He stopped in midstep, still several feet away.
“Look back through Carey’s memories of Grayson,” I said, and he scowled, obviously unaccustomed to being given orders. “Look for memories of her as a small child, or wearing a swimsuit.” Even modest swimwear would have shown part of her back. “Does Carey have any memories of his sister’s back? Does he remember any birthmarks or discolorations?”
Kastor frowned, and when his gaze lost focus, I knew he was sorting through his collection of stolen memories.
“No,” he said at last, and I knew from the angry furrow in his brow that he understood exactly what I was about to show him.
“Turn around, Grayson,” I said, and she gave me a single wide-eyed glance, then turned. I lifted her shirt, and we both saw the pale brown stripe stretching up her back. “My guess is that the color develops there because your nerves run through your spine, but that’s really just a theory.”
“Nerves?” Kastor’s voice sounded strained. “What kind of so-called virus is this?”
“It affects your senses. In fact, it kills them. You’re about to lose the very things your species loves about being in our bodies.”
“I don’t believe you,” Kastor spit. He glanced at Grayson as she turned back to us. “She clearly has no idea what you’re talking about. You’re lying.”
“Grayson wasn’t there when Meshara lost her sight, her hearing, her sense of taste, and, by the end, all physical sensation. But if you don’t believe me, go get whoever brought Grayson in. The host would be a woman, around twenty years old. Her prepossession name was Naomi, and she kidnapped Grayson, what? Two days ago?” I glanced at Grayson for confirmation, but she could only shrug. She’d lost all sense of time just like I had. “She should be exhibiting symptoms by now. Tomorrow you and Felix will as well. Oh, and that guy from the market! The one who kissed me. Nedes. He’sdefinitelyinfected.”
Kastor’s scowled deepened, and I saw the first flash of true fear in his eyes. “Don’t move.” He backed out of the room and closed the door. When something clicked softly, I realized he’d locked us in. Not that that mattered. Two exorcists could easily bust through the door or climb out the window, but escape was no longer my plan.
Finn’s arrival had changed everything. I’d never been more grateful to not see someone.
Through the door we heard Kastor shout for someone to go get Naomi, Felix, and Nedes. “And tell the scientists Finn is in Pandemonia but he hasn’t taken a body,” Kastor said. “I need to know how to deal with himnow.” After that there was more clinking of glass against glass as he poured himself another drink.
I tugged Grayson’s arm until she sank onto the bed next to me. “You okay?” I whispered.
“No.”
Our cuffs clanked together as I squeezed her hands. “Is Finn still here? Can he hear me?”
Her gaze lost focus for a moment, then found mine again. “Yes, to both.”
“Finn, are the others here?” I glanced around the room as if I might actually see him.
“He says no,” Grayson whispered. “Not that he knows of, anyway. He broke away from the rest of Anathema when they came after me instead of you.”
My heart thumped harder and heat surfaced in my cheeks. Hehadcome for me!
“He says he’s sorry about Mellie. So am I, Nina,” Grayson’s eyes filled with tears. “Was it really a virus?”
“Yes. But she’d already been gone for days by then, and none of us noticed. We failed her.Ifailed her. But the baby…” I couldn’t resist a small smile in spite of all the tragedy.
“The baby made it?” Grayson sat up straight, staring at me in disbelief.
“A boy. Adam. He’s a carrier too. Eli and Anabelle have him. I’ll go back for him if we make it out of here.”
“Wehaveto!” Grayson practically squealed, bouncing a little on the bed in excitement. “I want to hold him!” She smiled. “Finn’s thrilled too.”
“Good, because if my plan works, wewillget out of here. And we’re going to take the city down in the process. Here’s what I’m thinking—”
A loud knock from the room next door severed my thought. “Where is she?” Kastor barked, and Grayson and I moved closer to the door so we could hear better.
“We couldn’t find Naomi, but the others are still looking,” a new voice said. “Felix is on his way, but Nedes is…Kastor, something’s wrong with him. He’s gone blind.”
Blind? Already?I glanced at Grayson, and her eyes were huge again. She looked terrified.
“Bring him in,” Kastor ordered.
We heard more shuffling from the next room, and then the bedroom door flew open so suddenly Grayson and I both jumped back. Kastor lunged forward and grabbed my arm, then hauled me into the sitting room. “You did this?” he demanded, pulling me to a halt in front of Nedes, who stood in the custody of two of Kastor’s black-clad guards.
