Chapter 17
When Valerie got dressed to meet with the Guild Masters, she was relieved that this time Kanti was there to provide her input.
"Just because I've changed on the outside doesn't mean I care about fashion all of a sudden," Kanti said defensively.
"You have got to relax. I'm asking because you've lived on the Globe your whole life. This is about me, not you," Valerie said, half teasing.
"Thanks for that refreshing dose of honesty," Kanti said, her lips quirking in a rare smile. But she seemed to snap out of her bad mood, and started searching through Valerie's closet. "The Globe government is different than what I remember about your government, where everyone dresses in suits and stuff. The Grand Masters are into creative expression, so you need to wear something that feels like you."
"Jeans and a T-shirt it is then," Valerie said.
"I think maybe a little nicer than that," Kanti said, and pulled out a dress from the back of the closet. It was simple and beautiful. Dulcea had sent it up when she first designed Valerie's half of the room, and though Valerie admired it, she couldn't imagine wearing something so nice.
Kanti saw the doubt on her face. "If there was ever a time to dress up, this would be it. I'm not putting you in a ball gown."
Valerie nodded and put the dress on. It was light blue and fell to her knees. She took out the elastic that held her hair in its usual braid and shook it loose.
"Wow," Kanti said. "If only Thai could see you now."
She turned away from the mirror quickly. "Done. Thanks, Kanti."
Her friend gave her a quick hug. "You're going to blow them all away, I know it."
"I don't care about that. I'm trying to find the spy, that's all."
"If you say so. But in the spirit of honesty, I think you were born to be Azra's successor."
Valerie shrugged so that Kanti would change the subject, but inside, she was touched.
At the Capitol, Azra escorted Valerie to a chamber in the center of the building where all the Grand Masters met.
I will introduce you to the group, and then there are a few matters up for a vote. Afterward, we'll join the Council for our meeting with Gabriel.
As they approached large double doors that were ornately decorated in a geometric gold design, Valerie's stomach clenched. But she steeled herself. This was no time to fall apart. She had a part to play, and people were counting on her.
Azra touched the doors with her horn, and they slowly swung open, revealing an enormous room filled with hundreds of bubbles. Inside each one was a Grand Master. The sight was chaotic and beautiful as the bubbles whizzed around the room and their opalescent colors flashed.
She barely had time to register the scene when she and Azra began to rise in a bubble of their own. It was perfectly steady, and from the inside, she could see that the surface of the bubble had words and pictures on it detailing different issues that were being discussed.
If you have any questions about who a certain Grand Master is or details about a bill that's being voted on, touch the edge of the bubble and think about your question. The answer will appear soon if it is available.
"How come some of the bubbles have more than one person inside?"
Whenever two people join in conversation their bubbles combine. And if you want to move around on your own, steer the bubble with your mind, and we will separate.
"I think I'll stick with you," Valerie said quickly.
Perhaps that is best. Azra steered their bubble to a center point in the room. Once they were there, it glowed, like a spotlight was shining on it.
Shall we begin? Azra's voice seemed a little amplified in her mind, because the unicorn was talking to everyone. Like a concert, the bubbles quickly organized into neat circles around the center of the room.
As our first order of business, I would like to introduce you to Valerie Diaz, a Knight of Light and the Grand Chair Elect.
She hadn't anticipated the response. Cheers rang in her bubble and seemed to echo and bounce around inside. On the walls, messages of welcome and congratulations flowed so quickly she could barely absorb any of the words.
You might want to say a few words, Azra said softly in her mind.
She expected to be completely overwhelmed by all of the attention directed on her, but instead, a thrilling buzz of the combined energy and magic in the room filled her.
"Thank you all for your kind welcome," she said. "I'm here to learn, so please tell me if I'm making mistakes, or if there's something important you think I should know. I want to get to know you all, and I appreciate the faith you've put in me. I'll try to be worthy of it, and I promise to only accept this position if I think I'm the right person for it."
The cheering resumed, leaving her with a pleasant feeling of hope. But before she could fully process what had happened, she heard a strange clicking sound, and suddenly she was falling down, through the bubble. She registered the horror in Azra's eyes before she was hurtling through space, bracing herself for the inevitable crash into the ground.
But instead of a hard surface, her descent suddenly slowed, and she was deposited gently on her feet.
Run. The Grand Master of the Empathy Collective used his telekinesis to slow your fall, but I don't know who released you from the bubble or how they accomplished it. Go to the valley in my office. You will be safe there until I return.
Valerie was already racing away before the first syllable had reached her mind. She could sense the danger hovering over her, and she knew that whoever had tried to hurt her wasn't finished.
She inwardly cursed herself for allowing Kanti to convince her to wear nice shoes, because her sneakers would have been far more effective at getting her away as fast as possible. She kicked off her shoes and bolted out of the double doors barefoot, leaving the roar of confusion behind her, and ran down the hall toward Azra's office. She was less than halfway there when she saw Sanguina.
Her magic surged inside her, ready for battle. Sanguina was talking to someone—Oberon. Everything inside her screamed that danger was near.
Instead of running toward them, she ducked into a side hallway.
"Wait!" Sanguina called after her. "Not that way!"
It was too late. Zunya was there, and she slammed into him. When they made contact, she collapsed in agony. Her magic evaporated like a plug had been pulled inside of her, and intense pain brought her to her knees.
The only thing that saved her from being captured was that Zunya looked as surprised to see her as she was to see him. By the time he regained his composure, she had rolled to the side, out of his immediate grasp. The next instant, Sanguina led Oberon as they barreled down the hall.
Oberon's face was dark with rage, and lightning crackled between his fingers. Behind him, Midnight's violet eyes blazed, and Zunya flinched as her magic hit his brain with a high note of pain.
"What are you doing?" Zunya hissed to Sanguina. "Get rid of them so I can finish with the girl."
"No," Sanguina said, and whispered something to Oberon. Then she ducked, and over her head, a giant bolt of lightning flew from Oberon's hands straight at Zunya's head. It hurtled toward him, and he held out his hands, straining to grasp Oberon's power and rip it from him the way he had done to Valerie.
The bolt fizzled inches from his face. Zunya snarled, but he turned and swept down the hall to escape. The last thing she saw before she passed out was Oberon sending another bolt of lightning after him.
"Get away from her!" Henry's panicked voice ripped her from the darkness.
Valerie managed to open her eyes and saw that he was glaring at Sanguina with pure loathing.
"Valerie was being attacked and you were somehow involved," Henry said venomously.
"It's not what you think—" Sanguina started to say.
"You don't know what I think. Get out of here or I'll—I'll—kill you!" He concentrated, and Sanguina flew backward as his mind pushed her back the way he had done when Ani was attacking Kanti.
"Lydia, maybe it would be best if you left," Midnight said quietly, using Sanguina's name from before she had become a vampyre.
"Henry, she tried to help," Valerie said weakly.
It was as if he didn't hear her. "You, too! Don't come near us!" he screamed at Oberon.
She reached out to Henry's mind and almost recoiled at the fear and pain that was flooding him. All of the trauma Sanguina had inflicted on him was near the surface, raw, and it was enough to make her choke.
But she forced herself to stay calm and send him thoughts of what had happened—how Sanguina had helped and Oberon had saved her. His rage wavered, and his fear receded enough for him to let logic return.
"I can't believe it," he whispered, turning to her for the first time. He squeezed her hand. "When I saw you lying there, I thought I didn't make it in time."
She struggled to sit up, and he helped her. They were still in the hall. Valerie didn't sense the danger as she had before, but she didn't know if that was because her magic had been drained by Zunya or because they were truly safe.
"We have to get to Azra's office," she said.
"I'll help," Oberon said gruffly.
"No—that is—no thank you, sir. Please let me take care of my sister by myself," Henry said, his voice still shaking with emotion.
"I'll keep them safe," Midnight promised.
"As you wish," Oberon said, and his voice had a quality to it that she had never heard before. It almost sounded like sympathy or tenderness at Henry's obvious distress.
"Wait," Valerie said weakly, her eyes connecting with Oberon's. "Thank you. I know you weren't supposed to use your magic, and I'm sorry if you get in trouble because you were helping me."
"It was my honor," he replied formally, his sightless blue eyes flashing with an emotion that Valerie couldn't place before he turned away from her, racing down the hall.
Midnight and Henry helped her to her feet, and they made their way to Azra's office. Inside, Azra was waiting, her usually calm eyes filled with worry.
I sought to keep you from danger, but instead led you toward it.
"This means we're on the right track—that I really can help," Valerie said, trying to sound strong. Henry gently pushed her into a chair.
"I was by the door when you raced out, but I didn't see what happened. Was Zunya waiting for you?" Midnight asked gently.
Valerie shook her head. "He seemed surprised to see me."
"I saw what happened through Valerie's mind. Maybe Zunya didn't plan to attack her, but someone did. She didn't fall out of that bubble by accident."
You are right, Henry. And only the Council knew she would be there today. We must hide you both until this is resolved.
Valerie remembered how Azra had tried to hide her in Messina when Sanguina had attacked her all those months ago. It hadn't worked—somehow Zunya had found her as he always did.
"I'm not running anymore. I've been looking over my shoulder my entire life, and I won't do it ever again." As she said the words, Valerie realized that it was the first time she had really felt this way.
Midnight gave her a brief nod of respect, but Henry just stared at her. She let him into her mind so he could feel her resolve.
"You're right. We can't run. We'll face this together," he said.
Azra's face was weary. You are children. We should be the ones protecting you, not asking you for protection. She gently nudged first Henry, then Valerie with her nose. But it is your decision to make and I will not stop you.
Valerie and Henry were trudging back to the dorm when they heard light footsteps behind them.
"I wanted to catch you before you returned home," Midnight said, and Valerie and Henry stopped.
"Is something wrong?" Valerie asked, her earlier tension returning.
Midnight's face softened into a smile. "No, this is welcome news, I hope. Azra told me you need a home, and I wanted to invite you both to live with me. I thought you might like to stay together, and my home is very empty."
Valerie became a little choked up at Midnight's generous offer. Her first instinct was not to impose, but she knew she didn't have much of a choice. She'd stayed too long at the Imaginary Friends dorm as it was. "We wouldn't be in the way, I promise."
"I actually really miss doing chores, like my dad always made me do on the weekends," Henry added eagerly. "We could cook breakfast, weed your garden, wash your car."
Midnight laughed, and it was the first time Valerie had heard the full, rich sound. "No need for payment. You will both do my heart good. I have been alone too long."
Midnight's expression was wistful, and Valerie had a flash of insight. Midnight was as lonely as she herself had once been.
Valerie released a relieved, grateful breaththat she'd been holding since she'd first learned that she had to find a newhome. She glanced at Henry for confirmation that he agreed. "Thank you. Wewould love to live with you."
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