*
I woke with a feeling of nervousness. I opened her eyes as other emotions took hold of me as well; those of loss, sadness and anger. I quickly sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. It was still dark outside but Lucius stood at the foot of the bed.
“They’ve been taken,” he said.
“What… when…” I asked as I threw the covers aside and Lucius came to help me get out of bed.
“Makeba just called. They were ambushed at the twin’s home.” Lucius released my arm and I grabbed my robe, headed for the door.
The angel outside our bedroom door turned quickly and bowed his head but didn’t speak. I hardly noticed him. I could hear talking downstairs and I rushed to get to the rest of my family.
“How long ago,” I asked Lucius.
“About ten minutes ago.” Lucius went to my other side as I grabbed the banister.
“Is everyone up?”
“Yes, they are all here, Armaros and his family as well.” Lucius let go of the breath he’d been holding since I’d taken the first step.
They had all congregated in the kitchen instead of the dining room. The area may have been too small for us to eat in, but no one was sitting. As I entered everyone stopped talking and turned to me.
“Are they alive,” I asked Enid and Amala. There was no reason to beat around the bush. If they weren’t we’d need to know.
“Of course,” they answered.
“And will they stay that way,” I asked.
“For now”
I breathed in and let it out the breath slowly. Being mad at the twins was going to get me nowhere. I understood that any number of events could change the future.
“Do you know where they are,” I asked. I wasn’t sure if anyone had already asked the question but I was playing catch up and didn’t really care.
“In winter’s court,” they answered.
“Then we go get them,” Maalik spoke.
I could feel the fight building in him. He was ready to go now. Our emotions were on par in this regards.
“It will be a lot more difficult than that.” Armaros said. “We have no idea where they’re hidden or how many we fight.”
He was right. We couldn’t just go barging into fairy blind.
“Then we go to the Summer’s queen and ask for aid,” Sveva said.
“How can we know it’s safe?” Amara asked.
Both set of twins held each other, but while Amara and Sveva always drew comfort and strength from each other; Enid and Amala looked more like conjoined twins. Touching for them seemed a necessity.
“Because Ife trusted her,” Nandi said bringing all eyes on her. “She’s promised and therefore bound by her word. Ife told me she has a role to play and we may not be able to proceed without her.”
“Then we leave right away, as soon as I dress,” I said. Lucius opened his mouth and I silenced him by raising my hand.
“I want my sisters as safe as you want me. I’m sorry my love, but I can’t always sit in the safety of this house while people continue to make sacrifices.”
“With the youngest taken we must pool all resources in order to get them back.” Armaros said.”
“If that is all then I think I’ll go get dressed,” I said rising.
“Well there’s one other thing,” Armaros said, stopping me in me in my tracks.
“I think it time for you to meet with Azriel.”
Epilogue
Found Page 28
