by W. J. May
Rae smiled to herself, feeling exhilarated that she had made it through, and very happy that she had the good sense to shove Julian’s car keys into her pocket instead of into her backpack. She dug deep into her jeans and pulled the keys out as she entered the parking lot. Kraigan had most likely taken off in the other direction. They would meet again, she was sure of it, but not tonight.
She opened her hand clutching the keys and realized there was one more resting against her palm. She stared with wide eyes at it as she stood under the parking lamp.
Her mother’s key.
It slipped from her hand when Rae gasped. Not because she had the key, but because of what else she had.
Chapter 24
Sun
She had her mother’s tatù.
Just the thought sent a burning sensation against her lower back, exactly where the sun and its rays were on her fairy tatù. She knew it instantly. Her lungs could handle the smoke; her skin, the flames. Because she had her mother’s fire ability.
Rae dropped down to find the key, and clutched it tight in her hand, close to her chest. Tears poured down her cheeks. She was only a few feet away from Julian’s car, but couldn’t force herself to stand from her crouched position to sit inside it. She closed her eyes as misery and loss filled her. She didn’t want the tatù, she wanted her mother.
“Rae!”
Her breath caught at the sound of her name. She jumped, half expecting to see her mother in that moment. She turned in the direction of the sound.
Jennifer raced toward her and wrapped her in her arms. “Are you okay?”
Rae collapsed against Jennifer’s strong grip and let the tears fall against the soft leather of Jennifer’s jacket. “I have…” she hiccupped and tried again. “I have my mother’s…”
Jennifer pushed her away and held her at arm’s length. She shook Rae. “What? What do you have?”
“Her tatù.” Rae stared at Jennifer, waiting to see the shock enter her face.
“What?” Jennifer’s eyebrows shot up and together, clearing not understanding what she meant.
“Julian asked me if I could do two tatùs at once. I knew I couldn’t. But this… this is completely different. I’m not trying to mimic two tatùs at the same time I have my mother’s ability along with my fathers! I can use hers.” She raised her right hand and rubbed her thumb over her pointer finger. A small flame burst forth.
Jennifer jumped back slightly.
Rae grabbed the flame and squashed it in her hand to prove her point. “I can control it. It can’t hurt me.”
“You started this fire?” The disbelief was clearly evident in her tone.
Rae glanced back behind Jennifer. Only smoke filled the sky now, no flames were left to fight. “I had to.”
“What?” Jennifer’s arms crossed over her chest and she began tapping her foot.
“Kraigan came after me.”
Jennifer’s hand went to her hip. “He still here?” She sucked in air that made an “oh-no” kind of sound. “Is he still in there?”
Rae shook her head. “I think – I’m pretty sure he went through the window.” What was she going to say about the journal? “He… He… He had the journal! I managed to get it from him and hid it in my backpack. When I tried to escape, he ripped the pack off of me and threw it into the fire. The journal’s gone. Up in flames now.” She squeezed the key tight in her fist, its metal cutting into her skin. She tried to casually put her hand into her pocket, leaving the key inside it as she pulled her fingers out.
“The journal?” Jennifer looked back, as if considering going into the factory to try and find it. “Oh hell, Carter’s not going to be happy.”
Rae tilted her head. “How did you know I was here?”
Jennifer nodded to Julian’s car. “He’s got GPS tracking on it. He told Carter you had gone off in it. Carter sent me.”
At least Julian hadn’t been killed by Devon, or vice versa. “Is Devon alright?”
Jennifer gave her a weird look. “He’s fine.”
“Good. Can we get out of here?” She was missing a few tatùs and wanted them back.
Jennifer held out her hand. “Give me the keys, I’m driving.” She coughed and covered her mouth. “I heard about you behind the wheel,” she said behind her hand.
“Where’s your car?”
“Doesn’t matter.” She unlocked the car doors and opened Rae’s for her.
Rae wondered if she’d used her tatù and just ran there. It wouldn’t surprise her.
“Let’s go. I need to let Carter know what’s happened.” She started the car and revved the engine. It purred like a kitten. She gave Rae a warning look. “I hope you’re ready.”
Chapter 25
More Secrets
Rae sat quiet throughout the drive. When they first started driving she grabbed her phone to stall having to talk with Jennifer.
Julian messaged to apologize for what had happened and asked if they could talk. He messaged again half an hour later asking where his car was and then began calling. Scrolling through the list of missed calls, she noticed after Julian’s third try Devon had called.
Nervous fingers and heart beating slightly erratic, she put the phone to her ear and listened to her voicemail. The first one was an apologetic Julian, then an angry one and then a worried message from him.
Devon’s message came next.
The anger and frustration Rae had witnessed from him in Julian’s dorm room wasn’t there. She knew him well enough to know he was very worried about her. She pressed the phone tight against her ear. “Rae, it’s me. I’m sorry about what happened. You, of all people shouldn’t have had to witness that. It was stupid and dumb. I was an idiot. I’m so sorry. I’m… I’m trying. It’s harder being apart from you than I thought it would be. I don’t know why I got so jealous of Julian. He’s always got my back and I should have trusted him instead of just acting out.” There was a pause, but Rae could still hear him breathing into the phone, probably running his fingers through his hair as he grew frustrated with himself. He sighed. “You don’t have to worry. Julian and I are good. We talked and everything’s fine. But he wants to chat with you and clarify some things. He’ll explain it so it all makes sense. Come back, Rae.” The need in his voice pulled at her heart. He tried to cover his feelings by chuckling. “Please don’t wreck Juls’ car. He’s scared you’re going to do a number on it like last time.” His teasing tone turned serious again. “Please call, or come back. Let us know you’re okay.”
Rae stared at the passing cars on the other side of the highway. She was glad they hadn’t killed each other. She also wanted to know what Julian had to say about the drawings. She intended to find out when she got back… if Jennifer and Carter didn’t strangle her first.
She sent him a text: On my way back. Everything’s ok. Jennifer’s driving Julian’s car. Will talk after I speak to Carter.
A moment later her phone vibrated in her hand.
Devon replied: I know. With Carter. Get back fast.
His cryptic response made Rae a little nervous. Why would he be with Carter? Did he already know about Kraigan? Or the journal? Rae glanced at Jennifer from the corner of her eye. She kept waiting for Jennifer to start drilling her on what had happened and give her crap for taking off on her own, but she never did. It began driving Rae nuts. She wished Jennifer would say something – anything.
When they finally pulled off the motorway and began driving on the smaller country roads back to Guilder, Jennifer shifted the car into a lower gear and pulled to the side of the road, keeping the engine running.
She turned to Rae. “We need to jet but I have a couple of things to say before we see Carter. One, you were an idiot to go off on your own. Tatù or no tatù.” She poked Rae on the forehead with a finger. “You need to start using this. You’re a smart girl, but stupid. I’ve been trying to figure out why you went to Stoke.”
“I told you—”
“I’m not finished. I�
��ve been going over everything you said. If I don’t get it, Carter and his council are going to be even more confused. You’re in shit for going off and not letting them know what you were up to.”
Rae straightened in her seat and stared straight at Jennifer. “I didn’t know I had to let people know every move I made. I’m pretty sure I can take care of myself.” She tossed her phone and threw her hands in the air. “Oops. Was I supposed to tell you I was going to do that?”
“Almost eighteen?” Jennifer huffed and then sighed. “I’m not the enemy, Rae.”
“I never said you were.”
Jennifer pulled on the collar of her leather jacket. “That’s your problem. You don’t say much. And then when things go out of control, you cry father.”
“I do not!” Rae crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ve never blamed him for who I am or what’s happened to me. I could, but I don’t. You’re the one who has it in for me. Like it’s my fault my mother died.”
“Excuse me?” She tutted. “Don’t you take that tone with me, missy. I am not your equal. You speak to me with the respect I’ve earned–”
“I know nothing about the things you’ve done! You haven’t earned my respect yet.” She knew as the words came flying out of her mouth, that they were wrong. It was frustration, fear and anger speaking. She huffed and dropped back against her seat. “You want to blame me for what happened as much as I want to blame you for not stopping what happened.”
Jennifer opened her mouth to say something but no words came out.
Rae shrugged. “Look. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any problems.”
Jennifer laughed. “Girl, you’ve been causing problems since the day you were born. Why in the world did you drive to Stoke-on-Trent?”
Should she mention the key? Rae could feel it digging into her thigh as she sat. Like a burning reminder. She had hidden the journal from Jennifer and everyone. Look where it had gotten her. Now, she was trying to hide more secrets? She didn’t have to trust everything, but hiding everything from everyone was not working out either. Time to share a little Intel and see what she got for it. “I found a note from my mother.” Somehow, telling Jennifer felt right now. Maybe it was time. “My mother had hidden it in a display cabinet with tiny little figurines. She had given it to my uncle before she died. There’s a code on it.” She slapped her forehead. “Crap!”
“What?”
“Kraigan threw my backpack in the fire. The journal was in there, but also the note! It’s gone.” Rae could feel the pressure of her tears building.
“What was on the code?”
“I don’t know exactly.” Panic made Rae’s voice rise. “I decoded some of it. That’s what led me to Stoke and the Wade Factory. I don’t know the rest of it.” She pulled the key out of her pocket and showed it to Jennifer. “This was hidden there. I have no idea what it’s for!”
Jennifer stared down at the key in Rae’s outstretched palm. Slowly she reached under Rae’s hand and curled her fingers under Rae’s so they closed around the key. “That’s something your mother wanted you to have. I think you should find out what it’s for. It belongs to you.”
Rae hesitated. Is Jennifer saying to keep it a secret from the Privy Council?
As if reading her thoughts Jennifer spoke, “Your mother left that for you. It might, or might not, have anything to do with the Privy Council; but I think you should find that out for yourself first.”
The answer, a confirmation of sorts, that she shouldn’t trust the PC with everything, stunned Rae silent for a moment. “I lost the code. I don’t think I’ll be able to find what it’s for without it.”
Jennifer put the car into gear and pulled out onto the road. “Give it some time. I think you will.”
“What do I tell Carter then? He’s going to want to know why I went to Stoke.”
“Kraigan came after you and burned the journal. Tell him what he needs to hear.” She didn’t offer Rae any more advice. They drove the rest of the way back in silence.
When Jennifer pulled into the Privy Council’s headquarters, instead of continuing on to Guilder, Rae felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. What were the chances it would only be Carter without his council?
Chapter 26
Royalty
Jennifer parked Julian’s car right in front of the Tudor house where Carter’s office was. “Wait here,” she commanded, turning back into the Botcher Rae was used to seeing.
Rae sat down on the steps to wait as Jennifer disappeared inside the building.
Julian came out a moment later. He sat down beside Rae, his head down as he stared at his shoes. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Sorry I took your car without asking.”
He glanced up and squinted at his baby in the dark. “I kind of deserved it.”
She rubbed her shoulder against his, hating seeing him feel so uncomfortable around her. “You okay?”
He leaned against her and spoke, still staring straight ahead refusing to look at her. “I guess. I should have told you about the drawings. I just… I didn’t know what to say.”
“Why are you drawing them?” Rae figured that was a good place to start.
“It started after we got the paper out of the museum. Carter thinks they are visions. Stuff that’s going to happen in the future. He thinks you’re the key to some cataclysmic event. I didn’t tell anyone. I should have…”
Rae rested her head on his shoulder. “I have that same problem. I need to start telling people stuff too. People I can trust.”
“You can trust me.”
“I know.” She smiled. “I should’ve remembered that when I saw the drawings. You guys threw me when you started fighting.”
Julian chuckled. “That was pretty stupid.”
“I won’t argue there.”
The door opened behind them. Someone cleared their throat.
Jennifer. Rae stood. “I guess they’re waiting for me.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. I think I’m going to need it.” Rae followed her Botcher inside. Neither spoke as they entered Carter’s office.
Carter sat behind his desk while Devon sat in a chair across from him. The flat screen television above the fireplace was on, tuned to a news station. A reporter stood talking in front of Buckingham Palace announcing the engagement of the Queen’s grandson, the Prince of Wales. Apparently he would be marrying a commoner. The reporter was calling it a Fairy-tale Wedding.
Carter turned it off with the remote sitting on his desk. Rae glanced around his office. No one else, just the two of them? Plus Jennifer and me? Devon flashed an apologetic smile as she sat down beside him.
“Jennifer informed me that you believe Kraigan escaped. He came after you?”
Straight into the thick of it. Here we go… “He did. I… He… He must have gone to get the journal or something.” Rae sucked at lying. Devon’s head shot up as he obviously caught on, and he watched her. She could see he wasn’t buying it. She cleared her throat. “He wasn’t too impressed when I questioned him about the Xavier Knights. They weren’t after the journal or me. Kraigan was. I believe he acted on his own. He wants me dead. It infuriates him that we share the same father.” She waited for someone to say something. No one spoke so she continued. “He trapped me in a room and came after me. He still had his tatù and started going after my abilities again. I… I threw a ball of fire at him.” She looked at Devon, knowing he would understand. “Remember the ball of electricity I made a while back?” When he nodded she turned back to Carter. “I thought it was electricity but it isn’t. It’s fire. I have my mother’s tatù.”
“Impossible.” Carter shook his head.
“I started the fire and when Kraigan tried to grab me he ended up with my backpack instead of me. He threw it into the fire, not realizing the journal was inside of it.”
“Hold on,” Carter commanded. “The journal?” His face grew anxious. “Please don’t say—”
“It’s go
ne. Kraigan didn’t know I had hidden it in there. He was coughing and trying to locate where he had thrown it. I didn’t realize I had my mother’s ability so I took off, terrified I was going to be burned alive. I didn’t know I wouldn’t get hurt from it. Not till I ran through the flames.”
“You ran through the fire?” Devon whispered.
She nodded. “That’s when I realized I have two tatùs. My mother’s and my father’s.” Now I’m even a bigger freak than before.
“Then Cromfield was right. He predicted there would be someone with the ability to use two tatùs at once.”
Rae stared at Carter. “He predicted that?” When Carter nodded she continued, “Is that why you had me steal the page from the book?”
“We have not had anyone with the ability to have or use two. Your father couldn’t. Even though both his parents had tatùs.”
What? My grandparents were both inked? Rae needed to stop being surprised by surprises. She focused her attention back on Carter who was still speaking.
“It was rumored Cromfield had sketched the person.”
“So what now? You start running me through a battery of tests? Put me back in the lab like a rat?”
Carter shook his head, ignoring Jennifer’s hiss of warning to Rae. “No. We give you space. Trust you. Let you work at your own speed.” He turned the television back on. “You need to be around people you know… are comfortable with. Like Devon, or Molly, or whoever you feel will make a good team with you.”
Jennifer’s warning to tell Carter what he needed to hear rang loud and clear in her head, as Rae took in Carter’s words, which sounded a lot like the first half of a sentence that ended badly. It also seemed...rather tame considering what she had just put everyone through.
Rae stared at him, dumbfounded. That’s it? No yelling or threatening to take her job? No inquiry? No more questions about tonight? She was off the hook that easy? How was he not pouncing on her bad lie about Kraigan and the journal? Back up a minute… was he hinting that he wanted her to lead her own team? Or was he giving her the boot from being in the field and maybe giving her some office job? Or worse, what if he was going to fire her? She straightened, suddenly very keen to what Carter had to say.