Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Yearning squeezed me. Oh, to have a little of what they had, without having to join team evil.
The unknown male extended his arm, palm up, offering the still-fighting Cyrus a small red fruit from a hand missing a thumb. “We have something for you and the girl. Come. Take.”
In that moment, I registered his identity. John Victors. Leader of the glowers.
The realization triggered an emotional defense. A wrecking ball to my already-fragile calm, obliterating any sense of tranquility.
“Arden, listen to me—our comms—okay?” Cyrus slayed two more feeders as static overshadowed the bulk of his words. “The glowers—so don’t—”
Our connection cut.
Chapter Fifteen
Follow the light and find life.
—The Book of Soal 2.4.8.12
I waited on the pedestal for my connection to Cyrus to reactivate, tension mounting.
Waiting.
Too agitated to remain immobile, I disengaged the metal bars and paced in the POD.
Still waiting.
Hours passed. One after the other, soldiers completed their shifts and abandoned their cubbies, either shell shocked or jubilant. Foreboding stabbed me. Where was Cyrus?
Roman, Titus, Lark, and Jericho remained behind, engaged in major conflicts by the looks of it. Still I waited, not letting myself shout for help or demand answers. I needed to know Cyrus was okay.
Again and again my heart rate bypassed the threshold necessary to awaken his transmitter, but nothing happened. In desperation, I jogged in place. I wasn’t sure what to do, what to think.
Cheers resounded from the other PODs. I didn’t hear them, but I noticed the expressions and actions of the remaining lords- and ladies-in-training. When Roman stripped out of his bodysuit, removed his accessories, and withdrew his card, I rushed to do the same. We exited our PODs in unison, and I burst out, “Tell me what happened. Please.”
Roman grinned. “We mowed down the infected and captured eight glowers, that’s what!”
A confusing mix of relief and remorse assailed me. I wondered if Ember was among the prisoners. “Did you see Cy—the HP in your feed?”
“I caught a glimpse of him fighting John Victors one on one, but I didn’t witness the end result.” Roman threw his arms around me, lifted me off my feet, and swung me in a circle. “We just made history, baby! The most glowers captured during an inaugural training mission.” He set me down, ruffled my hair, and jogged to Lark, pretending to gobble up her neck while she laughed. “We’re going to celebrate so hard.”
“Those dead maddened were once human beings, and now they’ll never get a chance to recover,” Titus spat as he stalked past us.
That must be the reason for my remorse. If not for treatment, my own mother could’ve been among the masses too sick to realize her bloodlust came from an otherworldly disease.
“They were beyond treatment,” Roman called to the other lord-in-training’s back. “You’d do better sympathizing with the people those things enjoy killing.”
Titus raised a hand, flipping him off without looking back, and marched on. Roman huffed, and Lark whispered something in his ear, making him laugh again.
Though I wished to search for Cyrus, I knew it wasn’t my right. Not knowing what else to do, I trailed the lovey-dovey couple to the counter, where we turned in our cards. I was a total third wheel on the walk to a colossal common space, where a party already raged. Members of my team mingled with knights and more-decorated barons, snacking, dancing, playing games, and discussing today’s adventures. The words High Prince Dolion came up a lot, but only references to his fight with Mr. Victors. A few lords and ladies fell asleep against the walls.
As I maneuvered through the crowd, wanting to be anywhere else, my stomach rumbled. What I wouldn’t give for more apple-and-fig tartlets. Or a doughnut. I hadn’t eaten all day.
Of course, the only food left on the tables was meal bars. Though disappointed, I snatched one. Better something than nothing.
Fatigue caught up to me after I swallowed the last bite, and I yawned. My eyelids were beginning to feel like sandpaper when I blinked. Though I searched, I didn’t find a safe, private spot to rest. No way I’d ever sleep out in the open.
Noticing Juniper standing alone in front of a statue, I closed the distance. “Hey.”
“Hey, Princess Panic.” She nodded, keeping her focus on the dinosaur man. The bubbly greeting conveyed only affection.
“Ooh la la. A title upgrade. I’ve really come up in the world. In school, I was merely referred to as Panic Girl.”
She snorted. “Please tell me you know something about these statues.”
“I was hoping you did.”
“I do, and I don’t. I skipped ahead in the archduke’s class, but details were vague at best. From what I gather, this statue represents a former king.”
Okay, that caught my attention. “Tell me more.”
Pointing to the base, where strange symbols were carved, she said, “I excel with languages, but this one is tricky. Some kind of mix between ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Norse. And yet, different.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “If something as fierce as this creature stood no chance against the Madness, how are we supposed to win?”