Shadowmarked, p.8
ShadowMarked, page 8
I instantly knew the other voice. Leanna. “Haven’t I been so far?”
“Just keep it that way,” Theo said.
I heard footsteps only moments before Sienna did. I gripped her arm, startling her as she didn’t sense my presence, and pulled her a few steps back.
“I know, this sand is getting everywhere, even with us being inside,” I said a little louder than necessary. Sienna’s eyes widened, but I continued as Theo and Leanna rounded the corner. “I’ve ate more sand today than in my entire lifetime.”
A moment of surprise filled Theo’s face when he spotted the two of us walking towards them, but he schooled it quickly. Leanna, however, had her eyes narrowed as she watched me. I gave Sienna’s arm a squeeze, and she took the hint.
“Yeah, this sand is the worst,” she said
“Leanna.” I smirked. “Just the person I was looking for.”
I let go of Sienna, and she stopped beside Theo. “Uh, we’ll see you later,” she said.
“I’ll finish my story next time.” I winked. “About the last time I was in Eres and we were hit by a sandstorm.”
Sienna nodded along, silently thanking me for not outing her for spying. I pressed a hand to Leanna’s back, directing her to the next hallway and waiting until we were out of earshot before pulling her to a stop.
“It seems you have a few more secrets than I thought,” I said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She smiled innocently.
“Sure you don’t,” I crooned. “That’s not why I’m here this time. With the storm, we’ll be postponing your trip until the winds die down.”
“I figured as much.”
“You know, I’m putting my trust in you, and I’ve vouched for you more than once. I hope you don’t intend to do anything stupid.”
“What makes you think I’d do anything stupid?”
“I’m hoping you don’t,” I said. She glared. “Why were you talking to Theo? I didn’t think you two even knew each other.”
“We don’t.” Leanna shrugged. “We just have a common… friend.”
“And who would that be?”
“Seeing as you were eavesdropping on our conversation, you should know I intend to keep my secrets to myself,” she said.
“Would this have anything to do with that letter you got from Prince Leo?”
Leanna’s eyes widened. “You read my letter?”
I shook my head. “No, I wouldn’t stoop to that level. I merely noticed the signature at the bottom showing through the thin envelope.”
She glared and rested one hand on her hip. “Whom I talk to, and what I know, is none of your business. I didn’t get to where I am by blabbing to just anyone.”
“No, you got here because we saved your ass, because we took you in.” I stepped closer. “Give me one reason to not pull you off this mission right now.”
“You helped me because of the things I knew and the secrets I kept.” She leveled her glare, her eyes harder. “I am on your side, Caspian. If I wasn’t, you’d know, but I will not betray others who are trying to help just to convince you to trust me.”
I leaned in, keeping my voice low. “You told me a lot of things once before.”
Leanna clenched her jaw. Her hands were balled into tiny fists, and she shook with rage. “You mean that time when you used me for information, made me think you actually cared, just to throw me away the second your little princess needed help.”
I swallowed, forgetting how that night had ended. It’d been a long time ago, and I hadn’t intended to hurt her or just use her for information. But I’d thought Jayla was in danger, and I’d instantly pushed Leanna aside to help her.
“I didn’t mean to do that,” I said.
“I should have known it was a trick the second I laid eyes on her. You wore a tight mask that night, hid your feelings well, but you couldn’t hide your instincts quite as easily.”
I sighed. “All I was trying to say was that you can trust me with whatever it is you and Theo are doing.”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” Leanna said and strolled down the hallway away from me. She called over her shoulder, “Come and get me when it’s time to leave. I’ll be ready.”
SIENNA
I managed to keep my temper in check while Theo and I walked back to our room in silence. I had been quick to follow him when he snuck out only an hour ago claiming he was going to check on the Marked kids. I knew something was up when I caught him taking the wrong hallway.
I hadn’t expected to find him with Leanna, though. Truthfully, I didn’t even know the two knew each other. I’d managed to hear some of their conversation before Caspian pulled me out of there and saved me from being caught eavesdropping.
“So, what were you and Leanna talking about?” I asked casually when we entered our room. It was a small space Jayla had managed to get for us since I’d finally been discharged from the MediCenter. A bed sat in one corner and a low table with cushions was across the thick carpet rug on the floor, nothing compared to the quarters they had but at least it was private.
“Nothing,” Theo lied. “We just ran into each other in the hall before you and Caspian arrived.”
He kept his gaze down, but everything in his voice sounded like he was telling the truth. If I hadn’t overheard him begging her to keep whatever he was hiding a secret, I just might have believed him. My stomach dropped—because I realized something. He could lie so well, and I’d never known that before.
“I thought you were heading to check on the kids?”
Theo nodded. “I did. Then went to check on Tynan and Petra.”
Another lie. I’d followed him from our rooms, and he hadn’t seen either. He’d taken a long roundabout way to the spot I found him and Leanna talking. My pulse began to race.
“How are Tynan and Petra?” I asked, keeping my voice steady as I sat on the bed and propped my foot up. My leg was feeling better and better every day, and I’d even managed a light jog yesterday.
“Good. Petra will join Leanna in Kuros. Tynan will stay behind with the Sweepers and continue helping train the kids as soon as this sandstorm lets up.”
I pursed my lips. “You can cut the bullshit, Theo.” He turned sharply to me. “I know you didn’t check on the Marked kids or Tynan and Petra.”
We stared at each other for a few moments, before he let out a breath. “There’s nothing going on that you need to worry about, Sienna.”
“Why won’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s not something you need to know right now.”
“But she can know? You trust someone you just met more than me?” I argued, feeling my throat try to close at my words. He trusted her, but he didn’t trust me.
“No, it’s not like that,” Theo started. “It’s better you didn’t know what was going on.”
“Why would that be better?”
Theo rubbed a hand to the back of his neck. “If anyone were to find out, it’d only mean trouble for them… or worse.”
“So why does Leanna know?” I asked, sitting up a bit taller, my fists balling at my side. “How do you even know something no one else apparently is supposed to know?”
Theo shook his head. “She already knew. I didn’t tell her anything.”
“But she’s safe to know? You aren’t worried about whom she may tell.” I hated that my voice broke, that my heart clenched with each word. “You trust her, but you don’t trust me?”
“I am, but that is out of my control now. She knew, I didn’t tell her anything, and now I have to trust she won’t tell anyone.” Theo knelt in front of me, taking my hand in his. “I’m sorry. It’s for your safety, I swear.”
My stomach twisted, and I shook my head. “I thought you trusted me. I thought we were a team.”
“We are a team. And I do trust you. But I want to keep you safe.”
“You know I wouldn’t tell anyone. Anything you say to me would be our secret,” I pushed, almost begging. My hand tightened around his, pleading.
“I don’t think you’re going to go blab to anyone about things—that’s not what I’m worried about. I’m worried about what the knowledge would do to you. Or what someone else would do if they found out you knew.”
I pulled my hand away from his, crossing my arms. “I don’t understand, Theo.”
“I can’t tell you!” Theo yelled, surprising me at his anger. “I can’t tell you,” he repeated softly this time. “Just trust me, please. And don’t say anything about this to anyone.”
I was silent for a moment, considering all Theo was and wasn’t saying. I’d always trusted him, and even though he said he trusted me, it didn’t feel like it. “I never thought you’d be someone who lied to me, Theo,” I said. He opened his mouth to reply but I stopped him. “I trusted others before, and when they lied, it was in the worst kind of way. Don’t do that to me too, Theo. Not you.”
“I’m not Gunner,” Theo said, his face twisted with pain at my implication. Good.
“Not yet, but he believed he was doing the right thing, too—until he wasn’t.”
“I will tell you. I promise. But only when it’s safe.” Theo pressed his forehead against mine, and I closed my eyes. The smell of him was intoxicating, soothing. I wanted to trust him, wanted to believe whatever he was doing was to protect me—to get Vic back.
“I hope you have the chance,” I said, opening my eyes and pulling back. “Secrets always catch up to people, Theo. And you might want to keep me safe, but at what cost?”
He didn’t reply, and I could tell from the look on his face as it dropped that he knew what I was implying. He might manage to protect me by keeping whatever secret he held, but right now he was losing me.
Jayla called Theo and me in to discuss the Marked kids and their training. The sandstorm raged into the night.
“Will they be ready for the next attack?” Jayla asked.
I nodded. “They will be.”
“Good.” Jayla paced a few steps. “You trust Tynan with them?”
“I do,” I said cautiously, wondering what Jayla could be asking me all this for. “Why?”
Jayla paused her pacing and took a seat across the table from where I sat. She placed her hands flat on the table. They trembled for a moment before she quickly shoved them in her lap. “When we get word from Simon on that train, we’ll be heading back to Cytos.”
“Why?” I asked.
Jayla sighed, and I saw both Em and Caspian tense where they stood behind her. “Because there will only be one way into the place they’re holding the genetic kids, and that’s on that train.”
“I don’t understand.” I shook my head.
“Em and Logan have scouted the entire mountain range. Wherever they’re hiding, it’s completely invisible to us. And even if we knew where it was, a shuttle would be way too noticeable, and the snow and mountains are impossible to navigate by foot. We have to find a way onto that train if we want to get inside.”
“Okay, so we hijack the train, and then what?”
“Not hijack,” Em interjected.
My eyes narrowed as I tried to understand what they were saying. “How exactly do Theo and I come into play here?”
“Caspian and I will pose as guards. You, Theo, and Em will go in as the kids we’ve captured.”
My throat was dry.
“No,” Theo said quickly. “There is no way in hell we’re going back there. No way we’re willingly letting them take us again.”
“It’s the only way we can gain access to wherever they are,” Caspian said.
“Do you not remember what they put us through, what torture they’re likely still putting the genetic kids through? You three go. It’s a suicide mission,” Theo said, crossing his arms. His jaw was set. “We’ve seen what they do to Marked kids. I won’t let that happen again.”
“You two have been around these people—you know what to look for and what to expect,” Jayla explained. “We’ll need as many people as possible to ensure we can get everyone out safely, and I know you want to be there for Vic. This is your chance to help her.”
Theo was still shaking his head, but the second she mentioned Vic my heart skipped.
“It’ll be different this time,” Em added. “We’ll be there, and we’ll have a contingency to get out.”
“You have no clue what they’re even doing there!” Theo shouted. “What if they’re simply killing the genetic kids, making sure to erase any evidence of what they created? What if we’re walking into a slaughter house?”
“They wouldn’t get rid of the genetic kids before they’ve gotten rid of the Reeks,” Caspian countered. “With Jayla and me there as guards, you’ll be safe.”
“You can’t guarantee that,” Theo argued.
“We’ll do it,” I said. Theo turned sharply to me. “Vic is still in there. I have to get her out.” It was stupid, it was reckless—but it was Vic. She was my family, and even with the doubts and hurt surrounding Theo and me, I’d do it for him, too.
“No. It’s not safe,” Theo maintained. “We need to wait and see if Kuros will help. They still have relations with Cytos. Maybe they can negotiate a release of the kids.”
“We don’t even know if Kuros will help,” Em countered. “But the real problem is that we’re running out of time.”
My chest tightened. We were running out of time, which meant Vic was running out of time.
“They will help us, I’m sure of it,” Theo argued. “We can find another way.”
“We’ll explore all our options, but I think this is our best chance,” Caspian said calmly. “If Kuros does agree to help us, we need them available to get those kids out. Grayson is not someone to negotiate with, trust me.”
Theo opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off. “You don’t have to do this, you can stay back, but I’m going.”
I knew Theo wouldn’t let me go alone, but I wasn’t about to back down.
Trust me, I silently told him, but there was so much doubt between us I wasn’t even sure this was the right decision. I could see the look in his eyes, wondering if he could trust this plan, if he could trust me. It stung, the realization that he hesitated because he wasn’t sure. I’d been wrong before, with Gunner, but I needed to make things right and find Vic. I couldn’t stand back and do nothing.
Theo sighed, looking skyward before finally nodding his head. “Fine.”
“We’ll all be there, and we’re not about to go in without a plan. There’s still time to think about it all, and we’ll be as careful as we can, but if we want Vic and the others back, this is how that happens,” Em said.
Theo let out another breath. He glanced over at me, silently asking if I was sure. Part of me worried I was making another bad decision. I’d put my faith in the wrong person over and over again, but this time I was a part of the plan and that made things different. I wouldn’t leave Vic’s life in anyone else’s hand but my own. Even Theo was lying to me. It was hard to know if I could trust anyone in this room, but I knew I could trust myself, and that was all that mattered. I would get Vic back.
GUNNER
A full week went by in silence. This place was constantly cold, and the room they’d shoved me in was small and cramped. The guards came three time a day with food and bathroom breaks. It was the only way I knew time passed without a view to the outside or a clock to know for sure. I hadn’t seen Grayson since she’d dropped the bomb that she was my aunt. Apparently, that didn’t matter to her as she kept me locked up just like the others.
Today my usual routine had changed.
The guard pulled me from my room early in the afternoon. He brought me to another room with a large window looking into open space with a single door at the back. There were a few people inside the room they put me in, but the only one I recognized was Dr. Allard.
“You look tired,” Allard said when he glanced over his shoulder at me. “Have a seat.”
I’d hardly slept in days. For the past week, I’d replayed over and over again what I’d found out. Simon was Grayson’s brother. Governor Grayson was my aunt. She was protecting my secret, protecting my father’s secret, but what did that all mean?
A guard pushed me into the chair before I had a chance to make my own decision. “It seems you got a promotion,” I mused.
Allard turned to face me. He leaned against the glass window and studied me for a moment. “Unfortunate accident, or so I’ve been told.” He eyed me with every bit of suspicion he had, knowing I knew what had really happened.
“So unfortunate,” I said.
Allard hummed before turning back to the window and the adjacent room. “Have you enjoyed your stay so far?”
“Not really.” I crossed my arms and leaned back in the chair.
Allard smirked. “It would seem you’ve been exempt from the testing everyone else has received,” he said. “Curious how that happened.” He paused, as if waiting for me to respond, but I kept my mouth shut, wondering what testing he was talking about, if Vic had been receiving these tests, too. “Well, no matter. I can use you in other ways.”
My pulse spiked. “And what would that be for?” I’d heard the screams still echoing through the mountain. Even the stone walls couldn’t mask the sounds.
“One of my patients isn’t… complying. I thought you might spark something in her.”
Through the window, I saw the door open and Vic was shoved into the vast space covered in jagged stone carved out of the mountain. The room was empty outside of Vic and the single door. She fell to her knees and I instinctively stood, pressing my hand against the window. “What are you doing with her?”
“Just a little experiment,” Allard said. “Take him in.”
Two guards grabbed my arm, pulled me into the hallway, and shoved me through the same door they’d thrown Vic in. I managed to stay on my feet despite the violent push. I bent down beside her.
“Vic. Are you okay?” I rested a hand on her back, and she flinched, suddenly noticing I was beside her. She didn’t speak. “Come on.” I pulled her to her feet.
