4. Plan
Plan
“I’m going,” Grayson said and he knew that the set of his jaw made it look like he was expecting–or even inviting–a punch.
Not that any of these people would hurt him like that.
But he felt emotionally like he was exposing himself even as his brain couldn’t quite ascertain why.
“Mom won’t know any of you. She’ll be scared. She won’t understand what’s going on.”
Even as he said it, he knew it was garbage.
His mother wouldn’t know him either. He was as much a stranger to her as Caemorn, Balthazar, Christian or Fiona were.
In fact, she might know them better than him, because they had been on television and the internet, giving interviews, not to mention Christian’s own show with Julian.
The parasocial relationship was likely there with them while only the memory of a boy was in his favor.
But he was nothing like that boy anymore. He wanted to go because…
“We need to talk about this,” Balthazar said, lifting a hand as if to physically restrain him.
Grayson’s eyes narrowed. “You’re going to tell me that it’s too dangerous for me to go to Earth. But that’s not true! Fiona will teleport us both to my mom’s house and then back again. We’ll be perfectly safe even if I’m just… just… human.”
And can’t use my powers. And will feel like I want to projectile vomit after the teleporting.
“That actually wasn’t what I was going to say,” Balthazar told him.
“Balthazar,” Christian sighed and pinched the top of his nose.
“All right, it was a little of what I was going to say, but not the whole thing!” Balthazar amended a little huffily. “You’re not supposed to let people know when I’m shading the truth, Christian.”
“Shading the truth here isn’t the right plan,” Christian offered. “Grayson already…” Christian bit his lower lip and stopped what he was going to say.
“I’m already… what?” Grayson demanded.
Christian’s expression was very opaque as he said, “You’ve had a lot of surprises tonight. You’re not fond of those. Especially ones that make you feel strategically vulnerable.”
Strategically vulnerable.
He blinked at that. It was what he felt.
Yet it wasn’t what he had been thinking, but Christian had pulled it out of him just the same.
It seemed the Speaker to the Dead knew more about what he was experiencing than he did.
He wondered if Christian had been talking to his dad and Sam before letting Grayson know that they were there.
His father did know him as did Sam. Both men had been with him for a long time.
Speaking of them, his father and Sam were watching the argument anxiously.
His father had been pacing before, but now was seemingly rooted to the spot, a few feet away, careful not to drain him.
His stepfather was simply smirking and caressing his jaw contemplatively, clearly enjoying the result of dropping that bomb upon them.
Whether he knew it or not, whether he had intended to or not, he had helped them.
Grayson had never considered his mother in any danger from Roan.
As far as he could tell, no one realized he was anything other than a human.
Roan’s only interest in him was because Legion had been jealous. But Legion was gone now.
“It’ll just take an instant to go get her, Balthazar,” Fiona agreed. “In the time it’s taken to talk about it, I could already have been there and back with her. We shouldn’t debate any longer.”
“I have people watching her home,” Balthazar said. “She’s in no immediate danger.”
“But it wasn’t your spies that told us about Roan hanging around her. It was him.” Grayson jabbed a finger at his stepfather. The smirk grew. His rage increased.
“Speaking of him,” Caemorn said quietly as he fished a ruby soul gem out of his pocket. “I assume you have no problem with me imprisoning him, Grayson?”
“No, do it. Can’t let him get away and tell Roan we’re onto him,” Grayson said.
He felt a stab of satisfaction as his stepfather’s eyes widened and his mouth opened to object. But before he could say a word, his soul streamed into the gem that was gracefully held between two of Caemorn’s fingers. The Kaly Vampire pocketed the now glowing gem.
Now you’re the one in prison! Grayson thought with cold satisfaction about his stepfather. Where you wanted to see me. But that’s never going to happen!
Yet his father and Sam appeared only slightly relaxed. Likely because they knew that his mother was still in danger from someone far worse than his stepfather.
“I realize we’ve rather been behind the eight-ball here on a lot of fronts.
” Balthazar’s lips flattened for a moment as his displeasure showed.
“But I’ve beefed up security since hearing this.
Lisette and William have gone together to make sure that Roan is nowhere near your mother, Grayson.
Now that we’re aware of him, we won’t miss him again.
Not with those two for sure. And we have Acolytes in the police as well as others with military training guarding the house during the day. ”
“Nothing could be safer than here though, could it?” Grayson asked.
“I don’t know about that. We’ve had more dangerous escapades here against the Sect than anywhere else,” Balthazar pointed out with an elegant shrug. “Besides, you realize that your mother is being watched not just by the Sect or us, but by the reporters. If she disappears, they’ll have questions.”
He thought of Melinda. Yes, they would definitely have questions.
He wondered what Caemorn had said to Rachel when he’d rushed off.
He wondered too if she’d found out from Erika who had strangled her.
Perhaps he should get Rachel in on this.
Bring her with them so that his mom saw a friendly face.
But that seemed overly complicated. They should just get her and bring her back.
Explanations could wait until they were safe in the Ever Dark again.
Grayson gritted his teeth. “She’s my mom. You could tell them she’s just come to visit.”
“Except that we’ve explicitly stated that no student is to have contact with their family while at the school,” Balthazar reminded him. “If we make an exception for you, that just draws yet more attention to your situation. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Grayson cursed himself. He knew this. He was being sloppy. Not thinking things through! He raked a hand through his hair.
“Right. Of course. There’d be more questions by moving her here, but she’s in danger, Balthazar, and I’m supposed to just sit here and…” He clamped his lips shut. This wasn’t about him. Or his feelings of weakness. “I just don’t like things that feel out of control.”
“We know, Grayson,” Christian said gently. “But you have to trust others to handle things. You’ve been doing so well with that recently.”
“Only because I can’t do everything myself!” Grayson bit his tongue at that explosion. “I’m… I’m not feeling…”
Everyone’s gaze at him with sympathy. They knew he wasn’t feeling well. They knew the weakness that was upon him. He hated this! Yet he was the one still insisting on not getting turned.
If I get turned, I don’t know how powerful I’ll be out of the gate. Most fledglings are practically tied to their Master’s apron strings for years. I can’t afford that! I’ll just go from one form of weakness to another!
But what that the real reason? He wasn’t sure. It felt like it should be. But it also felt like it wasn’t the whole story.
“Let me think. All right. Just… I’ve got to think.
” Grayson started to pace. His head was pounding and the incipient headache he’d felt coming on all day was most definitely blooming in his skull.
But he forced himself to use the pain as an anchor point rather than a distraction.
His mind quieted and he stopped dead as an idea came to him. “Charlie.”
Balthazar’s brow was furrowed, but then understanding bloomed. “Ah, Charlie. You’re thinking of replacing your mother with a Mirryr. Of course, quite clever.”
“That will definitely solve the problem of the press for the most part knowing she’s gone.” Fiona nodded. “Unless they notice she’s not being seen during the day.”
“She has kept mostly to her home, purposefully not going out,” Balthazar said. “So it wouldn’t be too suspicious if they only saw her occasionally peeking out from behind the curtains. I really think Charlie would enjoy playing this role. Let me contact him–”
“Hold a moment, Balthazar,” Caemorn said. “You have not told Grayson the other part of why you did not want him to go get his mother.”
Balthazar met Caemorn’s eyes. Grayson could see that they were speaking to one another telepathically.
Balthazar appeared to be pleading, but Caemorn appeared just as firm in response.
It was fascinating seeing them as such partners.
The truth was they were a powerful pair together, far more powerful than apart.
Balthazar sighed and lifted his arms up.
“All right, all right, but he hasn’t suggested it himself so I highly doubt he’ll want to do it,” Balthazar said, evidently this was the tail end of their conversation, but now had spoken out loud.
“What? What won’t I want to do?” Grayson asked.
“We have an opportunity here,” it was Caemorn who spoke.
“Opportunity–”
“Yes, to track down more of the Roans,” Caemorn interrupted.
Grayson stopped. He should have thought of that. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Was he tired? Yes. But still. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Why was his throat tight at the very idea of using his mother as…
“You want to use my mother as bait?” Grayson asked.
Caemorn nodded. “While we have decimated the Sect of Dawn, there are still more Roans out there.”
“Not for long,” Grayson argued. “We’ll find them all. I mean you will find them all.”
He was hardly adding anything to the search for them.