Under My Skin (27 page)

The General had taught me well.
Deceit and conflict are one and the same.

My head ached at the possibilities. I was so close to making progress on my own front. But Zoe wanted my help. She was ready to escape. Maybe she’d pushed back Justina as well. All I had to do was make my move with what little breathing room the General gave me.

The Victory Ball was a celebration for the Myrian victory over the invaders. For what little time the General did spend watching the communications console, I got a chance to watch the news reports of our
great
victory. The news portrayed the invaders as filthy men and women who tried to attack the food supply factories of the gallant people along the northern coastline.

More lies from the Myrian government.

As we rode on the transport ship to New Amesbury three days later, I tried not to find the reports laughable. For once, I wished he acted like other men and switched the console to the Gladiator Ball feed. The brutal scenes from those bloody fights would’ve at least been real.

The General and I rarely spoke to each other anymore. Maybe we’d reached the point where we didn’t waste energy on conversation. It was all about who could take control. Who had the mental capacity and strength to remain conscious and on deck.

It was exhausting. The whole process felt like I was trying to keep myself awake for days at a time. During the majority of the time, I’d feel myself sliding toward the warmth of rest and sleep, but then I’d have to shake myself awake.

No matter how tired I was, I wanted to fight. I wanted to live.

With the antivirus running through my system now, I had a chance. As to how I’d get control if I were so mentally exhausted, I wasn’t sure. Once we arrived at the General’s apartment in the city, I thought I’d have a chance to rest. Instead of quiet time, I had to play hostess to dignitaries and businessmen vying for the General’s attention. Men and women, dressed in expensive clothes, brought him gifts and tried to rub elbows with the General who’d won the battle. A few times, I glanced over my shoulder expecting to see the Master of Blades, but Quinn was gone now.

“General Dagon, I’ve waited so long to meet you,” one of the businessmen said as he shook my hands with a sweaty palm. The man’s cologne was enticing, but touching him made me want to wash the filth of his sycophancy off my hands.

Even without the brief handshakes with everyone, I could see the obvious. They didn’t come to praise him for his victories. They wanted to be a Guild member like him. As to what system they’d use to become one, I didn’t know yet.

One man said, “We hope when the Guild convenes later this year, you’ll recommend my family.” He didn’t give any other details.

What I did know for certain was the people who visited me weren’t members of the Guild. I could tell from every hand I touched. Once in a while, I’d get a quick read. Every time I read someone, it made me think of the Testing Center.

What had Justina called me? A blank canvas waiting to be filled with paint. Well, the men and women I touched today resembled cluttered rooms. Small closets filled with junk. A place unwelcome to a Guild member’s mind. No wonder the Guild never used adults.

Rebecca entered the room and whispered in the General’s ear. “Master, it’s time for you to prepare for the ball tonight.”

The guests bid the General good evening, and I was whisked away to the master suite to prepare. The General preferred a formal uniform tonight, no dresses, and no make-up. Clad in a stiff suit with a severe bun to pull my hair back tightly, I left the apartment into the spring night in New Amesbury.

The entire time, I waited patiently for my opening. I rested as much as I could. Sooner or later, he’d weaken and then I’d swoop in to take back what belonged to me. Staying alert twenty-four/seven was mental gymnastics neither of us could keep up. The weaker willed between us usually gave in. To help Zoe, I would have to give everything I had.

The General had the reins tonight. As he led us into the ballroom, I couldn’t help but think about how I wasn’t alone when I’d come here before, how I had someone like Quinn to keep me company. I browsed through the crowd, receiving congratulations from other military personnel. Women smiled at me while men nodded.

“What a fine job you’ve done, Frederick,” one said.

“Good to see that garbage pushed back,” another said.

All those false faces feeding me smiles disgusted me. If they had to step on the Resistance to maintain their way of life, they would’ve.

I glanced around while the General spoke to others, searching for Zoe.

Eventually, everyone parted as the Prime Minister took his place at the podium at the front of the room. Adam Falcon focused on the crowd with that golden face of his, but something was different tonight. I’d stared at him more times than I wanted to admit to myself. But it was my foolish crush that revealed an important detail. He had a few gray hairs above his ear and a strange twitching in his jaw.

Something was up.

“Good evening, everyone,” Adam said. “This is a great day for the Myrian people.” He still had that glowing smile for everyone who viewed him over the network. “With the victory of our people, we’ve insured our food supply from the north will continue. The invaders won’t prevail. They’ll never win while I protect you from their greed.”

His speech continued. He talked about all the things
he’d
done, the fighting his men had accomplished. It was he who had set off the explosives in the invader camp, and he who’d faced the Resistance and drove them away. I tried to imagine how I’d feel, sitting next to Danny watching the comm-console, oblivious to what was really happening. It’d be nice to go back to that time of innocent ignorance and not know the horrifying truth.

When the broadcast ended, the bright lights from the network cameras dimmed and the Prime Minister took the time to greet the crowd. The General took it all with a stoic grace, his words for the Prime Minister meant to show he worked only for the betterment of Myria. But as the General made the rounds again, I smelled something else under the surface. He made me keep glancing at the Prime Minister. Like the predator he was, he watched, with keen interest, the way Adam’s weakened body spoke with other Guild members. Did the General have his eye on the Prime Minister’s position?

It took me a few more rounds before I spotted Zoe. She sat in the back of the ballroom. Our eyes met once, but Zoe frowned at me and glanced away.

“Your attention, please.” Everyone turned to see the Prime Minister standing at the podium again. But the lights on the cameras remained dim.

The Prime Minister scanned the crowd for a moment. His sharp eyes lingered on our faces.

“Now that the ears and eyes of the Myrian people are closed, I can speak to you about matters of upmost importance, in particular, maintaining our way of life.

“The Resistance has become far too bold in their attacks on our factories and research facilities outside of Myrian territory. Rest assured, I’ve begun plans to ensure our enemies aren’t successful and that they die out from within their own ranks.”

Others around me nodded with smiles.

Adam continued. “I have more good news as well.” He pointed to two people, a man and woman, standing not far away from him. They appeared old enough to be his parents.

“I’d like for all of you to formally meet the staff who has diligently worked under my direction to advance our way of life.” He pointed to them. “Through their diligent work, we’ve been able to see evidence of acceptance in children as young as thirteen and we’ve expanded the receptivity of adults as well. With a few more months of research, we should be able to begin formal trials.”

No way.

If the General hadn’t been in control, I would’ve dropped the glass.

Danny. My parents.
If what the Prime Minister said were true, my entire family wasn’t safe anymore. Not if those researchers continued with their work. But what could I do? I was one person, just like all the other people who’d been used by the Guild.

Adam’s words weighed heavily in my mind, but the General pushed my attention elsewhere.

His gaze remained focused on the Prime Minister who continued to speak. “It’s through our active efforts in medical research that we’ll be able to remain robust for not only centuries, but for millennia to come.”

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. The General merely snorted and then kept strolling through the crowd.

Since I knew where Zoe was sitting, it was time to put my plan into action. My window of opportunity wouldn’t last long. Out of everything I’d practiced, snatching back control was the hardest. When the General took me the first time, it was in bits and pieces. So the first thing I took was his fingers. I focused on them, like searching for the minute lines along a monarch butterfly’s wings. I grasped. I painfully reached—until I felt the digits flex under my command.

Then I took control of both of his legs. My vision jostled as he stumbled.

“This isn’t the time to play with me, girl
,” the General warned me.

I planned to do more than play around.

Like plucking fingers from around a handle, I took back control of my body, bit by bit, cell by cell of nerve endings and flesh. The strain turned into pain across my brow, but I didn’t give up.

The General tried to walk away from the crowd, excusing himself from the people who tried to talk to us.

This time I was the praying mantis, and he was the tiny bug. Even through the pain, ever-present and increasing, I sensed his retreat, the fear dissipating—until only I remained.

I made it to the wall and rested my back against it. My trembling fingers brushed against a line of sweat. There was something running out of my nose as well. Red blood.

I opened my eyes to see Zoe standing beside me with a handkerchief. “The pain will only get worse,” she said.

“How long have you been standing there?” I whispered.

“Long enough to know it’s you.” She took my hand and squeezed it.

I wiped off my nose and glanced around. “Where’s Felix?”

“He’s our cover. He’s distracting Cecelia while we make our escape.”

My eyebrows lowered. “Your Second Water Bearer is helping you?”

She waved at someone from across the room—blew a kiss afterward. “If I have to keep up this act any longer, I’ll vomit, especially if I have to do it in this nasty dress.”

I admired the very expensive, detail work of her violet-colored gown as we left the ballroom. For a lunatic, Justina had good taste.

“It’s rather pretty,” I admitted.

Thankfully, no one stopped us when we reached my car. I expected the driver to have something to say about my guest, but he kept his thoughts to himself. “Back to the apartment, Master?”

“Head to the corner of 455th and Cross Street,” I managed. Time to finalize my plan to save Zoe.

Within a few minutes, the driver reached the corner. At this time of the night, the streets were full of pedestrians, most of them dressed for a night out. With so many people passing the car, I wasn’t sure if Tyson would show up. Until I heard a tap on the driver’s door.

Tyson, dressed in black with a cloak over his head, pointed a las-gun at the driver. “Scoot over,” he demanded.

The trip back to my estate took some time. Under most circumstances, the journey lasted at least three hours by air. Since we drove, the trip would take us far longer. The driver had been left behind at an abandoned solar-fuel station a few hours outside of the capital. We had a bit of time before he’d report us to the enforcers.

During the whole trip, Zoe didn’t look too good. Sweat formed on her brow. She rubbed her arms and rocked herself gently. From between her dry lips, she mumbled words again and again. They were so low, I couldn’t hear them.

I reached for her, but she shrank away. A line of blood trailed out of her nose, bright red and coppery, while she recited the words again.

I gave her some space while she rocked in the seat.

With a trembling hand, I used a handkerchief to wipe the blood away. When I reached for her again, Tyson spoke from the front seat. “Don’t stop her—”

I glanced at him and mumbled, “But this isn’t right. She sounds like she’s hurt.”

“She’s...fighting Justina right now.”

Using the other end of the handkerchief, I wiped off her forehead. “That’s what I thought. How long has she been like this?”

“For a while now,” he replied. “The last few days have been the hardest on her.”

Was this my fate? I glanced at Zoe again and I shuddered. From the way her face contorted, she had to be in so much pain.

“What happened at Justina’s home?” I asked. Based on what Justina had said to me, I suspected things were much worse for Zoe.

“Justina’s known in many circles for how beautiful she is. Zoe, of course, didn’t appreciate the guys who kept showing up to see her. Since I was a guard, I didn’t see much. Just heard a bunch of fights between Justina and Zoe. It was never pretty.”

I snapped forward in the seat, tempted to ask him if Justina had sex with any of those men. Would Justina dare do such a thing with Zoe still conscious in her head? I sat back and tried not to recount all the times the General had threatened to kill my family if I didn’t cooperate. Anything was possible with those people.

I tried to wear a brave face. For all I knew, Zoe was winning, but what would happen if the General appeared again or Justina won the fight? Would all our plans end in failure?

We’d planned to find a place to hide out until Zoe finished purging herself of Justina, but I had a feeling we were in for a long wait.

“I contacted the Resistance before you guys found me,” he said. “They’ll pick up Zoe, but they’ll need time to reach us. By this point, Justina’s profile on the network will be seen as a kidnap attempt. All the checkpoints along Myrian roads will go into lockdown mode.”

He did have a point there. But every part of me wanted to go to north. Meet up with the Resistance and get help from Quinn. If he were still there.

I had no choice but to help them check into an inn. If everything were under my name, they could hide away for a little while.