Rainbow Rush (Cape High Series Book 19)

by R. J. Ross

Davis’s mother turns and stares as three women come straight through the wall without having to break it down. “Who are you?”

  “Mom, please,” Davis says, “isn’t it obvious who they are?”

  “Davis, I suggest you watch your tone when you’re in the presence of strangers,” his mom says in a low voice.

  “Ma’am, these are the Deadly Darlin’s, who your son tried to grab earlier today,” Century says. “Hy-bo, sweetie, would you mind explaining?” he asks Carla.

  “Skye—Skystep wants to know that you’re not out to kidnap and experiment on her,” Carla says to Davis. “You’re not, right? Because I thought you were super smart, and that would be very… um… foolish,” she says, obviously replacing a different word with a wary look over at the Darlin’s. “And foolish isn’t a word that gets me punished, got it?”

  “Experiment on her?” he repeats, in his most surprised tone. “Do you REALLY think I could pull that off? Everyone knows just how impossible it is to do that to an S-class cape! I was just trying—I’m sorry, Mom, but I have to be honest,” he says, interrupting himself and looking over at his mother. “I don’t want to go to college! I want to be a kid! Sure, I’m extremely intelligent, and of course I’ll run laps around the other super kids, intellectually, but I’ve never gotten the chance to be around my peers, and that’s an important part to becoming socially equipped. If things keep going like this, I’ll wind up being like that one man on the television show, and as funny as it is to watch, it seems like a very difficult life to live,” he lies through eyes full of fake tears. He’s seen his so-called “peers.” He was not impressed.

  “I… I see,” she says after a long moment. “But I still don’t agree with you going to a school that wants to turn you into a super villain! I can’t accept that! Your brilliance will change the world someday, and it shouldn’t involve black tights and silly one-liners!”

  He can’t disagree with that, but he isn’t about to say that in a room full of them, now is he? “Mom, I don’t plan on wearing tights,” he says, instead. “Tights are ridiculous, whether it’s real or staged. If anything, I would construct a device to go into the fight for me, while I oversee from some secret lair somewhere.”

  “Which is a perfectly acceptable way of doing things,” Century says. “Technico will be more than happy to teach you that when you join his school.”

  “Wait!” Carla says. “That’s exactly what we came here to talk about! Skye, tell Century what you decided, okay?”

  “Wellllll,” Skye says, staring narrow-eyed at Davis. She walks over, leaning down so she’s looking him straight in the eye, and then she walks around him, grabbing his wrist and lifting his arm into the air.

  “Hey, wait, what are you doing that for?” Davis asks, honestly surprised.

  “You’re pretty flimsy,” she says, not explaining herself. “But you’re sinister,” she goes on to accuse him, poking him in the nose. “Don’t think I can’t tell, mister! I can tell! Your brain is going a mile a minute plotting devious things!”

  “It is not!” he says, trying not to gulp as she gets right up in his face.

  “Skye, you’re not a psychic, Sugar,” Century says.

  “I don’t have to be!” she says. “I don’t like him, Carla.”

  “You’ve barely even talked to him, though,” Carla says. “And if he does get put on campus, he’ll be watched by ALL of the teachers, even Rochester, right? And Nico and Zoe are checking in on a regular basis, so it should be fine! But if you send him all the way to Central, it’ll be too expensive and hard for him to come and visit his mom on a regular basis, since he’s not very strong or fast, right?” Of course there is always teleportation, but I’m not going to bring that up. He lives in the south, so he should be South Branch, right?

  Skye looks from Davis to Carla, to Century, her face a sea of mixed emotions. “But he’s devious, I can smell it on him,” she says childishly.

  “Skye, you can’t let the past impact how you see people now,” Ariel says, taking her hand.

  Skye is silent for a long moment before she sighs. “Fine, but I’ll be watching you,” she tells Davis, pointing at her eyes with two fingers, and then at him. “He can go to the school.”

  “YES!” Davis says. He’s more excited that she’s going to let him live than he’ll ever admit out loud. “Er, if that… means anything…” he says a second later as he realizes that she really shouldn’t have any say in whether he goes to the school or not.

  “It does,” Century says. “I’ll have your paperwork drawn up posthaste.”

  “I don’t recall saying my son could GO to that school,” Davis’s mom says, her eyebrows furrowing. He wants to tell her that it’s not the best look for her, but he doesn’t dare.

  “Ma’am, your son is guilty of interfering with Hall business,” Century says. “He did it deliberately, and we have it on video. We have every right to bring him to court, or even demand that he be registered as a cape. He will have to do that sooner or later, regardless. We just planned on hiding it until he’d finished all of his schooling.”

  “He’s a minor,” Davis’s mother snaps. “You can’t do that to a minor!”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, ma’am,” Century says. “We have solid proof of his super genes, and that would leave a court of law no other choice but to assign him to our jurisdiction, regardless of his minor status. If he was a D-class or lower, there might be an argument, but his super intellect is already higher than that. Do you really want to get into a court battle with the entire Hall?”

  She goes silent, looking over at Davis again. This time she honestly looks worried. “I… see,” she says. “Davis, is this REALLY what you want?”

  “Yes, it is,” Davis says, looking her straight in the eye. “I want to go to Cape High South.”

  “Then… I suppose I have no choice but to let you,” she says with a sigh. “We’ll have to make a few arrangements and speak to the colleges, first.”

  “I’ll take care of that,” Century says. “Son, go pack, we’re going to move you to the campus.”

  “WHAT?” Davis’s mother asks. “That was never in our discussion! We live plenty close enough to the campus—”

  “Ma’am, a good part of the reason we’re doing this is to keep an eye on your son, and make sure he doesn’t interfere in cape business again. We cannot do that with him staying here.”

  “I… I don’t agree with this,” she says. “Davis, just tell him that you’ll behave yourself!” she orders Davis.

  “Mom… I think it’s for the best,” Davis says. “But I can call and visit on weekends, right?”

  “Of course,” Century says.

  “Then I’ll just go pack,” Davis says, turning and heading for his room. It had been a little touch and go, there, but he’d gotten what he wanted.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Sugar…” Century says as we step out of the house for a bit, leaving Davis and his mother to talk and get ready for the move, “you don’t tell a twelve-year-old that you can ‘smell deviousness on him,’” he says quietly, sounding a bit frustrated. He glances at the houses around us. There are a few curtains twitching in a telling manner.

  “But I COULD smell it,” she says. I look at her, wondering if it’s just me or if this whole mad scientist thing made her even more childish than usual. She sounds like one of my little siblings right now. She’s even pouting like one. “I know the smell of deviousness,” she goes on, defiantly.

  “He smelt like fear, mostly,” Doris says.

  “What?” Skye says, surprised.

  “I’m not going to say there wasn’t something a bit devious about the smell, but I picked up on fear, the most. Or did you forget that I’m a beast type shifter, in a way?” she asks. “Something isn’t as it seems with the boy. But you shouldn’t have any clue about whether someone smells devious or not.”

  “I didn’t smell anything except for a little bit of B.O.,” Ariel comments. “Maybe I should
practice sniffing people?”

  “No, you are not going to go around practicing sniffing people!” Century says. “Look, girls, I’m willing to indulge you to a point, but this boy is now under the direct protection of the South Hall. That wouldn’t be the case if we had sent him up to Central, as I was planning. But since he is now a part of my Hall, you will refrain from assaulting him, tormenting him, or, yes, sniffing him, are we agreed?”

  “We can’t even SMELL him?” Skye demands. “That’s ridiculous! I can smell anyone I want!” She deliberately walks over to him and sniffs him pointedly. “You smell annoying,” she declares. “I can SMELL the annoyingness on you!”

  Century groans, running a hand over his face and taking a deep breath before letting it out. “Okay,” he says, turning and looking at them seriously. “I’m just going to say this once. The boy is now a future South Branch villain. That makes you competitors, officially, but I expect you all to behave like proper coworkers, when it all comes down to it. Do you understand?”

  “I don’t trust him,” Skye says.

  “I don’t care,” he says, bluntly. “I gave you the chance to send him to another branch, just to avoid these problems, but now that he’s one of ours, you just have to deal with it.”

  “And what if he tries to experiment on me?” she demands.

  “Then you leave the room!” Century says, throwing his hands up in the air. “You’re twice his age, I think you’ll be able to handle it, and if your daddy is right, you’re every bit the genius he is, just probably focused in a different direction.”

  “She likes to teach our new robot tricks,” Ariel says. “We’re teaching him how to rob a bank while we’re distracting everyone!”

  “Ariel!” Doris and Skye say, irritably. “That was supposed to be a secret!”

  Century just shakes his head, clearly not going into it. “Carla, sugar, I can take you back to the school along with Davis,” he offers, turning to me. I look at him, and then hesitantly at the Deadly Darlin’s.

  “I was going to spend the night at Skye’s,” I say, “But I should probably help make things comfortable for Davis, shouldn’t I? I’m the one that’s most used to how Cape High is supposed to operate…”

  “Tomorrow night, then?” Doris says before Skye can speak.

  “Then tomorrow night,” I agree, hugging Skye. “That way we can get fingernail polish and everything, right? And maybe we can get Ruckus and Dolly to come over and join us!”

  “Okay, but only because you’re so cute,” Skye says, hugging me back. “We can gossip about boys!”

  “And ROBBING THEM!” Ariel says, even more excitedly.

  “Ladies, ladies, you… no, actually, I think I’m fine with that motto,” Century says after a second of thought. “You go out there, meet boys and rob them all you want.”

  “Skye?” I say, looking at her. “Are you going to be okay?”

  She looks at me, and I see the most serious, most mature expression I’ve ever seen on her face. “When it all comes down to it, I’m a professional, you know?” she says to me, earning shocked expressions from all around. “I’ll just stay away from him.” She starts walking up non-existent stairs. “I’m going home for a bit,” she says, looking down at us before she turns and races away.

  “She’s going the wrong direction, though,” Ariel says, watching her.

  Doris sighs. “Come on, Ariel, let’s go to our base.”

  “But she’s going the wrong direction,” Ariel repeats as Doris grabs her hand.

  “She’s going home to her parents,” Doris says. “She’s been acting strange for weeks, so maybe it’s best for everyone. Tatiana is good with her when she gets into these moods.”

  “Oh,” Ariel says, “okay. Good thing I still have the cookies!” She takes to the air as Doris shifts into her monster form, and they fly away, leaving me standing there with Century.

  “I… I shouldn’t have given them the choice in the first place,” he says after a moment, under his breath.

  “No, you needed to,” I say. “She really would have left. She’s going through a lot right now.” I feel so at a loss. I’ve been tossed into a situation that I can’t fix with a smile and a cheesy line about saving the day. I’m not sure I’m up for this just yet. Back home, when people start falling apart, we always just call Ken…

  I go still, remembering something that Vinny mentioned. “I want to talk to Voltdrain,” I say to Century. “Can I go there before meeting up with you at school?”

  Century glances over at the boy walking out of the house with a huge suitcase wheeling behind him. “Sure, sugar, that’s fine.”

  “Thanks, Century!” I say, waving before I race away. “Comm-bracelet, give me the fastest route to Voltdrain’s place, please,” I say, smiling slightly as an arrow appears above my wrist. It disappears a second later and Nico’s voice comes, instead.

  “Turn left at the next street,” he says.

  “Why no arrow?” I ask.

  “At the speed you’re traveling, even a second of looking away can cause damage,” he says. “It’s safest for everyone if the machine gives you verbal commands.”

  “But a second is a really long time,” I tell him, knowing it isn’t the machine I’m speaking to. His machine always sounds bored, but his real voice has a hint of cynicism on top of the boredom.

  “I know, but you’re still coming into your speed. Who knows when you’ll accidentally kick it up a notch?” he says. “Just indulge me. So how’s it going down there? Having fun?”

  I almost wreck as I hesitate, trying to figure out what to tell him. “Skye is acting strange, Nico, and I don’t think there’s anything I can do to help her. And I sort of understand where she’s coming from, too, because what would happen if I knew there was some crazy kid that was going to grow up to be like Collector going to school? I wouldn’t like it one bit! But she’s acting like a little kid instead of expressing it clearly, and I don’t know—”

  “She’s being stalked,” Nico says bluntly, “and she knows it… or, I should say, she’s known it for a very long time, or she’s been suspicious, at least.”

  “Oh,” I say.

  “So she doesn’t know how to handle it. Where is she now?”

  “Doris thinks she’s heading up to see Tatiana and Superior,” I say.

  “That’s a good idea… except our old man might take it as an invitation to get involved,” he says. “He gets bored.”

  “Wouldn’t you?” I ask.

  “Absolutely,” he says shamelessly. “But at least the game kept him busy for a while. So why are you heading to Voltdrain’s?”

  “Well, we don’t have Ken down here, right?”

  “You’ve got Voltdrain, is that it?” he offers.

  “That’s what Vinny pretty much told me to do. I need to talk to someone.”

  “Good choice,” he says. “I’ll take care of Skye. Don’t worry about it, Carla.”

  “But Nico,” I say, trying to think of something else. I pull to a stop in front of a cozy looking house and see Voltdrain step out of the front door. “Never mind. Make sure she comes back soon, okay? We’re supposed to do another gig soon, without the interruptions.”

  “I will,” he says. I tap on the screen of my comm-bracelet and raise a hand in greeting.

  “Hi,” I say. “Um, sorry for dropping by so abruptly…”

  “We invited you to dinner,” he says. “I am more than happy to see you have come. Please, come in!” he moves, holding the door open for me. I let out a little breath that I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and allow myself to smile.

  “Thank you,” I say. “Is Jimmi home yet?”

  “She is staying after school for a bit,” he says. “Should I call her?”

  “No, it’s fine, um, if you don’t mind?” I ask, looking around the house curiously. It’s a beautiful, colorful place, with a definite Mexican flare. There are tapestries hanging on the walls and handmade rugs on the floor. “Your hous
e is so beautiful,” I say, giving him a smile. “Whenever I go home, the place is a mess. Then again, I’ve got so many little siblings that it shouldn’t be a surprise. Um…”

  “Please, make yourself comfortable,” he says, motioning to a plush looking couch. I drop down, fighting the urge to fidget. I know for a fact that he can move faster, but he’s just sauntering to the kitchen. “Do you want a drink?”

  “May I have some water, please?”

  “Of course,” he says, pouring two glasses of water. I keep looking around, wondering how I’m going to put it. “Are you hungry?” he asks.

  “I’m always hungry,” I admit. He laughs.

  “I understand,” he says, bringing me the glass. “Would you like to help cook?”

  “I’m not very good at it, though. Vinny keeps kicking me out of the kitchen.”

  “Vinny is very possessive of his kitchen,” he says, smiling slightly. “But if you do not learn to cook, you will have problems.”

  I nod and follow him into the kitchen, drinking the water quickly. “Um, I guess I’m early, then?” I say.

  “You are fine, Carla.”

  I nod as he gets the food out of the fridge and starts laying it out on the counters. He moves faster doing this than he had making the glasses of water. “You have some questions for me?” he asks as he starts washing the vegetables. “Come, you will learn to cut while we speak,” he says, motioning me over. I walk over, letting him show me how to hold my hands and the knife. “Now, start cutting at your own pace,” he says as I get used to it.

  “Okay,” I say, going extremely slowly at first, and then speeding up. “So… you know… we go to talk to Ken whenever we’re not sure what to do, right?”

  “I have heard,” he says. “Do you wish to call him?”

  “Well, I could, but… you were closer,” I admit. He lets out a startled laugh. “I’ve heard Nico say a few times that you’re basically the South Branch’s America’s Son, right? Also, you know the people better than Ken does, so you might be able to help better than he would, right? So…”

  “It is about the disagreement between Ruckus and Dolly?” he asks.