Page 26 of Sevan

In an instant, a young girl, no more than twelve, appeared before him. She was so close that part of her should have brushed up against him or even pushed him back. She didn’t. No. The girl before him, with a head of long black hair and bright blue eyes, seemed to go through him.

“What the…?”

She giggled. “It’s nice to finally meet you, brother-in-law.”

“Brother-in-law?” Christian asked. “So, it is true?”

The young girl nodded. “Yes. The ritual was completed yesterday. The prophecy is coming true, Christian.”

“Umm, anyone want to tell me why my hand is going through her?”

“Her name is Jacquelyn.” Nina took a small step forward. “She is the youngest of the Janelles.”

“She’s your sister?” Jordan asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

Nina snorted. “While sharing your mother’s womb, did you allow the captain to soak up all of the fluids necessary for natural thought?”

“No. Why?”

Sevan couldn’t help but laugh. “Jordan, I think she was making a joke.”

“Oh, I knew that.”

Jacquelyn giggled again, this time disappearing quickly. Sevan felt around the spot she’d been, finding nothing to prove anyone at all had been there.

“The place is haunted,” Jordan said softly.

“No, not haunted. Come quickly, I’ll show you to Jacquelyn,” Nina said, appearing less than pleased with the entire arrangement. She quickened her pace and they were forced into a slight jog to keep up with her.

They followed, but didn’t say a word. Long gray corridors began to run into one another, leaving Sevan unsure where one stopped and another began. For a brief moment he was positive that they’d walked in circles, but when Nina stopped outside of a large red door, she looked back at him nervously. “This, gentlemen, is my sister, Jacquelyn.”

Nina put her hand on the door panel. It slid open quickly.

Sevan stopped and grabbed hold of the wall for support when he saw the mass of tubes and medical equipment hooked into the tiny frame on the bed. It was barely recognizable as human. Had he not seen the tiny girl standing before him only moments earlier, he would not have associated such a beautiful, radiant young child with what lay there now.

“What…what happened to her?” Sevan asked, moving forward slowly and reaching out to touch the white sheet that covered her tiny body. The compulsion to prove that it wasn’t the young girl was great. The need to know that Lorelei hadn’t suffered a blow as big as what lay in the bed was greater. It was her baby sister there. The thought of that ripped at Sevan’s gut.

Nina touched his hand and shook her head. “She says that it hurts when people touch her.”

Puzzled, he shook his head. “How did she project her image outside?”

Nina glanced around at the machines that filled the room. “Christian built all this after we found her…umm…after the incident. Jacquelyn came to him first, in a vision. He is our healer, our Chieftain. With that position comes the power of the Shamans and the strength of our greatest warriors. He was able to sense her near him. He knew what had to be done. Her body may be useless and comatose, but her mind is very active, Captain. Of this, I am sure.”

Sevan had a hard time believing that the large man who Nina had accused of attacking Lorelei could build such a thing, but it was clear by the way Christian stared at the child in the bed that his love for her was great. Had Sevan misjudged him? Had he let petty jealousy blind him to who Christian truly was?

Not wanting to think too hard about the answers, Sevan focused on the situation. Panel upon panel of computers lined the walls, each one appeared active. A few screens were littered about, almost appearing random in the room, but as he watched the code move over them, he knew they were there for a reason.

He heard a giggle and turned to look at the door. Jacquelyn’s apparition stood there grinning at him. Christian walked over to her and put out his arms. She ran into them and, for a moment, Sevan could have sworn that she was real.

“How?”

“Christian loves me, and he made it so I can still run around and play when I want to, and…”

“Get into mischief,” Christian said, pulling her head against his chest.

“I wish things could have been different, Christian. I saw Samson again today. He is well…or as well as he can be now.”

Christian stiffened at this statement, but forced a smile to his face. “Any news of pending attacks?”

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