Midnight Girl Part 12

She slid the turquoise ring off and went to the head of the table. A single chair waited there.

She sat. On her left were Auntie Fong, Saeed al-Rahman, Ms. Arkan, and Ilya. On her right were her father, Olujimi, and Tarika. Three clan representatives on one side, two on the other. Does that mean anything? Did Auntie Fong mean she would vote against me, or she could vote against me?

As Cat swallowed, Olujimi gave her a thumbs-up. She smiled weakly. Everyone looked like they were trying to keep from looking worried. Only her father didn't look worried at all.

The meeting's just a formality. Get it over with. She put the Medianoche ring in her father's hand. He frowned. "You don't want it?"

"Auntie Fong said--"

"Ah." He raised the turquoise ring high for everyone to see. "This is the ring worn by the First of Clan Medianoche." He gave it to Cat. "So you should put it back on."

She stared at him, then realized everyone else was staring at her. He added, "To please the traditionalists." Ms. Arkan said, "Valentin! We're here to decide what to do about that girl, and you--" "Ah, Xandra!" Professor M said. "Sorry about the misunderstanding.

We aren't here to decide what to do about Cat. You're here to meet the new First of my clan."

Auntie Fong said, "Val. I wish we'd discussed this." "Has any First discussed the choice of successor with anyone?" "No, but--" "I'm beginning to appreciate tradition more and more." Cat looked at her father. "Dad! No way I'm ready for this." He nodded. "Good. People who think they're ready never are."

She set the ring on the table before him. "You should keep it."

He shook his head. "For fourteen years, I've known I should step aside. Any of the Medianoches in Peru or Spain would've made a fine First. They've been too polite to suggest I step down. I exploited that for one reason. When Baldomero said you might turn, I made a vow. If you became a nighter, I would kill you so the next First could serve without bearing the weight of your death."

Cat wanted to ask what he would've done after killing her, then decided she didn't want to know. "So give it to one of them now."

He shook his head again. "The First does two things, conducts meetings and leads missions. Given your abilities--"

"I don't want to kill anyone." "A good reason you should lead." Frowning, Olujimi said, "You'll stop killing nighters?" Professor M said, "That's one of the things we'll discuss." Ms. Arkan said, "It's not." Auntie Fong said, "I'm beginning to wonder if we'll discuss anything." Professor M looked at Cat. "Someone has to put on the ring and call the meeting to order." He folded his hands in his lap. Cat said, "Can I appoint someone else when I'm First?" He nodded. Cat said, "Good," and slipped the ring on her finger. Professor M said, "You accept the responsibility of leading the Medianoches?" "I do. And I appoint--" "Sorry. Can't appoint anyone until you're twenty-one or your adviser agrees you should appoint someone." "You didn't tell me that!" "I wasn't your adviser then." "Val," Ms. Arkan said. "You're making a mockery of clan business." Professor M nodded. "Yes, Xandra. Because this wasn't clan business until you demanded a meeting. This should only be a matter for the Medianoches."

Auntie Fong said, "Val, your daughter is a nighter." "Half," Professor M said. Ms. Arkan said, "She drinks human blood." "She hasn't killed."

"Would you spare a rabid dog until it killed someone?" "She's no dog!" Olujimi leaned toward Cat. "Call for silence." Ms. Arkan told Professor M, "True. She's ten thousand times more dangerous." "I know what my daughter is." "Like you knew what her mother was?" "d.a.m.n it, Xandra! Give her time--" "To spring the de la Sombras' trap?" "To convince you--" "With glamour? "With facts!" "Quiet!" Cat shouted. To her amazement, everyone sat back and looked at her. When her father nodded, she said, "Uh, thanks. Where do we start?"

Ms. Arkan's hand shot high into the air. Olujimi and Saeed al- Rahman lifted their hands, and Auntie Fong raised her index finger from the table.

Cat looked at the four clan heads. What was the best way to get them on her side? Nothing Ms. Arkan would say could be good. Start with Olujimi because he was friendliest? Or with Mr. Rahman because he seemed neutral? She was afraid to hear what Auntie Fong thought.

The only way Cat could imagine getting Auntie Fong's vote was by showing her respect. Cat said, "Auntie Fong?"

Auntie Fong nodded. "We must decide what you are." Professor M said, "We know--" Cat said, "Dad!" He inhaled deeply, then nodded.

Auntie Fong said, "Thank you. Your father's playing a desperate game. By making you First of the Medianoches, our choice changes. If we treat you as a nighter, will the Five Clans become Four? That's not something I wish to see."

Auntie Fong looked at the others. Olujimi shook his head. Mr. Rahman did the same. Alexandra Arkan shrugged.

Auntie Fong said, "But the risk of having a nighter--" She glanced at Professor M. "--in nature, if not loyalty, among us is unimaginable. The idea that we could accept one in our council is unendurable, no matter--" She hesitated, then turned to Cat and said more softly. "No matter what we think of you. So, with your permission, I would first ask your father a question."

Wondering why she hadn't started with Olujimi, Cat said, "Sure."

Auntie Fong looked to Professor M. "Is your daughter a proper choice to lead your clan?"

He said, "Auntie, you can't--" Auntie Fong said, "It's a fair question." He nodded. "True. She's not."

As Cat tried to hide her hurt, Auntie Fong said, "Then we needn't--" Professor M said, "I haven't finished." "Oh?" "We don't get proper choices in life. We just get choices. I've watched the kid for fourteen years. She's made mistakes as foolish as anyone's, maybe even as foolish as mine. But every time, she's tried to fix what was wrong. If I'd paid less attention to what she is and more attention to who she is, I never would've worried about whether she would be a nighter or a human or anything else. I look at her now, and I think there's no way she's ready to be First of the Medianoches. But I also know she can learn what she needs to know. Maybe she's not a proper choice, but she's the best choice. Maybe I'll regret it because of something I'll do someday, but I'll never regret it for anything she'll do."

Cat thought, Okay, best dad ever. Tarika's arm shot up high and waved from side to side. Auntie Fong said, "Yes?" Tarika said, "May I say something about Cat?" Auntie Fong smiled. "No need. Your presence speaks for you." Tarika said, "It better be yelling for me." Cat suspected that running to hug her father and best friend was not something Firsts do during meetings. She swallowed, then said, "Did you want to know something else, Auntie Fong?"

"Yes. Why should we accept you as one of us?"

Cat shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, okay, everyone's worried I'll get thirsty and kill somebody. But last night, I learned what the thirst is like. I'll do anything to keep it from taking over. If I have to drink soy milk twenty times a day, or if someone comes up with pills or a shot or an operation or anything that'll keep me from killing, I'll do it. The only way I might lose control is if I was on a desert island with someone. But the second I felt the thirst, I would help them tie me up or lock me up or --" Cat glanced at her father. "Or do anything they had to do to be safe."

She looked back at Auntie Fong, then at Mr. Rahman, Ms. Arkan, and Uncle Olujimi. "I know that makes you worry. It makes me worry. For you, it's 'Cat could be a monster.' For me, it's 'I could be a monster.' That's megatomically worse. For the sake of everyone I love, I have to keep it under control. So I will." She nodded, thinking that must have been the lamest speech ever made by a First.

No one spoke. She couldn't tell what they were thinking. She looked at her father, and he nodded. She knew what that meant: You did fine, whatever happens.

She looked down the table. Tarika was smiling. Ilya was watching with an expression she couldn't read.

Auntie Fong said, "That you can control your thirst, I accept. Your mother and uncle control theirs, when they choose. But the Five Clans have one purpose. We kill nighters. We've survived for centuries because our dedication never wavers. In an instant of doubt, a nighter can seize a person's will. Even if you were human, I would fear your loyalty would be divided, and that division would be our doom. Tell me you would kill your mother without hesitating, and I might accept your presence on our council. Tell me you would kill your father if a nighter took control of him, and you will have my vote."

Cat said, "I can't tell you that! If there's a way to save someone--" Auntie Fong looked away. "I have no more questions." Cat glanced at her father. He shrugged, so Cat looked at the others.

"Mr. Rahman?" Saeed al-Rahman smiled. "I like your honesty. I've always admired your father's boldness. I read his e-mail and Xandra's. Everything I've heard confirms my first opinion. I have no questions that might change it now."

Cat thought, Meaning he's on my side? Ms. Arkan's side? He wants to look decisive but he hasn't decided? Leading missions might be easier than leading meetings.

She glanced from Olujimi to Alexandra Arkan. If Olujimi can save me, he should speak last. "Ms. Arkan?"

"Thank you." Ms. Arkan spoke more calmly than Cat expected. Then she realized Ms. Arkan did that from strategy, not kindness. "Valentin admits you're half-nighter. He suggests that because you can endure sunlight, we should think you're different. He's hiding the plain truth. You're very different. You can never be one of us. Yes, you saved people this morning. Why should we think that wasn't part of a plan to make us trust you?"

Cat swallowed and looked around the room. Her father poured water into a gla.s.s and handed it to her. She sipped it, then shook her head. "Sorry. I got nothing. All I can say is it's not."

Professor M lifted his hand. Cat said, "Dad?" He turned to Ms. Arkan. "If I were Baldomero and that was my plan, I would kill you, then have Cat save the kids. Creates just as much sympathy for her, and it weakens the clans. If he chose to let you live, he's a greater fool than I thought."

Ms. Arkan smiled. "Why, Val. You do know how to flatter a woman." She looked back at Cat. "Baldomero's no fool. Saving me makes you look best to us. Giving up the chance to kill me then is easily worth the chance to kill us all soon."

As frustration surged in her, Cat said coldly, "So I should go super- nighter on you now?"

Ms. Arkan smiled. "I knew you had a temper tucked away."

Cat inhaled, thought, If you want to see my temper-- She said, "If I'm so dangerous--"

"Nighters are patient," Ms. Arkan said. "Your cousin might want you to stay with us for years to learn our secrets. Then his people could destroy every branch of the clans in a night. He knows that however deadly you are now, you'll be deadlier when you're grown. He has every reason to wait. Which is why we have none."

Cat thought. That went well. Not. Uncle Olujimi, if you can save me, now's the time! She said, "Uncle Olujimi?"

His eyes were kind and sad, reminding her of her father's. He said, "Cat, if what happened to you happened to one of my daughters, I pray she would handle it as well as you. I met you as a quiet baby almost fourteen years ago. I've seen you grow into a fine young woman. Everything I've seen and heard tells me your father and your young friend believe everything you've said. Just as I do."

He glanced at Professor M, then told the room, "Even if I didn't think this because of my many years knowing Cat, I would hear Val's words, and I would believe them. I have six brothers and sisters. Five are named Udofia. One is named Medianoche. Like many in the clans, Val and I learned of the nighters before we were told. When we were fourteen--"

He looked at Ilya, then Tarika, then Cat, then continued, "We decided to kill a nighter and impress our parents. It was the most foolish thing anyone in the clans has done, and our parents were not impressed. But Val and I learned that we can trust each other completely. From that day, whenever I made a decision as an Udofia, I asked myself first how it would affect the Medianoches."

He turned back to Cat, "Everything in me says to support you. Let this be known to everyone here. And especially, to you, Catalina Medianoche. You honor your father and your family. There could be no finer First of the Medianoches, and no one I would rather serve with on the council of the Five Clans."

Cat thought, Crying in grat.i.tude, bad now. She said quietly, "Thank you."

Olujimi shook his head. "Don't thank me. I must continue." He looked again at Professor M, then Cat. "There's no way that you would choose to betray us. I know this. If you used glamour to make me feel as I do, I would sense it. My heart and my mind both know that you're a good and honest girl. No, woman."

He looked down at his Ouroboros ring, then held it up. "But I wear this ring. My duty is not to my heart or my mind." He looked at Val. "It's not to the brother I love." He looked at Cat. "It's not to the young woman I love as much as any of my daughters. My duty is to our cause."

He looked at Auntie Fong, Mr. Rahman, and Ms. Arkan. "As is yours."

Cat felt something heavy settle on her chest. She tried to breathe casually as Olujimi looked back at her. His eyes were like her father's at midnight, when he had fired the bolt at her heart. He said, "My duty says Baldomero de la Sombra could make you think you are free when you are not. What I see now is the young woman you are. But if that nighter has planted--"

"No!" said Professor M, slamming the table. "Olujimi. Trust me! I would know--"

Olujimi held up his ring again, looked from it to Professor M, then back to Cat. "If that nighter planted a command in your mind, Cat, when it's triggered, I will see his creature, someone with a nighter's strengths, but not its weaknesses. Someone who could destroy the Five Clans. Someone who could condemn humanity to slavery or worse."

He closed his eyes, inhaled, opened them, exhaled, and said, "If you were my own daughter, I couldn't risk that. Your father was right last night, Cat. We must do what he could not."

Professor M said, "Try to harm her, and one of us will have a dead brother."

"Val, think!" Olujimi said. "It's war! To win, we do what we must. You know this."

"She's my daughter!"

"You think I have no heart? If I could give you my right arm instead, I would. If I could give you my life instead, I would. All I can do is promise the beasts of the night will pay for what they have forced upon us."

"No, Olujimi. I tried to kill her once. That's enough." "No one expects you to do this. Nor to vote for it." "Only to accept it." "Because it's necessary."

"No!" "Will you go against the Five Clans?" Professor M nodded. "Vote against her, and it's Four Clans." "Then the nighters win, no matter what we do."

"Not if you accept Cat. Keep the clans together."

Olujimi breathed slowly, then said, "It's better to have Four Clans and no doubt than Five and the constant fear of betrayal. You know--"

"Stop telling me what I know, hermano."

Professor M spoke the last word like the cruelest insult. Cat shouted, "Stop it! Just stop it!" She pointed at her finger. "Ring! Stop it, please!" She turned to Olujimi. "If the Medianoches leave the Five Clans, what happens?"

"If? You don't make this easy, but then, you shouldn't. If this happens, I'll vote for the Four Clans to seek your death as quickly as possible." He looked at Professor M. "And anyone who comes between us must be treated as an ally of the nighters."

Professor M said, "I'm up for--" Cat said, "Ring! Does it mean anything?" Professor M nodded. Cat asked Olujimi, "So it'd be a war between the families. The four clans against Tia Belen in Lima, Primo Rolando in Cordoba--" Olujimi nodded. "Against everyone who stayed loyal to you. I don't know how many would die. But I know the Medianoches don't have the resources to win." Cat looked down at the family ring. A piece of the turquoise was broken off. Someone had hit it against something, accidentally or intentionally. That was the result. Results stayed with you forever.

Her father thought the ring would protect her, but it made her the leader. Who should leaders protect? She said, "We'll respect the council's decision."

Professor M said, "Cat!" She held up the ring. "First of the Medianoches." He said, "No. No way, Cat. No--" She took his hand and squeezed it. Then she said, "What kind of adviser are you?" "I'm your fa--" "You're the Medianoches' adviser, right?" "Don't do this. Cat. Don't." She looked at Olujimi, Auntie Fong, Mr. Rahman, and Ms. Arkan, then nodded. "Let's vote."

Chapter Fourteen.

Death in the Afternoon.

Ilya leaped to his feet, pointed at Cat, and shouted at Ms. Arkan, "She saved us! She saved me, and you, and Tarika! That's all you need to know! She saved us." He looked at the others. "That's it. The whole stupid trial. All this talking. All the what ifs and maybes and who knows, while the important thing is right there! She saved us."

"Ilya," Ms. Arkan said. "Sit down."

"No! You're going to vote to kill her like that makes it okay, like the difference between us and the nighters is we have a nice vote, but it's not true. Vote to kill her, and you're as bad as them."

Ms. Arkan said, "Son. We're not as bad as they are. We are worse. We must be, to win."

Ilya looked at Cat. His eyes were wet and his nose was running as he said, "Don't. Not everyone in the clans will go along with this. Not if we tell them--"

"Ilya!" Ms. Arkan said. "You can't change the vote, so sit down and be quiet."

"Mother, you said when you know what's right, you must do everything, no matter what."

"To defeat nighters, my son. Not to save a poor girl--" She stopped, then nodded. "Yes. We can't know the truth about her, but whether we'll be voting to kill an innocent child or a fiend--" She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Sit."

"No." "We'll vote whether you sit or not." "If I sit, I'm agreeing to your vote. I don't." "Ilya--" Ms. Arkan looked at the end of the table. Tarika was standing. She said, "Ditto." Ms. Arkan said, "No one cares what children--" Professor M grunted as he pushed against the arms of his wheelchair to stand unsteadily before them. Cat squeezed her eyes together, then wiped them with her fingertips and opened them. She held her hands in front of her face, staring at the turquoise ring, then put her hands on the table. "Everybody. Thank you. Now sit, and we'll vote."

Ilya said, "Don't, Cat. It's stupid." "Thanks a lot." "You're trying to do what's right, but this is wrong!" Cat pointed at the ring. Ilya said, "It's just an old ring! There are all these stupid traditions --" "Ilya. I don't want anyone to die for me. That's what's stupid." "And then what? The war goes on like it always has!" "I can't change that." "I thought you wanted to. I thought that's why Mother doesn't trust you." "I want it over! But what's the choice? Accept what the council decides or start a war between the clans, and then what happens? Nothing changes, or the nighters win. Nothing changing isn't much, but it's better than that, isn't it?"

Ilya shook his head. Cat said, "Sit. Ilya. Please." He said, "I'll only recognize one decision by the council," and sat. "What he said," Tarika said as she sat. Cat looked at her father. "Dad?" "Likewise," said Professor M, lowering himself into his chair. Cat studied him. "If you're tempted to go against the council--" "'Tempted' doesn't begin to describe it." "Think about who would join you, Dad. Then say who you want dead." "You don't play fair." "Where did I learn that?" She looked at the clan representatives.

"Okay. Uh, I'm not sure how to phrase the question." Olujimi lifted his hand. Cat said, "Yes?" He winced, then said, "Yes or no. For the good of the Five Clans, must Cat Medianoche be killed?" She nodded. "Should that include how?" "How depends on--" He looked down, then back at her. "How depends on whether you accept the vote or flee. If you accept it, you can choose what you-- Ah, what you choose. If you flee, it's the duty of everyone here to try to kill you in any way possible. If you escape, that'll apply to every member and ally of the Five Clans."

She nodded again. "Got it. Yes or no--" Professor M said, "Cat, for the love of G.o.d--" "Love of everybody, Dad. Yes or no. Should--" She swallowed.

"Should I, uh, Catalina Milagros Medianoche, be killed?" Ms. Arkan added, "For the good of the Five Clans."

Cat repeated, "For--" Olujimi said, "That's not necessary." "Now I ask each of you?" "Yes." "Uncle Olujimi?" "Yes." "'Yes' meaning--?" "Meaning yes. I'm sorry. But yes." Cat thought, Okay, get the easy one over with. "Ms. Arkan?" Ms. Arkan looked down at the table, then at Ilya. He said, "No!

Mother, no!" She looked out the window, then at Cat, and nodded. "Yes." Ilya hit the table with his fist. Cat shook her head, and he looked away. She turned to Auntie Fong and Mr. Rahman. "Mr. Rahman?" "No." "No?" she repeated, blinking at him. "No. Wars are not won by those who only do the safe thing. There's a time for boldness. No, I say." He looked at Auntie Fong. "Let Cat Medianoche live."

Cat thought, Two to two. Two to two! I might-- She said, "Auntie Fong?"

Auntie Fong looked at Mr. Rahman. "Wars are not won by those who never do the safe thing." She turned to Cat. "I am very sorry, Catalina. Yes. You must die."

Cat sat in silence, hearing only her thoughts. I must die. I just turned fourteen. I must die. It'll save a lot of lives. Why can't something save mine? Ilya's right. It's stupid. It's stupid to kill anyone because everyone will die sometime anyway. Why hurry death for anyone?

Because I can't save my life, but I can save others.

She realized the silence was only in her mind. In the dining room, everyone was shouting and nearly everyone was standing and she couldn't make out any of the words. She stood, raised her hand high, and yelled, "Ring!"