While everyone else went into research mode that afternoon, I slipped across the glamoured walkways, marvelling yet again as I walked between buildings on an invisible bridge over to the Academy classrooms in building D. I found Simon eating his lunch in the cafeteria.
It was strange to look at him. Just two years older than when I’d last seen him, looking malnourished and far younger than his age, he had changed from a boy to a young man. His blonde hair was styled into a messy heap and his glasses made him look more Clark Kent than Wimpy Kid. He glanced up from the book he was reading and when he saw me his fast-changing expressions from wide eyes, to mouth agape, to huge smile, made me laugh.
I sat down beside him. ‘Hey there, stranger,’ I said.
‘You’re really here,’ he said, keeping his eyes on me as if worried I might disappear if he blinked.
‘Passing through,’ I explained. ‘I wanted to see how you were doing.’
He put his book down. ‘Great. I’m great. I mean, it’s … you know, life is different and I miss my family, but … I like it here. I embrace in a year – well, actually closer to two years, but still …’ he said, stumbling over his words.
‘I heard that. It sounds like you’re pretty excited about it all.’
He nodded proudly. ‘And once I embrace I’m going to come and work for you,’ he said suddenly.
I found myself watching him with an odd sense of pride. Simon had been little more than a child, caged and doomed to a terrible fate at Lilith’s hands. I had been there to save them, but even after they were freed, Simon had come back for me, his determination and calmness igniting my will to survive, even though I knew I’d lost everything. To see him now …
See. It wasn’t all for nothing.
Simon was the perfect reminder.
I put my hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye. ‘I heard you might be thinking something like that, and that’s part of the reason I’m here.’
Simon smiled.
‘Listen to me, Simon. You have a great set-up here. You’re going to have more training ahead of you once you embrace and before long you’ll have a partner to think of too. Where I am … it’s not the right place for you.’
His smile slid away and I wanted to take it all back but I knew I couldn’t. He needed to hear this.
‘But you’re the one,’ he whispered.
‘The one?’ I asked softly.
His big blue eyes looked suddenly as young as they had the night he and the other children had lifted me through the fire. ‘The one who changes everything.’
I bit my lip.
And what exactly am I supposed to say to that?
‘Okay, well, how about we make a deal? You stay here after you embrace and complete all of your training with your partner then, and only then, if you still want to come and fight at my side, we’ll talk about it again.’
His eyes narrowed and he pressed his lips together while he watched me. ‘You promise?’
‘I promise.’ Now I just had to hope that by that time he would have lost any interest in getting mixed up in my crazy world.
‘So,’ I said standing up. ‘Are you going to show me around and introduce me to your friends?’
Simon beamed, scrambling to his feet.
Hell, even I know I’m quality show and tell.
Lincoln insisted that Gray and I wear earpieces so he wouldn’t miss anything.
Let’s hear it for bad ideas.
I rolled my eyes, not seeing why the tech was necessary before reaching the clear-as-day conclusion that it was because he simply didn’t trust us.
Wow. The hits just keep on coming.
The last of the daylight had just disappeared behind Manhattan’s skyscrapers and Lincoln stood with Gray and me a few blocks down from the building we were targeting on 46th Street. Mia and two conductors lurked behind him as he shoved the earpiece and mic in my direction.
‘Put them on.’
I glared at him as I snatched them, walking down the road a little to fit them – and put some distance between us. He was really starting to test my patience. And worst of all, I was mad with myself for being so completely affected by his nearness while he was so clearly immune to mine. Especially when I needed to be on my game.
I took a minute to get myself under control, pushing my emotions back. The city was abuzz in the way only Manhattan can be. Taxis dominated the traffic and lights flickered on in office buildings, where people would continue working long into the evening. Shadows loomed, moving towards me like creeping memories, just waiting for me to step into them, to ensnare me.
I jolted myself away from my thoughts and walked back to the group.
‘There’s a perimeter set up in the block surrounding the building and we have people on the neighbouring rooftops. Get in, do whatever it is you think you can do and get out. If I tell you to abort, you get out of there immediately, no questions asked. Do you understand?’ Lincoln ordered.
‘Of course,’ I said. Gray cleared his throat, and though he nodded I could see his nostrils flaring. Gray did not take orders well.
‘You have thirty minutes, starting now.’
‘We have an hour,’ I corrected.