Immortal City

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“RIGHT HERE!” “RIGHT HERE!” “RIGHT HERE, DARLING!” “WHAT’S YOUR NAME?!” “GIVE US A SMILE!” “GIVE US A SMILE, BEAUTIFUL!” “OVER THE SHOULDER NOW!” “OVER THE SHOULDER!”

The shouts of the paparazzi were so startling, and the explosion of light so astonishing, that Maddy almost fell right back into the car seat. She wobbled in her heels as she steadied herself with the car door, then tried her best to manage a smile. She turned to look for Jacks but was met with only more blinding flashes from the other side of the car. She was surrounded. Trapped in a prison of unwanted attention like some kind of zoo animal. As she tried to take a shaky step forward, the paparazzi shouts gave way to questions screamed at her by camcorder-wielding journalists.

“IS THAT YOU IN THE PICTURE?!” “ARE YOU JACKSON’S MYSTERY GIRL?!” “HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE DATING AN ANGEL?!” “WHEN’S THE WEDDING, HONEY?!”

Maddy stumbled again and reached a hand back for the car door, but the attendant had closed it, and the car was gone. Her eyes darted, searching wildly for an escape.

She looked to the sidewalk and saw crowds of hysterical fans crashing against metal barricades like the waves of some violent sea. Their focus had instantly shifted from Steven and Sierra Churchson, brother and sister twins who were both getting Commissioned this year, to Jacks and Maddy. The Churchsons gave an annoyed glance back toward Jacks and began moving down the carpet. The crowds were screaming something at Maddy she couldn’t make out and reaching for her with a thousand desperate hands.

Maddy was suddenly certain that if they could get to her, they would simply swallow her up. Camera shutters whirred on automatic. Flashes exploded like relentless lightning.

The screams of fans rang in her ears. All of a sudden she felt the ground begin to move under her feet, rolling like the deck of a ship. Voices echoed now, coming to her as if she were underwater. As if she were drowning. The world spun, and she willed herself to move forward one final time. When she felt the toe of her heel catch on the curb, she was sure, at last, she was going to go down.

A hand reached out and grabbed her firmly by the arm.

It was Jacks.

“You okay?” he yelled over the roar.

Maddy nodded weakly.

“Come on, this way,” he encouraged, and led her stumbling up the carpet.

Maddy used Jacks’s arm to steady herself as she tried to reassemble the splintered pieces of her consciousness.

She kept her head down, but whenever she had to look up, she met pair after pair of disbelieving eyes. They couldn’t all be staring at her, could they? After a moment, a woman wearing a pantsuit and a scowl marched up to them.

“Where have you been?” she said to Jacks. “They’re about to close the carpet and the Angels Weekly bitch is breathing down my neck. You have a two-hour commit-ment, by the way, don’t forget that.” Then she turned and assessed Maddy coldly. “Who’s this?”

“Darcy, this is Maddy,” Jacks said, smiling so warmly at Maddy he seemed to glow. “Maddy, this is Darcy, my publicist.” Darcy’s eyes flickered over Maddy’s dress, shoes, and hair. Then she stuck out her hand.

“Hi, Maddy. Nice to meet you.”

Maddy attempted a polite smile. “Nice to—” but Darcy had already turned back to Jacks.

“You have to do the A! interview. And please do the gifting suite after, and actually take something this time.”

She looked at her Berry. “Come on; we need to hurry.” She took Jacks by the arm and led him through the crowd.

Maddy followed, trying her best to keep up. She could hear the woman hissing something at Jacks, something like, “You couldn’t have told me first so I could have at least done some damage control?” They approached a large white wall with the Angels Weekly logo repeated over and over on it and a firing squad of photographers and TV cameras standing directly opposite. Jacks turned and reached his hand back for Maddy.

“Come on!” he said.

“Jacks, no—” Maddy protested, but with seemingly no effort at all he took her by the arm and pulled her in front of the wall with him.

A blistering explosion of light followed.

Then more shouting: Together! Individual! Together again! They wanted to know who Maddy was wearing. The question made no sense to her whatsoever, so she didn’t try and answer. Instead she focused on staying upright in her heels. After pictures Darcy led them quickly down the carpet and past the press line.

“No press. We’re skipping the press,” she said, waving off the reporters giving her dirty looks. Maddy wondered if the sudden change of plans had anything to do with her. She had the sinking feeling it did. “I’ll just deal with this tomorrow,” Darcy muttered. “We’ll tell them—”

“Jacks!” A voice cut through the clamor behind them.

Even Maddy recognized it. The three turned.

It was Tara Reeves of A! She was wearing a bedazzled gown cut up the side to expose her tanned leg and Jimmy Choo heels. She pressed her hands together like she was praying and gave Jacks a pleading expression.

“We’re not doing press, Jackson,” Darcy said sternly.

Yeah, Jacks, Maddy mentally chimed in agreement, we don’t need to.

“Come on, Tara’s really sweet,” he said, and pulled Maddy over to the waiting camera crew. Darcy pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead and made a face like a silent scream.

“The destination for young Angel City tonight,” Tara announced, doing her bubbly lead-in, “this is Angels Weekly’s Pre-Commissioning party in honor of this year’s class of nominees — and especially Jackson Godspeed!” She turned to Jacks and Maddy. “And here is the star of the evening himself! Hi, Jacks!”

“Hi, Tara, very happy to be here,” Jacks said, sounding impossibly relaxed.

“So is tonight the night to cut loose and celebrate?”

“Yes, it is. It’s really an honor to see everyone out to support me.”

Maddy wondered if she might pass for Darcy’s assistant or some other type of attendant who was clearly not intended, or expected, to speak. It would be perfectly fine with her to stand silently next to Jacks like a piece of furniture until the interview was done, thank you very much. But then, without warning, Tara turned toward her.

“And who is your gorgeous date for the evening, Jacks?” No one had ever called Maddy gorgeous before. The cameraman pointed the camera at her and focused his lens.

Maddy died inside.

“This is Maddy,” Jacks said, smiling.

“Well, Maddy, how are you?” Tara beamed.

“I’m. . super,” she answered lamely. She barely got the words out, and her voice sounded strange and gravelly.

“And who are you wearing tonight? This vintage dress is so cute.” Maddy blinked. There was that question again. It was absurd. She was wearing clothes, wasn’t she? She was certainly not wearing a person.

“W-well,” she stammered, “this was my mother’s dress.”

“Oh,” Tara chirped, and raised her penciled eyebrows.

“Isn’t that sweet?” Darcy made a circling motion with her finger, telling Tara to wrap it up. Tara gave a big, bleached-white smile. “Well, there you have it, ladies and gentlemen, Jackson Godspeed, the world’s most eligible young Angel, making the most of his time before he becomes Guardian Jackson Godspeed this weekend!” Tara thanked Jacks, and Maddy felt a hand on her back. Darcy led them quickly off the carpet.

As they walked through the doors of the SLS Hotel, Maddy felt her purse buzz. She discreetly pulled out her ancient flip phone and looked at it.

It was a text from Gwen. It read:

Watching the Pre-Commissioning coverage. Am I insane? Is that YOU?

Maddy felt a curl of nausea in her stomach. If Gwen had seen it, everybody had probably seen it. How was she going to explain this to her best friend? Or Kevin? Or anybody else, for that matter?

“Do you need to take that?” Jacks asked, noticing the phone.

“No, it’s nothing,” Maddy said, and quickly hid the phone back in her purse.

Darcy took a hard right at the lobby and led Maddy and Jacks into a dimly lit room lined with booths. At a folding table they were checked in and given large, empty bags.

“What’s this for?” Maddy whispered to Jacks.

“You’ll see,” Jacks said, grinning, and led her to the first booth. The station was set up in front of a wall of Nike Wings athletic shoes. The girl behind the counter was a pretty Asian in a strapless top and latex knee-high boots.

She looked Jacks up and down as they approached, then leaned over and said hello with her entire body. Jacks didn’t seem to notice.

“Do you have women’s sizes?” he asked.

“Of course,” the girl said, and turned unhappily to Maddy. “What size are you, love?”

“Oh. I’m a six, but. .” Maddy trailed off and flushed deep red. “I didn’t bring my wallet.” She couldn’t afford Nike Wings anyway. Gwen had saved up for two months last year to buy a pair. They were $250. The girl behind the counter smiled tightly as she pulled down a box and handed it to Maddy.

“They’re free, honey,” she said, smirking. Maddy took the box and looked at it. She now owned a brand-new pair of Nike Wings. Her shoes normally came from Payless. It was surreal.

Jacks smiled at the girl, who melted, and then led Maddy toward the next booth.

“Sorry,” Maddy said, impossibly embarrassed, “I didn’t realize.”

Jacks’s expression was warm. “It’s okay. I should have explained what they mean by gifting suite. Just take whatever you want.” Maddy stopped and gazed around the room. Cameras, jewelry, watches, phones, perfume, on and on and on. Every major brand name and luxury brands too.

“It’s all. . free?”

“Of course it is.”

“B-but,” Maddy stammered, “you of all people can afford this stuff.”

“I know, but look at it from their perspective. If I get photographed with any of these products, do you know how much that’s worth to these companies? It can mean hundreds of thousands — even millions — of dollars in additional sales.” Jacks was looking at her keenly, as if needing her approval.

“Oh,” Maddy said, feeling numb and shell-shocked.

She understood the logic, but something about it seemed so wrong. So unfair. Jacks took her around to every booth, filling her bag with the latest gadgets and accessories. It was everything Kevin could never afford to get her. They reached the last booth and Maddy’s eyes grew wide. There was something she really needed. Jacks saw her expression and smiled.

“She’ll take one,” he said.

The kid behind the booth set it up instantly, even calling in and activating the service. Then he handed Maddy her own brand-new BlackBerry Miracle. Maddy couldn’t believe it. Gwen wouldn’t stop talking about this phone, and it wouldn’t even be out for another six months. She opened the clutch of her purse and dropped it in, along with her ancient flip phone.

“For nostalgia’s sake,” she said, clicking the clutch shut. They left the room and found Darcy waiting for them outside. Jacks handed Maddy’s bag over to Darcy. He himself had taken nothing.

“Okay,” Darcy said, shouldering the heavy swag bag and typing on her Berry, “you guys good? Vivian needs me inside.”

“Yeah, we can take it from here,” Jacks said, nodding.

“Nice to meet you again, Maddy,” Darcy said without looking up, and then sped away, face in her Berry.

Vivian. The name echoed in Maddy’s head, and she was surprised to feel a stab of jealousy twist through her.

“Vivian Holycross is here?” she asked.

Jacks shrugged. “Yeah, just a. . friend. We share the same publicist.” Maddy nodded uneasily. But Jacks smiled his hypnotizing smile at her, and Maddy couldn’t help but feel good and smile back, Vivian or not.

Jacks stuck his arm out, she took it, and he led her back down the hallway, toward the noise and commotion of the party.

Halfway down the hallway, Sierra Churchson emerged from a bathroom, her twin brother waiting outside for her.

Her face instantly turned dark. She was a lithe beauty; her wings were notorious for their resemblance to butterflies’.

Jacks pulled Maddy a little closer to his side. Sierra leaned toward Jacks and whispered something in his ear Maddy couldn’t fully make out. She thought she caught the word star. Confusion crossed his face.

Sierra sauntered away, her hips sliding smoothly under her four-thousand-dollar dress.

“What’d she say?” Maddy asked.

“Something strange. . Never mind,” Jacks said, leading Maddy down the hallway. He tried to put a smile on his face to put her at ease. “Ready?”

For Maddy, stepping into the party was literally like crossing into another world. It was, without a doubt, the strangest place she had ever been. The room was a kind of lounge furnished with mismatched lime-green and orange couches, deer-antler chandeliers, and pink and white chairs of every shape and description. There were life-size plastic pigs for tables and horses for lamps. Nothing matched, and the more Maddy looked, nothing made any sense either.

And then, there were the mirrors. They hung everywhere, in every different shape and size, reflecting warped and twisted images of the passing guests. Like they were inside some kind of gigantic fun house.

Jacks’s presence seemed to fill the party immediately.

Angels offered hearty congratulations and posed with him for pictures. Maddy recognized faces she had seen on billboards during her walks to school and on ANN at the diner.

They were all actually here now , and so close she could reach out and touch them.

Jacks took Maddy over to where a long serving table had been laid. Even the buffet was bizarre . There was food to drink and drinks to chew. Trays of desserts had been set out that looked more like modern art than anything edible.

All around Maddy, the Angels indulged themselves. They munched on foie gras cotton candy and devoured drizzly, melting bonbons. They toasted one another and let the drinks spill over their lips and drip down their chins. A waitress offered Maddy a frozen cocktail that was literally smoking, which she took and then discreetly set down on a pig.

Jacks looked over at Maddy. “Do you like it?”

Maddy saw there were a few humans, Protections. She thought she recognized Sarah, last year’s American Protection winner, standing around awkwardly, no one talking to her. None of the humans were with the Angels like Maddy was. They were hanging out, but there still seemed to be a bright line of separation between them and the Immortals.

Just getting invited as a Protection would be enough, though, to get blog coverage that Gwen would’ve killed for.

“Godspeed, get over here!” a burly voice called out from the bar.

“Come on,” Jacks said to Maddy, lighting up. “I want to introduce you to someone.”

Over at the bar Jacks embraced an athletic-looking Angel with dark, glassy eyes and a great smile. Maddy found it slightly overwhelming, how good-looking they all were.

“Where have you been, man?” Mitch asked, his tone slightly rebellious. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“I want you to meet someone,” Jacks said. He turned to Maddy. “Mitch, meet Maddy. Maddy, this is my best friend, Mitch.” The Angel looked at Maddy with an expression that bordered at first on sheer bewilderment. His eyes searched hers, as if trying to place her. Finally, he gave a half-smile and reached out his hand.

“Hi, Maddy,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you.” His tone was polite but guarded.

“It’s really nice to meet you too,” Maddy said. But as she shifted her gaze, she saw Mitch shoot a quick, questioning glance at Jacks. Maddy wondered what that meant.

“Mitch and I go all the way back to Basic Flying together,” Jacks said. “But seriously, I don’t know why I keep this guy around sometimes.” Jacks threw his arm around Mitch and punched him hard on the shoulder.

“It’s because I keep the world’s most famous Angel sane, believe me, Maddy,” Mitch said. “Jacks is like a brother to me.”

Across the room, Steven and Sierra were talking to a few of the other nominees. In contrast to Sierra, Steven was squat and muscular, looking almost military. The twins noticed Jackson, and brother and sister gave an irritated glance back toward Jacks. They moved away in the room with a few of the other soon-to-be Guardians.

“Sierra just told me, ‘can’t wait for your star.’ What was that supposed to mean? She was serious too, almost crazy, you should’ve seen her eyes,” Jacks said to Mitch.

“Don’t worry about them, bro,” Mitch said. “They’re just mad because rumor is Sierra might get posted to Korea for her first two years before being able to come back to Angel City as a full Guardian. Oh yeah, and the fact that the NAS is promoting you every chance they get. Can’t win ’em all.” Mitch smiled and signaled to the bartender. “Well, now that you’re here, dude, let’s get some shots and celebrate. Maddy, are you joining us?”

Maddy shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m not drinking tonight.” She had decided earlier she already had enough to deal with without getting drunk for the first time.

Mitch shrugged, appearing almost relieved, and turned to Jacks.

“Ah, me neither,” Jacks said. “I think Maddy and I are just going to. . walk around a bit. But I’ll catch up to you later, man. Cool?”

Surprise flickered across Mitch’s face, followed by what seemed like a flash of jealousy and finally concern.

“All right. . have fun, you two,” he said mechanically.

They said their goodbyes and turned to leave. Maddy froze.

Walking up to her was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen.

Maddy stared in awe at the approaching Angel in her Chanel sequined black-chain dress and matching Chanel shoes. She didn’t even know it was possible to be so. . perfect. From her flawless skin to her elegant, imposing figure to her shampoo-commercial hair and piercing green eyes, she was so radiant she was almost glowing with supernatural splendor. There was no mistaking her. It was Vivian Holycross. Even with her cheeks stained with tears and mascara, Vivian was the most magnificent creature Maddy had ever seen.

“What do you think you’re doing here?” Vivian hissed at Maddy as she stormed up.

“Hey, Viv,” Jacks said, startled. His glance flashed to Vivian’s swollen, furious eyes. “Let me introduce you to Maddy—”

Vivian ignored him. “Take a look around yourself, Maddy,” she snarled. “You’re not one of us, are you? You don’t belong here. Why don’t you just save yourself the embarrassment and leave?”

Maddy was a statue. Her total awe of this girl had mixed with her panic and the result was utter paralysis.

“Hey, relax, Vivian,” Jacks said, his tone angry. “I invited her.”

Vivian took a step forward and sneered in Maddy’s face. “Do have any idea what’s going on here? Or how important this all is? Jacks will be saving lives starting Friday.

As a Guardian Angel. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

Jacks stepped forward to put a stop to Vivian’s attack but stopped when he saw Maddy’s face. Maddy had leveled a gaze of such quiet confidence at Vivian that the lady Angel instinctively took a step backward.

“Well, let’s see,” Maddy said, anger loosening her tongue. The words just came. “I know Jacks brought me here tonight and that he didn’t bring you. I also know that I met Jacks before I knew he was a famous Angel, and now that I do know, I still don’t care. And that’s because I like him for him, not because he’s a celebrity and not because he’s going to do wonders for my publicity. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Viv?”

Jacks looked like he was working to suppress a smile.

Vivian’s expression twisted with hate. Then she looked at Jacks, and her face softened. “You know what, Jacks? I get this, too. A little scandalous fling before all the responsibility, right? Fine. Have fun.” She scoffed. “But remember, once you get that Divine Ring, you’re mine.” Then a smile crept across her lips, and she turned to Maddy. “And Maddy? If you’re hoping to become his Protection someday, just trust me,” she said, and smirked at Maddy’s outfit, “you can’t afford him.” With that she spun on her heel and was gone.

“That went well,” Mitch said. He must have heard the whole thing. “I’ll make sure Vivian doesn’t kill anyone,” he said, and disappeared into the crowd.

“I’m sorry,” Jacks said, taking Maddy’s elbow and shaking his head. “Vivian gets kind of jealous.”

Maddy stared incredulously. “Vivian is jealous of me?” She looked at her hands and was surprised to realize they were shaking. The realization of what had happened was still only just sinking in. Vivian might be a fantastic bitch, but Maddy knew she was probably right.

“I shouldn’t have come,” she said finally.

“What?” Jacks’s face darkened in frustration. “Listen to me, Maddy. You belong here because I say you belong here, and in case you didn’t notice, this is my party. Please,”

he said, more softly, “don’t let it ruin your night. In fact, I’m going to make sure it doesn’t. Come on.”

“Where?” Maddy asked, but Jacks had already taken her by the hand and was pulling her toward a crowd of Angels in another part of the room. A DJ was spinning in one corner, and all of a sudden Maddy’s heels were clacking against a wooden floor. She looked down. It was a dance floor.

“Dance with me,” Jacks said.

Maddy’s heart boomed like a thunderclap. She had never, in truth, danced with a boy before. At her middle school commencement she had let Tom Watson hold her by his fingertips, and they had swayed back and forth to “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” but she wasn’t going to count that.

“Jacks, I can’t,” she insisted. “I don’t know how.”

“It’s easy,” he assured her. “Just follow me.”

The Angel took her in his arms. She felt his hands trace around the curves of her hips and meet at the small of her back. Then he pulled her into his body, and she lost all resistance. It was irresistible. Maddy’s breath came is shallow gasps as she breathed him in. She had to reach up on her toes to wrap her arms around his shoulders and then lace her fingers around his neck. Jacks stepped smoothly and began to lead her, and to Maddy’s astonishment, she followed. It was nothing like she thought it would be. It was somehow, impossibly, effortless.

And they were dancing.

She couldn’t feel the floor anymore, but she didn’t need to. There was something instinctive, almost inevitable about the way she was moving with him. Even other Angels had stopped and were watching them now. There was no denying it — Maddy and Jacks were a vision. Like they were supposed to be holding on to each other. Like they were meant to be.

Jacks pulled back from her, just slightly. “You look so beautiful,” he said softly, his eyes dancing in the light. He brought her close again.

Maddy felt that same electricity beginning to move through her, just like the energy she had sensed in the back room of the diner and when the two of them had gone flying. From Jacks’s glinting eyes, which he never took away from hers, she could tell he felt it as well.

Yet something was different this time. Somehow, something had changed. As much as she might try, Maddy was surprised to realize she couldn’t completely let herself go, lose herself in the moment.

Was it Vivian’s words still ringing in her ears? Maybe.

But if she was honest with herself, it was more than just that. It was everything about the night — the decadent party, Mitch’s distrustful expression, even the discussion in the car on the way over. Something was wrong about the whole situation. Or at least, there was something wrong about her in it. Vivian’s words reverberated in her head. You don’t belong here.

As much as she hated herself for it, she couldn’t help but agree. She unlaced her fingers from around Jacks’s neck.

“What wrong?” Jacks asked, his eyes still drunk with the electricity of their connection.

“Why did you invite me here, Jacks?” Maddy asked.

“Tell me the truth.”

Jacks looked at her with a questioning expression.

“Remember? I told you I would help you get out a little. You know, live life.” He gestured around the room, smiling to her. “It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Maddy bit her lip. He reached for her, but she stepped away from him.

“I’m sorry,” she said abruptly, “I just. I can’t do this.”

She turned without meeting his gaze and walked quickly away.

She didn’t know where she was going, or even really why. She just had to get out. She saw the twinkling patio through the back door with its shimmering, turquoise pool and headed toward it. She had just gotten outside when Jacks caught up to her.

“What’s wrong?” he said, spinning her around. “Is this still about what Vivian said?”

“It’s the truth, Jacks,” Maddy said bitterly. “I don’t care what Vivian thinks. . but she’s not exactly wrong, is she? We’re different. We don’t see things the same way.”

Jacks’s eyes searched Maddy’s face. “What do you mean?”

“Well, first of all, don’t you see how unfair all this is?”

she blurted. “How selfish? Do you think everyone lives this way?”

“No, of course I don’t!” he said. He spun his arm to the party. “But it’s part of my Commissioning, Maddy. This is how it’s always done. I don’t have any control over it. And besides”—his expression grew hurt—“you’re making it sound like this is all somehow a bad thing, when Angels are the greatest force for good in the entire world.”

“Yeah, maybe for executives and their kids!” she countered. “Certainly not for anyone I know.”

Jacks felt punched in the gut. He had been trying so hard to show her something — how he felt. And she was throwing it in his face yet again.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” Maddy said. Jacks remained silent, bowing his head slowly and turning away.

Sounds from the party inside filled the silence. After a few moments he spoke.

“Honestly, Maddy, sometimes I really don’t get you. I take you out to a party anyone else would kill to go to, and you’re unhappy about it.” He shook his head. “In fact, you think the whole thing is unfair. There’s no pleasing you.”

“Would you save me, Jacks?”

It came out in a rush.

All of a sudden Maddy realized it was the nagging she had felt deep inside her. It was this single question. It had been gnawing at her ever since he had come to pick her up earlier in the night.

Jacks’s eyes darted to hers, intent, then looked away.

“If you were my Protection, yes.”

“No. As I am now, tonight,” Maddy pressed. “If something were to happen, would you save me?” When she spoke again, her voice was gravelly and raw. “Would you come for me, Jackson?”

He just stood there. Maddy watched a procession of emotions move across Jacks’s face like rolling thunder.

Anger. Annoyance. Doubt. Even sadness?

Finally, he spoke.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t work that way, Maddy,” he murmured.

The words cut like a knife.

“It’s just not allowed,” Jacks said, carefully. “As Angels our duty is to our Protections.”

Maddy blinked back the first threat of tears.

“Protections? You mean rich people,” she muttered.

“This isn’t even up to me. It’s just the way things are,”

Jacks said.

“That’s ridiculous!” she shrieked. “It’s your choice!”

“It’s not! Look, if we just went around saving random people. .” He paused, his eyes burning. “I mean, my family has to eat too, you know!”

“Your family eats all too well,” Maddy snapped.

“Do you think this is a game?” he said, his tone low and intense. The frustration and bitterness welled up quickly. “Tomorrow I’m being Commissioned, and I’m no longer just Jackson Godspeed. Or even just an Angel. I’m a Guardian. I have people’s lives in my hands. Do you have any idea of the responsibility that comes with that? Or the pressure?”

“What I know,” Maddy said curtly, “is that if I could do what you do, I would use my power to help as many people as I could. I wouldn’t use it to get rich.” A few traitor-ous tears spilled over her cheeks, and she wiped them quickly away. “I would save people because it’s the right thing to do.” Her smile was bittersweet. “I guess that’s what makes me human.”

“Maddy,” Jacks said, his voice like stone, “you don’t know what they would do to me.”

“I don’t care,” she said hatefully. She could feel the rage welling up inside her, an uncontrollable anger, and if she didn’t get out of there quickly, who knew what might happen. With fury coursing through her veins, she made up her mind and glared at him. “I’m sorry, Jacks, I shouldn’t have come tonight. The truth is I don’t want anything to do with any of this, and that has to include you. If you were ever my friend at all, you’ll stay away from me and just leave me alone.”

“You don’t—” Jacks began to speak, his eyes in pain as he looked at the girl across from him, but then he stopped himself. He was quiet for a moment, then nodded. His face was bleak and unreadable. “You’re right,” he said. “I guess it’s for the best. To tell you the truth, I really don’t know why I bothered anyway.” His words twisted in her gut.

Maddy turned without saying anything else and ran.

She ran through the party and then out to the front of the hotel. The glamorous arrival had long since closed, and workers were now unceremoniously unstapling the red 267/587

carpet and rolling it up. Maddy spotted a lone taxi sitting along the curb and ran to it.

She waited until they had pulled away from the hotel to let the real tears flow.