to go to Scotland and find Sarah. And you. I mean, I couldn’t risk asking anyone, or Google it or something. The Sabha’s people are everywhere, and he was aware of that.”
“I’ll show it to Sarah when I go and see her.”
“I won’t be parted from this book, Sean. We’ll show it to Sarah together if she agrees to listen to you.”
“Yes.” I know Elodie is right. What if something were to happen to me tonight and the book fell into Nicholas’s hands? Or got lost?
“What about Mike?” Elodie asks. “Have you heard from him? Is he still in Louisiana with Niall Flynn?”
“I don’t know. We were in constant contact until a few weeks ago. Then, nothing.”
Elodie wraps her arms around herself. “Maybe they’re hiding somewhere else. I can’t think that … I can’t believe … Harry had complete faith in Mike. I’m sure they’re alive,” she says. She doesn’t sound sure at all.
“Yes. Of course. Harry always told me that Niall wa— is – amazing.” Is. He is amazing. There’s no way I’m using the past tense until I know for sure what’s happened. I shake my head. “I can’t believe you’re here, Elodie.”
She smiles, her shy, bashful Elodie smile. “It’s so good to see you, Sean. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” She looks so young. And so weary.
“You need some rest now.”
“So do you.”
I shrug. “You know me, I never sleep.”
“You must. Hey, you must.” She looks at me, concerned. “I’ll have a quick shower and make us something to eat, then I want you to go straight to bed, d’accord?”
I look into her face, and her features are so familiar, so … Elodie. My kind, old friend who’s been with me since the beginning of it all.
“Deal. But I’ll cook,” I warn her.
“Oh, not that again!” she laughs, and the sound of her laughter is so inconsistent with the situation – a ray of sunshine in the middle of a storm. “I’m not that bad!”
“You’re a terrible cook, Elodie Midnight. Terrible. Admit it.”
“I’ll never admit it!”
“Even Harry used to say—”
I don’t finish the sentence. Elodie’s face is frozen, her mouth open in a little “o”. I’ve hurt her. I shouldn’t have mentioned him like that, laughing.
“At last,” she whispers.
“What … what do you mean?”
“It’s the first time I hear his name spoken like this. You know, in a normal conversation. Not about the Sabha, or his death or whatever. Like we actually used to have a life, me and him. Not a normal life, but – well, it was our life. And there was more to it than all this … destruction.”
I wonder if any of us will ever lead normal lives again. Or a life at all.
When You Return
If only you and me
Meant something more
Than bittersweet memories
Sean
It’s nearly midday. Elodie is sleeping, snug among the sofa cushions, like a child. I have wrapped the duvet around her and brushed her hair away from her face. I should sleep too – I’ve been awake for nearly twenty-four hours now – but of course I can’t. My days and nights are a daze, mixed up in what seems like a constant, freezing twilight. Making myself invisible for such long periods has a strange effect on my body. My breathing gets slower, my blood goes cold, my metabolism slows down: like a sort of frozen state, a kind of sleep that gives no rest to the body, but instead wears it out. I’m not sure how long I can keep my vigil up.
I watch Elodie as she sleeps. She couldn’t stand being hidden in Italy, waiting and hoping to come out of this alive. She couldn’t stand it, and neither can I. The Secret Families are being decimated, the Surari are stronger than ever – soon there will be nobody left to protect humanity from them. We need to rise up and confront the Enemy, not just try and survive, hiding away like mice in their holes.
My fingers close around the protection charm Sarah made for me. I always carry it around my neck – to keep a piece of Sarah with me.
Finally, I shake myself and take a hot shower. Changing into clean, warm clothes is such a relief. After that, I’m at a loss, as I wait for night to fall again so I can look for Sarah. It’s her audition for the Royal Conservatoire, today – the eighth of December. I remember when she got the letter confirming the date – in the