Page 39 of Claim the Twilight
“Well, that explains a bunch,” ghoul girl said.
“We’ll patrol New Town,” Atlas said. “Field off what we can and direct supernaturals to Branwood until we get news that Brimswood is also an option.”
Ezekiel nodded. “I’ll send Godor to you once we know for certain.”
He nodded.
“Okay,” Ordell said, stepping in. “For now, anyone who wants to catch a ride with us to Branwood can hop in the van. We’ll arrange carriages into Old Town for you all.”
“What if we’re attacked on the way?” one of the tulpas asked.
“Then we will protect you,” Godor said.
But I had a feeling there would be no more attacks, at least not on the tulpas who were left here. I had a feeling that Loviator had already claimed the souls she needed from this batch of supernaturals.
Chapter 17
ORINA
The hum of Betsy’s engine acted as a buffer between the front passenger seat and the back of the van where the tulpa huddled.
I filled Ezekiel and Ordell in on what Loviator had said, but both males concluded that the goddess was playing mind games with me.
“She’s obviously figured out that you’re important to us,” Ordell said. “Messing with your head is a way to mess with us. A way to seed doubt.”
“Maybe…” But I didn’t quite believe it. “I’m going to speak to Kaster anyway.”
“No harm in asking,” Ordell said.
“You trust her word?” Ezekiel asked, his tone low and incredulous. “After everything she’s done?”
Guilt dug its claws into my nape. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to belittle what she’s done. But it’s important we understand who and what she is. It could be vital in helping us to put her down.”
This seemed to satisfy him, but my guilt refused to abate. I slipped my hand onto his thigh and squeezed, an apology in my eyes. He sighed and smiled, covering my hand with his.
“We’ll speak to Kaster,” Ordell said. “You’re right, Orina, knowledge is power, and all that we know about Loviator has come from old texts and the white wings.”
The mention of old texts reminded me of Edwin’s research on Loviator. “Padma has a file of information on her. We should look at that too.”
“What we need to look into is how your sword lit up with fire,” Ezekiel said.
“It did what?” Ordell asked, briefly taking his eyes off the road.
“I don’t know how.” I shrugged a shoulder. “I have no idea where it came from.”
“A vampire ability?” Ordell asked.
“Maybe,” Ezekiel said. “I have the ability to turn to mist and to become shadow so…it could be.”
But that didn’t feel right because now I thought about it, I’d felt the fire before. In the tunnels beneath Branwood when Hemlock and I had been attacked by the rogue batlings. It had surged down my arm, and I’d thought it was my blessed power searching for my conduit, but what if it hadn’t been?
I quickly explained this to the guys. “And this happened before I was a vampire.”
“Then it must be something to do with you being the curse breaker and the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter,” Ordell said.
“Yeah…that makes sense.”
The rest of the journey was spent in tense silence as we watched the road, wary of attack.
