Haunt (Regenerate #5)

Chapter 10

The next morning, Mark walks into our meeting with his mask off.

Mikayla leans over to Vanessa and whispers, "I told you it was him."

Mark glances at them. Then he says, "I know all of your identities. And I ask a lot of you. It's not fair for me to keep mine a secret."

Loa walks in, a couple minutes late as always. He sees Mark and stares for a moment. Then he says, "Whoa. Did not see that coming."

At least one person is genuinely surprised by his reveal. Mark relates the events of the previous evening, giving the team all the details Jess shared with us.

"I've got a location on the telekinetic and one of the fliers," Mark says. "I think we should take them out today."

"You have a plan, I assume?" Lorna says.

Mark nods. "You, me, and Mia are going to take them."

"What about me?" I ask.

Mark looks at me, probably for the first time since walking into the room. "We don't need you."

He turns to the teenagers. "Besides, somebody apparently needs to supervise these three."

"Cool. So I'm on babysitting duty. For people who don't need to be babysat." I stand and stomp out of the room. Mark follows me out a minute later.

"You're benching me because you're mad that I knew your stupid identity!" I hiss.

"I am not," he says.

"I thought you were done lying to me," I say.

He sighs. "Fine. I didn't want to go on a mission just to have you glaring at me the whole time."

"And you thought this would lead to less glaring?" If I could drill into his skull with my gaze, I would.

"I usually leave at least one person behind," he says. "It was probably your turn, since I usually take you along."

"Well I hope you get punched in your stupid face." I go back into the conference room where Lorna and Mia are getting ready to join Mantis on his mission. Lorna gives me a sympathetic look, but I don't think she's interested in getting stuck in the middle of yet another of my spats with her brother.

As Lorna and Mia leave, Mikayla turns to me. "You're going with them, aren't you?"

"Definitely," I say. No chance am I going to let Mark tell me I can't go on a mission.

I leave the conference room again. Lorna and Mia are getting geared up. I storm past Mark and go down the garage.

And climb into the trunk of his car.

A few minutes later, the engine starts up. We drive for about twenty minutes until we reach our destination. I wait a few minutes before getting out of the trunk.

We're at a bar. Lorna is outside pretending to be a civilian. I'm sure Mark and Mia are around back, to be less conspicuous. I shift into a new face and walk into the bar.

I instantly recognize the House of Night members sitting in a corner booth. At least I stayed for that much of Mark's briefing meeting. I take a seat at the bar, watching for a few minutes until they get up to leave. They go out a back door. I go out a front door and walk around back.

Lorna is already around back by the time I get there, and I get there just in time to see her take off after the flier.

The telekinetic lifts Mia into the air and sends her flying in my direction. She hits a dumpster and lands with a thud in front of me. Mark lunges forward like he's going to Mia, but he freezes. The telekinetic has him in her grasp. I go to Mia's side. She's still breathing.

Still frozen, I see Mark's force field shield hum to life. Then he expands it so that it encases him, blocking off her mental ability and allowing him to move. I pull Mia behind the safety of a dumpster as he charges the telekinetic, knocking her out.

He glances over to where Mia landed, but a second later flinches. He reaches back and pulls something from his shoulder. It appears to be a small blade, and it's dripping with Mark's blood.

His suit is supposed to offer him protection against most blades. I shift again, this time taking on Mia's appearance, and step out from my hiding spot.

"I don't believe we're acquainted," drawls the man who threw his blade at Mark.

"I'm not sure I care to be," Mark mutters.

"Well I don't suppose we can escape the acquaintance now," the man says. "Unless you're eager to die."

"No thanks," Mark says.

The man shrugs. "I suppose I'll wait to kill you."

"No thanks," Mark says. And he lunges towards the man.