In My True Element

Chapter 8

We've landed in a very small airport not far from a city called Rijeka. The main building is only two stories tall and from my vantage point looks quite old and shabby.

Everyone around me is busy with something seemingly important. All of the soldiers look serious and deep in thought. Some of them go on the jet to get all the bags and boxes; some are already going to the trucks and throwing everything into the back. Ilana is in charge of the whole process and she screams at some men who do not carry a box with cameras carefully enough.

I decide not to disturb this perfectly oiled machine, pick up my backpack from the floor and put my arms through the straps, first one, than the other. I have to do it slowly still feeling the dull pain from the exercise on the castle wall. Just to think, all that risk and in return I got a big fat nothing.

I swear inwardly and step to the side, letting the little ants do their job, which earns me a couple of dagger-throwing looks from Ilana. She can't possibly be expecting that after being threatened and dragged here, I would be willing to help with anything.

"Don't make any nasty comments; in fact, don't talk and don't even think anything I wouldn't approve of, got it?" As Ilana and I get into the car she turns to me to give the necessary set of instructions.

"Is it okay if I breathe?" Feeling irritated by her stupid orders, I arch one of my eyebrows and challenge her with a glare of my own.

"Shut up; look in front of you and don't do anything stupid," she whispers, squinting her eyes.

"Sunshine, you do know I won't be able to do that."

Ilana grabs the key as if it's the neck of her enemy and angrily turns it, bringing the engine to life. She sits there for a second, listening to the perfect song of the engine, then releases the brake, making the truck spring forward ferociously. Has she confused this truck with a racecar?

In disapproval I turn her way to say what I think of her driving skills, but before I can even open my mouth, she says loudly enough to be heard over the roaring engine,

"Turn my way one more time and I'll break your nose."

"What makes you think you'll be able to do that?" I ask annoyed by her arrogance and bossiness.

"Six soldiers in two cars behind us." She looks in the rearview mirror at the two black trucks filled with people who, for some reason, would be only too happy to kill me.

"So you'll let them do your dirty work?" I sneer, studying the side of her face.

"No, I'll let them hold you while I break your nose. Any further questions?"

For a second she turns to me and I shiver from the cold in her eyes.

"You and Brat have the same look when you're about to torture someone."

"You should know." She glances at my broken finger before returning her undivided attention to the road lying ahead of us.

I swallow a lump in my throat.

"By the way, do they know what we are looking for?" I nod at the two cars following us. I need to know how much I can say in front of them.

"Of course they do. Brackwick told them everything. In fact one of them, his name's Davidson, is a warlock, so no funny business."

Brackwick must have overcome his aversion to warlocks if he has one of them on his team. Good for Brackwick, not so good for me.

Thirty-two miles later our cars stop, and we find ourselves right in front of the entrance to the park.