Wrong POV

Wrong POV
Gary's POV...

Jarox and I were almost to the entrance of the underground system that I used to sneak into the imperial palace, when he suddenly stopped.

"We need to see Trix first."

I turned around.

"Now? We don't exactly have the time for pitstops"

"We have to make time for this. She's our only eyes and ears in the palace. You heard the emperor! He has his mind made up and will be making attempts to get his hands on that child."

I wanted to argue, but he was already moving. But honestly, there was nothing to argue about. It was important to make plans with Trix. It shocked me how much things had changed. I used to hate Galatian Trix and Galatian Jarox so much before, but now, I found myself working with them, and it didn't feel as strange as I had expected it to.

We hurried through the palace corridors toward Trix's laboratory. Neither of us said much. We didn't have time for explanations, and every second we remained inside the palace increased the chance of someone discovering us.

When we entered the lab, Trix looked up. Her expression immediately changed.

"I see you actually called the Killer to bust you out. You're leaving right away, aren't you?"

"Yes," Jarox said. "But we needed to speak with you first."

Trix stood. "I know what Father told you."

Jarox looked at her. "He told me Abigail is a false Bridge. But I don't know if he was lying about it just to pressure me into giving her over to him."

Trix nodded. "I don't think he's lying, brother.... because I've reached the same conclusion."

She turned toward the holographic display and brought up the genetic sequence she had been studying.

"I tested Abigail's stabilized sequence against the Holy serum. The reaction revealed something I hadn't seen before. There's instability buried inside her genetic structure. If it develops further, it could affect her mind, her behavior and eventually everything around her."

I folded my arms. "So she's dangerous."

Trix looked at me. "Potentially."

"How dangerous?"

"I don't know. But with what I've dreamt and seen, it could be catastrophic the damage she will cause."

That answer bothered me. Trix continued.

"That's why you need to be careful around her until we understand what we're dealing with. She still needs protection. But she also needs to be isolated."

Jarox frowned. "Isolate her from whom?"

"Everyone. We cannot let her keep using her powers and evolving them."

The room went quiet. Trix lowered her voice.

"Especially if her abilities continue developing, because at this point, it's about to kick up a notch."

Jarox sighed. "While we're gone, keep an eye on Father and tell us as soon as you see him make a move against us."

Trix nodded and agreed to do her best to help out concerning the emperor.

I didn't say anything. But my mind was already working. I had been trained to eliminate threats. It didn't matter whether the threat was human, Krug, hybrid or anything else. I had no real bond with Abigail. She was a child. That much was true.

But if she really posed a greater threat to the world than the people currently enslaving and killing humans, then I wasn't going to let sentiment get in the way. I kept that thought to myself.

Trix suddenly reached toward a drawer and pulled something out. She tossed it toward me. I caught it. A small black card.

"What's this?"

"An ATM card."

I looked at her. "An ATM card?"

"Custom-made. There's enough digicoins in the account to keep you supplied for a while."

I raised an eyebrow. "So we don't have to keep stealing and risking getting caught?"

"Exactly."

I smiled. "That's actually useful."

"Try not to lose it."

"I won't."

Jarox stepped toward the door. "We should go."

Trix nodded. There wasn't time for a proper goodbye. Jarox embraced his sister briefly. Then we left.

I led him through the route I'd used earlier. Down the hidden passage. Through the narrow tunnel. Up toward the outer section. Eventually, we climbed out.

Cold air struck my face. We were outside the palace walls. I looked back at the enormous structure. Jarox stood beside me.

"We made it."

"For now."

We started moving away from the palace, heading toward the outskirts. Whatever happened next, we would be waiting for it.

.

.

.

Gatrina's POV...

I couldn't stop thinking about Abigail. What had happened between us kept replaying in my head. Her words. Her anger. Those eyes.

I sat with Morgan, staring at the floor.

"I'm worried about her."

Morgan looked at me. "I know."

"I shouldn't have pushed her."

Morgan sighed. "Then go talk to her."

I looked at her. "Again? But she doesn't want to talk to me."

"Get her to warm up to you again. You know her better than any of us."

I stood. "Fine."

I walked toward Abigail's room. As I passed another section of the lab, I noticed Amara staring at me. She had a strange smirk on her face. I stopped.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You're looking at me strangely."

"I'm just waiting."

"For what?"

She shrugged. "The drama."

I frowned. "What drama?"

She laughed. "Gary's bringing the Prince back."

I immediately understood. I wasn't going to be taunted regardless. "Yeah. What about it?"

She leaned against the wall. "Things were already complicated between you and Gary. Now Jarox is coming back..."

"That's none of your business."

"I know." She smiled. "But it's going to be entertaining."

I rolled my eyes and continued walking. I wasn't interested in her teasing. Abigail was what mattered. I reached the girl's door. I knocked.

"Abigail?"

Nothing. I knocked again.

"It's me. I just want to talk. I want to apologize."

I waited. "Abigail, I'm coming in."

I opened the door. My heart dropped. The room was empty. The bed was untouched. The window was closed. There was no sign of her.

"Abigail?"

I stepped inside. Morgan hurried over. "What's wrong?"

"She's gone."

"What?" Morgan entered. Amara followed. We searched everywhere. The bathroom. The sleeping quarters. The storage area. The kitchen.

Nothing. No Abigail. Amara stood near the main entrance.

"She couldn't have gone through here."

I looked at her. "Why?"

"I've been around this entrance almost the entire time."

Morgan looked toward the other corridors. "Then where did she go, and how did she get out?"

I had no answer. I walked back into Abigail's room. The silence felt wrong. Too quiet. Too empty.

"Yeah! How did she get out?"

Nobody answered. Amara's expression finally lost its amusement. Morgan looked frightened I stared at the empty bed. Then one thought entered my mind. If Abigail hadn't used the main entrance... Then perhaps she's unlocked another new power, one she used to get herself out of the lab without anyone seeing her. Invisibility, perhaps? The other royal Krugs had it, so why not her as well?