by K. K. Perez
There was no cure for Lucy’s condition. She wouldn’t burden her mother with the knowledge that she’d birthed a mutant who could kill with a touch.
Instead, she said, “Go away,” and as the door shut behind her mother, Lucy’s heart begged, Stay.
THE CHOPPING BLOCK
Monday morning came and Lucy found herself squaring off with Principal Petersen.
He surveyed her barely brushed hair, barely brushed teeth, and the dark circles beneath her purpling bruise. She wondered if Jess had a matching one, wherever she was.
“Miss Phelps. I trust you’ve recovered from the excitement of prom,” said the principal in monotone, Mrs. Brandon at his side, as he adjusted his horrid tartan tie. Lucy might never recover from the excitement of prom night. Her father could hardly stand to remain in the same state as her, decamping to his office in Manhattan immediately after their argument.
Lucy didn’t reply. Principal Petersen didn’t really want an answer. She focused on the principal’s bald spot to avoid meeting Ravi’s eyes. He stood next to Mrs. Brandon, leaning against a bookshelf, his gaze hot on her face.
The principal angled his chin toward the physics teacher.
“I hope we gave you some food for thought at our last meeting, Miss Phelps,” he continued, focusing a laser-pointer stare on Lucy, “and that the weekend provided some clarity about your position. So, enlighten us. Who is responsible for circulating the physics exam among your classmates?”
If Principal Petersen had asked Lucy to tattletale at prom, she would have turned Cole in as the culprit with relish. Now, however … Lucy’s high school problems seemed very small compared with everything else that had happened.
What Cole had done was wrong, and his threats were childish, but she didn’t want to ruin his future. Involuntarily, Lucy’s eyes slid toward Ravi. She and Cole had already hurt each other enough. She didn’t need petty vengeance.
“Principal Petersen,” she began, looking from him to Mrs. Brandon. “I wish I could tell you who distributed the exam, but I can’t. What I can tell you is that I often left my book bag with the office keys inside in public places. Like the gymnasium while I worked on prom decorations.” She cast her eyes downward. “So it’s possible that someone else could have used my key to the science office without my knowledge. I realize this was irresponsible of me, and I apologize.”
Principal Petersen steepled his fingers together. Mrs. Brandon’s lips were pursed, eyes troubled.
“That is disappointing, Miss Phelps. And not the answer I was hoping for.”
Disappointing: Lucy’s new defining adjective.
“I’m sorry.”
A nasal sigh. “Not as sorry as I am. I will have no choice but to fail the entire senior class and report your breach of the honor code to Gilbert College. In addition, you will be suspended from all graduation activities.”
Lucy’s chin wobbled. Hearing her sentence being pronounced turned her insides to jelly. Her parents would never get over this. She’d never win back her father’s trust.
“Principal Petersen,” Ravi interjected in his most formal BBC voice. “I believe I have another solution.”
“I’m all ears.”
Ravi crossed to Lucy’s side. His hand brushed hers—just for an instant—and, although he was shielding, his touch was still reassuring. Perhaps more than it should be. He knew she was lying, he knew Cole had stolen the exam, but he was willing to back her up. Lucy’s feelings for him were jumbled and thorny, no doubt, and yet she couldn’t deny she was grateful he was here.
Ravi’s chest swelled as he planted his feet, exuding that same quiet confidence he had on the High Line.
“I would suggest that the entire senior class takes a new physics final. Tomorrow morning. There will be no paper copies. I will write the exam questions on the blackboard. That will preclude any possibility of cheating.”
“A very generous offer.” The principal scratched his gleaming head. “Mrs. Brandon, what do you say?”
Expression pained, she said, “Lucy is a model student. My best.”
“I believe in her,” Ravi said, voice firm. He cast Lucy a charged look, and she felt heat flare across her chest. She wished his eyes weren’t so damn mesmerizing.
Principal Petersen’s steepled fingers slid together and interlocked.
“You agree, Cheryl?” he asked Mrs. Brandon.
Lucy held her breath. “I do,” said the teacher with a small smile.
“Very well.” The principal sighed. “Then it is, of course, your prerogative to administer another exam. I will have Mrs. White email the relevant students immediately.”
“Thank you,” Ravi told him.
“And you, Miss Phelps, ought to thank Mr. Malik for his steadfast support.”
Mr. Malik. Lucy ground her teeth at Ravi’s fake name. “Thank you,” she said stiffly. Ravi rotated his torso so that only Lucy could see his mouth, Always.
Principal Petersen nodded in a satisfied fashion. “You may go, Miss Phelps.”
“Thanks,” she repeated as she backed out of the room.
“Mr. Malik, stay a minute,” she heard the principal say, his voice becoming muffled as she closed the door.
Another exam. She’d gotten off easy. Ravi had saved her skin. She hurried toward the exit before she could rip any more lockers from their hinges.
The cynical part of Lucy told her Ravi was just under orders from Professor T to make the problem go away. She was his mission. His assignment.
But the Archimedeans had nothing to do with the way Ravi and Lucy had danced at prom. Remembering how his energy had subsumed her, a dart of lust traveled through her.
Lucy’s powers told her she could trust him, and yet he could still lie to her—to everyone. What if she didn’t pick up on any conflicted emotions in Ravi because he truly believed what he was doing was right. He believed he was helping Lucy. He cared for Lucy. But he could still be in the wrong.
Pencils scratched paper as the lowerclassmen finished up their exams in the classrooms on either side of the hallway. The sound reminded Lucy of scurrying insect legs. If she never saw another scarab again it would be too soon.
Her pocket vibrated just as she reached the exit.
Boats. 15 minutes.
There was both too much and nothing that Lucy wanted to say to Ravi, but she couldn’t risk him turning up at her house.
She felt for the tourmaline at her throat and loosed a breath.
Time to face some more music.
THE FIFTH ELEMENT
Crunch, crunch. Lucy’s ears pricked as a few twigs snapped beneath Ravi’s loafers. His tread remained uniform, purposeful, as he approached. She dipped one foot over the edge of the cliff, swinging it above the Sunfish below.
Ravi circled a hand around her upper arm and pulled her toward him, away from the steep drop to the lake. With his shield firmly in place, Lucy could only guess at what he was thinking—but she had a pretty good guess.
“It’s later,” she said. When Lucy had walked out of his apartment yesterday, she’d figured he wouldn’t delay their talk for long. “Thanks again for intervening with Principal Petersen.”
“It was my pleasure.” He released her arm. “That wanker Cole got off lightly.”
“I’ve hurt enough people,” Lucy said.
“Lucinda.” Ravi spoke her name low and rough. She captured his gaze, daring him to deny it. “You didn’t leave your house yesterday,” he said. “I’ve been worried.”
“I’m grounded until we land a manned mission on Mars. But why were you watching my house?”
“I was doing my job. Like I should have been from the start.”
“I’m your job now?” Lucy retreated a step.
Anguish streaked his face as Ravi grabbed her hand and swung her well away from the cliff’s edge. “You’re much more to me than that,” he said like it cost him, dropping her hand to cup her cheek. “Isn’t it obvious? It’s why I was too distracted to see the thre
at right under my nose. The Freelancers never should have been able to get so close to you.”
His touch made Lucy feel so alive, and that was dangerous. Ravi meant something more to Lucy too—even if she didn’t know how to quantify or qualify that more. What she did know was having these kinds of feelings—desires—for someone she couldn’t completely trust was dangerous.
Jess’s taunt on the High Line came rushing back.
You’re too valuable. For now.
Ravi flicked his tongue across his teeth in response to her silence.
“Why?” Lucy asked.
“Why what?”
“Why do you care about me?”
He rubbed his thumb along her cheekbone. “Do you really have to ask?” Ravi said softly.
Lucy raised her chin. “Yes.”
“All right.” He inhaled. “Because you’re fiercely intelligent. Brave. Selfless.” Ravi tilted his face downward. “Beautiful.” He wrapped his other arm around her shoulders. “Whenever I’m around you, all I want is to be closer.”
Lucy really wished he didn’t have the same effect on her.
“But how do I know you’re not just telling me what I want to hear?” she said. “Seducing me to your side?”
“Seducing you?” Hurt flared in his eyes and Ravi straightened. “Falling for you was not part of the plan.”
“You sound like Jess.”
Lucy felt a pang of regret as soon as the words flew out of her mouth and, from the way Ravi’s chest lurched, they’d hit their mark.
“I’m sorry you think so little of me.” He stumbled back a pace. “I thought—I thought you knew me better than that.”
“How could I possibly know you, Ravi? You haven’t exactly been forthcoming!” Lucy fired back. Her unkempt curls began to rise with her pulse. “You showed up at my school all charming and British and talking about Replicants. I liked you from day one—even when I shouldn’t have! When I still had a boyfriend!”
Lucy tried and failed to pat down her wayward curls. “Then I find out you’re not who you say you are—”
“I made a mistake,” Ravi said, almost guttural. “I thought you’d forgiven me.”
“I’m not finished!” she shouted at him. He folded his arms. “We have this amazing kiss, which you say can’t happen again, but you rent tails for my prom,” she went on, the words pouring out of her. “My best friend gets kidnapped, we kiss again—a lot—and then I find out you’ve got snipers at your disposal. Snipers, Ravi!”
Lucy exhaled a short breath. “Every time I think I’ve gotten to the bottom of the mystery of Ravi Singh, I discover another secret. So you tell me, what would you think if you were me!”
Her chest heaved as she ended her rant, and Lucy had to admit she felt better for it.
“Are you finished?” Ravi asked quietly.
“Yes,” she replied, trying to get a hold of her oscillations. She squeezed the tourmaline.
“When you collapsed on the High Line, my world stopped.” His words were weighted, like they were dragging him down. “I failed to train you. I failed to protect you. And I’ve given you good reason to doubt me, and my motives.” He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
“For that I’m more sorry than I can say.” He took a step toward her, but his hands remained at his sides. “I asked you to meet me here because I don’t want there to be any more secrets between us.”
Lucy’s breath hitched at the severity of his tone.
“I have things to tell you,” Ravi continued. “Some of them will be hard for you to hear.” He jammed his lips into a thin line, briefly closed his eyes. “The first is that, because my professionalism has been compromised, Professor T has tasked a pair of Initiates to watch you and Claudia,” he said.
“What? Why are they watching Claudia?”
“At my request. I thought it’s what you would want.”
“Is she in danger?” Lucy asked breathily.
“Nothing will happen to her again. I swear. I hold myself responsible for putting you and the people you care about in danger.”
Lucy placed her hands on her hips. “I put the people around me in danger, Ravi. Not you. In fact, I put you in danger.”
“I chose this life.”
But had he really? Lucy wondered. The Sophists killed his parents and he joined the Archimedeans to get revenge when he was fourteen. It was the only life he knew. Like Rick had said, eventually a side chooses you.
Ravi scrubbed a hand across his face and threw his shoulders back, posture becoming rigid. Sunlight danced on his finely whittled cheekbones. When his gaze met hers again, it was guarded.
“Professor T—” He coughed into his hand and started over. “Professor T would like me to reiterate his offer to intern at Chrysopoeia Tech. We could help you develop your powers so that you can’t be used against your will.”
“Develop my powers? Ask Jess if she thinks they need any further development!”
“Develop and stabilize. Besides, you acted in self-defense. But the Archimedeans can train you to control your powers. Use them with precision.”
“Oh great. That way I can electrocute someone more precisely!”
“Lucy, your oscillations were off the chart when you fell unconscious. You— I almost lost you.”
“What?” The look on Ravi’s face filled Lucy with foreboding.
“Your heart stopped. It stopped, and then restarted itself—as if you had an implanted defibrillator. But you weren’t breathing for thirty seconds.”
Lucy sucked in a breath, almost to prove that she still could. No wonder Claudia had been so upset by Lucy’s seizure. Her symptoms were getting worse.
Ravi dared to extend a hand and twirl one of her dark strands around his forefinger.
“My heart stopped when yours did, Lucinda. I never want to go through that again.” He stared at Lucy with mounting intensity. “Sod it,” he said under his breath, and his lips found hers.
Surprise was replaced swiftly by desire. She raked her hands through Ravi’s short, soft hair, tugging him nearer. She devoured him with hungry kisses and he moaned against her mouth, pressing one hand into the curve of her spine. Lucy arched to meet him. She wanted to lose herself. She wanted to forget what she was, the damage she could do. The damage she could do to herself.
When Ravi broke away, they were both breathing hard.
“Work with us—with me,” he pleaded. “We’ll figure out how you can live a long and healthy life. There’s so much good we can do together. So much potential for understanding the power of the mind. The way the universe works.”
Lucy let out a desperate laugh. “No pressure.”
The Freelancers had wanted Lucy’s powers to benefit their criminal activities, the Order of Sophia wanted to destroy her, and the Order of Archimedes wanted her to, what, unlock the secrets of the universe? She laughed again.
“Have you heard of the fifth element?” Ravi asked.
She did a double-take. “The old Bruce Willis movie?”
“No.” He smiled. “Quintessence. Newton believed it was the link between spirit and matter that comprises the other four elements. The invisible energy that breathes life into all things.”
“That sounds like mystical hocus-pocus to me.” Although it might explain how she’d heard Claudia’s voice in her mind, grabbed a snatch of the hotel room from her friend’s perspective.
“Newton didn’t think so. He conducted many experiments to prove quintessence was a magnetic force that coaxed life from chaos,” Ravi explained, tone patient. “Professor T has long asserted that the true philosopher’s stone isn’t a stone at all, but the ability to tap into quintessence, manipulate it even.”
Lucy’s mouth went dry. The Flower of Life smoldered in her mind. She had hallucinated it on the High Line, right before her heart stopped.
Could it actually mean something?
“If Newton proved the existence of quintessence,” Lucy said, “then why aren’t there any rec
ords of his experiments?”
Ravi exhaled. “The Royal Society suppressed the papers. They believed his association with alchemy would taint the public’s view of his science. But the Order of Archimedes has kept them safe.”
“And you think the lightning gene is what allows me to access quintessence,” Lucy said, voice wobbly. “I suppose Newton also possessed the lightning gene.”
“It seems unlikely. But from the records of his experiments we believe he must have had access to someone who did.”
“So I’m supposed to become, what, your personal lab rat?” Lucy said, arching a brow. Then something occurred to her, something she should have realized before. “Your parents, Ravi—if they were researching the lightning gene, they must have had access to blood samples. And since there aren’t that many of us around…”
Rick’s remorseful tone as he’d told her he knew another woman like her echoed in her ears. “Your parents were collaborating with a female carrier of the mutation, weren’t they?”
Hope lit inside Lucy that she might be able to find someone else with her condition. Someone who could understand what she was going through.
“Is she still alive?” she asked, breathless.
Taking in Ravi’s crestfallen expression, Lucy instantly knew the answer was no.
“Did she die in the fire?”
He dropped his voice. “Not in the fire.”
“The Sophists?”
A shake of the head. Lucy didn’t want to know any more. This other gene carrier must have died from the condition. Lucy’s condition. She was a ticking time bomb. “Why do you think I had such a violent seizure on prom night? The tourmaline had been helping,” she said, trying to keep her panic in check. “I thought I’d been doing so well.”
“I’m not sure. Perhaps because you were forced to use your powers so much in the space of only a few hours? Maybe it had something to do with the Tesla Egg?” Ravi fiddled with one of her curls. “But these are questions we can answer together. You won’t be a guinea pig. You’ll be a partner. A researcher.”