Part 38 (1/2)
The thought sends a thrill rippling through me.
”Please,” Lena begs. ”Please, Lark. ”
Across the room, Dawson gives a curt nod.
Kyra stands at my shoulder, her breath ragged in my ear. ”You're not going to hurt her, are you?”
”And if I did?” I challenge. ”Would you be disloyal and try to stop me?”
Panic radiates from Kyra. ”No. Never.” Her eyes search the room madly. ”It's just that, if she's hurt, she's of no use.”
My head aches and I rub my temples. She has a point. If Lena's incapacitated, she can't tell me what she knows. However, she's tongue-tied and can't give me the information anyway.
”Lark.” Dawson's firm voice jerks me from my thoughts. He stands just inches from me. ”Do not show weakness.”
A fluttering grows in my chest and my muscles tense. I am not weak. I'm Lark Greene. Descendent of Caitlin Greene. Daughter of Malin Greene.
I am not weak.
Lena whimpers and I throw my head back and laugh.
”Oh, Lena. Do you know what I do to girls who don't give me what I want?” I push my face in front of hers so that my lips are just inches from Lena's colorless skin. ”I eat them.”
I snap my teeth and she curls tighter in on herself.
A ball of energy vibrates in my hand again. ”I'm afraid there is no mercy for the wicked. And you've been helping Ryker hide. That's very wicked indeed.”
Kyra grabs my wrist. ”Okay, you've scared her. I think that's enough.”
”Mind yourself, Kyra,” Dawson orders.
”Mind myself?” my friend shouts. ”What's the point of this? Why are you encouraging Lark to lash out? Malin never did.” She jabs her finger in Dawson's direction. ”What's wrong with all of you?”
”Enough.” I whirl on my friend. ”Lena still hasn't told us where Beck is. Once she does, she can go. I promise.”
”She's tongue-tied.” Kyra shakes her head with mouth wide open. ”She can't tell you even if she wants to.”
d.a.m.n it, Kyra's right.
I study the trembling blond girl. I can't leave her here. Not after what she's seen.
Dawson's sharp eyes watch me intently.
My mind scurries through several options, none of which end particularly well. If I let Lena go, I'll have to wipe her mind again, which could leave her in a vegetative state. If I don't wipe her mind, she could expose me.
I can't let her go.
”I'm sorry, Lena,” I whisper. ”I'm so sorry.”
With a flick of my wrist the glowing orb strikes her chest and a blood-curling scream fills the room. Her pain floods my system and re-invigorates me.
Lena's body spasms on the cold, hard floor.
Kyra shrieks and yanks at my arms. ”What have you done?”
”I...I...” What have I done?
With numb legs, I stumble toward Lena, but Kyra shoves me out of the way. She kneels next to our former housemate and holds her head against Lena's chest. ”She's barely alive. She needs a healer.”
My brain races in a chaotic mess of images, feelings, and memories. I blink hard, trying to push them away, trying to make sense of what just happened. Across the room, Dawson stands with his arms folded, coolly watching Kyra and me.
”It was the right thing to do,” my burly guard says. ”You did well.”
I rub my temples and try to still my thoughts. I have to fix this. I have to show Dawson I'm strong, but I can't let Lena die.
”Take Lena to my house, Dawson, and fetch a healer.”
My guard lumbers across the snug room, and Kyra scoots back so he can lift Lena's motionless body.
”Wait,” I order. ”Bring her here.” Dawson holds Lena's body before me and with one, swift movement, I unfasten her wristlet and toss it to Kyra.
”No one can know she's injured other than the Healer. Do you understand?”
Dawson nods. Seconds later, he blinks out and Lena disappears with him.
”What are you doing?” There's a sense of desperation in Kyra's voice.
Somewhere deep inside me, my heart trembles as if it were crying. I press my hand against it as I stride across the room, hoping the pressure will ease some of the pain. ”The boys probably ditched their wristlets, but I bet Ryker has a way to listen to the secure feeds.” I'm moving forward with my plan, trying not to think about what just happened. ”How often do you talk to Lena?”
Kyra's lips are nothing more than two thin lines. She refuses to answer me.
”I'm not stupid. I know you've kept in touch with her.” I keep my voice even, trying not to betray the confusion of emotions rolling through me.
With her chin to her chest, she says, ”Once a week.”
”Good. I want you to ping Lena's wristlet and say you'll stop by in an hour. That you have to run an errand to the school with me.”
She lifts her eyes to meet mine. ”And then what?”
”We wait for Beck to show up.”
No sooner does my foot touch the bare earth then I link my arm through Kyra's and pull her into the Presidio. Small purple flowers dot the hills, and when the wind blows, they look like they're dancing. We pa.s.s beneath the lone grove of trees until we reach the small creek that snakes across the Presidio down to the Bay.
My friend is unusually quiet as we trudge along.
”What's wrong?” I ask when her silence becomes unbearable.
She pulls in a deep breath before releasing it. ”You didn't need to hurt Lena. It was pointless.”