Page 10 of Out of Peril

“It's an open-air market,” Dante explained. “The Collectors will come around and check on you just the same. I kind of like this better.”

He seemed a little confused, and I was worried that he didn't fully understand what was happening. Perhaps he had been in an abusive collection. I'd heard about them before but judging by his cage, that seemed unlikely.

“Get behind me,” Maya said, pushing me towards the back of our cage and holding her arms out as she took on a defensive stance when the stranger from Dante's vision started heading in our direction.

She was so small and unassuming that I couldn't help but smile at her. Sure, I knew she was quite powerful for such a tiny witch, but to look at her, no one would see that.

“She's a little badass, huh?” my new neighbor said. When none of us responded he continued talking. “I'm Nate. I must say, I’ve spent my entire life in collections but I've never seen an auction quite like this before. What are we about to fight, little lady?”

Maya scoffed at him but kept her eyes on the stranger.

Nate followed her line of sight and scowled.

“What's wrong?”

“He's coming for Lindsey,” Dante whispered.

“Who?”

The boy pointed up at me.

“I assumed that was Lindsey, but who's coming for her?”

“The man in the white shirt.”

“That's Walk-Wa-Walter Grimes,” Nate sputtered.

“You know him?” I asked.

“Well, yeah. He's my master.”

“Is he a good one?” Dante asked.

“The best.”

“Then why are you here?” Maya asked.

I dared a glance at Nate who had turned pale.

“Now that is a long story.”

His tone told me he wasn't going to explain further, so I didn't bother asking.

“Why is your cage so big?” Dante questioned him.

“What? It's no bigger than yours.”

“But there are three of us, plus we have Lindsey,” he told him as if that somehow explained everything.

“Like I said, Walter Grimes is a very generous master.”

I had questions, but now wasn't the time. They were getting closer and I needed a plan.

“Why is he after Lindsey?” Maya demanded. “Dante saw it in a vision. He's looking for her. Why? What do you know?”

“I don't know anything, kid,” Nate said. “I didn't think he’d decided on anyone yet. You know, to add to his collection. But maybe that's what he saw.”

“Yeah, maybe that's all it is,” I said, trying to ease the tension within the kids.

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