04-28-2019, 08:14 PM
The irreverence of Axel’s humour was something she might have appreciated under different circumstances. Her lips titled into a grim smirk, though she said nothing in return. Laurie stood to meet them, novelty glass twirling in hand, and yet the warmth of her presence was like a familiar pillar of strength. Natalie had never liked journalists, but despite that unswaying prejudice, in the grit and ash of a battlefield Lawrence was one such person she would choose to have at her side; a strange feeling, and rooted in nothing more tangible than their shared experiences in Africa, but no less true. It was not a faith that soothed her fears, but one that at least assured a clawed step in the right direction.
The concern did not pull much from her still expression, though inwardly a note of surprise rippled at the touch and the words. She could not afford to lean on the kindness, nor let it erode the illusion of strength keeping her upright. Nothing emanated from Laurie that suggested the same sisterhood she felt with Cayli, and yet something stirred all the same. She smirked like she would brush it off, but it was stark honestly that left emotionless from her lips, like that much was owed. “No.”
Natalie let Axel make his own introductions, disinclined to shadow past decisions with present ones. Expectation was a weight to crush the will to do better, and Laurie could certainly look after herself. Instead she sat at the table procured and retrieved her father’s file from her bag. She pulled out the first page to rest atop the manilla folder, but slid the whole thing across to Laurie once they were all seated.
“A little different from the official account.”
She’d deliberated over sharing the full story, but wanted Axel to wonder at the depth of her reach. Grimmer thoughts flickered, too; that if things went wrong, it was Laurie she wished to have the information to wield as a weapon. Black streaked the redacted details; clearly a copy of some classified file. Given how deeply Natalie suspected the conspiracy ultimately went, it was probably dangerous knowledge to possess -- and offered with a measure of trust but no bargaining strings. She was quiet a moment while she allowed the other woman time to scan enough of it to provide context.
She spoke low. There was not much more she could do to ensure privacy. “Jessika Thrice is hours away from announcing cessation, and Amengual was at the ball in Moscow. The two are in communication, according to Jensen James and Jessika’s head of security.” A gesture indicated Axel. “Jensen told me the governor received support from Orion for her campaign, and this afternoon Diaz came to collect Jay’s sister, insistent that she is still ill. But her Sickness was cured, Laurie. If Amengual gets his hands on her, she’s dead.”
Little changed in the stone of her expression, but her pause then spoke volumes. Her pale gaze caught Laurie’s, silent but for the skitter of old ghosts. She wondered if the woman ever dreamed of that jungle, or of the pounding of children’s footsteps, or the pop of each bullet. Kids who’d been the foundation of Natalie’s life for six months; innocent and eager for life’s bounty no matter their poorly dealt hand. Stolen short. Her jaw hardened, rejecting the memory of powerlessness.
“A few days ago Jay went to meet a cartel contact for information. He never came back. Axel suggests there are limited places capable of holding a channeler, and the means for subduing one are medical. He has to be with Orion. Right now Jensen is with Cayli, and he’ll keep us apprised of where they take her. But we can’t afford to wait for that, and we can’t afford to check all the possible locations they might be holding Jay. My bets are on your school.” She paused again. It was a lot to take in, and she’d barely focused on the bigger picture; one she was sure Laurie would see. Her voice softened. “Zacarías Amegual is dangerous, Laurie. I’m not asking you to put yourself on the line, or Xander. But I need a way in.”
The concern did not pull much from her still expression, though inwardly a note of surprise rippled at the touch and the words. She could not afford to lean on the kindness, nor let it erode the illusion of strength keeping her upright. Nothing emanated from Laurie that suggested the same sisterhood she felt with Cayli, and yet something stirred all the same. She smirked like she would brush it off, but it was stark honestly that left emotionless from her lips, like that much was owed. “No.”
Natalie let Axel make his own introductions, disinclined to shadow past decisions with present ones. Expectation was a weight to crush the will to do better, and Laurie could certainly look after herself. Instead she sat at the table procured and retrieved her father’s file from her bag. She pulled out the first page to rest atop the manilla folder, but slid the whole thing across to Laurie once they were all seated.
“A little different from the official account.”
She’d deliberated over sharing the full story, but wanted Axel to wonder at the depth of her reach. Grimmer thoughts flickered, too; that if things went wrong, it was Laurie she wished to have the information to wield as a weapon. Black streaked the redacted details; clearly a copy of some classified file. Given how deeply Natalie suspected the conspiracy ultimately went, it was probably dangerous knowledge to possess -- and offered with a measure of trust but no bargaining strings. She was quiet a moment while she allowed the other woman time to scan enough of it to provide context.
She spoke low. There was not much more she could do to ensure privacy. “Jessika Thrice is hours away from announcing cessation, and Amengual was at the ball in Moscow. The two are in communication, according to Jensen James and Jessika’s head of security.” A gesture indicated Axel. “Jensen told me the governor received support from Orion for her campaign, and this afternoon Diaz came to collect Jay’s sister, insistent that she is still ill. But her Sickness was cured, Laurie. If Amengual gets his hands on her, she’s dead.”
Little changed in the stone of her expression, but her pause then spoke volumes. Her pale gaze caught Laurie’s, silent but for the skitter of old ghosts. She wondered if the woman ever dreamed of that jungle, or of the pounding of children’s footsteps, or the pop of each bullet. Kids who’d been the foundation of Natalie’s life for six months; innocent and eager for life’s bounty no matter their poorly dealt hand. Stolen short. Her jaw hardened, rejecting the memory of powerlessness.
“A few days ago Jay went to meet a cartel contact for information. He never came back. Axel suggests there are limited places capable of holding a channeler, and the means for subduing one are medical. He has to be with Orion. Right now Jensen is with Cayli, and he’ll keep us apprised of where they take her. But we can’t afford to wait for that, and we can’t afford to check all the possible locations they might be holding Jay. My bets are on your school.” She paused again. It was a lot to take in, and she’d barely focused on the bigger picture; one she was sure Laurie would see. Her voice softened. “Zacarías Amegual is dangerous, Laurie. I’m not asking you to put yourself on the line, or Xander. But I need a way in.”