Airel - Aaron Patterson [113]
“When you began to change, your body was rejecting your angelic side; it makes you sick. Being close to someone in the Brotherhood will start the process—Michael’s job is to find our kind—he can feel when someone is turning and feeds off the power. You, however, somehow resist him and his drain on you is not as strong at is should be.”
“Sometimes I would get sick and a second later he would be there, but other times I’ was fine.”
“I think when you were out for 8 days, that was your system adjusting, allowing your angelic side to take over. I’m not sure if this will make it better or worse for you around one of the Brotherhood.”
“So what do we do now?”
“Airel, If I had my way you would not be here and I would go get Kim by myself. However, I don’t think you will listen or obey me on that particular point, so we’ll go in as a team. I will provide the diversion, and you will keep yourself alive. Your job is simple: get Kim out. I will deal with Stan.”
“But you could be killed! He has superhuman abilities; you said so yourself.”
“I know. This is not about me, though. All you need to know today is what I have already told you.” His eyes softened to a washed out blue-hazel, and his voice flowed freely with compassion. “Obey me.” I flushed at being talked at like a child, and shook my head. I didn’t want Kale to put himself in harm’s way, but I couldn’t stand by and let that monster kill Kim either.
“No, I’ll listen. Just tell me what to do.”
Kale nodded, obviously pleased.
I looked over my shoulder to the two seats and the straps and tie downs. My stomach turned.
Kale noticed and gave me a smile in excuse. “I had no choice, Airel. You understand I was never going to hurt you.”
I nodded. “I know; it’s just that it seems like forever ago. My family must be beside themselves. What am I gonna do about them?”
“We can talk about that later.”
Great. More mysteries.
I sighed and thought about what my parents must be going through. I bet the police were involved by now. I could see my mom sitting on my bed looking at a picture of me and crying. God only knew what Dad was doing. I needed Mom, especially now.
My whole world was being torn apart, but I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on the past. “Past is perfect; what’s done is done. You must leave it where it is and move on today. Only learn.” I wanted nothing more than to go home and cry on Mom’s shoulder, lie in bed for the next month, and bathe in my sorrows.
I started to recognize landmarks and saw a sign: Now Leaving the Sawtooth Wilderness Area. My stomach was tight, balled up, and butterflies flipped and flopped inside it.
I had wanted to bring some sort of weapon: a gun or a sword, but Kale refused. “You will be going after Kim, not Stan. Remember that. You should have no use for a gun or any other weapon.” I protested, but it fell on deaf ears. I thought I was stubborn, but compared to Kale I didn’t stand a chance.
He armed himself with a small black dagger that ended with a wicked curve at its tip. He put in its sheath on his belt. He was still wearing his white robes, and he looked positively out of place behind the wheel. “This is comfortable,” he said, catching my disapproving glance. I guessed men were all the same; it didn’t matter how they looked as long as they were comfortable. Fashion? What’s that?
I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. I checked in with my little winged friend and she sent me a wave of comfort for which I was grateful, and I tried to remember to breathe. I focused on Kim, thought of her face in my mind, and recounted all the fun we had together. She was like a sister to me, my best friend.
“Some things to remember,” Kale interrupted my reverie.