Page 73 of In the Dark

“Whoever you’re looking for, they won’t be able to find us,” he told her, speaking softly. “We’ve made sure.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she answered truthfully.

Fragmented talk followed, broken only by the occasional swipe of the wiper blades against the freezing slush on the windshield. His Crown Victoria was getting a workout. He thanked himself for remembering to have brand new tires installed weeks earlier.

The sky was an unbroken expanse of gray, the sun remaining hidden behind the clouds. Morgan had always loved how the weather could turn on a dime from something beautiful to deadly. They didn’t have snow in Greece, where he’d been born and spent many a fantasy weaving a winter wonderland of sparkling ice and fresh-fallen powdery snow.

He focused on the sights around him instead of the black cloud sitting in the front seat. A genuine ticking time bomb the closer they got to their destination.

They drove for hours and only stopped once on their trip to fill up the gas tank. Morgan offered his credit card, was instantly turned down. The sisters took care of their own. Their problems and their debts. It was the least they could do for taking his car, Aisanna told him. He knew it would be no use to argue with them.

On they drove, across state lines. Interestingly, they headed north into Michigan, climbing higher in elevation. Morgan sighed. There was nothing to do except wait. He found the process increasingly difficult. He longed to be there already, and would have been if not for the presence of the three mortals under his protection. The mortals he’d be unable to carry. It stung, knowing his wings didn’t have the oomph to get them there. It certainly would have saved on time.

At last, Aisanna flipped the blinker and headed off the highway onto rural back roads. She kept the car at a pace just below the speed limit until they reached a dirty brown sign indicating their destination.

“Well, here we are,” Aisanna said on an exhale.

Morgan peered through the window until his breath fogged the glass. “Hiawatha National Forest? The stone’s in there?”

“Where did you think it would be? Protected in a secret government containment facility? Or on state land like a monument?” Aisanna asked curtly.

“I guess I just…well, I didn’t expect this.” He refrained from pressing his nose against the cool glass. “I thought it would be located in Europe, to be honest.”

“I think,” Astix began, “the stone goes wherever it wants. Untethered by physics and logic. That’s how it feels when I get close.”

“How did you find this place?”

“Don’t ask.”

They drove toward the gates of the park. This time of year, there was little security and even fewer campers and hikers. They managed to get into the park unseen. They made their way along a single-lane road, with the motor sputtering lightly.

He reached forward and dropped his hand on Karsia’s shoulder. “We’re almost there. I hope you’re ready.”

She turned to him with an unreadable expression. “Are you?”

Morgan removed his palm and sat back before she could do anything. She’d been oddly silent the majority of the drive. Nary a nasty comment or dead pigeon to mark her mood. Whether she remained under control was something they would see soon enough.

Morgan had the sneaking suspicion she was playing them.

“Do you remember the way to the cave?” Astix asked Aisanna.

“It’s been burned into my memory. So, yes.”

“Well, the only time we were here included a trip through the forest and nearly getting lost before we reached Gladstone.”

“Both of you shut up,” Karsia snarled.

Morgan felt oddly out of place. His own siblings would consider the moment droll and either move on from it or interfere in a way that ended with tragedy. Most of them were still stuck in the ancient past and demanded tribute, for goodness sake. They would never appreciate the familiarity of this singular interaction. And would probably see it as entirely too human and miles below their standards.

It was one of the things he appreciated most about the people whose dreams were under his care.

“We go on foot from here.”

Aisanna pulled the car into an empty lot and turned the key to the off position. The motor sputtered and hissed before falling silent. For a moment the four of them simply sat, listening to the hush.

Karsia was the first to open her door, slamming it behind her. The shadows gathered close to her.

“Let’s get this over with and hope we don’t make it worse,” Aisanna said softly.

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