Cece would stay hidden in the loft, out of the way. From there she would project to Dr. Blackwell, to see what he was up to. If she needed to get a message to Aidan, she could do that via projection, too. Sophie’s job was to keep an eye on Cece, to keep her vulnerable body safe while her astral self was away. After it was all said and done, there might be more for Sophie to do — assessing the damage, so to speak.
As to Aidan, he hoped to reason with Julius, to assure him that he was no danger to him and his kind. After all, apparently there were some pretty strict vampire laws, enforced by the Tribunal, and what Julius was doing was completely against those laws. Still, as a Propagator, Julius had always operated just outside the law. All that meant, really, was that he wasn’t afforded the Tribunal’s protection.
If nothing else, I hoped our show of strength would dissuade them. Beyond that, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. If it came to it, I was prepared to do what I was supposedly born to do — with the stake. Mostly, I tried not to think about that. Aidan still insisted that if the plan failed and all was lost, I must put the stake through his heart. He felt certain that Julius would honor the agreement he’d made with Blackwell — my safety in exchange for Aidan’s death.
There was no way in hell I planned on ending the day by destroying Aidan. I had faith in my friends, in our combined abilities. After all, what were three ordinary vampires against five psychic kids, a shape-shifter, a vampire, and a vampire slayer? Yeah, we had the better team, as far as I was concerned, and we had the foreknowledge to boot.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. But what really bothered me was that I hadn’t had any time alone with Aidan all week. Between classes, the SAT prep course, and our group training sessions, I hadn’t had five minutes alone with him.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, a little voice was saying, What if it doesn’t work out? What if it really is Aidan’s blood spilled all over the grass, just as I saw?
What if we never had another chance to be together?
“Miss McKenna? Do you know the answer or not?”
I looked up from my notebook in confusion, realizing I was sitting in Dr. Penworth’s history class and that he was asking me a question.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks burn.
Removing his spectacles, he shook his head in obvious frustration. “Someone else, then?”
Aidan, of course, was nowhere to be found. He’d skipped class, and I had no idea where he was or what he was doing.
The hours dragged by. I sat with my friends at lunch, but no one ate a bite. How could we? Everyone’s face looked pale, pinched. Worry charged the air. Marissa tried her best to diffuse it, but considering she was pretty freaked-out herself, it was no use. Now and then Cece clutched my hand, whispering, “It’ll be okay,” as if she could make it so just by saying it.
A huge banner was strung across the wall. WINTERHAVEN WARRIORS ALL THE WAY, it declared in black and lavender block letters. Something about the boys soccer team; I think they were playing in the state championships. In the back, near the soda machines, some kids had started up a chant, their voices resonating throughout the crowded room.
“We are the Warriors. the mighty, mighty Warriors. ”
Rah-rah, I thought sourly. I mean, what was a state championship compared to what we were about to try and accomplish? The game was completely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, whereas this. this was life-or-death. We were the real warriors — my friends and I.
I looked at each of them in turn, hoping they knew how much they meant to me. Cece, her hand still clutched tightly in mine — hers dark, mine pale, both of them trembling. Kate, tucking her hair behind her ears, like she always did when she was nervous. Sophie, chewing on her lower lip.
Marissa, picking at the hem of her sleeve.
Across the dining hall, Joshua’s eyes met ours, and he nodded. He, at least, didn’t look scared out of his wits. Jack seemed pretty confident too when he joined us at our table.
Still, the minutes dragged by.
Dusk. we had until dusk. Then what?
“Miss McKenna,” Dr. Blackwell called out, just as the bells indicated the end of fifth period. “May I have a word with you and Mr. Gray?”
Here it comes, I realized. He’s summoning us to his office, just like he said he would.
I glanced over at Aidan, fear making my heart race.
His gaze met mine. Block your mind, Violet. Keep it locked tight.
I just nodded.
Slowly, reluctantly, I made my way toward Dr. Blackwell’s desk, Aidan keeping pace beside me.
“I need to speak to you both, tonight,” he said tersely. “I hate to ask you to skip the assembly, but it won’t take long. Please report to my office at seven thirty.”
“Is everything okay?” Aidan asked.
“Everything’s fine,” the headmaster said with a nod. “Just a matter that needs to be discussed. Nothing to be alarmed about.”
“We’ll be there,” Aidan said, and I was amazed at how calm he looked.
As for me, I couldn’t even bring myself to speak. Probably for the best. It was all happening, just as I’d seen. Every last piece was falling neatly into place, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
“They’re here,” Aidan said, and everyone looked up at once.
“They’ve entered the grounds. I feel it.”
If Aidan could sense them, then that meant they could sense him, too. Would they come straight for us? Or follow the plan and wait for us in Blackwell’s office?
“Cece, can you find them?” he asked, and she nodded.
“I’ll take her up to the loft,” I said, my stomach clenching into a knot. “It’s quiet up there.” I rose from the pew, glancing back one last time at the group gathered in the chapel’s first two rows. Everyone looked anxious, even Aidan. Taking a deep breath, I turned and made my way toward the stairs that led up, Cece following silently behind.
As quickly as possible, I arranged the blankets on the floor, along with a couple of tasseled pillows.
Cece looked around in amazement. “This is where you and Aidan hang out?”
I just nodded.
Her dark eyes widened. “What is it, some kind of love nest? What exactly do you two do up here?”
“Not what it looks like,” I muttered, mostly to myself. “C’mon, you better get comfortable. We should get going with this.”
Cece nodded. “Sorry. Don’t worry, I’ll be quick.”
I held my breath, waiting for her to start doing her thing.
“The gatehouse,” she said, not five minutes later. I’d been pacing back and forth the entire time, trying not to look at her. It freaked me out too much, seeing her lie there completely still and lifeless.
“It’s just Julius and the two women,” Cece added breathlessly, scrambling to her feet.
I reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Good job, Cee. Okay, let’s go.”
I missed a rung climbing back down and almost slipped, mercifully catching myself just in time. In a minute or two, we were back in the main chapel, everyone staring up at us expectantly.
“The gatehouse,” Cece said, out of breath. “Just the three of them.”