Sorche let out a screeching shriek. “Hey big sis! Oh I can’t believe you’re all right. I was so afraid you were dead.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she heard the one person in this universe who loved her as much as she loved them.
Don’t cry… don’t cry. If she did, Gera might make her redo her face and that had been hard enough to endure the first time. “Me, too, baby sis. I mean that you were dead. Where are you? How did you get this number?”
“I don’t know. Some guy with this really weird, creepy voice called earlier and left it as a message. He said that he had a way to contact you, and for me to call this number as soon as I could. And you’ll never believe where I am!”
Zarya had never before heard such excitement in Sorche’s voice. Gods, she sounded so happy.
“I got a full scholarship to Guernelle Academy!”
That news stunned her almost as much as hearing Sorche’s voice. “A scholarship? How?”
Maris had told her Darling was paying for…
Oh wait. It suddenly made complete sense. That must be how Darling was doing it. Like her, Sorche would never have taken money from a man to pay for her school, especially not from an aristo.
Her sister had no idea she had an individual backer.
“It’s a special deal set up by a company called the Dagan Investment Group. I have to major in mechanics, which is what I wanted to do anyway, and so long as I keep my grades up, they’ll keep paying for everything. I even get a monthly stipend for living expenses so that I don’t have to work and can focus all my attention on my classes. Every year I maintain my grades, it’ll go up. And if I graduate with honors, I’ll get… brace yourself… a fifty thousand cred bonus! Is that not stunning?”
In that moment, Zarya had never loved Darling more. What he’d done went beyond kind, and the fact that he’d done it in such a way that it built up Sorche’s confidence and made her strive to do her best was incredible.
“How did you find out about the scholarship?”
“The school called me about it the week before I had to register for classes. They said that the board at DIG had reviewed all the applicants for their incoming class, and that I was the only one out of all the others they thought had real potential. Can you believe it? Me? Me!”
“It’s not that amazing. I always told you, you were the best.”
“Yeah, but someone who isn’t related to me thinks I don’t suck, too. Sorry, that counts more.”
Zarya laughed. Sorche had no more belief in herself than she did. Too many years of them struggling, of Sorche trying her best and then being slapped down by things like getting into a prestigious school and then not having the money to attend it had clubbed them both so many times that it was hard to have any confidence in anything, except the universe’s willingness to bitch-slap them.
“So where are you?” Sorche asked. “Why haven’t you returned any of my calls? Do you know how long it’s been? I really thought you were dead.”
Yeah… that was one question Zarya had no intention of answering. The last thing she’d ever do was bring down her sister’s rare excitement.
But at least, because of Zarya’s less than legal occupation, Sorche was used to her disappearing suddenly and being gone for a long period of time without communication.
However she’d never been gone this long before.
“I’ve, um… I’ve been really busy. After what happened with… the fall of the Resistance, I had to go into hiding. I honestly had no way of getting in touch with you. I swear.”
“You suck, Z! You shouldn’t scare me like that. But it’s what I’d hoped and figured. Still, you should have found some way to get word to me. It’s been over a year, sis. A year!”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, Sorch? Are you coming to eat?” It was another girl’s voice that sounded like it came from a doorway or somewhere at a distance.
“Just a sec.”
“Who was that?” Zarya asked.
“Oh, that’s my roommate. Annalise Cruel. You wouldn’t believe how sweet she’s been to me.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I know how you feel about her family, but I’m telling you she’s really decent. She’s my age and a little over a year from graduating—she started on time, lucky thing… Gods love her, she’s taken time to show me how everything here works and where to go. How to pick classes and where to get the best study guides. She even bought me a school jersey for my birthday, and lets me borrow her makeup anytime I want. She has some really nice stuff, too. It’s almost like having another sister. I hope you can meet her soon.”
“I would love to.”
“Hey, Lise?” Sorche called out so loud and unexpectedly that Zarya almost dropped the remote again. “Can you say hi to my sister?”