The Gray Institute (The Gray Institute Trilogy Book 1) (25 page)

'Why does any of this mean that I alone can trust Malachy?' I ask Tia, once again dreading the answer. She hesitates, dropping her gaze.

'You look like Aleks,' She admits and my breath catches in my throat. 'We've all noticed it. No-one's said anything but I can see it in people's faces when they meet you. It's undeniable.'

*

Tia's words swim around my head all night long. Recently, I've taken to lying aimlessly in bed at night to give myself some semblance of normal life, but usually I get up after three or four hours, and especially since my thoughts are so occupied.

I try to see through Tia's perspective during her first year, during the ordeal of Aleks Anzhela. How the students must have felt living on the edge of fear.

No wonder Tia and everybody else is so keen on sticking to the rules; break them, or even displease the wrong person, and they'll make you disappear like poor Aleks.

Poor Aleks, who now rots in the Confine on a false charge.

Does Malachy still love her? Did he truly believe that she had contacted an old friend? I doubt it, if even Tia knew it was a false claim.

Malachy must have known that it was Lucrezia's doing. He must still know. Why did he do nothing? Why does he continue to be her pet, her plaything? What about Malachy and Lucrezia's Auctorita family? Who did they believe?

Lucrezia, obviously, but did they really believe her? Or did they know she was behind it all and that they were condemning an innocent woman and breaking their child's heart?

So many thoughts and questions revolve around my head and I wish more than anything that I could sleep. Be given just a few hours of silence, of nothingness where I wouldn't have to think or conspire.

I resolve by morning to push Aleks out of my mind; there's nothing I can do about what happened and it has no impact on my life. I must stick to my task, to my plan.

I have no clue where the West wing is and I can't very well go around asking people. And even if I find out where it is, Malachy said that Katy is guarded around the clock, how do I plan to overcome that obstacle? Tia can't help, and I would never ask it of her.

For one crazy moment, I consider asking Sir Alec if I may talk to Katy, to find out where she went wrong in order to do my job better. It would make sense from an outside perspective, but it would also incur many questions from Sir Alec, mainly about how I came to know of Katy in the first place. Or where she's kept.

I realise that the only person who can, and possibly will, help me is Malachy. He went against the rules – and his better judgement – last night, didn't he? He shouldn't have told me where Katy was and yet he did.

Why?

Was it really because I look like Aleks? Would he really consider that a good enough reason to put himself in the firing line? Is it enough for him to do it again? And why, only moments before on the stairwell, had he demonstrated his power over me and threatened to go to Sir Alec?

I feel a pang of guilt as I contemplate using Malachy's past against him. If I use my influence as Aleks' lookalike to make Malachy help me, aren't I just as bad as Lucrezia? Hasn't he been through enough? If I had any morals I would leave him well alone, go out of my way to avoid him, to make his life easier. 

The weekend couldn't have come at a more opportune moment and with no lessons to occupy me, I have plenty of time to look for Malachy. I can't simply knock on his door as I did last night, what if Lucrezia's there? Last night he was expecting me, today he isn't.

I check the common room as soon as I've left the cafeteria; with fresh blood in my system, my energy is up and my thoughts are clearer. The story of Aleks Anzhela has only fuelled my desperation to complete my task. I don't want to persuade Lorna Gray to change, I don't want to influence Malachy into helping me, but I have no choice. Anybody else would do the same.

Besides, I can ask Malachy for help, it doesn't mean he'll give it to me.

Lucrezia is in the common room, surrounded by moronic, third year girls with dyed blonde hair and forced arrogance. Despite a general hatred for Lucrezia, there are those who wish to be like her and try desperately to befriend her. I have to assume that they hope her Auctorita connections will help them when they leave the Institute, and if that's the case, they're simply doing what I am right now.

Watching their own backs.

Malachy isn't with her, which is a good thing. Tia spies me from her usual sofa but merely smiles, giving me space to do what's necessary. She didn't come back to our room last night and I have no idea if she's mad, upset or indifferent towards me. But I don't have time to worry about it.

It's not time yet for the third years to visit the cafeteria so I check it off my list and, after finding the stair well empty, I decide that with Lucrezia safely in the common room, I will try Malachy's room.

I take the empty lift to the fourth floor, counting the numbers as it travels smoothly upwards, and as the doors ping open, my heart plummets to my feet.

Lorna Gray stands before me, as surprised to see me as I am her. I almost miss my floor as I stand staring at her and the doors begin to close. I shoot my arm out quickly and the door halts, shuddering open once more. I step out of the lift, next to her, and she smiles politely.

'Nice to see you again, Eve.' Her seductive, deep voice makes me shiver, and I suppress the urge to throw myself at her feet and beg her to be changed willingly – for the sake of my life.

'And you, Miss Gray.' I force a smile and she rolls her eyes.

'Please, enough with the 'Miss Gray.' I'm seventeen years old,' She laughs. 'I was just... on my way to the library.' She explains what I didn't ask and I frown. I don't recall ever seeing Lorna Gray unaccompanied by a guard anywhere besides our meeting at the fourth floor window.

'What are you researching?' I enquire out of politeness but she clams up, leaving my question unanswered.

'I was thinking,' she muses, her eyes mischievous. 'Seeing as Alec is so keen for me to spend time with you, and life here for me is admittedly boring and lonely, perhaps you could meet me later? Take me for a walk out in the grounds?

I'm not allowed outside the walls without an escort but perhaps Alec will permit you to be it.' She suggests, and I raise an eyebrow, doubtful.

'Of course, if Sir Alec will allow it, I'd be delighted to come with you.' I nod politely and she smiles.

'Great. I'll meet you at the main entrance. Say around eight?' She doesn't wait for a reply before she pushes the button to call back the lift. She steps inside and flashes me a smile. 'Until later, Eve.' She says, and as the doors close, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I have no idea if Lorna Gray is playing with me. Whether she has her own agenda, a sordid plan to use me to wreak revenge on all Immortals, but honestly, I don't have the time or emotional capacity to consider it.

Sir Alec will, of course, allow me to accompany her tonight – though probably not outside the Institute's walls – and he will expect me to use this opportunity to change Lorna's mind once and for all.

If I'm to do that, I need information and I need it fast.

I don't have time to worry about whether it's morally wrong to use my similarities to Aleks to twist Malachy's arm. I don't have time to worry about the consequences of being caught paying a visit to Katy Branch.

I have to act now.

I race to Malachy's room – praying that Lucrezia hasn't made her way up here in the time Lorna Gray stole from me – and hammer on the door.

To my eternal gratitude, he answers even quicker than he did last night and this time, it's me who shoves him inside and slams the door behind us.

His eyes are wide and panicked, but also curious as I whirl on him, keeping my distance but maintaining my urgency.

'Look,' I begin, deciding spontaneously to tell him the absolute truth. 'I don't know why you helped me last night and frankly, I don't care. I'm here to tell you that without more help, I can't do what I've been asked to and your information last night will be rendered useless.

I know I'm asking a lot of you, and I fully expect you to say no, but I have no choice and nothing to lose by asking.' I run out of steam as he cocks an inquisitive eyebrow at me.

'You're asking for my help?'

'Yes, I'm asking for your help. I don't have much time.' I snap.

'Have you been to the West wing?'

'No, of course not. I have no idea where it is and, like you said, it's guarded twenty four hours a day.'

'So, you still don't know if I was telling you the truth? Not for sure, anyway?' He asks.

'No, I suppose not but it doesn't matter. I have it on good authority that I can trust you.' I regret my words as soon as I say them but to my relief, Malachy doesn't ask whose authority I have it on.

'How am I supposed to help you?' He asks, his voice unbearably calm and collected.

'I don't know! Any way you can. I'm short of options here, it's not like I can be fussy about what you choose to help with and what you don't.'

'Why should I help you?' He asks after a moment's pause, and I shrug helplessly, losing my patience.

'I don't know. There's no reason you should. But you did last night, and there's no harm in asking if you will again.'

'That's your logic anyway.' He snorts. I try to suppress the rage and impatience welling up inside me. I try, but I fail.

'Look, don't fuck me around, okay?' I spit, my words somewhat more venomous than I intended them to be. Malachy widens his eyes in shock, his mouth falling open. 'What, is Lucrezia listening?' I raise an eyebrow. 'Is that why you're being an arrogant bastard? Will you help me or not? Yes or no?' I snarl.

Malachy's head jerks as if he's been slapped at my mention of Lucrezia, and I suddenly realise the very dangerous position I've put myself in. How easy it is in Malachy's presence to forget the status he holds above me – above all of us.

'Yes.' His unexpected response silences me and I stare at him, trying to keep my breathing under control.

'Yes what?' I frown, folding my arms.

'Yes, I will help you,' He repeats. 'On one condition.'

'Anything.' I sigh with relief.

'Don't ask me why I'm helping you.'

A hard lump lodges in my throat as I remember my resemblance to Aleks Anzhela, but I push the thought out of my mind. I have no proof that it's the reason Malachy is helping except Tia's speculation, and that's not particularly good authority given Tia's penchant for playground gossip.

'Deal.' I nod.

'How much time do you have?' He asks, glancing at the clock on the wall.

''Til eight tonight.'

'Right. That's not much. I'm assuming you need help getting into the West wing?' He raises an eyebrow and I nod. 'Well, usually I would suggest a strategic plan, but given the short time scale, risks will have to be taken.'

'The risk is far worse if I don't speak to Katy Branch and succeed in this.' I reply gravely.

'Then the only option we have is for me to accompany you and distract the guard.'

'Don't you think it will look a bit suspect, you and I wandering down the corridors hand in hand?' I snort sarcastically.

'Well, we don't have to hold hands if you don't want to,' He smirks. I try to ignore the hot, prickly sensation on the nape of my neck. 'Obviously, we won't walk there together. I'll tell you where it is and I'll precede you. I'll tell the guard I've been asked to escort Katy somewhere. Instead, I'll stand watch outside the door while you talk to her.'

'What if the guard stays?'

'He won't. They relish the opportunity to leave their post; if Katy isn't in the room, they don't need to guard it.'

'Sounds like a plan.' I nod, breathing a sigh of almost relief.