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“And we have someone inside,” I added, “we’ll get him on the radio later. He can prepare what you need, and then mass produce it during the day.”
“We can’t make a move too early,” Steve said. “We’ll need to be careful. And they won’t just stand still so we can inject them.”
“Maybe we won’t need to,” Camina said. “Most elite feed when they wake up in the evening, after sunset.”
“So we poison their food supply,” Jacob said, with a shrewd look. He was dressed in dark travel clothes, less showy than I was used to seeing him, with a long green rain jacket that contrasted against his dark skin.
“Right. Most will have their own consort. But if we could get Madame Brezing’s girls at the pub… that’s where they go for easy blood, a snack.”
“Or, they’ll eat at home,” Trevor added. “With their chosen.”
“So we poison the chosen?” Steve asked.
“Not all of them,” Camina said. “The newest ones, they’ll be in training. All their elixir is kept in a box in the training area.”
“Maybe we can get the chosen to help us—” April started.
“They won’t,” I said. “Camina, me…” I looked around for Jazmine before realizing she wasn’t with us. “Chosen like us, we’re not normal. Most chosen are fiercely protective of their elite. That’s what we were made for.”
The mood shifted, and I realized I was only giving them more reasons to doubt me. I didn’t have a plan, not really. I had a few ideas and was waiting for someone else to put it all together.
“You may be wrong about that,” I felt the air stir behind me, and turned to find Penelope.
I glanced outside and realized the sun had already set behind the mountains. Tobias stood behind her in the shadows, his body tense. At first I thought he needed to feed, but I’m sure Penelope had introduced him to the mayor’s stock of vintage blood.
Steve went rigid, and I glanced at his belt to see if he was armed. I felt like maybe I should make introductions, trying to keep track of who knew who, but instead I just nodded at her to keep talking. She was already a part of this. I just needed to let her voice be heard.
“Most chosen get elixir from their elite,” Penelope continued. “At least during the first few years. But gradually it becomes more of an inconvenient chore, and if the elite gets bored, they are left without resources. So, Master Svboda also keeps a stock of elixir. We’re allowed two drops a day, if we want it—even after training. And she keeps us supplied.”
“You think the chosen can be turned?” Jacob asked.
“I’m just saying, not all of them are madly in love. And not all of them are dependent on their elite for elixir. But if they hesitate, and fail to save their elite, they could be punished severely later. It’s a risk, supporting us, but one many might make. Unfortunately, it’s not something they’d be willing to entertain or consider, but in the spur of the moment, you may find less resistance than you expect.”
“Let’s hope so. But the safer bet, it appears, would be to spike the blood supply at the training center,” Jacob said. “It’s probably not something Nigel is paying close attention to.”
“It’s locked,” I said. “And Master Svboda wears the key around her neck.”
“I don’t see the problem,” Steve grumbled. “One old lady is hardly an obstacle.”
“She’s fierce enough to tear you in half,” Camina said. “And not to be underestimated.”
“An elite, then,” Trevor said. “Could overpower her.”
“Let’s be stealthy, if we can,” I said. “Remember we need to give April time in the lab, and make contact with allies on the inside, before we strike. One wrong move, and someone could raise the alarm.”
“I’ll bet Augustine knows how to pick locks,” Luke said.
“I’ll bet he does,” Trevor said. “I’m kind of disappointed you don’t.”
Luke smirked and shrugged his shoulders.
“We can talk to Claire and the maids,” I said. “The vendors and shops. At daytime, at noon; get them to open all the blinds and curtains, all over the city. That should keep the elite trapped inside, limit their movement. At least until dark.”
“If we make a big enough noise,” Jacob said thoughtfully, “we might rouse them out of their chambers. Non-sympathizers, we stake, while they’re sleeping; or at least, jab with the antidote.”
“What about the guards?” Steve asked.
“They follow the elixir and the crown, but most of them will have orders to maintain,” Tobias said. “They won’t be wandering around looking for us inside the walls; they’ll be guarding the gates and watching the horizon. If our revolution is swift enough, they won’t even realize what’s happening. There will be some fighting, sure, but not a huge battle.”
