A Shade of Innocence (The Illuminati Book 1)

by Jane West

  To my delight, it gave under my grasp. It worked! I bounced on my feet, clapping my hands together. Then I realized noise carried in these hollow halls. I quickly stilled.

  I had to be careful. No telling who might be lurking outside. I listened for any noise, nothing. I checked under the door for any shadow passing, nothing. Slowly, I cracked the door open, just enough to peek through. I saw no signs of life. I opened the door just enough to stretch my neck out, passed the threshold. The corridor was empty.

  Barefooted, I quietly crept out into the hall. My heart pounded in my chest. I eased the door closed behind me, careful not to make a sound.

  I tipped toed to the elevator, eyes sharp and ears open.

  Before I knew it, I'd entered the elevator reaching to punch the black button to first floor, but stopped. I bit my bottom lip, feeling a rush of mischief. Two words came to mind, second floor. I suddenly wanted to know what was on 2nd floor.

  Throwing caution to the wind, I punched it.

  In the next breath, the elevator stopped following a sharp ding, and the doors parted ways.

  I eased my head out, sweeping my eyes in both directions left and right. Bingo! No sign of a soul in sight. I nearly squealed with euphoria. The rush of adventure coursed through me, pumping my blood with excitement.

  I darted off to the left, padding lightly through the dim corridor.

  A sudden burst of thunder roared, and a streak of lightening spilled from the beveled-pane windows. I jolted, throwing my hand over my mouth to smother my squeal. After a minute, settling my pulse, I moved on.

  The floor didn't look any different from the other two floors. I saw nothing out of the ordinary or extraordinary about the second floor. I tried opening the first door I came to but it was locked. I made my way down the corridor, trying door after door and found nothing open.

  Bane had everything on lock down. “All this for nothing,” I murmured under my breath. I wished I'd stayed in my room and called for room service. My headache had intensified.

  The adventure turned out to be a dud, and the excitement had vanished. I just wanted to find some ibuprofen and go to bed.

  I headed back to the elevator. I thought I'd try the kitchen. I might find a bottle there. At least, I could get a snack and something to drink. My stomach was starting to sound like The Star-Spangled Banner.

  Without warning, the elevator doors dinged, and I froze. Who'd be up at this hour? Quickly, I ducked into a dark corner. My back flushed against the wall, holding my breath.

  I listened as footsteps approached. When the intruder coiled the corner, I felt my face go ashen. I blinked back shock. It was Dr. Van, the principle! What was he doing here? I quietly watched as he passed by nescient to my presence. The stench of his cigar filled the hall. I quickly clasped my palm over mouth to hold my gagging.

  He came to a halt at the last room at the end of the corridor.

  Knocking echoed down the hall. The door opened, and a stream of light poured onto the hallway. I heard a familiar male's voice. Then in a split second, the door shut with Van disappearing inside. Voices muffled.

  I leaned back into the shadowed corner, easing air back into my lungs. If I were smart, I'd high-tail it outta here! Forget that this night ever happened. Which one did I want to pick, A: smart or B: reckless? I took a quick glimpse down the hall, biting my bottom lip. Of course, I chose B.

  I crept to the door where a thin wafer of light dappled the floor from underneath. I had a nagging feeling that something was up with Van's visit. It seemed suspicious that the principal would be visiting a student at this hour.

  So, like any savvy eavesdropper, I quietly leaned into the door and pushed my ear to the cool Mahogany wood. It was like an acoustic. I could hear everything.

  “I hope you have just cause for getting me out of bed at this ungodly hour! It's a shit-storm out there.” An older male's voice growled as he moaned, following the swish of a cushion. I assumed it was Van.

  Suddenly a deep voice, young and velvety pierced through the door. Bane! I heard a different chair squeak, perhaps wheels rolling across the floor. That had to be Bane sitting in an office chair, possibly behind a desk.

  “Sorry to disturb your beauty rest, uncle but this couldn't wait. I didn't want you seen.”

  “Ah yes, one of many secrets we must keep.” I recognized Van's voice. I recalled the sarcasm in his tone far too well.

  “Shall we get down to business or are we going to argue all night over semantics?” Bane's voice was forceful, sending shivers down my spine.

  “No argument here.” The older man wheezed. A heavy smoker, I presumed. “I do need to chat with you over my man, Zak. You didn't have to kill him. He's been a loyal servant to me.”

  “Loyal, you say?” Bane's voice sounded angry. “That bastard nearly killed the girl. I simply gave him what he deserved.”

  “Oh, lighten up! Zak was having fun with the hybrid.”

  “Lighten up,” Bane snapped, “If that spineless Crypt had succeeded where would your plans be today?”

  “Perhaps I trusted him too much.” I heard Van puff on his cigar and blew out the smoke. “No need to cry over spilled milk. The hybrid is fine and ripe for the picking.”

  “She's not fine! In order for me to clean up that Goddamn mess, I had to dust Miss Ray and her friend, Jen Li. Do you know the long-term effects of Angel Dust?” Bane roared.

  “So what if you wiped her memories! Soon, she'll be dead, and we'll have her powers!” Van laughed wickedly. “Problem solved.”

  The older man's cavalier attitude sent a cold chill deep into my bones.

  “If you had taken care of the crime scene, I could've spared both girls and convinced Stevie that she had a bad dream.”

  “You worry far too much, nephew. This is all insignificant to our cause.” Van drew in a raspy breath. “Let's move to the real reason you sent for me.”

  I heard boots slide across a hard surface and then drop to the floor. Bane must've had his feet propped up on the desk and then planted them heavily on the floor.

  “I'll just get right to the point.” Bane exhaled. “I do not wish to extract the girl's powers. It is against the Family.”

  Van scoffed. “Fuck them and their Order! Do you prefer to be bound to this girl for the rest of your immortal life?”

  There was a shift in Bane's tone, the same tone I heard when he attacked Francis. “Don't worry about whom I'm shackled to when we have bigger concerns.” Bane paused. “I think it's in the Family's best interest that we stick to our original plans. We only get one shot.”

  “You can't back out now! We've already committed treason,” Van's voice exploded with rage.

  It sounded like a fist slamming onto the desktop and a chair on rollers crashing against the wall.

  “Dear Uncle, I am not the traitor,” Bane hissed, “I have merely followed orders.”

  “You're a yellow-belly coward,” Van fired back just as fiery.

  Bane laughed darkly. “Now who's calling who names, Edward Van Dunn? You are the one wanting to take the girl's life as if she's the sacrificial lamb to be bludgeoned to death on the altar.”

  “Isn't that what she is,” Van pointed out sharply, “The lamb that our brotherhood has created. Is she not the one?”

  There was a brief silence. Then I heard Bane speak, “Yes, she is the Family's creation.”

  “DuPont, if we back out now, we are dead men. I want—” Van's voice swirled with desperation. “I need her powers.”

  “I don't understand why you are hell bent on taking the girl's life.”

  “Her death won't even be worthy of a notch on your belt. For fuck's sake, don't you see the bigger picture here?”

  “You think it's going to be that simple?”

  “No, of course not, but in the end, we will have conquered our most valued treasure. We can do this. I feel it!”

  “What you feel is a hard on, Uncle.”

  “Don't worry about my jollies. You owe me,
DuPont!”

  “Uncle, I know you're hungry, but there is more at stake here.”

  “Oh, good God, man! What is more important than having the wheel of power at our feet,” Van argued.

  “It's difficult for me. I feel Stevie's powers increasing every time I touch her and my desire to mate with her is growing. She's in my head. I can't stop thinking about her. Jesus! Our fucking hearts beat as one!” Bane exhaled sharply, “I don't know how much longer I can hold out.” I detected disgust in Bane's voice. “I can't take her life. Do what you want to me but I won't do your dirty work.”

  Van shouted, “She's our fucking ticket to freedom!”

  “Those are your words, not mine. I do not wish to be a party to your diabolical scheme, and I wouldn't be if you were not blackmailing me.” Bane paused, “If she ever comes into her full abilities, she could eliminate this whole galaxy. Hell, you know as well as I there was no gas leak in the girl's restroom. Stevie did that all by herself. I'm telling you, she is one powerful hybrid!” Bane hissed, “It would be wise not to show your claws to her.”

  I heard Van laugh. “You're in love with that little twit.”

  “Don't be absurd, the only one I've ever loved is myself.”

  “Then why do you care what happens to her?”

  “It's biological. She is my mate for life. Since her powers are developing, so have her pheromones. It's near impossible for me to refrain from my natural urges.”

  “Good God, Du Pont! Don't blow this. If we are to extract her powers, she has to be a virgin.”

  “Don't you think I know that you fucking pervert!” Bane's voice was harsh and angry.

  A heavy sound of someone blowing out smoke filled the room. I assumed it was Van. “Have you given the vessel her installment?”

  “Yes, Sara has been paid,” Bane snapped.

  “Have you told the hybrid who killed her father?”

  Silence fell between the two men. Then I heard Bane exhaled heavily. “I haven't told her yet.”

  “Goddamn, Du Pont! We have to do this on Halloween. You need to get it together and quick!”

  I heard footfalls back and forth. A light flickered under the door. Bane was pacing.

  “Then you know what you must do next.”

  “Yes. I am thoroughly aware of what steps I must take next. You act as if you're my master. Have you forgotten that I'm older than you?”

  “That may be true, however you need to start taking your position more seriously. Do your job! Depose of the mother. She's utterly useless. For the life of me, I don't understand what Jon Collins saw in that whore.”

  Bane scoffed. “We don't always get to pick who we fall in love with.”

  “Good God, my man! You've gone soft for that girl.”

  “Don't worry about my feelings or where my dick lies.” Bane sounded like he wanted to strangle Van.

  “Oh, I don't worry, Du Pont! Matter of fact, I have faith that you won't let me down. As long as you follow through with our agreement, I'll keep your dirty secret to myself and the proof in a locked safe.” Van inhaled a ragged breath. “If you betray me, I will report my findings to the Council. They won't tolerate insubordination regardless of your reasons.” Pure evil resonated from Van's voice.

  A soft gasp escaped my lips.

  All at once, Déjà vu blasted through brick and mortar and into the hidden caves of my mind. For several minutes I stood frozen, feet glued to the floor. I stood there reliving every horrible event that had occurred since Bane had come into my life.

  Every frightening detail that had happened to me barreled its way to the forefront of my skull; Bane knowing my father's murderer, the man in black attacking me, the closet, my injury, the cover up. I even remembered when I was a child, the night the men in black came to visit Sara in the middle of the night. It was so clear to me as if it happened yesterday. It was shortly after Dad's death. They were warning Sara concerning me. I recalled trying to hear the conversation but their words were muffled. But whatever reason they had coming to our door that night, it set Sara into a tail-spin and we'd been on the move since. Ms. Noel was right! Sara had been running. What a blind fool I'd become.

  It all made sense now.

  Bane's bad boy image was a charade and his interest in me was a lie too. It was all lies to lure me into their insidious trap. Bane, Dr. Van, and my own mother were all plotting my demise.

  How could I have not seen this?

  Jesus! They used my own mother to get at me and she fell right into their laps by her own selfish greed. That was so disturbing on so many levels. I couldn't wrap my head around it.

  Oh, my God! Jen was in danger too. They didn't just drug me but Jen got caught in the cross fire by helping me.

  Footsteps and shuffling knocked me back to my present state of reality. If they caught me, I was dead. I quickly sprinted for cover. I noticed a door leading to the stairwell.

  Past the door and up the stairs, I darted for the third floor. I had to get out of here! I needed to grab a few things from my room and snatch up Snowball. I have got to find where Bane hid my car keys too. First, I had to warn Jen and find Sara! Then I was putting this devil-may-care town in my rear view mirror and getting the hell out of Dodge.

  Secret Passages and Unexpected Allies

  When I coiled around the corner, my heart did a somersault and crashed into my ribs. I stopped and froze. I remembered closing my door, so why was it wide open?

  Maybe I didn't close it all the way. Regardless of what I kept telling myself, I knew with certainty that someone was in my room waiting for my return.

  I bit my lip, indecisive. What if I turned around back to the stairwell and fled on foot? Then I'd be leaving Snowball behind.

  I took a deep breath to calm myself. I'd just lie if anyone asked me questions. It wasn't as if I'd never told a fib before. Not my best feature but it came in handy now and then.

  Holding my breath, I eased my steps toward the door, stretching my ears and eyes for any hint of who might be lurking in my room.

  One eye slipped past the threshold, and I gawked in disbelief at the last person I thought to see, relaxing on my couch—Jeffery!

  I stepped inside, arms crossed, with an uncompromising glare aiming at my suspicious visitor.

  “Well, the prodigal child decides to return.” The sarcasm in Jeffery's voice only pissed me off further.

  “Jeffery, what are you doing in my room at this hour?” I glared at him resting my hands on my hips.

  “Oh, I thought since you'd gotten a little tipsy on the terrace that you might be a little hungry. I just got in myself. I have a busy social life, but you wouldn't know that cuz you've never asked.” He glared up at me through his sooty lashes. “I would've been here sooner, but something tells me that your sweet little face wouldn't have been here to greet me.” He smiled, scrunching his shoulders together sighing, attempting to play innocent. “So, whatcha been doin'?” His voice on the surface appeared light, but it was only to mask the arsenic.

  I narrowed my eyes ready for whatever he threw at me.

  I made my way to the chair by the window. “Not that I have to explain myself, but I had a headache and went looking for some ibuprofen.” I flopped down into the deep cushioned chair.

  Jeffery tossed me a small box. “I figured you'd need these. Guess I was right.” A smirk colored his face.

  I caught the box and glimpsed down at the label, ibuprofen. “Thanks,” I answered in an even tone. Nice gesture but I wondered what tricks Jeffery had up his sleeve.

  Suspicion oozed over me like warm blood.

  “I saw Mister Aidan's uncle's car when I pulled up into the drive. I was concerned for you. That uncle of his is mean as a Tasmanian Devil!” Jeffery paused a minute studying me. “You look a little bothered, boo.” He tapped his finger on his chin, eyes sharp and judgy. “Are you okay?”

  I propped my elbows on my knees, laying my face in the palms of my hands. Confliction rode heavily on my shoulders. If I
told Jeffery, he'd do one of two things, A: tell Bane, or B: help me escape.

  I took a chance on B. “I just overheard a private conversation.” I breathed in a sharp breath and spilled the beans. “I know this sounds like I've gone mad, and maybe I have, but Van and Aidan are making plans to kill me.” I licked my lips. “I need to get out of here! Can you help me find my car keys?” My eyes pleaded with Jeffery.

  “Gurrrlfriend, you're puttin' me in a sticky spot, which most of the time is a good thing but not this one.”

  Tears started to collect as I stared at Jeffery.

  “Never mind, Chile,” Jeffery waved his hand, “I'll get your keys. Mister Aidan has them in the kitchen in the junk drawer.” He bounced to his feet. “Come on get your stuff and don't forget that damn cat. I don't get paid enough to take care of no stinkin' cat!”

  * * *

  Moments later, I had everything in my bag, did a quick change of clothes and had Snowball tucked in his special kitty bag.

  With our guard up and hands full, off Jeffery and I went.

  “I know a back way that no one takes. It's the servant's entrance. Mister Aidan doesn't care which way Dom and I travel throughout the castle, but whenever his uncle or that damn cousin of his comes a knockin' I hide in these old secret passages. Come on we need to get to steppin'. Pick up those damn legs, gurrrl,” Jeffery snapped, jerking my hand and nearly making me fall on my face.

  “I'm stepping, I'm stepping!” Jesus! I mumbled under my breath at that coco-buttered man. I think that was Jeffery's flare. He had the arrogance of a queen bee, like the land of nectar, Golden honey, gooey and sweet, yet in the same breath, he'd sting the crap out of you. A required taste, I had to agree.

  We hurried through a door leading into a gentlemen's parlor or a more current term, a drawing room, dark Mahogany wood paneled walls and crimson winged-back chairs placed around a gambling table. The room screamed man cave and it reeked of cigars and sweat.