“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Bree calls out over her shoulder. Her expression is solemn. “We didn’t have any time to put thought into this,” she explains, dropping back beside me. “We just knew we had to get you out of here before the ceremonial process began.”
I open my mouth to ask what a ceremonial process is, but this isn’t the time or place. Instead, I add that question to the mental checklist I’m writing in my head.
“Will you get in trouble for this?”
The siblings trade a wary look, and I guess I have my answer. “Don’t worry about that now,” Jase says.
“Areyouluminaries?” I inquire as we pass the stairwell I came down earlier, taking a narrow hallway to the left instead of going up the stairs.
“Our father is the Lust & Envy Luminary,” Jase says, and my mouth trails the ground.
“What does that even mean, and what’s with the seven deadly sins?” There was talk of Rhett Carter being the Greed & Gluttony Luminary back there. I shiver under my cloak, and it has nothing to do with the cold.
“Eight if the separatists had their way,” Bree cryptically replies, taking a sharp left.
I add that question to my list.
“Keep your head down,” she instructs as we follow hot on her heels. “The tunnel is just up ahead, and the ceiling is much lower.”
“The foundation of our society is built upon the seven deadly sins. There are four Luminary families—Stewart, Salinger, Carter, and Manford—and each family is responsible for controlling different sins,” Jase explains.
“They’re obviously doing a piss-poor job of it,” I deadpan, thinking of the state of the world and how often peoplesin. “Unless that’s the goal—in which case, they are excelling.”
“You’d be surprised how much they actually do control,” he replies, squeezing my hand.
“Your marriage to Julia is part of this,” I say. The Manford name jumped out at me when he mentioned the Luminary families. It’s probably the last thing I should be focusing on when I’m escaping my kidnappers and whatever kind of fate these luminaries have lined up for me, but I need to know.
“It is,” he confirms. “It’s the way of our society.”
“And you’re not allowed to talk about it,” I surmise, guessing this is the secret part Bree referred to.
“We swear an oath of silence and loyalty at an early age. Everyone involved in our world is sworn to secrecy in some guise, even if they aren’t privy to all the truths.” Bree comes to a halt in front of a raised section of the wall.
Curiosity ensnares me as I watch her press a hand to the edge of it and push in. There’s a subtle click, and then the wall pops out.
“I feel like I’ve stumbled onto the set ofTomb Raider,” I mumble.
Bree spots my slack jaw and wide eyes, grinning as she pulls the door back, revealing the hidden passageway behind it. She wasn’t kidding. The space is low and narrow, and Jase will have to basically crawl to navigate his way through.
“Stop!”
The command comes from behind us, and all the blood drains from my face. Jase reacts superfast, whipping us around and shielding me with his body as he points his gun out in front of him.
I peek around him, tears automatically welling in my eyes as my parents run toward us. Mom is wearing a gold cloak, like the one Bree and Jase are wearing, while Dad is wearing jeans and a sweater.
What’s with the different cloaks? Honestly, I’ll have to start an actual written list if this continues ’cause there’s no way I’ll be able to keep track of everything I need to ask.
“What the hell do you think you two are doing?” Mom glares at Bree and Jase.
“What you failed to do!” Jase’s snippy tone is laced with unspoken aggression.
“This is insanity! You’re going to get us all killed.” Mom scrubs her hands down her cheeks as her eyes rake me from head to toe.
“Are you okay?” Dad asks and his brow furrows in concern.
“Why do you even care?” I retort, moving to Jase’s side.
His arm winds around me as he tucks me protectively into his body. Bree comes up behind me, offering silent support.
