Book 3: Chapter 22 - Planning an Intervention

For the last time, I didn’t “stalk” Aubrey.
We had a fight.

Couples do that, you know. Fight.
It’s just that most usually do it without all the baseless rumors.

People say I abused her, but there was never a mark on her body.
Never a bruise. Not so much as a scrape.

They say I followed her, but this is a small settlement.
Of course we ran into each other.

And the rest of the stories? The rest are ridiculous.
I won’t even entertain them with an explanation.

Aubrey and I never even broke up.
Even now, she plans to come home to me, once she’s done with school.

Just watch.
—Joshua Parker

Violet was satisfied with her advancement for a couple of days, although it was only a single degree. She’d worked hard to reach it, and she was happy to have the extra boost in ability. But she quickly found herself checking the number twice a day again. She could feel clarity gathering due to the events in Prism, whatever they may be, and she was hoping to push to the next degree. It was unrealistic to expect that after only one week, but she’d grown greedy. And she needed it. She was heading toward a yellow nest, after all. Her ability to command hedron was sometimes inconsistent, but she was fairly certain her category and degree had something to do with it. She took one last look at her current attributes, currently carved into the tile wall of the bathroom.

Violet Asher
Category [Yellow]
Calling <Reaper>
Degree {4}

Attributes
Agility (336)
Constitution (186)
Dexterity (294)
Endurance (211)
Perception (430)
Resistance (251)
Strength (153)
Bloodlust (745)

She would have preferred a new talent, of course. But she intended to have one by the end of the trip regardless. It would likely be helpful in the nest, but she had Little White Lies, which would be enough for everything she intended. She didn’t get to use that talent as often as she would’ve liked. The one-time use associated with it forced her to be more calculating with the tool. Otherwise, she would’ve considered simply arranging a meeting with a bulletin reporter and announcing she was not the Cruel Ivy Killer.

Well. She wouldn’t actually do that. It would obviously fail spectacularly. Even if that talent could affect people from a distance, the unprompted declaration would probably push it from “plausible” to “unlikely” in the eyes of most. It would, in fact, get her caught. Regardless, sometimes incredibly stupid ideas were fun to fantasize about. And the constraint on the talent took even that away from her. Although, she supposed she could just go door to door and use it on everyone on campus if she really wanted to test it. Or if she really wanted to be immediately arrested.

She sighed as she removed her hand from the wall. She’d begrudgingly admit that that particular fantasy would never be plausible, anyway. Her life would’ve certainly been less stressful if it were. 

In any case, she didn’t think she’d need more than one on this particular mission. At least... not with anyone but Aubrey. She was still calculating the exact lie to tell the banshee, but she wasn’t sure what would have the greatest effect. And she needed to decide rather quickly. Certainly before they finished the mission and returned to the academy. Violet knew things were going to blow up with her team as soon as they stepped off the train, and she wanted to head the worst of it off.

She tied her hair up before leaving the restroom. It was greasy now, which was annoying. She’d gotten away with long showers for a while, and she only washed her hair every other day. But even that was apparently too much for the rest of the train’s occupants. Someone had made a complaint to the conductors, who’d ordered Violet to be more sparing with the water. It didn’t help that the supplies at the last few stations had been sparse, and no one had kept the water towers full. This was why Violet liked cities better than the mist. It was almost like the ruined landscape was entirely uncivilized.

“Hey, Vi, can we talk?” Kiera asked as soon as Violet entered the next car. Everyone else had already disembarked to prepare for the long hike ahead, so they appeared to have the dining car to themselves. The prepared meals were locked up until they returned from the nest, so that likely didn’t help, either. It was convenient, at least. Kiera had wanted to catch up with Violet for the past few days, but privacy had been hard to come by. Even with Violet’s necklace, there were simply too many people in too tight a space. The best chances they got were while they stood guard around a pylon every day, but they were hardly alone. And, while no one would ask any questions if the girls wanted a little privacy, people might question her about the necklace itself.

She could explain that with wealth, of course. But poor people didn’t like being reminded that she had money. It wasn’t like she didn’t work for it, and she was willing to bet her employer was less pleasant than theirs. But, as unreasonable as it seemed to her, they would like her less regardless. Except the crowd who would like her more, of course. Of the two groups, Violet was more wary of the former. Those who were impressed by wealth would be more likely to make excuses for Violet. Those who held disdain for it would almost definitely pay more attention to any lies Violet told. So that was the group she needed to like her more.

In any case, this was the first time Violet and Kiera had actually been alone on the train. Or, alone excepting the conductors, but they were locked up in the engine. The train wasn’t at a traditional stop, instead waiting on a curve in the tracks which was closer to the nest than any station. So there was no pylon to defend, and Violet had been able to remain on the train for a bit longer without attracting anyone’s ire.

She reached up to her necklace and fed it just a little clarity, activating the small bubble of silence so Kiera could speak freely. She sat down at the bar, waving her friend over. Kiera nodded, smiling at Violet’s choice to use the bar instead of one of the three booths in the car. It was a minor choice, but the stools were far more accommodating to Kiera’s tail than the solid booth seating. 

“Hey, Vi. Appreciate it,” Kiera said.

“Anything for my foxiest friend,” Violet promised with a mock salute.

“God, you sound like Guy,” she complained. 

“Yeah, and we all know how much you hate to be reminded of the prettiest person on the train,” Violet mocked.

“Eat a dick; this is serious,” Kiera quipped.

“I can tell,” Violet mused. “You’re using such professional language.”

“Professional people tell each other to eat dicks. That’s how business works,” Kiera informed her.

Violet was about to respond. Then she remembered every relationship she had that approached anything professional. She shrugged the comment off instead. “Yeah, fair enough,” she agreed. “So what’s up?”

“It’s Aubrey,” Kiera said. “I’m worried about her.”

And of course Kiera wanted to talk about the exact thing Violet had been worried about all week. The one piece of the puzzle that simply wasn’t going to fall into place. Not anymore, at least. Aubrey was an annoying anomaly in what had been a fairly flawless idea. And not one Violet could reasonably have predicted. Aubrey shouldn’t have been involved at all. Not at this point. There was just no accounting for everyone around the banshee. People weren’t perfectly predictable. At least, not when Violet didn’t have full control over them.

Violet rested one elbow on the bar and propped her head up with it, pouting as she examined Kiera. “I know, I know. I’ve been meaning to talk to her. I just... don’t know what to say. Like, how do you start a conversation like that?”

Kiera winced. “Well, if you don’t know, I am absolutely fucked,” she groaned.

“I don’t know about that. You’ve known Aubrey longer, right? And you must have known her boyfriend back home?” Violet asked. “Maybe a comparison would be a good approach.”

“Oh, Josh? That dude was more stalker than boyfriend, from what I hear. But no. I never actually met him. He was a year older than us, and I never spent any time with Aubrey. Not before we both volunteered for the lancers,” Kiera dismissed.

Violet frowned at that. She was hoping Kiera would know more. Understanding what Aubrey would listen to was important. The more information Violet had, the better. She did know Kiera hadn’t been extremely close with Aubrey before, but they had known each other. 

“Josh, huh? Sounds like an asshole’s name. I’ve never heard of a good Josh. So, what do you mean ‘stalker’?” Violet tried. “Aubrey doesn’t talk about him much.”

Kiera shrugged. “All I know is rumors. And she didn’t like when they spread, to be honest. I know the two dated for a long while. Everyone knew Aubrey dumped Josh, not the other way around. But the real rumors didn’t start until after that. You know. Leaving notes in her house, even though the door was locked. Showing up at all her club meetings. I did see him suddenly put his arm over her shoulder once. It was after a school assembly, and he was acting like they were still dating,” Kiera explained.

Violet put her thumb to her lips and started biting her fingernail. “Huh. And how long did this go on for?” she pressed.

Kiera bit her lip and looked up as she searched her memory. “Actually, I don’t think it ended,” she replied after a moment. “It might be why she enlisted, now that you mention it.”

Violet perked up at that. “That would certainly explain how immediately hostile she was with me, I guess. Projecting a fresh danger onto a new face. We all do that, right?” she replied. “I wonder if he’s still planning to come to Prism eventually.”

“I hope he does,” Kiera snorted. “Aubrey will kick his fucking ass. There is no way that loser is advancing as quickly as she is. It’d be funny to watch him try the intimidation tactic only to get his shit rocked.”

Violet grinned at the thought. She had to admit, she did enjoy when creeps like that ate pavement. It would be almost as satisfying as Samuel’s death. “Aubrey certainly wouldn’t need to enlist in the lancers to deal with him now, that’s true,” Violet agreed.

“Maybe that will be the case with Koral as well?” Kiera suggested. “Aubrey is the more powerful between the two.”

Violet shook her head. “That would only work if Koral was trying to intimidate Aubrey. This is different. More subtle and manipulative, which can be far more dangerous,” Violet said, dismissing the idea.

“Are you sure? I know your talent helps, but it actually tells you when people are generally manipulative?” Kiera asked.

“Not exactly,” Violet admitted. She’d have said yes, but she’d be caught in the lie if she ever failed to notice manipulation in the future. That was unlikely, but it would be easier if Violet offered a more fallible—but still reliable—explanation. “But I did grow up in a wealthy family. And it’s just like you said. Aubrey is the more powerful person in the relationship. I got used to watching people trying to take advantage of my family’s authority in Roseville. Growing up in an environment like that, well. It gets easier to spot people trying to manipulate their superiors.”

Kiera gave Violet a flat look. “Alright, bitch. I’m gonna need to know your favorite toppings for oatmeal,” she said.

Violet furrowed her brow. “Oatmeal? I’ve never tried it. What does that have to do with anything?” 

Kiera sighed. “Nothing, I guess. If Koral is dangerous, she is dangerous. Your talent tells you that much, at least. And that means we should try and warn Aubrey regardless.”

“What about you?” Violet questioned. “You’ve spent the last week with Koral. What have you noticed about her?”

“Nothing I can’t technically say about Guy, if I’m being honest,” Kiera replied. “A little too pretty for her own good, and she’s aware of the fact. Just compounded, because she’s also smarter than most people. She doesn’t rub it in Aubrey’s face or anything. But she doesn’t have that streak of self-doubt Guy does. That’s not necessarily a bad thing on its own, I guess. But it would certainly help soften her demeanor. She does seem to get a bit jealous, but she only communicates as much with the occasional sharp look. At least when I’m around. She might get on Aubrey about it when they’re alone. I think Josh did that.”

“So basically, Koral is a bit cocky, but we don’t know much else?” Violet asked.

“Basically,” Kiera agreed. 

Violet frowned. “That’s not enough, I don’t think. Not if I don’t want to tell Aubrey about my real talents, and I am extremely hesitant to do that.”

“Yeah, no fucking joke,” Kiera replied. “Let’s not get you arrested if we don’t have to.”

Violet shrugged. “I will if it comes to that. Aubrey is a good friend, and I’ll take that risk to keep her safe. But I’m hoping we can talk some sense into her before it becomes necessary.”

“You have any idea when that will be?” Kiera pushed.

Violet twisted her mouth in thought, then stood from the counter. “Not a clue. Let’s try probing for more information, then we can confront her after we raid the nest,” she suggested. “Come on. Everyone is waiting for us.”

“Yippee,” Kiera deadpanned. “I was hoping you’d remind me about the next several days unprotected in the mist.”