The Seers

by Katherine Bennet

  Then silence.

  All this time, he had gone after her not because he truly believed she was guilty.

  He needed a scapegoat.

  You played a part in this…

  His words echoed in her mind. She would play a part in this, but not the way he’d hoped. She would stop him.

  “I don’t think he was talking to another Niotian. When I was in the Tavian dungeon, I met someone named Cyrus—”

  “We all know who Cyrus is,” Henry replied, staring ahead. Charlotte nodded.

  “Gideon and I have had our differences, but I have never questioned his sense of loyalty or duty to Nios,” Charlotte said, her voice quivering. “But…”

  “He did this,” Henry muttered distantly. “He did all of this. Gideon is the mole.”

  Chapter 35

  A full minute had passed. Nora’s gaze shifted between Charlotte and Henry. Still in a heap on the floor, Henry had turned a slight shade of green. Charlotte paced under the stained-glass window as she talked with Josephine on her implant.

  “You’re sure?” Charlotte asked and then sighed. “Okay. Thank you.” She flailed her arms. “Josephine just checked. There’s no record of the call on his implant.”

  Henry snickered. “Of course not. He’s avoided detection for years. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to call the Tavians if it could be traced back to him.”

  “Implants are supposed to track everything,” Charlotte insisted, stomping her foot. “How is there no record of that call?”

  “He programmed exceptions into our mainframe,” Henry said, rubbing his face. “I’m sure he can handle something as simple as implant call records.”

  Simple.

  A spark. If investigating insurance fraud had taught her anything, it was that people always forgot to delete something—a phone call, an email, deleting every record was tedious.

  The hardest records to find were on alternate systems, secondary messaging programs, an email address that wasn’t disclosed. She couldn’t review records if she didn’t know they were there. If Gideon had a secondary implant—one that the Niotians didn’t know about—he’d be able to communicate without anyone knowing.

  “That’s how he’s doing it!” Nora shouted, startling them both. They stared at her blankly. “He’s got a second implant. That’s how he talks to them.”

  “That’s impossible,” Charlotte replied. “If it were a Niotian implant, it would show up on our systems. If it were a Tavian implant, our mainframe would detect it and send a fatality signal.”

  Henry sprang up from the floor. “Unless he programmed an exception for himself! I counted at least twenty exceptions. He could easily be among them.”

  They all exchanged wide-eyed glances.

  “I need to get to the mainframe to turn off those exceptions,” Henry said.

  “No!” Charlotte grabbed his arm before he could charge out the door. “You’d have to go through the corridor right past his office. You’d never get past him. I’ll call Josephine.”

  Henry and Nora waited while Charlotte stared blankly ahead, tapping her foot. “Ugh. She’s not answering!”

  “Maybe if I run, I can make it,” he said.

  “If he catches you trying to alter the mainframe, he could blame all the exceptions on you! The raid last night, the Seers, Doctor Fry…” Charlotte shook her head. “Exile would be the best-case scenario.”

  Unless he was distracted.

  “If you could make it to the mainframe and turn off the exceptions, would it alert Josephine?”

  Henry chuckled. “Yes, if he has a Tavian implant, half the guard would be here in seconds, and he wouldn’t be able to teleport out because we’re in a lockdown.”

  She took a deep breath. She needed to have faith in herself and her abilities. She needed to trust that Henry would be able to delete the exceptions from the mainframe.

  No more hiding.

  She moved to the door. “Henry, do what you need to do. I’ll distract Gideon.”

  “What?” they asked in unison.

  “What choice do we have? He’s been after me since the moment I returned. I could try to run, but he’d probably catch me anyway,” she said. “He asked me about my part in all this. Well, I’m ready to play my part now.”

  “Wait!” Charlotte yelled. “What if we’re wrong? What if he takes you into custody?”

  “We’re not wrong,” Nora replied, grabbing the door handle. “He’s the mole. There has to be evidence, and I know Henry will find it.”

  “I won’t let you down,” he said from behind her.

  “At least check for the patrol guards before you go.” Charlotte rushed to the door placing her ear on it. “Most will be securing the building from the outside because the offices are closed today. As soon as the patrol passes, we should have at least five minutes.”

  Nora frowned at her in the silence. A minute passed, and her muscles were so rigid they felt like they might break one of her ribs.

  Finally, Charlotte held up a hand. Slipping her fingers around the handle, she cracked the door without a sound. “It’s them. They just passed.” she mouthed. Another moment, and she backed away from the door. “Let’s go.”

  “I should go first,” Nora said. “No one else has to get in trouble—”

  “If you think I’m going to let you confront Gideon by yourself, you’re mistaken.” Charlotte lowered her chin and glared.

  “This might not go well for me,” Nora insisted. “You don’t have to take this risk.”

  Charlotte huffed. “Even if this turns into a disaster, at least I’ll be on the right side this time.” She flung the door open.

  Nora’s pulse pounded in her ears, but she forced one foot in front of the other into the grand, empty corridor. The white marble floors had iridescent swirls throughout. Large pillars lined the wall all the way to the arched window ceiling overhead.

  “Gideon can’t know anything about Henry until it’s too late,” Charlotte whispered with a hand on Nora’s back to lead her.

  That shouldn’t be a problem. Nora’s thoughts were racing so fast, she doubted she’d be able to say anything at all.

  “We have to be truthful, though. If he can prove we lied to him, there may be a way that he can show his rights were violated in the investigation.”

  She wouldn’t be lying if she just stood there panicking, right?

  A set of arched double doors stood at the end of the hall with large windows on either side.

  She took an unsteady breath and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. What if her spark had been wrong? What if Henry couldn’t find the exceptions in time? Gideon could have her arrested, and she really could be locked away forever.

  “I’m with you every step of the way,” Charlotte whispered.

  Nora slowed for a moment as the words settled in her chest. She believed her. This wasn’t like Minnesota where she’d had no one. Even if the worst happened, it wouldn’t be the end. Charlotte would fight for her. Henry would keep looking for proof. She was part of something bigger now, and terrified or not, she wasn’t going to give up.

  They neared the door, but nothing happened. Nora clenched her fists to stop her hand from shaking.

  “I thought you said he’d see us from his window,” Nora whispered.

  Charlotte shrugged. “I hope he didn’t leave.”

  “Do we go in—”

  One of the dark wood doors flew open. Nora jumped back but quickly stood tall.

  Gideon emerged, scowling at Nora. “Have you come to turn yourself in?”

  Nora shifted on her feet. “Not quite.”

  “Thank you, Councilmember Zuri, for bringing this fugitive here. I’ll take her into my custody until the proper authorities can arrest her.”

  Charlotte wrapped an arm around Nora with a reassuring squeeze. “Thank you, Gideon, but I think I’ll stay.”

  “I have enough evidence to prove she’s behind the Tavian raid last night,” he said and nodded down the ha
ll. “It’s best if you follow your friend Henry’s lead over there and leave so you’re not associated with her crimes.”

  Henry.

  Nora glanced at Charlotte, but the edges of her mouth had curved up in a subtle smile.

  Gideon thinks Henry’s running.

  The plan was working. She pulled her shoulders back and met his glare.

  “Oh, I think a council member should be here to witness what happens next,” Charlotte said, her gaze as piercing as Nora had ever seen it.

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “I’ve already messaged Commander Batra to let her know the fugitive was spotted here. She should be here soon.”

  “Fugitive?” Charlotte pressed her lips into a thin line and balled her fists.

  Nora grabbed her arm, trying to calm her, as her cheeks reddened.

  “Her name is Nora,” she said. “And we both know she’s not the fugitive.”

  “Just a little longer,” Nora urged under her breath, but Charlotte’s slender biceps remained tense under her hands.

  Henry needed to hurry.

  Gideon hardened his glare. “I follow the evidence—”

  “Oh, you followed something, but it wasn’t evidence,” she yelled, hoarse. “All of Nios is about to see who you are!”

  Nora bit her lip as Gideon searched Charlotte. He knew something was going on.

  Charlotte turned to Nora. “I’m sorry. I wanted to be here for you, but I can’t look at him after what he did.” She faced him again. “We trusted you! The minister treated you as a partner! How could you do this?”

  Nora covered her own mouth—as if it would stop Charlotte from talking. Henry really needed to hurry.

  She glanced at Gideon, expecting to see his chin quivering with self-righteous indignation. Instead, his dark gaze hardened—no remorse, no fear.

  “Be careful, Charlotte. I made sure the last person to make that kind of accusation was exiled.”

  Nora’s eyes widened. Of course, he was behind her exile, but for him to talk about it so casually… All those years of solitude, memories lost. Her heart pounded.

  “You admit it, then?” Charlotte asked, her shrill voice echoing through the hall. “I can’t wait until Josephine gets here. I’ll have you arrested.”

  Nora groaned under her breath. It was only a matter of time before he put it all together. She’d need to do more than distract him; she’d need to keep him there.

  He laughed. “You’re a freshman councilmember, and she’s an exiled fugitive. You come to me, making the same fear-mongering claims as before, and you expected an admission? I’ve been in this job longer than you’ve been alive, and you don’t have a shred of evidence.”

  Stay quiet, Charlotte.

  A heavy silence took over. Nora stared at the swirls in the marble floor below her as she raced through every detail everyone had ever told her about Nios. Her exile. Gideon. A memory of Tobin’s cabin, his eyes full of anger. Tobin hadn’t used the word exiled; he’d said she left—the word glowed in her mind. It wasn’t a misnomer or slip. He’d meant it. Why would she leave?

  She combed through her memories, but nothing came. She sighed through clenched teeth as her thoughts lingered on the word. She could never imagine leaving Tobin unless she needed to protect him—that was it. She’d left for Tobin.

  I made a deal.

  “I’m here to negotiate the terms of my surrender,” Nora announced. Charlotte’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

  Gideon scoffed. “Why would I negotiate with you?”

  “Because we both know your evidence won’t hold up.” She folded her hands in front of her.

  He chuckled as if she were ridiculous. “In case you’ve forgotten, I already exiled you once. I have all the evidence I need, and after last night, I could build a case for execution.”

  “We’ve never executed anyone, but you’re certainly making a strong case for yourself!” Charlotte shouted. Nora grabbed her arm before she could say anything more. She needed to keep his focus on her.

  “Hey! We’re in lockdown,” the patrol guards barked from the other end of the hall. “Please return to your offices.”

  “Thank goodness I don’t have to listen to this nonsense any longer.” Gideon waved them over.

  Just a little bit longer. Henry will come through.

  She glanced down the hall where he’d disappeared, but Gideon mirrored the move, frowning.

  No! Look away, look away, look away.

  She could have kicked herself. His gaze remained locked at the end of the hall. She needed something—anything—that would draw his attention back.

  She scoffed and folded her arms. “Execution is an empty threat.”

  His eyes darted to her. “I assure you it’s not.”

  “We both know Cyrus would never allow you to kill me,” she said even though the mere mention of Cyrus made her skin crawl. “Seers are too valuable.”

  His features stayed stone cold, but his eyes tightened—doubt. She had him. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep him from connecting the dots, but for now he was focused on her and the Tavians—

  He gasped so loud, the sound filled the corridor. Wide-eyed and frozen, he gaped at her. She took a step down the hall, ready to chase him if he ran for Henry, but he never moved.

  “You were right!” Charlotte’s arms closed around her, but Nora brushed her away watching Gideon’s every move. “Nora, can’t you hear it? That buzzing? It’s the fatality signal. He had a Tavian implant!”

  “Henry did it,” she muttered in disbelief, returning the hug.

  The patrol guards came running. “Get down! Tavian reported in the area!”

  Josephine exploded from a flash of blue with her gun drawn. Charlotte threw her hands up, and Nora dropped to the floor. Sweeping the area, Josephine’s gaze settled on Gideon. “I just received an alert that there’s a Tavian here. Someone had better have a good explanation for what’s going on!”

  Gideon collapsed.

  “He’s the Tavian,” Charlotte squeaked, pointing for a moment and then putting her hands back up. “It’s the fatality signal.”

  “Tavian?” Josephine said, her face twisting.

  Nora rose slowly and put her hands in the air. “He’s got a second implant, and he programmed an exception for himself directly into the mainframe so it would never be detected. Henry deleted the exception. We tried to call you and tell you all this, but you weren’t answering.”

  “I was in the middle of a search!” Josephine kept her gun on them as her gaze traveled to Gideon and back.

  Raphael burst through a door at the end of the hall, followed by a group of twenty guards. They flanked Josephine with their guns drawn, but all eyes were on Gideon as he began to twitch.

  “You expect me to believe that this is the fatality signal?” Josephine asked.

  “Can no one else hear the buzzing?” Charlotte asked, looking at each of them.

  Raphael aimed his gun at her. “Impossible. If it were a fatality signal, he would have teleported out to save himself.”

  Josephine let her head fall back a little. “Not if we’re in lockdown, Raphael, which we are. Search him.”

  Raphael frisked Gideon, whose face had started to turn purple.

  “Henry deleted the exception?” Josephine asked. They both nodded. “Can you reach him on his implant?”

  “Yes. I think so,” Charlotte replied with her hands still up.

  Josephine pursed her lips. “Tell him to reinstate the exception. As much as this death would suit him, he needs to answer to the people of Nios for what he’s done.”

  “Of course. Right away,” Charlotte said.

  The guards around them slowly started to lower their weapons, exchanging confused glances.

  “Henry, it worked… I know! But Josephine’s here. She wants you to turn it back on… I agree, but he’s really starting to twitch.”

  A moment later, the buzzing stopped, and Gideon rolled over, panting. “Commander Ba
tra,” he said in an uneven voice. “Thank goodness you’re here. These people have somehow targeted me through the mainframe. I think they’re trying to kill me because I told them I had evidence of Leonora’s participation in the raid last night.”

  Josephine rolled her eyes. “Cuff him.”

  “You need to take these people into custody for conspiring with Octavius,” he said, climbing onto his hands and knees.

  “I don’t have time for this,” she said and Raphael grabbed his arm and lifted him up to his feet. “I was attacked last night, and my to-do list just got a whole lot longer because of you.”

  He froze. “I am the victim, here. You should be arresting them!”

  “Nice try,” she replied wryly, holstering her pulse gun.

  Gideon jerked his arm away from him. “I know my rights, and you have no proof. You can’t arrest me.”

  Josephine flashed a brilliant smile. “Proof! You’re right, Gideon. We need evidence. Raphael, take him to the medical facility and have him scanned for another implant.”

  “I do not submit to a search! I’m a Niotian Citizen, and I have that right. Josephine, we have known each other a long time! How could you be so callous? The medical facility is full of injured Niotians right now. We shouldn’t be diverting their resources because an exiled fugitive wants to take us all on a wild-goose chase!”

  Josephine folded her arms. “You’re right, Gideon. You don’t have to submit to a search.” She tilted her head to see past him to Charlotte. “Call Henry. Tell him to delete the exceptions again.”

  “He’s not authorized!” Gideon shouted. “Altering the mainframe requires a quorum from the council!”

  “Yes, and you saw to it that we don’t have that anymore, didn’t you?” she asked. “But since you’re such a lover of our laws, you’ll know that when a quorum isn’t available, the Head of the Guard is given full authority over all security decisions in the district. Exceptions for Tavian implants sound like a security concern to me.”

  Nora suppressed a smile. If Josephine fared this well with words, she’d hate to see what she was like in combat.

  Gideon’s gaze flickered from Josephine to the door and back. “I object to this. You’re erasing centuries of democracy in favor of a military state.”