“Whatever... Look, I’ll call for an ambulance.” The girl twisted her hands at her sides nervously. “Give me my cell back and I’ll help you.”
The phone rang and rang. Finn sat up, his lips white, his skin gleaming with sweat.
Then Mike’s familiar voice spoke. “Ella? Oh god, are you okay?”
She bowed her head, breathing a deep sigh. “Yes. Scott?”
“Fine. Where are you?”
“Outside the building,” she said. “Landon Street. And, Mike? Bring a medic kit and butterfly bandages.”
“Jesus.” Mike grunted in the phone. “I’m just around the corner; been waiting for news from the police. I’ll be there in five.”
“Thank you.”
She disconnected the call and stared at the blood-stained phone. The girl had taken a step closer, hand held out, and Ella blinked at it for a long moment before she gathered her wits and placed the cell in the grubby palm.
The girl ran away, hoodie flapping, before Ella even had a chance to thank her.
At least the cut on Finn’s arm hadn’t grown any bigger since her call to Dave. God, that had been close.
“Keep the pressure on.” She pulled the comforter over them both and patted Finn’s cold hand, held over the wound. “Mike will be here in a few. We just have to hold out till then.”
“And you,” he rasped, grabbing her hand and lifting it to her wounded shoulder. “Put pressure.”
Good idea. Passing out while waiting for Mike would be embarrassing. Grinding her teeth against the pain, her fingers slippery, she did her best to staunch the bleeding.
She could only hope Dave would stop the idiots of the Council from hurting the dragon again.
When your allies were like that, what would you need enemies for?
***
“Hey, Dave.” Ella held the cell phone she’d borrowed from Mike in a tight grip. She stood in front of the mirror in the tiny bathroom, checking the bandage on her shoulder. The Steri-strips seem to be holding fine. The wound barely bled. She shoved the cell between her cheek and shoulder and taped the bandage back into place.
The hotel room was small, with a tiny window. Better that way, she guessed, although if the enemy had submachine guns, being indoors didn’t matter one way or another.
“I hope you’re sitting tight,” Dave rumbled on.
“We are.”
He hadn’t asked where they were. The tracker was back online and she could imagine Dave checking his GPS as he talked.
“What’s your plan?” she asked.
“To get you to a safe place. I have security posted around the hotel.”
Right. Ella closed her eyes for a second. “This thing with the dragon is insane. Tell the Council it has to stop.”
“You disappeared.” Dave’s voice snapped like a dry twig. “What happened?”
“We didn’t disappear.” Technicalities could always save you. “The tracker’s acting up. I told you.”
“And how did you survive the gunfire and get out of the building?”
She’d given this some thought while waiting for Mike to pick them up. “Not sure. We rolled off the bed and kept low until there was a lull in the shooting. We used the fire escape later to get out.”
“Just like that?” Suspicion dripped off the words. “You just walked out—”
“How the hell did this happen?” Attack was the best defense. “You said you had all buildings around the apartment controlled and monitored, so care to tell me how guys with submachine guns made a sieve out of our apartment? Killing your guards and other innocent people?”
God. Her stomach churned at the thought. She hoped Missy had managed to escape in time. Cats had a sixth sense when it came to their survival, didn’t they?
Dave grunted. “They used a helicopter.” He sounded disgusted.
“And any news on Jeff? The other Guardian? Anything at all?”
“No. But it’s war,” Dave said.
“Has been for a while, Dave. Question is, how do we survive it?”
“By bringing John Grey into his full strength.”
Yeah, about that...
“Listen,” she said. “The shooting came right after the meeting with the Council. The show of magic. Looks like you have more spies in your ranks than you thought.”
Dave cursed. “Be ready in ten minutes to be picked up.”
“Need more time. And clothes and shoes. Can we swing by the apartment?”
“We’ll get your things. No going back to that place until this is resolved.”
Going through two apartments in six months. New record. And they were homeless once more.
She rubbed her itchy eyes. “Deal.”
She wandered back into the room where Finn sat on the bed, his bicep swathed in bandages. His color was better now. She still couldn’t believe how close the Council had come to killing him; how much control they wielded because they had the dragon in their hands.
Mike was in the chair beside the bed. He raked his hands through his dark hair. “What the fuck’s going on? Finn won’t tell me how you got out, how he got that cut on his arm and—”
“I want to visit Norma,” Finn said.
Right. Norma. “We will. Don’t worry.”
Mike’s eyes narrowed. “Ella, will you tell me what’s going on?”
“I can’t.” Regret was bitter in her mouth, but after the shooting and the opening of the Gate, the Council’s retaliation with the dragon and what was yet to come... “Best if you don’t know more.”
“Bullshit.”
She nodded. “You’re right. But that’s how it is.”
“You think I’ll tell someone? That I’ll tell Dave?”
“I think...” She shook her head and glanced at Finn whose eyes were hooded and sad. “We need to keep distance between us for a while, because there are people out there who won’t hesitate to hurt you to find out what you know.”
Mike frowned. “What? But all this time I’ve—”
“Everything’s changing.” Finn had been right all along. “Just be careful.”
“What if you need my help?”
Ella sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes burning. “Then we’ll have to do without.”
“Goddammit.” Mike snarled, dragging his hand over his face. “You’re my only family, and I’m yours, and you’re telling me to pretend I don’t know you anymore? Does this have to do with the dragon?”
“See, you already know too much,” Ella muttered.
“You’re not making any sense.”
Ella shrugged.
“Say something.” Mike turned to Finn, his eyes blazing. “So you’ll cut me off, but you’re going to see Norma? You’re gonna talk to her but not me?”
Finn said nothing for a while, bending forward, hiding his expression under the fall of his hair. Then he muttered, “I need to tell her goodbye.”
Chapter Five
Logical
There was a knot in Ella’s chest that wouldn’t let her breathe. Mike was upset, and Finn’s words had struck deep. Panic threatened to strip away any semblance of self-control she had.
Say goodbye.
For the first time she had a feeling that finding his power was the worst thing that could happen; the feeling things were much worse than they’d seemed.
Mike stood at the hotel entrance as they came out, arms folded over his chest. Finn put a hand on his shoulder, but Mike didn’t look up.
Finn dropped his hand, clenching it at his side, and turned to follow the new bodyguards Dave had sent. He climbed into the armored car.
“Mike. Don’t be like that.” Ella sighed. “You’re my only real friend. Just let this blow over and I’ll be in touch, I promise.”
His gaze flicked up and she flinched at the anger there. “Family. For the good and the bad. You said that.”
Ella felt sick. She had, hadn’t she? “I’m not leaving you behind,” she said. “I just want you safe.”
“Right. If a car hits me tomorrow, h
ow will all this matter?”
God, she wouldn’t be able to keep the tears back much longer. “If anyone comes for you, tell them all you know. Don’t try to protect Finn or me.”
“Jesus, Ella, are you listening to yourself?” Mike pounded his fist into the wall. “What changed? What happened?”
She shook her head and turned to go.
A hand on her elbow stopped her. “Call me. If you need anything, just call me, do you hear?” Mike released her and walked off without looking back.
She hurried into the armored car, tears tracking down her cheeks. Finn caught her hand and pulled her to him on the bench. She hid her face on his shoulder.
“Maybe we should tell him,” she breathed through tears. “He’d never betray us.”
“Pain,” Finn said, “can break anyone.”
And he would know.
“What are we going to do?” The fact Finn could open Gates would come out at some point — the way things were going, sooner rather than later — and she could only hope nobody would hurt Mike and Scott to get the info until then.
And then what? Dave had them where he wanted them — with his own bodyguards, tracking them wherever they went, unable to make a move without him knowing and being able to stop them.
Finn’s hold around her tightened and she realized she was trembling hard. “They’ll catch the shooters. Everything will be okay,” she whispered.
Back to the mantra. Definitely a bad sign.
“We’ll visit Norma,” Ella went on, because she had to make him believe, make him see. Because she had to convince herself first of all. “And everything will be great. That’s what you should tell her.”
Finn tucked her head under his chin, the cool curtain of his hair brushing her face, and said nothing.
***
They spent the next day and night in the bunker where Dave stashed them, somewhere underground. They were in a sort of cell, with a tiny adjacent toilet that didn’t have a shower.
Like prisoners.
There was a glass wall, probably a one-way mirror, and a camera recording them from above. She resisted the urge to wave or press her nose to the glass and make funny faces.
Finn didn’t sleep that night. When Ella woke up on the hard cot, she saw the silver of his eyes burning in the dark. When she asked what was wrong, he didn’t answer.
She’d expected the Council to visit and grill them on the why the tracker had malfunctioned, express their suspicions as to the truthfulness of their statements and demand John Grey deliver. She’d expected them to come in with guns, push her and Finn against the wall and make threats, inflict pain and promise worse.
But nobody came, except for the guards entering to deliver their meals.
Time stretched. She paced around their cell. Finn slumped on his cot, dozing off from time to time.
So Ella did a double take when he shot to his feet the moment Dave finally entered.
He advanced like a storm front and grabbed the lapel of Dave’s jacket, his bandaged bicep bulging through the shirt. “I want to visit Norma.”
That was what had been on his mind all this time? All those brooding hours in the dark when she thought he worried about the Gates and the sniper and everything?
“You want to visit Norma.” Dave frowned. “I see. It isn’t safe to go out now.”
Finn thrust his face forward until they were nose to nose. “I need to see her.”
Dave took a step back and Finn followed, lifting him until Dave was standing on his toes.
Ella did her best not to laugh at her boss’s outraged expression. She hoped he wouldn’t call for the guards.
“I can’t let you out,” Dave wheezed, grabbing Finn’s wrist and trying in vain to force him to let go. “It’s dangerous, aelfr.”
“I have to see her,” Finn forced through gritted teeth.
“I would do as he says if I were you, Dave.” Ella coughed to hide her laughter. “He seems pissed.”
“Are you both insane?” Dave sputtered. “I can’t deal with this shit right now, and my new secretary quit.”
Ella lifted a brow. “Diane?”
“She just walked out.”
“Can’t understand it, really.” Ella tsked. “She didn’t care for your horrible mood swings? How odd.”
Dave glared at her, still dangling from Finn’s hand. “Do you realize how serious the situation is?”
Finn growled deep in his throat and his lips peeled back.
“Listen.” Dave raised his hands in a placating gesture. “How about I bring Norma here, to you? You can chat and take your time and I’ll feel better knowing you’re protected.”
A beat of silence.
Then Finn released Dave who rolled back on his heels and straightened his jacket. “Today.”
“What if she can’t make it?” Dave muttered.
Finn’s pale eyes blazed. “Tell her it’s important.”
“Fine.”
“You still haven’t said a word about the outside world, Dave.” Ella puffed out a sigh. “The earth still turning? Any sign of Jefferson?”
“Ella...” Dave’s expression went from angry to sad in a blink. “Bad news.”
“Oh really. That’s unusual.” Ella fought a shiver and picked at the edges of the bandage on her shoulder where it peeked through the neckline of her blouse. “What news?”
“We found Jeff Somesby,” Dave said.
“And? Where? What did he say?” Ella took a step forward. She wanted to shake the robot. “Talk, Dave.”
He brushed non-existent lint off his sleeves and didn’t look at her when he said, “We found Jeff Somesby’s body. He’s dead.”
***
“So what does this mean?” Ella’s head pounded so hard she could barely hear Dave. “Was he our man or not?”
“We found a rifle and ammo that matches the bullets fired at you in the past. He has to be the sniper.”
“Right.” Ella paced the cramped cell, waving her hands about. “That’s mighty convenient. And how did he die? Did he accidentally shoot himself or fall on his knife?”
Dave frowned. “He was shot in the head.”
Ella winced and stopped. God, Jefferson, what did you get yourself into? “You see it, don’t you?”
“Not really,” he said wryly. “It seems to me he was brought down because he took it on himself to kill John Grey. They finally realized he’d come close to succeeding and decided to stop him for good.”
“Or he’s a decoy.”
“For what?”
Good question. It felt like someone was trying to put them off the track — but the track of what or whom and above all, why?
“I don’t know — yet,” Ella said. “But you can’t keep us here forever, Dave. I need to get out of here, find some answers.”
“No.”
“It’s not me they’re trying to kill. It’s Finn. So let me out.”
At that, Finn’s eyes narrowed. “Not without me.”
“What do you plan on doing?” Dave asked. “There are no leads.”
Maybe not to Dave, but Ella had a few ideas. “The Council. I’m sure at least one person is betraying us.”
“Come on.” Dave scoffed. “These are powerful people sworn to protect this world. They’re educated, intelligent and know what they—”
“Newsflash: education doesn’t prevent you from turning into a criminal, or from being stupid, or brainwashed. Powerful doesn’t equal honest. In fact, it’s rather the opposite. And as for swearing to protect this world...” She avoided looking at Finn. “You are sworn as well. Didn’t stop you from shooting Finn because you were misguided into thinking it was the only solution.”
Dave looked like he was chewing on a lemon. “I can investigate the Council, though I don’t believe for a second they’re behind this. No need for you to tag along.”
But she had to. She had a feeling she should talk to one person in particular, and without Dave breathing down her neck.
Sarah.
She wasn’t sure what she expected to learn from her. Had to be something Dave had said but was still processing in Ella’s brain. He told Sarah everything. He seemed attached to her, even though he was a machine.
Sarah knew a lot. She was in the Organization and had access to manuscripts and all sorts of sources.
Sarah had known Simon intimately.
Simon had known Jefferson closely.
“There was a photo Mike found online of Simon and Jeff’s team in the military,” Ella muttered. “Jeff was the sniper and Simon the spotter, but there was one more person. Can you find the photo, find out who it is?”
Dave frowned. “Why is it important?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. Just a hunch, I guess.”
Dave gave a long sigh. “I will. Now stay here. I’ll investigate, and I’ll bring Norma so Finn can have his goddamn conversation with her. This is the safest place for you to be right now and I’m not letting you out.”
“What is this place anyway?” Ella scowled at the windowless room.
“No need for you to know.”
Yeah right. They’d been blindfolded when they were led out of the armored car and into the building, but it had to be a basement below a building downtown. The drive had been short and there had been the usual noise around them as they entered — cars, distant ambulances, dogs barking, people talking.
“Fine. Go find the enemy and fix everything, like you’ve always done.” She hadn’t meant it to come out so sarcastic and bitter, honest.
Anyway, Dave was right. Staying there, protected by thick walls, bodyguards and cameras, had to be the safest place in the whole wide world.
***
In the dream, Finn was maybe three or four. He was small — so small he hid behind his mother’s silken skirt, clutching her leg through the soft fabric. The air shimmered around her and he lifted one hand to touch the ripples in the air. Magic. She vibrated with it.
She was upset.
Her voice rose as she explained something to the tall man across from her. Finn peeked around her knee at fadhir whose eyes were flashing with anger and his own magic — each brand of energy distinct like a voice or a face.
Boreal and John Grey Season 2 Page 38
