Part 21 (1/2)

”Can we show her?” Katia asked.

Lottius shrugged. It was just the three of us. Ravan and Skylar had a date, and Gus was off the island.

”Show me what?” I asked.

”You'll see. Let's go to the bathroom,” Katia whispered, glancing at me and then Lottius.

”I'm staying right here,” Lottius said, adjusting her sungla.s.ses.

”Come on, Lottie,” Katia said.

”There's nothing Lilith can do. Our people will never change. You saw what happened to the minions she tried to help in the elite guards. Nothing.”

I rounded on her. ”You know what, Lottie? I'm tired of your defeatist att.i.tude. Just because nothing has changed doesn't mean I'm ready to give up. You don't want to be involved? Then shut up and stay out of our way.”

She glared, and I glared right back.

After a few seconds, she sighed. ”Fine. I'll be the decoy and keep them preoccupied.” She slanted her head toward Callum and Rudy, my favorite bodyguards, and two other security guards.

Ruby and Callum followed us inside the ice-cream parlor while the others stayed by the entrance. I'd become very good at ignoring their presence, since no amount of complaining had convinced my father I didn't need them twenty-four-seven.

Several girls came out of the bathroom and smiled when they saw me. ”Hi, Princess Lilith.”

I loved that they had stopped bowing. I smiled back and waved, finding it hard to remember the lessons Lady Nemea had drummed into me over these past several weeks.

”We're having a party at our place,” one of the girls said. ”Would you and your friends like to come?”

”Ask her later,” Katia said, pulling me into the bathroom. ”Follow my telegate.”

We appeared on a narrow and rocky beach packed with picnicking parents and children. Some lined up to get snow cones and drinks from a lone building by the rock wall bordering the beach. Others splashed in the water, swimming.

To our right was a rocky divide that went all the way to the sea. It was the same pile of rocks I'd seen the first time I'd come to the beach, which meant it separated this beach from West Coronis Beach. A waterfall to the left neatly confined the occupants to the narrow land. It didn't seem to bother them, though.

”Is this part of Coronis Beach?” I asked.

”No, this is Rocky Beach,” Katia said. ”Or, should I say, the minions' beach. On the other side of the waterfall is East Coronis Beach, which, if you've noticed, is favored by families.”

The beach had more pebbles than sand. No wonder they called it Rocky Beach. ”What happens when a family has a child without powers?” I asked.

Katia chuckled. ”I don't know. They keep it to themselves, I guess. Do you see her?”

I followed Katia's gaze and saw who she was talking about-Seraph, the little girl I'd healed weeks ago. She'd seen us and was pointing.

One by one, the minions dropped to their knees, bowed their heads, and pressed hands to their chests. ”No, don't kneel.”

By the time we walked across the sand to their side, the entire beach was on their knees, on the rocky ground. Please, stop bowing. Get up. Now.

No one moved.

Please, stand up, I added.

One by one, heads lifted. They were confused, but they got to their feet. I recognized faces from the castle. Most workers there rotated, getting a few days off every week. Surprise flashed in their eyes when I remembered their names, but I didn't dwell on it, because Seraph was running toward me, two of her friends following. I was sure she was going to hug me but stopped short and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

I knelt down. ”Hey, Seraph. I promised I'd come.”

She just stared.

”Sorry it's taken me so long,” I added, feeling a little guilty.

”Five weeks, twenty hours, and fifteen minutes late.”

I looked over my shoulder at Green Eyes. Dressed in a black surfing suit that hugged his masculine chest and taut abs, his hair plastered to his head and falling past his shoulders, he looked utterly male and tempting.

”I didn't know you were keeping count,” I said.

”I always keep count, Princess.” He glanced at Katia. ”Hi.”

”It's you again,” Katia murmured. ”Are you stalking us?”

”No. I just happen to have a large family to feed and must work as often as I can.”

”But the High Council is in charge of making sure everyone is fed,” I said.

”Weekly provisions are based on work hours, Princess, whether a minion works in some n.o.bleman's home, a shop, farms, or the palace grounds. You want decent meals each day, fresh fruit and vegetables, or even a decent home, you work your tail off. The problem is that when parents are busy working, the children are cooped underground doing nothing or working alongside them. Coming to the beach means lost work hours and less provision, yet the children need fresh air.”

Rocky Beach was small for the number of people flocking it, but he couldn't be serious about food and home. The minions working at the castle always seemed happy. As an empath, I would have known if they were angry, hungry, or unhappy. As for their homes, I knew that most of the minions lived in the belly of the city, but I hadn't visited them.

I glanced at Katia. ”Is this true?”

She nodded.

I studied the minions and something registered. No one was speaking, not even telepathically. Were they listening to our conversation? I knew the ones closest to us could hear us.

”What do you want me to do?” I asked.

”Just as you made sure Sir Kellion stopped abusing the volunteers and got him b.u.mped to number two, the rest of us need a champion, Princess,” Green Eyes said.

”What? He stopped?” I laughed.

Green Eyes grinned. ”Sir Norath is now the head of the knights. He started a new regiment made up of minions. They started training this morning.”

”That's great!” I hugged Katia.

”Like I said, the rest of us need an advocate, someone who cares about our welfare. Someone who can go to the High Council and demand changes.” He nodded at the minions. ”Ask them what they need to make their lives better and you'll be surprised.” He bowed and disappeared.

Why did he keep doing that?

I didn't realize I'd spoken out loud, until Seraph's mother said, ”He's always been like that, even as a child. On Coronis Isle, he'd bring the children treats, then disappear. Now he brings supplies to the shop.” She indicated the beach shop with a nod. ”Drinking water and fresh fruit.” She looked at something behind me and fear flashed in her eyes.

I turned and groaned. Lottius and my guards had caught up with us, but they weren't alone. Lady Nemea and several guards were with them.