Barcode: Cavern of Youth (15 page)

In a low and soothing tone, Haley mumbles, “I waited my whole life to hear that. You don’t understand. You make me so happy. Kode. Oh my Writer.
Kode
. You really are our child.”

“You make me happy too.”

Hayley falls limp in my arms. Her body tremors and she makes incoherent sounds.

She finally notices the blood.

Hayley unleashes a loud wail. Though I want to hold her more tightly and tell her how much I love her, I can’t. Instead, I fling her into one of the cabinets and peer into her eyes.

“John.”

“Stop!” The force I exert opens a few cabinets and breaks the three glasses in the sink. “You want him here, but he can’t come.” I place my hand over her mouth to prevent her from repeating his name. “Don’t lose another minute to something in the past. If you want to be with him, kill yourself.”

Carmen flares, “Kay!”

“That’s what you believe, right? You’ll see him in the afterlife. I’m not here to tell you that there is or isn’t one. I just want you to live for now.” Hayley cries frantically, so I slam her against the cabinets again. “Stop! You have two options. You keep letting his death defeat you, or you live with the love you have. I’m in this world with
you
and you’re with me. You too,” I say, glancing over my shoulder at Carmen. “You’re my heaven, Mom. If you want to enjoy this time, look at the blood and beat it.” I hold her hand to her face. “This is yours. Not his blood or Spencer’s. It’s yours. What do you want to do?”

“Kode,” she mouths between her tears.

“Say you love your son,. I need to hear it too,” I whisper as tears build in my eyes. I restrain them with all of my might.

Hayley rubs her blood on my cheek again. She nods endlessly and sputters, “My sweetheart. I love you.” With that, I crash into my mom’s arms.

Twelve

I take another puff of the finest cigar I ever had. I began smoking them three months ago, when I was finally able to convince Dennis that my lungs can’t be contaminated. He only gave me three, but I held on to the last one as long as possible. Practically addicted, I stole one of each brand from his office. Once those ran out, I felt a bit lonely inside.

During last night’s dungeon duty, Blue-Skin dropped off two from Hades’ collection. His cigars put Dennis’ to shame. The wrapper tastes as though it were grown from Cuban seeds, but it’s pitch black. If I hadn’t smoked some strong flavors with darker San Andres Negro leaves, this would be a little overwhelming. Whatever Hades manages to make these with is amazing.

As my feet dangle from the edge of Dennis’ skyscraper, I blow smoke into the already smoggy sky with Carmen laying directly behind me. She has her arm around my waist. I think she’s still a bit sleepy, but it’s too cold for her to doze off. Not to mention, class starts in twenty minutes.

I come here to clear my thoughts and process the world surrounding me, but the data streaming through my eyes isn’t pleasant or relaxing.

Vincent finally recovered from the hospital and is storming through his classroom yelling agitatedly at Angie, “What is this I hear about you fighting with Malik?”

“I didn’t. He got into a scuffle with that new kid, Kay.”

Vincent flinches. I bet he wants to tell Angie that I’m Kode while demanding that she stays away, but the best way to keep her from me is to allow her to continue thinking I’m someone else.

“You didn’t help him?”

“I wasn’t near the disgusting creature.”

“Kay?”

“Malik.”

“I won’t have you talk about my future son-in-law that way.”

“But you’ll have him touch
your
daughter any way that he pleases.”

“Look at your armor. You bring it on yourself.”

“My armor is art designed by Stacy Moreno-Colt.”

“You’re fine with her, but you want nothing to do with Carmen. You’ve disrespected the poor girl since the day you met.”

“Poor? Poor girl? We’re the same age and you don’t treat her any differently.”

“I am tired of having you back talk me Angie! Her age is none of your business. As a woman, you’d better learn your role. But more importantly, I will not have
my child
speak to me with such disrespect.”

With blood racing through her veins, she attempts to withhold her anger. Restraining her aggression causes something evil to feast on her data. The predator is ready to snap. She was always prepared to unleash her anger against Vincent, because he feels the need to oppress her. I thought she would’ve cracked by now, but his control has strengthened.

Angie clutches her fists tightly enough to draw his attention.

“What’s your problem now? Classes will begin soon. I’m not teaching the gods yet and these pitiful Apes are frustrating enough to deal with. I don’t need you adding to my stress.”

“Just keep Malik away from me.”

“Spencer’s death has been confirmed.” Angie gasps and holds her mouth. Vincent takes a huge breath and continues, “Dennis’ lies will eventually catch up to us. Most students and investors are already suspicious of the
secret training
Spencer is on. When the truth comes out, this academy will lose billions. And if the Block Party isn’t approved, the Colt name will diminish in a matter of years. Do you understand my stress? I’m holding this family together.”

Angie’s hands shiver as she asks, “And Kode?”

“Dead as well,” he boldly professes while flopping in his chair and swiping his desk tablet. He’s pretending to do something important, but he’s mindlessly flipping through various pages.

One of Angie’s tears quickly strikes the ground, but leaves no trail on her face or sign of others to follow. The gladiator princess knows how to maintain her public figure, especially in front of her father.

“Without Spencer to kill Helios and mate with you to remake his barcode, all my plans have gone to waste. I searched long and hard to find the next strongest student to mate with you, and I finally have him. You will
not
ruin that. Writer willing, the Louisianan Block Parties will make their way out here by September, when I have full control of the arena. That’s when Malik will be allowed to participate in the competition for your hand in marriage.”

“Daddy!”

“You will do just as your mother, and dedicate your life to him. I want to hear nothing else about the way he treats you. Malik is a fine warrior. He’s just as lustful as all the other adolescents that watch you prance around here practically naked. He’s no Spencer, but he’s definitely not Monte.”

Narrowing her eyes, Angie menaces, “If you want power, then why not Monte? You know about the barcodes under his chest plate as much I do. There’s no power that even competes with his. He was probably stronger than Kode.”

“The Payne,” he bellows, slapping his desk and standing up from his seat, “are an abomination. There are no worse criminals or filth than that family, other than Helios. Just to California’s suspicion, they were working with the tyrant.”

“Blake, Kode, and Monte were not! I’ve fought closely with all of them.”

“You were deceived. That’s why Monte’s constantly on assignments alone. He’s fooling you and me, just like Eve did.”

“He fought with us during the attack.”

“Did you see him? No. He was unconscious when we arrived to the battlefield.”

“You heard what Spencer did. He not only knocked out Monte, but everyone in the area. I can’t vouch for him, but I can say I fought alongside the Payne you hate the most. He defended us and obviously died for it.”

“You know nothing, you stupid girl. You’ll leave this classroom immediately, remembering to obey your future husband. To me, you are as good as married. I do not want you fighting. If needed, you protect him, but not enough for him to notice. Do you understand?” Puffing out his chest, Vincent echoes, “Angie Marina Colt, do you understand me?”

“Yes father,” she fumes through her teeth. Veins in her neck and in the center of her forehead become visible. The angered goddess blows open the classroom doors and marches down the hallway.

Angie’s become weak, and she needs a motivator to get back on track. Spencer’s blood on my hands may help. If she senses my blood, I’m sure that’ll add to the fire.

Carmen watches me. “What’s wrong, papi?” I quickly look down at the beautiful gladiator laying behind me and she tenses up. When I close my eyes, she seems slightly less frightened.

“Nothing.” That’s a lie. Now, I’m thinking about Michelle. Even completely drugged by my blood, the second she saw my eyes, her heart stopped beating. She could have died from the state of fear.

The first night Dennis saw my data, he confronted them fearlessly. From then on, it’s been an ever-increasing pain for him to endure. He won’t look into my barcodes for long. Most of the time, he’s staring at my eyebrows or forehead. There’s an attempt to show me a connection, but he can’t fully commit.

The only person that looks into them without hating me or wanting to run away is Hayley. I wish I could say the same for the beautiful girl before me.

I kiss Carmen’s hand and announce, “Time to go cause trouble.” We reenter the building. She quietly rides the elevator with me while waving my smoke away. “Sorry. This is the only time I’ll take it to school with me. Promise.”

She and I stroll to the arena quietly. As we are about to march up the steps that lead into the front door, she stops and asks, “What trouble are you going to cause?”

Raising my eyebrows, I remove the cigar from my mouth and reply, “I always have a plan. Don’t trust me?”

“It’s about Angie.”

Grinning, I ask, “You can read my thoughts even if I kiss your hand?”

“You’re aligning with my codes.”

“Wait. No one’s ever taught you all that pleasure and pain crap?”

“You’re the first person that I’ve kissed affectionately. My father briefly helped when I was a child, but my mother says he was too uncomfortable. She can’t do it because her barcodes are unique. I’m more connected with your codes than anyone else. But if you were wearing Tartarus, how did Angie get into yours?”

She knows about Tartarus? “No clue. I didn’t know mine were trained.”

“You had to. It goes both ways. When Angie was younger, Vincent was connected with hers. One day, you did the impossible. You completely reprogrammed her data, overriding Vincent’s.”

“For some reason, you know a lot about them.”

“I do.”

“You’re not going to tell me,” I declare with an evil grin.

“The same way you’re withholding whatever you have planned for Angie.”

“This sounds like our first fight.”

Playfully, she says, “Don’t try making up by turning me on. I’m not falling for your charm.” She rolls her eyes and looks away. “Okay. Maybe if you kiss me.”

Grabbing her by the arm, I pull her up the arena’s stairs. “You’re cute when you’re upset.”

“I’m cuter when I’m wrapped under a cover with you, Adam and Eve style.”

One of the fake security guards standing at the door blocks our way when I try walking in. I don’t know why Dennis hires these guys. Most of the student gladiators are stronger than them. Anyone worth investing in would be more beneficial as a warrior on the field, and no Colt is going to waste their franchise players by forcing them to stop students with cigars.

I take one last puff and place the cigar neatly in the guard’s pocket. He steps out of the way and tries throwing it in the trash, but becomes entranced by the smell. He finishes it off for me.

We bypass all of the students lingering in the hallway without speaking to anyone. Richard catches sight of me while talking to several mortal level warriors. Once he notices the expression on my face, he releases a chuckle and runs over to join us.

Now, I have a miniature mob.

After a quick walk, we stop outside of Gardezi’s class. Angie’s dragging her feet to her desk. She’s not too far from the door. Just right.

Carmen falls back as I bump into the gladiator princess. She’s already upset with the intentional challenge, but she becomes irate when she spins around and notices me.

Using one of my other sound techniques, I create a growl under my breath, but she’s always been capable of doing the same. She roars like a lioness. That’s not nearly as frightening as when she smashes me into a wall.

Gardezi stands from his desk, but I raise my hand to calm him down.

“Don’t you ever push me, or I
swear
I’ll kill you.”

With the remaining smoke in my chest, I blow the dark smog into her mouth. As she coughs, she hears the words I have trapped on every particle.
Don’t threaten me. You’re a weak puppet for your father that’s too afraid to challenge someone that couldn’t kill you if you let him.
As the smoke clears her lungs, the final words choke her. Angie’s eyes widen as she hears,
And you’re correct. Kode and Spencer’s blood is with me. What makes you think you’re strong enough to do anything about it?

Angie’s tattoos disappear and her eyes glow blue. I didn’t expect to push her far enough to see Sekhmet.

Shit.

I lean forward to give myself enough room to evade whatever is coming. I’ll need just enough space to roll with a punch, though moving closer to her is extremely dangerous.

Ducking and dodging to my left, I barely avoid a punch aimed at my head. Though the blow was an inch away, blood drips right above my ear.

The scream that stretched from Carmen’s lungs saved my life. It had such a wild energy that it offset whatever force was brewing in Angie’s punch.

The gladiator princess charges again for another strike, but Gardezi grabs her arm and flings her across the room. She lands gently on her feet, but her barcodes are now facing outward. She turns away from us in order to control herself and to return her arrow barcodes to normal—colorless and pointing to her face.

“What’s going on, Kay?” Gardezi asks, keeping his eyes focused on my attacker.

“Training. She’s not ready to fight yet, but she will be when I’m done with her.”

“You realize that I nearly broke my hand keeping her away? Did you know she was that strong?”

“Yeah. Now, I want the whole school to know.”