Archenemies (Renegades #2)(101)

She approached the door and peered out. The double doors across the landing were cracked open, blue light spilling out along with the sound of the evening news.

She frowned. She had only heard one of them go downstairs, so the other was still in there.

Options: wait for them both to fall asleep, then slip in to search the room. Or create a diversion to lure them out.

The first option seemed the least risky.

She would wait. And if Adrian woke up in the meantime, well, she would just put him to sleep again.

She had all night.

When she was sure the coast was clear, she slid into the hallway and scurried back down the stairs, keeping close to the wall where there was less chance of making the old nails squeal beneath her feet. She reached the foyer and was rounding the column when she heard whistling again.

It was coming from the hallway. She would have to walk right by it to get back to the basement.

Flinching, she turned the other way and darted through the door into the dining room, closing it quietly behind her. Pulse thrumming, she took in the room with its fancy wood paneling and glittering chandelier and the scattered piles of junk mail. She considered diving under the table, but that would appear far too suspicious if she was caught. Instead, she slipped the file beneath a particularly chaotic stack of mail and rushed into the kitchen, where the dishwasher was running and the smell of garlic hung heavy in the air.

She could no longer hear the whistling.

She held her breath.

Then the door to the dining room opened, and the whistling started up again.

Cursing, Nova ran for the best hiding place she saw—the closet that Simon had said would be turned into a pantry someday.

She ripped it open. Her feet halted. She reeled back in surprise.

A wooden rod across the top might normally have held coats and jackets, but she found herself staring, unbelievably, at the Dread Warden’s black cape and Captain Chromium’s shiny blue bodysuit. Both were tucked into plastic bags with dry cleaner tags dangling from the hangers. Lumped together on the floor beneath them were six sets of Renegade-issued boots, and a utility belt, not unlike Nova’s own, hung from a peg on the back of the door.

Her jaw fell.

There it was.

The Vitality Charm, hanging around the neck of the Dread Warden costume, glinting in the kitchen’s light.

What was it doing in a broom closet?

Swallowing hard, she reached in and unhooked the chain from the hanger. It was heavier than she expected, roughly the size of a silver dollar, with the hand and serpent engraved into its dark surface.

She almost laughed. She couldn’t believe she had found it—actually found it, actually succeeded.

She clasped it behind her neck and tucked the medallion beneath the collar of her shirt. The iron was warm against her skin.

The kitchen door opened and Nova spun around.

Simon Westwood yelped in surprise and, ever so briefly, flickered invisible. Then he was back, clutching his chest.

“I’m sorry,” Nova sputtered. “I was … um. Looking for … a snack! I just remembered that the pantry was”—she pointed toward the dining room door—“that way, right? At the end of the hall. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

Simon waved her apologies away. “No, no, it’s fine. It’s a big house. Easy to get confused.” Having recovered from his surprise, he meandered to a tall cupboard and pulled it open. “We keep most of the snack foods in here. Where’s Adrian?”

“He fell asleep,” she said, shrugging sheepishly. “He seemed so tired at dinner. I didn’t want to wake him.”

“Ah.” He gestured at the open cupboard, stocked with a variety of cookies and chips. “Well, take whatever you want.”

“Thanks.”

Simon grabbed a candy bar for himself, which surprised Nova. She wouldn’t have pictured Simon Westwood as having a sweet tooth. Shaking herself into movement, she shut the closet door and went to peruse the snacks.

Simon was halfway back to the door when he glanced back at Nova. “I know I probably shouldn’t say anything, but … you know, you’re the first girl Adrian’s ever brought home to meet us.”

She flushed. “Actually, I came here to see him, so … I’m not sure we can count it as him bringing me home.”

With a chuckle, Simon nodded, his wavy hair tumbling over his forehead. “Fair enough. Though … I think he would have eventually.”

Her blush deepened, which she hated. Were all parents so awkward?

The thought brought a twinge of pain to her chest. She would never know what it was like to be embarrassed by her father, and she would never invite a boy over to meet Uncle Ace.

“Good night, Nova,” said Simon, walking out of the kitchen.

Her shoulders fell, releasing the built-up tension, and she cast her gaze toward the ceiling in relief.

Deciding to come back for the hidden folder before she left, Nova headed back downstairs.

Adrian was still sound asleep. She took a moment to inspect his face, telling herself she wanted to make sure he was still in deep. The planes of his cheeks, the cut of his jaw, the lips that were no longer such a mystery, yet were more enticing than ever.

“I’m so sorry you had to be the enemy,” she whispered.

Then she crept back into the mural room. There was one last thing she needed from this house.