Breed of Havoc (The Breed Chronicles #3) (6 page)

After that, I stopped answering because I didn’t want the drama. I had no illusions that it’d stop the drama entirely, but I was happy with having less of it, especially around this time of year.

“I thought you didn’t care what they said about you?” Linc said, bringing my attention back to him.

“I don’t. Much. I don’t want the extra hassle, you know? We haven’t even been in classes for a month yet and even the P1s are avoiding me.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “And that’s the only reason? It has nothing to do with the other thing?”

I sighed. “It does, but only a little. I’m working on it, Linc. And you and Tasha and Chris, you all need to stop tip-toeing around me. I’m not spending Halloween hiding. I didn’t last year and I’m not doing it this year. I want to—”

“That certainly answers my question.”

I spun around at the sound of Greene’s voice.

He smiled down at us. “I apologize for interrupting.”

“It’s fine,” Linc said.

“What question?” I asked.

“I wanted to offer you the chance to take the week off. I didn’t think to ask you about taking time off last Phase—for that, I apologize again—but if you’d like some now, I will gladly arrange it.”

“I—”

Linc shook his head at me. “Think about it, Jade. Don’t just say no.”

“I think,” I said slowly, glaring at Linc, “I’ll be okay. But can I take a rain-check if I need it?”

Greene nodded. “Certainly. None of your instructors will be expecting you next week, so you’re free to go or take the time off. If you need more, simply let me know.”

“Thanks, Director.”

“You’re welcome. Also, Mr. Sheldon is going to have a special class on Sunday for students to earn some extra credit. He understands you may not wish to go, since it falls on—well, he understands you might not make it and is willing to offer you something else to earn extra credit.” Greene’s lips lifted in a small, understanding smile. “He’s sure you won’t need it, but he said the invitation is open should you want it. If you do, find him before or after your next class and he’ll make arrangements.”

“See?” Linc nudged me. “Everyone knows you’re a brainiac.”

I slugged him again and nodded to Greene. “Thanks. I’ll talk to him.”

“Very well. Enjoy your weekend.”

I stared at Greene’s back as he walked away.

“Wonder what he’s going to do,” Linc said.

“Who? Mr. Sheldon?”

“Yeah.”

“No idea.” I frowned. “He didn’t do anything like this last year. What about for Phase One?”

“No, and he didn’t do anything for extra credit, either.”

I made a
hmm
sound. “So, what’s it mean that he’s doing something for extra credit this early on?”

Linc shrugged. “That he either wants an excuse to do something Halloween-ish, or he thinks we’ll need it.”

Mr. Sheldon was easily the friendliest teacher we had. Part of me liked Linc’s theory about him maybe just wanting to do something Halloween-ish, but if he wanted to, why the extra credit lure? It’s not like most people needed an excuse to eat junk food or party. Which meant Linc’s second option was likelier the right one.

“We’re going to need the extra credit,” I said, shaking my head.

He frowned. “This Phase isn’t looking good so far, is it?”

“No. And it’s only just started.”

*~*~*

The following morning, a weird beeping sound interrupted my before-class study time. I set aside my class tablet and twisted around in my chair to find the source. The security panel next to my door had a bright blue light glowing on it. As I got up from my seat to inspect it, a voice droned through. “Will the P3s please meet your instructor outside at nine, in front of the North Tower.”

Frowning, I picked up my ID and tablet and started for the door. I was only a foot or two away when someone knocked. I opened it and found Linc standing in front of me with a big smile on his face. The smile fell and he shot me a strange, eyes narrowed look. “Either you’re getting psychic, faster, or you have downright great timing.”

“Maybe it’s all three,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows at him.

He seemed to consider that seriously. After a second, he nodded. “I approve.” He gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “Now we can go.”

“That’s a good wake-up call. I like it.”

He pulled me out of my room and shut my door. “Good. Now let’s go see what we’re getting ourselves into.”

As we started down the hall, I said, “I didn’t know they used those panel things.” After nearly giving myself a heart attack by accidentally using it my first Phase, I’d barely given it a second thought. The last thing I needed were the security guards laughing at me again.

Linc shrugged. “They’ve never used them before today, at least not since I’ve been here. From what the director said, they’re basically used in case of emergencies—tornadoes, hurricanes, demon escapes. That kind of thing.”

“And apparently Prospect herding,” I mumbled.

Flashing me a quick grin, he pressed the button to call for the elevator. He leaned against the wall. “That, too.”

“Well, since they’re calling for the P3s only, I’m guessing it’s not an emergency. So what else could it be?”

He shrugged again as the doors opened. “Guess we’ll find out in a few.”

Neither of us said anything else as we made our way to the cafe court. We still had some time to kill, so we met up with Tasha and Chris. As was his usual habit, Linc ordered me to sit then went to get food. I stared after him, probably smiling like an idiot, but I didn’t care.

Tasha cleared her throat and I glanced up in time to see her eyes narrow at Chris. “Why don’t you ever get me food?”

He grinned. “Because you’re too picky and change your mind half a dozen times in under two minutes.”

“Huh.” After a second, she nodded. “There’s some truth in that.”

Linc came back a few minutes later with two trays of food: bacon, sausage, and gravy and biscuits. Without hesitating, I plopped a piece of my bacon on his tray.

Chris frowned at Tasha. “Why don’t you give me your food?”

“Because I don’t like sharing,” she said, taking a bite of her biscuit as Linc and I both laughed.

Linc shot them both a smug look. “It’s a delivery fee.”

“Yeah, right.” I snorted. “You’ll steal it, anyway. I’m just being practical and saving time.”

He grinned. “That works, too. I’m easy.”

Since we still had at least twenty minutes before we were supposed to be outside, we chatted quietly—mostly quietly, anyway—and finished eating. Linc usually dumped the trays when we finished, but Chris took them before Linc could. As he carried them away, I heard him mutter something about Linc trying to make him look bad. Tasha laughed. I glanced at Linc. He’d heard Chris and was poorly fighting another smug grin.

My stomach started to gnaw on itself, despite the fact I’d just fed it a decent meal. I didn’t know why I was nervous about going out front. I mean, it couldn’t be bad news, right? And if it was, it couldn’t be—I hoped—directed solely at me since the message had included all the P3s.

Then again…it was Greene. It could be anything.

The nervousness only increased when, as soon as we stepped outside, I spotted Greene standing in front of three of the CGE’s signature black vans. Peter, Adam, and the other hunters who’d helped train with us in Combat were there, too.

Greene smiled but didn’t say anything until the last of the P3s arrived. “I’m sure you’re all anxious to know why I’ve called you here to meet your instructor,” he finally said, indicating Mr. Connor standing beside him. No one responded verbally, but a few people nodded. “Mr. Connor—along with some of our senior agents—will be taking you to another CGE facility for training today. This facility houses some of the demons we’ve captured for research. Reading your texts, testing, running basic scenarios—those are all great things, but you need to see them up close and study them.”

“Field trip!” someone shouted.

Someone else said, “Cool!”

Greene’s lip tilted up in a small grin. “Yes, I suppose some of you will think it is ‘cool’,” he began, his tone easy. “However, your training will be in a controlled environment. Mr. Connor, the agents, and the scientists you’ll be paired with will supervise everything, from what you say to what you do. Anyone who disregards their command will, I assure you, dislike the consequences. If you’re asked to leave or it’s reported back to me that you weren’t on your absolute best behavior, that person or persons will likely be suspended.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chris’s eyes widen and he gulped. Beside him, Tasha took his hand and patted it, then whispered something in his ear. He gave her a soft smile.

“You will be monitored,” Greene was saying, “as you are in your classes. I, personally, will be reviewing those recordings, so think before you act. Don’t believe you’ll get away with bad behavior even if no one seems to be watching you. I will.” His smile may have been easy, just like his words, but the glint in his eyes challenged anyone to argue or test him. “This is an important part of your training. Take it seriously. Respect those around you and your surroundings.” He glanced at Mr. Connor.

Mr. Connor stood in his usual hands-behind-his-back pose. “I want you lot to see demons up close. Fighting agents is one thing, but it’s different from fighting a demon. I can show you where to hit one, either on a CM or from a picture, but you need to see them. You need to watch them move, see how they operate. You need to see them in person. Pay attention, because what you learn will be on your exams.”

Director Greene looked at the Prospects. “Once a week, you’ll be going on a different day with a different instructor to the demon facility. Your instructor will tell you what he—or she—wants from you. This is, in a way, a field trip, but it’s also part of your training. Don’t forget that.”

I bit back a laugh as someone muttered something about Greene making even the coolest thing sound bad. Greene was definitely good at that.

As the agents ushered students into the vans, Greene pulled me and Linc aside. “This should be especially important for you, Miss Hall,” Greene said.

I frowned up at him. “I don’t understand.”

“You’ll be meeting with the scientist I mentioned before, Dr. Cherry. She would like another Prospect there, so I’d like Mr. Stone to join you for your appointments, assuming neither of you have any objections, that is.” He raised an eyebrow at Linc in question.

“Not a problem.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Though I’m not sure why she’ll need me.”

“I believe she’s hoping to use you to set a baseline. You two have become very…close,” he said, smiling, “since Miss Hall’s arrival at the CGE, so I believe you two make the perfect team.”

My eyebrows scrunched together. There’d been something in the way Greene said we’d become close, almost like he knew we were a couple and was glad about it. It didn’t surprise me that he knew—it was Greene, he knew everything—because Linc and I weren’t exactly subtle. But it was disconcerting, and just plain weird, to think he approved or actually
liked
it.

“Once you arrive, I believe Dr. Cherry intends to separate you from the other Prospects and work with you alone. I’m afraid she’ll have to explain exactly what she needs and wants from you.” He smiled and bowed his head slightly. “Good luck, Miss Hall, Mr. Stone.”

Adam, hanging out the back of a van, whistled at us. ”You two about ready?”

We nodded and quickly jumped in behind him. Tasha, Chris, and two other prospects were seated already. Adam closed the doors, took his seat, and then we were headed off the property.

Ten minutes into the trip, the windows darkened to the point we couldn’t see out them at all. Everyone had been really loud until then, but when the windows did their auto-tint thing, the silence in the bus became eerie. Out of sheer boredom, I guestimated the time spent on each road and memorized the turns. It didn’t help much, but I figured we were somewhere near the ocean, because it seemed like we went over a bridge.

When the van stopped an hour later, we all jumped out. All the Prospects blinked against the brightness of the sun or tried to shield their eyes.

The facility was huge. If I had to guess, I’d say it was at least five times as wide as the North and South Towers combined. But unlike the CGE towers, the facility was a long, white single-story building. I turned a slow circle and spotted a tall, solid brick wall that surrounded the property. It had cameras spaced every ten feet apart. There were spotlights on both sides of the fence. On the outside, a forest thick with trees. It was like a fortress.

Two things I didn’t see: signs or anything resembling an address.

I peered at Adam. “Doesn’t this place have a name?”

“Not one you need to know, no.”

“Guessing it’s more secret than the CGE?”

Adam nodded. “Yeah. The CGE keeps a few demons on hand in the South Tower, but this is one of the main research facilities for the area. Outsiders aren’t allowed here for any reason.”

Linc walked up behind me and bumped my shoulder. “What happens if people show up?”

“They don’t. It’s not exactly the easiest place to find.” Adam shrugged. “It’s happened, of course, but as far as anyone knows, it’s a rehab center.”

“Which is kind of true,” I said.

“Exactly. It’s easier to lie if you shroud it in as much truth as possible.”

I grinned. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I bet you will.” Adam shook his head and laughed, then he motioned us forward. “Come on.”

Me and the others followed Adam and Mr. Connor to the front of the building. Mr. Connor used an ID card (similar to the ones we used to get in our rooms) and a card reader. There was a beep, then a small panel above it opened with a small blue light in the middle. Mr. Connor lowered his head until he was eye-level with the light, and then it swept out in a beam of blue as it scanned his eye.

“Authorization approved,” a mechanical voice said. A split second later, the double-doors slid apart.

Once inside, I stepped forward enough to look around. On the immediate right, a large room with clear windows. Dozens of monitors lined the walls, showing outside the building and, from what I could see, some of the rooms. There were half a dozen security guards stationed in front of different monitors, and near the door, a man and a woman in white lab coats stood talking to each other.