Chapter One

I stretched on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Boredom was invading my mind, filling each crack and crevice until I was wound-up and restless. I wanted out- I wanted to be free. I wanted to sprint up the dunes till my legs hurt, then collapse on the warm sand with my wolfdog Cooper licking my face.

But nooooo. Father dear had banned me from going outside unsupervised- which sucked, since he was at work all day. That meant I couldn't go outside at all half the time, and going outside with Kit's girlfriend Whitney was just as bad. Honestly, I only tolerated her because of her food.

My Mac beeped. Someone wanted a video conference.

I groaned and rolled out of bed, glaring at the screen.

What now?

It was Ben.

That was new.

He'd barely contacted me after the Gamemaster's trial. After... well, after his expulsion from school. After his confession.

I smoothed down my hair, not sure how to act. Angry? Merciful? I decided on harsh.

I clicked "accept."

My screen split in half. Ben's face was on the left side. I was on the right.

"Hey, Benjamin." I stared at the webcam cooly. "How are you liking your new school? Are you missing us? I thought not."

"Tory, we still..." Ben sighed, swiping a few strands of black hair from his face. "We can still see each other. The Virals, I mean. It's not like we're separated forever."

I shrugged. "So? We don't see each other every day. We don't even see each other once a week!"

"Tory-"

"Who got us into this split?!" I was yelling now, tears threatening to spill. "Who lied to us?! Never told us about the Gamemaster?! YOU. That's YOU, Ben!" I was full-on crying now. "YOU got us into this mess. God, I... I really want to forgive you. I really do. But..." I took a deep breath, trying to halt the tears that were streaming down my face. "I can't believe you put the Virals at risk. I can't believe you deceived us. I thought you were one of us!"

"Tory... I still care about you." Ben's voice was quieter now, almost a whisper. "I care about you a lot. Can't you see that? Oh, wait, Jason is in my freaking way." He spat with contempt. "Well, I'm wishing you two a happy life. Bye!"

The video call ended abruptly. I flopped back into my bed and grabbed a pillow, then shoved my face into it and cried. I hadn't even got a chance to tell Ben about my recent fight with Jason. That was like a month ago. We still don't talk to each other, let alone hang out.

"Tory! Dinner!"

I dragged my face out of my now-soggy pillow and trudged to the bathroom to clean up. When I had made my face presentable, I hurried downstairs.

Whitney was there.

At least the food would be great- and it was. Salmon fillet, Greek salad, and fresh bread. Yum. Dessert was as great- ice cream sundaes.

"There's another cotillion dance."

Great. Just what I needed.

Whitney continued. "I got you a limited-edition Jasz Couture dress." She produced a long, slim box. "Go try it on, sweetheart."

I nodded unhappily, but picked up the box and hurried upstairs. The dress was strapless and floor length. The bottom was sheer tan fabric while the top was covered with shimmering gold and silver rhinestones. All in all, it hurt my eyes.

I yanked on the fancy thing and stared at the mirror. I had to admit the color matched my red hair and green eyes, but still too glitzy for me. But whatever, I didn't have a say.

I plodded back downstairs and held out a waiting arm. Whitney clasped on a silver charm bracelet. Yay.

She also handed me a pair of silver peep-toes. Which I took grudgingly.

After about a minute of wobbling around in the five-inch-high heels, I got the hang of keeping my balance. Then Whitney handed me a silver necklace.

Finally, I had been allowed to retreat into my room. I had to admit I had looked good in the getup, but wasn't going to admit it. That would be letting Whitney win. I couldn't do that, could I?

…

"He took your iPhone, too?"

I nodded at Shelton. "Yup. Honestly, I can't go anywhere other than school unaccompanied. Rumor has it Kit planted security cameras here, too." I swept a hand at Bolton Prep. It was lunch break, and I was chatting with Hi and Shelton as I ate my turkey sandwich.

"Rumor has it, oooh, rumor has it!" Hi sang, way off key.

I plugged my ears playfully. "Stop that ruckus!"

Hi elbowed me with a laugh. "She's the one I'm leaving you foooooooor!"

"Those aren't even the right lyrics." Shelton, always the serious one.

"Think I care?" Hi said, sticking his tongue out at Shelton.

"Break it up, you two!" I laughed, shoving Hi away.

Brrrrrrring!

I practically leaped off the bench. "Science! Let's go, don't be late!"

Shelton got up, taking his sweet time as he dragged Hi off the bench. I was already at the building.

I quickly reached my locker and grabbed my science textbook, then turned around quickly.

I found myself staring into warm blue eyes, sparkling underneath wisps of pale blond hair. Jason.

"Umm... Hi," I tried awkwardly.

Jason nodded at me. "Fancy seeing you here."

I shrugged, cheeks burning. "Mm-hmm. Don't wanna be late."

I turned and started walking away quickly.

"Hey, Tory!" Jason called out. "I wanted to say sorry. I mean..."

His voice faded out as I sped past. Wonderful, Victoria Jessica Brennan. What is it with you and not forgiving people?!

…

"Tory?"

"Yeah?" I called downstairs to Kit. "Dinner?"

"Yes, actually, and something else. Come on!" Kit replied.

Something else? This couldn't be good. I shrugged it off and changed from my Bolton Prep uniform to a ratty blue LIRI tee and denim shorts. It was surprisingly warm for March.

I hurried downstairs and took a seat at the dining table. Surprisingly, the She-Devil was MIA.

That meant either crappy Chinese take-out or grilled burgers. And because Kit had worked late, I decided to bet on the Chinese.

I was right. Chow Mein, seaweed, and tofu. Blech.

Kit cleared his throat. "Tory?"

"Yes?"

"LIRI... well, there was another robbery."

I sat up straighter.

"Terry's still in custody. It wasn't him."

I nodded, yearning for the details.

"A bit of lab equipment was stolen." Kit's eyes were haunted. There was something he wasn't telling me. "Nothing to worry about, Sweetheart. Aunt Tempe's coming over to investigate."

That really piqued my interest now. If Great-aunt Temperance Brennan, the world-famous forsenic anthropologist, was coming, it was serious.

Dead serious.

I had yet to realize how eerily close that last phrase was to the truth.