Page 67 of Lucie
A blanket of dread wrapped around him, filling him with apprehension. This was new to him, this uncomfortable sense that sethis teeth on edge. He briefly wondered where his mother andJohnahad been taken. But if the clinic was situated in the same place as it was in AltaNovisand NewBearinger, he knew where they were isolated.
Yulentook in the dilapidated building. “I need to see what’s behind us.” Without explaining further, he exited out the side entrance. Everyone went outside to examine the rearof the dining hall, where the market places and homes should be located. The battle lord pointed to the wall. “We can’t defend this whole compound. The walls aren’t supportive. We need to set up a new defense perimeter. Bring the troops in to circle the main hall. We need to keep it tight. Let’s get this done ASAP, before the Bloods get here.”
“I’ll notify Cole,” Paxton informedhim, and left. The two captains ran off to reassemble their men, leavingYulenand Lucien alone.
The battle lord narrowed his eyes at his son. “I noticed earlier you were starting to twitch. Why?”
“This place gives me the creeps.”
“Most abandoned places will do that to you.”
“No. I mean, I get this feeling…”
“Something dangerousis about to happen?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe it’s the Bloods. Maybe you’re reacting to them.”
“No,” Lucien firmly denied. “It’s not the Bloods. It’s this compound. There’s something here that isn’t right. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific.”
Yulenstared at him for a long moment. “You don’t have to be specific, son. Your mother got those kinds of reactions, too.When she did, she told me about them. The majority of the time her warnings saved our lives. Let me know if it gets any stronger. Listen, it’s going to be a long night. Let’s check on the women before all hell breaks loose. How are you feeling?”
Lucien knew what he was asking about. The sun was starting to set. More than enough time had passed for the virus to take effect if he’dbeen contaminated. “I’m not sick.”
“That’s what I figured, but how could that be, when you’d been exposed to your mother’s germs the same asJohna?” Sighing loudly,Yulenlooked around again at the tumbled ruins that once had been a working compound. “Come on. We’ll discuss it later with Iain. Right now I need to see how your mother’s—”
Shouts of alarm erupted fromthe direction of the front gate. Lucien and his father raced toward the entrance, both of them fearful of what they’d discover.
