This chapter is dedicated to my great-grandmother, Momo, who died two weeks ago. I miss her a lot. She actually was one of the first people to read an early version of Asleep. She would ask me what I was planning on doing with it and would tell me that I should publish it. I'm glad I at least started sharing it online before she died.
Colton~~
Bently hands me the paper and says, "I'm sorry, but I don't understand any of this."
The twins and Mid'haa all appear disappointed especially when I as well give the same response.
The Amoris wants Iris. Giving her to the Amoris shouldn't be a problem. I should be able to hand her over or kill her so the Amoris will stop. Yet I can't. She's engaged to my brother. My brother who would raise heaven and earth to find her if she dies. Personally, I'd suggest checking Hell for that thing, but I don't think he'd take my suggestion kindly.
The Amoris gave us no timeline in the letter. We simply do or we don't. Iris dies or the murders and Markings will continue. It's not as if I care more about the victims than I do her—not going to think to hard on that one—but the exposure of the Amoris—my family— is at stake.
Raggioet. Why couldn't she have died when she was supposed to? Why did she have to complicate things by living?
Iris and Bently lock eyes. Not in the sort of a romantic sense but rather as if they both know what the other is thinking. Those two have been oddly close as of late, and it is unnerving. Bently can't stand Iris so why are they suddenly joined at the hip?
Bently clasps his hands behind his back. "Please excuse Iris and me. She's not feeling well after well . . . that." He motions to the barn. "I'm going to escort her back to the palace."
I swear, if they're having an affair . . . I should have broken up their meetings.
"I'll come with you," I say.
Mid'haa takes a step in front of me. "I was hoping to speak with you, Beta." Her tone tells me her hope is non-conditional.
I give Bently a look I hope conveys he is not to inappropriately touch Iris, but he might only have understood it as to not harm her. "Of course. Whatever you need," I tell Mid'haa.
Iris and Bently take their leave and the remaining four of us stay in our cluster. leave, the remaining four of us staying in a cluster. The sun beats down on my back through my blazer. Sweat begins to form there.
Mid'haa purses her lips. "I said if things got worse, I would have no choice but to bring your cousins into custody. As of now, they are our only possible suspects."
The last thing my country needs is either of those two fanatics being given a platform to spill our secrets. "I said if that were to happen, the Society and I would view it as a threat. They are still our citizens."
"But you sent them to us for exile." Alix fixes his eyes on me. "They are under our jurisdiction."
"There is a barn right over there"—Abella points—"full of the bodies of my people who have been murdered. Whatever is going on, France views this as a threat."
"They have no idea how to go about Marking someone."
Alix's jaw twitches. "Please explain to me how killing someone and tattooing them with the current date is beyond comprehension for most people."
"Did you check for fingerprints?"
Mid'haa holds her tablet against her stomach. "The fingerprints we found do not match anyone's. But I cannot wait around for more people to die. I am sorry. What would you do if it were your people?"
"Frankly I wouldn't care."
Abella shakes her head, her nose scrunched up ever so slightly. She's always had a distaste for how the Society runs things.
Mid'haa continues, "We'll be bringing Andrew into custody today."
"Andrew disagreed with Expiration Dates. None of this can possibly be his doing."
"At the very least, he might can provide us with information." Mid'haa is right. He'll provide them with any information they want. He may have already done so in the past, but this time they'll be more likely to believe him. "I'm sure Erik can do the same."
"You're wasting your time."
"We have no other leads."
I slide off my blazer and drape it over my arm. "Very well then." I have to get to Andrew before they do, and they already know where he is. I don't.
******
I spent thirty minutes searching the palace for Iris and Bently only to find out they are not in or around the palace. According to the phone call I received from one of Abella's and Alix's staff, they're at the airport. I drum my finger against the car door's lock. I should be looking for Andrew and Erik, but I have to chase Iris and Bently down to prevent the only people who would be on my side from abandoning me when I actually need them.
When I finally pull up on the tarmac before the plane, Iris is ascending the stairs leading up into it, Bently behind her.
I'm out of the vehicle before it stops all the way. "What are you two doing?"
They stare at me, Iris gripping the railing.
Bently walks down the steps. "I'm putting Iris on a plane and sending her home."
"Why?"
"Because I asked him to," Iris says.
"You're staying here."
"Why?" she asks. "So I can get killed?" her voice is low enough for only me and Bently to hear.
I turn on Bently. "And you're doing this why?"
"She helped my mother. I owe her this."
I drag my hand through my hair. "Iris, as much as it pains me to say this, I need you."
She crosses her arms. The sun beats down on the tarmac and I would love nothing more than to change out of these clothes.
"You're our only chance of finding her. Mid'haa is going after Andrew and Erik."
Iris tenses.
"You know they'll spill everything. They know where Andrew is. It's probably too late to get to him first but I have to try. And he's not going to listen to me or Bently. But he might listen to you. Someone who has been hurt by the Society."
She descends the steps slowly and stands before me. Unfallen tears shine in her eyes. "I don't want to die."
My heart aches. "I won't give you to the Amoris. That's not why I'm asking you to stay."
She closes her eyes and nods once. "Fine. Let's go find your cousin."