Page 7 of Class Studies
It was a quote. Damon often said it when I talked too much. “It’s something my, ah, this guy used to say.”
I tripped on the flat ground, and Ashe caught me. He stepped up to my free side, wrapping his arm around my waist. I leaned into his comfort. A sudden need to talk about Damon welled up in my stomach, but I pushed it down. The past was the past.
Tederwinkle narrowed his eyes before getting out his phone. “I don’t know how you survive without decent internet; the restrictions are quite limiting.”
“Hopefully, we’ll get this worked out before too long. In the meantime, there’s an excellent library,” Ashe managed to say without swearing once.
We walked in silence the rest of the way to the Alchemy Lab. I entered the large vaulted room, and conversations immediately trailed off. One by one, every eye turned to me, including Officer Keres, who beat me here, not needing to take the long route.
I fought the urge to hide behind Ashe.
When I’d ‘infected’ a third of the MA agents, I focused my will into one broad thought: obey my commands. That was it. Other than feeling compelled to do whatever I asked, their minds and ideas were still their own. What I’d done was wrong, but on a scale of wrongness, it could have been worse.
I sighed. Great, I had a scale of wrongness now.
Pulling my shoulders back, I addressed the sea of faces. “Two things. First, the Institute’s on lockdown, no one in or out with one exception.” I explained Saffron’s situation with his parents and tacked on supplies to the end of it, just in case. “Second, except for this order, and ah, the lockdown one, I’m ordering you not to follow anything else I commanded you to do.” I awkwardly pointed between myself and them. “Please, help me keep my distance by keeping yours.”
“Ha,” a voice barked. “Does it work like that?”
“Probably not.” I shuffled my feet. “But hopefully, this gives you a clean slate until I figure it out.”
I pulled on Ashe, not wanting to drag this out.
“Marcus, stay for the briefing,” Officer Keres ordered.
I froze.
Officer Keres stepped forward. Although he wasn’t much taller than me, he still managed to tower over my tiny frame. A mixture of fear and hate curled in my gut.
He narrowed his eyes. “You’ve more than proven your ability to take care of yourself, Aphrodite.” He sliced his hand through the air. “You’ve detained Ashe for forty-eight hours straight. Give my officer a break.”
Ashe’s botted feet shuffled on the stone ground. “She’s not—”
Officer Keres cut him off with a glare. “Give me one reason, one reason, to believe she’s not gotten to you as well.” He let out a frustrated breath. “You’re one of my finest, with a son back home. I saw your relationship as something good, but now.…what are the chances she’s infected you?” Officer Keres took another step toward me. “Alrick accused her of harvesting her scales, but she couldn’t have done it herself.” He focused on Ashe. “The night she came to us with broken cuffs, we heard the screams of something not from this world. Yet, somehow, nothing showed up on our cameras. Aphrodite claimed she’d been with Beryl, yet Beryl didn’t leave his room that night. Where do your loyalties stand, officer?”
The air stilled, thick with tension. I kept my gaze on the red and blue fabric of Ashe’s MA uniform between my fingers. For a heartbeat, no one moved, and time slowed.
My Gentle Giant pulled out of my loose grip and joined his fellow MA agents. The room sprang back to life, and my heart thudded painfully.
A few of Ashe’s fellow agents clapped him on the back. Murmur’s of ‘welcome back’ and ‘we’re in this together’ drifted through the air.
My heart sank. I reminded myself over and over this was for the better.
“You’re dismissed, Aphrodite.” Officer Keres snapped. “This meeting doesn’t concern you.”
I scowled at the MA Officer.
Without Ashe at my side, my Beads of Will would be my only defense. Exactly what I’d promised not to use. The cameras were still on the fritz. It was possible no one would notice my dark power if I used it. But if someone got to me before I could call on my magic. I would be defenseless, like when I was tied to Ram’s chair.
Fear crawled down my spine.
Officer Keres had to know. This was either a trap or yet another test.
I stopped scowling and trained my gaze on the floor.
“Teddy, may I call you Teddy?” Officer Keres said conversationally as if he hadn’t just ripped the floor out from under my feet. “I’d love for you to meet some of my agents. Global Tech has a private securities division, do they not? I’m honestly surprised they recruit from a place like this. I’d be remiss if I didn’t present better choices to you.”
Although a few eyes lingered on me, most focused on the recruiter. I took the opportunity to turn and walk out with as much dignity as I could muster.