“I tried to tell you, sweetheart. Right before you left for school.” His voice was soothing, but did nothing to calm my already frayed nerves. “Only high-ranking Nexis officials know. And you need to keep it that way. For your own safety.”
“What?” I whisper-screamed into my cell. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m deadly serious.” His baritone rumbled through the earpiece. “You can’t have people blabbing that you’re next in line to be the Seer. Keep this Nexis president guy quiet. Do you hear me?”
The truth sank into my bones and a tear trickled from one eye. “I can’t believe it’s true. You could’ve told me anytime in the last three years.” My voice wobbled. I curled my knees into my chest, hugging myself.
Dad sighed, huffing into the receiver. “I’m sorry, sweetie. It was your brother’s idea. If most people thought he was the Seer, he figured they chase him all over Europe and you’d be safe. For a little while at least.”
“Sounds like James.” I sniffled as more stupid saltwater leaked from my eyes. “What should I do now?”
“Just maintain the status quo.” Dad’s voice was firm now, then he lowered it a notch. “Don’t forget to pledge the Guardians, too. They can protect you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I wiped my eyes and stared at the phone. “Are you secretly a Guardian?” If my guess was accurate, it’d explain why Mom and Dad were on opposing sides about Nexis and the Three Societies.
“Not now. Later.” He hissed out that last word. “It’ll be okay, sweetie. We’re still a family.”
His baritone faded into the background. Random noise filtered through. Was that Mom’s voice? Great. I’d woken her, too. I really didn’t want to talk to my traitor mother right now.
A blonde head burst through the front door, and I flinched. My RA Monica flounced past me, her stick-straight hair swaying behind her as she trotted up the stairs. She was at the meeting tonight. Why was she coming in so late? I lowered the volume on my phone, just in case.
“Lucy, you shouldn’t have called this late.” Mom’s stern voice blared from the earpiece. “Why don’t you worry about normal teenage things like boys and clothes instead of James? You should have a nice boyfriend by now, like that Stanton boy. What’s wrong with him?”
“Mom, I want to know what happened to James, not talk about the boy you picked out for me.” I clapped my hand over my mouth. Too late.
I flicked my gaze to the second floor landing just in time to see Monica flee into the stairwell. Great, it’d probably be all over school by Monday.
“You met him tonight?” Her screech buzzed into the phone so loud I whipped it away from my ear. “How’d it go?”
“Mom.” I drew out the word. She would hate the way I rolled my eyes now, but seriously, come on. “That’s not even the point. I want to know about James.”
“Lucy,” she sighed into the phone. “We’ve heard nothing new in ages. That can’t be what this is about.”
“It’s not.” I sucked in a breath, the words on the tip of my tongue. Not here, in the dorm lobby. I tiptoed into the kitchen, plopped on a counter stool, and sucked in a deep breath. If I could get through this, I could get through anything.
“Is James really my brother, or my half-brother?” The words tumbled out before I had a chance to check them. “Please, just tell me the truth. I deserve to know.”
A hushed gasp came through the speaker. She breathed into the phone, but didn’t say a word for a long time.
“How did you find out?” Her choked words were soft and breathy. “I’m sorry, honey. You weren’t supposed to know until you turned eighteen.”
“Mom!” I screamed into the phone, not caring if I woke up the whole dorm anymore. “How could you keep this from me for so long, then send me here?”
“You were supposed to join Nexis and become an influential leader.” She hissed through the phone. “They would’ve helped you figure things out. You’d be set up for life.”
“You mean like James?” I tightened my fists to hold back the tide of anger surging throughout my body. “Mom, I know what they did. I know they banished him. Do you really want that to happen to me, too?”
“Honey, that won’t happen to you.” Her tone turned sugary real quick. “You’re next in line to be the Seer. Once you turn eighteen and come into your natural powers, you can change the world. Nexis will help you do that.”
“At what price, Mom?” Her words cut into me like a razor blade. She believed everything she just said. The truth hit me like a slap across my face. “Do you even care about James? You let him join Nexis knowing full well what would happen to him.”
“Lucy, don’t be ridiculous. I’m sure James is fine wherever he is in Europe.” The sugar faded from her voice. “Nexis gave him the tools he needs to survive.”
“Seriously?” My jaw dropped and I held the phone away from my face, blinking like crazy. “Do you even hear yourself? You’re completely brainwashed. You can’t know that for sure.”
“You don’t think the Guardians or the Watchers would brainwash you, too? Don’t be so naïve. Have you joined the Guardians or something?” Her question sounded more like an accusation.
“I’m keeping my options open.” A hint of a smile curled my lips up and I crossed my legs on the stool. “Just like you did before I was born.”
“Don’t you ever speak to me like that. You hear me?” Her terse words were even, smooth and cold with an icy edge. “You are my daughter, and you’ll do as I say.”
“Excuse me? I am your daughter, but I won’t do as you say.” I dug
