This was a new taste of power. Not just to be Nightmare, and all the secrecy and anonymity that afforded her. But now, to be Insomnia.
To be one of them. To travel in their midst, to come this close, and to have no one even cast her a wary glance.
The weapon pressed into her palm.
Could she take one of them out, right now, at this very moment?
It would be her end, without a doubt. If she wasn’t killed instantly, she would be captured and imprisoned for life.
But still—the possibility was there. The potential.
If not now, if not today, then soon. An opportunity would arise, and she would be ready for it.
With a painful swallow, she forced her hand to release its grip on the pen, just as the two Council members turned into a hallway and disappeared.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
Disoriented, Nova spun back to Sampson Cartwright, who was watching her with a knowing, serious look. Her heart stuttered and that sense of vulnerability returned. Was her hatred written so plainly on her face? Were her thoughts so easily deciphered?
Or … worse …
Her breaths stuttered as she leaned toward Sampson. “Are you a telepath?”
Sampson stared at her, speechless for a moment, then released a hearty laugh. “I wish! I’m not even a prodigy. But, come on … everyone gets a little star struck the first time they see the Council up close.” He gestured at the pen clipped to her belt. “You can ask for an autograph next time. Don’t worry. They get it all the time, and they’re actually really nice about it.”
Nova sank back, relieved that this stranger hadn’t been reading her mind while she stood there plotting against his precious Council, but also dismayed that he had so utterly misinterpreted her expression.
She was saved from the ireful response that rose up within her by her name echoing across the lobby.
“Nova!”
She turned. Smokescreen and Red Assassin were striding toward her. That same flash of adrenaline she’d felt at the arena coursed through her system at the sight of them, but it was quelled by their open smiles. For once, there was no grayish haze drifting around Smokescreen’s ankles, and Red Assassin’s gem hung innocently from the wire around her wrist. She was also carrying a bundle of gray cloth.
“Nova McLain,” said Smokescreen, planting his cane on the tile while he gestured around at the massive lobby with his free arm. “Welcome to HQ. You find the place all right?”
Nova blinked. “It’s the tallest building in the city.”
“He’s being witty,” said Red Assassin. She shifted the bundle of cloth to one arm and held out her hand. Ungloved. “I’m Ruby, by the way. This is Oscar.”
Ruby. Oscar.
Normal names. Normal people.
This time, Nova took the offered hand. Her power sparked inside her at the touch, but she smothered it with what she hoped was a friendly smile. “Nova.”
Rather than shaking her hand, Oscar threw an arm around her shoulders and started leading her across the lobby. Nova tensed at the contact, but he either didn’t notice or ignored it. “We are overjoyed to have you,” he said. “Come on, Adrian’s on his way in now. He said he’d meet us in the lounge.”
“Uh—hold on, one second,” said Nova as something startling occurred to her. She ducked out from beneath Oscar’s arm. He and Ruby stared after Nova as she darted back to the information desk. Leaning over the counter toward Sampson, she whispered, “Hey, could you tell me if there are any mind readers in the Renegades?”
Sampson’s eyes darted once toward Ruby and Oscar, then back to Nova. “Um. No? Not currently. We had one a few years back but she was transferred to one of our foreign embassies.”
Nova beamed. “Okay, great. Thanks. I was just curious.”
Waving, she jogged back to the others.
“Everything all right?” asked Ruby.
“Excellent,” said Nova, drawing on every reserve of enthusiasm she could find. “That guy was really helpful.”
“Sampson is good people,” said Oscar, nodding toward a bank of elevators. “Come on, let’s get you changed.”
“Changed?”
Trekking beside her, Ruby waggled the cloth bundle. “Say hello to your new uniform! I grabbed the size I thought would fit, but the pants might be a little long on you.” She glanced at Nova’s feet. “We have an alterations team on staff. They’ll want to fit you for a pair of boots before you leave today. You can keep your own shoes for now, but hopefully you’ll have official footwear in the next day or so. They’re sticklers for proper attire around here.”