Hunted

Seventeen: The Depths of his Evil

James slipped uneasily from the darkened Old School hallway, to the stairwell leading down to the warren of corridors constituting the New School. The silence of the sleeping school made him uncomfortable, but so did the idea of Iseult waiting for him, when any number of villains could be encroaching on her. He gently closed the heavy door that led to the top of the stairwell, wincing as the latch clicked loudly in the silence.

James frowned, inwardly cursing Iseult for being so willing to abandon common sense. He had always thought she was smarter than this, but obviously not. He had thought he was smarter than this too, yet he was seemingly throwing caution to the wind as well, as he crept down the stairs, ensuring that only Iseult was waiting on the staircase below.

"Twenty-seven minutes," she breathed when he finally appeared, his face set in a deliberate scowl. "I was beginning to think you weren't taking me seriously".

"How could I not take our own little warlord seriously?" he remarked coldly.

"I'm glad you're taking notes," she smiled. James clenched his jaw, irritated by her change of mood. The switching between her altered personality and her true personality was only confusing him.

"Is this really necessary, Iseult?" James asked as she began to skip down the steps, deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of corridors. "Surely there would be a better time? If we get caught..."

"Just trust me," she hissed, stopping and turning around to face him, trying to hold on to her patience. "Look James, I need you in this. I am more than willing to keep you involved, but for that to happen, I'm going to give you some advice. Every time you doubt me, or feel the urge to contradict me – don't!" James gritted his teeth, wanting more than ever to contradict her.

"I know you are finding it hard to trust me, but you can trust me. Right now, I need to know what Elmhirst is hiding, what he could have that would hurt us. I need to know what it is that you are trying so hard to keep from me. I could take your word for it, agree that it's just a bunker, ignore the uneasiness in your expression, your increased heart rate, your uneven breathing and you wide green eyes, but that's not how I am built. Whatever has you so worried down there, is just what I want to see. I see things differently than you do, so please, just trust me. I don't want to go back to detention, so chill out," she smiled, winking at him before turning and continuing to descend deeper and deeper into the bowels of the school.

James followed her sullenly, unable to find the same level of comfort that his accomplice seemed to have found.

"Well, I was wondering what was taking you guys so long". James glanced up and nearly broke his teeth as he clenched them together tightly.

"O'Connell," he sighed, barely able to conceal his irritation.

"Mr Alexander," O'Connell nodded, doffing an invisible hat. "How do you do?" Ian grinned with such delight that it took every ounce of strength James could muster, not to turn around and march back to his bedroom.

"Have you noticed anything?" Iseult asked, strolling up to Ian who was leaning casually against the door to the corridor that lead to the bunker.

"Nothing major," he shrugged. "There's no movement, or anything of the sort, but the door is locked. Perhaps the wonderful Head Boy could do us the honours?" he grinned again.

James clenched his fists and swept his hand across so the locks slid open, without looking at either Iseult or Ian.

"Hmmm, very nice Alexander – we might keep you," Ian grinned again, delighting in how his mere presence was irritating James so much.

"Drop it Ian," Iseult said, pushing the door open ever so slightly and scanning the room.

"I'm just having some fun," Ian sighed, nudging James as if they were friends.