Antebellum Awakening (The Network Series #2)(18)

“Do you see what I command now?” she asked when I came up next to her, staying out of arms reach. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Whether she spoke of her rule over the city, or the city itself, I couldn’t decide.

“You command?” I asked instead, trying to play it cool. “I don’t remember Almack empowering you as High Priestess.”

“Trivialities,” she said, brushing me off. “I was destined for it, Bianca.”

“What about Dane? He comes to power when Almack dies.”

Her eyes glittered with a smile, making her look nearly mad.

“Perhaps.”

The magic had grown so frantic that my usual analytical abilities failed. When the lightest of tingles started in my fingertips, and the pressure of keeping the power contained began to cause me pain, I knew I had to get out.

“Let’s get this over with,” I said. “What’s the task?”

“You’re much braver than you used to be. You certainly never demanded anything of me at school.”

If bravery meant uncontrollable power, a churning gut, and a skittish heart, then yes. I had a bit more of that.

“Living through your worst nightmare tends to make etiquette less important,” I muttered.

“Very well,” she said, opening the Book of Contracts. “I will set your task.”

“How do I know that the task you assign me is the one that will fulfill the contract?”

“The binding responds, you see?”

The Book of Contracts had flipped through its pages and now lay open to mine. The ink of her smeared thumbprint gleamed a blood-red color on the bottom of the parchment, seeming fresh.

What if I ripped the contract out? I thought. Could I destroy it?

“Your task,” she began, interrupting my thoughts, “is to kill the next High Priest of the Central Network before you turn seventeen. Should you fail to accomplish this assignment, you will die. Should you succeed, your Inheritance Curse will be removed, and you shall live.”

The words appeared on the contract as she spoke them.

Your task is to kill the High Priest.

This unexpected turn was more confusing than shocking. I blinked several times, staring at the page. We didn’t even have a High Priest. What advantage would she gain?

“The High Priest?” I repeated. “We don’t have one right now.”

“Not yet, but Mildred is searching. The Central Network has never gone into a war without full leadership. Not even Mildred would break that tradition.” She looked at me from the corner of her eye with a sly grin. “Although she has broken another rather important tradition, hasn’t she?”

My heart pounded, filling my ears with the sound of rushing blood. I wouldn’t do it.

“I’ll never kill anyone for you,” I said in a hiss, loathing her more and more with every word. The magic was breaking through the already weak guards in my heart. Any minute now and I’d lose control.

She shrugged.

“Fine. Then you’ll die. It’s up to you.”

“Why not the High Priestess?” I asked, desperate. “Why the High Priest?”

Miss Mabel chuckled.

“Oh, Bianca, I wouldn’t pass on the pleasure of killing Mildred for the world.”

I really studied her for the first time. Despite her languid expression and unreadable eyes, a few stress lines marred her face. She could do all the transformative magic she wanted to make herself appear young and beautiful, but she couldn’t hide the anxiety.

Did you ever feel fear? I thought of asking, but wasn’t certain I wanted the answer. Or do you run on anger? Is that your source of power? Who could you hate so much that you’d be this terrible?

I’d spent my life questioning Miss Mabel’s actions but never her motives. Now, for the first time, I realized that her evil must have a purpose beyond ambition to rule the Central Network. An overwhelming wave of power made me lose visual clarity, forcing me back to the terrible reality of my situation. With magic this strong, I’d black out entirely. The magic would work through me with no way to stop it. I steeled myself to battle the power, but my energy waned.

“Then why are you doing this?” I asked.

There was too much vulnerability in the question, too much raw emotion I couldn’t control, and I hated myself for it. The magic seeped out of my heart, spreading through my chest and arms. If I let it go, would it destroy her? Or would it just destroy me?

“The same reason I do everything,” she said. “Leverage.”

“You lie,” I whispered. Her face blurred. I gripped the wall to keep from falling. “You want power.”

“Don’t we all want power? Are you and I so different, Bianca? Both of us have someone we hate, someone we’d be willing to do anything to get rid of. The real question is: which of us wants it more?” she asked, turning away. “I’ll see you soon, I’m sure.”

The world went black when she sent me into the darkness again. The pressure of transporting pressed on my face and eyes. I recognized the velvet underbelly of the canopy of Letum Wood over my head just before the magic overcame me.

Darkness.





A Jagged Weakness

“See that Guardian there?” Merrick asked, pointing. “His body is low and his legs are far apart. Now look over here. That Guardian crossed his legs and now . . . he just fell on his arse and everyone is laughing at him. Never cross your legs. It’s asking to be embarrassed.”