by W. J. May
“Right behind you.”
Rae sank her teeth into Kraigan’s hand hard enough to draw blood, and again, the gun went flying across the parking lot. He cursed and whirled around, but she used Jennifer’s speed, leaping out of reach and crushing the pistol to a pulp before he could touch her.
As she dusted the metal from her hands, she regarded him with a smile. “Hello there, dear brother.”
Instead of lunging at her as she expected, Kraigan burst into slow applause. Each clap echoed in the tiny lot and sent a shiver up her spine, but she stood tall. She could not let him unnerve her. She knew what she had to do.
“Well done, sis. Well done.” He grinned and walked casually closer. “Using your friends as bait so you could sneak in for the kill? It’s a good plan. A little heartless for you I would think, but still commendable.” He clapped once more.
Her face tightened, but she forced herself to keep smiling. “Well, I didn’t expect you to bring an actual gun. That’s stooping pretty low. Who brings a gun to a tatù fight?” She shrugged one shoulder. “But I guess I should have seen that coming. Either way, I didn’t come here to fight you, Kraigan.”
He advanced a few more steps. “As much as I hate to disappoint you, that’s exactly what you’re going to—”
“I saw your mother die.”
All the smiling foreplay vanished as he froze in place. “Trust me, Kerrigan,” there was almost no color left around his eyes, “that’s not a game you want to play with me.”
He flew towards her, but she grabbed him by the sleeves and threw him into a truck, watching impassively as he slid to the ground.
“She was killed by a woman named Jennifer Jones. A rogue agent in the PC. A woman who was kind enough to give me this tatù I’m using to kick your ass. She was in love with our dad, and when he wouldn’t leave either of our mothers to be with her, she set the fire. She was hoping to eliminate the comp—”
“That’s not true!” Kraigan roared, pulling himself to his feet. “We both know exactly what you and your mother are. We know exactly whose fault this is!”
Rae stared him straight in the eyes. “Your mother showed up at the house when Simon and my mom were arguing. Jennifer was hiding upstairs. She lit the fire. It had nothing to do with us.”
“SHUT UP!”
His face was paler than Rae had ever seen, making his dark curls shine against his skin. She took a deep breath. If they hadn’t had such a violent history, she’d almost feel sorry for him. “The ceiling collapsed on your mother and our dad. They died instantly.”
“That’s impossible. It’s not true—stop lying!” He rushed at her again, but she deflected him easily. His heart wasn’t really in it.
“Give it up, Kraigan.”
He stood again and wiped the blood from his lower lip. He hadn’t taken her tatù, but he still had Devon’s. “Why on earth do you think I’d believe you?”
This time, it was Rae who stepped forward. “I don’t.” She sighed. “I don’t think you’d believe it unless you saw it with your own eyes.”
“Damn right.”
“I can show you.” She held out her hands and he paused. “Let me show you.”
His eyes flickered to where Molly and Devon were dragging Julian out of the street and into the back seat of the car before returning to Rae. “If this is some kind of trick—”
“No trick,” she said calmly. “I have a tatù which allows me to go back in people’s memories. I used it on Jennifer last week and I saw the whole thing. I can show you now.”
He took a step forward but halted warily, like a kid reaching his hand out to a snake.
“What do you think I’m going to do, Kraigan?” she asked softly. “I never wanted to see you again. Why on earth would I text you if it wasn’t the truth?”
There was a split second where he seemed to make up his mind, then he strode forward with confidence and wrapped his hands around her neck. Rae reached hers around his. “We’ll see, won’t we?” he growled. “And if you’re lying, rest assured I’ll just—”
His eyes snapped shut as the vision took hold. Rae focused. She tried to stay centered only on the memory of what she saw—not let other parts of her life seep in. At first there were flashes of her with her mom at dinner the other night…then a flash of her with Devon. Kraigan leaned forward with sudden interest, but Rae forced the memory back to the day at the hotel.
Kraigan’s whole body stiffened as he watched. His eyes tensed at the image and he squeezed Rae’s hand so hard she thought it might break. She followed along, watching as he watched, seeing the same things she’d seen before that day. It was deeply unsettling. To feel the wet pavement beneath her feet, but smell the acrid stench of burning plaster in the air. She focused on breathing, like she’d been taught a long time ago.
When they got to the part where the ceiling actually fell through, crushing the two people underneath, Kraigan made a half-strangled sound and jerked away, letting go of her neck. “Stop!” There were actual tears in his eyes as he started backing slowly away. “I can’t see anymore. I can’t—”
“You have to,” Rae said firmly, grabbing his hand. “You need to know.”
With a gasp, they were both pulled back into the vision. This time, things happened very quickly. It was clear that Simon and Kraigan’s mother were dead. And it was clear from how Simon had treated her, that he hadn’t cared for the woman one bit. Rae directed all her focus to the memory now, fixing their joined attention on the smoldering kitchen. She knew what was coming.
The smoke cleared, the plaster settled. Then there she was.
Jennifer.
Rae allowed Kraigan to see just enough of the argument between Jennifer and Beth to ensure his immortal hatred before pulling her hand suddenly away. There was no point in showing him how Cromfield fit into the picture—they were having enough trouble with that as it was. They needed Kraigan to turn into a one-man wrecking ball with one specific target.
The look on his face when he opened his eyes told her she’d got what she wanted.
“Jennifer. Jones?” He said the name slowly, like he was trying it out.
Rae nodded silently. “She did the whole thing. She wanted revenge for Simon.”
“And my mother,” his voice tightened at the word, “was just there at the wrong time?”
There was such a vulnerable look on his frightening, murderous face that Rae had to remind herself who she was talking to. “Yes, I believe she was. I’m…I’m sorry, Kraigan. Had I known sooner, I’d have told you. That’s why I got in contact with you.” She cringed as his jaw clenched tight together. “You deserved to know.”
Devon and Molly were standing on either side of her now. The second she’d touched Kraigan, Devon had his tatù back and from the way he was sporadically clenching and unclenching his fists, he was eager to return the beating he’d taken earlier. The sparks shooting from Molly’s fingers were a pretty clear indicator she’d like to do the same.
When he saw them, Kraigan straightened and bravely cast them his cocky smile. It was almost believable. “So, what now, Rae? You want me to kill this woman?” He tutted. “That doesn’t seem like the Rae Kerrigan way. Or the PC way.”
Rae glanced down at the pavement. He couldn’t think it was some kind of order or request, he’d never go along with it that way. But perhaps there was a different way she could phrase it. “This woman is supposed to be my mentor. She helped train me. Taught me everything she knew.”
His face grew hard. “I knew it! You want me to spare her.”
Rae looked him dead in the eye. “I’m saying, I won’t stand in your way.”
That was enough for Kraigan. Without another word, he strode off across the parking lot and into the night.
“Wait!” Rae ran after him, switching to a tatù with quickness. “Where are you going?”
He glanced behind, incredulous that she would follow him, but did not stop walking.
“I—We have information to he
lp you. Kraigan, her tatù’s crazy strong. No one’s been able to find her so far—”
“I’ll find her.”
“But what if you need—”
He stopped so quickly she would have walked right into him if he hadn’t caught her in his arms. For the first time all night, a hint of a genuine smile softened his features. It didn’t last. He pushed her away like her touch burned his skin. “I said I’ll find her. I know a friend with a nice little tracking tatù which should come in handy.”
“Who?” She tried to think if it was someone she knew.
“Don’t worry, sis, I know where to get one.”
He started walking away again and Rae threw up her hands. “Well…good luck, I guess.”
“And for the record,” he called over his shoulder, “this doesn’t make us even.”
Rae’s jaw dropped open. “Excuse me?! You’re the one who’s always trying to kill me!”
“Yeah, well,” he flashed her a grin, “we’ve got a temporary truce.” A second later, he vanished into the night.
Rae turned back to her friends, but they looked just as incredulous as she did. She realized he’d stolen her speed tatù. “Dickhead!” she mumbled under her breath.
Molly threw her hands in the air. “Well, if anyone’s crazy enough to get into Jennifer’s head, it’s Kraigan,” she said.
Devon shook his head, a dark hatred simmering in his eyes. “Temporary truce, my ass,” he muttered.
Rae tried to smile. “Believe it or not, a temporary truce is great progress for Kraigan and me. Can we go home now? Before anything else can happen? I think I’ve had quite enough surprises tonight. How’s Julian by the way? Have you guys been keeping an eye on him?”
Devon slapped his forehead and ran to the car, with Rae right on his heels. Julian still lay stretched out in the back of the car when they checked, his eyes glazed over with a glassy, milky haze.
“What’s wrong with him,” Rae murmured, scared he might not wake up. “Why hasn’t he snapped out of it yet?”
Devon chewed his lower lip. “I don’t know. It’s never gone on this long before.”
“Let’s get him back,” Molly said with determination. “Carter and the PC doctors at Guilder will be able to sort it out.”
They piled into the car and shot away from London as fast as possible. Molly seemed still visibly shaken from having a gun pointed at her head, and Devon was no doubt sporting a few cracked ribs, which he tried valiantly to hide when he saw Rae was watching. Rae sat in the back with Julian, his head cradled in her lap.
It wasn’t until they actually pulled onto the long Guilder drive that Julian sat up with a start.
“He’s got a gun!” he shouted.
The other three jumped in alarm, then shot each other tired, worried looks.
“Yeah,” Devon said and smirked. “Thanks, man.”
“Wait a minute.” Julian looked around. “Why’re we back at school?”
“I’ll fill you in later,” Devon said in a clipped tone before swearing under his breath. “We’ve got company.”
“Oh poppy-cock!” Molly mumbled from the front seat and pointed at the front window.
Madame Elpis stood in the parking lot with her arms folded across her chest, side by side with Dean Wardell.
Rae’s stomach sank at the triumphant look across the Dean’s face—a look that was only slightly dampened when he saw his son was also in the car.
She may have literally dodged a few bullets tonight, but one thing was certain.
Rae had detention.
Chapter 8
There was nothing more insulting than sitting in detention because you got caught coming back from a virtual suicide mission trying to save the world.
Not the world, of course. But the world of tatùs. A community of people that Rae was beginning to suspect were increasingly ungrateful for all her efforts.
That, and she couldn’t tell the Dean or Madame Elpis what they had just gone and done. PC secret. Bull crap!
She stretched her arms out across the desk and examined her fingernails with an inaudible sigh. Sitting two chairs away, Molly fired sparks absentmindedly from one hand to the other, her eyes glassed over with boredom as she stared fixedly at nothing.
When Dean Wardell had caught them—more specifically, Rae—off school grounds after curfew, Rae had thought his head would explode from the sheer delight. The man clearly did not like her. Of course, all that had changed when he saw Devon, still bleeding from the cut on his face, slide out of the driver’s seat.
“What in the world is going on here?” he demanded, grabbing his son roughly by the arm and pulling him away from the car.
Devon tried and failed to stifle a pained gasp as his newly cracked ribs rejected the notion of forced movement.
Unfortunately, instead of feeling the automatic paternal concern that he probably should have, this just set the Dean off even more. “What happened to you?” His eyes fixed on Rae, standing silently behind. “Did she do this?” When Devon shook his head, his teeth pressed tightly to keep from crying out, the Dean groaned. “What did she get you into now?”
“Dad, stop,” Devon muttered, pulling himself gingerly free. “Rae didn’t do anything. It wasn’t her fault.”
The Dean practically bared his teeth as he shot Rae a disgusted look. “It never is, is it?”
“Please,” Devon tried to divert him again, “let’s not do this right now. Julian needs the infirmary. There’s something going on with his visions.”
The headmaster’s eyes shot to Julian for a split second. “Is that true?”
Julian’s eyes were fixed depressingly on the street as he half-slumped against the car. “Yeah, I guess so.” His voice was barely audible.
“And what about you?” The Dean clapped his son on the shoulder and noted every detail as Devon pulled back in pain. “What aren’t you telling me? What happened to you?”
“Just a few bruised ribs,” Devon tried to smile casually, “it’s no big deal.”
“No big deal?!” his father shouted. “How many times am I going to find you sneaking out with this girl only to come back more broken than when you left? Meanwhile, I see Miss Kerrigan over there doesn’t have a scratch—”
A throat cleared sharply and he fell embarrassingly silent as Madame Elpis stepped forward.
“Perhaps, Dean Wardell, you can continue this discussion with your son and his ailing friend in the infirmary. As you well know, any members of Aumbry House are under my jurisdiction.”
“Fine.” Even the Dean wasn’t going to argue with Miss Crow tatù. “Very good Madame Elpis. See that they’re suitably punished for this lapse. Both of them,” he added hastily, although it was very clear who he meant.
“Detention,” Elpis announced briskly. “And a permanent mark on your file. It will be served in the old history building at seven a.m. sharp. Now I suggest you ladies get to bed. If you’re even a second late, you’ll have to serve it twice. And I’m calling your parents. Or uncle. Or whoever I’m supposed to contact.”
“Yes ma’am,” Molly and Rae muttered in unison as they followed their house leader back across the lawns. Rae chanced a look at Devon as they swept past, but he kept his eyes fixed on the ground, bracing himself for whatever ‘discussion’ his father had in mind.
And now here they were. Sitting in a classroom. Punished for their act of selfless bravery in the most elementary way possible.
Julian and Devon were sitting with them as well, just to pass the time. Of course, as they were no longer students they couldn’t be subjected to student rules, but they chose to be supportive in their own discreet way. Much to the approval of Madame Elpis, who probably saw it as a latent act of contrition.
Rae rolled her eyes as Elpis, sitting at the front desk, looked meaningfully at the clock and smirked at their confinement. Walking over here this morning with Molly, Rae had the sudden thought that spending an hour or two locked up in a quiet room with her friends wouldn�
�t be so bad. They had a lot to discuss and none of it could be done in a public venue. Then Elpis showed up to ‘supervise’ and it was clear that they were to sit in silence.
So they did. Each staring off in a different direction. All wasting valuable time.
The door opened suddenly and Rae was pulled from her mind-numbing trance as Carter swept into the room. He took one look at the four spiritless teenagers and threw up his hands in exasperation. “Would someone like to tell me what the hell is going on here?!”
Madame Elpis started to speak but he cut her off.
“First, I hear that there’s been some sort of Shawshank break out! Kids throwing themselves out of top-story windows. Then I hear that Julian’s in the hospital and that—” He stopped and glowered at each one of the kids in turn. “Would someone like to cue me in?”
“Don’t worry, sir, it’s all been sorted.” The corners of Devon’s lips turned up in a hard, disbelieving smile. “We’re in detention.”
Hearing the Privy Council’s golden boy cop to such a petty, childish crime just made the situation seem all the more absurd. A vein started throbbing in Carter’s neck and Rae wondered if he was having a mild stroke.
“I can see that, Mr. Wardell,” Carter growled, “although in the case of yourself and futuristic-boy, I hardly see how that’s possible.”
“They volunteered to do penance for their misdeeds.” Madame Elpis sounded almost proud.
Carter struggled to rein it in. “And what exactly would those misdeeds be?”
“Oh, you know…” In a far cry from his usual respectful manner, Julian kept his gaze fixed blankly on the wall. “Sneaking out, going to movies, messing around.” His eyes flashed up to Carter’s. “Kid stuff.”
More than anything, it was Julian’s odd behavior that seemed to push Carter over the edge. He rubbed his forehead, as if battling an oncoming headache, and gestured to Madame Elpis. “Daisy, let them go.”
She looked scandalized. “But sir! They’ve only served half their time—”
“And I’m saying to let them go,” he cut her off authoritatively. “Miss Skye and Miss Kerrigan have finals to study for, and I’m sure Devon and Julian have better things to do than sit here in this abandoned classroom staring at the cracks in the wall.”