Reaching Retribution(45)
“We’re going to get them back,” Bragden says. I’m going to do anything and everything in my power to make that statement true. They will not stay at Dravin’s compound for long.
I sit back and stare out the window, trying to keep my mind from wandering. I can’t think about what they are experiencing there…what Ryanne could be going through again. If I do, I’ll go invisible, and I need to stay visible right now.
The trees outside the window blur together from the movement of the car. The yellows, oranges, reds, and greens stream together as we pass. Ryanne would love this scenery for she loves the outdoors. There were many times when I caught her just staring out a window, watching the woods. At first, I thought she was daydreaming or lost in her thoughts, and while that was the case some of the time, I realize now that she was just appreciating nature.
“How long will it take to get to Whiteshire?” I ask Tom. “I want to get this over with as soon as possible. They don’t need to be there any longer.”
“It’ll take two hours to get there and then we’ll have to spend a couple hours coming up with a plan. We won’t be able to do anything tonight, Colton. I’m sorry.”
I clench my first and stare out the window. Natalie grabs onto my arm and attempts to keep me calm. It’s working to keep me visible, but it doesn’t keep my mind from thinking about what is going on.
“Colton, we’re here,” Natalie shakes me awake.
I open my eyes and groggily try to assess my surroundings. When I see Natalie looking at me, everything comes back to me. I jump up and get out the car, and shortly after, everyone else follows. We’re parked in another high end hotel parking lot. I go to the back of the car and take my duffle bag. I see Ryanne’s duffle lying off to the side. Natalie walks up behind me and grabs her bag and Liam’s. She shrugs and walks back toward Tom. I grab Ryanne’s bag and follow her.
“Is everyone here?” I ask him.
“There are a lot here already. Everyone else will arrive later tonight or early tomorrow morning.”
“So you think we’ll be able to get to them by tomorrow?” Natalie asks.
“Let’s talk with everyone and see what they think we should do. There’s a lot at stake here. We don’t want to rush into a compound full of Gadramicks unprepared.”
“Okay,” Natalie says dejectedly. I pull her after me as we enter the hotel lobby. Tom goes up to the front desk and gets our room keys. He called ahead of time and reserved rooms. We basically have an entire floor for all the mages and have the ballroom reserved for a couple nights. There’s plenty of space for everyone.
“We’ll call a meeting as soon as we get settled,” Tom announces as he hands out the room keys. Since Ryanne isn’t here, I have to share a room with Logan. Lily, Natalie, and Incendia are all sharing a room together.
Taking the elevator up to the third floor, I follow Logan slowly down the hallway. I know that I won’t be able to sleep tonight, so it doesn’t matter where I am. Logan unlocks the door and claims the bed near the window. I drop my stuff along with Ryanne’s bag on the bed and sit down on the edge.
“We are going to find a way to get them back, man. Don’t worry. We won’t let them stay there for too long,” “Logan assures me.
“I just wish there was a way I could find out how she is doing. To see if anything is happening to her. I don’t like not knowing what is going on and being left in the dark.”
“Liam will find a way to contact us if something were to happen to her. You have to trust him,” Logan tells me.
“I do trust Liam,” I tell him. “It’s Dravin and Adam that I don’t trust. And now she’s at that compound with some Zahtri person who’s stronger than both of them put together.”
“Ryanne’s just as strong. You’ve seen what she can do, Colton. I doubt she needs us to go against him, but she can’t go against a whole compound alone which is what she needs us for. If Dravin or Zahtri wanted Ryanne dead, she would be. They’re keeping her alive for something. We have to get to her before that something occurs.”
“Then let’s start this meeting. The sooner the better.”
Gathering in the large Ballroom, we all help push the tables to the far end of the room. We leave the chairs out for everyone to sit in, but the tables aren’t necessary. Honestly, I doubt people will sit down anyway. We all understand what is going on. As we work, no one says anything. The only sounds coming from the room are the scraping of the metal chairs against the tiled flooring.