What you did for her?Ruby wanted to shout.
“No, I haven’t told her anything.Not until I have to.I’ll meet you outside.”
Cyn disconnected, giving Ruby a nod.She leaned on the passenger door and watched between half-closed eyes.
Cyn got out as Fernandez approached the car.“I need to get Ruby to whatever this device Purcell has.Now.She’s been feeling the effects of the fracturing, but now she’s barely hanging on.”She could hear his fear of losing her in his voice.“Purcell said to get in touch with you.”
Fernandez glanced her way, though he could only see the top of her head for the most part.He pulled out his phone and started touching buttons.
Cyn rammed his fingers back through his hair.“I understand how you felt now, when Celia almost died a long time ago.And recently.I understand why you set me up to save her.”
“I’m glad, because it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”He focused on his call.“Purcell?It’s Fernandez.The woman who was with Cyntag, she’s very ill… Yes, I’ll put him on.”He handed the phone to Cyn.“He wants to talk to you.”
Cyn took the phone, looking for all the world like a man distraught.“She started out feeling lethargic but went downhill fast.She… she can hardly breathe now.She hasn’t eaten in several hours.I’ve been keeping her alive by using my healing power, but I’m so weak I don’t know how much longer I can do it.You promised if we backed off, you would save us… I’ll be right there.”He shoved the phone at Fernandez.“Thank you.”
“Where is he sending you?Is it where we’re all supposed to go?”Panic punctuated Fernandez’s voice.“He won’t tell me.”
Cyn didn’t answer, running to the car.
Ruby sat up as soon as they were out of view of the house.“What if it’s a trap?”
“The vision says you have a chance to defeat the monster.The only way we’re going to do that is to get to the reactor.”
She didn’t want to think about the other part.“You were so convincing, the part about losing me.I could hear your pain and fear.You’re awfully good at acting.”
Perhaps he heard the concern in her voice, that maybe, just maybe, he’d been acting with her.
“Acting?That wasn’t acting.All I had to do was remember watching you walk away from me yesterday.”He let those words settle for a moment.“Purcell wants to meet at a gas station north of here.We’re to follow him.Remember, he can reach into your mind, so you have to think sick and weak.”
“All I have to do is remember walking away from you.As much as I wanted you to hurt… damn it, I was hurting, too.”
He looked at her, his expression softening.“Ruby…”
“Don’t say anything.”She pressed her fingers to her temples.“It’ll mess withmyhead.”
Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up to the Chevron.It was closed, but the lights were on.Purcell waited by a Rolls-Royce, his arms loosely crossed in front of him.He approached the Thunderbird, and Cyn got out.
Purcell glanced into the passenger window where Ruby sprawled.“She seemed fine earlier.”
“She’s been complaining about stomach pains for the last day or so.I convinced her that you were telling us the truth.That we had to look out for ourselves.It was soon after that”—he pinched the bridge of his nose—”she got so fatigued she could barely move.I think it’s hitting her hard because she’s newly Awakened.Save her, and I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
She could hear the strain in his voice as he begged.Cyn was not a man who was used to begging.
Purcell said, “I will hold you to your word, as you hold me to mine.But I insist that once you are there, you remain until the fracturing passes.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Follow me.”
Cyn got back in, closing the door with both hands, like he was too weak to do it with one.“We’re on.”
They wound through the city, busy even at this time of night.Ruby remained slumped but watched the buildings go by.Finally, he pulled into a nearly empty parking lot.A sign pronounced the place closed for renovation.
“Where are we?”she asked.
“The Devil’s Ray nightclub, one of the private clubs for Crescents only.”
He parked near the entrance, going around to the passenger side and helping her out.She let her body go limp.
