Whispers of the Diamond: A Romance of Memory and Desire

Chapter 37 - Alex

Forty-eight hours is a very short span of time when the fate of the world hangs in the balance. But on cue, Alice called Frost, and he looked even less happy than he had two days ago.

"You return the files, and we can talk," he bit out angrily. "And the traitor."

"My group is offered a pardon; they can return to their lives unhindered and without question," Alice replied. Something in her tone told me she wasn't messing around. Rebbi had the computer ready, and any second now, every dirty secret would be revealed to anyone with an internet connection.

"FINE!" Frost snapped. There was something in those files he didn't want in our hands, though I suspected that by now, Alice and Abigail had a good grasp on what was in there.

Alice turned her back once again, and anger flashed through Frost's eyes as he glared, likely at me. His choice to spare me was now coming back to haunt him. It had been his order to execute me that Dr. Fleet had talked him out of.

"He had no aid, no resources, and he tracked them down. Imagine what he could do with ours." I'd always remembered Dr. Fleet's pitch; it hadn't taken much more than that for Frost to agree to stay my execution. I guessed right now he was seething at the fact that, after five decades, I'd grown tired and sided with love. Though I guess in his eyes I'd sided with the resistance.

"All of them Arthur," Again Frosts jaw clenched, the disrespect shown now by Alice was clearly grating upon him in this moment.

"I already agreed did I not?" He spat angrily in response. I swore I could hear the contempt in each word now.

"Good, because my group includes dear Alex here, and, well, we have this on recording. So, by your own standards and by your own rules, Alex is free, as is my group. I will have everything we have erased," she replied.

I swear Arthur Frost turned a shade of purple at being played so well by Alice. She turned to face him now. He was furious, and he had been played—a well-laid trap by Alice, and he'd walked right into it. He had never considered that I'd be part of the deal. To be honest, neither had I. Alice had kept her side of the promise, protecting both Terra and me, and that meant we could go back to our own lives.

"I'll delete the files as soon as you authorise the pardons," Alice stated firmly. Frost jabbed at his computer, and immediately the list Rebbi was looking at altered, with every member of the resistance removed. Alice nodded, and as promised, Rebbi wiped the data we'd stolen. Though if I had to guess, I'd be willing to bet a backup existed somewhere.

It was smart, and Frost likely knew this too. You don't give up that kind of power, and if I was being honest, I wouldn't have either. You never know when you'll need that leverage, so you keep the good bits and discard the rest. On the upside, I was now free—something I hadn't been in half a century. It was an odd feeling.

Moments later, Rebbi nodded. This was it.

"Now you stop the murders and the attacks. You stand your little resistance down," Frost snapped, trying to take some control.

"Of course," Alice replied. "The raid on London North was our final campaign. I can't promise the same for other cells—I have no control there—but this one, we will disband. We will move on. All I ask is that you leave us be and ease up on the general populace. It's a small concession to protect your secrets."

The screen went black as Frost cut off the transmission. Alice smiled, then rolled her shoulders before turning to face the group.

"You heard the man, go live your lives." And with that, she swept from the room. Terra and I looked at one another before she began giving her friends hugs, and then we left too. By the time we got back to the car, it was dark.

"Where will we go? Because I'm not living in that poky hole you call a flat," she chuckled softly, kissing my cheek. I opened the door to the car and she climbed in before I circled to the driver's side. I had credits, and in truth, we could go anywhere—but I had something far better in mind.

I wasn't sad to see London fall back in the mirrors. In fact, for the first time in as long as I could remember, I was glad I never had to worry about London again. I drove, and we drove for a few hours. Terra slept most of the way, finally able to rest without the government hunting her. I was almost home by the time she woke, and I don't mean the Yorkshire district, this time we'd have a life, grow old and enjoy the life that had been taken from us.

"Where are we" She groaned as she stirred, I didnt say anything for that except to say we were almost there. By the time we turned into the drive of that little house, she was already aware of where we were "Alex...how..."

"I kept it, all paid for, it's ours, from now until..."

"And forever," She replied with a soft smile.

We pulled into the drive, and I cut the engine. Climbing out of the car, I handed her the keys. She ran up to the door, unlocking it. The air was stale, but the house was exactly as I'd left it the night I went hunting those who had killed her. This was, in truth, the first time I'd been back since. I kept the house, using my leverage as a Hunter to ensure it remained untouched. Frost could be reasonable when required. I'd asked him to keep the house for me, so I could return once my sentence was up.