The Inner Circle (Return of the Ancients Book 3) (17 page)

But my words fell on deaf ears.

Jareth was grinning at Raven.

And Raven was furious. She looked like she wanted to roast Jareth alive. But the moment Rafael stepped up to her side, she slid her arm around his waist and slipped her hand into his pocket.

Rafael didn’t move away.

“Rafael has me now,” Raven purred with a sickening smile. “He’ll soon forget this place and … everyone in it.”

“There’s nothing to forget,” I replied acidly, refusing to look at him.

But Raven had apparently decided to wax philosophical. “The Fae do not love as humans do,” she announced. “We get bored easily.”

She stood there, smirking and running her hands along Rafael’s well-muscled arm. And I decided that no matter what game he was playing, that I’d had enough. Looking right at him, I said, “Then you clearly don’t know humans very well. We get bored easily, too. And we have no problems moving on.”

Rafael’s brows rose a fraction of an inch. Without breaking my gaze, he removed Raven’s hands and ordered in an arch tone, “Raven, go sit with Melody.”

Raven drew back. “It’s time for us to go—”

“Now.” He cut her short.

Looking like she’d much rather pull her own teeth out than leave him alone with me, she turned in a cloud of perfume and retreated to Melody’s table. They both watched with venomous expressions.

Draping an arm around my shoulders, Jareth asked Rafael, “Why did you bring them along? I wanted to speak with you alone.”

“It’s too late,” Rafael replied cryptically.

“Then you’re leaving,” I stated, torn between anger and confusion.

“Melody is escorting me back,” he answered. “We’re leaving shortly.”

I couldn’t bear to look at him.

Rafael leaned close to Jareth and kept his voice low. “Melody has a weapon she’s planning to unleash on the Brotherhood soon. It’s related to you in some way, though I can’t determine how. Be wary.”

Jareth frowned. “The Brotherhood do not fear her,” he answered in hushed tones. “They’re convinced their portal will be open soon.”

I scowled, not really in the mood to share information. Rafael was leaving. Had he even planned on telling me?

Ellison came inside, and I used the opportunity to twist free from Jareth and escape to the back.

Picking up several bags of trash, I headed outside to clear my head. Breathing the cold air deeply, I darted through the fat droplets of rain splattering down from the dark sky while keeping a cautious eye out for Mesmers.

I’d just tossed the last bag into the dumpster when I turned around and ran right into Rafael’s lean muscular body.

“A moment,” Rafael murmured, catching me by the arm.

I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go.

“Never forgive me if I’ve done something wrong, Sydney—” he started to say.

I cut him short. “So you’re going to tell me it’s not your fault that Raven was hanging all over you.” I knew I sounded jealous. I was.

Rafael’s eyes pinned mine. “Raven means nothing to me.”

“Maybe you should tell
her
that,” I snapped. Twisting free, I sidestepped him, but I’d only taken about two steps before Jareth emerged from the back door of the coffee shop.

“I can make this simple, Rafael—” he began.

“I can, too, Jareth,” Rafael interrupted curtly. “Leave.”

Jareth’s eyes widened a fraction, and then to my surprise he stepped back inside.

“Huh?” I blurted, feeling betrayed.

Rafael cleared the space between us in a single step. Catching my chin in his hand, he forced me to look at him. “Patience, Sydney.”

“Patience?” I repeated, still annoyed. “Were you ever planning on telling me that you were leaving?” My eyes flashed angrily.

He dropped his hand and let his fingers trail down my arm, skimming an inch above my skin as one side of his mouth lifted into a half-smile. “So Raven and my leaving bothers you?” he asked softly.

“I’ll get over it,” I promised tartly. I didn’t tell him how depressing it would be. I guess I didn’t have to. He probably saw it on my face.

His fingers closed around mine, and the look he gave me was a long, steady one. One that I knew would melt my resistance if I were to stare back at it any longer.

No, I really couldn’t let him pull at my heart anymore. There were so many reasons I had to let him go.

Summoning every ounce of strength that I had, I told him, “We both know we can’t be together, and I don’t want to do the wrong thing. So I’m going to walk away. Goodbye.” Each word ripped my heart out.

And with that, I ran into the coffee shop.

I stayed in the back for the rest of my shift, and to my relief, everyone left me alone. Ellison dropped by to say that they’d all left, even Jareth.

I washed the dishes, cleaned the storeroom, and tried my best not to think of Rafael. Instead, I tried to focus on my tulpa experiment, but it was really hard to summon the emotion of happiness and to think of Pikachu when all I really wanted to do was cry.

Finally, my shift was over.

Grace and Ellison had another date after work. They offered to let me join, but I didn’t really like being a third wheel. Besides, I had to get my Christmas presents. I’d lost track of time. Christmas was tomorrow, and I hadn’t gotten a single present.

I looked up the bus schedules on my phone and found one that suited my purposes. And if worse came to worst, I figured I could call Jareth. With all of the craziness of late, I reckoned there was a fairly high chance he’d show up.

Hopping onto the bus, I checked Jareth’s rune several times. It was cool to the touch, and I took that to mean that the Mesmers were busy doing something else right now instead of watching me. I wasn’t sure if it was an absolute indicator, but it made me feel better, anyway.

After a short ride, I arrived at the department store where I had made that foolish mistake of shoplifting. Rafael had rescued me then. It seemed so very long ago.

I couldn’t help but think of him the entire time I picked out the presents.

I’d never bought Christmas presents before, so it kind of cheered me up a little, and exiting the store with shopping bags in one hand and Jareth’s rune clutched tightly in the other, I ran for the bus stop at the far side of the parking lot.

It was already dark. In Seattle, it was dark before 5:00 PM in the wintertime, but I really didn’t mind it. In fact, looking up and down the street, I thought it helped to make everything look super Christmas-y. Red, green, and white lights twinkled in all of the store windows and even on the streetlights.

I’d almost reached the bus stop when I saw him.

At the edge of the parking lot, I drew up short to see Rafael’s tall figure leaning against his car, his hands in his pockets. The mist surrounding the car betrayed the fact that it had just been shifted.

Rattled, I said the first thing that came to my mind and pointed to the car, “I thought you couldn’t shift.”

He chuckled deeply in reply. “There are plenty who will do it for me.”

I supposed that was true enough. He was a prince and a pureblood. He had no lack of devotees. It was moments like this that really highlighted the differences between us.

Over his shoulder, I saw glowing eyes staring at me from the dark branches of a tree.

I gasped.

Immediately, Rafael pushed off of his car and moved swiftly my way, looking every inch the soldier.

But following my gaze, he relaxed and said, “It’s only a cat.”

As I watched, the cat jumped down and slowly walked away.

I felt a little foolish.

“Let me take you home,” Rafael offered, holding out his hand. “I’m going back there now anyway.”

As I hesitated, Ajax popped his head out of the window and practically smiled in invitation.

Feeling like a fool who enjoyed self-torture, I walked to the car and slid in, stuffing my bags of presents around me.

Ajax actually wagged his two-inch Twinkie-stub of a tail in greeting.

“What have you done with the
real
Ajax?” I asked him a tad sarcastically, but I couldn’t help but smile a little.

He widened his grin to show more of his teeth, and suddenly I wasn’t really sure he was smiling anymore.

“Ah, there you are,” I said, deciding against petting his head.

And then Rafael got in, and we were off.

Neither of us spoke. Not until we pulled into Al and Betty’s driveway.

“You’re right,” Rafael said abruptly, before I could even open the door. “I’ve been foolish with you, Sydney, and I can do nothing now but claim responsibility. It’s all my fault and my fault alone. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

I held still, not daring to look at him. 
I felt his finger trace a light caress along my cheek, and his voice dropped into a hoarse whisper. “I’m leaving now, and I really shouldn’t … come back. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”

I wanted to ask Rafael about the Inner Circle, and the mutant tulpa, and why he was just leaving when everything seemed to be escalating into a big mess.

But I didn’t.

I just bolted out of the car, bags and all, and dashed into the house with the last words Rafael would ever say to me ringing in my ears.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it.

I wanted to cry, but I hurt too badly.

So instead, I did what I’ve done my entire life. I pushed the thoughts away. I bottled them up to be dealt with later. I didn’t even let myself acknowledge that most of the time, later never came.

Suddenly, I heard Al singing in the kitchen.

Seizing the distraction, I set my bags of Christmas presents down and walked into the kitchen to see what he was up to.

The table was covered with an array of chicken wire, paper clips, a variety of wire clippers, and a stack of baseball caps.

Al was on the floor, kneeling next to Tigger. He was stapling paper clips onto the old bloodhound’s collar.

“What’s up?” I asked curiously.

Al stopped mid-song and glanced up at me with a wide grin. “Just a precaution,” he replied congenially. “Jack says that pet microchips are really devices the government’s been using to spy on humans. It’s all part of the plan.” He tousled Tigger fondly on the head. “I figure these paper clips will wreak a bit of havoc on the signals in case they decide to tune in.”

I blinked in surprise and wondered if I should do a bit of research on pet microchips myself. It might be something the Brotherhood had dreamt up.

Sitting down heavily in the kitchen chair, I picked up one of the baseball caps and twirled it on my finger. “What did Jack have to say about foil hats?” I asked.

Al’s face lit up, and he got up off the floor to sit across from me. “Looks like there’s been a big conspiracy to phase out real tinfoil and replace it with aluminum,” he replied, his voice straining to stay in a whisper.

“Why, what’s the difference?” I asked.

“Oh, aluminum foil won’t work,” Al said, his brows coming together in a frown. “There’s been some research on that, kiddo, but they’ve tried to quash it so the word don’t get out.”

“Doesn’t,” I corrected automatically and then asked, “Word about what?”

His blue eyes were bright as he whispered, “Aluminum actually helps transmission. They’re tricking everyone with foil hats into thinking they’re protected when it’s just the
opposite
.”

I stared at Al. It sounded exactly like something the Brotherhood
would
do. “I bet you’re right,” I agreed wholeheartedly.

Al rubbed his hands together. “But we can get around it easily enough. We can use chicken wire. I’ve almost got this one finished.”

He picked up one of the baseball caps and turned it over. I could see that chicken coop wire had been attached to the inside and secured in place with staples.

“Any metal grid is going to make a Faraday cage,” Al explained as he pointed inside the cap. He cocked a humorous brow. “For example, you don’t have to worry about Jerry falling victim to any mind control. He
lives
in a Faraday cage.”

The way he said it made me suddenly recall how the mutant tulpa had drawn back from Jerry’s cage. Had it been because of the Faraday cage or something else? I was so distracted that I missed some of what Al was saying and tuned in at the last second.

“And we should really be prepping the house as well,” he said, tucking the last bit of wire into another cap. “But we’ll have to make do with these for now.”

I knew that for Al, he was showing remarkable restraint. I was surprised he hadn’t figured out a way to turn the house into a big Faraday cage, despite Betty. But I did wonder how I could use the roll of chicken wire under my bed to at least protect my bedroom.

Al gave a nod of satisfaction and held up the hat. “Finished. What do you think, kiddo?” he asked.

I grabbed it and stuck it on my head. I didn’t care how I looked in it. I needed some way of protecting my thoughts other than standing in the chicken coop.

“I want this one,” I said. And looking earnestly into his eyes, I added, “Let’s do one for you now. And promise me that you’ll always keep it on.”

“I will.” Al looked at me with a shrewd gleam in his eye. “You know, I think you’ve been right all along, Sydney. I think we’re dealing with the supernatural here.”

I nodded vigorously in agreement.

But then he added with a chuckle, “Not that the government isn’t in on it, too.”

I wasn’t so sure about that, but it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility, I supposed. Resting my chin on my hand, I watched him cut more wire.

I adjusted the baseball cap on my head, relieved I could think without the fear of being overheard anymore. Or at least I hoped that was true. I needed every advantage I could get since I figured I was on my own where this mutant tulpa was concerned.

Rafael … well, I couldn’t think about him right now.

And Jareth. I knew he meant well, but I couldn’t trust him completely right now since Melody seemed to have some sort of control over him. Not to mention his connection to the Brotherhood. They might be able to make him do things against his will, too.