Lifeblood (Everlife #2)(96)

He struggles for several seconds, Lifeblood gurgling from the corners of his mouth.

The seven. It’s done. He’s done.

More defeated than relieved, I fall to my face. My mind hazes, a sharp sting razing my cheek. Whatever. Too many other pains to worry about.

This can’t be heaven.

“Ten! Ten!” Levi’s voice. Fists pounding at my door. “You have to disable the shield.”

“How?” My lips form the word, but no sound leaves me. Black stars swell in my vision, and I’m tempted to use my necklace. To summon Killian. I want Killian. I want his arms around me, holding me. Want his breath fanning my skin, his scent in my nose. Want his words of comfort in my ears. He’ll tell me everything is going to be okay, and I’ll believe him.

But I can’t risk him. I won’t. Even if he made it through the Veil of Wings without burning to ash, he’d have to fight legions of Troikans to reach me.

“The fox will have some kind of device. Find the device, Ten!” More pounding, harder and faster.

I try to move, but fail. I think I see Elizabeth crawl to Victor and dig through his pockets.

She must have found the device, because the door bursts open and Levi leads an army into my apartment.

Knowing we’re safe—the fox conquered—I allow myself to drift into the darkness...

Hey. Maybe the darkness isn’t so bad, after all...

*

...I’m not sure how much time passes before an array of voices enters my awareness. I blink. I’m lying on a gurney. I’m sore and light-headed, and Levi is seated beside me.

The voices continue, but none are directed at me. They drift from other rooms, I realize. I’m in the Sanatorium.

Memories flood me. “Elizabeth,” I croak. “Deacon, Reed, Kayla.”

“Deacon, Reed and Kayla are recovering. Elizabeth...” He looks away for a moment, the only sign of his inner turmoil, before facing me head-on. “Coupled with the injuries she received this morning, she couldn’t be saved.”

“No.” Only a short while ago, she crawled to Victor, dug through his pocket...and that’s probably when she breathed her last. The realization hits me and a whimper escapes. She bled out saving us. “No” I whisper this time.

His expression firms. “Refusing to believe a truth doesn’t make it a lie, Miss Lockwood.”

I long to rant and rail at him. To shake him. I long to curl against him and sob. Because he’s right. I know he’s right. I know in my heart Elizabeth is gone. She’s gone, no longer a Light inside the Grid.

Troika lost a valuable soldier today. A girl loyal to the end. I lost a potential friend.

I won’t cry. I will be strong. I will honor her strength. “Why did you insist she guard me?”

“I didn’t.” He gives me a small smile. “She did.”

My grief sharpens to a razor point. I fight the tears desperate to spring free. “She will be missed,” I whisper.

If I’d just figured out Lina’s riddle sooner...if I’d suspected Victor’s treachery...

Levi takes my hand, squeezes. “The blame doesn’t rest at your door, Miss Lockwood. It rests at Mr. Prince’s.”

I know that, but knowing doesn’t negate feeling. “Did he survive?” My chin trembles. A funny thought takes center stage: during the frenzied attempt to enter my apartment, Levi had called me Ten.

“Yes, but he had help. Someone put our prison guards to sleep the same way Mr. Prince put my team to sleep. A flash of all-encompassing darkness. Then someone opened his cell.”

I hate that Victor is out there—with a partner! “What about his contract? Hasn’t it been voided? Shouldn’t he lose his connection to Troika?”

“Even people like Mr. Prince are given a grace period. We do not favor one over the other.” Levi gives my hand another squeeze. “Don’t worry about him. We’ll be talking with his friends and every girl he’s dated. We’ll find him and whoever’s working with him. Rest up, Miss Lockwood. You have begun to unlock the Grid. I can feel it. You have work to do.”

“Don’t I always?”

He ignores me. “The moment you succeed—and you will—the war will heat up. Everything will change.”





MYRIAD



* * *



From: Z_C_4/23.43.2

To: K_F_5/23.53.6

Subject: What am I to do with you?

You failed to sign the French girl, and this morning one of your former protégés was caught hiding Miss Lockwood’s mother.

I hope you’re pleased to learn both citizens have been placed in the Kennels.

As for Miss Lockwood, she’s learned of Victor’s allegiance to Myriad, and she’s close to using her Key. The Generals have decided she’s more trouble than she’s worth, a true threat to our freedom. You are to draw her out and kill her.

Another failure will not be tolerated, Killian.

Might Equals Right!

Sir Zhi Chen





chapter twenty-three



* * *



“With kindness, you brighten the world. With cruelty, you darken yourself.”

—Troika

The next day, I’m released from the Sanatorium. I return to my apartment, which has been cleaned, the broken furniture replaced, Victor’s recording devices found and removed. I consider asking for new digs; the furniture may be different, but my memories are vivid.