Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“I’m sure they don’t, but it’s your life. Shouldn’t you have a say in it? Why should your father spend all his time training a new generation when he neglects the one in front of him, his own child? I bet it would be different if you were a son.”
Kala chuckled, but there was no amusement behind it. “Hah, my brothers aren’t ever going to work intelligence. They have zero interest in what’s happening in the world beyond their video games.”
“Yet I bet your dad would teach them if they asked him to. You are a smart girl, Kala Taggart. You could be someone great. You can be one of the real people of this world.”
“Real people?”
“The ones who aren’t asleep. Most of the people in this world look away from what’s real. They don’t understand the truths of humanity. They don’t really live. You don’t have to be one of them. You can see the world as it is.” It occurred to her that Kala Taggart might be important someday. It wouldn’t be terrible to make a connection. It was obvious Kala struggled to fit into her parents’ suburban paradise. “I was a lot like you as a kid.”
“I doubt it.”
“No, I was. Tell me if I’m wrong. Your sisters are far more popular than you are. Your mother’s always worried. At least she calls it worry, but it feels more like she’s embarrassed. They have much easier relationships with the others. Sometimes you wish you didn’t exist at all. It would be easier on everyone else if you didn’t.”
Kala looked away.
Julia softened her tone. “I understand you because I was you. And I’m here to tell you screw making things easier on people. Other people don’t matter. For all it’s worth, they don’t truly exist except to serve your needs. You can be a god in this world. All it takes is belief. You are smarter than they are so they don’t count.”
Kala’s eyes found hers. “I am not like you.”
But she could see she’d hit a nerve. A live nerve that flinched when brushed against. Yes, there was a spark inside Kala that could grow if she let it. She’d had the thought that she was superior. “Like I said before, you haven’t earned any titles yet. And if you don’t want to be like me, why bother going into intelligence work? So you can be like Daddy?”
Kala’s jaw went tight. “My father is a hero.”
“Some would say. It’s all about point of view, isn’t it? That’s what I’m trying to tell you. When reality is flexible, we can all be heroes. We can all get what we need.” She didn’t see why this was so hard. “When you no longer care what other people think, you’re free. When other people don’t matter at all, you’re completely free to remake the world the way you want it. Some people would call that evil, but evil is a word used by the weak. You and I don’t have to use that word. All that matters in the world we make is that we get what we want. Think about it, kid. Once you let yourself be who you were born to be, you won’t sit around and worry why you’re not like your sister.”
Ah, there was the second set of tears. Yes. She could break this girl’s sad ties to a senseless morality the world tried to force on her. It was the gift her father had given her.
“Kala?” Kyle raced into the room, nothing but a towel wrapped around his lean hips.
That was such a glorious man. She deserved him.
Kala’s face screwed up in an expression of utter horror. “Eww. Where are your clothes? Eww. Maybe I don’t need pizza. Eww.”
She stalked out, and thankfully Julia caught sight of John striding after her. Kyle’s guard moved in, watching him with expressionless eyes.
Kyle turned on her. “I thought she wasn’t going to be left alone with the guards.”
“I was with her almost the whole time.” She wanted to reach for him, to put hands on him. “She convinced her guard to let her come to the kitchen and then she stole the butcher knife. Don’t worry. I got here before she hurt herself. Now I’ve had John order her pizza. Honestly, she’ll remember this whole thing as a fun party because she hasn’t been hurt. She could use a shower though.”
Kyle started to go around her.
“Kyle, seriously, I’m not going to hurt the girl. Shouldn’t I get some credit for that? I’m trying.”
His brows rose. “Are you fucking kidding me? You want credit for not beating the shit out of a teenaged girl? That’s a pretty low bar, Julia.”
Anger rose. She’d been practically perfect to this man. “Watch how you talk to me. You have to know that even if you somehow manage to get away, I’m done playing. You’ll honor your promises to me, or I’ll send all the information I have on your crimes to anyone who’ll listen. How will your precious parents feel when you’re outed as a double agent? I can have you brought up on treason charges. How will your heroic stepfather feel about you tarnishing the Taggart name?”