His eyes warn me that I should be afraid, but I’m not. A little worried, perhaps. But afraid? No.

Bernard face, glossed with tears, begs me to help him. And I want to. Desperately. Because whatever is waiting for Bernard isn’t good. People that get dragged away by a Higher are rarely seen again.

“Tell me,” the Higher says, in a thick voice. “What’s your name?”

My first instinct is to lie. But lying would reveal my flaws. And Highers hate flaws.

“Kayla.” My voice smoothes out like honey. Thank God.

His expression is impeccably unreadable. “And you’re a Bellator.”

I nod, even though it’s not a question. “I am.”

He presses his lips together and his gaze glides down the hall, at the line of people hovered against the brick wall, bowing their heads.

“Sunt cu ochii pe tine” Then he whisks his white robe across the floor, turning and descending down the hall, towing a helpless Bernard with him. I stand as still as a statue, knowing that somehow this is going to come back and bite me in the ass.

After the Higher has disappeared into the hospital, everyone scatters like rats, giving panicked glances in my direction. Discounting them, I start for my room. Nina catches up with me, a spring in her walk, as she loops her arm through mine.

“What was that all about?” She whispers, her brown eyes wide.

I shrug. “I have no idea.”

She swings around in front of me, her brown curls bouncing around her face. “Kayla, a Higher just spoke to you and you act like it’s no big deal.”

Nina’s nice enough, but she worries more than I’m comfortable with and being around her for long periods of time nearly kills me.

“It’s okay,” I lie. “He just wanted to know if Monarch was in the hospital.”

“Still, Kayla. He spoke to you, like actual words. That can’t be good.”

She’s right and I know it. But I can’t seem to work up any sort of fear about it.

“I’ll be okay.” I walk around her, calling over my shoulder. “I’ll meet you in the cafeteria later, okay.” Then I leave her and her worries far, far behind.