Chapter 46
Cassie
Cassie panted as she swung by the dock. Empty barrel.
Wreeta had said it was in an empty barrel on the dock.
There were only three of them. Gritting her teeth, Cassie plunged her injured arm into the first barrel and came away with nothing.
The second one, she found something heavy at the bottom and yanked it up.
It was much bigger than the null, the dark metal glinting in the sunlight.
Cassie tucked it into the waistband of her jumpsuit and started to run again before someone saw her, before she had a chance to change her mind.
She advanced on the dock house. Her breath caught as she opened the door, cocking the pulsar gun upon entry. The Aviarist stood in the center of the room, arms folded. His dark hair was slicked back from his face with sweat.
“Are you really going to point that at me? I’m behind schedule. Let’s get this over with, and I can be on my way.”
“I know you killed Rhea.”
“Did the teosian make that device for you? Did he tell you he loved you? I promise he doesn’t.
It really was a terrible disservice they all did, telling you that you’re a person.
” The Aviarist approached her, lifting her chin to examine the box around her neck, the one that held her new voice.
“It’s an interesting piece of craftsmanship; I’ll give him that. Wasted on you, though.”
“Don’t touch me.” Cassie flinched away from him. His fingers were cold and hard. She didn’t miss his dodge of her comment. “Tell me what you did to Rhea.” Cassie met his sharp brown gaze with her own pale green one.
“I’m not here to have a dialogue with you. Put the weapon down, and we’ll discuss the next steps.”
“I’m not stupid.” Her hands trembled around the stolen pulsar gun.
“It’s irrelevant.”
“I’m not going back. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Save the dramatics. I’m not asking. It’s time to go.” He held out a hand to her. “I’m offering you the option to walk out of here on your two feet. Then we’ll take you somewhere to put you out of your misery, where your friends won’t have to find you.”
“You’re going to kill me,” Cassie finally said it.
She’d known it was the truth as soon as S’samph had told her Rhea was missing.
But she hadn’t been able to say it. Only now, staring down the one responsible, could she give voice to the truth that had been eating away at her for the past several weeks.
A glint sparked in the Aviarist’s eyes. “I thought that was obvious.”
“Why can’t you just leave us alone?” Cassie felt tears sting the corners of her eyes. She hated the way it came out pleading. She hated that it made her sound like she would ever beg this monster for anything ever again.
“I’m bored with this. Should I kill you here then?” He pulled a plasma blaster from a holster around his waist. “We can let your new friends find you without a head.”
Cassie swallowed hard. She would only get one shot. If she missed, it would all be over. “I am uploading.”
“Uploading what?”
She lifted her wrist interface. “To the intelewaves. My voicelock records.” It was a lie. But she knew it would trigger him. He always hated losing.
With a cry of rage, the Aviarist took two long strides toward her, picking her up by the front of her shirt and holding her aloft.
“Do you know why your genetic sequence was never reused? We wanted better passeri. You’re from a trash code.
Once you’re dead, I won’t be out here hunting down stupid little girls who think they know better.
You are not a person, Cassowary. You have no family.
You were made in an incubator to serve your betters. Do you understand me?”
You’re wrong. She signed, as her voice was stolen from her again.
“I’m not.” He scoffed at her, and Cassie found herself unsurprised that he knew how to read passeri hand signs. “What do you know about being a person? It matters little. We’ve reached your expiration.”
“Cassie!” ?rim’s voice rang out through the dock house.
Her stomach flipped. She was out of time.
In a single motion, she lifted her stolen pulsar gun and aimed it at the Aviarist. The shot missed his head but hit him square in the shoulder.
He cursed, and the distraction was enough to make him drop her hard.
He pulled out his own weapon, and Cassie was certain he would not miss.
She closed her eyes. Two blasts sizzled in the air around her.
Cassie’s eyes flew open on instinct. ?rim was in front of her.
Light fractured blue. The sound of glass shattering.
Heavy footsteps. Silence. The Aviarist lay in a crumpled pile on the ground with his head blown off while S’samph loomed over him, still holding his pulsar gun.
But there was something else. Something else in front of her that her brain couldn’t quite piece together.