I rub my forehead since a headache is beginning to form. “Let’s get everyone into a room and settled so we can start fresh tomorrow.”
The lifts are located down the corridor between the front desks. We take the injured up first, then everyone else joins. We all stay on the forty-ninth floor. I pick a room closest to the lifts, with Garrett and Brink across the hall. The room is small with the bed pushed up against the lone window. Next to the door a dresser sits full of clothes, but nothing like I’ve seen before. They aren’t the academy uniforms I saw Sadie wear, nor does the room look the same as the one from my nightmare.
I remove a pair of cotton pants, underwear, and a shirt, then head down to the communal bathroom. Towels line the walls, and all appear freshly laundered. I take a towel and hang it on a hook outside the middle stall. As the water runs, I can hear others coming in to shower as well. The bar of soap sitting in a caddie around the showerhead smells like lavender. I have to scrub hard to remove the mud and grime from my skin. My hair is caked, but there isn’t any shampoo to cleanse it with, so I lather up my hands with the bar soap and use that.
Addie is standing at one of the sinks when I emerge. She’s wearing an outfit similar to the one I took, but her uniform’s color is red, where mine is gray. The material is soft and loose, but I actually prefer the tightness of my battle uniform. Those that are hungry are making their way up to the next floor, but I’m too tired. I lock my door, drop my dirty clothes in the corner, crawl under the covers, and fall asleep immediately.
Twenty-One
I don’t sleep well, so after a couple of hours of fighting off monsters in my nightmares, I get out of bed and go upstairs. Van is sitting on a couch that has been moved close to one of the windows. He hasn’t changed his clothes since round two so he’s in desperate need of a shower.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks as I sit.
“I see you haven’t even tried.”
He lets a laugh slip along with a small smile. “Yeah. I guess I should clean up first.”
We let silence settle between us, but something that Rem said is bugging me. “Rem mentioned going to an academy. I didn’t know they had that in Tarsus.”
“Only if you’re wealthy,” Van responds.
“I take it you didn’t go.”
“It’s one of the reasons my sister and I wanted to be a part of The Litarian Battles. We wanted to improve our position in society, so we thought getting to Icarian would do that.”
“So, someone like Lok, Frey, or Troy would’ve gone to the academy,” I state instead of ask.
“Yes, especially Troy. His family is one of the highest-ranking families in Tarsus. His father is close to Leader Fallon. He was one of the people who got Leader Thomas replaced all those years ago.”
I try and hide my reaction to my father’s name since I’m not sure how much of the truth about my identity has spread throughout Thrace Tower. “Why did he get replaced?”
“It was so long ago and I was only five, but I think because he was supporting a new regime that was rising to challenge the Patrician.”
“You mean the Dracken.”
“Yes, but honestly, I think Troy’s father was playing both sides.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Troy is a top ranked Dracken official, just like his father. The man wanted to replace Leader Thomas, but after much mud-flinging against Leader Thomas, it backfired on him and Leader Fallon was sent in as the replacement.”
“How do you know Troy is top ranked? You sure seem to know a lot about the Dracken for not being one of them.”
He laughs. “Let’s just say I was almost recruited, but changed my mind at the last minute.”
“Is there anyone here who would’ve gone to the academy?”
“I’m not sure. Why are you so hung up on it?”
“Rem knew who the statue was, and I want to know how. What are they teaching at the academy and nowhere else? And why?”
“You think it has something to do with the realignment?”
“Possibly.”
Van gets up, pats me on the shoulder, and heads down to his room. I sit and stare out the window wondering where Troy and Lok are in addition to Frey. They both pose a threat to me. Lok for being a Patrician sympathizer and Troy if he’s anything like his father. Troy knows who I am. He may try and eliminate me if he believes I’ll outrank him when this is all over with.
What am I thinking? I’m making out like the realignment has already happened. What if it all fails? What will happen to us then?
“Hey,” Garrett’s voice echoes behind me. “You look drained,” he says sitting next to me.
“Just stressed.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Max. Out with it.”
“Yeah, like I trust you.”
“Hey, you still have my weapon, and it’s not like I’ve asked for it back.”
“Then go with me. Prove I can trust you.”
“Fine, what time do you want to go?”
“How about in an hour?”
“You want to go out in the dark? I thought you were going to wait until daylight.”
“The sun should be rising in two hours. An hour of darkness isn’t going to hurt anything.”
He stares at me as if surprised, but I can see the idea is actually pleasing to him. “You know why I’ll do this, other than to gain your trust back?”
“Because you secretly have a death wish.”
He laughs, stops, and takes my hand. I return the hold. He moves closer, pulls me towards him, and kisses me
