70
The beach was empty. There was no sign that Raiyn had been exploring his favorite tide pools, and the sand was void of any small footprints that would have indicated that children had been running amok there. Hershel sank down to sit on a rock—one that he and Myrah often sat on when they came out here on slow days to let Raiyn explore and play in the sand.
"Hershel?" his wife prompted as she took a seat next to him. "You haven't said anything in hours."
"We're running out of places to check," he murmured, and Myrah looked out at the expanse of ocean.
"You don't think he came here and got swept away, do you?" she asked softly.
"I don't know." That was the worst part about all of this—the sheer not knowing whether Pippa and Raiyn were in danger or merely going through their worst rebellious phase. Whether his son was playing somewhere, or injured or worse. Not knowing if what Iona had said was true...
"We should check in at the fortress again," Myrah said at last. "See if the search parties have found anything."
Hershel nodded numbly, but he didn't look at his wife. His gaze was locked on the ocean, his thoughts far away as he thought about the stretch of flower-crusted rock that sat silently beyond the horizon.
"Hershel..." Myrah grabbed his hand. "We will have time to figure out Raiyn's powers later. For now, we have to find him."
"He can't have power," Hershel said. "Especially not that power. We would have known."
"Once we find him, Iona can help us determine whether or not he has the abilities she suspects," Myrah insisted. "Don't let the worry about that eat at you now."
"How can I stop it?" Hershel asked, his voice breaking. He was keeping his fears back with denial...but if what Iona had said was true...
"This doesn't change anything," Myrah said, and she forced him to look at her. "Hershel, whether or not he has had power this whole time, he's still the same Raiyn he always was."
"Those powers nearly destroyed me, Myrah. Not to mention, I did things with them that I never would have done otherwise. If the same power is in our son..."
"Iona told you that they aren't dangerous," she insisted, and he knew she was convincing herself as much as she was convincing him. "Considering how overprotective and cautious we know her to be, we can at least take heart in the fact that she doesn't think that the power will hurt him."
"She told me the same thing...but then it turned she knew I had been dying the whole time she knew me, and never admitted it," Hershel pointed out bitterly before he could think better of it. He regretted it as he watched his wife grow pale, and he sighed. "Iona has helped us in the past, but that doesn't mean that I trust everything she tells me."
"He's a healthy, happy child," Myrah said at last. "If the power hasn't affected that in the four years he's been alive, then we have to believe that she's right."
"If he even does have powers." Hershel's expression twisted. "What if she's lying about that?"
"Why would she lie about that?"
"I don't know. To try and control us?"
Myrah shook her head as she took Hershel's face in her hands. "Don't let this get to you so much," she begged. "There's no reason for Iona to lie, and I truly believe she was being honest with us. Whether or not her assumptions are correct are a different story, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Hershel didn't answer, and his wife sighed. "I'm just as scared as you," she admitted at last. "But we can't let that ruin what trust you've built up over the last few years."
"There are few people I can trust," Hershel said. "My whole life, people have lied to me, or hidden things from me...even Phos." He pushed his white-streaked hair from his face. "You, Syn, and Tolan are really the only ones I know I can trust to always tell me the full truth about anything."
Myrah went quiet, and for a few minutes, they listened to the waves crash against the shore. At last, Hershel spoke again.
"I'm sorry to be so morose."
"It makes sense why you are," his wife replied softly before standing. "Let's just focus on finding our son, Hershel. Whatever comes after that, we can handle together." She held out a hand to him, and he accepted it and allowed her to help him to his feet. They were lost to their own thoughts as they trekked back across the sand toward their hoofers, still scouring the beachfront on the off chance a small toddler would appear.
Teag watched the water rush down, only to reappear within a few seconds. No matter how many times he pulled the lever, the water came back. It was some kind of magic well, and he had to admit he didn't understand it at all, nor did he trust the perfectly clear liquid. He turned to the other white pillar. When you pulled the levers on the taller pillar, water came shooting out. What was the point of having an instant river and an instant well?
The sound of footsteps brought Teag back to himself, and he turned to see that someone had entered the room. They must have come in during the loud rushing of the instant well—he hadn't heard the door open. He stared at the man from his place sitting in front of the well, feeling frozen and unsure. It was the same man who Quazier had spoken to before—the outsider who wore the long white coat but no eye covering.
"I forget how fascinating our simple mechanics are to Oni," the man mused, and Teag frowned, not sure what he was talking about. The man gestured to the instant well. "Never seen anyzing like zat, I assume?"
Teag didn't answer as he slowly stood, and the man smiled thinly.
"Come on out of zere, Teag."
The dreadlocked boy stiffened. "How do you know my name?" he asked at last.
"Raiyn told me."
Teag's fists clenched. "Where is he?" he demanded. "What did you do with him?"
"Ze child is safe and sound," the man assured.
"You think I'll believe that?" Teag growled.
"I suppose you can choose vat to believe, but you vaste concern on ze young boy."
"Who are you? Why are you buying slaves? What do you want with all of us?"
"My name is Doctor Aristo Zerek, and I brought Oni from your realm to mine so I could study zem." The man took a seat on Teag's bed, forcing Teag to move further away from the instant well so he could still keep him in sight. The outsider continued, his gaze locked on Teag's. "I'm a scholar, you see."
"A what?"
"I collect knowledge," the man tried. "My focus is on learning and understanding zings zat I don't know about. Do you understand?"
Teag frowned, not trusting the man's kind tone. There was something off about him, though Teag couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. "Like...Myrah," he said at last.
"Who's Myrah?" the scholar asked. Teag scowled, and the man opened his hands in a sincere gesture. "You are in no danger by talking, Teag. Like I said, I merely seek understanding."
"Myrah's the Western Leader," the Oni boy muttered. "She has a library, and a school...she likes learning."
The man looked surprised. "Really? I vas unaware zat oni culture had such infrastructure." He studied Teag with his unblinking stare. "Did you attend school?"
Teag looked away, not sure why he was even talking to the man. However, after waking up in the room by himself and being stuck in here for hours alone, he realized he was desperate for answers to what his fate had in store. The man was unnerving but didn't seem dangerous. "No," he admitted. "I wasn't invited."
"How interesting." The man leaned forward. "I am grateful zat you are villing to talk vith me, Teag. I have many questions about your powers zat I have not been able to answer before you arrived."
Teag felt a chill run up his spine, and he glanced down at the black cuff around his right wrist. He had woken with it on, and whatever it was, it must have been made of the same material as the strange chains that the traders had. He hadn't been able to summon his powers at all since waking up in the strange room. "What questions?"
"How did you unlock your powers?" the man asked simply. "I have studied each Oni I have brought here...and you are ze first who came vith your powers operational. How did zat occur? Vere you born vith the ability...or did you have to do something specific to unlock them?"
Teag rubbed his arms. "I dunno."
"How did you learn to use zem?" the man asked gently.
"Hershel showed me." Teag's voice became a whisper.
"And who is Hershel?"
Rather than answer, Teag stayed quiet as his eyes filled with tears against his will. He found himself wondering if Hershel had found Pippa yet, and the slave traders. But he wouldn't have found Raiyn...not if the toddler had been dragged here too. As scared as Teag was for the small boy, he couldn't help but have a glimmer of hope. Hershel would come looking for his son. Surely he would free Teag as well, if he found him here.
"It seems it is somevon important to you," the outsider pointed out. Teag wiped at his face.
"He's...he was my teacher."
"I see. And zis Hershel had ze ability to unlock your powers?"
Teag's expression contorted. "He didn't unlock them. He just helped me figure out how to use them."
"So how did they get unlocked?"
Memories trickled in. Even with the strange metal making his emotions less intense than usual, Teag's insides twisted with despair. "I don't want to talk about it," he said at last, disappearing back behind the low wall that separated the instant well from the area with the bed. He sat on the floor and buried his face in his arms.
"You are overvelmed. I suppose zat is to be expected." There was a clattering, and Teag assumed the man was collecting the various empty dishes that Teag had stashed in one corner of the room. "But you have been eating, it seems. Zat is good."
Teag didn't answer, keeping his eyes closed as he wished the man would go away. The sound of footsteps made Teag shrink backward, and then he felt a hand on his shoulder. The dreadlocked boy looked up at last so he could shove the man's hand away.
"Vas ze food okay?" the man asked. Teag froze, looking up in fear. The man must have guessed his thoughts because he chuckled. "It is not poisoned or tampered vith. In fact, it vas made vith full nutritional value in mind. I merely wondered how it tasted—I vas recently told it vas not very palatable."
Teag wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. "Tasted fine," he said at last, though his tone betrayed the fact that he was still suspicious of why the man was asking about it.
"I suppose Oni must have a simpler palate. Must be vie ve have not received more complaints about it," the man mused as he rubbed his chin. "No matter. I suppose ve have more pressing discoveries to make, outside of ze realm of culinary expertise."
Teag didn't answer, still wishing he would go away. The man either didn't notice his discomfort or he didn't care as he continued.
"I have vaited a long time to find somevon like you, Teag. You are going to be very helpful in furthering my research." He tilted his head slightly. "You could say zat you are ze key to ze rest of my study falling right into place."
Teag leaned back against the cold walls. "I'm nobody important," he muttered at last. "I can't help you with anything."
"You have powers—"
"Doesn't mean I'm important," Teag retorted, his eyes still stinging. Hershel had warned him that this would happen—that people would try to use him, just because he had unlocked something that no one else had. He found himself wishing he had never unlocked his powers—even if it meant that he would have never met Hershel and Tolan and the rest. It probably would have been better that way, he thought as he struggled to keep his tears at bay.
The man looked like he was going to say something else, but then a sound chirped. Teag stiffened, not sure where the chirping noise was coming from, but the outsider didn't seem concerned. If anything, he looked annoyed as he stood and pulled something out of the pocket of his long white coat. Teag wasn't sure what it was, but he held the object to his face.
"Vat do you need?" he asked in monotone voice.
"Nothing," Teag muttered. "I just want you to go away."
The man's gaze flicked to the boy on the ground, and the way he smiled made Teag feel like perhaps he hadn't been talking to him. But Teag wasn't sure who else he could have been talking to—there was no one else in the room.
"Patience, Ms. O'keefe. I promised I vas on it, and I am. I am doing rounds at ze moment, but zen I vill compile ze evidence I need to start authorities on ze wrong track. Goodbye." The man slid the object back into his pocket, shaking his head. "I am afraid I must end our visit here, Teag. But I vould like you to be zinking about ze circumstances zat lead to you unlocking your power. I am sure zere is much to be learned from your experiences. Zere is as much to discover from your past as zere vill be from our testing, I am sure...vich is vie ve must act quickly."
"Testing?" Teag asked dully. The man moved to the door of the room.
"Yes. My test subjects are generally...scattered after testing is complete. I vould hate to lose ze knowledge you contain by trying to document post experimentation."
Though he had no idea what the man was talking about, something about his tone made Teag's mouth feel dry. The outsider didn't say anything else, and Teag heard the click as the door swung shut.
Theo looked up from the table at the dining hall as a few door guards came into the room, accompanying a woman with a long braid. The Heir sagged in relief as he pushed himself to his feet.
"Where have you been?" he asked as Rook came over to join him.
She gave him a smile, but it seemed off. "What? Did you miss me?"
"Well..." Theo trailed off. "I just thought you would have been here this morning."
"I was doing some private research into our project," she said simply. "I wasn't sure if you'd still be off with Tolan looking for...whatever it was you were looking for." She studied him. "I take it you found it?"
Theo's expression darkened. "No...not that I've heard. My parents have sent out a search party as well...but I'm not sure anyone has found Pippa yet."
"Who exactly is Pippa, again?"
"She's Tolan's daughter—she disappeared with her cousin a few days back. They're known for being adventurous and getting into mischief, so I guess we're just afraid they got themselves into too much mischief this time." He braced himself for an insensitive comment from the irreverent young woman, but Rook just tugged at the end of her braid.
"I hope they find them," she said distantly. Theo frowned.
"Are you doing all right?"
"I'm fine. Just tired." She looked up to smirk. "After sleeping in a real bed in a fortress for a night, sleeping on the ground just isn't the same anymore."
Theo frowned. "You could have come back here to sleep."
Rook waved him off. "Don't worry about me—I was fine. I had to get things in order at my tent, and...and do that research I mentioned."
Theo studied the girl sitting across from him, but she wasn't meeting his eye as she stared at the table. After a minute, he pushed the rest of his lunch over to her. Rook glanced up, and he smirked. "You're probably hungry, then."
She looked down at the meal and scoffed softly. "Not really."
"Not really? I don't think I've ever seen you not hungry," he accused. Rook went to answer, but her stomach growled and cut her off. She blinked in surprise, and Theo gestured to the food on the plate. "I thought so. You can finish it—I had a big breakfast."
"Thanks," Rook mumbled, picking at the rest of his loaf.
"You sure you're all right?"
"Just feeling a little off," she admitted at last. Theo leaned in to ask for more information, and Rook finally looked up to meet his eye. She smirked, a little of her usual spark appearing for a moment. "Woman stuff, Princey. Don't ask."
Theo froze, and wisely didn't press further. After a minute, Rook pushed the tray of food away and stood, and Theo did as well.
"I'm sorry that we couldn't finish our day off yesterday," the Heir offered.
"It's fine," Rook said. "I had stuff to do, remember?" She rubbed her arm. "I should probably go, actually...you're probably going to want to go searching for those missing kids."
"I was told I'm not allowed," Theo said flatly. Rook looked up in surprise, and Theo shrugged bitterly. "Tolan would rather I stay put here than help look for his daughter, it seems. My parents were quick to agree with him about that...but of course they're out helping with the search."
Rook turned to frown. "The Ruler and her husband are out looking for some guard's daughter?"
"I know it probably seems strange," Theo realized. "But Tolan and his family are basically part of our family. Not to mention, my parents know what it feels like to have missing children." Rook's expression clouded, and Theo sank back down onto the wooden bench. "My sister and I were taken, when I was young," he offered at last.
"I think I heard something about that," Rook admitted. "But not really any details."
"It's not something we really talk about," Theo explained, looking down at the stone floors. "The criminals wanted something from my parents, so they took us to ransom for it."
"How'd they get in? Isn't this supposed to be the most defended fortress in the realm?" Rook came over to take a seat next to him, and he was surprised at how somber she was about it.
"They had a mole," Theo admitted with a grimace. "An old friend of my parents betrayed them and took us right from under their noses." Rook took a shuddery breath, and Theo looked over. "Are you all right?"
"I just...I'm fine. Sounds like it wasn't too awful though-your parents obviously got you back from the...traitor."
"At a high cost." Familiar feelings of dark fear began creeping in, and Theo shook his head to clear it. He stood again, giving Rook an apologetic smile. "I wasn't very old...but the memories are pretty ingrained. I don't really like talking about it."
"Makes sense." Rook's expression was far away, and she finally cleared her throat. "What did they do to the traitor? The one who took you...who was pretending to be their friend?"
"Um...I think Tolan's wife killed him," Theo admitted, rubbing his neck. Rook looked surprised, and he shrugged. "She doesn't really talk about it either. All I know is that he went after her, and she shot him with a crossbow."
"What would your parents have done, if they had caught him?" Rook blurted. Theo blinked in surprise, and she flushed and looked away. "I'm sorry. I've heard that they don't practice execution...but I have wondered at what point a crime becomes so great that they'd think about it."
"I don't know," Theo admitted at last. "My mom wasn't in a great mental state, after everything was said and done. If she had gotten ahold of him..." he trailed off and finally shrugged. "I don't know," he repeated.
Rook seemed lost to her own thoughts, and it occurred to Theo that she could be thinking about her own experience with being taken by criminals. Knowing how easily small triggers could stir up old, dark feelings. Theo sighed.
"I'm sorry to bring the mood down," he offered. "I'm sure Pippa and Raiyn are fine. She's a bit of a firecracker, but she does know how to handle herself. Her father's taught her well. I'm sure they went off on an adventure and took it a little too far." He reached out a hand for Rook. "What do you say that we take it easy and finish the rest of our day off now?"
Rook looked up and finally accepted his hand, though her thoughts still seemed far away. "What do you want to do?" she asked at last.
He shrugged. "I'm game for whatever, I suppose. We could spar, or take a tour of the fortress, since you seem to enjoy poking around." He waited for her to agree, but Rook just shrugged half-heartedly. Something is definitely off, he realized, and he wasn't really sure what to do about it.
Rook looked up as Theo took her hand, and he offered a small smile. "Or maybe we could just go back to the family quarters and relax?" he offered. Rook nodded distantly.
"I guess."
An idea came to mind, but Theo hesitated before offering it. They started walking toward his family's quarters, and he finally spoke. "Maybe...maybe we can play a game of chess?"
"Really?" Rook finally seemed to snap out of her thoughts as she looked over in surprise. He cleared his throat.
"I mean...I'm not promising much. Just a game or two to really show you how to play. After I beat you a few times, maybe you'll stop begging me to play it with you."
Rook smiled at last. "All right, Theodynn. I'll take you up on that."
71
M shifted his arm in the sling again, trying to get comfortable. The new room he had been brought to had a window at least, though he wasn't near enough to see out of it. Next to him, one of the burly scientists was sitting as still as a statue, and the young man tried not to fidget as they waited.
"So...are you all part of some crazy family of spy scientists or something?" M asked the goon, nervous in the silence. "I swear you and all the other guys look basically the same." The man didn't answer, and M couldn't help but continue. "And are the sunglasses necessary? Is the light in this building really that blinding that you have to wear them? Are my eyes going to be damaged because I'm not wearing sunglasses?"
The man continued to sit in silence, and M. shifted on the cold metal chair. There were other chairs, and a table in the room with him. He wasn't sure whether he should be happy for a change of scene after the last few days. Had it been several days since Amber had been taken from his room? Or just one? No one was keeping him informed on what time it was, let alone what day it was. He had been trying to keep track, but he honestly wasn't sure how long he had been locked up here, considering Amber was under the impression that he had been missing several days before she had gotten here. All he knew was he was in desperate need of a shower and a shave.
"You know...when Amber told me about these kinds of adventures and situations, she left out how much boring wait time there is," M. muttered. "If I have to spend any longer sitting in that room all alone with nothing to do, I'm going to lose my mind."
The guard next to him ignored the comment, just as he had ignored all the others. M. sighed.
"What am I doing here?" he asked, fully expecting not to receive an answer.
"Zerek ordered zat you be brought," the man said at last. "Ve are avaiting him now."
"Zerek...that's the old dude, right? Creepy Scientist Boss-Man?"
The silence began anew, and M leaned backwards in his chair as he adjusted the sling once again. Feeling fidgety, he moved to stand and walk to the window, but the guard put out an arm to force him back into the chair.
"You are to wait here."
"Your boss man is taking his sweet time," M. pointed out. "Can't I just stretch my legs?"
"No."
"Geez." M. sank further down in his chair, his frustration building. Honestly, he would have blown his top days ago, if fear hadn't been getting in the way of his irritation. He tried to make the time pass by staring at the guard, trying to see how long he could look disgustedly at the man before the guard said something. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to bother the sunglass wearer at all.
The door handle to the room twisted, and M turned, not sure whether to feel relief or dread. When he saw who came in, he sagged. "Amber?"
The Xinta looked like she hadn't been sleeping much—Amber was pale, with dark circles under her eyes. She was sporting the same jumpsuit that M was wearing, which made him angry. Why did the scientists take their clothes? What good did they really do putting them in these jumpsuits like prison inmates? As M. said her name, Amber looked up to meet M's eye. Her expression clouded, and she turned to someone behind her.
"You said you wanted my help," the Oni said coldly. "What's M doing here?"
"I zot you vould like to see him," came the reply, and M. scowled as he watched the mad scientist come into the room. Zerek seemed unaffected by Amber's hateful look. "His arm has been healing nicely."
"No thanks to you lot," M. muttered, and Amber turned. He regretted saying anything when he saw Amber go pale.
"Have they been hurting you?" she asked fearfully.
"No," he assured quickly. "I just meant it was this guy's goons who pulled it out of socket to begin with."
"Take a seat by your friend, Amber," Zerek said, cutting into their conversation. Amber hesitated before making her way over to where M was. Her hair looked frazzled—no one had given M. a hairbrush, so he doubted they had given her one, either. What did surprise him was how pretty she still managed to look, even with a weird jumpsuit and messy hair.
"Are you okay?" he asked as she took a seat. Amber's expression was pinched and she didn't answer, and M was surprised when she reached over at took his good hand in hers. She held to it tightly, and he gave it a squeeze. The fact that his all-powerful Xinta warrior princess friend seemed scared didn't really do much to reassure him, but he refused to act cowed in front of the mad scientist and his crony. If Zerek was using him as a way to control Amber, M. was going to do his best to counter that.
"I am glad you vere villing to join me," Zerek offered, taking a seat at the table on the other side of the room from the two young adults.
"What did you need help with?" Amber asked darkly. The scientist didn't answer right away, and M realized that he was carrying a bag, which he now lifted onto the table and began to unload. The items he pulled out were random, and M was confused at first. It wasn't until he recognized his own T-shirt that he leaned forward.
"That's our stuff!" he accused.
"Indeed," Zerek said, pulling a pair of Reggie Blue Hightops from the bag. M's eyebrows rose.
"Wait...I know those!" He moved to stand, but the guard pushed him back into his seat by his good shoulder. M's gaze was hateful as he glowered at the scientist across the room. "You've got Dani locked up here, too? How many people have you got stuffed in this psycho castle, you maniac?"
"Yes...ze expendable girl. She vas not supposed to be here, originally, but—"
"What do you mean, expendable?" M. demanded as Amber's grip on his hand became vice like.
"She serves no real purpose to my plans," Zerek offered with a shrug.
"It's bad enough you've kidnapped the lot of us," M pointed out vehemently. "The cops are going to find us...and if they find out that you've hurt any of us..."
"Yes...I do believe ze authorities vill be on ze hunt shortly. I predict zey vill start looking as soon as tomorrow...vich is vie I've been assembling evidence to make sure zey are following ze correct trail." Zerek gestured to the pile of belongings, and M's mouth felt dry.
"That junk isn't going to convince anybody," he muttered, hoping he sounded confident. Zerek smiled tightly.
"Do not concern yourself vith ze details," the scientist said before turning his gaze to Amber. "I brought you here to give me a little clarification on somezing zat ve discovered in your personal items." He reached down into the bag before pulling out some kind of weird device. M. frowned when he saw it, but he heard Amber's breath catch. Zerek turned back to her, raising an eyebrow. "So...vat is it?"
"A can opener." Amber's voice sounded almost robotic, and M. glanced back at the item in the scientist's hand. It did kind of look like a can opener, but he doubted that Amber would have been carrying one around on her. Zerek looked just as convinced as he eyed Amber coldly.
"Amber...I am a scientist," he reminded. "I know zis mechanism is far too complex to have a function so simple." Amber didn't reply to that, and Zerek began twisting different dials on the sides of it. "I have been studying it, but I cannot get it to vork. It seems zat some part of it is faulty...so I zot I vould just ask you vat ze function is so I could fix it." The Oni continued to be silent, and Zerek shook his head. "I do not vant to have to constantly rely on harsher methods of persuasion to gain your compliance, Amber."
M stiffened as the guard next to him moved at last. The large man pulled a vial out of his pocket. M looked at the vial with trepidation, though he tried to scoff to hide the fact that he had broken out into a cold sweat. "What? You'll knock me out if she doesn't talk with you?" M. guessed, trying not to think about how long the needle was.
"Zis vial does not contain an anesthetic, actually," Zerek offered.
"Then what's in it?" M. found himself asking.
The scientist smiled grimly. "Ancient Metallonian tribes used to practice medicine vith ze various plants native to zis region. Based on zeir primal research, ve now have a pretty good understanding of vat various natural serums can do." The man gestured vaguely with one hand. "Some do render people unconscious, vhile ozers can calm nerves and slow heart rates. And some don't appear to have much practical use at all, at least, not in ze medical field."
"So what's this one?" M. demanded, trying not to let his panic out in his voice and failing somewhat. Amber's grip was still tight on his hand, and he prayed that the Oni was trying to think of a plan to get them out of here. She was the adventurer, and had days to think. Surely that was enough time for her to come up with a way to escape, right?
"Zis particular fluid seems to temporarily affect ze body's nervous system." Zerek's gaze was unfeeling as he studied the vial in his colleague's hand thoughtfully.
"So it's a threat," Amber said dully. "You'll do something to M if I don't help you."
Zerek shrugged. "If you have better suggestions for how to get you to comply vith my research, I vould love to hear them," he offered. "Unfortunately, it seems negative reinforcement has again and again proven itself to be ze most effective vay to get vat I need out of less zan villing contributors."
Amber glowered, and M tried not to think about what the vial would actually do if they injected him with it. "The machine is a communicator," the Oni admitted at last. "But it doesn't work here, so there's no point in you having it."
"A communicator?" Zerek looked down at the object in his hand, and understanding finally dawned on him. "Ah...of course. Using magnetic fields to break down ze barrier between realms...I should have known. After all, it vas our unique magnetic fields zat made ze vindow between our realms zin enough for Oni to cross over into Metallonia in ze first place, if my research is correct."
"She told you what you wanted to know," M pointed out, still eyeing the strange vial. "Can you put away the freaky needle before you launch into a history lesson?"
"An inter-realm communication device," Zerek continued, ignoring M completely as he studied the strange machine in his hand. "I do believe zat could come in handy."
"It doesn't work!" Amber reminded. "So there's no point..."
"I am a scientist and realm-renowned engineer," Zerek replied simply, glancing up at the Oni again. "I do believe I can solve ze issues plaguing ze device."
"What are you going to do with it?" the Oni demanded again, and M could hear the concern in her voice. He personally was still trying to catch up with the conversation.
"I do not know yet," Zerek offered. "But it is helpful to have accurate information." He tucked the device into his lab coat, and M glanced between Amber and the scientist, trying to gauge how bad it was that he knew what the can opener really did now.
"Can we go?" he finally asked. "You got the information you wanted—"
"I actually have many more questions," Zerek offered. He leaned back against the table that held the various objects as he studied the two young adults. "As a Xinta, you must know more about how Oni power operates zan ozer Oni. I have questioned many of ze residents about ze function of Oni aura...but zey are only able to offer superficial information such as how it looks. It seems few Oni have had direct experience viz ze power of zeir lineage."
"What do you want to know?" Amber asked guardedly.
"Everyzing," Zerek offered with a smile. Amber narrowed her eyes, and the scientist shrugged. "Information can be gained zrough experimentation...but it can also be gazered by talking to experts. If you can tell me everyzing you know about your power, zen it vill save me from having to learn ze basics zrough costly procedure."
The Oni went quiet, and it was unclear whether she was thinking about where to start or being defiant. Zerek must have had the same thought because he tilted his head. "Perhaps it vould be helpful to share vat I already know about Oni power? Zen you can help me fill in ze blanks."
"Why do you want to know about it?" Amber demanded. "What's the point of knowing?"
"Knowledge is control," the scientist answered easily. "Ze more you know about how somezing functions, ze more you can manipulate it to your benefit. Knowledge of classic forms of energy—coal, turbines, and so on—led our society to create ze inventions zat our world now relies on. Electricity, machinery...robotics." For a moment, his expression flickered, but then he continued. "However, turbines and fuel are not ze only vay to gazer energy. Our world has contained elemental power for a long while, and yet zat energy has ultimately gone to vaste."
"People used those elemental powers to keep the realm safe," M argued. "That's hardly going to waste."
Zerek looked amused. "Yes...I suppose ze power had to be used to guard humanity against it's own faults. Greed, pride...a lust for power and position zat has historically pit people against each ozer for as long as people have been in Ninjago. But to me, using elemental powers to protect humans from zeir own poor decisions is still a vaste."
Something about the way that Zerek was talking was odd, but M couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Amber also seemed to be lost in thought as she watched the scientist carefully.
"Ven I arrived in Metallonia, I vas interested in ze past it boasted. I researched—"
"Arrived in Metallonia? Aren't you from here?" M demanded.
"Do not interrupt," Zerek answered, his gaze becoming steely. M. scowled, but he kept quiet as he glanced at the vial that was still in the guard's hand. The scientist continued. "As I vas saying, I researched Metallonian culture and history and discovered a link zat zis country seemed to have viz ze Oni realm. I dug deeper, and discovered ze legends about zis region in particular—ze mountains of Estyeer. I began to search zem for fabled hidden treasure, curious if zere vas merit to ze stories. I vas not sure vat to expect—useless money? Or somezing greater? It vas vile searching ze mountain caves ven I discovered vat ze legends vere about."
The scientist trailed off as his phone buzzed, and he frowned as he looked down to push ignore on whoever was contacting him.
"What did you find?" M demanded, forgetting he wasn't supposed to interrupt. It seemed Zerek didn't care much about this inquiry, because he glanced up and raised an eyebrow.
"A dragon."
M felt Amber shift, and he looked over to see that his friend had a hard to read expression. Zerek smiled, as if he could sense their surprise.
"It seemed to be in a form of hibernation, tucked avay in deep chambers, chained up to ze valls. Vonce, it vould have been nearly impossible to find ze chamber zrough the maze of tunnels and caves in ze mountains...but vith modern technology ve managed to find and excavate ze dragon's chamber. Zat cave became my first laboratory in Estyeer as I conducted various experiments on ze beast. I ended up vaking ze dragon, and it managed to break free from its ancient chains." Zerek rubbed his face. "I vas not as experienced in housing living samples back zen—ze dragon managed to escape ze confinements of ze cave by blasting its vay zrough ze chamber's ceiling. It did prove to be fortuitous zat I did not bind ze dragon more securely. I remember distinctly zat I had grabbed a chain still connected to ze dragon in an effort to stop ze beast, only to be pulled out of ze mountain and into ze air. One moment ve vere careening into ze sky above Estyeer...ze next ve vere plummeting...and zen ve vere in a separate vorld all together."
"The dragon transported you," Amber guessed quietly.
"Indeed. Ve entered ze Oni realm and I found myself in a small village in ze middle of a desert ravine. Ze beast vas tired from ze jump, vich allowed me to inject it vith enough serum to calm it and render it useful to me. Vith ze dragon under control, I vas able to fully appreciate my discovery—not only vas ze village full of living, breathing Oni, but ze Oni appeared to boast accents similar to zat of ze Metallonian people. Zis discovery sent me into months of research. Based on ze information I vas able to collect from legends, history, and my own investigations into ze magnetic fields of Metallonia, I vas able to reach several conclusions. First, it seemed ze dragon actually belonged to ze Conquering Oni of legend, who reached our realm zrough Metallonia—no doubt because our magnetic fields made ze connection easiest to obtain here. Zey conquerers came viz armies and dragon slaves in search of ze First Spinjitzu Master, but zey vere first assaulted by ze stubborn tribes of Metallonia."
Zerek paused, stroking his chin as he seemed lost in thought. "Ze legends become hazy as to vat exactly happened. Ve have evidence zat ze Oni vere led by a trio of generals, as zese Generals are credited vith ze creation of ze legendary Oni Masks. In some legends, ze Generals' army consisted soley of Oni zat vere brought into ze realm...in ozers, zey also consisted of Metallonian people zat vere somehow conscripted into joining zem. Given ze stubborn nature of Metallonians, it vould seem unlikely zat zey vould choose to fight on ze side of a conquering force...but I vill not admit to know ze extent of vat Oni power is able to accomplish. Regardless, ze Oni generals amassed an army intent on bringing Ninjago on its knees and reclaiming ze First Spinjitzu Master.
"Ze preparation lasted for years, but ze ultimate battle vas surprisingly short, zough brutal. In ze end, it seems ze First Spinjitzu Master and his army of elemental masters and Metallonian warriors defeated ze Oni by taking out ze trio of generals. Ze First Spinjitzu Master left Metallonia after ze battle, taking ze two Oni Masks he vas able to procure viz him. Ze Mask of Hatred vas ze only von he vas unable to acquire as it had somehow vanished during ze battle. According to legend, it vas stolen from ze general it belonged to by a cowardly oni varrior who vanted its powers of invincibility, but ven ze entire army vas defeated, ze thief vanished viz ze mask in tow.
"Ze rest of ze Oni in ze generals' army must have scattered in ze defeat of zeir leaders. It is commonly assumed zey transported back to zeir own realm using power or dragon captives. I believe zat ze dragon I found vas one such beast, forgotten by Oni and unknown to ze First Spinjitzu Master, hidden in hibernation all zese years until I discovered him and he managed to free himself at last to return home to his realm, leading me to discover ze modern Oni civilization.
"I used ze dragon to volley between realms, and I visited again and again in order to further my research. I discovered zat zis ravine village vas secluded from ze rest of ze realm—in fact, ze "Raviners" rarely venture outside zeir isolated village. Zey seem to be a peaceful people, and I personally hypothesis zat ze current villagers' ancient ancestors are zose who were defeated by ze First Spinjitzu Master in Ninjago and retreated back to zeir own realm. I am unfamiliar vith ancient Oni culture, but I vould assume zat zey vere not eager to share zeir loss vith ze rest of ze realm, including ze Oni leaders of ze time. Perhaps zat is vie zey secluded zemselves in ze ravine zey transported back into, deciding to eke out a living in ze harsh vilderness razer zan return to zeir civilization as failures. Fascinatingly, it seems zey vere not completely unaffected by zeir years in Metallonia, as even now, zeir accents are similar to zat of our people. And, based on ze histories I studied, it seems zat Metallonia vas also affected by zeir encounter vith ze Oni. Zough Oni vere seen as ze villainous conquerers, zeir strength and varrior mentality vas—and is still to zis day—impressive to ze Metallonian people. It is perhaps vie Metallonia gained its own reputation of tribal warriorhood—because zey vere trying to mimic ze stout varriors zey had fought in ze past."
Zerek trailed off, and M spoke up again. "This has been a super cool history lesson," he pointed out sarcastically. "But what has this got to do with Amber?"
The scientist smiled thinly. "History is important for context. I found myself especially intrigued by ze fact zat oni of legend seemed to hold special power, but ze modern Oni I interacted vith in ze ravine explained zat it vas rare for any Oni to hold it in ze modern era. I became increasingly interested vith getting ahold of zis power. Ven it became clear zat no von in ze village contained it, I began offering rewards if zey could procure somvon who did. Eventually, my visits and my requests somehow caught ze attention of slave traders in your realm, who promised to get me vat I vanted. Zey set up base in ze Ravine, but months vent by vith no luck in procuring any powered Oni. Zat is ze point I decided to start buying powerless Oni from ze traders in an effort to break zrough zeir blocks myself—"
"You already told us this part!" M. snapped, not eager to be told once again how the creepy scientist had killed people on the road to finding power. Afraid that Zerek was about to go into more detail about his experiments, the young man leaned forward. "Just tell us what you want to know already."
Zerek's expression became stern, and Amber spoke up before the scientist could. "It sounds like you know more than I do," the xinta pointed out. "I've never heard any of this. I'm not sure I can help with whatever it is you want to know."
Zerek turned his attention away from M and back to the oni. "I did not expect you to be familiar vith Metallonian history or how it tied to your realm. Zat is vie I explained it to you upfront. But despite the historical significance of Oni-Metallonian legends, zey tell me very little about how Oni power actually operates. In some legends, the aura is compared to raining fire coming from the oni themselves, while in others accounts it seems that objects such as ze Oni Masks held ze true power while ze oni vere merely warriors wielding powered weapons. I know for a fact zat Oni do carry ze power vithin zemselves, but it leaves me perplexed on how such powered objects could be made. Just as a machine is infused vith energy, zese objects seem to be as vell, zough zey contain no circuitry or engineering of any kind. Also, since ze masks had different functions, it leads me to believe zat your power can be used in such a vide variety of vays. Zis is vat I vould like to learn more about...as vell as ze abilities a Xinta has specifically."
"What do you mean?" Amber asked carefully. She was still holding M's hand, and he was realizing that her hands seemed clammy. "Xinta don't have any special power...we just tend to have better control of our power, is all."
"Perhaps zat is part of it...but ze Raviners and Slave Traders I've been in contact vith over ze last few years have told me rumors." Zerek raised an eyebrow. "Is it true zat Xinta can delve into people's very minds and make changes zere?"
Amber took a shuddery breath, and M looked over to see that she had gone pale.
"She can read feelings, not minds, genius," he snapped, and Zerek looked over at him.
"Vat do you mean?" the scientist demanded. Amber's grip on M's hand tightened in warning, but M continued regardless.
"You want to know how their power works? Well...it's all tied into feelings," M said. "Their feelings become power, and they can feel what other people feel. That's why Amber always knows when I'm mad, or sad, or...or..." He trailed off, his mind going blank. He kind of understood Amber's power, but he was realizing that he didn't actually know how to explain it.
"Powered by emotion," Zerek mumbled, as if deep in thought.
"So unless you want her to tell you what someone is feeling, then Amber's not going to be much help to you," M. finished firmly.
Zerek scoffed softly. "I can already ascertain how someone is feeling based on various clues," he mused. "Heart rate, expression, and other zings make it so I can generally assume mood. However, I cannot delve into someone's psyche, as I vas led to believe a Xinta could."
"Then you were led to believe wrong," M. said, hoping he sounded confident so Zerek would believe the lie. Amber had told him stories about doing that very thing...at least, she had somehow affected her brother's memories when he had come back to life. Not that he had ever really understood that story, but he did know that the less this Zerek guy knew about what Amber could do, the better.
"I see." Zerek's tone was as monotone as ever, making it hard to know whether he believed M or not. He was studying the young man closely. "It appears you know a little about Oni power yourself."
The way he said it made M's blood go cold, and Amber spoke up again. "M. doesn't know anything about Oni power," she countered, shooting him a firm look.
"You've told me about it..." he countered.
"But you don't really understand it." Amber's voice was firm. Zerek glanced between the two of them, but then his phone buzzed again. He glanced down at it and slid it into his pocket before turning to the goon sitting next to M.
"Seventeen, please escort Mr. Openheimer back to his room."
"What? Why?" M. demanded as the goon pulled him to his feet by his good arm.
"Because I do not believe ve vill actually need you present for ze rest of our discussion," Zerek said easily.
"What do you mean?" Amber snapped, standing as M. was forced to release her hand as he was dragged toward the door.
"Do not vorry, Amber. Zis is not a punishment—I am zinking zat perhaps it is not necessary to keep your friend in ze room during our discussions. Vould you not prefer to talk vithout the constant threat of negative reinforcement?"
"Can't he stay here without you threatening him?" Amber asked. M. couldn't read feelings himself, but Amber's fear was obvious. It was clear that the Oni didn't want to be left alone with the freaky scientist, and M. didn't blame her. He tried once again to unsuccessfully wrench free from the goon's grasp.
"I'm not leaving her with you, you psycho!" he spat, but Zerek ignored him as he continued to address the Oni.
"Relax, Amber. Zere is no need to fear—your friend will be safe in his room, and ve are merely going to continue our conversation vithout him. Zis is your chance to show me zat you can be compliant vithout needing ze reinforcement."
Amber met M's eye one last time before M was forced to turn around and face the door. However, before the goon had the chance to reach for the handle, the door swung open from the outside. In the doorway, a woman stood with lips pursed in frustration, her perfectly manicured eyebrows furrowed dangerously. It was an expression that M had seen many times—but he would never in his wildest dreams or nightmares have thought he would see it here.
Whatever Matilda had been on the verge of exploding about seemed to die in her throat as she caught sight of who was standing opposite her in the doorway, and M. shook his head as bile rose. The woman blinked twice, rapidly, as if she didn't understand what she was seeing. "...Marty?"
M shook his head, feeling numb as he stared at his mother. "You've got to be joking."
72
"You're in trouble now," Rook pointed out, moving her dragon closer to the Heir's dwindling black pieces. Theodynn rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. Rook took his katana-wielding bishop with a flourish, plopping it unceremoniously into her pile of collected pieces. "All hail the dragon queen," she pointed out. "Checkmate."
"Not so fast..." Theo countered. "You've only got my king in check now...but you seem to have forgotten how knights move again."
Rook's smile faded quickly as Theo moved a hoofer-riding soldier to the spot that Rook's dragon queen had just landed. The assassin scowled as she watched him put the queen off to one side. "I was sure I had it that time."
"Hey, you're doing really well considering that it's only the fifth time you've played," Theo said.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because it just sounds like you're congratulating yourself for beating me five times in a row."
"I haven't won yet," Theo countered.
"I think I've had enough of chess at the moment," Rook said, eyeing her ivory pieces frustratedly. "I think I would have a better chance if I was the Oni. The dragons seem destined to lose."
"They're exactly the same," Theo laughed, though he began cleaning the game up. "I used to insist on playing the dragon side, and I won plenty of games with those pieces."
Rook picked up the black pieces she had acquired during the match, studying the Oni pawns before setting them back in their squares. "Why change sides, if the dragons were so lucky for you?"
Theo's smile faded somewhat. "I guess I just wanted to see what it was like to play from the other side," he admitted. They put the last pieces back, and Rook rubbed her arms against the chill in the room. The sun must have gone down—the room had gotten colder. The Heir must have realized, because he stood and headed over to the fireplace. Rook watched as he used his aura to start the wood inside burning, and she frowned.
"It's still odd that you do that sort of stuff yourself," she admitted. "What do your servants even get paid for?"
"Upkeeping the rest of the fortress," Theo shrugged. "Why force someone to come all the way in here to do something I can easily do myself?"
Quazier does, Rook thought to herself. She had spent her first year with the traders on the bottom rung of the inner circle, doing menial tasks for the higher players of the slave trade. She had made a point to get out of that position, proving her skills as a warrior, not a fire-starter...but there were some traders that were barely better than slaves themselves, who had been stuck in the subservient tasks for years.
"Are you sure you're okay?" the Heir asked again, and Rook snapped out of her thoughts. She cursed herself once again—if she couldn't get her head in the game, Theodynn was going to suspect something was off. Ancients...he already suspected that something was off. The problem was that the more Rook tried to focus, the more she thought about Quazier and everything on the line. The more she thought about all of that, the more cornered she felt.
"I told you, I'm just tired," she muttered, leaving the chessboard behind as she headed over to the couch. Theo finished with the fire and closed the grate before coming over himself. He sank down onto the spot next to her, and Rook fiddled with the end of her braid. She had hunted down slaves, deserters, and others who Quazier had thought were dangerous for his trade. So why was this particular job creating so much anxiety? It's high stakes, Rook. That's all—the stakes are higher than ever, so you don't want to mess it up.
"Don't feel too bad about the chess thing," Theo said, as if assuming her multiple losses were the cause of her withdrawing once again. "I think you'll really get the hang of it, if you keep practicing. You can see the angles, and you're planning ahead, which is one of the hardest parts of the game. The problem is that you're too headstrong with your approach. It's like once you lock onto a certain route, you run headlong into it without pausing to see if there are other paths you could take. Chess is about strategy, but it's also about being flexible enough to change that strategy if needed."
You don't hesitate, Rookie. That's what I like about you... Quazier's voice came into her mind—something he had told her over and over when he had first started seriously training her for the position she currently held.
"You've got to keep your opponent guessing, too," Theo continued. "You get too excited about what you assume is a winning move that you don't stop to try to guess what plans the other side is making."
You've got the drive. You've got the ambition. You have what it takes to go far.
"But it's not like you have to be perfect at it right now. I used to lose all the time when I first started...to be fair, my first opponents were nindroids and their genius son, but still..."
"I think I found the slave trade." The words blurted out before Rook could stop them, and the Heir's words cut off as he looked at her in shock. Rook wouldn't meet his eye as she leaned back on the couch.
"What do you mean?" Theodynn finally asked.
"That's what I was doing yesterday. I went to the Eastern Market, and I got some really good intel. I think it may lead right to the hub of the trade."
"And you're just telling me this now?" Theo looked like he wasn't sure whether to be angry or excited. "How do you know it's good intel?"
"Well...the merchant seemed sincere. I guess I won't really know until I talk with the person that the merchant pointed me to...but if things go as planned, they should tell me the location of the true slave hub.
"Let's go now!" Theo begged. "My parents won't be home for a bit—they're still out searching. We could easily slip out and—"
"I have to do it alone." Once again, Rook's words cut the prince off, and she realized that he looked almost hurt. She leaned forward. "I'm not going to take them down without you...I just really want to make sure this intel is legitimate before I pull you into it. If it is, I promise you'll be the first one to know, and we'll take them down together."
Theo still looked unsure as he studied her. "Is this why you've been acting strange all day?" he finally asked. Rook stood, still avoiding his gaze. For some reason, it was really hard to meet his eye.
"I just...we're so close. And as amazing as it will be to take down the slave trade once and for all..." she trailed off as she moved away from the couch, but that just landed her right back next to the chessboard. The pieces seemed to stare up at her, and the queen piece especially seemed to be looking right into her soul.
"This is what we've both been working for," Theo pointed out. "Rook...ending the slave trade is what we both want. Why do you seem so hesitant?"
Rook stared at the ebony and ivory chess pieces for a few more seconds while her mind screamed at her. At last, she forced herself to turn and face the Heir. She had expected him to seem angry about her hesitation, but instead, she realized he just looked genuinely concerned. Something twisted inside. "It's going to be a little awkward, isn't it?" she asked.
"Um...awkward?"
"I mean yes, we'll have defeated them at last...but then everyone will know that we were lying. Your parents will know that you've been researching this on the side and breaking all their rules."
Theo's expression clouded then, but he finally sighed. "It was always going to come to that, if I managed to find the hub of the trade. But taking it down is more important than what people think."
"What about what they think of me?" Rook took a step toward him, forcing him to hold her gaze. "What are they going to think when they find out that we were never actually seeing each other? That it was all a lie, and I'm just some scavenging nobody from the south who was helping you take down the traders?"
"Uh..." Theo rubbed his neck. "Technically, people wouldn't have to know that we weren't really dating."
Rook felt a flare of hope inside, and she took a step closer so that they were only inches apart. "So we stop pretending? We'll keep seeing each other, and no one will ever know it was a lie because it wouldn't be a lie anymore? That's what you want?"
Theo seemed dazed, but Rook's heart was already beating wildly as she wrapped her arms around him. It was something she had done a dozen times the last few weeks...but this time, it wasn't a show for someone else. It wasn't done to embarrass or distract him. Quazier had made it seem like there was only one option that would leave her with everything she needed...but what if he had been wrong? What if the path he had been so sure would never work was the direction Rook should be putting her trust in?
"Rook—"
Whatever Theodynn was going to say was cut off as she kissed him. For a moment or two, Rook's heart pounded with exhilaration...but then it occurred to her that the Heir wasn't reciprocating. The assassin pulled away, though she kept her arms around him. Theo looked shell-shocked, standing as still as a chess piece himself. Panic began creeping in, but Rook tried to laugh it off as she moved a hand into his hair.
"Hey, Theodynn? This is the part where you kiss me back," she tried with a coy smile. Rather than laugh or relax, Theo seemed to tense further. The panic in Rook's system urged her to try to kiss him again, but when he put a hand up to block the attempt, her panic turned to dread.
"I can't do this again." His voice was hushed as he extracted himself from her hold, stumbling back away from her. Rook's fists clenched as she watched him pull away.
"Can't do what again?"
"The chess, the talks in front of the fireplace...being blindsided..." It wasn't clear if he was talking to Rook or himself as he shook his head with a distant expression. "It's exactly what happened with her."
"With who?" Rook demanded, taking in his haunted look. "Do you mean that girl from the market?"
"I can't do it all over again," he repeated, backing further away.
"I'm nothing like her!" Rook argued, her face flushing with anger. "This can't be the same because you can hardly compare me to that—"
"But it feels the same!" he snapped. "And I already made that mistake once."
"That's not fair!" Rook followed him, backing him against a wall as he tried to distance himself. "You can't judge me off of her...besides, you were the one who said that we didn't need to pretend anymore!"
"I only said that no one would have to know it was a lie," the Heir corrected.
"So what? We take the trade down and then say that we broke it off the same weekend? We go our separate ways and no one will have to know that it wasn't a real separation because they'll never know we were never actually seeing each other? That's what you meant?"
Theo seemed confused at her anger. "Rook...this was always the plan. We joined forces to take the slave trade down."
"So once we do that...we just go back to being strangers?" Rook asked softly. The turmoil inside was finally turning to a feeling of dark determination.
"I didn't say we had to be strangers, I just can't..." he trailed off, rubbing at his face in defeat. "Look...this arrangement was only ever to defeat the slave traders. I'm sorry. I'm not ready for—"
"Don't be sorry." Rook forced herself to smile, tilting her head as she finally managed to slip into her confident self again. "I'm the one who lost sight of the end goal."
"Rook—"
"No, you're right. There was only one reason that I came here in the first place...and it's the same reason I need to hold on to now." She turned away in case any of her inner bitterness was showing on the outside, despite her attempts to keep her tone light. "We've come too far to get distracted."
"I didn't mean—"
"Stop apologizing!" Rook ordered, turning to face him again. "There's nothing to apologize for." She tossed her hair over one shoulder as she gave him a smirk. "Look, I've got to go—if I can follow up on the intel I received tonight, then the two of us can be ready to go in the morning."
Theo stared at her, as if he didn't believe that she was actually fine. But she was—she was great, even. The path forward was painfully clear now. It didn't pay to be wishy-washy and hesitant. Her mistake was in trying to be anything other than what she had been trained to be: ambitious, driven, and confident. That was the Rook that was going to go places...not the tentative idealist she had been all day.
"I'll be fine, Princey...I'm just going to follow through, and then tomorrow, the two of us are going to take down these traders once and for all. All right?"
The Heir nodded slowly before sighing. "If you're so sure that this is the hub, then we need to get my parents involved." Theodynn didn't sound very eager about the fact, but his expression was resigned.
"What? No! Are you insane?"
"We can't take down all the traders all on our own, Rook. If this is it—the final battle—then we'll need the help of my parents. At the very least, we'll need—"
"But what if I'm wrong?" Rook cut in desperately. She took a step closer, fixing him with a stern look. "Theodynn, I'm fairly certain this is it...but if I'm wrong and it isn't, and you tell everyone, then we're sunk! They'll lock us both up and we'll lose the chance to ever take the trade down."
Theodynn seemed to be thinking about it, and his expression clouded. Rook pressed harder.
"I'm not saying that you and I try to take on the whole hub by ourselves, but we need proof. Hard, fast proof that this is the real center of trade. Then we tell your parents and get the army together, after they've seen that you singlehandedly tracked the real trade down and got them into a corner. At that point, your parents will see that they can't keep locking you up...they'll have to realize that you're not the weak person they think you are."
"They don't think I'm weak," Theo argued, but she could hear the glimmer of doubt in his voice.
"All I'm saying is we have to do this right. We're so close...but if we blow the whistle too soon then it will all come crumbling down. Not to mention if an army shows up and its the wrong location, it will tip off the traders and we'll have lost this last lead."
Theo still looked conflicted, but he finally sighed. "So what exactly is the plan?"
"I follow through with the intel tonight, and see if I can get the true location out of the person I was sent to."
"Why can't I come with you to do that?"
"Because the person I'm talking with doesn't know that you're part of the equation, Theodynn. They'll never talk to the Oni Heir...but they'll talk to a nobody like me. Once I get the location out of him, I'll come back to get you and we'll go find the trade hub together. After we're sure that we've found the right place, we come back and let your parents know." She searched his expression, praying that he would agree to it. "We'll be careful—no unnecessary risks. But even if we run into trouble, we're not pushovers. You're skilled, Theodynn—really skilled. I'm no hoofer calf either—if we find the trade and anyone tries to mess with us, I know that we'd be able to hold our own together."
The Heir sighed, wiping at his face. Rook reached out and touched his arm, staring at him desperately.
"Promise me you won't involve your parents, Theodynn. Not yet."
"All right," he agreed, looking up to meet her eye again. "We'll go to gather evidence, and then we'll make the case. But we'll have to be careful not to get caught—if we tip them off in any way, they're going to scatter and we'll lose them."
"I know we can do this," Rook said, squeezing his arm. "It's what we've both been after for so long—we're not going to mess this up, as long as we work together, just the two of us." She smiled coaxingly. "Don't you trust me?"
Theodynn studied her for a moment, and then he nodded slowly. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Rook grinned. "See that you're ready when I get here. We've got one shot at this."
There was a rigidness in the air—the same kind of feeling that arose when an experiment was on the edge of disaster. Zerek watched as mother and son stared at each other in shock, and then he spoke again.
"Seventeen, continue with your orders," he said, and his staff member forced the young man around his mother and through the door. The movement seemed to break the stunned silence, and Amber's friend immediately began yelling and fighting.
"The crap you pulled three years ago wasn't enough?" he demanded, glowering at his mother as he was dragged away. "When you get exposed for this, there's not going to be any coming back!"
Matilda was uncharacteristically silent as she watched her son get dragged away, and then the door closed. Amber was standing stock-still, and Zerek wasn't sure what the oni was thinking. As far as he was aware, Amber knew of Matilda O'Keefe's involvement, as she was the one who abducted her friends and led them to reach out to the xinta for help. Yet now she seemed frozen with shock of her own.
"Zerek...what is my son doing here?" Ms. O'Keefe finally found her voice, and she turned to stare at the scientist coldly.
"I informed you zat ve vere housing boz Amber and a friend—"
"You didn't think you needed to tell me that friend was my son?" Matilda's voice rose, and Zerek was surprised to see that she was angry. "Do you realize the position this puts us in?"
"Ze same position as before," Zerek said with a shrug. He reached over to a button on the wall and pushed it firmly. "Ve have ze same number of disappearances to deal vith zat ve have alvays had."
"Do you realize the people his father will pull into this search? There will be no expense spared..."
"I am avare," the scientist assured. The door to the room opened as a staff member entered, responding to the button call. "Ah, forty-five. Please assist Amber back to her room. It seems our meeting vill have to be rescheduled."
The Oni blinked, as if coming out of her own thoughts. She didn't fight back as the staff member grabbed her arm, but she fixed Zerek with a long look. Zerek watched as the Oni exited and then turned his full attention onto the fuming woman a few feet away.
"I vas in ze middle of an important interview," he pointed out.
"You weren't answering my messages, or my calls," Matilda spat. "You don't get to ignore me, Zerek...not when I have as much at stake as you do."
"I told you to trust me..."
"How can I trust you?" she demanded, gesturing to the door. "You've got my own son locked up here and you didn't even bother to tell me!"
"Would it have made any difference for you to know?" Zerek asked calmly. "Ze knowledge changes nozing in our situation, ozer zan sending you in a spiral of unnecessary panic."
"You should have never brought him here in the first place! What possible reason could warrant bringing him here? He's got no connection to elemental powers or demon aura or any of that!"
"On ze contrary, he has been most helpful in keeping ze Oni in line," Zerek offered. "A xinta is a remarkably difficult person to control, but Amber has been docile and cooperative during any interaction vere her friend is present."
Matilda's expression clouded, and she glanced back at the door. "Why was his arm in a sling?" she asked at last.
"Like I said, he has been most helpful," Zerek repeated. He was studying the table full of objects, and Matilda came over to join him.
"Is this an attempt to try to control me, Zerek?" she demanded softly. "You think you can put me in your pocket with everyone else, just because you've got my estranged son locked up here?"
"I didn't believe zere vas much connection between ze two of you—certainly not enough to warrant control," Zerek replied honestly. "Given the fact zat ze two of you have spoken very infrequently over his lifetime, and zat he singlehandedly overthrew your political attempts in Ninjago years ago, I assumed you vould not care much if he lived or died."
Matilda went silent, and Zerek picked up one of the colorful shoes that belonged to Mr. Walker's girlfriend. "What do you mean, lived or died?" the woman demanded at last. "You're not planning on killing anybody..."
"I zot I told you already," Zerek pointed out, turning to her. "It vould be vise to use ze expendables viz ze evidence I am planting. If ze authorities are able to find a few bodies, it vould keep ze search far from us vile..."
"No." Matilda's voice was firm. "If you kill him, they're going to figure it out. His father won't stop until they figure it out. You can't kill anybody...there's got to be something else you can do."
Zerek blinked in surprise. "You didn't seem zis vorried about ze lives of ze oni and elemental masters."
"Marty isn't an oni or an elemental freak. Besides, his father will pay for an intense investigation. We can't afford..."
"Vat do you suggest I do?" Zerek interrupted, setting the shoe down. "Keep ze expendable prisoners locked up here indefinitely? It vould not be difficult to do so...but it vould be a vaste of resources at ze end of ze day. I don't need zem for my research."
"I thought you said that Marty helped with the Oni girl."
"Yes...but she is at a point vere he vould not need to be present to keep her in line, so long as she didn't know he vas gone."
"You can't kill him." Matilda slapped one hand on the table for emphasis, her eyes cold.
"Zen should I let him go? He and ze ozers vould lead ze authorities right to us." Zerek tilted his head. "He knows you have a part in zis now. Do you really zink he'll let zat go and not report you?"
Matilda paled, and he could tell she was stuck. It amazed him how even traces of compassion could get in the way of logical thought and reasonable planning—even in someone as naturally callous as Ms. O'Keefe. Zerek calmly waited for the woman to make a decision, her expression flickering. At last she scoffed, holding her head high.
"You're the genius...you figure something out. But you can't kill anybody—do that, and you'll doom us for sure." She turned and left, and Zerek watched her go. The door closed, and the scientist was left alone with his evidence.
"Humans never cease to confuse me," he said at last, turning back to the various personal articles from his guests and prisoners. "Even ze vons I zink I have figured out."