Darkness in Green & Gold: A contemporary fantasy adventure (Green & Gold, book 3)

by Jo Holloway

  CHAPTER 25

  THEY FOLLOWED LIV INSIDE her family’s home. Rhys stepped into the hall from the doors to the library and beckoned them in. The wood polish scent and faint echoes of their footsteps off the dark floors brought a flood of memories of the other times she’d been inside the mansion. Now wasn’t the time to traipse down memory lane, so she gave her head a shake and entered the library.

  “What happened?” Wes got directly to the point.

  “You know the news reports about mental health patients having so-called miraculous recoveries?” Rhys asked.

  Cara had discussed her uncle’s theory with Wes. Apparently Wes had shared it with Rhys.

  Wes nodded. “We thought it was possible they were recovering because Pyx who had taken over their minds were now leaving.”

  Rhys glanced to her and paused. Her nostrils flared. Did they all think she’d miraculously convinced a bunch of Pyx to change their evil ways? It was time to stop living in a fairy tale where one good person could fix the world’s problems. Honestly.

  “Anyway”—Rhys moved his gaze to his sister and continued—“I was visiting Mom. When I went to leave, the lobby was louder than usual. The staff were all congratulating Hank—you know, the guy from room fourteen? It sounded like he was going home. Cured, or whatever.” He shook his head, and his face took on a haunted expression. A chill ran up Cara’s spine. “He turned around and saw me. His eyes glow green now. We thought it was Pyx leaving people who only seemed insane. But it’s the opposite. These Pyx are taking over sick people and making them act cured so they get released. They’re all controlled.”

  The air sucked out of the room.

  The full impact of his words hit her, and she fought the urge to throw up. They were taking advantage of a vulnerable population, and for what? Had they found them to be easier to control? Did something about their illnesses, or maybe their treatments, make them more receptive to giving over control to the Pyx in their minds?

  Cara made a choking sound. These people’s families thought their loved ones were recovering, when in fact, they’d been stolen away. They were being controlled by another being who could access their memories and take over their lives, but it wasn’t them. How many lives had they taken?

  “Soldiers,” she whispered.

  The other four faces, six counting Jenner and Thomas, turned to look at her.

  “He’s building an army. He stopped randomly taking over all sorts of people and hoping for the best. He might have enjoyed that for a while, toying with humans until they stumbled into ones they could control. But now he’s being more calculating. Something about this population makes them better targets, so he’s focused his efforts. He’s building to something.”

  Jory let out a low whistle at her analysis. “I know it was serious before, but . . . wow.”

  The silence around the room said that everyone agreed.

  “Then we need a plan,” Wes said.

  “No. This has to stop.” Cara stood from the couch. “All of this has to stop. Messoryx is the leader, and he’s threatening me specifically for some reason. If he’s gone, then this stops. What he wants right now is me. So I’m leaving.”

  She held up her hands when everyone in the room protested at once.

  “I’ve already decided. He’s sent people to the school. He injured Wes when I was with him. His soldiers attacked when I was at the range with Harrison—who isn’t a Pyxsee and didn’t know about any of this before then. Then he sent them to threaten anyone close to me at a busy place full of innocent people. I’m not staying here where it constantly puts all of you, let alone the rest of the school, in danger.”

  “Cares, you can’t leave. There’s less than a month of school left. We have exams.”

  “Jory, do you hear yourself?” she practically screeched, and he recoiled when she used his actual name for once. “Who cares about exams? Someone’s going to get killed because of me. Fine”—she snapped a look at Jenner when she felt Jenyx’s denial—“because of him, but he’s only here because of me. Actually, I don’t think he’s here at all. He’s off working on the rest of his plan, but he’s sending controlled people after me here. I can’t stay.”

  “So you’re going to go off on your own instead? Bad plan, Cara.” Irritation dripped from Wes’s usually calm voice.

  Yeah, he could be mad she hadn’t talked it over with him first. He could even be mad that it wasn’t his plan. But she had to make him see. She had to make them all see this was the only way.

  “My life, my plan,” she said. She’d practiced this part in her mind, but forcing the words out took everything she had. The lies tasted rotten and bitter on her tongue, but she pushed forward. “Liv and Jory, you don’t need anyone but each other. No one else matters to you, so who cares if I leave?”

  Jory’s jaw dropped, and Liv looked like she’d been slapped. Cara turned away.

  “And you really have nothing to say about my plan, Wes. You’re running through the woods with a bow playing hero without a care for what anyone else wants.”

  His jaw flexed. She couldn’t look at Rhys, so she stared at the carpet instead. “And, Rhys, I think you’ve got enough going on in your own life to figure out. No need to involve me.” The quick exhale from his direction was more than she could take. She moved toward the door.

  “I’m only taking Jenyx. The rest of you can’t help me, and you’ll be better off if I’m gone.”

  Liv dissolved into tears, and Jory stayed to comfort her, but Wes and Rhys followed her to the front entrance. Wes reached out a hand and held the door closed when she tried to jerk it open.

  “Nice martyr speech, but if you expect any of us to buy it, you’re out of your damn mind. You can’t actually think that was going to work on us. Though making your friend cry was a nice touch.”

  She’d never seen Wes look so mad. His cheeks were redder than ever, and his arm quivered against the door. As if she needed the extra guilt trip. She was already a hollowed-out wreck.

  “Take it easy, Wes,” Rhys warned him before turning to her. “But we can’t let you do this, Cara. He’s right about that.”

  Anger found its way in, and her eyes flashed to his. “You don’t get to decide things for me.”

  He couldn’t have it both ways. He didn’t get to kiss her, flip her world over, and then go on like they could still be friends. She opened the door when Wes crossed his arms in frustration.

  Rhys’s eyes bore into hers with all the intensity of the day in his room. Their heat could have melted her, but she let it fuel her frustration instead. They might overlook her speech, but surely they could see this was for the best.

  “I know you have no reason to listen to me. But where will you go? How will you get there?” Rhys asked.

  “I messaged my uncle. He hasn’t agreed yet, but if I travel with him, I can try to find a Pyxsee who knows how they can be killed. Then I can get rid of Messoryx. Eventually.”

  “At least let me drive you home.”

  She’d been planning to ask to take his van but was sorely tempted to accept his offer. It was hard enough contemplating leaving the school she thought of as home, and all her friends. A couple more hours with him sounded like both heaven and torture. Biting her lip, she turned to the open doorway and stepped outside. She stopped short before she crashed into the person standing on the steps.

  “No one’s going anywhere. Now get back inside.” Dr. Flanagan stared them down.

  The headmaster glanced over her shoulder and shooed them indoors, closing the heavy oak door behind her.

  “Rhys, I hope you don’t mind me inviting myself in.” She stood with her hands crossed in front of her and waited in their stunned silence.

  “Uh, no, of course not. Um, please come in,” Rhys stuttered.

  “Thank you.” Dr. Flanagan proceeded down the hall where Jory came out of the library, followed by Liv, who was wiping tears from her wide eyes.

  Crap. Now they were all in trouble with the s
chool on top of everything. At least, she and Wes and Jory were. Rhys and Liv were technically allowed to be here since it was their house and they had an arrangement with the school. And really, only Wes and Jory were in trouble. It didn’t matter much for her if she was leaving anyway. She had to hope it wouldn’t be a problem for Wes’s scholarship.

  “This is my fault. I invited them all over. I know I should have cleared it with you first.” Rhys tried to take the blame.

  “I asked him to,” Liv added. “I wanted to plan a birthday party for him.”

  Cara caught his glance when her head snapped over to him. His eighteenth birthday. She’d forgotten it was coming up in a few days.

  “I’m not here to dole out detentions, Olivia. However, I would appreciate a word with Cara. Alone, although you may bring Jenner.” Dr. Flanagan gave Cara a pointed look.

  Cara stared at her headmaster, stunned. How had she known they were here, and why did it sound like she knew something about Jenner?

  “Sure. Of course. Ah, you can use the conservatory.” Rhys led them through an arch off the front entrance and gestured to a room with large bay windows overlooking the driveway and front gardens.

  Cara followed without a word. Jenner padded beside her, and Jenyx radiated the same curious unease she was feeling. Rhys left them after his eyes found hers one last time. Neither of them could figure out what this was about, so the look provided no answers, but he nodded his reassurance to her and then backed out of the room when she dropped her eyes to the marble floor. Once he was gone, she took in her surroundings.

  A large piano occupied a third of the room, gleaming with a high gloss finish. On either side, a chaise stretched at an angle beneath pale-green walls so someone sitting there could listen while gazing out the picture window across the room. A low ivory couch spanned the wall beneath the window, tufted with small brass buttons set into its soft leather.

  “Please sit, Cara.”

  People telling her to sit was turning into a bad omen. Her kind headmaster’s face was forged into a much stronger and hardened expression than Cara could recall seeing there before. The time she’d been called into her office freshman year after being caught with Jory in the dorm during school hours (a horribly embarrassing misunderstanding) held no comparison to this look. Dr. Flanagan didn’t appear curious or disappointed this time. She actually looked pretty fierce.

  “I wanted to clear some things up before he arrives,” she started. She didn’t give Cara time to ask who “he” was. “I understand your desire to leave, and I respect your wish to keep your friends safe. But I promise there is no safer place for you at the moment, or for your friends.”

  Cara sat with a thud, and the breath rushed out of her to match the whoosh from the leather sofa. What exactly did their headmaster know? Her shock must have shown, because Dr. Flanagan sat down beside her and her face softened.

  “Oh yes, I know all about it. And no, before you ask—because I see you trying to search my eyes—I’m not a Pyxsee myself. But I do know what you are. And Wesley and Rhys.” She paused to let that sink in. “It’s no coincidence you’re all at Scovell Academy. Not that we’re a school for Pyxsees or anything, but none of you are the first in your families to have these abilities, and we are uniquely positioned to make sure you don’t lose your way as you discover what it means to recognize the Pyx among us. There’s one in Jenner, isn’t there?”

  “Remarkable,” Jenyx said in Cara’s mind. “I truly did not suspect.”

  “How—?” Cara wasn’t sure what to ask.

  “I learned of the Pyx from Randall Whalton Senior, Rhys and Olivia’s grandfather, when I was hired on to my position fifteen years ago. He passed away a couple years after that, long before Rhys would have begun to show signs of recognizing Pyx. It’s a shame. His son, their father, didn’t inherit the gene, so he never knew. I would have helped Rhys myself when the time came, but he hadn’t shown signs of the ability yet, and then he left abruptly after Olivia fell ill. I blame myself for not recognizing that situation sooner. He’s lucky you three found him and were able to help, though I wish you’d trusted someone with that ordeal rather than deal with it yourselves. When I realized what had happened . . .” She clutched at her throat and fell silent.

  It was all Cara could do not to fall off the couch. She found one of the brass buttons under her finger and traced the smooth circle while her thoughts raced. All this time . . .

  “Wes’s family?”

  “A great-aunt, I think, and some others further back. The tribal elders who know of Pyxsees suspected his sister Kaiah might develop the ability. She has some gold flecks in her eyes. They arranged for her scholarship first, and it made sense for the rest of the family to follow, especially with Wesley showing so much more Pyxsee-gold even than his sister. Kaiah never demonstrated recognition, though she’s a bright and observant young woman. Then, of course, Wesley had fully realized his world before he even arrived. It was interesting that it took you two as long as it did to recognize it in each other, though.”

  Her mind reeled with how much Dr. Flanagan had known all along. Had she been watching them? “Are there others?”

  “Other Pyxsees at Scovell? Not at the moment. Some of the other staff know. Not many.”

  “Mr. Meyers . . .” She recalled his strange reaction to the noises and howls of anguish from other Pyx after Linnaeryx and the guardian were killed.

  “Yes, Owen knows. He’s a friend of your uncle’s. Did you know?” She carried on after Cara shook her head. “He’s kept an eye on Wes. We try to have a dorm parent who understands the situation in each dorm.”

  “Ms. Lewis?”

  “No, but Claire—Mrs. Black—she knows.”

  Cara didn’t have Mrs. Black for any classes, so she’d never interacted much with her other dorm parent. She always went to Ms. Lewis, whom she knew from French class, when she needed anything, which wasn’t often.

  “Why keep it a secret? And do Liv and Rhys know their grandfather knew about this? Wait, was he a Pyxsee?”

  “Grandpa Whalton?” Liv burst into the room.

  “Liv!” Rhys called down the hall and followed her in a moment later. “Sorry. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  Cara could practically hear his voice from last fall joking about how stubborn his sister could be.

  “Our grandfather was a Pyxsee? Why didn’t he tell us? Why didn’t he tell Dad?

  Rhys put a hand to his sister’s shoulder and tried to steer her away. “Liv, you were, like, three when he died. You don’t even remember him.”

  “I was three when my dad died. I remember a few things.” Cara barely recognized her voice as the words came out. The room stilled. “Not much, but some.”

  “Cara . . . I’m sorry. I didn’t think . . .” Rhys dropped his hands from his sister’s arm and turned into the room. His face shone in the light from the window as he focused on her. For a moment, it was only the two of them.

  Dr. Flanagan cleared her throat. “Rhys, Olivia, you may as well come in. To answer your question, Olivia, yes, your grandfather was a Pyxsee. As was Oliver Whalton, who founded Scovell Academy back in the forties. Your grandfather never told your father because he’s not a Pyxsee, but I’m sure he would have told Rhys if he’d lived long enough. Given everything that happened with you, Rhys, I’m inclined to say we may want to consider telling Randall.” She gave him a sympathetic look. “I seem to think there’s been some unnecessary strain on your relationship while he fails to understand your actions in, er, killing Olivia. I know it was to save her, and your father is happy with the outcome and so has chosen to protect you, but it would probably help him to understand if he knew the reason behind what you did. The decision is yours, but I’ll help you explain it to him if you’d like.”

  Rhys sat down hard on the piano bench. “I don’t know.”

  “Give it some thought.”

  Cara took in his strained face and yearned to go to him, to comfort him. She’d ha
d no idea his relationship with his dad hadn’t recovered when Liv did. Did Wes know? Did Emma?

  Stop. Danger. Don’t think about that.

  She couldn’t be the one to help him, even when flashes of the broken guy she’d first met came flooding back as he lowered his elbows to his knees and stared at the floor. She tore her eyes away. “How do you know so much about what’s been going on?” she asked the headmaster.

  “Partly, I’m naturally observant. Just ask Jory. I told you I see things, didn’t I?” Their headmaster looked up.

  Cara followed her gaze and found Wes and Jory leaning on either side of the doorway with Thomas between their legs. Stealthy. There’d never been a point in keeping this conversation private, anyway. If she stayed, she would have told them all eventually.

  “I believe it was one of the things that earned me this job in the first place. I may not be a Pyxsee, but picking up things most people don’t notice or see can come in handy in a lot of ways as a headmaster. Like when I spot a bear hanging around my school. It helps to know if he’s under a safe and friendly influence, wouldn’t you say?” Dr. Flanagan gave them all a knowing look and focused on Jenner. “He is one of yours, isn’t he?”

  Jenyx’s surprise rolled through Cara, and she sat back, letting go of the brass button she’d been twisting. Jenyx rarely controlled Jenner in any way that would be unnatural for him, but the dog dropped his head once in an unmistakable nod.

  “I thought so. After the roar accompanying the howls that day, I wasn’t about to miss a bear strolling into the middle of campus with a dog I already had a suspicious eye on. And aside from being more observant than most, I also have sources.” Dr. Flanagan turned to the window at the sound of an approaching car. “Here’s one of them now.”

  Cara turned on the couch and then stood up to see better. A bright-blue car pulled into the driveway. She couldn’t see the driver past the tinted windows, but she didn’t recognize the vehicle. When the door opened and the driver climbed out, she gasped.