Resistance (24 page)

Holding her gaze, he reached for the door handle. She grabbed hers. His eyes asked if she was ready and she nodded her reply.

Their doors opened at the same time.

Allie jumped down out of the tall SUV on to the dark street. She closed the door without looking back.

It was time to be brave.

O
n the street
, the night was alive with sounds. The noise of television programmes floated softly through windows left open to the warm summer breeze. Voices could be heard in the distance – talking, laughing. From farther away came the faint song of sirens, the growl of a plane.

A normal big city on a normal Friday night. Nothing to see here.

Some of Allie’s tension evaporated as soon as they started walking. Despite everything, it felt strangely good to be back in a city. In the countryside she was always the outsider. London was her territory.

The elegant buildings around them spoke of money and power. Light poured from tall windows, golden and silky, as if everything inside was gilded.

Walking side by side, like two Hampstead kids out for a stroll, Carter and Allie made their way to the top of the street. Their eyes constantly scanned the right side of the lane, peering between houses.

Allie saw it first.

‘There.’ She nudged Carter, tilting her head at the short, paved path running between two houses. It was unmarked, almost hidden.

They turned into it.

Instantly, they were plunged into darkness. The pavement beneath their feet soon ran out and the path turned to dirt.

They were in the Heath.

Aware that they were still visible through the windows of the houses behind them, they kept their pace languid. But they were both assessing the terrain around them.

To the left, Allie could see a scattering of trees and then thicker forests beyond. That was where they were headed.

Once the light of the houses faded, they broke into a jog. The ground was uneven, the grass high, but they were both used to that.

The route they’d chosen required them to circle the base of Parliament Hill – its widest point – and then climb to the top.

As Raj had warned them, what seemed simple on a map was more complicated at night. Once they were in the trees, it was hard to keep a sense of direction. At least in the city there was more ambient light. Once their eyes adjusted they could see where they were going without the use of flashlights.

‘I’m sure I’ve seen this tree before,’ Allie whispered, glaring at a memorable tilting pine.

‘Trees all look like trees,’ Carter pointed out, pulling a GPS reader from his pocket. ‘We should be going north-west.’ He turned his body and the device slowly until he had a reading that satisfied him. He glanced back at Allie. ‘That way.’

Once they’d turned, though, the brush grew thicker. Soon they were fighting their way through thorny brambles and stinging nettles that left Allie with bleeding cuts on both arms.

‘Bloody evil pissing things.’ Allie swore as a thorny bramble branch slashed the skin of her right hand.

‘I think it thins out ahead.’ Carter pointed to a clearing they could just make out through the trees.

Clutching her wounded hand, she hurried after him. They jumped over a fallen log that blocked the path, landing on the edge of a slow-moving stream. They forded the water as quietly as they could, scrambling up the bank on the far side with their boots squelching unpleasantly in the mud.

They were just entering the clearing when Allie saw it. A flicker of movement that shouldn’t be there.

At first she thought it was just a shadow. Then it moved again. And it did so with far too much intent and purpose.

Someone was there.

Silently, she grabbed Carter’s arm, pulling him back into the protection of the trees. His eyes met hers, questioningly. Raising her hand, she pointed into the glade.

At first his eyes searched the area aimlessly, seeing nothing. Then his gaze sharpened.

The shadow seemed to glide across the glade – its movements soundless. Lethal.

One of ours?
Allie wondered.
Or theirs?

There was no way to know. In the dark, both sides looked the same.

They crouched down low, watching the shadow.

If his strength is superior, evade him.

Up here, the noises of the city faded away. Allie could hear only her own heartbeat and Carter’s even breathing. There was almost no breeze and the trees stood still, as if they were waiting, too.

When the shadow finally disappeared, they waited for several long minutes to be certain it was gone. Then Carter caught her arm and gestured ahead. She nodded.

Rising in unison they slipped through the glade, as silently as the shadow before them.

By unspoken agreement they cut across the path it had taken and headed to the base of the hill on a diagonal trajectory. Their training told them this was the best direction to avoid running into the shadow again.

One thing was clear: this was real. These woods were full of people.

After ten minutes of cautious progress the trees thinned and they found themselves heading up a steep slope towards open ground. Raj had warned them about this section – there was no way to hide here.

His solution to this problem had been simple: move fast.

Crouching low, they burst from the woods, accelerating their pace until they were pounding up the hill. Although they kept the requisite distance apart, Allie was always conscious of where Carter was, how quickly he was moving.

In fact, she was so focused on him that it took her a moment to realise they’d crested the hill. She skidded to a stop as the view took her breath away: all of London sprawled out below them. Like a galaxy of low stars, stretching to infinity.

Overlooking it, all alone, was one woman.

Her hands were laced behind her back as she gazed out over the city. A neat shock of platinum-white hair caught the glimmer of the city lights and shimmered. She stood very upright.

It struck Allie that she would have recognised her grandmother anywhere by her posture alone.

She wore expensive trousers and an expensive trench coat. Any passer-by would have taken her for a Hampstead doyenne out for a late-night stroll.

Allie ran to her side. Carter dropped back, staying a respectful distance away.

‘Lucinda … Grandmother …’

At the sound of her voice, Lucinda turned serenely.

‘Oh good. You’re here. I must say I very much admire your promptness, Allie. I’m afraid I was rather early. Carter.’ Including him in her enigmatic gaze, she held out one self-assured hand.

After a brief hesitation he walked up, shaking her hand with careful deference.

‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ Lucinda said. ‘In many ways, you’re one of the reasons we’re here today. You are what we’re fighting for.’ Her eyes swept across him with a sceptical look. ‘I do hope you’re worth all of this.’

Before Carter could ask what she was talking about, Allie stepped forward. ‘Where’s Jerry? I thought he was with you.’

‘He’s here.’ Lucinda’s tone was dry. ‘I can assure you of that.’

It was clear she wasn’t going to reveal more. Allie let it go but worry twisted inside her.

Turning a wrist, her grandmother glanced at her watch. ‘Your timekeeping may be good, but I wouldn’t say much for Nathaniel’s …’

‘Oh, Lucinda.’ Nathaniel’s familiar voice came from behind them. Allie and Carter spun round to see him walking along the hilltop path in their direction. ‘Must you be so critical?’

His tone was sardonic. Familiar. He looked utterly comfortable, strolling along the lip of the hill, hands casually in his pockets.

Not for the first time, Allie marvelled at how normal he looked. How unthreatening. He was a little shorter than Carter with a medium build. His thick dark hair was neatly combed. His dark grey suit and crisp white shirt looked expensive but not flashy. He wore no tie and that made him look even more ordinary. But everything about his appearance was far too precise to be normal.

Her heart began to race but she forced herself to stay still. Look calm. Next to her, Carter hadn’t moved a muscle.

She scanned the surrounding woods for any sign of Raj or his team but found nothing.

They were alone with him.

‘Nathaniel,’ Lucinda admonished, ‘you should announce yourself. Did I teach you nothing?’

She spoke in tones of mild irritation, as if he’d turned up late for dinner at her club. Allie could see no sign of discomfort in her expression or stance. Instead, she actually looked pleased – her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright. As if he’d done something amusing.

She likes this,
Allie realised.
The game. The high stakes. This is her world.

‘Always the professor.’ Nathaniel laughed, and it was not an unpleasant sound. He brushed his left sleeve twice. And then his right sleeve. His movements were identical in both cases.

She was reminded of Katie’s belief that he had OCD.

He strolled up to them, as if they were friends about to have a picnic in the park.

Suddenly he turned to look at Allie, his eyes clear and interested. ‘Allie. You look well.’

She’d been this close to him only once before, and that time he’d held a knife to her throat.

Her mouth went dry and she couldn’t seem to speak.

Carter took a deliberate step to his right, placing his body between them.

Clearly intrigued, Nathaniel cocked his head to one side. ‘And who might you be?’

‘I don’t think I’m required to tell you anything.’ Carter didn’t attempt to hide the dislike in his tone.

‘Oh, I think you are, actually.’ Nathaniel’s gaze sharpened. He didn’t look so nice any more. ‘This is my party. I set the rules. Your name.’ He snapped his fingers. ‘What is it?’

‘Nathaniel,’ Lucinda interceded. ‘May I introduce Carter West? Carter? Nathaniel. Now can we get on with what we came here for?’

But Nathaniel wasn’t ready to move on. He studied Carter with new interest. ‘So you’re the famous Carter West. How intriguing. I’ve heard so much about you. Somehow I’d expected you to be … I don’t know. Bigger.’ He paused, stroking his thumb across his cheek thoughtfully. ‘Actually, haven’t we met before?’

Carter didn’t reply. He just stared at him with icy contempt. He betrayed no fear but Allie saw a muscle twitch in his jaw.

The last time Nathaniel had seen Carter was the night Gabe nearly killed him.

‘Now I remember.’ Nathaniel straightened as if the memory had just occurred to him. ‘It was at the castle. I am sorry about that. Gabe went too far … again. He is so difficult.’

Still, Carter said nothing. Allie admired his self-control, but she didn’t share it.

‘The last time I saw you, you stabbed me in the arm,’ she said, taking a step towards Nathaniel. ‘Remember that?’

‘Allie,’ Lucinda said reprovingly. ‘Remember your promise.’

Unexpectedly, though, Nathaniel looked apologetic. And when he spoke, some of the cockiness left his voice.

‘That was truly accidental, Allie,’ he said. ‘You moved too quickly for me to pull the knife back in time. I had no intention of hurting you. I’m very sorry it happened.’

Allie stared at him in mute surprise. If there was one thing she hadn’t expected from him tonight it was humility.

‘I was glad to hear you were not badly injured,’ he continued. ‘That night did not go as expected.’

It looked like he intended to say more but Lucinda made an impatient gesture.

‘Enough, Nathaniel. Surely you haven’t arranged this elaborate parley solely so you could apologise to my granddaughter for the unforgivable act of gravely injuring her?’

He turned back to her, his smile almost nostalgic. ‘Oh, Lucinda. I have missed sparring with you. Despite everything.’ Before she could reply, he continued quickly. ‘So, we are here to do business. Such unfortunate circumstances. Such bad business indeed.’

Suddenly Allie’s nervousness heightened. This didn’t feel right. His demeanour was out of character; the location felt odd and vulnerable.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Something was wrong.

She glanced around at the dark heathland. They should be keeping an eye out. Anyone could be hiding in the dark.

She nudged Carter. When he looked at her, very subtly she tilted her head at the heath that sprawled out behind them in the protective shield of darkness.

Getting the message, he took a careful step back to get a better view of the land behind them. And whoever might be hiding there.

Allie was comforted by the thought that somewhere nearby Nicole and Zoe were hiding. They might be watching them now.

‘Have you brought my prize?’ Nathaniel said.

He seemed to have forgotten about her for now – all of his attention was focused on Lucinda.

‘If by “prize” you mean “Jerry Cole”, then yes,’ Lucinda said. ‘He’s nearby. And you can have him as soon as you agree to our conditions.’

Nathaniel rocked back on his heels, warm brown eyes betraying nothing but curiosity. His tone was challenging. Even playful.

‘And what might those be? Come on, Lucinda. Surprise me.’

Her grandmother’s hesitation was only fractional but Allie recognised it. She was finding Nathaniel’s behaviour confusing as well. He was almost … jovial.

‘Nathaniel,’ Lucinda stepped closer to him, ‘let’s end this. Let’s find a compromise. A way to go forward without destroying the organisation. If you want me to step down from the Orion leadership, I will. We both know I’m finished there anyway. If you want someone else to take over Cimmeria, fine. Isabelle and I will compromise on that, too.’

Allie heard Carter’s breath catch, and she stared at Lucinda in disbelief.

None of this had been mentioned before.

This was what we came here for? For Lucinda to give Nathaniel everything?

She wanted to argue, but she’d promised not to interfere. She’d promised to trust her.

So she bit her tongue and waited.

Nathaniel widened his eyes in apparent surprise. ‘Why, Lucinda, how magnanimous! I’m swept away by your generosity. Are you saying you would be happy for me to take over the leadership of Orion and to pick the new leader of Night School? Because if you are, then at last we are getting somewhere.’

Lucinda’s smile was lupine. ‘Now, Nathaniel, you know you can’t take over Orion. Whatever you’ve been promised by your friends on the board, if I step down, you know they won’t really give it to you. A promise isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. The Rules are inviolable and, technically, you’re not even a member at this time. But there are many existing, long-term members whom I’d be happy to support.’