Page 83 of The Tree of Spirits
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Don’t let those Victory losers get to you. They’re just jealous that you have the powers of all six Tribes. Everyone’s jealous. Hey, even I’m a little jealous. I wish I could set things on fire. The curtains in my house are even uglier than these.” He rubbed the frayed ends of my curtains between his fingers.
I smiled. I appreciated that he was trying to cheer me up, even if he was only half-succeeding.
“Don’t sweat it, sis. You’ll totally get control over your powers before you blow up the planet. I’m at least sixty percent sure of it.”
I laughed and punched him in the arm.
“Ok, ok.Seventypercent sure. But only because you punch like a wrecking ball.” He rubbed his arm.
“So, I take it you didn’t just stop by to cheer me on as I set all the furniture on fire?”
“No.” His eyes lit up. “But I’m absolutely up for that if you are.”
I snorted.
“Actually, I stopped by to check that you’re all right. Nevada told me the Watchers showed up here this morning to bring you to the Black Obelisk for questioning.” He gave me a look that invited me to elaborate on that.
I cringed to think of what kinds of rumors were making the rounds through the Apprentice Village right now.
“I’m fine,” I assured Dante. “The General just wanted to grill me on the Rebels. He thinks I helped them steal techno armor so they could kidnap Kylie and the others.”
“Then he doesn’t know you at all.”
I shrugged. “The whole thing was just a big show to intimidate me anyway. He wants me to lie and tell everyone that the Rebels are the kidnappers. He wants to use me as a tool to turn the public against them.”
Dante made a derisive noise. “Ignore him. Seriously. The guy hates teenagers. That’s why he tries to make our lives miserable. He can’t stand it that the spirits gave us magic—and that Gaia needs us more than it needs him and his soldiers. Tell him you’re not his puppet. Our mentors will back you up. And so will your boyfriends.” He winked at me.
“And just when I thought we could make it through a whole conversation without your using the b-word,” I sighed.
He reached out to give my shoulder a comforting squeeze. “Hey, don’t worry. Everything will be all right. A bunch of the Apprentices are going to the beach later. Come with us. Have fun. Show the General that you won’t allow him to ruin your day.”
“It’s too late for that, sadly.”
“Why does that sound so ominous?”
“Oh, trust me. It’smuchworse than it sounds.” I collapsed onto my sofa.
Dante took a seat next to me. “Tell me.”
I turned toward him, criss-crossing my legs. “So after I refused the General’s offer, he locked me in the interrogation room and said he wouldn’t let me out until I cooperated.”
Dante’s brows lifted. “Ok, so then how are you here?”
“The Rebels kind of, well, kidnapped me from the Black Obelisk. Though they were just trying to save me. And now theGeneral is scouring the city for me. Oh, and he thinks I made most of his Watchers disappear.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask this, Sav,” he said, clearing his throat, “but did you?”
“No! Of course not. It was the Templars, the same people who kidnapped the Apprentices. It’s all part of their plan to escape Gaia. I’m working on stopping them—and bringing back the Watchers—but I need a little time.” I gave him a small, hopeful smile. “And I really need to keep the General off my back so he doesn’t interfere and wreck everything. So could you maybe not tellanyonethat you saw me here?”
“I’ve got your back, sis. I won’t tell a soul.” He slapped me on the back. “But you really should find somewhere better to hide. This is the first place the General will look for you.”
“I know. I’m just here to pick up something I need to get all of this sorted, then I’m out of here.”
Dante jumped to his feet. “Ok, so if anyone asks, I’ll tell them that you went for a hike because you needed to recharge your batteries after setting the General’s office on fire.”
I planted my hands on my hips and scowled at him. “You will tell them no such thing.”
