Part 24 (1/2)
Lady Nemea's eyebrows shot up when I chose a simple white dress. It was similar to the one I'd worn during my party, but less formal.
”Remember? Nonthreatening,” I explained to Lady Nemea when she frowned. ”I need to get dressed now.”
She nodded but didn't move.
”I need privacy,” I said firmly in a voice she'd taught me to use when dealing with other people. ”I'll call you when I'm ready.” She grimaced, then teleported.
I slipped on the dress, studied my reflection, and smiled. Perfect. I went to the bathroom to blow-dry my hair. My curly mane was impossible to tame most of the time. Doing it while my stomach churned with nervous energy was a nightmare.
Growling in frustration, I switched off the blow-dryer and fought the urge to throw it across the room.
”What's wrong?”
I smothered a scream and whipped around. I hadn't seen Green Eyes since our fight in the bubble. I hadn't met him in the library and I'd a.s.sumed he was ticked off.
”What are you doing here?” I asked warily.
”I'm worried about you,” Green Eyes said. ”You've been in control of the situation over the last week, and now you're panicking. Why?”
I put the brush down. I wanted to ask him why he hadn't visited me. It was obvious he'd been around. Watching, but keeping his distance. ”You shouldn't be here.”
He moved closer. ”I'm sorry I made you angry the last time we spoke.”
I stepped back. He was too bold, and if his presence was discovered, he'd be in trouble. ”Forget about it.”
”One day, you'll understand.”
”Listen, I can't talk now, and you need to leave before Sir Malax realizes you're in my quarters.”
”They'll have to catch me first,” he said indifferently, still moving closer to where I stood. ”So, what's wrong? Why are you panicking?”
Lilith? Katia asked at the same time.
Just a second.
We need to talk, she said.
d.a.m.n it. I was never going to be ready for this meeting. Later, Katia. After the meeting. ”Leave,” I added louder, glaring at Green Eyes.
”Your emotions are all over the place, Lil,” Green Eyes said. He was now an arm's length away and my back was against the sink. ”What's going on?”
He was so annoyingly stubborn. ”If you must know, I'm nervous.”
”About?”
”The meeting. I'm sure you know I have to attend the High Council meeting and represent the Subsixers. I don't know if I can do it. What if I make a fool of myself? What if they shut me down? All my ideas are radical.”
”Sensible,” he corrected firmly. ”They should have been implemented years ago. It needed someone with your conviction to make it happen. Your friends believe in you. The Subsixers believe in you. I believe in you.”
It was weird, but his presence and utter confidence in me steadied my nerves. ”How do you know my ideas? Is someone spying for you in my little group?”
He laughed. ”No. I know you, and I know that whatever plan you present to the council will be inspired and spot-on.”
Just like that, whatever doubts I had disappeared. ”You know, sometimes I think you are my guardian...”
My voice trailed off when he reached out and stroked my hair, his fingers grazing my temple. A strong surge of electricity shot through my scalp and my breath caught.
”You think too much,” he said, stepping back. ”You look perfect now. Go. Be their champion. If you can, come to the library at midnight and tell me about it. I'll be waiting. Same room.” Then he was gone.
I shook my head. Weird man. I turned to finish brus.h.i.+ng my hair and caught my reflection in the mirror. My jaw dropped. My hair flowed to my shoulders in gentle curls. I reached up and touched it. It was dry. He'd removed water from my hair, which explained the tingle I'd felt when he'd touched my hair.
What was a Prime Water doing pretending to be a minion, uh, Subsixer? I quickly applied lip gloss and mascara, then hurried to the door. Jazreel, Lottius, and Katia were outside my bathroom door, and behind them stood Ruby and Callum.
”What happened?” Katia asked.
”We couldn't link or find you again and they”-Katia indicated the guards-”couldn't teleport inside, either.”
Green Eyes must have done something to block our presence like he'd done while we were under water. ”I, uh, just needed privacy.”
”Privacy for what?” Lady Nemea asked from behind them. She must have just arrived.
”To get ready,” I said, improvising when the guards stayed quiet.
She studied me and nodded. ”You look amazing, dear.”
”Finally, I did something right,” I teased.
She chuckled. ”Come along. No need to keep them waiting anymore. You must tell me how you fixed your hair so fast.”
That was never going to happen. ”Can they come, too?” I pointed at Jazreel, Lottius, and Katia. ”They are my a.s.sistants.”
”No,” Lady Nemea said firmly. ”Only representatives.”
I smiled at my friends and my guards. ”Wish me luck.”
Downstairs, Lady Nemea paused at the entrance of the conference room, forcing me to stop, too. I'd expected a few people-heads of various groups of the Hermonites or the High Council. Instead, there were about three dozen men and women in flowing black robes standing around the room, holding heated discussions and sipping drinks.
Trays of drinks floated from group to group as though balanced on invisible hands. The efficiency of Psis never failed to amaze me. I imagined them in a hidden room, waving hands like conductors, moving trays and gla.s.ses around like chess pieces. What would happen if one made a mistake and dropped a tray? Would it throw the room into chaos? I grinned at my thoughts.
Sir Malax sent a ma.s.s ping to draw everyone's attention, then announced, Princess Lilith.
Silence fell in the room and the focus of the room s.h.i.+fted to me. My face grew warm, but I didn't let the attention get to me. I was becoming good at acting confident even when my stomach churned.
Lady Nemea had told me to never apologize for being tardy except to my father. What a load of c.r.a.p. The annoyance of the people in the room was thick and I was the cause.
”I apologize for my tardiness,” I told the room. ”I was swimming and it takes a long time to blow-dry this.” I touched my hair.
”You look lovely, Princess Lilith,” a barrel of a man with red hair and beard said. He had reptilian eyes, and I could swear a tail was swis.h.i.+ng on the floor under his robe. Laughter followed his comments, but I got busy reading minds.
”Thank you, Lord Pathak. I hope your family is well.”