The following morning had everyone back around the TV in the games room. May focused on Chad and her dad, trying hard to work out what was different between the pair. Every time she breathed in her nose would wrinkle slightly, her eyes would close and she tried so hard to work out what Eli could sense that she couldn't. From what Josh had said, there were clearly others like them that were part of this organisation and May wanted to make sure she could tell who they were if she came across them.
"May is safe, from what we've found in conversations between this guy and his dad, they believe she is unaware. In fact, Tom is rather concerned about leaving May alone with her family now she knows the truth." Taylor told them, flicking her mane of red hair over her shoulder.
Right on cue, Braydon and Chad both growled; a savage sound that came from deep within.
"So it has all been a lie?" May asked, giving up on the scent thing for the time being. It didn't help her mother appeared with a coffee that seemed to take over every smell in the room.
"I'm sorry May. If it helps, in his own way I think he does like you." She answered before covering her mouth to yawn.
"Aunty Taylor, what about Caleb?" Nate asked, his figure hovering in the background. "Did they mention him?"
"I don't think-"
"Let's not talk about-" Jay said from somewhere off screen.
"What about him?" Instantly May was on the floor in front of the TV. She knew them all well enough to know when they were avoiding, lying or deflecting. "What did they say?"
Taylor disappeared and Bianca moved to take her place. Overnight, the bruises had yellowed and the swelling had disappeared. She was healing quickly, yet her large brown eyes were watery and bloodshot as she faced the camera. May's stomach sunk, and whatever she had to say wasn't going to be good.
"Nothing more than he is still alive." She spoke flatly, and as Nate called her out on lying, May wasn't sure she wanted to hear the truth.
"We deserve to know." Nate demanded.
"Nate, later." Taylor urged.
"Why? Why can't you tell us now!" He sounded tired, and May felt guilty for having been able to sleep.
"Enough Nate!" Bianca growled.
"It's okay, I can handle it." May assured her, yet the second her mother's hand held hers, May knew she was the one lying now. "Honestly. Tell us Bianca, please."
Bianca looked off camera, a murmur of voices barely audible coming next before Connor sat beside Bianca and Cody was seen half off the camera as he held his mate's hand. Looking away, Bianca stared down at her lap and Connor clearly his throat. Taylor stood behind him behind Nate who looked as though he was about to lose control completely.
"We learnt why Caleb was taken." He started slowly and May felt her heart beating hard and fast against her chest. "And it seems that Thomas marked him as a threat to his mission. With May."
"Me?" It barely came out as a squeak. "He was taken because of me?"
"No, he was taken because of Thomas." Chad growled.
"They were impressed with you last night, and his mother said removing Caleb from your circle of influence had worked in their favour. He told them you two had been fighting, so it occurred at the right time since May is kept in the dark about what we are, you weren't told the truth about what happened to impact your feelings on well, everything." Connor explained.
"How long until they work out she is lying?" Miranda asked, terrified at what that could mean for May.
"I guess that depends on how long May can keep faking it."
"May, it's up to you. We can get by without you still being involved." Bianca was giving her an out and May knew it.
"No, I'll keep going. I want to help. What next?" She told her, taking in a deep breath.
"If we could hack their phones, or at least Josh's that would be great. Whenever they take a call, there is some mild interference, so I think they have blockers in place to stop anyone listening in. We've already got some people scouting the place you went last night, but I don't think that would be their main meeting room." Connor told her.
"I'll do it, but what do I need to do?"
"If you can get his phone today, I'll have something waiting on Chad's desk to give me access in. You'll just need to connect the device to the usb."
"Easy." May nodded, glancing at the old wall clock her mother insisted on keeping around. "But, I'm going to be super late. Chad too."
"Good luck. Don't do anything to put yourself at risk okay?" Bianca urged.
"I won't." She promised and ran upstairs to do get ready. Surprisingly Eli followed her and hovering outside her door, it was obvious he had something to say. "What's up?"
"They took my cousin. She's human and completely innocent, yet she hasn't been released either. Sitting around here is hard, I want to help too."
"Have you asked Dad, or Bianca about it?"
"Yeah. She said it's best if we stay here, and I haven't really spoken to your Dad too much."
"Okay. I'll ask him before I go, but I'm not sure what you can do at the moment." May thought for a moment, thinking about Nate and how worked up he was. "Actually, there is something you could do for me?"
"Of course."
"Dad is bound to go to Bianca's today. Go with him and just, watch Nate. Talk to him, try and get him to not do anything stupid. I'm worried about him and can't lose them both." May grabbed her bag as Chad called her name from downstairs.
"Not sure what good that'll do, he doesn't know me and probably won't listen to anything I have to say."
"I know, but tell him I sent you. It might help?" She suggested.
"Okay."
May gave him a quick hug and ran down the stairs, finding her Dad she made him promise to take Eli with him if he went out. Then she rushed out to meet Chad in his car. His face was a mask of concentration and their usual chatter was non-existent as they headed towards the school. Then May thought of something, and turning to face him Chad groaned.
"What and why do I think I'm not going to like it?"
"If people like us are involved, do you think you could talk to Amber and some of the others about what's going on? Maybe they know someone who joined or disappeared, or maybe were even approached about joining?"
Chad thought about that for a minute. "That's actually a really good idea."
"What can I say, I have my moments of greatness."
"You've been having a lot of those lately." He teased. "Just, be careful with all of this May."
"I will." She promised.
They barely arrived in time for home room and morning announcements, though Chad couldn't have cared about them even if he tried. The group was dismissed once they did their check in and from there he went straight to the office where as promised, a small usb and cable sat on his desk.
"What's going on?" Principal Dwyer questioned as he noticed Chad sitting there.
"Nothing I can tell you about unfortunately." It was something Bianca had made very clear
