Chapter 15: Genki

It is a far different journey to Genki's warehouse in the daytime. And much harder to coordinate with so many people to keep together. Beckett looks exhausted by the time the guarded door to the building comes into view. He's spent the entire time running back and forth from small pocket to little group. I understand his reasoning. Keeping everyone together would be foolish. There are only perhaps a dozen not counting Poppy, who stays with me, but such a large number is almost impossible to hide as one.

He doesn't look at me when he approaches the two guards. I don't like his pinched look and I'm sure he hates it more. The guards observe him with reduced respect, and I'm sure it's because of his obvious and visible loss of status.

"We're here to talk to Genki about joining you." The words sound choked, squeezed from Beckett's lips. He's made his choice on the trip over, I can only assume. One of the guards sneers as he looks past Beckett's shoulder at the rest of us.

"We'll see," he says. "But you have to get past us first." They laugh together. It's the same two, I know it is. And yet their attitude is totally different. Beckett's shoulders sink as his hands dip in his pockets. He pulls out a few small items, holds them out. The two guards pretend to peruse them, but I can tell they are excited. A bribe. It makes my blood boil. I hand the puppies off to Poppy, stepping forward just as one of the boys reaches for a coil of metal in Beckett's hand. I knock the guard's grasping fingers away and scowl at him.

"Genki," I say. "Now."

Neither moves, but they are less condescending.

"Says who?" The greedy one leans forward, in my face.

He shouldn't come any closer. He just doesn't know it yet. I put the truth of his imminent beating in my eyes, in my stance, feeling my anger surge and wondering if it serves me better than the calm.

The boy backs off. Smart. He turns, runs inside. The door bangs shut behind him. The second guard takes a small step in retreat, but I don't allow him space. My hand reaches out, touches Beckett's. He slides his over mine, squeezes, then releases, but the message has been passed. And when the door opens and the first guard appears again, I pull back to see Beckett's more familiar expression of total control has returned.

I'd hate to think I'd made him lose that too.

I'm surprised when we enter to find Dauphine waiting for us. She reaches out, grasps for my hands and I take hers.

"Be careful," she whispers. "I can only protect you for so long."

I glance at Beckett who nods, grim. Warning received. And understood

We won't find sanctuary here. Though I've known that all along. Genki already hates me. I can't see him accepting the others just out of spite and pettiness.

Beckett nods once to me before following Dauphine and her guards. I glance behind, see the others of our group remain at the door under guard. Poppy walks next to me, the puppies in her arms while the dog stays at my left.

I know what Genki will say before we even come to stand before him, before Beckett opens his mouth.

"No," Genki says when Beckett asks for acceptance into his group. "I've too many mouths to feed as it is."

"They are strong," Dauphine argues, "and only a few. They could be of value."

"They bring nothing with them." Genki scowls at me. "Nothing but trouble." He likes his little throne, it seems. He squirms sideways on it, crossing his spindly legs. "I don't want trouble."

I see Beckett glance at his sister before looking around. I can almost feel his will breaking, his strength draining out of him. He will sacrifice himself for her security, I know it.

Before he has the chance to say anything, one of the puppies whimpers. Poppy strokes it to help it settle, but Genki's attention is caught. Not just his. Suddenly, everyone stares at Poppy.

"What does she have there?" Genki gestures for one of his guards, but the moment the boy tries to approach I block him.

"None of your business." Fury ripples into calm. They can feed each other, these two emotions. Perfect.

"It's my business. You've brought it here."

I shrug. "You don't want us. We owe you nothing."

I see Dauphine shake her head slightly and know it's foolish to challenge Genki, but I can't stand the idea of him even seeing the puppies. Poppy slowly pulls back the jacket, exposing the waking babies.

Genki leaps to his feet and surges toward us. "You have something to offer," he says with a sick grin. "You've brought dinner."

The dog barks once, leaping in front of me and Poppy, teeth glistening in the light, puffed out, appearing to increase in size. Genki stops, fear crossing his face before he scowls and points at the big golden lab.

"Kill it."

They don't get the chance. I lash out, left and right, bringing his guards to the ground. It's over so quickly Genki can only gape. Yes, there are more surrounding us, but none seem eager to attack. Have I acted wrongly, put us in more danger? Perhaps. But it's worth it to see the absolute fear I've instilled in the hideous redhead.

"How dare you?" Dauphine surges forward. "You reject these people then propose to attack them and steal from them?" She seems to look around her, words ringing from the rafters. Everyone shifts, uncomfortable, their shock and growing outrage diffused by guilt. She's incredible and I owe her my life, I know it.

Genki slinks back a pace. "I might reconsider," he said.

She snorts, magnificent in her power. "You are weak, Genki," she says. "And you grow weaker by the day, obsessed with hoarding your treasures while your people suffer and starve."

A murmur of unhappiness. They agree with her.

"I take care of you!" Genki shouts back. "You would have nothing without me."

"No," Dauphine says with a powerful shake of her head, long black hair whipping to the side. "You would be nothing without us." Again the whisper of agreement. "We do your bidding, scrounge for you. And you sit here and hand out the leftovers while you hoard the best of what we bring."

They are angry now, his people. Very angry. She has an ability, would make an incredible orator. She owns them. And from the look on Genki's face, he knows it.

"Dauphine." It's a whine, a weak sound, reminds me of one of the puppies. "I'm trying to protect what we have."

"You are trying to protect what you have, Genki." She turns away. "And I'm tired of it." She grasps for me, pulls me along with her. "I'm tired of you and your selfish ways."

I glance back over my shoulder. He is staring, shocked. "You can't!"

"I am!" She keeps me walking. "Goodbye, Genki."

"Stop her, hold them, do something!" He shouts behind us. The crowd is sluggish to obey, swaying, eyes locked on their seer. She is leaving them. I can feel their fear rise in a wave, crash toward us. She is the real leader here and they won't let her go.

We are almost to the exit. I see the doorway. But the crowd gathers behind us, coming toward us. They want their seer back.

"We may not make it." Dauphine's whisper is full of fear. "I'm sorry."

It's not her fault. I feel my anger burning, the wick of it raging suddenly with fire. I pull free of her, let the others pass, turn to face the approaching crowd. Beckett tugs at my arm, frantic, but I refuse to be afraid.

Genki surges through the group, bursts through, comes face to face with me. I see him flinch, watch as he grabs one of the boys beside him, shoves him toward me. My rage builds to a bonfire, threaded through with the calm. As the boy stumbles into me, a knife outstretched, time stops completely.

Three.

Two.

One.

Time inhales as the fire reaches the surface of my skin. I grasp the boy by the face, blocking his weak blow with the knife and shove him backwards. My skin tingles where our flesh meets. He staggers away, blade falling to the floor from suddenly nerveless fingers. I stare, the calm enveloping me as he reaches up with shaking hands and touches his face.

What's left of his face. He melts, crumbles, skin breaking out in giant welts joining together, bursting suddenly forth, pus and blood spewing outward like poison rain drops. He collapses to his knees, the skin peeling from his flesh, eyeballs swelling until they too explode in a shower of viscous fluid. I can't bring myself to care or register anything.

The calm goes on.

He dies with a final gurgle, clear liquid flowing out of his mouth to coat his shirtfront before he falls forward on his face, dead. I hear screaming, watch the crowd behind the boy spin and run, meet Genki's eyes as he stares at me in absolute horror.

I turn away. We're safe now. The calm fades, leaves me unbalanced for a moment, but not as much as the fear I see in Poppy's eyes. Before I can reach for her she turns and runs out the door into the street.

***