Page 12 of Soros
Ayedin and Elan got up and joined the rest of the crew while I tagged behind. Soros’ gaze was on me with a hard glance and just when I was about to pass him, he pulled at my wrist and moved me back into the cave.
“What is going on?”
I was taken off guard by Soros’ question and went into defense mode. “Let go of my hand.”
He didn’t hear me but hissed low. “Must you be with every man on the ship just to taunt me?”
My eyes narrowed as I hissed back. “Did you think you could ignore me for four years and still have a claim on me?”
“You said I was special,” Soros reminded me with an intense glance in his large brown eyes.
“That was before I knew how little our time together meant to you.”
“To me?” He scoffed and squinted his eyes, just about to continue, when Lios came back.
“Are you two coming?”
“Yes.” My heart was pounding in my chest like a war drum, and I gave Soros a defiant look of contempt. “We were done anyway.”
“The shuttle is waiting.” Lios studied me closely when I walked past him. I didn’t want him to feel sorry for me, and increased my pace.
“Tania, you’re taking the first group to London.”
“London?” I turned and stared at Lios. “London, England?”
“Yes. According to the staff, they have narrowed down two arrivals to Earth, these past days, that could look suspicious. One is in England. Zobran will be the leader of your group. I’m waiting for Nerix and Star and then we’ll go to New York where there’s another arrival.”
“What about Star?” I asked. “I promised her that I would be there for her when we got to Earth.”
Soros still looked pissed when he answered, “Don’t worry. Star is my roommate and I’ll take care of her. Don’t forget that I stayed on Earth for nine months and know how to handle myself here.”
I glared at Soros. “You and Nerix are both eager totake careof her, but I made Star a promise and I’m not leaving her when she’s already overwhelmed.”
Lios’ eyes darted between us. “You two seem very tense. Is there some conflict that needs resolution?”
“We’refine,” we said in unison as I raised my chin.
Lios shifted his weight from one leg to the other. “I don’t have time for this right now. We have a murderer to find, and I need you two to cooperate.”
“I don’t know much about London,” I said, feeling frustrated that I was being sent to Europe where I wasn’t a local expert.”
“You’re an expert on humans. The others can help with area maps and other languages if necessary. They can access the language archive. You’ll be fine.”
“They speak English in London. That’s not the problem.” My patience was running out and I felt like screaming.
“She’s all set.” The sound of Nerix’s voice made me pivot to see him and Star come walking toward us.
“Good. We’re having a bit of a discussion. Tania wants to stay with Star as she made her a promise.”
“And I said that I’ll take care of you,” Soros said, speaking directly to Star.
Star dipped her head a little like a tortoise sensing trouble. Nerix instantly stepped a little closer to her.
“I’m splitting the team into two groups with Zobran leading the group that is going to London. The other will be going to New York. Which group do you want to go with?”
Star’s gaze darted between me and Nerix as if waiting for one of us to tell her what to do.
“Sweetie.” I walked to stand in front of her. Pushing a lock of her honey blonde hair behind her ear, I asked softly, “Who do you feel safest with?”
