Rae of Hope (The Chronicles of Kerrigan) (32 page)

“Crazy Dev…Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Riley quipped.

“Pardon? What did you say?”

“I said, It’s nice to see Devon and Beth together again. They’re on the dance floor all cozy and lost in each other’s eyes. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?”

“I hadn’t heard they were back together.” Rae felt sick to her stomach. After the past few months of her rebel phase, she hadn’t paid any attention to what was going on with Devon. If it didn’t involve her grades, assignments or the two of them together, she hadn’t bothered to ask or care. Why had she focused so hard on their friendship? She really liked the guy but had never stood a chance with him romantically and she hated herself for not realizing it sooner. The bitterness of disappointment churned in her stomach and the blood drained from her head.

“You all right?” Riley stopped dancing and stared at her with concern. His cheetah tatù making her feel even dizzier. “You look a little green. Do you feel sick?” He took a slight step back, but held onto her wrists.

“A little…” She suddenly felt like this was the last place on earth she wanted to be.
What a stupid idea this was.

“Do you need some punch?” He glanced over at Devon then back at her. “Or do you want to go back to Guilder? I have my car and can drive you home.”

“I don’t want you to miss the dance,” she argued weakly.

“Don’t worry. Let me drive you back, and I can head back here after I know you’re all right. Just say the word.” Riley squeezed her wrist.

Going back to the dorm sounded better than staying here watching Devon and Beth fall back in love. She’d vomit all over the dance floor if she had to watch that.

She stared across the room one last time, silently begging Devon to turn her way. Instead, she felt the bracelet he’d given her slip off her wrist, like a sign telling her to give up. She bent down to pick it up, and heard gasps behind her. Remembering her outfit had been designed to show off her tatù if she bent over, she straightened as fast as she could and pulled the back of her top down with lightning speed. She could hear the whispers from the Roe Hampton girls and saw Beth, a smug look on her face, lean over to whisper to a surprised Devon. Rae grabbed Riley’s arm, not paying any attention to the smirk on his face.

“Let’s go.” She pulled him toward the exit.

 
“Hold up." Riley stopped just outside. “I gotta tell Molly I’m bringing you back. If any of the professors ask, Molly can explain.”

 
The fresh air offered nothing to cool her burning face. She could feel a headache starting at the back of her head, creeping its way to the front. Riley raced back out of the large metal doors and helped her into his car. She sat in the passenger seat and covered her face with her hands as he drove.

Rae didn’t glance up until she felt the car roll to a stop and felt the car rock when Riley got out. She lifted her head, and had to blink, surprised to see they were parked in front of the Main Building. Riley opened her door to help her out.

“What’re we doing here? Are the gates locked or something?” Rae tried to focus, the headache putting dots in front of her vision.

“No. Dean Carter asked me to bring you here.” Riley’s answer came out curt.

“Carter?”
Just freakin’ great! What a topper to a screwed up evening.

Riley grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the building door, kicking it open with his foot.

“Let go!” She tried to shaking her arm free. “Riley, you’re hurting me. I don’t want to see Dean Carter tonight. I just want to go back to my room.”

“Sorry, but you need to see the dean. Right now.” Riley continued to pull her up the stairs.

Too ticked to resist him, she jerked her arm free. “Fine, but this had better be quick.” She stomped up the stairs, passing Riley and barging into the dean’s office. She didn’t even bother to knock. She was too angry to worry about being polite.

Dean Carter stood leaning against his desk. He’d been checking his watch. He smiled when he saw Rae and Riley come into the room.

“Well done,” he said, clapping his hands slowly, making her head ache with each loud, percussive clap.

Rae opened her mouth and then glanced at Riley.

“Thanks.” Riley puffed his chest. “It was easy. I just told Kerrigan the Wardell boy was back with his old Roe Hampton bit-girl. Kerrigan fell for it.” He snickered. “She hesitated, but I slipped the stupid bracelet he bought her off her wrist. Suddenly, she was more determined than me to leave. She feigned being sick, and now the entire school thinks I’m taking her back to her dorm room.” His face and shoulders bunched in excitement. Rae felt nauseous when she realized how easily she had been tricked.

“Fine.” Carter flipped his wrist to dismiss Riley. “Go to Rae’s dorm room. Make her bed look like it’s been slept in and then grab her backpack and throw some clothes in it. Make it look like she’s gone somewhere purposely. Then go back to the dance and let everyone know, especially Lanford, that she’s resting.”

“Yes, sir.” Riley turned and headed out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Rae watched Riley leave. She was completely shocked at what had just occurred, but the pieces all slid into place in her mind. This had been planned. Dean Carter wanted to be alone with her. For what reason?

She turned to eye him cautiously, jerking back in surprise when she found his face hovered only inches away from hers.

Great…what do I do now?

Chapter 22

Destiny

“What
do you want from me?”
Rae whispered, taking another step back.

Dean Carter grabbed Rae’s arm. Instantly visions of his life began appearing behind her eyelids as if she were watching them live. She stood frozen. She couldn’t have moved if she wanted to.

She saw a younger version of the dean, in this very room, standing with her father, making a pact to screw the greater good of mankind. Another vision popped in to show Dean Carter and her father, a few years older, arguing. It became clear that Simon intended to use his ability to make them more than just powerful-- to run the British government and let the world know about the abilities their tatùs gave them. They were going to terrify the world; force everyone to follow them, for their own safety and protection, they mocked.

The visions stopped. Shocked, Rae stared, open mouthed, at Dean Carter. “You worked with
my
father?”

The Dean straightened as if he’d been slapped. “I was once your father’s friend. Things changed.”

“Whatever.” Rae let her eyes slide toward the closed door and took a step toward it.

“No, my dear,” Dean Carter said. “You aren’t going anywhere for a bit.” He moved around her and blocked the entrance.

Rae shook her head.
This can’t be happening.

The dean leaned in closer, his breath hot against her face, making her shudder. “You know, I’m not the bad guy. I’m the one actually on your side. We need to get you somewhere safe.”

“Out of this room and away from you seems my safest option.” Rae clenched her teeth, thinking back over the evening. “You had Riley trick and drag me out of the dance and –”

“Something’s going to happen tonight. The Privy Council believes you are in danger. Riley wants a job, so he’s willing to do anything it takes.”

“Riley’s an idiot.”
And so are you if you think I’m going to believe you.

“I’ll explain things better once we get you away from here. My car’s in the parking lot.” He opened the door and turned around to motion at Rae with his hand. “Come on now. We haven’t much time.”

Rae opened her mouth to protest but not get further than the “O” shape of her mouth. A large piece of wood rose above the dean’s head and came crashing down on the top of it. He crumpled to the ground and slumped forward.

With wide eyes, Rae watched a familiar looking cane push the dean’s arm out of the way. Headmaster Lanford appeared in the door way, out of breath.

“A-Are you a-alright?” He took one look at her and tapped his cane against the ground. “What did he say to you?”

Rae glanced from the motionless dean to the headmaster and back down again. “Nothing. But I think you need to call the cops.” She scurried around to his side, avoiding all contact with the dean’s prone form.

Lanford slipped his arm around her and with an iron grip, pulled her across the waiting area. “I’m glad I got here in time.”

“Thank goodness.” Rae reached for the handle of the exit door when they came to it.

“No, dear.” The headmaster pulled her closer to him, his hand covered in the material of his jacket. He didn’t seem to want to touch her. “We need to let them think you’ve left but the safest place is through that door.” He pointed to an ancient looking oak door that obviously led to the other tower room. “Let’s get you in there and I’ll explain everything.”

He opened the door and led Rae through. The room was round like the dean's office, but about four stories high with no windows except near the top. Round with nothing in it but a flat screen TV hooked up to a laptop on a very small table.

Rae walked over the rough, cobbled floor to the laptop. “What’s this for?”

“Move back a bit and I’ll show you.” The headmaster stood behind her.

Rae pressed back against the wall so Lanford could get by. He stood in front, facing her. “Let’s get this sorted.” He lifted his arm and flicked his hand.

Rae jumped when a pair of cold clamps locked around her wrist. She started down in surprise. “What the --?”

Confused, Rae watched as an evil grin split Lanford’s face, transforming him completely from the kind and protective man she thought she had come to know, into a total stranger. This scary figure made her heart race with fear. It reminded her of… her father. Before she had the chance to even raise her arms to protect herself, Lanford used his tatù to slam her back against the wall, cracking her head against the rough, ancient brick. She blacked out.

When she came to, her head throbbing like a bass drum, she reached to rub the back of her head, only to realize her hand couldn’t get her arms that far. She’d been shackled with metal chains screwed into the wall on the other side of the room. Lanford sat close by, doing his typical invisible chair routine.

“What’re you doing?” Rae blinked trying to clear her head. “You’re on my side. The dean’s the one…” She paused remembering him saying that he wasn’t the bad guy. Her brain rushed to bring back all the encounters she’d had with the dean and Lanford, seeing everything in a new light. Her head felt as if it were spinning, and not from the lump on the back of her head.

Something inside the headmaster changed. His face scrunched and he glared at her. “I’ve been at this bloody school longer than one man should have to. I helped your father as a student and what does he do? He turns his back on me. Leaves me here to rot with promises that he’ll come back.” Lanford’s mouth pressed tight and he shook his head. “We devised a plan and what happens? He goes and gets himself killed.”

“My mother –”

Lanford lunged forward off his perch shouting “Your mother ruined everything!” He took a deep breath, then two, calming himself and patting his riotous combover. Lanford carefully straightened his waistcoat and said with incongruent calm, “But now I have you…someone with your father’s ability.”