Zodiac (Zodiac, #1)(82)

I bow my head. “No.”

“Louder, please.”

“No, I did not.”

“Is it true,” says Charon, “that you crept into House Gemini masked in a cloaking veil?”

“I can testify to that.” Rubidum hops to her feet. “Rho materialized in our playroom like a magician. Such a theatrical entrance. She’s a queen of melodrama.”

After her brother’s treachery, I shouldn’t be surprised she’s contributing to my humiliation. I’d thought since she brought me the stone, that she’d had a change of heart. But I was wrong.

Her Guardian tiara flashes golden reflections as she climbs up in her chair and stands to face the audience. “Rho isn’t malicious, fellow Excellencies. She’s simply blinded by anger over the death of her friends. Revenge is a tale without end, I warned her.”

“A tale without end,” the audience echoes, as if this phrase explains everything.

She resumes her seat and Charon gives her a bow. “Our thanks for your testimony, honored Rubidum.” He looks now to the row of seats where Hysan was just sitting. “And, Lord Neith, did this girl not use the same devious veil to invade your House as well?”

After a slight delay, Neith lifts his chin. “Insufficient data.”

I hold my breath, as my heart counts off the seconds of silence that follow Neith’s declaration. I have to do something—I can’t let them expose Hysan’s secret like this—

“It appears the Guardian of Libra has been napping.” Charon turns to the audience with a mocking sneer.

I hold my exhale until the crowd explodes in guffaws, and the threat is over.

It takes a minute for Charon to settle everyone down, and I keep glancing up at the ceiling, imagining ways Ochus might attack us. The Dark Matter has set off explosions, burned the atmosphere with acidic rain . . . what else can he do with it?

I search for Mathias again but find no sight of him.

“Final question,” Charon booms, making me jump. “We know from eyewitnesses that you were visiting Empress Moira when her orbiting lab exploded. Is it true you fled in your stolen ship without offering a ride to a single man, woman, or child?”

My feet go numb, followed by my legs, stomach, chest, until my whole being is submerged in an inability to feel. It’s like even my body is jumping ship and abandoning me. I let those people die. I brought Ophiuchus to them, and then I didn’t save a single soul.

“It’s true.”

Now the crowd noise grows to a clamor, and I feel tears welling up. Once more, Morscerta rises to his feet and takes the speaking staff. Beneath his courteous manner, he has a potency that commands attention, and the arenasphere falls so abruptly quiet, I hear myself breathing.

“Guardians, Excellencies, this whimsical episode has clearly charmed us.” Again, the Aquarian’s silken voice startles me. “But on this last day of our session, let us settle down and turn to more serious topics before we close.”

When the others nod assent, Morscerta speaks to me in a sweet, almost tender tone. “Rhoma Grace, thank you for your fascinating comments. You are dismissed.”

He bangs the staff on the floor, and the subject is closed.





30


MY FRIENDS ARE ON THE STREET, waiting behind a barricade—Hysan, Sirna, and all three Thaises. Hysan’s still a little woozy from the Taser sting, and Egon is keeping him steady. I run up to him. “Are you okay?”

“Never been Tasered before,” he says, smiling lazily. “It was electric.”

We’ve all been banned from the Plenum, and soldiers are guarding the entrance to make sure we stay out. There’s no sign of the students who welcomed me before. I take off my coronet and give it back to Sirna. “Keep this safe.”

She accepts it with a solemn nod, and while Mathias scans the nearby buildings with his field glasses, she whispers to her brooch to call the car.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there, Rho,” says Mathias, coming up beside me. “They tricked me with an urgent call from Agatha, then wouldn’t let me back in.”

“It’s okay.” Ochus seems to be doing everything he can to isolate me.

People from the audience are starting to come out. They’re all Scorps, and soon one of them spots me. “There she is.”

Hysan draws a pistol, and Mathias steps in front of me as the Scorps yell insults. When they move toward us, Mathias fires a blue-white arc of electricity from his Taser.

The men fall back a few steps, out of range, but they don’t leave. Hysan pulls my veil collar from his tunic and fastens it around my neck, activating it. And I disappear.

The Scorps encircle us, and Mathias and Hysan fire their weapons to hold the crowd back, both guns set to stun. After two tense minutes, Sirna’s car arrives, and we jump in.

“Guardian, our safe house might no longer be secure,” she says as soon as we’re all inside and I’ve taken off the collar. “We need to find a new place.”

“She can stay at the Libran embassy,” offers Hysan. “They won’t think to look for her there.”

“Thank you,” I say.

Mathias turns quickly. “No. We don’t know who’s trustworthy—”

“Rho can trust House Libra,” says Hysan, glaring.