Collapsed: Book One of The Illusion of Truth, page 16
“So how did you play the game before you arrived here?” he asks as we walk past the rose garden and toward the back of the property.
My chest tightens at his question. I don’t really want to talk to Jax about life in the Tenement.
“Your friend . . . what’s his name again? The courier who came here.”
“Kalib?”
Jax stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Yes, him. Was he part of your game?”
I let out a nervous chuckle as we get to the destination that Jax wants. Several trees line the tall back-right wall of the estate. Behind it, vines scale the stones, and I can barely make out an old set of wooden doors built into the wall. At the very bottom, covered in vines, is a broken away section . . . open to whatever is beyond it. Maybe just the next property, or perhaps the green space between them.
It’s a way off the Pierce estate, though. A spot that’s not monitored and doesn’t need a code or ID that would track my presence. But where would I go anyway?
I push the stupid thought from my mind and return my attention to Jax. “I think I told you, Kalib was my upstairs neighbor and we’ve known each other since we were little.”
“And . . .” Jax prompts and sits to lean his back against one of the tall trees.
I follow his lead and do the same, lowering myself next to him. “And nothing. Maybe Kalib and I were best friends, but more like brother and sister. Not that I really know what it’s like to have a sibling since I’m an only child.”
“You are fortunate in that respect.”
I chuckle. “Ellie . . . Eleanor can’t bother you too much . . . you two are so different in age.”
He leans forward onto his knees and scoffs. “Have you seen my parents? It’s not as if they have much attention to give one child, let alone two.”
“My parents always wanted two . . . but not enough Coinage to afford it.” I fold my hands together on my lap.
“And Kalib . . . tell me more about him.”
I gaze back to Jax. “Why?”
“I want to know what it took for him to be your best friend. Were you two much alike?”
I release a chuckle. “Complete opposites. I did everything right pretty much my entire life. Being a part of the CPW was my lifelong dream. I followed the rules . . . worked hard.”
“And Kalib didn’t? But he’s in the CPW too.”
Nervousness tingles at my chest from talking about this with Jax. Not that I don’t have similar questions, but talking about them to any Scarlet, even Jax, probably isn’t the best idea. “Don’t get me wrong. Kalib’s always been a hard worker. He just hadn’t ever expressed interest in the program. I think maybe it was me who inadvertently got him to take the exam on a whim. I kind of encouraged him the night before.”
“On a whim?” Jax rakes his hands through his hair and then laces his fingers behind his head.
“Um . . . yeah, I guess. I didn’t even know that Kalib was taking the exam until after he’d passed it. We’re a year apart in age, so he took it in a separate part of the building.”
“Don’t you think that’s odd? Taking the exam on a whim.”
“Not really,” I lie. “Kalib is just . . . Kalib.”
Jax turns and gives me a smile that, as it has so many times before, sends a shiver down my spine. He places his hand on top of mine, grasps it, and lifts. “Well, I’m glad that you ended up here instead of him.” With that he kissed my fingers and places my hand back onto my lap. “With me.”
I give him a nervous smile, not quite sure what to say. But I don’t get the chance because he stands and says, “Well, I have an appointment coming up, and it seems that you now have a comfortable place to do whatever it was you came outside to do. I’m sure that Lydia won’t bother you all the way out here.”
I’d nearly forgotten about Lydia. “Are you going to tell anyone what she did?”
Jax raises a brow. “Mother adores the way Lydia styles her hair, and good lady’s maids can be hard to come by. So she wouldn’t be fired.”
It would accomplish nothing but making Lydia hate me even more. I nod. “Thanks for stepping in anyway.”
“Oh, that was no problem. I was happy I just happened to be there.”
I watch him as he walks back to the house and settle my back into the trunk of the tree. I tap my device and want to open up the science curriculum, but I’ve had enough close calls today and do need to learn to play the game better.
Red Ladies curriculum it is.
Chapter 22
“Tonight’s the night!” I keep my voice upbeat for Ellie’s sake. But deep down I think it’s for my own sanity. The entire Pierce family and most of the staff will be gone tonight for the gala.
“Why can’t you come too?” Ellie throws her hand onto her hip. Her hair is fashioned in one of the elaborate updos similar to the ones Mrs. Pierce wears. Tonight is so special that it wasn’t up to me to do her hair. Instead, a stylist came earlier while I was booted from the room.
No need to have the riffraff standing in plain sight at this point. Mrs. Pierce has already been deemed a saint . . . nothing needed beyond that.
“Oh, you know that no one wants a governess at one of these fancy parties. I wouldn’t even know how to act.” I throw my head back and pat my bun like it’s something chic.
Keep it light, Tenly. Light.
I don’t even want to imagine what a Cobalt showing up to one of these fancy Scarlet parties would look like. Just going to the Voclain Boutique was bad enough. I’m sure Mrs. Pierce will never have my face shown in public again if she doesn’t have to.
“But I want you there.” Tears well up in Ellie’s eyes, and I reach for her cheek and stroke the soft skin.
“You are going to have a great time, and then tomorrow you can tell me all about what happened.”
She nods, but by the frown pulling at the edges of her mouth, it’s obvious my words and attempt at a little humor are not convincing enough.
Playfully I take her hand and spin her around. As I do, the skirt of her bright red silk gown flares out like a tulip picked at its peak on a sunny day. Spinning around and round, Ellie can’t help but smile, and she lets out a giggle.
“Just pretend you’re a princess and everyone at the gala are your royal subjects.” I know this will work since some of Ellie’s favorite books involve princesses . . . including one story that I think must have slipped past her mother. It’s about a princess who defeats her evil stepmother and lives happily ever after doing the things she pleases. I have no idea how Mrs. Pierce missed it, but it probably has something to do with the fact that she never comes to Ellie’s room to do anything, let alone read children’s books.
I stop twirling Ellie around, and she grins. “Okay!”
Quickly, I place my hands on my knees and bend toward her. “And don’t forget to tell me about all the yummy desserts you eat!”
Her eyes gleam with delight as she seems to forget all of her earlier complaints with the fantasy of endless sugar playing in her head.
Knock, knock. The sound comes from the door.
I check the time. We still have several minutes before I’m supposed to deliver Ellie downstairs.
I raise my brows to Ellie. “Now who might that be? Your horse-drawn carriage made from a magic pumpkin?”
She shrugs as a wide smile tugs at her lips.
The sound comes again, and I walk to the door and open it. To my surprise, Jax stands in the hall. His normally floppy dark hair is neatly combed back, and he’s dressed in a black suit and white shirt with a short red tie at his neck. It’s a look I’m completely unused to seeing him in. My breath hitches.
He smiles and gives me a bow at the waist. “I’m here for Miss Eleanor.”
Playing along, I step back and angle myself slightly toward Ellie. “Eleanor Pierce, I believe that your handsome prince has arrived.” My cheeks flush as I realize that I just called Jax handsome in front of him.
But my embarrassment doesn’t last long when Ellie squeals in delight and races to her brother. She pulls out her skirt on each side and curtsies low; immediately he bows again and holds out his hand to her, and she takes it.
Jax pulls Ellie forward and out the door. He leans down and whispers into her ear, but still loudly enough for me to hear, “Head on down, I’ll be right behind you.”
Ellie bobs her head. “Bye, Tenly!” Then, still holding the side of her skirt up, she walks down the hall and disappears down the staircase.
Jax glances back into the hall, apparently to check if anyone is there. When he’s satisfied that it’s empty, he returns his attention to me and steps into the room. He closes the door partway.
Biting my lip I step back from him, farther into Ellie’s room.
“I’m sorry we haven’t had the chance to speak in a few days,” he says. “Everything at university has gotten a little crazy, and Mother had me running errands to prepare for the gala.”
My heart pounds as he reaches his hand out to me. Tentatively I take it.
“But life should be settling down a bit from here on out, so I hope we might get a chance to see each other more.”
I blow out a breath and ask a question I should have asked a long time ago. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”
He quirks his brow. “What do you think?”
“I think that I’m a Cobalt and you’re a Scarlet.”
“And?”
I scoff. Jax is not making this easy for me.
“And your mother told me I should not find myself needing to be around you.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m nearly eighteen, and then my mother will not have any say in what I do and don’t do. Anyway, that woman is a lot more bark than bite.”
“For you she is.” My words surprise me, but it’s something that must be said.
Jax chuckles and takes a step toward me. “I know that my father likes you . . . if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have even let you stay in the lab when that whole bird thing happened.”
Whole bird thing? Hasn’t he been listening to the news? It’s not just a bird thing.
He continues, “Mother can’t make any big decisions about household changes without his approval. And I know my father . . . when he likes someone, he likes them, Cobalt or not. Everyone has their uses.”
I cross my own arms over my chest, still unsure if I should believe him. “I just want to do a good job here. The staff might think—”
“And you are doing a great job.” He motions to the door. “Did you see Eleanor? The last gala, Mother had the worst time getting her into the car. Tonight my sister is excited, prepared . . . and you did that.”
I think back over the time I’ve been here. It hasn’t really been that long, but Ellie really has improved in her Red Lady training. I might not agree with much of it, but Jax is right. Through various activities I’ve been able to make it fun, and Ellie doesn’t complain nearly as much as she did before.
“Mother talks about how much Eleanor has advanced over dinner every time I’m there. So even if she would not admit it to your face, she has noticed.” He steps in closer and pauses right in front of me. “It’s a good reason that she might overlook a few things.” With those words he raises his hand and traces his fingertips across my cheek and jawline.
At his touch I take in a shuttered breath and wait. Unexpectedly, he takes my hand, raises it to his lips and kisses it.
“M’lady,” he says with a smile in his tone, then releases me. “I must be going.”
Speechless, I nod and watch as he exits the room, closing the door behind him.
I release the breath I’ve been holding for way too long and fall back into a chair that just happens to be behind me.
“What am I letting myself be dragged into?” I mutter and fan away the heat building in my chest and neck. Jax says that nothing is going to happen to me, but how do I know that? It could just be words from a guy who has no idea what it’s like to be a Cobalt . . . how different that really is than being a Scarlet.
I place my hands on the chair’s arms and dig in my fingers, unsure of what to do about him. But I throw the thoughts aside to worry about another time. Up and out of Ellie’s room, I find myself in the hall, watching Isaiah drive the family away in the car. Most of the staff who are assisting at the gala left over an hour ago.
I glance around at the empty hall. I guess I could prepare for lessons, but that sounds so boring.
The lab.
Dr. Pierce gave me permission to use it when he was gone. Dr. Pierce specifically told me that I could use the facility any time he was away as long as I didn’t mess with his computer equipment. Well? He’s gone . . . everyone is. I should take advantage of this opportunity.
Before I lose my nerve, I head downstairs, wave my DNA tattoo over the scanner, and then straighten my back. Hopefully Delilah can’t sense my nervousness as my pulse rages in my ears. The door slides back.
“Good evening, Miss Hawkins,” Delilah says in her slightly inhuman voice. “How may I help you?”
My heart nearly leaps from my chest even though I knew she would likely address me. “Slow night, so I thought I’d come down and prep for a few of Eleanor’s lessons.” It’s a solid reason. She doesn’t need to know I just want to play.
“If you need any assistance, feel free to ask. Would you like any coffee?” she asks.
I pause in thought for a moment. “I think I’ll be able to handle the lesson research. But yes . . . I will try the coffee. Are there different options?”
She rattles off several choices, and having never tried coffee, I decide on the simplest option with sugar and cream. Why not?
“How many cups?”
I release a nervous chuckle. Dr. Pierce would probably say multiple. “I’ll just go with the one.”
As I say it, the coffee maker starts, and a creamy-looking liquid, very different from the black that Dr. Pierce drinks, pours into the clear carafe. While it finishes, I glance around the room at the vast library. With all the computer equipment at his disposal, it’s funny to me that Dr. Pierce still uses so many physical books . . . at least it seems that he does by the worn corners and the handful scattered around the room.
“Your coffee is ready, Miss Hawkins,” Delilah says.
“Thank you.” I scoff at myself, wondering if she even cares that I’m polite. But then I walk to it, pour the pungent liquid into a cup, and take a sip.
At first I blink several times, evaluating the bitter flavor combined with sweet and creamy, not sure I fully like it yet. But then I take a few more sips and find it more like chocolate than I’d first thought. I consider having her make me another cup, but then decide against it. One is enough.
For now.
Okay. I gaze around the room in anticipation. Where to start? How about with something I know?
Scanning the books, I find the journal he let me draw in with my bird specimen findings. I pull it out and flip through the pages. Maybe I could try again . . . then pull some more books to research.
I place it down with my coffee on the counter next to his microscope and turn my attention to the slide cabinet. Does he still have the specimens from the bird we found in the yard? I head to check and pull out the drawer that I saw him take prepared slides from the last time I was here.
Inside the slides are labeled simply “Avian Virus,” and then each has a number. But then there is also a date. The first, of course, has the same dates as Ellie’s poor bird, and several slides match to that same date, but then there are more . . . at least thirty samples spanning the last several weeks. All different.
But the newscast I heard mentioned only a few isolated dead birds had been found . . . not thirty.
So is this what Dr. Pierce has been working on? But why is he doing so much research here at home versus at his lab in the city? I’d think this would be something to work on as a team with other scientists. Something niggles in the back of my mind. There’s no way he could be conducting the research on his own and not sharing all the information. Right? Of course I want none of that to be true because Dr. Pierce has trusted me with a lot . . . Ellie’s education . . . access to the lab . . .
I throw aside the stupid thought. The news never told us correct or complete information in the Tenement. Why would it be any different here? No one wants panic or for people to think that dead birds are going to rain out of the sky next week.
But then what if he is hiding something and now I’ve seen it? My blood goes cold, and I swallow the sudden nervousness that has risen into my throat. As fast as I can, I replace all the slides and push back the drawer. Then I down the rest of my now-lukewarm coffee and return my journal to the shelf.
He didn’t tell me I couldn’t come down, but what if he’s been so wrapped up in this project that he forgot? Or never really thought I’d take him up on his offer?
“Thank you, Delilah,” I say and place the mug next to the coffee machine in a basket labeled “Dirty.”
No use taking it with me. Dr. Pierce is going to know I was here simply because I used my DNA tattoo to enter.
If he asks, I’ll just tell him the truth. A partial truth anyway . . . that I wanted to get some more practice and do some continued research . . . but then remembered I needed to do something else.
“Will you have any other needs, Miss Hawkins?” she asks.
I clear my throat. “I think that’s it. Thank you.”
Chapter 23
Tap.
My eyelids flicker open and I roll over, clutching my pillow. Probably a dream.
Tap. After a moment the sound comes again. Groggily, I sit and scan around my darkened room for the source. Nothing.
The wind?
So I drop backward and stare at the ceiling. I release a long sigh while thinking about what I found in the lab concerning the avian virus. I’m probably overreacting to the whole thing. Just because Dr. Pierce has allowed me some freedom in teaching Ellie science does not mean I’m a scientist. I’m a seventeen-year-old girl who likes science and got high marks in a Cobalt secondary school. That doesn’t amount to much.
