Armel Read online

  "Sorry, what was that?" I asked.

  "He was wondering," said the Qui, now leaning forward on the couch, "where the girl is. I know you're a Healer, Armel, and I know you killed that man, and I know you have the girl somewhere. Where is she?"

  Before I knew what I was doing, I was on my feet and sprinting toward the back door. Before I had gone ten feet, a hand on my shoulder spun me around while another grabbed the front of my shirt and lifted me into the air. Cold eyes bored into me from behind the steel helm.

  "Where's your lab, Armel?" His voice was deceptively soft.

  I didn't answer.

  "Miss Nairo? The lab, please?"

  I don't blame her for showing them the door. She must have been terrified, but I was sure I saw a little bit of defiance in her eyes as well. Part of her still believed I was innocent, and this was the way to prove it.

  I considered witholding the key, but my conscience got the better of me. I wouldn't be coming back to this place any time soon. Without the key, the girl would die. And though I did much in the name of research that others would find abhorrent, I wasn't a monster. Her death would serve no purpose for me, other than to weigh on my conscience.

  I drew the key from my shirt and unlocked the door.