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“Well, Mr. Hailstone,” Elliot stands in front of Luke. He’s a few inches shorter but manages to appear the same height, somehow. “It seems your colleague,” he inclines his head toward Tauro, “has managed to save your life. This new species claim warrants a careful look. If what he says is true, it would be remarkable. No need for hosts! What a dream!” He clasps his hands together.
Luke’s lips are pale, pressed together in a thin line. His blue gaze meets mine, carrying an apology.
So it was Tauro. He was the one who sold me out in order to protect Luke’s life, and he used the only card Elliot would never be able to resist. All his reproductively viable Eklyptors are dead. Of course, this seems like a dream to him.
“There will have to be tests to corroborate this, of course.” Elliot rubs his chin, his eyes sparkling with a million ideas. “And I’ll require Dr. Dunn’s research—that was his name, right? I cannot believe nobody has continued his work!”
“Well, sir,” Tauro says in a tone almost as refined as Elliot’s, “he did continue his research for many years, unfortunately without success. Then he was killed a few months back.”
I exchange a quick glance with Lyra. It was her IgNiTe faction that killed Dunn. Now she just stands there, letting this happen. If she’d killed Luke like she was supposed to, we wouldn’t be in this situation. We can’t become Elliot’s lab rats. He can’t be allowed to learn the secrets hidden in our DNA. If that information falls into his hands, it could end humanity.
More than ever, I wish I was capable of giving this monster a heart attack, but my skills seem frozen.
“IgNiTe is responsible for the good doctor’s death,” Tauro continues. “Since then we’ve been too busy with The Takeover and attempting to contain the human rebellion. But it’s our plan to continue his work.”
Luke throws a hateful look over his shoulder. “Go right ahead, tell him everything. Lick his shoes while you’re at it, why don’t you?” His words drip with disgust.
Tauro regards Luke as if he’s nothing but a child who doesn’t understand what makes the world turn. “The alternative is simply unacceptable, Luke. I will not let you die and waste years of work. I promised your parents I would take care of you. One way or another, you have a destiny to fulfill. If this is the only way, so be it.”
“Listen to your adviser, Mr. Hailstone,” Elliot says. “He sounds like a very smart man.” He walks to the other side of his desk and lays a hand on the phone. “If you’ll excuse me now, a few important phone calls are in order. There are several geneticists in my staff who will be highly interested in this.” He straightens his silk cravat and turns his attention to the remaining dwarf. “Take him to Donaldson,” he points at Tauro. “He will lead him to Dunn’s research materials.”
Geneticists? That can’t be good. It would take them no time to find out I’m a Symbiot. But they won’t get that far. I would die before I let them take one single hair from my head.
Tauro takes a step forward, a model of contrition and obedience. “I shall do so, as long as you can guarantee Luke’s safety.”
Elliot takes a seat on his high back, leather chair. “But of course,” he says in a syrupy sweet tone. He addressed Lyra, “I want Mr. Hailstone and Azrael to be kept safe. Bring them to a comfortable and secure room. Place guards outside. And don’t let them out until I say so. Understood?”
No! I can’t be locked up. I have to help Aydan, and I have to work on the next part of our plan. James is counting on me.
“Sir.” Lyra assents in her best military voice. She takes a step toward Luke, a catlike smile making her whiskers twitch.
I stare at her, eyes burning. She swore to kill Luke, to kill me. Ridding the world of the Hailstone faction and its plans has always been her goal, and now she has the perfect opportunity to destroy the last two pieces of the puzzle. This is why she didn’t kill Luke as James ordered. She wanted to know and understand the plan for herself, so she could tie all the loose ends.
“Lock me up? Lock me up?!” I whine. “But why? I wouldn’t go anywhere.”
“Ha!” Lamia exclaims. “She disappears for hours on end. Definitely needs to be locked up.”
“Just do as I say.” Elliot’s eyes are on the phone. He’s dialing a number and, in his mind, we’ve already been dismissed. “I have more pressing matters at the moment. Apparently, the airport has become the destination—lots of wonders to be acquired there all of a sudden.” He throws a satisfied glance in Luke’s direction.
Luke and Tauro frown, then regard me with questioning expressions. I lower my eyes, praying they don’t say anything that could ruin our plans. Because Elliot has just been informed by Lyra that there are Spawners at SeaTac—a treasure he plans to keep all to himself and has to personally oversee, just as we suspected. Elliot’s eyes rest on me for a moment, an odd glint in their depths.
I frown at him, but Lyra steps in front of me and obstructs the view. She pulls out her gun and flicks it toward the door, showing Luke the way. He doesn’t wait to be told twice. He’s as eager as I am to get out of here.
“You too, princess.” Lamia grabs my shoulder and forces me to face the door. I follow behind Luke and Lyra. They take us to the ninth floor and push us into one of the private rooms. I think it’s the same place where I woke up after I killed Tusks and Lyra had knocked me out.
There’s a queen-size bed, a sofa, a small desk, an armoire. Mass-produced prints hang on the walls. The place looks as cheap as a nondescript hotel room.
“Guard the door,” Lyra orders Lamia.
“Screw that!” Lamia exclaims. “I don’t want to stay here babysitting these worthless brats.”
“Don’t worry. I will send someone to replace you and will set a schedule around the clock.”
They step out of the room and close the door. Lyra wouldn’t dare hurt us in front of Lamia, but what after the Lizard Witch has been replaced? All bets will be off then. Whatever Lyra is planning, I have to be prepared.
With a pointed look, I gesture toward the back of the room. Luke joins me in the corner furthest from the door.
“Lyra, that cat woman,” I whisper, “she was the one who killed Dunn and your mother,” I say this ruthlessly, not stopping to think about his feelings.
“I know. I would never forget that. I swore to take revenge if I ever saw her again.” His blue eyes are dark with hatred.
“Well, you’d better start thinking of how because she’s gonna kill you, first chance she gets.”
I fail to mention she will kill me too. His selfish ass is used to being the center of attention anyway.
Luke frowns. “Why would she do that? Whitehouse would . . .” He thinks for a moment. “You said she also killed Dunn?”
I nod.
His eyes dart around the room, then stop and widen in realization. “She’s with IgNiTe then.”
Luke is smart, has always been.
“She is. Her goal has forever been to destroy Hailstone and your big plan. And now she’s only one step away from accomplishing that.”
I pause, let my gaze drill into his to make sure the message gets across.
Luke searches my face. “And you care because . . . ?”
I begin to answer, but he interrupts.
“No, don’t bother. That was a stupid question.” He turns away, sits on the bed. “You don’t really care. This is about saving your own skin. Because if her goal is to destroy our plan, that means she’ll have to kill you, too.”
Why does he always have to up my check with a checkmate?
“Either way, it doesn’t matter.” I shrug as if I really don’t care, but the odd thing is, maybe I’m not as oblivious as he thinks. I don’t know exactly how I feel about Luke anymore, but the fact that he didn’t sell me out . . . well . . . that is something.
“You betrayed me.” His words are but a breath.
“You honestly expected me to . . . ?” I don’t finish.
His gaze meets mine, and I can barely hold it. He looks truly injured.
I shake my head. “You can’t be that naive! You destroyed my life.”
“Did I?”
A muscle jumps in my jaw as I clench my teeth, pondering his question.
“Forgive me if I didn’t realize Karen meant that much to you,” he says. “It never seemed that way to me. Because, mind you, that’s been my only . . . mistake when it comes to you.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
With an easiness I can barely fake, I walk to the sofa and sit. “Now, quit all the bullshit and try to think of a way to get out of here.” I cross my legs and close my eyes.
This might be the worst time for meditation but . . . leaps and bound.
Quicker than ever before, I clear my mind of all thoughts. Nothing like motivation. My breaths become deep and focused and, gradually, a vast whiteness spreads before me.
First, there was a brooding, blond boy sitting in front of me.
Now there is nothing.