‘Josephine has been raising suspicions for a while now about your motivations, Violet, calling into question Lincoln’s and my loyalties at the same time. No small allegations to make. But highlighting your relationship and bond with Phoenix has enabled her to inspire some support within the Assembly and more broadly throughout the Academy.
‘We knew Josephine was hoping Lilith would try and come after Evelyn, that it was why she’d kept Evelyn so close and well guarded even though she’d come in willingly. You saw what happened to the guards and another dozen Grigori have been badly wounded, too.’
Griffin paused then answered the question I’d just opened my mouth to ask. ‘None of our people were hurt. A few students are rather worse for wear, but it was Hakon who bore the brunt of the explosion.’ Griffin ran a hand through his hair and looked at us with dismay. ‘Josephine hadn’t counted on Lilith’s willingness to literally blow everything up.’
I glanced at Father Peters and we exchanged a small smile.
‘Now that Evelyn has been taken – and as a hostage, no less – my fears have become reality.’ Griffin sighed. ‘Josephine has been looking for an excuse to control you, Violet. Partly, I think she actually believes what she said to you in the testing – she fears you wouldn’t put the greater good above someone you cared for. But more than anything, she knows you’re a threat to her position. Ironically, her motivations are good – if delusional. She believes in Grigori and the role we play, and she believes she is the only one who will put that loyalty above everything else.’
‘So where does that leave us?’ Lincoln asked.
‘Josephine has accused Violet of orchestrating the exile break-in for the purposes of her mother’s escape. She claims Violet has been working with Phoenix all this time – initially because of love, now out of her loyalty to their bond. In return, Phoenix enabled the resurrection of Evelyn.’
‘But that’s bullshit!’ I said.
Griffin barely paused. ‘Of course it is. We all know that, but Josephine’s presented it to the Academy and claimed that the fact that everyone who came into contact with Lilith is now dead or gravely injured apart from us is evidence enough. Plus, of course, there is the additional implied guilt because you and Lincoln ran.’
Oh my God.
‘Griffin, are you in trouble?’ I asked.
He smiled, sadly. ‘Not yet. It will come, but for now I’m too big a fish to fry and Josephine and I have always had an understanding of sorts. She’ll resist bringing me down if she can. Strangely enough, she considers me a friend.’
I wondered if Griffin considered her a friend.
‘So why did we have to run, then?’ I asked, trying to put it all together. ‘Wouldn’t it have been better to stay and explain?’
Griffin accepted the cup of coffee Peters passed him with a nod. I all but yanked mine out of his hand. It was drip-brewed, but I sucked down the scalding liquid anyway and wondered if it would be rude to ask for an immediate refill.
‘Trust me, the alternative was not preferable. Lilith and Phoenix have kidnapped over sixty children that we know of, not to mention Evelyn – the time for dealing with the politics of the Academy is over. Our only hope of stopping this runaway train is trapping Lilith. And our only hope of doing that is going to be by using the right bait.’ Griffin took a gulp of his coffee.
‘Violet,’ Lincoln concluded.
Joy.
‘How do you know that Josephine has been doing all of this?’ I asked Griffin.
‘Evelyn and I discussed the possibilities before coming to New York. We both know Josephine well enough to have made some assumptions and expected her to use Evelyn in an attempt to lure Lilith. The rest came in from Rainer. She and Wil have been feeding me information whenever they could. They’re tired of Josephine’s games.’
Evelyn had known exactly how things would play out – that Lilith would take her – and yet, she’d stayed there patiently and waited. I wouldn’t be surprised if the only reason she’d put up a fight at all was to protect Dad. I hoped I’d get my chance to say thank you and … tell her some of the things I should have told her already.
‘Why do I get the feeling you have a plan, Griff?’ Lincoln asked, leaning forwards now.
Griffin nodded. ‘Because you know me.’ He turned to me. ‘You trusted me to come to New York. You told me if the roles were reversed you knew I’d be there for you. Well,’ he held his hands out, ‘this is me, here for you. You two need to leave the city. Get rid of your mobile phones and anything else electronic. I have everything you need here.’ He heaved a bag onto the table. ‘Zoe and Spence helped me pull as much together as I could. Passports are still good, but no credit cards. There’s plenty of cash in the side compartment. I’ve got clothes but not much else, you’ll have to buy what you need along the way.’