Chapter 15
Sleeping Dogs
Eighties rock music greeted Rae as she walked into the dance inside the Oratory. The decorations in the room made her feel like she had stepped back centuries in time, but didn’t match the retro music at all. The hall, decorated in the Tudor style, included a makeshift stage similar to the one King Henry VIII had used for plays when he had held court there. A band played from the stage, wearing Tudor clothing and masks.
A slow wave of hot air drifted from the bodies on the dance floor. Molly raised an arm from amongst the throng of people. With Reece’s arm close around her waist, the wide grin on Molly’s face made sense, and it appeared that they were having a great time. Rae quickly scanned the room. Maria and Haley by the punch table. Nicholas and a Roe Hampton girl walking to the dance floor where Molly and Reece are, Desiree heading to the ladies’ room and Kraigan, now in a suit, talking to some girls from Roe Hampton. No Carter or trouble brewing. All’s good. She relaxed.
Devon and Julian stood on either side of her, both grinning like little kids.
“Too many ladies for you to choose from, aren’t there?” Rae elbowed Julian. “I’m going to see Molls. Do you guys care to dance?”
Julian pointed to his ear and shook his head.
“Not with him.” Devon nodded towards Julian. “He’s got two left feet and no sense of rhythm. My poor toes couldn’t take the beating.” He had no problem hearing Rae with his tatù.
She rolled her eyes at his bad joke. “Come meet Molly’s flame.”
“I gotta meet the guy who can handle her.” Julian led the way.
Devon placed a hand on the small of her back, leading her to the center of the hall. The warmth of his fingers made her skin tingle and she barely resisted the urge to lean back against him. No way could anyone else create this feeling inside me. I could handle this temptation forever.
A slow song started to play when they reached Molly and Reece. After a quick introduction, Rae sensed that Devon liked Reece immediately and vice versa.
“Since we’re here, do you want to dance?” Devon smiled, showing off his dimple. He held his arms out to Rae.
“Only because Julian’s about to ask.” She grinned at Julian’s surprised look. He obviously hadn’t been planning on it, but it worked as a good excuse for anyone with ears listening in, and she knew Julian would play along. She stepped forward to be as close to Devon as she could without rousing suspicion. She slung her arms around his neck and lightly brushed the hair at the nape of his neck with her fingers.
They moved together as the band played. An inner tingling inside of Rae began to grow stronger. It had nothing to do with her tatù, and everything to do with being close to Devon.
She felt his arms tighten around her waist. She bit her lip, afraid to look up and yet, unable to stop herself. Searching his face, she caught the same feelings of desire in his eyes as he stared back intently.
“This is crazy. We shouldn’t be here—like this,” he whispered, only loud enough for Rae to hear.
“I can’t think of anywhere else I’d want to be.” She thought back to Molly and Reece outside of Aumbry House. Why shouldn’t we be allowed to have that?
Trying to clear her head, she leaned against Devon’s chest. She needed to take her eyes off his soft lips before the urge to cover them with her own overwhelmed her. His chest and throat offered no peace. She inhaled deeply through her nose, smelling aftershave mixed with his personal, lethal scent. She breathed in again, wanting to capture the aroma for memory. Her fingers, with a mind of their own, lightly scratched down his muscular back.
Just when Rae didn’t think she could hold back any longer, the song ended. Part of her reluctant, part of her needing space, she stepped back. Without thinking, she pressed her lips to her fingers and lightly blew the kiss in Devon’s direction.
He twisted his neck and pulled at his collar, trying to loosen his tie. “It’s a bit warm in here. I think I’m going to step outside for a minute.” He smiled at Molly and Reece. Molly’s eyes furiously shifted back and forth between the two of them. Devon made good his escape. “I’ll catch up with you gals, later.”
“I just need to nip to the bathroom.” Rae almost ran, eager to escape the hot dance floor. She passed Kraigan leaning against a wall, surrounded by a large group of Roe Hampton girls. They crowded around him as if he was a movie star. He crossed his arms— a sly grin appeared as he watched her. He winked at her.
No problem with girls I see. She smiled at him, hoping he enjoyed himself. Rae thought back to Devon and quickened her pace to the bathroom, hoping no one would see how dancing with him had affected her.
Squinting against the bathroom’s lights, so bright after the romantic dimness in the Oratory, Rae exhaled the breath she held. The concrete walls muffled the music but her ears still rang slightly. She made a beeline for the porcelain sink to wet her hands and pat her cheeks, careful not to ruin her eye makeup. The mirror reflected that she looked as flushed as she felt, and the bruised spot, where she had bit her lip so hard, proved impossible to miss.
A soft moan from a nearby stall brought her attention back outside herself, into the environment. She chastised herself for not realizing that she wasn’t alone. She knew better. The mirror didn’t show anyone behind her. Turning around, she checked under the bathroom stalls until she came to the last one. A lovely pair of black dress shoes met her gaze.
“Desiree?” she whispered. “Are you alright?”
“Rae?” came the weak reply.
“Yeah, it’s me. Is everything okay?”
Tears were the only reply.
“Are you hurt?” She gently pushed on the door. It was unlocked, so she opened it gently, not sure if Desiree would slam it back shut. She didn’t want to impose.
Desiree sat on the closed toilet seat. Her elbows rested on her knees, her head dropped into her hands. Rae reached out to lightly touch her shoulder, immediately shrinking back in shock. She knew something was wrong, even if she didn’t know what exactly.
“I think something’s wrong.” Desiree stared up with tear-stained eyes. Still beautiful even with black mascara running down her cheeks, she appeared oblivious to her looks.
“What do you mean?” Rae whispered. A memory niggled in the back of Rae’s mind, telling her she knew what the problem was, that she had seen it before. It’s impossible— Desiree’s next words confirmed it.
“I think it’s gone—my tatù ability. I can’t feel it. I felt strange a moment ago and now I can’t get anything inside--like someone’s pulled the plug.” Tears formed in her eyes again.
“How long?” Rae swallowed, scared for her friend. First Devon, and now Desiree! What if this happens to me?
“I don’t know, fifteen, maybe twenty minutes.” Desiree brushed the hair from her face. “It feels like…like something’s been stolen from me—” She pressed her trembling lips together.
Rae squeezed her friend’s shoulder. “Maybe it’s just quiet. Have you been using it a lot lately?” She knew her questions were meaningless. She used her tatù nonstop some days, even weeks, and the hum never slowed or quieted. Maybe mine’s different. Didn’t Devon say he’d been over-using his when he’d had the same kind of problem?
Desiree wiped her tears with toilet paper. “No more than since school started. What should I do?”
Get help. “Wait here. I’ll go get the headmaster. Carter’s pretty cool about stuff like this. He actually helped me last year when I didn’t know…when I didn’t understand my tatù. I’ll go find him.” She didn’t bother to mention that he had acted like a prison warden when she had first gotten her tatù. Or how the old headmaster, Lanford, had been the one to really help her out until—She forced the thoughts out of her mind. This was about Desiree right now. She stepped out of the stall. “I’ll be right back.” She turned and ran towards the dimly lit Oratory, her heels tapping on the marble tile.
Using Devon’s tatù, which allowed her to see better in the dark, she found Carter chatting with one of the female professors from Roe Hampton. She debated between using a speed tatù or interrupting Carter with a message in his head. She paused, knowing they weren’t allowed to use their ability where it might arouse suspicion from normal people.
“Rae,” Desiree’s voice came from behind, followed by a warm hand on her shoulder. “I’m okay. It’s back. I can feel it. It’s back.”
Rae swung around. Desiree looked perfect. Her mascara had been wiped away and her eyes were full of fire again. “You sure?” She didn’t need to hear the answer since she immediately felt the hum from Desiree’s warm fingertips. Her tatù was definitely back.
“Yeah.” Desiree dropped her arm. “Please don’t tell anyone. I don’t want to get sent away.”
“You won’t get kicked out!” Filled with sympathy for her friend, Rae still worried. Nobody had their abilities disappear last year. Something isn’t right. She just couldn’t pinpoint what. “I really think you should tell Carter.” I’m getting kind of tired of being asked to keep all these secrets. It’s not normal. Then again, she couldn’t claim to be normal herself. Who was she to judge?
“I will. I will. Just not tonight. Let’s have fun and I’ll talk to him after class on Monday. If it happens again, I promise I’ll go see him sooner.”
Rae sighed, but nodded. It’s not my place to tell her what to do. “It’s up to you.” They walked over to their group of friends, now hanging out by the punch bowl and snack tables. Rae searched for Devon but didn’t see him. She half listened to the conversations going on around her, checking her watch every few minutes. Finally, she couldn’t take it any longer. “Nicholas, have you seen Devon?” She swept the room one more time. “Or Julian?”
“Yeah, I forgot. Devon came in about ten minutes ago. I think he was trying to find someone, but he didn’t say who. He got called into work. Julian, too. Something for the Privy Council.”
“Oh.” Disappointment filled her. In helping Desiree, she had missed him.
“Ms. Kerrigan?” Dean Wardell’s voice intruded on her thoughts.
She straightened, self-consciously tugging on her shawl. “Yes, sir?”
“I’d like to have a word with you in my office tomorrow morning. Please come by around nine thirty.” He turned and walked away, telling Rae nothing more.
What the –? Rae played with a braid in her hair, trying to remember if she had done something wrong. Maybe it had something to do with Devon and his being called to the Privy Council. Now anxious, she wanted to know if he was safe and wished the dean would speak to her now. Waiting was torture.
The evening slowly drew to a close. Rae left early, feigning a headache, and headed back to her dorm before most of the other girls. She immediately checked her blackberry, noticing a short message from Devon.
Hey Rae,
Got called out on an emergency + tried 2 find U. I’ll call U when I’m back. Not sure when. D
Rae stared at her phone, long after the screen had gone black. She knew they couldn’t afford any hint of their relationship getting out, but it still hurt not seeing anything emotional in the message. At least he left me a message. He didn’t have to do that. Hopefully the dean would explain things tomorrow. He knew Devon mentored her, and he had always been nice. He had helped calm her nerves.
She changed and crawled into bed. It took forever for her to finally fall asleep.
Long after the sun had risen, Rae headed up the round staircase from the Main Building towards Dean Wardell’s office. She shivered as she recalled her less than cordial visit there the previous year. The building still held the memories she would rather forget. First time coming here since Lanford—
When Rae arrived at the top of the stairs, Dean Wardell stepped out of his office. He glanced at his watch and then at Rae. “Ms. Kerrigan, perfect timing. Please come in.”
“Thank you, sir.” Rae followed the dean and shot a quick glance at the other end of the hall, at the door leading to the other round tower room. The image of Lanford lying unmoving on the ground flashed in her mind. Rae forcefully turned her attention to the room the dean had ushered her into, trying to resist the nausea trying to overcome her.
The office followed the round shape of the tower. However, it had been refurbished and completely redone inside. It still had the dark reddish-grey brick and mortar but everything else inside the office was decorated in light colors. The chairs, carpet, and even the furniture’s wood seemed ten shades lighter.
Rae wondered if changing the furniture could alter the entire mood of the room. She momentarily considered it might have something to do with who now occupied it. “You wanted to see me, sir?” She stood awkwardly in front of his desk, not sure if she should sit or wait to be offered a chair.
“Yes.” Dean Wardell fidgeted with some paperclips on his desk then straightened a stack of already neat papers, before hiding his hands under the desk.
Feeling edgy herself, Rae tried to prepare herself. While not totally sure what this was all about, she had a feeling she wouldn’t like what he had to say. Please don’t let this be about Devon…please let him be alright.
The dean cleared his throat. “I like you, Miss Kerrigan. You’re good for this school--for the faculty and our students. You’ve a very bright future and a chance to make a difference in this world of chaos.” He glanced towards the parking lot window and frowned.
“Thank you, sir.” Okay...This obviously didn’t have anything to do with where Devon had gone. But—
“But, I want you to stay away from my son.”
Rae’s mouth fell open, momentarily stunned. It was her worst fear, fully realized, and she couldn’t respond. She didn’t even know where to begin.
“Listen closely.” His eyes narrowed at her. “You’re a good kid, but you’re not what my son needs—plus, and you need to get this through your pretty little head, tatùs don’t date. They. Can’t. Marry.” Rae felt his emphasis of each word drill through her being. “Don’t fill your head with silly notions that it might work for you because of who your father was.” He pounded the desk with his fist and leaned forward, making Rae edge back to maintain distance between then. “Devon deserves more than you can give him. He doesn’t need someone who’s broken and carrying a lifetime of baggage. He needs to meet a normal girl and have my grandchildren!” The anger, so evident in every fiber of his being, became more than she could stand. She had feared this exact scenario, or some form of it, for so long, now that it was actually happening, her brain couldn’t process it.
She tried to focus on the painting behind Devon’s father, the room now spinning. Breathe, girl, breathe. “Sir.” Rae ran her tongue over her dry lips. “I-I’m not sure wh-what you’re trying to imply. Devon and I are friends–”
“Please!” He snorted, his eyes shooting towards the window again. “I see the way he looks at you and the way you can’t take your eyes off him. You two are playing with fire, and we know what happened to your parents when they took that route.” The fear receded just a bit, enough for a lick of anger to enter the mix. This particular argument was a sore point with her. Yeah, they made me. If he resented her parents’ union, he must also resent her very existence, which to Rae, was just plain rude. The dean must have sensed that she had worked up the gumption to strike back. He held his hand up in the air to stop her from replying. “You’re both young. Go find someone, anyone, but my son.”
“Sir–”
“Stay away from my son, Miss Kerrigan,” he hissed. “This is not a request! I’ll remove him from Guilder if I have to.” He stood, his chair creaking in protest against the abrupt movement. “I’ll not mention this again. Good day.” He hit the remote and the door behind them swung open.
Too stunned to say anything, Rae surrendered and fled the office. I’m never going back to that stupid, round room! Nothing good ever came from her visits there. Rae raced back across the campus, straight up the stairs of Aumbry house and directly into her room. She had an almost instinctual need to hide, like a wounded animal going to ground.