anything, I wanted to feel alive.
We were both quiet for several moments.
“Xavier had an interesting thought; I’m sure you heard it. Why don’t they all pledge to a human? Then they would all be the same strength again.”
“That still leaves the small issue of Aries betraying them.”
I looked at my brother appraisingly. “Should he have done it?”
He was quiet, picking at his shoelaces to stall for time. “Yes, but he should’ve buried them where they couldn’t possibly be unearthed. We thought he had.”
Well, they couldn’t have been more wrong. They underestimated human curiosity. The news story Kes and I heard breaking on the way to school the morning the world fell apart had been about the Zodia’s tomb. Archaeologists exploring the South American jungle found the tomb’s entrance and broke the seal holding them inside. Whatever spell made them sleep had broken, and they’d awoken with a vengeance.
“Aries wants to see you.”
“No.”
Kes sighed. “Larken.”
“I said no. I don’t want to see him right now.”
Kes looked toward the door and shook his head at the tall Guardian.
“I don’t want to see him tomorrow, either. We need space.”
I was upset. Not necessarily about Xavier, even though I didn’t like that he’d been asked to be my companion and then shoved out the door just as quickly. I just… no one was telling me what was going on. I was in the dark, as usual, and I was sick of it.
Kes gave me a look that said he wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to keep Aries away, but I didn’t care. Not when I didn’t know if I’d live through the next hour.
“I need a bath,” I said.
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“I don’t care!” I snapped. I really didn’t want one, but I needed one. I hadn’t considered taking one since the Pisces incident… and since then, had only run into the bathroom to use the toilet or brush my teeth, then scurried back out like a frightened child. “Can you ask Helena to stay with me? Please?”
“I’ll ask her,” he agreed, vanishing without another word.
I left the balcony, passing the tall Guardian who stood at attention. “I don’t envy you,” I told him when I got to the steps.
“I don’t envy you, either,” he replied in a much softer, kinder tone than the one I’d offered him.
I slipped past him and made my way to my room to gather my things. When I turned back around, Helena was yawning in the hallway. “I’m sorry,” I grimaced, suddenly feeling very much like a spoiled brat.
She waved me off. “Eh, girl’s gotta bathe.”
I had an ulterior motive in asking for this bath and for her specifically. I needed an opinion from someone I trusted, and something in my gut said I could trust her. She wasn’t male, my brother, pledged, or a Zodia, so she had a lot going for her.
The tub had already been filled. The humidity slid comfortingly over my skin as I walked in and placed my things on the counter. Helena told Kes to go… do whatever he did and leave us alone for a while.
“Watch her.”
“I’m quite adept, Kes,” she snipped. “I won’t leave the room until she does.” She brushed her lavender hair out of her eyes and closed the door, locking it.
“There,” she breathed. “He’s gone.” She crossed her arms, waiting.
“I need your opinion.”
“I figured you needed to talk.”
I told her about the entire situation, most of which she knew, but some of it was news – like Xavier saying there were those who wanted to attack Aries. “Okay,” she said, processing it all. “Let me ask you a question: what do you want, Larken?”
“I don’t want anyone I love to die. And I don’t want to die, either.”
“The thing with your dad… Taurus is using him as bait. You can’t take it. No matter what happens to him. If you want to live long enough to protect your mom and Kes, you can’t go after your dad.”
“How can I not?” I whispered.
“You’ll damn us all,” she said honestly. “Aries. Kes. All the Guardians. All the people you’ve seen gathered here. Every one of us will die.”
I didn’t want to think about giving up my dad, no matter what she claimed. But deep in my marrow, I knew what she said was true. Taurus only brought him here to show me that he had power over him and by extension, me. But I wouldn’t let him kill thousands just to save my dad. He