Masquerade (Blue Bloods 2)

Jack noticed that the crowd was amused by the situation. Half of them were eagerly, if unconsciously, rooting for the boy to fall. Classes would be canceled for the rest of the day for sure.

"C'mon! Get it over with! I have a Pre-calc quiz I don't feel like taking this afternoon!" someone called.

In one corner, hidden behind a hedge that surrounded a stone bench, Jack's supersensitive hearing picked up the sound of Kingsley Martin, the new boy, laughing with Mimi.

"Make him do a pirouette," Mimi said.

Kingsley waved his hand, and the boy on the ledge executed a ballerina turn. The crowd gasped. But the boy landed on his feet. He looked shocked at what had just happened, almost as if he had no control.... No control...

Jack glanced sharply at Kingsley. He knew in an instant what was happening. Kingsley was using the glom to con- trol the boy's mind, as a puppet master would pull the strings.

At Committee meetings, they had been told there would be strict punishments for using their powers on the Red Bloods without provocation. Jack felt a deep rage rise within him. The stupid, arrogant fool. Kingsley was going to put them all in danger.

"Release him!" Jack commanded, holding up a palm, his eyes shooting daggers at Kingsley.

The crowd turned to see who was causing the scene.

"Aw, we were just having a bit of fun, mate," Kingsley said, and with another flick of his wrist, the boy stopped turning.

The boy screamed to find himself alone on top of the balcony. He wobbled; his left foot slipped off the edge....

"Martin! Bring him down! NOW!"

"If you insist," Kingsley said, looking bored already. The boy regained his balance and safely stepped off the railing onto the terrace.

"Modo caecus," Jack whispered, sending a blinding spell over any of the humans who had congregated, to make them forget what they had seen.

"That was foolish and dangerous, not to mention cruel and petty," Jack said, confronting Kingsley. He had never felt so angry in his life. And to see Mimi standing there next to him was even worse. Was he actually jealous? Or was he just angry and disappointed to find his sister engaging in such low behavior?

"Stop being a spoilsport, Force," Kingsley said. "No harm done, eh?"

"Yeah, Jack, get off it," Mimi said. "It's just a frosh. Nothing would have happened."

"That's not the point, Mimi," Jack said. "The Wardens will hear of this."

"Oh, the Wardens." Kingsley laughed. "Listen, why don't you come after me yourself?" he taunted. "Or are you too much of a Red Blood lover you've forgotten your Blood is blue?"

Jack blushed to the roots of his fine blond hair.

"You Forces--or whatever your call yourselves these days--would be nothing without my family, without the sacrifices we made," Kingsley said darkly. He turned on his heel and started to walk away. "Any time you want to eat your words, Force, you know where to find me."

"Jack, it's just a joke," Mimi said, trying to mollify her brother.

"Drop it," Jack said, shrugging off her hand from his shoulder.

He walked away quickly, and Mimi followed him, a cross look on her face. "Jack, wait, c'mon."

But Jack didn't turn around. His ears were burning from embarrassment at lashing out like that in public. Had that been wise? He'd had to stop Kingsley, hadn't he? Or was he just being humorless like his sister had said? And anyway, what was Kingsley talking about? What sacrifices had the Martins made?

He would have to ask his father about this.

Oliver had saved her a seat next to his in Chem lab. He handed Schuyler her goggles, and she put on her lead apron. "What are we doing today?" she asked, fitting the goggles over her nose. Oliver was already wearing his. The whole class looked like a team of welders. Across the room, Mimi loudly complained that the goggles gave her an ugly red mark on her nose, but no one paid much attention.

"Making candy again?" Schuyler asked.

Oliver checked the Bunsen burner and turned it on slowly, so it emitted a small, red flame. "Yup."