Chapter 28 #3
“I know I'm tiresome, but what can I do? I don't get to talk to many people. Every day I sit in that chair and listen to the whiny ramblings of 200,000 people in this city. Can you imagine what a drag it is to hear and never be heard?”
I could imagine, but Serguei's reputation preceded him.
It was impossible not to fear someone who had killed his own companion and then wiped out 10,000—and five hundred—people in the blink of an eye.
The man was frightening, intimidating, and completely disrespectful.
Then I remembered to silence my mental voice again, because he was staring at me as if he'd heard what I'd been thinking. I turned red.
“See? People say I'm disrespectful, but wasn't what you just thought exactly that? Am I supposed to pretend I don't hear all the accusatory thoughts people throw at me? Pretend I don't know?”
“Maybe if you weren't the monster they make you out to be, things would be different.”
I decided that keeping my thoughts to myself wouldn't help, so I might as well speak up. He watched me curiously, as if examining the pieces of a puzzle.
“Funny how thin the line is between monstrosity and heroism.
The army exterminates thousands of innocents because their hair color is different, and the next day, they're considered heroes.
I kill people who deserved to die, and I become the villain.
Apparently, the concept of good and evil depends on who controls the narrative, doesn't it?”
“Bad people? What are you talking about?” I asked, intrigued by this new information about the 5% massacre.
“That's not a topic for today,” he said, watching me closely. “I'm here to discuss a more important matter. What did the sonar's other personality reveal to you?”
I gaped at him. The sonar had said the information would be kept where no one could see it and that it wasn't meant to be revealed.
“Yes, it's humiliating to have to ask, but that creature's magic is ancient and stronger than my power. So I need you to tell me of your own free will.”
I studied him. The sonar had said nonsensical things, but if Serguei was here, the information must be valuable. His eyes gleamed with excitement, with a hint of instability lurking beneath.
“And if I want to follow the sonar's advice and keep the information to myself? It must be dangerous, since you're here.” I lifted my chin. Maybe we could negotiate.
Serguei burst out laughing, a thunderous laugh that echoed even in my mind. His whole body shook as he gasped for air. I crossed my legs to keep myself from bouncing them nervously.
“Kyller,” he mocked, still laughing. “Do you have any idea what I could do?
I could torture you mentally in countless ways, and if even that didn't work—though I bet it would—I'd torture the chimera. It would pain me enormously to do that, but I would.” He glanced at Kiara, passed out near the kitchen.
“I'd be dead before you even got close to Kiara. And the information would die with me.”
I stood up, trembling with overwhelming hatred, and began pacing the room, my legs unable to stay still. He sat there on the couch, still smiling, as if he owned the place. How could anyone be so cynical?
“Decades of practice.”
“Why do you want to know about the sonar?” I asked, trying to understand the mess I'd gotten myself into.
“Because this consciousness rarely appears, and I need to gather information about what it says. You know, I can't resist a secret—it's maddening. I have my own reasons for wanting to know.”
“So I have no choice but to tell you?” I asked, unnerved by him.
He spun the glass between his fingers, studying the crystal.
“Exactly. Congratulations on the deduction—you're smarter than I thought!” His lips twisted into a crooked smile. Damn him, the same smile as Zion's, but on an older, harsher face. “Since I'm feeling generous and satisfied with our meeting, I'll make you an offer.”
“What kind of deal?” I asked skeptically. If he could extract the information by force, what was in it for him?
“A blood pact—what other kind would there be? There's no benefit for me. I just don't want to put up with a rebellious Zion for another five hundred years. It's exhausting,” he said with a shrug. “And I need him.”
A blood pact. These agreements were dangerous and became absolute law.
If either party broke the treaty, they'd die from the sealed magic's energy.
It was something any fae should think carefully about before making.
In this case, I'd only need to tell him what the sonar told me.
It wouldn't be risky, and it would be simple.
I thought of Zion—he'd probably already be in trouble if Serguei knew what he was doing outside the walls.
“No, he's not. Everything Zion knows, I know too, dear. Zion is the body of the organization, but I'm the brain.”
This time I couldn't hide my confusion.
“Then why did he say it was dangerous for me to know, if you already know everything?” That didn't make any sense.
“Because I share my power with the king, and if he discovers our little secrets through your mind, we'll be in a difficult position. Also, Zion doesn't want you in the middle of this—he believes that if you don't know, you'll be protected. I agree. That way, you're one less problem for me.”
“But if the king found out, you could enter his mind and erase the memory.” It was hard to believe all this. It didn't make sense.
“I can't—have you forgotten I'm a Pillar? I can never enter his mind. If I do, I die. The blood pact doesn't allow me to act against Elitium. I'm chained to the throne.”
He didn't seem at all happy to tell me this. In fact, he had the expression of a defeated man. It was exactly what Breno feared with the damned agreement Natali had made. Serguei cleared his throat, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Let's negotiate! I offer not to erase any of your memories and to protect your mind for a month while you learn to raise a mental shield. In exchange, you tell me everything the sonar told you.”
“And that’s possible? I mean, creating mental shields is actually possible?”
“Of course it’s possible. The king just doesn’t share that information so his subjects can’t hide their thoughts from him, but anyone can learn.
Anyone with an elemental gift can do it—you just need to be high level.
The higher the level, the better the shield.
I’ve heard you’re at a special level, so it won’t be a problem.
Your barrier will be strong enough to withstand attacks from any other telepath. ”
The information threw me off balance. If what he said was true, I could create shields and protect myself. No one had told me this. Zion hadn’t told me.
“Why didn’t Zion tell me?” It would have prevented so many problems, and if he’d taught me, I could have even participated in this. That whole thing with the bond... we would have suffered less if I’d known how to create barriers.
The amusement gradually faded from Serguei’s face.
“Because Zion wants to protect you from this world, and besides, I would never put you in the middle of it.”
“Why not? If you’re acting on behalf of my people?”
I wasn’t even sure anymore if I meant my people or our people, since Serguei was a descendant. His face turned to ice and his eyes grew distant, lost in other eras.
“Because years ago, I promised your mother I would take care of you if anything happened to her. That’s what I’m doing now.”
My heart skipped a few beats. Serguei knew my mother.
“Knew, Kyller, and it pains me to see how much you look like her. When your back is turned, it’s like seeing Lagherta herself. Did you know she was our best warrior? She’s the one who taught me to fight.”
Something warm and sentimental seized my heart. I couldn’t remember her well—this was precious information.
“And your presence... I hadn’t noticed the first time, but your presence is the same as hers. The scent is identical. It’s unsettling how alike you are,” he said, pulling away.