The Atlas Six (The Atlas 1)

“What’s the job?”

“I told you, the usual.”

“Meaning what? Theft?”

Gideon shook his head. “Break someone out. For a fee.”

“Break them out of what? Their subconscious?”

“Their conscious mind, actually.”

Nico glanced up with confusion, finding Gideon’s eyes on him. “How is that possible?”

“You really should have taken more electives,” Gideon sighed, but at a pursed look of impatience from Nico, he shrugged. “The mind has mechanisms, Nicky, levers. It is possible to trap certain functions inside it, or to prevent the pieces of a person’s mind from working as intended.”

“So then how would you break in?”

“I wouldn’t,” Gideon said firmly, which Nico did not find particularly reassuring. “I’ll tell my mother it’s impossible. Or I’ll find her the money some other way, she won’t care about the details. Whatever it takes. But I knew she’d tell me where you were.”

“Eilif is a real piece of work,” Nico reminded him gruffly. “She’s basically just a mermaid with a gambling problem.”

“It’s not a gambling problem—”

“It’s close enough,” Nico snapped, though immediately, his head hurt. Worse, Gideon gave him a look that said don’t snap, which he loathed. Mostly because it was effective.

“This Society of yours is not a secret,” Gideon told him. “Not enough of one, anyway. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s corporately funded.”

“So?”

“So money is important, Nico. Don’t you care to know whose pocket you’re in?”

Nico tipped his head back with a groan. “Gideon. Basta.”

“Libby is gone.”

Nico shut his eyes again.

“She’s gone, Nico. But you will not disappear.”

“I won’t, I told you—”

“No, you won’t,” Gideon said flatly. “And you know why? Because I won’t let you. Because I’ll do whatever my mother asks of me, for you. Because I’ll hunt you down if you even try.”

“Gideon—”

“You’re not safe there. Not as safe as you think you are.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve seen the wards.” He had repaired them himself. He and Libby.

“Yes, I know, but you’re not prepared.”

“For what?” He was. He had checked everything. Libby had checked everything.

Impenetrable. They should have been impenetrable.

Libby is gone.

Impossible.