Dark Abandon

by Nicole R. Taylor

“Scarlett! I thought you would’ve been on your way to London by now,” he said, straightening himself.

  “And I would’ve thought you’d be sleeping in.”

  He laughed softly and shook his head. “I think about books like you think about saving the world.”

  “Saving the world?” I quipped. “I wouldn’t go that far, but I do like to think about swords.”

  His expression changed and he became thoughtful. “What you did for Madeleine…”

  “Don’t sweat it, teach,” I declared with a wave of my hand.

  “You saved her soul with a shard of Arondight.”

  “Seems so.” I moved into the room and nudged the door closed with my boot. “Don’t ask me how it works, because I’m all about trial and error.”

  “Imagine what you could do with all of it.” He stared up at me in awe and I squirmed, uncomfortable with the attention. I didn’t want a pedestal, I wanted everyone to be safe.

  Sensing my awkwardness, he changed the subject. “Hey, do you still have the coin?”

  “Yeah, I…” I fished around in my pocket and pulled it out.

  “Do you remember how we needed a cypher to decode the page in the Codex?” I nodded as he took the coin out of my hand and turned it over. “I think it was under our noses this whole time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “These symbols are Druidic runes, Scarlett. The Druids were part of the Order.”

  “The Druids?”

  “If these symbols aren’t the cypher, then we’re one step away from finding it.”

  “We’ve just got to figure out what they mean…”

  “Exactly.”

  Too bad the last Druid had already passed on, otherwise I could’ve asked her. No, she wouldn’t have said anything, not even for a packet of exotic seeds to add to her garden. This was a code I was meant to break on my own.

  I cursed the Druids and the Naturals for their penchant for teachable moments and took the coin from Aiden. He still had his high-resolution scans on his computer.

  “The Druids are gone,” I said. “Is there anyone left who can read their runes?”

  “Not that I know of, but it doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying. There’s got to be links with other languages. They rarely evolve without influences from other cultures, even ones as old as ours.”

  I hoped he was right.

  “Thanks,” I said, “for everything… and I’m sorry about—”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  “Really, I—”

  “I understand,” he interrupted, his cheeks flushing. “I should’ve told you what I was doing and Madeleine…”

  “Everyone missed it,” I reassured him. “Even me.”

  He nodded but didn’t look convinced. “Are you going back to London?”

  “I’m hanging around for another day or so,” I told him. “Greer is staying a while, too. I think you two should meet and discuss a certain Codex page. You know more about it than me.”

  “G-Greer?” Aiden swallowed hard and adjusted his tie from askew to slightly less askew.

  “She looks like an airbrushed model from a Vouge cover, but she’s not scary, I promise.”

  “She’s fairly intimidating, you know.”

  I sighed. Yeah, she was.

  Looking around his office, I realised I was going to miss this place. The chaos, the knowledge, the stories he’d told me about Lancelot and Genevieve. I’d even miss Galahad’s gnarly suit of armour. Finally, my gaze fell on the pile of research that Islington must’ve returned to Aiden.

  Now that things had settled some, my thoughts went to my family and lack there of.

  “Hey, why did you think Andromeda could be my mother?”

  “The timeline fits,” Aiden replied, looking a little sheepish. Still embarrassed about his unauthorised digging, maybe? “And she bears some resemblance, don’t you think?”

  I picked up the photograph and studied it, tracing her features with my gaze. “I’ve seen her before,” I murmured, “in my dreams. Or at least, I think I have.”

  Aiden remained silent, waiting for me to gather my thoughts.

  “If she is my mum,” I went on, “then that means Aldrich is my uncle.” I’d really like him to be, too.

  “There are ways to find out for sure,” he said.

  “Like a DNA test?”

  “Yes, but it’s Light-administered and infallible.”

  I sighed and returned my gaze to the photograph. “I already asked him about Andromeda. He never led me to believe that she might be my mother.”

  Aiden patted my shoulder. “He might not have put the same pieces together that I did.”

  I sniffed and went to put the photo back, but he held up his hand.

  “Keep it,” he said. “Just in case.”

  I threw my arms around his neck and held him close, breathing in his comforting scent of boy and books. He tensed but returned my embrace all the same.

  I smiled, thinking about my impression of him. Aiden was nice, put together, had a great job, and I’d totally take him home to meet my parents if they were alive… but he wasn’t Wilder. And Wilder wasn’t someone anyone could get over in a day, let alone a few weeks.

  “I’m going to go scrounge up something to eat,” I said, pulling back. “Do you want to come?”

  “I, uh…” he glanced at his desk, “I’ve got some things to tidy up here, but maybe I’ll see you at dinner?”

  I knew he was making up an excuse, but I didn’t blame him. I would’ve done the same thing.

  “Sure,” I replied. “Sounds good.”

  Standing, I opened the office door.

  “Scarlett, I…”

  I turned, my heart skipping a beat.

  Aiden smiled the smile people gave when they were letting someone go. Dull, misty-eyed, but still full of love. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

  “No,” I said, my lips curving upwards, “I won’t.”

  20

  Looking through the windows of the infirmary, I watched Jackson as he laughed with Madeleine.

  She was sitting up in bed, wires running from her chest and arms into some serious looking medical equipment. Her hand was in his and they were talking furiously about something. A debate on which console was better—PS4 or Xbox One—perhaps. That was something Jackson was passionate about, though he’d rebel and say PC, even though he competed in console-based esports.

  I shook my head and sighed. It was good to be back in London after everything that’d happened at the Academy.

  Madeleine spied me through the window and waved, drawing Jackson’s attention. He glanced over his shoulder, and when he saw me, he waved me in.

  “Scarlett!” Madeleine called as I walked to where she was at the end of the room. “You’re back!”

  “Hey,” I said, standing at the foot of her bed. “I see they’ve got you all wired up.”

  “Wow, look at that shiner!” Jackson declared.

  I brushed my fingers against my black eye. “Please don’t remind me. At least it’s fading pretty quick.”

  He stood and threw his arms around me, hugging me tight. “I missed you.”

  “Missed you to, you nerd.”

  “I’d watch who you’re calling a nerd. I hear you graduated early and top of your class no less.”

  I laughed and pulled back, studying his features. “How’s everything here?”

  “Madeleine’s doing great,” he replied. “Ramona was able to halt her mutation for the time being, and it seems to be holding. There’ll be some trial and error, though.”

  I smiled at the goth girl, who was watching us closely. “That sounds promising.”

  “There’s been some other updates, but I’ll fill you in later.”

  I nodded and smiled up at him. “I’m so glad to see you again, you have no idea.”

  He laughed and patted me on the shoulder. “Can I ask you one thing?”

  “Yeah…” I gave him a look that said ‘don’t mess wi
th me’, but I knew he’d mess all he liked.

  “Did you sort out things with Wilder?”

  I choked on my spit and Madeleine stared at me wide-eyed.

  “You and Mr. Wilder?” she exclaimed.

  Jackson snorted. “Mr. Wilder?”

  I waved him off. “It’s a long story and no, there’s nothing to sort. He and Greer are… Well, they rekindled, if you know what I mean.”

  “Really?” He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?”

  “Jackson.”

  “Okay, okay.”

  I looked at Madeleine and back to Jackson. There were a lot of things I needed to catch up on, including writing my report for Greer, but it was time for a little one-on-one girly chat.

  “Jackson, would you give us a few minutes?” I nodded towards the door. “Girl talk, you know.”

  “Girl stuff.” He shuddered, much to Madeleine’s amusement. “That’s my cue to va-moose.”

  “Va-moose?” I tilted my head to the side.

  “Split,” he declared, scurrying out of the Infirmary.

  Laughing, I sat beside Madeleine’s bed, dragging the chair closer.

  “You were right,” she said. “Jackson’s the best.”

  “He’s one of a kind,” I agreed. “Now, how are you doing?”

  She shrugged, her fingers playing with one of the wires. “I’m tired a lot. Ramona said that’s the mutation fighting my Natural side.”

  “Have your parents arrived yet?”

  “They should be here later. My dad was on a mission when they called,” she explained.

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  She squirmed, her gaze falling to her hands. “Scarlett, I’m really sorry. I never meant—”

  “Shh,” I interrupted. “There is no fault to place on anyone but the demons.”

  “Mr. Thompson?”

  “Aiden is perfectly fine. Everyone is asking after you, you know.”

  She perked up. “They are?”

  “Yeah, the senior class wants to come visit you.”

  She blew through her lips and rolled her eyes. “They just want to see the Sanctum.”

  “No.” I took her hand in mine and squeezed. “They want to apologise for how they treated you. They want to be friends, Madeleine.”

  Skepticism flashed across her features, but there was also a hint of hope. “They do?”

  I nodded furiously. “They do.”

  Her expression turned thoughtful and she slipped her hand out of mine. “Scarlett… Do you think I’ll ever be able to go back to the Academy? If I can’t be a Natural… I…” she swallowed hard, “I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  “Maybe,” I replied, not knowing the answer. She might not be able to do anything if the mutation couldn’t be isolated. “Right now, let’s just focus on fighting this thing, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  I stood, brushing my palms over my pants.

  “Scarlett?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me.”

  I grinned, wondering if this is what it felt like to have a little sister. “You don’t need to,” I told her. “I already know.”

  Jackson was waiting for me out in the hall.

  “You didn’t have to hang around,” I said, standing next to him.

  “I know. I wanted to hang out with you for a bit and catch up in person for a change.” He gave me a stern look. “You only sent two owls in the entire time you were away.”

  I laughed. “Did I hurt your pride?”

  He held up his forefinger and thumb and pinched them together. “Only a little. I mean, you’re so important these days.”

  I slapped him on the arm, my palm cracking against his bicep.

  “Ow!”

  We’d talked on the phone a few days after the attack. I’d filled him in on Aiden’s research, the Codex page, the coin and the Order of the Twin Flames, and everything that’d happened during the fight with Madeleine’s demon side. He was as up to speed as I was, though we had different paths to take after this.

  He’d told me a few things about Human Convergence, too. Romy and the others had managed to track down all the humans on the list Wilder and I had found at the beta site laboratory. Only one could be saved, a woman by the name of Esme Winters, and Jackson stammered every time he’d brought her up. It was cute.

  Now I was off after Arondight and the standing stones from the Codex, and Jackson was hot on the heels of the alpha site laboratory—aka the home of Human Convergence.

  “Did you ask Aldrich about Andromeda yet?”

  I shook my head. “Not yet. With Greer away, he’s busy and stuff…”

  “I’m sure he’d make time for you.”

  I knew he would, but it wasn’t the easiest thing to bring up. How did I tell Aldrich that I might be the daughter of his long-lost sister? Especially knowing Markzoth had murdered her and the man who I suspected was my father.

  “She was the woman in my dream,” I murmured. “I called her mummy with such certainty…and her arondight blade chose me. That has to mean something.”

  “Then ask him,” Jackson said. “He already thinks of you as a daughter.”

  “Really? How do you know?”

  “I overheard him giving Wilder a dressing down in the hall the other day. There were a few choice words if I remember correctly.”

  “About me? Noooo…” My heart lurched, and I felt the blood drain from my face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because we both know how you like to overanalyse.”

  I slapped my hands over my face and groaned. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  “Don’t be. Aldrich really went to town. I think his words were, that girl is like a daughter to me. Mess with her and… something, something.” He waved a hand in the air. “You can probably guess the rest.”

  “Well, I appreciate the sentiment, but I already stuck up for myself.”

  “In spectacular fashion, I assume.”

  “Speaking of the constant pain in my arse, have you seen Wilder today?” Jackson smirked and I shoved his shoulder. “I said some pretty bad stuff to him and… There’s a few things we need to clear up.” He gave me a pointed look. “I’m trying the whole adulting thing.”

  “How’s that working out for you?”

  “Great.”

  “Why are you asking me? I thought you always knew where he was.”

  “I, uh… I tuned him out,” I explained. “I thought it was for the best.”

  Jackson’s lips thinned, but he didn’t ask me to elaborate. He understood better than anyone. He’d had the same kind of feelings for me and it definitely hadn’t been easy for him. I still kinda felt bad about it, even though we’d well and truly worked it out.

  “Have you checked the roof?”

  “Not yet.”

  “I’d start there. He’s been pouting all over the Sanctum ever since he came back. It’s starting to get really annoying.”

  “That bodes well,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “I’ll catch you later.”

  “Good luck.”

  I walked through the Sanctum, taking my sweet time. I passed the displays of weapons—the halberds, staves, an arondight hilts—and wove my way through the warren of hallways until I reached the marble foyer.

  It’d been repaired in the wake of the showdown with Wainthrope and his vanguard of automatic weapons, but I could still smell the metallic scent of gunpowder. I gathered it must’ve been a psychological thing because someone had been through with a mop and bucket full of lemon disinfectant since then.

  I stopped before the Lady of the Lake and her stone Arondight, saying a prayer before I ventured to the stairs leading to the roof.

  When I opened the door, Wilder was in his usual brooding position. His shoulders were hunched, his legs dangled over the edge, and his hair was sticking up in all kinds of directions. It wasn’t windy—the air was flat and stifling—so it was either laziness or frustr
ation that’d styled him this morning.

  “You’re back,” he said as I sat down.

  “Miss me?” I teased.

  “It’s been oddly quiet without you around, Purples. You’ve got a knack for causing a scene wherever you go.”

  I snorted. “It’s so not intentional, but at least I’m not bored.”

  “School’s out,” he quipped. “What’ll you do now?”

  “I suppose I’ll be put to work patrolling and hunting. I’m a full-fledged Natural now,” I said. “I’ve got a diploma and everything.” I looked out over the city. “And I’ve got a set of standing stones to find.”

  “Is Aiden helping you with that?”

  I nodded. “He’s the man with the book smarts.”

  We fell into an awkward silence, and I felt our easy relationship start to slip away. This was what I was afraid of. My one-way feelings getting in the way of a rare friendship that had the potential to last the rest of our lives? Preserving it seemed more precious than romance right now.

  We needed one another more than ever. Wainthrope had betrayed the Naturals at their core, the Academy had been attacked, and we’d just suffered the loss of Brax at the hands of the One. It was the most devastation we’d faced as a people since the cataclysm at Camelot.

  “Scarlett, about me and Greer—”

  “You don’t have to explain anything. Really.” I swung my feet back and forth. “I said some shitty things to you and—”

  “You don’t have to apologise to me. I should be apologising to you.”

  “That’d be a first.”

  “I’m sorry, Scarlett.”

  I shrugged. “I have this mysterious destiny that doesn’t really leave room in my life for much else. If we find Arondight, then I’ll probably have to carry it into battle against the One, or whatever he likes to call himself. I can’t sit back and let others fight the war I was destined to… Well, I don’t know what I’m meant to do. That’s a whole kettle of fish in itself.”

  Wilder grunted. “And the heart is a whole other kettle on its own.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be,” I whispered.

  It didn’t mean it stopped hurting. Maybe one day it would but for now, the open wound Wilder had left on my heart was still raw and bleeding. When I was with him, I’d never felt more alive. Everything was brighter in his company, and the fight against the Dark seemed worth the ultimate sacrifice if I could spend one more day with him.