Canvas & Keys

1. Don't Mess With Me When I'm Pissed

I stared up at him, at the anger still in his gaze, suddenly wishing I'd shut myself up sooner. Stress, lack of sleep, and serious conversations didn't mix very well with me. The one definitely one of those times when it got the best of me, making things I knew I would regret later fly from my mouth and hurt a person I really cared about.

A soft knock sounded before the door opened, revealing Cruz behind it. Noticing how close Drake and I were to each other, along with the tension in the room, he cleared his throat to speak.

"So...what's going on here?"

"Nothing," Drake said flatly, shaking his head as he kept his narrowed eyes on me. "It's late. I'm going to bed. Let me know if there's any change with Ash, because, you know, I actually care about what happens to your friends, too."

And with that, he stalked from the room, brushing past Cruz without another word before turning down the hallway.

Cruz let out a low whistle as he turned back to me. "Damn. What happened between you two? First real conversation in two weeks and you're already at it?"

"Nothing," I grumbled, throwing myself back into the chair I'd been practically glued to for the past two weeks.

"Yeah, that wasn't 'nothing.' He only fights like that with you, you know. Everyone else...well, he punches them."

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "We weren't fighting."

"Like hell you weren't. I've spent almost every day with him for the past four years. You pissed him off...and you pissed him off a lot. What was that about?" he asked, giving me a look that told me I couldn't lie to him.

So I sat there, swallowing hard before I answered, and looked toward the doorway, half expecting Drake to come back in. "I don't trust Flannery as much as you two seem to, especially since she hasn't sent you any word over the past two weeks. And it's not because I know she and Drake have a history together," I added after Cruz raised an eyebrow. "She hasn't really gained my trust, even with the times she's helped us. Because in those times, something always seems to happen."

Cruz was nodding before I even finished. "Yeah, something does always happen...because it's Vince and the Order we're talking about. Flannery is – just like me, unfortunately – a part of the Order, so she's got to play into the part. She still has to follow their rules, even if she really doesn't want to. She's our only insider we can trust and she sends information when she can...which is why I'd come to find you guys."

He held out a folded sheet of paper to me. Reaching slowly for it, I met his gaze again as he nodded. It was just a few paragraphs of plain text, obviously an email, and signed by the girl in question.

"It's from Flannery. She couldn't tell us much, but at least we know everyone's okay...kind of."

I swallowed hard, my hands starting to shake, and began to read.

Sorry for getting to you guys so late.

You know that Vince had a backup plan in case Hattie wouldn't come willingly. I just wish I could have found out about it sooner to warn you.

The helicopter crash was covered up. He was very thorough, sending a second identical jet along to Atlanta so John and Juliet could get the arrival message. The three Knights were killed on the spot and Hattie's friends were taken when it went down just outside London.

We're in Scotland. Glasgow, to be exact. Vince has us all in a warehouse on the edge of the city. He says we're moving soon, though, just as soon as Hattie comes.