Chapter 5

MONDAY

The sound of what could best be described as someone screaming at the top of their lungs while throwing rocks at a metal cage containing dying animals jarred Adeline awake. At five a.m.

"Stupid Sebastian!" she growled, fumbling around on the nightstand for the source of the sound--her phone. He'd switched her ringtone again. No matter how many times she changed the password or how long it was, he somehow always figured it out.

Not that Adeline never did anything in return (like painstakingly swapping every face in the photos on his phone with her own.)

Answering the call to make the ear torture stop, she snapped, "What?"

A moment of stunned silence.

"Uh, it's Will," he ventured. "Just calling to keep you updated on some things.”

"Yeah, sorry. Sebastian did it again." She hurled an innocent plush bunny into a corner, eyes glaring holes into the ceiling. "Is that why you called instead of him? And that better not be laughing I hear."

"No, no, I just had something in my throat, and I called instead because there was something I wanted to tell you personally," he explained hurriedly. "Anyway, we've got the meeting with Tri-Shadows scheduled for Friday, close to midnight, in an old cabin by the waterfront."

"You're going to scope the place out beforehand, right?" Adeline asked as she slowly crawled out from under the covers.

"Yes, though I doubt they'll try any funny stuff."

Adeline agreed. "I'll be by the compound after school to go through the reports and order requests."

"Tommy saw something last night on his rounds that he thought you'd be interested in."

"He was in the west side of the city, right?" she asked, trying to figure out what it could be. His group's main objective had been to drop off a small amount of ammunition to one of the gangs and then after that, the usual--observe and collect.

"Ryker Hapsburg paid the Craybons a visit for dinner," Will said. "Wouldn't be surprised if he's matching up with one."

Adeline grunted as she trudged to the bathroom. She wouldn't be surprised. "I guess we'll see. Tell Tommy to keep an eye on him."

"It'll be all over the news when it happens," he said lazily.

"I expect to know it first, just like always." She glowered at the tangled mass of auburn hair in the mirror, willingly the strands unsuccessfully to straighten.

"Got it. Have a good day at school!" Then he hung up, leaving Adeline to get ready.

Roughly an hour later, she was sweeping out the front door, backpack slung over one shoulder and a parfait in hand. She tossed the backpack into the rear seat of Jacob's car and slid into the front.

"Don't worry about picking me up; one of my friends is giving me a ride," she said as they started driving.

Jacob nodded, eyes on the road.

About ten minutes into the ride, Adeline put her headphones on, deciding Jacob wasn't going to talk. His eyes had remained glued to the road, jaw clenching and fingers tight around the steering wheel.

He's really concerned about the company.

The depressing piano piece playing did nothing to improve her mood, so she switched to a more upbeat song. She forced herself to quote the empty lyrics in her head to prevent thinking about anything. Yes, she needed to work on her plan, but she felt overwhelmed like she was stuck in a maze of seemingly unconnected walls that converged to imprison her.

What do the Craybons want the most? What did we have that they didn't? They care so much about their image...and image is everything. Lose face, you lose popularity, thus money and respect...it’s all downhill from there.

Adeline knew from experience just how rapidly that could happen.

Who's always in the news? Adeline answered her own question. Celebrities.

The car stopped at a red light, and Adeline studied the billboards and screens that covered almost every square inch of the city. Serena was on a massive screen, wearing clothes from some store called Your Touch. Ava graced another one with two other models.

It's been three years since I was on one of those. Not that she didn't get offers, but they were few and far between. Ava would lose it if I started modeling and doing piano concerts again.

So, of course, Adeline would have to work that into her plan. Image was everything, but it did you no good if nobody saw you.

She arrived at school a few minutes later. Jacob pulled up to the front entrance.

"Have a good day," he said, giving her a smile.

He and Will are so alike...

"Always do." She stepped out, collected her backpack, and started up the steps, turning to wave goodbye.

"Addy!" Jessica called as she waved, perched on a railing. Naomi stood beside her.

A couple of the other kids hanging around called out greetings as well, which Adeline returned.

"Want to go somewhere after school?" Jessica asked as they entered the building.

"I'd love to, but I've already got plans," Adeline said.

"Okay, cool!" She only looked a little disappointed. "Mi Mi, you and I can still go somewhere."

Naomi cringed. "Do not call me that--it makes me sound like your grandmother."

"Yeah, but..."

"Yes, we can go roam aimlessly around the mall," Naomi interrupted. "But tomorrow, I'm going to be working on a paper."

"It's not due for another..." Jessica trailed off. "Why are they whispering and looking at us?" she hissed.

Adeline didn't even look as she opened her locker. "Who cares? They're always doing that, anyway."

Ava never went anywhere without her posse of the most insecure beautiful girls, who would roam the halls acting like every other group of fakes. It used to bother Adeline, but not anymore. Popularity was a fickle thing, and not something she deemed worth fighting to keep anymore.

"Yeah, but don't you wonder sometimes?" Jessica's voice was muffled due to the fact that half of her body--somehow--had disappeared into her locker.

"No." Not really. If it's important, I know it.

"Here." Naomi tossed a pen from her purse into the locker to shorten Jessica’s daily routine of rummaging for her pen.

"Ow!" Jessica popped out, rubbing her head, pen in hand. "But I found it!"

Naomi rolled her eyes. "And here I thought I was the idiot of the group."

Adeline wasn't listening to them anymore, but the voice coming from Ava’s phone.

"To the general public, it appeared Adeline Killingsworth couldn't withstand the pressures of fame. Or perhaps she thought she could control her addiction."

It took everything in her to not slam her locker shut. As of Thursday, nobody had even watched the documentary, for the obvious reason that it played during school hours. Friday, people had started whispering when she passed them in the hallways. It was just some stupid documentary about something very real that had happened to her that, if she had been poor and nameless, no one would have thought twice about. And the fact that Ava stood there, casting sympathetic looks her direction ... that was what irritated her.

"Come on," Naomi said softly, taking Adeline by the arm and leading her away.

"Ava should be careful how she plays her games," Jessica remarked, tucking Naomi's pen behind her ear. "Drawing too much attention to your involvement in scandals could result in the opposite of what she wants."

"What are you talking about?" Naomi shot her an annoyed glare.

"She clearly wants to humiliate Addy." Jessica's eyebrows pulled together as she frowned, peeking in the pockets of her jacket and then her skirt. "But it will just make the others view her almost as an idol--she's famous, involved in scandals, in a TV series or whatever ... people are talking about her, so she's relevant." Now she was rummaging around in her bag, scowling.

"It's behind your ear," Adeline said.

"Ah, thanks." Jessica removed the pen, sticking her tongue out at Naomi, who made a face in return. "But seriously, guys, if you think about it, it makes sense."

“Yeah, it does.” Adeline chewed her lip. “See you guys in math!"

Jessica and Naomi hurried to their homeroom, and Adeline entered hers, deep in thought, voices echoing in her head.

People are talking about her, so she's relevant.

They asked me several times to do interviews, but I said no. I don't want to dig up old demons.

She blinked rapidly, realization coming over her in a wave.

***

Adeline entered the main warehouse. Any other day, she’d stop to chat with the various people coming and going or unpacking crates, but there wasn’t time. She took the spiraling stairs leading to the catwalk two at a time, nimbly weaving around the people and boxes stored there. She reached the office at the far end.

“The order requests and monthly reports are in the usual spot,” Will said from his spot behind the desk.

“I’ll look at those in a moment.” Adeline sat down in a chair opposite him. “Where’s Sebastian?”

“He’ll be here in a moment.”

“Someone call for an insanely hot superhero?” Sebastian appeared almost instantly, back against one side of the doorframe, a foot planted on the other and a hand in his hair.

“Yeah, but I don’t see him,” she said, frowning.

He made a face and sauntered over. “What do you know about hot anyway?”

“Enough to know it’s not you.”

“Shh! You’re but a child,” he said in a lilting Irish accent, adjusting his shirt. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

Despite her best attempts not to, she started laughing, and Sebastian sat down with a smug smile.

“So what do you want to talk with us about?” Will asked.

“I’ve been thinking…” Adeline began.

“So, I’m going to stop you right there.” Sebastian leaned over, placing a finger on her lips to silence her. “Mainly because I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“Seriously?” She jerked away, rubbing her mouth.

“But also, this is a scientific phenomenon,” he continued, smirking.

“Shut up!” She pushed him away. “I’m trying to be serious.”

The grin vanished. “Sorry, I’m listening.”

Adeline took a moment to collect her thoughts, searching for the right words. “I’ve been developing a plan to … deal with the Craybons.”

Sebastian scowled, muttering, “And here I thought you were going to confess your love for me.”

But it didn’t elicit even so much as a grin from Adeline.

“I don’t have all the details worked out, but here’s what I’ve got. The Craybons always have to be in the spotlight, have to always be in control, and they’ll do anything to stay on top.” Adeline paused, fingers wrapping around the armrests. “They’re manipulative and ruthless.”

Sebastian watched her with hooded eyes, mouth pressed in a straight line.

“You can’t just pull off what they did to my family so seamlessly without extreme planning. And they did it almost so perfectly … I can’t help but feel like we weren’t the only ones they did this to.”

Neither Will nor Sebastian moved.

“Ever since I found out what they were capable of …” She covered her face with her hands and exhaled. “They have to be involved in more! I want someone to dig into their past and find the other people they’ve done these things to.”

“We can do that, but what exactly is that going to accomplish?” Will asked.

“Evidence, possible allies.” Adeline leaned forward.

“If--when--you find the corruptions buried there, what are you going to do with it? Use it for blackmail? Release it to the media?” That was Sebastian.

“Not blackmail,” she said, lip curling in disgust. “They deserve a whole lot more than that.”

Will grunted agreement.

“Now this part might be a little unwise of me, but just using the Alternate Demons to take them down won’t work.”

“We’re a powerful network with fingers in everybody else’s pies,” Will argued. “How could we not be enough?”

“The Craybons are good at putting on an act, and they could do it forever. And ever since they ‘took us down’, they’ve become even more convinced that they’re invincible. Alternate Demons working behind the scenes might eventually come up with something they haven’t covered, but if the Killingsworths were to start challenging them …” Adeline lowered her voice. “They won’t let that pass; they’ll do something to remove us from the picture altogether.”

Staring, Sebastian scooted to the edge of his chair.

“I’m all for justice being served, but not if it means you’ll be in danger!” he protested.

“When has that ever been a problem? I’ve been delivering, collecting, and observing in this city since I was fourteen, arranging deals and forming alliances! Danger doesn’t scare me.” More calmly, she continued, “Besides, there’s going to be danger involved no matter how we decide to do it. I’m sure the Craybons have their own group of thugs running around and doing their dirty work.”

“Phh! I’m not a thug, Adeline!” Sebastian faked offense.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been a media sensation,” Adeline said, pointedly ignoring him. “But now seems like a good time. People are talking--not just about our products--but actually about us. In fact, today’s episode of the documentary was about me.”

“You must be flattered,” Will said.

“I actually haven’t seen it yet. Or any of it, for that matter. But if the Craybons gave interviews, why shouldn’t I? Work it to my advantage, maybe accept some of those contracts I still get offered every now and again.”

“But what are you going to tell Jacob?”

Adeline’s eyes flitted away. “That I want to the interview to tell my side of the story. It’s something I have to do. If he tries to stop me, I’ll have to tell him I’m eighteen—I don’t answer to him anymore.”

Will nodded thoughtfully, brushing his hair over to one side with his fingers. “Good luck.”

Adeline sat for a moment longer before standing. She picked up the two thick manila folders lying on the desk, and Sebastian stood as well.

“We’ve got your back,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Well, please give it back--I need that thing!” She grinned.

Sebastian’s forehead dropped onto her shoulder. Sounding like he was in pain, he gasped, “You really aren’t good at this. Please don’t.”

“Shut up, jerk!” She whirled around and hit him playfully with the folders.

In return, he flicked her ear as a wicked grin spread over his face. “C’mon, you know that you love me.”

Adeline’s eyes widened in horror as she backed away towards the door. “Dude, why are you obsessed with me?”

He rolled his eyes. “As if.”

“Look, I may not be as famous as I once was, but I still get marriage proposals from random people. So…”

Sebastian sighed. “Still in the little leagues, I see.” He waved her off. “Well, go ride your tricycle and paint with fingers paints or whatever you kids are doing these days.”

She yawned and walked away, shaking her head.