Going Under

by Lauren Dane

  Meriel patted her hand. “Oh gurl, I hear you. I’ve got one of those myself. He really likes you, by the way. Dominic I mean. I think it helps that you’re an outsider of a sort as well. It’s a perspective the clan needs to hear more of.”

  “Ah, that’s what it is. Just tell me.”

  “You’re good at this.”

  Molly grabbed another donut. “It’s really just about watching other people and listening to what they say as well as what they don’t say.”

  “Pfft. You’re good at this,” Meriel repeated. “You know how to read people. And you’re right. There’s a group—a small one mind you—who have come to me with concerns. Up front, before I say anything else I want to say I support you totally. I think you do your job excellently. I think you’re the best thing to happen to Owen in a very long time. But this group is concerned you’re too pro-human. At the expense of Others.”

  “In the old days. Back before the Magister came and took so much from me. I was a lot nicer. I could have sat here eating these magic donuts and drinking coffee and told you that of course people have concerns and I would be happy to discuss those concerns with them to come to a better understanding.”

  Molly sat back. “But now I’m not so nice. Not so understanding. Mainly because I work about fifteen hours every day and I travel every single week to speak to hostile audiences of people who want to harm me and mine. So what I’m going to say right now is that if this group has an issue they’d better bring it straight on and have something more than hurt fee-fees because I have a job to do and that is to keep us all from tipping into a war neither side really wants. I spent a lot of time with Others of all kinds. Listening, watching, learning. I have nothing to say to people who run behind my back to you when they could just as easily come to me to give me their concerns. Like grown-ups. I don’t have time to play all this telephone game nonsense. So if you have a specific problem let’s get it dealt with so I can be on my way.”

  Meriel raised her brow but Molly didn’t waver.

  “They’d like to have one of their representatives on your team.”

  “No. Next?”

  “My mother would have loved you.” Meriel sipped her coffee. “I really miss her. She would have handled this whole thing . . . better maybe. Different.”

  “From what I understand about your mother, she handed the seat over to you because she believed you were best to lead. And that the seat wouldn’t recognize anyone who wasn’t. So, while I get second-guessing yourself—and please believe me, I really do—I think you’re handling an incredibly difficult situation the absolute best way that’s possible. But I still don’t need anyone in my way when I’m doing my job.”

  Meriel’s laugh was rueful. “I already told them no, by the way. You don’t need a committee. You have enough to deal with and you get your direction from me and the governance council so that’s what needs to happen. I just wanted you to know. I’ve got your back. Dom has your back. We believe in what you’re doing. They’re nothing.”

  “But a distraction.” She arched a brow at Meriel.

  “Yes. But they’re my distraction. It comes with the job. You should hear some of the things people come to me with.” Meriel shook her head. “Anyway, you just keep doing what you’re doing. You have your own distractions to deal with.”

  Ha. That was true. “I had a two-hour long conference call with a bunch of Wardens earlier. The wolves are really organized, which helps me with my job as they’ve essentially let me be their surrogate at these legislative hearings.”

  “But they’re also very . . .”

  Molly laughed. “Yes. They like to know what’s happening. And I get it. It’s their issue, they have their own people to inform and deal with. But I encouraged them to send someone with me next week when we go to D.C. Since the National Pack is just in Boston the trip won’t be so far. They’re going to send their number two, Jack Meyers.”

  “I’ve seen him. Ridiculously gorgeous. He’ll look great on television.”

  “Exactly. Nina said, and I’m going to quote her because she’s pretty freaking priceless, Ovaries will be exploding all over the country when the cameras pan over to him.”

  “Truth.” Meriel paused a moment or two. “Are you doing all right? I find myself, even though this has been sort of like the frog in the pot and I’m almost used to it, sort of having mini-breakdowns. You didn’t grow up this way. This was thrust upon you and you’ve been going at it full tilt since you got here. That’s a lot. And you’re here, away from everyone you were close to. I just know it’s got to be hard not having anyone to talk to.”

  Molly had been seriously struggling with sharing. “I had a best friend. She was also like my sister. We used to stay up late and talk endlessly about everything imaginable. We went to college at the same time and rented an apartment. We lived in that same apartment for six years until my firm took off and her relationship with her girlfriend got serious enough that they moved in together. I spoke to her on the phone that last day. She’d come to my apartment to borrow a sleeping bag, as they were headed off camping. I was in between meetings so I had to hurry her. I told her I loved her and that we’d catch up on the weekend. I never got to catch up. The Magister happened that day. I never heard her voice again.”

  Tears burned her eyes.

  “Anyway, she’d have been so great to bounce stuff off. She had this way about her, she got people on an instinctual level. She had more mercy and compassion than anyone else I’ve ever met. Sometimes when I am just so disgusted and filled with resentment I think about her, and how she’d have told me to not classify all humans or all Others the same way. She was my reality check in a lot of ways. And I don’t have that anymore. And I’m not sure I can stave off the bitterness.”

  Meriel said nothing, just listened.

  “I feel like I’ve been in a bad dream and I’ve sort of shut down. Just getting up and working and going to sleep. I need to make friends here. New friends. People I can talk to when I need the reality check. Dominic has been very kind to me. You have as well. I appreciate it more than I can say. I’m not okay. Not really. But I’m less not okay today than I was yesterday.”

  Meriel nodded, tears in her eyes. “My mother was my reality check. Along with Nell. I lost my mother the day of the Magister too. Nell has retreated from clan life because she nearly lost her kid and her life and her husband—understandably—wants her as far from it as possible to keep her safe. I have Dominic. And I have Lark and Gage too. But it’s not quite the same as your best girlfriend.” She reached out to squeeze Molly’s hand. “Wanna be my friend? We can work it through together.”

  It took everything she had not to sob right then.

  “You’re so very kind. Thank you, Meriel. I need all the friends I can get just now.”

  * * *

  “GAGE. Hold up.”

  He shifted his bag, turning to catch sight of Lark approaching. He’d been at the range for a few hours, working on his aim. He was good, but he wanted to be better. Needed to.

  “I just got off the phone with someone at the National Pack. There was a fucking pitch battle on a two-block section of Holson, Indiana, last night. A group of humans busted into a shifter bar and started shit. It spilled out onto the streets. Three structures burned down because the fire department was held up by the cops, who simply cordoned off the area while the fight happened. Burned-out cars. A few humans in intensive care. The cops made arrests. Others only.”

  He blew out a breath. “What the fuck? The humans started it? Who’s on the ground there?”

  “The local pack, they were wolves, has lawyers involved. The FBI may be called in. There’s a mediator at National who is an expert on all this stuff. He’s involved as well.”

  “Damn it. All right. What can we do to help?”

  “Their next call was going to be to Molly, so I guess they have that part handled. They already spoke with Meriel. I think we should put out a general all-clan notice about it. D
ominic is going to be dealing with stuff for Heart of Darkness I wager.”

  They walked back to his truck. “I’m heading back now. You need a ride?”

  “Simon is here with me. He’s finishing up inside. I’ll go back with him.”

  “I’m going to coordinate with Dominic on extra security at Heart of Darkness. Just let Simon know I’m doing it.”

  “He went to Lycia yesterday. They’re sending some of their warriors here to protect him. He’s vexed but I laughed. Until they said it was about me too.”

  “Take all the help you can get. If they’re all as big as Simon, we can use the muscle. Faine has been awesome so I can’t imagine it’s going to hurt.”

  “These warriors live, eat and breathe this stuff. And they have for hundreds of years. I have no doubt they can work with Faine and teach us a few things.”

  He nodded, already thinking about Molly.

  But it wasn’t until he got back to the office and found everyone gathered around the big television in the conference room that he realized just how much more he needed to worry.

  Chapter 22

  “WELL, now I hope at long last the true Americans in this country can understand the threat we’ve been talking about for the last several months. These supernaturals, Others, whatever you want to call them, they’re absolutely out to kill you and yours. They want to harm your family. They do not care about morals or values or the rule of law.” Carlo Powers sat back, a smug smile on his face.

  Without thinking, Gage moved to Molly, putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and his stomach clenched at the expression she wore.

  Molly put her hand on his and went back to watching the screen.

  “The unprovoked attack on humans beings last night is a perfect example of this.” Powers lifted his hands. “We must act now. To protect the decent people in this nation from these demons.”

  Molly tightened up and he squeezed her shoulder.

  The newscaster finally spoke. “There are reports, Mr. Powers, that contradict the claim that the attack was unprovoked.”

  “If that was so, why didn’t they arrest anyone else? I’m sorry to see you’re so naïve, but we can’t afford not to face facts. Gangs of animals hunting through the streets of small-town America, attacking humans beings. One of these men, a family man, is in the hospital fighting for his life. Heaven knows if he’s been infected with their disease. They are a threat. Like terrorism, only inside our borders. They need to be dealt with. For our safety.”

  “Why isn’t there a spokesperson there from the pack?” Meriel muttered, twisting and straightening the bracelet she wore as she jiggled her knee.

  “They weren’t asked. Or that’s my guess. I’ll call when this massacre ends.” Molly never tore her gaze from the television screen. He knew that expression. Molly was planning.

  Like a war. He knew she was lining up plans of attack and defense, even as she watched Powers for any weaknesses she could exploit.

  Powers rattled off the number for the White House switchboard and then for Congress. He urged the decent hardworking Americans who were not going to be threatened anymore to call their president and their congressional representatives.

  When the segment was over Meriel already had her phone to her ear and within moments she began to speak with someone Gage figured was affiliated with that local pack in Indiana.

  One-handed, she grabbed her pad and pen and began to take notes as Meriel quietly gave orders on the other side of the room. People rushed out and those left in the room waited quietly.

  Dominic snarled as he burst from his chair and began to pace. “This is bullshit.”

  Molly sighed. “Yes, it is. So, no one was invited to speak from the pack. Two of their wolves are being held in solitary confinement at the jail. They’ve had a hell of a time getting their attorney in to see them.”

  “We sent a letter an hour ago to the Justice Department asking them to get involved. These wolves’ rights are being violated right and left,” Meriel added.

  “I’m headed to D.C. day after tomorrow. But I think we may need to move it up so we can meet beforehand and get a strategy together. The vampires are on the verge of pulling out of this confederation and declaring war on humans. The wolves are justifiably angry and are having trouble keeping their people in check right now. The cats have been waiting to see what the wolves will do so if the wolves decide to pull out of our group and declare war, they’ll follow.”

  “Which leaves us where?” Sami asked. Gage hadn’t even noticed her in the room until then.

  “It leaves us bowing down to humans because we’ve got a mouthpiece who doesn’t care about witches at all.” David Collier spoke from his place in the doorway. Collier did administrative work for the Hunter Corps at Owen. He’d lost several members of his family, including his fiancée, because of the Magister.

  “What are you talking about?” Sami’s tone made it clear she had little patience.

  “I’m talking about her.” Collier pointed to Molly, who cocked her head at him, taking his measure. “She’s so human you can smell it on her. She’s working so hard to protect humans she’s endangering the rest of us. Why isn’t she asking us what we think? She just goes off and meets with these humans in private. We don’t even know what she’s promising them.”

  “You’re out of line, David.” Meriel shook her head in Dominic’s direction. Gage hadn’t even noticed the wave of anger radiating from Dominic until that moment. “I told you when you came to me last week that Molly gets her direction from me. She’s following very careful plans laid out by the Full Council.”

  “Because she tells you what to think.”

  Gage stepped forward but Molly touched his wrist. Just a ghost of a touch, but she meant for him to stand aside so he would. For a moment or two.

  Sami snorted. “You can’t mean to stand there and tell me I’m so stupid I need to be told what to think.”

  Collier looked to Sami. “You were against her from the start. Why are you letting her sell us out?”

  “I wanted to know where her allegiances lay. I found out because I made it a point to work with her. I’m beyond satisfied that Molly has this clan’s best interests at heart. So much so she’s got a twenty-four-hour-a-day guard. You’re wrong. And more than that, you’re rude.”

  “What is painfully ironic is that I have to face humans telling me I’m an evil beast set out to eat their infants and kick their puppies and when I get back here I’m being accused of selling out witches to humans. I’m beyond sick and tired of it. From them and from you. You have an issue? Own it. Be an adult and come talk to me. This silly sixth-grade tantrum is not impressive. It does not speak well of your intelligence on this or any other issue. I don’t see you at any of the community meetings I’ve set up to hear concerns from members of this clan. I don’t see your comment cards or your emails. I’ve never even seen your face until this very moment. What’s keeping you from speaking to me? Or would you rather just whine and stir trouble behind the scenes? I’m busy, you see, so excuse me if I don’t take your whining seriously. I’m working on big-girl stuff with all the other adults.”

  Gage had argued with her more times than he could recall. He’d seen her disagree with people pretty much daily. Even people she didn’t like. But the set down she’d just delivered to Collier was the harshest he’d ever seen from her.

  Damn. She made him tingly all over.

  Utter silence ruled the room for long moments as David tried to figure out just what had happened.

  Then Molly brushed her hands down the front of her skirt and turned back to Gage. “So can you please get in contact with Cascadia about flying me out early? I’ll need a guard, obviously, so you’ll need to arrange that too.”

  Meriel interrupted. “I’ll get on the phone. I know a few people at Justice. Maybe I can help. Do you think I should go to D.C.?”

  “Not this time. But there are other times coming up that I think you’d be good for. I�
�ll get you the information on that later today.” She walked past Dave, who still stood in the doorway.

  Gage touched her arm to stay her. “I’m going to get in contact with Cascadia. I’ll let you know what I hear.”

  She nodded absently, plotting, always plotting in her head.

  Once she’d gone around the corner he turned back, pinning Collier with his gaze. “You, in my office in ten minutes.” Gage kept walking before he did something remarkably stupid like punch him.

  Shortly after he’d arranged for their flight to D.C., Lark strolled into his office, grinning. “Looks like Sweet Molly Ryan has claws.”

  “She does.”

  “I know you’re mad at David, but I think you should be careful how you handle this.” She tossed herself into a chair.

  “He was insubordinate. That’s not to be tolerated. Molly or anyone else he works with, or under as in her case, deserves civility.”

  “All right. I buy that. What’s your solution?”

  “Clearly you have an opinion here. Spit it out.”

  Lark rolled her eyes. “Touchy. I know she’s your girlfriend. So does everyone else, especially after the way you were with her today. So however you deal with him, take that into account. Don’t undermine her. She kicked ass today. She shut him down. Broke his spirit. God, I love her. Anyway, so I vote you put a note in his personnel file along with a warning. We can’t fire him. He’s good at his job and until now he’s only been an irritant. Can’t fire someone for being a dick. Or for not liking your girlfriend.”

  He knew she meant how people would perceive it. But man, he wanted to fire David Collier so much.

  He sighed. “Fine. I suppose punching him is out of the question too?”

  She kept grinning and he deliberately did not rise to the bait.

  “You may as well stay. He’s due in here in like three minutes.”

  “Fine, fine. By the way, send Faine. That way you don’t have to go. I know you have meetings here.”