CHAPTER ELEVEN

THIS HOUR IS MINE

The ruling body of the High Tower had a special meeting place inNew York City. (They had a special meeting place in every majorcity.) It was an unremarkable loft in midtown. The Unseen King andthe eight Nobles would meet at a table to discuss how they couldbetter protect themselves from a mad world.

I had been to this place once. I had gone there to die. Instead Iwatched Alexandra kill the man who had been threatening me. Now I wasgoing there for a second time, only as an observer. I had alreadydone what little I could do to affect events. Everything rested inAlexandra's hands.

All four of us -- Alexandra, Bradbury, Layla and me -- entered theloft after Bradbury unlocked the door. Layla looked at the large,sparsely furnished space and the iron pillars.

"This is it?" she asked.

"This is it," I said.

Alexandra looked at the table. Nobody was there. "Where are theNobles?" she asked.

"They're coming," Bradbury said. He placed his hands in hispockets and sauntered to the table. He sat on the table's edge andfaced Alexandra. "I thought we could talk first before you announcedyour decision."

"Then I will tell you my decision," she said through her maskedface. "I will take over the Tower. I will change its mission to oneof control rather than retreat."

Layla let out a long sigh. I tightened my jaw.

Bradbury just nodded. "I thought you would say that. In fact I'vesuspected that you've been heading toward this decision for sometime. You do know, of course, that there have been past attempts todo what you're doing."

"I know, Father. I've studied the history of the Tower. I willavoid the flaws of those previous attempts. My plan will work."

"I don't doubt it. No one does. But...are you ready for thatpower?"

"I am. I have already exerted that power."

"You mean, that little bit of theater at the Masquerade? Oh, Iknow about that."

"Of course you do. You have a spy."

"Do you know who it is?"

"I have not met whoever it is, therefore I can't use my talent onhim. But it's not important. What I did at the Masquerade is."

"So you helped a few fantasy buffs with their personaldifficulties. Are you ready to handle the problems of war andsickness and poverty?"

"My answer is the same as before."

Bradbury paused, then said, "What about Layla and Jacob?"

"I'm sorry?" I heard a tinge of confusion in Alexandra'svoice.

"What will you do with them?"

"They...will be under my protection, as always. Why do youask?"

"Actually I'm not the one to ask questions here."

The phone on the table rang. Bradbury reached behind him andpicked up the receiver.

"Yes?" He nodded. "Send her up."

He put down the receiver and turned back to Alexandra. "This isexcellent timing. The person you need is here."

"Who?"

"My spy."

The door to the loft opened. Alexandra turned. So did Layla. Sodid I.

I can honestly say that few things have hit me in the gut quitelike the appearance of Bradbury's spy. Nothing has hit me harder. Ifelt sick as I stared at the lovely middle-aged woman in the doorway,the woman whose face I had known since I was an infant, the spiritualmother who had replaced my biological one.

I stared at Diana Bennett and almost fell to the ground. The shockand last night's intoxication were too much for my legs. Layla had tosteady me. She didn't look too balanced herself.

Nor did Diana. She clearly did not expect to see me here. Shealmost turned around and ran.

"Come here, Miss Bennett," Bradbury said. His mild voice had theaffect of a shouted command through a bullhorn. Diana took a breath,then walked past me and toward the Unseen King. She forced herselfnot to look at me.

When she stopped in front of him she said in a strained voice,"You didn't tell me that they would be here."

"They have to be here. You know that."

I cried out, "Diana, what are you..."

Bradbury lifted a hand. "There will be time later for yourpersonal issues with Miss Bennett."

Once again I wanted to kill Bradbury. This time, however, the urgewas weak. I was weak.

"I made a mistake when I approached Jacob," Bradbury continued asif I weren't present. "I should have sought help from Miss Bennett.As it turned out, she was the one who approached me."

Spots danced in front of my eyes. I held on tighter to Layla asshe muttered, "Son-of-a-bitch..."

"She has been profiling you, Alexandra. She deduced on her ownthat you were planning to take over the Tower."

"How?" Alexandra asked. Her voice was cautious, but alsointrigued.

Bradbury looked at Diana. She cleared her throat and said, "It wasthe poem that clued me in. A story of two young women -- one whotricks her way into a ruler's affections, the other who stands by andwatches helplessly as it happened. There are...there are scholars whothink that the two characters represent a divided consciousness, amind caught between two different impulses."

"I see," Alexandra said, nodding. "You were unique at thatreading, then. I think the others just noticed the sexualcontent."

"Well...figuring out these things is how I make a living. In anycase I realized that you were plotting something against yourfather." She paused before adding, "Then there was Layla..."

"What about me?" Layla snapped.

Bradbury said, "Miss Mubarak, please..."

"Shut up. What the fuck have you been up to, Diana?"

Alexandra turned to her female lover. "Layla, just listen."

Layla closed her mouth, but her eyes burned. Alexandra looked atDiana and said, "Go on."

"I knew that...your initial reaction to Layla had been triggeredby something unique. I realized what it was after I heard the poem. Idid notice the sexual content. I realized that Jacob and Layla arealike in many ways, that you could fall in love with her as easily aswith him."

"But there is one important difference, besides the gender, ofcourse." Alexandra's voice was careful and measured. She could havebeen discussing stock options.

Diana said, "Based on what Joe told me about Layla...and what Iknew about her parents...I knew that Layla would support your coup. Iknew Jacob wouldn't, but he could no longer weigh you in hisdirection."

"He hasn't. I have decided to take over the Tower."

Diana was quiet for several moments, then said, "Don't do it,Alexandra."

"Why not?"

"Because you're a fifteen-year-old recluse."

Diana's answer brought quiet throughout the loft. It was such anobvious reason, but I had forgotten it. Layla had forgotten it. Welooked at Alexandra and saw a marvel, the woman we both loved. I hadopposed her decision because of my ethics. I couldn't accept anyonewith that much power.

Diana, on the other hand, simply opposed Alexandra.

The daughter of Edward Bradbury mused on this answer in that timeof quiet. Then she said, "I am not an ordinary fifteen-year-old."

"You are an extraordinary young woman," Diana conceded. "But youdon't know much about the world."

"I know all the secrets of the world. I can tell you what a manhas done in his life simply by..."

Diana moved quickly toward Alexandra -- so quickly that she almostpushed over Alexandra when she grabbed her by the shoulders. "Thoseare just facts," she declared in a near-shout. "That's where youbegin. But you haven't even started to understand the world." Dianagrasped her hood. "How can you?"

She lowered the hood to Alexandra's shoulder and removed herscarves. She didn't take them off gently and slowly as Vincent did.She quickly unwound them and dropped them to the floor. Alexandra didnothing to stop her. She seemed almost dazed by Diana'sconfrontational manner.

Diana looked right into Alexandra's red eyes and said, "You don'teven know yourself." She grasped her shoulders and spun her towardLayla and me.

She was a new Alexandra. She was the child Alexandra -- confusedby the truths she was hearing. She was an infant being taken to taskby an adult.

"These are the two people you love more than anyone else." Diana'svoice was even, but with an underlying thunder. "But what did you seejust two days ago? What vision did you receive?"

Alexandra's red eyes twitched between Layla and me. "Isaw...I..."

"You saw yourself helping Layla to kill Jacob. What did you dothen?"

Alexandra moved her lips, but no words passed them.

"You were so shocked that you tried to kill Layla."

"I...I was just confused..."

"And what happens when others confuse you the same way?"

"It won't happen again..."

Diana turned Alexandra back toward her. "Yes, it will. You knowwhy? Because everyone has those same hidden depths. Every person hasthe potential to do things they never thought themselves capable ofdoing. You can see what people have done. Sometimes you can see whatthey will do. But never what they might do."

Alexandra's head bent down a few inches. I realized that Layla wasnot trying to argue with Diana. She couldn't.

"I blame your father for this," Diana said.

Alexandra looked up at her. Bradbury made no reaction. He juststood there with his hands in his pockets.

"He didn't just hide you. He kept you locked in a bottle. Hetaught you nothing about other people -- only how to manipulatethem." She paused, then said, "But I shouldn't talk. I messed up withJacob."

My ears perked up. "You mean," Alexandra said, "you shouldn't haveleft him for three years."

"I mean that I taught him so many...things, so much about theworld. And then I assumed that he was independent enough to handlehimself. Physically, he can. Spiritually, no." She looked overAlexandra's shoulder at me. "You were extraordinary children raisedin extraordinary places, but still children."

Diana and I stared at each other for a long time. Then she lookedat Alexandra. "You think you're ready for this task. You're not. Idon't think you'll ever be."

"So what should I do?" Alexandra said softly. "Stand back and letthe sins of the world go unpunished?"

"No. But don't add to them."

There was nothing more for Diana to say. Alexandra took severaldeep breaths as she considered the profiler's words. Then she gentlypulled herself away from Diana and took a few steps toward herfather.

"What do you think about her argument?"

"What I think doesn't matter. What matters now is what youthink."

"No, Father, tell me. Do you believe that I'm unworthy to lead theHigh Tower? Do you think that the Tower should stay as it is?"

Edward Bradbury looked back at her with an opaque expression as heanswered --

"Despite your gift, you have seen no more than what I have seen.You know no more than what I know."

All four of us watched Alexandra. She was swaying slightly. Icouldn't imagine what was happening inside her mind. For most of herlife she had relied on her gift for truth. Now she had to rely on herheart. She had to understand her heart.

She had to know the true identity of Alexandra Bradbury beforeAlexandra Bradbury could go forward.

She stopped swaying. She reached into the pocket of her cloak andpulled out a hand-sized book bound in red leather.

"This book describes my plans to take over the Tower," she said."It names everyone involved in the coup."

She held it out to her father, but didn't move. He had to comeover to her. As always he was outwardly cool as he read the book.

While he read, Diana crossed over to me. "I had to do it," shesaid. "I knew what Alexandra was planning. I needed help fromsomeone..."

"Diana," I said, "you did the right thing."

She sighed and nodded.

"But right now...you need to get the hell out of my sight."

Diana looked like she had been slapped in the face, but had knownbeforehand that she would get slapped. She had just talked a personout of taking over the world. However, no words of hers could satisfymy anger. She could only do what I told her to do. She left theroom.

Layla stayed quiet. Like me, she could see the wisdom in Diana'swords, even though we were repulsed by her secrecy. And, like me, shewaited for Alexandra.

Bradbury closed the book. He walked over to the phone and begandialing a number. Alexandra walked toward Layla and me. In her face Isaw one more Alexandra, and she would be the one I would know for therest of my days. She was the one who had gained a little wisdom andwould continue to gain more. Her eyes showed the sadness of theknowledge she had learned, and the hope that she could profit byit.

"I'm sorry," she said to Layla.

"Nothing to be sorry for," Layla murmured. "It was a crazy idea. Ican see that now."

"Does this mean you're leaving me?"

Layla quickly touched her on the cheek. "Alexandra..."

"I ask because I'm going to the Tunnels."

Layla and I were both stunned. I should have been joyful, but Iasked, "Are you sure?"

"My father has taught me all that he can. I need to know moreabout this world."

"So," Layla said, "you'll hide underground?"

"The Tunnels are more than a hiding place. I hope you'll realizethat because I want you to come with me."

Layla looked into those hopeful red eyes. Then she turned to meand said, "Well...got room for one more?"

Should I have said no? How could I have said no? If Layla stayedaway, then Alexandra would have lost a vital part of herself.Besides, if Layla was willing to go Below...if she was holdingherself to the promise that I made her take...then what else could Isay?

I just couldn't smile while I said it.

"We can squeeze you in," I told her.

She didn't smile either. She just shrugged. "Nothing's keeping meup here, I guess."

Alexandra reached out and held her hand. She held my hand. "Let'sgo," she said.

I said, "But what about your..."

"He'll understand. Let's go."

Alexandra walked out of the loft with Layla and me in hand.Bradbury was still softly giving instructions through the phone. Hedidn't seem to notice us leave.

But, as I said before, nothing escaped his notice.

Well, almost nothing. But that's another story. I need to finishthis one first. 'Cause there's just one more thing to tell, one moresecret to reveal.