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It hurts to realize that Noah has lost sight of his integrity, but I have to try to open his eyes. Can’t he see where this will lead?
“I don’t know if Mr. Cunningham really did what you’re accusing him of,” I begin. “All I can say is that I’ve only ever found him to be an upright and helpful human being. Has it occurred to you that maybe the Fabricis just told you a bunch of lies about him in order to use you against him? You know they hate Mr. Cunningham. Don’t let them turn you into their weapon.”
A smile appears on his face, which gives me the creeps. “Tess, it doesn’t matter what you say; it won’t change my mind. I won’t stop at anything … and I’m past the point of no return.”
“There’s always a way back.” I know he’s cut ties with his family, turned against the Noctu, and gone behind their backs. But that doesn’t mean he has to continue down this road. He can still choose to do the right thing.
“No, not this time.”
“Because the Fabricis have dirt on you? Noah, whatever they try to do to you, I’m on your side. I’ll help you, and Ayden won’t …”
“No, Tess,” he interrupts. “Nobody has anything on me. I’m convinced that I’m doing the right thing, even if you can’t understand it.”
I feel the rage slowly bubble up inside me. How can he be so stubborn? Why is he so set on this madness?
“You know what Alfredo did to me. I could have spent the rest of my life in that room. Do you realize that? A person doesn’t need food in there, or water –eventually I would have died of old age and probably gone insane way before that. He chose the worst imaginable punishment for me. And you still want to work with him and his family?” I’m dumbfounded.
“Sometimes you have to walk a dark path to achieve your aims.”
“What kind of cryptic bullshit is that! You’re just trying to convince yourself that you’re doing the right thing. And I can even understand your rage. But you’ve never exchanged a word with Mr. Cunningham. You won’t even give him a chance to explain himself. Instead, you join forces with these basket cases, who have shown time and time again the level of cruelty that they’re capable of.” I move a few steps closer and reach out. I touch his arm and look him straight in the eye. “Please reconsider. Come with me! Please!”
I see his eyes flicker and his mouth twitch. He’s wrestling with himself. I keeping holding his gaze, refuse to look away, and see a change taking place in him. He reaches out. His fingers close over mine. I feel his warmth, the familiarity between us. His eyes look warm as they rest on me, and the hardness disappears from them. His fingers tighten around mine – and pry them off his arm. He takes a few steps back.
“Tess, I think we’ve said all there is to say. Believe me, I can’t even describe how happy I am that you’re okay. But none of this changes anything. Go back to school and try to get on with your life.”
I stare at him, speechless, searching for some sign, something to give me hope. A flicker of doubt that shows it’s still worth fighting for him. But there’s nothing. Nothing at all.
So I nod. There really is nothing left to say, and it’s the worst feeling.
Chapter 30
Ican’t get Noah’s words out of my head. Have I finally lost him? He’s chosen the side of the Fabricis; that alone is horrifying. How did it come to this? How could we become so estranged? Why can’t a single word of sense get through to him anymore? It’s as if the Fabricis have brainwashed him. Maybe it’s just shock. He learned some awful things about the people he always believed were his parents.
“Miss Franklin.” The voice snaps me out of my reverie. I look up in surprise and see Mr. Cunningham walking toward me. “I was just on my way to see you. I have some time now and was wondering if we should use it for your first practice session?”
I was actually on my way to the library to do homework, but I can postpone that.
“Sure, I’d love to, thanks. I’ll just quickly stop by my room first.”
He nods contentedly. “I’ll wait for you in room 165.”
I nod and give him a friendly smile. I never expected him to follow up on his offer so soon. But I’m glad, and I’m excited to find out what he has in store for me.
I quickly slip into some suitable training clothes and make my way to room 165 with Yoru. I’m surprised to find that it’s not one of the training halls. It’s on the second floor at the end of a corridor.
When I enter, Mr. Cunningham is sitting at a table in the center of the room. The room itself is kind of dreary. An old sofa stands against one wall with a large set of shelves beside it, in which all kinds of books and teaching materials seem to be gathering dust.
“Have a seat.”
I struggle to disguise my surprise. I guess we’re not going to spar in such a small room.
He notices my confused expression and smiles in amusement. “I’m not sure what the Fabricis’ training sessions were like, but judging by your outfit, I assume they involved physical exertion. Well,” he folds his hands, “I have something else in mind.”
Now I’m really confused. I sink into the chair opposite him. Mr. Cunningham looks at me benevolently, and I relax a little. He opens a folder and takes out a few pictures, which he spreads out in front of me. They’re photographs of paintings and copperplate etchings, all depicting the three goddesses Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. They’re holding a long thread in their hands, and Atropos has a knife in one hand, ready to cut it. The pictures are all by different artists and from different eras. Humanity was preoccupied with the myths surrounding these three figures for a very long time, and they concern us key carriers to this day.
“The goddesses often appeared in art. In literature, there are countless stories about them, poems, books. The attitudes expressed in them are extremely varied. Some implore the goddesses to treat humans with compassion, others denounce them, and some describe them as righteous beings. I’m of the opinion that there can be goodness in them too.”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. I didn’t expect a comment like that from him. Although, when I think about the fact that his granddaughter is a budding goddess, I suppose it makes sense. He has to believe that she has a chance of preserving her own essence. Otherwise, the situation would probably be unbearable for him.
