“Uh… worship?” asked Malcolm. “I’m not exactly sure that’s how I would describe the relationship between me and your sister.”
“She’s not my…” Leah trailed off, as though realizing it was pointless to keep correcting them.
“We had quite the day,” said Rose, sarcastically. “We chanted. We listened to sermons. Some of the Awakened Children went up into Halter City to proselytize, but of course, I wasn’t allowed to go along for that.”
“Boy, you must be all tuckered out then,” said Malcolm. “Sounds absolutely riveting.”
“Did you know that a number of celebrities have also been a part of the Illuminati, over the years?” asked Rose. “A few I could actually see a case for.”
“Oh, do tell,” said Malcolm.
Rose glanced over at Leah, who was frowning openly.
“We aren’t supposed to repeat the exact details from the sermons,” said Rose. “I’ll just hint at one of them. Let’s call him, B. Cosby. No wait, that’s too obvious. Let’s go with Bill C. instead.”
Malcolm laughed. He grinned at Rose, relieved to see that she was still in good spirits, all things considered. He was just about to ask for more details about how things had gone between her and her sister when Rain Dancer hurried into the chamber, waving Shield Maiden over with a serious look on his face.
“What’s his deal?” asked Malcolm.
Rose shrugged.
“No idea,” she said. “He spent about an hour hitting on me this morning, and then disappeared for the rest of the day.”
Malcolm scowled.
I knew it. I’ll give him points for bravery, though, to hit on a woman who can be as scary as Rose.
“And how did you feel about that?” asked Malcolm.
“Annoyed,” she said. “Obviously. Though to be honest…This is still clearly the lesser of two evils, compared with the champions. Even with Rain Dancer’s arrogance and crazy conspiracy theories.”
Malcolm frowned. Leah was called over by a group of the Awakened Children, and she left without saying anything to either of them.
“I came to the opposite conclusion,” he said, in quiet voice. “I think we need to start being more proactive about getting out of here.”
Rose licked her lips. Her dark eyes took on a contemplative tone, and she folded her arms underneath her breasts.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“What don’t you know?” he asked. “I think we’ve seen enough here, Rose, to know that these people are kind of nuts.”
“Maybe on the surface,” she said. “But they’re right about some things, Malcolm. The fact that the two of us have gotten so close, is proof enough of that.”
Malcolm massaged his temples, trying to ward off an oncoming headache.
“Let’s keep pretending for now,” said Rose.
“Rose…” he said. “What happens when it stops feeling like we’re pretending?”
She didn’t answer him.
CHAPTER 21
They spent a few minutes sitting at one of the tables in companionable silence. Malcolm was glad that even though they disagreed on how to proceed forward, it wasn’t enough to push them apart.
He watched Rain Dancer and Shield Maiden speaking across the chamber, both clearly upset about something. Malcolm tried to clear his head so that he could enter the listening state that Shield Maiden had just taught him about, but there were too many distractions.
Eventually, both Rain Dancer and Shield Maiden turned to look in his direction. It wasn’t until both of them were on their way over that Malcolm realized that they weren’t looking at him, but at Rose.
“Ms. Shadow Spryte,” said Rain Dancer. “We need to speak with you privately for a bit, ya?”
Malcolm frowned.
“Just her?” he asked. “Whatever it is, I feel like I deserve to be included.”
“It’s okay, Malcolm,” said Rose.
He frowned at her.
“Rose…” He struggled, trying to think of how to put his new unease over the situation into words.
It feels like this cult might end up becoming a wedge between us… or worse.
“We just need to get her opinion on something,” said Shield Maiden. “In the meantime, Rion and some of the other Awakened Children can… talk with you privately, Wind Runner. You won’t be ignored.”
“Malcolm,” said Rose. “Just go along with it.”
She smiled and gave him an encouraging wink. Malcolm sighed and nodded his head, feeling like he’d been dismissed from the grownup table.
Rose left with the other two, headed down a hallway in the back of the chamber. Malcolm tapped his fingers on the table, watching as Rion, Leah, and another girl from the church that Malcolm didn’t recognize walked over to him.
“Shield Maiden told us to help reset your aura,” said Rion. “Will you come with us, please?”
Malcolm groaned.
“Oh, you know, I’m pretty exhausted,” he said. “I spent all of today flying around and, uh… listening.”
“We insist,” said Rion. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Leah took him by one arm, while the other girl took him by the other. Malcolm sighed, figuring it was probably better to not put up a struggle. Rion led the group of them over to the hallway that Malcolm remembered Shield Maiden saying led to the meditation room.
The floor was wood and warmed by heaters underneath, and there were pillows of various sizes scattered across. Rion sat him down on one the size and shape of a bean bag chair and stood over him.
“Wind Runner, have you considered why we live underground?” asked Rion.
“Affordable rent,” said Malcolm.
She frowned a little, but didn’t make a big deal over the joke.
“The Illuminati has influence on the surface,” said Rion. “And not just in the social, media, and political systems.”
“Oh no…” said Malcolm, with a sigh. “Not the Illuminati again…”
“The only way for us to purge ourselves of their toxic influence is through recalibrating our auras.” Rion drew in a little closer to him, letting her hands touch Malcolm’s chest. He frowned at her, gently pushing her back.
“And you do that…?”
“Through bonding with one who has a powerful, clean aura,” said Rion. “We are not star touched, so our individual auras are not strong enough to do the task. We must bond with you, together.”
Malcolm chewed his lower lip, feeling more conflicted than he ever had before in his life.
“And Rain Dancer was the one who explained this to you originally?” asked Malcolm.
Rion nodded.
“He bonded with all of us,” said Rion. “Unfortunately, he is not able to bond with men, so we pass the blessing along in his steed.”
She smiled and slowly began pulling Malcolm’s shirt over his head.
“Would you like me, Leah, or Zoe to take the lead, Wind Runner?” asked Rion. “Please feel free to be vocal about what you like.”
“Okay, hold on just a second,” said Malcolm. “I’m incredibly… flattered by this, uh, opportunity. But I don’t think you girls understand. None of this is true. It’s all just a… fabrication.”
The third girl, Zoe, walked back into Malcolm’s view wearing nothing but her bra and panties. Malcolm felt his mouth drop open at the sight of her. She was a brunette with long hair, and expressive green eyes. She couldn’t have been much older than he was, with firm breasts and a curvaceous butt.
“This is our philosophy, Wind Runner.” Rion was running her hands lower now, and bringing her lips in close to his. “All we wish is to share it with you, for a time. We aren’t asking you to believe immediately.”
Malcolm glanced over at Leah, as though expecting her to be the voice of reason. Instead of getting support, all he got was a curious look from someone who looked a lot like Rose. She was more tentative than the other two and still clothed, but she slowly reached her hand out and set it on his shoulder.