Public Enemies (35 page)

 

AN OFFER SHE CAN'T REFUSE

I went home at six the next morning, sneaking out before Kian woke up. Though my dad had said he wouldn't wait up and I'd texted him that I was okay, it seemed wrong to roll in on day two after he left for work. By the time his alarm went off, I had breakfast on the table. He came out of his room with his hair standing in wispy tufts.

Dad adjusted his glasses as he sat down. “Did you have a good birthday?”

“Yeah, they had a surprise party for me. My friends from the SSP flew in and we all hung out the next day.”

He nodded. “Still on track with your homework?”

“Yep.” Without time spent sitting in class, I now had plenty of time for assignments. That approach wouldn't work for everyone but I'd always learned more from reading anyway. I used to daydream more than listen during lectures.

Once he went to work, I cleaned up the kitchen and got ready to meet everyone else. Ryu, Seth, Vi, and Kian were waiting outside his building when I ran up. Davina and Jen had school again since Blackbriar had a different holiday schedule.

“Are you guys ready for more excitement?” I asked, breathless.

“Sure. I was hoping…” Then Vi listed four places she wanted to go before they took off later tonight.

“Sounds doable,” Kian said.

Ryu didn't seem enamored with the first stop, an art museum. He spent most of his time on benches while Vi and Seth wandered around. I'd been in here before, but not for a long time, probably on a middle-school trip. Kian held my hand as we wandered around, admiring famous paintings. I stopped in front of one that depicted the Oracle, thinking about the creature forever caught in Wedderburn's snare.

“It's not a good likeness,” Kian said softly.

I shook my head. “And it's
so
weird to say that.”

“Definitely,” Ryu agreed.

Oh shit.

Slowly I shifted so I could see him; he'd approached quietly and I had no idea what to say. Kian's fingers tightened on mine but he didn't give me any sign how I should respond. There was no way I could fill him in, but I didn't want to lie either.

“Just kidding,” I tried.

“Don't,” Ryu said. “I can tell from the matching marks that there's something weird going on between the two of you. I'm not trying to learn your secrets or anything, but just know that I'm worried about you. I have the feeling you're into some bad shit.”

“Sorry. I really can't talk to you about it.”

“Or you'll have to kill me?” He attempted a joke, but I couldn't muster a laugh.

No, something else will.

To my surprise, he turned to Kian. “Take care of her, okay?”

“It's my prime directive,” Kian answered, flying nerd colors.

Ryu smiled a bit. “That makes me feel a little better.”

The rest of the day, I was conscious of his speculative observation. It seemed like he thought Kian had pulled me into some dangerous stuff, which wasn't entirely wrong. But Ryu had it wrong if he thought Kian wouldn't protect me; I was still fighting to reverse the last deal he made to do exactly that.

“This was so fun,” Vi said later, over burgers.

We just had time to swing by Kian's place and take them to the airport. We'd all fit if we squished into the Mustang. Thankfully Seth and Vi didn't notice how quiet Ryu had gotten, and they talked enough to cover the awkwardness. I made sure to keep my wrists covered. I'd gotten careless lately, no wonder Ryu noticed.

As we left the diner, I spotted Buzzkill across the street. Ignoring traffic, he cut across so like five cars honked at him. Thankfully he looked like a bodyguard; I didn't want to traumatize my friends. I waited for him at the curb.

“Boss wants to see you.” His gaze went to the gold armlet.

“I have people visiting. This isn't a good time.”

“You think he gives a shit about that?”

Ryu and Kian stepped up on either side of me, making Buzzkill grin. I hurriedly shook my head. “No, it's fine. I have to take care of something. I know it's rude, but I'll say bye here. Kian, do you mind driving them to the airport?”

“Not at all.” His tone was quiet and unconcerned, probably so the other three didn't clue in as to how bad this was.

Wedderburn must've decided I can't be allowed to keep Aegis. And I'm not letting him take it. He's the asshole who had my mother killed.

So I hugged Vi, Seth, and finally, Ryu, who held on a little longer than the rest. “Would you tell me if you were in serious trouble?”

No,
I thought.

“Absolutely. He's just a friend of my father's. My dad must be upset about how much time I've spent slacking off. My birthday was two days ago.”

Ryu stared at me hard but eventually he seemed to accept it. Or maybe he just pretended to—apparently I wasn't that good at reading people. I'd never guessed he saw me as anything but a summer fling. I pushed back gently, prompting him to let go. Kian was watching in silence, but I saw that it bothered him to see me in someone else's arms, probably not least because we didn't have that much longer.

And I still haven't found that loophole.

“Thanks so much for coming, guys. I'll message later.”

I got more hugs and they waved for like half a block before Kian turned the corner toward the station, so they all vanished from sight. Exhaling slowly, I turned to Buzzkill. He looked completely unconcerned by how much he'd interrupted my life.

“Did you tell him?” I asked.

“You think I'd be standing here if he knew I let you keep you-know-who's heart? Just so you know, I pled ignorance. It was all I could do for you.”

“Why?”

“Because it's so funny to see these assholes running scared. First time in centuries, they got something to fear. And it's some stupid kid. You can't
buy
entertainment like that.”

“Thanks, I think. Should I be ready for a fight?”

“Guess that depends on you. If you go in hostile, pretty much everything in his tower will try to kill you. And while you've got that shiny on your wrist, you're not
that
good at wielding it. Of course you've got spirit power fully charged up, so maybe you feel like taking a chance.”

“I'm not stupid. I know my odds of beating him on his home ground are slim to none.”

“Then you should go prepared to surrender your weapon and accept his thanks for dispatching his nemesis.”

“Yeah, I don't want to do that, either.”

“Give me an answer, kid. Are you coming with me peacefully or do we throw down? Mind you, I don't have Dwyer's power, so it'll happen right here in front of all these nice, easily traumatized pedestrians. And I'm good with that. Are you?”

Dammit.

“Fine, let's go.” I'd think about how to handle Wedderburn on the way.

“Your conscience is weighing you down,” Buzzkill said.

“It's also what makes me human.”

“Yeah, I don't want none of that action. You made
me,
remember?”

“Not personally,” I muttered.

“You think I don't know you're stalling? Let's go.”

But before I could follow him, a man on a motorcycle swooped past and swept me onto the back of the bike. I couldn't see who it was under the helmet, but anyone who wanted to keep me away from Wedderburn had to be an ally, right? I barely managed to hang on as he accelerated with Buzzkill shouting something incomprehensible. We raced away from the diner with me knowing this wouldn't solve the problem, only postpone the reckoning.

Maybe that's the best I can hope for.

“Put your hand here.” I recognized Raoul's voice and I relaxed a little.

He flattened my palm over the medallion that kept him hidden. If we were both touching it, would it work the same or would the effectiveness be halved? As we roared through Boston, the science geek in me tried to figure that out. The bike didn't stop for miles and miles. While Buzzkill had a preternatural predatory sense, he couldn't overcome this artifact or Wedderburn would've already found Raoul. That made me feel a little better, but I couldn't spend the rest of my life hanging on to Raoul's chest. This was a stopgap measure at best.

When the bike stopped, Raoul was careful to keep us in contact. A little dizzy from the motorcycle, I stumbled forward but he stayed with me. Taking stock, I saw we'd come to an old monastery outside the city. Given the fact that we'd met for the first time in a church, this tracked with what I knew of his organization.

“Why are we here?” I asked.

“You haven't wanted to hear what I had to say,” he said quietly. “And I understand why. You feel betrayed, as if I've only helped you because I was under orders.”

There was no point in denying it. “Pretty much.”

“Are things ever so simple,
mija
? The human heart is complex, as you well know.”

I sighed. “Fine, let's hear your spiel.”

“Today I've brought you to meet my master.”

Wow, unexpected.

He went on, “The time is drawing near when you must choose.”

“Choose what?”

“Your path.”

“You make it sound like once I make a decision, there's no way to change course.”

Raoul didn't reply, and his silence troubled me. It wasn't easy moving in tandem with my hand on his chest, but the alternative ended with Buzzkill dragging me to Wedderburn by my hair. For the moment, I was safe, though I couldn't go back to my apartment … or Kian's. That was the first place they'd look.

Shit. My dad.

Since I'd killed Dwyer, their private game was basically over. I figured Wedderburn still wanted the technology, but I couldn't be sure how safe my dad was. If there was any chance of me completing the work alone, he might use my father as a bargaining chip to get me to surrender, both my free will and Aegis. At least he couldn't strike at Kian.

Why do you hesitate?
Cameron whispered.
You're strong now. Take the fight to them.

It would get me killed to overestimate my own abilities. While I'd bested Dwyer when I had the element of surprise on my side, other immortals wouldn't be dumb enough to give me a fair fight. No, they'd send their muscle after me until I exhausted my energies on minions, leaving me nothing for a final confrontation. Wedderburn especially was infamous for never leaving his stronghold.

Whoever Raoul's boss was, he wasn't immortal, at least. He had been quite clear about the Black Watch being the only human organization that knew about the game. Which made their resources more limited than mine, frankly. But I went with Raoul quietly, one hand on the medallion, as we rounded the building. It was an old structure, covered in ivy and moss. I could tell it had been beautifully kept at one time, but now time had worked its wiles.

“This is your headquarters?” I whispered.

Raoul shook his head. “They blindfolded me when I left, so I cannot betray them. This is a meeting point, just as the church was for us.”

“Cagey. So you know essentially nothing about the Black Watch, other than the fact that they abused you for eighteen years.”

“It is no different from other trials our initiates have undergone to cement their bonds to the order and create strong warriors out of malleable clay.” An old man stepped out from behind the dead and spindly branches of a tree that grew in the once lovely garden.

I'd expected someone more impressive, a long beard or wispy mustache, a tonsure, even some orange robes, but this gentleman was depressingly ordinary. He had on a Russian hat with fur earflaps, a plaid overcoat, and tall winter boots. His face was lined but not in a way that made me think he had special power or wisdom. If I passed him on the street, I wouldn't give him a second look.

And maybe that's his superpower?

“Children aren't clay,” I said.

“You disapprove of our methods.” He came toward us with a walking stick that reminded me a little of the Harbinger's, only this one had a simple brass knob on top, not a dog's head.

“It seems like you're trying to play a long game, only you don't have the right pieces.”

“Are you sure of that? I trust Raoul has told you he knows less than nothing.”

“Point taken.”

“Miss Kramer, I have been waiting a very long time to meet you. I am Tiberius Smith, the one whom you may blame for all of Raoul's misfortunes. But whatever you may think of our training regime, he has served willingly since he graduated as an initiate. If you could see our archives, you would be horrified at the senseless suffering and carnage these immortals have wrought. Together, they have killed more of us than all our wars combined.”

That gave me pause. “Seriously? But there are so many people. It doesn't seem like the human race is in danger of dying out.”

“It is a complicated problem,” he admitted. “But you see, as the population grows, and as our dreams flutter to life, the Internet feeds them. In ages past, there was a limit to how quickly stories could spread, how fast people could believe in them.”

“So basically the World Wide Web is acting on the immortals like a virus.” God, could anything be scarier? Buzzkill was a prime example of this, modern evil sworn to the service of an old and merciless god.

“A most apt analogy. I would love to tell you more of the role you'll play in years to come, but I cannot take you into confidence unless you become our champion.”

“That sounds familiar,” I muttered. “That's exactly what they said before I made the first deal. I hope you understand that I'm wary of people who won't give me information up front.”

His warmth chilled when I didn't immediately leap at the chance to sign. “This is for our protection. Secrecy is our mandate, Miss Kramer. It's how we have survived through ages of being hunted. The immortals suspect—and correctly—that they have mortal enemies. Right now, there is a shadow on your loyalty. You think of small matters like your sweetheart and your father when the stakes are so much higher than you know.”