Page 38 of The Infinite Glade
“Wrong.”
“The Godhead isn’t what you think it is,” Cian said while laying down palm branches, apparently for his bed. “Sleep closer to the fire and the bugs won’t bother you.”
Isaac and Jackie pulled palms over for Old Man Frypan.
Ximena had a strange, nagging feeling that she couldn’t shake. Another intuition was coming, and her body was already fighting it before it got to her mind. It physically hurt her to lie, and her intuition always felt like a lie until proven true. The time it took for the pain of the lie to leave her always varied. Sometimes the intuition only felt like a lie for a second or two. Other times it took months, and sometimes years for the truth to be proven. She had a gift, and deep down she knew it was somehow related to the mutations of the Flare virus.
That often made her hate these inner-knowings the most. Her body was all tension and doubt, wondering if she could be going mad. It never got easier, and right now she felt a big hairy lie creeping up in her throat. It got louder inside her head. Then stronger . . .
Until she had to say it.
“I know where the Sequencers are located.” Her voice cracked a bit. Then she cleared her throat and raised her voice. “People at our Villa knew all about them, talked about it way more than they should have, obviously. I can guide you to where they are.”
Cian looked at her with a focus that felt invasive. Ximena repeated the lie in her head.I know where the Sequencers are . . .
“Cian?” Erros asked his brother. “That’s what she’s been hiding?”
Cian tied the red scarf around his neck and picked up his crossbow. Erros let out what sounded like a chuckle and stepped closer to his own weapon, too.Had she gone too far, too quickly? Were they about to aim their weapons at her and fire?All the worst thoughts ran through her head but she stood still, while being sure of nothing but herself.
“Well?” Cian turned to Ximena, kicking the bed of palm branches at his feet. “Since we have absolutely no other leads or hopes, let’s get to Alaska and drop these islanders off. Then you can prove yourself and show us where they are. How about that?”
Yep. She’d gone too far, this time.
Ximena tried to slow her heart, prevent the fear from spreading all over her face. Her joints burned with the lie; panic filled her lungs like a million tiny pinpricks. She had no idea what she’d do after they dropped Isaac and the others off. But she needed to figure something out, quick.
They’d called her bluff.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Cold Secrets
Ice cold water climbed up Alexandra’s calves as the bottom wool of the Pilgrim’s coat dragged along the shallow inlet. Like in the ice baths Nicholas had once made her take to strengthen her soul, she welcomed the chilling shivers dancing across her skin. Much better than the fires of war.
“It’s freeeeeezing,” Trish complained.
“Pretend you’re crab-fishing,” Miyoko said. That one was calm. Quiet. The Goddess would promote her in time. Those who were quiet, obedient—she liked them best.
“Careful, it’s slippery here.” Orange focused a tactical light on the water for the others straggling behind. “Let’s get there as quick as we can, get it over with.”
Alexandra wasn’t worried. Never mind the temperature, the three women at the Villa would have a fire lit to warm them up. They’d have tea. And they’d finalize the Cure. Sounded so simple, so close. Maybe even a bit mad.
Every step felt colder as the water rose a few inches in the middle of the inlet, but Alexandra’s Evolution was in sight. Even the scent of pine trees harkened that it was near. The war was behind her, the Evolution closer and closer. So close, now. Yes, so close.
“Can the digits warm me up?” Sadina asked sarcastically from behind.
Alexandra had so much to teach her, among the first things:how to talk to a Goddess.She hadn’t rid herself of Nicholas and Mikhail just to be disrespected by replacements. She was the last remnant of the Godhead and the keeper of the Evolution.
“Numbers can’t do squat.” Minho lifted his knees with every step, slamming his feet down and splashing the Goddess with icy water.
Alexandra inhaled for three seconds, held her breath for three, exhaled . . .
If she could convince even a Pilgrim like Mannus to bow to her, then she could convince Minho. In time, he would be her faithful Guard.
“Whatever you want to be, see, feel, or find . . . you can shape it with the digits.” Alexandra had the urge to run, get to the other side, get warm, but she stood still to let Minho move past her. Then she resumed, close to Sadina. She took her hand.
“Dear Sadina,” she said as they waded through the shallow, dark waters. “Reciting them out loud is exactly what gives them power.”
“How, though?”
