House of Cards

by W. J. May

  “Who are we waiting for?” Rae hoped it was Devon. Carter seemed to like the two of them working together. Maybe he would be her Botcher-instructor-thingy.

  Carter opened his mouth, about to answer, but stood instead and walked over to the door. He opened it.

  Rae turned in her chair, expecting to see Devon. Instead a tall, lean, beautiful woman dressed in tight, black leather pants stood in the doorway. Her long, brown hair, pulled tight in a ponytail, swung as she strode into the room. She stopped short when she saw Rae.

  “You have got to be kidding!” she exclaimed to no one in particular.

  Carter cleared his throat. “Jennifer, I’d like you to meet Rae. Rae, this is Jennifer.”

  Rae stared at the woman. She didn’t mean to, but it was hard not to. The woman held a power that could still an entire room with one hip swing. The tight clothes showed off muscle and strength Rae could only dream to having. What’s her tatù?

  Jennifer crossed her arms over her perfect chest. “Stand up.”

  Rae rose from her chair and pulled her shirt straight. She suddenly wished she had worn the Lululemon outfit Molly had bought for her to train in instead of her comfy grey jogging pants and old Converse t-shirt. She stood awkwardly beside her chair.

  Jennifer looked her up and down, glanced at Carter and then gave Rae the once over one more time. She shook her head. “I can’t believe it!”

  “I told you.” Carter pointed to Rae’s hair. “She cut and dyed her hair a week ago and must have changed her mind. When I saw her today with the shoulder length, I thought it was her for a moment.”

  Hello. I’m still in the room. Who were they comparing her to?

  Jennifer cocked her head to the side. “How do you know she won’t end up like the bastard?”

  Rae stiffened with indignation. She didn’t know who this woman was, but she’d had enough of people pre-judging her based solely on her parentage for one day. “I am not my father.” She gave the woman the same once over Jennifer had given her. “And who are you?”

  Jennifer actually smiled. “You sound like her, but with a lousy accent.”

  “I don’t have an accent.” Rae knew she sounded childish and petulant, but didn’t care.

  Carter finally moved and sat down at the table, motioning at the chairs for them to sit down.

  Rae sat back down in her seat.

  Jennifer came around and leaned against the wall. “I prefer to stand.”

  “Fine,” Carter said. “Rae, Jennifer has offered to be your Botcher.”

  Seriously? I didn’t catch the “voluntary” vibe from this Laura Croft wannabe.

  Carter smiled. “This is a huge compliment, Rae. Jennifer’s pulled herself out of the field and wants to train you.”

  “You’ll be working with the best.” Jennifer looked like she couldn’t care less. She stood head bent, checking her phone.

  Where did she pull that out of? The tight leather couldn’t hide a thing. Rae couldn’t even detect panty lines, so the question remained. “To make me better than the best?” Again, the childish dig came out of her mouth before her brain could process it and warn her to shut it down.

  Jennifer’s eyebrow rose. “I offered because you’re Bethney’s.”

  Mom? “How do you know my mother?”

  “We were best friends, and partners here at the Privy Council.”

  Chapter 2

  Tete en Tete

  What? Jennifer seemed nothing like the type of person her mom would have hung out with. Sh—Wait a min… Mom worked with the Privy Council? Rae couldn’t imagine her mother knowing about the Privy Council, or wearing the leather outfit, but these days, nothing should really surprise her anymore.

  She pictured her mother and pretended she was in the room so she could talk to her. Mom, why didn’t you tell me you worked for the Privy Council? What would her mom say? Sorry dear, it never came up. Rae rolled her eyes. Wake up, Rae, she told herself. You didn’t know your mother. You were so young when she died, how can you have any concept of her as a person? You never really knew her. “How could…? But my father… wanted to destroy…” She looked at Carter, hoping the confusion she felt showed clearly on her face.

  “There’s a lot you don’t know, Rae.” Carter’s voice carried sympathy but also something else. Mystery? Could he be hiding something? Did it matter? It only served to make her temper flare. This was exactly the reason she had to hold back. How could she truly trust anyone until or unless they told her everything? Every time she turned around someone was confessing that she had not been told about something, that they had withheld info for one reason or another. It didn’t matter why anymore. She didn’t feel protected. She just felt betrayed. If anyone in the entire world deserved…no needed…needed to know the entire story of her parent’s lives from start to finish, including every tiny little incident or coincidence, it was her. After all, she was judged by it. It was only fair she at least know about it.

  “I’m getting a little tired of living in this constant shroud of mystery.” She inhaled and forced the air through her nostrils. The Privy Council wanted her here – correct that – they needed her. “Start filling me in.”

  Jennifer whistled. “You are your mother’s daughter.” She sat on the table and pushed the chair out beside Rae to rest her knee high boots on. “What do you want to know?”

  “Careful,” Carter warned.

  Jennifer threw him an annoyed look. “Really? She’s working for you now. You think hiding information from her is going to keep her on your team?” She crossed her long legs and turned to Rae. “Bethney and I met in Scotland. I was working undercover and she approached me. How she knew I worked for the Privy Council, I can’t tell you.”

  “She came to you?” When Jennifer nodded, Rae continued, “How old were you?”

  “I was seventeen. Same age as your mom.”

  “Same age as me.”

  The thin eyebrows went up again. “Really?” She waved a hand as if to dismiss Rae’s comment. “Bethney wanted to know more about the Privy Council. She and Simon were dating pretty seriously, and he hated the PC’s.”

  Rae interrupted, “What were you doing in Scotland?”

  “Spying on your mother.”

  “Jennifer!” Carter shook his head.

  “What? I was. It’s not some horrific secret. Bethney was dating the one person who everyone was terrified of. Why wouldn’t she be a person of interest?” She pointed her thumb at Rae. “The girl’s no dummy. She’s going to figure it out.”

  Rae sat back in her chair. “What did you find out?”

  “Your mother wanted to help the Privy Council. She understood that protecting the innocent was most important.”

  Protecting the innocent? Her mom loved her dad.

  “She shared Intel. She got close to Simon, worked with us when he went away, she was amazing. And her tatù…” Jennifer laughed at some private joke. “That girl had some serious talent.”

  Rae’s heart began racing when she considered the risk her mother had taken. If her dad had found out, what would he have done?

  Jennifer glanced away, staring intently at the wall. Rae sensed she was seeing her past. Her face softened, sorry tinted the corners of her eyes, a slow blink carefully erased the glimmer of tears that would never be allowed to fall. “I miss her. It’s never been the same.” The moment of vulnerability passed as quickly as it had come. Jennifer’s face locked away her emotion. “Then everything changed.”

  Rae leaned forward. “When?”

  “When she had you. She continued working while she was pregnant, but when you were born she changed her mind. She would share Intel but she wouldn’t leave your side. She refused to leave you alone with Simon.”

  Rae glanced back and forth between Jennifer and Carter. “You knew how dangerous he was, and you guys didn’t try to pull her out? You could have hid Mom and me. Put us in witness protection or something.”

  Jennifer snorted. “You think hiding wo
uld have saved your mom? Come on, kid. Simon would’ve found the right kind of tatù to track you two down. Then he’d have killed both of you.”

  “Enough!” Carter stood, snarling. The sudden outpouring of anger shocked Rae. Carter was almost always under control, but apparently while she had been carefully scrutinizing Jennifer’s every facial tick, Carter had been seething. He put his hand on Rae’s shoulder. It was a protective gesture. “Don’t blame her. She’s the victim.”

  “Victim?” Jennifer threw her head back and laughed. “Look at the girl! She has no bloody idea.”

  What the heck is she talking about? Rae shoved her chair back and stood. She met Jennifer’s gaze without blinking and then realized what leather-lady had insinuated. She spoke low and articulate, “I know who I am, and I know exactly what potential I have. If you can’t handle the fact that I’ll be stronger and better than you, then I suggest Headmaster Carter find me a new Botcher.”

  Jennifer slid off the table and stood inches away from Rae. With her boots she was about two inches taller. She bent slightly so they were eye level. “I can handle it – if you can, Dagonet.” She enunciated each syllable, using the pronunciation to remind Rae that she was the student here, and Jennifer the teacher.

  “Put your claws away, ladies.” Carter put his hands on both their shoulders and separated them.

  Rae instantly jumped back, just out of his reach. She remembered Kraigan’s warning about Carter’s tatù. She didn’t want him running through her memories without her knowing. Focusing on Jennifer could make her vulnerable, and Carter could sneak in. How did she know that wasn’t their intention from the get go? Careful…I need them, I can’t be so obvious about my lack of trust or I’ll be out before I even get started.

  She needed to be alert and aware of everything around her. She swallowed and pretended to relax. Let it go, be loose. She shrugged. “I’ll give it a try.”

  Carter smiled. “Good.” He turned to Jennifer. “And you?”

  Jennifer threw her hands in the air dramatically. “That’s why I’m here.”

  No one’s forcing you. Rae bit back the comment.

  “I’ve got to get back to school. There’s a board meeting regarding the alumni dinner that I’m already late for.” He double-checked his watch. “Can I trust you two to get along without me acting as ref?”

  They both nodded.

  Carter sighed and buttoned his suit before leaving.

  Jennifer pulled her ponytail tight and headed for the door. “Shall we get started then?”

  “Sure.” Rae followed her Botcher back down the hall to the gymnasium. The noise level inside had risen since Julian had brought her earlier. Jennifer swung the door open and seemed oblivious to the sudden silence when she stepped in. Every male in the gym stared at the black leather dressed goddess.

  Rae grinned. Maybe everyone would stare at Jennifer instead of her. It would be nice not to be the center of attention for once.

  “Are you coming?” Jennifer called. She stood near a barrel full of long wooden sticks.

  They reminded Rae of the time Devon and Julian had trained with sabers at the beginning of the school year. Hard to believe that had been only six and a half months ago. Rae jogged over to Jennifer.

  The noise and action in the gymnasium slowly started up again. Rae could still feel eyes on them, but she chose to ignore it. If Jennifer could do it, she would do it as well.

  “How much fight training have you done?” Jennifer unzipped her top and pulled it off. She wore a black tank top underneath. Her lean muscular arms grabbed two sticks, holding one in each hand.

  “Some from school. Devon and Julian trained me a bit as well.” The big fight with Kraigan had taught her more than school and stolen training sessions combined. She knew she had weaknesses, but she’d also learned her strengths.

  “Good. I want to see what you know.” Jennifer tossed Rae a stick. “Do you plan on fighting in the frumpy shirt?”

  Rae caught the stick and examined it. “I’ll take it off after I warm up.” The stick had a sharp end like a pencil and a rubber end on the other, kind of like an eraser. She held it in both hands, trying to determine the weight and best way to hold it. “What’s your tatù by—”

  Jennifer rushed at her before Rae could finish. She threw the stick up perpendicular to Jennifer’s to block the blow, at the same time Devon’s fennec fox tatù kicked in. The wood vibrated against her hands and she felt the jostle up her arms.

  Devon’s tatù let Rae move with more blinding fast agility. Thank goodness her tatù seemed to know which one she would need before she did. It sucked that she’d lost almost all of them since Kraigan had stolen them. She only had a limited selection now.

  “You need to always be ready.” Jennifer took one step back to switch the position of her baton-stick but she sprang back almost immediately.

  Instinct, and the natural need to survive, helped Rae fight back. She mimicked Julian’s tatù, trying to foresee Jennifer’s moves before she made them. The only problem was the moment she switched, she couldn’t move fast enough to keep up. She swung her stick like a baton, fast and accurate. Rae switched back to Devon’s tatù. She swore under her breath as she fought to keep up. She needed a plethora of abilities and the ability to use them all at the same time!

  Jennifer continued to combat Rae, trying to knock the stick out of her hand. She didn’t appear to be trying very hard.

  On the balls of her feet, Rae countered each move as best she could. She managed to block Jennifer but couldn’t make any ground. Jennifer had her moving backwards until she ended up in the corner of the room, only blue mats on each side and Jennifer’s pointy end of her stick aimed at her neck.

  “Again.” Jennifer walked back to where they had started.

  Rae followed, pulling her shirt off and tossing it against the wall. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She wore a red tank top underneath, making herself an obvious target.

  “You come at me this time.” Jennifer crouched down and waited.

  Rae set the rubber side of her stick on the gymnasium floor and straightened. “What is your tatù?”

  Jennifer charged at her again.

  Rae barely managed to block the attack. “What the –?” Annoyed, she refocused and watched Jennifer’s hands, searching for a pattern. Right, right, swing, left, upper cut, lower body swing. Right, Right, swing, left, upper cut, leg slap. Rae countered and when Jennifer went to swing for the third time. Rae dropped low and jerked the stick so the rubber end connected to the back of Jennifer’s knee. It buckled and she went down.

  Rae did a one handed cartwheel, turning her stick so the sharp end pointed out. When Jennifer somersaulted, Rae was ready. As Jennifer straightened to attack, Rae stood facing her with the point near her right shoulder. “Gotchya.” She didn’t dare smile or show a hint of smugness. She had the feeling Jennifer wouldn’t appreciate it, and the next bout would be ten times harder. Gingerly she lowered her stick.

  “Good.” Jennifer tossed the stick like a javelin and it landed perfectly back into the bucket holding the others. “What did you do to beat me?”

  Her question reminded her of Devon’s style of training. Rae realized now Devon always held back though when he fought her. Either that, or this woman could fight like a demon. About to answer, Rae paused and asked instead, “Do you want me to tell you or are you testing me to see if I share my abilities.”

  Jennifer grinned. “Nice answer. I’m the only person you will ever share your abilities or strategies with again. Never trust anyone else. Ever.”

  Okay. Little hard core.

  “That’s why I’m still alive, and most of the people I’ve fought, aren’t.”

  Rae’s mouth fell open.

  Jennifer turned around and lifted her shirt to her lower back.

  If even possible, Rae’s jaw fell farther.

  A pair of yellow eyes, so life-like, stared at her. The cat’s snout curled into a sn
arl that made Rae even scared to touch it, for fear it might bite her. The tatù was terrifying and beautiful. “Wow,” she whispered.

  “It’s a leopard.” Jennifer dropped her shirt and spun around. “Cats in general are the stealthiest and most agile. Cheetah’s, like your old friend Riley, go for pure speed instead of stealth. Jaguars are stockier and therefore unable to execute maneuvers as quickly. Lions and tigers have their size to contend with, but the leopard has it all.” She reached her hand out and ran it up and down in the air, like it was running through fields. She slowed its pace and two of her fingers moved slowly. She suddenly made a fist. “Leopards are able to sneak up within yards of their prey. Then they pursue it with incredible strength, speed and agility. Half the time the prey doesn’t even know what’s chasing it.”

  An unfamiliar, but yet familiar, feeling spread through Rae starting at her elbow. She felt the zing of a new tatù coursing through her before she realized Jennifer had touched her. Everything Jennifer had described, she understood clearly. She shivered, not from the touch but her body’s desire to try the new ability out – like a primal need to figure out and know this new ink inside and out. She glanced around the room, suddenly very eager to try everything. “What are we going to do next?”

  Chapter 3

  The Journal

  The next morning, Rae sat at the desk in her dorm room in Aumbry House, finishing her breakfast. She had woken early from a dream about her mother. Her mother had hid Easter eggs out in the yard. Rae had searched and searched and couldn’t find any. Her mother, an encouraging smile on her face, had sent her back outside and told her to look again and not give up until she had them. The dream had ended and Rae couldn’t fall back asleep so she had gotten up.

  She set the empty bowl of cereal off to the side of her desk. There were still three months left of classes before she officially graduated. She may be working for the Privy Council but she still had to pass her regular classes in order to graduate. Guilder had offered to let her move to one of the larger rooms on the other side of the wing but she hadn’t felt the need. She planned on renting a flat somewhere close, but off-campus, during the summer. No need to accept the special consideration and then make that move. It might raise suspicions. The plan was to build her independence slowly, until moving off-campus seemed only logical.