“Our son has medical issues. We came here under the guise that we’re here to visit,” Daddy spoke up.
“A good cover-up, so long as Doctor Taurus doesn’t realize the rest of you are here,” Hemlock replied.
“We plan to leave once this meeting is over,” King Ethan replied. “It’s difficult for us to be out of the country for too long without it going noticed, and the transition from giving the crown to my son is still on shaky ground.”
Daddy scoffed. “You’re not the only one with a nation to run. I’m surprised you took time out of your busy day to be here.”
King Ethan sneered, but didn’t bite back a comment. The queen stared at Daddy, as if trying to figure out what his deal was.
“I’m sorry to say we were unable to locate Cameron Wahkin. The Elves have followed Emperor Cassiel somewhere we don’t know, and our best efforts to contact Charlie’s family have been unsuccessful,” Hemlock stated.
“I’m sorry, Charlie,” I hushed, and I reached out to squeeze his hand.
“It’s okay,” Charlie whispered, but I heard the lie in his voice. Whatever anger he held toward his dad, he still wanted him to be here.
“Liam and I can act as Charlie’s guardians,” Mama said. “What did you bring us here for?”
Charlie’s surprise was evident as he stiffened beside me, but Hemlock went on. “Professor Takahashi and I are a part of an organized group of elders called the Demigod Guardians,” Hemlock explained. “Our numbers are few, but elite. Many years ago, both of us took an oath to join the Guardians in search of demigods, not to use them, but to protect them from those who would use their powers against the world. As all of you are aware, your children are demigods. And though we’ve done our best to conceal them, we are very certain that Doctor Taurus and his associates suspect, if not downright know, what your children truly are.”
There was an uncomfortable shifting sound as people adjusted their seats, and Takahashi took the lead. “We are not sure of what Doctor Taurus is planning, or what he wishes to use your children for,” Takahashi explained. “We’ve attempted to uncover his master plan for decades, but the Celestial Church continues to block us at every opportunity. We know he wants demigods, but what for or why still remains a mystery.”
“What about the Infernal Underground?” Queen Emmaline asked. “You told us about it briefly when you reached out, but from the information you gave us, it seems you have nothing.”
“We aren’t completely certain of his operations in the Infernal Underground. If we were, we’d move to stop him immediately, but without the proper intelligence, we can’t risk exposing ourselves for what might be an elaborate ruse,” Hemlock said. “Doctor Taurus is cunning. If he wants to distract us, he has the means, and I don’t believe the Underground is his master work.”
“The Undergroundisreal, though. You know it is, because students have gone missing,” Nadine said.
“Yes. Elven students in particular, and anyone who the Warden suspects to be a demigod, are sent to the Underground,” Takahashi confirmed. “Though what their fate is, none of us can be sure of.”
“Has anyone come back from the Underground?” Mama asked.
“One,” Hemlock said softly. “We managed to rescue one.”
“Well, what happened to him?” Daddy demanded. “Why doesn’t he tell you where the Underground is?”
Daddy must not be feeling well today. He was clearly in a mood and trying to provoke whoever would take the bait.
Hemlock didn’t bite. “I’m afraid that Carson Forsberg is in no state to tell anyone anything,” Hemlock said dryly. “Whatever happened to him in the Underground has left him mute and confused.”
My chest tightened in fear. Carson had been one of Alice’s teammates during the Darke Games. So the winners of the Darke Gamesweretaken to the Underground.
“How did you rescue Carson if you weren’t able to determine the Underground’s location?” Lucas asked.
“He managed to escape the Underground on his own, though his mind is so rattled, he couldn’t tell us how,” Hemlock said. “It was a lucky thing that I found him before Doctor Taurus did. We’ve moved him to a safe place… unfortunately, the poor boy’s in such a dire state, he’ll most likely have to spend the rest of his life in a mental institution.”
Hemlock sighed and placed a shaking hand to her temple. I squeezed Charlie’s arm beside me, feeling horribly guilty.We’ddone that by giving up our Darke Games win. What Carson was suffering through was our fault.
“Are you telling me that the Darke Games are some sort of elaborate ruse so the Warden of this prison can kidnap and experiment on whatever students he pleases?” Daddy seethed.
“That’s what we’ve determined,” Takahashi confirmed.
“This is bullshit! You encouraged our children to enter the Darke Games knowing if they won, they’d be sent directly to the Underground!” Daddy thundered.
“At that point, I wasn’t aware that the winners of the Games were transported directly to the Underground. I had the hope that if your children won, the Guardians could swoop in and take them to a safe place upon their release, which is why I encouraged them to sign up,” Takahashi responded.
He gave a dull sigh. “A very grave mistake.”
“Mistake?! My daughter could bedead,” Daddy seethed.
