Burn Bright

Retra got up and went over to Suki with Rollo at her heels. Suki tried to turn away but Retra stepped around in front of her. ‘It can’t be long until Early-Eve. We should go to the meeting now.’

‘Oh-you-still-want-me-to-come-do-you?’

‘Yes, I do,’ said Retra. ‘But the bead you took is making you agitated.’

A relieved smile spread across Suki’s face. She scratched her skin. ‘Dunno what that means but it’s making me itchy.’

‘What colour bead did you have?’ piped in Rollo.

‘The-red-one-who-are-you?’

‘I’m Rollo. Retra and I go way back.’

‘We do no–’

But Rollo cut across her. ‘The red ones are usually okay, but some people react more to them. It’s the black ones that are really strong. You don’t want to take them. Phew!’ He tapped his head. ‘Like a bomb’s gone off in your scone. Now, where’s this meeting?’

Suki gave her fiercest stare, which came off a little weird as she hopped from one foot to the other and scratched her arms. ‘What’s-it-to-you?’

‘Like I said, Retra and I are buddies, and I’m thinking of joining the Wings as well.’

Retra was dumbfounded by Rollo’s easy twist of the truth.

‘So you know where the Grotto is then?’ said Suki before Retra could stop her.

Rollo gave Retra a victory smile. ‘Sure. Down the mountain from Illi. You have to go back to Vank station and switch kars. I can show you.’

Retra glanced around, carefully. Modai had moved a little closer to them. Perhaps it was better have Rollo with them. He seemed to have an instinct for handling situations. ‘Modai is still watching us. Suki and I’ll go first. You should wait a few moments. Look bored, and then leave. We’ll wait for you on the Vank platform.’

Rollo nodded in approval. ‘Sounds like a plan. Make sure you wait. You won’t find the Grotto without me.’

‘What’s-going-on?’ asked Suki. ‘Why is Modai watching?’

‘He’s been watching Retra since we came through the Register together,’ Rollo said. ‘He hassled her just a little while ago. I saw it and distracted them. He says she’s caused trouble among the Guardians.’

Retra winced at the totally unguarded way Rollo spoke. As if the three of them were confidantes when they’d only just met.

‘What?’ he said, sensing her reaction. ‘That’s the truth, isn’t it?’

‘It’s-okay-she’s-not-used-to-talking-to-people-It’s-the-Seal-thing.’ Suki linked arms with Retra. ‘Come-on-silent-Seal. Let’s-go.’

Surprisingly, Suki’s teasing didn’t offend her and she was smiling when they ran into Markes and Cal in the foyer. They were with a boy who had circles tattooed on his temples.

‘Retra?’ Markes looked her up and down. ‘You look different.’

Retra thought he did too, but didn’t say so. He wore fitted black pants and a thin white T-shirt that showed off his broad chest and strong arms. His guitar was slung over his shoulder. At least he wasn’t speaking quickly like Suki.

‘Hello, Markes.’

‘You’re not leaving yet, are you? I’ll be playing soon. Ruin has come to listen. You should stay.’

The boy with the circle tattoos put out his hand. Something about his milky-blue eyes made Retra uncomfortable. ‘Hello, Retra, and …’

‘Suki,’ said Suki. ‘We-can’t-stay-we’ve-got-something-important-to-go-to.’

Retra squeezed Suki’s wrist in warning, but it was too late. Ruin’s attention was caught. So was Cal’s. She flicked her straight white hair back from her face and stared hard at Retra.

‘Hey, Seal, I heard you upset the Ripers already. Good effort.’

‘She-was-protecting-one-of-us,’ said Suki.

‘Whatever. What’s so important that you’d miss Markes play? More trouble?’ asked Cal, provocatively.

‘Mind-your-business.’ Suki scowled at Cal. Her almond eyes narrowed to angry slits.

Retra tried to think of something to allay Ruin’s curious look. ‘We’re meeting some boys at another club. That’s all,’ she said.

‘Okay. See you later then.’ Markes seemed disappointed.

‘Yes,’ said Retra. She wanted to take him aside and explain but it was too risky. He might tell Cal. Or worse, Ruin. From what Rollo had said, the Youth Circle didn’t approve of the gangs at all. She took Suki’s arm and drew her on.

‘What is her problem?’ snarled Suki.

‘Her name is Cal,’ said Retra. ‘Don’t look back.’