Fractured Truth (34 page)

“I want to go with you.”

I thought about this. “Are you sorry you came to Lucent?”

It took her a few breaths to answer. “No. I just need a break.”

“Then we’ll go together.”

I left May and returned to my room. Liam was lying on his side on my bed, his eyes closed. I don’t think I’d ever seen him asleep before. I wasn’t even sure he did sleep until now.

I turned off the lights and climbed in bed next to him, my arm draped over his shoulder. My last thoughts were of the cure. If I could find it, I could fix not only myself and Liam, but Christian too. This made me feel a little better despite the night’s events. I would really like not to kill him.

“Llona, wake up.”

I felt a gentle nudge. My eyes opened, and Liam’s face came into view.

“Morning,” I said and stretched.

He was sitting on the side of my bed, his expression serious and full of worry. I hated it. Beyond him, sunlight filled my window. I sat up. “What time is it?”

“A little after nine. Sorry, but I couldn’t wake you.”

I swung my legs over the bed and groaned. The few hours of sleep I’d had felt great, but time was against me. It was only a matter of time before Sophie returned with the Shadow. “I better hurry and change.”

I was still wearing my battered and bloodied clothes from last night. I looked at Liam. He was in new clothes, faded jeans, and a gray T-shirt, not much different from his other clothes, but I noticed. “When did you get ready?”

“A little while ago.” He stood. “I’ll wait outside.”

I jumped up and went into my closet. “Don’t bother. I’ll change in here.”

While I dressed quickly, I called out, “Have you ever tried wearing a different color? Blue? Green? Not that you look bad, but some color will really make your eyes pop.” I peeked through the crack in the door. Liam was staring down
at the floor smiling. “And maybe we can put some highlights in your hair.”

At this he laughed. The sound, void of stress and worry, warmed me. This was the Liam I loved. I straightened. Did I really just think that?

“If I have to get a makeover,” Liam said, “then you have to also.”

I pulled a shirt over my head, mindful of the scrape on my face. “Oh yeah? What would you have done to me?”

“You’re a tough one because of that hair. Can’t really change it, but I don’t think I would. I like it the way it is.”

“Then what would you do?” I opened the door and went into the bathroom, holding my sneakers in my hands.

“Dresses. I would put you in some nice summer dresses.”

I thought about this while I brushed my teeth and carefully washed my face. A normal summer day with Liam. What would that be like? I left the bathroom and stood in front of him. “One day I’ll wear a summer dress for you, and all this will just be like a bad dream.”

“It hasn’t been all bad.”

My face reddened under his gaze. “No, it hasn’t.”

He stepped toward me. “If something should happen—”

“Nothing’s going to happen.”

He moved closer, close enough that if I lifted my fingers, they would brush his thigh. “I have to apologize,” he said.

“For what?” My stomach twisted. In a good way.

“I hate living with regret.”

“What are you going to regret?”

“If I don’t do this.”

Before I could take my next breath, his arm wrapped around me and pulled me against him. Our lips met, hard and explosive. My whole body warmed and was probably glowing too.

A moment later he let me go. It was too soon.

“I hate regrets more than you do,” I said and threw my arms around his neck. Our lips met again, not as hard as before, but
just as passionate. He kissed me differently from Christian. I didn’t expect this. It was more deep and felt more mature, as if he’d saved up years of emotions only to release it in this single kiss. It overwhelmed me and made my legs go weak, making him tighten his grip around my lower back. So much pain and sorrow. It was bleeding from him and into me. I never realized how heavy his burden had been until now. To keep the Vyken poison from taking over was a constant battle for him, and threatened his life every day. It was difficult for me too, but my burden was nothing compared to his. I had Light to help me; he only had his willpower. This realization made me love him even more.

I abruptly let go and stepped back. He lowered his arms and said, “I’m sorry. Did I—”

“No. That was amazing,” I breathed. “It’s just, I had no idea.”

“That I knew how to kiss?”

I smiled, but it was a sad one. “That you are in so much pain.”

He glanced away as if embarrassed.

I took hold of his hand. “I’m going to find that cure. I’m sure you heard Rose tell me about it.”

“If it exists.” He paused as if trying to find his next words. “I want you to know that I don’t expect anything from you, especially after that amazing kiss. I probably shouldn’t have done it.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“But this isn’t the time. First we have to end this thing with Sophie, and even if we’re successful there’s still going to be complications.”

“What do you mean?”

“With Christian.”

I hadn’t thought this far ahead.

“Now that you know of a cure—again, if it exists—I assume you don’t want anything to happen to him, correct?”

I gave a small nod. Even after everything Christian had done to me, the moment I heard the word “cure” I knew I had to try and save him.

“So we capture him. And you find a cure.” Liam took a deep breath as if the words were painful to speak. “And you fix him.”

I shook my head, trying to imagine what it would be like if Christian became the same man I once loved. “But so much has happened. He almost killed me.”

“It wasn’t him.”

“I can’t think about all of this right now.”

“And I don’t want you to, but I also don’t want you to think about us either, including that kiss. You need to focus now on trying to stay alive. Do you understand?”

I looked up at him. “You do the same.”

“I will.”

We stared at each other, neither of us wanting to move. I didn’t want to forget the kiss or how Liam had taken hold of my heart. But what if Christian was normal again? Would things be back to normal?

Suddenly, Liam cocked his head a fraction of an inch. “Something’s going on downstairs.”

“What?” I tried to listen too, but only heard movement in the rooms next to me, voices down the hall, but nothing as far as several floors down.

“A teacher is yelling. Sounds like Ms. Hady. Dr. Han too.”

“Let’s go,” I said. I turned around and didn’t look back.

Lucent Academy was full of
life, a panicked excitement that made me nervous. Girls were crowded into the hall, talking about some announcement, and the rec room had a line of at least twenty girls waiting to use the phone.

I was hoping to run into May as she hadn’t been in her room, but I couldn’t find her, at least on this floor. Most likely she was still with Aaron.

“What’s all the chatter about?” I asked Liam.

“An email Dr. Han sent out. I’m only picking up bits and pieces, but whatever was in it really has everyone worked up.”

We hurried downstairs. Just as we turned the corner, we saw Ms. Hady leave Dr. Han’s office. Her high heels snapped against the marbled floor like a plucked guitar string. Gratefully she was walking the other way.

“What’s going on?” Liam asked when we went inside the office.

Dr. Han was leaning back in his chair, his face lowered. When he lifted his head, his face was pale. “I’m getting too old for this.” He slid a paper to the end of the desk. Liam picked it up first and read it while Dr. Han continued to speak. “I was up all night trying to decide what to do, but in the end I realized it’s not my decision to make.”

Liam handed me the note. I skimmed over the formalities
and went to the meat of the letter. After explaining the dangers at Lucent Academy, he was giving parents a choice: take their child out of school or come back and help protect it. I looked up. “Does the Council know about this?”

“I don’t care anymore. They are not the ones under attack.”

“What if parents don’t come?”

“Then we abandon Lucent.”

“And go where? We’ll be hunted and killed out there! We’re stronger together.”

“But I can’t make that decision for them.”

I stared at him, trying hard to think of something to say, but he was right. “So we just wait?”

He nodded.

“I’ve got to find Kiera,” I said. I glanced back at Liam.

“Go.”

I hurried down the halls, looking everywhere for Kiera. Some of the girls I passed called out to me, mostly words of encouragement saying they’ll stay and fight. I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad for them. They’d never experienced the horror of a real battle.

On the second floor, something caught my eye as I passed by a window, and I stopped. Near the outer wall, Petros was standing in a circle with several other Lycans. They seemed bigger than normal, like all their muscles were flexed in the same way an animal bristles.

What’s got them all riled up?
I wondered. I looked beyond them, past the wall surrounding Lucent, and scanned the forest line. Something was wrong. I felt it now. The Vyken part of me I kept buried was suddenly alive and trying to break free. My insides burned as an uncontrollable rage coursed through my blood. I gripped the edge of the windowsill and lowered my head to the glass. It took several deep breaths to gain control again. Was Liam feeling the same thing?

“Are you okay?”

I opened my eyes. My hands had crushed the wood trim
around the window. I turned around. Kiera was standing not far away. “What are you and your mother doing?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

Her worried expression changed to anger. “She’s not coming. Whatever, though. I’m staying.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No big deal. But there is good news. My aunt’s coming with a bunch of her Auran friends. They’ll be here in a few hours. Can you believe it? We’re going to have an army.” She gave me a hug.

“Let’s just hope everyone else feels the same way.”

“Where’s May?” Kiera asked. “I can’t wait to tell her.”

“Probably with Aaron.”

“I’m going to go find her,” she said and hurried down the hall.

As soon as she was gone, I thought to Liam,
Are you okay?

Several seconds passed as I waited for his reply. The Lycans were walking away from each other, still bristled. Whatever had just happened wasn’t good.

Liam’s voice came to my head:
No.

Where are you?

Office.

I rushed downstairs, my heart pounding. “Excuse me, watch out,” I said to several girls in passing.

“Don’t go in there,” Dr. Han warned as I approached his office. The door was closed.

“Let me by.” I pushed past him and opened the door. I momentarily paused at the condition of the room. Dr. Han’s desk was tipped on its side, scattering books and paper everywhere, and a chair was partially stuck into the wall as if someone had tossed it. “Liam?” I walked around the desk.

He was sitting on the floor, his legs brought up to his chest and his head in his hands. I slowly lowered myself to him.

“I don’t know what happened,” he said. “All of a sudden I felt this overwhelming aggression. I couldn’t control it!”

I touched the top of his head lightly. “I know. I felt it too. So
did the Lycans. I was watching them from the window when it hit me.”

“Anything odd happen?”

“I dented the window trim. Nothing compared to this.”

He looked at the mess scattered around the room and shook his head. “I can’t believe this happened again.”

“Again? What caused it?”

“I think I know,” a voice said.

I glanced toward the door. Charlie was standing in the doorway. “When did you get here?” I asked.

“I just arrived.” He moved into the room. Dr. Han came with him and closed the door behind him.

I helped Liam to stand. “I’m sorry about your office,” he told Dr. Han.

“Don’t worry about that. What happened?”

Liam looked at Charlie. It was Charlie who answered. “It’s happened a few times to him over the last century. It’s when a surge of great darkness—evil, if you will—focuses on a particular area. In this case, Lucent Academy. The Vyken part of him reacts to it, and it’s about impossible for him to control it when it initially hits.”

“Will it happen again?” I asked.

“Probably not. It’s that initial gust, like the great wind before a storm. He’s usually on his guard, but sometimes he gets distracted.” Charlie’s eyes went to mine.

I cleared my throat. “About this gust. What’s coming?”

“Vykens. Hundreds of them.”

My legs weakened. We needed more time!

Charlie walked to the window, stepping over stacks of overturned books. “I received several calls about their movement all night, but I didn’t need the warning. I could sense them. They’ll be here soon with Sophie leading the charge.” He turned back to me. “You’re going to have to fight her. It’s you she wants.”

Liam took hold of my trembling hand.

“And the Shadow?” I asked.

“It’s with her.”

No one said anything nor would they look at me. We all knew what that meant. Dr. Han spoke first. “But if we can keep Sophie off Lucent’s property, then the Shadow can’t enter.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Liam said. “We’ll block all exits, secure the walls, whatever it takes.”

A hurried knock at the door made me jump. Dr. Han opened it.

Mrs. Crawford entered the room with Abigail behind her. The blood drained from her face when she saw the condition of the room. For having a dark complexion, Mrs. Crawford sure looked pale. “What happened in here?” she gasped.

“Nothing to worry about, Rebecca,” Dr. Han said. “Sit down. You look ill.” He removed the chair from the wall and placed it next to her.

She dropped into it. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said. “I’m still in shock.”

Abigail patted her on the back. “Everything will be as it should be soon. You’ll see.”