She starts to lift the Compass in her hand, but I can see her struggling against Simon’s will. To my surprise, she clutches the Compass to her chest instead of handing it to him. “No,” she says. “And I’ll never go anywhere with you.”
“Well, isn’t that a neat trick,” Simon says. “Our little Cypher seems to be impervious to my charms. Must be because you’ve got a few drops of god blood running through your veins. Never mind. That’s why I brought a little leverage. Joe?” He snaps his fingers. “You can move now.”
Joe lurches forward, as if falling out of a trance. He makes a move to grab Daphne out of the boys’ grasp, but Simon commands him to stop. He freezes once more.
“Now, I could just get one of these boys to tear that Compass out of your hands and give it to me. But I think a little game of Simon-says might be more fun. You know the rules, don’t you, boys and girls? You do as Simon says”—he reaches behind him and pulls a dark, glossy weapon from his belt—“or you’re out.”
“Gun!” Lexie shrieks. She tries to flee to the corner of the room, where Sarah stands motionless, staring at her easel. It’s as if the Oracle isn’t even conscious that we are still here.
“Not so fast,” Simon says, stopping Lexie. “I think we have our first player. What’s your name, dear?”
“What?” she says, sounding even smaller than she looks.
“Your name!”
“L-Lexie.”
“Simon says, come here, Lexie.” He beckons her with the gun. “It’s okay. I only bite if you don’t listen to me.” Unlike Daphne, Lexie is unable to resists his persuasive orders and goes to him. “Simon says, hold out your hands. That’s good. Now take this.” He places the gun into her shaking hands, wraps them around the handle, and gently places her finger on the trigger, positioning her arms so she’s pointing it at Joe.
chapter fifty-four
DAPHNE
“Simon says, get ready to shoot.”
Lexie nods, tears streaming down her face.
“No,” I say to Mr. Fitzgerald—or Simon, rather. “Don’t do this.”
“Now, now, Daphne. Give me the Compass and come with me to rendezvous with the Skylords, and we can avoid this mess.” I don’t know if the others can hear it, but a strange resonance rattles through his voice when he gives his requests. It permeates everything around him, engulfing me. It takes all of my mental strength not to give in.
“Don’t do it, Daphne,” Haden says. I can see him struggling to break free from the hold Simon has over him. I can hear pain aching from his body.
I shake my head. I don’t know what it all means to be a Cypher, and I don’t know what this Compass thing is supposed to do, and I had sure been reluctant to take it from the Oracle—but the moment Sarah had pressed it into my hand, it felt like it belonged there. Like it belongs to me. No, more like it is a piece of me. Giving it away would be as impossible as tearing off my own arm.
“Then we’ll get to play our little game after all,” Simon says. “Guns are such barbaric things. I much prefer to use my words.… That is why I am going to give you until the count of ten to decide to listen to me. But if you let me get to number one, your friend here is going to shoot your father.”
I clutch the Compass closer to my chest, looking from Simon to Joe. I know I can’t give it to him, but I can’t let him hurt my father. Tobin and Garrick still hold me tightly. I can’t break free from both of them. Deep, low notes of fear and panic fill the room, from five people unable to move.
“Ten,” Simon says. “Nine.”
Lexie sobs, her arms shaking along with her hands now.
“Don’t do this, Lexie, please,” I beg her. “Don’t listen to him.”
“I can’t lower my arms,” she says between her tears.
“Eight,” Simon says. A gleeful tone dances around him. He really does think this is fun. “Any last words, Joe? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
“Daphne,” Joe says, able to speak again. “Don’t give yourself over to him. Not for me. I’m not worth it.”
“Seven.”
I lower the Compass, holding it out in my hands.
“No, Daphne,” Haden says.
“Six.”
I shake my head. It will feel like ripping out my own heart, but I need to give in. “I have to, Dad.”
“No, you don’t, Daph. I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve you. Not after what I did.”