I’m so focused on him that I don’t notice that a bodyguard by Ensi’s side has gone missing.
By the time I feel the prick of the needle in my neck, it’s too late.
All grows dark.
TWENTY-SIX
TAEMA
I wake up groggy and hurting. I’m strapped into a Chair, like the ones I’ve seen in the Ratel warehouse the last few days, unable to move.
Nazarin is in another Chair next to me, but he’s still out cold.
Unlike the bulky Chairs of the safe house and Zeal and Verve lounges, these have no wires. There are only little electrodes resting against my skin, like during the Test. The Chair is little more than a prop and a way to restrain me.
Ensi sits across from me, legs crossed, eyes staring into the distance as he reads something on his feed. When he sees me move my head, he gives me his full attention.
His face is smooth as still water, his gaze frigid. As if he’s never met me before, never danced with me, never unzipped that catsuit. I’m intensely grateful I didn’t end up needing to sleep with him, so there is not that extra layer of guilt and betrayal.
“Good evening,” Ensi says, as if we’re sitting across from each other at a dinner party. His mannerisms are similar to Malka’s. Unfailingly polite, even as they’re about to commit cold-blooded murder.
I say nothing.
“You and your sister are cute, you know that?” he says. “Thinking you’re so clever, sniffing around my business. That I wouldn’t know exactly what you’re doing at all times. You really think that notebook was left in my pocket by chance? Silly, silly girl.”
I’m an idiot. If he knew about an uprising like he did at Xanadu … there, he even let them make their display, sacrificing a few people, his own people, before he crushed it and summarily executed everyone involved. He played with us, him the leonine cat and us the little mice.
“How long have you known?” I manage, my voice hoarse.
“As soon as Tila came snooping a few months ago.” I close my eyes. “I knew her right away. I even fed her some clues, knowing she wouldn’t be able to resist trying to solve the mystery.”
My mouth is so dry. I lick my lips. “You know who we are.”
“Of course I do. You’re the only two to make it out of the Hearth on your own terms in years. I’ve kept tabs on you. You proved more interesting than I thought.”
“Who the hell are you?” I ask. “What do you have to do with the Hearth?”
He smiles. “I don’t owe you any explanations. In fact, I quite enjoy the idea of you working so very, very hard to find out the answers and then never getting them.” He sighs. “I’ll humor you. I did find Tila amusing, at first. Trying to find out everything she could. For a long time, she went nowhere, and I enjoyed her struggle. I decided to toy with her more, seducing her even as she thought she was seducing me. Then, to my surprise, she actually found something useful that she could use against me. And I couldn’t have that, now, could I?”
“So you sent Vuk after her. Or, should I say, you sent Adam after her.” The words feel acrid on my tongue. I feel my face twist in disgust and horror. Images of the crime scene swim in my vision. So much blood.
“Ah, I see you found that piece of the puzzle. She’d realized who he was, so it seemed fitting he should be her downfall. Of course, the plan did not go perfectly.” His mouth flattens in anger.
My implants are still recording everything we’re saying, even if they’re not broadcasting to Kim right away. It’s been over five minutes, and I have to hope the side effects don’t kill me. I’ve gotten enough to hang him with, and I have a feeling he’s only about to give me more.
I concentrate on my mind, trying to focus inward. I can’t tell if it’s sending or not. And even if it is, then our location’s probably blocked as well. We’re trapped.
Stupid. Stupid, stupid.
“You know why your sister did it, don’t you?” Ensi asks. “Tell me you at least figured that out.”
“Did what?” I ask, my mouth dry.
“Killed him. Your sister did do it. Her hand held the knife that went right into his heart.” He pauses, just for a moment, reveling. “She did it for you.”
I hear a ringing in my ears.
“She realized that if she was found out, then I’d come after you to get her to do what I want. I’m still not entirely sure what happened that night at Zenith. She did something to Vuk before she killed him. His mind went haywire, broke through the Verve programming, which I didn’t think was possible.”
I can’t breathe. I don’t want to believe him, but why lie now, when he’s about to kill me?
“What’s your link to the Hearth?” I ask again. I want—I need—to know.
He only shakes his head.