Chapter Thirty-Four
“Trap,” Phi said, just as Danica drove over the glowing emblem. It should have triggered for whatever car was behind them, if they hadn’t been so far, but nothing happened.
Arden growled and slapped the dash. “This is for sure against the rules, but we can’t even argue it. The King will only deny his involvement to the Council.”
“That was the King,” Danica spoke, figuring it was best to rip it off like a band aid.
“What?” Arden looked at her in confusion.
“On the phone. It was the King. The sound is some new weapon he made for vampires to impair you during the call.”
Phi scowled. “And what did my father threaten you with?”
Danica met his eyes in the mirror. “You know what he’s threatening,” she whispered, and his scowl deepened.
Phi slammed his fist against the seat beside him, shaking the car with the force. Anger leaked from him for a moment before he gained control again.
“He gave me the ultimatum of either saving the kids or saving the two of you. He wants me to lose the race.”
Arden tensed. “We would never ask you to make that decision.”
Phi blew out a puff of air. “Arden is correct. I should have foreseen this, but it’s not too late. Let me make a call.” He pulled out his cell phone and tried it, but it was clearly dead because he threw it back down with a twist of his face. “Clever, but I’m not so easy to stop.”
“What are you doing?” Danica asked.
“They’ve blocked my cell from making calls, but my father forgets I have a penchant for technology.” His fingers began flying across his tablet. Danica had just enough time to see green programming font begin to rise up the screen before she focused on the trees coming closer. “The Dark Forest,” Phi pointed toward the trees growing on the horizon. They were clearly as large as the Redwoods but far more eerie. “We’re on the last quarter of the race. Get ready for shit to hit the fan.”
“Are you calling who I think you’re calling?” Arden asked, turning in his seat to look back at Phi. “That’s dangerous.”
“She owes me a favor.”
When the phone began to ring, Danica tried her hardest not to look behind her. There was too much that she needed to focus on. She couldn’t slow much more without risking the other teams closing in. On cue, another trumpet sounded, announcing another team dead.
Someone answered the phone, a woman softly murmuring, “hello?”
“Francesca,” Phi replied in leu of a greeting.
“Yophiel! You’re supposed to be racing.”
“I am. We’re in second place and on the last quarter, but you already know that.” Phi’s voice was calm, no emotion in the words. It was the mask Danica had seen him wear, the one the crown had trained him with. It made her sad to think he had to hide himself most of the time.
“Then you better get your ass in gear,” the woman growled. “I’m watching the channel right now and they are all claiming you’re at a disadvantage to win.”
“And you know exactly why that is. I’m afraid I need to call in that favor. Remember what we discussed?”
Francesca, whoever she was, was silent for a moment before an exceptionally soft, “yes.” came through.
“It’s time.” Phi touched Danica’s shoulder in comfort. “I need you to protect them.”
“I’ll take care of it. Tell Danica Dyers she’s got a safe place in the Underground any time she needs it. That goes for all of you.” And then she hung up.
Danica blew out a breath. “What was that about?”
Arden ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. “Francesca is the leader of the Underground, a network of Supes who were chased away from their homes because of politics or accusations that weren’t true. Our world is corrupt. Hell, we televise an event where most die. But Francesca protects those who would rebel against the powers that rule. Phi helped her out of a bind once, so she owed him a favor.” Arden’s eyes met Phi’s in the mirror. “A favor he was prepared to use for me.”
“And instead, you used it for me,” Danica whispered, her throat suddenly feeling tight.
“Before we started the race, I suspected my father wouldn’t play fair, so I discussed things with Francesca, but the plan had been originally to get us out. When she asked about the children, I mentioned it could be a possibility, but we didn’t think the King would target them. In his eyes, they’re nothing. But the orphanage will be protected, and if it cannot be, they will get everyone out before anything bad can happen. The Underground has assets even the Council doesn’t know about.”
Danica blinked. “You’re protecting them.”
“Of course we are.” Phi glanced at Arden. “We both will.”
“Thank you,” Danica murmured, taking a deep breath, and focusing on the approaching forest.
‘Win the race, speed racer,” Phi commanded. “Do not fear for our lives. We’ll make it out of this.”
The corner of Danica’s lips curled the tiniest bit, but it was premature. Before she could do much more than shift gears, something slammed into the side of the vehicle and the Porsche began to roll.