Crowned

This time there’s nothing I can say in protest. I nod.

“Promise me you’ll come back.”

“Of course. He’s not going to throw me in a dungeon.”

“That’s not what I mean. Promise me you will come back. Not someone else in your skin.”

We both know that’s a promise I can’t make. The Puppetmaster can’t use his gifts to trick me, but he won’t need to. He could conduct his attack out in the open and I wouldn’t be able to stop him. But Lebz is looking at me with fear in her eyes, and I know what she needs to hear. I make the promise. Let’s hope I’ll have the strength to keep it.

Chapter Two (#ulink_74fa8a69-d280-56eb-8009-a0e4fb47faa7)

From: conyzab@gmail.com

To: raklanga@yahoo.co.uk

I know I’m not supposed to initiate contact, but I have so much to tell you. The world fell apart after you left and it’s not quite back together.

You were right about Ntatemogolo – he was different when he came back from that trip. I searched his house and found a magic box. Inside were a lot of odds and ends – jewellery, a vial, my missing anklet, a copy of his watch, and a tooth that turned out to be mine from childhood. Creepy, right? I assumed the objects belonged to the Puppetmaster and Ntatemogolo found them, but something wasn’t adding up. I put the anklet on right away and haven’t taken it off since.

Anyway, turns out “Ntatemogolo” was really the Puppetmaster. That’s why he behaved so strangely. That’s why he made you overdose on your anti-drifter serum. He gave me a ring that made my thoughts foggy, so it took me a while to catch on. My real grandfather got held up chasing a lead.

By the time I learned the truth the Puppetmaster was long gone. Then Dad and I came home from a wedding to find two Ntatemogolos in the living room. I didn’t know which was which, and I was terrified the Puppetmaster would kill my grandfather, so I made a deal with him. Don’t freak out. I can just see you burning furniture and crackling like an electrical storm. It’s not like he asked for my soul. Just three meetings.

Once I agreed to his terms the Puppetmaster disappeared. Dad, aka Mr Sceptical Scientist, was a mess. We had to sedate him before Ntatemogolo finally told me where he’d been. He found – drum roll, please – a first-generation drifter! That’s a whole different story, though – I’ll tell you more when I know more.

He also told me he didn’t create the serum. He found it in South America and thought it could help suppress your urges, but we think the Puppetmaster made it and arranged for Ntatemogolo to find it and give it to you. All part of his evil plan.

And get this – Ntatemogolo says he thinks he’s met the Puppetmaster before. It seems the psycho has been stalking my family – which would explain how he got hold of my tooth. Speaking of stalking, his foot soldier Emily’s been delivering photos of you. I guess it’s his way of letting me know he has eyes everywhere.

You know what’s really odd? While impersonating Ntatemogolo, the Puppetmaster taught me a lot. He pushed me to improve my telepathy. He pushed you, too. Who knows how long it would have taken for you to return to your cell if you hadn’t overdosed and had to stop taking the serum? It’s almost as if he wants us to be stronger…but that makes no sense, right?

My gifts are getting stronger. Apparently it’s happening to other gifted too. Is it happening to the drifters as well? Ntatemogolo doesn’t know what’s causing it yet, but I’m sure he’ll find out.

I don’t want you to worry about me. The Puppetmaster’s had countless chances to hurt me and hasn’t taken them. I have to wonder, though. If he put his plans in motion years ago, maybe he meant for us to meet. Maybe our whole lives are part of his plan. I don’t know. I hope not.

It would be great to see you again. Or get a phone call, or email, or Facebook poke. No pressure. I won’t go as far as saying I miss you – your ego’s huge enough – and thanks to the crystal and Emily’s surveillance at least I know you’re OK.

Take care of yourself. Take care of your brothers. And watch your back. You never know which face the Puppetmaster might be wearing.

XO,

Connie

* * *

“I’m coming with you.”

I stare at my father, then shoot an “I told you so” glance at Ntatemogolo, who has come to pick me up for my first meeting with the Puppetmaster. Now that Dad knows I’m gifted, Ntatemogolo has enforced a full-disclosure policy that I have serious qualms about. He has always wanted to prove that his “mumbo jumbo” is real, and I think he takes a perverse pleasure in shocking Dad with the details. There was no need to tell Dad about the meetings. He freaked out plenty before he found out the truth, but now freaking out seems to be his default state.

I take a deep breath. “Dad, the Puppetmaster’s not going to hurt me.”

Dad’s jaw is tense. I can see him wrestling with the options – the illusion of options, that is. There is no way he’s coming along. “What kind of father lets his child walk into this kind of situation?”

I take another deep breath, willing myself to be patient with him. He’s only been living in our world a few weeks, and he’s bound to have trouble adjusting. “I gave him my word,” I explain as I slip my phone into my pocket. “We have an agreement. If I do anything to annoy him…” I leave the rest to Dad’s imagination.

He swallows. His face turns pale. “How will I know what’s going on?”

“You won’t. You’re just going to have to trust me.”

“Trust you? You’re only eighteen!”

“Then trust me,” says Ntatemogolo. There’s only the slightest trace of impatience in his voice. I’m impressed. “Do you think I would let anything happen to Connie?”

Dad hesitates just long enough to raise my grandfather’s hackles.

“Listen here, Raymond. I would never–”

“I know.” Dad sighs. “But I’m her father!”

“I’ll be fine, Dad. Ntatemogolo will be right there.”

He glowers at my grandfather. “If anything happens to her…”

“Nothing will,” Ntatemogolo assures him, and steers me towards the car.

I turn to give Dad a reassuring smile. He’s standing in the doorway looking as though he’s torn between running after us and running to his room to hide. We’re at the gate… We’re out. I close the gate behind me, get into the car and heave a sigh of relief. When the car pulls into the road, Dad is still standing in the doorway.

“He’s going to get better, isn’t he?”

“I did not realise he was sick.”

“He’s in shock. Post-traumatic stress, or something.” I turn away from the window; the house is out of sight now. “That’s a kind of sickness.”

“He will be fine. Give him time.”

We lapse into silence. We’re both anxious – this is a big moment and we don’t know what to expect.

“I have tried to find a way to get you out of this bargain,” my grandfather says softly.

I turn to look at him. “There is no way. A deal’s a deal. If I break it–”

“I know. I said I tried; I didn’t say I succeeded.” He sighs. “John Kubega has been after you for a long time, my girl. While I was gone he had the perfect opportunity to put his plan in motion.”

“But he didn’t.”

He keeps his eyes on the road. “We don’t know that. Until we know what he wants how can we know how much progress he has made? I wish you had never bargained with him. He is not to be trusted.”

Frustration boils inside me. “I didn’t have a choice.”