Chapter 50
Chapter Fifty
The walls of the indoor pool area reflect the shimmering glow of the water, creating patterns of swirling blue all around us.
Each sound is amplified with every shift of a foot, or the rustling of clothing, bringing attention to the exact point where all of us are.
The vermin is hiding, not moving for a second to give up his position.
With a wave of my hand, I get the attention of the three people with me.
April raises an eyebrow in question, amusement twinkling in her eyes.
Pushing down the need to grab her and keep her behind me, I lock eyes with Marcus, pointing at the far right of the pool.
Nodding, he starts moving in that direction as stealthy as a cat.
Glancing at Andrei, I send him directly to the white and blue columns standing between the door and the pool.
Leaving April in the middle of the area so she can intercept him if he tries to run for the door, I slink to the left.
April narrows her gaze but stays silent where she is.
When I reach the far-left corner, I straighten up, shove my hands in my pockets, and clear my throat.
“There is no way out of here.” Sounding nonchalant, I make sure I walk firmly, the heels of my shoes clicking on the mosaic tiles.
“Luckily for you, we saw her coming at you. We won’t let her harm one of our own.
” April’s eyebrows hit her hairline, an incredulous look on her beautiful face.
I smirk at her. “You can come out now,” I call to the Guardian.
I figured he doesn’t know what we know now, and if I play ignorant, we might get more answers than cornering him. With the knowledge that he is about to die, I’m not sure he will be willing to share any information. It’s worth a try.
Marcus glides between columns, him and Andrei twining around in the shadows like wraiths. He shakes his head, indicating he has no visual on the Guardian. A frown forms on my face with that information. There is no other exit here. It’s impossible for him to have snuck out without us seeing him.
“I’m going to think you have something to hide.
” Musing, I keep sauntering around the pool.
“I don’t like it when those I call mine hide things from me.
” Continuing conversationally, I scan every shadow and hiding place I can find.
“With the Council dismantled, you will make a poor choice to stand against me. I would hate to think you have decided to do that.”
My words bounce off the walls, the vast body of water making my deep voice sound ominous. There is an echo in the air from the pool itself, like the water is a living entity having a voice of its own. Still, no other sound can be heard, irking me to no end.
“Nothing,” Marcus snarls after searching all around the pool and coming to my side.
“How is that even possible?” Confused, Andrei walks up too, darting his eyes all over the place.
“Have we checked if there is a hidden door in this place?” Glaring at them, I can’t hide the growl in my words. “I thought the two of you knew this place inside out.”
“There is no other entrance or exit but the door.” Flinging his hand angrily at the said door we used to walk in here, Marcus’s face twists in anger.
“Of course, there isn’t.” April’s soft words make us all turn to her.
She smiles at us like the cat that ate the canary.
Bending her knees slightly, she sprints towards us, and I brace for the impact, my mind whirling with her unusual behavior.
But if I learned anything this night, it is to never question her actions again.
She spreads her arms like she is about to embrace me, and my jaw hits my chest. Her grin grows at my reaction, and when I expect her to fling herself in my arms, she jumps off the floor.
Her foot hits my thigh, pushing her away from me, higher in the air, while I stumble back a few steps, barely catching myself before I topple over the chair behind me.
Stunned, I lift my head, following her with my gaze.
She propelled herself high enough to reach the ceiling.
Now her arms are wrapped around the waist of the Guardian, who to my utter disbelief is spread out like a cross, clinging to the roof over our heads.
Looking down at me, April smiles brightly, swinging her legs and rocking in the air, while the man she is gripping like a pull-up bar is sweating profusely and trembling in fear.
Giggling like a girl, she keeps swinging her legs and rocking higher and higher.
My body coils up, ready to catch her if she falls.
From where I’m standing, I can judge that she will drop right in the middle of the pool, and my anxiety ebbs slightly.
Not that I think she will hurt herself, I just don’t want her to even twist a leg. Ridiculous, I know.
“Oh! Look what I found.” She chuckles, tilting her head up to look at the Guardian. “Well, hello there. Do you come here often?” Peals of laughter burst out of her.
I glance at Marcus and Andrei with a disbelieving look on my face.
Andrei has a hand wrapped tightly over his nose and mouth, his eyes bulging with the strain of holding back a laugh.
Marcus, on the other hand, looks like he is about to shit his pants.
Eyes rounded, he keeps breathing harshly, small snorts and choking sounds coming out of his chest. I must not look better than them because as soon as my gaze connects with theirs, they both burst out laughing so loud that my ears hurt from the echoing sound around us.
Unable to help myself, I start chuckling as well, until all of us are roaring and pounding our thighs.
“When you’re done laughing, I’d like a little help,” April calls from the ceiling and, holding a hand over my aching stomach, I look at her. “I feel like a monkey.” She giggles.
“Okay, monkey. Come down, you made your point.”
Unbuttoning my shirt, I shrug it off before kicking off my shoes.
When my hands go to the buckle of my pants, I look up to see all laughter has left April’s face.
Her eyes track the movements of my hands intently, and the Guardian starts whimpering when her hands tighten around him.
Unwilling to test my luck, I leave my pants on and jump into the pool.
When I’m right underneath her, I call out to her.
“Let go. Come down.” Lifting a hand up, I curl my fingers in invitation.
“As if I’m going to release my prize.” She lifts an eyebrow before twisting in the air and yanking with all she’s worth on the male.
I throw myself away from the two hurling bodies coming right on top of my head.
Going underwater for a moment, I emerge, flicking my hair away from my face to see where they ended up falling.
A bark of laughter comes from me when my vision clears, and I see April straddling the Guardian’s shoulders with her thighs, up to her hips in the pool.
“Look who I found.” She grins before grabbing a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back. “I think he was dying to tell us a secret. Weren’t you, asshole?”
“Now that is my area of expertise, my redemption. Let us dry off first.” The smile is stuck on my face until I have to question the mole.