by Raven Steele
He stood and returned the book. When he turned around, his eyebrows were pulled tightly together in frustration. “But what’s happening? Nothing other than your trying to prove your mother’s innocence. For the rest of us, everything is the same as it always was.”
My flames roared to life, the sudden heat emanating from my skin in waves. How could he say that?
He quickly added, “I don’t mean that to take away from what’s going on with you. I’ll still help you, but what does the cave have to do with anything urgent?”
I dragged a hand down my face. “I don’t know exactly, but Arrow and Maisy were taking Becca to meet someone in the woods, someone who felt they needed vampires to protect whatever secret they’re keeping. And I feel strongly it has to do with the tattoo on Arrow’s neck, which was of a hawk. The letters were signed by Hawk. Don’t you see? All of this is connected.”
“You don’t know for sure Becca was being taken to the cave.”
“True, but I was drawn to it.”
“Maybe it’s a place your mother went to when she attended Solar.”
I didn’t have an answer for this. Maybe things were far less complicated than I was making them.
Hudson motioned his head towards the door. “Let’s get out of here. We’ll keep looking for evidence to save your mother, I promise. We still have a few weeks.”
That’s where you’re wrong, I wanted to tell him. We had days.
Chapter 24
Only two days left before the Enforcers came for my mother, and I wasn’t any closer to finding evidence to saving my mother, despite all our efforts.
Ireland had been following and stalking Ms. Pearson around so completely that she knew what kind of shampoo the woman used, her favorite color, what she was allergic to, and even her greatest fears. It scared me. If given the opportunity, Ireland would make a great assassin. And yet, as much as I admired her detective skills, she’d still come up empty-handed.
Bonnie didn’t have much luck with Mr. Stenberg, either. She’d managed to uncover some old letters he’d written to Aurora when they were teenagers. She’d found them in a shoe box in the back of a storage closet inside his classroom. Everything he’d told me was true. He’d loved my mother fiercely, but she’d seen him as a friend only. As they grew older and she’d joined the Foundation, he’d tried to talk her out of working with Hawk. She’d ignored his letters, even returning some of them unopened.
Bennie, however, did have some success with Arrow. Surprising us all, he’d gotten close to her. She was even seen in the halls kissing him, to the disgust of all of us. He was taking his job way too seriously, but he did learn that tattoo was in fact a hawk. He also learned she was part of some club none of us had heard of called the Beginnings. She’d shared some of the club’s beliefs, which mirrored those of the ISA in the fact that they believed supernaturals should be controlled. Bennie thought it was all harmless, though. Just a group of kids trying to take some kind of political stand to make them feel more important than they were.
As for Hudson, he’d called his father to see if, as an Enforcer, he could talk the ISA into giving Solar Academy more time to waken Aurora. But his dad had basically told him to mind his own business. Then followed that up with a million questions about why Hudson would be asking questions about Aurora. Hudson had to quickly pass off them as part of a research assignment. It had taken some time to talk his father down. I know, I was there, poring over the images we had taken in the archive room. Again. I thought maybe we had missed something.
It meant so much to me that Hudson was willing to help, but I should’ve pushed him away for what was coming. For I knew I was about to do something that would put me in the ISA’s crosshairs, which also meant Hudson’s father.
I was sitting on my bed flipping through images on my phone, when Ireland threw open the door. Bonnie was close behind.
“We found something!” Ireland explained.
I jumped up from my bed, dropping my phone to the floor. “What?”
A devious look filled Ireland’s eyes, and she grinned. “Well, I was following Ms. Pearson again. She left Linda’s office and headed outside. And she was being super sketchy about it too, like looking around to make sure she wasn’t being watched. Of course, she didn’t see me, the ninja I am.”
She paused to take a breath. I also took one and willed my heartbeat to slow down.
“Anyway, she walks outside, like way in the back of the lawn where there’s that row of pine trees.” She waited for me to acknowledge her words.
“I know the place. Keep talking,” I flickered my gaze at Bonnie. Her eyes were big and mouth open.
“Well, guess who happens to be out there hiding in the shadows?”
“Who?” both Bonnie and I say at the same time.
She shrugs nonchalantly. “I don’t know exactly, but it was someone shady as shit. They were wearing this long cloak with a hood over their head.”
I groaned in frustration. Even Bonnie looked let down.
“So Ms. Pearson talks to this creepy person for barely a few seconds, not near enough time for me to get closer, but the sketchy person handed her a letter.”
I stood. “Where is this letter now?”
“In a safe in her office.”
I blinked. “How is that supposed to help us?”
“Because we know it’s valuable. Now all we have to do is figure out how to get it.”
Bonnie shook her head. “We don’t know anyone who knows how to break into a safe.”
“Your brother?” Ireland asked.
“His skills stop at bike and door locks.”
I dropped back onto my bed, sighing.
Ireland glanced at us in frustration. “Guys. We’re in a school full of supernaturals. Let’s get one of the younger teens to spell it open, or maybe one of the shifters can smash it.”
“Breaking it open will get us busted, but …” I cast my gaze Bonnie’s direction. “Could someone use magic to get it open?”
She thought about it. “I think so, but it may take time we don’t have. Plus it would have to be someone we fully trust. How many of those are at this school? No one wants to risk expulsion.”
Bonnie was right. Not only that, but did I even want to get anyone else involved? I was risking enough lives as it was.
Ireland groaned out loud and paced the room. “There’s got to be someone! Why can’t I make friends easier?”
“That would involve you being nicer to people,” Bonnie said. “You use all you’re niceness up on us.”
Ireland shaped her finger like a gun and shot it at Bonnie. “Nailed it.”
Her pacing resumed.
Maybe I could try melting the lock fixture like I had the door knobs, but Ms. Pearson would notice someone had tampered with it. Messing with classroom locks was one thing; they probably broke a couple of times of year from rowdy students or maybe students trying to break in to sneak tests or something. But her safe? I groaned.
I was about to suggest we go scout out Ms. Pearson’s office when out of thin air Becca appeared in the middle of my room. I jumped and yelped, Bonnie stumbled backward onto the floor and Ireland screamed, like for a ridiculous long time.
Becca quickly quieted her down. “Shhhhhh! It’s only me.” She glanced to the door as if waiting for someone to come bursting in to see what all the commotion was about.
“How the hell did you do that?” Ireland half cried, half whispered.
My mouth was too full of acid to speak. I’d nearly thrown up.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t stay silent anymore.” Becca helped Bonnie up off the floor.
“Speak,” Ireland demanded, her face pale.
“First, I have to swear you to secrecy about my ability.”
“Which is?” I prodded.
“I can turn invisible.”
Bonnie and Ireland both flinched like she’d said something horrible.
“What’s wrong with that?” I asked them.
&n
bsp; “It’s a privacy thing,” Becca explained. “Those who have the ability are frowned upon and have a very difficult time finding friends because no one trusts them.”
“So you told everyone you weren’t born with a gift?” Ireland asked incredulously.
Becca looked at her pointedly. “What would have you done if you were in my shoes?”
It only took a second for Ireland to answer. “Oh no doubt. I would’ve lied my ass off, too.”
“Were you spying on us?” Bonnie asked, the hurt in her voice unmistakable.
Becca turned to me with pleading eyes, then glanced at the others. “I’m only trying to help, I swear it. After Maisy and Arrow dragged me into the woods, and then left me to be killed by vampires, I realized they weren’t true friends. It was you guys who helped me.”
“Damn right we did!” Ireland raised her hand to give me a high five, but I ignored her. My mind was trying to process what Becca was telling us.
“After that night,” Becca continued, “I learned you guys were into something dangerous.”
“How could you know that?” I asked.
“It started when I heard Maisy say something about Aurora, a name I hadn’t heard spoken in this school for years.”
This had me coming to my feet. “What did she say?”
“She said changes are coming and they will make what Aurora did look like child’s play.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Ireland snapped.
“I’m not sure exactly, but then I caught Ireland following around Ms. Pearson all stalker-like—”
“You saw me?” Ireland blurted.
“—so I knew something was up. I don’t normally use my invisibility because I really do try to honor people’s privacy, but I wanted to see if I could help you. You know, return the favor. So I listened in on a few of your conversations and learned you’re trying to find evidence to prove your mother’s innocence. I think it’s ridiculous, but I want to help nevertheless.”
“What do you know?” I asked, trying hard not to shake the words from her.
“The letter Ms. Pearson put in that safe? I know the password.”
All of us looked at each other. It was me who spoke first. “When can we get it?”
“Right now if you want to. We just have to make sure no one is in there.”
“I can take care of that,” Ireland said with an evil twinkle in her eye.
“What are we waiting for?” I exited my room first, my pulse racing, and hurried down the stairs. The halls were crowded with students all heading towards the movie theater for the weekend movie night. In the lobby, I caught Bennie as he walked hand in hand with Arrow. As if he sensed my eyes on him, he glanced back over his shoulder and winked at me.
“He’s going to get his heart torn out,” Bonnie said behind me.
“Probably the other way around,” Ireland added.
We stopped at the entrance to the administrative offices. The secretary had left for the day, but we had to pass Linda’s office and a few others before getting to Ms. Pearson’s.
“I’ll go see what we’re dealing with,” Ireland said and walked past us.
I almost stopped her to see what she was planning, but thought better of it. Whatever it was, I wouldn’t be able to talk her out of it.
Through the office windows, I could see the top of Ireland’s head stop at Linda’s door. She knocked, but the room must’ve been empty. She moved down the hall disappearing out of my view.
“You sure this is a good idea?” Becca asked me and Bonnie.
“No,” we both said at the same time.
After almost a full minute, a woman shouted, then screamed from within the offices, followed by Ireland yelling, “The devil made me do it!”
Ireland appeared a moment later sprinting out of the hall. On her tail was Ms. Pearson, red faced and eyes full of fury.
Ireland darted past us in the lobby, grinning as she ran.
“Get back here, young lady!” Ms. Pearson shouted at her.
Ireland ignored her and pumped her fisted hand into the air. “Bitches got to bitch!” She high-fived several confused students in passing.
“This is our chance,” I whispered. “Come on.”
We slipped past the reception desk and beyond Linda’s office. Ms. Pearson’s was next to it. I quickly checked the remaining two offices. They were empty.
“What do you think Ireland did?” Bonnie asked.
“Nothing would surprise me.” I opened Ms. Pearson’s door. “Let’s hurry.”
A familiar, pungent smell filled my nostrils. Bonnie and Becca recoiled at the same time and covered their noses.
“She didn’t… “ I breathed. But sure enough, a wet spot in the middle of the room stained the light tan carpet.
“She pissed the floor?” Becca asked incredulously.
“Now this surprises me.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or be disgusted. After another wave of urine-smelling odor hit me, I decided to be disgusted. I’d laugh later.
“Where’s the safe?” I asked Becca.
She moved behind Ms. Pearson’s desk and stopped in front of a bookcase. She moved a tall forward-facing book to the side. “Here.”
I sidled up to her as Becca punched in a code, then popped open the small door. We peered inside. There were only two items, a jewelry box and a letter. Becca grabbed the letter and handed it to me. “Read it quickly, then let’s put it back.”
I slipped the letter from out of its envelope, grateful it wasn’t sealed. Someone had already read it. Laying the paper flat on the desk, I snapped a picture. Then I read it out loud. There were only two lines:
“We have reason to believe Aurora will wake before we come for her. If this happens, kill her on sight.”
I sucked in a shaky breath and glanced down to see who had signed it. “It’s signed by Stefan Cain.” I looked up at Bonnie and Becca, my heart clenching tight. “Please tell me that’s not who I think it is.”
Bonnie frowned, her eyes sad. “I’m sorry, but it is. Hudson’s dad just ordered your mom’s death.”
Chapter 25
I stared at the movie screen, but I might as well have been looking right through it. Hudson had found me the moment I’d walked into the theater with my friends. We were all trying hard to pretend everything was okay after we’d snuck away from Ms. Pearson’s office.
He gripped my hand tightly, glancing at me every few minutes as if he could sense something was wrong. It didn’t help that Bonnie kept reaching up from behind me to squeeze my shoulder. Her way of providing comfort, but it was only drawing more attention to me.
I had yet to see Ireland. My guess she was being lectured right now.
No matter what happened, I was going to lose my mother forever. If I did nothing, the Enforcers would take her away. If I woke her, Ms. Pearson and whoever else was involved would kill her. Her innocence no longer mattered.
Hudson leaned towards me. “Everything okay?”
I nodded, my eyes straight ahead, mouth pressed tightly. Even his icy touch was unable to bring me comfort. I wonder if he could feel the same through my fire.
He studied me for a moment, then turned away.
I couldn’t let it end this way, not with everything I’d learned and felt. What I needed was help. Someone I trusted and who wouldn’t face expulsion if they knew what I knew.
But trusting people had never been my strong suit, especially adults. They had been the quickest to turn on my family. But if I didn’t talk to someone and soon, then my mother’s life was over.
There were only two people I thought might help me, and I couldn’t waste a second not talking to them. I had less than forty-eight hours to save my mother.
Even though the movie had only started ten minutes ago, I jumped to my feet and scooted along the row to get out. When I heard Hudson whisper my name, I turned around and signaled in a minute.
I jogged down the aisle, glancing on the ends in case Linda was here, but she wasn’t
. I didn’t know where else to look, so started with returning to the administrative offices. Ireland was there, sitting on a chair across from reception.
She looked up at me and grinned. “We good?”
“We got what we wanted, thanks to you.”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me all about it later.”
I nodded my head towards Linda’s office door which was now closed. “Is she in there?”
“With Ms. Pearson. They’re trying to figure out what to do with me. Apparently my infraction isn’t in any of their books.”
I laughed quietly. “I still can’t believe you peed in her office.”
“It’s the first thing that came to my mind. You should’ve seen her face when she saw me pull down my pants. She was like,” her face bunched up in a mock stern expression, “‘What is the meaning of this?’ And I was like, I have to go real bad, and it can’t wait. And then she screamed at me, and I ran.”
The door opened.
“Here it comes,” Ireland whispered at me.
Ms. Pearson’s clipped heels walked towards us. Her cold eyes darted to me. “What are you doing here?”
“I was hoping to speak to Ms. Swanson.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Do you have bladder problems like your friend here?”
I tried not to smile. “Bladder of steel, Ma’am.”
“Good.” She motioned with her head behind her. “She’s in her office. As for you…,” her gaze lowered to Ireland, “detention for a week and a psych evaluation with Professor Armstrong.”
“Sounds fun.” Ireland stood up. “I better go. I think I have to pee again.”
Ms. Pearson grimaced and backed up.
“Catch you later, Fury,” Ireland said to me as she left the office.
Ms. Pearson followed after, probably to make sure Ireland wasn’t going to get into trouble again.
I approached Linda’s office and peered through the open door. She was sitting behind her desk furiously typing into a laptop. I cleared my throat.
She looked up, but didn’t smile. “Come in.”