“I’m serious, Syleen. Let me go back and tell Lelas that I’m leaving, or I’m not going.”
Syleen’s eyes hardened.“Maybe I need to reiterate how serious this matter is, Brett. We may not get another chance like this. Zef may have already noticed we are…”Her voice trailed off as she looked over my shoulder.
Turning, I followed her gaze.
Lelas swam toward us, no more than five yards away. Her eyes didn’t meet mine but went straight to Syleen.
“What are you doing here, Lelas? How did you find us?”
Lelas gave a slight nod in Syleen’s direction.“I could tell something was wrong with Brett at the meal this evening. When he left the tribe, I followed. I have been hiding within the crevasse.”
Syleen swam forward, but Therin reached out and stopped her.“You have heard what was discussed?”
Lelas nodded.“I want to join.”
I saw my own surprise mirrored in Syleen’s expression.“It seems spending so much time with a demon has altered your thinking ability, Lelas. You are not a hunter, much less have the bravery it will take to face other tribes.”
“Just because I do not agree with the method of the Great Spirit hunt does not mean that I do not wish to serve my tribe. If I may be of use to my people, then I offer all that I am.”
“We do not have time for this nonsense.”Syleen turned back to me.“You said you would go when Lelas knew of your departure. She now knows. It is time for you to leave.”
I looked from Syleen to Lelas, who now looked back at me. I could tell her words were directed only at me.“I need to go, Brett. I don’t know how I know, but I am certain that I am needed on this quest. Please, I must go with you.”
Before I could figure out a way to try to convince Syleen to let Lelas join us, Greylin spoke up.“Syleen, it may be of use to have a female in the group. She will hold more credibility than the males. In addition, Therin and Wrell are obviously warriors. There may be mixed reactions to Brett. Some wonder in seeing a human swimming with mers, some fear. Lelas does not have the same aggressive demeanor as the mermen and is more accessible than Brett. Her presence may make all the difference in some tribes being willing to listen to them. That, and there is no more time to discuss the matter. It is now or never.”
Syleen glowered at Greylin, then turned to Lelas, and finally me.“Very well. If nothing else, Greylin is correct that we are out of time. The four of you go. May Moheetla watch over you, grant you safety and success, and save our species.”
Without any other words, she turned and swam back into the darkness toward the tribe.
Greylin embraced Therin and Wrell, kissed Lelas’s forehead, and turned and took me by the shoulders.“Thank you for risking much for our tribe. It is an honor to count you as a brother.”With that, he followed Syleen into the inky murk.
An image of Therin, Lelas, Wrell, and I swimming off in the opposite direction floated into my mind.
Therin’s voice cut through it.“Yes, Wrell, I agree. It is time to depart.”It seemed the picture had entered everyone’s mind.
Lelas turned her smiling face to me, motioning toward Therin and Wrell as they began to swim.“Shall we?”
I nodded.“I’m glad you’re with us. I feel better with you here.”
“Remember you said that when I take sides with your father more often than you when you have disagreements.”
I rolled my eyes.“Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence. Already casting your lot against me, I see. Maybe you should stay back after all.”
Her warm laughter filled my mind.
Thirty-Four
FINN DE MORISCO
Thebloodshot veins running through my eyes nearly overtook all the white. It looked like my eyes were bleeding. Why did I fight going to the Vampire Cathedral? I already looked like a half-crazed vampire. Supporting my weight on the sink with trembling arms, I stared into the hospital bathroom mirror. My eyes weren’t the only things making me look vampiric. My skin was pale and dull, cheeks sunken, bags under my eyes so dark and huge I looked nearly twice my age. I let out a sigh. My breath fogged up the mirror, the hazy distortion improving my appearance.
I wasn’t the only de Morisco in such a state. All three of the girls looked nearly as bad as I did. Caitlin and I had finally convinced Cynthia to let Ricky and Christina drive her home to get some sleep a few hours ago. She hadn’t left the hospital since Mom and Dad were admitted three days ago. Of course, neither had Caitlin or I, but we’d both managed to sleep in the chairs in the hospital rooms. Although she tried, Cynthia hadn’t been able to. She looked like she was going to pass out before she’d even left the building.
In the mirrored reflection, the bathroom door opened. Schwint stuck his head in and searched before his eyes landed on me. “There you are. I wasn’t sure where you wandered off. Caitlin said you went to get a coffee from the cafeteria.”
I tried to smile at him, but my reflection showed some other expression that I didn’t have the energy to name. “I was going to, but stopped to use the restroom. I haven’t been able to pull myself from the zombie staring at me through the mirror.”
Schwint let out a soft laugh. “It’s not that bad. True, you don’t completely look like the beautiful warlock I’ve been dating, but I wouldn’t kick you out of bed. If we had one.”
