Cody nods.
“Yeah, well, the guys I talk to also have a guide. They also can use powers and make things happen, same as you.”
Cody’s lip twists up. “Maybe others have tapped into this same thing to prevent whatever’s coming.”
“Wait,” Seth says, “so there’s basically another group of Sinners walking around campus?”
“Or,” I say, “they could be actually talking to somethingthat’s trying to stop it, andyoucould be working with something like Farras, who’s trying to make this terrible thing happen.”
“That thing with Matteo,” Luke says, “it happened because you used a spell from them, though. Not us.”
Another reasonable point.
Cody’s expression is strained, as though he’s trying to work out a problem, before he says, “I’m guessing this guide they’re talking to doesn’t trust us if it hasn’t encouraged them to reach out. And if they thought they needed to spy.”
The guys exchange glances. I can tell that’s roused their suspicion, and if what they’re saying is true, I can understand why. It’s obviously crossed my mind that the Saints’ “guide” could be evil.
“So how do you know you can trust this Kysar?” I ask.
Luke says, “It’s what led us to stopping that monster.”
“And it healed you,” Cody tells me.
“What?”
“What you saw and felt when I healed you is the extent of my powers. I have a limited healing ability. That night in the woods, Kysar took control of me to heal you.”
That explains why he could only make my pain go away last night.
“We’ve had good experiences with this guide,” Cody adds. “The visions we’ve received have helped us. We have no reason not to trust him.”
“So this guide…” I start.
“Saved your fucking life,” Seth says.
For the same reason I started having doubts about theSaints when Cody saved me, now I have a whole other reason to have doubts about what Preston shared with me.
“I don’t even know what to do with that,” I say, and the room falls silent.
“It’s okay,” Luke says eventually. “We don’t have to figure everything out in this one meeting. It’s a lot to process.”
I can tell he’s not just telling that to me, but to the rest of the Sinners as well, who look just as thrown by all this new information.
“Luke’s right,” Cody says. “The most we know is that Alexei was using a spell he had no experience with. It could have simply gone bad. Alexei, why don’t you talk to this other group, see if they’ll meet with us. Communication is what’s important. Maybe if we exchange notes, we can sort through this mess and figure out what’s what. Would you be willing to talk with them?”
I know he’s right. This is the only way we’ll be able to make sense of this, but I’ve never had a conversation with Preston or the guys like this. They keep things close to their chest, and I can’t imagine how they’ll react when I tell them I started revealing secrets to the enemy.
“He does that,” Matteo says, “and they’re gonna know he betrayed them.”
“I know,” Cody says, “but Alexei saw what that monster was capable of, and I’m hoping he understands this might be our only option.”
I hate that he’s fucking right.
17
MATTEO
“You’re off-theme tonight,”Preston tells us as Alexei and I approach him. He’s dressed as Cupid, a toga revealing a sculpted pec and his impressive biceps.
