Volumes of the Vemreaux Complete Collection: A Dystopian Adventure Trilogy, page 128
The worst part was that Suzette would not speak to him. She ate her meal in silence, avoiding his clandestine glances and cutting him off from the looks of adoration he had grown to secretly take pride in. She was disappointed by his outburst. She was disappointed in him.
Even more horrifying was that he cared.
Killian and Blue came up after everyone finished with dinner, eating their meals while the rest of the family devoured slices of hot pecan pie and baked apples. Baird shook his head at Liam, who resorted to sneaking bites off of Sam’s plate.
Then Blue said something that made Sam choke. “Sam, could you take me to church tomorrow?”
Liam pounded his friend on the back as Sam’s eyes watered. “I’m sorry?”
“Church. I’m allowed, aren’t I? I mean, I’m a freed Wayward and all that. They’ll let me in, right?”
Frederick answered vehemently. “Of course they will. Sam would love to take you. Good for you for planning an adventure.”
Sam took a sip of his water. “Never heard you talk about church before. Why the sudden interest?”
“Killian was reading his Bible to me after you left. That’s what that huge book he reads all the time is. Did you know there was a guy named Jesus who was the Light? Like, the Light of the world, not just the Vemreaux?” She grew more chipper as she ate. “Maybe the prophecy’s wrong. I mean, if that guy already was, then maybe I don’t have to be. You know, pressure’s off,” she explained matter-of-factly.
“Okay,” Sam replied slowly.
“I hate it when you say that,” she teased with a smile he had not seen in weeks. Blue was still too thin, but her spark was back from the ashes. “And Killy told me that Jesus had to leave his home with his dad in Heaven to live here with a dad that adopted him as his own child, so we already have something in common.” She grinned at Frederick, who laughed so loudly, his face reddened.
“Did I get that right, Killy?”
“Word perfect, angel.”
Sam pointed his finger down the table at Killian, who was too pleased with himself to appear contrite. “I swear, Kill. If this somehow backfires, it’s on you.”
“Can we go, Sam? Please?” Blue requested.
When she batted her long eyelashes at him, Sam knew there was nothing for it. “Yeah, alright. If that’s how you want to spend your first birthday, I guess there are worse ways to do it.”
“My what?” Blue asked, her nose crinkling.
“Tomorrow’s our birthday, bambina,” Liam reminded her. “And you know the whole making-something-as-a-present idea is only good for Christmas. I expect real gifts tomorrow. A sea of presents I can swim in. Sam can have you during the day, but you’re mine for the night.”
“You sound like a letch when you talk to her like that, you know,” Sam snarled at his friend. “You’re the brother, not the boyfriend.”
Liam rolled his eyes. “I meant I wanted to take her clubbing. Unclench, Sam.”
Alec took a drink of his wine before commenting. “I don’t think Blue’s the clubbing type, Li.”
“That reminds me,” Frederick patted his pockets and pulled out a black card, handing it down to Blue from his place at the head of the table. “You might need this. Treat yourself to something fun.”
When the card reached her, Blue was hesitant to touch it. Her photo somehow appeared on the back of it, though she never sat for the picture. Her new name, Blue Jane Boniface was in raised silver letters on the front, along with a serial number. “I think there’s been a mistake,” Blue muttered, trying to push it back into Sam’s hand. “Mine’s supposed to be green.”
Frederick smiled patiently. “You’re my daughter now, so you get a black bill card. I would have gotten it to you sooner if you’d been home.”
“Sorry about that,” Blue muttered. “And thank you. But I hardly used the green card. You really don’t need to do this.”
Liam grinned at her deviously. “Well, we’ll have to remedy that tomorrow. Dad’s particularly forgiving on our birthdays, so if you’ve had your eye on something, that’s the time to go for it.”
Frederick rolled his eyes. “Yes, Son. Teach her your bad habits. That’s all we need.”
Blue pressed the card back into Sam’s hand when he tried to give it to her again. “It’s not mine, Sam. It’s a mistake. Those aren’t the numbers on my barcode.” She held up her wrist, catching Everest’s fascinated eye.
“I know, principessa. They’re the numbers for your bank account,” Sam explained. “You’re linked to the family fortune now.”
Everest spoke up for the first time in a while. “Might I join you three tomorrow?” He loosened his collar and tried to keep his cool demeanor. “I may be in need of a little redemption myself. That is, if the church won’t burn to the ground by my mere presence.”
“Of course,” Blue answered before anyone could protest. She did not understand his fire reference, but the rest she got just fine. “Could you pass the potatoes?” she asked Suzette.
Sam was so relieved Blue was eating of her own volition, and seconds, no less, that he kept his misgivings about the whole institution of church to himself. He knew it was the miracle cure that turned Killian around, but he was cautious about anything that made him get up early on a Sunday. However, as it was, he had seen enough of the inside of the mansion for a while, and was relieved that she wanted to do something outside of the house for once. He snorted when Liam tried to teach Blue the happy birthday song with his own gratuitous lyrics imposed in between the set words. Sam kept one hand always fashioned to her in one way or another, not sure which of them needed more reassuring.
After everyone finished eating, Liam announced it was time for a movie. The prince bragged that he had chosen the perfect film, and dared anyone to defy his ruling. Blue snuggled down with Sam and Liam, contentedly smashed in between them. Liam spent half the movie poking her when his favorite parts came up, while Sam invested his time stroking the nape of her neck and kissing her during the parts he deemed less interesting than her lips.
Baird sat alone on the floor, wishing he had an excuse to sit nearer Suzette. She was still intent on ignoring him, and the longer she kept up the punishment, the more he thought over how he could have handled Blue better.
When the movie was over, Suzette and Liam insisted on board games. Everest looked to Blue with an eyebrow raised. “Toto, I think we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
“Huh?”
Everest chortled at her ignorance. “Something tells me a Saturday night spent watching movies and playing board games with a happy family is new to you, too.”
“Everything’s new to me, so that’s not saying much.”
They played a game called Sorry, which Baird categorically refused to say each time he drew the card that indicated he was to kick another player off the board. “Why would I say sorry if I’m not? Bad enough you got me playing an actual game. What’s next? A sing-a-long?” He surrendered his place at the board after Liam begged him for that very thing. “I’m gonna build a fire,” Baird announced, sizing up the unnaturally tidy hearth.
“It’s on remote, Baird,” Liam informed him, reaching for the little black box and flicking the flames to life.
“Well, that’s cheating if I ever saw it,” grumbled Baird as he stalked off to sit with Killian on the couch. Suzette and Frederick were engaged in a game of Battleship, which Baird also refused to play, on account he knew everyone’s tells and eye cues too well to be a fair fight.
Everest tried to remain above the merriment, but Blue pulled him down by his pant leg to the floor where the fun was happening. “I’m not given to sitting on the ground, love,” Everest protested lightly. “Prince of the World, and all.”
“This isn’t one of your parties. You can’t not participate. You have to take Baird’s place.” Blue smiled up at the prince (who was too well-mannered to refuse her) and tugged him to her side. “Do you know how to play?”
Liam frowned at Everest’s involvement, but said nothing as Ever lowered himself to play a child’s game with them. Everest’s arm draped behind Blue as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He smiled as she leaned into his support contentedly. “My second nanny was a big board game fan. I fear you may regret letting me join in. I’m ruthless.”
That, he was. Everest did not hesitate to knock anyone off the board, except for Liam. When it came down to Liam being the obvious choice, Ever put the card to his lips, debating.
“Do it!” Blue goaded him in a whisper. “Knock that cocky smirk off his face. He’s only got one man left on the board!” The food, forgiveness and fun lifted her spirits, reviving her, and everyone else by proxy.
“I’ll let you decide, then,” Everest conceded, handing her his card. “He could never be mad at you, darling.”
Blue grinned at Liam, delighted to knock his piece that was almost in the safety zone back to the start. “Up top,” Blue cheered, and Everest high-fived her, relaxing at her joy.
Liam frowned. “I’m warning you, if I don’t win this round, it’ll be bad for all of you. I am not a gracious loser.”
Blue looked on Liam with feigned pity. “Aw! Good for you, little brother. Already coming to terms with losing.”
“How’d I come off the little brother? I’m older, bigger, and you know, cooler.”
“Because every time I see you, I just want to…” Blue leaned over the board and pinched his cheeks. “Plus, I’m stronger than you.”
“I’m so much older!” Liam rubbed his face with a pout.
“Oh, Liam. You’ll always be a perfect six-year-old. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
With Baird’s lead, Everest won the game, pronouncing Liam’s frown further.
In an effort to smooth things over between them, Blue challenged Baird to the next round of Battleship. Baird agreed when he realized he could use the game as a training tactic. They each took eight seconds to scan the rules, and then proceeded to play with their eyes shut, games closed and backs to each other, afraid to give away any tells. Frederick was amazed at their shared intelligence and commented on it once Baird won the game. “Incredible,” Frederick admitted.
“Seriously. You guys should play poker,” remarked Killian.
“What makes you think I don’t?” Baird asked with a challenge in his eyes. Then a trace of guilt caught him. “But we shouldn’t. Wouldn’t be a fair fight.”
“I’m your Huckleberry,” Everest piped up, moving over to the table and slipping leisurely into a chair.
Baird shook his head. “You know, half the time I have no idea what you’re saying. But I do know I could wipe the floor with you.”
Frederick got down the chips and set them on the table. “Now, no real money tonight, boys. Just a friendly game,” he warned, taking the third seat.
“I’d be careful,” Alec cautioned Baird. “He’s a pacifist in front of the cameras, but your emperor’s ruthless when it comes to cards.”
“I’m in,” Killian offered, jumping at the opportunity to take Baird down a peg without resorting to pummeling him.
Baird was surprised to find that Everest proved to be a worthy opponent. Half the strategy of the prince was his recklessness, which Baird could not always calculate the margin of. In the end, Baird was the one with the fat stacks of chips, facing down Everest’s meager sums long after the other two tapped out.
“You seem to have fallen out of Suzette’s graces,” Everest remarked, attempting once again to get under Baird’s skin. The princess avoided Baird’s side of the room like it contained a communicable disease.
“You spend a lot of time thinking about me, if you notice that kind of thing,” Baird grumbled.
Everest’s grin grew as he sat back languidly in the chair. “Would it bother you if I thought of you often? Underneath all that aggression, I’m sure there’s something worthwhile to…uncover.”
Baird’s eyes narrowed. He picked up a chip from his tallest stack and snapped it between his fingers, sending it flying into Everest’s forehead. “Shut up. I know you’re just trying to get a rise outta me so you can win this hand. I’m not your type. Besides, I don’t go for spoiled princes.”
“Just the princesses, then? I’d wager if you smiled more, or were given to being nice every once in a while, Suzette might actually turn in her revolving collection of gents and give monogamy a go.”
Baird glowered at Ever. “Just call it.”
Everest lazily flipped a chip from the knuckle on his little finger all the way to his thumb, and then back down the row as the two exchanged veiled trash talk, smirking when the other got in a particularly delicious dig. When Baird finally took in the prince’s last chips, Everest smiled like the sly cat he was. “Most fun I’ve ever had losing a game of poker. Well done, Baird. Who knew there was sophistication to the brute strength? I daresay you’d do quite well in my circle, so long as Suzette dresses you.”
“Always focusing on what’s important,” Baird sneered. “Well, if this were real money, I’d be able to buy quite a few strait jackets for Suzette to dress me up in on your brandish. So long as she doesn’t dress me like you, I’m fine. What color are your pants, anyway? They look ridiculous.”
Everest crossed one leg over the other to show off the length of his trousers. “Sea foam green with lavender piping up the side here.” He traced up his knee. “I think you’d look smashing in them.”
Baird pretended to vomit in response.
“It’s snowing!” Liam proclaimed as he burst back into the game room. “Get upstairs! It’s like a blanket! Coming down in buckets, it is! Hurry!”
“That’s my cue,” Alec spoke up. “I’m turning in.”
“What? Then you’ll miss it!” Liam complained.
Alec stood from the floor and stretched. “I’ll see it all from my window. Only, unlike you, I’ll be warm. Cheers, guys.” Alec patted a few backs, and donned a modest smile when he received a kiss on the cheek from both princesses.
Blue thrilled with the anticipation of seeing her first snow, but Baird’s hand on her arm stayed her scamper up the stairs. “Wait a minute, Blue. Frederick, Ever, I need to show you something.” He waved Sam off. “She’ll be right up, Sam. It’s not like she’s gonna implode if you go without groping each other for five seconds.”
When the game room emptied, Baird instructed Blue to clean up the mess. Then he turned to Everest and Frederick with a deadly expression that suggested the poker-winning board-game-playing man was a farce that could be discarded at any moment. “What we were talking about earlier? Frederick, if you’re still on the fence about how your little confession might affect Killian, I want you to understand I mean what I say.”
Frederick pinched the bridge of his nose. “Baird, please. We were having a nice night, for once. You can’t control everything in this situation. It’s my decision.” The levity of the evening was ripped away from the emperor too soon. His face fell in consternation.
Baird held up his finger to the men and walked over to the fireplace, snapping his fingers at Blue. She came immediately at his command, standing in front of him, her side warming at the tame flames. He blinked a message to her that alarmed and confused her. “What? Baird, why?”
“It’s important. That’s why. Part of your training. You won’t understand it now, but it needs to happen.” He stared down at her, enlisting every bit of intimidation he could muster. “Frederick gave you his last name, but I gave you your first name. Your very first. No matter how much you think you’re his and theirs, I had you first, and you still belong to me. This is what I expect of you.”
“Are you sure there’s no other way to get me ready?” she asked uncertainly.
“Are you hesitating?” Baird questioned in an ominous tone, his finger rising to her face.
“I…”
“Who hesitates?”
Blue lowered her head, wishing two of the most powerful men in the world were not witness to her indiscretion. “Losers hesitate. Weak people hesitate.”
“Are you a loser?”
“No, Baird.”
“Are you weak?”
“No, Baird.”
“Then get on with it.”
Everest turned to Frederick. “Is this what dysfunctional looks like, then?”
Blue did as he instructed, this time without pause. She shoved her hand into the flames, keeping her face perfectly composed as the heat licked at her palm.
Everest shouted an earnest protest, but Frederick leapt into action. He flew across the room to break her out of the mental hold she was in, but Baird restrained him. “Do you think I’ll hesitate, Frederick?” he seethed, hating the sight every bit as much as the emperor did. “Do you think I’m weak? She’ll put your dog down without a blink!”
Everest tried to pull Blue away, but she palmed his face and held her position until Baird released her with a nod. “It doesn’t hurt, Baird! I swear, it doesn’t hurt a bit!” she claimed, though her eyes were screaming. “Did I pass the test?”
Everest dashed her to the nearest bathroom and ran her hand under cold water, muttering in a language that was not English or Italian. “Why did you do that?” he shouted at her without meaning to.
“Baird told me to,” she answered simply, holding back the whines of agony she wanted to let loose. “It’s just getting hotter!” she squeaked out, willing the pain to dull.
“Your brother is psychotic!” Everest looked odd to her when he lost his temper. His cool calm gave way to angry panic as he rinsed her palm under the steady stream.
“Would you lower your voice?” she scolded. “If Sam hears about this, he’ll be mad at Baird. You think I want them fighting again? Or Killian, for that matter? You really want to set him off?”
“You’re protecting Baird? Oh, darling. Here I thought you were so smart.”
“Baird’s the way he is because of me. If I didn’t exist, if he didn’t take responsibility for me…you don’t want to know the damage I could’ve done if he wasn’t there to step in.”
