But there are ways I can help.
“I need to make some calls,” I say. I can’t quite pull myself away, even though I’ve already excused myself. I’m pathetic, like I need more acknowledgement thatsomeonemight notice if I wasn’t here.
Silver nods in understanding and shoots me a small smile, although there’s no way she can fully understand since I’m clearly a fucking useless communicator.
From Ro and Z’s twin disapproving expressions, they think I’m heading straight back to work.
I don’t blame them.
Fuck, I’m an asshole.
Silver reaches out and squeezes my arm, clearly noticing my hesitation. “You go do whatever you need to do,” she says.
I hesitate only for another moment before stepping away and pulling out my phone. What good is it being the heir to this burning shitshow if I can’t use it to our benefit?
Despite the vocal and arson-happy minority from the district, there are still plenty of people around who will work for us, so long as enough cash is involved.
And Felix might have nearly bankrupted the district, but I still have my personal funds, which he wasn’t able to touch.
If I want any hope of making things up to her, I’m going to have to make myself useful. I need to crawl my way back up.
I haven’t proven that she can rely on me.
That stops now.
Before I can manage to take a step away to make any calls, my feet stick to the pavement. I fight harder, but it’s like the ground is one giant magnet and my boots are made of iron. Panic fills me as I fight the invisible tethers holding me down.
I can’t move.
It feels like I’m trapped, unable to take a step. My body is locked in place.
It’s a feeling that’s horrifyingly familiar since I experienced it about a month ago during the Solstice Ball.
Someone is compelling me to stand still.
And then the vampires appear and my insides rebel as I desperately try to move my feet to fight against the mental shackles.
It’s useless. I. Can’t. Fucking. Move.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Simpson strutting closer, a wide grin on his face.
“Predictable, aren’t you, pet? I knew you would show up eventually. But you’re even faster than I expected. You really must not have better things to do.”
I can’t even turn my head to see what’s happening. My gaze is focused on Ro, whose expression is locked in a mask of horror.
Behind me, I hear boots on the pavement. Another unfamiliar male voice sounds.
“Alabaster Clements, you’re coming with us.”
Thunder rumbles in the air. Z’s magic letting itself be known.
Shit. Maybe not all of me is frozen, after all. I try to summon my magic to dosomething, but nothing happens. My head is fuzzy and feels like I’m in the middle of a fever as confused images flash into my vision.
The judiciary building. Simpson. Silver’s mother. Blood. Carnage. People in chains.
I can’t tell what’s real and what’s in my imagination, and I can’t seem to take a full breath. Black spots form in front of my eyes and I realize that my restricted movement is stopping me from breathing properly.
Holy hell, am I about to suffocate like this?
