Plague of Mybyncia (7 page)

“No, no,” Kendall’s quick to dismiss the
idea. “It is best not to bother him while he is conversing with the
Fychu. Besides, I would rather talk about you…” his smile widens,
“tell me, are you enjoying your accommodations? They are… to your
satisfaction?”

“They’re perfect,” I’m scanning the room.
“Thank you.”

“And are you in the East or West Wing—do you
know?”

“I wasn’t aware there was more than one.”

“Yes, the FH is divided into four divisions,
two for males and two for females. It is for maximum security.”
He’s waiting for me to say something, to give away some sort of
detail but I remain silent. After a second, he probes further. “Do
you remember from which tunnel you arrived?”

I know exactly where we entered but I’m not
saying a word. He’s trying to obtain this information for a reason
and until I know why, I’m not giving anything away. Offering an
innocuous smile, I shrug, “Couldn’t tell you.”

“Well, let us see if we can figure this out,
shall we?” he’s leading me back towards the front of the room.

My mind is racing—should I lie and tell him
the wrong tunnel? Would he know if I was? And why does he care so
much?

“Alright,” he grins as we approach the tunnel
that Salva led us through earlier. “This is the East Wing. It is
for our most important guests so I would assume these are your
quarters.” He looks at me, hoping for a reaction. But I scrunch my
face, feigning confusion.

“Of course,” he goes on, leading us away and
rounding the front of the royal thrones, “it might be too obvious
to keep you there. The West Wing is probably safer given your
honored status.” He pulls me through the crowd as I search for
someone—anyone—I know. But they’re all gone, lost to the party and
just as I realize I’ll have to get out of this on my own, we’ve
stopped.

A wave of relief pours over me at the sight
of Reid blocking our path. Arms crossed and tightlipped, he looks
downright pissed, focused on Kendal’s arm linked with mine.

“Good evening,” the miyon smiles at Reid
who’s unwilling to return the expression. “You must be one of the
humans of Harrizel.”

“What gave it away?”

Kendal’s grin fades. “I was just escorting
Fallon around.”

“On the chancellor’s request,” I throw out
quickly, hoping Reid will pick up on the oddity of it. His eyes
flicker over me, returning to Kendal immediately.

“Strange—he didn’t mention you.”

“I would imagine he would have more important
matters to discuss.”

“Then assisting your guests?” Reid frowns.
“Figured that’d be top of the list. Fallon,” he looks at me,
“Sampson’s asking for you.”

Kendal glowers but quickly wipes the
expression from his face. He turns to me with hopeful eyes. “We can
continue our conversation once you return.”

Reid locks his arm with my free one, pulling
me away from Kendal and towards him. “Possibly. Sampson said it’s
important so it might take some time. If anything I’ll have Qippert
give us the rest of the tour.”

“Thanks,” I offer a last look at a surly
Kendal before Reid leads me away. I try not to concentrate on the
fact that we’re touching—actual skin on skin—but I can’t help it.
God, he smells good. I’ve missed it. I want to stay here, drowning
in his scent forever but I know I can’t. Not right now, at least.
When we’ve made a good distance, I swallow my nerves. “What did
Sampson want?”

“Nothing,” he keeps his attention straight in
front of us, directing us through the thicket of socializing
Mybyncians. “You looked uncomfortable and I don’t trust that
guy.”

“Have you seen Pratt or Mae?”

“I thought they were with you,” he glances at
me.

“They were, until Kendal’s friends offered
them a tour,” I scan the room, suddenly queasy. “They’ve got to be
here somewhere.”

Reid tightens his hold, leading us to the
center of the hall where Sampson, Clarence, Chancellor Keller and
Qippert all chuckle at a blushing Tucker. Sampson sees us coming
and, judging by Reid’s worrisome glare, he ceases the conversation
immediately. He approaches us with concerned eyes. “What is
it?”

“Who’s Kendal?” Reid asks Chancellor
Keller.

“Who?” Sampson frowns.

“The chancellor’s assistant,” I say.
“
Kendal
.”

Chancellor Keller, Sampson, Clarence and
Qippert all frown at one another before returning a befuddled look
to me. The chancellor finally shakes his head with an anxious
frown. “No. No, Kendal is not my assistant.”

“Then he works with you? Helping keep the
queen’s affairs in order?”

Again, he frowns. “I—where is this coming
from? How do you know Kendal?”

“I don’t.”

“But he seems to know Fallon.”

“What do you mean?” Sampson asks.

“He said he was giving her a tour on the
chancellor’s request.”

“No…” Chancellor Keller shakes his head, “I
asked no such thing. He is not my assistant, nor does he work with
me in any regard.” He frowns further, worry seeping from his brow.
“What did he say exactly?”

“Where are Pratt and Mae?” Clarence glances
around me. “Weren’t they with you?”

“They
were
.”

“Is this something we should be concerned
about?” Sampson asks.

“Possibly…” Chancellor Keller scans the hall
with great urgency, his eyes frantically searching.

“He had two friends…Gring and Lolan… or
Lolin, I think. They paired off with Pratt and Mae.”

“When?”

“A few minutes ago.”

“What else was he saying?” Chancellor Keller
returns his focus to me, “Anything he wanted to know?”

“Where we were staying. East or West
Wing.”

The chancellor exhales with a great, anxious
breath. “This cannot be happening.”

“What?” Clarence frowns.

He looks up, tapping Qippert’s shoulder,
“Would you mind retrieving Salva? Let her know we have a
situation.”

Qippert takes off through the crowd
instantly.

“What’s going on?” I ask as he leans into
Sampson, exchanging fast, heated whispers. They don’t hear my
question, too engrossed in their own dialogue, Clarence about to
join in. He stops, turning to us first.

“Reid, stay with Fallon. You too, Tucker.
Don’t leave her side but find Jace and the others. I need you all
together, got it?”

We nod, Clarence following behind Sampson and
the chancellor who have disappeared into the crowd.

“What’s happening?” Tucker turns to me.

“I don’t know…” I replay the events,
including the chancellor’s reaction. “This miyon came up and
introduced himself as the chancellor’s aid. Said he sent him to
answer any questions we had.”

“Anything else?” Reid asks.

“He wanted to know what wing we’re staying
in.”

“Think they’re working with the Vermix?”
Tucker looks to Reid.

“I don’t know. But we need to find the
Rogues,” he glances at me, “any idea where they might be?”

“Probably trying to score. They went that
way,” I indicate towards the back of the hall, across from the
golden coral thrones. Reid slips his hand in mine, threading our
fingers together and I follow as he leads us in the direction I
pointed.

We find Jace in the very back, tangled with
the same mayan from earlier. He’s nuzzling into her neck, her
orange eyes shut tight as pleasure dances across her open, aching
mouth. Booker is nearby, leaning against the mosaic wall and
chatting with his own pretty partner. Werzo is nowhere near their
progress; he’s still trying small talk with a mayan who seems
anything but interested in what he has to say.

Pulling me along behind him, Reid heads right
for the center of the group. “Got a situation, guys.”

Booker looks up, instantly alert. Werzo rises
as well, and his partner is more than happy for the distraction to
leave. Jace, on the other hand, didn’t hear a thing. He’s still
working away madly, the mayan all but panting beneath him.

Reid heads over and with a low voice,
whispers to his friend. “Not trying to cock-block, but we got a
red.”

Jace glances up, momentarily startled before
an angered expression crosses his face. It disappears quickly
enough, his body slowing from its rapid consumption. He wipes his
mouth clean and after whispering a fast something into the mayan’s
ear, she pouts briefly and departs. Jace turns to the rest of the
group, his voice gravelly as he focuses on Reid.

“What’s up, Boss?”

“Someone’s pretending to be an ally.”

“Who?”

“Some guy named Kendal,” I say. “He lied and
said he was acting on the chancellor’s request to watch us. Two of
his friends picked up Pratt and Mae to show them around.”

“Do we know where they are?” Booker asks.

I shake my head. “Last I saw they were around
here somewhere.”

“Sampson know?” Jace asks.

Reid nods, “And Clarence, Qippert and the
chancellor.”

“Well what’d they say?” Werzo frowns. “How do
you know it’s a
situation
?”

Before Reid is able to explain anything,
Clarence approaches quickly. “Here you all are—good. We need to get
you back to your quarters.”

“We’re still keeping separate?” Reid squeezes
my hand.

“Afraid so. Can’t budge on that, but we’ll
need you away from here; need you somewhere
completely
safe.”

“What’s going on?” Tucker asks.

Clarence clears his throat, “Uh… some
uninvited party guests arrived.”

“But what’s so dangerous about that?” Werzo
sounds skeptical.

Clarence inhales, “Not the ideal folks we’d
want. I’ll explain later… right now, we need to get you out of
here.”

“Have you found Pratt and Mae?” I ask.

“Still looking,” Clarence leads us back to
the front where we meet up with Salva. He gestures to me, “Please
take Fallon back to the East Wing. I’ll look over the others.”

I’m wary of letting go of Reid’s hand. He
must be too because the second I take a step, he’s pulling me back
to him, locking his fingers to mine.

“Not the time,” Clarence leans over, “she’ll
be fine. I promise.”

Still, it takes a few seconds for his grip to
loosen and for me to be swept away under Salva’s protected arms. I
offer him a last glance, wishing we weren’t separating but there’s
nothing either of us can do. With his feet planted firmly, he
watches until Salva leads me deep into the tunnel and we disappear
from each other completely.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

Silent at first, she offers a short response.
“We are still unsure.”

“Who’s Kendal?”

Again, silence.

“Is it that bad?”

She sighs. “He is not the ideal guest for an
international
gathering.”

“What does that mean?”

She tightens her lips and moves faster—we
need to get back
now
. We hurry the rest of the way in
silence until a piercing scream echoes from the other end. Salva
takes off at a dead run and though I do my best to keep up with
her, I’m still a ways behind. Another scream pierces the air and
Salva disappears ahead. I push my legs as fast as possible but with
the restriction of my skirt, I’m not able to move as quickly as I
need to.

When I reach our room, I freeze
immediately.

Salva is positioned to lunge, but keeps
still, her orange eyes narrowed on the two figures across the way.
It’s the miyon that led Pratt away earlier—Gring, I think. He
stands behind her, a knife at her throat as he shifts focus between
us. Pratt’s bright eyes are wide and terrified, watching us with a
fear I’ve never seen. Right now, at this very second, she knows
she’s going to die.

And I believe her.

“Gring…” Salva steps closer.

“Blood for blood,” he hisses, tossing a tiny
pearl-like object at us.

Salva is already dodging for the tunnel but
before I’m able to race for the exit behind her, the device
explodes into a bright orange cloud, sending us flying. I hit the
solid wall behind me and fall to my knees, dizzy with a sharp pain
at the back of my head.
What was that?
I’m throbbing, still
trying to figure out what happened when someone pulls me to my
feet—it’s Salva. Blinking, I search for Pratt in the disappearing
orange cloud, but she’s gone. So is he.

“
Oh my God!
” Mae rushes into the room.
“Are you okay? What happened?”

Salva races past her, back through the
tunnel, ordering as she disappears, “You both stay here!”

“They took Pratt,” I manage, holding the
wall.

“Who took her?”

“Gring,” I bring my hand to the crown of my
head. “What happened with you? Where’s Lolin?”

“Something wasn’t right. He kept trying to
lead me back here but I got a vibe…” she glances to the tunnel,
then back at me. “I tried bringing him to the chancellor, but he
left.”

“When was that?”

“Just a little bit ago… I’ve been looking for
the rest of you.”

“They are gone,” Salva rushes back in. “There
is a hidden exit up in the tunnel—they have broken out.”

“Where to?”

“I am not sure.”

“Will she be able to breathe?” I ask. The
thought of Pratt in his hands turns a knot in my already upset
stomach.

Salva hesitates, “They will keep her alive…
but not for long. Come with me.” She’s running back through the
tunnel, Mae and I on her heels. When we reach the Great Hall, we
find it nearly empty, save for Chancellor Keller, Qippert and
Sampson conversing on the opposite side, near the North and South
Wings. They look up at our approach, Sampson and Qippert
flabbergasted at our sudden and disheveled appearance. Chancellor
Keller is enraged.

“What has happened?” he makes his way
over.

“Musko attack,” Salva pants. “They knew.”

“Perio?”

Salva shakes her head. “Gring. They…” She
inhales, anxious about revealing the rest. “They took one of the
humans.”