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“I’ll make fuses out of cotton, potassium, and sugar,” Mollie answered. “If we make the wicks long enough, and if Faiza can recruit more cleaners, we could have her team light them when doing their cleaning rounds in the morning and an hour or so later…boom.”
My mind raced, trying and failing to see how this would work. “What about our collars? I doubt they’re still inactive after running around the island?”
“Yeah, Vic came and turned all ours back on before he left.” Mollie bared her teeth. “But we figure they can’t shock all of us at the same time. We’ll be okay as long as we stay separate and don’t congregate. We’ll also have to get out of the castle once the gas goes off. Otherwise, we’ll just poison ourselves with them, but…if one jewel is being electrified, then another can hopefully get close enough to kill the Master doing it.”
“So…some will be used as bait while others turn into assassins?” I rocked back on my heels.
“You got a better idea?” Rachel asked.
I paused, thinking. “No one’s turned my collar on. At least…I don’t think so. Perhaps if I’m still free, I could use that to my advantage.”
Everyone went very, very still. “Has Master H had any reason to zap you? You need to test it…if you’re right, then wow.” Mollie’s eyes lit up. “This could be the break we were looking for. You could sneak out and get past the electric boundary line. You could—”
“Where’s she going to go?” Faiza whispered. “When I was flown in, all I could see for miles and miles was ocean.”
“Wait.” I narrowed my eyes. “You saw where we are? Victor didn’t block the windows?”
Faiza shook her head. “No, they were wide open.” She shivered. “I was still a little loopy from the drugs he gave me, but I saw enough.”
“Can you describe what else you saw?” I asked. “The layout of the island, the shape of the castle from a bird’s-eye view…I might be able to figure out where we are and…” My shoulders slouched. “It probably won’t help, but…all information is good information.”
“Sure, I’ll remember as much as I can tonight and do my best to give you as clear of a description as possible.”
I gave her a weary smile. “We get one shot at this.” I didn’t want to be pessimistic, but….
“Agreed.” Mollie nodded. “It’s why, even though we need approximately fifty bombs to make even a dent in this damn place, I’m going to aim for sixty, seventy, eighty…I want spares. I want some hidden in the gardens. I want some where no one will expect them.” Her eyes lit up. “If we can enlist more gardeners and get more fert, I could really make something worthwhile. Something large enough to draw all the guards off the battlement and give us a chance to steal a few sniper weapons.”
Rachel sucked in a breath. “Can you shoot one of those?”
“No, but I’m willing to have a crack. You?”
I balled my hands. “I’m willing to do anything.”
“Same.” Rachel nodded.
“Me too,” Faiza whispered.
Seriousness fell over our little group.
“So …we’re still forging ahead, then?” Mollie asked. “Victor is due back any day now.”
“I know.” Rachel cradled her stomach again. “We need to get as much done as possible.”
We all nodded.
I stiffened, hating that I didn’t have the science degrees or other know-how to help. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to contribute as much as you have. I hate that I’m not allowed to sleep in the slave quarters with you. This would be so much easier if we could—”
“There is something you can do,” Rachel muttered, flicking a cagey look at Mollie. “Something that none of us can achieve. Only you.”
“Of course.” I swayed closer. “Anything.”
“Rach.” Mollie winced. “Are we sure we want to do this? I know we said he has potential, but he’s still—”
“He protected us that night. He killed—”
“Wait…you’re talking about Henri?” I whispered, my heart skipping.
Rachel pursed her lips. “The way he lost his shit on Kyle for hurting you. The way he kept us safe—”
