Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards Read Free Book Online Page B

of the polling stations has been set up for the public vote today. I can’t
     believe we’re late. Of all the days to sleep in! I snatch a look over my shoulder.
     Two Sentry guards are walking a short distance behind us, guns slung over their shoulders.
     They followed us here from the church. Natalie glances at them too, frowning.
    “They’re not very subtle, are they?” she murmurs. “If they’re trying to intimidate
     us, it’s not working.”
    Yes it is.
    I tighten my grip on her hand, my mind racing with ways to protect her, if it comes
     down to it. I still haven’t decided which way I’m going to vote.
My guards will slice bits off her, piece by piece . . .
I look over my shoulder again. I can probably take on those two guards, but not the
     hundred others patrolling the town square. What am I going to do? I’m running out
     of time to make my decision.
    “Phoenix!”
    The three boys I saw playing in the street the other day run over to me, followed
     by their mom, Sally. She looks anxious and fidgety. Little Phoenix tugs at my jacket
     sleeve. I’m dressed in my Phoenix outfit today—LLF jacket, black pants and boots—as
     Roach requested, although I drew the line at putting on the makeup. Natalie’s wearing
     a pair of my pants and a shirt tied at the waist with a leather belt.
    “Good luck today,” Little Phoenix says.
    My stomach knots.
    “Leave him alone, boys,” Sally says, ushering them away. She doesn’t wave good-bye
     this time.
    Everyone’s tense, but I’m not surprised; this isn’t an ordinary day. On the rooftops
     of the buildings around us, giant digital screens broadcast live footage of the voting
     that’s happening in the other megastates across the United Sentry States. At the bottom
     of each screen is a graphic letting us know the results so far.
    It’s rare to have a vote done in public this way. Usually they’re secret ballots,
     but Purian Rose insisted on it, claiming he didn’t want Humans for Unity to “try any
     tricks” and fix the voting. That probably was
one
of his reasons. I’m guessing the other reason is he wants the whole nation to see
     me vote in favor of his segregation law.
    The polling station has been set up beside the three wooden crosses used to execute
     traitors. The middle cross still bears the scars of my torture and failed execution,
     the acacia wood blackened with soot, the cobbled ground forever stained with my blood.
     I look away.
    One of the benefits of the voting being done in public is that the Legion guards are
     able to watch from the Boundary Wall and report back to the other Darklings. They’re
     not allowed to vote themselves, nor are the Bastets or Lupines, as they’re not technically
     citizens of the United Sentry States. I’m only allowed to vote because I’m half human,
     and have a citizenship card. I can just picture them: whole families huddled together,
     waiting to hear their fate, relying on me.
Trusting
me.
    Also standing on the wall are Garrick and Sigur. A gold mask obscures Sigur’s scarred
     face, protecting him from the worst of the misty sunlight. It reminds me of the first
     time I saw him and Evangeline standing there, during his niece’s execution.
Evangeline.
Desire and grief jumble up inside me as I think about her, the girl who was meant
     to be my Blood Mate. I haven’t heard from her since she left Black City, in search
     of more twin-bloods. I have no idea if she’s still alive, although if anyone could
     make it on her own, it would be Evangeline.
    We finally reach the stage and find a frantic-looking Day waiting for us.
    “I was just on my way to get you,” she says. “Why are you so late?”
    “We slept in,” Natalie says.
    “You might want to come up with a better excuse than that,” Day says. “Roach is out
     for your blood. You were supposed to be meeting and greeting people hours ago.”
    “I know,” I say. Roach wanted me to help Humans for Unity drum up some last-minute