Ashes of Twilight (26 page)

“I don’t know, James,” I say after a moment. “Until you kissed me I would have said yes. But when you—”

“Tried to make you see things my way?” James the charmer is back.

I fold my arms defensively. “I wouldn’t have put it that way.”

He sighs. “I admit it, Wren. I was an ass. I probably still am. But I’m smart enough to know when I’ve been beaten. I saw how you looked at him … at Pace … last night. And how he looked at you. I know that look when I see it. I guess I just need to have that look directed at me.”

“It will be someday,” I say. “You’ve got a lot to offer a girl, James. Don’t settle for anything less.”

“I’m truly sorry, Wren. About everything.”

Is he? I search his face and all I see is his charming smile. “Me too,” I say finally. I have to agree with him. To not respond in kind would be an insult, so I offer my own apology. His smile widens.

“I want you to promise me something, James.”

His look conveys the same hesitancy that I felt just a moment ago.

“When we get above, if things go bad, you’ve got to save Pace. He’s the only one who knows how to get out. The rest of us don’t matter. Only him. Without him we don’t have a chance.”

“Are you planning something, Wren?” James asks. “Something you should let us in on?”

“No,” I answer truthfully. “Just examining our options. Losing Pace isn’t one of them.”

“I’m not so sure about that.”

“You owe me, James.” I am suddenly angry. I am definitely not in the mood for games with him. “The only thing that can save us is finding the way out.” I step closer to him, until I am right in front of him. Close enough for him to see the bruise on the side of my face, close enough for him to see the brown behind the shine in my eyes. Close enough for him to feel my anger. “I need you to swear you’ll do it. That you’ll protect Pace no matter what happens.”

He stares at me a moment, the shine in his green eyes dim in the light from the stables. I do not back down from his gaze. I keep my eyes on him, strong in my resolve. “All right,” he says finally. “I swear I will protect Pace at all costs.”

“Thank you.” I turn to go. “I will see you in a few hours.”

“Yeah,” James says. “I’ll be there.” He takes off.

I go back into the stable. I’d already taken care of the ponies, arriving long before Peggy and the rest. I’d left Pace sleeping since our body clocks were still running opposite of each other’s. I knew he’d want to come with me because of my injury but I wasn’t ready for that yet. I wasn’t ready to let everyone know he was down here. Especially since I didn’t know what to expect out of James.

We are all going upside. Going to the dome to search for the way out. Lucy, as I expected, had come to the ceremony. Peggy took her aside and told her about discovering Pace below. Peggy told her the conclusion we’d all come to. Meanwhile, Lucy shared the news that David and his friends dug out and shored up the tunnel Pace and I escaped through. It was a secret way up and back that only a handful of people knew about. It was the way she’d come down and was going back.

Things were worse above. The coal was already nearly gone and over half the fans shut down. People were complaining. They didn’t care about Pace or what the bluecoats accused him of. They just wanted the fans back on so the air would flow.

Would they feel the same if they knew there was all the air they could ever breathe right outside the dome? Would they feel the same if they knew there was a blue sky and an entire world out there? Would they feel the same if they had seen one of their friends needlessly and horribly murdered?

One last time I walk down the aisle of the stables and say good-bye to my charges. The orange cat twines around my ankles as I stop at each stall. I give him an ear rub and go on my way, after checking to make sure I am not being followed.

Pace is awake when I return and sorting through the remaining food. “Is there a plan?” he asks.

“We’re going above.” I have to sit down. Being gone drained me more than I thought possible. I gingerly touch the lump on my temple and wonder if my skull could be cracked. It sure feels that way.

“Won’t they be watching for us?”

“We’re using the same route we came down in.” His eyes widen. I know why. Crawling through that tunnel had to be one of the worst experiences of his life. So far … “David and his friends dug it out and shored it up, according to Lucy. She used it to come and go last night. And this time we can take a lamp.”

“What about your eyes? They’ll be looking for shiners to be above.”

“Only half the fans are running because the coal is so low. The air will be thick.”

“So everyone will have goggles. They can’t make everyone they see take them off.”

“Exactly. What would work even better would be the filchers’ masks.”

Pace shivers. “Not for me … I’ve heard rumors of what they’re made of, and none of it is anything I’d want on my face. Besides, filchers would raise as many questions as shiners where we’re going.”

“David’s friends want to help us. They want to be a part.”

He hands me a sandwich made of the remaining bread, cheese, and dried pork I’d brought from the larder. “You make it sound like we’re starting a revolution.” He sits down next to me.

Until he said the word I really hadn’t put a name to what it was we were about to do. I look into his earnest blue eyes and the full implication of what we’ve planned seizes me in a cold, hard grip.

That’s when I realize that everything that’s happened has led to this moment. My trips to the rooftops, Alex’s death and my grandfather’s. It is as if the hand of fate has been pushing me along and just like the story of Camelot Pace told me, my life is a result of the circumstances. “We are starting a revolution.”

“You sound so sure of yourself.”

I shake my head. “I’m scared out of my mind. Scared that we’re all going to die.” I lean into him and he puts his arms around me. “But I think I’m scared worst of not doing anything. Of not trying. Of not knowing what’s out there.”

He kisses my hair as he smooths it with his hand. “How much time do we have before we have to go?”

“Not much. I want to beat them to the ladder. So there is no danger of them figuring out where we are hiding.”

“What about the rest of the family?”

“What?”

Pace tilts his head at Cat and Pip. “Shhh. I don’t want them to know they’re not really ours.”

I can’t help it. I laugh, which makes my head hurt. “Ow. Ow. Ow.” I put my hand up to the bruise, which brings another burst of pain.

Pace grins at me and shrugs sheepishly. “I’m just kind of concerned, if we don’t make it back…”

“Cat will be fine. He can find his way back to the village or even the stables. But Pip…”

“Pip can come with me. I’ll put him in my pocket. That way he can at least go free.”

“Instead of being trapped in his cage in the dark.” I could never let that happen. Not to Pip or to Pace. Never again for either of them.

“Can you think of any way we can get word to my mother?”

“I don’t know enough about the way things work above. But maybe Lucy or David can think of something.”

“Any one of us steps onto Park Front and we’ll be caught for sure,” Pace says. “They are probably still watching her.”

“She’ll be all right,” I say. “Soon this will all be over and you can see her again.”

“I can’t wait until you two meet.” He smiles tenderly and smooths back a lock of my hair. “She will adore you. As I do.” He kisses my forehead. He is so affectionate. He touches me constantly, yet he’s not oppressive. For someone like me, who wasn’t shown much affection, it’s strange, yet I can’t get enough of it. I love it when he touches me. More than anything I want him to touch me without the fear gripping my heart that this will be the last time we are together.

I want time with Pace. Time to be with him. At the moment, time is something that’s in very short supply.

23

Our trip through the sewers
is blessedly without incident. I almost expected to see the two bodies lying where we left them after out altercation with the bluecoats on our trip down. I was never really certain if they were alive or dead when we ran, and at the time I didn’t care one way or another. Still, it is a good thing to pass through that area and see nothing there. I know Pace feels the same way because he gives me a slight smile and a nod when we go by the broken-down section of pipe.

There have been no repairs made either. Of course the government has had other things on their mind since our escape. Knowing that doesn’t help the smell. We all cover our mouths and noses with our kerchiefs as we navigate the long tunnels. I’m not certain if I will recognize the place where we’re supposed to turn to get to Lucy’s until I see the fresh supports in place. I am relieved when I see that not only have David and his friends shored up the tunnel, but they’ve also built a ladder that leads up to the hatch we originally escaped through. Adam goes up first, then Peggy, James, me, Pace, and Alcide.

“Welcome to the seekers,” David says as Alcide comes into the kitchen from the closet. The rest of us laugh as David closes the hatch and slides the trunk back into place.

“That’s what we’re called,” James says. He holds out his hand to shake with David and his usual charm oozes from him.

“So Lucy told me,” David says as he grasps James’s hand. The kitchen is full with the six of us, me David, and Lucy and three others. “This is Jon,” David begins.

Jon’s clothing is a hodgepodge of rags stitched together. His hair is long and unruly with curls, and he has pale blue eyes. His hands are wrapped tightly with cloth and I can tell by the fading bruises on his face that he’s a brawler, even though he’s slight. “I’m from the scarabs,” he says roughly. “Like your lot, I’d like to get out of here.”

“It’s much the same with me,” Harry, who has long, light brown hair and brown eyes, says. “My father is a butcher and they expect me to be the same. I hate it. The blood, the guts, the smell…”

“Harry, don’t be disgusting,” a beautiful girl with red hair and the nicest clothes I’ve ever seen says. “It’s rude, especially when you first meet.” She holds out her hand to Adam and I’m actually surprised that he doesn’t bend over and kiss it. She has an air about her, an air that bespeaks privilege. “I’m Jillian Pembrooke,” she says.

We greet the three of them, cautiously and shyly, especially Jillian. All our lives we’ve been told we can’t and shouldn’t mix with those from above, especially the royals, and yet here we stand with the exact ones we are supposed to fear and worship. All three of them study us intently and I know they are staring at our eyes, which really do set us apart from the rest of the dome’s inhabitants.

Pace doesn’t stop to greet the strangers. Instead he takes Pip from his pocket. “Do you have someplace to keep this little guy safe?” he asks Lucy while we’re being introduced.

“What the hell is this?” James asks.

“Couldn’t abandon him,” Pace says. “And it’s my problem, not yours.”

James rolls his eyes and Peggy elbows him hard in the stomach.

“I’m sure I can come up with something,” Lucy says. She goes to the cupboard and comes back with a loosely woven basket. She pours some water onto a plate and sets it on the counter. Pace puts Pip on the plate and Lucy turns the basket upside down over him.

“Good idea,” Pace says.

As David gives us the introductions, I can’t help but notice Jillian’s hands. They are soft, unblemished, and clean with nails that are perfectly formed. I feel filthy and lacking next to her, even though I just bathed.

“Do you remember me, Pace?” She goes to where Pace stands with Lucy by the counter. Her goggles are the best, shiny and new, along with her boots, which are made of the softest leather I’ve ever seen and practically scuff free. She wears a skirt of a fabric that seems to change colors in the light, going from a dark rusty color to a bright orange like a flame. The collar of her blouse shows around her neck and it’s of a fine and delicate lace. She wears a short coat that’s finely brushed dark brown suede.

I’ve never owned anything new in my life. Everything I have is secondhand and well used, even my boots have been resoled more times than I can count. The only thing I’ve ever had that is nice is the blue dress, given to me by Lucy, and even that belonged to someone else first.

Pace looks at her with some confusion showing in his blue eyes. “You seem familiar.”

“Your mother was my governess once upon a time. We used to study together.”

Recognition lights his face. “Jilly?” Pace shakes his head. “It
is
you. What are you doing here?”

I move closer to Pace, jealous and curious all at once. Who is this girl to Pace and why is she here? “You’re a royal?” I can’t help but ask. I hate myself for saying it. There are more important concerns right now than my relationship with Pace, but I can’t get over the fact that they have
history
. As I do with James … I spare a look at him. Was his capitulation this morning too easy? His apology and regret were so sudden. Can I trust him? He watches the three of us with a curious look and I can’t shake the feeling that he’s planning something that I don’t know about.

“I hear that is what you
shiners
call us,” she replies with spirit, drawing my attention back. Her eyes are extraordinary, clear and green with gold tints. They are so different from what I am used to, just like Pace’s. I can’t stop looking at them. “Yet here we are in the same place with the same purpose,” she continues.

“Jilly is like us,” David explains. “She wants out.”

“But why?” I can’t help but ask.

“I think it a better alternative than marriage,” she says. “Pace.” She turns to him as if the matter is closed. “They took your mother in this morning.”

His face turns a ghostly white and he slumps into a chair by the table. “Where is she? Where did they take her?”

“I don’t know. It was enforcers, but not the type I’ve ever seen before. Their uniforms were different. And the carriage was nice, not the usual wagon they pile the criminals in. Her employer went round to the station to ask about her and they had no record of her being brought in.