Zodiac (Zodiac, #1)(36)

My hair is still long and wavy like a mermaid’s, the way Leyla styled it, and I find myself wishing I could have said goodbye to her and Lola. I packed the Zodai suit they made me, along with the velvety makeup and glossing hair spray. Mathias’s distrust tonight made one thing clear: When selling the unbelievable, appearances matter.

I waste the first five minutes of the meeting having to insist Nishiko be allowed to attend. So far, she’s the only person who believes me, and I need an ally. When we’re all seated, I repeat what I told Mathias. I show them Nishi’s research, and I tell them my plan.

Only Dr. Eusta laughs. Crius snarls, and Agatha wants me to consult the Ephemeris once more . . . but I can’t face that monster again.

“This ice phantom,” says Crius. “You say you touched him?”

“I did. I felt his skin.” I don’t mention that he tried to crack my skull.

“And how does one touch a phantom?” Dr. Eusta’s hologram asks. “I think the salt water you drank at the ceremony is addling your brain.”

I throw up my hands. If my instructors had taken my test results seriously the first time, we might have saved lives. I can’t let my Advisors’ distrust condemn the people of Virgo and Gemini. I won’t stay silent anymore, not when speaking out can make a difference. No one here can help me now.

In a nervous voice, very unlike her usual assertive one, Nishi speaks to my Advisors for the first time. “You should listen to Rho. You may regret it if you don’t.”

Mathias scrutinizes her, then me. I’m so furious with him that I’m trembling. Does he really think I would be going through this if I wasn’t sure of what I saw? How can he swear his allegiance to me on his Mother’s life, and a few hours later turn his back when I need him the most?

He’s just like Dean Lyll, Admiral Crius, Dr. Eusta. . . . They don’t take my readings seriously because they don’t take me seriously. They don’t respect me. Mathias doesn’t respect me.

He seems to read the emotions in my eyes, because he turns to my Advisors and—to my bewildered relief—says, “Would it do any harm to alert the other Houses? Just to be safe?”

Dr. Eusta shakes his head, only it’s more of a jerk. “That would completely undermine our credibility.”

I have to make a deliberate effort not to hit something. “We Cancrians are people of honor,” I plead. “Twenty million of our citizens have just died. How many more will die on Virgo and Gemini if we don’t warn them to take precautions?”

Crius crosses his legs. “The Houses don’t have a history of mutual trust. When they hear this overblown tale, they may suspect us of treachery.”

I feel the short hairs on my neck standing on end. “Look, you chose me to be Guardian. My job is to read the stars, and I have. We can’t wait longer.”

Agatha rests her cane across her knees. “Mother’s right. We must take her word on faith. Let’s send the alert.”

I blink, stunned by her support, by the sudden reversal of the tide. She touches her Ring and moves her lips, and I spring over and grip her hand. “He’s in the Psy. He’ll hear you!”

She stares at me, wide-eyed. “Then how do you propose we do this?”

“An encrypted Wave,” suggests Mathias. “Or we could send a hologram.”

“They won’t believe a hologram.” When she says this, Nishi looks directly at Dr. Eusta.

“Exactly,” I say. “Trust Only What You Can Touch. Holograms can be counterfeit, and encryptions aren’t foolproof. I have to go in person to prove my warning is real.”

“You’ll go yourself?” When I nod, Agatha leans back in her chair. She seems to be studying me with new interest.

“Impossible!” barks Crius. “Our people need you here. We’ll send someone else.”

“Who?” I ask. “Which one of you believes what I’m saying?”

For a minute, no one speaks. Anyone could read the doubt on my Advisors’ faces.

“I’m the one who saw Ophiuchus. I’m the only one they’ll believe.” When they still look doubtful, I stand up and say, “I need a ship with an autopilot.”

“Out of the question!” roars Dr. Eusta.

“I agree. It’s far too risky,” says Agatha, and now the tide’s turned back against me.

“Do you think I want to leave home?” I snap, for the first time sounding semi-hysterical to myself. I take a deep breath and with my eyes closed say, “We can’t stand by while Virgo and Gemini are attacked.” I turn to Mathias and make my voice deeper and steadier. “Advisor Thais, I order you to find me a ship that I can take to the other Houses, alone. Please.”

He glares at me, and while we stare, no one interrupts. Then he starts speaking soundlessly, and as the others begin to do the same, Nishi pulls me aside. “Don’t leave me behind, Rho. You said I could help.”

I reel her in for a tight hug. “Nishi, I do need your help. I need you to spread the word.”

Beneath her tangled hair, her amber eyes grow wide. “How far?”

“Start with my Advisors. Keep trying to convince them, but don’t stop there. Tell everyone you can, in as many Houses as possible, because we’re all in danger. Try contacting members of 13—they won’t help your credibility with the rest of the Zodiac, but they’ll have more information than what we know, and maybe there’s something that can help us. Send me everything you find out.”