House of Cards

by W. J. May

  Rae nodded, her mind racing. She grabbed her backpack and had an idea of where to hide her father’s journal. Secrets from her mother, secrets from her father… if everything kept piling up, eventually it was going to have to come crashing down, like a house of cards.

  Chapter 8

  Acceptance

  Rae and Molly headed down to the library on the first floor. Thankfully, everyone had better things to do on a Saturday afternoon and the place was empty.

  Molly printed off an enlarged copy of the note and handed it to Rae. “I’m deleting the pic from my phone now.” She giggled. “It seems like the double-oh-seven thing to do. Wouldn’t want anyone to trace it. Make sure you hide the paper in a safe place where no one would look.”

  Rae nodded, trying to resist the urge to smile. It was hard not to. Molly would make a terrible spy. Or maybe Rae had it completely wrong and she would be perfect. “I’ll keep it in a safe place.” She planned to slip it into her father’s journal. Now she only needed to find the perfect hiding place for that. “Can you double check that nothing is on the computer? I’m going to have a look for a book I need for a report I have to finish.” She headed absent-mindedly down an aisle while Molly went back to the computer. The moment Molly’s back was turned, Rae raced to another aisle and found herself in front of a row of Oxford English dictionary books. She grabbed the W to Z one and with super speed, stuffed her father’s journal inside it and then replaced it back on the shelf. Nobody used dictionary books these days. The internet was ten times faster and words beginning with W, X, Y or Z were probably the least searched.

  “Did you find it?” Molly called out.

  “Find what?” Rae slapped her forehead. “Yup, right here.” She grabbed a random book at the end of the row, near the top shelf.

  Molly shoved the chair back against the computer desk. “Nothing’s on here. I can’t wait to figure the code out.”

  Rae set the book she’d grabbed onto the desk. Organic blueberries. “Don’t get your hopes up, it’s probably nothing.”

  “What’s nothing?” a male voice called from the doorway of the library.

  Rae and Molly stared at each other and mouthed at the same time. Nic.

  “A crappy sale on boots.” Molly pointed dramatically at the printed page and Rae’s jacket. “Stuff it somewhere, I’ll stall him,” she whispered, then added loudly, “I thought the shop was clearing out, but it’s all crap.” She pretended to turn off the computer monitor. “What are you up to, Nic?”

  “Not much at the moment.” Nic found them and leaned against an antique case full of mismatched library books. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and tried to appear casual.

  Rae didn’t miss his over-trying. He had either heard them, or was hiding something himself. She threw her purse over her shoulder and felt her phone vibrate again. She’d forgotten to check her earlier messages from before as well.

  “Rae, how are you doing, since everything… you know.” He looked at her but his eyes darted away when she met his gaze.

  “I’m alright. Still trying to get restocked on tatùs, but it’s coming.”

  He held his arm out. “Do you need mine?” He pulled his arm back quickly and held it with his other hand. “You, uh, don’t have Kraigan’s ability to take a tatù now do you?”

  Rae shook her head. “No, I’m just boring old me.”

  He grinned and finally met her gaze with his. “I’m glad.” His smiled faltered. “Not that you’re boring, you’re far from that. I just meant, I’m glad you’re back to you.” He thrust his hand out again. “Just copy it. I’d be honored if you used my tatù.”

  Rae had a moment to wonder what was up with Nic, but when he offered for her to copy his tatù, she was so relieved she didn’t question it.

  As soon as they touched, Molly stepped forward and slapped their hands away. “What’s up with you, Nic?”

  “Nothing. What’s up with you, Molly?”

  She shook a finger at him. “Don’t try to distract me. I’m on to you.” She glanced back at Rae and smiled, “This detective-thing is fun!”

  Rae rolled her eyes at Nic, but Molly’s interruption had served to remind her that he seemed to be acting strange. Probably because of what had happened to me. She put the blueberry book into her backpack and slipped the printed pages Molly had done inside it. She slung her bag over her shoulder.

  Nic straightened and cleared his throat. “Do you guys want to go into town to grab something to eat? We’re heading out and figured we’d ask you if you wanted to come.”

  “How did you know we were in the library?” Molly tried raising one eyebrow, but she ended up having to hold the other one down with her finger.

  Rae coughed to hide her laughter.

  “I tried your dorms and then figured I’d check here.” Nic gave her a strange look, as if to show he had no idea what she was implying.

  “Who’s we? You said we.” Molly crossed her arms and began tapping her foot.

  Nic’s face burned a slight shade of red. The dim lights hid most of it, but Rae didn’t miss it. Suddenly Rae tuned into Devon’s tatù to hear his body’s response. If his heart sped up, she knew he was lying.

  “Just me. Look you guys don’t have to come. It was a stupid idea.”

  “Ignore Molly. We’d love to tag along.” Rae shot Molly a warning glance.

  They followed Nic down the center aisle and out into the foyer of Aumbry House. The black and white marble floor sparkled in the late afternoon sun. A large rectangular part caught the brightness from the front doors. It made the center of the room bright and the sides unusually dark in the shadows.

  Rae froze when she sensed someone else in the room. She shot in front of Molly, squared her shoulders and dropped into a crouch, ready to pounce.

  “It’s okay, Rae. It’s okay.” Nic waved his hands to catch her attention.

  “Who’s here?” she demanded, her eyes narrowing. A ball of electricity formed in her hand. She hid it so the others wouldn’t see.

  A chuckle echoed off the walls and the shadows merged into a single male.

  Riley.

  Rae glared at him.

  “What the heck are you doing here?” Molly pushed past Rae and tapped Riley on his chest.

  He’d bulked up since Rae had last seen him almost a year ago, since he’d betrayed her and pretended to hand her off to Lanford. She’d had the whole thing all screwed up but Rae couldn’t be blamed. No one had seen it coming. Nearly everyone would have agreed with her that Lanford had been the good guy, except no one had ever bothered to ask what side he was on.

  “I’ve got the weekend off and figured I’d stop by and see the gang.” Riley stood, one foot on a bench, his leg raised. “Didn’t expect to find you two here on a Saturday night. No hot dates? Or are all the good-looking ones out of town?”

  Rae’s heart stuttered. Seeing him brought back memories of being imprisoned in the tower and nearly getting killed. She swallowed, trying to calm the anxiety creeping up and tightening her throat. She knew exactly what he implied when asking about the good-looking ones out of town. He had figured she had a crush on Devon back in her first year. That’s all he had though. A hunch. She had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of knowing Devon was no longer interested.

  “My boyfriend lives out of town.” Molly crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the once over. “I didn’t know the Privy Council let rats out of their holes.”

  Rae blinked and nearly laughed out loud when Riley’s mouth dropped.

  He recovered quickly enough. “Did Rae give you an exaggerated account of what happened before I left?” He glanced at Rae before shooting a grin at Molly. “When did you become her backbone?”

  Molly threw her hair back and laughed. “Oh, you’re so funny,” she flirted and tapped him on the shoulder. “Did you learn that at the Privy Council Academy?”

  Riley shot back and hit the wall. It took Rae a moment to realize Molly had shocked him with her
tatù. He straightened and moved out of Molly’s reach. “I’m not here to start a fight.” He held his hands up. “I just came over to have a good laugh. I’ve been stationed out of coun—town and wanted to see me mates.”

  No one said anything. Rae focused on not having a panic attack and trying to think of ways she could “accidently” beat him. An idea popped into her head.

  Nic coughed, cleared his throat and finally spoke up. “Do you guys want to come out for dinner with us? Riley’s treating.” He shot Riley a look for support.

  Riley shrugged. “Whatever, I’ll treat.”

  Rae saw Molly glance at her for approval out of the corner of her eye. She tried to make her face as unreadable as possible. “Sure.”

  Nicolas smiled, his relief clearly evident. “Where do you want to go?”

  Riley led the way to the main door of Aumbry House as Molly slipped her purse over her shoulder and began walking with Nic, discussing where to eat.

  As Rae went past Riley, she slowed her gait so he could catch up. “You going to the Privy Council tomorrow?” she asked quietly.

  “I was just there. Had to debrief and go over a few things.” Riley’s eyes darted ahead to Nic and Molly. “Can they hear us?”

  Rae shook her head once, briefly.

  “I believe congratulations are in order.”

  “Yes, the Privy Council finally has me under their wing.”

  “More like the long arm of the law.”

  Rae pressed her eyebrows together. What did he mean by that? Last time she was around him, he had basically been willing to do anything to be a part of the PC team. Anything.

  “Let’s just say it isn’t everything I thought it would be.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket. “I thought there’d be a lot more action. More excitement. It’s all kinda… boring.”

  Rae smirked. “I can spice it up.”

  Riley stumbled over his shoe, but quickly caught himself. “You’ve got my attention! I figured you’d be too ticked to talk but, wow Kerrigan, you’ve really changed – for the better, I might add.”

  It took everything not to roll her eyes. “Do you want to go to the PC gym tomorrow and do a little sparring?” The stupid glint in his eye annoyed her. “I’m trying to see if you want to do some training? You teach me a little. I teach you a little.”

  Riley threw his head back and laughed. “What are you going to teach me? I’ve got almost two years experience on you.”

  “I’m a Kerrigan, sweetie. You have nothing on me.” Rae knew exactly how to play her cards right.

  His eyebrows went up and he grinned. “Tomorrow?” He pulled his phone out and began texting. “I’ll get the gym reserved for us.”

  “Hey, Riley?” Molly called from where she and Nic stood, about fifty feet ahead of them. She pointed to the four-door, Volvo beside her. “You going to unlock the doors for us? Or does this old family wagon not have an automatic locking system?”

  Riley grumbled and pulled the keys out of his pocket. “At least it’s paid for. Volvos are expensive, you know.”

  “If you ever have any car problems, let me know. My dad’s a mechanic.”

  “It runs fine!” Riley’s eyebrows pressed together and he looked at Nic. “You’re sitting in the front with me.”

  Molly and Rae got into the back seat and Riley headed out of the school and down the road. Rae listened to the conversation floating around her, her eyes drawn to the gates that led to the Privy Council as they drove past. She felt Riley’s eyes on her and glanced at the rearview mirror to see him watching her. The other two passengers were oblivious. She wasn’t sure what this was all about but she was on her guard.

  “How’s school, Kerrigan?” Riley asked, cutting Molly off mid-sentence.

  “It’s fine.”

  “I heard you have some unexpected, extended family.”

  Nic punched him in the arm.

  Always the gentleman. Rae shifted in her seat, wondering if she should ignore the comment or deal with it head on. Devon wanted her to deal with her family and focus on the Privy Council. That was his reason for breaking up with her. She might as well accept what had happened and start focusing on herself. “You referring to Kraigan, my half-brother?”

  Molly’s eyes grew big, and Rae didn’t miss Nic’s shoulders tightening. Riley, having a disposition similar to his cheetah tatù, appeared un-phased. “Guess your father had a few more tricks up his sleeve, didn’t he? How’s your brother doing?”

  Maybe he doesn’t know the whole story. Or maybe he knows more and is testing to see what I know. These days it seemed everyone had an ulterior motive or was hiding something. She refused to be the victim. “I wouldn’t know. The Privy Council stepped in before I could kill him.” She ignored the gasp that escaped from Molly. “But not before I took his tatù.”

  Molly leaned forward, her eyes even bigger than before. Rae wondered if they might pop out of her head. “You tried to kill him?”

  At the same time, Nic said, “You took his power?”

  Rae shrugged, suddenly not sure she might have just gotten in over her head. Molly knew bad stuff had happened, but she knew very little detail. Nic knew even less. She had no idea what Riley knew. Did the Privy Council talk about their people behind their backs? She doubted it. They probably preferred secrecy. Knowledge was power. She exhaled slowly and stared blankly out the window at the darkening sky. “Kraigan pretended he didn’t know what his tatù did. I think he had a tattoo,” she emphasized the word so they could understand the difference, “put over top to cover his. I figured it out when he came after me.” After he went for Devon, she didn’t bother to add.

  “What was Kraigan’s ability?” Nic swiveled around so he could face her.

  “He could copy tatùs like my dad, but instead of mimicking them he stole them. Until he touched the next tatù.”

  “What happened then?” Molly asked.

  “Do you remember at the dance when Desiree was all upset?”

  Molly and Nic nodded. Riley asked, “Who is Desiree?”

  “Kraigan took her tatù. I found her in the bathroom and she thought she’d lost her tatù. It came back when Kraigan touched someone else. I didn’t know until the night he came after me.”

  Molly’s hand covered her mouth as if a horrific thought just crossed her mind. “What did he do to your tatù?”

  She hesitated a moment too long, she could see it in their actions and facial expressions. “Nothing… now.”

  The car slowed and Riley turned into an empty parking lot. He slammed on the breaks and the engine stalled. He didn’t seem to care. “What do you mean: now?”

  Rae rubbed her shoulder where the seatbelt had dug in from the sudden stop. “It’s no big deal. You didn’t have to stop the car.”

  Nic drummed his fingers against the dashboard. “It is a big deal. We’ve got these abilities, but have to be so hush-hush about it. Then when something bad happens, no one is allowed to ask questions. They tell us we can’t bother you or—”

  “Who says you can’t bother me?” Rae interrupted.

  “The school staff, the headmaster.”

  Rae pounded the seat. “I’m not a fragile kid! I’m not going to snap and turn into my father!”

  “We know.” Molly lightly touched Rae’s fist.

  Rae stopped punching the leather seat and took a deep breath, forcing herself to relax...

  “When did you find out Kraigan was my half-brother?” Rae asked Nic, thinking back to him punching Riley a few moments earlier. She hadn’t told anyone but Devon, Julian and Carter.

  “While you were in the hospital, they held an assembly and told us.”

  “What else did they say?” Rae looked at Molly. Why didn’t you tell me?

  “They barely said anything. Only that Kraigan was Simon Kerrigan’s son and he’d tried to attack you. He died as a result of his injuries.”

  “What?” Rae yelled. She grabbed at the door handle. She had to get outside. The world began spi
nning and dots flitted across her vision.

  Chapter 9

  Distrust

  Kraigan was dead? Impossible. The guy had been beaten up pretty bad, but nowhere near death. Rae finally got the door open and jumped out of the car. She began to pace, ignoring the other three as they stepped out of the car as well.

  Riley grabbed her hand. His tatù transferred to her and she felt his nervous energy. Like someone who had too much caffeine running through their system.

  She reacted instantly and shot a bolt of electricity at him, then wrenched hers free.

  He shook his hand but did not back down. “Slow down, Rae. Stop a moment.”

  Her chest heaved in and out as she glared at him. “I didn’t kill him!”

  “Nobody said you did.” Riley stood, his back to Molly and Nic. “It’s a cover-up. A lie,” he mouthed.

  Rae buried her head in her hands. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Idiot! She dropped her shoulders and stopped pacing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to over react.”

  “What did Kraigan do to you?” Nic shook his head and came around to hug her. “If he wasn’t dead, I’d kill him myself.”

  “Thanks, Nic.” His tatù zinged through her. She felt the family strings that had been missing the past few weeks. It felt good to be slowly filling in the holes Kraigan had created. Rae tried to smile and had to fight to keep the tears inside. She thought of Devon and knew if he were here, he would be standing where Nic was. She appreciated Nic’s concern but needed Devon’s arms.

  Riley tossed his keys in the air and easily caught them. “Doesn’t seem like quite the atmosphere for us to be sitting in a restaurant now. Maybe we should order take out and head back to Guilder?”

  Molly shoved her hands in her pockets. “There’s a fish and chips take-away not far from here. We could do that?”

  “With beer I hope,” Riley muttered.

  Rae’s tatù switched and she heard him clearly. She had no intention of letting him bring any booze on campus, especially if they ended up in her dorm room. “What did you say?”