above ground: chapter 26 part 1

Lilith’s mind, already sluggish under Sam’s influence, shuddered to a halt. “A what?”

“A spy.” He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Don’t play stupid.”

What was Sam talking about? She was no more a spy than he was a human. Her fighting skills were non-existent, and lying had never been a forte of hers. She wasn’t even dressed like a spy. If anything, Sam’s clothes were more suited to the profession—.

Oh. How had Lilith not found it odd before? Sam’s outfit was so familiar, so normal, she hadn’t even looked at it twice, but he was wearing the clothes of a night hunter; the clothes of the human secret police.

“If anything, you’re the spy.” Lilith didn’t even shiver when Sam’s arm tightened warningly around her. The alcohol was helping, a little, lessening Sam’s effect on her. She took in his outfit: the all-black clothes, the chain at his neck. She’d seen these same clothes every time the Prime Minister had addressed the public, the outfit more of a deterrent to criminals than any gun could be.

Lilith looked Sam straight in the eye. “What’s an infected doing wearing the clothes of a night hunter?”

His face was utterly blank as he replied, “The clothes of a what?”

“Don’t play stupid,” she mocked. “Everyone knows what a night hunter is. Did you kill one of them? Or seduce one?”

“And who did you seduce or kill to get up here?”

The comparison was an unfair one. “It wasn’t my fault. It was an accident.” Lilith jabbed a finger into Sam’s chest to drive her point home. There was no space between their bodies now, the curve of her stomach pressed up against his. Her breath was a little short, her head swimming from a haze that wasn’t alcohol. He was getting to her. She tried to muster the will to step away. Her failure angered her.

Sam’s eyes were darker. “A bland doesn’t end up this far from home by accident.”

“I didn’t ask to be trapped up here,” Lilith seethed.

“You weren’t sent up with some mission, told to befriend whatever monsters you could find?”

“No! It just happened!” She could feel her anger growing, giving her limbs unexpected strength. She pushed away from Sam, and when that didn’t work, she glared. “Let. Me. Go!”

Sam’s arm dropped immediately, an expression of surprise flickering across his face. Lilith stepped back, away from the wall, away from him, trying to calm down, but knowing it was no use. She was sick of being angry, sick of having the whole world against her. But there was a certain safety in her anger, for now it was the only thing keeping her from curling up in a corner, and crying. So she let the emotion build within her as she glared at Sam.

“I’m sick of people thinking I’m out to get them, or that I’m some sort of witch or spy or freak! I’m a victim, that’s what I am. But no one thinks to ask me how I feel. I didn’t ask for this to happen, for the ‘pyres to turn around and kill everyone, kill my best friend!” Her voice rose with every word; she couldn’t help it. Lilith took a deep breath and swallowed. “Why the fuck do you think I’m trying so hard to get to those Guild people and make my way home?”

Sam had his hands up in the air. “Fine. I believe you.” He took a small step towards her. His pupils, Lilith was glad to notice, had shrunk back to their normal size. “But you don’t want to go to the Guild.”

“Of course not.” Lilith crossed her arms, raising her eyebrow. “I want to be eaten by you, right?”

Sam didn’t reply. He lowered his hands to his sides, and studied her for a moment, looking—if anything—a little pitying. The expression infuriated her; she didn’t need anyone’s pity, so she scowled at him as she tried to plan her escape. The Guild was on the far side of the lake, she knew that much. To get to the lake, however, she needed to walk straight past Sam. Either she’d have to sprint past him, or convince him she wasn’t worth the trouble. But how?

“If you’re serious about wanting to get back underground,” Sam finally said, “you should come with me.”

It took a few seconds for her to process his offer. His expression didn’t waver as she gaped at him, her mind scrambling to figure out his motives. “You’re serious? You’d get me to the Guild?”

“To the Guild?” He chuckled darkly. “No, even better: I’ll get you straight underground.”

Sam never had the chance to explain exactly how. From behind him came an odd sound: a hiss of air. Sam’s face slackened, and he crumpled down onto the ground, like a puppet that had lost all its strings. Embedded in his back was a wooden dart. And standing on the other side of Sam, wearing a thin white cloak, was an ewte.