Renall said, “Jessica, we need to know who Lois really was.”
Jessica’s face went white. “Was?”
“She was a cycle spy,” Talon said without even trying to soften the words. “You brought her to Dana. We need to know why.”
Jessica said, “I don’t know. I don’t even recall doing so. I will believe you that I did, but why I could not say.”
Renall said, “Clara, are you all right?”
She’d been swaying on her feet. She quickly gathered her courage. She said, “I am. Is Dana?”
Jeval said, “She will sleep once the gas starts to wear off.”
Clara licked her lips. “What do we tell her about Lois?”
“That she had the fever. That it must have come with her and taken her very suddenly.” That came from Marik. He added, “And that we did not let her suffer. We will also tell Dana she has the fever and quarantine her for a short time just so I can watch her to make certain her memory wipe does not unravel. Or the implants, whichever needs the most attention.”
He said, “I’ll take her now. Talon, you help me.”
It was an order, and they all knew it. Talon dug his heels in. “I think I would rather stay.”
Marik said, “I need your help now.”
Talon relented. He gave Jessica a long look as he passed her. Jeval said, “Jessica, you know I can drift dream, don’t you?”
She nodded. Fear showed on her face as she watched Talon and Marik lead the stunned Dana from the room. “I have heard you could.”
Jeval said, “I need inside your mind.”
Jessica flinched. So did Clara. That seemed so personal! Jessica said, “I would like to know too. So go ahead.”
Clara held her breath as Jeval began. She wondered if perhaps Renall was possessed of the same ability. Could that be that strong magnetic pull she always felt for him?
No.
She could wish it was, but that was not it at all. She was drawn to him because she was attracted by his kindness and his sense of justice and fairness. She was drawn to him because he was attractive and warm.
Oh is so fair?That little voice came back into her head, mocking her.He offered you the chance to be his whore but not his wife. He won’t break that pact because it means more to him than anyone and anything, including you. If he were so fair, he would simply hand you that crypto file and your mother’s chamber keys and let you go with the credits you have earned, just like you told him. But had he offered to do that? No. He will leave her, and he will leave you behind and all so he can fulfill his dreams and without you.
Her emotions were too conflicted where he was concerned. One more reason to just leave him alone. To try to find a way to get the file and her mother and flee from Orbitary and him. She could figure out another way to get the rest of her family out of serio-max if she had to.
Then Jessica began to speak, and Clara forgot about all of that. “She’s Halsey Miggs.”
Halsey Miggs? The daughter of the highest governor? That made no sense at all. Why would…? Clara looked over at Renall. He looked as confused as she did.
Jeval asked, “Why did you take her to the seamstress?”
“I was trying to save her life.” Jessica wore the same vague and un-present look that Dana had worn. It was eerie and slightly frightening. Clara drew closer to Renall, but that time he did not reach for her. In fact, he stepped closer to Jeval—and away from her, making her heart plummet all over again.
Renall said, “Why was her life in danger?”
Jessica didn’t respond until Jeval repeated the query. Then, “She was sold to satisfy a debt. Private sale. Private debt. The buyer wanted to see her suffer. Watch her pain. I took her to the seamstress before the circuit could be flipped. I thought she’d become an under dweller and that would satisfy the buyer. That she would suffer enough there.”
Clara’s mouth dropped open. She whispered, “That is why they beat her so severely and put her on that ship to Narnlia! She went against the government!”
Renall gave her a nod but didn’t answer. He leaned forward, listening intently as Jeval asked, “Why did they wipe your mind? Why did they take her memories?’
Jessica answered. “They didn’t. I did. I used a black market contact to try to remove the circuit when I realized she would die and that the suffering they wanted was far more. I knew what the ship really did. Brides. They call them brides. But they are not brides. They are chattel and often killed in horrific ways for the pleasure of Magna beasts.”
