A distant disturbance caught Abigail’s attention, making her lift her head. From somewhere in Serenity, a portal to the Pravus opened, and all thefoxenin the room fell silent. The portal closed, and they all could sense the demon in the Ula.
Here we go,Abigail thought. She undimmed and strode to the center of the room. All eyes turned to her. A couple of the teenagers gasped.
“Khain is here,” she said, her voice quiet and even, her purse clutched in front of her. “As we all damn well know. ThevodvodCrew Arcoal will save Paisley. So it is foretold. So it is seen.”
Relieved murmurs spread through the listeners.
“Thevodwill take Paisley to the hospital, and we will recover her quickly and efficiently and then go back about our lives as best we can. Those who wish to be part of the recovery team, line up here in front of me. You will seevodandvodvod, they might ask you questions, and so help me, anyone who loses their shit will be banished from Serenity, Tether or not!” She looked straight at Rissa when she said that, challenging her. Rissa moved closer to Reynard and Reynard put a comforting arm around her.
Several people stood and lined up in front of Abigail. She surveyed them coldly, thinking,Everyone wanted to be part ofhistory.She fished her phone out and called Number Twelve, telling him to bring the crate of bottles labeled ‘liquid vitamin’. She motioned to Reynard. He came jogging over.
“Smell them all. Anyone who scents likefoxenmust change their clothes.”
Reynard nodded. “We have a clean closet full of clothes to fit all sizes.”
Abigail was about to snap that she knew that, when a deep grinding voice invaded all their minds at the same time.
Don’t worry, pup, she’s not at home, I checked.
The group offoxenin front of her shuffled nervously, looking around, some of them cowering, some returning to the couches, and a few ran straight out the door. Rissa cried out. Mina covered her ears. Ellis grabbed a handkerchief from a pocket and blotted his forehead with it, then dimmed out. The two gossiping teenagers ran into the bathroom, holding hands. Reynard snarled and growled deep in his throat, turning an eye to the ceiling, curling Rissa close to him and motioning Mina over. She ran to him, and he held both females protectively.
Abigail noted each and every reaction, filing them away for future musing.
Everyone fell silent, listening. When nothing more was said, Abigail pointed at Reynard and said, “Go, we’re running out of time.”
He nodded, released Mina and Rissa, then plunged into the volunteers, smelling their hair and shirts.
Abigail stalked over to Rissa and demanded, “Cry.”
Rissa covered her mouth, crying softly, then working up to full-on blubbering. Abigail nodded. “Keep it up. Anyone asks you anything, you turn on the waterworks. Let Mina speak for you, got it?”
Rissa nodded, her tears subsiding.
Abigail gave Mina a bottle she’d brought from the Templum. “You’re in charge,” she said. “Right before you go to the hospital, give this to Rissa. It’ll make sure she cries for real.” She turned to Rissa, who looked worried, and said, “It only lasts two hours.”
She backed away, scanning for Number Twelve. When she saw him, she waved him to the door, then told Mina, “I’m gone. I’ll meet you at the hospital as soon as I can.”
They hurried to the car. Abigail had to get to the Templum and get Number Six to Ethedra immediately, before thevodvodCrew Arcoal hopped over to Ethedra’s world.
18—Timber
Timber followed the scents of the others out of the station, through an empty field, across a couple of streets, and into a park full of evergreen trees and walking paths. He could hear the others up ahead of him and he jogged that way.
He smelled the strong, sulphury smell of the Pravus wafting in the night air. He picked up speed, sprinting through the darkness, hearing shouts in front of him. He rounded some trees and saw the others clustered together in a group, then Mac socked Crew in the face!
Timber yelled out and ran forward, expecting the others to jump on Mac, but what really happened was Crew hit the ground, then disappeared! One minute there, the next minute just gone! Timber stopped running and rubbed his eyes, then looked again. Crew was still gone. The others were gaping and staring at the ground where he had been, except for Mac—he was looking at his fist in awe.
Timber was speechless for the second time that day. He turned around in a slow circle, wishing for his brother.
Bro,he tried inruhi.
No response.
Timber turned back to look at the others. Bruin was looking around theatrically. Jaggar stood in one spot, looking traumatized. Troy and Trent were sniffing the ground, following a scent out of the park. Mac was on his phone, barking to Sergeant Rockford that he wanted an ambulance and several patrol units sent immediately.
Timber drifted toward Mac, wondering what had happened to Crew’s mate. Mac hung up and made another call. When someone answered, he said, “We’ve found Paisley andshe appears unharmed. We’re taking her to the hospital now by ambulance,” in a neutral voice.
Mac waited a beat then said, “Good, drive safely please.”
