“What?” Spencer ran his hand through his hair. “But how?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Morgan and I don’t talk about him much for obvious reasons.”
“Why wouldn’t she—”
I cut Charles off and narrowed my eyes. “You of all people should know why she didn’t say anything.” I couldn’t keep the contempt out of my voice. “If we had all listened to her to begin with she wouldn’t be in this mess! It’s just as much my fault for not saying anything about him sooner.”
“Chase,” my dad warned calmly. “Have a seat, son.”
“No. I can’t sit and wait anymore. You guys start your teams like you talked about. I have somewhere else to be.”
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I’ll start in the middle,” I said simply and walked out.
Jackson was on my heels. “So what’s the plan, little brother?”
“Nolan.”
“Ugh. That guy?”
“Yeah.” I ran my hands through my hair nervously. “When Morgan saved him she imprinted herself on him,” I explained, using my mother’s term.
Jackson made a noise in his throat but I didn’t turn around. I kept walking quickly. I was on a mission and would let no one slow me down.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be able to help locate her better than any of those other guys can.”
Jackson fell in step beside me as we exited the building into the night air.
“So we just head toward the coast with Nolan? Is that your brilliant plan?”
“Do you have a better one?”
“Sounds good to me,” he said, shrugging.
“Maggie should be with Mom by now. As soon as we get there start packing some clothes.” I stopped in front of my car to face him. “As soon as Nolan gets there we’re gone.”
“I don’t need much anyway. I pretty much spent the last few months in confinement, remember?”
“Good, then let’s go.” I jumped in and Jackson barely had time to close the door before I was backing up.
My phone buzzed in the console and I threw it to my brother.
“Who is that?”
“It’s Maggie. She says she’s there with Mom.”
“Ask her if she brought any clothes.”
After a minute, Jackson stopped texting. “She said she brought what she packed for this weekend.”
“Perfect.Tell her we’ll be there soon.”
Chapter Eight
***Morgan***
I’d been sitting impatiently on my bed when Rylan finally came to get me the next morning. He was dressed in a white T-shirt and khaki shorts.
“Have you eaten?” he asked.
I nodded in the direction of the plain oatmeal I’d been served again.
Rylan scrunched up his nose. “Gross. I have doughnuts.”
I actually felt my face light up and he laughed. “Wanna go for another walk?”
“If you bring me doughnuts I’ll walk anywhere.”
Smiling, he shook his head and held the door open wider for me to follow him. As we passed the closed door I was reminded of the scratching and knocking. “Whose room is this?”
Rylan’s face darkened. “No one for you to worry about.”
I pretended to shrug it off and instead tried to lighten Rylan’s mood again. “Is it nice out today?” I asked hopefully.
“It is actually. I thought we could grab some breakfast and blankets and eat on the beach.”
“Will I get to meet any of the others here?” I inquired.
He studied me for a moment. “I suppose in time, yes.”
“In time,” I repeated slowly.
“Why? Am I not company enough?” I could tell he only pretended to sound hurt.
“It’s not that at all,” I said. “I just hate being so bored and locked up.”
“Is there anything I can get you to help with the boredom while I’m away?”
“Away?” I furrowed my brow. “Do you leave often?”
He scrutinized me again as if judging how much he could trust me with. He must’ve decided it wasn’t hurtful information because he went on. “Not far, but yes, I do have work to do still.”
“Work?”
“I know, not the same kind of work you’re used to … but I still have responsibilities and my own weight to pull.”
“You know my work?” I asked.
“At the store? Yes.”
“So I was being watched!”
“You make me sound like a creeper!”
I laughed. “If the shoe fits.”
He tipped his head to the side, weighing it. “I didn’t have to. Actually,” he said as we passed through the foyer and he grabbed a basket off a table, “Stephen thought it would be best if someone else found out your schedule and important information. But I felt left out of your life.”
I gave him a pointed look.
“I know, it was my fault.” He narrowed his eyes. “Stop being so judgy.” We shared a smile. “Can you blame me though? If the roles were reversed wouldn’t you have wanted to know more about me?”
“I’m sure.” I acted indifferent but when I had first found out about Rylan’s death I searched him on the internet.
“Then you can understand why I pleaded with Stephen to let me learn more about you and your life.” He opened the front door this time for us to leave through the front of the mansion.
“What, no blindfold?”
Playfully, he put a finger to his lips, silently asking me to keep this a secret.
The sun was already high in the sky and I squinted against its brightness. We walked along the winding sidewalk toward the beach. The pathway had been grown over for what was probably years; the wild beauty was undeniably magnificent though. Probably even better than it had been when it was pruned and tamed.
Rylan pointed to a flat section of the beach. I followed behind while we walked through, kicking up sand as we went, until we reached the spot and he snapped a plaid blanket into place. He pulled the contents of the basket out and placed them on the blanket. To my delight there were not only doughnuts but also fruit and orange juice. I gave a silent good-bye to the disgusting and coagulated oatmeal. Playing nice definitely had its perk.
The gooey doughnut actually made me groan in delight.
Rylan watched me, smiling. “That good, huh?”
I could only nod in bliss.
“Well that settles it. I definitely need to try one of these.” He picked out a caramel iced pastry and chewed silently with me while watching the waves crash onto the sand.
“What did Stephen need you for?” I finally asked after I’d finished my sugary breakfast.
“You know I can’t discuss that with you.”
I held up my hands. “Sorry.”
“It’s just Stephen doesn’t trust you.”
“Shocker.” I brushed crumbs off of my blue tank top.
“He will, eventually. I’m sure of it.”
“Then why don’t you sound so sure?”
He lifted one shoulder up. “He’s just been a little … distant lately.”
“That warm and fuzzy Grandpa again.”
“No.” He smiled. “It’s just he typically involves me in his planning a little more.” Rylan actually looked hurt.
“It’s because of me, isn’t it?”
“Hmm?”
“He’s leaving you out of things because he doesn’t trust me.”
“He’s had a lot going on lately, too.” Rylan poured orange juice into a paper cup and handed it to me before pouring himself one. “A lot to tend to.”
“Your errands?”
“Something like that.” He sipped juice. “It takes a lot of players to execute a plan this large.”
I gulped my own orange juice down. “This must be the plan that is centered around the amulet.”
Rylan’s masked eyes slipped back to black as they tended to do when I caught him off guard.
“You know about
the amulet?” he asked.
“Not much,” I admitted, “but enough.” I poured the last of my juice onto the sand and crushed the paper cup in my hand. “I mean, it was the source of my Gifts after all, wasn’t it?”
Rylan looked stricken. “I had no idea you knew …”
“That my grandfather used me as a science experiment? Yeah, I know.”
His black eyes stared off into the ocean. I didn’t know if he hadn’t realized he let his Glamour drop or if he was just too preoccupied to care.
I tried to change the subject. “Will I get to see you tonight again?”
He shook off his dazed state and his eyes melted back to the beautiful amber.
“Hmm? Oh. Tonight.” His face fell. “I have …” seeming to remember he wasn’t allowed to say too much around me, he paused briefly, “an errand.”
I lifted my chin in understanding. “That I can’t know about.”
I tried to play up the disappointment at being left out. This was the third day I’d been gone and I was no closer to any of Stephen’s plans. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Reaching for Rylan’s hand, I laced my fingers through his. It was like a warm current spreading up my arm and slowly traveling through the rest of my body.
“Can you let me know when you get back?”
He leaned in for a moment and I thought he may try to kiss me. I swallowed hard.
“I’ll bring you some things to help pass the time.”
I only managed a nod.
“We should probably get back.”
He let go of my hand to shake out the blanket and pack everything back into the basket. Folding my arms across my chest, I watched the hypnotic rhythm of the waves while I waited. I felt Rylan next to me.
“You ready?”
“I guess.” I followed him back up to the manor. Once we were inside, I started the now familiar trek back to my room. We passed a small group along the way and I couldn’t help but stare. A couple of the people I passed had their arms bound, others stared around the mansion curiously but walked freely. They were all Gifted like me and had clearly not been turned. Tessa led them, though, her eyes burning through mine as she passed.
I started to ask Rylan about what I’d seen but he of course dismissed it as one of those things that wasn’t for me to worry about.
He stopped and turned once we were outside of my room. “I’ll come see you before I leave,” he promised.
Once I was alone yet again, I stood staring around my empty room, wondering what the actual hell I was going to do with myself all day.
I remembered the scratching earlier and ran to the closet to see if the culprit may still be around. I was surprised to see a white square sticking out of the corner of where the two panels met together in the back of the closet. It was like someone had slid the piece of paper through a crack.
I plucked it from the corner and hastily opened the folded paper.
It read: Are you Morgan? It had to be Jackson’s Kali! Who else would know who I was?
Everyone, I told myself. Everyone in this house was aware of Morgan Cauldwell and who I was related to. I have no friends here, I reminded myself.
Searching the room, I found a broken pencil in the bottom drawer of the desk and had just enough lead to scrawl out: Yes, Kali?
Folded the paper back up and slipped it between the panels. Within seconds it was yanked through and I waited impatiently. It wasn’t long before the white note made another appearance. Hastily, I pulled it out and unfolded to read: Yes. They’re looking for you.
That statement should’ve creeped me out but it wasn’t a warning, it was a promise. She was talking about Chase of course. I was so eager to find out more from her, but sadly the last bit of lead had already been used.
I hid the note inside of my pillowcase and waited. And paced. And waited some more.
After what felt like an eternity, Rylan finally returned to my room.
“I come bearing gifts,” he said carrying a plastic bag in each hand.
One bag contained magazines, a paperback, a hard-covered journal, and thankfully a package of pens! The other held a snack-sized bag of chips, a soda, and a candy bar. I didn’t know which I was happier about, the pens or the chocolate!
“Thank you, Rylan.”
“It’s the least I could do for you. I’m so sorry you’re stuck in here when I’m not around to …”
“Baby-sit?” I offered.
He blushed. “I was going to say accompany you but I guess that’s accurate.” He fidgeted for a moment, perhaps stalling before he met my eyes. “Well, I’m off on an adventure.”
“Have fun,” I said, and added, “Be careful.” It was more as a prompt hoping he would elaborate on plans.
Instead he seemed pleased and gave a quick nod. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as he shut the door I set to work. Throwing the bags on my bed, I dug out the journal and pens. I tore a new sheet of paper from the back of the journal and used the hard cover under as a writing surface.
Do you know our location? I scribbled down quickly, and shoved the paper where I’d found the other. I waited for a while but she must’ve been away from the closet. I’d imagine sitting in the closet would get suspicious and decided to sporadically check for an answer.
Just in time I closed the door and sat on the bed when Tessa pushed the door open and not so quietly dropped a tray of food on the desk. I picked up the magazine pretending not to pay any attention to her.
“Stephen wants to see you later,” she said over her shoulder before shutting the door behind her. Did he purposely time that with Rylan’s absence? I wondered. It was a little daunting to think about spending any alone time with him. We may share a bloodline but he was a stranger to me. Nothing about him remotely reminded me of my Gran. She was kind and nurturing … he was pure corruption.
I couldn’t imagine her with him. My mind wandered back to a memory of her and I sitting at the dining table in our home. We had just finished dinner and my ten-year-old self had begun asking questions.
“What was my grandpa like?” I asked her.
She smiled warmly and took her time answering. “He was very smart, fun, and adventurous.”
“What kind of adventures?” I asked.
“He was an impulsive person.” Her brown eyes unfocused like she was seeing something I couldn’t. “I’d come home to my bags packed and the car loaded. We’d just disappear for a weekend.”
Just as quickly, she lost her smile, her eyes focused again and she was back in the present.
“What kind of trips did you take?” I asked, wanting to see her happily lost in a good memory again.
But instead she shook her head and said, “Why don’t we clear the table so you can finish your homework?”
“Ugh,” I groaned. “Do I have to?”
“Morgan, you’re such a good student. If you keep up your studies you’ll be able to go to a good college and continue your education.”
“More school?” My voice hitched.
She laughed. “Take these into the kitchen,” she instructed, handing me a bowl of green beans.
I wondered now what made her so sad; remembering Stephen or that he had used those little trips to manipulate her.
I stretched and went to check the waiting food. A dry chicken patty on a bun and some corn. It reminded me of prison food. Tessa hadn’t even brought me a fork. With my luck she had probably spit in it anyway. I checked under the bun for any sign of it being tampered with, envisioning it being dropped among other things.
I finally tossed it back on the desk and opted for the bag of chips Rylan had brought. I remembered to check the closet and was ecstatic to see a note waiting for me.
No, just know by ocean, she’d answered.
Same, I wrote and added, Is Jackson helping Chase? before placing it back into our hiding spot.
The last I knew Jackson was stuck at the Council, but that could’ve changed by now knowing how often Cha
rles changed his mind.
I munched on what was probably to be my lunch and dinner tonight while I waited for Kali’s response. It wasn’t much later I saw it poke back through my side.
Not sure. Last we talked he was with his dad and uncle. She really didn’t know much more than me then if Jackson was still being held at the Council. And I suspected he was if he hadn’t talked to Chase.
I tapped the pen on my lower lip and contemplated what to ask next.
How long have you been here?
I saw her immediately pull the note through. Just a few seconds later it was back with her answer. Too long.
I wondered if she even knew how long she’d been here. Stephen had been holding her hostage as leverage to get Jackson to do his bidding. If that were the case, she’d at least been here since I’d first met Chase’s brother. I shuddered. At least six, no, seven months? Was that right? I was already losing my sanity after only three days.
I didn’t want to push with too many questions so I left the ball in her court and ventured back out into my room to pick through the magazine.
Eventually I drifted off as I seemed to do a lot these days.
I woke to a sharp knock on the door, which jolted me out of my sleep. Tessa came in with another tray. I’d slept until dinner? The chips weren’t enough to hold over my growling stomach, and soup and grilled cheese were just too tempting.
Tessa was unaware, though. Seeing the still full lunch tray, she rolled her eyes.
“Gonna starve yourself?” She plopped the new tray down next to the other. “Good. We’ll be rid of you faster.” She faked an overly friendly wave and left.
I tried to hold out on the food but in the end my growling stomach won. I ate quickly (i.e. before my mind had time to think about what she may have done to my food).
I checked for an awaiting note but there was nothing. Settling back on the bed and looked over the paperback book Rylan had included. Surprisingly, the contemporary romance sounded pretty good.
I was about a chapter in when there was another knock. One of the boys that had helped Rylan pull off our dinner the previous night poked his head in when I called out.
“Stephen would like to see you,” he said, and I couldn’t help but bite my lip to hold back a giggle. The boy looked terrified, and considering I’d only seen him yesterday, it had to be in fear of my grandfather.
Exposed (The Broken Soul Series Book 3) Page 8