“And how do I know he isn’t forcing you to do this?”Thalia asks.“How do I know he hasn’t broken your will so completely that you’ll betray everyone around you for him?”
“If I were being forced to do this, I would have taken you up on your offer,” I point out.“As for the second part… do you really think anything would make me betray all of you?We need to talk to Alaric.”
“I… I’ll see what I can do,” Thalia says.“You’re at his villa?Then wait for a message from us there.”
We return to Marcus’ villa.I feel so vulnerable as we make our way through the streets, because I don’t have any way to look at our progress from above, can’t use the eyes of birds to tell if we’re being followed.I glance around as much as I dare, but for the most part I must keep my head down, playing the part of Marcus’ obedient prisoner.
Marcus leaves me in his villa before heading out.He doesn’t say where he’s going, although he changes into his senatorial toga, so I guess it’s official business.I’m left waiting, and a part of me wishes Marcus had taken me with him, even as another part knows it’s easier if I’m here.There are fewer people to interact with, fewer chances for the part I’m playing to go wrong.I pace the house and none of the servants tries to stop me, although one steps in front of the doors when I get too close.
“I’m not trying to leave,” I assure him, but he watches me carefully until I walk away in any case.
The servants don’t talk to me, just go about their duties quietly.I wonder what they make of my situation, even as I know I can’t ask.All I can do is wait.
It feels like forever before Marcus comes home and the servants set out food for us again.I eat with him, but even together, there are things we can’t discuss in case his servants overhear them.Even if they aren’t going to betray him deliberately, it would only take one of them to slip and say the wrong thing, or be forced to speak by Selene, and we would be in danger.I console myself with the thought that at least our silence seems to fit with the idea of me resenting Marcus for keeping me as his prisoner.
I retire for the night, settling down to sleep and wondering how long Marcus and I will be able to keep up this pretense.It feels so awkward, there being so many things we can’t talk about together.
I’m still thinking about that when I hear a sound out of place in the villa.Iknowhow Marcus’ home should sound at night.I’ve spent enough time here when we were lovers, after all.It takes me a moment to realize what’s out of place as I hear footsteps out beyond my room, but then I realize what’s wrong: all of Marcus’ servants wear sandals, while this is the softer scuff of light boots.Someone who doesn’t want to be heard.
I slip out of my room into the largely dark villa, and for a moment I think I’ve made a mistake.There’s no one who shouldn’t be there, just a servant moving with purpose towards Marcus’ room, complete with sandalled feet.
Only the soundisn’tthat of sandals.There’s something wrong here.Somethingverywrong, when I see the flash of a knife in the servant’s hand as he opens Marcus’ door.
I rush forward, bursting into the room a couple of paces behind the servant.Marcus is there, standing ready with lightning crackling in his hands.Meanwhile the illusion of a servant’s outfit is fading from around the other figure leaving behind familiar dark hair and sharp features.
“Alaric!”I say.“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting you away fromhim,” Alaric says, pointing the knife at Marcus.“I couldn’t save you back in the prison, but I can do it here.”
“I don’tneedto be saved here,” I insist.I step between Alaric and Marcus.“Stop, both of you.I didn’t ask you to meet so you could threaten one another.”
“I should have known you’d sneak in here,” Marcus says to Alaric.“You’re forever skulking about in the shadows.”
“At least I don’t spend my life appeasing a monster like Selene Ravenscroft,” Alaric snaps.“At least I’m not holding Lyra prisoner.What is it, Marcus?Do you think she’ll love you again if you hold her here long enough?”
Marcus’ lightning flares again, and now there are three versions of Alaric standing there, the better to confuse Marcus in the fight to come.
“Stop,” I say.“Both of you,stop.Alaric, Marcus has been pretending to side with Selene, while building plans to bring her down.Marcus, without Alaric and the resistance, you won’t have the numbers to win.”
I only have a few seconds to make them see how much they need one another.If they can’t work together, Aetheria will be lost to Selene and her efforts to become the leader of a new empire.Maybe it’s the urgency in my voice, but both of them take a step back.Alaric sheathes his blade after a moment or two, and there’s only one of him there then.Marcus lets the lightning dissipate.They’re both obviously still tense, but at least they’re not actively trying to kill one another.
“You really think I should work withhim?”Alaric asks.
“I could say the same,” Marcus counters.
I nod.“I think this is our best chance.Just talk to one another.You might find that, if you pool information, you’ll find better ways to work against Selene.”
Alaric nods.“Very well, but I’m doing this for you, Lyra, not for him.”
Marcus also nods, warily.“Let’s take this downstairs.”
CHAPTER NINE
Marcus takes us down to the secure room where he keeps his notes on Selene’s activities.I can see Alaric’s eyes widen as he sees everything there, and he picks up a couple of pieces of parchment, skimming them quickly for information.
“I didn’t say you could read those,” Marcus snaps.
“But youdidbring us down here,” I point out.“And it’s better if Alaric has as much information as possible.”
