‘Sure. No worries,’ Danny says as he watches me leave.
Back in the library I get straight on to the internet. I research Mr Zee again, but come up empty, like he doesn’t exist – in this world at least.
I have better luck with Dr West, finding an image of his wife with their two young sons. The kids look just like him, but nothing like Ebony.
All morning I’ve been freaking out that I’m helping Ebony fall into a trap. Skinner was no help. But there is someone who knows the truth.
It’s like he’s expecting me. He opens the door before I finish knocking. ‘Come in, Mr Blake. Take a seat.’
Of the four science teachers that share this office, Mr Zee is the only one here. The office is a mess with over-stacked bookshelves, bags on the floor, jackets draped over chairs, computers blinking on desks, in-trays buried under piles of papers, red pens scattered everywhere.
‘Nice,’ I murmur sarcastically. He points to a desk in the far corner. It’s Mr Zee’s and it’s nothing like the rest of the room. It’s immaculate. Not a pen outta place. The desktop is polished timber, with a black laptop open in the centre.
I sink into his visitor’s chair while he walks round to the other side, sits, closes his laptop and looks directly at me. ‘Let us be civil about this,’ he says in his deep, smooth, foreign accent. ‘You and I want the same thing.’
‘Ebony is not a “thing”.’
‘No, she’s my niece.’
‘You can turn off the bullshit now.’
He peers at me too long. ‘What would you like to know, Jordan?’
‘If Ebony goes with you today, will I ever see her again?’
‘Straight to the point,’ he says, nodding like he approves.
‘Answer the question!’
But he just stares at me with his penetrating dark eyes.
‘I take that to mean a big fat NO.’ Pissed off, I get up to leave. ‘I knew this was a trap when you made sure no one would be in the car with you except Ebony.’
Oh, man, he really is a dark angel. He really is working for Prince Luca.
‘So what are you going to do?’
‘What do you think? Warn the girls. Stop Ebony from going with you. It won’t take much. She suspects a trap anyway.’ My voice lowers with the muted sounds of my own self-contempt. ‘She was only going because I assured her it was what she needed. I pushed her.’
‘Be careful, Jordan, there are dire ramifications for breaking an angelic agreement, and you have your mother to consider.’
‘Don’t bring my mother into this! All I had to do to fulfil my end of the deal was break the lovebirds up. That’s all. I checked with Adam Skinner. And don’t try to deny the two of you are working together.’
He lifts both hands into the air like it’s a done thing.
‘According to angelic law, no human can be taken against their will. So how do you explain what you’re doing to Ebony?’
‘You’re absolutely right, Jordan. But what does the law say about angels?’
Oh, shit! I take a punt, ‘The same. Why would it be different?’
‘With angels there are many variables.’
‘Stop with the bullshit and just explain.’
‘A soldier has no Free Will. They do what they are ordered. There are more angelic soldiers than any other kind.’
‘But Ebony’s not a soldier.’ I remember how Mr Zee pressured her to say certain words this morning, and suddenly I get it. ‘Why did you manipulate Ebony into saying no one was coercing her?’
‘My employer is thorough. He likes to cover all possibilities.’
‘Like what?’
‘A defence in case the enemy suggests that since Ebony was raised human, she may have still thought like one at the time, suggesting the Free Will law should apply.’
Man, he really is thorough. What chance does Ebony have against this monster’s sharp mind, or his lies?
The thought barrels into my head – she has Thane on her side. It ignites hope inside me. But who knows where he is? Or if he can even return in time?
I gotta get word to Gabe.
‘Jordan, do you really think I’m going to let you go now?’
He’s reading my thoughts. Shit! I should have been scrambling them. My hands tremble. I ball them into fists. I can’t lose my cool now. I have to warn Ebony.
‘Remember your mother is depending on you for her freedom.’
‘I have until Ebony turns eighteen. He’s the one not waiting. That’s not my fault. Prince Luca can’t punish my mother for changing the arrangement midstream.’
‘You had months to do your part. You were naive to think he would wait more than a year. That was your mistake. You should have realised that right now, with Nathaneal indisposed, the timing was perfect. Remember, Jordan, you had Ebony all to yourself for weeks. Did you think we did not know that? If you could not make her fall for you in that time, it’s clear you were never going to make it happen.’
‘What are you saying? What happens now?’
He makes a steeple with his fingers. ‘That’s not up to me. Maybe there’s time for the two of you to work something out. My employer is not averse to negotiating.’
‘You mean, do something else for him? Work for him? And become like you, and Adam?’ I wonder what hold Prince Luca has over the two of them?
He doesn’t say anything but watches me carefully over the top of his fingertips.
‘OK, Mr Zee, tell me this, if Prince Luca was planning to kidnap Ebony all along, why bother getting me to break her up from Nathaneal?’
‘He has his reasons.’
I inch my way towards the door. ‘So . . . he wanted her single, unattached, maybe even heartbroken for a reason. Why? Is he worried Nathaneal can claim some form of legal rights as her fiancé? Or, isn’t Luca allowed to marry Ebony if she’s still engaged to someone else?’
I can tell by his darkening eyes that I’m close. ‘There’s an angelic law that condemns an angel from stealing another angel’s future bride,’ I venture. ‘Especially since Nathaneal is a royal prince. Is that it?’
I feel the door handle behind me and slip my fingers round it. ‘You know, it wouldn’t matter if Ebony broke up with Nathaneal because nothing would stop him coming after her even if she walked into Skade willingly.’
With a firm grip I turn the handle, getting ready to run.
Only, when I pull, the door doesn’t open. He locked the damn thing while I was talking, from the other side of the room! I spin round and he’s right in my face, grabbing my arm and pulling it up behind my back.
‘Did you really think I would just let you walk out of here?’
‘What do you want from me?’
‘Just a little more of this.’
‘Arghh! Shit, man, let me go!’ I bend down as far as I can to loosen his hold and make a better angle to extract my arm from his lock, but he’s too strong and yanks my arm up higher. My shoulder kills. I can hardly breathe through the pain. ‘You’re gonna miss your favourite class,’ I gasp.
‘So nice of you to care, but I have that covered, just as I have your situation under control.’
‘You don’t have me under control. You never will.’
As if he knows my breaking point, he lifts my arm up over my head and thumps on my elbow, dislodging my shoulder. Excruciating doesn’t cover it, and I scream. He covers my mouth with his hand. I bite down on it, but pain is making me weak.
He pushes my shoulder back into its socket with a click. The pain is like nothing I’ve felt before. I would take five broken fingers over this.
‘Would you like me to do the same to your other arm? Pull out your shoulder, pop it back in again?’
‘What kind of stupid question is that?’
‘I can do the same with elbows, hips, ankles.’ He bends my wrist and twists it. Pain burns in the joint and everything goes fuzzy like I’m about to pass out.
He stops just before I get to that point. ‘Tell me now, Mr Blak
e, are you under my control yet?’
He tightens his grip, twisting and pulling at the same time. I swear he’s wrenching my hand off my arm! ‘Stop. Stop! I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll get Ebony. I’ll take her to your car. Just let me go.’
‘You don’t have to bring Ebony to my car.’
‘What? Why not?’
I catch a glimpse of a tight-lipped grimace just before his fist connects with the right side of my head. As the room spins and everything goes dark, I hear him say, ‘Slight change of plans.’
29
Ebony
Sophie catches up as Amber and I cut across the seniors’ quadrangle on our way to fifth period Physics. Half of Year Eleven has science next, while most of Year Ten are exiting from their fourth period in the labs.
Sophie is bursting with news. As we enter the Science Block via the middle doors, she says, ‘Ms Paully’s back!’
Amber flicks me a look. ‘Did you know about this?’
I shake my head as I pull my backpack off my shoulder and hold it out in front of her. ‘Can you take this for a sec?’ An uncomfortable feeling has started up inside my ribcage.
It takes Amber like half a second to notice. ‘Are you OK?’
Goose bumps break out over the smooth surface of my arms, while a swirling sense of anxiety settles in my stomach. I shake my head and she makes me sit beside her on the bench opposite our lab.
Sophie sits on my left. ‘Are you feeling sick?’
My right shoulder becomes stiff and I rotate it, wondering why this is happening, when sudden, penetrating pain stabs the joint. Now I know something is going on. I turn to Sophie. ‘Are you sure Ms Paully’s back today?’
‘Yeah, she’s walking with the help of a cane, but apparently she’s well enough to return to her classes.’
‘That’s great news,’ Amber says with a smile that dims the longer she looks at my face. ‘Or is it? Ebony, do you know something? Mr Zavier didn’t mention this when we saw him earlier.’
‘Something is going on, but I haven’t figured it out yet,’ I confide in her, and as my shoulder pain eases we start walking towards our lab door. Sure enough Ms Paully is inside, greeting the boys with big smiles as she waves her cane at them with a cheeky warning that makes them laugh. She looks happy to be back, but I can’t shrug the feeling her return has something to do with Mr Zavier and our trip to Ferndale this afternoon. The back of my neck feels like someone is jabbing me with pins. I pull the girls over to the side before we enter. ‘Have either of you seen Jordan today?’
Amber shakes her head, but Sophie says, ‘Danny saw him last period. He said Jordan looked stressed.’
‘Do you know where he went?’ I ask.
She nods. ‘Yeah, the library.’
Oh, Jordy, why didn’t you come to me?
Amber grips my arm. ‘What’s wrong? What is it?’
‘My Jordan alarm’s gone off.’
‘What did you say?’ Sophie asks, looking worried. But then she gasps, breaking out in one of her most dazzling smiles. She’s clearly jumping to the wrong conclusions. ‘When did it happen? Oh my gosh! I knew it! Just the two of you in that big house together, whoo hoo!’
‘My relationship with Jordan is not like that,’ I clarify emphatically. ‘All I mean is that I know Jordan is in trouble.’
Disappointed, she peers down the corridor. ‘I’ll pull Danny out of class. He’ll want to help.’
I grab her arm before she takes off. ‘You know what, Sophie, I remember where Jordan is now. And he’s fine! Sorry I worried you. But I do need to talk to him. Would you mind taking notes for me in class today? I’m going to have to miss it.’
‘Me too!’ Amber quickly adds, giving me a look that warns not to even try stopping her.
‘Are you sure Danny and I can’t help?’
‘There’s nothing to worry about,’ I reassure Sophie and nudge her inside before she gets a detention. ‘You remember how frequently Ms Paully hands them out, don’t you?’
‘Oh yeah.’
As Sophie walks into the classroom, Amber and I hurry out through the front door.
‘You should add acting to your growing list of angelic talents,’ Amber says.
‘Thanks, I’ll make sure not to keep that in mind.’
‘Where do we start? Mr Zavier’s office?’
‘Let’s check the car parks first, starting with the hill. I think I know what’s happening. Mr Zavier wanted to take me up the mountain, and now that his plan is foiled, he’s using Jordan to get me there.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘The bond I share with Jordan tells me Mr Zavier has already hurt him and has no compunction to hurt him again to get what he wants.’
‘Oh my God. So when your shoulder hurt, that was Mr Zavier hurting Jordan’s shoulder? And he knew you would feel it?’
I nod, and try to explain, ‘Because we’re Guardian and Charge living in the same dimension, everything between us is exaggerated, and much more intense than it should be. But the feeling in the pit of my stomach is different; it makes me think Jordan is in really big trouble.’
‘What do you mean? Like Mr Zavier is going to kill him and dump his body?’
‘Uh . . .’ I shrug. My every instinct is screaming at me to hurry, that Jordan’s life is in grave danger, but there’s nothing to gain by scaring Amber. ‘I’m new at this, Amber, so I don’t really know, but I think you watch too much television.’
‘You’re probably right. I have another scenario to run past you.’
‘Shoot.’
‘Is Mr Zavier using Jordan to lure you out so he can abduct you and take you to the Dark Prince in Skade?’
‘I’m pretty sure that’s the case.’
‘Oh my God!’ She stops. ‘So are we just going to walk into a trap?’
‘No, of course not. I have a plan.’
‘Which is . . .?’
‘I haven’t thought it right through yet –’ She gasps, but I take her hand and start moving again. ‘My first step is to find Jordan and get him away from Mr Zavier.’
‘And then . . .?’
‘That depends.’
‘On what?’
‘Let’s just find Jordan first.’
‘Ebony, I want to find Jordan too. I believe you when you say he’s in trouble. But I don’t want you getting hurt, and neither would Jordan.’
‘I won’t get hurt.’
She gives me a look like she doesn’t believe me.
‘All right,’ I say, ‘I’m going to try my hardest not to get hurt, but I can’t turn my back on Jordan. My bond with him won’t allow it. I can do this, Amber. I’m an angel, remember?’ I try to reassure her with a smile.
‘Yeah, well, apparently so is Mr Zavier, an evil one, and he’s had a lot more practice at being one than you.’
‘Amber, I totally understand if –’
‘I’m coming!’
‘Jeez! OK, well, they’re close. I can feel Jordan’s presence growing stronger the nearer we get to the hill.’
‘Do we know what type of car Mr Zavier drives?’
‘Only that it’s small and fast. I should have asked Sophie before we left. She watched him like a hawk.’ It’s too late to run back to class and ask her now. Or text and get her into trouble. Ms Paully hears a phone and confiscates it on the spot.
We skirt the hill’s perimeter, keeping a low profile and scanning every car we pass.
‘How does it work?’ Amber asks. ‘You know, the bond.’
‘I’m not sure.’
She gives me a puzzled stare.
I shrug. ‘I’m learning as I go.’
I take her backpack in case we have to run fast. I never realised how big the school car park was until now. Does every student in Years Eleven and Twelve drive to school these days? Frustration at not finding Jordan quickly starts eating at my new-found angelic confidence.
So I stop, close my eyes and breathe, cocking my head to the side to pick up any
sound that might give me a clue to his location. I hear something almost right away. It’s Jordan moaning. I feel it, and then, amazingly, I see it inside my head. ‘The car is green and low to the ground.’ I try to zoom out like a video camera. It works, and I see the shady melaleuca and wattle trees of the far corner.
When I crest the hill, Mr Zavier is closing the driver’s door of a slick green car that has part of its engine pushing up through the hood. Jordan is in the passenger seat, his head leaning on the tinted window. He touches the right side of his face and winces.
Amber drops down beside me. ‘They’re leaving,’ she remarks.
The small green car, a Bugatti, according to the red insignia on the car’s front panel, drives through the front gates, making an absurd amount of noise.
‘What do we do now?’ Amber asks.
I spin round and get my bearings, then reach into my pocket for my keys. I’m so glad Jordan insisted I take a car key with me everywhere I go in case we got separated. ‘We’re going after them.’
We dash to Nathaneal’s beautiful white Lamborghini. I’m so used to Jordan driving that I inadvertently run to the passenger door before I realise where I am and run round the driver’s side. Inside, I latch my seatbelt and start the engine.
Amber fumbles with her belt. As I quickly help her, she asks, ‘You do know how to drive this thing, right?’
I’ve always found it hard to lie, even before I learned that angels find it impossible. But sometimes the truth isn’t the right thing to say. ‘Do you want to get out here and return to class? I completely understand if you do.’
‘Thanks, but we’re wasting time. Let’s go. And, by the way, you didn’t answer my question.’
I slip into gear and amazingly drive out of school without a hitch. I then give Amber the most confident look I can. ‘I grew up on a farm, didn’t I? Loads of vehicles there.’
‘You still haven’t answered my question.’
‘OK, let me put it this way: I’m learning as I go.’