It was nearing dark, and I was getting anxious about finding out what Edmund had learned on the location of Aaron. I couldn’t wrap my head around the whole thing. It didn’t make any sense. The day before it had pretty much seemed like they wanted me with him, yet today it was almost as if they had woken up and realized that what had happened to him was directly connected to me.
My mother remained quiet through the meal until she put her fork down and looked at the two of us shoveling food into our mouths as fast as we could go. It didn’t taste bad, but with everything that had been going on, we basically needed to refuel.
“Last night has given me a new perspective on things,” she announced. “Particularly the way that the vampires and weres worked together. They were changelings, meaning they were created for one reason alone: they were made for hunting and killing the elements.” She paused and looked at Adam and me. “Can you two stops be eating for a moment! If I have to watch you two chewing with your mouths open one more bite, I’m going to sew them closed.”
We dropped our forks with a clatter. One thing that I have learned is never to push my mother too far. There was no telling what she would do.
“They are trying to distract us,” she went on. “Miranda won’t attack until Wesley tells her it’s okay. And she won’t believe him until she knows he has been safely turned. He is more valuable to her as a demon or vampire than as just a Harbinger.” She sighed. “They knew Dawn would come for Wesley, so they have been sending one thing after another to keep her from doing that. We delayed matters so that Dawn could have her prom and have some more time living a normal life. That time is now up.” She directed her gaze at Adam. “You wanted to be a part of this, so now you are. However, you are a prime target as well because you are pureblood human.”
Adam seemed about to say something but changed his mind under my mother’s steely regard.
“We need allies,” she went on. “Others to stand with us. We need elements and purebloods alike. I cannot promise that Heaven and Hell will stand with us. I cannot promise that other Guardians and Watchers will join our advance. I can promise, however, that we will have ourselves a great army.” She clasped her hands in thought. “We will take a handful to New Mexico, in case they are still there, and do what we can to infiltrate her masses. And, if possible, we will bring Wesley home.”
“So, you’re taking out one at a time like I suggested,” Adam said proudly. “I have some pretty cool ideas, I guess.”
“Well, it was sort of your idea,” my mother conceded, smiling. “If we can get the Harbinger away from her, she will have no choice but to attack, and if she does, she will do it on our terms, with no predetermined outcome.”
“So basically, it’s a recon mission,” said Adam.
“You play way too much Halo,” I said, kicking him under the table.
My mother gave me a sour look. “Yes, Adam, it’s a lot like a recon mission. The instruction will be not to challenge Miranda; her minions are not what we need to worry about. They are fledglings. Though strong, they will be easy to defeat.” She groaned. “The thing is, we need to find the gifted ones. Many do not even know they have the element in them. Those were who the others were killing: they were taking out the ones that didn’t know their own power. I think that is why Kim and her family were never targeted. Her gifts started to show before the order was given.”
“So, we need to get some followers,” I concluded, frowning. “How?”
“I’m going to need some time to think on that one. Once Krista is raised, we will probably have a better idea of what to do.” My mother rechecked the time. “Anything can change between now and then. We may find enough to join us and be able to wipe out her forces, but until then I will take a recon mission.”
I picked up our plates and put them in the sink. It was dark outside now, and I needed to set up my old phone. I walked out to the car and marveled at the sky. I had never seen it so beautiful, with its violets and blues mixed with grays and whites.
“What are you doing?” Adam demanded, running after me.
“The jackass I encountered at your house smashed my phone. So, I’m going to get my old one out of the back of the car.” I opened the back of the Escalade and pulled out my bag, then rifled through it. I squealed when my hand hit the familiar plastic case.
“Are you sure that’s smart?” he asked me as I grabbed the charger and headed back to the house.
“What do you mean?”
“What if they can track you?” he asked as he held the door into the house open for me.
My mother walked in from the kitchen, drying her hands. “What are you two talking about?”
“Dawn wants to set up her old phone, and I asked if that was smart,” Adam said, still eyeing me.
“I don’t see why not,” my mother said, smiling. “Besides, if they are tracking her here, they’re in for one heck of a surprise.”
“See? I told you it was okay,” I told Adam.
“Well, here’s hoping they don’t find us till tomorrow night. I’d feel much safer having this away from my father.” He looked upset for a second. “Is he going to be alright?”
“Your father is a strong man,” my mother said, patting him on the shoulder. “I just laid a lot on him last night. He already had an idea of what I was; he just had some of the details
