Page 413 of Eternal
It’s Elijah who answers this time, “She really wanted to talk to you, but she’s with Brian right now, they’re working on something.”
“It’s okay. I’ll call her next week.”
We kept talking for about ten minutes. They update us, share a few things about recent activity in their cell, nothing unusual.
Once the call ends, silence settles over the room. Kat gets up to make us some tea, then she comes back with the cups and sets them gently in front of us.
“Tomorrow’s your birthday,” Vik says with a sly smile.
I chuckle quietly, blowing gently on the steam rising from my tea before taking a sip.
“For the first time, you’ll be here for your birthday. I’m so happy,” says Kat, sitting back down beside me.
There’s this feeling in my chest, like a knot I can’t untangle. Maybe it’s just exhaustion, or the fear of hoping again. They keep talking, but I set my tea down and feel their eyes shift toward me.
“I need to tell you something,” I say, my voice a little low.
Kat straightens slightly, attentive, and Vik leans on the table, they can tell right away it’s serious.
“I found out that my mother’s journal was altered.”
The silence hits all at once. Kat doesn’t speak, she waits, like she always does. “Someone tampered with her notes. Added names. Erased others. The whole thing was manipulated.”
“You mean… she wasn’t investigating the people you… took out?” Vik asks.
“Some of them, yes. But not all. She was going after something higher. Much higher. The journal was doctored to throw me off the real target. She was trying to expose the Veil entirely.”
Kat places her hand on mine. She gets it without needing to say anything. “So what are you going to do?” she asks softly.
“I have a lead. An address. And a code name Luxis Sheras. His real name is Ryad Shiraz. He’s a former FBI agent. He communicated with my mom for years through coded articles. He knew everything. What she was trying to reveal.”
“And you know where he is?” asks Vik.
“Yeah. In Vegas. At a hospital. He’s sick. Terminal. It’s now or never.”
Kat squeezes my hand a little tighter. Vik stares at me, more worried than usual. “You’re going alone?”
“Yes. Damir knows. He wanted to come, but… I need to do this alone this time. And I’ll be careful. Promise.”
They’re quiet for a moment, I know they trust me, but I also know they’re scared. Because I am too, I have this strange feeling… like I’m walking toward a door I won’t be able to close again.
“You know we’re here, Azra. If anything goes wrong, don’t even think twice. Call us. We’ll come.”
“Thank you.” I smile softly.
Kat pulls me into a long hug before I leave. She holds me a second longer, “You know I’m proud of you, right?” she whispers in my ear. “You’re not alone, okay?”
Vik comes over too, wraps an arm around my shoulders, and kisses my forehead. “Kroshka,keep me posted, alright? I love you. Be careful.”
I nod, unable to speak. My throat’s tight. But I give them a quick smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Vik smiles and mouths silently: “Who, if not me?”
And I mouth it back: “Who, if not you?”
I walk out, the July heat smacks me in the face, and out to the side, the dogs are waiting.
The moment they see me, they run. Mischka jumps up on me, and Notch nudges my hand with his nose. I crouch and wrap my arms around both of them like they’re the only thing keeping me upright. “You guys love me too, huh?”
