Part 38 (1/2)

Her friends went to get something to eat while Solange plopped onto the chair next to mine. ”Hey, little sis.”

I searched her face. ”Is Father okay?”

She smiled. ”Of course. He sent me with these. More presents.” She put a small present bag in front of me. ”He thought you might be worried.”

I dove inside the bag and pulled out a clear box with a green crystal, probably a CC, and a black velvet box. I looked up and caught a strange expression on Solange's face. She smiled and I wondered if I'd imagined it. ”Thank you. I was so worried about him.”

”Why?”

”He said he'd be back on Wednesday and today is Friday. I was sure something bad had happened to you guys.”

”You are so melodramatic.” She rolled her eyes and stood. ”I've done my sisterly duty, so see ya.”

”Are you going back?”

”Yep.” She waved to her friends.

”To where?”

”L.A. Can I go now?” She didn't wait for an answer, just joined her friends and then left the cafeteria.

”Your sister scares the c.r.a.p out of me,” Tannin said.

”She's sweet,” I fibbed.

”Yeah, like a viper,” Lottius said under her breath, but I heard her. We exchanged a grin. I was in such a good mood, her att.i.tude didn't bother me. My father was fine.

Lady Nemea was waiting for me when I got home. ”Solange said you heard from your father.”

I showed her the CC. ”I haven't watched it yet.”

”Go ahead. I'll get you something to eat.”

”Thanks.” I sat on my bed and opened the velvet box first. The b.u.t.terfly necklace inside was simple and gorgeous. Lady Nemea came back and found me trying to put it on.

”That is beautiful,” she said, walking around to help snap it on. She lifted the b.u.t.terfly and stroked it.

”He knows I love b.u.t.terflies, like my mom.” I studied the necklace, then reached for the CC. Lady Nemea continued to sit. ”I'd like to watch this now. Alone.”

”Of course. Let me know what he says.” She teleported.

I opened the box with the crystal and activated it. Light shot out. I waited for Father's image to appear. Waited and waited.

Nothing happened. The light dimmed and went off. No, there must be a mistake.

I reactivated the crystal again. Once again, no images appeared. Anger swelled inside me. That conniving, bitter piece of dark matter masquerading as my sister...

Solange! I screamed. What was her problem? First the CC from Gavyn, now this. Had she switched them, or just deleted them? I paced, imagining different ways to make her suffer.

Then I realized what I was doing, stressing, probably shooting off energy. The fact that Bran hadn't come running said he wasn't on the island. A quick scan confirmed it. Taking a deep breath, I focused on calming down.

Still a little p.i.s.sed, I marched across the room and through the family area. The two guards who'd taken over from Ruby and Callum jumped to their feet. They were new, but this was one time I didn't ask for names. Sir Malax had been using new and younger guards since Father left.

”Have you seen Solange?” I asked.

”No, Princess,” they said in unison.

I could feel their eyes drilling holes in my back as I entered Solange's bedroom. ”Solange! Where are you?”

Of course, I knew she wasn't around, but I still made a show of searching for her. The closet and bedroom were empty. I focused on the energies around the room and found where she hid her stash of CCs-in a secret compartment under her ma.s.sive bed.

I took the box and teleported to my room. She had so many of the crystals in different colors, but several of them were like the purple one Father had sent me.

I chose one of them and activated it. Gavyn's smug face appeared in the holograph. My stomach started churning as he started talking.

”We have everything in place at my end, Solange,” he said. ”My brother and Lilith are exactly where we want them. Finish your part and get in touch with us ASAP.”

I frowned. Who was ”us?” I activated the second crystal.

”The Tribunal will have no choice but to send the Archangels to take care of them now. I know we'll lose some of our people, but it is for the greater good. Have you found your father yet? We'll need him to rally the people behind us,” he said.

”We have to get rid of the High Council,” he said in another. ”They lack vision. We'll replace them when the time is right. Right now, we need Lilith. Oh, thanks for keeping me updated on your father. Who knew he'd bought an island and was building a city for our people? You are right. It is perfect.”

”So, the little princess is under your control. Make sure it stays that way. He can't know, or our plan is blown. Keep them busy.” This fourth CC was short and to the point.

I couldn't breathe. Nausea hit me hard and I ran to the bathroom. I lost the snack I'd eaten, my eyes tearing. I'd bought everything Gavyn had told me. Was Bran really my boyfriend, or was he part of a diabolical plot with my sister and his brother?

I rinsed my mouth, staggered back into my bedroom, and continued watching the CCs. In one, Gavyn talked about the Tribunal and the plans for the island. In another, he responded to one about keeping me docile, powerless. That meant lowering my energy. Draining it. They weren't draining my energy to help me. They did it to control me.

The CCs appeared to cover the period from before the Tribunal until after I arrived on the island. There was very little mention of my father after Gavyn mentioned the island, so I couldn't tell if they had plans for him, too. At least I now knew my father was never behind the Tribunal.

My first instinct was to destroy the CCs. Turn them into dust. Nuke them. But that would let her know that I knew about them. Not that I knew what their endgame was or who else on the island was in on it. Did Katia know?

My stomach heaved again. I gathered the crystals, put them back in their box, locked it, and took it back to her room. I hoped she didn't realize I'd found them. As soon as Father came home, I was showing him every last one of them. In the meantime, I had to know if Bran was involved.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I left her room and found Lady Nemea waiting for me. ”Is Solange back?” she asked.

”No. I was hoping she was. What's going on?” I hoped I sounded normal, because my mind was a mess.

”I just wanted to ask about your father.”

Part of me wanted to tell her about Solange, but the cautious part wasn't sure she could be trusted. Just because she loved my father didn't mean she wasn't colluding with Solange and Gavyn. Gavyn, Mr. Don't Trust Anyone On The Island, was a liar. Bran had repeated his lies or agreed with most of the things he'd said. What did that make him? Another liar? Were the brothers colluding to control me? Maybe that was why he could move around the island without being busted. Their supporters helped him. My anger started to build up again.

”Lilith?”

I stared at Lady Nemea, wis.h.i.+ng she could leave me alone. ”He said not to worry, yada, yada, yada,” I fibbed. ”He'll be home soon. I, uh, need to shower before dinner, and after dinner I'm going to visit the Subsixers.”