Volumes of the Vemreaux Complete Collection: A Dystopian Adventure Trilogy, page 14
“No!” she cried, her volume matching his. His head shot up at her insurrection. Immediately she lowered her voice. “Professor Standwicke wanted me to throw it away. I asked him if I could keep it, and he said yes. He even offered to help me learn it all.”
Baird had no response to this, but he still searched for a reason to be right.
Elle stood next to Blue to unite herself with the girl, her morning nap reviving her sharp tongue. “I can’t believe you just said that to her. How much more do we have to sacrifice for you to be satisfied? You won’t even let her own trash?” She shook her head at the man, who she could tell realized that he was quickly losing the argument. “Go take your anger out on a squirrel or something. Leave your sister alone.”
The object of much distress felt heavy in his hands. “Fine! Just don’t let your reading get in the way of work. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’re getting slammed out there.”
“When’s the help coming that you called Master Joe for? I thought you were going to get us an extra body on the floor this close to Peace Week.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Elle. The new waitress should be here already.” He turned his attention to Grettel, who was struggling with a pot a third of her size. “What’d I tell you about this pot? Let me lift the big ones.”
Grettel shied away from his reach, surrendering the vessel with a miniscule squeak.
Baird’s countenance darkened when he realized he was not forgiven for the altercation that morning. He ignored Grettel’s fear, hoping it would dissipate. “So what is Geometry, anyway?”
Elle laughed, which only brought back the scowl the man had been nursing for most of the morning. “You don’t even know what it is, but you forbade it? Ladies, I give you our fearless leader.” She lifted her hands and clapped in false appreciation.
“What?” He jutted his chin out to the mocking blonde, defending his ignorance. “I know it’s some kind of math.”
Blue did her best to explain what little she understood from the few minutes she’d been permitted to actually flip through the book. “I don’t know yet. It looks like putting numbers to angles and pictures so you can make them more perfectly.”
Baird scoffed. “Vemreaux are useless. They go to school to learn how to draw a line correctly?”
“It’s more than that. I’m just not good at explaining what I haven’t really studied.” Blue sucked in her lower lip before she spoke again. “Professor Standwicke said that he would help me through the book. Would you mind if I took a break tomorrow when he comes in? It’ll be a short one.”
Baird’s hesitation made Elle turn to the man murderously. “Oh, give the girl a break. You know she’s allowed to take a lunch, Baird. It’s not like she’s gonna go out drinking with the Vemreaux or something. She’s taking a short break at our slowest time of the day to study. Quit being so controlling.”
“If you can find time for it, then fine. But work comes first, you hear me?” He reminded her of this as if she was the irresponsible type that needed the extra instruction.
Sometimes Blue got the feeling that he just wanted someone to fight with. She was glad Elle took his grumblings as a coded form of foreplay and didn’t mind them so much.
“Nights are only gonna get busier, so I need you all on your game.” When Blue shot him a look that suggested he was underestimating her, he explained further. “The dignitaries and heads of military are all coming to Capital City in the next few nights with their entourages. The bar’s gonna be packed, so no Geometry at night.”
“Okay, Baird,” Blue conceded before Elle could start up again.
“Wow, are you two psychically seating people now?” he asked, motioning toward the door.
Elle wanted to argue, but Baird was right. The line at the hostess stand kept growing, and no matter how fast the girls were, and how many tables they turned over, they could barely keep up.
An hour later when the tension between the four dissipated, Elle stalked into the kitchen and thwapped her tray on the counter irritably. “Where is that third waitress? You have to tell Master Joe to find a third person to hostess, at least. I know you don’t like complaining to your master, Baird, but I don’t care!” Before he could respond, she hurried on. “Between Blue and I, I’m pretty sure we can keep the customers happy. We just can’t take the time to seat everyone and bus tables in between.”
“Elle, I don’t think…” Baird began with his token amount of resistance.
“I’m not asking you to think, Baird. I’m telling you I’m going to hit my limit mid-shift. Is that what you want?”
“So feisty,” he commented with a small smirk. Baird sighed. “Fine.”
“I don’t see you calling him,” Elle complained, tapping her foot impatiently.
“I talked to him half an hour ago. He’s sending help tomorrow. Something about getting the dates confused.”
Elle swore, and for a second, Baird was sure she was going to pick up her tray and throw it at him.
13
Responsible Liam
“Ronald Cho? That guy is such a snore!” Liam complained. “Why can’t we go swimming? That blonde from last night invited me to some lake with her friends.”
Alec took a breath and tried to count to ten, but only made it to four as he moved the vehicle to the left lane. “First of all, ‘that blonde’ isn’t all that descriptive. You made out with three last night. And ‘some lake’? Which one would that be?” He shook his head, trying to keep his irritation at bay. It was only ten in the morning. He’d have to ration out his frustration if he wanted to make it through the whole day without snapping. “And the owner of Amsteron is an important man that your father wants you to spend some time with. Build relations.”
“Not exactly the kind of relations I was hoping to have while on holiday,” Liam groaned. “I couldn’t have been more clear when I told Dad that I didn’t want to become emperor after him. That’s Killy’s job. I belong at the lake.”
“And which lake is that?”
“Quit being a smart alec, Alec.” Liam chuckled at his own joke. “Get it? Because your name’s Alec! I can’t believe I never thought of that one before.”
“Hilarious. Frederick knows that you want to waste your life on booze and women, and he’s made his peace with it. However, he asked you to do him a favor and keep things good between the royal family and one of the most powerful non-royals in the world. Since you’re both in town for the testing, you get to entertain him for the afternoon.”
“Ronald’s so boring, though! I doubt he’s ever had an original thought. Everything he says sounds like a regurgitation of the King. So, yeah, he’s powerful, but it’s all good investments and business sense. He has zero people skills.”
Alec couldn’t argue. He’d had the misfortune of sitting in on about a dozen too many meetings with the man. It was rare that he made it through without yawning. “You could always bring up the subject of his cats. He loves talking about those. Probably has lots of original thoughts involving them. What’s he up to now, eight?”
“Oh, man! Alec, if he starts talking about his cats again, I’m bailing. I can’t take it.”
“You’re not bailing. You’re spending a couple hours working. It won’t kill you. Did you know that your brother doesn’t even want to celebrate his birthday this year? He scheduled meetings all day long. I wouldn’t complain about a business lunch.”
Liam’s brow furrowed. “What? That’s not right.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and pressed the fourth speed dial. “Killian? What’s this about you not celebrating your birthday this year?”
Killian’s voice came through with a note of surprise. “Good evening to you, too, Li.”
“Evening? I call too late? What time is it there?”
“Only six. I’m on my way to meet with Harold, though. What’s going on?”
“Alec said you’re not doing anything for your birthday. Please tell me that’s not true. Tell me there’s something left of the brother who broke into the school in the middle of the night to throw me the best sixteenth birthday bash ever. Took them forever to get that desk out of the tree!”
Liam could hear the smile in Killian’s voice. “Well, that brother got suspended, and read the riot act by Josephine. And it’s not like I did it alone. It was Sam’s idea.” Killian’s levity died when he mentioned his former best friend’s name. “I don’t really feel like celebrating my birthday this year.”
Liam gave the pause that lingered its proper respect before continuing. “You never feel like celebrating anymore. I don’t like how all about work you are, Kill. It’s not right. When are you going to have any fun?”
“Fun?” Liam heard Killian take a bite of something and continue speaking with a mouthful of food. “Who says my life isn’t fun? I get to sit down with Harold as soon as Isaac drives me home, and get briefed about Amsteron’s proposal to move the O-blood facility to Asia. See? I get to talk about Amsteron while you’re meeting with the head of Amsteron. It’s almost like we’re hanging out, Li. I can feel the fun already.”
Liam sighed. “No, you can’t. You haven’t been fun since you and Sam…broke up?” He couldn’t think of the right words.
Killian laughed, choking on his sandwich. “Jeez, Liam. Sam wasn’t my boyfriend. It’s okay that people stop being mates. It happens. Besides, now you two hang out more. He’s a much better fit for you, anyway. We got into way too much trouble.”
“I wish it could be how it was.”
Killian’s voice sobered. “Well, it can’t. I made my bed, now let me lie in it. I don’t mind working on my birthday, Liam. After the change, they all sort of run together anyway. You’ll see. It’s just another day.”
“Please, Kill. Please do something fun. I’m stuck over here, and can’t take you out to celebrate properly.”
“I love that your definition of ‘proper’ probably includes strippers or clowns and massive amounts of liquor.”
“Well, liquor’s required when you set out to watch a striptease put on by a brothel of clowns.”
“Yikes. Now that’s in my head.”
“Sorry. I’ll fix it. You think Harold would make a good clown stripper? You think Isaac’s got a few loose bills on him to wave around and make Dad’s royal advisor dance?”
Killian laughed again, and Liam could tell his brother hadn’t participated in such cheekiness in a while. “Man! America’s a lucky country to get your humor for a few weeks.”
“Yes, and it’s wasted on Ronald Cho and his cats.” Liam fiddled with his seatbelt. “Killian, please do something fun for your birthday.”
“I’ll think about it. Everest called me yesterday and invited me to his new island. Thought I’d fallen off his radar.”
Liam smiled. “I thought you didn’t party anymore.”
“I don’t, but there aren’t any cameras on his off-island. Honestly, I could use a break from campaigning. I don’t know how Dad keeps up.”
“Good! Do it! Go see Ever, and he’ll fix you up. Just don’t drink anything without a sealed cap.”
Killian chuckled. “I won’t. I actually kinda miss Ever. Haven’t seen him in a while. Said he needed me to come rescue him from his father. He was all theatrical. Kinda funny.”
Liam grinned, glad to hear a little life in his older brother’s voice. “Run, Killy! Run! Go hang with E for your birthday. Take that fiancée of yours with you and go topless surfing till she’s tanned in all the right places.”
Killian’s voice turned to scolding. “Bernice isn’t the topless surfing type, which is exactly why I chose her.”
You mean why Harold chose her for you, Liam thought bitterly. He would never voice his true feelings aloud to his brother, though. “Alright. You go and have a laugh with Ever. Don’t be old.”
“I love you, too,” Killian said before ending the call.
Liam turned his attention to Alec. “I like sitting in the front seat for a change. Can’t do this back home, but since not as many people recognize me here, I get to do all the cool stuff.” Liam pressed a few buttons on the dashboard.
“I’m so glad,” Alec replied in monotone. “Really. I love it when you mess with the radio.”
Liam wished Sam was in the car with them. He could distract from Ronald’s boring chatter and liven up the afternoon. Alec was great, but he was always a little testy when they kept him out too late for too many nights in a row.
Liam cast around for something to talk about with his bodyguard. “So, what do you think about Bernice?”
“She’s fine.”
Liam snorted. “Wow. You hate her!”
Alec raised his eyebrow. “It’s not my job to think. It’s my job to keep Killian and you all alive. Bernice is fine. She doesn’t pose a threat, so I have no opinion.”
“Come on!” Liam urged, bordering on whining. “Don’t be Adult Alec. Be Fun Alec! Entertain me, darn it!”
“Are you thinking I’m a bodyguard-slash-clown stripper?”
Liam howled. “Now that’s all I see when I look at you! That’s wicked!”
Alec grumbled as he exited the freeway, glad that, at the very least, he’d unwittingly provided Liam with a pleasant visual distraction from Ronald Cho and his tiresome cats.
14
The Storm Cellar
The Waywards were worn out as Baird drove them back to the hut that night at one-thirty in the morning. Grettel was so exhausted that her eyelids drooped, but she fought with them when Baird announced that they would be going to the storm cellar before their bed.
The soft moonlight barely illuminated the creepy contents of the storm cellar, but Blue didn’t need the light to recall everything that was down there. There were seven different dulled knives that had been discarded from Master Joe’s kitchen and various Vemreaux garbage bins, four pool sticks, two wooden baseball bats and eight pieces of strong wood that were comparable in size, a 2x4 set up as a balance beam, five bowling balls, two unmatching chairs, a chart on the wall marking the rotation of training, a dartboard, several boxing gloves and a punching bag that stood upright rather than hanging from the ceiling.
Baird made the conscious choice to allow his sister’s personality to come out in the storm cellar. He figured it was the safest place she had to be somewhat herself. He smirked at the life that revived in her as she looked around at their family secret. “Alright, then. See what damage you can do in two minutes.”
A tired Elle picked up one of the pool sticks and moseyed over to the 2x4, willing her body to gear up for the sparring session with her friend. Rolling her shoulders and cracking a stiff bone in her neck, Elle hopped up on the beam, holding her broken pool stick up at the ready. Blue lifted a second stick off the floor and joined her friend, standing at the opposite end.
Baird pulled out the two chairs, lining them up together so he and Grettel could more comfortably watch the fight. “Have a seat, shorty.” He patted the chair next to him. “I don’t want any marks left on Elle because she’s got the testing tomorrow, so make sure you don’t aim to wound. First one off the beam loses.” He eyed his sister speculatively. “Try it one-handed, Blue.” When she made to dip her left hand behind her back, Baird amended his command. “Use your left.”
She sighed, but obliged by tucking her dominant hand to the base of her spine, taking care that it did not tense up into a fist. It would serve as her focal point. If her hand remained limp back there, then she was in control of the fight. Even if she won the duel, she would know that she had lost if her fingers curled into an unbidden fist.
“Alright, two minutes. None of this sweet little best friend waste of time. Go!” His raised voice coerced a squeak from Grettel, who was now more awake. Her eyes were painted with unease as she watched a scene she had viewed different versions of many times before.
Immediately, Blue struck out at her friend. She and Elle sparred often enough that the forward point of Elle’s left toe told Blue everything she needed to know to win. Elle countered with her stick, blocking the sudden blow. Instantly, Blue came at the base of Elle’s shoe with the weapon, knocking the outer sole just hard enough to distract from her actual plan. Elle’s attention was successfully diverted as she moved her left foot out of the way, so Blue shoved her right shoulder backwards, throwing her off balance and spinning her slightly sideways. Blue smiled as she lightly struck her friend’s fleshy backside just enough to make her fumble on the beam. Anticipating Elle’s exceptional balance, instead of waiting for her to pitch forward, Blue placed her hand on Elle’s chest and shoved her back and downward. In only eighteen seconds, Blue successfully knocked Elle completely off the beam without leaving a mark.
Elle stood, rubbing the sting from her backside as she tried to work the furrow out of her brow. “Were you sparring with anyone in The Way while we were gone?” she asked, confused as to how she had been taken down so quickly.
Blue swung the stick in front of her through the air, aiming at an imaginary foe. “You test soon. Tomorrow, in fact. I just thought you’d like to be as sharp as you can. No point in toying with you, right?”
Elle’s lips pursed, and all the play went out of her. Suddenly she felt foolish, their plan laughable in its simplicity. “I won’t make the first round. I’ve been practicing five days a week, and I can’t even last a stinking minute? There’s no way they’ll choose me.” Her shoulders slumped as defeat mingled with regret on her face.
Before her brother or Grettel could speak, Blue held up her hand. “I don’t think it matters anymore. I’ve been thinking about it and, I mean, I’m out now, right? Baird’s my boss. No one’s watching me to see if I’ll be the Wayward Light. Even when I talk to the Vemreaux and take their orders, they don’t notice me enough to really remember me.” Her eyes darted to Baird, who looked wary. “I say you purposely do bad on round one so they won’t ask you back. You don’t have to be the diversion anymore, Elle.” She dropped to the ground and gently took the stick away from her friend. “You can just be you.”
