Page 183 of Sparktopia
Clara turns to her. “You shut up. You’re making things worse.”
Anneeta pouts, but she doesn’t back-talk Clara.
I have to admit, though, if the little god Anneeta must exist, it’s better to have her as an ally than an enemy. And that’s what Clara is really saying.
So I throw up my hands. “Fine. It’s your decision. I’m outnumbered, I guess. So fine. We’ll pack up as many jumps as we can and then we’ll get on the first train to Delta.”
As soon as these words are out of my mouth, someone is pounding on my door.
I point a finger at Anneeta and make a zipping motion over my lips. “Who is it?”
“Runner! I’ve got a delivery for Tyse Saarinen.”
I walk to the door, open it a crack, and then trade the runner a coin for the little package. He tips an imaginary hat at me, then takes off down the hallway.
I close the door, turn back to the girls, open the bag, and look inside. It’s a phone. And when I take it out, I find a text message from Stayn.
Call me when you get this. The meeting can’t wait. I need you to come in now.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Istruggle with Donal, getting back up on my feet. He grabs at me again, and I manage to elbow him in the mouth. He groans, but doesn’t go down. The injury just makes him angrier, and he’s still got a hold of me. No matter what I do, I cannot get free.
I kick, and scratch, and try and bite his hand when it gets too close to my mouth. He slaps me and throws me back on the ground with such force, all the breath rushes out of my body, leaving me gasping for air.
He stands over me, grinning, blood from his split lip dripping down his chin. And there is an evil hunger in his eyes that terrifies me. I shrink back, putting my hands in front of my face, because I can see it coming. His foot is rising and he’s about to stomp on me when a familiar voice calls through the darkness.
“That’s enough, Donal! Stop what you’re doing right now.”
“Auntie!” I moan. “Auntie, help me!”
It’s a stupid hope. Because I know better. Iknowbetter. She paired me up with Donal for a reason. She knows he’s mean. She knows he would kill me right now if she wasn’t here.
But Auntie Bell doesn’t care about me. She has never cared about me. I am… a tool. Nothing more than a hammer. Hell, hammer is far too lofty a role for me because a hammer implies power. And I have no power. It becomes very clear to me as I lie on the ground, looking up at Donal as he considers the idea that he might just stomp on my face anyway, that I am a nail. Something to be hit.
But then Auntie is there, pulling him back with her two strong hands on his shoulders. “We don’t have time for this, boy. You need to get into position.”
“She came down from there!” He points down the hallway, indicating that I came down the stairs from the tower. “We can get in now.”
“It’s far too late for that, Donal. That Looking Glass is out of our reach. But this one—” Auntie motions down the left-hand passageway with her head. “This one can still be coaxed into working. We must proceed with the plan.” Then she pauses to look at me. “And we need my niece here. She has spark in her. We need every bit of spark we can get our hands on.”
Donal huffs. “She’s a traitor. She needs to pay for what she’s done.”
Auntie places a hand on his cheek and smiles. It’s… a touching smile. Like she actually cares for this evil boy. “What do you think happens to her next, dear boy?” An evil grin plays across Auntie’s face. And when I glance at Donal, I see a matching one on his.
“Get her up off the floor and bring her along, Donal. It’s time.”
Donal comes at me so quickly, I flinch and cover my face with my hands again, fearful that he will get in one last blow before submitting to my aunt’s demands. But he doesn’t hit me. He grabs me by the hair and starts dragging me along the hallway after my auntie.
I scream, and he stops, turning to sneer. “One more sound out of you, and I’ll rip all this pretty hair out of your head. Auntie doesn’t care about your hair, do you, Auntie?”
“Come along, Donal!”
“Auntie?” I whimper. What does he mean?
Donal sneers at me. “Oh, you didn’t know? How fun! Your Auntie isn’t a Bell, Jasina. Bells are down-city half-breed whores like yourself. She’s an Oslin.”
“What?” He’s still dragging me by the hair, but I’ve got a hold of his arms now, so it doesn’t pull so much. And I manage to get to my feet and stumble after him.
