She smiled that sweet, calming smile I’d seen in the Harvard courtyard. “I know, El speth. I sensed that when we met earlier. So I guided you to a place where you could have certain questions answered without any harm befal ing you. But I was tasked to bring you to safety. Not to il uminate you ful y. It isn’t time yet.”
“Please, Tamiel. What are we?”
A crash sounded in the adjoining car, and we al jumped. Tamiel grabbed our arms and said, “We need to get out of here.”
“Why?”
“Someone is coming for you.”
“Ezekiel?” I asked.
Tamiel stopped and spun around. “How did you know that? I just discovered today that he had surfaced.”
So our parents didn’t know about the Ezekiel factor yet. I was kind of glad they’d been spared that considerable worry. Especial y since they didn’t have any internal weaponry left with which to fight him. “He’s been in contact with us.”
“Yes, it’s Ezekiel. And I don’t think he wil show any mercy.”
“I don’t think he’l hurt me, Tamiel.”
Her bright blue eyes widened in astonishment. “Why do you say that?”
“I just sensed it. For some reason, I think Ezekiel needs me. I think he needs me to choose him.”
“Wel , you’re right. But there are many ways to make you choose him. Especial y since you care about mankind.”
“Like?”
“Like threatening Michael, who is susceptible to his cal . Like holding this entire train of innocent people hostage, until you come to his side.” Her expression no longer appeared surprised, but angry at my delay. “Should I continue?”
“No.” I remembered al too wel the horrors I had seen through Ezekiel’s eyes, and shuddered at the thought of being the reason for him to inflict more suffering on others.
“Then let’s go.” We linked hands and exited our train car. I felt the warm rush of the underground air, as the doors closed behind us and we stepped onto the rickety outdoor platform connecting the two train cars.
Tamiel crossed over first, holding on to my hand the entire time. I hesitantly stepped over the divide, when I heard a huge thud in the train car we’d just left.
“I hope we aren’t too late,” Tamiel said, as she pul ed me and Michael over to the other side. And we ran into the next car.
Chapter Forty-four
The train car was packed. With Tamiel in the lead, we pushed and elbowed our way through the crowd to reach the next set of doors. But not before we heard a deafening smash on the opposite side of the car.
“Don’t turn around,” Tamiel yel ed, and shoved me and Michael through the doors onto the connecting platform.
She propel ed us into the next car and the next, staying at our backs as a shield against an obviously angry Ezekiel. As we raced through the speeding train, we heard thuds and crashes in our wake. But we couldn’t stop to look or speculate; we had to keep moving. Even when we heard screams from other passengers.
We reached the doors of the last car. I wondered what Tamiel had planned, as the sounds of Ezekiel’s rampage hadn’t stopped. In fact, they had only increased. And I knew enough to be terrified.
Tamiel pried the last set of train doors open, and pushed us onto the platform. It swerved back and forth as the train sped down the track, and I didn’t think we’d be able to keep our footing. But then, I realized that Tamiel didn’t intend for us to use our feet at al .
We linked hands, and our bodies geared up for flight. I felt my shoulders broaden and the familiar warmth spread across them. I looked over at Michael to see if he was prepared. He nodded at me, and I squeezed his hand in reply. I was ready—as ready as I’d ever be to fly down the treacherous, underground tunnels of the T.
Just as our feet began to lift, the platform shook violently. I nearly fel off, but Tamiel pul ed me back before I tumbled down onto the electrified tracks. As I steadied myself so we could take off, I said a silent word of thanks to my mom for sending Tamiel, and looked over at her in gratitude for saving me.
But then I felt the earth shift hard under the tracks, and I screamed. Ezekiel was standing right next to Tamiel.
In the split second that Tamiel spun around to look at him, I second-guessed her. Perhaps the locket and the image of my mom and the chase through the train were just part of a trap to lead us to Ezekiel. But then I saw the expression on her face—a mix of astonishment and fear—and I knew that I was wrong. She was on our side.
The only one smiling was Ezekiel.
“That scream was not much of a welcome, El speth. And here I’ve been searching everywhere for you and Michael.”
Ezekiel reached for me, and I recoiled. I started backing up. Flight was the only way I could escape him, but my body wasn’t prepared yet. Just as his fingers grazed my arm, I felt Tamiel swoop me up into the air.
Within moments, I was able to soar on my own, and fol ow Tamiel down the warm, dank tunnels. The space was disorienting and narrow, so narrow that my arm brushed against a slimy tile wal . I reminded myself of the torture I’d seen in Ezekiel’s vision—torture that would be visited upon me, and God knew who else, if he caught us. So I held my tongue and flew.
As Tamiel raced down the passageways, Michael and I flanked her as best we could. She was incredibly fast and made sharp turns down the labyrinthine passageways of the T as if she’d memorized the entire system. Maybe
