Cornelius laughs and says, “For now, you don't. You can consider that practice for the future.”
Frowning, I squint, concentrating on trying to shove something back at him and having no idea if it does anything. Cornelius and Jacob both chuckle, obviously knowing what I'm trying to do, but they say nothing.
After a moment of grunting, I give up, instead allowing myself a moment to enjoy the warmth that still burns in my chest. A zing of surprise interrupts the warmth, and I freeze, my eyes widening as I concentrate on the sudden shift in our connection. Jacob is right there, his expression concerned as his eyes search mine. “Vivian?”
“Something happened. There was a jolt of some kind and then nothing.”
Cornelius and Jacob look at each other, and when they don't say anything, I ask, “What? What is it?”
“It means he got interrupted,” Jacob replies calmly.
“Which means it's likely that something's going to happen,” Cornelius adds.
I press my lips together to keep myself from saying something ridiculous. Opening the cupboard, I pull down a small bag, then turn to the refrigerator, opening the door and peering inside, and Jacob says behind me, “What are you doing, Viv?”
I glance at him over my shoulder. “What does it look like I'm doing?”
“This hardly seems the time for a meal,” Cornelius responds from where he's still standing on the other side of the counter. I glare at him and then retort, “It's not for me.”
“I can assure you,” Jacob says. “We're both fine.”
I snort rather indelicately. “As if I'd feed you two yahoos.”
“Then what the hell are you doing?” Cornelius asked sharply.
“Packing a snack,” I respond evenly. “For Zion.”
The room falls silent. I go about rummaging around in the fridge, letting the silence drag on. But then, when I turn back toward the counter, letting the fridge close behind me, I come face to face with Jacob, with his arms crossed over his chest. “Put it back.”
I clutch the items against my chest and shake my head. His eyes narrow, and he opens his mouth to say more, but Cornelius interrupts, “Oh, for fuck's sake. Let her get her goddamn snack.”
Jacob throws Cornelius an incredulous look over his shoulder, but Cornelius just stares back at him. So finally, with a huff, Jacob steps aside, and Cornelius interrupts his mutterings,“What harm does it do to bring him a snack? Either he eats it or he doesn't.”
Jacob turns to Cornelius, lifts his hands out in front of him as he says, “Seriously, Cornelius. You think he's going to have time for a snack?”
I drop all the items on the counter as I respond quietly, “He was hungry. I could feel it.”
Jacob's expression softens, his stance immediately becoming less defensive. Then he turns back to Cornelius, and they have some kind of silent conversation that ends with both of them shrugging and going about their business.
“Vivian?” The slight question in Jacob’s voice draws my attention across the room, where Jacob and Cornelius are standing in front of the window. “You better come look at this.”
Dropping the bag onto the counter, I rush across the room, my hands pressed against the cold glass as I stare out, wide-eyed.
The once star-filled sky is completely dark, swirling clouds hanging ominously. Trepidation rolls over me. “What do you think's going on?”
“Nothing good,” Cornelius replies. “We better get moving.”
Abandoning my supply run, I grab my sword from the counter, sheathing it in its scabbard before turning back to the door. I exit first, with the two men behind me, and immediately turn, taking the same path I had taken the day before at a run. The clouds darken even further, lightning crashing along with the rumbling thunder. The storm escalates quickly, and we quicken our pace until we're sprinting through the forest toward the clearing.
The sky opens up, and within moments, we're completely drenched, Cornelius and Jacob’s grumbly muttering making me smile as we race toward our destination.
By the time we reach the clearing, the wind has picked up exponentially. We fight our way toward the center and the scorched earth that awaits us. The sky flashes angrily, dark clouds crisscrossing with lightning, and then thunder crashes as the rain turns to hail. Cornelius and Jacob's cursing becomes even louder.
Chaos swirls around, and with one final push through it, we break through. We're standing in the middle of that scorched earth zapping with an electrical current that's almost painful. Drawing my sword, I look at Cornelius and ask, “Will it let you in?”
He shakes his head. “I don't know.”
I look at Jacob with eyebrows raised, and he shakes his head and shrugs. I frown. “What do I do if I get there and I'm alone?”
