in profile. But that was only right, given how Gabrielle had been tied to his best friend Yonnie ... a vampire still MIA and behind en emy lines. Now she thoroughly understood why Carlos had freaked. The man hadn't overreacted at all.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Honeymoon Is Over
CHAPTER SEVEN
Trying to take everyone to the beach didn't make sense, but that was just what looked like would happen. She needed to get Carlos alone for a generals' powwow, and she could tell by the way he bristled that he was uncomfortable with the team's swift-moving tidal wave of emotion. They both turned and looked at each other at the same time.
"Hold it!" they said in unison, making the group go still. Carlos crossed the room and folded his arms over his chest, blocking the hotel suite's exit. Damali came to stand beside him. He gave her the nod, silently yielding the floor.
"Look, the first Armageddon seal has been opened, and all of our nerves are raw. So, before we do anything that could put anybody on this team at risk, we need intelligence."
"D's right. If the dark covens opened up like Marj got from a spirit dream warning, then before any of the group touches some polluted stones, picks up an attachment, or anything whack that could go down, me and Damali need to find out just what's up."
Shabazz glanced at Marlene, who nodded. "No argument."
"Good," Carlos said, his line of vision going around the room. "Then I suggest, since there's a funky vibe out there, me and Damali go check it out while you all keep moving forward on handling our team business.
"Dan, on getting us a base camp - stat, and Marlene on getting the Covenant over here ... seems like we're gonna need backup."
"Roger that," Dan said. "I'm on it." "Cool," Carlos muttered. "Then, we're out."
* * *
Damali clutched her silver necklace, looking at the seven stones set within it that hadn't been active since Cain's demise. The oracle pearl that contained the she-dragon -
Zehiradangra's pure spirit essence - almost seemed to have died.
"Maybe I should try to rouse her," Damali said as they neared the pounding Pacific surf.
"Hold up, baby," he said, grabbing her arm before her Tims touched the water's edge. "I cannot put my finger on what has me so jumpy." Carlos scanned the waves, watching families and surfers along the coast. "Find a tidal pool; don't put her in the direct waves." Damali stared at him. "Why not?"
"All that surfer dude energy out there, families ... ships, yachts. If Zehiradangra is grieving so hard and has gone so far within her own spirit that she won't come out and speak, you put her in a highly charged environment like that," he said, motioning with a wave of his arm, "and you could shock her system."
"Damn, I never thought about that," Damali said, and backed up, cradling her necklace in both palms. She looked down sadly. "The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt her." Carlos slung an arm over Damali's shoulder. "Yeah, I know. She was good people."
"Wanna try to see if both of us calling her might coax her out?" Damali looked up at him.
"I know she really liked you."
"You ain't mad, that, uh, we used to be friends?"
Damali allowed a half-smile to slip out. "Nan... I married you, so hey." He swallowed a smile. "Let's go find some water."
* * *
They walked half a mile down the beach until they found a small jetty of low rocks. Within the dips and crags there were plenty of small pools where tiny crabs and snails tried to ward off predator seabirds. Squatting down, they both cupped their hands under Damali's necklace and low ered it into the water. The shriek that came from the pearl made them drop the jewelry, stand quickly, and jump back.
Gulls went airborne as the pearl released a bloodcurdling scream. Bewildered, Damali and Carlos simply watched in dismay as the pearl became gray and cloudy, then went black.
"Help, help, oooohhhhh! He's killing me!" the pearl shrieked. Curious glances by passersby, who hesitated for a mo ment to be sure there wasn't a woman being molested, forced Carlos to seal the distressed pearl in a small, translucent black-box to hold back the sound.
"Oh, my God, get her out of the water," Damali said, now grabbing on to Carlos's arm. He quickly complied without touching it, bringing the pearl to the sand using an energy drag.
"Okay, now I know we need to