The Agrista (Between the Lines Book 1) (11 page)

  Marie popped her eyes open and directed her gaze downward. Every stroke felt like an explosion of pressure as the armor repelled the blade like two magnets of equal charge, cocooning her in an impenetrable barrier. The more force Fallon used, the stronger her backswing.

  “Do you get it now?” Fallon asked, irritated.

  “I get that you’re
crazy
!” Marie tried to slide away, but Fallon caged her in with her impossibly strong arms.

  “Children wear Parvúlus armor when they spar because it repels the blade. It enables them to learn how to effectively block and strike without hurting themselves or their opponent. However,
everything
has a weakness.” Without warning, Fallon jammed the wooden hilt of her sword into Marie’s abdomen, draining the air from her lungs in one swift blow. “The armor only repels objects with properties similar to its own. Therefore, it doesn’t repel wood. The first child to figure that out moves on to the next level of training,” Fallon sheathed her sword and raked her eyes over Marie disapprovingly. “One fundamental rule is present in all of our teachings: Evolve or die.” Fallon skipped over to Alex and nuzzled into his side. Marie felt a small victory when he shrugged her off to tend to Marie.

  “You always take it one step too far, Fallon,” Cayden muttered.

  “Why, because I’m
teaching
her instead of coddling her? This isn’t a game. It’s life or death. I’m doing her a favor!”

“She’s had enough
lessons
from you to last a lifetime. I can take it from here,” Alex hissed, helping Marie to her feet.

 
Marie hated that she constantly needed Alex to come to her rescue, the worst part being that she actually liked it. She needed to learn to stand up for herself or she’d never last in this world.

  She admired his long, muscular legs and cavalier stride as he swaggered toward an identical neighboring building, signaling for her to follow. He was shirtless for the umpteenth time, and while she couldn’t deny he was a sight for sore eyes, she might feel more comfortable with him if he didn’t always present himself like an Abercrombie model, half-naked and looking distraught from being too damn cool. At least he was wearing pants this time.

  “You need accessories,” Alex’s voice snapped her back to reality.

  “Accessories? What are you, my personal shopper?”

  “You have no formal training, so a weapon is out of the question. Fortunately,
anyone
can use accessories,” he went on. Apparently her lame attempt at a joke had fallen flat.

  “Don’t you need to go with them to get armor?”

  “I’ll wait until they’re done. I can only stand that woman for so long,” he grumbled, furrowing his shapely brows.

  The Ordnantry was set up exactly like the Armory, except it housed weapons instead of armor. Thousands of mysterious weapons glittered in the sunlight streaming through the glass, beating with life. Marie drank in the atmosphere with genuine fascination, fighting the urge to touch everything.
Look with your eyes, not with your hands
, Amelia had always said. Marie’s curiosity often made her forget her manners.

  Alex led her to a section of the building that looked like a jewelry store. Hundreds of sparkling pieces were laid out across narrow beds of dirt. The contrast exploded like a beautiful starry sky over an open field. Her stomach instantly clenched. Beauty seemed to signify danger in this world, and always came at a price.

  “What’s this all for? So every soldier can look their best on the battlefield?” Marie chortled awkwardly when Alex didn’t respond. She was beginning to wonder if he had any sense of humor whatsoever, or if he simply didn’t share hers.

 
Alex held up a silver necklace constructed of rows of hollow, interlocked circles that formed a downward triangle. A small, opal gem dangled at the center of each finding.

  “This necklace serves two basic purposes: offense and defense. Pulling one of the gems off is like pulling the pin out of a grenade,” Marie’s heart exploded into a gallop when he yanked on one of the gems. “You have to twist
and
pull to initiate the sequence or nothing will happen. Obviously, this is a safety precaution so no one accidentally blows themselves up,” he chuckled. Marie didn’t find the prospect of exploding nearly as amusing. “These hanging circlets work as a flash. It will disorient your enemy and grant you just enough time to get away, ideally.” Alex squeezed the sides together, giving her a blinding demonstration that made her scowl for the remainder of it.

  “Why do I even need this?
Supposedly
, you and Cayden will protect me,” she mocked, completely unaware that her sharp tone cut Alex to pieces.

  “Of course I’ll protect you!” His sudden swell of anger was followed by an awkward pause. Emotions muddled rationale, and he needed to be in control at all times. “This is your fight, too. We need to be prepared for anything,” he added softly.

  “I’m not sure how comfortable I feel wearing a live bomb, Alex.”

  Scrawled on the side of the ship in bold lettering was the name
Isabel
. A smile played on Marie’s lips as she was reminded of her mother’s rambunctious nursemaid, surprisingly fast on her feet and always quick to welcome Marie with a great big hug and a tray full of pastries. She recalled Izzy’s wide grin, showcasing an impressive array of large white teeth, and couldn’t help but smile in return, as if she were standing right in front of her.

  She glanced at the name on the side of the ship again and sighed wistfully. The overwhelming nostalgia that accompanied its presence immediately eradicated the smile it had dredged up. Marie may never make it back home again. She might not even live past today.

  Determined to think positively, she shoved the thoughts away and marched up the stairs to the ship, which was a lot smaller than she’d expected. She hadn’t been expecting the Titanic, but it was barely a step above an RV. Not only would she be stuck here with Fallon, there’d be nowhere to hide.

  When she reached the top of the stairs, there was a small bathroom to her right, kitty corner from a bunk bed built into the wall directly across from another.
Perfect.
They’d be sleeping in close proximity to one another.
So much for getting any sleep. If I live, that is.

  The entire interior of the ship was cold steel, only adding to the prison-like atmosphere it exuded. The dull gray and hollow metal reinforced the bars Marie had built up in her mind and kept her from feeling connected to the here and now. Past the sleeping area was a storage unit stocked to the brim with the basic necessities, and past that was an engine room that took up half the ship and doubled as an oven.

  At the head of the ship was a pair of cushy, singular seats that oscillated before a large window that covered the entire face of the ship. An amused smile ghosted Marie’s lips as she watched the captain swivel back and forth with gleeful abandon. At least
he
had a sense of fun.

  “Hi there. I’m Marie,” she smiled cordially at the captain as she made her way to the head of the ship.

  “I know who you are, darlin’. Are you so popular among the men that you’ve already forgotten me?” Raeph spun around in his chair and flashed his dimples.

  “
You’re
the pilot? Seriously?” Marie groaned as she threw herself into the chair next to him.

  “Hey now! Watch your tone or I might get offended. The last thing you want to do is get on the captain’s bad side. Being in my good graces will get you places, sweetheart,” he winked.

  Raeph shuddered under the scrutiny of her glare. The look she gave him could’ve set him on fire; her curves already did.
Such a pretty girl shouldn’t look so angry all the time. It doesn’t suit her.
He flashed her his most charismatic smile, causing her to turn away. It wasn’t the effect he was hoping for.

  Marie found Raeph
more
tolerable than Fallon, but she could say that about pretty much anyone. His abundance of confidence and lack of tact quickly got under her skin. He’d made a bad first impression and it was a lasting one.

  As much as he annoyed her, he wasn’t totally without his charms. He was nice to look at, to put it mildly. His smile crumbled her defenses, but the affect it had on her only strengthened her resolve.

  She wasn’t herself here. She was more impatient and less forgiving. Perhaps under different circumstances, they could’ve been friends, but she tried not to get bogged down in
the vicious cycle of
should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.

  He isn’t so bad to be around, so long as he keeps his mouth shut.
A bold smirk graced her soft features as she scraped her eyes over his muscular build.

  “Like what you see?” Raeph flexed, mirroring her expression. He knew that look – desire – though a classy girl like her would never admit to it.

  “Why do you look so damn happy? Have you forgotten where we’re headed?” Fallon spun Marie’s chair around and sent her careening to the floor, immediately taking her seat.

  Marie refused Raeph’s assistance and proudly jumped to her feet. If she tried to retaliate, it would only result in further embarrassment. Fallon was a bully, and Marie was helpless. Knowing that boiled her blood and stoked her temper, making it harder on everyone else, too.

  A barricade of bodies filled her line of vision as Alex and Cayden entered the ship looking like knights in shining armor. If they could keep Fallon away from her, they’d certainly be
her
saviors.

  Marie plunked down on a bottom bunk, removing herself from the situation as much as she could. Forget Anthros, she might not last the trip there.

  “That’s everyone. Let’s go!” Raeph pressed a few buttons and they were in the air in less time than it took to get seated.

  Marie peeked around the corner and gazed out the front window as they wove through the stars. It felt like driving through a blizzard, filling her with the familiar fright and wonder of not knowing what lay ahead, a feeling she was becoming
too
familiar with.

  “I need to talk to you about something, and I don’t think you’re going to like it,” Alex said, taking a seat beside Marie.

  “With a preface like that, how could I not?” she joked.

  “Cayden and I have discussed it at length, and we think you should stay on the ship while we search for Laylia.” It sounded like more of an order than a request.

  “I don’t want to be apart from you! Isn’t that
more
dangerous?” Marie’s public proclamation brought color to her cheeks and a smile to Alex’s face. Her growing attachment to him signified trust. “What’s the point of bringing me along if you’re just going to leave me behind?”

  “Raeph has to stay with the ship, so you won’t be alone,” he added.

  “I
can
guarantee
your safety. The ship will be in stealth mode, which means it will be completely undetectable once it’s on the ground. No one will be able to see it, hear it, smell it, or touch it,” Raeph assured her. Alex didn’t like how eager he was to be alone with the young princess, but it was none of his business, so long as she was safe.

  “You’re not in as good of shape as the rest of us. You’ll only slow us down,” Fallon pointed out, prompting Marie to cross her arms over her soft stomach. “Your presence will only serve as a distraction. It’s an extra obstacle we don’t need.”

  “You
say
it’s a choice, but it sure doesn’t feel like one. Obviously, you guys don’t want me there!”

  “This isn’t a social function, it’s a mission.” Fallon rolled her eyes. “We have to consider all the facts, and you’re detrimental to our mission.”

  “
Our
mission,” Marie reminded snippily.

  “We’re only thinking of your safety, Mariella,” Cayden reassured her.

  “Enough!” Marie stomped her foot on the ground as if she were putting out a cigarette. She instantly regretted it, feeling a bit like a toddler having a temper tantrum. “It’s my choice, and I’m going!”

  Marie wasn’t sure why she was fighting them so hard. She preferred to stay behind on the ship and guard the Agrísta, safely locked away and protected, much like its secrets. It was a nice thought, but there was no honor in such a course. She came here for an adventure, and she was determined to have one, even if the dangers far exceeded her expectations. She wasn’t going to watch it happen from the sidelines.

  “If that’s what you want, I can’t stop you. I’d rather not insult you by repeating myself, but let it be known that I think it’s a terrible idea,” Alex sighed.