Thea was almost shaking from her encounter with Marcus by the time someone approached her in the party again. Freddie smiled widely and waved a bottle at her.
“You look like you could use that drink now,” he said. His words were slurred, and he seemed incapable of walking in a straight line.
Thea grimaced. “I’m good.”
Soon Freddie was close enough that the booze smell of his breath clogged in her throat. Not wanting to offend him she resisted the urge to cough and move back.
“I bet he loved you.” Pointing at her he swayed back on his heels and how he didn’t fall over baffled Thea.
“He was interested I think.”
Giggling he slung his arm around her shoulders. God he was sweating buckets.
“See I knew he would. He loves pretty girls.”
Thea bristled. It wasn’t that she didn’t like being called pretty but it was a little insulting for him to insinuate that would be the only reason she would catch someone’s attention. On the other hand, maybe she was overreacting. He might be saying more about Marcus than her. Either way, the effect of a compliment wasn’t that great when it was said by a man who was so drunk he looked like he was standing on a raft in a stormy sea.
“You should be careful with that one though. He’s not a good guy.” Freddie leaned closer, his rancid breath warming her face. “He uses girls and tosses them to the side. He isn’t like me. He doesn’t stick to one girl.”
Thea had had enough of his stench and his clumsy attempts at complimenting her. Ducking under his arm she slipped out of his grasp quickly enough to make him stumble. He laughed and wagged his finger at her, like she was a child who had done something naughty.
“Your meeting with Marcus has made you tense; you should dance to loosen up. I will show you how.” He winked but because he was so drunk it turned into more of a twitch.
Thea cringed. He was going to be so hungover in the morning. “I’m going to get some air to calm down. Maybe I will dance later.” No way in hell was she dancing later. She made for the edge of the clearing; glad he was so out of his mind that he didn’t think to argue that they were already outside in the air. Shoving past the bouncing partiers she noticed Marcus across the room. He was sitting on part of the stone ruins with girls either side of him. They fawned over him like he was a god. Thea rolled her eyes before noticing that he was watching her. Smirking, he raised his glass to her, then downed its contents. Damnit she was going to have to learn to control her reactions better if she was going to get one over on him.
The thought sent fresh fear through her, making her shiver despite the heavy heat in the air. He was certainly interested in her which she supposed was good. But it was also dangerous. The more he watched her the more likely it was that she was going to get caught out in her lies. Who knows what would happen to her then? The vision of that child in her arms, bleeding out from bullet wounds, flashed in her mind and she dug her nails into her palm to keep her tears at bay. The last thing she needed was to bawl crying in front of Marcus and the others. Then she would have to come up with another lie to explain why.
No matter what it took she couldn’t let Harvey and the others down. Hilda had told her to be careful but there were more important things than her own safety. She was alive thanks to the people who were now relying on her to get this information. Whatever it took, she would get what she had come for.
However, for tonight she had had enough of partying and tense encounters. She slipped from the party unnoticed and headed back to the house. She thanked her knack for direction that she didn’t get lost.
Thea had never hated the sun so much as she did while it beat down on her hat covered head and roasted her scalp. It was midday so the heat was at its worst. Around her people milled about, going about their daily business, working to get through the day. Technically she was at work too. A few paces away was the gate to the path that she had learned led up to where the king of this place lived. This was as close as she could get to the mainly glass building without trespassing. Originally she had come here in the morning to scope the place out and get a feel for it. She might need to know her way around some day. But now she was hoping that Marcus would emerge, and she would shed the cap that was hiding her face, step out of the tall hedges she was hiding in and pretend to run into him. She knew it was a weak plan, but it was the best she had. It had been a day since they had met at the party, and she hadn’t been summoned. Whatever he was waiting for, she didn’t have the time. Harvey had told her he would send someone to get an update on what she had learned. She wouldn’t disappoint them again. She needed something. But still, the house and the hill remained deadly silent.
Thea had run over everything in her head while she was in bed last night. She would approach him and speak her mind about what he does well as a leader, pretend to see the benefit in siding with him. She would appeal to his ego and make him feel powerful. That way he would see her as a cunning and helpful ally. Hopefully. The other night he had been quite glib about everything but if what Jessica said was right then he had his eyes on more power. If she could make herself appear powerful and competent enough then she could get him on side and claim she could help him to defeat his sister. The plan was thin, but she needed somewhere to start. Besides, it made sense that if she admired him as a leader that she would want to support any expansion he had in mind. Plus, the other night he gave the impression that he suspected she knew some people in the outside so he might be interested in getting spies or something.
God she wished Harvey was here to run ideas past. Being on her own was fine most of the time but she had never been the one making the plans before. Now, if her plan fell through then a monster from hell would crush her beneath his boot. Swallowing the sudden bile in her throat she fixed her gaze on the house. It was small in the distance but lit up from the inside, letting her know someone was home. The sunlight reflected off the many windows and stung her eyes, but she refused to look away. She thought she could see a shadow moving in the window. Was it him? Was it one of his siblings?
“You can’t be here.”
Thea jumped at the voice and pulled her cap lower over her face. Peeking around she spotted Jimmy, face flushed with sunburn and grey hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. He was watching her with his lips pressed thin.
“I was just looking around.” Her throat was so dry she was tempted to gulp but she knew it would only make her look more guilty.
“This is the boss’s land, no one is to go here unless he invites them.” Jimmy jerked his chin towards the street next to them. “Get outa here.”
Thea didn’t need to be told twice. Praying he wouldn’t tell Marcus about this she moved off. She badly wanted to take another look back but made herself keep her eyes forward. Looking too interested in their boss might make Jimmy think she was up to something, if he didn’t already.
During the day the partiers were fairly quiet. They were packed away into ruined buildings and barns, complaining about the heat and transferring supplies back and forth. Strangely they didn’t seem to have much more than Thea and her friends had on the outside. Thea had assumed that there was a draw to living in the regions, that they would be comfortable and well fed. But each house she passed showed people breaking up loafs of bread and passing around bottles of water. Her shoulders tightened with anger. Marcus had been eating chocolate the other night and he couldn’t even give enough food to the people in his care. What would the world be like if he took over more regions? Thea shuddered at the thought. She had to prevent that from happening.
She got back to the house and found everyone in the gazebo. Under the glass ceiling and walls, it was like a greenhouse, so humid that Thea felt every breath she took heavy in her chest.
Jessica and Cora were laid out on the floor in mismatched bikinis. Thea was taken aback by the sight of Cora’s ribs, which stuck out like brittle twigs with skin pulled over them. Sharron was on a deck chair with a mouldy book propped up on her lap. She threw a look at Thea when she came in but didn’t say anything and didn’t crack a smile. Would it really kill the girl to be civil, Thea thought.
Freddie had been smoking in the corner, dark bags under his eyes, but he sprang into action when Thea entered the room.
“Pretty girl!” He approached her with his arms spread wide, but Thea moved away before he could hug her.
“Hey guys.” How she hoped that he wasn’t going to start hugging her every time he saw her.
Freddie frowned but quickly replaced it with a grin. “Where have you been all day? It’s been dull around here without you.” He stuck his tongue out at the girls on the floor and in perfect unison they both flipped him off. Thea had to smile at that.
“I was out. Getting my bearings.”
“Sneaking around then,” Sharron said without looking up.
Thea had to try hard not to glare at her. Seriously, what was her problem?
Jessica opened one eye and studied Thea while Cora turned onto her stomach. Thea thought about mentioning that they would never get a tan if they were behind glass but decided against it. Not her monkeys not her circus.
“Did you go to find him?” Jessica narrowed her one open eye at Thea. The effect was both hilarious and strange.
“I didn’t find anyone.” Thea’s shoulders hiked up near her ears. When she had decided to go out this morning she hadn’t known it would result in an interrogation when she got back. It was none of their business where she had been.
Jessica sighed and flopped onto her belly, cushioning her head with her hands. “You won’t be able to get to him. You have to wait for him to come get you. That’s how it works for us all.”
Except Thea wasn’t like the rest of the girls, she didn’t want to kiss him or hook up. She needed information to save lives. She couldn’t be so relaxed about all of this as Jessica was.
Freddie scoffed. “Why do you want to see him anyway?”
Cora almost purred. “Because he is hot as hell.”
Jessica mumbled her agreement and Sharron loudly turned the page of her book.
“He is no hotter than me.” Freddie smirked at Thea, straightening to his full height. “And, I’m human. That’s bound to be a point in my favour.”
Yet Marcus looked human. Thea shook her head. She didn’t care about any of this. She was here for a reason, and it wasn’t to romance someone, Freddie or Marcus.
“How long does it usually take for him to come and get someone?” Thea asked Jessica.
“Oh someone is keen,” Cora said, giggling and lightly shoving Jessica’s arm.
Thea rolled her eyes though the other girl couldn’t see her. “Jessica?”
Jessica groaned. “I don’t know. There isn’t a set appointment time or anything. Relax babe, it will happen.”
Thea gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to press the issue. The girl didn’t know how to get her in and if she kept going on about then they might continue to ask her why she was so keen.
“In the meantime, you and I could go out somewhere, you know, hangout.” Freddie smiled at her and fluttered his eyelashes. Stomach clenching, she shook her head.
“I’m good thanks.” Before anyone could say another word she turned on her heel and left. Still, the sound of the girls laughing followed her out.
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