Page 37 of Apathy
I was recklessly getting involved with Skylar Blackwood, but I liked to think that I was just doing my part to secure that spot in The Order. Taunting her brother this morning wasn’t the best idea, but I couldn’t resist.
When he looked at me like I was a mere peasant, I couldn’t stop taunting him with everything Skylar and myself allegedly did. I could see it then, the same darkness swirling in his eyes, like it did in his father’s. I just knew that he was a part of it, that he knew everything there was to know about the Black Dahlia, and I had to push him.
Maybe it wasn’t the smartest idea, considering that he would be one of those voting for me to be a part of The Order. Maybe getting myself tangled with Skylar wasn’t the smartest idea either, but I couldn’t resist. I had to know the girl I only ever saw through pictures and stories. I had to know if she was worthy of saving or if she was just like everybody else.
“We have a plan, Indigo. A proper plan, not that it’s any of your business. I wouldn’t be sitting here with you if I didn’t have one. Lars trusts us enough to share the information we need in order to take them down. So, are you going to continue sitting there, acting like a concerned parent, or are you going to tell me everything you know?”
Brutality was second nature for these guys, and I knew that if I pissed him off, I wouldn’t be getting what I needed. But dammit, he was pissing me off. He was feigning concern when he didn’t know anything about us. Just because his friend fucked up, that didn’t mean that I would too.
Uncle Neal taught me well, and with him being an ex-military, I knew more about weapons than an eighteen-year-old should know, but it was necessary. If we were to get out of here alive, we had to know how to defend ourselves, if it came to that.
“Okay,” he finally answered.
“Okay?”
“Yeah, kid. Okay. But you will need allies. These people.” He scoffed. “If we can even call them that, they have connections everywhere. The things they’ve been doing over the years…” He trailed off. “I’m not gonna bother you with that, but you need to know what you’re getting into.”
“Are you talking about the Syndicate?” I asked.
“You know about that, huh?” He smiled. “Maybe you do have a proper plan.”
“Yeah, maybe I do.” I had to know.
“The leader of the Syndicate, Nikolai Aster, is dead.” That was news. “With him being dead, they will be extremely careful with the outsiders and the new members. You already know about their freaky Samhain rituals, and the new high priest, right?”
“Yeah, Lars told us about that.”
“Well, the thing that Lars didn’t tell you is that their meetings aren’t held in some house here.”
“What do you mean?” I placed my elbows on the table, leaning closer to him.
“Winworth has catacombs underneath the ground. Catacombs that are spread all around the town, built by the first settlers, the first families.”
Catacombs?
“They’re keeping their ceremonies there, in the main chamber, located underneath City Hall,” he continued. “Only the members have those keys. While Lars knows where the entrance is, he can’t tell you how to get in. That area is under surveillance twenty-four-seven, and The Order has guards keeping it away from curious eyes.”
“Where is it?” I asked, anticipation building up in me. This would be the first step to getting to them. If I couldn’t infiltrate The Order, then I could send the authorities to their hiding places. Even Judah Blackwood wouldn’t be able to get out of that. But I also needed documents, to prove their involvement with recent deaths and disappearances. I had to find something that could connect them with my parents’ deaths.
“Are you sure you want to know?”
“What do you think?” I huffed.
“Then what’s your plan?” He looked unconvinced, and I understood why. Here I was, basically a child in his eyes, trying to take down an entire dark empire. “You said you have one.”
“I do.” I grinned. “I’m going to become a part of The Order. The best way to take them down and find out everything I need to know is if I am there, with them.”
“And you don’t think that’s idiotic and reckless? Wait, fuck idiotic and reckless, how are you going to pull that off?”
“Because I’m a legacy.” I smiled wider. “I’m a Crowell.”
Skylar
“Why are you all dressed up?” Dylan asked as soon as I came down for breakfast.
It was weird seeing him at the table after so many months, but it felt good having him here. Even if his nagging was going to drive me crazy if he continued like this.
“Um, I’m going to school?” It sounded more like a question than an answer, and the narrowing of his eyes told me everything I needed to know.
