I’d thought earlier about how the conference room had felt too empty, but how it would feel too full if everyone was present.

This was that weird middle ground, I decided. Not a middle ground where the porridge was just right, but one where it was both too hot and too cold. Fucking uncomfortable.

Chicken Little had a pigeon in his hands, and Kenzie was fitting something around its neck and chest. One of the Heartbroken—Candy, I was pretty sure—was sitting on the edge of Kenzie’s desk, feet propped up on the back and front edge of Chicken Little’s chair. Dark hair, braided close to the scalp at one side, the rest left as a tumble. Darlene knelt on the floor by Chicken Little, holding the cage with more birds inside.

Others were scattered around the room. Some boys were in Chris’s old corner, having found and started up some of his old games. One had been given to Kenzie—it wasn’t a video game player, but a scanner. She would dismantle it later.

Older Heartbroken were scattered in with a trio of mercenaries, and were managing some of the remaining Heartbroken. A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old with really long, wavy hair was stepping on a leather whip she’d wound around one girl’s hands, keeping the hands pressed to the floor.

Eerie, to think about where they came from and how very dangerous they were.

A hell of a lot of emotional firepower.

On the topic of firepower, Ashley was present, sitting on the floor with her legs tucked under her. When we hadn’t been sharing info as a group, she had been talking quietly to the little girl that was Kenzie’s age who had her hands bound by the whip.

Parian and Foil sat on plastic cases with perishable foods inside. Tattletale stood off to one side, a healthy distance from the dangerous little ones, looking at various screens.

“New Cauldron, same as the old Cauldron,” Sveta said.

“They have less resources. And they rule Gimel,” Tattletale said. “Different mission statement now. From getting through the end of the world to surviving the aftermath.”

“When you put it that way, you make it sound like they’re on our side,” Precipice said.

“New Cauldron, same as the old Cauldron,” Tattletale said, indicating Sveta, who she’d borrowed the line from. “Doing things that everyone should be unambiguously on board for and making every enemy possible along the way.”

“Great,” I said. “Countenance and I exchanged a few texts while we drove back. Relay gave him a quick recap and he reached out. He sounds…”

“Undecided?” Byron-as-Capricorn asked.

“On the positive side of undecided. Agreeable but yet to say he’s sure he’ll do it. They’ll try to look after and stall any plans for the mercenaries and what they’re planning with the time bubbles. If we catch up or figure out why while we’re dealing with the mercenaries’ allies, we use that info to help them wrap up.”