Fates Divided

by Jules Barnard

  22

  When Elena entered Marlon’s lab behind Derek, something was different. She glanced up and caught a wary expression on Derek’s face, as if he noticed it too.

  He nudged her forward. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Derek headed for the wall of old bottles, but about halfway there he came to an abrupt stop.

  The room was silent except for a dripping sound, probably from a faucet that hadn’t been turned off properly. The droplets created a steady drum inside the stainless steel basin. Drip, drip, drip…

  Elena placed her hand on his arm. “Everything okay?” The muscles beneath his clothes had bunched with tension.

  He raised his nose and breathed in, then stepped back, looking around. He grabbed her arm and shoved her toward the door. “Go, go, go!”

  They rushed toward the door, but Elena’s foot caught the leg of a stool and she stumbled. She righted herself before falling, but it wasn’t quickly enough.

  A roar like thunder clapped right by her head, a second before a burst of energy tossed her in the air. Elena landed hard on the ground, a large weight pressing on top of her. Disoriented, her head pounding and her ears ringing, she couldn’t breathe, her chest compressed beneath the heavy weight. Pain lanced through every limb of her body, pulsing in tune to her racing heartbeat.

  Dark boots appeared in front of her nose and the weight above her lifted.

  And then she was lifted.

  By Keen.

  He held her up like a rag doll, his arm wrapped around her waist. Her ears were still ringing as they made their way into the hallway, but she detected the faint sound of a fire alarm.

  Elena looked back. “Where’s Derek? We can’t leave him!”

  Keen turned her chin to face him. “He’s right behind you,” he seemed to shout, though she could barely hear him. “Do not breathe the air.”

  He covered her mouth with his sleeve and hauled her toward the exit.

  She looked back when they reached the stairwell, and experienced a moment of relief. Derek stood outside the lab door. He was bent over and struggling for air, his hands braced against his knees, but he was in one piece.

  Derek straightened and jogged toward them. “I smelled bleach and ammonia.”

  The two chemicals combined were highly volatile, which would explain the explosion. And then she realized something else; she’d heard him clearly, and the sirens were louder too.

  They raced down the stairs and into the open, the ringing in her ears dimming, while the fire alarm grew louder with each step.

  Outside, a crowd milled. Not a large one this early, but big enough that she worried about being discovered.

  Derek and Keen must have had the same thought. They headed for a copse of trees off in the distance. When they were out of earshot, Derek said, “Someone must have planted it to trigger after we entered the room. I’m the only one with access besides Marlon. Had to have been meant for me.”

  “Or me,” Elena said. “Marlon could have discovered my involvement with the Fae.”

  “It could have been meant for either of you,” Keen said. “We must go to Emain immediately.” He continued to drag her across the quad toward a cluster of buildings where the Physics Hall stood.

  “Derek,” she said, as they made their way across campus, “how did you know the ammonia and bleach weren’t from the janitors? The smell could have been from cleaning chemicals.”

  “Some of the antique bottles on the back wall were missing.” Derek coughed several times, his breathing labored. “The scent of chemicals was too strong for cleaning products.” He reached behind his back and winced.

  “Are you hurt?” She pulled out of Keen’s hold and grabbed Derek’s arm, urging him to turn around. Her chest tightened as she peered at his blood-soaked T-shirt. Holes dotted the material as if it had been torn by shrapnel. “Oh my God.”

  Derek put his hand on the small of her back. “Keep moving.”

  “What about your back?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you insane? You’re gushing blood.” Elena tried to see his face, but he pushed her relentlessly forward. At this point, she could walk just fine, but apparently not fast enough for Derek or Keen.

  There was no reason to rush to Emain if where they really needed to go was a hospital. The Fae didn’t get sick or hurt the way humans did. They wouldn’t have the supplies needed to help Derek. When they were far enough away from the explosion, Elena pulled Derek behind a large spruce and planted her feet.

  “What are you doing?” he said. “We need to hurry, Elena.”

  “Turn around.”

  He stared at her. “We don’t have time for this,” he said, but he rotated his broad shoulders.

  She lifted part of his shirt, her hands vibrating from adrenaline.

  The holes in his T-shirt were there and so was the blood, but his skin was clean and smooth. From the side, she caught him glancing at Keen, a silent message passing between them.

  “Elena,” Keen said in his calm Fae cadence, “your friend has healed. He or I will explain later. Right now, we must reach Emain. You are in danger.”

  23

  Elena and Derek were ushered into one of Emain’s dorm-like rooms—small, but way cleaner than the dorms at Dawson, and the furniture was all antique. Elena crossed and sat on the bed.

  She’d never had the privilege of seeing this part of Emain before, because the Fae had kept them in the laboratory or the gymnasium. Few Fae had entered those parts while Elena and Derek trained. But here, in the dorm section, many tall, beautiful Fae in dark clothing milled about.

  And stared. As though she and Derek were freaks. Or enemies of the state.

  They were Halven. To the Fae, who were being attacked by a virus created by Halven, Elena and Derek were the enemy.

  “What happened out there, Keen? You heal quickly and Derek does too?” She glanced at Derek and did a double take. He’d stripped off his bloodied T-shirt and his muscled chest was on full display.

  Images of him above her, his mouth and hands touching her, flashed in her mind. Her heart thumped erratically.

  Derek wet the T-shirt at a small sink in the corner and wiped his back clean. It had been shredded and bloodied less than two hours ago and was now smooth and healthy. They’d had to hide out for a while before entering the Physics Hall. Derek’s blood wasn’t very discreet, and emergency crews were everywhere. The university had even quarantined part of the quad. Keen didn’t want to take a chance on being seen by whoever was behind the explosion.

  Derek pulled out a long-sleeved shirt from his backpack and tugged it over his head.

  “Fae and Halven heal quickly,” Keen said. “The Fae from birth, Halven once they reach their majority. Derek has been healing since he reached his majority two years ago.”

  “But I just reached my majority and I don’t heal like that.”

  “You have already healed,” Keen said. “You had sustained a large bruise across your forehead when I pulled Derek off your back.”

  Derek shielded me?

  He sat beside her on the bed and stared down, hands clasped between his legs.

  “And you could not hear me talking to you,” Keen continued. “How do you feel now?”

  “Fine. No pain. Even the ringing in my ears is gone.” She glanced away, thinking. “What does that mean? Are Halven immortal like you?”

  Leo burst inside the room before Keen could answer. His uniform was impeccable, but dark shadows weighed down his eyes.

  Emain had beds. The Fae could heal, but they clearly needed sleep. More than Leo was getting, based on his appearance.

  “The university is investigating the explosion,” Leo said. “Humans recognized you and Derek running from Marlon St. Just’s laboratory. They are searching for you as we speak.”

  Great. So hiding out until they could slip into the Physics Hall undetected had been only half productive. The bomb’s creator hadn’t gotten to them, but the univer
sity had connected them to the bomb.

  “You will remain in Emain until we find a cure,” Leo continued. “Reparations for the explosion will be made through our campus representatives.”

  He turned to Derek, a firm look in his eye. “Why did you foolishly return to your lab when your business is here while we seek the cure?”

  “There is no rule saying I can’t go to my lab,” Derek shot back.

  Leo sighed like an exasperated parent.

  Derek looked at Elena, and she nodded. The Fae needed to know about Marlon. It might help them with the cure. And maybe if they worked together, the benefits would outweigh the risk of the Fae knowing that Derek had helped create the disease spreading throughout their land.

  Derek stood and paced the room. “I believe Marlon masterminded the virus.”

  “What are you talking about?” Leo said.

  “I went to the lab a couple of days ago and found evidence that the fast-acting flu virus we’d been working on had been tested on Fae tissue.” He stopped and turned to Leo. “Elena and I returned today to see if we could recover the ingredient that Marlon indicated in his documentation blocked Fae healing.”

  Leo’s face reddened. “How dare you keep this from me?”

  Elena sat straighter. “He wasn’t hiding it to prevent you from finding a cure. Derek had every intention of taking what he’d learned and helping the Fae, but you’ve threatened us since we arrived. He feared you’d use the information against him. Can you blame him?”

  Derek put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “I only recently discovered the truth about Marlon. These last couple of years, I never knew, Leo. I went to Marlon’s lab a couple of days ago, because I suspected he might have been involved once I learned about the Fae virus. This morning, I returned with Elena to find F-18, an ingredient that was key to making the virus lethal. I’d hoped that if I found it, Elena could manipulate the molecules into an antidote rather than try to pull a healing solution from thin air. We share the same goal. Elena and I are not working against you.”

  “That’s all very well, this scheme of yours to create a cure behind our backs.”

  Derek sighed. Leo was willfully misinterpreting his words, and Elena was frustrated too.

  “But in your incompetent efforts to investigate Marlon St. Just, you now have campus authorities looking into the explosion with your names pinned to it, and they are not so understanding.”

  Elena sank her head into her hands. Dawson was within their rights to expel her if they believed her responsible for the lab’s destruction.

  “You said you’d take care of it. You can’t let us take the fall for this,” Derek said angrily.

  Leo inspected the back of his hand casually. “There may be something we can arrange.” He looked at her, his expression determined. “We’ll discuss it after Elena produces the antidote.”

  More leverage to force her to help? Wasn’t she already helping? Or was there something else they wanted from her? Would she be at the Fae’s beck and call forever?

  Leo strode to the door.

  “What about the guy Marlon was working with?” Derek called out.

  Leo stopped and turned. “What guy?”

  Derek rubbed his forehead. “There were emails between Marlon and a guy named Beorhtric, both of them using Dawson email addresses. Most of the emails were an exchange of information on general scientific findings and instruments they were using, but Marlon saved the emails with his virus files.

  “The emails were friendly at first, then Marlon and the guy had a falling out. Marlon wanted access to more ingredients—wanted to visit Beorhtric—but Beorhtric refused him and didn’t answer Marlon’s last email.”

  “Beorhtric?” Leo said, as if surprised. “Many scientists have traveled between Tirnan and Emain, but only one with that name is notable in this instance. If the man you speak of was who I think, he wouldn’t have had anything to do with the virus. He is dead. A transmutation wielder who succumbed to the disease.” Leo turned to Elena. “Your uncle.”

  Her uncle?

  Elena let out a shaky breath. She had never known her mother’s brother, but she couldn’t help hating Marlon just a little bit more for the loss of so many.

  Derek looked over, concerned, and she smiled weakly. She would have liked to know her mother’s family, but right now she couldn’t fixate on it. She had to focus on saving everyone else.

  “Beorhtric provided Marlon with F-18,” Derek continued. “That was the only connection I could detect, but Beorhtric didn’t seem to know Marlon’s true purpose, and he appeared to get cold feet when Marlon asked for other things from him. Marlon wanted ingredients only Beorhtric could provide.”

  Leo looked down. “Likely ingredients only found in Tirnan. It seems St. Just used a rare connection to our people and turned it against us.” He shook his head. “Beorhtric was a scientist and a brilliant magic user. It is possible he put the differences between Halven and Fae aside and trusted Marlon with an ingredient he thought might further science. He was more patient with humans for his sister’s sake than the rest of us, and he paid a heavy price with his life.” He stared accusingly at Elena.

  She straightened, frustrated by the accusation. Beorhtric had been kind to Marlon because his sister, Elena’s mother, had married a human. But not all humans or Halven were like Marlon. Beorhtric had chosen the wrong person to trust.

  “There is much to think about,” Leo said. “It can’t be a coincidence Beorhtric was one of the first to fall to the virus. If Marlon and Beorhtric were in communication, it’s possible Marlon passed the virus through a contaminated instrument or some other means before the lockdown with Emain. We may never know how Marlon managed to spread the disease to Tirnan, but now we know he had the means. There is nothing that can be done now except to fight this virus.”

  Leo spun and grabbed the doorknob, but before he opened the door he said, “Elena, I will give you time to compose yourself after your ordeal this morning. I expect you at the lab in one hour. Keen will escort you.”

  His heavy gaze landed on Derek. “Your room is down the hall, where you will remain while Elena works. Keen has been instructed to intervene if you do not comply. You and Elena have spent too much time alone. I see the danger in it now.”

  Leo stepped outside, and Derek followed. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Derek said. “Is this because of the lab, or… Is this a dad warning? If we want to be together, it’s none of your damn business!” he shouted at Leo.

  Heat crept into Elena’s cheeks. She sprang up and grabbed Derek’s arm, pulling him inside, but it was like moving an angry bear.

  Leo faced them and calmly said, “I will not risk complications. With your lineage, if you and Elena were to… You were never meant to form a connection. No matter what, the lines must remain as pure as possible. Too much dilution has been introduced as it is.” His gaze cut to Elena then back to Derek. “You will assist Elena with her work, but that is all you will give her. Otherwise, you will find yourself dismissed and you’ll never see her again.”

  His words confirmed the thought niggling the back of her mind—that her freedom had vanished the moment she’d agreed to help the Fae.

  Could Leo really keep them apart?

  She wrapped her arm around Derek’s waist. “Let it go. There’s nothing we can do about it right now.”

  This time he came willingly when she pulled him inside.

  Keen moved to the door. “Say your goodbyes. You have one hour.” He lifted his eyebrow as he stared at Derek.

  Elena had the impression Leo didn’t want her and Derek alone at all. Was Keen disobeying him? Leo hadn’t specified that Derek leave immediately, but it was implied. She supposed that was a technical error on Leo’s part. Which meant Keen was taking advantage.

  Those angsty moments with Reese last night must have softened him up.

  Derek locked the door behind Keen, strode across the room, and slumped on the bed. His mouth compressed into
a thin line. “Why does he care if we’re together?”

  Are we together? She hadn’t tried to define what they were, but after last night she couldn’t imagine being torn away from Derek. Not when she’d only just realized how much she cared about him.

  She walked over and stood in front of Derek, resting her hands lightly on his head. She smoothed the thick, unruly locks of his hair. “I don’t want to think about Leo. I want to be with you while I can.”

  Derek leaned forward until his forehead touched her stomach. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

  She couldn’t lose him. He meant something to her. Meant more than even she was willing to admit. He saw her in a way no one else did. Yes, he understood her Halven side, but he also saw her nerdiness and magical flaws, and he still thought her beautiful. Still wanted to protect her.

  She tipped his chin up and kissed him, releasing all the emotion welling inside her. Fear, love, anger, lust…

  When they parted for air, Derek’s gaze searched hers. Whatever he saw on her face, he read it accurately. He stood and scooped her up, kissing her like he’d never see her again. If he hadn’t recognized the danger and acted quickly this morning, maybe he wouldn’t have.

  They could heal, but heal from a point-blank chemical explosion? Keen had told them Halven were susceptible to guns. Why not bombs? The only reason Elena and Derek had come away in one piece was because they’d made it nearly to the door before the bomb had gone off, thanks to Derek’s sharp senses.

  “I could have lost you,” he said between kisses, putting words to her thoughts.

  He eased her onto the bed, his knee parting her legs so he could reposition himself between her thighs in a full embrace. His arms bracketed either side of her head. “I don’t want to lose you.” He leaned down, his lips and breath mingling with hers.

  “You won’t. I—I want you.”

  “You have me.”

  “No. I mean, I want you.”

  He looked up and there was a question in his eyes.