“Of course he was. His influence is stronger here than anywhere else.” I leaned into Quinn as Trey shut and bolted it behind me, muffling Gloria’s pain-soaked cries. Ayaz was already halfway back across the gym, carrying his precious load. The rats scurried out of our path as we scrambled for the exit and tore up the stairs.
As soon as I stepped into the first-floor corridor, the god’s hold on me broke, leaving my body and mind bereft. Quinn squeezed me and smiled his easy-going smile, and for a flicker of a moment, I believed that everything would be okay.
Quinn’s still here. He saw the worst in me, and he’s still here.
As quickly as we could, we carried Zehra through the deserted school and across the field into the trees. As we walked, Trey and I filled her in on everything that had happened since we last saw her and our plan for graduation, with Quinn interrupting to ‘dramatically re-enact’ his favorite parts. His impression of Trey was particularly entertaining, and despite myself, I laughed until my ribs hurt.
I found the tree where we’d hidden supplies earlier. Ayaz set Zehra down, steadying her as she stood shakily on her own legs. I handed Zehra a backpack.
“There’s food, water, and cash in here, and some other things you might need. I’ve put a note with my mobile number in the front pocket. As soon as you buy a phone, text me so we can stay in contact. You’re going to the Arkham Grand Hotel – around the back is a motel unit. Deborah has left her back window open. She’s in number three. Don’t let anyone see you crawl inside. She’ll get you cleaned up and move you somewhere safer.”
Zehra nodded. Ayaz held her close, locking his arms around her, pressing his cheek to hers.
“She doesn’t have to go,” he whispered. “We could keep her with us.”
I got it. He’d just got her back. He didn’t want to send her away into the great unknown again.
I shook my head. “We can’t hide her in the school.”
Ayaz locked his arms around his sister and stared at me with defiant eyes. “Youstayed hidden for an entire quarter.”
“That was before we had a crazy plan to free you all from this curse.”
Zehra wriggled out of her brother’s arms. She hoisted the backpack onto her shoulders. “Listen to your girl, big brother. We’ll have plenty of time to catch up on two decades of shenanigans once you have your life back.”
“And Vincent Bloomberg is out of the picture,” I added.
Zehra couldn’t keep the grin from spreading across her face. “By Allah, I can’t wait for that day.”
Ayaz reached for his sister again. “I can’t protect her out there. She could be walking straight into Vincent’s arms. You know she’s not going to sit around and wait for us.”
Zehra darted away, sticking her tongue out at him. I wanted to laugh, but the crippled look on Ayaz’s face stripped away all mirth. Saying goodbye to Zehra again was tearing him apart. Now that he had her, he couldn’t bear to let her go.
This will be me when it comes time to go with the god. I have to be strong, or I could ruin everything.
“I’ll be fine,” Zehra stared down her brother with those dark, expressive eyes. “But you’re right about one thing. I’m not going to hide away like a frightened kitten while you fight. Give me a job to do.”
Ayaz shook her head. “You’re staying away from this.”
“Nope. I’ve fought too hard and too long to get your freedom to step aside now.” She turned to me. “You must need someone on the outside, someone who moves in different circles to this Deborah person.”
I thought for a moment. “When the Miskatonic Prep students leave the school, they can’t walk back into their old lives. It’ll be too suspicious – people will ask too many questions. They need new identities. Yesterday I made contact with someone I know in Philly who will organize passports, but I’ll need other paperwork. I assume you used criminal connections to hide for so many years, so—”
“I know people.” Zehra grinned. “I’m even owed a few favors I can call in. I’ll get you anything you need.”
Ayaz looked aghast. “You shouldn’t be mixing with the types of people who sell illegal identities. Either of you.”
It spoke to our kindred nature that both Zehra and I ignored him. I longed to hear more about Zehra’s exploits over the last decade, but not while her annoyingly, adorably protective older-younger brother was around.
“I can do more,” Zehra added. “What if the Eldritch Club decides it’s too risky to come back to the school? Maybe they figure they have enough power already. You said they spoke in their cabin about finding another source of funds so they could afford to sacrifice Gloria. What if I made it so they didn’t have a choicebutto come?”
“How?” I was intrigued. This had occurred to me, too. Someone suggested it at the meeting Deborah overheard. Vincent kicked them out for it, but for all we knew he’d lost control over the Eldritch Club. We needed themhere, and they could always choose not to come. It was the biggest weakness in our plan.
“I’ve been gathering information about them for years, including their insider trading, shady business deals and political bribes, their fraud and their human rights violations.” Zehra tapped the side of her head. “I have enough secrets to write a book up here, and evidence to support them tucked away in safe places across the country. All it will take is a few well-written emails to empathetic journalists and I can sink the fortunes of the entire Eldritch Club like they’re the Titanic and I’m a fucking iceberg of doom.”
“Hell yes. Do it.”
Zehra hitched the backpack up and stood on tiptoes to kiss her brother’s cheek. Adoration beamed from her dark eyes. For a brief moment she appeared younger, and I was transported to her year at Miskatonic Prep – to innocence shattered, to a wild night rowing a boat on a violent ocean, to outsmarting assassins and uncovering hints of the truth. This school had taken everything from her; except for her resilient spirit. She was itching for her own revenge.
