and compact. She withdrew it and looked at the greenish object sitting in her palm. A pistol.

Finally, she had some real protection. Bree smiled. Sorry, Cam. Joo-Eun’s my new best friend.

With the night-vision goggles lighting her way, and the pistol providing cover, she pressed her back against the wall and checked for guards before taking off for the dungeon. It wasn’t hard to find the way. She just headed where the stink was the worst.