“I think you know exactly what I mean.” He unhooked his glasses from his ears. Then he whipped out a white handkerchief, rubbing the smudgy lenses. “In an effort to earn your trust, I’ll throw you a little bone. Your dad and I are both high-ranking officers in the Guardian organization.”
“I knew it.” I gasped, pumping my fist into the arm of the chair.
“I’m guessing he didn’t tell you that little tidbit?” He folded the handkerchief into a neat triangle, then placed the glasses back on his face.
“No sir, he didn’t. Not outright.” My insides did a little dance at this new revelation. “But why wouldn’t he tell me himself?”
“For one reason. Only members of the Guardian Council know his secret. Every other member of the three societies think he defected to Nexis when your mother was recruited.” His eyes trained on mine as if the whole world were about to end. “ I trust you’ll keep this new revelation to yourself.”
“Absolutely.” I froze under his beady-eyed gaze, still as a deer in his headlights.
“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Papers swished across the desk as he pulled out a stapled packet and pushed it toward me. “Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s address the matter at hand. Instead of taking Firstborn Bloodline Powers in the biology department with everyone else, I’ve arranged for you to take that class as an independent study course privately tutored by me.”
“Oh, okay.” I took the packet of papers he offered me. Another syllabus, this time for Firstborn Bloodline Powers.
“Don’t let that syllabus out of your sight.” His words poured out slowly, like he didn’t want to spook me into making a break for it. “Inside, you’ll find specific resources tailored to your needs as the next Seer. We don’t want that information falling into the wrong hands.”
“Seriously?” Oxygen seeped from my lungs like a deflating balloon. I gulped in stale office air, flipping through the pages. “What kind of information are we talking about here?”
“There.” He reached across the desk, turning to a specific page. “You’ll find this particular list of resources helpful. But they are meant for your eyes only.” His deep voice hit a grave note. “Understood?”
I scanned the list of reference books he pointed to. Wielding Angel Fire. The Secrets of the Seer’s Powers. Gifts of the Firstborn: A Study of Light and Darkness.
“Wow.” I sputtered. “Are these books all about how the Seer’s powers?”
“Yes.” His elbows clanged on the desk, his voice low. “They are all located in the chapel library, but not found in the catalog. You’ll find information on Seer powers such as how to control humans and supernatural beings, like angels and demons, with your mind. But be careful. Utilizing dark power comes at a price, while wielding angel powers comes with an enlightening truth.”
“How cool is that?” I clutched the paper to my chest like it was my new best friend.
Mr. Harlixton squinted at me through his glasses. “Lucy, don’t let these books fall into the wrong hands. Even though these books are in Seer’s code, someone could find a way to translate the texts. Never underestimate the lengths to which one society will go to uncover another society’s secrets.”
“Seer’s Code?” I glanced across the desk at him. “Does that mean these books are in a secret language only I can read?”
“Very astute.” His expression changed as he studied me. “Each of those texts are encrypted so only the current or future Seer can read them. The Guardian Council on Seer Training enacted that policy after Nexis discovered their first Seer in the 11th Century. St. Lucia.”
That last part hit me in the gut. St. Lucia seemed to be following me around everywhere I went.
“Put that away. Now.” Mr. Harlixton hissed, eyes flitting to my syllabus then to somewhere behind me.
Immediately, I did as I was told, shoving the syllabus into my bag behind the Watcher invitation. Could this day get any weirder?
“I hope I’ve answered your questions.” Scraping back his chair back Mr. Harlixton rose to his feet. “Have a good weekend, Miss McAllen. I’ll see you in class.”
“But—” When his eyes hardened, I clamped my mouth shut. “Next week then.”
He nodded toward the exit as a honey-blonde girl waited in the doorway. “Miss Fairchild, good to see you. Please come in.”
Following his lead, I rose to my feet and squeezed by the familiar intruder on my way out, her green eyes slicing into me. Miss Fairchild was none other than Colleen, the nametag girl from the Nexis meeting. No wonder Mr. Harlixton ended the conversation so abruptly.
How much did she hear? Those catty eyes glued on my every move, like she saw right through me. Was she the Nexis member watching from the tower, or just a lackey sent to follow me? A chill crept up my neck. With a slight nod in her direction, I booked it down the hall, gunning for the nearest exit.
Even though Mr. Harlixton had given me some answers, I still had way too many questions. First a strange vision, then a Watcher invite, and now a personalized class in Seer powers? After a week full of paranormal revelations, I need a healthy dose of normal. So much information bombarded my brain that I was almost looking forward to a double date with a couple of Nexis guys I barely trusted. Go figure.
Chapter 7
Humid air pressed down on me, clogging my lungs as I pushed open the glass door to Nelson Hall. The gray heaviness outside had somehow seeped into my dorm, my thoughts. Had Mr. Harlixton just told me my dad was a spy? Maybe that was why he trained us growing up to be more open-minded. An ache formed in the back of my neck. Why did everyone have so many secrets, especially my own family? There were just too many questions.
“You got a sec, Lucy?” From
