Spence shook his head, looking around too. ‘No. It’s against the rules. And this is not a place where it is good to break the rules.’
‘I think I see him,’ Zoe said. ‘Or at least, someone his size who’s almost at the bottom of the stairs and looking in our direction. He can’t see you yet through the mask and hair. But he could be here with anyone and if he spots you, we’re toast.’
We all knew that was only a matter of time.
I pushed Zoe towards the stairs. ‘Go, go, go!’
As we ran, I looked back over my shoulder and saw him on the opposite side of the dance floor. Although he was wearing a silver mask and his hair was dark and hanging to his shoulders, I’d know him anywhere and he was looking right at me, shaking his head. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or just disappointed with me. After all his praise earlier on… I’d gone and blown it. I closed my eyes briefly with regret.
‘Eden!’ Spence called out.
I leaped down the stairs and we ran past the doorwoman, throwing back our masks to her on the way.
Spence and Zoe were laughing, on a high from both the near-escape and the drinks, but all I could see was Lincoln’s eyes. We ran up the street at full speed, taking as many turns as possible, losing ourselves until, by luck, we stumbled onto a main road.
Spence slowed to a walk. ‘Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good: we’ve lost anyone who might have followed us. The bad: we just ran off all the alcohol.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘So sorry,’ I said, but my mind was still a livewire trying to work out what I was going to do. Should I race back to the Academy, jump into bed and feign ignorance? Should I confront Lincoln and ask what he was doing? Should I apologise? Get mad? Cry now or later?
Spence pointed to an all-night cafe. ‘Don’t beat yourself up. You can buy me cake to make–’
‘Stop!’ I said, grabbing his arm, trying to sift through the senses I was feeling.
Zoe and Spence froze.
All of my attention focused in on the café. ‘Exile,’ I said. Spence and Zoe had to concentrate for a little while to pick it up, too, but they both nodded.
I was getting good at using the senses. They were so overwhelming here I’d had to work at them. Suddenly I had a new appreciation for Rainer’s relentless tuition.
‘I recognise this… Roses and… spearmint …’ My forehead crinkled. I’d definitely sensed the combination before, but I couldn’t place it.
We moved back into the shadowed pavement opposite the cafe.
‘Any ideas?’ Spence asked. He already had his dagger out. And he was grinning. He’d formulated his plan quickly and it involved immediate confrontation.
‘Let’s wait here. He has to come out eventually and then we’ll see what we’re dealing with. If he’s one of Phoenix’s crew we may be able to follow him if we keep our guards up and stay back.’
Zoe looked between the cafe and us. ‘You know we’re gonna get nailed for this?’
‘Yep,’ I said. But we were already busted and at least this way we could actually be of use.
‘I’m in,’ Spence said.
Zoe nodded. ‘Me, too. Just making sure we’re all on the same page, people,’ she said, imitating Griffin.
Half an hour later the excitement had worn off and we were freezing cold, and still waiting for our exile to show himself.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the screen.
‘Lincoln again?’ Spence asked, blowing into his hands.
I nodded. All three of us had been ignoring his several calls.
Spence dropped his head in his hands. ‘We’re in so much shit. Hate to say it, Eden, but maybe you should answer.’
I looked at the phone, my finger hovering over the accept button. Spence had a point but something told me to wait. Before I could make up my mind, the cafe door opened and out walked our exile.
‘Holy hell,’ Zoe whispered.
Yep. Holy hell.
I put my phone back in my pocket and prepared to follow. We’d just hit the jackpot.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
‘In His angels he found wickedness.’
Job 4:18
We didn’t need to tail Olivier – Phoenix’s second-in-charge – for long before we saw him stalk into another building, this one a residential block. Something twisted in my gut.
We deliberated over whether to follow him in, but decided to stay outside for now.
Minutes later, Olivier came back out, a child wearing blueand-white pyjamas in his arms, head resting on his shoulder as if he was sleeping. But we all saw the blood trickling down the side of the boy’s face.
‘Look,’ Zoe said, pointing up to the third floor of the building where smoke was billowing from a window.
I panicked. People were still inside the building! I prayed that the boy’s mother or father – destined Grigori only had one or the other – was still alive.
‘I’ll go,’ Zoe said, not hesitating. ‘You two follow Olivier.’