Forbidden Fire (Forbidden #2) (8 page)

A girl of about fifteen spoke up. "My name's Lisa. I can hover above ground, and I'm learning to fly. We have a lot of powerful paranormals in this room and there is a way we can use these collective powers to escape. I know our ideas may not seem very thought-out yet, but that's why we need you two. You've got more experience in assignments, and you have friends on the outside. With your help we can do this."

"You don't understand," Lucy said. "My friends escaped, yes, but in the process, someone very important to us was killed. Do you get it? They killed her!"

She pounded her fist on the desk in frustration. "And they weren't trying to free an entire school. Do you think we'll all make it out alive? We won't. Some of us will die." Her voice escalated to the point of yelling. "Are you ready to carry that burden, to watch your friends die because you sent them in to disarm a guard or start a fire? Do you have any idea what you are doing? You don't know the first thing."

Luke put an arm around her shoulders as she fought the sobs building in her chest. No one moved or even breathed.

Lisa wiped a tear from her face. "You're right. We don't know what we're doing, but we can't just sit here and wait. We have to do something. I'm sorry you lost someone close to you. But, yes, I
am
prepared to die." Lisa looked everyone in the room in the eyes. "What about all of you? Are you prepared to do whatever is necessary to take this place down?"

Lucy held her gaze the longest, weighing the truth of her words and intentions.

"Am I lying?" Lisa asked.

"No. But that doesn't mean this is a good idea."

"Right now, it's the only idea we have. But with you and Luke on the team, maybe we can think of something better."

One by one, each person affirmed they were ready to sacrifice everything to fight Rent-A-Kid. Lucy paid close attention, but couldn't catch anyone in a lie.

It still didn't change her mind. She looked to Luke for support, but he didn't make eye contact. At that moment she wished she could read minds like Sam, or talk to Luke mentally. She needed to get him alone before he agreed to this mess.

"I need to think about all this, okay? And talk to my brother." Lucy shot Luke a warning look.
Do not speak, Bro. We need to talk first.

He got the message and nodded once sharply.

Gary smiled. "We're having another meeting on Thursday. You could come then. Maybe you'll be ready?"

That gave her two days to convince Luke this was a mistake. She hoped it'd be enough.

"Yeah, okay, we'll be back then."

The collective group seemed to relax. Gary fidgeted, and his coin dropped to the ground. He held his hand over it, but nothing happened. Lucy looked around the room. Richard, a fire-starter, had been playing with a small fireball all through the discussion—something he'd gotten in trouble for more times than she could count. He too stared at his hand in confusion. No fire. Others shifted nervously and whispered to each other.

Lucy turned to Luke. "Lie to me."

"What? Why?"

"Just do it."

"Okay fine. Um... I love broccoli."

Nothing.

Lucy couldn't tell he was lying. Normally a pressure would build inside of her and buzz in her head when someone lied. This time, nothing. And she knew Luke hated broccoli. The emptiness inside her shook Lucy to the core. Without her power she was... ordinary, useless. Bad enough to have a passive power like lie detecting, but to lose even that terrified her.

"Luke, something's wrong. I can't use my powers. Can you?"

He looked around, finally seeming to notice that others were having problems. He walked to a wall and tried to put his hand through, but it hit the surface like any other normal hand. He raised his voice to be heard above the rumbling. "Can anyone use their para-powers?"

A chorus of "No's" started around the room.

Luke tried again. "Raise your hand if you
can
use your para-power."

Everyone looked around. No one raised their hands.

"Has this ever happened to anyone before?" Lucy asked.

More "No's."

Before a full-fledged panic could start, the loudspeakers crackled to life. "LUKE AND LUCY, PLEASE REPORT TO THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY."

Lucy's heart skipped a beat. Luke's brow furrowed in concern and he balled his fists at his side. Were they in trouble? Did the headmaster know about the meetings? Or about the failed powers?

"Come on." Luke pulled her up, then addressed the rest of the group. "Everything will be fine. You should all go back to your rooms and pretend nothing's happened. We'll see you at the meeting on Thursday, if not sooner."

The twins walked out of the classroom and made their way to Headmaster Higgins's office. Lucy knew they were thinking the same thoughts, feeling the same fears. Talking would be pointless.

***

They sat in the plush waiting room for what seemed like hours. Lucy spun her finger in her hair, over and over. Luke stared at the wall, probably wishing he could just walk through it and into Headmaster Higgins's office without permission.

Ms. Bradley clicked away at the computer, ignoring them—as usual.

"How much longer do you think?" Lucy asked.

"He should be out shortly," she said without looking up.

Truth or Lie? Who could tell anymore? Lucy stood and paced the room while humming off-tune. Maybe she could annoy Ms. Bradley into hurrying this process along.

She earned an evil look from the secretary, but nothing more.

Finally, Headmaster Higgins buzzed for them to go in. Ms. Bradley stood to escort them.

"I think we can find our own way. But thanks for being
so
helpful." Lucy didn't even try to keep the sarcasm from her voice.

Luke and Lucy sat in expensive leather seats in front of the headmaster's giant mahogany desk. It defined him as much as his tailored pinstripe suits, and shiny shoes as dark as his skin. Lucy cleared her throat impatiently.

Higgins looked up, as though he'd just noticed they were there.

Luke's mouth gaped open in shock.

Lucy inhaled the bitter words on her lips.

Higgins had aged ten years since they saw him just the other day. His hollow cheeks and sagging red eyes made him look sickly.

"Are you okay?" Lucy asked. She knew better than anyone that people never answered that question honestly. Would her powers work now?

"No. Not really. As you've undoubtedly noticed, things are changing around here, and it's been very stressful."

Damn, I didn't expect him to tell the truth. I need a way to see if my powers are working.

"But that's not why I've called you in here," Higgins said. "I have an assignment for the two of you."

Lucy's jaw dropped. "I thought assignments were on hold for a while."

"They were, but this just came down from way higher up than me. It's important, so we need a seasoned team to take it on. You two are the best we have."

Luke tensed his shoulders, but reached for the file Higgins dropped on the desk. He shuffled through the papers as Lucy strained to see over his shoulder.

After a cursory skim he handed the stack to Lucy. "You want us to infiltrate a Russian lab and steal research material? Why? What's so important that this has to be done now?"

"The why isn't your concern. Your only job is to complete the assignment and bring back the necessary information."

Lucy looked up from the files. "Is this even a real assignment? Or are we being punished because we hung out with Sam?"

She tried to tap her powers, but couldn't be sure they were working. Luke nudged her and brushed his hand through the desk. His powers worked. Hers should too, right?

"You're not being punished. We need you in the field."

Lucy frowned. If her powers were working properly, then he was telling the truth. Something didn't feel right about any of this, however. "Our powers stopped working today for a few minutes. We don't know why. What if this happens while we're on assignment? Has this happened to anyone else?"

She had to risk some exposure to get answers. Besides, losing powers on a job could be deadly, and Lucy wasn't ready to die just yet.

"You'll get a full exam in the clinic before you leave. I'm sure everything will be fine."

Truth, and lie. Nothing was fine.

"When do we leave?"

"You have a week. All the documents and IDs are being prepared. In the meantime, go about your normal schedule."

Lucy scoffed. "Normal? In this war zone? Yeah right."

Higgins's shoulders sagged. "I'm sure things will get back to normal eventually."

"Couldn't you tell this Higgins guy was lying to you the whole time?" Brad asked.

Outside our car, the hills and mountains changed only in their angle, moving in and out of shades of green. My brain hurt from answering his questions. How could I explain to someone something I didn't even understand myself?

"First," I said, "that's not how mind reading works. People's thoughts are really complicated, and they don't always come in words or follow linear patterns. Second, even though my best friend is a human lie detector, no, we never caught him in a lie. Towards the end of my stay, after Drake was captured, Higgins's thoughts disturbed me, but until then I had no reason to suspect anything."

Drake took a deep breath in the back seat and shifted his body to get more comfortable in his nap. I wished I could fall asleep, but Brad had too many questions.

Brad glanced at me briefly, then fixed his eyes back on the winding road. "So seventeen years, and you never thought they were lying about what happens when you leave?"

Shame filled me. I should've known. What good was a freaking mind-reading spy if she couldn't catch on to the biggest secret of all? "No. I told you, it wasn't like that. We were treated well. We had everything we ever needed, and the organization was careful. I really believe that most of the staff and faculty didn't even know the full truth. I assume that those who did know were never allowed around us."

"Then how did you figure it out so fast? I mean, Drake shows up and boom, all your trust is gone?"

"Not just boom. First, the fact that he'd been kidnapped was enough to give me pause. We'd never seen anyone brought to Rent-A-Kid against his will. Second, and this is just a theory, I think Drake messed things up for them."

Brad slurped his soda and put it back in the cup holder. "How so?"

I gripped the armrest of my car door tightly, relieved when both of his hands were back on the wheel. This road did not look forgiving with its twisty, sharp turns and steep, midnight dips into nothing. "Just the way the whole situation was handled. Getting me pregnant so fast, Drake's being held at Rent-A-Kid at all, the random thoughts I caught running through people—it was sloppy, and they don't strike me as sloppy. Something happened to derail their plan. What exactly? I don't know."

Brad's mouth tightened into a grimace. I resisted the urge to slip into his mind. My brain needed a break.

"Okay, but wh—"

"Stop!" I raised my hand as though it could defend me from his questions. "I know you have a story to write, but can we save the third degree for later? I'm exhausted."

The muscles in his face softened, and his grip on the steering wheel loosened a fraction. "Sure, of course. I'm sorry, Sam, I don't mean to push you. I'm just trying to understand. My readers, assuming I get any, will be wondering the same things. But we can pick up some other time. We should be getting to the cabin soon, anyway."

I rested my forehead against the cool glass window. "What's he like, your professor?"

"Professor Shaw is... well, you'll see soon enough. He's a character."

His soft smile told me more than any words could have. I looked forward to meeting this man.

***

I stiffened in momentary panic, unsure of how much time had passed. Then I remembered the car, Brad, the cabin, and the muscles in my stomach unclenched. I massaged the kinks in my neck with one hand while wiping my eyes with the other.

"How long was I asleep?" I asked Brad.

"Only about thirty minutes. We're almost there."

Drake shifted in the back seat, and I sensed his consciousness waking.
'I missed you.'

"I'm right here."

'I know. I just miss touching you.'

Drake reached through the gap between the seats to take over rubbing my neck.

Brad pulled the car into the dirt driveway of a large log cabin that sat in a copse of trees.

My stiff muscles protested as I stretched. "Are you sure it's okay to show up without calling?"

"He can't be mad at surprise visitors when he refuses to keep a phone."