Russian Roulette (Helena Hawthorn Series #1)

Chapter 2a

Night came. To her knowledge, everyone else was asleep. She paced around the bed with her arms crossed and her mind working overtime.

"What are you trying to say?" she asked Michael.

He didn't reply and looked at her as if he was in pain.

"Is this another secret you can't tell me about? He's my real dad. If he's been taken by the monster mentioned in grandmother's journal, I have to know—" She blinked away the tears. "—there's a chance he didn't abandon us..."

"Helena," Michael began in a soothing tone.

She threw her hands up in the air. "Don't try to calm me and tell me how to find him!" Biting back a curse, she reminded herself to be quiet, which was becoming difficult with each passing second. She took a few calming breaths. "Please, tell me something. Anything!"

"Lie down."

She shook her head. "I'm not in the mood for relaxation."

"If you wish to know where he is that badly, I can't stop you. I will help you, but you must pay attention."

Helena's eyes narrowed. She studied his poker face. As usual, he left no indicators to tell whether this was some kind of ploy to get her to relax and fall asleep or if he meant what he said. After mulling things over, she decided to listen to him and flopped on the soft linen sheets.

"Close your eyes," Michael said.

"What will that accomplish?"

He vanished and spoke in her mind. "You must heed my guidance without question."

Helena bit her lower lip and did as she was told.

"Now concentrate on my voice and visualise your whole body inside of a bubble, or anything that makes you feel safe."

Within seconds, she imagined a steel sphere. An air bubble didn't give her any security. She hovered in its confining bounds while unnerving darkness encircled her. Being suspended in mid-air made her uneasy, so she used the same principles and conjured a chequered floor beneath her feet.

Michael appeared next to her. His body emitted a faint glow that soothed her nerves.

"What is this for?" she asked.

"This is a mental shield. It will protect you."

"Protect me from what?"

"It's dark in here," he said, "try creating some light."

Helena glared at him but didn't press him further, afraid he would change his mind and stop helping her. If doing this could be considered as help. She took a deep breath and concentrated once again. This time, luminosity flooded in from above.

Michael moved closer to the wall and, not wanting to stay behind, she did the same. He touched the smooth surface, speaking each syllable with care. "It seems you prefer metal as your guard. Many others use elements or towering fortresses to protect themselves. Some even erect multiple layers, which we should work on later."

She tried wrapping her brain around his explanation. More questions arose. "Who would usually create such things?"

Michael's big, warm hand landed on her head, and he showed a ghost of a smile.

Her eyes bulged out of their sockets. "You can touch me?"

"Your body is tied to your physical plane, and there I can do nothing. Here, your mind is crossing into one of the planes where I can reach you," he replied. His expression grew serious. "I'm not the only one who can get to you out here, which is why I asked you to design your own layer of protection. It will use some of your energy to maintain, so don't be surprised if you grow tired."