7. Chapter 7
Maylo
Screaming usually helps.
It’s practically therapy. A little screaming, a little begging, maybe a finger or two bending the wrong way. Very cathartic and soothing.
It clears my head right up.
Not lately, though.
Lately the screaming just… echoes. It won’t quiet my mind, and neither does playing with my tooth collection anymore.
I lay them all out meticulously by size, smallest to largest. Over and over. All 236. It takes time. It’s fun.
But it doesn’t stop my brain.
Three weeks.
Three very long, very irritating weeks since my little stormcloud vanished into that transporter’s light. Beamed away. WOOSH!
One moment she was there, breathing, moving, making the world interesting—and the next she was gone.
Poof.
Into the Wastes.
Which, if you’ve never been, is dust, bones, and things that used to be people. A paradise, in my opinion, if it weren’t so bright. And hot.
And brown. Brown’s not my favorite color.
I assumed we would have her back by now. Stormcloud isn’t the type to politely die where she’s told to.
And we had plans.
Master said, ‘Wait for the plan.’
But three weeks is a long time for someone like her to stay quiet. Too long.
Master knows everything. He knew I would run into Maddox in that hall.
He told me to slash his hand and throw the bloodied vial to her. He knew they were bonds before anyone else, and HE SAID WE WOULD HAVE STORMCLOUD AFTER.
The voices scream inside my head. My voice? I think so… but this isn’t the fun screaming.
Unless…
Unless he lied.
The forbidden thought slows my pacing. I stop and press my forehead against the cold stone wall of the corridor. Breathing… Counting…
I move it back slowly…
and then I slam it. Hard.
The crack echoes nicely.
“Bad Maylo,” I mutter, tapping my head against the stone again. “No more bad thoughts.”
Because that thought had crept in there again.
The ugly one.
The whispers that maybe he knows where she is… maybe he’s just not telling me.
Footsteps catch my attention as an Envy spy in a dark tunic rounds the corner and pauses. His eyes land on the blood running down my face before he turns around and wisely keeps walking in the opposite direction.
They get me here.
The mark on my wrist hums beneath my sleeve, like it heard my ugly thought and wants to tattle. Right on cue, his voice ancient voice slides into my skull. Impossible to ignore.
Maylo. Do not ignore this summons.
I straighten. “Never, Master.” I whisper.
My feet move before the echo of his voice fades. If he’s calling me personally, something interesting must be happening.
Maybe he’s heard whispers of her.
I walk a little faster, whistling as I head down the torch lit corridor. A cheerful and wildly inappropriate tune I remember from my childhood. Warm liquid drips lazily down my nose and chin from where I cracked my skull open, leaving little red polka dots on the floor behind me.
The Envy Towers’ immense stone walls try to swallow the sound of my music, but the fires of the torches seem to be almost dancing as I walk by.
They’re pretty dancers but not very good at actually brightening the place up. I bet no one will be able to see the pretty polka dots I’m leaving. I frown at the thought, glancing behind me.
This place could use some color.
Old stone, older secrets. Most of the people working in this place think the Councilor of Envy is just a rumor whispered in the dark.
Only three of us know he exists. His Speakers.
I reach the final torch in a dead end hallway and twist it sideways. The wall groans open, revealing the narrow chamber beyond.
Inside waits one of Master’s favorite little toys—a forbidden Sloth relic embedded into the pedestal like a jewel in a crown.
Funny thing about Envy…
We steal a lot of things from Sloth, apparently. Big no no’s, sloth relics… heavily frowned upon by the Council.
It’s just lazy magic that does all the work for you.
My fingers brush the mark imbedded into my wrist as I step inside. My leash. The one that lets Master slip inside my mind whenever he wants.
The Sloth relic that did this was a nasty little thing.
I remember the pain lasted for days. It felt like my skin was melting off, over and over…
How fun!
I smile at the memory before looking back at the pedestal. The relic in the chamber only needs a little blood.
Luckily, I’m already leaking and have blood to spare.
I swipe the blood from my forehead and smear it across the surface of the device. The metal drinks it eagerly, warming under my palm.
A second later the floor shudders as the lift rises.
Up we go.
The tower climbs in silence until the platform slows to a stop. I step forward… and blink to make sure what I’m seeing isn’t one of my hallucinations.
That’s unexpected.
“Professor,” I say sarcastically, looking at the man my bond watches with heart eyes. Sure, he’s my bond brother according to Master, but no said he had to be such a smug asshole.
Nikolai Gabriel sits at the long table beneath Master’s throne like he’s waiting for tea instead of standing inside the most secret room in Vail.
Infuriating.
I’m the one who deals with Nikolai. Messages, meetings, little arrangements between Master and the Sloth rebels.
But here he is. In the annoyingly untarnished flesh.
Which means Master trusts him enough to let him see him in person.
I tilt my head, studying Nikolai as I approach. He looks worse than usual. Pale and tired. Like someone who hasn’t slept in days and knows sleep won’t help anyway.
He still somehow maintains that smug expression. An expression I’ve never been able to read well. So I hate his face.
Master speaks from the shadows above us, a rasp drenched in power.
“Nikolai has come in person to update us on the search for the girl.”
My ears perk at that.
Nikolai exhales, shaking his head. “With all due respect, Councilor… there is no update. The search has been futile. My rebels cover the Wastes. There has been no sign of her. It’s been nothing like you said it would be.”
My hands curl before I can stop them.
“Watch your tone when you speak to Master,” I say, stepping towards the ‘professor’ and putting my murder face on.
Nikolai doesn’t even bother to look at me.
How rude.
That should at least warrant a snapped finger.
“Now, now, Maylo,” Master rasps from his throne under his large draped hooded robe.
The bottom of his chin barely shows in the dim light. “Our guest has a right to be frustrated. What I foresaw has not yet come to pass.”
My stomach twists at his words and his nonchalant tone…
Master isn’t wrong often. His visions snap into place like clockwork.
If something hasn’t happened yet…
Either the timing is off. Or something has gone very wrong.
Either way, he won’t be happy. Ice creeps up my spine as fear takes hold of me. Master’s anger is not the fun kind of fear.
“I firmly believe she is in the Wastes, Nikolai,” he continues. “I will send some of our Envy spies to assist in the search. Discreetly, of course.”
Of course.
If the Council discovered Envy was even in communication with Sloth rebels, the entire system would collapse into war and chaos. Pity.
Nikolai nods once and rises from the table. “I appreciate the assistance and your urgency.”
He bows in respect, but his voice sounds hollow. Like his belief is wavering. I bet his teeth would be a perfect addition to my collection. They would be shiny and perfect and white.
He leaves without another word, and the door seals behind him with a quiet thud before silence fills the chamber.
I stare at the floor for a moment, debating whether I should speak about the confusing thoughts in my head.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” I say, glancing up toward the throne. “I can feel it here.”
I point to my chest.
“Send me to spy on the other Councilors. Let me spill some blood. Let me get you answers.”
The silence stretches longer this time.
For one dangerous second, I imagine freedom. Leaving this place to search the continent for Arwen on my own. And then I immediately block it out.
Stupid, Maylo.
I crouch to get on my knees and beg for forgiveness.
But then Master speaks.
“No, now is not the time to involve ourselves further in matters over the insignificant Wrath girl. I have other orders for you…”
The skin of his chin tightens around his slow smile, full of black and crooked teeth.
Chills run down my spine.