Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles #1)(33)
The Maid nods and leaves, shutting the door behind her, but before she can say anything to me, there’s another knock on the door.
This time it’s Mother’s personal Maid who steps into the room and whispers something to Mother before walking back out the door without even glancing in my direction. Mother immediately stands and tells me I can have awhile to myself to prepare mentally for my coupling.
At first, I breathe a sigh of relief when I’m left to my own devices, but then my instincts start humming. Why did Mother leave me alone now? Especially when she was so concerned I’d change my mind. Surely she’d want to be here in case I started to get cold feet, so she could convince me otherwise, right?
Whatever made her leave has something to do with me. I know it. I just have to find her and figure out what it is.
I slip out the door and down the hallway, hoping to find Mother quickly and quietly. It doesn’t take long. I pause next to the library when I hear Mother’s voice say my name. I creep closer to the door to listen in on what she’s saying, being careful to step lightly so my heels don’t make a noise.
“Evelyn has chosen, and I made a deal. I’m sorry you were not chosen,” Mother says.
“I don’t think it was her choice, though, milady.” This from a man, a man that sounds remarkably like the young Guard.
“Why would you think that?”
“Why would she choose a Surface Dweller? He must be using her so he can escape.”
Although I am unable to see what Mother is doing, I’m sure she’s pursing her lips, considering what he’s saying carefully and deciding how to respond.
“Yes, I am aware of what he’s doing,” she says.
I press closer to the doorway. So Mother knows that this is all a ruse. Nothing less than I expected, but I wonder what she plans to do about it.
“While I do not presume to question you, I do not understand why you are letting them couple,” the Guard says.
“My reasons are not your concern. Rest assured, he has not fooled me. He will still die tonight.” I suck a breath in through my teeth, but otherwise do not make a noise. Every muscle in my body tenses.
“Yes, milady.” The Guard sounds pleased, and it surprises me how much I want to smash the smile off his face. There’s a red haze on either side of my vision, which, aside from that, has become extremely clear.
The sounds inside come to me as if I’m in the room. The incessant ticking of Mother’s favorite clock, the whispers of linen against leather, their breathing, even their heartbeats. Slow and calm from Mother. Irregular and quick from the Guard.
The scent of his cologne and Mother’s perfume makes my nose itch and burn, but I don’t dare move. I don’t want to miss a thing. Every bit of information I can collect now will be to my advantage later.
“Excellent,” Mother says. “For your service, I will keep my promise to you and you will have Evelyn.” It’s not an easy task to fight back the urge to burst into the room and declare I’m not property. That I’m not the wage to be paid for killing a Surface Dweller. My Surface Dweller.
“Thank you, milady,” he says, and from the sounds, I know he has taken Mother’s hand in his and kissed it, as is expected of him.
The chairs creak as they stand and I hurry as quickly and quietly as I can back to my room. Looks like I have yet another change of plans. The escape will have to take place tonight, whether I’m ready or not.
CHAPTER TEN
Festival! The one time each year to let our hair down and celebrate what Mother has done for us. Because we know no one wants to miss all the fun and excitement, attendance is compulsory.
—FESTIVAL FLYER
Tearing through my room, and ignoring the sudden headache that screams through my head, I grab absolutely anything I think might be useful and shove it into the evac pack Mother put together for me ages ago. Since she filled it herself, it has all sorts of things that will come in handy. It’s only to be used in emergencies, like a Surface Dweller invasion or a leak—something that means we have to escape quickly. I can’t think of any greater emergency than this.
I yank a dress over my outfit and shove a complete change of clothes in the bag. If we run into trouble, I won’t be much good in stiletto boots. I pull them off now so I can sneak out, and hitch the pack onto my back.
When I pass the library, Mother is still talking to the Guard. I block their voices from my head. I don’t have time to chance hearing something that will stop me from going through with my plan. The headache disappears as quickly as it appeared, but I don’t question it. I just keep moving. I hurry down the halls, sticking to the shadows, and rely on my instincts to get to the Detainment Center, hoping I won’t run into any Enforcers along the way.
When I reach the turrets that are just outside the entrance to the Detainment Center, I hide my backpack behind it in the alcove, then take a second to catch my breath and remove the dress, pull my boots back on, and adjust the lingerie Mother tied me into in an appropriately seductive way before sauntering into the room. The less time the Guards spend thinking with their brains the better. They exchange a look when they see the little black outfit I’m wearing.
“Miss Evelyn,” one says, and tries to avert his eyes. If nothing else, I have to give him credit for that. “We weren’t expecting you.”