Page 6 of The Silent
“I know you do. And I think I should like to hear your song,” Vasu said. “Oneday.”
ChapterOne
Chiang Mai,Thailand
Kyra stepped off the airplane,the loaded carry-on bag heavy on her shoulder. Sirius had told her what to expect, but she’d been wary to leave Europe without bringing most of her belongings. She didn’t own much, but what she’d kept over the years was precious to her. A lock of her mother’s hair and a book she’d found in her meager belongings. A picture of her and Kostas. Another picture Ava had sent her from Istanbul with all the scribes and singers there. A locket. None of these were things she was willing to risk to the vagaries of checkedbaggage.
It was her first time out of Europe. Her first time on a long internationalflight.
Her first time traveling alone.Anywhere.
She’d already muddled through the visa lines in Bangkok where her flight from Istanbul had landed. Now she headed toward the baggage claim and hoped her bag would show up. And her ride. And someone who spoke English, Bulgarian, Serbian, Turkish, orFrench.
Kyra wasn’t used to being alone. From the time she’d been born, her brother had been with her. Now Kostas thought she was visiting Istanbul where she was familiar with the streets and the language and the customs. Sirius hadn’t told their brother he was driving Kyra to theairport.
She put her hand in the pocket of her loose pants and touched the phone Sirius had given her. It was prepaid and loaded with the names and numbers of his contacts for the small city in NorthernThailand.
Kostas would befurious.
Kyra took a slow breath and tried not to panic. She was a grown woman, far older than even the oldest humans on her flight. She was powerful and trained in self-defense against both human and supernatural opponents. She was well versed in Thai history after the crash course she’d taken in the previous two weeks, and well shielded thanks to multiple meditation sessions and a last-minute call to Ava foradvice.
She wasterrified.
Catching sight of her bag, Kyra nearly ran over an elderly man in her rush tograbit.
“Khor toht krab,” she said awkwardly. “Sorry. So sorry.” She was relieved when the old man smiled and patted her arm. After grabbing her bag, she pulled away from the crowd and leaned against a wall a small distance from the rush of people leaving the airport. She took a deep breath and bolstered her shields. She closed her eyes and pressed a mental hand to the door in her mind, feeling the burgeoning pressure of so many people and so many voices. They had been muffled and silent on the plane with many humans sleeping, but in the airport, where worries and anticipation filled their minds, the voices shouted, tumbling over each other in a rush that would quickly overwhelm her unless she took a moment to steelherself.
Calm.
Breathe.
Emetsamtarrea.
The door stayed closed, but the pressureremained.
She needed to get out of the airport. She glanced around, hoping no one had noticed the odd European woman and double-checked that she had her bags before she walked with purpose towardtheexit.
If you don’t know where you’re going, just act like you do.Ava’s advice came back to her.If all else fails and you get lost, stand out of the way and look at your phone until you figure things out. Cell phones are the best for pretending that you’re busy andimportant.
She walked out of the airport and into the surprisingly crisp air of the city. Chiang Mai was in the mountains. In the early evening, the air was cool and dry, though she could hear the hum of mosquitoes as she stood under the artificial lights of thewalkway.
Kyra pulled out her phone to see if she’d received any messages. She texted Sirius that she’d landed just as another message camethrough.
Your picture doesn’t do youjustice.
She looked up, her eyes scanning the crowd, but no one was staringather.
Walk to the right and look for a silver Toyota pickuptruck.
Who are you?she typed back. Something about his initial flattery rubbed her thewrongway.
I’m the man your brother sent to pick you up. Why else would I have your phonenumber?
She couldn’t find any fault in his logic, but she was grateful Sirius chose that moment totextback.
Glad you landed safely,her brother typed.Did Niranfindyou?
Did you send him mypicture?
