Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

The word seemed to hang in the air.

‘He insists you’re at the parley,’ Isabelle continued. ‘Obviously, Lucinda sees this for the trap it most likely is and has refused. But he’s not backing down. They’re at an impasse. Because of this, we expected Nathaniel to retaliate. Last night’s attempt was just the start.’

An awful sense of trepidation settled over Allie. Parleys were meetings between enemies, intended purely for negotiation. There was no logical reason for Nathaniel to want her there. Unless this wasn’t really a parley.

It was typical of him to use trickery and lies. To play games with people’s lives. He never seemed to tire of it. When it came to Cimmeria – to her – he was a machine. He came back and back and back. Relentlessly. He didn’t care who got hurt. Who died. He would never give up. Never stop.

It had to stop.

Feeling suddenly tired, she raked her fingers through her hair, pressing her fingertips hard against her skull.

‘So now more people will get hurt because of me,’ she said tonelessly.

All they’d been through over the last year, all the running and hiding, the fighting and dying. And for what? Nathaniel was inches away from taking over the Orion Society. He was so close to victory he must be able to taste it. And once he won, everything was lost. He would reshape the country in his image. Behind the protective curtain of the powerful organisation he could do whatever he wanted. Use his power to hurt people who couldn’t fight back. Change the government. Change people’s lives. They would never know his name. Never recognise his face. He would live in the shadows, a puppet master pulling the strings.

‘That’s where we come in.’ Raj leaned forward to catch her gaze. ‘We’re working very hard to keep him out, and we’ll continue to do so. We’ve been successful for three months …’

‘I’ve been away for three months.’ Allie’s anger boiled over and her voice rose. ‘He’s been too busy chasing me around the world to mess with you.’

‘Allie, there’s no reason to overreact …’ Isabelle began but Raj kept talking as if she hadn’t spoken.

‘We’ve brought in extra guards,’ he said, as if this changed everything. ‘And we’re increasing the number of patrols.’

In despair, Allie lowered her head to her hands. Was he delusional? More guards? More patrols? The grounds were vast and wooded, with hills, lakes and forests. You could hide an army out there. And sometimes it seemed Nathaniel had. Last time he’d brought a helicopter. What were they going to do if it came back?

Throw stones at it?

‘It has worked before, Allie,’ Isabelle said.

Allie whirled on her. ‘It has failed before, Isabelle. And it will fail again this time.’ She looked back and forth between them, cold with anger. ‘You keep doing the same things over and over again hoping people don’t die this time. I just don’t …’

Her raised voice echoed off the old stone walls. Across the chapel the others turned to stare at them.

She cast them a desperate look. That was enough. Sylvain and Carter crossed the room to join her and the others followed right on their heels.

‘What’s happening here?’ Sylvain looked around the group for an explanation.

‘Tell them.’ Allie turned to Raj and Isabelle, her hands on her hips. ‘Tell them how you’re going to stop Nathaniel with more guys in black. Tell them your amazing comms system will keep us alive when he comes for his revenge. They deserve to know what’s about to happen.’

‘What exactly is going on, Isabelle?’ Carter stepped forward until he was standing beside Allie.

‘It’s insane,’ Allie said.

‘You’re being childish,’ Raj retorted, his tone sharpening. ‘This is the system.’

‘Can someone please explain—’ Sylvain began.

‘Stop this.’ Isabelle’s voice echoed off the stone walls. They all fell silent. ‘This conversation is pointless. This is the way it has to be. We don’t have any alternative.’

‘Yes, you do.’ It was Dom’s voice. They all turned to her. Her gaze was on Allie. ‘The alternative is standing right in front of you.’

Disbelief spread across Isabelle’s face – clearly she hadn’t expected this rebellion. ‘Lucinda has made it clear she won’t allow Allie to attend the parley and I agree with her decision—’

‘What? Nathaniel wants to have a parley with you?’ Carter said to Allie. ‘Why would he do that?’

‘He doesn’t want to meet me. He wants to meet Lucinda. But he says he’ll only do it if I come, too,’ Allie explained patiently. ‘Because he’s a mentalist.’

The others exchanged a look.

‘A trap,’ Sylvain said. ‘It would be a perfect time to snatch her. No arms. No guards.’

‘Exactly.’ Isabelle appeared relieved, as if she’d just won the argument.

‘Not every trap catches its prey,’ Dom said.