Reaper was amused. One of his eyebrows raised in sardonic amusement. “Anything else you would change?” he asked.
I took his question as an invitation, though I knew he was being sarcastic. “Well, we definitely need to make the prisoners a priority as well. We shouldn’t leave them. But we could also use that to our advantage. Lorian is probably pretty well-guarded,” I said.
“Two guards at all times, not to mention his soldiers that are at the house at any given time,” River said.
“So…we create a distraction. We free the prisoners and draw the attention there. The guards will be pulled out of the house, and we get Lorian.”
“It’s a sound plan,” River said.
“With limitations,” Grace said.
“We can’t control all the variables,” Ghost said.
“You don’t need to. You just need to send someone in with Anna who won’t stop until the job is done,” I said.
“I’ll do it,” River said.
We all looked at her. Reaper frowned. “River…” he started to object.
“Lorian will remember me. He’ll let Anna through. We both know he has a price on my head,” River said to Reaper.
“Why?” I asked.
“You’re not the only one to endure that prison,” she said pointedly. “Except I was not rescued until well after my initiation. My escape was even messier than yours.”
A new respect for her welled up. I hadn’t realized she had been through the same thing. She hid it so well.
“Oh,” I said.
“Drawing attention to the prisoners seems risky,” Daniel said thoughtfully.
“Create full chaos, then,” King said. “You saw how they reacted last time. As much mayhem as we can manage. Have a couple of teams that are there just to cause a distraction, not to fight.”
“That brings up a point…you would think their defenses are better after your last attack,” Daniel said.
“What do you think River’s been doing?” Reaper asked. “Twirling her thumbs?”
“Of course not,” I said. “Her thumbs look firmly attached to me.”
“They have increased their defenses, but I know how they think. Lorian teaches his people to think of fighting like he was taught to fight. He’s about numbers and intimidation. He and his brother are very similar in that way,” River said. “It’s why the war is so stagnant. It’s only recently that he’s started using agents like Anna…and that’s only because of Marcus’ example.”
“Some guerilla tactics and plenty of explosions should take care of things,” Daniel said. “I wish Jackson were here,” he fretted.
“We’ll have to manage,” Reaper said. “I don’t like you going in there with Anna,” he said to River.
“Do you see any other options?” she asked.
“I’ll do it,” I said.
“No.” It came from several places around the room.
I frowned at their profound lack of trust in my abilities. I might not have been as skilled as the rest of them or as Watcher-y, but I could hold my own. I had proved that by now.
“I can do it,” King said. “They’re not fans of me, either.”
River stood, her chair falling in her haste. Her eyes were full of passion. “No. It’s me. I’m the one. I couldn’t stop Elizabeth from getting killed, but I won’t let anyone else die doing something I could do better…no offense, King.”
King looked at her in surprise. He had obviously never seen her so worked up. “If that’s what you want,” he said.
“It is,” she agreed.
“Then, it’s settled,” Reaper said. “Let’s talk details…”
They spent the rest of the night and morning talking over the attack. Alex sat in the corner without commenting. Though I sensed she had opinions, she kept them to herself. She watched the group and glared at Reaper whenever he accidently made eye contact with her. Daniel was intense and focused on the task at hand, all but forgetting I was next to him. He and Reaper traded ideas like a stockbroker traded money. I knew the attack would be well-planned and effective.
I didn’t say anything or try to join in on their planning. I knew the details mattered to the success of attacking Lorian, but I couldn’t focus on them. I couldn’t focus on anything beyond the idea of what they were suggesting.
I wanted to be the one who ended Lorian. I wanted revenge. I had never felt so focused on revenge in my whole life. I couldn’t take my feelings out on Anna…she was our way in. It would mean more lives lost to Lorian. I could, however, take my hatred out on the man himself.
Why River? Why not me?
They kept plotting and planning, oblivious that I was coming up with my own plans, my own decisions. I had promised myself I would end the fight. I would end it my way, on my terms. And though it was a very personal thing, what I was plotting, it went beyond a vendetta. I felt like I owed it to the Nightstalker who had helped me out of the prison, the people I hadn’t managed to free, and to the people, like River, who had faced untold suffering they were forced to repress. They deserved closure and revenge as much as I did.
It was a duty I had to uphold...It was something that went beyond fear or doubt.
Chapter 17
By the time lunch rolled around, I was tired of their planning.
Daniel and Reaper talked in circles. They were meticulous. The others were just as bad.
I left Reaper’s room and went to my room to plot how I would get River to step out of her role in the peace and comfort of my own bed. I knew she wouldn’t do it willingly…which meant force. I would have to force her to give in. I stared up at the peeling paint of the ceiling for a long time, feeling conflicted. A part of me knew what I was contemplating was wrong; another part didn’t care. I knew I had an unspoken promise with Daniel not to do something ridiculous, and I knew that I owed it to all of my friends to be careful, but I couldn’t reconcile ‘careful’ with what needed to be done. River would die if she tried to take out Lorian…then, we would have nothing, beyond another friend dead and Lorian free to kidnap and re-train others. I was certain I was the only one who could do what needed to be done.
I didn’t remember falling asleep, but, between one thought and the next, I felt a pull of darkness. As the first wave of deep slumber swept over me, I heard my name called by a thousand voices raised as one.
Clare!
It was so like the voice that had haunted me on the staircase I felt my mind urging my body to wake. My body resisted the call and the darkness shifted tangibly to a different scene – one that left me as conflicted as the idea of forcing River to let me take her place.
I saw Han and Beatrice in a white room. They were surrounded by lab equipment and were wearing white lab coats that matched the room. There were other people around them, other scientists. There were also guards – five of them. They had swords on their backs and automatic weapons in their hands. They were not the sort to mess with.
No one in the room spoke, but Han and Beatrice would occasionally brush against each other, their skin meeting long enough for them to have brief conversations. Han and Beatrice supervised, as the other scientists mixed compounds together with a silver substance I recognized all too well – Watcher blood.
As I watched, one scientist, a woman, collapsed to the floor, her black hair spilling out over her white lab coat. Han rushed to help her, while Beatrice turned to plead with the guards.
“These are humans. They need sleep. Please, let them rest!”
“They can rest when they’re dead,” one man said mercilessly.
“Please!” Beatrice begged. “They can’t help you build your weapon if they die of exhaustion first!”
“We’ll just replace them with another,” the man said. “They’re all so replaceable.”
“Enough,” a voice commanded. Nguyen, one of Marcus’ top Seekers and a new enemy of mine, stepped through the only door in the room. “Let the humans sleep.”
“But…” the other man started to comp
lain.
“Yes?” Nguyen asked dangerously.
“Nothing…” the man replied.
Nguyen smirked at the man then eyed Han – who had pulled the woman into his arms – with disgust. The dream ended with Beatrice’s face full of terror for the people around her and concern for her husband…she obviously saw no way out of the situation they had found themselves in. My stomach clenched at the look in her eyes.
I woke up with a sigh. The fear and the panic had been more like a call for help than an immediate adrenaline rush. I sat up and rubbed at my forehead. My necklace burned with a dull fire, a reminder of the call for help. I was glad to see them again, to know they were okay, but if what I was seeing was real, they were far from a happy situation. I could imagine the terrors they faced in their imprisonment.
Daniel opened my door, almost as if he had known about the dream. His eyes were glittering with his excitement. When he saw my face the excitement drained away.
“What is it?”
“Just a dream,” I said.
“Marcus?” he asked.
“No.”
“The darkness?” he asked.
“No.”
He sat down next to me on the bed. He half turned, so he was facing me and put a hand on my neck. His electric touch was full of questions. It asked me for the reason behind my oddness. I couldn’t resist the touch for long. I wanted to tell him, to get some of the panic off my chest.
“I saw Han and Beatrice. They were in a room with other scientists. I think they were making…the weapon we discussed,” I said.
“Hmmm,” he said.
I sensed he believed my dream was real; more than even I did. He had no doubt, where I had several.
He started stroking the side of my face. His hand was gentle, though his thoughts were blocked from my mind. I sensed the act of touch brought him comfort. I wasn’t sure what good ‘comfort’ did him. He remained in thought for a long moment. I left him to think, more affected by his touch than I was curious about his internal musings.
“We’re going to attack Lorian’s tomorrow night,” Daniel said finally.
“Oh, yeah?” I asked noncommittally.
He didn’t like my indifference. “Dammit, Clare, what’s the matter with you?”
“The matter with me?” I asked.
I moved away from his touch. I didn’t want him hearing my thoughts or comforting me…not when I had a job to do.
“Yeah, you’re acting all…vague,” he said.
“Vague is the new vogue,” I said. “Everybody’s doing it. I think…”
“Clare…” he said in exasperation, wanting a real answer to his question.
I ignored his request for answers. It would just have me spilling the beans on the plan I had in mind. I knew I couldn’t resist his questioning for long.
“What’s the plan with the plan?” I asked. “Where’s my place in this mess?”
He sighed and answered my question with a frown. “Alex suggested that you two could help free the prisoners, after we get the guards there out of the way. Reaper wants me to lead a group to the house, while King leads the attack on the prisons. Reaper is going to be in charge of the general mischief. He claims that it’s his specialty.”
“Why wouldn’t Reaper take the honor of storming the house?” I asked.
“He doesn’t want to attack the house for the glory. He wants to attack it to end the war. That means using everybody’s talents in the best possible area…Reaper’s is in scope…large acts.” He gave a small laugh. “He’s already got Spider running around like mad, collecting weapons and making deals.”
“About time that kid did something useful,” I said.
“I called Ellen,” he said.
“Why would you do that?” I asked.
“Well, the kids for one… I think they should stay gone for a little while.” He reached in to his pocket but seemed to think of something. “Crap.”
“Huh?”
A large group of Watchers swarmed the hall. They were loud, having a good time. I sensed they were blowing off steam, letting out energy before the attack tomorrow. They lingered in the hall, making as much noise as they could.
Alex appeared around the group. She fought through the Watchers, to get to her room. I heard her shut the door and the squeak of her mattress as she sat on the bed. There was another squeak as she picked up my grandfather’s book – which she had taken from me – and started reading.
Daniel sat back on my bed, his face full of frustration.
I leaned back as well. “What?” I asked.
“You ever feel like the world is out to get you?” he asked.
“You’re kidding, right?” I asked.
“I want to give you something, but the moment keeps getting interrupted,” he said.
“I don’t want any presents or…whatever,” I said.
“I didn’t buy it,” he said.
“If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, just hang on to it,” I said. “In a hundred or so years you might find it.”
He grinned and turned, so that his body was facing mine. “If we’re alive then.”
“There’s that,” I agreed.
He stuck his hand in to his pocket and finally pulled out what he had been keeping there. He kept it concealed in his hand for a moment. “Sometimes in our sadness, we find what matters most,” he said.
“Okay?” I asked, deciding he had gone insane.
“In my sadness, I found you,” he said.
He opened his hand. A diamond, pure and beautiful rested in the palm of his hand. It was tear-shaped and absolutely perfect. It glittered in the light, though I sensed a dark overtone to its glittering. It was like the necklace I wore – a strange balance of light and dark. Attached to it was a small silver band, as simple as the jewel was beautiful.
“This is for you…” He held it out to me.
I touched the diamond but didn’t take it. I was too intimidated by the idea. It was his sadness. It was for me – I had caused it. His foot started tapping on the bed, beating out an irregular, nervous rhythm.
“This is the tear you cried…the silver one,” I said, to stall for time.
“Yes,” he agreed.
“How is that even possible? I thought only angels could cry diamonds?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
He shook the ring around on his palm. His eyes were uncertain what my reaction meant. He could tell I was stalling.
“Do you want it?” he asked his heart in his eyes.
I did want it. It was like having a part of him. I picked it up and felt an instant bond with the jewel.
I put it on my right hand, on my ring finger, but Daniel wasn’t having it. His eyes on me, he took the ring off my finger and put it on my left hand. His hand lingered on top of the ring for a moment, but he didn’t say anything. Butterflies swarmed my stomach, and I wondered if he was suggesting what I thought he was suggesting.
“It is a promise to always be here for you,” he said after a moment. “It will keep you safe. Wear it tomorrow, please?”
“I will,” I agreed.
He smiled and pulled me in close. “Good.”
He kissed me. His passion drowned out my fears and my doubts. There was only the two of us. It was an illusion that couldn’t last, but one I clung to.
It wouldn’t be long until we were faced with a far unhappier truth.
Chapter 18
Waking up Anna was the hardest part of the attack for me.
I could rationalize it was important; I knew she would play an important part of the plan, but the idea of her waking up made me anxious, sad, and more than a little angry.
“You don’t have to be here for this,” Daniel said for the third time as Reaper and the rest of his elite stood over the silver box.
The top of the box was open and Ghost was preparing to wake Anna up. Alex was next to me, though she hadn’t made a sound since coming. She had come to support me,
not be friendly. She hadn’t spoken to Reaper since their fight. I wasn’t sure if it was the idea of him being with River or the fact that she was still mad about the fight that was causing her to give him the silent treatment. I just knew she had committed to the cold shoulder and was holding her ground.
I was fidgeting, and my leg was creating a sharp staccato on the floor in a poor imitation of one of Daniel’s most prevailing traits. My heart was racing, and my hands were clenched. I wouldn’t let Daniel touch me. I didn’t want to be calmed. I wanted to deal with my emotions and hopefully get over them. The plan I had formed in private depended on it.
“I know,” I said.
“I mean, we could go for a drive or…”
“I’m fine,” I said.
He stopped trying to make me feel better.
We all watched as Ghost reached in to the box and touched Anna. He didn’t need long. A second later he pulled away and Reaper stepped up in his place. I heard a long sigh from inside the box.
“Is it time?” I heard Anna ask.
“Yes,” Reaper.
I heard a faint sound as she moved, and she sat up. I took a deep breath and held it, trying to hold back my anger. I wasn’t sure if the breath was what drew her attention to me or my wild, racing heart, but my face was the first place she looked. Her dark eyes connected with mine, and I knew my hatred of her had grown. Time had put pressure on my memories – had made them stronger.
“Have you come to kill me?” she asked me.
I wasn’t sure if she was mocking me or genuinely curious.
“I wish,” I said.
“Pity.”
I no longer doubted her mocking. She only looked mildly curious – as if she couldn’t be bothered with the idea that I would kill her. Anna and I kept staring at each other. We were the only people in the room. Not even Daniel had as much prominence in my reality in that moment.
Reaper hurried to end the moment. “We have a plan. We would like to run it past you and see if you have any improvements or concerns,” he said.
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