Joe lurches forward, as if falling out of a trance. He makes a move to grab Daphne out of the boys’ grasp, but Simon commands him to stop. He freezes once more.

“Now, I could just get one of these boys to tear that Compass out of your hands and give it to me. But I think a little game of Simon-says might be more fun. You know the rules, don’t you, boys and girls? You do as Simon says”—he reaches behind him and pulls a dark, glossy weapon from his belt—“or you’re out.”

“Gun!” Lexie shrieks. She tries to flee to the corner of the room, where Sarah stands motionless, staring at her easel. It’s as if the Oracle isn’t even conscious that we are still here.

“Not so fast,” Simon says, stopping Lexie. “I think we have our first player. What’s your name, dear?”

“What?” she says, sounding even smaller than she looks.

“Your name!”

“L-Lexie.”

“Simon says, come here, Lexie.” He beckons her with the gun. “It’s okay. I only bite if you don’t listen to me.” Unlike Daphne, Lexie is unable to resists his persuasive orders and goes to him. “Simon says, hold out your hands. That’s good. Now take this.” He places the gun into her shaking hands, wraps them around the handle, and gently places her finger on the trigger, positioning her arms so she’s pointing it at Joe.

Chapter fifty-four

DAPHNE

“Simon says, get ready to shoot.”

Lexie nods, tears streaming down her face.

“No,” I say to Mr. Fitzgerald—or Simon, rather. “Don’t do this.”

“Now, now, Daphne. Give me the Compass and come with me to rendezvous with the Skylords, and we can avoid this mess.” I don’t know if the others can hear it, but a strange resonance rattles through his voice when he gives his requests. It permeates everything around him, engulfing me. It takes all of my mental strength not to give in.

“Don’t do it, Daphne,” Haden says. I can see him struggling to break free from the hold Simon has over him. I can hear pain aching from his body.

I shake my head. I don’t know what it all means to be a Cypher, and I don’t know what this Compass thing is supposed to do, and I had sure been reluctant to take it from the Oracle—but the moment Sarah had pressed it into my hand, it felt like it belonged there. Like it belongs to me. No, more like it is a piece of me. Giving it away would be as impossible as tearing off my own arm.

“Then we’ll get to play our little game after all,” Simon says. “Guns are such barbaric things. I much prefer to use my words.… That is why I am going to give you until the count of ten to decide to listen to me. But if you let me get to number one, your friend here is going to shoot your father.”

I clutch the Compass closer to my chest, looking from Simon to Joe. I know I can’t give it to him, but I can’t let him hurt my father. Tobin and Garrick still hold me tightly. I can’t break free from both of them. Deep, low notes of fear and panic fill the room, from five people unable to move.

“Ten,” Simon says. “Nine.”

Lexie sobs, her arms shaking along with her hands now.

“Don’t do this, Lexie, please,” I beg her. “Don’t listen to him.”

“I can’t lower my arms,” she says between her tears.

“Eight,” Simon says. A gleeful tone dances around him. He really does think this is fun. “Any last words, Joe? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

“Daphne,” Joe says, able to speak again. “Don’t give yourself over to him. Not for me. I’m not worth it.”

“Seven.”

I lower the Compass, holding it out in my hands.

“No, Daphne,” Haden says.

“Six.”

I shake my head. It will feel like ripping out my own heart, but I need to give in. “I have to, Dad.”

“No, you don’t, Daph. I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve you. Not after what I did.”

“Oh,” Simon says. “We’re having a last-minute confessional. This should be good.”

I look at Joe as he hangs his head. I recognize the tone coming off him as remorse. “What are you talking about?” I ask him, but part of me fears that I already know the answer. It had been scratching at me since I realized Tobin’s mother is somehow in on what is going on in Olympus Hills—and is covering up for the Underlords. That town isn’t just any town—it is a staging ground for the Underrealm. A place for them to find their Boons and take them away and let the local government cover up their messes. I’d seen Simon once before he was introduced to me as Joe’s manager at Bobby’s restaurant. He’d been at the mayor’s party—the man in the bicycle helmet she’d been meeting with. That was probably the night my name had been added to her list. Which meant that I’d been brought to Olympus Hills for the Underrealm’s convenience, rather than Haden’s being sent to Utah. And the person who brought me there was Joe.…

“I traded you, Daphne,” Joe says, confirming my worst fear. “I traded you for fame and fortune.”

My hands fall to my sides. I can barely keep my grasp on the Compass. My heart drops and feels like it’s being crushed underneath the weight of his words. Suddenly, all the sound stops. There is no music. No notes. No vibrations. The rush of silence makes my head swim and I feel my legs wanting to give way. “How could you?” I ask, but my words are barely audible, and a low, rumbling song of sorrow begins to grow deep inside of me.

“I didn’t know, Daphne. I didn’t know you even existed at the time. It happened after I’d only been with your mother for three days. This man came to me. He claimed to be a talent scout at first. He said he’d heard me play at the Crossroads and he offered me a deal. He said I could be famous; I could be the ‘God of Rock’; he could grant me every dream I had ever had; and all I had to do was stick my hand in a bowl of glittering water and swear that someday I would give him my child in return. I didn’t know your mother was pregnant with you; I swear it. I thought I could cheat the system. I agreed to the deal, thinking I would just never have any children. That’s why I left your mum. That’s why I haven’t touched another woman since.… I didn’t even know you existed until you were three years old.… That’s why I stayed away from you. The guilt was too much to bear, and I knew if I got attached, it would only be harder. And I tried, Daphne … I’ve tried to take it back. I’ve tried to stop this from happening.”