I nearly jumped out of my skin as my phone rang. Fumbling, I answered it. “Hello?”
“Ms. Roxanne, dis Jeremy. You sees dat video?”
“Yes, we all saw it. Where is that?”
“One dem channels off Lake Borgne. Jeremy’s peoples gots eyes on him, dey do, don’ worries.”
I wasn’t worried—well, okay, I was worried. I wanted to go after him and get those children before they drugged them again and killed them. Before they gave them over to whoever their buyers were. Were the buyers people from the Paragons? Should we get ready to go now? I looked at Rand, then at the rest of the people in the room, who all looked back at me.
“I can call the girls and they’ll be there before we are, Rox,” Sam said, reading either my mind or my face.
“Jeremy, we have to go after him tonight. You heard what he said, didn’t you? They’ve been drugging those kids. Who knows what that will do to their systems?” And, as Clyde had said, what it might have already done.
There was silence on the other end of the line. Then, he said, “Jeremy tells Cappy to get da boat. Ever’tins be ready when you gets here.”
I turned. Sam was already on the phone, rallying everyone. Zara sprang down, heading from the room. “Where are you going?”
Sebastian and Danai will be accompanying you. Those children may need Danai’s help. Use the bracelet to call Astra. It wouldn’t hurt to take a few pixies along.
Good idea. I started to reach for my bracelet, then looked at Rand, who was standing way too close. I moved several feet away. He gave me a quizzical look. “Sorry. Zara thinks I should call the pixies. With this.” I held up my wrist. “I’m not taking any chances on putting you out of commission.”
He smirked, but stayed where he was. “I thought we were past that.”
“Better safe than sorry.” Closing my eyes, I ‘reached’ for Astra and felt the bracelet warm. Hopefully, she didn’t mind being called in for this.
“Hey, did I hear him right? Pirates? As in Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow pirates?” Tess asked. Oddly enough, she looked more excited than afraid.
“That’s what I heard him say,” Sam replied. “Don’t get your hopes up, I doubt any of them look like Johnny Depp.”
“You always have to rain on my parade, don’t you? We should probably change into more suitable clothes,” Tess suggested.
Sam wrinkled her nose at her. “What do any of us own that’s suitable for a fight out on the water?”
Tess put her hands on her hips. “You know what I mean.”
“Oh, really?” Their voices faded as they left the room, bantering as they went. What they’d said reminded me of something, though. I headed for the hall and turned left, moving quickly past Gloria’s living quarters.
“Hey, where are you going?” Rand’s voice followed me. Along with the rest of him.
“I’ve got to grab a few things from downstairs. Will you watch for the pixies? I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for an answer, I placed my hand on the door, willed it to open to the lab, and hurried down the stairs. In the workshop, I pulled the project box I’d started from the cupboard I’d tucked it away in. Crap. I needed something to carry this stuff in. A bag that looked suspiciously like the one I kept my yarn and knitting supplies in appeared next to the box.
It is. Don’t worry, I put the contents in your closet. Were you ever going to finish that second blanket? Zara’s voice was amused.
I’ve been a little busy lately.
I dumped the contents out on the counter and began sorting through them. Finally, I shoved everything in the bag. I had no idea what we’d need or if any of this stuff would even work the way it was supposed to, but it was worth a try. Looping the bag over my arm, I rushed back up the stairs, then went to my room to change. Tess was right. I didn’t want to be out on the water in these clothes.
The pixies are here.
Thanks. I threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.
If you end up in the water, those jeans will weigh you down.
If I end up in the water, it’s probably too late anyway. I shuddered. Weren’t there sharks in Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne? Maybe we wouldn’t even be out on the water long. They could be holding the kids on an island or somewhere along the coast. On land.
She didn’t answer me, but I felt her unease along our connection.
I’ll be fine, Zara. We’ve got the coven, Rand, Jeremy, hopefully pixies, and don’t forget Sebastian. I’m going to let Arella and Dorn know we might have found the missing children. There’s no way they’ll stay behind. Heck, they’d probably send out half the colony.
Of course. Her words were stiff, but I felt her relax a little.
I grabbed a lightweight windbreaker and was shutting my door just as Tess and Sam stepped into the hall. “The pixies are here. Has anyone let Danai know what’s going on?”
Tess opened her mouth, then shut it, her face flushing. “I totally forgot.”
She knows and will meet you out front.
Tess blew out a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Zara!” she called out.
How many times do I have to tell you, you don’t need to yell?
“Sorry,” she called out again. “Oops. I mean, sorry,” she said in a much quieter voice.
Sam sighed, shaking her head,
