House of Cards

by W. J. May

  And I’m going to need to buy a car. The salary the Privy Council offered would easily take care of all her expenses, and then some. The only part of the contract she had made them change was the renewal. They wanted three years, but she convinced them to change it to one year. That would hopefully give her enough time to figure things out and find some answers to the questions gnawing at her insides. She didn’t want to be locked into anything longer than necessary. She realized that ultimately, when she had all the answers she sought, she might decide to stay. That didn’t bother her. It didn’t excite her either. It didn’t make her feel anything in particular. Oddly enough, the fact that she wasn’t bothered or excited by the idea of staying with the PC is what bothered her. Was she perhaps taking this “will trust no one” thing too far?

  She flexed and relaxed her ankles repeatedly. Her muscles were tight from yesterday. Jennifer had worked her hard. She’d spent too much of her time on her toes and now her legs were paying for it. The healing tatù could fix it, but after her ordeal with Kraigan she’d made the mental decision that pain wasn’t a bad thing. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. If she constantly fixed things that hurt, she feared she’d end up like her father, or Kraigan. Weakness had made her a victim, but she planned to never be one again.

  She checked her watch. Six thirty on a Saturday morning. Two and a half hours before she needed to be at training. She’d gone late to bed and hadn’t slept enough. Too much homework, too much thinking and remembering.

  “That damn journal,” she mumbled to herself. She’d tossed it in a hidden room in the Oratory the night Kraigan had tried to kill her. Pressing fingers against her temple, she tried to relax. The journal belonged to her, not the Privy Council. So why did she feel so guilty about keeping its location a secret?

  Standing up, she threw her shoulders back and exhaled a long breath. Hardly anyone would be around right now and even if she bumped into anyone, she could say she needed to catch up on some work. “It’ll be easy. Just go to the Oratory, use a speed tatù to the secret room. Get in, grab the journal and get out.” She rubbed her hands against her black tights. “Easy peasy.”

  After a quick tug to tighten her ponytail, she turned and walked out the door before she lost her nerve. As expected, the hallway and stairs were deserted. Thankfully the door leading outside stayed squeak-free. Rae jogged down the steps and glanced around. A catering truck’s beeping as it reversed into a loading dock seemed the only unusual sound. Her chest tight, she stood on the balls of her toes and slowly turned her head left then right. No one. Go. Now!

  Switching to Devon’s tatù, Rae raced down the cement steps and all the way to the Oratory. She continued to look and listen for anyone she might see. After last year, she wasn’t sure who to trust, or if the tatù world actually trusted her. The Privy Council had been desperately trying to locate the journal. They’d be ticked if they found out she had known where it was this whole time, and even angrier if they ever found out she’d been the one who had actually hidden it.

  She slowed her pace to a walk when she came to the path leading to the Oratory. Not winded, she still took deep breaths to slow her racing heart. Quit with the guilty feelings. She didn’t plan to keep it secret forever. Once she photocopied the journal, she could give it to the Privy Council. When she did, she knew she would need to explain away how she had come to be in possession of it. Maybe she could force them to let her see Kraigan and then she could come up with some plan that he told her where it lay hidden. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

  At the door, she found the hidden key pad and punched in Devon’s code. Hopefully it hadn’t changed. He used her actual birthday date numbers as his password. Kinda cute. Secret boyfriend’s secret code.

  “Crap!” She hissed when the door didn’t unlock and glanced back at the little screen. A single line blinked on and off. Leaning forward, she let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. The last digit hadn’t been entered. She probably hadn’t hit it hard enough. Pressing the number seven again, this time harder, she grinned at the churning sound of the lock moving. Without daring to glance behind her, and using her tatù’s strong sense of hearing, she slipped inside.

  She leaned back against the heavy oak door and stared into the darkness of the Oratory’s great room. Devon’s tatù rocks! The fennec fox gave him speed, agility, great hearing and fantastic night vision. She’d use Devon’s tatù over Jennifer’s at the moment. She knew the fennec fox inside out. She may still be low on abilities, but it didn’t matter. At the moment she only needed one.

  The intricate wood carvings along the walls blended together in the dimness of the morning light. The oriel windows were high up, but the grey clouds kept the sun from having any chance to show that sunrise had even happened. She pushed against the door, determined to move forward and also move the guilty feelings aside.

  Just get it and get out. Cocking her head to the side, she tried to concentrate on the possibility of Carter coming from one of the hidden doors. King Henry VIII built the Oratory and added hidden Tudor rooms. The Privy Council, who knows when, had added hallways that lead to their facilities. A secret passageway here, a hidden room there. No one knew, except for a few people who worked for the Privy Council. Rae hadn’t known about it until–

  Stop it! She yelled inside her head. Just get the bloomin’ journal! Devon had been so horribly injured and she had been unbelievably scared. It was not a memory she cared to dwell on.

  As she came to the far wall, she reached out and ran her fingers lightly along the hand carved cameo and scenic images. She closed her eyes, finding it easier to concentrate on what she needed to find. The changes in texture from smoothness to rough, jagged to rippled along the wood brought back no memory to the small little piece of wood that so intricately fit into the carvings but stuck out just enough to open the door to one of the hidden rooms.

  Her breathing hitched when her feet bumped into the wall at the end of the hall. Rae opened her eyes, a carving of a man with a raised axe inches from her face. The rapid beating of her heart distracted any other noise she might hear, like the noises she actually needed to be listing for.

  She dropped to the floor and leaned her head into her hands. Moistness covered her palms. She’d been sweating. She had no idea if the sweat came from her forehead or her hands. Probably both.

  Flashes of the battle with Kraigan flashed through her head like lightning. Kraigan lifting her up and tossing her against the wall, spinning her like a ragdoll, stealing all her tatùs so she had nothing left to fight him with. He’d broken her arm, cut her face, slapped her, and worse. It had been done with such hatred and malice, from a step-brother she’d never known existed.

  Forcing a shaky breath through her lips, she forced herself to get up. She had never thought she would be scared coming back in here. She shook her head. “I’ve been through enough crap in my life, I should know better. I should’ve come later in the day, when the room sat full of students.” She snorted. “Great. Now I’m mumbling to myself out loud.”

  Her hand brushed against a strangely familiar piece of wood. She had been walking without even realizing it. With two fingers gently holding the tip, she pushed the wood up. Stale air filled her nostrils, as Rae slipped inside the opened door and pulled out her mini flashlight.

  The light bounced off the walls and illuminated the small room with shadows and small bits of round light. She went straight to the bed, and dropped down to look underneath it.

  Dust bunnies the size of Texas filled most of the space. “Guess the cleaning lady doesn’t make regular visits here.” She leaned down on an elbow and concentrated on finding the spot where the settled dust had been forced to dance, which would indicate a recent disturbance. The flashlight moved back and forth in one fluid motion. “Bingo,” Rae whispered when she saw some slide marks in the dust beneath where the pillows lay. The journal lay partially opened and angled against the far bedpost.

  Rae stuf
fed the stem of the flashlight into her mouth and stretched out her arm, trying to reach the journal instead of some dust bunny family member. The tips of her fingers brushed against one corner. “Crap!” The book slid away as she tried to grasp it. She tried unsuccessfully again and again. Flipping onto her back, she figured she would be able to get her shoulder under the narrow space between the bed and floor.

  No go.

  Of course the bed was against two walls meeting with the journal right in the corner.

  Rae sat up and tapped her fingers against the floor. What tatù to use? She only had about a dozen to choose from. That was next to nothing compared to her inventory pre-fight to the attempted death with Kraigan. Devon’s tatù wouldn’t help, nor would Julian’s, Carter’s or Jennifer’s. “I could use Lanford’s levitation right now,” she muttered. “The only thing that was good in him.”

  Pursing her lips she quickly went through her list. Electricity…wind… crow…leopard… Hold it, wind?

  She lay back down and rolled her head sideways to see under the bed with the flashlight. What if she sent wind against the wall, could it bounce back and push the journal within reach?

  She tried a small burst. Nothing. She pushed the image of a breeze out of her head and focused on a gust. A big one. She flicked her hands and went flying across the room to the other wall, banging her back and head hard against the wood.

  “Ow!” She rubbed the sore spot and sat up. Her flashlight lay on the floor next to the bed, its torch shining on the journal just peeking out from underneath the bed. Goose egg forgotten, she scrambled over to it.

  She froze when she heard a noise in the Oratory. Who would be here on a Saturday? Her tatù automatically switched to Jennifer’s leopard as she tucked the journal into the back of her shirt and tights. Sneaking to the hidden door she rested her ear against it and listened as hard as she could.

  Footsteps echoed away and then nothing.

  Slowly, and with a grimace, she opened the secret door. She almost giggled out load as she wondered how her scrunched up face would prevent the door from creaking. Surprising her, the old wood slid open without a sound.

  She glanced around the Oratory, her heart racing, and didn’t see anyone. Pulling the door closed, she jumped when it clicked shut. She spun around the room and cocked her ear for any sound. Only the building’s natural noises greeted her. As fast as she could, and beyond humanly possible thanks to the leopard tatù, she ran to the entrance and out the door.

  Slowing to a jog on the sidewalk, it was only then she remembered the door code. She hadn’t stopped to enter it. What if there was an alarm rigged to the lock code? Wouldn’t whoever was in the Oratory have set it, instead of turning it off? Or maybe they knew someone was inside and were checking the back rooms? Who had been there? Would they still be in the area? There were too many questions and no answers.

  Rae sped up her pace again. She had no intention of finding out, or getting caught. She stopped to catch her breath just outside Aumbry House. While sucking air in and out of her lungs, she stretched her calf muscles using the edge of the steps as her base and dropping her ankles low toward the previous step. She held on to the railing for balance. It felt incredibly good to stretch her sore muscles. It occurred to her that simply having sore muscles from actual physical exertion felt pretty good too.

  “Taking up running now, Ms. Kerrigan?”

  Rae slipped mid-stretch at the sound of Madame Elpis’ voice. “Uh… yeah. I couldn’t sleep.”

  Madame Elpis stood by the door looking down her long noise at Rae. She wore her usual wool skirt and white blouse. Arms crossed over her chest, she frowned at Rae. “I know you’ve taken an early position with the Privy Council,” she said in a quiet voice. “I suggest you worry less about training, and more about school work. Don’t think your professors will be lenient because you choose to try to juggle both.”

  Rae didn’t know what to say. Was Madame Elpis giving her crap? She never had before. At least she believed her and wasn’t questioning the early run on a Saturday morning.

  “I can appreciate you finishing school. I think it’s a very smart decision.” Madame Elpis, the headmistress for her dormitory, frowned. “You’re young and it’s easy to get caught up in the glamor of the job. However, it’s not all as beautiful as it sounds. The Privy Council was silly to push you into service so soon. You’ve been through enough the past two years.” She shook her head, staring down her long pointed nose at Rae. “They should have waited. I told the Guilder board of directors the same thing, but nobody listens these days.”

  Elpis was giving advice against her sacred Guilder Boarding School and the Privy Council? What other crazy thing was going to happen today? “I appreciate your concern, Madame Elpis. And your advice.” Rae felt the journal slipping slightly down her back and thought of Madame Elpis’ crown tatù; it wouldn’t take the woman long to figure out something was amiss. She needed to get upstairs before someone noticed it or it fell out. “I think I’ll do a bit of that studying now.” She trotted up the stairs, facing Madame Elpis as she stepped by her. As she turned to open the door, she pulled the journal out of the back of her shirt and held it close against her so Madame Elpis wouldn’t see it. “Thanks again,” she called out over her shoulder.

  Rae took the stairs two at a time to her room. Inside she tapped the journal against her hand as she glanced around the room trying to find the perfect hiding place. She needed to shower and change. Not my room, she thought. This is too important. My room would be the first place anyone would look if they thought I had it.

  She checked her watch. Had it really only taken thirty-five minutes to collect the journal and get back to her room? It had seemed like hours.

  If she jumped in the shower now, she could spend an hour studying the journal before heading over to train with Jennifer. She lifted the mattress of her bed and hid the journal under it, near her feet. She figured it was a stupid spot, and nobody would look there. At least until after she showered. She would think of a good spot while in the shower. She quickly made the bed and grabbed her toiletries along with a change of clothes.

  As she closed the door she noticed her phone on the desk flashing. She must have missed a message or call.

  It could wait ten minutes. Even less if she used her tatù. It might be Devon after all.

  Chapter 4

  Fractured Aorta

  Shower done in record time, body dry and dressed, Rae had finally taken a moment to check her phone. Devon had sent the message. He wanted to come by her dorm this morning. Rae tossed on her new dark blue Lululemon outfit, a la her best friend, shopper extraordinaire, and former roommate, Molly, and quickly dried her hair. She left it down and slipped a ponytail holder on her wrist to use later.

  Devon hadn’t said much in the text, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t wait to see him. He’d been badly injured as part of Kraigan’s plot to force her into a to-the-death battle, but in the end, Rae had won and saved Devon’s butt in the process. She smiled. When they had been in the infirmary, she had made a comment about his cute derriere. It was pretty hot.

  Rae jumped from her chair and ran to open the door when she heard him on the stairs.

  Devon stood, knuckles midair about to knock on her door. “That was quick.” He grinned.

  She hugged him tight but quickly let go when Devon kept his arms at his sides. “Oops.” They nearly stood in the hallway, door open for the whole dorm to see. No tatù dating. She pulled him inside and closed the door.

  He reached for her, and kissed her forehead.

  “Missed you.” She stepped back so she could drink in his handsome face.

  “Me, too.” Devon ran his fingers through his hair. “I wanted to–”

  “Hey, guess what?” Rae interrupted, so excited to see him. “I met my Botcher yesterday.”

  “Really? Who is it?”

  “Jennifer.”

  “Leather Jennifer?” His brows went up.

  She lau
ghed. “Yeah! Did you know she worked with my mother? I had no idea my mom worked for the PC’s.”

  Devon blinked and his eyebrows shot up higher. “Seriously? She was a PC musketeer?”

  “You didn’t know either?” She wondered if that information was supposed to be classified. “I know you won’t say anything, but maybe don’t tell Julian. I don’t know if I’m supposed to share that.” Classified or not, she made a mental note to pay close attention to whether or not that information surfaced later. She cared deeply for Devon but even he had not been forthcoming with vital information from the beginning. It didn’t matter right now. For this moment in time, she was determined to simply enjoy being with him. If later, he proved to be untrustworthy, she would deal with it, even if she secretly doubted she could handle that level of betrayal. It simply didn’t bear thinking about.

  He crossed his hand over his chest and grinned. The cute dimple appeared. “Your secret is safe with me.”

  Rae hugged him again. She wanted to kiss him, to feel his soft lips on hers, but she suddenly felt shy. In the past, she would have pushed that feeling away and rushed headlong into her desires. However, with time, she had learned to listen to her emotions. They were powers all their own.

  “Are you training today?”

  She nodded. “In a couple of hours. Want to hang out? Julian let me borrow his car today. It took a bit of begging, but he finally said okay. He just got it all fixed up.” Since I wrecked it. She wisely left that part unspoken. Devon had been witness to her epic bout of road racing, which had left poor Julian’s beloved jag in less than pristine shape, but he might not have been conscious for all of it. There was no need to remind the poor guy of the trauma he had previously suffered with her behind the wheel.