by Scott, Amber
“Do you mind taking a break?” Elijah said.
“Thought we just did.” Monica touched her head. “Oh. Lyric’s turn, eh? I hate it when he elbows into my freaking brain.”
Elijah chuckled. “Tomorrow I’ll show you how to keep him out.”
Lyric strode in but didn’t look ready to spar. The sensation returned, this time prickling in Elijah’s chest. “What is it?”
Lyric was holding something. “Sadie left this. I think you should see it.”
Elijah took the leather bound book and opened it to a worn page. Sadie’s words wrapped around him, describing him in great detail, questioning each description at length. He turned one page, then another, noting the paint smudges here and there. She wasn’t simply describing him, her crush from afar, but dreams of him as well. The more he read, the tighter his chest grew.
“How did you get this?” he demanded.
“I gave it to him. Sadie brought them back with her,” Monica said. “Friday, was it? Yeah, after her appointment. Her sister brought them to her doctor’s visit. Sadie was so pissed. The way she was clutching at them, you’d think they were made of gold. When she left them behind, I took them. I gave them to Lyric.”
“Why Lyric?”
“I don’t know. First one I saw, I guess.”
Elijah’s mind calculated. He pushed the open book at Lyric. “Am I jumping to conclusions or do these entries smack of predictions?”
“Why do you think I brought it to you,” Lyric said and flipped through it himself.
“But she’s become a seeker. She grew wings.”
“Small wings. And she was human only weeks ago. I think it would behoove us to not assume we know anything about what happens when humans become changelings.”
Monica nodded. “If you think that one’s juicy, you should see the other one. Her mom’s.”
“You read this?” Elijah asked. “There’s another?”
Monica jutted her chin higher. “Yes.”
“Where’s the other one?”
Monica scratched by her eye. “I, uh—.“
“Holly took it with her,” Astrid said from the door, startling them. She had left them, standing against their harboring changelings, then had a change of heart. Enough so that she’d healed Sadie. “She dreamed of you, Elijah, before you came to her. She knew. Her wings aren’t like yours.”
He remembered Sadie telling him as much. The dread in his chest widened. “Where is Holly?” he asked Lyric, listening for a trace of her.
The black shine in Lyric’s gaze made Elijah’s worry climb. “I can’t get a feed on her,” Lyric said. “She’s blocking me.”
“Monica what’s in the other journal?” Elijah demanded.
She shrugged. “Not much of it was coherent. Lots of end of days and God and realms kind of stuff. The angels will come, the winged man will come for her.”
“Astrid?” Elijah implored, unsure what he was asking her, but she seemed to know.
“I haven’t seen it myself, but if it belonged to the mother and the daughter transformed….”
And Holly had it now. Her questions before she left, combined with his answers, and turning his dread icy. “Then she’s taken the journal to Sadie.”
“She thinks it means something,” Lyric said, but his voice lacked conviction. “Why wouldn’t she tell us?”
“Because she is trying to find Crusoe on her own. Because she’s trying to help, too much, once again.”
“Yeah, to help. Right,” Monica said. “She’s trying to win you, Elijah,”
Elijah met her steady gaze. His head pounded as he shook it. “Holly’s like a sister to me.”
“Well, your sister wants to screw your brains out,” Monica replied.
Elijah’s mouth fell open. He snapped it shut. It didn’t matter. What mattered was finding Holly. He didn’t want to believe Holly would seek Crusoe alone, but he also couldn’t deny evidence stacking in his mind against her. She’d left with the journal alone. She was blocking Lyric. The things she’d said. Would anything matter to you as much as finding Crusoe?
Elijah cursed. Holly had no reason to harm Sadie and yet if what Monica claimed…. “I have to get to Sadie.”
Before he could transport, though, Astrid grasped his arm. “Don’t go alone.”
Elijah couldn’t express how glad he was she’d changed her mind and come back.
“Take me,” Monica demanded.
“Like hell,” Lyric said. “You barely have control of your powers. You can’t create a shield. You hardly know Holly. I’m going.”
“I know her well enough,” Monica insisted. “And I know Sadie as well as either of you.”
“What can that matter? We have to assume the worst. Either Holly is hell bent on finding a lead, or she’s bent on eliminating one, namely Sadie. We can’t know.”
“Which is why you should stay.” Monica squared her shoulders. “Holly could come back.”
“Astrid is here,” Lyric defended.
“She’ll see right through any attempts at subterfuge from me, Lyric,” Astrid said. They all knew she was right, too. She wore every emotion.
“She’s right, Lyric, we need you here,” Elijah said. “If Holly returns, you can image it to us. You can make certain she’s being reasonable.”
“So can she.” He tossed a cell phone to Monica, who rolled her eyes but put up no more fight. “I know Holly better than you think. I’m going. And there are some things you’ll need to know.”
Elijah’s head thrummed with adrenaline. His stomach coiled. He nodded once, then engulfed Lyric into his wings. Astrid, Monica and the room disappeared as he pushed Lyric with him through miles and into Sadie’s bedroom.
It sat vacant.
His mind raced nearly as fast as his pulse. The room was vacant, the boxes gone, the books neatly stacked and the bed sat made. “Wait here.” He pushed himself to the front door, outside, and rang the doorbell. He could hear Jen inside somewhere.
Elijah forced his features to relax. Jen cracked the door open.
“Elijah,” she said, her frequency going staccato. “Hi. Sadie isn’t home. Can I tell her you came by?”
“She isn’t?” he said. “She isn’t answering her phone. Do you know where I can find her? It’s important.”
Her weak smile turned. “I wish I could, Elijah, but I can’t.”
Pressing her would cause alarm. “Will you please tell her I came by?”
“Absolutely.”
He left, got Lyric and pushed them to the campus library. If Jen wouldn’t tell him, Sadie’s sister certainly wouldn’t either. He could think of one other person who might know. Elijah scanned the fourth floor, glad that Lyric held his questions in check. He recalled Ben’s cherubic face and searched.
“There?” Lyric said, pointing.
Ben stood talking to a student, directing him somewhere. Elijah closed the space between them, perfectly timed for the conversation’s end. The student walked away.
“Excuse me,” Elijah said.
The young man jumped. “Yes?” His hand flew to his chest. “Can I help you?”
“Don’t think I’ll believe that you don’t recognize me,” Elijah warned. “Where is she?”
Ben’s eyes widened. “Where is who?”
“Sadie.” He forced his voice to steady, though emotion rioted in his heart. Hopefully, Lyric could feed Ben some nice calming images. Images of Sadie. Better still, receiving images of Sadie. “If you think you can keep me from her, you’re wrong.”
“Okay, but I’m not exactly sure. I—I’m not supposed to—that is, I haven’t seen her in days.” Ben blanched. “They swore to me it was for the best. I didn’t know.”
Elijah’s hands shook, itching to transport Ben by the throat. If not for his scared, guilt ridden ping knocking about.... “She’s in danger, Ben. And not from me.”
Elijah gave Lyric a meaningful look. Lyric nodded. Within seconds, Ben’s lower lip trembled. “I wish I could tell y
ou, but her sister, her cousin. They brought a doctor! What could I do?”
“Tell me where she is. You have my word I’ll protect her.”
“St. Luke’s Desert Medical Center.” His shut his eyes a moment. “The psych ward.”
~ ~ ~
Chapter Twenty-three
Sadie stared out the hospital window at the Zen garden. The koi pond and little rock waterfall did little to soothe her. Her wings twitched at the idea of getting out of here. At least her family believed her safe now. They still thought she was crazy, but hey, until a few days ago, she hadn’t been so sure herself.
Needing time to get her bearings, she’d played along.
Today, both doctors and Heather would have to face the truth.
Today, she would walk out of here. And find Elijah.
Her heart twisted at the thought of him. God, she missed him.
Regardless of any promise of a future together, she would say her piece and do what she could to help him find Crusoe. She didn’t fit in this mortal world anymore. If he could not return her feelings, so be it. She still needed to know the next step in adjusting to this new life and he would help her. She knew he would.
“Sadie,” Julie, the day shift nurse, said from the lounge room door. “You have a visitor.”
Sadie glanced up. “Who is it?” Her first three days, in agreement with both Dr. Meyers and Dr. Fox, she’d refused visitors. They could bring her here, but she wouldn’t indulge the drama visits would create.
“Your sister.”
Sadie involuntarily pushed her wings down to hug her back, the window view forgotten. Sadie stood. Heather entered, hands wringing each other.
“I brought you some magazines.” Heather handed over a grocery bag.
Elijah’s words from so long ago rang in Sadie’s head. What would you do if your sister went missing? Sadie peered inside the bag. Redbook. O Magazine. Their inky scent pushed off the sanitized coffee smell of the ward. “Thanks. These are great.”
“Thanks for seeing me. Dr. Meyers hasn’t called me back yet. Dr. Fox is always busy, it seems. I’ve been worried sick.”
Sadie sat, gesturing for Heather to as well. “I asked them not to.”
Hurt shone in Heather’s eyes. “I figured as much. You’re still mad at me.”
“No. Not really. I understand why you want me here. I came willingly, didn’t I? Embraced the spirit of cooperation? I just worry you won’t accept that I won’t be staying.”
Heather shook her head. “Dr. Fox is releasing you? He’s managed your medications already?”
“No. I’m not taking meds anymore. I don’t need to take them anymore.” She spoke slowly, so each word could sink in. “We agreed to observation time and if I showed no signs of needing them, Dr. Fox won’t force them.”
Heather slumped. “But how?”
“I am free to leave at any time.” Sadie didn’t mean to sound so ominous. “I wanted to see you first. So, I’m glad you came.”
“Just observation?” Heather asked. “Last time, they administered tests. Blood tests. MRIs.”
Sadie nodded, keeping her wings retracted despite knowing Heather could not see them. “That was different. I’d cut my shoulders. I had gotten pretty manic.” Dr. Fox had gone over this with her at length. “Dr. Fox says if I’d asked him, he’d have helped me ease off the meds. But since I did it on my own and am symptom free now….”
Her sister looked away. Silence pressed between them. Sadie set the crinkling grocery bag on the nearby table already brimming with similar magazines.
“How is this possible? Your journals. I had more. I showed them more.”
“The human brain is a mysterious organ and can heal remarkably well, given the right set of circumstances and luck.” It had sounded better coming from Dr. Fox. “If it helps, Heather, I’ve agreed to regular follow up appointments. To make certain this isn’t temporary. You have every right to be suspicious, Heather.”
Her sister nodded. “Okay. No meds. Does Jen know any of this?”
“I spoke with her a little this morning.” For the first time in a long time, Sadie felt her age. And Heather seemed hers. “I hope she’ll keep me as a roommate.”
Heather became decided. The air of resolution about her was unmistakable. “Of course she will,” Heather said, her tone deceptively light. “You know Jen. She’ll do whatever she can to help, whatever keeps the waters smooth. She let your friend come and get your things, didn’t she? Even when you refused to see any of us. I’m not sure I would have.”
Sadie tensed. “What things?”
“Your paintings. The rest of Mom’s journals. I guess keeping them boxed worked out, huh? Jen thought you were trying to move out on her. She called me freaking out, then she got me freaked out. But don’t worry. She knows it was just for the stay, or the doctors or whatever.”
“My paintings?” Sadie’s heart skipped. Had Elijah come for them? “Who got my paintings?”
“Don’t worry. Not all of them. Three or four was all. Wait, you didn’t want her to take them?” Heather’s forehead scrunched in worry.
“Her? A woman got them? Not Elijah?” Disappointment burrowed into Sadie’s gut.
“I don’t know. Jen said ‘she’. But you didn’t ask anyone to get them?”
Sadie scanned the room. She strode to the far wall and picked up the beige phone receiver. “What’s Jen’s cell number?” Heather called the digits off and Sadie thanked God her sister was retentive enough to know the number offhand. She certainly couldn’t. Her mind was racing too fast. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday. Oh no. Sadie, Jen only meant to help.” Heather worried her lower lip between her teeth.
The line rang in Sadie’s ear. “What exactly did Jen say about it?” she demanded, telling herself Elijah sent Holly. Or Monica. Or Astrid. But why would he?
“Just what I said. A chick came by for your stuff and she was scared you were moving in with Elijah. I told her it was probably for the doctors.”
Another ring. Voicemail picked up. Sadie hung up.
She dialed Jen’s office, a number she did know offhand. Someone answered. “Jen?”
“No. She isn’t in. May I take a message?” Her receptionist.
Sadie’s mind raced. She hung up. “Jen isn’t at work.” She had to think fast. “When did you talk to her last?”
“I told you. Yesterday. Why are you freaking out?”
Was her sister really so oblivious to how wrong this was? “I didn’t ask anyone to get my stuff, Heather. Why would I?”
“To move out? Move in with Elijah? To show the doctors? How should I know? Why would anyone want your stuff?”
“Are you enjoying this?” Sadie asked, unable to stop from taking her frustration out on her sister. “Did Jen say anything else about the woman? What she looked like?”
“I’m not enjoying this and you’ll have to ask Jen.”
“I can’t! She isn’t home, she isn’t at work, she’s not answering her cell phone.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s calm down, Sadie. I’ll go over there after this. I’ll tell her what’s going on.” There was that mothering tone, back again. “It has to be someone you know, so just call every female friend and we’ll figure it out.”
Heather was right. Still, alarm rang through her. Why the journals and paintings? Three motives flashed in her mind. Holly could want to prove something, to win Elijah’s approval. Astrid might still detest her. Monica, well, she could have been lying the whole time about who she was. “Jen could be in danger.”
“Why would Jen be in danger?” Heather’s tone shouted doubt.
Sadie paced the floor. “I don’t know. Let me think for a minute.”
Should she call Elijah? Accuse one of his team? Ask if he knew why any of them would take something? Who was to say it wasn’t one of the feeders he’d said were following her before? But then, why that stuff specifically?
“You have your car, right? I need to borrow it. Ju
st let me get my things.”
Heather took two steps back. “You can’t leave, Sadie. They won’t let you simply walk out.”
“Sure they will. I’ve done everything as agreed. Dr. Fox said as much. Wait here.”
Gripping Sadie’s arm, Heather stopped her at the door. “No. They won’t. I got Power of Attorney today, Sadie.”
“You what?” Sadie’s pulse hammered higher.
Heather’s behavior rapidly added up.
“I got temporary Power of Attorney this morning, Sadie. A judge saw fit that I should be legally involved in decisions on your behalf while you are here. Once I speak to Dr. Fox, you’ll be back on your medications.”
“What are you talking about? Power of Attorney? How could you do this to me?” Sadie yelled. Her temples throbbed, she threw her wings open, enraged. “And you’re sitting here, acting like everything is okay. Acting like you haven’t talked to Dr. Fox? Are you lying about Jen, too, Heather?”
“I had no choice, Sadie. Don’t you see? I need to know you’ll be okay.”
“No. I don’t. I see you obsessed over something that no longer exists, that never existed. I see you clinging to the past. I need to leave here now and I will. Jen’s life might be at risk.”
“See? Can’t you see, Sadie? Don’t you hear yourself? Why in the world would Jen’s life be at risk? I think you know who got your stuff. I think this is part of your own paranoia and self-sabotage.”
Sadie threw up her hands. “Mortal danger, Heather. Give me your keys.” The faster her mind circled, the more sinister taking her things became. “Now, Heather!”
“Or what?”
“Heather. I need you to trust me on this. Jen is in danger. You could be, too. In fact, I’m not leaving you alone until you both are safe. Until I speak to Elijah.”
Some freaking skills would certainly come in handy at this point. Feeding, transporting, something. What could she do? Flap her invisible-to-everyone-else wings, hope her sister saw them and decided she wasn’t insane? How did Sadie get to Elijah? Would he be at the safe house anymore?
“Look. You’ve been under a lot of stress,” Heather said. “You’re overreacting. Dr. Fox will be here any minute. His message sai—.”
