Laura tiptoed closer in dark jeans and a black hoodie, almost identical to Brooke’s outfit. “Looks like some of us aren’t used to covert operations.”
“You got me there.” I gnawed on my bottom lip. “What’re you guys doing here?”
“I’ve always wanted to try this.” Laura rubbed her tiny hands together.
“So you don’t think I’m crazy?” My lungs stilled as I waited for her answer.
“No way. You and Tony definitely saw something. Now we just have to figure out what.”
I exhaled a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re here then.” After my outburst at the gallery, the fact that they still went along with my nutty idea meant only one thing. Somehow I’d made friends at this school. Real friends.
“There’s a secret entrance back here. It looks like it’s been bricked over, but it’s not.” Laura tapped on the red bricks until her knuckles found a hollow one. When she twisted it to the left, the brick whooshed aside to reveal an ancient, almost decrepit, door.
“How’re we supposed to get in?” Brooke peeked around my shoulder, as if the old door would jump out and bite her.
“With these.” I stuffed my hand into my hoodie pocket, hoisting the keys into the air.
Moonlight washed over the shiny metal key, slanting strange lines on the wrought-iron skeleton key. Laura nodded at me as if she approved, while Brooke’s jaw dropped.
Footsteps crunched behind me, heavy by the sound of them. Bryan led the black-clad trio of Guardian boys, his eyes on the keys dangling from my hand.
“Where’d you get those?” With rough fingers, he clawed at my forehand.
“Mr. Harlixton gave them to me, just in case.” I wrenched my arm away from him. “Guess someone doesn’t know everything.”
Nostrils flared as his breath steamed up the chilly air. “Just open the door already.”
“Fine.” I whipped my head around so hard my hood drooped back.
Brooke leaned over and whispered in my ear. “I’m sorry. I thought it was a good idea to call Bryan in case we needed backup.”
“It’s fine, Brooke.” I gritted my teeth, but my hands shook as I cleared dirt away from the rusted lock. With a sharp motion, I slid in the giant skeleton key and pushed on the weathered wood.
Flashlight in hand, Bryan edged past me, his wet sneakers squeaking across the tiled hallway. He twisted the library doorknob. “It’s locked.”
“Oh ye of little faith.” I jingled the keys in his ear, squeezing in next to him. “Got it covered.”
A puff of hot air warmed my neck as I unlocked the door for everyone. The other four trickled inside, but Bryan just stood there beside me. When I turned to him, his eyes trailed their way down to my pants, then my feet, taking a while to get there.
I glared at him, wrinkling my forehead. Would I ever figure this guy out? Let him mock my crazy outfit all he wanted. With a flourish, I flipped my hair out from under my hood and flounced into the room. He was the one ruining my alone time in the chapel.
“Stop being such a baby.” Brooke’s jaw jutted out at her brother. “We came here to figure this out fairly. Let’s get it over with so I can go back to sleep.”
“Fine.” Bryan practically growled. “I’ll listen and try to keep an open mind.”
“Thank you. That’s all I’m asking.” She rolled her eyes at him, turning to me. “Who wants to go first?”
I chewed my lip and glanced at Tony, his dark hair highlighted by the moonlight from the window. “I don’t really know where to start. I guess at the gallery. I saw this strange symbol around Felicia’s dad’s neck, then on her painting. Suddenly the name for it popped into my head, the mark of the Seer—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He drew in a sharp breath, the hollowness in his voice hitting me in the stomach.
“I tried, remember? Are you even listening?” I could practically feel his stare, but I just looked straight ahead. “Tony was right there, and the guy had just left. You weren’t close enough, if that’s what you mean.”
He puffed out his chest. Silence hung heavy in the room. Nobody asked me to elaborate and I wouldn’t volunteer any more details. No way.
“It still doesn’t prove anything.”
On my heel, I pivoted toward him, only to find a hard line chiseled into his jawbone.
It burned my eyes into slits. “Do you want to go back to that gallery and see for yourself?”
“Maybe I will.” He stared me down, as if he could get me to surrender.
“Be my guest.” I pursed my lips at him. “But you won’t catch me stepping one measly toe in that building ever again.”
“Enough. We’re getting off track.” Tony sliced his hand into the space between us. “My turn. All I remember was how Lucy almost fainted, like she’d seen a ghost or something. I went over to help her up. She pointed to a weird symbol on one of Felicia’s paintings and mumbled something about the Seer and Felicia. I told her to show me.”
“That’s when you raced out of the gallery.” Brooke adjusted her glasses like giant microscopes as she studied my face, then Tony’s.
“That’s right.” He leveled his gaze at her. “We followed them down the street. At the subway entrance, I saw his profile. He definitely had the symbol around his neck, the same one on the painting. It’s identical to the symbol on Lucy’s arm, too.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest, angled at Bryan like some kind of guy challenge.
“So you’re saying Felicia’s dad is part of the Watchers, Felicia, too? That she’s some kind of double agent?” He squared off in Tony’s direction.
“No, I think it’s more than that.” He dropped his arms and smacked his forehead. “Her dad looked just like the priest who attacked us. If that’s the case, do you really think we can trust
