THE RING ACADEMY: The Disappearance, Part 2
The saga continues . . .
II. Crumbling Walls
“What are you doing?” Imogene asked him, and noted her acerbic tone. She turned, rolled her eyes and started down the hallway; she didn’t want Malcolm to think he had any effect on her.
“Waiting. Obviously.” Malcolm’s boots against the shiny black floors stamped behind her.
“Why? To gloat?”
“Actually, no. Why would you think that?”
Imogene stopped and Malcolm walked into her back.
He stepped away.
“Are you kidding me? You’ve been pissed about my lead on the board for the last three years, Kade.”
“Not angry, Sol. Just driven.”
“Are you saying it wasn’t you who said something to the Sirkuhl?”
His dark eyebrows bunched together. “And add my name to his suspect list at the same time? Have I done something to make you think I’m stupid? No.”
She crossed her arms.
He moved closer and she held her ground even if her first impulse was to step back. The instinct wasn’t because she was intimidated but instead because she saw weakness in her attraction to him. “But, now that we’re discussing it; why did you miss Morning Protocol?”
Imogene resumed walking down the hall away from him. “Not that it’s any of your business. I already told Glyn. You were there.”
He fell into step next to her. “You weren’t feeling well.”
“Why are you following me?”
“I’m beside you.”
Sol rolled her eyes.
“The truth?” He asked.
“No, dip shit. I want your lies.”
He smiled and glanced down. “Can we go somewhere? To talk?”
The way he said it, as if to clarify his intentions, heated her skin and rushed from the back of her neck down her spine. Imogene chastised herself, keeping her game face steady. “Are you for real? The first trial is tomorrow, and you think I want to fraternize with the enemy.”
He took hold of her arm to stop her and forced her to face him. “I’m not your enemy, Imogene.”
She struggled to look at his handsome face and remained gazing down the hall jaw clenched. “You’re just trying to throw me off. So you can win.” Then she looked at him with a challenge to deny it.
His jaw tensed, the muscles working under his skin highlighting his masculinity. “Actually, this has nothing to do with the trials, because beyond your ken, not everyone worries only about winning.” His honey eyes searched her face, and she noticed the streaks of copper and green in the irises. She had to look away because she liked his eyes moving over her face and thought about his hands. He added. “This is about two missing students - both in your section. Both of which you were the last person to see.”
The cold truth of his statement pressed down on her shoulders until she couldn’t hold herself up anymore. She took several steps back until she was able to lean against the wall. Unable to look at Malcolm, the bluster and insulation of the competition crumbled along with the wall it created and then crushed her with the truth of her two missing cadets. First Jorgie and now Gayleen only a few days later. Both last seen after evening scrub when they stepped into their respective dorm rooms. Then gone. Both junior cadets under her charge, she’d been the last person seen with both before lights out. She swallowed to fight the tears. She wouldn’t cry. Not in front of Malcolm Kade.
“I want to help.” The tone of his voice drew her eyes back to his. The depth of his look mixed with the calm tone of his voice coaxed her to drop her guard. He matched her stance, leaning against the opposite wall of the hallway.
Could she trust him?
She didn’t. Not really. But then ran through the memories in her mind for the reason that was so and couldn’t find any specific reasons. Reality was, both of them were competitors. Perhaps he was a bit arrogant but he had reason. He was smart, physical and capable. Was her aversion only because they were competing for the top spot, prime placement in the Federation with the honors of top of the class? With the shadow of her traitorous parents and now Glyn’s threat, she couldn’t lose the trials. She needed to keep sharp.
“This isn’t about the trials,” he said as if reading her mind. He watched her, measured her and Imogene was unnerved by it. He added, “You’ve always been an open book, Sol.”
“Kade-” she started.
“Call me Malcolm,” he interrupted.
“Kade,” she repeated for spite and he shook his head with a smile that communicated he knew what she was all about. She didn’t like that. She didn’t want anyone to know her. To be seen that clearly was to be weak and vulnerable. “Forgive me for trying to keep my place. It’s harder for me.”
“Because of your parents?”
“How did you-”
“I know a lot about you,” he said.
Her heart froze up in her chest and then melted into her stomach. She had to look away from his knowing gaze so aware of him as a man instead of as her competition. Was she so predictable? Maybe that’s what he wanted since all of the other ways to best her hadn’t worked. But that physical trial was looming and that could be a big problem. Malcolm was stronger.
“Look.” He glanced to his left and right. “I just didn’t want to talk out in the open. I’m not sure it’s safe. You have my word this isn’t about the trials.”
Doubt nagged her mind about trusting him, but there was also the wisdom of keeping one’s enemies closer working its way through her thoughts. “I’ve got stable clean up duty this week - today - after noon courses. Before training. You can meet me there.”
Malcolm pushed away from the wall and nodded. Then without another word, he walked away.
Imogene watched him go admiring his form is his dark gray uniform. She shook her head of the errant thoughts and looked down at her own boots. While Malcolm was a formidable adversary, she couldn’t remember a time he’d ever done something to prove he wasn’t trustworthy. Competing with Malcolm was all she knew, all she allowed. There was too much at stake. When your father was a traitor of the Federation sentenced to death and that sentence meted out compounded by your mother being killed in a rebellion battle on Space Station 452 during the Dark War, you had a lot to prove. Reflecting on it, she’d been the one to build the wall, with Malcolm, with everyone. Now, though, with two missing cadets and her the last to see them, she could probably use all the allies she could get.
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