Firstlife (22 page)

“Back off,” I say through gritted teeth. “This isn't the time to attempt a manipulation.”

His lips thin into a straight line. “I'm worried about you. I want to offer...comfort.”

“No, you want to take advantage of a terrible situation. We both know
comfort
isn't in your wheelhouse.”

He flicks his tongue over an incisor. “I think it is. For you.”

I'm too raw to play nice. “I'm not special to you, Killian.”

“You are.”

“I'm not. You made that very clear today.” I glare up at him. “You did everything in your power to bend me to your will. But I'm not part General, okay? I'm just me. Just Ten. I don't believe in fate, or Fusion, and I never will.”

He's silent for a long while, tension vibrating from him. Finally he says, “You
are
special. When you look at me, I dinnae feel as if I'm alone. You make me think, and you make me better.” His accent is thicker than ever before, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

I sigh, expelling my anger. “Killian—”

“Nae.” He takes a step back, putting distance between us, hated distance, necessary distance. “I tried to manipulate you, yes, but only because I want the best for you. I want your future settled. Safe.”

Zero! In my raw state, I lashed out and hurt him. I hurt him badly, and I'm so ticked with myself.

He climbs behind the wheel and slams the door, making me flinch.

Archer suddenly appears, stepping from the invisible wall. He doesn't glance in my direction but claims the front passenger seat.

With another sigh, I take the middle of the bench directly behind the warriors who are probably thinking of all the ways they can murder each other. One wrong word could set them off.

Grass and gravel spray from the tires as Killian speeds over roadless terrain. He seems to have no concept of safety as he snakes around corners and bounces over stumps and rocks, but the guys aren't trying to kill each other and no one's hurling curses at me, so I consider it a major win.

Soon the trees are replaced by buildings, each taller than the last. Eventually my eyelids grow heavy, and I yawn.

Gotta stay awake. “Are we going to sit in silence the entire drive?”

“Yes,” they snap in unison. Then they growl at each other.

“Forget I asked.” I spend the hours counting. Cars. Trees. Buildings. Clouds. When we stop to charge the car's battery—gas is no longer needed, thanks to the realms—I borrow money from Archer to pay for the power.

“Wait, and I'll go with,” he says.

“Stay with the car and ensure nothing's tampered with.
I'll
go with her.” Killian wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me forward.

Archer ignores him. “What do you want, Ten?”

“For you guys not to fight about this.”

He looks as if he wants to protest, but nods to Killian.

I stalk away, and Killian rushes forward to open the door. “You my bodyguard?” I ask as he motions me inside.

“Yes. You're welcome.”

There are eleven people inside. Four are girls, and they stare at him. He pretends not to notice.

“There are three Shells.” He whispers the words straight into my ear, making me shiver. “I don't like this. Hurry.”

“How can you tell who's what at a glance?”

“I'm
that
good.”

Yeah, yeah.

I go straight to the candy bars and grab five of my favorite.

On my way to the register, I notice the digital newspapers flashing this week's headlines. For an extra five dollars I can upload the latest stories straight into my cell phone. Well, if my cell were activated.

Psychic Arrested. Never Saw It Coming!

Man Kidnaps Ex-girlfriend. Demands She Do His Ironing!

Dead Man Found in Cemetery. Town Distraught!

Pass on Marijuana? Issue Being Discussed by Joint Committee.

Then my dad's picture flashes over the screen of
Realm Politics Today
.

The senator's mistress is pregnant! No one is surprised, considering his wife, famed artist Grace Lockwood, left him, preferring to live in seclusion for over half a year. Hiding away with a lover, perhaps? Dr. Dewayne Reynolds, who is also married to someone else, was spotted on the premises more than once. But there's a good chance Mrs. Lockwood and Dr. Reynolds have already split because Mrs. Lockwood is back with her husband. When asked about the senator's love child, she had no comment.

I'm—utterly—flabbergasted. Soooo much happened while I was gone. My dad wasn't lying when he said my mom was living in seclusion. He didn't wait for her to return, either. He had a fling, and the woman is now having his baby.

Soon I'll have the brother or sister I always wanted but never expected.

I smile. I curse. My dad found a loophole to population control since the law is geared toward women. Only they are limited to one child.

My dad might have even found a new bargaining chip for Myriad.

I taste blood and realize I'm biting my tongue. My sibling will
not
be used the way I was used. I'll die first.

“Did you know?” I ask Killian with more bite than I intended. “About the mistress's baby?”

“I knew only about the affair.” His tone has as much bite as mine. “I requested reports on his activities, and they must have been redacted. Someone's keeping secrets.”

His words spur a memory. My mother's flash-scribe.

I know I haven't come to see you in forever, but there's a very good reason. A beautiful secret. One that's taught me how to be a mother again.

While she was speaking, a baby was crying. “I wonder if the mistress already had her baby.” Was my mother allowed to claim responsibility for it?

Killian places his hand over the digital paper, his eyes closed. He's downloading the story?

“No,” he finally says. “The mistress is only seven months along.”

I open my mouth to say more, but the guy in front of me looks over his shoulder for a moment. Our eyes meet before he turns forward then back to look again, lingering this time. He starts to grin.

Killian moves in front of me. “You'll want ta keep your attention ahead,” he tells the guy. “The sooner the better. For you.”

The guy's cheeks redden, and he swings around.

I'm not sure if I just witnessed a display of jealousy or the equivalent of a dog peeing on my leg. But either way, I'm smiling when I shouldn't have anything to smile about.

My turn comes up, and I pay with Archer's wad of cash. The cashier stuffs everything in a bag, and Killian, my gentleman bodyguard, grabs the handles. I've just pivoted to head for the door when a weight slams into me from behind. There's a stinging pain in my back then a throbbing pain in my hip as I slam into the counter.

With a growl, Killian spins to push the culprit away from me. “Be careful.”

“Sorry, sorry. I tripped.” A teen who looks like he's suffering from a cold wipes his nose with a tissue, a ring too big for his hand glinting in the light...before sneezing all over Killian. The kid apologizes again, and he
does
look sorry. He also looks miserable. Poor guy.

Killian stares at his soiled shirt and grimaces.

I snort as I'm dragged to the exit. Then I remember my sibling.

“What's wrong?” Archer asks.

Rather than lie with the typical girl response—
Nothing, I'm fine
—I settle inside the car and angrily unwrap my first candy bar. If ever a girl needed sugar therapy...

I'm only halfway through when a horrible fog fills my head. A terrible ringing erupts in my ears. My heartbeat...warps, reduced to nothing but flutters, as if someone reached inside me and nailed the organ to my rib cage. Pain radiates from my left shoulder to the tips of my fingers.

Too young for a heart attack.

Muttering enters my awareness.

“—voice gives me a headache. Shut up.” Killian.

“How about I cut off your ears instead?” Archer.

I'm not sure if Killian responds. The pain in my shoulder increases exponentially, and I gasp. Buckets of sweat pour from me and yet the blood in my veins freezes. I open my mouth to cry for help—
please!
—but all I can manage is another gasp. Then I
feeeel
my heart welcoming death, fluttering one moment, going still the next. My lungs seize up, and suddenly I can't breathe,
can't breathe, need to breathe
.

The fog in my head grows thicker until—

The fog vanishes in an instant. And so does the pain. Suddenly I'm weightless, and I'm falling...falling...
thud
.

TROIKA

From: A_P_5/23.43.2

To: L_N_3/19.1.1

Subject: Now What?

I'm with Ten, and we're headed to LA to see her dying mother. Killian is with us and the urge to attack now and apologize later is strong. Please advise.

TROIKA

From: L_N_3/19.1.1

To: A_P_5/23.43.2

Subject: My Best Advice

Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

General Levi Nanne

TROIKA

From: A_P_5/23.43.2

To: L_N_3/19.1.1

Subject: Wow! Thanks!

Are your pearls of wisdom actually plastic?

TROIKA

From: L_N_3/19.1.1

To: A_P_5/23.43.2

Subject: All Right, How About This?

Don't just protect the girl—get to know her better. I realize you like to maintain a bit of distance with your assignments because of what happened with Dior, but caring for someone doesn't weaken you, son, it makes you stronger. To love is to have a reason to fight for something better.

Also, Miss Lockwood's grandparents are Troikan Watchers and they've informed me there's talk in Myriad of another attempt on Miss Lockwood's life. Do not leave her side.