The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

When we walked in, Tori squawked.

"Um, I don't know how you do things," she said, "but around here, the guys knock before they walk into a girl's room."

"The door was open," Corey said. "Wide open."

"No excuse," Hayley said. She was now sitting on Tori's bed, where they must have been chatting away, as if this was a sleepover party.

I told them about Corey's vision.

"And what do you want us to do?" Tori said.

"You? Nothing. Hayley? If Mr. Bae doesn't decide to go, we're leaving."

"If Kit doesn't decide to go, why would anyone go?" Tori said. So she called her father by his first name? I wasn't surprised.

Hayley glanced at Tori. "She's right. He's the grown-up and the Cabal expert. That's why we came here. If he doesn't want to leave, I don't see the point."

"Then I guess you're staying," Corey said.

"What's going on in here?" said a voice from the doorway.

It was Dr. Fellows. As I repeated my explanation, Simon appeared behind her. When I got to the "we may be surrounded by Cabal hit men" part, Simon took off, thundering down the stairs.

When I finished, Dr. Fellows said, "And this was a vision you had, Corey?"

"Right."

"Are you sure?"

"Huh?"

She lowered her voice. "Is it possible that Derek . . . influenced this vision of yours?"

"What? No."

"Absolutely not," I said. "Derek's the one who cut it short. Accidentally, but still. And if by influence, you mean 'talked us into telling a lie to get everyone out tonight,' then I don't appreciate the insinuation, Dr. Fellows."

Her brows shot up to meet her hairline. Tori smirked and leaned back onto her pillow.

"Well, Maya, I don't know you yet, so you'll forgive me if I question you."

"I don't blame you. You don't know us. But you do know Derek and, sorry, but persuasion doesn't seem to be the guy's strong suit."

"She has a point, Lauren," Tori said.

Dr. Fellows shot her a look, which Tori met with a cool gaze.

"Also," Tori said, "I really think you'd know your niece better than that. I wouldn't put it past Derek to lie to get us out of here, but no way would Chloe let him pull others into the scheme." Before Dr. Fellows could answer, Tori turned to me. "I don't doubt tall, dark, and seriously cute had a vision, but I'm still going to wait for Kit's call on this one."

"Did she just call me cute?" Corey said.

Hayley turned on Tori. "Did you just flirt with my boyfriend?"

"Boyfriend?" Corey said.

"Are you coming?" I asked Corey. "Or staying to flirt back?"

"Bossy, isn't she?" Tori said.