“Don’t worry about it. It was my clumsiness that caused it.” I paused. “So what are you shooting tonight?”
“Couple of crowd scenes and one or two with the ladies.”
My spirits sank. “Oh. No Jared?”
Alfred’s expression darkened. “Nope. He had to cancel tonight.”
I nodded as though the explanation made complete sense, and then Alfred looked at his watch. “We have a ton to set up before the extras arrive. Nice to see you again…Lacey,” he said, his eyes flitting to my name tag.
I didn’t mind him not remembering my name. There were probably a hundred people on the crew, and there were a couple of dozen catering staff. Plus, really, the more I stayed under the radar, the better. I offered a smile.
“Thanks. See you around.”
The vans showed up and I helped unload, my thoughts elsewhere. Why had Jared canceled? His supposed strategy with the hunters was to lull them into believing he didn’t suspect anything, so why change that?
I nearly dropped a box of cups when I realized I’d just assumed that his assurances that the hunters couldn’t get the drop on him were an absolute guarantee. What if he’d miscalculated, and they’d somehow captured him? That would explain perfectly why he hadn’t returned my call, too.
My hands were shaking when I set the box on my table and slipped my phone from my back pocket. I placed another call to his number, with the same result – it went directly to voicemail.
“Jared, I’m at the set and just found out you canceled. Please call and let me know you’re okay. Even if you’re angry, just…just call.”
I disconnected and eyed the crew, and my stomach tightened when I spotted Christina deep in discussion with Trent by one of the camera booms. As if she’d felt my gaze, she abruptly looked up, and when she spotted me, she scowled. She handed Trent her clipboard without taking her eyes off me, and then marched straight toward my table, covering the ground in moments.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed, eyes blazing.
I was again struck by her porcelain beauty, her perfectly symmetrical features, her skin so smooth it looked airbrushed.
“I’m just doing my job. I feel fine now,” I replied.
“I mean at Ridley. Jared told you–”
A grip walked by, and Christina held her tongue until he moved out of earshot. She glanced around and said in a low voice, “Let’s find someplace quiet.”
I followed her down the path to the bridge, and when we were well away from any possible prying eyes, she stopped and turned to me. “Jared told you not to come back to the school until we’ve identified and neutralized the threat. Why are you here?”
“He told you about us?” I countered.
“Of course. You’re equally at risk because of your relationship with him. Did some part of that escape you?”
“Where is he?” I demanded.
“I don’t know.”
“I’ve been trying to call him. He never came home last night.”
Her voice hardened to match her expression. “So you disobeyed because he didn’t show up? Has it occurred to you that you’re making our job infinitely harder by being a wild card instead of following orders?”
“See, that’s the thing,” I said, my voice even. “I don’t obey orders. I don’t let people tell me what to do. Even Jared.” I matched the intensity of her glare. “Even you.”
“Do you want to die? Because that’s what your little adventure could lead to. Are you willing to risk that to prove a point – over some kind of adolescent power struggle?” It was her turn to wait a beat. “Did Jared not inform you that Carl was killed?”
“I’m not…like you.”
“It doesn’t matter. They’ll target you to get to him. I would do the same thing. Why? Because you’re an outsider, and you’re liable to do something stupid that gives them a better chance than they have with us. Like come back to Ridley when you were told not to under any circumstances.”
I hated that she was right – she’d looked straight into me and seen that my rash decision had been largely unthinking. But I also remembered my vow not to allow my emotions to direct my actions, and took a deep breath before speaking.
“Christina, I’m not going to sit in some cave while you two chase whoever. I want to know where Jared is, and I want to talk to him. Now. So crank up your bat phone, or however you communicate with him, and tell him that I’m not leaving Ridley until I see him.”
She stared at me with hard eyes and shook her head. “You’re going to get us all killed.”
“Then you’d better get Jared here sooner than later.”
“I told you I don’t know where he is. All I know is that he’s following up on some leads…about a sorcerer who’s a sworn enemy. We haven’t had any news about him for years, but Jared heard some whispers through his contacts in that world.”
“Where did he go, Christina?”
“He said he needed to run something down in Virginia. That’s all I know. I haven’t talked to him since yesterday evening. That’s the truth.”
“Does he have another phone?” I asked.
“No. He hates cells. You have his only number.” Her voice softened. “Lacey, he told me all about you. You were once one of us. You know the truth. So you have to realize I’m not your enemy. If anything, I’m one of your only possible friends, and I’m begging you to leave Ridley now. I’m asking you, not ordering you, to do what’s best for all of us.” She hesitated. “I know Jared can be somewhat…overbearing at times. He’s used to being in the driver’s seat. But he’s brilliant, and if he’s afraid for you, it’s because he has good reason to be. Regardless of how you feel about the situation or how he delivered his…request, please trust us enough to help you. That’s all I’m asking. Go back to the manor. Stay there until this
