“That’s not all.” He stilled mid-stride and faced them. “If goodwill was your aim, you would assign a Healer or Nurturer to coax her out.”
Instead they sent a man known for his aloofness and ability to kill with precision.
There was silence. Then, “If she is the Key, you are best equipped to eliminate her.”
His blood ran cold. To think that stupid legend would lead to the death of a woman as sweet and pure as Lyssa Bates made his stomach roil. Every day that passed, Aidan hated his calling more and more. The killing of those who were ruined by madness or inherent evil like the Nightmares was becoming hard enough. If they were now to kill innocents, he didn’t know how he would bear it.
“You stayed with her, Cross. You could have withdrawn, allowed another to comfort her. You have only yourself to blame for this mission.”
He held his open palms out to them. “What’s happened to us that we, the Guardians of the innocents, would now kill simply because we don’t understand?”
“The Key must be found and destroyed,” the Elders intoned in unison.
“Forget the damn Key!” he yelled, his voice booming through the domed space, causing the Elders to recoil as one body. “You, who are so wise, can’t see the truth even though it’s staring you in the face. There is no Key! It’s a dream. A myth. A delusion.”
He pointed an accusing finger at them. “You want to live on false hope instead of facing the facts. You want to believe that there is some miraculous thing out there that will absolve you of the guilt you feel in bringing the Nightmares here. But we have nothing more than our will to fight, and we are wasting energy searching for what doesn’t exist. The war will never be over! Ever. We can only continue to save whom we can. What’ll we become if good is killed along with evil for a lie?
“Unless,” his voice lowered ominously, “there’s something you’re not telling us. Some proof.”
The silence that followed his outburst was deafening, but he didn’t take it back. He had only spoken the obvious.
Finally, someone spoke. “You did not tell us of your crisis of faith, Captain Cross,” came the far too calm rejoinder. “But all things come in good time, and this mission is even more suitable for you now that we are aware of your feelings.”
Locking himself away sounded better and better to him, too. “Fine. I’ll go to her now. And I’ll continue to go to her until you tell me otherwise.”
He hoped they would come to their collective senses and realize how fanatic their beliefs had become. In the meantime, he would defend Lyssa from both herself and the Order that was sworn to protect her.
Aidan spun on his heel and left in an angry swirl of black robes.
He didn’t see the Elders’ collective smile.
And no one saw the one Elder who didn’t smile at all.
“What happened to you? You looked so good last weekend.”
Lyssa rolled over and pressed her face into the back cushions of her couch. “That one night of rest was a fluke.”
Her mother sat on the floor and stroked her hair. “Your whole life you’ve had trouble sleeping. First it was growing pains, then nightmares, then fevers.”
Shivering in memory of ice water baths, Lyssa tucked her sage green chenille throw closer around her. Jelly Bean hissed at her mom from his customary spot on the armrest.
“That animal is possessed,” her mother muttered. “He doesn’t like anyone.”
“I’m not getting rid of him. He’s the only guy who puts up with me being like this.”
Cathy sighed. “I wish I knew what to do, baby.”
“Yeah, me, too. I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
“You need to have more tests run.”
“God, no.” Lyssa moaned. “I’m done with being a human pincushion, Mom. No more.”
“You can’t keep living like this!”
“This is living?” Lyssa muttered. “If it is, I would rather be dead.”
“Lyssa Ann Bates, if you ever say such a thing again, I’ll…I’ll…” Growling, her mother stood, apparently unable to think of a threat direr than death. “I’m going to the store to get the ingredients for homemade chicken noodle soup. And you’re going to eat all of it, young lady. Every drop.”
Lyssa groaned, and squeezed her eyes shut. “Mom, just go away. Let me sleep.”
“I’ll be back. I’m not giving up, and you’re not either.”
She distantly heard her mom gather up keys, then close the front door, leaving her in blissful silence. She sighed wearily and drifted into sleep…