Rachel. He’ll help us plan.’
Allie held Sylvain’s gaze. ‘You’re certain?’
He didn’t hesitate. ‘I’m positive.’
She trusted him. ‘Then let’s get Raj.’
First, though, someone had to get out of the cellar.
‘Isabelle says the cellar is safe because Raj’s guards are all around it – they know we’re down here,’ Allie explained. ‘If they’re around us there must be some way to find them.’
Zoe looked around the circle. ‘Let me do it.’
Everyone objected at once, their voices making an echoed cacophony, but Zoe held up her hands. Her determination made her face look more grown up.
‘Look, I’m small and fast. I won’t go into the main buildings. I’ll search the stairwells and corridors – all the places they could be guarding. I’ll find them.’
‘No!’ They all said it together.
Her face reddening, Zoe glared at them. ‘I could do this
A heavy silence followed.
Carter gave in first. ‘I think we should let her.’
Allie’s chest tightened. ‘Carter, no…’
‘She’s faster than any of us.’ Nicole took his side.
‘Sylvain…’ Allie appealed to him, but, although his expression was sympathetic, he shook his head.
‘I agree with the others.’
After a quick discussion about where she should go, Zoe leaped to her feet to head towards the stairs but, as she did so, Sylvain caught her arm. Pulling her closer, he whispered something to her.
Her small face serious, she nodded. Then as Allie watched, helpless to stop her, she ran into the shadows.
After she left, the atmosphere developed a kind of claustrophobic emptiness. Time seemed to stretch – the hands of Allie’s watch slowed.
To keep herself calm, Allie walked the borders of the ancient cellar. It was never used for any purpose any more, and held only a few old trunks and some long-forgotten stacks of bricks. Dim light came from a few old wall sconces, so yellowed and dirty the few bulbs that did work emitted only a weak, flickering glow.
She glanced around to see what the others were doing. Nicole was talking to Emma in a low voice. Carter stood at the foot of the stairs like a sentinel, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. Sylvain stood with his back against the wall, lost in thought.
By now it must be getting dark outside. She thought of Rachel, alone with Nathaniel and Gabe. Helpless. Terrified.
A sob welled in her throat and she forced it back – she needed to stay focused.
She shoved her hands into the pockets of her skirt, and her fingers encountered the sheet of blood- spattered paper Nathaniel had left for her.
Pulling it out she unfolded it carefully and read it again, frowning at each word.
Suddenly she straightened. As if she’d made a sound, Sylvain turned and cast an enquiring look at her.
She held out the note. ‘I think I know what we have to do.’
THIRTY-THREE
They were all sitting in a cluster, sketching out Allie’s idea in the dust on the floor when the sudden clatter of heavy boots on the stairs jarred them into instant action. Leaping to their feet they ran together to the foot of the stairs.
Carter looked pale but determined; his jaw set. Beside him, Nicole seemed less tense. She held a thick board in one hand like a police truncheon and Allie got the feeling she’d relish the chance to use it. Allie and Sylvain stood on opposite sides of the cellar entrance; Allie held a brick in her hand.
The men who burst out of the stairwell wore the black uniforms of Raj’s guards but nobody cared. They all knew clothes meant nothing any more.
‘Does anyone know them?’ Carter called out, his voice urgent.
The others’ response was immediate. ‘No.’
It was all the invitation Nicole needed. She swung the board with all her strength, hitting the first man in the gut. He grunted in surprise and pain. Allie lunged forward with a brick in her hand.
‘Stand easy!’ Raj’s disembodied voice caught her in mid-stride – the brick tumbled from her fingers. She spun round in confusion as he stepped out of the narrow corridor, Zoe bounding at his side. ‘They’re the good guys.’
His clothes were muddy and new lines had appeared on his face, but he did not look defeated.
As Nicole offered an apologetic hand to the wounded man, Allie walked slowly over to Rachel’s father. How could she tell him what happened? What words were there in the world to explain how she felt?
But he didn’t wait for her to speak. He pulled her into a hug. ‘I know what happened.’ His voice was rough. ‘We’ll get her back.’
‘I’m so sorry, Mr Patel.’ Tears burned the backs of Allie’s eyes as she stood stiffly in his arms. ‘It’s my fault.’
‘No, it isn’t.’ He held her at arm’s length so she could see the determination in his face. ‘This is Nathaniel’s fault. And when we find him I’m going to make sure he knows exactly how I feel about that.’ As he spoke, his eyes changed. Suddenly he looked predatory; dangerous.
As quickly as the look appeared, though, it faded, and he glanced around the room, in complete control. ‘Everyone OK?’
They all nodded.
‘Can I see the note, Allie?’ Raj held out his hand.
For a second she hesitated. A few weeks ago, she wouldn’t have let anyone see this note. She would have run out there to try and get Rachel all on her own. And Rachel probably would have died.
But she’d learned. She’d watched the others sacrifice themselves for her, for Jo. She’d seen them take chances that could have cost them everything they cared about.
She trusted them. She believed in them.
So she turned to where they stood watching her. Catching her eye, Sylvain nodded once.
Only then did she pull the crumpled, blood-stained page from her pocket and hold it out to Raj.
‘We need to talk to you,’ she said. The others gathered around her, supporting her. ‘We have an idea.’
‘Isabelle will never agree to it.’ Raj’s words were emphatic.
‘We know.’ Nicole shot him a significant look. ‘So we have to decide how to handle it.’
Raj had sent his guards back into the corridors and stairwells. Emma had been taken to the infirmary to be checked out. Only he and the group remained in the chilly cellar.
He rubbed his eyes. ‘Let’s go over this again.’
‘Nathaniel says I must come without you, Isabelle, or any of the guards or instructors,’ Allie explained patiently. ‘But he doesn’t mention students. I will go to the castle. The others will follow through the woods in case I get into trouble. You and your guards will already be there, hidden. Nathaniel will think I’ve followed his rules so Rachel will be –’ she almost couldn’t bring herself to say the word, she so wanted it to be true – ‘safe.’ She took a steadying breath. ‘I’ll go to him alone – the others will stay near me. You wait until Rachel is free then you come in – he won’t be expecting you.’
‘My guards are all over the grounds right now.’ Raj spoke thoughtfully as he studied the sketch they’d made on the dirty floor: a partial circle with space on one side left open, arrows swooping towards it. It was Napoleon’s plan from the Battle of Austerlitz but Allie had thought it best not to mention that part. ‘I could tell them to get into place one at a time. No group movement. They’d be virtually impossible to detect.’ He glanced around the group, and Allie could tell by his expression he’d already made up his mind. ‘It’s a good plan.’
