Michael (The Airel Saga, Book 2) - By Aaron Patterson Page 0,110
wickedness arrayed against him.
The crowd in the international terminal was close, and like a mob at a sports event one simply went with the flow. When the flow forced him toward the mouth of a nearby hallway, three goons came out of nowhere and tased him. His body went limp, they gagged him, bagged him and snatched him up. Then they stuffed him into the back of a van.
Very professional. But now he was at the mercy of some real baddies, and he knew it. What was more, he probably knew them. He could recognize the effects of the weapons he sold. Which client had turned on him? He had some ideas.
But then he felt the prick of what could only have been a hypodermic syringe. Great, John. Now what? Everything went dark.
Arabia, 1232 B.C.
Kreios had been preparing a lecture for her in his mind as he killed the last few members of Subedei’s stupid entourage. Of course he had known; what father would release his as-yet unformed adult daughter into the wilds without at least watching over her? He had known she was headstrong, even stubborn, but this…this had been a surprise.
Had he not tried to instill more sense into her? Had he not spent himself in her childhood, trying his utmost to raise her to be prudent and wise? What she had done this night felt like betrayal.
He swooped upward toward the treetops, thinking on all she had done. She deserved a stern word or two, and he would not fail to deliver. But as he approached the bough where he had left her, he knew she had gone. He cursed himself. He had placed her there in the hope she would be both safe and unable to flee easily from him. But she had found a way.
How had she managed that?
Unless she had been taken. His heart suffered the pang of anxiety as he circled the treetops in the vicinity, double and triple checking that she was indeed not there. He descended to the path below, where the leaders had circled to discuss the incident.
Yamanu was among them. “Have you seen Eriel?” Kreios grabbed his tunic gruffly.
Yamanu turned to him, surprise and concern showing on his features in the darkness. “Is she not safe?” he asked.
“I do not know,” Kreios said, panting a little. “I thought I had left her in a safe place during the skirmish.”
“The one called Subedei escaped,” Yamanu said. “That was the one Eriel had come out to meet…”
As he said the words, Kreios knew in his heart what had happened. “What are you not telling me?”
Yamanu did not speak immediately, and still more angels gathered roundabout, awaiting further orders, further action.
Kreios extended a hand and placed it on his shoulder. “Tell me, friend.”
Yamanu shook his head. “I am afraid, Kreios, that I am responsible for this debacle.”
“Why do you say such a thing?”
“Because, friend, I had been teaching her how to use the gift of the Shadowers. Perhaps before she was yet ready.” His face was downcast. “I could not help but see a predilection in her for the gift. She has much potential, Kreios; you should be very proud of your daughter. After one lesson, she escaped through the defenses of the great city and found her way to liberty.”
“Are you telling me that she is still somewhere near? Perhaps hiding from us even now?”
Yamanu’s face betrayed the deep fear and pain he felt in regard to Eriel. “My friend Kreios, there is more that remains to be revealed to us. I am sorry. I started her training too soon. She was not ready! She does not yet understand the purpose of the gift; she cannot properly bear its attendant burden.”
Kreios grasped Yam by both shoulders and looked deep into his eyes, his own eyes begging without words for a morsel of bare truth.
“I am afraid she could be anywhere, Kreios.”
“We must find her!” Kreios turned to bolt; he wanted to begin the search and make sure she was not taken by the boy.
“Kreios,” Yamanu said, touching his arm from behind, “we cannot.”
“What do you mean?!” Kreios asked him incredulously. “This is absurd! We cannot?”
Yamanu nodded quietly.
“Why?”
Yamanu paused before answering. “Because, friend, she does not want to be found.” He waited yet another moment for this new and profound information to settle.
Kreios slumped.
Yamanu grasped his shoulder. “She is that good. Until she wants to be found…we will never find her.”