"Gone?" said Jason. He stepped into the foyer with her. Connie folded her umbrella; it dripped onto the white marble.
"When we got here," said Marija, "we asked to see James. Darya said he had gone to bed. Stefan went to check if he was asleep. But…he was gone. We looked all over…called him…. Still couldn't find him."
"Could he be somewhere on the grounds?"
"They're checking the security cameras now. He…left his phone. And there's a video on his computer."
"What kind of video?"
"Stefan couldn't open it. But…it looks like it was the last thing James saw before he left. Because his computer hadn't locked yet."
"So… he must not have left long ago."
"His parents said they just saw him a half hour before we arrived. Playing with the triplets. So…he can't be very far. They sent people out to look for him."
"We should probably see what they found on the security cameras," said Jason.
Marija led them to the screen porch that looked out over the garden, intent on the computer screen, Stefan with them.
The screen showed James sneaking out of the house, carrying a black umbrella out into the rain. A few moments later, a guard appeared, showing no indication he'd seen him.
The king paused the video. Turned to face them, his face etched with anguish. Stefan turned as well, solemn yet with a fire lit in the depths of his eyes. Darya kept facing the computer, her head leaning on her hand.
Roderick's eyes flashed with a flicker of hope. "Have you seen him?"
Jason shook his head.
The shadow of despair threatened to crush the remnants of light in his eyes. "I thought…he might have gone to join you…."
"They haven't picked up his trail?"
Roderick laughed mirthlessly. "He knows the guards' routine to the letter. He tried sneaking out when he was younger… But now—there could only be one reason."
"Perhaps he found a clue of where my sister is," said Stefan.
"But why wouldn't he tell me?"
"Maybe it was flimsy enough he thought you wouldn't follow up on it."
"Could be."
"Or…." The unspoken words hung in the air and Jason had an inkling of what he implied.
"It could be…Yavesh."
"That would mean—" said Darya in a broken voice, without moving from her position.
"They could be…luring him into a…trap," said the king, his voice faltering.
"I don't know if he'd be that gullible," said Stefan.
"He's been—desperate to find her. Sick with worry."
"So have I, but I haven't rushed out to meet Yavesh with open arms."
"He normally isn't that impulsive," said Marija. "If he did it, he must've had a good reason."
"Well—" Roderick hesitated. "There's something we haven't told you."
"What." Her voice fell to a rasp, as if she anticipated the gist of what he'd say.
"They sent a video. Of Luna. Several of them."
"Yavesh?" Tears glistened in her large dark eyes.
He nodded, guilt tinging his face. "I only learned of them yesterday. They told us not to tell… I didn't want to tell you over the phone in case…"
She nodded with understanding. "What—how is she."
"Well… I could show you."
Marija shook her head. "I couldn't bear it."
"They—did hurt her…but…it didn't look serious."
Marija sank into the nearest empty chair. Roderick took her hand; she leaned her other hand on her forehead. A dark strand of wavy hair spilled over her cheek.
"They said—" Jason spared Roderick having to give her all the bad news, "They hadn't…done the worst. But they were threatening it. If James told anyone."
"Maybe he went to find her…before…" Marija's voice was faint.
"And he didn't want to tell anyone just in case…" said Stefan. "In case an agent from Yavesh saw him with someone."
"But—it's so dangerous for him," said Darya. "Out there alone. What does he think he can actually do against them? Singlehandedly take them down—when our best agents couldn't? He did fancy himself a secret agent of a sort, but I don't think he'd be that deluded—"
Roderick turned to Darya. "Being so desperate, he might not have thought he had a choice. He might think—doing something is better than nothing. That he has a chance. And he knows once he steps out of the palace, they might be watching…. So he couldn't take anyone else." He frowned, troubled. "If only we knew what was on that video…."
"If we open it, Yavesh will know," said Darya. "But we need to find out—anything that'll help find him…."
"It might have shown," said Stefan, looking shaken, "That they actually… did something worse to her. What if…." His unsaid words hung in the air.
"What if-?" said Darya, looking at him with impatience.
"He could have…. Gone to take her place."
"I think…there might be a way to open the video," said Connie. "Without Yavesh knowing."
"Really?" said the king.
"I know someone who can."
Connie, Jason, and Roderick headed to James' room. While Connie called Eugene and told him she had a new project for him, Jason looked around the room for any possible clues. The bed didn't look like it had been made in days; one of the covers was on the floor with several plastic wrappers strewn over it. By the computer on the desk sat a bottle of water, half-full. Several shirts and pants were scattered over the floor.
After a few minutes, over an encrypted app that popped up on Jason's phone, instructions appeared that told Jason how to send the video without it being noticed from any possible listening devices.
Darya appeared, wandering into the room, absently tidying it up. After making the bed, she sat down on it, her eyes burning, gazing into a distance Jason couldn't see. Roderick sat down beside her and wrapped his arm around her; Jason and Connie left to their room, letting the king and queen take solace in each other.
Jason sat at his computer, watching the blinking cursor. Connie scooted the soft pink chair up beside him and took his hand, rubbing gently over the top of his thumb to trace his wrist. He took her jaw in his hand and kissed her forehead. She leaned against his shoulder and they watched the blinking cursor together.
Out the window, it was pitch black, just streaks of rain silver against the glass pane.
A notification pinged.
Jason pressed the link.
He debated whether to tell the others, but he thought, what if it has something horrific on it.
Connie wrapped her arm around his as he pressed play.
The gray cement walls. The blaring light. Luna huddled on the bed, shaking, looking frailer than before. A man appeared, clad in black except his eyes. He came closer and adjusted the camera. Then stepped back, folding his arms, keeping Luna in view.
"All right, James. Finally we come to it. The reason for our chats. Aren't you thrilled? The culmination of all of our communications. Did you think there was one?" He chuckled lightly. "Or that we were only doing this to torture you?" He drew a knife from his belt. "No, we're more deliberate than that. I want to offer you a deal. But first—"
He advanced toward Luna, the light glinting on the knife.
She scrambled as far back into the corner as she could, shielding her face with her arm.
Jason's heart freefell.
She struggled away but he grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked her head back then pressed the knife to her throat. She froze, terror in her eyes.
He caressed her throat with the knife. "Even beaten down, she is a pretty thing." He kissed her through his balaclava. Laughed as she tried to squirm away. Pressed the knife closer, the blade slicing into her skin. She stopped, shaking uncontrollably, wincing with pain.
He let go of her hair and caressed her cheek, his gloved hand sliding down her neck. Then he looked into the camera, his smirk clearly visible through the fabric.
Finally, he released her. She scrambled over to the corner, huddled as small as she could.
"So you see," said the man. "A lot worse is in store for her if you don't comply. Here is what you must do: Meet us at 655 Emerald Street at 9:30 tonight. Tell no one. If you do, or if you don't meet us at precisely the right time, let's just say some of us will have a free-for-all. No telling if she'll even survive. Now, what happens after you come with us is up to you. You can join us or become like she is. Either way, we will let her go. All you have to do is meet us. We are true to our word."
The video ended.
"Jason—" said Connie, her voice shaken.
His heart turned over. But he had to focus.
It was 9:00.
Still time.
Time for what?
They'd know we were coming—
Would they? What if we stayed in the shadows?
What if they found out? What would they do to Luna?
In James' room, Roderick leaped to his feet. "Did they send it?"
Jason nodded.
"Let me see." He strode toward the door.
Jason stopped him, his hand on his chest. "They told James to meet them at 655 Emerald Street. Do you know it?"
The king's eyes flickered, at first not comprehending, then a flash of determination. "Not the address particularly, but Emerald Street is in a…bad part of town."
"They said to meet them at 9:30."
The king glanced at his watch. "Let's go." He sprinted through the door, grabbing his raincoat and umbrella in the foyer closet.
"Wait—" said Jason.
"I have to find him."
"We have to have a plan."
"There's no time."
"Well—maybe we can figure one out on the way."
"I'd better go alone."
"Two heads are better than one."
"More might alert them."
"That's a problem with just one."
"Two doubles the risk."
"You might need backup. What about one of your guards?"
Roderick seemed to consider for a moment, then said, "I trust you more than any of them. But—you've been injured—"
"I can take a recon mission."
"It might get—worse…. I'll have to do something before they take him."
A thought struck him. "Do you have a sniper rifle?"
"In the guards' room."
Roderick ordered one of the guards to give him his rifle and while he was getting it Jason put on a spare raincoat.
Connie grasped his arm. "Jason—" Her eyes pleaded. "What if—"
"I'll be back."
"If you get at them—they'll come after you."
"While I'm out, book the nearest flight. Get Eugene to hack the airport database if you have to. We'll leave before they can come after us."
She looked unsure but nodded.
Darya walked into the hall and Roderick told her what he was doing.
"At least send more backup," she said.
"They'd smell that a mile away."
"Maybe this is what they want. Their target is you."
"I can't leave him there."
She nodded. "I'd go with you if I'd be of help…. What about rear-guard backup? In case you get in trouble?"
"Gather a couple of my most trusted agents."
"Done."
He kissed her and headed out the door.
The guard returned and handed Jason the rifle; Jason inspected it briefly, getting used to the feel of it, then slid it into its case and slung it to his good shoulder.
Connie clung to Jason's arm. "Please be careful."
"I will." He kissed her, savoring her warm, silken lips. For a moment, nothing else existed.
Then, the pressure of the rifle on his shoulder reminded him of the urgency of his mission.
Jason resisted—he wanted to stay in the light and warmth, with Connie, not forge back out into the cold
But. He couldn't let James fall into darkness. Couldn't let a noble young man feel the pain that had branded on his own heart.
He was going out again to the enemy with only a vague outline of a plan, without backup—but this was the best he could do on short notice, with so much at stake.
There was always a way back.
He squeezed Connie's hand, lingering on beautiful green eyes brimming with tears, then, his heart aching, he turned away and stepped out into the rain.