The Elgen's Lilith

Chapter 7

"Cecilia, we need to talk."

Cecilia December looked up from her clipboard. "Yes, sir?"

Dr. Hatch, looking sharp in his usual suit and tie, clapped her on the shoulder. She flinched. "I've been meaning to discuss this for a while, but you're always so busy. Would you please meet me in my office after you put Mara to bed tonight?" His words were kind, but the fire in his eyes suggested impatience. It was an order.

That night, after Mara was safe in bed, Cecilia hurried to the nearby building where Hatch's office was. She could hear faint cries from inside the labs. Pushing her ugly thoughts away, Cecilia walked up the stairs.

"Come in, please."

The office resembled the Oval Office, except with the Elgen's logo pasted everywhere. Hatch was sitting at his overly large desk. Files of their captives were stacked in alphabetical order.

"May I help you, sir?" Cecilia asked in a meek voice.

"I'm sure you know about the whereabouts of the Electroclan?"

She tightened her grip on the clipboard. "No, sir, not yet."

"Well, I've heard from a very reliable source that our very own Mara Lilith might be involved with them."

Cecilia's bones turned to ice. Hatch's eyes were engulfed in flame once more. "I was wondering if you'd known about this little development, Miss December."

"I did not, sir. Where did you hear about this?"

"One of our prisoners, of course." He slid a file to the front of his desk. Clint Barton.

Cecilia's hands began to shake. She tried to make it unnoticeable, but if Hatch had found out about the Electroclan, she knew Michael would not be pleased.

Of course Miss Cecilia knew about the girl's whereabouts during the late night hours. She pretended not to, but it was getting difficult to keep this from Hatch.

"I thought you were in charge of the investigation," Hatch growled. "Even though you're fairly new here, I've trusted you with one of the biggest projects my company can offer."

"I am, sir, but we've found little."

"Then maybe you could use him." He pointed to the file, at the bruised and bloody face of Clint. Cecilia felt her stomach lurch.

"No, thank you. I'm sure we'll pick up a trace of them in no time. Good afternoon." She pushed through the door and hurried back to the house.

As soon as she got there, Miss Cecilia slammed and locked the door, then went upstairs to check on Mara.

She was gone.

Just in time, she thought, silently thanking Peter.

*****

"Hi, Mara!"

The little girl opened her eyes to see Taylor, waving from the shelter. She smiled and waved back after letting go of me.

"Did Scott and Logan get accommodated for?" I asked Taylor as she gave Mara a hug.

She nodded. "Ostin pulled some strings and got them a hotel. It's pretty close to here, probably a fifteen minute drive." Then, she added in a lower voice, "they have separate rooms."

I was still a bit confused about my uncles' relationship. Deciding that I would find out after all this was over, Taylor, Mara, and I ducked inside the shelter just as a light rain began to fall.

"Hey, sport! Ready to train?" Jack scooped Mara into a hug. By now she was a mess of giggles. She, Jack, and Michael headed into the shed out back to start.

Everyone else and I sat down in the living room to play cards. Usually, we used this time to strategize, but tonight we were confident things were going well.

Suddenly, Taylor's phone began to ring. The number was unknown, and when she picked it up, the voice was just barely able to be heard. An odd silence draped over the room. Taylor went pale.

"What is it?" Ostin asked in a whisper.

"Hatch knows," she said. "We have to move fast."