Rae of Hope (The Chronicles of Kerrigan) (21 page)

Chapter 15

November 13 + 14

Ecstatic
over figuring out her tatù, Rae couldn’t wait to tell Devon. The rest of the afternoon she touched anyone within reach, wanting to experience everything. During dinner, she looked around for Devon. Slightly disappointed she didn’t find him, she figured it didn’t matter, she’d catch up with him the next day.

Thinking about the next day and what would happen dropped her back down to earth with a resounding thud. Hopefully, Lanford would be there. She trusted the headmaster, and if they had a moment alone, she’d like to ask what he remembered about her mom. She’d gotten the impression from previous conversations that Lanford had barely known her mom. But, any information would be more than she had now.

“Have you been able to figure anything else out?”

Rae heard Maria’s voice and searched across the room for her. She sat by the wall. Maria gave a small wave before turning back to the boy sitting beside her. Amazed at how clear Maria’s voice came through from across the room, Rae wondered if Maria could communicate even further away.

How far away can you talk to someone? Same room or house or further?

“I can reach about a mile away. My father has the same gift. My family’s in Cork, so we can’t reach each other.”

Before Rae could respond, Craig, who sat beside her, touched her arm. Rae lost the ability to communicate with Maria. Her attention shifted, immediately focusing on what Craig’s ability so she could mimic it. She knew it had to do with water, but that’s all she remembered. She stared down at her plate and, using her peripheral vision, glanced at the tatù on his arm -- ink art of a lake, an igloo and a cloud. A light bulb went on in her head as the buzz flew through her veins, she realized he could change the state of water from frozen to liquid or gas and vice versa.

“Sorry, what were you saying?”

“Just wondering where you were? Your body seems to be here, but I think you left your brain outside. Nervous for Sunday?” Rae felt a pang of guilt. He sounded genuinely concerned and here she was hiding her tatù from everyone.

“A little. I’m constantly thinking about what it’s going to be like.”

“It’s really cool, and kinda disappointing at the same time. You wait so long to be marked and then when the full marking is there, in plain sight, you have to figure out what it means. It’s a process -- a fascinating, hair-pulling one. A process you love to hate and hate to love.”

Rae leaned back in her chair and dropped her shoulders. A dull, tight ache disappeared between her blades. She exhaled a slow breath, enjoying the feeling of letting the tension out. Obviously Craig had thought a lot about this.
Might as well learn from him.

“So, Mr. Philosopher, how were you able to figure out what you can do?”

“By accident, actually. I was in the shower.” He raised an eyebrow, his eyes teasing her. “The water was freezing, so I turned it to hot. I turned it too far. Trying to avoid scalding my back, I flung the tap back the other way, accidentally using my ability in the process. I actually froze the pipes in our house.”

“No way!”

“And it was the middle of summer! My father thought it was hilarious. My mother kept calling the utility company. She thought they’d done something to the water pipes.”

Rae burst out laughing, choking on her glass of milk. She managed to swallow it back before spitting it everywhere.

Craig patted her back. “It took me a few days to get the hang of controlling the state of H two oh, but I did try some really cool and crazy experiments. Great way to make a quick cup of tea.” He held his cup in front of Rae so she could see the steam rise from the water in a matter of seconds.

Rae’s mouth hung open. “What’s the largest amount of water you’ve ever changed?”

“Coolest thing I’ve ever done on a large scale?” Craig smiled, rubbing his chin as he pretended to consider. “One time we wanted to have a scrimmage football match on a Saturday morning. It’d rained the night before, so the pitch was soaking wet. It took about five minutes, but I dried the entire pitch so we could play on fresh, dry grass.”

“You’re jokin?” She wished it’d rain right now so she could test this tatù out.

“The best part was the look on the professors’ faces when we came in for lunch a couple hours later -- none of us were wet or muddy.”

“I can’t wait to try – I mean, I hope I get something like your tatù.”
Whew! That was almost a major slip.

“My father can decontaminate water and works for the country’s treatment center. He’s the only one in the country who can ever save us if we run out of fresh water. He already has plans for me to work with him.
His
talent is handy. Mine’s boring compared to his.”

“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Rae was appalled.
How can anyone think they had boring ink? That’s horrible!
Rae felt a strong need to convince him that his ink was special.

“Think about it. If there’s ever a drought or serious flooding, it’s going to be you who can aid the country, not your father.”

Craig grinned and rubbed the top of her head. “You’re pretty cool. We were taught about your dad. You know, what he tried to accomplish, and how you were going to finish what he started. You’re nothing like what they said. You’re a good person…pretty cute, too.”

Her face burned and along with the embarrassment came a twinge of guilt. She’d intentionally started the conversation because she wanted to figure out how to use his gift, but she couldn’t wait to show everyone she wasn’t her father.

“I hope I can be half as gifted as the students here.” She played with her empty tray. “I think I’m gonna call it a night. I have a feeling I won’t be getting much sleep in the Infirmary tomorrow.”

Rae stood and cleared away her tray before Craig could reply. She wove her way through the sea of tables to the front lobby to grab her coat, keeping her head down to avoid eye contact with anyone and headed out of the Refectory.

Rushing, she bumped into Julian and fell backward, landing on her butt.

“I’m so sorry. You all right?" Julian bent down to offer his hand. “I was lost in thought and didn’t even notice you.”

“I’m fine. The fault’s mine. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Rae let him help her to her feet. She looked behind him. “Where’s Devon?” She stepped back, realizing Julian had no idea she’d seen the two of them leave together. He had no clue she’d been an eagle. And no way did she plan on telling him either.

“I dropped him off at the train station about an hour ago. There was a family emergency.”

Her heart stopped. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah, I think so. His mom slipped on some ice by their house. It looks like she mighta broke her leg. He’s planning on coming back on Sunday’s train.”

Her heart resumed its regular beating. Devon was safe. Strange how he created such inner turmoil inside of her.
I’m just a caring friend. He has a girlfriend so…I’m just a concerned friend…right?

“Rae?”

“Yeah?” She chewed on the inside of her cheek, nervous he might know she’d already been inked. He did see the future after all, so it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.

“Be careful, ok?” It looked like he wanted to say more, but just stood staring intently at her, his eyes full of concern. He gave her shoulder a squeeze before walking off, not saying another word.

Rae shook her head, brows furrowed. “O-Okay.”
Does he know? Did he see it in a dream and draw it? Wouldn’t he have said something? Did he say something already? To the Dean?
With doubts and unanswered questions assailing her mind, she slowly walked back to Aumbry House.

She caught sight of a familiar silhouette at the main entrance to the dorms. “Molls!”

Molly turned and waved. “Hey! Where’ve you been all afternoon? I haven’t seen you since the end of Lanford’s class.”

“I fluttered around and lost track of time.” Rae grinned at her own private joke. “You heading up?”

“Uh-huh. I want to try to fix my laptop one more time. I had a paper due today, and the only copy I have is on the bloody laptop.”

They quietly walked up the stairs. Rae pulled her key out and reached for the lock.

“It’s not locked. I --” Molly started, bumping hands with Rae as she opened the door.

Once in their room, Rae headed to the bathroom with her toiletries. Molly settled in front of her computer. When she returned from her shower, Rae plopped onto her bed and watched Molly continue trying to jump start her computer.

Molly slapped the keyboard with both hands. “Damn it! This is so stupid.” She shoved her chair away from her desk and grabbed her bathrobe. “I need a break and a shower. I’ll try it once more after. Otherwise, I’m gonna have to stay up all night and rewrite the paper.”

Molly stomped from the room, muttering about curses and how it was all bullshit. Rae stared at the closed door and rubbed her fingers over the pad of her thumb. She’d picked up Molly’s tatù when they had bumped hands and the hum of electricity felt prickly against her skin.

Needing a book, she leaned over the bed to grab her backpack. She spied Molly’s computer and stole a glance at the door.
I could give it a try...but what if it doesn’t work?
“I’ll just have a peak.”

Sneaking over to the blank-screen laptop, she lightly touched the keyboard. She could feel the electricity inside of it humming against her fingers, begging to be ignited. On a whim, she lightly ran her hand over top of the keys. The hum’s rhythm changed cadence over one spot. It seemed…out of tune or sync somehow. Rae tried rubbing her fingers together over the spot, like she was trying to smooth out the hum’s cadence. A second later, the hum became similar to the rest of the computer. The unwinding rhythm became steady. The screen lit up and Rae watched the main page start up. Surprised, she quickly stepped back from the computer.
Holy guacamole! It worked!
She did a quick happy dance, careful to keep quiet. Hearing a noise in the hall, she grabbed a random textbook and hopped onto her bed, afraid she might get caught.

Molly came in a few moments later, her head wrapped tightly in a towel with some fancy name-brand robe draped over her shoulders, but not tied, flopping open with each step. Rae thought she looked like a rich housewife, only missing the blue face cream to complete the effect. Rae had to stifle her giggle.

Molly sighed loudly and strode over to her computer.

“What the -- ?” She let out a holler and jumped in excitement. “I should’ve just hit the stupid thing a week ago!” She dropped down on the chair, clicking on the wireless mouse. “Had I known that would’ve fixed it, I’d have thrown it against the wall!”

Rae smiled and nodded, not daring to look for fear she’d burst out laughing.

The printer began whirling and spewing sheets. Molly shuffled her report and stapled it. She swung around in her chair. “It’s a shame you can’t be here tomorrow night. I’d love to be the first to see your ink. You know, before everyone else, like you did with me.” She stuffed the report into her backpack.

Rae sighed inwardly, guilt wiggling its way into the area by her heart.
Good ol’ Molly.
“I’d rather be here, too.”

Molly undid the towel on top of her head and started picking through her hair with her fingers. “Not to sound teacher-ish, but it’s probably a good thing you’re in the squeaky-clean infirmary. The professors will be able to help you better than anybody.” She scrunched her face and grinned. “It’s only one night. Then we’re having that outdoor midnight party.”