I’m struck that even as sick as he is, he can do things like that.

Crixus waits by the cell but doesn’t open the gate. He keeps his distance.

“I’m not going to infect you,” I tell him. “I don’t even have one of those weird Spore swords. I’m not contaminated.” I actually don’t know, but I might as well keep up the farce with Luc’s lackey.

He snorts. “That much is clear. I know a Spore when I see one.” Is he contradicting Luc’s conclusion about me?

“Where are they?” I try to sound casual. But I wonder if Stranna still blames me for leading Luc’s tirones to their base. Is she alive? I try not to imagine her dead like Erik—stabbed without a moment’s thought.

Crixus opens the cell door. “Come on.” He gives no other response to my question. I don’t ask again, and as we ascend crudely carved stone stairs, he remains silent. It’s a filled silence like he wants to say something. He even opens his mouth a couple times, then closes it.

“Just spit it out,” I encourage, somewhat amused at his discomfort.

“You’re helping the Emperor’s father.”

Well, that depends on how successful Stranna’s plan was to get our bodies somewhere safe. But I won’t know until I wake up. “Yes.”

Crixus eyes me. “The high-rise his father’s in is quite large.”

“I can’t fix the power. I’m not an electrician, Crixus.”

“I wasn’t going to ask you to.”

“Then what—”

His pace slows. “Hex Galilei’s isn’t the only LifeSuPod in there.” There’s something about the way Crixus’s words come out that tells me he feels like he’s betraying Luc by offering them.

“Are you suggesting I go in to find an empty one for myself and leave Galilei to die?”

“Don’t be stupid. There’s no power. A dead LifeSuPod won’t do you any good.” He yanks open a thick door like you’d find inside an old castle, and suddenly we’re past two tirones and out on the street.

It’s bright here under Luc’s fire tower, especially compared to the dark of wherever I was. Dungeon? Prison? I’m sure there’s some Roman word for it. I blink once and my eyes are adjusted. That’s all it takes. Another reminder of how much I miss sunlight.

“I’m only saying there are more people in there than just Luc’s father.”

Is Crixus still talking? I raise an eyebrow. “Is there someone you’re concerned about, Crixus? In the high-rise?” A young lady perhaps?

He glowers at me. “Life, Cain. It’s as simple as that. You’re either for life or you’re against it. I happen to be for it, and you have a chance to save it.”

“Ironic when you literally train noxiors to kill.”

“I train them to survive.”

“Ah, right. Because that’s what I did in the Arena with the Spore girl.”

“I never told you to kill her.” He actually sounds sad about it. Little does he know that she came back to life in some mysterious way.

I shove my free hand in my pocket to keep from throttling him and fist the wheat kernels that have tucked themselves into the fabric creases and corners. Strangely, I’m glad those weren’t taken from me.

“Look,” I say. “I’m at my final Awake. As soon as the nightmist comes for me, I’ll be back in the Real World for the last time.” Two hours. That’s all I’ll have. Two hours. “I’m going to do what I can, but I’m also going to do what I have to.”

In other words, I come first. And Galilei. I guess it’s a tie.

In truth, I really hope there isn’t somebody in the high-rise that Crixus cares about. I don’t like the idea of entering a building filled with dying LifeSuPod people—even if they are rich. Up until now I’d thought only about Galilei, but I’m sure Crixus is right: there must be other people in there. Why wouldn’t there be?

If so, Luc has never said a thing about them.

Crixus gives a sharp nod and turns back toward the Emperor’s fire tower. “Got it.” I’m irked that he accepts my response that easily. It makes me feel dirty. Heartless. It’s as if the centurion who runs the gladiator games has more heart than I do—the guy who tried to find a cure for the world.

“I’ll do what I can,” I say. And I will. But at this point I don’t even have a truck. For all I know, I’m still dying in that landfill.

“Sure.” His tone is crisp. He doesn’t believe me.

Well, that’s his problem. I pull him to a stop. “Don’t bother escorting me, centurion. I’m a citizen now. I know where to go.”

“You’re a prisoner until we deem you safe.” He grips my arm again. “And you don’t know anything.”

I assumed we were going to Luc’s atrium, but we bypass the fire tower. We’re almost at the base when he leads me around it to the back where there is a white building with a stretch of long stairs leading to a door guarded by four tirones. Crixus knocks on the door to what I can only assume is an infirmary of some sort.

It opens, and a child stands on the other side. The boy gives a little head bow to Crixus and steps aside. It still weirds me out to see children acting as servants.

“So where are that kid’s parents?” I ask Crixus when we’re out of earshot down a marble entrance.

“Gone. Luc employs the orphans until they come of age.”

“You mean until they stop being able to jump into the Real World?”

He nods.

“And then what?” I probe, despite already knowing what Stranna and Everett have told me.

“He waits to see if they become Spores or not.” That’s all he has to say. I believe him. I saw Stranna’s sister in the Arena. Luc sent her there. “That’s why it’s so important we rescue the kids as soon as we can from the Spores. The longer they spend with them, the more likely they are to become Spores themselves once they come of age.”

“Right. Rescue them faster so you can kill them when they don’t meet your needs,” I comment wryly.

He gives me a side-eye but says nothing. He knocks on another door. This time Luc opens it, still in his wheelchair. “One minute. That’s all you get.”

I nod and move to enter, but a child comes running up. “Emperor.” The girl bows. “The Cole parents are here.” She seems nervous, not meeting Luc’s eyes.

“Tell them to wait.”

The girl visibly trembles from head to foot. She stares at Luc now and opens her mouth, gaping like a noodled catfish.

“What is it?” Luc demands.

“It’s urgent,” the girl whispers. She takes a step back.

Luc runs a hand down his face, then turns to Crixus. “See that Cain is contained again before his final visit to the Old World.”