“You’re starting to get obsessive,” Marcus grumbled.
“I have to keep track of the time, so I can have awareness of what I’m doing. It’s too easy to get confused and fuck this up,” Kallie replied.
We’d barely entered the building when the sound of arguing echoed from the cafeteria. It sounded like a group of people were about to get into a fight. I saw picket signs as inmates screamed at each other. There was some sort of protest going on, and counter-protestors had shown up to argue with the marchers.
I wasn’t sure what they were arguing about; probably the same war stuff everyone got into every day. But down the hall and in the opposite direction, a nasty little voice sneered, “You need to join The Mission. It’s the only way things are going to get better in this cruel world.”
If anyone could make my day awful, it was Esther. I could ignore the shouting near the cafeteria, but I couldn’t ignore her. Charlie tried to steer me the other way, but I grabbed my wheels and headed toward the sound of her voice, pushing through the burning agony racing through my spine.
“Ava,” Charlie started.
“This bitch has been messing with my dreams. I’m giving her a piece of my mind,” I snarled.
Up ahead, I heard someone respond, “I’ve already told you no. It’s not for me.”
That was Thaddeus. I rounded the corner, and saw that he and his hawk Familiar were cornered against a wall. Esther, Naya, and Mad Dog surrounded him, cutting off any outlet of escape. Thaddeus was bleeding from a cut on his head, where it looked like someone had hit him.
“You can’t just live your life doing whatyouwant all the time,” Naya pressed. “It’s selfish not to think of other people.”
That was rich, considering Naya was the most selfish bitch I’d ever met on the planet. Thaddeus went to respond, but visibly sagged in relief when he saw me hauling ass down the hallway, followed by the rest of my gang.
“Can you take your bullshit parade somewhere else?” I asked loudly. “The rest of us can’t fit our heads that far up our own asses to join you.”
“Oh, great,you,” Naya said.
“Our favorite fucking losers,” Mad Dog added, giving Charlie a cold once-over.
Naya gave a revolting noise, then added, “Don’t waste your time trying to convert her, Esther.”
“No one’s ever a waste of time, Naya,” Esther replied sweetly. “Ava’s soul is just as worthy of redemption as anyone’s.”
“Fuck off, bitch. I know you’ve been fucking with my dreams,” I accused. “Cut it out, otherwise, I’ll have to cutyou.”
“Those are some big words for someone who can’t get out of their wheelchair,” Esther replied coolly. “By the way, you never told me if you and Charlie managed to fix your little problem.”
“What’s she talking about?” Charlie asked.
I still hadn’t told him anything about Esther’s nasty comments at The Devil’s Playground, wondering if I could still have sex in mycondition. My lip curled as I replied, “Don’t worry, I’m getting laid. Pretty sure you aren’t.”
“I’m happy to hear you get to maintain that special relationship with your husband. Intimacy is such a vital part of marriage,” Esther crooned. “Unlikesome peoplearound here, who fornicate with people they’re not married to.Worse,people who they don’t evenlove, just want to use for sex.”
Her piercing gaze flickered to Marcus and Kallie, and the implication her words held was huge. Ancestors, this bitch could hone in on whatever was most bothering you and twist the knife in. What was with her, and how’d she even guess Marcus and Kallie were messing around?
“None of that’s your business,” Charlie replied. “If you’re so busy running The Mission, do you really have time to be sticking your nose in other people’s love lives?”
“The life ofeverystudent at the Institute is my business, due to the pathway of The Mission. I’m here to lead others into the light,” Esther replied. “Please don’t lecture me, Charlie. You and the people you hang with aren’t doing any good for the world.”
“I’ve given you my answer,” Thaddeus said shortly, shoving Esther away. “Now leave them alone.”
Esther’s nose wrinkled, and she said, “I’m sorry we couldn’t convince you, Thaddeus. But as my uncle says, some people think like the dead, so therefore, they might as well be so. Hopefully your soul will find its way to the light someday.”
She slithered off with her nose in the air, and Naya copied her in due fashion. Geez, Naya really fell into the sidekick role when there was something in it for her. I bet the Warden had promised her graduating with honors and a free-flowing supply of victims if she palled around with his niece.
Mad Dog hardly said a thing the entire confrontation, but I didn’t like the look in his eyes as he stalked off. It wasn’t like him to keep quiet unless he had something dirty planned. He smirked at me, but left me alone as Oberi growled, warning him to stay back.
“Thank the ancestors they left.” Thaddeus sighed once we were alone. “Esther’s been grilling me all day about joining The Mission.”
“You want me to heal that cut on your head?” I asked, gesturing to it.
