The limousine drove them to a nearby private airport where they boarded a seven-passenger jet. Meg was trying to look disinterested, though inside, her heart was pounding to the beat of a racehorse’s hooves. Every person she encountered, she tried to read their emotions to get a better feel for where they were going exactly, and what to expect.
Her metamonarch companion was useless. Keegan slipped away some time during the drive away from the asylum, but not before he winked excessively at her and called her “doll” twice.
In his place came Sirus whose dark eyes looked on her with a mixture of resentment and something else.
Once they were airborne, the noise of the engines muffled the sound of her voice so she ventured to speak. “Sirus, how many of you are in there?” She nodded toward his head.
“Too many,” he answered vaguely.
“Answer my question, please Sirus,” Meg spoke through gritted teeth. Her nerves were so tightly wound she was a little worried about controlling her temper.
Sirus took a deep breath, “The truth is, Meg, I’ve never really tried to count.”
“That many?”
He just shrugged, adjusting his bow tie as though the whole conversation was causing him discomfort.
“Look, think of it like this,” he said. “You drop an ice cube on the hard floor and it shatters right?”
“Right,” Meg shrugged trying to figure where he was going with this.
“Are all the pieces of ice the same size?”
“Of course, not.”
“That’s what happened to us. A few of us are the larger pieces of the system, but then there are lots of shattered fragments floating around, too.”
“How many ‘larger pieces’ are there?”
“Gideon and I are the largest. Then there’re a handful of medium-sized pieces. Then there are the others—the crumbs.”
Meg nodded slowly. “Do you know Keegan?”
Sirus closed his eyes for a moment then looked up at Meg with a shrug. “He called himself the ‘chill one’,” She prompted.
“Oh yeah, him. Did he come out?”
“Yes he did.”
“That guy’s a fruit,” Sirus shook his head, scowling.
“So I’ve met four of you. Can you give me an estimate of how many others are likely to pop out? It’s a little unnerving when it happens and I’d like to be prepared.”
Sirus shrugged, “At least two or three more medium pieces. I doubt a fragment will come out in front of you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Several of them are just little kids.”
“What?”
“It’s true.”
“How did that happen? Why would Arkdone have created alters who are little kids?”
“It wasn’t intentional. When you’re trying to make an omelet, you’re going to have to bust a few eggs.”
“That’s so messed up,” Meg muttered to herself.
“Yeah, I know. The bigger pieces are supposed to take care of them, but it’s hard. They get really scared.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” Meg asked suspiciously.
“Gideon is a big piece in the system and he’s chosen to trust you. I figure I can either keep getting pushed back or support him in his relationship with you.”
“You do realize how bizarre this sounds, don’t you?”
“To most people it would, but you’re different. It’s a big reason why Gideon is drawn to you.”
“You don’t have to be so cooperative, Sirus. I mean, I’m sure you’d rather be doing anything but hanging out with me. Why not let Gideon forward?”
Sirus shrugged then moved to lean his elbows down on his thighs but stopped immediately, flinching at the sudden pain he felt there. He sat back, leaned his head against the too-short headrest and looked up at the cabin ceiling.
Meg waited, sensing something different about his emotional signature. Instead of a sickly yellow like before, it had morphed into a handsome shade of orange.
“Maybe I wanted to get a chance to talk with you myself.” He’d muttered so softly, if it weren’t for her metahuman hearing, she wouldn’t have caught what he said.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Wow,” was all she could manage.
Sirus breathed deeply as though deciding, then turned to look her right in the eyes. She noticed his pupils weren’t angrily dilated like the usually were. He just looked to be intense. “Is that unacceptable to you?” His voice was strained.
“Sirus, I don’t know what to say. This is a complete one-eighty.” She watched the muscle in his jaw start to work and sensed his embarrassment.
“Listen, I think it’s great for us to talk. As you said, you’re a large part of the system. If I want to be Gideon’s friend, it would only make sense that I’m your friend, too.”
Sirus nodded and moved his lips into a tight smile.
“Friends?” Meg asked, extending her hand.
Sirus looked at her small hand for a moment before taking it into his.
Meg was surprised at his firm yet gentle grip. She smiled tentatively.
“Thank you,” he said gruffly before letting her hand go.
“What for?”