PROMISE

CHAPTER 24

In the fractured seconds while the portal dilated, Hain made up his mind to charge.

Except the timing had to be exact. Because as far as he knew, the portals worked two ways, and plowing headfirst into that frozen black hole might lead to more danger than he was in now.

Hain rallied every scrap of courage he had and let out a bellowing scream as he broke into a full sprint. In that same moment, the portal expanded to its full height and width just as someone emerged wholly.

Hain stopped screaming. He stopped running. He stopped everything. Because this wasn't an enemy. Or, at least, not an enemy who wanted him dead.

Hume tipped his head in the way someone did when they'd seen something puzzling.

"Did you have a specific reason for screaming?"

Hain took a moment to regain his composure, trying to look like someone who hadn't just been rushing to meet his own death head-on.

"No," Hain said, as plainly as he could. "Er, yes." He groaned and shook his head. "It doesn't matter now."

"You expected someone else." Hume made a sound as though he understood. "Someone with more violent intentions."

Hain felt his face flush. "That may have crossed my mind."

Hume made another sound that had an almost fatherly sense about it.

"I share your concern, which is why I decided to meet you in a secure room."

Hain almost pointed out that the 'secure room' was where the last shooting had happened, but he kept the thought to himself.

"Have you caught whoever shot me?"

"Sadly, no," Hume said. "But really, you don't need to worry. You will be safe from here on out."

"That's not much of an answer."

Hume lifted one gossamer eyebrow. "And yet there is no other answer. We have ideas, yes. But nothing solid. Though," Hume raised one skeletal finger, "if I were to venture a guess–and this is purely speculative, I assure you–I would say it's someone in my opposition."

"Your opposition?" Hain said. "Like that Smith guy?"

Hume shot him a spiked look. "You've been talking to Sanger."

Hain kept his tongue. He might not like Sanger, but she had saved his life, and he wasn't about to throw her to the wolves.

"Forget all this nonsense for now, Hain." Hume waved a spindly hand at Hain. "The attempt on your life wasn't what I brought you here to discuss. Your quest to stop your cousin though." Hume clapped his hands together. "Very exciting, yes?"

Hain tried to keep his expression placid, but his surprise at the mention of his journey with Lilith clung to his face like a mask.

"Oh, Hain." Hume gave him a pitying look that smacked of anything but real pity. "You didn't think Lilith would hold that back from me, did you?" Hume chuckled as though he'd just heard something mildly amusing. "She may have been away for some time, but she's still a loyal daughter of Promise."

Malevolence roiled through Hain's belly. He didn't like being surprised. Especially not by this creature, and not when this place already had him feeling so vulnerable.

"What do you care about where I go?"

"Simple," Hume said, his yellow grin opening wide. "Because I want to help."

This time Hain didn't try and hide his surprise. "That doesn't make sense."

"Perhaps not from your perspective," Hume said. "Nevertheless, I am greatly hopeful that your quest will be successful."

The words gave Hain pause. Then he felt his mouth twitch into a needle-sharp smirk

"Sorry to hear that," Hain said. "Well, not sorry. Not if I'm being honest. Glad, actually."

"Really?" Hume's grin thinned. "And why might that be?"

"Because you're going to be disappointed," Hain said, relishing the look on Hume's face. "I'm not going to Sierra."

The last trace of Hume's smile vanished. "Why is that?"

I need to get me and Lilith out of this place before someone kills us, Hain thought.

"I have my reasons," Hain said. "Though I'm twice as sure of the choice now that I know you want me to go."

"Are you really so petty as to throw your plans away simply out of spite?" Hume said. "Even with your prejudice against us, I would have thought you happy to have the help."

"I am most definitely that petty," Hain said. "But even if I wasn't, it wouldn't matter. I'm not going."

Hume's milky eyes searched Hain's face.

"No," Hume said after a moment. "I think you'll go."

Hain halved the space between he and Hume.

"Don't pretend to know my mind." Hain jabbed a finger at the Vrai's face. "You don't know me. You don't know what I want."

"I would never presume to know the inner workings of your mind." Hume's voice was almost apologetic. "I am, however, certain that I am privy to information to which you are not. Information that may change your decision." Hume looked grave. "Your cousin must not be allowed to reach Sierra, Hain. I cannot emphasize how important this is to both humans and Foew alike."

Hain opened his mouth to argue, but a knock on the chamber's door snatched at his attention.

"Right on time," Hume said, then marched toward the door. He waved a hand along one side of the door, and the thing swung open freely.

"Perfect!" Hume beamed, moving aside and waving someone in. "So nice to see you. I was just discussing Hain's upcoming journey."

Lilith stepped through the door, a worried look on her face when her eyes fell on Hain.

"Everything alright?" she asked.

"Fine," Hain said. "Are we done here?"

Lilith's eyes searched Hain's. "Yes?"

"Good," Hain snapped. "Then let's go."

Lilith didn't move. "You sure everything's alright?"

Heat simmered in Hain's chest, but he kept his voice steady. "I'm just ready to go."

Lilith looked to Hume, as if seeking some explanation, but the Speaker only smiled his wide, yellow smile. Looking at it made Hain want to punch him in the throat.

"Okay," Lilith said slowly. "Well, since this feels so completely normal and not at all awkward," she gestured for Hain to follow her, "shall we?"

Hain moved to follow, not turning toward Hume, but unable to miss the knowing look Hume shot him from the corner of his eye. Hain wanted to feel rage at the sight of it, wanted to seethe with righteous indignation at Hume's words. At his presumption.

But there was none of that. Instead, all he felt was a sense of the world moving on without him, plowing forward without his permission. Because what if Hume was right? What if Hume knew something that Hain didn't? Something that would change his mind.

Hain's chest tightened, heart thumping. He felt caught up, bound to the will of titanic gears grinding just below his feet, driving events toward some unknown destiny.

And that made him afraid.