{Gait}

Ross trusted Matt, but it was time to go.

Five minutes ago, she drank her vial of Rayne’s blood and listened out ever since for the next guard rotation. When nothing sounded, she kicked her bunk door with all the power of Cinder’s sun. It crumpled like tinfoil. Ross spared another second to listen for an alarm. Or any indication of guard activity. When none came, she ran headlong upstairs to Bethany’s bunk.

The basement was one vast open space. All the blacked-out bunks stacked on top of each other put her in mind of Tetris cubes. The catwalks and stairs scaffolded alongside the structures. Overhead lights glared in the open space, but the guards controlled the bunks’ interior lights. They left the Numbered in the dark.

Ross began at the bottom. They locked her sister in a lone cell at the top, closest to the stairs leading to the engagement zones. For easy, repetitive access.

It twisted her heart to think of everything Bethany suffered. But now wasn’t the time to—

“Umph. Ow.”

She winced. The person Ross ran into fell on their ass despite their firm physique—

That cologne.

Oh, she wouldn’t forget it. Faster than her body ever moved before, she clutched the man by his t-shirt and lifted him off the ground.

“Iuo.”

“Ross. Ross, I can explain.” As his eyes filled with panic, the Reipon Lamian Prince—supposed friend, turned traitor—gently touched her hand.

Having reached the top, Ross considered throwing him over the rail. Until…

“Little Tree.”

She closed her eyes to the gentleness in Tumu’s voice from behind. Only he called her that name. She never thought to ask why until this moment. That would wait for later.

The Tritan eased toward her with his compression orb glowing in his belt. “You can put him down. Razor can’t hurt you anymore. You and your sister will leave with us. Right now.”

Still holding Iuo as if he weren’t a heavy humanoid snake, Ross looked at Tumu. “How did you know she was here?”

Tumu stood still and carefully kept his hands away from his sides. “Matt came to us. We’re here to help.”

“Iuo set me up at the gala.”

Less panicked, the Lamia tried again for a defense. “I sent you after a lead. It had to be convincing. Ross, I asked you then to keep your faith in me a little while longer. Please…” Those black and blue eyes entreated her with pity and kindness.

After a deep breath, she closed her eyes and searched Iuo’s memory for his report to Tumu after the gala.

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{Reipon | One Week Ago}

Iuo stood in his silver and blue villa, surrounded by his expensive furniture and art. Tumu looked out of place in it. Still, he glanced over Iuo’s tablet as the Lamia described his findings. “That’s right. After the asset’s blood registered an abnormality two years ago, Razor appeared the next day with a few requests for the textile mills. He observed the asset working for barely five minutes before asking for an acquisition. I think the girl is a Progeny. And if she is, she must be Bethany. He collected her within an hour.”

Tumu handed the device back to Iuo. The Tritan assured, “You made the right call. I only wish that Ross had support. All of my sources indicate that Razor’s spiraling recently. That makes him more dangerous than I want Ross exposed to.”

Nodding, the Lamia wholeheartedly agreed. “I’ll increase the frequency of my visits. I think there’s merchandise in his shop to investigate. It’ll make an excuse to check on things at the Emporium. Maybe I’ll see her there. I know she’s brave and resourceful—”

“And Razor’s ruthless without a shred of decency in his being.” Tumu never spoke with so much conviction around Ross.

“Don’t worry. He and Celindria will destroy each other. If the Progeny don’t unseat him first.”

{Gait | Now}

Ross saw herself as a kindergarten teacher one day. It took infinite patience to grow up in a house with a brother like Kyle. A little kindness and understanding, too. This rage she felt was new. It fueled flames inside that weren’t hers. And she refused to let Razor claim her temperance. Besides, her abuse paled in comparison to what Bethany endured.

Slowly, she lowered Iuo to the walkway. He backed away with his hands up in surrender. Ross hugged herself.

“Oh, Elden. Ross!” Tameka cried softly from the stairs before running to take the young girl’s face in her hands. “You’re okay. We’ve been worried sick about you. You… Your eyes. Look up at me.”

Ross did.

The smile the other woman gave her belonged on a proud mother. Tender and respectful. “Did you drink Rayne’s blood?”

She nodded.

“And you came into your power while here. Your eyes are Atramentous. They’re beautiful. The hazel is shifting between brown and green like a holograph.”

It was too much. In her short time here, Ross fought for an unfeeling forcefield to keep her safe. Tameka’s warm love melted that ice and exposed the vulnerable and scared girl inside.

No wonder Bethany was so unreachable.

Ross broke down in sobs.

Fury pulled her in for an embrace. “Shh. Shh. I’m sorry it took us so long—”

“Time is a luxury we don’t have, and you’re both making far too much noise. Unless you mean to invite the Lyriks on us.”

When Ross lifted her head and opened her eyes to glare at the man with the rich voice who interrupted their moment, she was not expecting him to look that spectacular. White hair, white eyes, white skin. Everything radiated with a silver sheen. With him dressed like a bad boy, her heart skipped two or three beats while gazing at him. She blushed for no reason.

Tameka glanced at the younger girl’s face and rolled her eyes as Ross guessed for two reasons. One, she begrudgingly sympathized with the sudden hormone rush. And two, she disliked the truth in his words. Still, Fury lowered her voice to a whisper. “Come on. Let’s save your sister.”

Tumu and Iuo moved on to open a bunk door. They grunted and groaned, but it refused to shift.

“They’re blood sealed,” Ross whispered. She spared a glance over her shoulder at who she assumed was Korac.

He gave her an approving nod.

Her heart pitter-pattered, and she faced forward again quickly. Sagan’s gushing made so much more sense now.

“Then how did you escape?” Iuo asked gently.

Ross appreciated his careful approach. Until five minutes ago he was on her “will get revenge on” list. She walked over to the door, “Like this,” and wrenched it off the hinges. The metal gave eagerly with a scream.

Yes. She looked back for Korac’s approval.

He bowed his head deeply in respect. Surprise glittered in his eyes.

Tumu directed, “Okay, Ross. We’ll need you to open all the doors. Ensure Pehton guards the perimeter. Tameka, you’re reassuring. Coax people. Iuo corral them outside. Preferably away from here. We’ll dole out Matt’s resources once we see how many are down here. Korac keep lookout.”

Tameka stared at him. “And? What will you do?”

He looked out the door, wrestling with some internal struggle. Resolve won in the end. “I’m overthrowing the Emperor.”