Page 87 of The Firebrand
Sabine answered, “Don’t know and don’t know where he was going. But we will.”
“Where’s the Earther?” Kole shook his head as he exploded from his chair, stomping around his office, clenching his fingers to prevent fire from sparking.
“Ram put the whammy on her before we sent her home. No wiser,” said Sabine.
Kole tapped his D-chip and listened, his face expressionless. He tapped again, stroking his chin. “This shit beats all. You capture Ulfur bringing across a human female. Brak and Dax just caught a carnal demon coming through at their stake-out in Bludhaven. The asshole was carrying a drugged Earther. Dax wiped the guy before he sent him back. The demon’s dead, though. Our guys claim he objected to the arrest. They snagged his portal jumper. We’ll see if both of these are fakes. It’s a sure bet they are.”
“Two humans brought across in a single day?” Ram mused.
“Whatever this shit is, it doesn’t make me feel warm or fuzzy. Get downstairs. Help the gaffers interrogate the mutt. Give me regular updates. Anything else?”
Ram said, “Send down Brak and Dax when they get here. They might have some questions to ask. Other than that, we’re off to watch the gaffers in the Cubes.”
“In the meantime,” said Kole, “I’ll have Logan check out the two devices. If they’re fake, I’ll send a couple Firebrands to interview the owners. Afterward, I can update Cadmon. Damn. Bringing humans onto Scath is going to result in a real cluster fuck. Who’s that stupid, and what do they want with humans?”
****
“It’sa date.” Braelyn jotted down the day and time on her calendar. Dr. Joe had called to pass along information on several new treatment plans, scheduled consults with more experts, and would discuss her best options in two-and-a-half weeks.Life went on.With so much in front of her, she decided not to enroll at the University of Washington next semester.
Sinking into her well-worn sofa, Braelyn disconnected from the call with her oncologist. She glanced into the kitchen at a sink full of dirty dishes. The morning newspaper still littered the counter while yesterday’s clothes decorated the floor, not having made it to the laundry hamper. She sighed, picturing Rein’s neat condo. Her heart hammered in her chest when she thought of him.
Braelyn had adapted to her Seattle apartment, settling into a routine after nearly a month back on Earth. The end of summer hinted at cooler weather and rain. Of course, her knowledge of new realms and secrets prevented life from ever being truly normal again.
Having found a copy ofThe Path: Volume Iin the Alliance’s library, she had checked it out and brought it home. Propping bare feet on the coffee table, she slouched into the couch, opening the book to the first section. She had finished only the preface at Rein’s condo.
Under the stars and beside a fire, I rested from my day’s travels. Considering myself a philosopher, a warlock searching for life’s meaning on the road, I often pondered lessons I had learned. A massive fiery creature swept in from the skies, blotting out my view and terminating my contemplations. He identified himself as Ohngel, a winged assassin of the OneCreator.
After numerous visits filled with deep conversations on the meaning of existence, he impressed on me an urgency to save my kind as well as humans, sparking my need to be of value in this world. To give me purpose where before I had none, he shared the Prophecy of Karma, found in a cave in the Vakataka Kingdom, a scroll that presaged a dark future for Aeternals and mankind.
Once he convinced me of dire times ahead, we laid plans to counter the prophecy. The next morning, I set upon a journey filled with purpose and ablaze with excitement.
Braelyn stopped, slammed the book shut, jumped up off the couch, snatched her purse from the coffee table, jammed her cellphone into it, and charged out the door.
No more moping, reading about Aeternals. Get off your ass, girl.
Outside in the hall, two Alliance agents waited, assigned to protect her. Constant shadows, they were her father’s response to the attack on Scath. She locked onto both of their elbows, dragging them toward the elevator. “Come on. We’re going grocery shopping. What do you like? I’m fixing dinner tonight. But keep it simple. I’m not the world’s best cook.”
Rick, a freckle-faced strawberry blond, said, “Anything Italian.”
“You’re in luck. I can do Italian.”
“Fine by me,” chimed in Loren, ex-military who looked the part from her combat boots to her straight-legged jeans to her Alliance baseball cap.
The route to the market took Braelyn past her favorite First Avenue coffee shop. Dropping Rick and Loren’s arms, she halted at the alley where she’d come upon Rein. Smiling, she recalled the Kalli pinned to the wall. With eyes closed, she brought her fingers to her lips, tasting the Firebrand’s kiss. As if memories were raindrops, she wiped them off.
Another life.
Loren slung an arm over her shoulders. “Come on. Dinner waits.”
“Right.” Braelyn snapped out of her reverie, continuing on with her protection detail. “Crying, spilt milk, and all that shit.”
Several days later, after finishing a story forStrange but True, she met her father at the Hangout on First. George ordered a martini. Braelyn, a whiskey neat. She jerked her head toward a booth near the bar’s kitchen. “How long will I have tails, Dad?”
“Until I’m sure no one is after you. Is that the reason for our drink date?”
“No. I want to train with the Alliance.” She almost put her hands over her ears, waiting for her father’s explosion.
Instead, George sighed. “Are you sure this is what you want, Braelyn? Does your decision have anything to do with that Firebrand?”
