Simon’s grip on my arm tightened. “That’s too dangerous.”
“And impossible,” Marie said implacably. “There’s no way I would be able to put you under myself. I need at least two other seers.”
“Don’t you know any other seers that can help you?”
Marie shook her head, looking at me as if I were stupid. “Don’t you realize what’s going on? This isn’t just about your father coming after you. This is a war between seers and vardogers, but the lines have become blurred. Seers and vardogers are no longer natural enemies fighting for human souls, because there’s a movement of seers that are tired of protecting humans. They feel trapped by their calling and believe vardogers are their way out. Inner circles have been shattered as seers who trusted one another are now enemies fighting on opposite sides. You can’t trust anyone anymore.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Simon. “Although this is the first time I’ve heard of a vardoger siding with the seers.” Her mouth twisted. “How the hell did that happen?”
“That’s none of your damn business,” Simon bit out, but I barely heard him as I processed what Marie had just told me.
“I had no idea,” I finally murmured weakly. “I had no idea this was so far reaching.”
“That’s why walking straight into your father’s trap is idiotic,” Marie insisted. “Your father has positioned himself as the vardoger leading the charge to eradicate seers who won’t come over to his side. He’s focused on you because he’s convinced you hold the key to figuring out how to become immortal.”
I rubbed my forehead, feeling overwhelmed by everything. “I can only take one thing at a time. First, I have to get back to Rochester.” I looked up at Simon. “We should call Sarah to make sure she’s alright.”
Simon looked at Marie, his voice terse when he spoke. “Do you have a phone we can use?”
Marie stared at him for a few moments, and then sighed. “Fine. It’s your death you’re walking into. I warned you.”
She dug into her pocket and handed me a cell phone. I quickly dialed Sarah’s number, my heart in my throat as I waited for her to answer.
“It’s Caitlin,” I said when she answered. I was surprised that she had answered so quickly since it was almo
st three o’clock in the morning. Before I could say anything more, she exploded.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling and calling but your cell phone keeps going straight to voicemail! Same with Simon’s!” Her voice was frantic, almost screeching.
I took a deep breath before speaking. “Sarah, I’m sorry I worried you. I can’t go into everything right now. I promise to tell you everything when I get back. But the most important thing right now is that you’re in danger. I need you to stay in the apartment. Get Grant to stay with you. And whatever you do, don’t leave the apartment. And don’t open the door for anyone, especially if it’s my father.”
“Why? What’s going on?” Sarah sounded bewildered and scared. “Why wouldn’t you want me to open the door for your father?”
“Because he’s not my father anymore. He hasn’t been my father for a long time. And I think he’s going to try to hurt you.”
Sarah sucked in a sharp breath. Her next words were whispered, almost as if she was afraid of being overheard. “What about Simon? Is he okay?”
I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me. There was no way I could tell her everything now. “He’s fine. Just wait until I get there. And I’m not kidding about not answering the door for anyone.” It was hard to say the next words, but I couldn’t risk anyone getting to Sarah. I was already anxious about not telling her to stay away from Grant, but I knew she would never agree to it. “Even if it’s Jenny or Marcus.”
“Why?” Sarah sounded shocked. “Have they… have they been overtaken too?”
“I don’t think so, but we have to be careful. It’ll be safer for them too, to be kept away from all of this. Just promise me that you’ll stay in the apartment and you won’t have contact with anyone else besides Grant.”
I hung up after she gave me her promise, not having the time to answer the lingering questions I heard in her voice. I turned to Simon as new fears arose. “What if Marcus and Jenny are in danger too?”
“They don’t even register in your father’s mind,” Marie answered before Simon could respond. “His focus will be on Sarah.”
I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse. Simon was expressionless and I couldn’t help wondering if it was a struggle for him to go against his nature as a vardoger. Despite my love for him, he was a shadow and I couldn’t completely banish my fear. The doubt dissipated as he took my hand, the strength in his grip reminding me that he had risked everything because he loved me.
“Shouldn’t you call your parents?” I asked, as the obligations of real life began to intrude. “They’re probably worried sick. I wouldn’t be surprised if they called the police when we never came back home.”
Simon’s mouth thinned before answering. “I went back on Friday after your father trapped you and told them we had decided to go back to school early. I figured it was best because I was planning on snatching you and running the first chance I got.”
His words reminded me that despite saving me, he had initially been part of the whole plan to use me to further the vardogers’ plans. I wanted to forget that, because every time I remembered it, it chipped away a little of my faith in him.
“Let’s go,” I said, tiring of talking. “We have to get to Sarah as soon as possible.”
Chapter Two
The train ride to Maxwell University seemed to take forever. I called Sarah practically every half hour to make sure she was still okay. Marie was still disapproving when we left, but she dropped us off at the train station and agreed to try to find seers that she thought we would be able to trust so that I could be put under hypnosis.