same. She could never forget all that had happened, all that she now knew existed. No matter how this turned out her old life was gone. The old Ava was dead. Disappeared from this earth with Maeve. As she met his steady gaze, she felt an eerie calm take over her. The match left her fingers and fell to the floor. The fire took hold as she said, “Abso-fuckin’-lutely.”
Chapter 4
From the driveway, they watched smoke seep out the living room window. Lucas had hoped that she would break down and let her anger and fear out, but instead she watched the smoke like it was her job. Her face held no animations. No pain, no fear, no worry. It wasn’t like her to bury emotions far beneath the surface. He didn’t like it. Nevertheless, there was no time to do anything about. They had to go. Now .
Someone would see the smoke, the flames. Soon this area would be swarming with humans. Or worse . . .
He turned and reached for the door handle of the Camaro.
“We should get going. Someone is sure to see this and report it.” He didn’t want to startle her but couldn’t help scanning the tree line behind the house. She took a few more seconds to watch the billowing smoke before she turned toward the car.
Her sapphire party dress moved from side-to-side as she rotated. The once beautiful material was now torn and soiled from the night’s events.
Pressure weighed on his chest. Guilt?
He should have insisted she swap her clothes for more practical ones before they started their journey. Yet, he’d packed some of her clothes. There would be time for her to change later, when they’d put this place in their rearview mirror
She walked past him then addressed him over her shoulder. “Just because I need your help does not mean I want it.”
“I don’t need to help you, but I want to,” he said, holding open her door and motioning for her to get into the car.
“God knows why.” She plopped onto the passenger seat, crossed her arms, and faced forward.
“Someday soon I will tell you why, and maybe you will change your opinion.”
She twisted to look at him. “Don’t bet on it.”
He shut her door. He might just do that.
After making a quick stop at the inn to collect his things and ditch their phones, they headed north. She’d protested when he demanded her cell but he wasn’t going to risk being traced. The demons may very well be high tech in this day and age. As far as he was concerned, they were off the grid. “All Maeve said was to head north. That means we will have to stop and inquire about this Belinda Turner in every village and town.” What would it take to distract her from the all-too-interesting window?
Without turning, she said, “What if we can’t find Belinda?” Her tone cut him. The fear she refused to show on her face was evident in her voice. The only thing he could give her was hope.
“We will find her. Never doubt that.”
A couple hours later, after stopping in several villages to inquire about Belinda, an ache began to settle in his gut. No one seemed to recognize the name. Hell, she had to be in the area.
The sun was high in the sky and neither of them had eaten all day. As they drove into another small village, he found an empty space on the side of the road and stopped the car. It was time to refuel, fill their empty bellies, and call his brother. At the very least he wanted to keep Aiden updated on current events.
Ava protested and refused to get out the car, demanding they keep moving. But he silenced her with the idea that they could inquire about Belinda. He got out, heard Ava’s door slam, then grabbed her bag from the trunk.
He walked up the steps to the best-smelling building on the street. A blue clapboard structure with a wooden sign that read in large black letters: GILLS. Fishing nets and an anchor draped the wall next to the screen entrance. He held the door for Ava. She crossed her arms over her chest, then paused.
He waved his hand toward the door. “Ladies
Chapter 4
From the driveway, they watched smoke seep out the living room window. Lucas had hoped that she would break down and let her anger and fear out, but instead she watched the smoke like it was her job. Her face held no animations. No pain, no fear, no worry. It wasn’t like her to bury emotions far beneath the surface. He didn’t like it. Nevertheless, there was no time to do anything about. They had to go. Now .
Someone would see the smoke, the flames. Soon this area would be swarming with humans. Or worse . . .
He turned and reached for the door handle of the Camaro.
“We should get going. Someone is sure to see this and report it.” He didn’t want to startle her but couldn’t help scanning the tree line behind the house. She took a few more seconds to watch the billowing smoke before she turned toward the car.
Her sapphire party dress moved from side-to-side as she rotated. The once beautiful material was now torn and soiled from the night’s events.
Pressure weighed on his chest. Guilt?
He should have insisted she swap her clothes for more practical ones before they started their journey. Yet, he’d packed some of her clothes. There would be time for her to change later, when they’d put this place in their rearview mirror
She walked past him then addressed him over her shoulder. “Just because I need your help does not mean I want it.”
“I don’t need to help you, but I want to,” he said, holding open her door and motioning for her to get into the car.
“God knows why.” She plopped onto the passenger seat, crossed her arms, and faced forward.
“Someday soon I will tell you why, and maybe you will change your opinion.”
She twisted to look at him. “Don’t bet on it.”
He shut her door. He might just do that.
After making a quick stop at the inn to collect his things and ditch their phones, they headed north. She’d protested when he demanded her cell but he wasn’t going to risk being traced. The demons may very well be high tech in this day and age. As far as he was concerned, they were off the grid. “All Maeve said was to head north. That means we will have to stop and inquire about this Belinda Turner in every village and town.” What would it take to distract her from the all-too-interesting window?
Without turning, she said, “What if we can’t find Belinda?” Her tone cut him. The fear she refused to show on her face was evident in her voice. The only thing he could give her was hope.
“We will find her. Never doubt that.”
A couple hours later, after stopping in several villages to inquire about Belinda, an ache began to settle in his gut. No one seemed to recognize the name. Hell, she had to be in the area.
The sun was high in the sky and neither of them had eaten all day. As they drove into another small village, he found an empty space on the side of the road and stopped the car. It was time to refuel, fill their empty bellies, and call his brother. At the very least he wanted to keep Aiden updated on current events.
Ava protested and refused to get out the car, demanding they keep moving. But he silenced her with the idea that they could inquire about Belinda. He got out, heard Ava’s door slam, then grabbed her bag from the trunk.
He walked up the steps to the best-smelling building on the street. A blue clapboard structure with a wooden sign that read in large black letters: GILLS. Fishing nets and an anchor draped the wall next to the screen entrance. He held the door for Ava. She crossed her arms over her chest, then paused.
He waved his hand toward the door. “Ladies
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