Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
“I didn’t know they were her friends! I didn’t even know it was wrong! I need the spark and my mother gave me spark. What was I supposed to do? Ask her if eating is wrong? If your mother gave you grapes and then one day you find out grapes are people, then you’d know how I feel right now.”
Clara turns to face Anneeta. “Wait. Do you mean that Imogen told you to eat the Spark Maidens?”
“Well, of course!” Anneeta even stomps a foot when she says this. “I was a baby. How would I know what I’m supposed to eat?”
Clara turns to look at me again, but now she’s the one giving me ‘the look’. “She didn’t know. Now she does.”
“You’re not even the least bit concerned that she will drain you dry and leave you on the floor, a withered-up corpse?”
“No.” And she’s serious too. I can see it in her eyes. “And ultimately, it’s my decision, right? If I want to help her leave, then it’s my decision. And I want to help her leave. Think of it this way, Tyse. If we leave her behind, what happens then?”
“You’re trying to make me feel sorry for her because she’s gonna starve?”
“No.” Clara shakes her head. “Think about it. She’s not going to die. I think it’s way past that point. She might be hungry, she might not grow and mature, but she’s going to live. And what kind of god will she become if we leave her behind and let the city raise her?”
“Yeah,” Anneeta huffs. “Think about that, Tyse.”
Clara turns to her. “You shut up. You’re making things worse.”
Anneeta pouts, but she doesn’t back-talk Clara.
I have to admit, though, if the little god Anneeta must exist, it’s better to have her as an ally than an enemy. And that’s what Clara is really saying.
So I throw up my hands. “Fine. It’s your decision. I’m outnumbered, I guess. So fine. We’ll pack up as many jumps as we can and then we’ll get on the first train to Delta.”
As soon as these words are out of my mouth, someone is pounding on my door.
I point a finger at Anneeta and make a zipping motion over my lips. “Who is it?”
“Runner! I’ve got a delivery for Tyse Saarinen.”
I walk to the door, open it a crack, and then trade the runner a coin for the little package. He tips an imaginary hat at me, then takes off down the hallway.
I close the door, turn back to the girls, open the bag, and look inside. It’s a phone. And when I take it out, I find a text message from Stayn.
Call me when you get this. The meeting can’t wait. I need you to come in now.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Istruggle with Donal, getting back up on my feet. He grabs at me again, and I manage to elbow him in the mouth. He groans, but doesn’t go down. The injury just makes him angrier, and he’s still got a hold of me. No matter what I do, I cannot get free.
I kick, and scratch, and try and bite his hand when it gets too close to my mouth. He slaps me and throws me back on the ground with such force, all the breath rushes out of my body, leaving me gasping for air.
He stands over me, grinning, blood from his split lip dripping down his chin. And there is an evil hunger in his eyes that terrifies me. I shrink back, putting my hands in front of my face, because I can see it coming. His foot is rising and he’s about to stomp on me when a familiar voice calls through the darkness.
“That’s enough, Donal! Stop what you’re doing right now.”
“Auntie!” I moan. “Auntie, help me!”
It’s a stupid hope. Because I know better. I know better. She paired me up with Donal for a reason. She knows he’s mean. She knows he would kill me right now if she wasn’t here.
But Auntie Bell doesn’t care about me. She has never cared about me. I am… a tool. Nothing more than a hammer. Hell, hammer is far too lofty a role for me because a hammer implies power. And I have no power. It becomes very clear to me as I lie on the ground, looking up at Donal as he considers the idea that he might just stomp on my face anyway, that I am a nail. Something to be hit.
But then Auntie is there, pulling him back with her two strong hands on his shoulders. “We don’t have time for this, boy. You need to get into position.”
“She came down from there!” He points down the hallway, indicating that I came down the stairs from the tower. “We can get in now.”
“It’s far too late for that, Donal. That Looking Glass is out of our reach. But this one—” Auntie motions down the left-hand passageway with her head. “This one can still be coaxed into working. We must proceed with the plan.” Then she pauses to look at me. “And we need my niece here. She has spark in her. We need every bit of spark we can get our hands on.”