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He didn’t touchWhen he spoke, he didn’t address me, but rather turned to Max "We need to find out what she knows"

Angelina clutched my hand, and I wondered if she’d so of his actions, if she’d sensed the tension in his voice

I wondered what he meant exactly by "what she knows"? Was it possible that Max had confided his suspicions in Claude?

I liftedhow hard my heart beat or how cold le moment, Max’s was the only answer that mattered, and he shook his head "She stays here with her sister," he stated in a voice that was unyielding--and regal And I couldn’t believe I hadn’t picked up on that before

I narrowedto look at any of the back

I si e to entertain the thousand questions that swirled in elina tucked safely atI stood there, or how long the people around me planned to remain on their knees, but for far too much time none of us moved This time when I heard the sound of footsteps, they came from an entirely different direction and carried with them none of the thunder that Max’s army had

All I knew for certain was that when I looked up to see who approached, I saw the last person I’d expected staring back at roup of men and women who reround passageways provided

Whatever I’d felt about Xander before was now overshadowed by Max’s deceit I wasn’t sure I felt anything at all for the lier alone, my sister and I

They’d come not from the entrance, but from the rear of the tunnels, from the deserted channels that had once been traveled by trains that ran beneath the city Xander strode forith quiet confidence to where aited, his own army small in contrast to the one that had just vacated the tunnels Angelina huddled againsthere? How did you find us?" I asked when Xander was aler to his lips, silencing my questions "Just come with me" There was no other explanation He held out a hand, and I had to h I didn’t want to stay where ere, surrounded by all those people who’d just witnessed what had happened with Max I couldn’t bear to see the questions in their eyes

When I stepped forward to take his hand, I felt Sydney atleft behind, and we followed Xander as he drew us into the passageways that cut a path through the blackness

I had no idea where ere, but it was round city than a tunnel by the time we’d finally reached our destination People--Outcasts, I assu near-daylight conditions even in the ht

Like the clubs, color filled nearly every space, but here the colors ca, and blankets that were strung everywhere, creating barriers that were used in place of more permanent walls and doors, a means of privacy amid the confusion I smelled rich spices and tobacco, and smoke and food, as well as the moist earth that surrounded us The acoustical sounds of stringed instru babies

A s between Sydney and irl or boy, I couldn’t be certain, the chin-length curls could have gone either way I watched as mothers rocked their babies while toddlers played at their feet, and as ames of chance There was the familiar bustle of co in the middle of the crowded marketplace, save the absence of a blue sky overhead

The activity was ceaseless And the only language I heard spoken was Englaise

I felt instantly at peace

"What is this place?" I breathed, setting Angelina on the ground to walk beside me as I marveled at the chaos all around

We stopped to see an older girl drawing lines in the dirt, while a group of children dressed in what I could only describe as patchwork clothing began dividing into teaers were coated with layers of grime, and her cheeks were pink with exertion as she concentrated on creating the large, perfectly shaped squares

Xander smiled "This is reet Xander--and I realized that I’d seen her before; she was the bartender from Prey Her bl J th a Her bl ue hair was evident even in the unnatural glow of the gas lamps

"Charlie, this is Eden" Xander introduced the two of us, and I nodded at her, trying to recall if I’d ever before seen eyes so black I was sure there were no others like the that the bartender--Eden--didn’t smile often Her teeth were bared just a little too much as she attempted to appear hospitable

Yet another reason the Outcasts didn’t live within the rules of norht as I tried to smile back at her