The Gray Institute (The Gray Institute Trilogy Book 1)

by Leanne Pearson

  His eyes are wide and panicked, but also curious as I whirl on him, keeping my distance but maintaining my urgency.

  'Look,' I begin, deciding spontaneously to tell him the absolute truth. 'I don't know why you helped me last night and frankly, I don't care. I'm here to tell you that without more help, I can't do what I've been asked to and your information last night will be rendered useless.

  I know I'm asking a lot of you, and I fully expect you to say no, but I have no choice and nothing to lose by asking.' I run out of steam as he cocks an inquisitive eyebrow at me.

  'You're asking for my help?'

  'Yes, I'm asking for your help. I don't have much time.' I snap.

  'Have you been to the West wing?'

  'No, of course not. I have no idea where it is and, like you said, it's guarded twenty four hours a day.'

  'So, you still don't know if I was telling you the truth? Not for sure, anyway?' He asks.

  'No, I suppose not but it doesn't matter. I have it on good authority that I can trust you.' I regret my words as soon as I say them but to my relief, Malachy doesn't ask whose authority I have it on.

  'How am I supposed to help you?' He asks, his voice unbearably calm and collected.

  'I don't know! Any way you can. I'm short of options here, it's not like I can be fussy about what you choose to help with and what you don't.'

  'Why should I help you?' He asks after a moment's pause, and I shrug helplessly, losing my patience.

  'I don't know. There's no reason you should. But you did last night, and there's no harm in asking if you will again.'

  'That's your logic anyway.' He snorts. I try to suppress the rage and impatience welling up inside me. I try, but I fail.

  'Look, don't fuck me around, okay?' I spit, my words somewhat more venomous than I intended them to be. Malachy widens his eyes in shock, his mouth falling open. 'What, is Lucrezia listening?' I raise an eyebrow. 'Is that why you're being an arrogant bastard? Will you help me or not? Yes or no?' I snarl.

  Malachy's head jerks as if he's been slapped at my mention of Lucrezia, and I suddenly realise the very dangerous position I've put myself in. How easy it is in Malachy's presence to forget the status he holds above me – above all of us.

  'Yes.' His unexpected response silences me and I stare at him, trying to keep my breathing under control.

  'Yes what?' I frown, folding my arms.

  'Yes, I will help you,' He repeats. 'On one condition.'

  'Anything.' I sigh with relief.

  'Don't ask me why I'm helping you.'

  A hard lump lodges in my throat as I remember my resemblance to Aleks Anzhela, but I push the thought out of my mind. I have no proof that it's the reason Malachy is helping except Tia's speculation, and that's not particularly good authority given Tia's penchant for playground gossip.

  'Deal.' I nod.

  'How much time do you have?' He asks, glancing at the clock on the wall.

  ''Til eight tonight.'

  'Right. That's not much. I'm assuming you need help getting into the West wing?' He raises an eyebrow and I nod. 'Well, usually I would suggest a strategic plan, but given the short time scale, risks will have to be taken.'

  'The risk is far worse if I don't speak to Katy Branch and succeed in this.' I reply gravely.

  'Then the only option we have is for me to accompany you and distract the guard.'

  'Don't you think it will look a bit suspect, you and I wandering down the corridors hand in hand?' I snort sarcastically.

  'Well, we don't have to hold hands if you don't want to,' He smirks. I try to ignore the hot, prickly sensation on the nape of my neck. 'Obviously, we won't walk there together. I'll tell you where it is and I'll precede you. I'll tell the guard I've been asked to escort Katy somewhere. Instead, I'll stand watch outside the door while you talk to her.'

  'What if the guard stays?'

  'He won't. They relish the opportunity to leave their post; if Katy isn't in the room, they don't need to guard it.'

  'Sounds like a plan.' I nod, breathing a sigh of almost relief.

  'It's the only one we've got.'

  *

  The West wing is in the furthest tower towards the rear of the Institute. It's invisible from the main entrance and overlooks the rocky cliff's edge. Judging by the view, Sir Alec's office is only a few hundred feet from Katy's isolation point, making this mission even more risky – if that's possible.

  Malachy went before me, as was the plan, and should have, by this point, removed the guard from his post on the phony escort excuse.

  It's like something out of a fairytale as I make my way up the winding stone staircase to the top room of the tower. Unlike the rest of the Institute, these walls are bare stone and distinctly lack the trademark tapestries and elegant fire torches. Instead, standard electric bulbs stick out at odd angles from crevices in the brickwork, barely casting enough light to keep a steady footing.

  There are no lifts in this part of the building and the stairs are my only option, narrow even for my deft feet. A human would surely perish on this staircase.

  I break into a run as I realise exactly how tall the tower is; time is not on my side and all the while Malachy stands outside Katy's room, he and I are at risk of being caught. I need enough time to talk to Katy in depth.

  I reach the last step and breathe a sigh of relief as I spot Malachy's platinum blond hair, stationed outside the door as planned. He nods at me as I reach him, crossing the short hallway to the single wooden door.

  'You haven't got long. I told the guard Sir Alec had called an audience with Katy, if the guard spots Sir Alec whilst he's out, we're screwed.' He informs me. Malachy opens the small door and I enter the dimly lit room, spotting Katy immediately.

  She's hunched over a rickety desk, stationed just below an arrow slit window. A single torch burns on the far wall and Katy remains absorbed in something she's writing, though I know she heard me enter.

  'Katy?' I'm timid though I don't know why. I certainly don't have the time or patience to be timid. She doesn't answer me as she continues scribbling.

  'Katy Branch?' I make my voice louder and more confident, remembering the reason I'm here and how much Malachy and I are risking.

  'I don't know what you want me to tell you.' She mumbles, not turning to face me or even taking her eyes off her paper. I'd have thought she'd be grateful for some company – anybody – but obviously not.

  'It's very simple; everything that happened between you and Lorna Gray.' I reply, crossing the room to stand over her shoulder. She hunches further over her writing and snorts, turning her dark head away.

  'That's not simple at all then.' She replies.

  'Look, I don't have time for riddles,' I snap, growing impatient. 'I've risked a lot coming here. I need information from you. I've been set the same task you were, I'd have thought you'd be sympathetic to my cause. You were very vocal with your warning to stay away from Lorna, why clam up now?'

  'It's a lost cause,' She slams her pen down on the desk and faces me finally, her dark eyes glinting in the firelight. She studies me for a moment, her gaze curious, before leaning back in her chair.

  'Why is Malachy risking his life for you?' She asks, cocking an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on her lips.

  I hadn't even realised she knew that Malachy was helping me. At her words, I feel a strange, twisting sensation in the pit of my stomach. Would she tell Sir Alec?

  If she tells him I visited her, he might be pissed off, but if he punishes me for it, I won't be able to complete my task. But if she tells him Malachy helped me...

  I push the thought out of mind, ignoring it, just like I try to ignore the sense of dread I feel at the notion of Malachy getting into trouble.

  'I don't have time for games either.' I reply coldly. She frowns, her thick eyebrows knitting together. She has a larger than average nose and she wrinkles it in distaste.

  'All we have is time.' She replies cockily.

  'I don'
t.' I fold my arms, tapping my foot on the stone floor. The sound reverberates around the room, like the ticking of a clock.

  'How long do you have, exactly, until you fail in your pointless task?' She asks and I feel my temper snap. I slam my palms down on the desk, it buckles beneath my strength and splinters fly through the air.

  'Fuck you,' I spit, feeling nothing but contempt towards Katy. Her warning the day my task was set was nothing but an angry outburst, aimed to piss Sir Alec off rather than help me.

  'You may have given up on your life, but I haven't yet given up on mine. However pointless it may be, I intend to see this task through, and I need your help to do that.'

  She considers my words, her eyes searching the depths of mine. My world and everybody in it is relying on this stranger, but I'm not about to let her feel she has any power over me.

  'How long do you have with me?' She asks, her voice quieter.

  'Not long.' I reply simply. She nods.

  'I'll be quick then,' She says, vacating her chair and gesturing for me to sit down. She rolls her sheet of paper up and clutches it protectively.

  'It was almost a year ago that Sir Alec asked me to persuade his daughter to change willingly. I realised pretty quickly that it wasn't going to be an easy feat; Lorna Gray is against Immortality and everything that comes with it. She despises our kind and above all, Sir Alec.

  To this day I have no idea why it was so important to Sir Alec that she change willingly; you and I both know that even if you fail, he'll change her regardless – but nonetheless, it does seem important to him.

  I spent time with Lorna, a substantial amount of time. Sir Alec even gave me passes out of classes to be with her. She worked out pretty quickly that he'd sent me to change her mind, but she didn't seem to let it faze her. I think she was grateful of some company.

  We talked a lot, mostly about her past; her mother, her old home. She asked me about my old life, we stayed up all night sometimes just talking.

  We became pretty close.

  Even then I had fears that Sir Alec would punish me if I didn't succeed in changing her mind, and I told her of those fears. She understood them but she didn't seem to let it bother her. She told me she'd rather take her own life than become Immortal, and the only reason she hadn't so far was the hope of seeing her mother again.

  Then one night, we were talking, just about menial things, when she told me she had a plan to bring the Institute down. She wouldn't tell me what it was but she asked if, when the time came, I would be willing to help her.

  She put the fear of the devil in me that night. Asking me to risk my life to help her bring down my home, not to mention hundreds of my friends'.

  I avoided her for a while after that. She knew it was because of what she'd said so she steered clear of me. But of course, Sir Alec came calling, asking how my progress was going.

  I had to tell him of Lorna's plans; I feared for my life if I didn't. He said I was lying. That I'd failed in my task and was conjuring up excuses to avoid admitting that fact.

  He isolated me, but not for failing to change Lorna's mind, oh no – for 'lying' about it. The bastard. He knew I was telling the truth, he knows his own daughter, knows of her hatred towards us, even towards him. But he didn't want to admit it to himself.

  He's a monster and you're screwed no matter what you do.' She shrugs, the conclusion to her story.

  I breathe a long sigh, instantly curious as to what Lorna's plan was. Could she, a mere human – a puppet in Sir Alec's show – bring down The Gray Institute? Was she serious or was it a fantasy? A pipe dream?

  'You can't win,' Katy assures me. 'You'll end up like me. Probably worse off.' She shrugs. I almost laugh at her nonchalance before I realise that there's no reason for her to care. Not about anyone or anything.

  She has nothing to lose.

  I thank her for her time – and useless information – before departing, leaving her to her scribbling, which she resumes the moment my backside has left the chair.

  Malachy is waiting outside and nods at me as I emerge, closing the door behind me.

  'Head to your room.' He orders and I obey, starting down the long staircase, my ears pricked for the sound of footfalls. The tower is deserted and as I re-enter the Institute, I head straight for the lift, emerging on the fifth floor without seeing a single soul.

  Tia is unexpectedly slumped on her bed as I enter our room. She sits up quickly and avoids my gaze, racking her brains as to how to address me. My heart sinks as I witness her discomfort around me.

  'Hey.' I say simply, forcing a small smile.

  'Hey.' She replies, picking at a loose thread on her bed sheet.

  'Look,' I clear my throat, leaning against her bedpost. 'I owe you an apology. For the way I acted last night, I was out of line.' I avoid her eyes but I see her shrug.

  'It's all right.'

  'No, it isn't. I was just desperate. Seeing the repercussions of Katy's failure – ' I sigh, running a hand through my hair. ' – I don't want to end up like that. I was under pressure and I took it out on you. I don't want to involve you in the mess I've ended up in and I have no intention to. You're safe,' I reassure her.

  'Sir Alec likes you, I'm sure if you asked to be re-assigned to another first year he'd be happy to oblige. I'll back you up, make up some cock and bull story – '

  'What are you talking about?' She interrupts, her expression insulted. 'I don't want to change first years. What do you mean? You don't want me to be your Mentor any more?' She sounds impossibly hurt and I shake my head vigorously, jumping to sit on the bed beside her.

  'No! Of course I do! I just thought, you know, what with everything that's happened and your worry that you might end up caught in my situation – '

  'I don't condone you sneaking around behind Sir Alec's back breaking the rules, Eve, but only because I'm terrified that you'll end up being isolated or Confined. But I also understand that if you don't do what Sir Alec's asking, you'll only end up in that situation anyway.

  I guess my reluctance to admit that Sir Alec isn't always fair didn't help. I know that you're probably right, I just didn't want to believe it,' She shrugs and I feel a sudden rush of affection for my friend.

  'I will help you with whatever I can, but I would like to be left out of this as much as possible. This is my home, I love it here. I don't want to lose all that.' She looks torn between helping a friend and helping herself and I can't stand to see her so lost.

  'Tia, I won't involve you in any of it. You're my friend and my Mentor, nothing else. Okay?' I pat her shoulder and she nods sadly. She opens her mouth to reply but a knock at the door stops her and I leave her side to answer it.

  I'm relieved to see Malachy and he steps inside without waiting for an invitation. He opens his mouth to speak before noticing Tia and quickly closing it again.

  'Tia.' He acknowledges her with surprise.

  'Malachy,' She greets him, squirming uncomfortably. 'I was just going to head to the library. You don't mind my excusing myself?' She looks to me for reassurance and I nod.

  'Of course, Tia. Look, I'll... I'll see you later, okay?' I reply helplessly as she slips past me, touching my arm briefly before making a hasty exit.

  I stare after her for a moment, wondering if our blossoming friendship is permanently ruined, but I don't have time to think about it for long before Malachy speaks.

  'Did Katy say anything helpful?' He asks, and I sigh, sinking down onto Tia's bed. The sheets are soft and smell of her, a sweet, musky scent, and I almost bury my face in them. The smell reminds me of a time before all this happened, before Sir Alec set me my deadly task and life at the Institute was good. That was only a few short weeks ago but it feels like a lifetime.

  'Nope.' I reply simply, not knowing what else to say. How could the revelation that Lorna told Katy of a ridiculous plan to 'bring down the Institute' be of any help to me in my task?

  What could I possibly do differently? Agree to help Lorna when the time ca
me? Sure, that may work for now, as a time staller, but what if this plan does actually exist and I set it in motion by agreeing to aid her?

  Do I beg her to pretend that she'll change willingly, just so that I can return to Sir Alec with false, but good, news?

  'I suppose you'll just have to see for yourself,' Malachy muses and I nod, knowing he's right. 'I have to get back. Lucrezia...' He tails off.

  'Thank you for your help, Malachy,' I hold his gaze. 'I really appreciate it.'

  'You're welcome, Eve.' He nods, shooting me a fleeting glance before heading for the door.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lorna is waiting for me at eight by the main entrance, as promised. Her long, dark hair is swept back into a chic bun and – unusually – she's wearing make up, her green eyes smouldering in thick Kohl.