by KT Webb
The temperatures continued to stay much lower than they had been historically. Hadley had no power to control it, leading them to believe it was an indication of the first prophecy coming true. Both Romulus and Kerr reported that the temperatures were significantly warmer in areas where they found concentrated numbers of the Creator’s supporters. The temperature bordered on freezing in areas with higher crime rates and lower church attendance.
Thatcher took Nora’s instructions to protect Keira very seriously, and had even taken a custodial position at the school where Keira attended kindergarten and would now be attending first grade. He was ready to get her out at a moment’s notice.
When Nora and Kerr returned from dropping Keira off at school, they found Dorian on the phone with one of their scouts. He had hung a large map on the wall behind his desk and was keeping track of the movements of each Malady. The troubled look on his face told them he had received some disconcerting news.
“And you’re sure?” he asked. “Alright, keep tabs on them. I’ll update everyone. Stay safe.”
He hung up the phone and looked at the group that had gathered around him. Hadley, Nora, Kerr, Whitley, and Romulus surrounded his desk. Dorian sighed deeply.
“Apparently, Avarice and Rage signed up on one of those stupid dating websites. Their profiles matched and they’re going on a lunch date in St. Louis today,” he said with an irritated tone.
Kerr laughed, despite the situation they were in. “What site was that? I hate everyone.com? Future world dominators.com?”
His laughter filled the room and soon became infectious. Nora, Whitley, and Hadley laughed themselves to tears. Even Romulus shook with laughter. Dorian stared around at them.
“Pull yourselves together. Do you know what this means?” Dorian asked sternly.
“Alright, alright, but seriously . . . what site did they meet on?” Kerr asked as he gulped in air.
“Hopeless romantics.com,” Dorian said, knowing they’d recognize the irony.
Kerr bit his bottom lip and tried to hide the smile fighting its way to the surface. Nora cleared her throat.
“Well, that’s actually a little sobering,” Nora said.
They were silent for a moment. “Hopefully Avarice takes one look at Rage’s ugly mug and decides to stand him up,” Whitley said.
They all sat in the library waiting for the next call to come.
Thatcher and Keira arrived shortly after noon. Hadley filled Thatcher in on the call from the scout; he shared a strained look with Nora, understanding that he may need to take Keira away that day.
They were all eating macaroni and cheese when the phone rang. Dorian answered before the first ring finished.
“Hello? . . . Yes, and also with you,” Dorian said, responding to the code word. “Has Avarice gone in yet? . . . Okay, stay on the line with me until she does.”
The others waited, hanging on every word as Dorian put the phone on speaker.
“Rage is sitting at a table, waiting. Avarice is coming down the sidewalk,” the scout said. “She’s going in.”
They waited, none of them daring to breathe or speak.
“They’re shaking hands,” he whispered, the intensity in his voice rising as he watched.
“They’ve recognized each other. Avarice is clearly disgusted. Rage just threw the table. The people inside are terrified, but they’re leaving the restaurant. I better get out of here.”
“Thank you, Steve. Be safe,” Dorian said as he hung up.
They all looked at each other for a few moments, saying a million things in their silence. Nora and Kerr held Keira close, and Thatcher stood protectively next to them while holding Hadley’s hand. Whitley was hugging herself, eyes closed, listening to the Council of Immortals. Dorian and Romulus locked eyes. They were getting older, but they weren’t done fighting.
“It’s begun,” Whitley said, breaking the silence.
Watch for the final book in
The New Era Saga coming in 2016.
Choosing Eternity
About the Author:
KT Webb is a big city girl living in small town South Dakota with her husband and two children. She believes in the power of words and enjoys writing stories that make the impossible seem possible. By day, KT is a communications and marketing coordinator; by night, she is a passionate independent author.
KT loves reading, listening to pop-punk music (especially when she’s writing), having adventures with her children and traveling. She believes in magic, that there’s a hero inside everyone and that characters should be just as flawed and intriguing as the people we meet every day.
A Note from the Author:
Thank you for reading Growing Hope! I truly hope you are enjoying The New Era Saga so far. I cannot wait to share the final installment with you all. Look for it to come out in 2016!
As an independent author, I depend on the reviews of my readers to entice other people to read my work. It would mean the world to me if you would leave an honest review on Amazon.com and/or Goodreads.com.
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