Fractured Soul (30 page)

Sophie began, “You girls are so special. Has anyone ever told you that?”

A wave of laughter and giggles filled the room. May and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes.

“Because of this,” Sophie continued, “I want to give you a surprise. Something we’ve never done before in the summer.”

Everyone leaned forward.

“We’re giving you a week off from school starting today.”

May and I looked at each other and stared.

There was a collective gasp from the audience followed by cheers and high fives. Cyrus stood up and stormed over to Sophie. I tried to listen to what they were saying, but even my great hearing couldn’t weed out their voices over the celebration. A few seconds later, Cyrus sat back down looking seriously mad. Sophie motioned with her arms to quiet the crowd. “Be quiet, please. I have more to say.”

When loud voices quieted to whispers, she continued, “Because of the short notice, I know many of you won’t be able to leave, as your families may be away. For those of you who can’t leave or who want to stay, we will have activities planned every day. And not the normal ones. We have several field trips planned.”

Excited voices rose again. I shook my head, wishing Sophie hadn’t added this last part. We needed the girls to leave, not want to stay.

“An official announcement has already been emailed to your parents,” Sophie said. “When we are finished here, you will be allowed to call your parents. All phones, including in the teachers’ offices, will be made available. And finally,” Sophie paused, waiting for the girls to quiet down again, “all Lizens will be given the week off too.”

A blanket of silence dropped on the room. No one said anything. I don’t even think they were breathing, including the Lizens. Three tables over, Ashlyn stood up and raised her hand.

“Yes, Ashlyn?” Sophie said.

“But if the Lizens are allowed to leave, who will take care of us if we choose to stay?”

Sophie’s jaw tightened briefly before she said, “You will take care of yourself. You know how to do that, right?”

Shocked, Ashlyn glanced around, clearly looking for support, but no one said anything.

“Any other questions?” Sophie asked into the microphone. When no one said anything, she said, “Good. Now get moving.”

May turned to me. “This is good, right?”

“It’s the best we could’ve hoped for.” I stood. “I’ll be right back.”

I pushed my way to the front until I found Sophie. She embraced me before I could say anything. When she pulled away she said, “I found the room. I can’t believe Cyrus didn’t tell us about it.”

“So you believe me?”

“I do believe Vykens were in the school and kidnapped Tessa, but I searched Cyrus’s office and found no proof that he was involved, or proof of any kind of a plot involving our vitamins or selling our blood. I mean, really, Llona, the whole thing is just very fantastical.”

I shook my head. “But what about the secret room and the fact that Cyrus and Jameson disappeared into the very same place we found Tessa?”

Sophie kept her voice even. “They could’ve come out and slipped by you into the hallway. You said yourself that you were hiding under a desk.”

I closed my eyes. This woman was crazy, but . . . “Whatever. Believe what you want for now. I’m just glad you’re sending the Auras home. There will be time enough for me to convince you of the rest.”

Sophie patted me on the arm. “Everything will be fine. You’ll see. In one week everything will be as it should.”

I forced a smile, knowing it would never be normal again.

Sophie returned to the teachers, who bombarded her with questions. I was about to return to May and Kiera when a cold hand gripped my arm. My legs went weak, and I would’ve fallen if it weren’t for the tight grip holding me up. I turned and came face to face with Cyrus. He looked at me with a puzzled expression, like he was trying to figure out why I was having a difficult time standing.

When I didn’t say anything, he said, “We still haven’t found your Lizen friend, but we will. She can’t be far.” I wondered if this was the first time he’d ever told the truth. Him and the other Vykens were probably mystified as to where Tessa went.

“That’s good,” I stuttered.
Pull it together!

His eyelids drew down thin. “How have you been feeling, Llona?”

“Fine, sir. I’m fine.”

“Have you been taking your vitamins?” His nails bit into my arm, and I knew that he knew.

With my free hand I took hold of his arm and shoved it away. “You mean your drug?”

Cyrus towered over me, and I couldn’t help but take a small step backward. “You think this will work?” he whispered. “Protect them? You are a stupid, silly girl.”

I was caught off guard by his sudden confession. Gratefully I didn’t have to say anything. Dr. Han appeared. “Llona, Abigail’s looking for you so you can use her phone to call home.”

“Right.” I followed him out of the dining room, ignoring Cyrus’s death stare.

I thought we were going upstairs to Abigail’s office, but instead Dr. Han led me outside. He looked over his shoulder at me and said, “Follow me.”

I obeyed. First, because I was curious what he was up to, and second, because I was too afraid to say no. The man was powerful.

He led me across campus and inside Risen Auditorium. As soon as we were in his office, Dr. Han closed the door. His office was the complete opposite from the others. The walls were a pale white, and other than his desk and a couple of chairs, only weapons occupied the room. Blades and spears hung on the wall or were piled in a basket on the floor. I looked at them nervously. He must’ve noticed because he said, “You have nothing to be frightened of. I’ve spoken with Liam.”

This surprised me. “You know Liam?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“We’ve worked on various projects for the Deific over the years.” He moved to the window and peered out the blinds. “A few days ago Liam contacted me and told me all that has happened. You were smart to tell Sophie, although she thinks you’re a very troubled teen.”

“Awesome. Thanks.”

He looked back at me. “But she cares for you. Otherwise she wouldn’t have sent the students away.” That’s what he said, but the words lacked feeling. It was as if he were trying to make me feel better.

“How long have you known?” I asked.

“Known what?”

“About Cyrus? About him being a Vyken?”

Dr. Han crossed the room and sat down. “I didn’t know, still don’t, but I trust Liam. And I trust you.”

“Why?”

“Because of your bloodline. I fought side by side with your great-grandmother Mary.”

I leaned forward. “I haven’t heard about her.”

“You wouldn’t have. She was part of a movement in the thirties that hunted Vykens. No one talks about that time.”

“You were there?”

Although he was looking right at me, his gaze seemed to go beyond, to another time, perhaps, and for the first time I saw emotion in his face. “I was with her the day she died.” He paused and his focus returned. “I believe even Liam worked with her on an occasion or two.”

“Liam?”

“With such a small circle of supernatural creatures, it’s hard not to cross paths when you fight on the same side.”

I shook my head. Something was nagging at me. Mary in the thirties, hunting Vykens and working with Liam and Dr. Han. I looked up at him. “The Shadow,” I said. “She was the one who destroyed it, wasn’t she?”

“It’s true,” Dr. Han said, and I noticed that he didn’t look surprised that I knew about the Shadow. Liam must’ve told him about what Mr. Steele had said. “The Shadow was under the control of a Vyken named Darius,” he continued. “Once Mary gave her very life to destroy the Shadow, I was able to kill Darius.”

My heart swelled with pride when I thought of Mary and all that she’d done, but the feeling faded when I realized we were now in the same predicament she was. “But the Shadow’s back. How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, but believe me, I won’t rest until it’s sent back to hell where it belongs.”

I leaned back in my seat, wondering if things could get any worse. I looked at Dr. Han. “Why do you believe me about Cyrus when my own aunt doesn’t?”

“Because I saw your reaction that day when you first met Cyrus and Jameson. It’s the same reaction Mary and a few others used to have. I didn’t know what I was seeing at first, as it had been so long since an Aura had reacted like that, but after I thought about it and spoke to Liam, I knew.”

Leaning forward, I said, “Didn’t you ever wonder why Auras could no longer sense Vykens?”

“I didn’t get involved with Auras until the early thirties when I met Mary. And by then, many of the Auras already had their senses dulled. Liam said the drug was introduced in the twenties, correct?”

I nodded.

“I’m sure it was introduced slowly. So slowly that after enough time passed, Auras forgot. The ones who could still sense Vykens thought it was a gift only they had. But, looking back, I can see that they were just the ones who didn’t drink tea. Mary hated it.” He actually smiled.

I slumped into my seat, feeling exhausted. So many years had passed with people ignorant to the truth. “What about May’s blood? Why did you take it?”

He hesitated briefly. “I wanted to test it. To see what would happen if a Vyken’s poison infected a Fury’s blood.”

“Why didn’t you just use yours?”

His jawline tightened. “I wanted the blood of an innocent Fury. One who hadn’t awakened the Fury darkness inside them.”

I stared at him, wondering what challenges he had overcome. Maybe there was something in his past that could help me. But not now. Too much to do. “And what did you discover?”

Dr. Han faced the window in a thoughtful expression. Finally he said, “Furies are immune.”

“How is that possible?”

“Furies already have their own evil to contend with. A Vyken’s poison does nothing but add to it.”

“But May. There’s not a bad bone in her body.”

“Like I said before, she hasn’t been tested. But be assured, it’s in her, and one day she’ll have to fight it.”

I leaned back, a deep ache in my gut. I couldn’t bear the thought of May going through anything like I was.

“What now, Llona?” Dr. Han said.

“You’re asking me?”

“You are the leader, are you not?”

“I’m an eighteen-year-old girl who wants this to all go away. I’m no leader.”

“Leaders never choose their destiny. It’s handed to them. And what they do with it will either lead them and their followers into victory or defeat. Which direction will you lead us in?”

The air in the room felt cold and heavy.

“You remind me of her,” he said, and I looked up. “She was like you. Always doubting her abilities, and yet she always made the right choices.”

“My mother?”

He shook his head. “No. Mary.”

“What about my grandmother? Did you know her well?”

Dr. Han smiled. “I did. Sarah had the same rebellious spirit as her mother, but when Mary died, she took that spirit with her. Sarah wasn’t herself ever again, but I did notice a light return to her when she had your mother.”

“What happened to Sarah?”

“She was killed with her husband in a car crash. No one knows the details, but there was a huge blizzard the night she died. Their car was found on fire at the bottom of a ravine.”

I closed my eyes. So many deaths.

“But now there’s you, Llona. You are like Mary. You can change people’s minds with your voice and your actions. Already you have an Aura on your side, Kiera. I’ve watched you with her.”

“And Sophie,” I added, opening my eyes.

His lips tightened briefly then relaxed. “Yes. And Sophie. Don’t despair, Llona. Change takes time.”

I shook my head. “But we don’t have any more time.”

“Then what do we do?”

I glanced up at the clock, a plan forming in my mind. “Tonight. At six.”

“Where?”

“In your training room. And bring whoever of the teachers you think will go along with us.” I stood.

“What about Sophie?”

“She needs to be there. And can you tell her before she meets with Cyrus? I’m worried what he’ll do to her if she confronts him.”

“I’ll go talk to her now.”

Outside his office, May and Kiera were waiting for me. They must’ve seen us leave together and followed us.

“What did he want?” May said.

“He spoke to Liam and is going to help us.”

Kiera squealed. “Yes! A Fury is on our side.”

“Um, hello,” May said. “I’m a Fury too.”

Kiera’s smile disappeared. “I know. I just meant an experienced Fury.”

“I have to call Liam and Christian,” I said. “We’re all going to meet at six tonight in Dr. Han’s training room. You two try to convince everyone to leave today. Say whatever you have to, but make this week sound like it’s going to be completely boring.”

They nodded and left through the front doors, leaving me alone in the hall. I took several deep breaths until my lips began to tingle. The weight of what was happening pressed on my chest.
How can Dr. Han expect me to lead? A year ago, I didn’t even have friends.

I thought of my great-grandmother; what sort of person she must have been. She sounded so strong. If only she were here to talk to.
But she’s not, Llona
, I thought and looked up into my reflection in the glass door.
There’s only you.
I shoved back whatever pity I was feeling and pushed open the door.

It took some time, but eventually I made it back to my room. By the many conversations I eavesdropped on, most students were planning on leaving. I called Christian first and told him about the meeting and how the school was shutting down for a week.

“I heard,” he said.

“What about the Guardians? What have they been told to do?” With the phone to my ear, I went to the window and looked out. Already the driveway was starting to fill with cars. The richest of the rich probably had paid a Lizen to drive their child home.

“As soon as the announcement came, I’d say about a third of the Guardians just disappeared. I have no idea where they could’ve gone.”