Being Grey (Beings Trilogy) (22 page)

Chapter Forty

Ugh, Monday morning meetings. Not like we have one every Monday morning but it makes it feel like a real job if I complain that way. I’ve told them about my almost positive sighting of Adam selling drugs and I can see Robbie is furious with me. Nothing I could have done at that time. Robbie obviously disagrees.

“So, the party is only five days away. It sounds pretty positive that Adam will be there and he should be easy to dispose of, but I’m wondering seriously if we need him to draw Ian out.”
Adrian
begins.

“Oh he said he’d be there, ‘wouldn’t miss it for the world’.” I say matter-of-factly before realising my mistake. “At least that’s what Jason said.” I add as if they’re the stupid ones. Need more tea to wake up before I speak again.

“That may be the case but I believe our best avenue to Ian is Adam. As much as it pains us all, I think we should keep him alive until Ian is taken care of.”

General grumbles from all around.

“Getting rid of Ian will mean no more ‘leadership’ and people like Adam will be easier to find. They’ll make more mistakes and we’ll find them easier. It will make a bigger effect.”
Adrian
continues. “But there is something else I wanted to tell you about.”

It sounds serious so we all stop complaining and gather around. Story time.

“At paintball last week, we talked about the fact that Ian appears to be going solo. He does not feel he needs the support of his fellow ‘Takers’. I’ve spoken with hierarchy and they have permitted me to tell you this story. Very few know of it, it’s not something we talk about and it should not be shared with other ‘Gifted’ you meet.” He pauses, for effect.

It works. We’re all very curious now.

“As you know, we guide pure
Beings
and remove the dmaned
Beings
. Rarely, we encounter ‘Takers’ and, as we just talked about, removing them is paramount. It causes chaos and enables our job to be done more effectively.

“It is not often we encounter a lone ‘Taker’. They are normally in groups, such as ours. There was an occasion some time ago when a ‘Taker’ that was travelling alone happened upon a ‘Gifted’.”

“Who killed who?” Robbie interrupts.

“Well, no one died.”
Adrian
mentions, shaking his head.

“What do you mean?” Annabel and Robbie together.

“They just shook hands and parted ways? Why were they both alone, that’s improbable and just plain ridiculous.” Annabel finishes.

I’m just staying quiet. I want to hear this as it sounds a little bit familiar.

“They fell in love.”

“Hm. They did what?” I did not hear that right, did I?

Everyone is looking at
Adrian
with expressions ranging from disgust to disbelief to downright confusion. That last one’s me.

“Regardless of whom we are and what we do, we are mortal, human beings. The attraction between them was too strong for them to ignore.”

I want to run. I don’t want to hear this in front of everyone else. I feel as if I’m on fire. No way. Ian’s hot but I am not falling in love with a ‘Taker’. Not going to happen. Ever. Promise.

“Did they live happily ever after?” Poppy, the optimist.

“No Poppy. She was a ‘Taker’, and although she loved him, it was her way to do evil. She killed his parents. He believed for a long time it was the accident it was staged to look like. He was blinded by her love.”

“No, that’s terrible. What happened?” Poppy’s enthralled.

“After that, she killed his mentor.”

We all look at
Adrian
. We’d never let anything happen to our parents or our mentor.
Adrian
is family.

“The killing went on. Family, friends and then she turned on him. He was too weak to fight her. When he realized what she had done, killed all the people he loved, he didn’t even want to fight her. He told her to kill him too.”

This story is horrific and just a little familiar. Why do I feel, no, not possible. I look at
Adrian
with a ‘oh my god I know who this story is about’ look. He shakes his head gently. Not in front of the others.

“You said no one died.” Stefan says, always a stickler for detail.

“Correct. She didn’t kill him. She had taken everything he lived for. She left him a broken man. He was so strongly ‘Gifted’, one of the best, but from that day on he retired. Couldn’t do it anymore. She walked away and was never seen again. He lost family, friends, everything. But sadly, to him, he lost his heart too. He truly loved her.”

“Should have killed him.” Robbie says. “He can’t have been ‘Gifted’ if he loved a ‘Taker’.”

“No.” Why did I jump up and draw so much attention to myself? Oh well, here now. “No. I don’t believe that. Look at me. Jason is almost dark. What would I do if he slipped just a little further? He must have believed he could save her?” I look at
Adrian
for conformation.

“Save a ‘Taker’? Have you been reading fairy tale’s
Alice
?” Robbie snorts.

“I believe in true love.” Poppy adds. “They should have run away to a deserted island. Just the two of them and they could have lived happily, right
Adrian
?”

Desert
Island
. Just the two of them. Oh, please. Am I dreaming? Oh so déjà vu.

“Well, I’m not sure of that,” Adrian humours her, “but the moral of the story is, the only time a ‘Taker’ has been sensed on their own it was to find their way into the heart of one of us. Find their way in and then rip their way out. They have to be able to separate one pure
Being
, a ‘Gifted’, from the group to make us weaker. But for one of us to trust these, these monsters, that could get us all killed.” I can’t remember
Adrian
ever sounding so emotional about a subject before. It’s weird.

Alrighty then. Point taken. Why is everyone looking at me?

“OK, good chat. Thanks for that.” I say. What?

“You’re the only one that’s seen him. Is he after you
Alice
?” Poppy looks both excited and horrified at the thought.

“Me? Don’t be silly. He waved that’s all. Remember? Just wrong place wrong time. That’s me.”

“Just be very careful
Alice
. And the rest of you, don’t let her out of your sight until this is over.”
Adrian
warns us all. “Brunch?”

I follow
Adrian
into the kitchen.

“Something you want to share with me Alice?” He asks.

“It was Parker wasn’t it? He’s the one that fell in love.” I ask.

“It doesn’t matter who it was
Alice
, just make sure it doesn’t happen to you. Here, take these out to the gang.”

I feel dismissed again. I also feel very alone and very stupid. I could have gotten my friends killed, my family, Adrian. All over a good snog. It’s not as if he’s the only good looking guy in the whole world or anything. Just the best looking one I’ve met so far. And courteous, polite, thoughtful. That billowing black smog that he radiates is a bit of a bummer though.

And there’s Jason. Puppy loving softie. Not exactly a hundred percent good guy, but that’s also OK. Perfect would be boring. Still good looking, an alright kisser. Kind of person your mum and friends would like. Sorry Jason, that wasn’t exactly a point in your favour.

OK, serious thinking time. Kill Ian. Waste of good looks but chances of running away to
Desert
Island
slim, so need my family and friends. Sorted.

Chapter Forty One

“You really like him don’t you?” Poppy asks on the train home.

No guesses for who I was thinking about.

“Honestly? I’m not really sure.” She’s my best friend. Can I tell her everything? All of it? “Poppy, there’s so much more to it than whether I just like him.” I begin.

“I can imagine. Best mate is a damed
Being
, other mate is the absolute enemy. Dopey room mate, I’d be a little unsure myself.”

“That and I’m not twelve anymore.” I make light of it. I almost blurted it all out then but she doesn’t need the burden.

As we’re walking back to the house we see dad weaving sown the street.

“Hi Mr. Shaw. Liquid lunch?” Poppy asks giggling.

“Just one Penelope.” My dad lies. “I bumped into your man and we had a good chat.” Dad says to me.

“Oh, lovely.” Say no more. Please, not now. I’m going to throw up.

“I invited him to dinner with us. Thought it was about time you told mum.”

Shut up dad.

“But your mum knows Jason long legs,” Poppy is looking at me confused, “surely you remember him?” She says to dad.

“Jason? No not Jason. His name is…”

“I’d love to chat but we have to run. I’ll call you about dinner. Get home safe. Love you.” I’m literally dragging Poppy to the front door.

I throw the door open and propel her inside and slam it behind me.

“Few more than one I think. Cup of tea?” I ask.

“Sure.” Poppy says, but it’s in slow motion. “I think a cup of tea and a chat is just what we need. A cup of tea and then you tell me what the hell is going on! Your dad knows Jason and it obviously was not him that we were just talking about. I knew something was going on. You’re daydreaming 24/7. I thought you were preoccupied with Jason and the party but there’s someone else isn’t there? You have a boyfriend that you didn’t even tell me about? I thought we were best friends.” She’s literally screaming. I’ve never seen Poppy so upset.

“Please Poppy. Stop.” She’s throwing clothes in a suitcase.

I’ve told her everything. Well, not everything. I didn’t tell her about the night after the funfair. I did tell her about the coffee shop and the kiss but I made it sound like he kissed me and I pushed him away. No mention of nosy Mrs. Camberley. I didn’t exactly tell her about Sainsbury’s shopping either. I just mentioned he was outside and my dad saw us and assumed we were together.
 
I did however tell her about the letter sent to Lisa’s.

“You’ve lost it over a sexy chuckle.” She’s disgusted with me and I’m exhausted with the fight. “You’ve put us all in danger. I really would never have believed you could be so stupid
Alice
. This stinks!” She’s beginning to sound deflated too.

“Please don’t go Poppy. I can’t fight him on my own. I need you.”

“That is the first sensible thing you’ve said. I think we need to get
Adrian
over here and tell him the truth.”

“No. I’m begging.” And crying. “Poppy it’s bad enough that I’ve let you down. Please don’t tell him yet. I promise I will but I can’t stand the way you’re looking at me and if he looks at me this way too...” I’m literally howling.

“Here.” She hands me a tissue and actually takes a break from packing, sits on the bed beside me. “I don’t know what to do
Alice
. You heard that story. Ian was drinking with your dad for goodness sake. No offense, but your dad looked a bit tipsy wobbling all over the street. Do you know how easy it would have been for Ian to kill him on the way home? He’s playing with you. Letting you believe he wouldn’t hurt anyone. He’s breaking down your defences Alice and then he’ll go for the kill, your family and friends.”

“So what do we do Poppy? I thought I was strong enough to do this on my own but, but, but I’m not.”

“Even more reason to tell the gang. Then we can all support you.”

“Robbie will kill me!” I howl.

“No he won’t. I don’t think. Oh honey what are we going to do?”