‘To … to trust you.’
‘That’s right. So get yourself over here and give me a hug. I need it even if you don’t.’
Was he bad or good? I couldn’t decide if he was lying or had made some disastrous choice, but whatever the truth, stretched out on my bed he was definitely tempting. He’d taken off his glasses, leaving his face somehow more open to attack. If I rejected him now I knew I’d be doing real damage.
‘OK. One little hug.’ I slipped off my shoes and joined him, nestling at his side. He eased his arm under my neck and pressed me close. I let my hand rest on his chest. ‘You slapped my butt.’
He shifted to rub the offended part. ‘Yeah, sorry about that, but I was making a point.’
‘To me or to them?’
‘Is “both” the wrong answer?’
I poked him in the stomach.
‘Hey, don’t blame me! I was acting like my brothers do at their most obnoxious. They’re good teachers.’
‘So it was an act?’
‘Phee, come on: don’t you know me even a little? Am I the kind of boy to go round treating my girl like a dumb babe?’
‘I dunno. Are you?’
He tickled my ribs in retribution. ‘Only when she says stupid stuff like that.’
I retaliated with a thump. ‘No, I don’t think you would normally do something like that but you’re not acting normal. I’m getting confused.’
‘I know, sweetheart.’
‘You really think it’s going to be OK?’
‘Yeah, I really do.’
‘Are you a hundred per cent certain?’
He grimaced. ‘I wouldn’t say that. If I’m honest, I’m thinking more like fifty per cent. Dad was right that I’m running a hell of a risk. I’m relying on a lot of people to do their part right and a lot could go wrong.’
That didn’t sound good. ‘Even me?’
‘That’s where the trust comes in.’
‘I’m not going to follow you to the dark side, if that’s where you’ve gone.’
‘Honey, you’re already there. This whole thing is about getting you out.’
That made him sound like the firefighter who went into the burning building to pull out a victim only to die in the blaze.
‘So how are you going to do that?’
He smoothed a finger over my cheek. ‘I’ve turned to crime, remember? I’m stealing you, of course.’
‘You are?’
‘Uh-huh. But first I’m going steal a kiss.’ He went up on one elbow so our lips could meet in soft touch. He took his time, allowing us both to relax and enjoy the stolen moment of intimacy. There was something even more powerful about holding each other like this, lying down, legs entwined, his big frame brushing against me so I felt completely wrapped in his warmth. I’d been so starved of anyone touching me in a loving way that I was overwhelmed—dry earth soaking up a deluge.
He broke away and smiled at me. ‘You really do stop time, don’t you?’
‘I wasn’t using my power on you, I promise.’ I had no intention of admitting to my failed attempt to freeze them all earlier.
‘I know; I meant the effect you have on me. Kissing you has just become my favourite occupation.’
I returned his smile. ‘Better than studying geo-whatsit?’
‘Oh yeah, baby, you better believe it!’
We laughed together at his Austin Powers silly accent.
‘I love you, Yves.’ I said it before I could censor myself. Too late to call it back. ‘I mean, I don’t expect you to say it back or anything.’ Idiot. ‘Um … sorry.’
His eyes were glistening. ‘Please, don’t apologize. I’m only sorry you got to say it first. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to tell you.’
I tried to move away. He was just echoing me because he was incurably polite. ‘Really, there’s no need.’
He wouldn’t let me budge. ‘There’s every need. You’re good for me. I think our creator was very clever thinking up this soulfinder business, as he matches us not with what we want but what we require.’
I let pass the rather surprising admission that this science geek believed in God, not something I’d let myself do since I was little. Life had always seemed too much of a cruel joke to allow for a benevolent creator. ‘And what did you want, then?’
He lay back down beside me. ‘I thought I wanted someone like me—I was fairly shallow in my choices: a college girl, American prom queen material, someone who likes tennis and books.’
‘I can do books, but tennis?’ I snorted.
‘But I play a mean game. I’ll have to teach you.’ His fingers brushed gently at the curve of my waist and hip. ‘Though I should warn you: Zed sees it as another sign of my lack of machismo.’
‘How?’
‘Because the players wear whites, don’t need a helmet and can’t go dumping the other guy on the ground.’
‘I see. Very suspect. So what did you discover you require in your soulfinder if it’s not Miss Prom Queen?’
He went silent for a moment, making me wonder if he was rethinking. I could almost see that perfect girl—she’d look like Jo-Grid; fragrant, with the air of the well-groomed women in perfume ads, wholesome as they bounded across flower-strewn meadows. If I came from an advert, it would be in a doorway in a Help the Homeless Christmas Appeal.
‘Yves?’ I tapped his chest: better to hear the answer, even if it was bad news, than be left wondering.
He smiled. ‘Humility—that’s what I need—someone who will challenge me about what it means to be intelligent. Someone who will test my control. I thought I wanted to go through life all calm and even-tempered; now I realize I need that fire or I’ll never feel the sparks. I think—I hate to admit it—but I was in danger of turning bland. I’d be wearing cardigans before I was thirty if you hadn’t come along.’
I smiled at the image. Perhaps cardigans weren’t so bad if he wore nothing underneath and I had the honour of unbuttoning. ‘But I’m not in your league, Yves. Never been to school.’
‘You’re clever in your own way.’
‘There are huge gaps in what I know. I’m like Swiss cheese.’
‘Even so, I’ve noticed you hold your own in an argument with me; I’m used to people folding because they think I know more than them.’
‘You probably do.’
‘Not really. Learning comes easy to me. I know facts and figures, but not real stuff. Unlike you.’
I felt a glow of pride in myself, possibly the first. He thought I knew more about life, did he?
‘And you are all the things I said you were: protective, caring, determined to look after others before you give a thought to yourself. I’m awed by your selflessness, even more so now I’ve met the people you live with. You’re a much better person than I am.’
‘Rubbish.’
He covered my hand with his so both our palms rested against his heart. ‘I’m serious.’
‘I’m a thief. I liked it.’
‘I would be too if I had been born into this life. Besides, I understand liking the rush of doing something well. For me, it’s cracking a formula; for you, it’s getting away with it. Why don’t we find something else that gives you the same thrill without the illegal-you-might-end-up-in-jail bit?’
Kissing him would do that but I couldn’t let him keep these illusions. All my sins bubbled out before I could think better of the confession. ‘I got my friend hurt. Unicorn took ten years of his life because I wouldn’t talk.’
He rubbed my neck in a comforting gesture. ‘Not your fault. Blame the ones who did it. I’d like to meet your friend. What was his name again?’
‘Tony.’ I traced a circle on his chest with a finger. ‘I’d like you to meet him but he’s the only one. Keep away from the others.’
‘OK. We’ll go find him later if you think it’s safe.’
‘Nothing is safe here.’
‘Less risky then.’
‘Yeah, that’s about it.’
‘Just one thing, Phee.’
‘Hmm?’
‘I’m not going to trigger any of those switches the Seer put in your mind, so don’t you do something that will produce the same result. If I’m going to sacrifice a pawn or two to keep you safe, I don’t want you to go throwing my queen away.’
The way he was describing this, like a dangerous chess gambit, was not making me any happier, the stakes being so much higher than a handshake for the victor. ‘You know what this feels like for me, Yves?’ He shook his head. ‘Like I’m blindfolded and walking along a rope bridge. I don’t know if you’ve put a safety net there or if it’s a river full of crocodiles.’
He kissed my forehead. ‘I love the way you think. You have the most wonderful grasp of images, much more entertaining than my rather literal approach to life.’
He had skilfully avoided answering.
‘So what is it? Net or crocs?’
‘What do you think?’
‘I think you think there’s a net but you might not see the big holes in it. Didn’t Victor and your dad both warn you?’
He rubbed my arm. ‘See, I told you you were clever.’
‘Basically, you are asking me to go into this blind—with the distinct possibility that my guide can’t see the dangers either. I won’t know until too late.’
He thought about this for a moment. ‘That’s about it. On the other hand, you might like to consider that the other guys might also be blindfolded—to some things at least.’
‘I hope so.’
‘I know so.’
Both rumpled and barefoot, sitting cross-legged on the bed, we’d just finished a picnic of my small store of biscuits and water when our summons came. It was by now late afternoon and I had been expecting one of my half-brothers, but it was Kasia at the door. She smiled at the pair of us.
‘So this is your young man, Phoenix?’ She gave him an approving once-over.
Yves looked to me to make the introduction.
‘This is Kasia, Yves. She’s the Seer’s telepathy expert.’ I hoped that was enough warning.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Yves said politely, standing up and holding out a hand.
Kasia brushed palms with him briefly. ‘I’ve heard your voice for a few days now; nice to meet you in the flesh, Yves. You’re both wanted. Follow me.’
I slipped on my shoes and ran the brush through my hair. Yves tucked in his shirt and put on his glasses. We were as ready as we were ever going to be.
‘Trust me,’ he whispered as we left the haven of the fl at.
As we walked towards the Seer’s apartment, I could see Yves change. He stood up taller, his walk became more of a swagger, and he edged ahead a pace so I was left trailing behind him. He went first through the door.
‘Yves, my dear boy, I’m sorry for my earlier suspicion.’ The Seer did not rise but beckoned him to share a seat on the sofa next to him. Unicorn and Dragon scowled at my soulfinder from their corner by the big screen. ‘Your information has checked out in all respects. My colleagues are very pleased with the details I was able to forward them.’
‘You’ve sent it to them already?’ Yves frowned. ‘But I told you not to copy it off my memory stick.’
The Seer waved that away. ‘Your data is not much use to us if we can’t disseminate it, is it? Thanks to you, the Savant Net is going to be taken apart piece by piece. Slowly, of course. We wouldn’t want them to suspect where we got the information from. And no one will hurt your people—that goes without saying.’
Because the Seer needed the Benedicts to carry on unwittingly feeding information through. I had no illusions that he was offering this concession for humanitarian reasons. More devastating was the realization that real information had been swapped for me; Yves had done exactly what he said he had: betrayed his family and friends. I felt the pain like a blow to the stomach. Somehow I’d been hoping for a miracle. I couldn’t bear to think that his attachment to me had made Sky and his brothers into pawns he was prepared to sacrifice.
Yves clicked his fingers at me. ‘Yo, Phee, get over here.’
‘What?’ I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. This was taking the role way too far.
‘You’re thinking too much. Mr Seer says I’m in, so come park your butt here where I can see you.’ He leant to the Seer. ‘She’s still not with the programme—things are changing too quickly for her little brain. I want to keep a close watch on her.’
While I wanted to put a fist in his inflated ego, he’d also asked me to trust him. I was the only friend he still had if he’d cut his ties with everyone else for me.
With a flounce to broadcast my annoyance, I stalked over to the sofa and sat as far from him as the seat would allow. He was having none of this. Hooking an arm around my waist, he pulled me to sit on his knee, palm spread possessively on my midriff. The Seer missed none of this by-play, giving us his creepy smile of approval.
The Seer gestured to one of his companions to serve him a champagne cocktail. He offered a glass to Yves but not to me. I had no more role to play in this conversation than a sofa cushion. ‘Now, son, the next step will be to meet with my colleagues this evening. They have a proposition for us.’
‘What kind of proposition?’ asked Yves, squeezing me in warning as I shuddered at the Seer’s use of ‘son’. No one said ‘son’ unless in a jokey ‘all right my son’ way—not unless they were making a heavy point to their audience.
‘Business opportunities for us. Mr New York may argue for you to be absorbed into his organization as you’ll be spending most time in the States, but I will press for you to remain on my books, what with you being my daughter’s soulfinder. You’re one of the family now.’
So they were going to squabble over the inside source, were they? Anything that drove a wedge between them was good news. Remembering ‘Jim’ New York, I was expecting him not to give up such a morsel without a struggle.
‘And you’ll want to come back and visit her frequently, won’t you?’ continued the Seer, sipping his drink. ‘See how she’s getting on here?’
Yves stretched his arms out on the back of the sofa, leaving me perched precariously on his lap. ‘I’ll hear what you’ve all got to say tonight, but I think you need to get it straight that there is no question of me leaving Phee behind. Isn’t that right, Phee?’
What did he want me to say? Yes, sir; no, sir; three bags full, sir? I could only stomach so much of this before I snapped. ‘That’s right, Yves; I’m staying with you.’
‘See.’ Yves smiled at the Seer as if to say, what could he do? The little woman couldn’t live without him.
‘We’ll settle that later.’ The Seer was not going to surrender his ace so easily. He must have realized that once Yves got me away, his hold over both of us would be immeasurably weakened. ‘For now we need to discuss business. Phoenix, you go and doll yourself up for the meeting while your soulfinder and I discuss terms.’
Mentally waving a single finger in his direction, I got up. ‘Can I use something from the Community wardrobe again?’
‘Of course. And look out evening wear for Yves while you’re there. There’s a white dinner jacket that will do.’
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Dragon and Unicorn exchange a look. No male had ever been allowed to wear what was recognized as the Seer’s colour.
‘OK. Later.’
Yves gave me a brief pat, acting as if he’d forgotten me even before I left the room. I was tempted to stick my tongue out at him from behind the Seer’s back but couldn’t risk anyone else noticing my rebellion while Yves worked so hard to project the image of bossy male. But, really, he’d better not be getting ideas; he was enjoying this far too much for my liking.
I tried to lose myself in the business of sorting through the clothes in the Seer’s stores. Some of the dresses made Karla’s choice at the boutique look restrained. I’d not seen so much diamanté and sequins on anyone other than a pantomime dame. Finally, I found a gown I could live
with—a soft apricot chiffon over a satin slip. It had a classic halter neckline, gathered under the bust, and then flowed to end just above my knee. Looking at myself in the mirror, I decided the colour flattered my tan and that the choice of little kitten-heel shoes showed off my legs, making them more attractive than they normally appeared in my clumsy trainers. I accessorized the outfit with another diamond necklace—this one more delicate, with the stones in flower settings so it looked as if I had a priceless daisy chain around my throat.
For Yves, I found a white dinner jacket and black trousers designed by Paul Smith—or at least an excellent fake, you can never tell in the Seer’s storeroom. I didn’t yet know Yves’s size for certain so held them up to me trying to remember where his waist came in relation to my body.
‘Don’t think they suit you.’
I dropped the trousers on the rug. Unicorn had entered silently behind me and was watching me in the mirror, his eyes cold with loathing. He pinched the bridge of his prominent nose, struggling to contain his temper.
‘Oh, I don’t know: I think the dinner jacket will finish off my look nicely.’ I held it up on its padded hanger for his inspection. ‘White was never my colour before, but now … well, maybe I’ve changed my mind.’
He moved forward smoothly and plucked it from my hand and hung it back on the rail behind me. ‘Just because you are paired with the Seer’s latest toy, don’t think that that means you are going to take over his operation when he retires.’
As if I would want a role in this petty kingdom. ‘That’s so not my ambition, Unicorn: that’s yours.’ I picked up the trousers and hung them over the back of a chair. ‘I just want to be happy and live somewhere without fear.’
My movement made my jewellery swing forward, the glitter catching his eye. He lifted the diamond necklace and let it fall. ‘There’s no such place out there for you and me, Phee, not with our gifts. To the rest of the world we are freaks and you either run the circus or obey the orders of the ringmaster.’
‘I think you’re wrong,’ I said quietly, refusing to back up a step as he would expect. ‘There are Savants who live a normal life. It doesn’t have to be like this.’