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My stomach dipped. I’d hoped to keep my real identity a secret. If any of the guards caught us and found out who I really was, this was going to go from dangerous to downright suicidal. “Actually, it’s probably best if we all avoid mentioning that.”

Before Matri could respond, Alex spoke. “The Troika’s whore? What the hell is she doing here, Matri? She’s a spy.”

“No,” I said, “I’m not. I escaped the Troika months ago and went underground. I’ve been working for the rebels ever since.” There was no point asking if any of them had heard about the attack on the factory. I was pretty sure the Troika would do everything in their power to keep the prisoners from hearing any news from the outside—especially when it involved embarrassment for the vampires.

“She’s telling the truth,” Zed said, coming over to join us. “After Bravo and the youngs were taken by a Troika patrol, I went to Saga.”

Murmurs spread through the room. Clearly the Scribe’s reputation was well known.

“He’s the one who asked Carmina to help me infiltrate the prison.”

Alex looked skeptical. “How many are in your army? Are they outside the walls?”

Zed’s face fell. “You don’t understand. There is no army. It’s just us.”

Silence descended over the barracks. Alex, Cleo, and Tuck all looked to Matri as if wanting her to confirm Zed was joking. She just shrugged.

“Look,” I said, “we may not have an army, but we do have a plan.”

Tuck sighed. “Make it fast. I’m due on shift in half an hour.”

“We need to create a diversion. There’s dynamite in the camp somewhere, right? You have to use it for mining.”

“Don’t be crazy. The vamps would never let any of us near it. They use the human guards to do the blasting if it’s needed during the day.”

“So we’ll just have to convince one of the humans to give us the key.”

He shook his head. “With what weapons, girl? With what strength? We’re all half-starved.”

“We’ll use their weapons.”

Tuck waved a dismissive hand in my direction, but he didn’t speak to me. Instead, he tuned to Matri. “This is a waste of time.”

“We’re the only chance you got,” I said. “You think anyone else is coming for you?”

He stopped and looked at me. “Let’s say you get the dynamite. Then what? The front gates are locked fifteen ways to Sunday. Only open with permission from the camp director.”

“That gate won’t stand up against a train going full speed.”

He didn’t sound as impressed as I’d hoped. Instead he walked toward me. He looked like a living shadow of a man. “Tell me this, smart girl, how you gonna decide who stays and who goes?”

Seventeen

Matri

The girl had spunk. You had to give her that. Unlike Bravo, who worked very hard to appear confident, Six wore her bravery like a comfortable second skin. But brave ain’t the same as smart.

“I said, how are you going to decide who stays or who goes?” Tuck repeated. “That train can only hold a couple hundred people. This camp has thousands of prisoners.”

Carmina remained silent, but her skin paled. Her eyes took on a hunted look, as if she hadn’t considered liberating the entire camp.

Like I said, brave ain’t the same as smart.

“Did you really expect us all to help you save yourselves while the rest of us stay behind?” I snorted. “You put all of us in danger just by being here. If the Troika catch you, we’ll all be punished.”

Behind me, worried chatter and panic rose on the air. I held up a hand. The chatter lessened but the panic was still palpable.

“We’ll take as many as we can,” Zed said.


Tags: Jaye Wells Meridian Six Fantasy