The Elites

Chapter Eighteen

When we got down to the hall Saffron North was in hysterics on the floor; it had, as expected, been shown to everyone there. As far as I knew Violet had walked free; if she'd disappeared after Nadia had told us about the bluff then it would've been an entirely different story; the Agents would've had no reason to feel afraid of going after her

I hadn't seen Saffron all night, but I guessed she hadn't looked as much of a state as she did weeping on the floor when she'd walked through the front doors. Stasia, who was comforting Saffron alongside Juliet and Dexter, gave her arm one last rub before rushing over to where the three of us had walked back in. Thankfully, she'd abandoned the annoying clacky shoes.

I expected her to launch herself at Lara to try to comfort her too, but instead she stopped in front of me.

"She had no idea, Harry," she said earnestly. It was like she expected me to sentence Saffron to death for her sister's involvement. "Really, you should've seen her face when Nadia first-"

"I didn't think she had anything to do with it, Stasia," I said quickly. "I remember Saffron; I know she's not like that. Anyway, going from what was said-"

"They didn't have a choice..." Stasia finished for me.

"Exactly."

I peered over at Saffron again; she had her head buried in Dexter Everett's chest, and I had a horrible feeling that the critical side of me knew was inappropriate.

"Is that a thing?" I asked without thinking, and Stasia followed my eyes to where the two of them sat together on the floor; Juliet had pulled back and was instead being held by Chase.

"Saffron and Dexter?" Stasia asked. I nodded. "Yeah, for a while now."

"Wow," I said exasperatedly. "Two decent women with horrible taste in men."

"Do I not count as a decent woman?" Stasia protested. I expected her to be outraged at my snide comment at Saffron at a time like this but, as always, she was more concerned about herself.

"Unless you're having a fling with Paxley I can't really pass judgement on your taste, Nastasia," I said airily. I had the sense that Lara, still standing beside me, was looking at the two of us with amusement. Or possibly disgust.

"Well earlier I told you I'd do you," she said bluntly, and I found out what Lara thought without looking at her; she couldn't help but snort extremely loudly. Considering Stasia was one of Lara's closest friends, it was strange to me that she'd say such a thing with her in such close range. Unless it was common knowledge...

"So yeah, you have horrible taste in men," I concluded, brushing past her and forwards into the hall towards Mr Hetley, leaving Stasia with Lara and Ashton.

To my surprise, the hall was very contained. Somehow the amount of people lining the walls seemed smaller; I wasn't sure if some had already left in search of Violet.

Mr Hetley's greying hair was dishevelled and he had his arms folded firmly across his chest, pacing up and down in a short circuit not far from where Saffron lay, her sobs becoming quieter but more rigid.

"Hey, kid," he said as I got closer. He was trying to be light-hearted but it wasn't working; the stress was playing on all of his features. His eyes looked red and he looked paler; almost sickly. "Tough night, right?"

"You could say that," I said. "What happened up there? Before me and Ashton I mean."

"Exactly what Violet said," he said, wincing slightly as he said her name. "Saffron's sister brought the boy in and Lara tried to grab him. Poor kid was crying his eyes out seeing Lara like that."