The Awakening
Page 63
andwithnoobviousideas,sheclearedherthroat.
“CanIhelpyouwithsomething?”shebegan,scornfully. MaybeIshouldbe
nicer,shethoughttoherself.Shenoddedatthepizzabesideher.“Wantabite?”
Evecringed. God,thatwasstupid.
“No,”Cooperfinallyanswered,flatly.“I’mnotallthathungry.Just…”He
hesitated,hiseyesdriftingdowntotheslashesacrosshershoulder.“Thirsty.”
AlumpformedinEve’sthroat,butsheswalloweditdown.Shecouldseea
lineofsweatformingonCooper’sforeheadandfeltherselfbegintopanic.
He’s going to attack, she thought. She couldn’t let that happen. She needed to avoidaconfrontation,plantthetrackingdevice,andsendhimonhisway,none
thewiser.
Shepluckedhercupofjuicefromthetableandshoveditinhisdirection.
“Havemine.”
“Icangetmyown.”
“Idon’tmind—”
“Ido.”
“ButI insist.”
Shecarelesslyslammedtheglassagainsthischest,splashingthepurply-pink
drinkacrosshiswhiteshirt.Hestumbledback,glaringathisruinedshirt.
“Well,shit,lookatthat.”Evepoutedalmostcomicallyandsankherhandsinto
herpockets,securingthetrackingdeviceinherpalm.Withanother
artificialsmile,shepulledherhandsfromherpocketsandbeganplayingwith
Cooper’sshirtcollar.“Here,letmehelpyou.”
“Pleasedon’t,”hegrumbled.
“Hey,it’stheleastIcandoafterdyingyourshirtpink.”Sheunbuttonedhis
collarandofferedhimasarcasticwink.“Supermasculine,bytheway.”
“Stopit.”
“Youknow,mostguyswouldn’tcomplainaboutbeingundressedbya
randomgirl—”
“You’reno randomgirl,”hehissed.
Evefroze;shestaredathermark,hisonceblankfacenowdrippingwith hate.Theirbodieswereclose,soclosethathecouldeasilyreleasehisskinand
tear at her throat, or she could blow him away with her gift, but instead they stoodmotionless,glaringatoneanotherasifsimultaneouslyconsideringthe
possibilities. With a hint of discomfort, Eve cleared her throat and gave his shirtcollaronelasttug,snappingthetrackingdeviceintoplace.
“You should get out of here, you know. Find a place to stay. Maybe,” she hesitated,“somewhereoffcampus.”
“Whataboutyou?”
Shefaltered.“Excuseme?”
Hestaredatherwoundasifdrawntoit.“You’rehurt,andyetyou’rehere.In
thedininghall.”Helookedherintheeye.“Eatingpizza.”
Eveshrugged.“Fleshwoundsmakemehungry.”
“Didn’tDeanFurstorderallchimerastoevacuatethecampus?”
“Hedid.”
“Whyhaven’tyou?”
“GuessIdidn’tfeellikeit.”
Hetookastepcloser,hisnosenowjustinchesawayfromhers.Evecouldfeel
hisbreathagainsthercheek.Herbodybecametense,asifpreparing
herselfforanattack,andyetdespitethesweatformingonhisbrow,he
remainedstill.
“Howdoyouremainsocalminthemidstofsuchanarchy?”heasked,his
voicedisturbinglyemotionless.
“Howdo youknowaboutthedean’sevacuationnotice?”
ToEve’ssurprise,Cooperflinched,butshetriedtoappearunfazed.Hisgaze
hadsuddenlychanged—therewassomethingbehinditnow,anemotionshe
couldn’tidentify,andafteramomentofawkwardquiet,hewipedhisnow-
dryingforeheadandtookastepbackward.
“Ihavetogo.”
Withaslightwiggleofhisnose,hespuninplaceandscurriedfromthedining
halljustasquicklyashehadcome.Eveexhaledloudly;shehadn’tthe
slightest clue what had happened or why he had opted to flee, but she took reliefinhisdepartureregardless.Aftertakingamomentandseveralcalming
breaths,shedashedfromtheroomandheadedupthetowerstairstothe
fifteenthflooronceagain.
“How’ditgo?”JJaskedassoonasEveappearedinthedoorway.Evejoined
theothersinthelivingroom,floppingontothecouchandallowinghertired
bodytosinkintotheleather.
“Creepyandweirdanddisturbing,”shemuttered.“Remindmenevertoget
intoacting.I suckatit.”
“Didyouatleaststickhimwiththetrackingdevice?”
“It’sonhisshirt.”
“His shirt?Itoldyoutogetitonhis body.”
“Well,unfortunatelyIcouldn’tseemtogethim naked,soIguesshisshirtwill havetodo.”EvenoddedatJJ’sscratchpads.“Starttrackinghim.”
JJimmediatelybeganfussingwithhercomputers,pluckingvariouscodes fromthescreenandrearrangingthemintooddandcomplexpatterns.The
otherswaitedwithasmuchcomposureastheycouldmanage:Jasonpacedthe
floor,PercyandEvestaredinaweatJJ’stechnique,andSanchodrummedhis
fingersagainstthecoffeetable.
“Whatifhetakeshisshirtoffbeforehegetstothelair?”Sanchoasked.
“What if he finds the tracking device and destroys it? What if he releases his secondskinandthetrackingdevicegetslostinthegoopile?”
“Whatifyoushutupandletmeconcentrate?”JJgrowled.
“Balls,you’remean,”hemumbled.“AndIlovethataboutyou.”
JJignoredhim,hereyesbrightwiththeglowofherscratchpadscreens.
“He’sleavingRutherfordHall,headingsouthacrosscampus.”
“Wait,doyouthinkhe’sgoingtothelair now?”Jasonasked.
“Hedidleaveinsortofahurry,”Evesaid.
“Didhesayanything?”
“Well,forstarters,heknewabouttheevacuationnotice.”
“Howisthatpossible?”
“Seethis?”Shepointedtothedarkenedscabsalonghershoulder.“Igotitfrom
anInterloper—disguisedasa patrolman.”
“The patrolmen? Infiltrated by Interlopers?” Percy’s eyes widened. “Christ Almighty,Furstisreallyrackingupsomeastronomicalfailuresthissemester.”
He let out a discouraged sigh and downed yet another shot. “I should’ve just gonetoYale.”
“That’sprobablyhowtheygotthelistinthefirstplace,”Evesaid.“They’ve beenontheinsidethewholetime.”
“Well,itwon’tbelongbeforeweturnthetableson’emandlighttheirlair
on fire.” Sancho grinned, then paused and glanced at Eve. “We are going to lightitonfire,right?Pleasetellmewe’relightingitonfire.”
“We’lllightitonfire.Relax,Sancho.”
Hegrinnedagain.“Ican’tbelievewe’redoingthis.We’regoingtotake
themout!”
“Don’tgettooexcited,”Percycutin.“Wedon’tevenknowwhoFaironis
yet.”
“Yeah,aboutthat,”Evemuttered.“HasanyoneseenHeatherwithinthelast
hourorso?”
“No,why?”Jasonstaredather,perplexed,andthenhiseyeslitupwith
understanding.“Wait—youthink Heather isFairon?”
“Myroomwasunlockedthenightwewereattacked.I neverleaveitunlocked.”
ShedugthroughherpocketandpulledoutMadison’sbejeweled
room key. “I found this in the hallway today, right where Heather had been standing.”
�
��AreyousurewecanruleoutMadison?”Sanchointerjected.“Imean,
Percy’sworddoesn’tholdmuchvalue.”
“Excuseme?”
EveignoredPercyandcasuallyshookherhead.“Madisonisn’tan
Interloper.”
“Howcanyoubesosure?”Sanchoasked.“Imean,shethreatenedtokill
you.Allofthesignswerethere.”
“Shedidn’tthreatentokillme,andshe’snotanInterloper.”
“Andhowdoyouknowthat?”
“BecauseMadison’sachimera.”
Jasondidadoubletake,andhisjawpracticallyhitthefloor.“What?”
“Holyballs,”Sanchogasped.“MadisonPalmer? Seriously?”
“God,that’srich.”Percylaughedaloudandswirledhisbottleintheairasif
togiveatoast.“Themostbigotedhammeroncampus—a chimera.Ican’twait toseethelooksoneveryone’sfaceswhentheyfindout.”
“They’renotfindingout,”Evecommanded.“Itdoesn’tleavethisroom.”
Theotherslookedatoneanother,puzzled.
“Butwhy?”
“Yeah,afterallshe’sdonetoyou—”
“Itdoesn’tleavethisroom,”Everepeated.
ThethreeboysstaredatEve.Theycouldseeinhereyesthatshemeantwhat
shesaid,that nothingcouldchangehermind—andsotheydidn’ttry.
“Guys,”JJinterrupted,hertoneforeboding,“Ithinkhe’sthere.”
Eveflinched. “What?” sheasked.
“He’satthelair,”JJconfirmed.
“Areyousure?Areyouabsolutelypositive?”
“Yes.I’msure.There’snootherexplanation.”
EveglancedatJason;hewasstaringbackather,hisjawtightandhischin
heldhigh.Hewasalreadypreparing—bracinghimselfforafight.
“Allright,”hesaid,hisvoicelowandsteady.“Whereishe?”
JJtappedatthemaponherscreen,andaholographicimageofatall,white
buildingappearedbeforethem.Everecognizeditinstantly:thebrightblue
windows,thecrisppaint,theyouthfuleleganceofitsarchitectureanddesign.
Shehadseenitbefore;infact,shehadwalkedrightpasttheplaceandthought
nothingofit.JJmaximizedtheimageonemoretimeandthenletoutashort,
shallowbreath.
“It’sacrossthestreetfromtheMeltdown.”Sheturnedtofacetheothers.
“ThePierLorentHotel.”
CHAPTER16:LIGHT’EMUP
“So,dowejustwalkin?”
Percyrolledhiseyes.“No,Sancho,we’regoingtouseoursuperpowersto
scalethewalls.Of coursewejustwalkin.”
Eveignoredtheboys’bickeringasshestaredatthecolossalbuildingbefore
her. The Pier Lorent Hotel—it was just as beautiful as she remembered. She eyed its clean lines and elegant construction, knowing all too well that it was justafaçade—thatthewalls,thewindows,andeverythingelseweremade
entirelyfromsomestrangealiengoo.Sheturnedtofacetheothers:Percyand
Sancho were still prodding at one another, Jason was staring at the hotel in silence,andJJwasleaningagainstthesideofPercy’sSUV.
JJcaughtEve’sgazeandheldherhandoutinfrontofher.“Youready?”
EvelookeddownatJJ’shand;inherpalmsatfoursmallcommunicaps.
Withoutanymisgivings,Evepluckedacapsuleanddowneditinasinglegulp,
andtheothersfollowedsuit.JJimmediatelyactivatedthedevices—theringing
intheirearswasmuchlessintensethistime;JJboastedoverhavingfixedsome
ofthebugsintheprogramming—andthenshefittedtheheadsetoverherears.
Together,thegrouptookinadeepbreath,andjustasEveregainedalevelof
composure,JJyankedatherarmandslappedapatchalongherwrist.
“Jesus…”Evemumbled,pullingherarmbacktohersideandglancingat
her wrist. The patch was a slender black square, and flexible in design—it curvedandmovedwithherarm—andinitscenterwasafaintreddishglowthat
brightenedasshenearedJason’sside.
“Theseareheatsensors,”JJexplained,attachingonetoeachoftheboys’
wrists.“They’llletyouknowwhensomeone’snearby.Theyglowwhenyou’re
incloseproximitytootherbodies.Iftheyget reallybright—”
“We’rescrewed?”Percymuttered.
“Thebrightertheglow,thegreaterthefoe—well,innumber,atleast.”She
reachedintoherpocketandpulledoutahandhelddevicethatflickeredwithred
andbluelights.“Thisisatracker.It’sdesignedtomonitoryourpatches.Ican
letyouknowwhattoexpectbasedonthesensors’readings.”
EvelookeddownatthesensorandthengazedupatthePierLorent.Achill ranthroughherbody,onesoseverethatherkneesnearlybuckledbeneathher.
Sanchoclearedhisthroat,endingthebriefsilence.“Sowhat’stheplan?”
“JJwillstayinthecar,”Evesaid.“She’llwatchthetrackerandkeepusposted.”
“Andwhataboutus?What’s ourplan?”
Eveavoidedhisgazeandfocusedonloadinghergun.“Stayalive.”
“No,seriously—”
“There isnoplan,”JJinterrupted,sensingEve’stension.“CorrectmeifI’m wrong,butI’mguessingnoneofushaveeverinfiltratedanalienlairbefore.”
Evetookinadeepbreath,staringatherweaponforasecondlongerbefore
finallylookingupatherfriends.“Wefindthecaptivesanddestroythe
mainframe,”shesaid,tryingtosoundauthoritative.“Andwhateverhappensin
between,well”—sheshrugged,stuffingextramagazinesintoherpockets
—“we’llwingit.”
“AndwhatifwerunintoFairon?”Sanchoasked.
Eve’sbodywentstiffatthesoundofhisname,andshelookedSanchointhe
eye.“Wekillhim.”
“Lookguys,I’mtotallyengrossedinthisconversation,really,Iam,”Percy
interjected,“butwe’reonabusysidewalkinbroaddaylight,andwe’reheavily
armed.Peoplearestartingtotakenoticeina bigway.”
Evelookedaround.Percywasright:clustersofpeoplehadformed,some
gapingfromafar,othersfuriouslytappingattheirphones,mostlikelycalling thepolice.EveturnedtoJJonceagainandextendedherhand.
“Thetorq?”
JJdugthroughhershoulderbagandpulledoutthesilvercylindricaldevice.
SheresteditinEve’shand.
“Findthemainframe.I’llgiveyoutheinstructionsinside.”
Evenoddedandtuckedthedeviceintothewaistbandofherpants.Percy
shoved two guns in his belt, while Jason helped secure the Dirtier Sanchez alongSancho’sback.Together,theyheadedthroughthehotel’srevolving
door.
Thelobbywaslavishandelegant.Threelarge,glitteringchandeliershung
fromahighdomedceiling,reflectingspecklesoflightacrossapolished
marblefloor.Goldleafsconceslinedthewalls,andastatelyfountainsatinthe center of the room, its trickling water the only sound resonating through the vacantspace.
“Balls,”Sanchomuttered.“Thisisonenicealienlair.”
Evetookastepforward,grippingthetorqwithonehandandkeepingthe
otheronhergun,hereyesscanningtheroom.Shecouldfeeltheothersbeside
her: Percy was strutting in his typical nonchalant manner, and Sancho craned hisneckashegapedattheluxurio
ussetting.Jasonheldhisaxeathisside,his entirearmflexedasifalreadypreparedtoswing,butatthesametimehisface
wastwistedwithpuzzlement.Somethingwasonhismind—Eveknewexactly
whathewasthinking,forshewasthinkingit,too.Hehadnoticedtheeerie quiet and the emptiness of their surroundings. He had noticed that they were alone.
“Whereiseverybody?”hewhispered.
Percyscoffed,“Probablyoffslicin’anddicin’,doingwhattheydobest.”
Theycontinuedaheadslowly,notknowingwheretogoorwhattolookfor,
andtheunnaturalsilenceleftthemallfeelinganxious.Sancholeanedintoward
Eve.
“WhendoIgettolightstuffonfire?”
Justasthewordslefthislips,Evenoticedasubtlemovementoutofthecorner
ofhereye.Shestoppedinthemiddleofthelobby,glancingacrossthe
spacebeforefinallyspottingthefirstsignoflifetheyhadencounteredthusfar: awoman.
Shestoodbehindtheguestservicesdesk,hereyesfixedonthescratchpadin
front of her. She was slight, almost delicate-looking, dressed in a crisp Pier Lorentuniformwithherhairpulledbackinatightponytail.Eve’sentirebody
stiffened,andherfingerscurledeventighteraroundthetorq.
Suddenly,thewomanturnedtowardthem.Shesmiledatfirst,asifbyreflex,
butherlipsquicklyflattened.Shestaredatthefoursome—attheirfaces,their
weapons,andthenthetorq—andhereyesshrankintoslits.Evestood
completelystill,watchingthewomanassheexitedherbooth,makingherway
towardtheintruders.Herstepswereslowandgracefulatfirst,butshehastened
herstride,andsoonherbriskwalkturnedintoafull-on,combativesprint.
“SANCHO,NOW!”Eveshouted.
Sanchoranhisfingersalongthecontrolpanelofhisdevice,andtwo
roaring streams of fire gushed from the tubes at his sides. A wave of heat spreadthroughouttheroom—Eveandtheothersshieldedtheirfaces,while
Sancho’seyeswerewidewithglee—andthewoman’sbodywasquickly
engulfedinflames.Almostinstantlyhersecondskinexploded,sprayingacross
thelobbylikeafloodofmeltedwax,andthenewlyexposedalienexpandedhis
wings and soared high into the air. But just as he dipped down toward the ground,Evesankintohermeltandflunghimagainstthewallwithsuchpower