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RAE COULDN’T SPEAK. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t believe this was happening all over again.
Lanford...Kraigan...Jennifer?
What had she been thinking, opening herself up to such vulnerability again?! It was starting to be like clockwork. She would get close to a person, just to be betrayed. Close enough to see them smile as they pulled out the knife and stabbed her in the back. Or hit her over the head.
She dropped to her knees in terror and knelt beside her mother’s crumpled form. “Mom? Mom!”
Her heart seized as she watched a small trickle of blood run through Beth’s curls and pool on the floor. This couldn’t be happening—not again! She could not have resurrected her mother only to watch her die...again!
A feral scream ripped through her teeth as she glared up at her ex-Botcher, standing calmly above them. “What did you do?!”
Jennifer was about to respond, when Rae hit her with a bolt of electricity, sending her flying back into the far wall.
“You bitch!” It didn’t matter. Whatever Jenn was going to say didn’t matter. Rae was going to lose her mom all over again because she’d opened them both up to someone she was stupid enough to trust.
The pool of blood grew steadily wider and Beth stirred with a faint moan. Feeling electrified herself, Rae reached around on the floor to snatch up her bloody phone only to find out it had shattered upon impact with her mother’s skull. Already sensing the outcome, Rae reached anyways for the hotel phone. The cord had been cut and the line was disconnected.
“You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?”
Rae straightened and slowly turned around. In the last few years she’d stared down her own death, the death of her friends, and the resurgence of her homicidal father’s crazy cult. But she had never, in all that time, been as angry as she was right now. She stared at Beth, bleeding on the floor in between them, before she raised her eyes slowly to Jennifer. “I really don’t think you want to be trapped in a room with me right now.”
Jennifer threw back her head and laughed. “Oh! The kitty wants to play! All grown up now are you, Rae? You forget—I know exactly how much training you have. I know all of your tatùs and I know exactly what each one can do.” She smiled with mock sympathy. “I’m afraid you just don’t have any tricks left up your sleeve.”
Rae sent another bolt of electricity flying her way, but Jennifer dodged it with ease.
“In a way, you have no one to blame but yourself,” Jennifer said quietly and authoritatively as she took a step towards Rae and Bethany. “What was the first lesson I ever taught you? Above all the others?”
Rae stayed defiantly silent, and in the next second she was flying through the air—cracking her head against the wall and sliding to the floor with a muffled groan. Something warm sprayed down the side of her face, and when she pulled back her hand it was red with blood.
“You need to always be ready.” Jennifer’s voice cut through the air. “Get up.” She snorted. “I taught you better than that.”
Rae pulled herself to her feet and glared with all her might, ignoring the steady drip of blood running down her arm. “Why did you even bother?” she hissed. “If all this time all you wanted to do was kill me.”
That same peculiar look shadowed across Jennifer’s face before she shook her head with sudden determination. “It wasn’t the plan to kill you.” She gestured to Beth’s motionless form. “Or her, for that matter. As long as she was out of the way, she didn’t matter. But you had to go and find the bitch, and now that you’ve brought her back there’s a chance we could be exposed.” She shrugged. “Well, the rules change.”
We? Who was we?
Rae sucked in a breath and struggled to rein in her anger. Jennifer was right, this was no different from any other mission. Only, in this case she needed to get information that wasn’t part of protocol. The only way to do that was to touch Jennifer’s skin.
With a roar of rage she launched herself with blinding speed across the hotel room, only to be immediately diverted by Jennifer’s ready hands. She flew into the other wall this time and fell to the floor with a sickening crunch. The sound of Jennifer’s laughter brought her back to her senses.
“Come on! My own tatù?! Show a little respect, would you?” She shook her head as she yanked Rae up to her feet, holding her by the hair as she dragged her to the center of the room. “It’s like all this time I’ve been talking to a brick wall.”
But beneath Jennifer’s death grip, Rae smiled as she quickly healed herself with Charles’ tatù. This sort of close proximity was exactly what she’d had in mind. Using Julian’s tatù to predict Jennifer’s next few movements Rae rocketed up above their heads and brought Jennifer down to the floor, landing squarely on her chest. Jennifer gazed up at her in shock, but before she could fully recover Rae ripped off her leather jacket and tossed it away.
She barely had time to marvel at the torn, burned skin beneath. The fire, she recalled. The flames had spread up one entire side of Jennifer’s body. No wonder she always hid in this leather suit—the body below was ravaged beyond repair. It wasn’t like she could tell anyone how she got the burns.
Without stopping to think Rae seized Jennifer’s shoulder in an iron grip, closing her eyes as her body automatically switched tatùs. The next second she was back in the living room in Heath Hall, watching as Jennifer crept up behind Luke and bashed him over the head.
There was a scream of rage as Jennifer tried to throw her off. However, Rae wasn’t finished.
She picked up the same phone Jennifer had used to strike her mother and smashed her across the face with it. Then she grabbed her by the neck and closed her eyes once more.
This time, she was back in her burning childhood home. The memory had picked up right where Beth’s had left off. As Beth sprinted to grab Rae from the yard Jennifer knocked her unconscious, using her tatù to bring her to the ground. Rae watched in horror as Jennifer knelt over her mother’s unconscious body, ready to finish the job, but a deep, male voice floated down from nowhere and stopped her.
“Now, now, Miss Jones. That’s not what we discussed.”
Rae whirled around in surprise as a tall man with dark, trimmed curls walked slowly into the burning building. He didn’t seem to notice the walls crumbling down around him—he only had eyes for Beth.
“She was never allowed to die, not when she can still be useful.”
As screams from the neighbors and the faint sounds of sirens began welling up outside, Jennifer cast a panicked look to the backyard. “Her child—Simon’s child is still out there.”
The man shook his head. “The child is going to be collected by the authorities and sent to live with her uncle. She’ll come to Guilder in time, and Guilder will open its doors to let her in.”
Jennifer’s teeth locked together in rage. “Then why do we need her?” She glared down at Beth with unmistakable hatred. “She did her part, she’s had a purebred baby. Her job here is done.”
For the first time, the strange man chuckled. “Such rage in you.” He glanced down at Jennifer’s flat stomach with a faint smile. “You’d think you were taking this personally.”
Jennifer cried out in anguish and raised her hand up over Beth’s head, but the man stopped her with a single word.
“Enough.” He adjusted the cuffs on his jacket, suddenly bored with the conversation.
“We’ll use her to test the limits of Simon’s device. Stash her away and check on her throughout the years to make sure nothing ever comes back.”
Jennifer was panting with silent tears, but she nodded her head and slowly lifted Beth from the ashes. “What if her daughter comes looking for her?”
“It’s funny you should ask...”
Rae’s heart froze in her chest as the man turned deliberately towards the counter. She didn’t have time to run, she didn’t have time to hide. She just stared up in horror as the man looked her right in the eye.
“I’m counting on it.”
The characters blurred out as the room around them dimmed to black. Rae tried to pull out of the memory as Jennifer struggled and kicked beneath her, breaking her focus as she clawed Rae’s bloody arm. Rae cried out in pain, but before she could pull out of Jennifer’s mind entirely a power beyond their control took her to one more scene.
This one couldn’t have been more different from the last. Rae blinked in confusion and tried to get her bearings in the bright, fluorescent light. They were in an office building of some kind, a doctor’s office by the looks of it. Just her, Jennifer, Simon...and the baby in Jennifer’s belly.
Rae’s mouth fell open in silent shock, and she backed quickly into the changing room in the corner, relieved beyond belief that Jennifer was already wearing a hospital gown.
“I don’t want to do this,” a quiet voice almost whispered. There was such pain in the words, such unspeakable sadness, that Rae had to double check to make sure it was Jennifer who’d said it.
Sure enough Jennifer was perched on the exam table, cradling her swollen abdomen with a thousand tears in her eyes. Rae had never seen her Botcher look so vulnerable, so small.
She looked up at Simon, pleading as the tears started to fall. “I can’t—please. Don’t ask me to do this...”
Simon stroked her hair. It was an automatic gesture brought about by habit and necessity, not feeling. “I’m afraid we have no choice,” he said without inflection. “You heard the doctor, it’s a girl. I have no need for another girl. I need a son.”
Jennifer stifled a sob. “But why do we have to get rid of her? Why couldn’t I just keep her in secret? No one would have to know—”
“Because we can’t take the risk.” Simon stroked her hair again, but his eyes were cold. “We can’t have anyone figuring out what we’re doing. I can’t risk the ability getting passed on.” She sobbed again and he made an impatient shushing sound. “Please, enough. We’ll try again. We’ll keep trying until I get what we need...”
The scene blurred and Rae came to in the hotel room. The front of her own shirt was wet with tears, and when she looked down Jennifer was frozen beneath her, staring up with wide eyes.
“I didn’t know...” Rae whispered. “I had no idea.” She tasted the hit almost before she felt it. A rush of blood filled her mouth as she flew backwards through the glass window, landing in the broken shards in the parking lot. She spat out the blood and gasped for air as Jennifer jumped out the window after her. A defensive spray of electricity shot into the air between them as Rae tried to get up, but a sliver of glass had wedged itself deep under her shoulder blade and she couldn’t seem to move.
“You bitch,” Jennifer growled as she stood above her, watching her struggle. She pressed her stilettoed boot down on a gash on Rae’s leg and Rae tried not to scream. “That memory wasn’t for you. That was supposed to be for me.”
She kicked Rae hard in the ribs, and this time Rae released a horrified, painful scream.
“After all,” Jennifer continued, “since you came around the only thing I got to keep of my baby was the memory of it. No need for another daughter—not when she might inherit the tatù instead of the son.”
Rae reached behind her and pulled out the glass as she panted in pain. According to Alecia’s tatù, it had missed most of the major arteries, but in the process it nicked one of her lungs. She switched quickly to Charles’ tatù to heal herself, but before she could Jennifer crouched on top of her and punched her in the face with impossible force.
Rae felt her nose crunch in, and despite her need to stop the bleeding her body switched defensively to Molly’s tatù, sending Jennifer flying back to her feet with a shower of sky blue sparks.
“Pretty weak voltage,” Jennifer commented matter-of-factly—as calm as if they were back in the Oratory, practicing with sticks. “You must be losing quite a bit of blood. As much as your mom is inside.”
“If you hurt her, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Jennifer interrupted her. “You’ve done exactly what I thought you would, Rae. You got emotional, got distracted. Couldn’t keep your eyes on the prize. Your mother had the exact same problem—that inescapable need to feel. It’s how I was able to get the drop on her the day of the fire. She was running out to the yard to save you.”
Rae’s face twisted in pain as she tried again to get up, but Jennifer kicked her back down with a triumphant grin.
“I guess I really was the stronger fit, the better partner for Simon. After all, I’m about to finish off his entire family and I don’t have so much as a scratch.”
There was a flash of blinding light, and the next second Jennifer was on the ground.
“You wanna bet, bitch?”
“Mom!” Rae gasped and pulled herself up to a sitting position, waiting for Charles’ tatù to take effect. “Mom, be careful! She—”
But Beth smiled. “Don’t worry, sweetie.” She looked down at Jennifer and her face grew cold. “I’ve got this.”
Jennifer staggered to her feet and spat out a mouthful of blood. “So this is how it’s going to end, is it? You or me?” She lowered her head slightly and Rae could practically feel the energy growing in her ready muscles. “You know what?” She grinned wickedly. “I actually prefer it this way.”
Rae looked on in terror, but Beth chuckled softly. “Oh, Jenn. You never understood, did you? I was always better. That’s why Simon chose me. That’s why the Privy Council chose me. That’s why I’m coming back to a world full of family and friends. While you’re going to die with nothing.”
Jennifer growled and started to leap forward, but Beth shot her back to the ground with a wave of scorching hot fire. Rae could feel the heat of it travelling through the cement as Beth slowly walked forward, blue flames flickering from her hands. It looked like her mom had finally gotten her whole tatù back.
“Doesn’t matter if you kill me,” Jennifer murmured, rolling back onto her feet and nursing a huge burn on the side of her face. “I’m not the only bad guy here. I’m only doing what I’m told.”
Beth looked at her carefully, but in the end she simply shook her head. “You’re bad enough for me.” Then she lifted her hands and Rae and Jennifer watched as white-hot flames covered her entire body, shrieking and dancing as they shot up into the sky.
Jennifer’s face paled and she took a step back. Even amidst all her bluster, she seemed to sense that this was the end. And although Rae had never seen her run from a fight, her fearless ex-Botcher took off through the parking lot—sprinting like her life depended on it. She had almost reached the other side when a wall of fire sprang up suddenly in front of her and she jumped back. The wall shifted and moved, driving her forward to where Beth was waiting for her.
“I thought this was what you wanted, Jenn,” she said quietly. “Just you and me.”
Jennifer’s eyes narrowed and she stepped forward of her own accord. “If I go down, you’re going down with me.” In a flash she grabbed a nearby car and literally threw it into the air, sending it hurtling through the sky towards Beth.
Time seemed to slow and Rae reacted on instinct. As Beth lifted her hands protectively in front of her, inadvertently setting the car on fire, Rae leapt into the space in between them, somersaulting mid-air and kicking it back the other way.
Jennifer screamed as the twisted, molten piece of metal came crashing down on her. For a split second, Rae saw the look on her face as she watched it fall. But then there was a sickening crash as the car exploded on the pavement, burying Jennifer beneath it in a pile of metal and flames.
“Rae!”
Rae struggled to pull her attention away from the burning car as her mother ran towards her across the lot. “Sweetheart, are you all right?” She gathered Rae in her arms, paling in terror as Rae flinched and pulled away.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” she assured her mother, popping her shoulder back into place. “I have a healing tatù, it just takes a minute. What about you?” She looked Beth up and down with sudden concern. “You lost a lot of blood—are you okay?”
Beth shook her head dismissively. “I’ve been through worse.” Her gaze fell on the burning pile of rubble.
Rae followed her gaze. “I just can’t believe it was Jennifer this whole time.” She inhaled, and cringed as the thick smoke smell filled the air. “All those moments she was alone with me.”
Beth shuddered in belated rage. “All those moments I should have been there to protect you.”
“Mom, I’m fine,” Rae said again, now deliberately avoiding looking at the fire. “It would take more than a little car-tossing to do me in.” She laughed weakly, but the next second she felt herself collapsing into a pair of strong arms.
Perfect timing as ever.
“We need to stop meeting like this,” Devon murmured into her hair. Rae looked up to answer him, but before she could his lips were pressed against hers. Ignoring the pain, she wrapped her arms around his neck—pulling herself up higher as the kiss deepened and warmed.
Before she’d had nearly enough, a pointed cough made Devon pull away with a smile.
“Sorry, Mrs. Kerrigan.” He grinned, stroking the side of Rae’s face. “Couldn’t help myself.”
Much to Rae’s surprise, her mother walked forward and fondly ruffled his hair. “I quite understand. And Devon, please call me Beth.”
Devon’s dimple flashed as he beamed back at her. “Beth it is.” His eyes trailed over the scorched parking lot. “So does anybody want to tell me what happened here? I came out just as I heard a car explode.”
“They said we’d missed the complimentary breakfast,” Rae joked before settling herself back in his arms. She still wasn’t completely healed, and definitely wasn’t up for a full interrogation.
“It was Jennifer,” Beth explained quickly. “Jennifer was the one who set the fire all those years ago, and it was Jennifer who attacked Luke to steal my files.”
Devon’s mouth fell open in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” He glanced at the soot-covered, bloody faces of the women and came round quickly. “That’s unbelievable. But that’s actually what I was coming over here to tell you.” He looked down at Rae with a smile. “Luke’s awake. He came out of it about ten minutes ago and now the doctors have him resting. They say he’s going to be fine.”
Rae closed her eyes in overwhelming relief. “That’s good to hear. You have no idea.” She pulled out of Devon’s arms and tried balancing shakily on her own two feet. “Can I see him?”
Devon shook his head. “Probably not the best idea. His family just got here, and I think it would cause more questions than he’s ready to answer right now.”
Rae nodded quickly. “You’re probably right. We’ve got to get back to Guilder anyway.”
“Guilder?” Beth and Devon asked at the same time. “Why Guilder?”
“Because Jennifer wasn’t working for herself. There was somebody else involved. Somebody pulling the strings.” She inhaled a sharp breath as the others held theirs. “And I think I know who it is. You are not going to believe it. I’m not sure I can.”
* * *
THEY STOPPED AT THE hospital to have Beth’s wound checked and then stitched up. Somehow, though the doctor couldn’t explain it, the wound had cauterized, as if it had been burned. Nobody said anything and everyone seemed to be looking in a different direction when the doctor asked.
The ride back to Guilder was quiet and uneventful. When they pulled on to the drive that led between the two towers and the walkway bridge with its Oriel windows, Beth leaned forward and looked around in awe. “So this is what it looks like,” she murmured, staring out the window at the sweeping grounds. “I hope all the memories come back.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Argyle came here; it was an all-boys school.”
“Rae changed all that,” Devon said proudly. “They opened the school to girls specifically to let her in.” He nudged her with a grin, but Rae was in no mood to smile. She kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
When they pulled up in front of the main building, Carter came running out to meet them. Rae had sent a text to meet at Guilder, not at his office at the Privy Council.
“We heard about what happened,” he said in a rush. “This whole time it’s been Jennifer. I can’t believe it!”
“It wasn’t Jennifer,” Rae said again as she bypassed him and marched straight for the library.
Carter cast her a strange glance but kept talking as he, Devon, and Beth trailed along after her. “By the time the PC agents got to the hotel, the fire had mostly burned out. But...” He seemed hesitant to tell them the rest. “...there was no body. No sign of Jennifer anywhere.”
Devon threw up his hands. “What the hell do you mean there was no sign of her?! She was trapped under a burning car—we all saw it.”
Carter shook his head. “She must have gotten away.”
Beth folded her arms across her chest. “That is absolutely unacceptable—”
“So she got away. That’s no surprise.” Rae shrugged as they entered the library and she led them down to a specific row of books. “There’s one more person out there trying to kill me. It’s nothing new.”
Devon, Beth, and Carter looked at her like she was coming unhinged, but she turned to them with fresh determination.
“She’s not the mastermind—she’s not the one in charge. Neither was my dad, for that matter.” Her mind travelled back to the memory, to the moment when the mysterious man and she had locked eyes. “I know who is. I saw him in Jennifer’s mind. I know what he looks like, and I know I’ve seen him here before.”
She began flipping through pages of books with ridiculous speed and the rest of her entourage shot each other worried looks.
“Rae,” Devon said softly, “this is the historical section. Everything here is at least a hundred years old—”
“Found it!” Rae cut him off with a sudden smile.
She slammed a book down triumphantly on the table and ignored it as the librarian hissed at them to be quiet. The page she’d opened to was an unlabeled sketch, hand-drawn and a bit fuzzy, but there was no denying it was the man from Jennifer’s memory. The man who’d set this whole thing into motion.
“That’s him,” she said with certainty. “That’s the man behind everything.”
Devon stared at the page with a blank expression, but Beth and Carter shot each other an inexplicable stare.
“That’s...not possible,” Carter murmured.
“Why?” Rae asked impatiently. “Who is he?”
Beth paused a moment, staring at the page, then she turned to face her daughter.
Carter looked at Beth, then slowly to Devon, finally settling on Rae. He swallowed hard. “That’s Jonathon Cromfield.”
~ THE END ~
End in Sight
