Genesis Girl (23 page)

“Headmaster Russell already cornered me tonight, asking me about why Fatima’s not here. What am I going to do?” Beau knits his forehead into a mass of wrinkles.

“I don’t know.”

“How will this work?”

“I don’t know,” I say again. “
But you have everything you need to achieve happiness.”

“I don’t, Blanca. Not without Fatima. Not without my child.”

We don’t get the chance to say anything else because the music stops. Beau spins me around in a final twirl, and there’s Trevor, waiting to cut in.

“How’re you doing, beautiful?” Trevor asks me as the music starts up. He’s sticky under his white shirt and smells like cheap body spray.

“I’ve been better.” I fight to stay calm.

Trevor isn’t listening to me. He navigates our way through the dancers and steals glances at Sarah.

I look too.

She’s over by the water table talking to Headmaster Russell. The conversation appears animated. Sarah knocks over some water glasses on purpose and tries to stalk away. Headmaster Russell grabs her arm and then glares right at us.

I feel Trevor’s muscles stiffen. He pauses, missing a beat, but keeps dancing. “Blanca, you’re beautiful,” Trevor says, not meeting my eyes. “Blanca, you’re perfect. I could dance with you all night.”

I don’t want to dance with Trevor all night! In fact, I strongly consider rearranging that Soap-boy face of his until the only thing he can sell is Band-Aids. But I smile up at him anyway until Headmaster Russell lets Sarah go.

“Where’s Ms. Lydia?” Trevor asks, like everything is fine. “Did you get the chance to talk to her?”

“I most certainly did.”

“Did you tell her how things are going? Did you tell her how much I want to be with you?”

“Yes.” I’m smarter than this. Trevor’s trying to control me. I see that now. He’s giving me the full force of his Soap-boy smile.

But Cal said I could choose about Trevor. He said I didn’t have to be with Trevor if I didn’t want to.

So when Trevor starts in again about how pretty I am and how I’m such a great dancer, I make my decision. “Stop,” I say. “Please.”

“What?”

“I’m going to do you a favor,” I say. “I’ll tell Ms. Lydia that you’re the best boyfriend ever, only I’m not interested.”

“I don’t understand.” Trevor looks into my eyes at last.

“I’ll tell her it’s my fault,” I whisper. “I know about the Vestal-cest.”

Trevor’s usual clear skin floods with color and becomes splotchy. “How’d you find out?”

“It doesn’t matter. But why’d you make me your target?”

“I had to.” Trevor slumps his shoulders. “I was under directions.”

“From who? Your company, or Ms. Lydia?”

“Do you even have to ask?” Trevor says. “She wants you to be happy. For some reason, you’ve really captured Ms. Lydia’s attention.”

“I’ll tell her I’m happy, all right.” I stick out my chin. Happier on my own, alone with the truth.

I’m beginning to sound like Seth.

The manor is quiet when I arrive home. There’s no Cal, no Ms. Lydia, and no Seth waiting to pounce.

I don’t know why I’m disappointed.

I thought at least Ms. Lydia would be there waiting up for me, to see how the banquet went. To hear Trevor talk, Ms. Lydia cares about me a lot.

But Ms. Lydia’s not there tonight, and she’s not there the next morning either. When I ask Cal about it at breakfast, he says Ms. Lydia was summoned.

“I have travel plans too,” he says. “I’ve some business to attend to that might take a few days. Will you be okay here on your own? Do you want me to call Seth?”

“No, thank you. I’ll be fine.”

“I know it.” Cal winks. “You’ve got good instincts, and you can think for yourself.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“But it could be.” Cal smiles. “It could be.”

Sometimes people do things that are so wicked they don’t want anybody to know about their transgressions. Their secrets need ultimate protection. That’s where the Vestals come in. Our Archives are top-notch and so exclusive that only a select number of the most powerful people in the world know about them. We store wills, documents, passwords, and formulas. VIPs trust us because they know Vestals will never betray them online. Archive business is conducted strictly by word of mouth and priority mail.

The Archives have been part of Vestal legacy ever since our inception. Barbelo began the Archives with the last specimen of the HIV virus in existence. Even today, countries argue about where that sample is hidden. Nobody knows the truth except the Vestals and the secret holders we protect.

So when Headmaster Russell shows up at the manor and tells me that Ms. Lydia is in danger, I believe him, although I don’t want to. Headmaster Russell knows what he’s talking about because he’s the master of secrets.

“Fatima disappeared three days ago,” Headmaster Russell says to me. We stand in the great hall, in a pool of colored light from the stained glass windows. “Now Beau is gone too.”

“Beau’s missing?” Maybe that’s where Cal went. I haven’t seen Cal since yesterday, right after breakfast.

“Beau’s gone, and my sources say that Ms. Lydia might be disappearing next.” Headmaster Russell glares at me sternly, the way he used to with the paddle in hand. “It’s imperative you tell me where Lydia is.”

“I don’t know.” It’s the truth. But that doesn’t stop my skin from going clammy.

“You’re lying!” Headmaster Russell snaps his fingers. “Tell me, Blanca. Tell me what you’re hiding.”

I swallow back bile. Goose bumps prickle down my legs and tears blur my vision.

Headmaster Russell practically growls. “What’s been going on here?”

“That’s private,” says a voice from behind me.

It’s Seth. He’s standing in the corner, next to the tapestry of the McNeal family crest. His palm is up, filming the whole scene.

“I believe my father was clear the last time you were here,” Seth says. “Thirty-two-million dollars means you don’t interfere with Blanca ever again. What she knows or doesn’t know is none of your concern.”

Headmaster Russell grits his teeth. “Put your hand down, Virus. This is a private conversation.”

“Not anymore it isn’t.” Seth’s other hand types into the air. He turns his palm over, and I see my silvery image pop up on the floating screen.

Seth uploaded me to
Veritas Rex
.

“You bastard!” I cry. “You promised!”

Headmaster Russell blanches. “Is that public?”

“He’s put us on
Veritas Rex
!”

Headmaster Russell gathers himself. I can tell by watching his jaw tighten that he’s plotting. He’s thinking about what he’ll do to Seth. And I’m very afraid because I’m not sure Seth understands the enormity of what he’s done and what he’s risked.

“That was a very foolish move, young man,” Headmaster Russell says.

But Seth snaps his fingers. “Time to go, Russell.”

Headmaster Russell’s face darkens until he looks the meanest I’ve ever seen him. Before he leaves, he turns to me and looks me right in the eye. “Lydia’s in danger. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Then he’s gone in a swirl of white cloak.

“You tricked me!” I shout at Seth, when Headmaster Russell is gone.

“I protected you.” Seth types at the air, shutting down the video.

“You betrayed me.”

“Blanca, I—”

“Don’t. Just don’t.” I turn to run—flee, is more like it—when Seth grabs my arm.

“I brought you a present.” He smiles hopefully. “It’s in the driveway.”

“I don’t want anything from a Virus!” For a half second, I think about kicking him again, right in the crotch. But this time I know how to hurt him harder.

“I’m never leaving my cloister again,” I say. “At least
there
I’ll be safe.”

“Blanca, wait!” Seth yells after me. “It’s a motorcycle!” he shouts. “Your very own ride!”

But I don’t look back. I only keep running.

A cloister is supposed to keep you secure. It’s supposed to keep predators out and the most private part of you safe, hidden away. But my problem is that a little piece of me is now tied up with Ms. Lydia, and another piece with Cal. I couldn’t stay in my cloister forever, not when they’re still not home. Not when Ms. Lydia is in danger.

Headmaster Russell wouldn’t have come to McNeal Manor unless it was dire. And now he can’t come back because Seth scared him away!

If I were in danger, Ms. Lydia would look for me in a heartbeat. I know she would. But at least she would know where to look.

I don’t know the first place to start

So that’s why I accepted Seth’s gift after all. That’s why I’m out here in the night, tearing up the pavement on this motorcycle. The streetlights are bright, and the traffic is gnarly. At every red light somebody tries to scan me to see if I’m a fake Vestal or not. When I turn out unreadable, they take my picture.

I’m not totally reckless. When I suited up in white leather, I made sure my platinum cuff was covered. I also studied the old-fashioned map of Silicon Valley I found in Cal’s office and left a note for Cal under his shaving kit.
Going to see Ethan. Please keep this private.

There’s Ethan’s building now, towering above me. I’d recognize that emblem anywhere. His company is the king of chips, the biggest player in Silicon Valley. If anyone can help me find Ms. Lydia, it’s Ethan.

I’d ask Cal, but Cal’s not here. And Cal would want me to make sure Ms. Lydia’s safe.

Ethan’s the only one left I can trust. I know he’s corrupted, but I don’t think he’ll betray me.

I coast down the ramp to the security station, and then come to a safe stop. But I don’t take my helmet off. “I’m here to see Ethan the Vestal,” I say, my voice barely audible.

The security guard tries to scan me too. But I’m not any old girl in white.

“Let me see your cuff,” he growls.

I expose my platinum wrist, and he opens the gate.

It takes one lap around the underground parking lot before the white elevator door opens. When it does, I cut the engine and put up the kickstand.