Thankfully, Feniks can come and go as he pleases, and Cosmo has been greenlighted too.
But not me. Fucking cunts.
“Babe, you’ve got to breathe.” Theo looks at me, worry written all over her face.
“Sorry, Tee. I know, but you’d think our parents would show at least a little interest in what’s happening to their son.” Especially if Theo is right, and it’s that fucking dark spell that’s the problem.
“Honesly, it’s probably best they’re not around. Who knows what they’d plan for him next.”
“That’s true. What’s the opposite of Parenting 101? Neglect 2.0?”
If being a decent mom and dad was a sport, my folks wouldn't even qualify for the participation trophy.
I kick the wall of my bedroom, the impact vibrating up my leg.
It doesn’t hurt as much as the knot in my chest. Wes is in there, maybe dying, and I’m stuck out here being useless as normal.
Theo’s voice slices through my thoughts. “Shit, Dono.”
“What’s wrong?”
—I’m plugging everyone into this conversation. Lu? Cosmo? Lexi? Max?—
The dudes all reply.
—Willow? Dunc?—
—Bestie check-in—
—I’m here, Theo, but I won’t lie, I’m all-worried right now—Dunco sounds frazzled.
Theo’s worried voice comes back into my brain.—Hey, Cosmo, can you explain to everyone?—I go across the room and hold her hand.
Cosmo is irritated even when it’s just his thoughts.—Someone in the Conclave has a new bio-magical scanner…it’s programmed for the unique signature of the vessel children. They’re sweeping the grounds right now, looking for the girl—
—Yikes—Willow’s voice pipes up.—We’re already in the tunnels heading to River. Me, Ludo, Dunc, and the kid.—
Theo and I meet eyes. “This is bad,” she whispers.
No kidding. Those bastards can’t take her again. The little girl with haunted eyes has already been through too much. It's more like she’s already seen the very end of time, when the last star goes out and there’s no one left to hear you scream.
Gods, that sounds lonely.
“How can I help, Tee?”
—The scanner is in a proto-stage—Alexis cuts in, being his usual know-it-all self.—The output of an Elite spark is like a flare; it’ll blind the sensor. Dono, Max—you should get down there. If you escort the child, your readings will bury hers.—
—Like looking at a bright light with night vision goggles?—Max asks.
—Exactly—
I’m up and moving before the link goes quiet. I plant a kiss on Theo’s head then race down the back stairwell, meeting Max at the service exit.
“Plan?” I grunt.
“Run like hell to the tunnels,” he says.
—You pricks need to hurry. Guards have picked up a trail and are heading to the laundry—
