Page 105 of Tapeworld Induction

“The ChainMail,” she lied.

Astrid’s face brightened and her mouth fell open. “The Kingdom’s oldest surviving tabloid? I’m in shock. I can’t believe our night would be of interest to your propaganda machine.”

Dylan pretended to be coy, her voice a shy mumble. “I’m just a freelancer, really.”

Was Astrid probing because she already knew something? Or was this really just polite conversation?

At the back of her mind, Dylan worried that the grey shapes had reported on her, or perhaps Miss Kitty had been compromised and was really watching them for Astrid. Might they have sent information back to the Kings, or whoever they really worked for? She had to assume so, even if she hoped she didn’t recognise her.

“Good for you.” Astrid smiled, baring her teeth. “Well, I’ll be seeing you.” With a sharp twist of her feet, she was off, having lost interest in her prey.

Heart hammering, Dylan took a moment to breathe and convince herself that she could still do this. Not more than a couple of minutes had passed – and Dylan still hadn’t been able to tell Isaak or the others exactly what had happened – when Astrid spoke again, into a microphone this time. She addressed the whole gathering from the centre of the room, her voice booming with clarity. “Honoured guests! I hope you’re having a wonderful night.”

The revellers mumbled words of approval, accompanied by the clinking of glasses.

Next to a nearby clump of people, Dylan spotted Talia, a frown on her face. She made her way towards her, trying to be as casual as possible, smiling to random people as she passed.

“I hope you’re ready for a surprise,” Astrid continued. “It is my pleasure to unveil to you… the Crypterra Sleeper!” She stepped back a few steps and the room went dark but for a shaft of white light illuminating the spot in front of her, radiating from a large stage-lighting rig at the top of the room. A small platform lowered from above, twin metal cables attached to the sides. The platform held a grey dentist’s chair, headrest popped high, with a small metal table beside it.

There was a loud thunk as the platform banged on the marble floor, eliciting a few gasps from the audience.

Atop the table was a grey plastic headset, a souped-up version of the device they’d pried from Isaak’s head.

“Who would like to volunteer?” Astrid asked the gathering crowd. People were packing into the gallery room, the corridor that led out to the foyer busy with incoming interested guests.

Dylan pushed through the crowd, now as rabid as rich posh fucks could be after a few glasses of alcohol and snorts of whatever was being passed around, with a show on stage to entertain them. She made it to Talia.

They stood next to each other, both facing the centre of the room.

“What happened?” Talia asked at just above a whisper. “Did you talk to her?”

Dylan nodded. “She really is a bitch, but chill, Tal. I didn’t fuck it up. I played it cool…”

“Do you think she has any idea who you are?”

“I’m not sure. Gave her our cover story and she didn’t question it. At least, not out loud.”

Talia tutted and looked down at Dylan’s feet, encased in white thigh-high boots. “You don’t look like their kind of reporter… Should have thought of that earlier.”

Dylan shrugged, her gaze following Astrid, who was loving the attention. “This whole evening was just an excuse to bring this out.”

She relayed what was happening on the text group chat to Isaak and Sacha, keeping quiet to avoid drawing attention. Someone stepped forward from the crowd to try the device out. They didn’t look to be part of Astrid's or Taggart’s circle.

A few seconds later, he texted.

@isaak: just be careful, ok?

His worry was sweet, but Dylan was in control. A big gathering like this, Astrid wouldn’t dare do anything in front of all of these people, surely?

“And what’s your name?” Astrid’s face beamed under the spotlight, and Dylan could see practically all of her teeth. If she opened her mouth any wider, it would be to take a bite out of the poor guy’s face.

“Uh, Nicholas.”

“Say hello to Nicholas, everyone!” Astrid waved the microphone at the crowd. “And say hello to everyone, Nicholas.”

“Hello every—” He was still waving as she took the microphone away from him.

“Are you ready to experience the deepest sleep of your life?”