Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

‘Don’t say “us”.’ Her tone was clipped. ‘You didn’t do anything for me. This was all about you.’


He didn’t argue.

‘Fine. I know you’re angry. And I don’t blame you. But you have to understand. That guy … Gabe?’ Christopher searched her face for signs of recognition.

Allie gave a terse nod. Oh yes. She knew Gabe.

‘He’s crazy. And Nathaniel knows it. He’s dangerous as hell, but he keeps him around like he’s some sort of … I don’t know. Human handgun.’ He shook his head. ‘He wasn’t supposed to hurt your friend Ruth at all. Or that other girl … what was her name?’

For a second Allie couldn’t speak. She curled her hands into fists until her nails dug deep crescents into her palms.

‘Jo,’ she said.

‘Yeah.’ It was clear the name meant nothing to Christopher. He didn’t know any of the people Allie loved. ‘Nathaniel was furious about that. But he kept him on.’

Hearing this, Allie wanted to cry. To scream. But she stilled that urge. Because she needed to know more. She kept her voice even.

‘Why?’

He held her gaze. ‘Because he scares you.’

Allie heard herself give a bitter laugh and she tried to stifle it.

‘That’s a bloody bad reason to hang out with a psychopath.’

‘I know. That’s the whole point.’ He raked his fingers through his hair. He looked agonised, and she studied him with new interest. Could he fake this?

‘There’s more. Other things. I think what he wants is right but …’

‘What?’ She couldn’t stop herself. ‘To run the world? To be some sort of mental emperor? You think that’s okey-dokey but killing a few people … now, that’s wrong? Bloody hell, Christopher.’

Her voice dripped sarcasm and he looked at her narrowly.

In that moment he looked so much like their dad, Allie caught her breath. Same pale blue eyes. Same disapproving expression.

‘Come on. You think it’s OK for Lucinda to run the country now but if Nathaniel did it that would be wrong?’ He straightened and took a step forward. ‘Why shouldn’t he run things? Why shouldn’t we? Anyone with the energy and the ideas and the family history …’

She bristled. ‘What does family have to do with it?’ Her voice rose. ‘Are you saying you have to be related to us to have power because –’ she made a rolling gesture with her hand – ‘Sheridans make awesome prime ministers? Or something?’

While they argued they’d moved closer together without Allie noticing. Now she was too angry to care. She had to stand on her toes to be eye level with him – she didn’t remember him being so tall.

‘Meldrums,’ he corrected her, using their grandmother’s last name. Allie thought about the book in the drawer, filled with the names of their forefathers, all of whom had lived lives of wealth and power because of who they were, rather than what they’d done. Or how hard they’d worked.

‘You know what? That’s not even her real name,’ she snapped. ‘That’s her favourite husband’s name. So if you’re looking for a name to hang this whole world-domination thing on you might need to dig a little deeper. Find out who we really are.’

‘All right. All right.’ He held up his hands in surrender. ‘Let’s not fight. Just wait until you hear what I have to say. Then I’ll go, I promise. I can tell you don’t want me here.’

‘Make it fast.’ There was ice in her voice.

He took another step towards her. He was too close now. But Allie didn’t want to show her fear and back away. She forced herself to hold his gaze.

‘You’re planning to go with Lucinda to the parley with Nathaniel,.’ He spoke low and fast. ‘Don’t go. It’s a trap.’

Allie sighed. Had he seriously come all the way here just to tell her the most obvious thing in the world?

‘Oh for God’s sake. Of course it’s a sodding trap. You think I don’t know that?’

He shook his head. ‘It’s a good trap, Allie. And it’s not for you.’

That stopped her. She stared at him.

‘Who is it for?’

He answered her question with a question. ‘Who is Nathaniel’s biggest problem right now?’

‘Lucinda.’ The word came out as a breath.

His expression told her she was right.

‘So, if it’s Lucinda he’s after, why don’t you want me to go?’ Her voice stayed neutral but internally she was calculating how long it would take her to get to Isabelle’s room and get her to phone Lucinda.

‘Because once she’s gone,’ he said in the same voice he’d once used to help her with her homework, ‘who’s left to protect you?’

His words seemed to hang in the air between them.

What was he saying? That Nathaniel would come after her as soon as Lucinda was gone? And since when did Christopher even care about that? It wasn’t like she hadn’t been hurt already.

The scar on her arm gave a warning throb.

‘I don’t get it,’ she said. ‘You’re warning me about Nathaniel. Telling me you want Lucinda to win. Whose side are you on?’