“Your demands?” Weston stopped before me, holding out his hand and blocking off my view of the car and Silas.
I dug into the pocket of my coat, pulling out the folded piece of paper with the names on it. Eight months wasn’t long, but Weston wouldn’t be able to lay a hand on Quillan, Noah, Cabe, Tariq, Clarin, or Poison during that time. And six months for Silas might just be enough. It filled me with a very small amount of peace, but also a considerable amount of unease because in my haste to protect the others, I had all but forgotten about the collar around my neck.
I tried to peer around Weston while he was distracted with my list, but the doors had already closed, and the car was pulling away from the curb. Either they didn’t want to take any chances that something might go down at the Komnata again, or else Silas needed urgent medical attention. I didn’t want to dwell on which option it was.
“I’m ready,” I said to Weston.
“Very well.” He held out his arm, bending it at the elbow. Give me your thoughts, the gesture seemed to say.
I contained my emotions, forcing my mind to go blank as I placed my hand on his arm. Jayden appeared on my other side, distracting me for a moment. I was strangely glad that he was there.
God, everything is so messed up.
“Is it?” Weston asked, pausing in his stride as though my sudden thought had shocked him.
I ripped my hand away from his arm, stalking the rest of the way to the door alone.
“I’m here of my own will,” I told the door. In reality, I had no idea how to act, but it had seemed like a good idea to declare my intentions.
It opened at my gentle nudge and I passed through into the musty interior with Weston close on my heel. He grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around.
“I heard your thoughts.” His voice was no longer controlled, but almost vicious.
His fingers were digging into my skin again, and I frowned at him, saying what I had to say before he launched another attack on my mind. “Would you like to experience another flashback? I can show you what happens when Gerald gets really excited, if you want. You deserve to see it, after all.”
He dropped his hand from my shoulder, his skin turning so suddenly white that for a moment, he looked sickly. Threatening a grown man with the sensation of being molested by another grown man was turning out to be one of my most valuable weapons. Jayden cleared his throat, reminding us of his presence, and Weston visibly collected himself.
“Step into the boat, Miss Black.” He motioned the only boat that seemed to still be in one piece, resting on a small ramp that slipped into the water and disappeared out of sight.
I didn’t particularly want to obey him, but I wanted even less for him to lay his hands on me again under the guise of ‘helping me’, so I stepped into the boat and then quickly grabbed the sides as it rocked unsteadily.
“Yas disguised this place herself.” Weston was speaking, but he was no longer visible, because my vision seemed to be suddenly faltering. “She’s one of our most powerful Atmás; you’re about to see why…”
I had turned back to the lake on instinct, feeling as though some small movement had caught my eye despite how my eyes weren’t being very reliable. It wasn’t a small movement, however. It was the rising of a mini-community from the depths of the swamp that seemed to be shrinking away before my improving sight. A bridge was the first to manifest, beginning at the end of the boat that I clutched to for balance and ending on man-made platform. I rose from the boat as small stilt-houses rose from the water, connected to each other by stone bridges just like the one that my feet were now carrying me across. Everything seemed to be made of stone except for the houses themselves: they were wood and glass; making the most of the privacy afforded their hidden location with high windows and some open rooms. Mosquito nets curtained off the open spaces, looking like wisps of cloud as they caught the breeze and rippled inside their wooden enclosures.