Chapter 7
Secrets
What’s happened? Is Rae in danger?” Devon asked the questions Rae could not bring herself to voice. He stood close but did not touch her. The heat from his body caressed her in a way his hands could not.
However, even that warmth could not melt the icy fear gripping her. She glanced back and forth between Carter and Devon, watching their faces as a silent conversation only they could hear, apparent from the concentration in their eyes, passed between them. Devon gave Carter a curt nod and folded his arms across his chest.
“What’s going on?” Rae began tapping the back of her sneaker against the toe of her other one. It squeaked in protest each time the rubber connected.
“There’s been a complication over the weekend,” Carter said. “Do you recall I mentioned the parts of the brainwashing device being scattered to the four corners of Britain?” His gaze shifted from her to Devon as he played with a button on the cuff of his jacket.
“Yes,” she answered.
“One of the parts has been stolen. Seems those working against us knew our plans.”
“A leak, or is it an informant?” Devon’s voice erupted in anger, causing Rae to bash her toe harder than she intended.
“Ouch!” She slammed her foot back on the ground heel first. The rubber on her runner screeched in protest louder than before.
“Can you stop doing that?” Devon snapped and pointed to her feet.
She blinked, surprised.
His voice softened, but the words were rushed, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a jerk.”
“Follow me. I’ll fill you in as best I can.” Carter turned without waiting for them, and started for the other side of the Oratory. Silent, Rae and Devon followed.
Once in his office, they sat in the two chairs opposite the massive oak desk. Carter paced the length of the room, his hands clasped behind his back.
He stopped and grabbed the back of his large chair, the whites of his knuckles bright against the black leather. “I don’t know if there’s a mole, or a double agent inside the Privy Council.” He sighed. “It’s hard to trust anyone these days.”
Tell me about it. Rae gave her head a slight shake. What’s he talking about, anyway?
“All we know is, one of the parts has been stolen, and the PC wants you to get the remaining pieces.” Carter stared at Devon. “Guess they want to keep it under lock and key now. Someone is trying to undo all the work you did over the summer. We think Anna’s brother clued in and spoke with Simon Kerrigan’s group.”
“My father still has a group?” Stupid question. By the uncomfortable silence, Rae knew the answer. Wait a moment -- “Who’s Anna?”
Devon sucked in a sharp breath.
“She’s a girl Devon’s dating.” Carter waved a hand absently. “Her brother has become a cause for concern.”
Rae whirled around to face Devon. She licked her suddenly dry lips and tried to swallow, her entire mouth a giant cotton ball. The look on Devon’s face confirmed Carter’s words. Scratch Devon off the list of those I can trust. She shifted, needing to get away from him. She headed to the row of Oriel windows, wrenching at the antique wooden handle. She swore when it broke off in her hand. Hiding it behind her back, she glanced to see if the others had noticed. They hadn’t. The slightly open window allowed a light breeze to pass through. It caressed her face as she desperately sucked in as much fresh air as her lungs would hold.
Anger boiled through her veins. She had spent the whole summer pining for Devon, and he had been off with some tart? She bit the inside of her mouth, drawing blood. It distracted her from confronting Devon in front of Carter. They’d be screwed, even if nothing had happened between them yet. Not that anything will now. I can’t believe he did this! Double-faced, two-timing son of a…a…
A bouquet of fresh flowers on the table behind Carter’s desk caught her attention. Swallowing the rusty taste in her mouth, she tunneled her rage and imagined the pewter vase flying across the room and slamming into the wall by the door. The smash echoed like a shotgun inside the room.
“What the--?” Carter shouted, looked ready to attack and then turned to glare at her.
Rae jumped. She hadn’t really meant to use the levitation tatù to throw the flowers. Her face and neck began to burn.
Carter glanced from her to Devon and then actually gave her a sympathetic look. “Don’t worry. It must be very frustrating for you to have to deal with the repercussions of your father’s work. He had a madman’s brilliant mind.”
My dad? That’s who you’re worried about? She could only nod, unable to admit the truth.
Devon, on the other hand, peered in her direction with guilt written all over his face, before he turned his focus back to Carter. “Wh-What have you confirmed about her brother? I don’t understand why the Privy Council hasn’t informed me.”
“We found out this morning. Your contact has been trying to get a hold of you, but your cell phone is off--”
“It’s dead.”
Just like my soon to be ex-boyfriend. She blinked when Devon shot her a hurt look. Oops. She had actually sent the thought to him as well.
“My cell needs recharging from the past few days. It’s not like I had electrical access in the friggin’ bush. I showered back at HQ and came straight here.”
Rae watched the frustrated men, mainly Devon. He was supposed to be her boyfriend, but she didn’t really know him, did she? Not much of a boyfriend. How could he get with another girl after all they had gone through the previous year? She sighed and leaned her head back against the slightly opened window. The coolness of the glass did nothing to calm her inner turmoil.
“Devon,” Carter said. “As soon as I received word from the Council, I came looking for you. They’re worried about Rae’s safety. According to our source, Rae supposedly holds the key to controlling this brainwashing technique.”
Rae straightened. “Excuse me?”
“When we last met, I asked you if you remembered anything about the speech-video Lanford played for you, or anything from your childhood. We’re trying to figure out this HOC or h-oh-see file or covert operation, or whatever the hell it is. We need to find the connection Lanford talked about.”
“I don’t know anything about HOC! All I remember from the night of the dance is trying to save my own life! I’ve told you a million times what I remember. I’m sure some Privy Council member took notes – check those!” She didn’t mean to sound ticked, but they had been over this topic ad nauseum.
“We believe Anna’s brother is involved. He’s the one with the tatù. Very dangerous. Those involved with HOC are scheming to do something big. It isn’t just against those who are tatùed, but against the British population, possibly Europe, or even bigger .
Devon punched his knee. “I never saw him wh-when I was with Anna.” He flinched slightly, as if expecting Rae to throw something at him. Too busy staring at her ass?
“The brother was never around…” Devon trailed off lamely, letting the explanation hang in the air.
Carter mumbled something under his breath before continuing in an oddly normal tone. “—We believe he may have tortured his sister to get information.”
Devon blanched. “About me?” The horror on his face was evident, and it twisted the knife in Rae’s heart to see it. Devon lurched to his feet. “We need to get her out of that situation! She needs to be protected.”
Rae covered her ears and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to hear any more of this conversation, or Devon’s voice. She twitched when gentle hands squeezed her shoulders. A tremor of a tatù ran through her and then died down.
“Rae, dear,” Carter’s breath brushed warm and minty against her face. “I know you don’t want to hear these awful things.” She opened her eyes when he paused. “Th-The things your father created and set out to do.” His eyes showed gentle understanding, even though she knew he understood nothing. “Those involved in HOC might come after you, as Lanford did, and force you to finish what he started. As much as your tatù is wonderful, it’s also a danger. Not everyone in our world thinks as we do--they have their own agendas.”
Rae stole a look at Devon after Carter spoke the last line. Devon had the decency to drop his gaze to the floor. Screw him. Maybe he’s not who I thought he was. That thought alone almost shook her more than the revelation of Anna. She wanted to get as far away from Carter and Devon as she could, sooner rather than later. “I’m pretty sure I can take care of myself. It seems like it’s best to trust my instincts. I can protect myself better than anyone else can, tatù or no tatù.” She shifted so Carter’s hands dropped away from her shoulders. Thank goodness he didn’t try using his tatù on her now. With his ability to see into the past of the person he touched, he could be a danger to her relationship with Devon. Or rather, he might have been, when there had been one, which there no longer was. She’d gotten his tatù the previous year. At the time, she had thought that he was the enemy. She had never even tried to use his tatù. I’ll have to test it out. I’d try it on Devon, but it seems I’m already learning all his secrets. She shot him a dirty look then glanced back to Carter still angry. “I appreciate your concern. If I feel I’m in any danger, I’ll come to you…right away.” She blew her bangs away from her forehead. “Can I go now? It seems you and Devon have more to discuss, and it doesn’t involve me.”
Carter nodded and gave her a small smile. “This is all upsetting. I understand. We’ll talk more, later.” He moved around the room like an agile athlete. “Devon, you go as well. Get in touch with your contact personnel, and see if there is anything else. He wants you and Julian on a mission. They’re setting the ground work for your next assignment.”
“Yes, sir.” Devon stood and strode to the office door. He held it open for Rae.
She had a quick thought about mentioning Devon’s weird tatù dying outside, just before they came in. Screw it! If he’s worried, he can tell Carter himself. She barged past him, down the narrow hallway, anxious to leave the Oratory.
Last year she would have raced back to her dorm and avoided any confrontation. Well, I’m not that same scared little girl anymore. She turned and opened her mouth to hiss at him, but Devon put a finger to his lips and pointed to Carter’s door. He then pointed towards the exit.
The only sound was the squeak from Rae’s sneakers on the marble floor. Each step made her clench her jaw tighter. She squeezed her hands into fists, fighting the urge not to turn around and deck him. When they reached the Grand Hall, Rae stepped to the side, waiting for Devon to walk in front of her. He tried to put an arm around her shoulders, but she shook it off and stomped outside.
She clenched her hands tighter, her nails digging into the palms of her hands. In anger or to stop herself from using a tatù, she didn’t know. It took all her willpower not to blow her top before the door finally clicked shut.