Deviation (Clone Chronicles #2)(58)

“How do you mean?”

“If the rest of the world knows Imitations exist, he won’t be able to control us, to choose whether we live or die or who gets created and who doesn’t. We’ll be free. You’ll be free,” I say pointedly. Daniel stares at me across the table. A moment passes as my last words hang in the air. We both know I’m talking about more than just the confines of this cell.

“They might reject you,” he says finally.

“They might,” I say with way more bravery than I feel.

“What will you do then?” he presses.

I don’t have an answer for that but I don’t need one. Linc squeezes my shoulder. “We’ll do whatever we have to, to survive.”

Daniel’s hands are still clasped and his eyes are unblinking as he regards Linc. “You would have to trust me.”

Linc doesn’t answer.

“And stop trying to kill me,” Daniel adds.

Linc scowls.

“And we have to get Raven out of Twig City.”

“Deal,” I say.

Daniel quirks a brow at Linc. “Can we tell her now?” he asks as if he’s asked this question a thousand times before.

“I said—” Linc begins.

“Tell me what?” Something about the way he said it makes me shiver.

Daniel ignores Linc and pins me to my chair with a look. “The deal was made before you agreed. In fact, so much of this was set in place long before now. I’ve been pretty impatient waiting on you to get your shit together and be ready.”

“Ready? Ready for what?”

Daniel and Linc exchange a look. Whatever Daniel sees there isn’t enough to stop him. “Melanie, for one. You leading Morton and the others. This.” He waves his hand at the dirty room.

“Melanie?” My pulse races.

“Your soldier man over there came through. She’s fine.”

“Fine?” My voice rises and all I can seem to do is echo him. My head spins. The room tilts. “Are you telling me she’s alive?” I look at Linc, eyes wide.

“Yes,” he says quietly.

“No, I saw her hit her head. I saw her …” The memory of that day is crystal clear. The small pool of blood seeping from her skull, the men bent over her searching for a pulse. Finding none. Her chest, the absence of breath. “How?”

“The drugs in this world can do a hell of a lot more than a good night’s sleep, kitten. Sofia slipped her a pill in her food that masked her heartbeat for long enough to get her out.”

“Where is she now?”

“She’s in a safe house. Don’t worry, she’s fine.”

I look at Linc. I don’t know whether to be utterly relieved or insanely furious. “You lied.”

He sighs. “I’m sorry. But you can’t lie well enough to cover something like that. I didn’t want to put you in more danger simply by knowing.”

I swallow a lump. He’s right. And I have no idea how to feel about it.

“And you think I’m ready now?”

“I can see the deviation in your eyes,” Daniel says. “The anger’s stronger now, isn’t it? The violent thoughts. The urge to stand up for yourself. The absence of fear in the face of danger.”

“Yes.”

“You’re ready.”

There are more questions but I save them. Not because I don’t need to know the answers but because I’m not sure I can handle them yet. “He’s talking about identifying the different classes of people with some sort of mark,” I tell him.

“Segregating the city. I’ve heard the rumors. Crawford told me the rest and your little media plan isn’t bad. But it isn’t good enough to beat him. We need to get the Ravens. All of them. The Ravens are the key.”

I ask the question that’s kept me awake at night more than once since Morton’s confession of love for a Raven that is not Daniel’s. “How many are there?”

Daniel leans back and folds his arms over his chest. “That’s an impossible question with no real answer. Despite what you may think, Ven, no two Ravens are alike. In that respect, there is only one.” I scowl at his cryptic reply and he continues, “And by your standards, there are also seven.”

His answer matches Morton’s. I’m not sure what else I expected but the confirmation of a truth I’d already accepted still deflates me. “And attacking me?” I ask quietly. Linc’s hand lands on my shoulder. I know it’s meant to be a comfort, but my skin is impenetrable, steeled for Daniel’s answer, no matter what. “That was all part of your plan as well? You wanted to be taken prisoner so, what? So I’d free you and finally show I was strong enough?”

Daniel levels his gaze on mine. “What do you need to believe?”

“I need the truth.”

“No. You need something to fan the flames.”

It’s not an answer, not really. I take it anyway, because he’s right.

A spark ignites. I’m done turning away. I’m done hiding. Maybe it’s my DNA structure deviating at last. Maybe it’s my own sense of self-preservation finally winning out.

“How do we do it?”

“We have to move fast. Get in and get out. Even if we can’t find them all. It’s possible not all of them are left at this point anyway.” He frowns, but it’s fleeting as he moves on to the next part of his plan. It’s obvious he’s thought this through. I’m not sure whether to be relieved we’ve finally found a way in or wary of this new, calculated and very sane version of Daniel before me.