Her plan was to pull every historical text and storybook this realm possessed. As she found them, she would take them to the king, but they couldn’t comb through them alone.
They needed help.
8
ERDIKOA
The following day,after eating breakfast with her father and Lauren, Rory went to her room to find shoes and a cap to wear in the city. As she tied her hair into a low ponytail, she stared at her long hair in the mirror. The urge to cut it was strong enough that she considered searching the house for a pair of scissors.
The thought took her off guard. She loved her long hair, always had. Shaking off the uneasiness, she found Lauren in the kitchen. “I need to go shopping.”
Lauren turned. “What for?”
“I need a new phone, a sleeping potion, and a few other basic things.” Rory paused. “Shit. Never mind, I need to apply for jobs first.”
“You don’t need a job,” Lauren informed her as she grabbed a knife out of the drawer and began picking at her nails.
Rory shuddered at the sight and walked out. “I can’t buy anything until I have moedas,” she said, searching for the keys. “And to get moedas, I need a job.”
“Looking for these?” Lauren asked, dangling a set of keys from her finger. “You can’t leave without me.”
Rory walked forward, assessing theAngelfor a way to swipe the keys without getting killed. “I wasn’t going to, but I figured if I drove off, you’d have to give in.”
A wide smile spread across Lauren’s face. “There you are.” She walked to the door and stepped outside. “Come on, little butcher. Let’s get your shit and grab lunch on the way back.”
Rory followed her to the same vehicle they’d arrived in. Sam must have flown back to Vincula. Or disappeared back, however they did it. “I don’t have any moedas, and I’m not borrowing from you.”
Lauren jumped in and started the engine as Rory climbed into the passenger seat. “You will never need a job again,” Lauren replied. “Don’t ask me any more questions.” When they pulled onto the highway, she added, “We need to stop and get your new mystic card before running by the bank to pick up your bank card.”
“New mystic card?” Rory parroted. “What’s wrong with my old one?”
Lauren kept her eyes on the road. “You’re getting a new identity.”
“The fuck I am,” Rory replied crisply.
Lauren smirked, and it struck Rory as odd that theAngelseemed to like her better when she was a bitch. “It’s non-negotiable. Everything is set. We just have to pick everything up.”
“I haven’t chosen a name yet. How is it ready?”
“Your new name was chosen for you.” She glanced at Rory, trying not to laugh. “You are now Lo Senka.”
Rory blinked. “What kind of name is Lo? Where’s the rest of it?”
Lauren shot her a death glare. “It doesn’t matter if you like it or not; that’s your new name when you’re in public.”
A new name was the least of Rory’s worries, and she gave up the battle. When they pulled into the warehouse district, she slid her eyes to Lauren. “You can get in and out of The Capital without beingsearched, but you need the underground market to get a new mystic card?”
Lauren opened her door when they stopped and threw over her shoulder as she walked away, “Stop asking questions.”
Rory stared out the window at the place she’d been one too many times. Fiona, theAlchemistshe bought illegal potions from, hurried down one of the side alleys, and though they weren’t friends, they were friendly.
The car door swung open as she hopped out and called Fiona’s name without thinking. TheAlchemistlooked up and stopped in her tracks.Shit. Getting used to her new life would be challenging, but it was too late to turn back now.
Her lips parted as she scanned Rory’s face. “Rory?”
“Yeah,” she replied and closed the distance between them.
Fiona clasped both of her hands around Rory’s. “The news said you were sentenced to five-hundred years. Did the protests really work?”
