Dark Nebula (The Chronicles of Kerrigan)

by W. J. May

  “Still trying to figure out what it means…or does…or whatever.” Kraigan shrugged.

  “Let Rae have a go. One touch and she’ll have it figured out in an hour.” Nicholas winked at Rae.

  Poor Kraigan. She had been the ‘uneducated newbie.’ It wasn’t fun. Seems this year, it’s your turn.

  “If you don’t mind, Rae, I’d prefer to figure this one out on my own.”

  “I don’t mind at all.” She figured he could use some encouragement. “I went through the same thing last year. Heck, I’m still figuring how my tatù works. It’s not that easy.”

  Kraigan raised his eyebrows. “Still learning?”

  “We all are. The powers grow with your body,” Nicholas explained.

  “Really?” Kraigan’s eyes never left Rae’s.

  “Believe whatever Nicholas says. He’s the one who has been here the longest and knows the system better than any of us.” Rae didn’t like Kraigan’s intense focus. She understood their unspoken connection involving their mutual lack of background on the tatù world, but it still made her uncomfortable. Let Molly be the center of attention. She’s great at it.

  She physically turned to Nicholas, forcing Kraigan out of her line of sight for a moment. “Hey, you going to be my Physics partner this term?”

  “Hell yeah! Especially since we had great chemistry in Chem last year?” Nicholas grinned. “Just kidding. Chemistry’s easy for me, but you’ve got levitation and all that so I’m counting on your for Physics.”

  “Kraigan,” Molly said. “Want to be my partner? I could use your brains.”

  A loud roaring engine cut off his response. Rae tried to resist the urge to shudder. Her back was to the parking lot, but she knew instantly, without turning, who it was.

  Chapter 6

  Discomfort

  Devon.

  Rae’s heart rate accelerated. It took every ounce of will she possessed not to turn, run to his car, and wrap her arms around him. She tried to focus on keeping her attitude nonchalant, but she knew that anyone looking would see right through her.

  “Speaking of Devon and Julian—” Nicholas said.

  Rae made every effort not to turn in the direction Nicholas pointed too quickly. She hoped she acted half-normal as she tried to avoid anyone else’s gaze. It would not have mattered; she only had eyes for Devon once he stepped out of his car.

  Dressed in a white polo shirt and army pants, Rae did not think she had ever seen him look so handsome. Looking as if he had just stepped out of Top Gun, his hair had a slightly messy appearance, as if he had been running his fingers through it on the drive back from wherever he had been. He even wore the same sunglasses and had dog tags around his neck. He looked…scrumptious. Hello Maverick!

  Devon’s gaze swept across the fields before landing on Rae. She dropped her sunglasses back onto her nose, and closed her eyes to concentrate. At that range, she didn’t know if he would get the message, but it was worth a try.

  You’re lookin’ pretty hot from over here.

  Devon grinned and raised his hand in greeting. He said something to Julian before the two of them jogged towards the group.

  “Who are they?” Kraigan asked Nicholas, his eyes narrowing as he watched.

  “Devon and Julian. The one with the long hair is Julian.”

  “The Fabio-looking dude?” Kraigan squinted, his hand shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight.

  “Uh, sure.” Nicholas raised his eyebrows as he gave Kraigan a sidelong glance.

  “Who’s Fabio?” Molly whispered to no one in particular.

  Rae shrugged. She had given up trying to educate her friends on American culture. There seemed to be no point. How Kraigan knew about Fabio was a question she didn’t want to ask. To her, Devon and Julian looked like a pair of models--like poster students for Guilder. She took a peek around the fields to see what the other students were doing. Almost everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch Devon and Julian. Her chest swelled with pride. That’s MY man!

  Desiree leaned over, her breath warm against Rae’s neck before she spoke. “I’d like to try my tatù out on either of them, especially the Dean’s son.”

  Instinctively, Rae stepped back and spread her feet. She crossed her arms and exhaled a hot breath. “It won’t work. You do know Julian can see into the future, right? And Devon’s not into people using their tatùs for personal gratification.” She blinked, shocked that her whispers sounded like a hiss.

  Desiree held her hands up, eyes big. “I was only joking, Rae. I didn’t know you’d be so defensive.”

  Neither did I. Rae’s face burned with embarrassment at her total lack of control. “Sorry.” She shook her head and exhaled. “I don’t know why I said that. I’m just trying to look out for you and your crazy tatù. Don’t want you to get in trouble.” She relaxed her shoulders, suddenly glad her sunglasses were large. Hopefully, they hid some of her embarrassment.

  “Nicholas! How’s it going, mate?” Julian clapped him on the back.

  “Rae, how’re you?” Devon’s hands rested casually inside his back pockets, stretching his chest muscles and showing off his physique.

  Better now. I hope Desiree doesn’t catch on. “I’m good. How was training?” She grinned back. Screw paranoia. He really did look delicious.

  “Cool. I’ll tell you more about it later. I just got a call from Carter. He wants to see you in his office. He asked me to take you.” He scratched the stubble on his chin. “Maybe it’s about tutoring?”

  Rae knew it had nothing to do with tutoring. Carter would not call them into his office for that. It had to be something bigger.

  Trying to think of some casual response, she was glad Kraigan stepped forward.

  “Hello.” Kraigan held his hand out.

  Devon straightened and turned to him in surprise. He hesitated a split second before accepting the handshake.

  “Kraigan, right?”

  “Yup.”

  Devon’s head nodded towards Julian. “This is Julian. I hate to be rude and leave, but Carter needs to speak to Rae, and me.”

  “Sure, no probs.” Kraigan smirked.

  Devon gave Rae’s shoulder a friendly pat. They walked towards the school buildings, in the direction of the Oratory. She did not even say good-bye to the group. She had lost her breath and ability to focus when Devon touched her.

  Once out of earshot from the group, Devon squeezed her shoulders and quickly released her arm. He bent forward, speaking quietly. “I missed you, too. Took every ounce of restraint not to hug or kiss you in front of everyone. I don’t even want to remove my arm, but people are going to start to wonder what’s going on.”

  “Glad to know I’m not the only one fighting for restraint. I almost took that Desiree-girl down for her comment about you.” Rae’s cheeks started burning again. Too bad she couldn’t recapture what she had just let out of the bag.

  “What’d she say?” He grinned like the Cheshire cat.

  Rae puffed out a breath. “Nothing really. I don’t know why I even brought it up. She’s got this sex-lust tatù, and she mentioned she wouldn’t mind trying it out on you or Julian.” Specifically you, but I’ll conveniently leave that part out. Rae flipped her hair behind her shoulder, refusing to look at him. She caught his grin in her peripheral vision.

  “Jealous?”

  “No!” She wrinkled her nose at how vehemently she denied it.

  “You sure about that?” The sexy dimple appeared.

  “Well…maybe a little.” She held her thumb and pointer finger half an inch apart.

  “Good.”

  Rae’s eyes and mouth popped open. Should I zap him?

  Devon laughed and stuck a hand up in defense. “I don’t mean good Desiree’s interested, I mean good you’re mad and ready to beat her up. Makes a guy feel good to know his gal’s protective of him--even when she’s not supposed to let on.” He nudged her shoulder with his.

  “Fine. I’ll admit I might be the ever-so-sl
ightly jealous type.?” Change the subject, Rae. She rolled her eyes. “What’d Carter say to you?”

  “Not much, just that he’d like to speak to the two of us sometime when I got back.”

  “Sometime? So there’s no rush?” Rae noted Devon’s cheeks were a bit pinkish now.

  “No. I guess…not really.”

  “Then why the rush to leave the group?”

  “Did you see the way that new guy wouldn’t stop staring at you? I could see it all the way from the parking lot,” he huffed.

  Rae laughed as she punched him lightly in the ribs. “Glad I’m not the only jealous one. Your vision’s obviously better than everyone else’s, since no one else noticed or said anything. Been using your tatù, Mr. Wardell?”

  “Whatever.” They reached the path that led to the Oratory. Devon held out his arm to let Rae go first.

  She stepped in front and said over her shoulder, “This path easily fits two people side by side, you know.”

  “I know. I just spent a summer not seeing you and then another five days away. I’d like to take in the entire view. I’ve missed that cute bum of yours.”

  Rae stopped and spun around. “Devon Wardell, what’s gotten into you?” She pretended to scold him, but his blunt honesty made her tingle.

  Devon opened his mouth, only to have someone cut him off.

  “Rae. Devon,” Carter said. “I’m glad to see the both of you. Come into the Oratory.” He beckoned, then disappeared back inside the building.

  She turned to follow but stopped when she realized Devon was not behind her. She turned to see him standing frozen in his spot, his large eyes darting everywhere, terror written all over his face.

  Rae ran the few steps back to him. “What’s wrong?” She sensed his panic as she reached for him. Then, nothing. No spark, no buzz, no current from his gift. She jerked back from him, breaking contact, her body instinctively not wanting a physical connection with something that felt so incredibly wrong.

  “I…can’t…” Devon’s breath came out sharp and rapid. “It’s gone…My tatù…”

  “Impossible! Stay here. Let me get Carter.” Rae was so scared she felt sick. She turned to run to the Oratory. I couldn’t feel his power. This is bad. Really bad. What the heck’s going on?

  “Wait.” Devon’s voice resounded with relief. “It’s back.”

  Confused, Rae turned back. Slowly she walked over to him and reached for his fingers. The spark immediately shot through her--like it had never left.

  Huh? “I don’t understand.” She shook her head, afraid to let go of his hand.

  Devon shrugged. “I don’t know. I did some pretty crazy training stuff this weekend and then out on a mission. Maybe it just buzzed my tatù down for a moment.” He appeared completely confident and relaxed again. “That was weird, like I tuned out of all my senses…like I couldn’t feel anything.” He shrugged.

  Rae’s brows creased together. “I felt it, I mean, I didn’t feel it. When I touched you. I didn’t get anything. I usually get an instant spark from a tatù. Yours definitely wasn’t there. It was really creepy. Like you were gone.”

  “No, I’m sure it’s fine.” He stood quiet for a moment. “We do some pretty crazy training and ops. Stuff I’ve never done before. I think…it just went low, like a battery needing to be charged. I have about a zillion hours of sleep to catch up on.” He pulled her towards the Oratory. “Come on. Let’s go see what Carter wants.”

  She said nothing, but followed. Maybe she didn’t know much about tatùs, but she sensed what had just happened wasn’t normal. Should I tell Carter? Maybe that’s a bad idea. Last year I didn’t trust him once. Everything about him was off. Now this year I’m supposed to put all my cards in his hand and act like everything’s hunky-dory? For all I know, he was working with Lanford, and now he’s just covering his tracks till the right moment. Who am I supposed to trust? Devon, Molly, and Julian for sure. They would never lie or hide anything from me. Everyone else is on the naughty list till— till when? She ground the heel of her palm against her forehead, not sure what to think or do. She walked beside Devon and headed inside the large double doors of the Oratory.

  It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit grand room. Rae’s breath caught the moment she stepped in. The room’s charismatic charm and Tudor architecture ensnared her attention for a moment. As always, the hundred-foot ceiling drew her gaze upwards. The detail in the carved walls told a story from the distant past. She wished the carvings could talk. She could just imagine the stories they would tell. Where’s Carter? She wondered, noticing his absence. She raised her eyebrows as she turned her attention to Devon.

  He winked at her and gently released her hand. “Carter?” His voice bounced off the oak.

  “Hold on, Devon.” Carter’s deep voice escaped from behind something. “I’ll be right out.”

  Rae raised her hands and mouthed “Where?” She couldn’t figure out where it came from.

  Devon grinned as he pointed towards a wall on his left. Rae’s eyes traveled down his arm to where his finger directed. Everything looked ordinary. The wall displayed its oak panels with their intricate carving work. She jumped back a good four feet when a panel swung open. Carter stepped out.

  Well, he sort of stepped out. He had to duck and turn sideways to get his tall body through the narrow opening. After a slight struggle with the doorframe, he stood, fixed his suit jacket and smiled at the two of them. The panel closed behind him leaving no evidence that it had ever existed. Rae squinted, trying to find an outline or hinge.

  “Oh! You’re both here. That’s good.” Carter clapped his hands, distracting Rae from her search. She stared at him and then back at the panels, unable to figure out which panel he had just come out of. “How’d you do that?”

  “Close the door? I’ve got a remote in my pocket. Nothing magical--though I think the door’s gotten smaller over the years.” Carter rubbed his hands together and chuckled.

  “Oh.” She hadn’t been referring to the door closing, but it did strike her as curious now that he mentioned it. “I never noticed a secret door last year.”

  “There’re several in this room, actually. King Henry VIII wanted them built so he could spy on the students.”

  “Yeah, one’s a bedroom as well.” Devon sniggered. He wiped the smirk off his face when Carter gave him a stern look.

  Rae resisted the urge to giggle. It didn’t take a scientist to figure out why King Henry VIII had added that particular secret room.

  “Nice to have you back, Devon,” Carter said. “I’ve been waiting for you to return so I could talk to both of you.”

  Instinctively, Rae and Devon straightened, their faces now serious. What’s going on? Does the headmaster know about our relationship? Oh crap, we are so screwed. Worse, we’re one-step above dead.

  “Remember our talk the day you arrived, Rae?” Carter pulled on his tie and then rubbed his temples. “It’s not good… Some issues have arisen in the past few days.”

  Issues or do you mean major problems? Rae felt the icy hands of fear grip her spine.

  Chapter 7

  Secrets

  What’s happened? Is Rae in danger?” Devon asked the questions Rae could not bring herself to voice. He stood close but did not touch her. The heat from his body caressed her in a way his hands could not.

  However, even that warmth could not melt the icy fear gripping her. She glanced back and forth between Carter and Devon, watching their faces as a silent conversation only they could hear, apparent from the concentration in their eyes, passed between them. Devon gave Carter a curt nod and folded his arms across his chest.

  “What’s going on?” Rae began tapping the back of her sneaker against the toe of her other one. It squeaked in protest each time the rubber connected.

  “There’s been a complication over the weekend,” Carter said. “Do you recall I mentioned the parts of the brainwashing device being scattered to the four corners of Britain?�
� His gaze shifted from her to Devon as he played with a button on the cuff of his jacket.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “One of the parts has been stolen. Seems those working against us knew our plans.”

  “A leak, or is it an informant?” Devon’s voice erupted in anger, causing Rae to bash her toe harder than she intended.

  “Ouch!” She slammed her foot back on the ground heel first. The rubber on her runner screeched in protest louder than before.

  “Can you stop doing that?” Devon snapped and pointed to her feet.

  She blinked, surprised.

  His voice softened, but the words were rushed, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a jerk.”

  “Follow me. I’ll fill you in as best I can.” Carter turned without waiting for them, and started for the other side of the Oratory. Silent, Rae and Devon followed.

  Once in his office, they sat in the two chairs opposite the massive oak desk. Carter paced the length of the room, his hands clasped behind his back.

  He stopped and grabbed the back of his large chair, the whites of his knuckles bright against the black leather. “I don’t know if there’s a mole, or a double agent inside the Privy Council.” He sighed. “It’s hard to trust anyone these days.”

  Tell me about it. Rae gave her head a slight shake. What’s he talking about, anyway?

  “All we know is, one of the parts has been stolen, and the PC wants you to get the remaining pieces.” Carter stared at Devon. “Guess they want to keep it under lock and key now. Someone is trying to undo all the work you did over the summer. We think Anna’s brother clued in and spoke with Simon Kerrigan’s group.”

  “My father still has a group?” Stupid question. By the uncomfortable silence, Rae knew the answer. Wait a moment -- “Who’s Anna?”

  Devon sucked in a sharp breath.

  “She’s a girl Devon’s dating.” Carter waved a hand absently. “Her brother has become a cause for concern.”

  Rae whirled around to face Devon. She licked her suddenly dry lips and tried to swallow, her entire mouth a giant cotton ball. The look on Devon’s face confirmed Carter’s words. Scratch Devon off the list of those I can trust. She shifted, needing to get away from him. She headed to the row of Oriel windows, wrenching at the antique wooden handle. She swore when it broke off in her hand. Hiding it behind her back, she glanced to see if the others had noticed. They hadn’t. The slightly open window allowed a light breeze to pass through. It caressed her face as she desperately sucked in as much fresh air as her lungs would hold.