Mr. B sat at the table, drawing power from the sacred runes he’d put to paper in his grimoire. Serenity. Intuition. Presence. He pulled them into his mind, trying to ease the chaos within. The agitation.

  The lesser humans had to resort to drugs and other addictions to reach the state of mind that came to him now, but even so, there was a limit. He hadn’t constructed his grimoire to elevate his state of mind. No. He’d had much grander plans in mind.

  Either way, the pages were still connected to something more. Something he could tap into, no matter the grimoire’s original intent. The only draw back was that these runes weren’t nearly as powerful as they would’ve been otherwise.

  “What’s taking them so long?” he asked, addressing the snake where it lay coiled up underneath the bed. “The fools. Ingrates! Why are they sending someone else this time?”

  He knew he’d asked this question enough times already. But he couldn’t answer it. Were they purposefully trying to confuse him? To scare him? Had they found out who he was? That would be bad. That would be really bad.

  If only these runes lasted longer.

  THEY MIGHT HAVE STARTED WITH THE OLD GENERAL.

  “Yes, you’re right. They must’ve started with him. If they’re asking that old fart questions, that would mean they don’t know anything. They’re coming to me out of routine. Routine. Yes. That makes sense. There’s no need to fear.”

  The doorhandle rattled, and using his excellent sleight of hand, he slipped the grimoire underneath his shirt, standing and turning to hide the concealment.

  The man stood in the doorway, watching him without a sound. The enforcers visible just behind him seemed to be standing more alert than he’d ever seen them. So, this was their leader? B couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him.

  Threatening for sure, to the lesser humans. In B’s eyes, he stood there like dull stone made flesh, trying to intimidate him. His laughter sounded wild to his own ears, but the situation called for it. This man thought himself important because he commanded men with guns. Hadn’t he seen how useless that position had been during the war?

  We really are a foolish race, aren’t we?

  YOU ARE.

  Of course, the snake’s response was solely for his mind. He still marveled at the sensation. That was the difference between him and most people. He could hear where others were deaf and see where others were blind.

  “Something funny?” the man asked, his tone projecting the cold hardness of his face.

  “Never mind me,” B said. “I’m prone to insanity. Being cooped up in a room like this will do that to a person.”

  “You know who I am?” he asked instead.

  “Of course not,” B said, taking his seat again. “I’ve been locked up in here! Even after proving to you people that the Knocking is over! Utterly disgraceful!”

  The man’s lip curled as he stepped into the room. A coldness entered his eyes, a coldness B knew very well. Before the man even spoke, he knew every word that would come out of his mouth.

  “You think just because we lost access to technology, just because the world collapsed, you’re on equal footing with us? With me? No. Remember your place, lix.”

  HE WANTS YOU HURT.

  He immediately fixed his face, his expression showing his best attempt at contrition. He even winced, as if the slur hurt him. He’d always found it remarkable that of all things, they thought a word would drive him to insanity.

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  It was an effort to hide his smile and the laughter that came crawling up his throat.

  “I’m Kevin,” the man said. “Head of Security for Camp Twelve.”

  “Well, you know who I am,” B said, making sure his voice was soft.

  “No, I don’t, actually. I’ve heard you choose to be called B, but I doubt that’s your real name.”

  “I’m from Ospelia,” B said, slumping forward in his chair. “We don’t operate under the same luxuries as you do. I was a baby when my name was forgotten. My mother tried to call for me one day, but she couldn’t remember. All she knew was that it started with a B.”

  GOOD. THAT’S GOOD. BE MEEK.

  “Of course,” Kevin said derisively. “The hold was attacked. All the Dreamers within were killed.”

  “Killed?” B said, making sure his eyes widened at the news. “How? When? Who could’ve done such a thing? Killing helpless—”

  STOP. YOUR TONE IS SLIPPING CARELESSLY.

  B shut his mouth, shaking his head instead as if disturbed by the news.

  He noticed that the man didn’t sound too phased by the loss of lives. At most, he sounded irritated that it had happened on his watch as head of security. Though the snake had been much colder when it had brought the news earlier.

  “That’s why I came here today,” Kevin said, walking further into the room. “Before you and the old general arrived, we never had such an incident. The Head believes you might know something about it.”

  B froze. He didn’t know what to say, what to do. This couldn’t be. She couldn’t have figured him out. She wasn’t even bound to the Sins by blood; how could she possibly have found out?

  It felt like he was losing consciousness. The edges of his vision were going black, unless he was imagining it.

  If she’d figured it out, what about the Sins? The Leviath? Would he come for him? How hadn’t the snake caught this? Everything he’d worked for. Everything he’d sacrificed for this...

  BREATHE. YOU ARE LOSING YOURSELF. FIRST SEE WHAT EXACTLY THEY THINK THEY KNOW. PLAY THIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

  The snake was right. Besides, talking made the most sense. If he tried to kill this man now, with those guns waiting out in the hallway... No. It was important that he didn’t panic.

  “She’s right, isn’t she? She said she couldn’t explain it to me. That was a first. She usually tells me everything. How do you fit into this?”

  “You think I agitated them?” he asked as if offended. “They saw me read from my key, and thought what? The dirty lix has his hands on the Dreamhold? I did what I was asked. That’s all. The Head permitted me.”

  LANGUAGE.

  “She gave me permission,” he corrected, putting a touch of hysteria on each word.

  Kevin was quiet for a time, studying him with those cold eyes.

  “We had a witness,” he said, walking past the desk and chair to the wall opposite the door. “Said he saw someone with a black and white mask, a spiral right in the center.”

  So, it was the Sins. He leaned back in the chair, hiding his discomfort with casualness. Play this to your advantage...

  It wasn’t ideal, but he could spin this. If the Leviath had come with venials, that meant there might be an internal issue. Most likely a fracture within the family. It couldn’t be him; his family thought him dead.

  If the Leviath could distract the Head, perhaps it could even go to an all-out war. There was potential there. A lot of potential.

  “They didn’t come with me,” he said, shooting to his feet. “I promise you that. But I’ve dealt with something similar before. Back in Erosa, just before I left. Your Head is right to ask for my assistance.” He winced at his language. “But if she wants my help, I demand something in return.”

  Kevin laughed scathingly. “You want to bargain with me? With the Head?” he asked, his hand closing in a fist. “It’s a shame I didn’t get you from the start. I’ve always thought John and Peter were nothing but incompetent.”

  “I promise you, the Head won’t appreciate you laying a hand on me,” B said, enjoying the confusion spreading over the man’s face. “But I’ll make it easy. I’m not looking for riches; we have no need for that. I want something much more important.”

  “And that is?” Kevin asked skeptically.

  “Freedom. I’m tired of this room. I want to walk outside. You seem to know of Ospelia. We thrive under the sun, our bare feet on the ground. I will only help if I am allowed to roam free.”

  He thought of saying without supervision, but that would only make them more suspicious.

  The man’s fist bulged, every muscle there moving threateningly. He finally scoffed, turning for the door. “What does a lix know of freedom?” The door closed sharply behind him as he disappeared into the hall.

  “More than you think,” B said with a smile.