Page 56 of As Darkness Fall
“Does anyonenotunderstand the plan?” I asked in a gentle voice, a trap for the unwary who might think they could speak about something else.
One by one, they met my hard stare, and one by one, they nodded.
“Good,” I said. “So, everyone understands the part they are to play in this?”
Grumbled affirmatives came, again from everyone.
“Good,” I repeated, forcing a smile on my face. “Now, I understand some of you might have some objections.”
I raised a hand to stop them before they started. The last thing I needed to do was lose control of the table, and I would certainly do that if I let them all start speaking at once.
“One at a time,” I said. “Understood? That’s how we’re going to do this. I’ll point at you, and you tell me your thoughts. And, of course, I’m sure you’ll also provide me with advice on how to fix the problems you see.”
Several faces frowned, but I could tell they weren’t ready to cave.
“Okay. Let’s start with you five,” I said, waving my hand at the various members of Aaron’s team. “Jaxton? Fred? Pieter? Alexi? Any objections?”
“What about me?” Dave protested.
I looked at him. “We all know you don’t have any objections, Dave,” I joked. “You just go where you’re told.”
Muted laughter broke out at the table at the jab, but it faded quickly. Still, it was a good sign.
“No major criticisms, ma’am,” Fred said, seemingly speaking for the group. “A few minor suggestions, but those can be covered later if the rest of the plan doesn’t change. Otherwise, we just go where he goes.”
Fred pointed at Aaron. That was about all I’d expected from them anyway. It seemed that whatever hold Aaron had over them, it was fairly complete. Which meant I had to get Aaron on board as well.
“Thank you, Fred,” I said, turning my gaze next to Aaron.May as well deal with him now.“And what about you?”
Aaron sat back in his chair. “I don’t like it.”
I sighed. “No kidding. I hadn’t picked up on that. Care to use a few more words?”
“It’s too many people,” Aaron said. “We shouldn’t go in such strong numbers. It would probably be best if I went alone.”
“No,” I said with an authority I didn’t particularly feel. “Not happening. We need the Idol to rescuemyparents. I’m going along to ensure that we get that Idol back safe and sound. End of story, so don’t bother arguing it.”
Aaron grimaced. “Fine,” he said. “Then it should just be the two of us. We get in, we get out, and we come back here with the Idol. Nobody else.”
“Absolutely not,” Vir objected from across the table, placing his palms down, leaning forward. “I will not allow her to enter that place without someone who can get her out.”
“I can get her out,” Aaron hissed icily.
“Not as well as I could,” Vir snarled.
“You can’t even get her in there without me,” Aaron pointed out. “What makes you think you can get her out?”
“I can protect her better,” Vir said.
“Knock it off,” I said, rubbing my temples. “Both of you. Seriously. This is the plan. Unless either of you has an honest-to-goodness workable, viable alternative, then we’re going with it. Now, do you?”
I put my hands on my hips, surveying both of them. Most of me really wanted one, or both of them, to speak up. It’s not that I wanted to go through with this plan. I hated the plan. Going to the Underworld? Stealing from Hades? Not something I usually tried to do on a Sunday afternoon. So, another plan would be ideal.
Unfortunately for mortal ol’ me, none of them spoke up. That meant the plan was a go.
“Okay, break time, then,” I said. “Go start making lists of what you’re going to need. The sooner we can depart, the sooner my parents are free from that lunatic Lars. Thank you.”
Aaron’s team immediately got up and filed out without a word. They knew they didn’t want to be around for what came next. I was expecting an argument from Aaron and Vir, and not a nice one. Both were old creatures who had been around for a long time and thought they knew best. They would try to convince me of that.
