His mind was cycling through his options. An army of one, he couldn’t take down this Perilous renegade on his own and he had no back up because he’d cut his ties with his people to save Meri. But a residual sense of responsibility lingered: he couldn’t let this tinpot-idol carry on with his malign rule over what had once been sane ordinary French people. The second rule of the Perilous, drummed into him when he was little, was never to expose themselves to the general public. François must have been doing that frequently if Kel’s suspicions were right. (The first rule was not to consort with Teans, so perhaps he wasn't so big on the rule book as he once thought). Whatever he wanted to do about it, his hands were tied. He had Nixie to think about.
She stirred, waking up slowly. ‘I’m thirsty.’
‘They’ve not brought us anything.’
‘Do you think they will?’
‘I can’t imagine it’s their plan to have us die down here. There’s the hunt to look forward to, remember?’
‘This is way beyond crazy.’
‘Seriously twisted. Look, Nixie, this is going to be dangerous. I was thinking: do you want to pretend to agree with him and then slip away later?’
‘Definitely not.’ She shuddered. ‘He mentioned an audition for his favour. I don’t want to get anywhere near him.’
‘I’ve got some ideas, but they’re…perilous.’ He smiled wryly, knowing she couldn’t see him.
‘Anything that gets us out of this.’
‘I think I know how he impresses them. I’ve got my own…tricks. If I do something…odd…reckless even, will you stick with me and follow my plan?’ He wouldn’t go there would he? That would simply double the problem of exposure.
‘What kind of odd slash reckless are you talking about?’
‘I can’t explain exactly but it’s an illusion—something magicians in my family can do.’
‘What? Like sawing someone in half?’
‘Kind of. More like an optical illusion. Nothing that would hurt you but hopefully enough to give us a chance to get away.’ Would it backfire? What if he came off worse in the ‘Who’s the flashiest?’ competition? But if François made them fight, then Kel would flare out anyway.
She bumped her head against the wall ‘And there I was, beginning to think you were halfway normal. Stage magicians, huh?’
‘A long line. But do you trust me?’
She turned to look at him. ‘Of course, I trust you. At least I think I do.’ There was something in her eyes as she said it, something he’d really prefer not to be there. This was awkward. He was committed to Meri; he couldn’t lead Nixie astray. Nixie was lovely, he could see that, but his taste ran to stubborn brunettes who set his world on fire when they kissed.
‘Great. Thanks. You’re a good mate to be locked up with.’
‘You weren’t on the list. You could’ve talked your way out of this. So thanks for not abandoning me in there.’
‘I wouldn’t do that, Nixie.’
‘I know.’
11
Bernard drove Rio and Meri to college in the morning, dropping them off at a side entrance. Rio had protested the change, saying he’d prefer to carry on using his motorbike, but the council had overruled him. He was told that his job was to make sure Meri was safe and a chauffeured car was more secure than the rear seat of a bike. He tried to make Meri suffer for it, giving her a very cold shoulder, but he failed to understand that the more annoyed he was, the happier she felt. His friendship would have been more difficult to fight than his displeasure.
Unfortunately, his attitude had rubbed off on the other students. The Teans among them didn’t know how to react. They were used to Rio being their leader and his hostile attitude suggested it would be dangerous to be seen to befriend her. On the other hand, they all knew that she was the heir to the throne with a coronation planned for the autumn so perhaps their interests were best served by siding with her? Like robots fed contradictory commands they span in hopeless circles, showing one face to her and another to Rio. That made friendship impossible. Meri had more dignity than to accept a relationship on such cynical terms. As for the normals, they had no idea what undercurrents were flowing between the two students who arrived together in a limo each day. They did, however, understand that the girl was young to be at university and regarded with suspicion by the most popular and handsome boy in the senior year. That marked her card with most of them.
Meri tried not to mind. She couldn’t complain to the council that she wasn’t making the connections with people of her own age that she had hoped—that would just sound juvenile. She would just have to accept what she could get out of the experience, and not pine for the impossible. Or so she told herself.
At least today she had something to look forward to: she had enrolled in the beginners class to learn scuba diving, all part of her longer term plan to go out to see the original Atlantis. Expecting a good day, she handed over her token to the equipment storekeeper and hauled her wetsuit, fins and goggles off the hatch.
A hand landed on her shoulder, making her jump. ‘Where do you think you are going with that?’ Rio attempted to return the wetsuit to the store but she had a good grip on it.
‘Let go, Rio. I’m enrolled in the class.’ She nodded to the pool in the university’s sport centre. Some of her fellow students were already gathering at the side.
‘Are you taking that or not, señorita?’ asked the storekeeper.
‘Taking,’ she said at the same moment Rio said ‘returning’.
‘You’ve cleared this with the council?’ Rio asked in a low voice.
‘Why would I need to do that?’
‘It’s potentially risky and I’ve been told to keep you safe.’
‘It’s more dangerous if I don’t have lessons.’
‘I can’t let you do this.’
She snatched the gear from him and bolted for the ladies’ changing room. ‘You forget: you’re not the boss of me.’ Trying not to lose her temper, Meri changed into the suit. The fins were ridiculous on dry land so she carried these with her. She arrived just as the instructor, dressed in white shorts and a red T-shirt, blew his whistle to gain their attention. Rio stood at his side, now wearing his own wetsuit, a much more elegant affair than the standard kit issued to the beginners. He looked like a lethal shark while they all looked like penguins.
‘Welcome, everyone, to Scuba Diving 101. I’m your tutor, Raymond Martinez. Today, as a special honour, we’ve been joined rather unexpectedly by the university’s most accomplished diver and my best student, Rio Cruz.’ The instructor slapped Rio on the back. ‘Thanks, amigo. He’s going to show you some of the basics while I explain what’s happening. But first, at Rio’s suggestion, we’re going to check that you didn’t just tick the box that you are a competent swimmer, but actually meant it. Leave your kit on the side. I want to see you do two lengths of the pool in your best stroke. Any weak swimmers will get to go home immediately. Gents, you go first.’
A group of seven nervous-looking students lined up at the edge. One tried to start in the water but was hauled out by the tutor. ‘You have to dive off the side, amigo.’ He blew his whistle and the candidates dived in with varying degrees of skill. The one who had been in the water bellyflopped, swam a few strokes, then got out half way down.
‘Sorry,’ the boy muttered, handing in his kit.
‘Don’t waste my time again,’ said the tutor. ‘The sea’s a dangerous place.’
‘I just liked the idea.’
‘Yeah, and that could’ve led to you risking yourself and the poor sucker who had to save you when you got into difficulties.’
‘Seen enough?’ said Rio, coming up behind her. ‘This is no place for you.’
Great. So Rio’s trying to get me forced off the course before I’ve even started, thought Meri. ‘What makes you think I’m going to wash out?’
He smirked. ‘You just don’t have what it takes, chica.’
‘Really? And how do you know tha
t? You think your dislike is going to sink me?’
The boys had returned and were climbing out. Apart from the early departure, they had all passed the competency test.
‘Girls, you’re up,’ called the tutor.
Meri took her place alongside the four others who had signed up for this course. She was by far the shortest and, for all the Olympic style arm stretching and neck rolling, out of her league.
You just have to prove you can swim strongly, not that you can win a medal, she reminded herself. She’d started this because she desired to visit her heritage, now she had the added bonus of wanting to prove Rio wrong. The whistle went—and she flew from the side, cutting into the water at just the right angle. The water embraced her. She hadn't felt this comfortable since she was last in Kel’s arms. She didn’t worry about the competition; she concentrated on making her strokes efficient and smooth. If there was one kind of sport at which she excelled, it was anything water-based. Possibly because she was from Atlantis: that thought made her smile even as she took a breath. Theo had loved to go to the pool and it had been the one constant in her travelling childhood. Though the places changed, pools were much alike and she always felt at home in the water. Meri tumble-turned and headed back up the pool. Theo had originally chosen to go to her father’s college in California so he could surf on the Pacific beaches. Being on the run with her had stopped his favourite leisure activity but he’d kept in touch with it by swimming and body-boarding with Meri once she was old enough to enjoy a beach holiday. Reaching for the wall, she realized afresh how much Theo had sacrificed. She wished she had the chance to thank him. That would go in the next letter.
Pushing out of the water, she found she was the second back. Rio was scowling.
‘Well done, girls,’ announced Raymond, ‘you’ve all passed. Rio, get a tank and I’ll talk them through the safety drill.’
Meri took time over her shower. In the winter, the water wasn’t rationed so she was allowed to stand under the spray for as long as she liked. The lesson had been fun, all the more so because Rio was only there to act as the demo guy to keep an eye on her. He must have found it frustrating to spend his free lesson rolling into the water on cue like a performing seal. Meri hadn’t drawn any attention to herself, not asking any questions or requesting to be shown something twice. In fact, it all had felt very natural to her. She’d done some snorkelling and some of those skills transferred, particularly the breath control and use of fins.
‘You’re Meredith, right?’ asked the girl standing next to her at the mirror as they combed their hair. Hers was long, straight and jet black, parted cleanly in the middle, reminding Meri of Pocahontas.
‘That’s right.’
‘You live with Rio.’
‘We’re…related. Distantly.’
‘Yeah, you don’t look much like him. But you do have one thing in common.’ She tied her wet hair back in a bunch to lift it off her shirt.
‘Really?’ Meri wondered what was coming.
‘You’re both amazing swimmers. See you next lesson.’ The girl waved and headed off.
‘Thanks.’
Exiting the changing room, Meri was not surprised to find Rio lounging against a wall, checking his phone.
‘How come you get one and I don’t?’ she said as she passed him.
‘I’d take it as a sign that they don’t trust you.’ He tucked his away.
‘Or they don’t know you have one.’
His grimace made that quite likely. ‘You swim better than I expected.’
‘That might be the first positive thing you’ve ever said to me. I’ll mark the day in the calendar and declare a national holiday.’
‘But it doesn’t change the fact that going underwater on a site like…well…like the one we excavate.’ He glanced around but there were others in the corridor. He couldn’t be too explicit. ‘Give it up, Marlowe, it’s too dangerous.’
‘I didn’t know you cared.’
‘I don’t, not about you, but I have my duty.’
Meri had had enough of this attitude. ‘What is it with you? You’ve been like this from day one. You’ve never given me a chance.’
‘You’re just…wrong.’ He twirled his hands expressively, as if he wasn’t able to put his feelings into words.
‘Because I’m female? Because I’m younger? Because I’m not you?’
‘Because you love a Perilous.’
‘Don’t kid yourself, Rio. Even if I’d never met Kel and still come here, you wouldn’t be queuing up to be my friend.’
‘Maybe, but I wouldn’t despise you. The Perilous killed my mother.’
‘Yeah, and mine. But I’m not going to let that define me.’
‘But it should. That’s the problem right there.’
‘We’re never going to agree on that so I suppose I should ask: will you support me when I’m crowned?’
‘If it gets that far, I’ll be right behind you.’
‘Intending to stab me in the back?’
‘I won’t need to. You’ll fall on your own sword before then. You’re not cut out for this life.’
Meri rubbed her temples. ‘I think we’ve mixed our metaphors sufficiently. I’m sorry about your mother, my parents too, but we have to change. We can’t behave like we have always done. It’s driven us to near-extinction.’
A bell went, signalling the start of afternoon lectures.
‘And you know the solution to turning a species around? Increase their habitat and make more breeding pairs. That’s your duty, chica, not world peace.’ He strode off, thinking he had the last word.
‘You couldn’t be more wrong,’ she murmured, alone once more in the emptying corridor.
Kel had lost track of the time. A guard stopped by with a jug of water and some stale bread and very ripe cheese. At least it took the edge off the hunger.
‘When will the mayor see us again?’ Nixie asked.
‘Eager to see him, mademoiselle?’ leered the guard.
‘Can’t wait,’ she said dryly.
‘He doesn’t take to all of you girls. Some of you don’t have the right spark.’
‘My heart bleeds.’
‘There’s plenty of room in the barracks for the left-overs.’ He blew her a kiss. ‘I’ll keep an eye out for you.’ He left.
‘You do that, sugar, and I’ll scratch them out.’ Fortunately he was already up the stairs and didn’t hear her. ‘So we’ve got sex slavery to add to the picture. Lovely. This guy needs to be taken down.’
Kel smiled grimly at her combative tone. She was holding up well. ‘Nixie, do you mind keeping watch while I sleep?’
‘Knock yourself out.’ She gestured to the bench. ‘I’ll be the guard dog this time.’
‘Appreciate it.’ Kel stretched out and tried to doze. Aside from the incredibly uncomfortable bed, he couldn’t stop his body humming with fight readiness. Giving in to the fact that he would only rest rather than sleep, he ran some scenarios in his head. He was piecing it together. From the guard’s hint about ‘spark’, his thought that François was likely a Perilous had to be correct—a claw-pattern, one of the family branches that was quite rare now. Kel couldn’t remember meeting one before though he had heard there were families with that formation in Romania and Germany. Somehow François had got separated from his relatives and had used his difference to carve out this privileged berth for himself. From the talk of a hunt, not to mention the choice of the most wolfish of domestic dogs, he was probably also claiming some kind of wolf kindred. Human belief in werewolves had a long history, probably due to François’ ancestors being caught shirtless in the moonlight. He’d played on what they knew—and the locals’ unfamiliarity with Perilous markings—to great effect.
So could Kel and Nixie just run? But wouldn’t that bring danger to Rashid’s band? There were little children there. It was wrong to bring this to their doorstep. He had to persuade François that they weren’t worth following and that he would lose too much if he di
d.
But how do you challenge the power of an alpha wolf?
The first step was to annoy François so he didn’t hang around with his decision to move to punishment. A few days down here on a diet of bread and water would weaken them. Plus, if they did decide that they had to run, they would have to lead the chase away from where they had left the camp. It would take a while to circle back. Kel and Nixie didn’t want to escape only to find Rashid and his band had moved on without them because they’d taken too long to get away.
Kel was cooling off on his idea of exposing his own markings. That had to be a last resort. If he did that, he would have created an extra problem rather than solved one. Nixie and the other onlookers would know and begin to ask what made two men glow with weird patterns. It was easier to cast doubt on one.
Sometime during the night, Kel must have managed to drift off because it was already light when he woke up. Nixie was curled on the floor at his side, her hand outstretched, fingers curled into her palm like she was holding a secret.
‘What do you think Hoon and Bitna are doing?’ Nixie asked, showing that she had heard him wake, probably from the hitch in his breathing.
He rolled over and groaned. ‘How did you sleep?’
‘Good, thanks. It’s my superpower: I can sleep anywhere.’
‘That’s a truly useful one.’
‘So do you think they’re still here?’ she asked, returning to her original question.
‘If Bitna and Hoon have any sense, they’ll have vanished.’
‘I don’t understand how places like this work.’ She sat up and ran her fingers through her long hair, trying to get out the knots.
‘You mean ones under the control of a cult?’ He slid to sit on the floor beside her. His body felt like it had been beaten with sticks. He began some simple stretches to work out the kinks. ‘It’s the strong man thing. With so much turmoil in the world, someone offering easy answers gets elected, even better if they can find an enemy to blame. We’ve seen enough snake-oil salesmen make it to president or prime minister over the last few years, so I’m not surprised it happens on the small scale. In this case, it looks like François has taken aim at the old faiths and replaced it with belief in him.’