When Stars Come Out (When Stars Come Out 1)

“That would be correct if Chase had notified the Order once he discovered she was the Eurydice. As far as we understand, he only notified you,” Elite Abrams states.

Roth glares at Elite Abrams. “What of Lily Martin, then?”

Hearing Lily’s name wasn’t easy before, it’s harder now.

“Eurydice, if you captured Vera’s soul, you were just doing your job,” Gwen says.

Her good cop routine will only go so far. There are people here who want me under their thumb, and admitting I got angry and captured Vera’s soul in a coin I subsequently lost will only give those in favor of my imprisonment fuel for their argument.

“I wasn’t doing my job,” I say. “Because I haven’t accepted your offer.”

Elite Ezekiel laughs. “This isn’t an offer of employment, Eurydice. You cannot refuse.”

“I am not Valryn. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“But you see the dead, you speak to them, and by all accounts controlling the Thread of Fate can be considered working with the occult. By definition, you are a death-speaker and fall under our jurisdiction.”

“So you would treat me like an enemy?”

“Death-speakers are not our enemies, Eurydice, unless they are doing something wrong, like stealing souls.”

I glare at him. “I didn't steal Lily's soul and I didn't resurrect her.”

“We're fully aware you didn't resurrect her, Eurydice,” Elite Cain says.

“You are?” I ask, a little surprised.

“Yes, even you have limits. Giving life, no matter how crude, is not a power you possess. Charon forbids it. Whoever gave Lily’s corpse life did so with the occult. We believe whoever reanimated Lily was in possession of a resurrection coin you made.” He is quiet as he lets the information sink in and then he asks, “Where are the coins, Eurydice?”

“What?”

“You captured Chase and Vera’s souls, where are the coins?”

“We know you haven't opened the Gates since your incarnation here on Earth,” says Elite Abrams. “Which means the coins are either in your possession or....”

“I lost them,” I lie quickly. I can’t let them know I still have Chase’s coin—or a whole box full at home under my bed. I glance at Roth, whose smiles gleefully.

The silence that follows my admission slices through me. What have I done? For some reason, I repeat myself, as if I haven't driven the point home. “I lost them.”

“You...lost them?”

“Whoever has them...killed and resurrected Lily.”

More silence. Elite Cain's gaze is hard as he studies me, and I get the sense he doesn't believe me.

“And you expect this child to navigate her duties alone?” Elite Ezekiel explodes. “Clearly she has demonstrated she cannot be trusted outside the walls of the Compound.”

“She will not be alone. Besides, we cannot keep a sixteen-year-old girl hostage, Elite Ezekiel,” says Gwen.

I have suddenly become invisible. Part of me wonders if I can sneak away, but as I glance around the table, I find Mr. Val watching me—the only Elite paying attention.

“Her lack of responsibility for something so important should be punished.”

“And yet it is the Order’s duty to find, train, and support the Eurydice,” Gwen’s voice rises above the rest. “We did none of those things. Can she be blamed for decisions made untrained?”

Elite Ezekiel definitely thinks so.

“Eurydice,” Elite Cain says in the gentlest voice he can muster. “We are offering you training and protection. We wish to teach you how to use your powers. If you let us, we will be your support.”