Dark Nebula (The Chronicles of Kerrigan) Read online

  Now that’s the kind a thing a girl likes to hear “Thanks. I–”

  “Devon! Ms. Kerrigan!” A pleasant-sounding male voice shouted from across the parking lot, near the Refectory Hall. Rae turned and saw the new dean, Devon’s father, waving as he walked over.

  “Hey, Dad.”

  Devon stiffened and moved a few inches from her.

  “Hello, Mr. Wardell. I mean, Dean Wardell. Congratulations on the new position.” She shifted her weight, making a conscious effort not to look at Devon.

  Dean Wardell raised his eyebrows, his gaze shooting back and forth between them. He smiled and rubbed his hands together. “Glad you brought our star student back in one piece. I just wanted to say hello and let you know Headmaster Carter wants to speak with you both, as soon as you’ve unloaded Ms. Kerrigan’s suitcases.”

  Rae nodded, still afraid to look at Devon. He had gotten his fennec fox tatù from his father so sharp eyes ran in the family. The last thing she and Devon needed was for anyone to guess at their relationship. Instead, she looked straight at his father. He looks uncomfortable. I must be making it obvious how hard I’m trying not to look at Devon. Have to think of something else. So Carter is staying around as headmaster? That’s…interesting…I guess. She felt her head tilt to the side as she tried to figure out her feelings about Carter’s continued presence on the campus. She had spent most of the previous year convinced he was the enemy, until he had come to rescue her from Lanford. The Dean seemed to relax as she pondered. Crisis averted.

  “Julian’s looking for you, Devon. He’s in the room opposite yours. He arrived earlier today.” Dean Wardell turned and smiled purposefully at Rae before heading across the football pitches. “Have a nice afternoon.” Hmm…maybe not so much averted just yet.

  Devon and Rae pulled her suitcases from the boot of the car. They walked towards Aumbry House.

  “Is it going to be this awkward every time we’re in public together?” Rae whispered.

  “I bloody hope not.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s probably ‘cause it’s my dad. he would kill me if he knew there was anything more going on between the two of us besides mentoring.”

  My thoughts exactly. But we need positive reinforcement, not agreement on future mutual destruction. “You do have an excellent track record of being the faithful, obedient son. I doubt he’ll suspect a thing.” Rae nudged him with her elbow.

  He bent forward towards her, but instinctively straightened up a second before Madame Elpis entered the main lobby.

  “Welcome back, Ms. Kerrigan.” Madame Elpis smiled genuinely, her voice a pleasant, almost sing-song tone. “You’re the first here, so you can pick a room on the third floor. I’ll see you both at dinner.” Madame Elpis whistled as she strolled outdoors.

  Rae’s eyebrows went up and her mouth hung open. She watched the tall, hawk-nosed, normally austere and perfunctory woman walk with a light skip down the path outside until she disappeared from sight.

  It’s the twilight zone. I’m in the twilight zone. Any second now, I’m going to hear that theme music. “What the –?” Rae sputtered. Madame Elpis had been rigid with her strict demeanor the previous year, and her magpie-crow tatù suited her to a tee. She had always been “in the know” and quite cranky at the best of times. Now it seemed as if someone had switched her personality for a that of a happy little songbird.

  Devon gently put his fingers on Rae’s chin and closed her mouth. He smiled as he leaned forward and kissed her quickly on the lips. Rae closed her eyes to savor the feeling, Madame Elpis completely forgotten.

  “She fell in love.” Devon pulled away. He grabbed two suitcases, dragging them towards the black and white marble staircase.

  “She did, and she’s waiting for another kiss.” Rae puckered her lips, eyes still closed.

  “Not you, silly. I’m talking about Madame Elpis.” Devon laughed from several feet away.

  Rae opened her eyes, heat rising to her face. She grabbed the remaining case and ran to catch up with him. he had already gone halfway up the first set of stairs.

  “Holy smokes, Rae. Is half of New York in these suitcases?”

  She ignored his question. “Who’s the lucky, or not so lucky, guy?”

  “Madame Elpis? Do you remember the English Professor from your first term?”

  “Professor Lockheed?” Rae stared at him incredulously. She knew she and Devon were breaking the rules of the tatù world by dating but she simply could not imagine the ornery Madame Elpis stepping even one toe out of line.

  “Yeah. Well, not him, but his brother Donald.”

  “Donald?” Rae repeated then started smirking.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Do you know Madame Elpis’ first name?”

  “Not off the top of my head.”

  “It’s Daisy.” She had to stop when they reached the first landing, she couldn’t stop laughing.

  “I don’t get it.” Devon shifted his weight, one foot on the next set of stairs.

  “Donald and Daisy.” She raised her eyebrows. “You know, on Disney? Donald Duck?”

  Devon still seemed lost. “She’s got a magpie, not a duck.”

  “I can’t believe you’ve never watched cartoons as a kid,” Rae muttered under her breath before following him up the next flight with her head down. She might as well keep quiet. How come no one ever gets my jokes? They’re not that bad. She brought her head up about to explain the joke.

  What the—? She froze midstride, startled when a blurry picture began to flash behind her eyes. Small choking noises escaped as her breath caught in her throat. She squinted, trying to get a clearer glimpse of the fuzzy scene. She felt the handle of her suitcase slip from her hand but barely noticed it tumble down the stairs. This had never happened before. Could someone be trying to kill me? Or contact me?

  Devon rushed to her side. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

  She heard the fear in his voice but could not reply. She gave her head a slight shake and focused on the mental picture. The old dean, now new headmaster, Carter, paced in his office, his hand nervously running through his dark hair as he talked on the phone. Rae could not hear what he said, but the agitation in his body language worried her. The caller on the other end must not be giving him good news.

  She blinked. As fast as the image had appeared, it disappeared. Dazed, she realized Devon had an arm wrapped tightly around her waist, gently shaking her shoulder with his free hand.

  “Rae…Rae…Can you hear me? Kerrigan! What’s going on?” Alarm filled his voice.

  Slowly she turned her head to focus on him. “Sorry. I’m okay. I—it—” She pressed her lips, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Then something clicked. “I had some vision-thing of Carter. That’s never happened before. Right out of the blue, it popped up. I saw him—just now—” She swallowed, wondering if it would happen again. Taking several deep breaths, she relaxed and let her shoulders drop. “I don’t know where I picked the tatù ability up. Not sure if it’s new or a development of another I already have. It was freaky.” She reached her hand around his neck and stroked her fingers through his hair. She had really missed him this summer, and now here he was. He smelled and felt so good. Focus girl, focus. “I didn’t expect it.”

  His bright blue eyes stared deeply into hers. After a few moments, he released his hold on her waist and slowly stepped back.

  She knew he was not convinced. “Honest, I’m fine. I’m not gonna pass out, or anything.” As she spoke, her mind replayed the mental picture of Carter. He had gotten his haircut, and almost appeared a bit younger.

  “What did you see? Is Carter okay?”

  “He seemed angry or upset, or maybe both.” She closed her eyes, trying to remember every detail, but it was like trying to remember the details of a dream. She could taste the fear from the vision but could not remember where it had come from. “I don’t know if the image is happening now, if it’s in the past or something that hasn’t happened y
et. I don’t get it.”

  “I got a bad feeling.” Devon shook his head, his forehead creasing with lines. “Let’s toss your suitcases in a room and go see him right away. Something’s going on, and I’m willing to bet it’s pretty important.” Quick as a flash, Devon ran down the stairs to grab the fallen suitcase and back up ahead of her before Rae could reply.

  Chapter 2

  Ghosts from the Past

  After having dropped Rae’s things in her chosen room, they made a mad dash to the Oratory to find Carter. The formidable ancient building always took her breath away, not only because she enjoyed the tatù classes held there, but also the structure itself retained the aura of its former glory. However, today, the tall silhouette of the Tudor-built hall failed to brighten her mood. Rae never even bothered to look, concentrating on the cobblestones rushing beneath her feet leading up the steps to the main entrance.

  Devon held open the large wooden door for her, and as she entered, a stale, musty scent filled her nostrils, leaving an acrid taste in her throat. She doubled over, fighting to catch her breath. Devon didn’t even appear winded. His fennec fox tatù gave him speed and agility. Why didn’t I think of mimicking his tatù when we bolted out of Aumbry House?

  Heart rate back to a semi-normal speed, she walked with Devon into the grand room, and the temperature dropped several degrees, The black and white marble floor and incredibly high ceiling helped keep the room cool. Worried about the vision, she led the way towards the back of the Oratory, where the headmaster’s office nestled between the education classrooms. It had been Lanford’s office. I wonder if Carter’s changed it. “What do you think’s wrong?” Rae whispered, grabbing hold of Devon’s arm. What if it’s some trick? She had not trusted him for most of the previous year and it was hard not to be wary.

  “Hopefully nothing.” He cleared his throat and knocked, shouting. “Carter! Headmaster, are you here?”

  “Devon? I’ll be out in a minute.” Carter’s deep muffled voice came from behind the large oak door of his office.

  Suddenly nervous, Rae shifted gears. “Let’s go back to the grand hall.” Rae pulled Devon back the way they’d come.

  They waited. Both of them leaned against the oak walls. Rae stared at the intricate woodcarvings on them. She felt strange being here when the room wasn’t full of students. She loved this room, but the quiet emptiness was unnerving. She straightened when Carter entered.

  “Good. You made it back safely. Nice to see you both.” Carter wore his usual expensive-looking three-piece suit, but something about him had changed since she had seen him last. He was still tall and thin, but the suit fit him tighter. Or maybe he had just hidden it last year and she had never noticed his strength. He had definitely cut his hair. Well, that means the vision didn’t happen in the past. That just leaves the present and future. His large, dark eyes stared intently at her. “How was your summer, Rae?”

  “No major catastrophes, but a lot of boredom.” She couldn’t read his face, and didn’t really know him well enough to be able to read his body language. He seems fine. She paused, catching a muscle twitch near his jawline. Or maybe not.

  “Enjoy the tediousness while you can. Life will soon become busy, leaving little time for monotony.”

  “Yes, sir.” She had no idea why someone would wish for a boring life.

  Carter glanced around, tapping his thumb against his leg to some internal rhythm. “Rae, can you get us some chairs?”

  Are you trying to see what I can do or still prejudice against females? Carter had been a total prick to women in general the previous year. It didn’t matter. He had something to tell them, and she intended to find out what it was. Using a levitation tatù and her fingers to direct them, she brought three chairs forward from against the back wall. The finger tapping paused while Carter waited for Devon and Rae to sit. He continued to stand.

  “Has something happened?” Devon sat on the edge of his seat, his upper body pin straight. His tension wasn’t lost on Rae, though she didn’t know what to make of it.

  “Nothing–yet.” Carter rested fists against his hips.

  “Then, what’s going on?” Devon crossed his arms over his chest.

  His biceps bulged. He’s definitely put on muscle this summer. Seems like there have been quite a few changes while I was gone. I like this one… She blinked and forced her attention back to Carter, scolding herself. Focus, Rae…Probably just jet lag.

  “I’ve been on the phone with a colleague in Scotland. It seems…It seems…” he appeared to be grasping for the right words, “Rae’s father is reaching out from the grave.”

  “What?” Rae froze, the blood pounding in her ears deafening. It took a moment for the words to sink in. She didn’t want to comprehend what Carter meant. She was there when they had buried her parents. Her mother had died protecting her from her father, and her time at Guilder was supposed to be the time when she grew up to be the woman her mother had hoped she would be, without her father’s evil influence. She wanted to scream. Had it all been in vain? She bit hard on the inside of her cheek, the physical pain, and coppery taste of blood pulling her away from the emotional torture.

  Carter seemed to sense her distress. “Your father’s dead. That’s for certain.” He reached out, as if to pat Rae’s shoulder, but must have realized he stood too far away because he awkwardly dropped his hand back to his side.

  Rae let go of the breath she had not realized she held, and swallowed hard. She dropped back against the chair, mentally running through the anti-anxiety exercises her therapist had taught her as a child, after the terrible tragedy of her parents’ deaths. Breathe, relax, focus. Deep breath…

  “The video Lanford played last term when he had you in the tower… do you remember any of it?” Carter’s lips set in a grim line as Rae nodded. “This may sound strange, but did you watch and listen to it at the same time?”

  Rae shrugged, not sure where this was going. “Yes. Wait… maybe… when I heard,” she swallowed, “when I recognized my dad’s voice.”

  Carter rubbed the back of his neck “There’s more to that video than we first thought. A colleague in Scotland found a similar tape, which he referred to as H.O.C. or the HOC file. His guys have been unable to get an audio feed from it.” He turned his attention to Devon. “Well done on retrieving the video last week. The Privy Council is extremely grateful.”

  Devon nodded but remained silent. Rae glanced at him, but his face revealed nothing. What kind of job does the Privy Council have you doing? When Carter began speaking, she turned back to him.

  “They thought all might be lost without the audio, but when I sent a copy of what Rae wrote down about her father’s speech, we were able to put it all together.” He interlaced his fingers and moved his hands up and down in emphasis as he spoke. “Your father’s speech is the key, the video the lock. The only recording we have of Simon Kerrigan is an old narrated taping from a class here in the Oratory—some reading of a book. Almost a full chapter, actually. Back when he was a pupil here. Back when they held classes along with tatù sessions here in the Oratory.”

  Rae leaned forward and tensed. Whatever Carter was about to say, it made him uncomfortable. He was babbling. He never babbled.

  Devon stood, clenching and unclenching his hands.

  Carter cleared his throat and pulled at his tie. He stared at the wall behind them. “Using the old tape and computer technology, we made a digital reading of the speech you wrote for us, in your father’s voice.” He looked straight at her. “I’ll ask you again. When you were in the tower, did you directly watch the video and listen?”

  Rae stared at the carved ornate scenes along the walls as she thought about that terrible evening at the spring dance -being kidnapped and the shock of hearing her dead father’s voice. She thought back to the video. She had been trying to figure out how not to get killed and then she had discovered something new about her tatù. “No, I don’t think I ever did both. I never watched it. I was too
busy trying to figure out how to escape. At the time, I thought I could only mimic a tatù from the last tatùed person I touched. That’s when I figured out I could use any I’d ever mimicked.” Her tongue ran over the rough spot on the inside of her cheek. The tension in the room suddenly ratcheted up. “I still hear his stupid speech all the time. Why?”

  “When do you hear it? At night? During the day?” Carter stared intently at her, leaning closer to her. “What happens when you hear it?”

  Rae opened and closed her mouth but could not get any words out. What am I supposed to say? I know the speech, it haunts me like there’s a hidden play button inside my brain?

  “We emailed a couple of times this summer. She mentioned she would hear it at odd times.” Devon sat down and patted her knee, letting his hand remain.

  Encouraged by his strength, she found her voice. “I might’ve dreamt about it this summer a few times but didn’t really pay attention. Sometimes it starts repeating out of the blue. I know it by heart, so I just ignore it.” Rae shrugged, not understanding why Carter acted so oddly. “Why’s it so important?”

  Carter straightened. “The technician – our tech -- who watched and listened to the video tried to kill two members of the Privy Council.” His words dropped into the conversation like a bomb. Rae was blasted by waves of disbelief.

  “What?” she whispered, wincing when Devon’s fingers painfully squeezed her knee.

  “That’s the guy?” Devon choked out.

  “Yeah, the skinny computer whiz.” Carter nodded.

  “That wasn’t a nerdy computer geek. The guy was lethal.” Devon’s confusion was plainly written on his face.

  She looked back and forth between the two of them. What are they talking about? How did Devon know so much?