Seeing Light (The Seraphina Parrish Trilogy) (18 page)

::31::
The Crown

The woman falls to the floor and her blonde hair spills free from her coiffure. I feel guilty for what I’ve done. We’re on the same side, and she’s just doing her job. A job tasked her by my own mother before her passing.

I grab the crown of Unika and push the Animate back into the nest of bows on top of my hat before I take off running. Spectators gather around, so it’s only a matter of time before the police become involved.

I haven’t traveled very far from the scene when I’m met by a pair of familiar eyes. I pause for only a moment, knowing that running into the Underground gang can’t possibly be good news, and I take off sprinting out of the building and into the Chicago sunlight.

The group is not nearly as fast as me but it’s something that Drake, their leader, yells that causes me to stop, turn, and face them.

“Your Turner,” he yells. “He’s alive.”

“What?” I step backward in surprise.

“He made it through the wormhole with Cece.” Drake steps forward, and though I haven’t seen him since last semester, he still makes me uneasy. To this day, I have no idea why they were ever after me to begin with or why they ever wanted me dead.

My face crumples with confusion. “Turner’s dead. You’re lying,” I say and take another step back.

“I’m not. Cece is losing domination over the Underground because you took the dreamdrives. Without them to control the members, they’ve gone raving mad, rallying on their own, attacking random Society buildings.”

“You’re lying,” I say, and begin to move away.

“I’m not. In fact, if you come with me, I’d be happy to supply more information,” Drake offers, pleading with outstretched arms.

I glance through the crowd, trying to make sense of his words, and finally see my past self and Bishop not very far away, staring at me. I remember seeing myself from their point of view and what I looked like to them.

My eyes glass over as sadness creeps up on me. I have no idea if Drake is telling the truth or if he’s trying to trick me. I firmly grasp the crown in my hand, remembering my task. I can’t let the Underground detour me with their lies. I need to return to my true time and save Sam and Bishop. So without another thought, I pivot and dash away from them, opening the time travel doorway and Wander back into the future, back to the Academy.

With my mind, I bend the wormhole, and instead of landing in Olde Town, where the students still chant for me to repent, I land in my apartment, slamming into the refrigerator, where I press my cheek on the cool stainless steel and take in a deep breath of relief. My dress puddles around me as I slide to the floor in confusion.

I look down at the crown, clenched in my hand. It’s exactly like I remember from Stu’s drawing from last semester. A winged scarab holds the green emerald, flanked by two Egyptian-style Seeing eyes and two scorpions. Each side is a pictorial representation of a Wandering team: the eyes being the Seer, the Scorpion being the Protector, and the wings representing the Wanderer. My mom had this reconstructed for me, but how did she know this was my path?

It bothers me that I had to hurt the Keeper in order to obtain the crown, but at least it will help my friends and eventually fulfill the prophecy. I want nothing more in this moment than to control my own destiny, control who I love, and know exactly who my family and friends are in this life. I deserve at least that. All of us do. I can only hope that the prophecy will allow that. It has to be better than what we have now.

With a tug at the large hat pin securing it, I remove my hat and place it on the floor next to me. The scorpion Animate crawls out of the bow, over my thigh, and down the side of my leg, making its way across the tile floor. A beam of light shoots from its face and the illumination shimmers into the shape of Hologram Turner. Seated and facing me, he extends his legs, intertwining them familiarly with mine.

When he takes my hand and laces our fingers together, locking them tight, I lose it and begin to cry.

“You had no choice, you had to hurt her,” he says.

“I know.” I sniffle.

“Then why are you crying?”

“Because I ran away when Drake told me you might still be alive.”

Turner stiffens at this. “What are you talking about?”

“The Underground gang, the one that tried to kill me last semester, they somehow found me at the exposition and tried to convince me that you’re alive. They said you and Cece are alive!” I suck in a breath and exhale a sob, then begin to cry harder.

“That’s ridiculous. If I were, nothing could keep me from you.” He rubs his hand along my cheek, stroking the skin with his thumb. The electricity causes me to shiver and I hiccup suddenly, then swipe at my wet face and try to compose myself.

“Unless,” I say uncertainly, “there’s some reason. Maybe real Turner is hurt? Maybe he can’t leave. Maybe Cece’s holding him captive?”

He looks skeptical.

“It would explain why the Underground attacks continue. She’s still alive,” I say with more conviction. After further consideration, Drake’s explanation of Cece losing control of the Underground makes sense. The dreamdrive she used to control her members is still hidden away at Mona’s home.

“I know they never found their bodies, but still, their survival was impossible since a Wandering compass is needed to travel to and from Gibeon,” he reminds. “And have you ever felt Turner in your mind, like you have with me?”

I shake my head. “I’ve only shared thoughts with you. In fact, I tried with Sam and it didn’t work. I haven’t completely developed that skill.”

“But you’re also forgetting the most important part.” He squeezes my hand. “Real Turner can only travel through time with his Wanderer. That’s with you and only you. Which means that he didn’t make it, Sera. I’m sorry. No one wishes him alive more than me.”

My chest hitches with new sobs and I bawl louder for my poor heart that’s breaking again. Feeling emotionally and mentally drained, I go off on a rant. “I’m tired of being the strong one. Tired of being the one that fixes everything, and the one who will save everyone.” He doesn’t say anything and my blubbering continues. “I know it’s selfish.” I wipe the tears from my face. “I haven’t even had enough time to grieve for Turner or my mom, and if I wasn’t trying to save everyone in Nocturna, I’d be off investigating whether Drake’s telling the truth—even if it’s completely impossible.”

“Sera, you have so much courage, strength, and resilience. Even if you tried, I know you couldn’t control your determination, you couldn’t slow down and do nothing because you’re so strong.”

“I’m only strong because of the people who support me. Because of you.”

“Still, it’s okay to cry. Even if you need to take a few minutes to recoup, you’ll always strike back. I’ve never met anyone as amazing as you. Everyone needs to recharge, even if you’re meant to be the superhero.”

He lifts my hand and presses his lips to the base of my fingers. The warmth of the electricity that makes him live spreads over my skin, prickling the hair on my arms.

“The Grand Master has Sam and Bishop?” he asks.

I let out a snort. “Yeah. He’s unbearable and manipulative.”

“Then you just need to beat him at his own game.”

I let those words churn, considering what I would have to do to beat him at his own game. I lift my head to Turner. “You’re right, that’s exactly what I need to do.” I smile. And in that second I discover a wellspring of reenergized hope that can change our lives. If by some miracle Turner is alive and I survive this, then I will find him too.

“Let’s go get ’em, love.” Hologram Turner disappears, the image shrinking back into the beam of light that disappears within the Animate scorpion. The machine skitters across the floor onto my palm and I place him on my shoulder.

Then I stand up and ready myself to face my enemy.

::32::
The Game

I intend to make a scene because that’s exactly what Grand Master Levi would do. I’m going to beat him at his own game, and with the help of Hologram Turner, I’ll do it even better. As I think we’re meant to, we make an excellent team.

First, I steal two hologram training machines from Professor Raunnebaum’s laboratory. Next, I install them in Olde Town on the fortified stone walls that surround the city, being careful to avoid the Animate raptors and lions. And finally, after I’m done, I stealthily climb to the top of the six-story bell tower, and sit on the edge of the roofline. My stomach turns as I look down at the students gathered and gossiping in the town center below. They’re completely unaware that I perch above.

Rex stands on the opposite side of the city at the tunnel entrance that leads to the library. He’s probably waiting there, watching for my return. With a little wave on my part, he spots me and points, alerting the other guards. The group moves in my direction, cutting through the crowd as Rex takes off running back down the hall, disappearing in the darkness, hopefully to retrieve the Grand Master.

In the commotion, students abandon their chatter and look up. When I have everyone’s attention, that’s my cue to turn the tables and give the Grand Master a taste of his own medicine.

Students begin chanting “repent” as they did before. Their arms pump with each syllable as though they’re beating the word into the air, pushing it into my lungs. As if breathing it in would change how I feel.

I stand with the crown in a bag, hanging from my waist. From this height, I can barely make out the Animate scorpion crawling across Olde Town through the piazza on his own mission. There’s a gleam of light on his crystal body, and that’s what my eye follows.

On the balls of my feet, I balance near the edge of the roof. Steadying myself, I raise both arms and shout, “Students, friends, Society members, and guards, I have an announcement to make—a confession.”

The crowd quiets and stares. Grand Master Levi appears on the opposite side of the city, just in time to hear my speech like I’d hoped. The scorpion Animate dodges around him, sneaking down the now empty corridor. I smile inside, preparing to own this game and turn the tables.

“As you’ve seen in my action against the Grand Master today, by challenging him to a fight, I often struggle with this Wandering life, finding myself questioning the reason why we’re here. And finally, after almost a year, with the help of the Grand Master,” I gesture toward him across the square, “I’ve found the answers, ones that have given me a new perspective and understanding of our lives in the Society, and I have to publicly apologize and thank the Grand Master for his amazing gifts.”

At my fake apology, the roar of the crowd is immediate, and students turn to look in his direction. For a moment he looks shocked at my words, then probably realizing he’s on display, he smiles tightly and waves to me.

He moves to stand on a nearby park bench and rises above the crowd to speak. “Seraphina, child, I’m so glad that I’ve been able to help you achieve higher enlightenment,” he says, obviously playing along but he can’t possibly know where this is going. He brings his hands together in front of his body, as if in prayer.

I begin again. “In my pilgrimage to repent, and with the Grand Master’s humble and forgiving ways, I’ve realized that I owe him my allegiance. And for him, as a gift, I’ve brought back this special relic.” I remove Unika’s crown from my drawstring bag and raise it above my head. The metal shines bright and golden in the false sunlight of the city, and the green emerald at the center glistens. “With this special relic, the Grand Master can serve us for as long as he sees fit. If I had my way, it would be forever.”

The students go wild at my false pronouncement; even the guards clap at this. It’s as though they’re all programmed to react to any positive propaganda regarding the Grand Master, even if it doesn’t make any sense, even if it comes from me. And their actions confirm that the Society programmed everyone in their night classes on the contrapulator, subliminally, without their knowledge. Now that Bishop, Sam, and I have stopped using the machines, we’ve been unfazed by the manipulations. As the students cheer, I slip my free hand into the pocket of my day dress and grasp the remote for the hologram machines that I’ve set up.

“And thank you, Grand Master, for taking care of my team while I was gone. I know they will be happy to be anointed tomorrow, and will pledge full loyalty to you. You should bring them out since you’ve been watching over them, and let them enjoy the honor of being in your presence.”

The students can’t hear enough; they’re rowdy and becoming more amped-up by every single word of praise, but when I look at the Grand Master, he’s frowning. Knowing him, he doesn’t like being dictated to, and he surely doesn’t like not knowing my plan, but he can’t refuse when all of his people expect him to be accommodating and pure of heart.

“That’s a fabulous idea, Sera.” He waves for Rex to bring them out and at that moment, I press the button on the remote, activating the hologram machines that I rigged around the city.

Before Rex turns, Sam and Bishop appear from the tunnel. But they aren’t really Sam and Bishop, only their holograms, made possible with the crystals from their old dreamdrives. The crystals carry the essence of them, visualized in light form, just like Hologram Turner. They’ve solidified enough so that no one will detect the switch.

The two stand at the entrance, half alert and squinting. Hologram Bishop has a blackened and bruised jaw, arms, body, and face, looking like a car hit him. Sam hunches, appearing limp, broken, and abused herself, her fingers bent to impossible angles. I’ve made the holograms look maltreated so that the students will think the worst.

At seeing them and their injuries, the crowd settles into an uneasy silence and quickly steps back to clear a path.

Hologram Sam looks up and sees me, and I wave her on. She nods, quickly grabbing Bishop’s arm, tugging him forward. They lean on each other, walking slowly, looking into everyone’s face as they pass, allowing just enough time for each student to take in their injuries.

Now the students can see for themselves what the Grand Master has done. How broken and bruised they are, how the Grand Master has “taken care” of them in my absence. Even if it’s just planting the seed in their heads, hopefully they’ll realize something is off. But I don’t say anything further; I need the time to let the Animate scorpion do his part in this scheme, to rescue the real Sam and Bishop. So I stall, continuing my charade of loyalty.

I finally see the Animate scorpion crawl back into Olde Town. His return is my sign that the real Bishop and Sam have escaped safely, and I can finally say what I really want to. “Look at them! Look at their injuries. Grand Master Levi hurt them. He punished them for no reason!” I point, punctuating my accusations.

Students gasp, looking very confused at my words. Grand Master Levi breaks his composure and yells, “Grab them! Shut her up!” Guards descend on Hologram Sam and Bishop and when they jump them, I turn the hologram machines off. The two dissipate into a cloud of blue electrical dust, and the guards land in a pile on the ground.

Now that I have every student’s attention, I tell them the truth, warning them. “Don’t listen to anything Grand Master Levi says, or anything that the Society tells you. You’ve all been brainwashed through the contrapulators, through mind control. They’re building an army of time travelers who will manipulate time in their favor, so that they will be the most powerful beings on earth, and they will kill anyone they need to in order to achieve this. And if you don’t comply or choose not to take the Oaths tomorrow, there is no out, there’s no going home to your families like they’ve promised you all along, there’s only death. They’ll exile you to Nocturna, just like they did to Perpetua, Stu, Jessica, and my aunt Mona and her family!” By the time I finish I’m screaming, the words spilling out in a panic. My heart races, pulsing with each new accusation.

The Grand Master’s face turns bright red; he’s so apoplectic, I can only hope he has an aneurysm. He’s screaming, waving his arms erratically, calling for my death. Society guards crash through the front double doors of the bell tower building and race up the stairs. It may be only a few minutes before they reach the roof and capture me, so my last words must mean something to the students; I have to say something to make them believe, to hopefully incite a revolt.

I cast about, saying the only thing that I think will help. “Think for yourself! Don’t use the contrapulators tonight. Don’t let the Society brainwash you any longer. Pledge allegiance to no one but yourselves. Revolt against the Society and save your lives!”

Mass confusion reigns below. Some students scream and some cover their ears as though they aren’t programmed to hear this negativity. Others crumple to the ground, crying. Seeing them this way makes me think that I’m too late. They may be too far gone to think for themselves, but I want to hope that just a little bit of what I’ve said sticks with them.

The Society guards bang on the roof access door behind me. Their shouts filter through; my time has run out. I toss away the remote and peek over the edge, but jumping from heights to Wander is never easy for me since I have just as much chance of leaping to my death as I do leaping through time or space. The guards release their fury, and break through the door. Just as one rushes over and snarling, reaches out to grab my arm, I take a leap of faith. With the crown relic clutched in my hand, I pray that I’m able to open the door of time travel by falling six stories down from the bell tower, instead of running.