CHAPTER 3
I’m not willing to accept that.
So, when Ferrok and Mooralan start arguing in a language I don’t understand, I slip away.
I don’t even put on shoes.
Honestly, I don’t care what I step in, and when the elevator flashes with a “temporarily out of order” message, I do something that feels a little crazy.
“I know you listen and watch and if you are right now, you better get me to your office, or else I am going to scream.”
A hole opens in the floor beneath me and I drop into a chair that feels like it’s made of jelly covered in cloth.
I hate that, but it solidifies a minute later, thank God.
“I don’t always listen or watch. And never inside your private homes.” Phantom’s head tips to the side. “I promise.”
“That’s fine. There are cameras everywhere too.”
“And it’s become convenient for you.”
I ignore that. “The Sovian king died.”
“I am aware.”
“And now he’s hunting down bastards.”
“And you are worried about your bastard.”
“Yes.”
Phantom looks at me with a soft buzz flickering around their head. “You want to protect him, and that is admirable. But with some cultural elements, I simply cannot interfere.”
“I’m not asking you to make him king. I’m not even asking you to get involved. I just want to know how we can get out of this. There have to be options. I refuse to believe there aren’t any options.”
Phantom sighs… or at least makes a mimicry of it. “Marriage won’t work.”
“I know. He told me I might not survive.”
“Good, I’m glad he wasn’t willing to risk it.”
Blue symbols scroll down their face as if they’re reflections on glass.
“Has he considered going into insurmountable debt?”
“I don’t think so?” I don’t know why that would matter. “I’ve never asked.”
“It appears that owing enough money makes the debt issuer your owner in Sovian society. And a man who is owned, cannot be king. So… I suppose he could do that. As long as you have the money to lend him.” The way they say it makes me think they definitely know about the Trulavian.
“How much debt?” I ask, already trying to do math. “And does it have to be real?”
“Most money’s fake. You already know that.”
“Would two million dollars be enough?”
“It would need to be closer to ten.”
“How do we make that happen?”
“I can temporarily loan you the amount, and he can transfer the money back to me when all of this is over.”
That’s too good to be true. “What do you want in exchange?”
“I don’t want anything but for you to be safe and happy.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Phantom crackles and it almost sounds like a laugh. “I will tell you a secret… and pay you ten million dollars to keep it.”
They flick their hand, and my wrist chain buzzes with a deposit notification.
I stare at the amount for a few moments too long. “What’s the secret.
“My kind feeds on energy and emotions. What better way to stay full and healthy than to give people unlimited options for pleasure within these walls?”
“So you’re an…” I delve into my memory, trying to find the right word, “incubus?”
“I don’t have to be the one having sex,” they tell me. “It could be negative emotions too, but I don’t like the taste of those. So you can believe me when I tell you that I want you to be happy.”
“Okay.”
“If he’ll agree to it, you can get a lawyer—at least, that’s what you’d call them—to draw up a contract for whatever amount of money.”
“Okay.”
“He will have to agree to it as well. It won’t be as simple as getting the paperwork. You’ll have to submit it and the speed of bureaucracy is, as you know, slow. Even here.”
Slow is better than dead.
“I’ll go find him now.” I stand, and something drops from a hole in the ceiling.
My shoes.
“Good luck,” Phantom says. “He’s already headed for the shuttles.”
“What? Why? Why would he try to leave without saying goodbye?”
“He thinks he’s doing what’s right.” Phantom says. “Even if he’s wrong, it shows he cares, doesn’t it?”
“Give me a shortcut.”
“You want me to get you into a secured flight area without having to go through the proper security checks?”
“Yes, and I know you can.” I clench my jaw and try to keep myself from bolting from the room. Even if I wait another ten minutes to convince him, it’ll still be faster than running and getting through the security checks.”
He opens a portal in the wall beside me. “Good luck.”