by Honor Gable
If her husband wasn't already dead, he would be first on my agenda when we go back to London.
In bed, I pretend to sleep while she sobs silently into her pillow. My own eyes sting and my fists clench under the blankets.
"Are you scared of what our powers are doing to us?"
I jerk at her random question. "A little. I wonder if they'll ever go away and how I'll ever afford to feed myself."
She lets out dark chuckles. "I'm scared of disappearing. Sometimes, I think it'd be nice, but other times, I'm terrified I will."
Harsh knocks shake the house. Hearts pounding, we scramble from our beds. The children are gone, our papers are good. I remind myself over and over as we pad on bare feet into the parlor.
Agnes answers the door, her stiff shoulders drooping as soon as she sees who's behind it. "Come in quickly. You scared us to death."
A woman I've never seen before scurries in, hunched and holding herself tight. "My daughter's been taken. And the Jews she was hiding. They're gone." She buries her face into her hands and shudders.
Jacqueline takes her by the shoulders and eases her onto the sofa. Agnes disappears into the kitchen. Probably to make tea or coffee.
"Tell us what happened." Jacqueline shoves a handkerchief into her hands.
The woman mops her face, but doesn't raise it. "I don't really know. Her neighbor bicycled over and told me the Gestapo had come and taken my daughter and the Jews she had hidden in her house. We don't know how they found out. The Gestapo has been acting desperate lately, going house to house. Maybe that's all it was, but I'm terrified someone talked. Or that she might. I've heard the stories of what they do to get people to talk."
Jacqueline shushes her and pushes the hair off the woman's face. "I know. I'm so sorry." She looks up at us. "Can you help Agnes, please?"
We nod and scurry from the room. Agnes waits with tea almost finished. "Good. One or both of you need to go to Jade's and then Xavier's. We have to get the word out that this has happened. Others from our church have Jews in their homes right now." She rubs her temples. "There is a traitor who has infiltrated several networks somehow. We must figure out who it is."
"We'll both go." I'm glad Lois thinks she can handle it, because no way would I be staying here while she's off and about.
"Good. See if Jade will put you up for the night. It's easily explained since our meeting is tomorrow anyway. I pray Jacqueline and I make it. If we don't, you can't return here. It's no longer safe."
Terror seeps into me.
She grips us both in strong hugs. "Godspeed, girls."
LOIS AND I TAKE A DIFFERENT route than Viola and Rivka to Xavier's. He insisted we meet after the get-together with Jade's club or group or whatever she calls it. Lois and I are to stay here while the Jerries come to dine at Jade's lovely table.
The group was interesting.
Exactly the sort of women I'd want to surround myself with. The four of us fit in surprisingly well. The well-read Viola, Rivka- the poet, Lois- the social justice fighter, and me- the adventurer.
Xavier frowns at us in greeting, but we breeze by, ignoring him.
Theo and Antoine are here, chatting around the table with Viola and Rivka. Theo grins and winks, laughing when I wink back. My stomach heats up and my heart pounds a little harder at the sight of him. I'd almost forgotten how handsome he is. How gorgeous his eyes are.
Too busy admiring Theo, I don't notice the somber mood of the rest of the group at first. Not until Xavier's harsh tones echo through the room.
"Two more members of that church have been arrested. Along with the people they’d hidden. A couple were Jews and one was a downed airman. We have a traitor. I'm putting a halt on missions for now while I investigate the matter. Justine and Elodie will stay here for the time being. I don't want to chance the four of you getting caught up in this mess."
"I could take Justine off your hands so it won't be so crowded."
I roll my eyes at Theo. He's handsome, but not that irresistible.
"Actually, you'll have me on your hands." Xavier all but spits his words. "I'll be staying with you so they can have the flat here. Leave your door unlocked, I'll be there late."
I try to keep the distaste for his idea off my face. No need to show what a snob I am. But I will dream of those clean beds and good food.
Theo breaks the heavy silence. "Let's have a drink then since we have no missions. And you can tell us your grand plan for finding the bastard."
Xavier nods with a clenched jaw, so Theo pours glasses of wine. My mouth puckers at the first sip. It's utter plonk, but it'll get the job done. Theo hands me a cigarette under the table, his hand brushing against my bare knee. Heat pools low in my stomach.
We spend the next hour smoking, drinking, and even laughing a little. Theo seems fascinated with the SOE and London. He isn't thinking of coming to England when this madness is over, is he? The idea of it, along with the wine, warms me.
Viola checks Xavier's clock and looks at Rivka. "Celine, we have to go. Jade's...uh guests will be arriving soon."
My jaw clicks. Right. The Nazis are coming to eat. How lovely.
Xavier stands as they do, and though Xavier speaks to both of them, his gaze stays on Viola. "Be careful."
Not liking the somber mood falling over the room, I say, "Try not to throw the sugar dish at one of them."
The others break into laughter. Even Xavier's lips quirk a bit. I didn't think he had a sense of humor. I smile and blow Rivka and Viola a kiss as they leave.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
VIOLA
Both jealousy and relief swirl within me as I follow Rivka into the dining room. She has on a slinky red dress a few years out of fashion, but it's stunning with her dark hair, flashing eyes, glowing skin, and red lips. I'm in a simple black dress and a red apron. When I raised my eyebrows at the color choice for the apron, Jade laughed and said, "They find me eccentric, so we're keeping up appearances."
I'm thrilled Jade's letting me pretend to be a maid. It's a massive risk, but she has turned me into a completely different person. I look nothing like Viola or Madeline. My hair is light and long and golden, my pale skin now rosy, and I'm much fatter. Jade’s brilliant.
She waits for us, already seated. "They'll be here any minute. Madeline, you will help serve. When we don't need you, stand against the wall until one of us signals you. I'm sorry for this, but they have no idea I speak German. They're so pompous they think the poor rich widow could never master their superior language. I understand from Justine you have a knack for languages? Do you know German?"
"Yes, but I don't speak it well. I can understand it, but my accent is terrible."
"Excellent. Keep your ears perked for anything helpful."
My throat clogs a bit, so I nod.
The doorbell rings, and we all exchange a panicked glance before wiping our faces clean. The maid answers the door and leads them into the dining room. Jade sashays over to them, holding out her hand for them to kiss. I stiffen with a gasp. The man who steps up first to greet her is the same man who read my journal on my first day of watching the Avenue Foch.
I duck my head, yanking the red maid's cap more securely around my face. What happens if he recognizes me, especially with my new appearance? The coincidence is terrifying. And this could put Jade in awful danger if we succeed Thursday and are somehow spotted. I didn't realize Gestapo officers were the ones coming. I hope she knows what she's doing because I sure don't. But I guess she always walks this edge of danger where the slightest push or stumble could flatten her.
The room is warm, no breeze rustling the open windows, but I shiver even with the sweat rolling down my back and between my breasts. The officers take their seats and the maid gestures for me to assist her. My teeth clamp on the inside of my cheek as I spoon food onto their plates and keep their glasses filled while they feast and joke in their accented French.
The roaring in my ears blocks out the things they speak of, my mind pl
aying out a scenario where I slide the dinner they're enjoying so loudly onto their laps, smashing the empty plates over their heads. Audrey isn't the only one with violent fantasies. My lips try to curl into a smile, but I fight it back and keep my expression smooth.
Dinner vanished, Jade stands, Rivka and the officers following a beat after. "Well, gentlemen. Why don't we retire to the parlor for drinks so my staff can clean things up."
She shoots me a meaningful look as she leads them from the room and I nod slightly in return. No more daydreams of killing Nazis. Now I have to keep my ears perked. I help her maid clear the table, taking everything to the kitchens. She shoos me away and I busy myself pretending to clean up the dining area, turning my back when two of the officers step from the parlor to speak German in hushed tones on their way to the door.
"We must leave soon. The four prisoners are coming tomorrow and it's our last chance to extract information from them before they're sent on to Germany."
"What time are they arriving again?"
"Noon."
My heart pounds and I freeze, desperate to hear this next bit, but whatever he says is swallowed by the night and shut off by the clicking door. I bite back a groan of frustration and ease closer, wiping things down and dusting as I go. The side table holding her personal bar, the paintings, a few priceless vases. The window by the door is open, so I ease beside it, breathing in the cigarette smoke wisping through the opening. Their voices are quiet, hard to make out, especially after immersing myself in French for so long. Deciphering German is making my brain work a bit harder. It's a miracle I understood what they said before.
The night is unnaturally dark, the only thing I can see is the orange glow against their faces when they take a puff.
A little of their conversation trickles to me. "...we must. It could cripple the British. Whatever it takes. You know what will happen to us if we fail to extract the information from them." Oh no.
"We won't. They've set up something that always works."
"No."
"Yes."
"It's inhumane." The disgust is clear in the older one's voice.
The younger one's voice could cut steel. "Better than having it done on us. Don't let anyone hear you say that again, myself included. We're at war, these people are the enemy. There's no other choice."
"Of course. Excuse me, I've had a bit too much to drink."
"Come on. Let's try to hurry this party along."
I scurry from the window and into the kitchen, not trusting my expression in front of them. I need something to drink, I can barely swallow. I gulp down some water, gagging a bit at the lukewarm temperature. When the glass is empty, I clutch it to my chest, my breaths coming in short gasps.
Were they talking about the agents who were just arrested? Or Xavier's people? And what were they talking about? What always works? What awful torture do they have planned that even a Gestapo officer would balk at? But what are the chances they spoke about just the information I wanted in my hearing? There must be dozens of people being interrogated from Fresnes. What do I do? I have to let Rivka and Xavier and the others know. How can I get Rivka out of there to tell her? I check the clock and curse. Curfew is in effect.
I stumble to and lock myself in the WC, covering my mouth with my hands to smother the scream of frustration building within me. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do.
What do I do?
IT'S ANOTHER HOUR BEFORE the Germans leave, the darkness complete outside, the moon casting no glow, hidden behind clouds. I turn my head idly to both sides, wishing I'd gotten better eyesight as a power too. I close my eyes and listen. No footsteps or voices, just the faintest breeze and a car far in the distance. Nights have become so quiet since the war with curfews and blackouts and people hiding in their houses from bombs and Nazis. I miss noise. Even in the country where I grew up things are noisier than this.
It's clear. I pull my arms in close to my chest and take off, trying to keep to the shadows, staying in back alleys instead of main roads. The shadows of the night blur together, the humid air thick against my face, my hair whipping into my mouth. The almost healed blisters on my feet pop open, but I refuse to break my stride, clenching my fists against the pain. I narrowly miss ramming my shoulder into an unlit light post, swerving to the side at the last second. Automobile lights flash on the next street, so I duck through another alley, hugging the side of the building until I make it through.
One more block. One more and I'll be at Xavier's. My heart pounds even harder at the thought and my hands hold my moaning stomach. I hope he has food. No rush of electricity zings through me tonight. I'm too scared.
I hope he's still there. I don't know where Theo and Antoine live.
Almost there. I can make it. Everything hurts and shakes. My wrist pulses under the bracelet as it pours more power into my veins, giving me a last spurt of energy, warming me through as I skid to a halt at his door. Quick glances about confirm I'm alone so I knock as quietly as I can, my teeth aching and spine tingling as my eyes dart in my skull. Now would be the time a Nazi pops out from nowhere to cart me off.
The door cracks open, Xavier's face peeking out from it. "Yes?"
"It's me. Let me in."
"Vio-Madeline? What-?" His arm darts out and drags me inside, his head poking back out and checking to see if we were seen. "What the devil are you doing here?"
"Celine and Jade sent me. I overheard something and we aren't sure what it means, but if we're right...if we're right, we'll be too late." I collapse onto his couch. "Do you have any food? I ran here and I need something."
"Of course." He hurries to his kitchen area and brings me half a loaf of bread. "Sorry. This is all I have without cooking."
I break off a piece and shove it in my mouth, too weak to worry about manners, even in front of him. "It's fine. Thanks."
"Are you all right?'
"I will be. When I use my-uh-abilities there's a cost. It burns off everything I've eaten and leaves me starving and shaky. But that's not important right now. I overheard something between two of the officers tonight that might be about your people."
Audrey and Lois emerge from behind the curtain of his bedroom, their eyes sleepy and confused.
Xavier's jaw and hazel eyes harden to stone. "Tell me."
As I relate everything that happened, he jumps to his feet, pacing about the room, never interrupting. Audrey and Lois remain surprisingly silent, just standing and listening.
"What do we do?" I ask.
He lets out a string of curses that take even Audrey aback. "I don't know. I have a plan in place to attack the headquarters, but I'd wanted more time. It's why I had you watch and take note of their movements and schedule. And it's highly likely it's my team they're talking about. It's too good of a chance to ignore, but it leaves us no time to plan."
"I can inform everyone, and Lois can help me get everyone here so we can plan it out."
"I don't want Theo or Antoine knowing about your powers. No one can know. And I already have the plan ready." He takes up pacing again, almost muttering to himself more than speaking to us. "Thank God we're all back in time." He scowls at me. "Though that nonsense you girls pulled at Drancy is going to make this harder."
I ignore him. Rivka and I talked it over and the guilt is bearable when I do what she suggested and picture those poor babies. I have no regrets. "What do you need me to do?"
"You'll need to let Celine know, and I'll give you a note to take to Antoine and Theo. Tell them to show up here first thing in the morning and that I won't make it there tonight, but don't tell them what we're doing. And they don't know you were involved in Drancy."
Audrey's brows lower. "You don't trust them?"
"I don't trust anyone. It's bad enough Jade and the Fournier sisters know. No need for it to go further. I'm trying to keep everyone in the dark about everyone else to figure out the common denominator."
"How'd you know it was us?" Audrey asks.
; "No one else could have pulled off what you girls did. Anyone else trying it would have been spotted or killed. Not to mention, I helped get the papers for the children."
Surprised he isn't lecturing us, we say nothing.
"I'm going to lay out the plan for you three. Can you remember everything I say? We can't chance writing it out."
"Of course." I've turned into quite the liar. Judging from his snort, I'm not a very good one.
Audrey and Lois both snicker, the traitors.
As he tells us his idea, my knees bounce under the table and I want to run, run, run, as far as I can.
Sensing my fear, he stops and spears me with his eyes. "You can do this. Think of your brother. What you did for him. You are braver than you know."
My words come out in gasps. "What? How do you know about my brother? And what I did?"
"I know everything. My brother was one of the first experiments." His eyes close for a moment before he continues. "I've been involved in this for a long time. I've read all your files. Hell, I even know your favorite colors and food."
I squirm in my seat. Audrey doesn't even know everything about my past or how I ended up here. The thought of this stern man, our guard as Audrey calls him, knowing so much is not a comfortable one. Audrey and Lois apparently share my unease judging from their twisted mouths.
Thankfully, he doesn't push it and returns to outlining the plan. He did a good job distracting me from the fear, which is probably exactly what he was trying to do. I can't decide how I feel about this man.
It doesn't take him long to explain the rest and I stand to leave. He smiles as he says goodbye and it strikes me, he is so young to have all this responsibility. He can't be past twenty-five.
Outside as I race towards Theo's home, I let the memories take over. The ones that have been banging in my head for the last half hour.
This is the third visit I've gotten from him. The man is the epitome of English. His tweed jacket and pressed trousers make me squirm in the hard steel chair I was shoved onto. My prison clothes are wrinkled and grubby, and I shiver under his perusal. It's always cold here in the castle. Why they call this horrid place a castle, no one can answer.