by Lynette Noni
“What are you doing in here?”
Thirty-One
Alex jumped and turned around. Standing in the doorway was a burly man covered in dark tattoos—even his bald head had thorny swirls of ink ingrained into the skin. He was without a doubt the scariest-looking person Alex had ever encountered.
“I-I was looking for the bathroom,” she stuttered.
“This ain’t no bathroom,” he said, pulling out a long, jagged knife. “And you ain’t supposed to be in here.”
“Whoa,” she said, backing up with her hands in the air. “Take it easy. I’m just in the wrong place. And I’m leaving.”
“Too right you are,” he said, advancing towards her. “But we can’t have you spreading lies to all your little friends now, can we?”
Alex continued to back up until she slammed into a bookshelf. The man had crazy eyes, and he didn’t look like he was bluffing with that knife. She frantically looked around for a way to escape.
“What’s going on in here?”
Alex heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of Jordan’s father entering the room.
“This one was snooping,” said the burly man.
“I was not!” Alex felt safer now that there was a witness. “I got lost on my way to the bathroom. This place is like a huge maze—they need to put up signposts.”
The two men stared at her, one with a bloodthirsty expression, the other with a carefully blank mask.
“You’re acquainted with my son, aren’t you?” Marcus Sparker asked.
“Yeah, I’m Jordan’s friend.” Alex was relieved that he remembered her. “And he’s probably wondering where I am.”
Something flashed across Marcus’s face—a dash of amusement, perhaps?—before it was blank once more. “I’m sure my son can wait a moment longer,” he said, his voice as soft as silk. “He wouldn’t deny me the honour of greeting one of my own guests.”
She looked at him in confusion. “Your guests?”
The amusement stayed on his face for longer this time. “Didn’t Jordan tell you? Surely he wouldn’t keep you in the dark?”
Now Alex was getting annoyed. “Tell me what?”
“Who your hosts are,” Marcus said. “My wife and I hold the Gala each year, here in our ancestral home—in Jordan’s ancestral home—Chateau Shondelle.”
“You live here?” Why hadn’t Jordan told her? Or Bear, for that matter?
“Marcus,” the tattooed man said, “I caught the girl red-handed. Let me deal with her.”
“Enough, Gerald,” Marcus snapped. “Can’t you see I’m having a conversation with this charming young woman?”
“But, Marcus—”
“Enough!”
Gerald glared at Alex but kept his mouth shut. He didn’t put the knife away though, and it glinted threateningly in the lamplight.
Marcus turned back to her. “What’s your name?”
“It’s your party,” Alex said, feeling irritated and uneasy. “Shouldn’t you know who your guests are?”
His expression tightened. “You’d do well to remember who you’re speaking with, girl.”
She shuddered at the dark look in his eyes. “Alex,” she told him. “My name is Alex.”
“Alex who?” he prompted.
Wondering why it mattered at all, she said, “Jennings. I’m Alexandra Jennings.”
His blank features transformed, showing his surprise. “Well, well, well,” he said. “I had no idea my son kept such… interesting company.”
Alex didn’t say anything. She didn’t understand his comment and she really didn’t like the calculating look on his face.
“Your mind is silent,” Marcus stated. “I’d like to know why.”
“I have no idea what you mean,” she answered calmly, despite her racing heart. Was he a mind reader? Jordan had never told her much about his parents—she didn’t know if they were gifted or not. But if his father had the ability to look into her thoughts then she needed to get away from him immediately, regardless of how ‘silent’ he found her mind to be.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” she said, “but like I mentioned earlier, Jordan is probably wondering where I am. So, if you’ll excuse me?” She made to push past him but Gerald stepped into her path, raising his knife.
“And as I mentioned earlier, my son can wait,” Marcus returned. “Why don’t you have a seat so that we can become… better acquainted.” He leaned casually against the desk—his desk, she presumed—and indicated for her to sit.
“I’d rather not, thank you,” she told him, crossing her arms.
Apparently that was the wrong answer, because Gerald growled and took a step forward.
“Touch me and I swear I’ll scream,” Alex said. Her insides were fluttering with fear, but on the outside she maintained a steely resolve, determined not to let them see how freaked out she really was. She didn’t even know if screaming would do any good, since they were quite a distance from the ballroom and it was unlikely anyone would hear her. But she wasn’t going to stand there and be a complete pushover.
Marcus actually laughed. It was a chilling sound, and not at all comforting.
“Dear girl, we mean you no harm,” he said, smiling at her. Like his laugh, the expression was unnatural, and didn’t match the look in his hard blue eyes.
“Then why won’t you let me leave?” she pressed. “You have a house full of guests downstairs, remember? Shouldn’t you be getting back to them?”
“My wife is entertaining them,” he said, unconcerned. “I would be remiss in my duties as a father if I ignored an opportunity to get to know one of my son’s friends.”
“Perhaps there are other fatherly duties you would do better to concentrate on,” Alex said before she could stop herself. She regretted the words immediately, and she bit down on her tongue to keep from saying anything more, but the damage was already done. The effect of her statement was almost tangible; she could practically feel the room drop in temperature as the tension rocketed skywards.
Marcus pushed off from the desk and was in front of her before she could take a breath. “What did you say to me?”
She took a step back, bumping into Gerald who stood too close behind her. “I—I—”
“Do you know who I am?” he whispered, his voice soft and deadly. “How dare you speak to me in such a way?”
She couldn’t say anything, mostly because she wasn’t sure which question to answer first, but also because she was too distracted by Gerald’s blade, which was mere inches away from her spinal cord.
When she remained silent, Marcus nodded to Gerald and she felt the tattooed man’s arm snake around her stomach while his other hand moved to hold the knife at the base of her neck. The sharp blade pressed against her jugular, freezing her to the spot.
“Answer me!” Marcus ordered.
“Don’t you think you’re going a little overboard?” Alex managed to croak out, but even that slight movement caused the blade to prick into her skin. She couldn’t keep her body from trembling in response, which only increased the pressure of the knife against her flesh.
Irrationally, she found that she was furious with her Combat teacher for failing to prepare her for such a situation. Even if Karter hadn’t turned her into a kung fu master, she still might have learned enough self-defence to get out of her current predicament in one piece.
“If I apologise for insulting your parenting skills, will you let me go?” Alex finally asked. Her emotions were shot—she was afraid, but she was also angry. What they were doing to her was not cool, and she couldn’t contain her natural reaction of unchecked sarcasm. “I promise to sound like I mean it.”
Gerald tightened his grip and she felt a painful sting as the blade cut deeper into her skin, causing a drop of blood to dribble down her neck.
“You do realise that people are going to wonder how I got that in the bathroom?” she hissed at Marcus, strangely emboldened as a result of the cut. “I doubt they’ll accept the excuse that I fe
ll.”
“Only two people would notice, and neither would have reason to believe you,” Marcus said. “And if they did, they could be taken care of just as easily.”
Alex paled at his implied threat. He wouldn’t really hurt Jordan and Bear… would he?
“Neither of them will know about it at all if you don’t make it back to the ballroom,” Gerald whispered into her ear. He tightened his grip on the blade even more, causing another drop of warm liquid to trickle down her skin.
Fear and anger continued to brew within Alex, both emotions demanding her attention. She wasn’t sure whether to rage, scream, or cry. Her body felt clammy and tense, her muscles were coiled and ready for action. But she couldn’t do anything, not while she was trapped in Gerald’s arms.
“Look, I don’t—” Alex wasn’t even sure what she was going to say, but it didn’t matter since her words were interrupted.
“Ah, Alexandra, here you are.”
The voice shocked her as much as it did the two men holding her captive. They both jumped away from her and turned towards the new arrival.
Alex couldn’t help but gape at Darrius, who was standing in the doorway exuding an aura of safety and comfort.
“What an… unexpected surprise,” Marcus said smoothly, hiding Gerald from view so that the tattooed man could move his knife out of sight. “However did you get in here, old man?”
“You know me, Marcus,” Darrius said. “I’m always up for a good party.”
“I wasn’t aware that you were on the guest list.” Marcus’s voice was as flat as his expression.
“It was pure chance that I happened by an invitation. Your chocolate mud cake is amazing, by the way.” Darrius seemed outwardly calm, but his silver eyes were as hard as steel as he took in their appearances, particularly the small cut on Alex’s neck.
“I was actually hoping to have a word with Alexandra before she departed for the evening,” Darrius said, turning to her. “May I have a moment of your time?”
Alex nodded frantically at him, her heart still beating wildly in her chest. She desperately wanted to get away from the two dangerous men, but she still didn’t move, fearing that one of them would reach out and grab her if she made to leave.
“How kind of you.” Darrius smiled at her and she felt her fear begin to fade. “If you’d like to follow me, we can speak outside. Marcus, Gerald, always a pleasure.”
Judging by Marcus’s expression, it was anything but a pleasure for him, but he still allowed Alex to step away. After a few careful footsteps, she raced out of the room.
“Darrius!” she cried when he closed the door behind them. Her relief was so strong that she almost hugged him. “What are you doing here?”
“Just a happy coincidence,” he answered. “You haven’t happened to come across the bathroom, perhaps? I must have taken a wrong turn at the top of the staircase.”
Alex was certain he wasn’t telling the truth but she was too grateful to demand an explanation. “I think you just saved my life.”
“No, I don’t believe that to be true,” Darrius told her seriously. “Had I not arrived, you would have found your own way out.”
Alex wished she had as much confidence in herself as he did. “Well, thank you, anyway,” she told him. “I owe you one.”
Halfway down the corridor she reached up to the cut on her neck.
“I can’t go back down there looking like this,” she said. “Jordan and Bear will freak—Jordan especially, since his father is responsible. And this is the Sparkers’ house. Marcus could try and corner me again.” She shuddered at the thought.
“I can help you get back to Akarnae from here, if you want?” Darrius said. “If I’m correct, you’d only be a day or so earlier than your fellow students. You could even visit Doctor Fletcher for a healing salve.”
That was an appealing thought. And it would also mean no awkward questions from her friends.
“You have a Bubbler back to the academy?” Alex asked. “I thought they had to be specially made for the Gala?”
“No, not a Bubbler,” he said, but he didn’t elaborate. “Do you have a way to contact your friends so they know you’re all right?”
“I have my ComTCD,” Alex said, “but I don’t know what I’ll say to them.”
“One problem at a time, Alexandra,” he said. “One problem at a time.”
Darrius led her back down the staircase, past the ballroom, and out the front door, stopping only when they reached the rose garden where she’d arrived hours earlier. He pulled something from his tuxedo jacket and it took her a moment to recognise what it was.
“That’s a Communications Globe,” Alex said, looking at the cloudy sphere. “I thought they were only used at Akarnae?”
“They are. Fortunately for us, it will override the security restrictions placed on outgoing transportations from the chateau, and it will also deliver you safely through the wards surrounding the academy.”
“Convenient,” she said. “But how did you get it?”
“This one belongs to your headmaster,” Darrius informed her. “I’m certain he won’t mind you borrowing it, so long as you return it to him.”
“Oh,” Alex said. “But how will you get out of here?”
“I have some business to attend to first,” he said, not quite answering her question. “We’d best send you along now, before your friends decide to call out a search party.”
“What should I tell them?” she asked, fresh out of ideas.
“The truth is always a good place to start,” Darrius said, “but perhaps in this instance you should leave out some of the details.” He then pressed the Globe into her hands. “You should land just outside of your headmaster’s office. I recommend you visit Administrator Jarvis and advise him of your arrival. He’ll ensure the Globe is returned to its owner.”
Alex sent him a grateful look. “Thanks so much again, Darrius. For everything.”
“You’re most welcome, Alexandra,” he said, his eyes shining silver in the moonlight. “I look forward to our next encounter.”
“You know you can call me Alex, right?” she told him, ignoring his comment and the promise it seemed to hold. He had a knack for showing up whenever she was in trouble and she didn’t like the idea that she might need his help again soon.
Darrius just smiled at her before saying something—a word she didn’t recognise—and she felt a whooshing of air against her body as the Globe transported her away from the mansion and towards the academy.
Thirty-Two
Alex landed in the antechamber outside the headmaster’s office and pulled out her ComTCD, wanting to get the conversation with Bear and Jordan over with. As she waited for her Device to connect with Bear’s, she had the presence of mind to scrub away the blood that was still lightly trickling down her neck.
“Alex?” Bear said as he answered her call. Both his anxious face and Jordan’s were projected in the hologram that rose out of her screen. “Are you okay? We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
“I’m okay,” she told them. “Sorry I worried you.” She made sure to keep her free hand covering her neck, hoping that they wouldn’t notice her strange body language.
“Where are you? We’ll come to you,” Jordan said, his voice strained with concern.
“Uh—I’m actually not there anymore.”
“You left already?” Bear asked in surprise. “That’s okay. It’s kind of boring here anyway. We’ll come back home now, too.”
“No,” Alex said. Seeing their startled looks, she quickly explained, “I’m actually at the academy. It’s kind of a funny story.”
She left it hanging, realising that it wasn’t funny in the slightest.
“Basically, your directions suck, Jordan.” Alex tried to huff a laugh but she was pretty sure it fell short. “I got a bit—um—lost… and then I sort of ran into Darrius. You remember me telling you guys about him? The man I met in the Library? Up in the clouds?”
; “The weird guy who made you jump out of the building?” Jordan asked. “What was he doing here?”
“It’s your party, how should I know?” She hadn’t meant to bring it up, but she was still annoyed that his father had been the one to tell her.
Jordan disappeared from the hologram and she worried that he was upset with her until she heard him ask Bear if he could have a moment. Bear smiled reassuringly at Alex before he too disappeared and then only Jordan came back into view.
“I should have told you,” Jordan said quietly. “I don’t know how you found out, but I’m sorry it wasn’t from me.”
Alex sighed and looked away.
“I didn’t want you to think any less of me,” he whispered, which caused her to turn back to him.
“Why would I think less of you?”
“Because of all this.” He raised his arm and gestured to the opulent ballroom surrounding him. “This isn’t me. I may have grown up here, with these people, but that’s not who I am now. I didn’t—I don’t want you to think I’m anything like my parents.”
Alex actually snorted. “That will never happen, Jordan. You’re nothing like your parents.” She didn’t want to judge his mother, but she was certain he was nothing like his father.
“I try not to be,” he said, still uncertain. “But I can’t help that there’s a little bit of them in me.”
“And a whole heap of plain, old, boring you,” Alex said. Perhaps quite a bit of his brother Luka too, but she kept that thought to herself. “That’s the part that matters, the part we know and love.”
“All right, all right.” Bear elbowed his way into the projection again. “Enough of the mushy sentimentality. You never explained how you got back to the academy, Alex. That Bubbler should have taken you straight to my house. And why didn’t you come and tell us that you were leaving first?”
“Um… So, like I said, I ran into Darrius. He said he was lost too, also on a mission to find the bathroom.” Alex was trying to keep as close to the truth as possible. “Your house—sorry, chateau—is huge, by the way, Jordan. It took us forever just to reach the staircase again. Then we got so turned around that we somehow ended up out the front in the garden.”