Eventide

Chapter 11. Scorched

Chapter 11

Scorched

(Into The Fire, by Thirteen Senses)

     Brogan delayed his return for a few weeks more.

     “We have one last lead in Romania,” he said.  “I have to go there to look into it.  If there’s even a chance I can find my sister, I need to take it.”

     “I understand, Brogan.  If it were Seth, I’d do the same.”

     Could he hear both the fear and desire in my voice?

     I felt as if I had dodged a guided missile?  It would correct itself and come for me again, but I was safe for a little longer.

     I didn’t know which I hated more, the selfish part of myself that wanted him back within arm‘s reach, and wanted him back right now, or the cowardly part of myself that was afraid to do the right thing and set him free.

***

     “Tell Brogan we’re sorry we weren‘t here when he returns,” Annabel said.  “I’ll see him again after our trip.”

     Alicia and I helped load the last of the food into the truck.  Annabel and her family would be camping in the deep woods for the next two weeks.  Brogan would probably be back before then.

     “I’ll let him know.”  

     Annabel and I buckled Amy and Dennis into their car seats, then shut the doors.  They would drive to the airstrip where John Crawford, a local bush pilot, would fly them to their camp in the deep woods.

     “Guess I’ll talk to you in a couple of weeks, then.”

     She slipped me a piece of paper.  “That’s my phone number.  Brogan sent me a fancy satellite phone.  It‘s supposed to get a signal anywhere on earth, so you should be able to reach us if something important comes up, even as far out as we‘ll be.  Don‘t give it to Chris, though.  He‘s likely to wear out the battery.”

     “You’re bringing Alicia, but not Chris?”  I laughed.  “I’m surprised he didn’t weasel his way onto this trip.”

     “Chris has to go to school, but Alicia doesn‘t,” she said.  “Besides, I haven’t had much time alone with Alicia, what with Chris spending his every free moment here.”

     Roy came out with an armful of fishing poles.  “I think that’ll about do it.”

     “Don’t worry about anything while you’re gone.  I’ll get your mail and check on the house,” I said.  “You all just relax and have a good time.”

***

          I was about to do something I thought I’d never do, but it was the right thing.  I owed this particular blood sucker, big time.

     “Leah?” Garrett said.

     “Can you be at the clearing in an hour?” I asked.  “We’ve got training to do.”

     There was a long silence.  “I’m not sure what more I can teach you.  Even if an enemy uses an advanced move you haven’t seen before, you won’t be fooled.”

     “A little conceited, aren’t we?  Who said this training was for me?”

     “What is this about?”  Always the adventurer, an amused curiosity rode his tone, the way it always did when confronted with something new or unknown.

     “You’ll find out in an hour.”  I hung up on him.

     After loading two stools into my Jeep, I drove to the clearing.