Resistance (16 page)

A
fter giving
Carter a good head start so she was certain not to run into him again, Allie climbed the stairs to the girls’ dorm deep in thought. In her mind, she replayed their conversation over and over again.

The more she thought about it, the more idiotic she felt.

All he’d done was say something nice. Like friends do.

What if he’d noticed how she’d misconstrued it?

The very idea made her cheeks flame.

She hated herself.

She and Sylvain had something – something real. When he kissed her, she melted. And now they were back on track. Why couldn’t she just let it happen?

Why couldn’t she just let herself be happy with him?

She and Carter had once had a thing but it was over long ago. Now he was trying very hard to be her friend and she was being unbelievably stupid and messing everything up for everyone.

What really scared her was the thought that, if she wasn’t careful, she’d lose both Sylvain and Carter. She had to get it together.

Her mind was so occupied she hardly noticed where she was going, but it didn’t matter. She could walk through Cimmeria with her eyes closed and never hit a wall.

She reached the elegant first-floor landing with its tall windows and graceful statues without looking up. As she turned left towards the stairs leading up to the top floor her trainers beat a soft dirge against the oak floors.

A
t the top
of the stairs she waved absently at the guard, who sat in her usual chair shoved back against the wall, and headed down the long, narrow corridor lined with white doors, each with a black number painted on it.

By now she’d convinced herself Carter hadn’t noticed her strange reaction.

Maybe everything would be fine.

H
er thoughts were
in such a hectic whirl by the time she reached her room she was on auto-pilot. She barely noticed she’d opened her door – force of habit dictated how far she turned the handle, how hard she pushed.

Inside, she flicked the lights on with careless familiarity. Dropped her bag to the floor in the usual place.

Only then did she realised someone was standing in front of her.

She stopped breathing.

‘Hello, Allie,’ her brother said. ‘I thought you’d never get here.’

‘
C
hristopher
…?’ Allie’s lips wouldn’t move. The word came out in a terrified whisper.

He stood in front of her desk, his back to the open window.

‘It’s me,’ he said, turning his hands over as if that proved it. ‘And I’m not setting anything on fire so … please don’t call for help until you hear me out.’

Allie’s heart was racing but it seemed hard to move. It was like she’d walked into a dream. A nightmare.

Christopher was really
here
?

There’d been a time when talking to him was the only thing she wanted. Now she was afraid of him. And angry.

When she’d first found out he’d joined Nathaniel she wouldn’t accept that he was lost to her forever. Eventually, though, she’d had to let him go. She’d had to accept that he’d chosen the other side in this battle.

Now here he was again, right in front of her, smiling that familiar guilty smile. Like he’d just broken something and wanted her to promise not to tell Mum.

Resentment and hurt made her stomach churn.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Her voice was low and ominous. ‘How did you get past the guards?’

He gave a short laugh. ‘It wasn’t easy. Look, I’m sorry to show up like this but I had to talk to you.’

He sounded calm but Allie saw his Adam’s apple bob with nervousness. In fact, now that she was aware of it, she could see the tension in his shoulders, his arms, the way his hands kept moving.

His fear gave Allie strength. Reminded her where she was and all she’d learned.

He
should
be afraid.

She studied him steadily, letting him see her suspicion. Making it obvious. ‘Did Nathaniel send you? What does he want?’

His fingers twitched.

‘Nathaniel doesn’t know I’m here. If he finds out …’ His voice trailed off as if what would happen was unsayable. Unthinkable.

A cool breeze blew in through the open window behind him. Outside Allie could see no moon or stars – nothing but darkness.

Her eyes narrowed. ‘Now, why would you take a chance like that? I thought you were his loyal subject.’

‘I was.’ He leaned back against her desk. ‘I mean … I believed him. I do, still, believe him.’ He rubbed his hands across his face. ‘It’s just got confused, Al. It’s all confused.’

Allie couldn’t hide her incredulity. This new Christopher… where had he come from?

‘What’s confused?’ she asked, her voice sharpening.

‘Me.’ Christopher looked down. ‘He told me the truth about us … our family. And I thought he could make it all better. Give us what we deserve. But then he did things – really bad things. And now I don’t know what I believe.’

Allie, who knew all about the bad things Nathaniel had done, didn’t know what to make of any of this. Her brother seemed genuine. But for all she knew, this was an elaborate act. Part of some trick Nathaniel had devised.

If there was one thing she’d learned in the last year it was this: everyone lies. Even people you love.

‘Don’t say “us”.’ Her tone was clipped. ‘You didn’t do anything for me. This was all about you.’

He didn’t argue.

‘Fine. I know you’re angry. And I don’t blame you. But you have to understand. That guy … Gabe?’ Christopher searched her face for signs of recognition.

Allie gave a terse nod. Oh yes. She knew Gabe.

‘He’s crazy. And Nathaniel knows it. He’s dangerous as hell, but he keeps him around like he’s some sort of … I don’t know. Human handgun.’ He shook his head. ‘He wasn’t supposed to hurt your friend Ruth at all. Or that other girl … what was her name?’

For a second Allie couldn’t speak. She curled her hands into fists until her nails dug deep crescents into her palms.

‘Jo,’ she said.

‘Yeah.’ It was clear the name meant nothing to Christopher. He didn’t know any of the people Allie loved. ‘Nathaniel was furious about that. But he kept him on.’

Hearing this, Allie wanted to cry. To scream. But she stilled that urge. Because she needed to know more. She kept her voice even.

‘Why?’

He held her gaze. ‘Because he scares you.’

Allie heard herself give a bitter laugh and she tried to stifle it.

‘That’s a bloody bad reason to hang out with a psychopath.’

‘I know. That’s the whole
point
.’ He raked his fingers through his hair. He looked agonised, and she studied him with new interest. Could he fake this?

‘There’s more. Other things. I think what he wants is right but …’

‘What?’ She couldn’t stop herself. ‘To run the world? To be some sort of mental emperor? You think that’s okey-dokey but killing a few people … now,
that’s
wrong? Bloody hell, Christopher.’

Her voice dripped sarcasm and he looked at her narrowly.

In that moment he looked so much like their dad, Allie caught her breath. Same pale blue eyes. Same disapproving expression.

‘Come on. You think it’s OK for Lucinda to run the country now but if Nathaniel did it that would be wrong?’ He straightened and took a step forward. ‘Why shouldn’t he run things? Why shouldn’t
we
? Anyone with the energy and the ideas and the family history …’

She bristled. ‘What does family have to do with it?’ Her voice rose. ‘Are you saying you have to be related to us to have power because –’ she made a rolling gesture with her hand – ‘Sheridans make awesome prime ministers? Or something?’

While they argued they’d moved closer together without Allie noticing. Now she was too angry to care. She had to stand on her toes to be eye level with him – she didn’t remember him being so tall.

‘Meldrums,’ he corrected her, using their grandmother’s last name. Allie thought about the book in the drawer, filled with the names of their forefathers, all of whom had lived lives of wealth and power because of who they were, rather than what they’d done. Or how hard they’d worked.

‘You know what? That’s not even her real name,’ she snapped. ‘That’s her favourite husband’s name. So if you’re looking for a name to hang this whole world-domination thing on you might need to dig a little deeper. Find out who we really are.’

‘All right. All right.’ He held up his hands in surrender. ‘Let’s not fight. Just wait until you hear what I have to say. Then I’ll go, I promise. I can tell you don’t want me here.’

‘Make it fast.’ There was ice in her voice.

He took another step towards her. He was too close now. But Allie didn’t want to show her fear and back away. She forced herself to hold his gaze.

‘You’re planning to go with Lucinda to the parley with Nathaniel,.’ He spoke low and fast. ‘Don’t go. It’s a trap.’

Allie sighed. Had he seriously come all the way here just to tell her the most obvious thing in the world?

‘Oh for God’s sake. Of
course
it’s a sodding trap. You think I don’t know that?’

He shook his head. ‘It’s a good trap, Allie. And it’s not for you.’

That stopped her. She stared at him.

‘Who is it for?’

He answered her question with a question. ‘Who is Nathaniel’s biggest problem right now?’

‘Lucinda.’ The word came out as a breath.

His expression told her she was right.

‘So, if it’s Lucinda he’s after, why don’t you want me to go?’ Her voice stayed neutral but internally she was calculating how long it would take her to get to Isabelle’s room and get her to phone Lucinda.

‘Because once she’s gone,’ he said in the same voice he’d once used to help her with her homework, ‘who’s left to protect you?’

His words seemed to hang in the air between them.

What was he saying? That Nathaniel would come after her as soon as Lucinda was gone? And since when did Christopher even care about that? It wasn’t like she hadn’t been hurt already.

The scar on her arm gave a warning throb.

‘I don’t get it,’ she said. ‘You’re warning me about Nathaniel. Telling me you want Lucinda to win. Whose side are you on?’

The question seemed to throw him. He hesitated before replying.

‘I guess I’m on my own side now. Because I can’t be a part of what Nathaniel’s doing any more. But I can’t be with you either, can I? Because you don’t trust me.’

His gaze challenged her.

‘How could I trust you?’ Her throat was suddenly tight. Her voice wavered, just a little. ‘How? You chose
his side
. He killed people I love. And you were right there with him.’

‘So here we are.’ He seemed to say this mostly to himself. As if some suspicion had been verified.

Then he straightened. ‘What if I told you who the spy was? Would you trust me then?’

Allie froze.
He knows?

She fought to keep her expression neutral.

‘I wouldn’t even believe you,’ she said.

‘But surely you want to know who it is …’ Christopher took a step towards her, but now he was far too close and Allie scrambled back, running into the wall. She raised her fists.

‘Don’t come any closer,’ she warned him.

He stopped instantly. Pain flared in his eyes.

‘God,’ he said. ‘You really hate me, don’t you?’

Allie wasn’t about to apologise for that. ‘What did you expect?’

‘But don’t you see?’ He held her gaze. ‘We’re all we have now, you and me. Our parents don’t care. No one else cares …’

His words hit her with the force of a fist, throwing her off-balance.

Was he right? Was he all she had?

For a split second she remembered the wounded girl who first came to Cimmeria Academy. Abandoned by her family. No friends. Alone in the world.

But she wasn’t that girl any more. She’d worked
hard
not to be that girl. She thought of Rachel and Zoe, Carter and Sylvain.

When she spoke, she was surprised by how strong her voice sounded. ‘Maybe I’m all you have. But you’re not all I have. I am
surrounded
by people who care about me.’

‘Are you?’ His eyes were cynical. ‘Or are you just surrounded by people who love your grandmother’s power? Tell me this. If Lucinda Meldrum weren’t your grandmother, would you be here? Would one person at Cimmeria Academy be your friend? Would they even know your name?’

Allie hated that there was a kernel of truth in those awful words. Hated that it made her doubt her friends.

‘Get out.’ She hissed the words.

When her brother didn’t move, she advanced on him, her movements slow and deliberate. With each step she was judging the angle. The trajectory. Where to grab him to throw him off balance.

‘Get the hell out of my room or I’ll throw you out.’

‘Allie …’ He took quick steps away from her. ‘Come on. At least let me tell you who—’

But she didn’t want to listen any more.

‘I swear to God, Christopher, I will throw you out that window. And if you don’t believe I can … just try me.’

Deciding she was serious, he turned and ran to her desk, leaping on it in an easy, athletic move. Now she had to crane her neck to look up at him.

She took a careful step back. They both knew he had the advantage.

But all he did was talk. ‘You know I’m right. In your heart, you know. I wouldn’t ever hurt you. Don’t go to the parley, Allie. Don’t trust anyone. Be careful.’

With that, he jumped on to the ledge outside her window, and disappeared.

‘
T
hat was all he said
?’ Isabelle leaned back in her chair. Her long, dark blonde hair hung loose over the shoulders of her white dressing gown.

When she crossed her legs, the ankles of her pyjamas peeked out beneath the hem of her robe. Something about that made her seem vulnerable.

Allie nodded. ‘The parley is a trap for Lucinda.’

‘I’m most interested in why he felt inclined to tell you this.’ Lucinda’s tinny voice emerged from the telephone propped up on Isabelle’s desk. ‘If what he said was true about Nathaniel, he risked his life to tell you this. Why the sudden change of heart?’

‘I don’t trust him, Grandmother,’ Allie said, looking at the phone as if it could see her.

‘
I
trust your instincts
,’ Lucinda said. ‘But I want to know more. And also, he’s my grandson. If he has left Nathaniel then he’s alone out there. He could need my help. Isabelle, ask Raj to have someone find and follow Christopher for a while. See where he goes, what he does.’

Isabelle made a note on the pad in her lap. ‘I’ll do it first thing, Lucinda.’

‘What about the spy?’ Allie looked at the headmistress. ‘Do you think he was telling the truth? Does he know?’

‘Perhaps. Or Nathaniel could have intentionally planted information with him. It’s a shame he didn’t tell you a name, at any rate.,’ Lucinda said.

Remembering how angry she’d been, how she wouldn’t even allow Christopher to tell her, Allie winced.

‘Still, there’s been some progress on that front from elsewhere,’ Lucinda continued. ‘One of my contacts at MI5 from my old government days has been in touch. She’s no fan of Nathaniel. She’s looking into the situation for us now. I’ll get back to you as soon as I know more.’

‘Thank you, Lucinda.’ Isabelle closed her notebook.

‘I presume the guards have checked the grounds thoroughly?’ Lucinda asked. ‘I don’t think Christopher would be foolish enough to come back, but still. I’m not sure I want Allie alone in her room tonight.’

‘We’ve stationed a guard on the roof above her window. Another will be outside her door,’ Isabelle said.

‘Excellent. Then I’ll leave this in your capable hands. Let’s speak again tomorrow.’ Lucinda ended the call without another word.

Allie stared at the silent phone. A guard on the roof and one at the door.

I’m a prisoner now.