Page 100 of The Silent
When Leo and Niran walked out of the temple and into the courtyard, Leo saw Sura sitting in a lotus position, eyes closed, his back to the stone Buddha who greeted worshippers upon entry. The tall statue appeared to watch the silent man at his feet, observing with a raised palm and a sereneexpression.
“We found bones,” Sura said after several minutes ofsilence.
“What?”
“You asked if I’d found something when I walked into the temple,” Sura said, his eyes still closed. “We found bones. Bodies buried behind the vegetable garden on the edge of the forest. Adult bones.Childrentoo.”
No wonder the quiet man had executed the Grigori withoutaword.
“What did you do with the others?” Leo knew Kyra had sensed at least a dozen Grigori in the temple posing aspriests.
Sura unfolded himself and rose. “They don’t exist anymore.” He walked down the steps and toward the van where the otherswaited.
Turning to the newly empty temple, Leo walked back inside, closing the shutters and latching them. He blew out the candles and smothered the incense. Then he walked out the front doors and propped a stone planter in front of them to keep theweatherout.
It was a holy place that had been perverted by predators. Leo hoped true monks or nuns might find itsomeday.
Perhaps they might pray forthelost.
* * *
Leo knocked quietlyon the door to the cottage he and Kyra were sharing in the villa high in the mountains. They’d spent the previous two nights in small country inns that were little more than campsites. But that night Niran had demanded plumbing. Rith and Alyah had searched online and found the luxury villa with cottages high on a ridge overlooking a river valley. It was an unexpected treat that also played into their cover as traveling exhibitionfighters.
“Come in,” Kyracalled.
Leo poked his head in, and Kyrasmiled.
“Why are youknocking?”
“I wasn’t sure if you wantedprivacy.”
She put the book she’d been reading to the side. “Notfromyou.”
Leo slid off his shoes and climbed next to her on the bed. He put his arms around her waist and his head on her breast, lowering them to the pillows as he let out adeepsigh.
“Long day?” Kyraasked.
“We didn’t find anything. Nothing detailed, anyway. Niran thinks she was in Mandalay, but she’d be gonebynow.”
“We’ll keep looking. I can do a reading in the morning and see what I hear. I’ll focus to thenorth.”
“Only if you’re restedenough.”
“The one this morning took hardly anything out of me.I’mfine.”
Leo closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. She was soft touch and tenderness. Shewasrest.
“Sura found bones.” It slipped out without his thinking. He hadn’t meant totellher.
Kyra tensed. “Children?”
“Yes. They didn’t have any women there. I think they were human bones, notkareshta.”
“We don’t leave bones,” Kyra said. “We’re like the Irina. We turntodust.”
He clutched her tighter. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have broughtitup.”
“Even the babies turn to dust,” she said under her breath. “Not very much. Just a dance in the air andthey’regone.”
