Dusk

Chapter Five

My first instinct is to laugh, but Idris sounds so serious that I don't dare.

"You're not for real right now, are you?"

"What would make you think I wasn't?"

"You're... well, you're..."

"I'm what?" He asks. "Too important for a girl like you?"

"Uh, yeah," I manage. "You're Idris."

"You could be important too, you know," he tells me. "Which, of course, leads to the last reason I wanted to meet you. I want you to join me."

"Why?" I splutter. "Do you want me to brawl with the Chancellor?"

He actually gives me a full-bodied laugh. "Maybe I do." He stops talking for a moment, and when he speaks again, his voice is much more sober. "I suppose it's a mixture of selfishness and necessity. You understand, don't you?"

"Not really."

"You could be useful to me. Just think about it. You can fight about as well as Anden can, and that pretty face could charm any Elite with deep pockets to our cause." His voice goes very low at this last part, like he's saying something that he doesn't want to say.

"I'm a pretty face until I open my mouth," I tell him quietly. "So there's your necessity. What about the selfish part?"

"That," he begins, taking a step forward, "is because I want you around. No more brawling for entertainment, no more hanging around in seedy districts. You could be secure with me, Deva."

My mouth opens, and I shut it only for it to open again. What an offer. My face feels hot. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or flattered.

"I..." Say yes, say yes! Haven't you always fantasized about meeting him, about fighting for his cause?

Idris waits patiently for my answer. He looks like he could wait for it forever.

"Blake," I say aloud. "My brother. I don't know if he would let me."

"I can provide monetary compensation," Idris offers. "Money can convince anyone."

I frown at this. "I don't think I'd like to be bought."

Idris takes a step back and straightens. "Of course. My apologies."

"I could never go against my brother," I explain. "He's done everything for me. It would feel wrong to decide without him."

"But you want to join me." Idris states. It's not a question.

I don't confirm it. Something tells me that it's best not to let him know, at least for now, just how much I've wanted. "I think I should just go home for now and talk it over with my brother, if that's alright with you."

Idris offers me his hand. I take it and he helps me off the couch. When I stand in front of him like this, I find that he's taller than me and slightly intimidating. Looking at him makes me lightheaded.

"That's perfectly alright. I'll send over a representative later so we can discuss the terms of you joining me. Does that sound good?"

"Yeah, it does." I turn to the door and then pause. "You know where I live?"

He takes a while to reply. Did you not mean to let that slip? How much do you know about me, Idris?

"Ceres told me," he says, and waves lazily at me as I go. "See you soon, Miss Amador."

Once I'm outside, and Ceres and Anden have filed back into the VIP box, I jog down the long hallway to the elevator and practically throw myself inside. Idris doesn't just admire you. He loves you- or something like that. It all makes me giddy enough to send my heart into a frenzy of beats.