OVERLOOKED ㅤkotlc

017. Blisters On My Wrists

Two cloaked figures materialize in front of us, directly under the whirlpool entrance.

One of them seems to be flashing in and out of sight, so it's probably Alvar, but... his hands are scarred with ugly red blisters. The other one is still and tense, but the face under the shadows is shifty and blurred. So, probably Ruy.

Mr. Forkle realizes this as quickly as I do. "Mr. Vacker, Mr. Ignis."

Rosaleen tenses beside me. "Vacker?" she whispers to me, her voice barely audible. "Is that Alvar Vacker...?"

I blink. How'd she—

"There were rumors of this family, Mr. Forkle said Mr., and we saw Fitz and Alden earlier this week."

My lips twitch with a smile. "Yeah. That's Alvar Vacker," I whisper.

"So," Ruy says, "why do you have reprendos on the Technopath and that girl? And why did you tell us to come here?"

His voice is dangerous, and too familiar. My hands are trembling.

"We want to strike a deal," Mr. Forkle says. "You can take these two hostage, if you give us a piece of information."

Alvar laughs, and it's a chilling sound. "Why would we want them?"

"Mr. Dizznee and Ms. Ellis are—"

"Wait—why are you giving them to us?" Ruy cuts in.

Mr. Forkle frowns. "Ms. Ellis... I don't know what she said, but she got Mr. Dizznee to turn against us and steal the cache. They met a few weeks ago, and then... the cache is missing right now."

Alvar and Ruy exchange glances, studying Rosaleen a bit closer. For her credit, she doesn't flinch.

"It's a fake piece of trash," I say, trying to sound angry. If I just think about the Neverseen, it's actually not that hard. "The Black Swan are idio—"

"Mr. Dizznee!" Mr. Forkle snaps, and by instinct, I shut my mouth.

When you're on his side, you don't quite realize how scary he can be.

His yell echoes, and Alvar looks at Ruy again, seemingly amused.

"So, you want to give us these kids for a piece of information? That's a little stupid, don't you think, Mr. Forkle? His name's Dex, right? Well, Dex made an ability restrictor for the Moonlark the other year. Why would you just give him up?" Ruy says.

"He's not cooperating, and he's not that useful anyway."

I know Mr. Forkle doesn't mean it, but the words still cut through me. He's not that useful anyway. He's not that useful anyway. He's not that useful anyway. He's not that useful any—

Someone squeezes my hand, and then I look at Rosaleen, and she's not looking at me, but her hand is on mine, and I can feel her attention, and she's here. She's here.

"And the girl?"

"Useless. She's just an Empath."

They exchange looks.

"Hey—what'd you tell Dex?" Alvar. He's talking directly to Rosaleen.

She tenses for a moment, then says, "I just pointed out how the Black Swan always lose, and how they don't even appreciate him. I said he deserves better."

"And you told him we're better?"

"I said you guys were much more effective, and your cause makes more sense. Humans are dangerous, and if we're not careful, they can and will destroy us with them."