Page 4 of Cry of the Damned
“I’m Veraminta, and this is Zoe. We go to Lux High,” the brunette said. “As you said yourselves, our city is safe.Wildlingattacks don’t happen here. They normally happen in small towns at the fringes of our territory.”
“I see.” Ila nodded. “I guess that explains things.”
Veraminta’s friend, a slight blonde with eyes as sharp as the hawk’s, leaned over her drink and asked in a low tone, “Did I hear you say that it is also safe where you come from?”
“Mm-hmm.” I sipped my coffee, trying to look disinterested in her question.
Veraminta gave Zoe a disapproving glare, but the blonde ignored her.
“Where, exactly, are you from?” Zoe asked.
I set my cup down. “New York City.”
“Really?!” Zoe’s eyes opened wide.
“Ever been?” I asked casually.
“Oh, no.” She lowered her gaze, her cheeks turning pink.
Lux City residents weren’t allowed to leave the city. If they did, it meant relinquishing their citizenship and the right to live here. According to the Academy, people who visited outside cities became tainted and couldn’t be allowed reentry.
“Why are you here?” Veraminta demanded, looking distrustful.
I twirled a strand of hair around my finger. “We’re taking a sabbatical before going to college. I’m going to be a journalist. Or a travel photographer. I honestly haven’t decided.”
Veraminta wasn’t satisfied. “But why comehere?”
“Why not?” I smiled cheerfully, totally avoiding her question.
“Don’t be rude, Veraminta,” Zoe mumbled under her breath.
Veraminta gathered her books from the table. “I’m not being rude. We don’t need their kind spreading lies here.”
“Lies?” I asked innocently, then exchanged confused glances with Ila. “We’ve barely said anything.”
“We know your cities are filthy and dangerous. They aren’t safe like Lux.”
“I guess that means you’ve never been either,” Ila put it.
Veraminta huffed and stood, her chair scraping the floor. She jerked her head toward the exit, giving Zoe a pointed glare. Pressing her mouth into a thin line, Zoe crossed her arms, a clear indication that she wasn’t going anywhere.
“Fine.” Veraminta whirled on her heel and stomped out of the café.
“We didn’t mean to upset your friend,” Ila said.
Zoe leaned closer, her brown eyes sweeping the room before she spoke. “Veraminta and I are different. She never questions anything. Me, on the other hand…” She sighed as if the weight of her questions was too much to bear.
I bit my lower lip, unsure of what to say.
Slowly, Zoe gathered her things. “I have to get to class, but maybe I could talk to you another day?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Nice meeting you, Zoe.” Ila gave her a friendly smile.
Zoe stood, took a step as if to leave, then stopped and glanced back over her shoulder. “Some advice… be careful who you talk to. Asking too many questions or saying the wrong thing can get you in trouble.”
I opened my mouth to ask what kind of trouble, but Zoe was already on her way out.
