Daughter of Zeus ✔

16.4

The money was for after.

Ada visted the ATM, her old friend, looking to fund her upcoming adventures. She still planned on visiting the Special sites. First, she needed answers. And perhaps to see Moretz's pain-filled face a few more times.

Next, she drove to the hotel she had visited when first coming to the city. It was tucked away in a low-key part of downtown, and no one would think to look for her there. Ada had left the Moretz estate without suspision, which meant she still had a few hours.

Once parked, she opened the trunk. Moretz, bound and gagged, glared up at her. When she went to pick him up, a shock rolled through her arm. Waves of light emanated from Moretz, like a protective skin. Ada laughed.

"Think that'll keep me away?"

She wrapped her hands around him, hefting him out without trouble. Sure, her hands were numb and a slight burning crawled up her arms, but she could take it. After all, she'd been hurt much worse before.

On his way out of the trunk, Ada made sure Moretz bumped his head. Then she threw him to the ground, checking around her and seeing no one. She had parked in the back of the building near the dumpsters.

Moretz groaned through the gag, writhing on the asphalt. Ada stared down at him. He seemed so much smaller.

"Ada, stop."

A pull from inside forced her to stand still. Ada felt a prisoner in her own body. Fleetingly, she pitied the man she had used the same trick on months back.

Kressick came into view, walking in front of her frozen frame.

"What are you after?" he asked, gesturing at Moretz.

For several breaths, Ada couldn't answer. Then, her brain listened to her commands, and she said, "I just wanna talk. If he answers my questions, I might or might not kill him after."

From the ground, Moretz's protests grew. Kressick made no move to free him. Instead, he smiled grimly.

"You deserve answers. But try anything more than that, and you know I'll stop you."

The crush of betrayal weighted Ada's chest. Kressick had used his mind tricks on her. And probably not for the first time, she realized.

"Okay."

Kressick nodded at Ada, breaking the mental hold on her. She nearly fell over. After catching herself, she untied Moretz at Kressick's insistence. Though, she left the gag in.

Her grandfather directed them both to go to her room. Moretz stumbled, but managed to follow.

~*~

The hotel door dissipated, revealing a very confused looking Darcy seated in the kitchenette area.

Ada snorted at how ridiculous this night had become. Kressick hoped by bringing Darcy, Ada would hold back. By including his other brand granddaughter, he ensured embarrassment. At the end of the meeting, she would know what kind of daddy she and Ada shared.

Darcy smiled back at Ada, more out of surprise than genuine pleasure. Moretz, with hair mussed and a wrinkled suit, smiled as well. A regular smile-fest, and the air hung thick with unspoken words.

Kressick broke the silence by ushering everyone inside to sit with Darcy.

Eyes leery, Moretz waited for Ada to walk out in front of him before he moved. With only a low-grade version of her abilities, he must have felt as if he had brought a knife to a gun fight.

Everyone sat. Fingers drummed on knees. Darcy yawned, and Ada stared at Moretz. Agonizing minutes passed.

Darcy asked the first question. "Ahem. What are we all doing here?" Fully seeing her father's feverish and crumpled appearance, she added, "And what's wrong with you?"

"He'll be fine. We're here to give you two answers," Kressick said.

"Answers?"

"Yeah, to this----," Ada lazily pointed at the wall interface, shooting a ball of energy from her fingers. The interface fizzled.

Darcy stood. "What the hell?"

"Sit down and listen. You need to hear this," Ada said.

Darcy shook her head. "Hear what?"

Ada motioned to Moretz. "Why did you keep me from my sister?"

The question seemed to catch him off guard. "I, uh, didn't keep you."

At that, Darcy listened to Ada. She sat, face subdued.

Of course he couldn't help lying. Always the Liar. Well, she could ask the questions anyway, and so she fired off several at once.

"Did you hurt my mother? Did you send Kressick after me? Did you hurt me?"

"Jesus. No, yes, and no. Anymore questions?"

Ada sat unblinking. Her head was propped in one hand, deep in thought.

"Ada?" Kressick prompted. It seemed he wanted to say more, but instead he looked down and tapped at his ear.

She deliberately swung her gaze to Moretz. "Sorry, I'm figuring how best to word this."

"Word what?" A small tremor shook his voice.

Darcy's gaze went from her father to her sister. Then back again. A static charge in the air all but crackled. The lamp next to her father began to glow brighter, a slow burn.

"Are you trying to get me killed?" Ada asked.

"Huh?" Moretz adopted an innocent frown, at odds with his disheveled appearance.

Kressick shielded his eyes. Darcy moved away from the lamp's heat.

"You're being watched by State authorities—" Ada began.

"Yes, as are plenty of citizens—"

"Let me finish." She emphasized her tone when the lamp light shattered, making a loud pop.

Darcy jumped from her seat again, and Moretz's face slackened. Yet, he lost the scared look an instant later, his mask slipping to reveal his true face. Good, now we can really talk.

"You must have known you were being monitored, a fact you neglected to tell me. Another thing you must have known was what the Sammies would make of me, but you let me continue visiting your home." She leaned closer to Moretz, who was sitting opposite her and Kressick. "Why are you trying to get me killed?"

The New-Moretz settled back in his seat. He lacked the tension of the Moretz from five seconds before. His posture was languid, his stare superior. Darcy and Kressick had unanswered questions in their eyes, but Ada was unsurprised. He was the man she expected to meet from the start.

Kressick played with his earlobe. "No," he said, all but shouting the word.

"I wasn't asking you," she snapped.

Whatever seemed to bother him occupied nearly all of his attention. The way he'd said 'no' was akin to a crazy person yelling at no one in particular.

"Grandpa, are you all right?" Darcy asked. She touched his shoulder when he didn't answer.

He shook his head, but then nodded. Ada and Moretz ignored Kressick. They were taking part in a silent communication of their own.