“Absolutely,” Bren said. “Hop in.”
I want to ride!Oberi cried out. His hat came tumbling off as he jumped into the back.
I was able to use the handlebars of the car to lift myself up and get into the driver’s seat all on my own. My wheelchair folded up, and I found that it fit perfectly behind me. Daddy rode next to me on the passenger’s side, and Maverick and Bren sat in the back. Mama and the rest of them waved me off as I revved the engine. Bren explained the controls to me, teaching me how to go forward, speed up and slow down.
I didn’t want to take it easy, but Bren basically made me, because he didn’t want me to be too reckless. I drove the car outside of the palace walls and into the city. We took a few winding roads that overlooked the ocean, and I experimented with the speed.
“I think you’ve got it,” Bren said. “Just don’t get too crazy, all right? I know this car can haul some ass, but I don’t want you crashing it in the first week.”
“I would never.” This shiny new toy was mybaby.I got such a hard-on for fast cars. Monica and I used to love them— probably why we’d stolen a few and taken them out for joy rides back in the day.
My husband was waiting in front of the garages when I returned, having a conversation with my mother. I rolled down the window and leaned my head out, revving the engine again and making the turbo pop.
“Charlie!” I screamed. “I have a new car!”
He laughed. “So I’ve heard! Let’s go for a ride, pidge.”
Daddy, Bren and Maverick got out, and Charlie got in the passenger’s seat. We drove together through Ilamanthe, and now that Bren wasn’t here to make sure I was a good girl, I was riskier. I took turns too sharp and pushed far past the speed limit. Oberi stuck his head out the window, panting as the wind blew back his fur, and Charlie let his hand fall up and down with the wind. Charlie didn’t tell me to slow down, rather, only urged me to go faster.
This was seriously the best. The sun was shining and I was flying free, with my husband beside me and my dog in the back. Nothing could beat this feeling.
By the afternoon, I knew how to drive her like a champ. I was riding a high like never before. I’m telling you, living in Ilamanthe was the life.
I didn’t want to beat on the car too badly, so we left her to cool off in the palace garage while Charlie and I headed back to our room to rest before our demigod lesson. I sat on the balcony, drinking pink lemonade. Oberi sunbathed beside me, soaking up the sun in his husky coat.
“Pidge?” Charlie came onto the balcony cautiously and took a seat beside me in a lounge chair. “Can I ask you something?”
I smirked. “If you want to eat me out later, I’d prefer it in the bathtub.”
He smiled, but it wasn’t as bright as it typically was. “I’ll take you up on that offer, but… it’s something else.”
He sounded serious. I felt my insides drop as he reached out to take my hands in his. “I had an idea, but you’re not going to like it.”
Oberi lifted his head, appearing anxious.What are you talking about?
“Spit it out,” I demanded. I didn’t like being kept waiting, and this was really starting to worry me.
“To beat the Warden, we’ve got to be the best we’ve ever been, and use methods we never have before,” he insisted.
“You know I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
“You sure about that?” he questioned. “Because I’ve had the idea that… we should start using pistols.”
I felt sick. He’d just said a simple word, and I already wanted to throw up my drink. I thought about what happened when I’d used the pistol down in Cellblock 9, and already didn’t agree with this. My hands began to shake. Charlie tightened his grip, so they steadied.
“Guns only have one purpose,” I said. “It’s not like magic, which can be used for good or bad. Pistols are only used to kill people.”
“Which we’ve already done,” he pointed out. “And we need to keep doing it, because unfortunately, this is a war and people die. As long as we aren’t the ones six feet under, I don’t know if it matters how we do it.”
“I know I’ve killed people,” I spat, and I wrenched my hands out of his. “But I don’t want to see someone’s head explode again.”
“This will be different. I think we can use simultension to fuse them with our magic. It’s the same as using a wand,” he explained. “It’s just a way to focus our powers.”
“I understand where you’re coming from, but pulling the trigger is different than casting a spell,” I stated. “It’s more personal.”
“This fight has become personal, pidge. We can’t avoid getting our hands dirty,” he said. “And I’ll do anything to anyone if it means protecting you.”
“Every time I eventhinkabout using a gun, I’m back in Cellblock 9. I… I can’t go back there.”
