Chapter 29
Savannah's POV
“They created it, but they can't cross it without permission from the leaders of the races. Why are you asking me this?”
“I have a strange feeling that something will happen.”
“I feel that too. Promise me something.”
“What is it?”
“I don't know what they will do with your mother if they find us. Take her somewhere safe.”
“What about you?”
“I can't go with her. If you're trying to hide me it might lead to war. That cannot happen. If they find me, I have no choice, but to go with them.”
“I can't just let you go if that's the case. What about me?”
“In that case you should go with your mother too. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
“I can promise to take mom to safety, but I won't leave you. Like you said, they won't kill me. I'll be safe. You might need my help.”
“I won't tell you what to do. You wouldn't listen.”
“And you're right about that. We'll fight them side by side if it comes to that. They cannot take you without a fight.”
“Let's not get that far ahead. As soon as they come too close I'll feel them. That's when we have to be careful. Until then we don't have to worry too much.”
“I'm leaving now.”
Before I left the house I masked myself. I've been doing this ever since I came back from my trip and met the scouts. I couldn't sense anybody following me, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Maddie knew everything. I could see the disapproval on her face when I told her that I went against the angels. A few hours later she said I was a total badass for going against them. At least she understood why I had to do that.
Gabriel's POV
“He wasn't there. We searched everything.”
“What? I could've sworn those two leaders were hiding something, Ezekiel. Both of them refused to help and then changed their minds at the same time.”
“I don't know. I didn't pick up a feeling of foul play when I met her. You should've seen her. She was confident and didn't care that we were angels. We had to agree to the search on her terms.”
“Who is she? Nobody in their right minds would push our limits.”
“She did. She was confident and refused to back down.”
“There has to be a connection between them. They're hiding something and my intuition never fails me.”
“There was nothing, though. They weren't hiding Prince Raphael. This time you might've been wrong.”
“Let's keep an eye on their movements. Anything suspicious gets reported to me.”
“All right.”
I was at a total loss. Things just didn't add up the way they should've. Two plus two equals four, but instead of four I got three as a result. Something was missing. Something I got wrong for the first time since I took over my father's position after his death. I spread the word that I found something about Prince Raphael in order to draw him out from hiding. To my annoyance, nothing happened. He wasn't in the realms. He had to be hiding among the humans. Earth was the only place we haven't searched yet. The only problem with that was its size. Hundreds of countries, thousands of towns, cities and villages. He could be hiding anywhere. My father swore that 25 years ago he got close, but he couldn't find him in the end. Maybe that could lead us somewhere. We didn't have to be afraid, because humans couldn't see us.
“Ezekiel, in two week's time we're going to the human realm. We're picking up from where my father lost the trail.”
“I'll tell the scouts to prepare.”
Two weeks should be enough for us to prepare. In my father's report I found that he lost the prince's trail in a town called Blackstone. Until then I needed to figure out the connection between King Zamyr and Savannah, the coven leader. I had to succeed and find Prince Raphael. Nobody knows why he really disappeared. We felt that he found his soulmate and accepted her. Still, she had to be an angel. Did she somehow convince him to leave his family and people behind? But for what? There were too many questions in this story.
“And Ezekiel, send a scout to Blackstone. Let's see what he reports back. Tell him to be careful, there are other supernaturals who can see him.”
“Of course, when should he report back?”
“At the end of every day.”
I was frustrated as the days passed. It's been a week since I sent a scout to Blackstone. So far he hasn't reported anything suspicious. He came across fae and witches, but no signs of Prince Raphael anywhere. I'm giving him one more week to discover something and then we'll swarm the place. No more hiding and observing. We'll have to go into homes and search them thoroughly.
Savannah's POV
I was out with Maddie, when I felt him. They were here, they've found us. Dread and horror filled my stomach and I could barely breathe.
“What's wrong?”
“They're here.”
“Who's here?”
“An angel, I can feel the signature energy.”
“Don't panic, they can't know you or them. Hell, I didn't even recognize you when you masked yourself. Chill out, or you'll draw attention to yourself.”
“He's near.”
“Look at me. He can't recognize you. If we meet him and he stops us, let's hear him out.”
“Ladies! Excuse me, I'm looking for someone. Can you help me?”
“It depends on who you are looking for.” - Maddie answered.
“One of our own disappeared about 25 years ago. This was the last place we found. Do you recognize this man?” - it was a portrait of my father.
“No. Who is he?”
“He's Prince Raphael, but I won't keep you now. If you see him can you let me know? I'm staying here for a few more days.”
“Sure.”
“See, he didn't suspect anything. Let's warn your parents. They have to be more careful than before.”
“Go home Maddie! You're not safe with me. You can't get mixed up in this. Please call Zamyr and tell him about the situation. He cannot come here now.”
“Okay, just don't do anything stupid.”
For some reason my parents were totally chill about my encounter with an angel.
“Why aren't you surprised?”
“Darling, he's been here for a week and a half. I'm surprised he just found you.”
“What? And you didn't bother telling me?”
“What was the point? It's just one scout. They don't stay at one place for longer than two weeks. Soon he'll leave. Nobody else will come here unless he finds a sliver of something, which he won't.”
“I don't want to get surprised. I'm staying here from now on.”
“That's not necessary. We're fine sweetie.”
“But mom, this is no joke. They're too close.”
“If it's just one scout there's no threat. Just three more days and he's gone.”
“I hope you're right, mom.”
I checked the shield, it was still in place and it was strong. Still I couldn't shake the feeling of dread off of me. My magic was humming inside me stronger than before. It felt like my magic was preparing for something. Something that I wasn't prepared for. I was anxious and constantly on edge. Saturday morning was peaceful. I've been staying with my parents since I discovered that angel in town. After lunch I became agitated and my magic wanted to come out.
“Is something going on, dad?”
“They're here. I just felt them entering town.”
“What? Will they find us?”
“Eventually. If they're here, that means they're suspecting something. Humans can't see them, but they can enter their houses for a search. They won't leave any of the houses out. Realizing that they cannot enter the house will blow our cover.”
“Still, they can't harm us. Does mom know?”
“Yes, I told her. She's trying to figure out something to divert their attention. I'm not sure if that'll work.”
“You've been telling me not to panic. What about now? You said that one scout won't cause trouble. Then why are the others here?”
“Gabriel must've found something.”
“What? I made sure to divert attention when I went to the fae and witch realms two weeks ago.”
“It's not that, this is something else.”
“If they take you, you'll be able to come back, right?”
“Darling, I don't think so, not until I'm on the throne.”
“How long will that take?”
“Given that I ran away and haven't returned, years if not decades.”
“Can they even do that?”
“They can. Remember your promise if there's no other choice.”
“I know and I'll do that. I'm still confident that it won't come to that. The shield is strong enough to keep them out.”
“Okay, now mask yourself. If I'm right, we'll need all the surprises we can get. They can't see your real face, not yet. And until then we'll wait. I suggest you call Maddie and Zamyr. I don't know how this will end.”
“I can't. They'll try to come here and Zamyr is a king. His intervention may cause war. How far are they?”
“Not in the neighborhood. I'll tell you when they're near. I won't go back there without a fight. I think they know that.”
“I bought us a little more time to come up with a plan.”
“We have a plan, mom, but you won't like that.”
“What is it?”
“Love, when the time comes you'll need to leave. I don't know what they will do to you. I can't lose you. Savannah will open you a portal to safety. Promise me that you'll leave.”
“What about you, sweetie?”
“I'm staying with dad. I'm part angel, they cannot kill me. You'll be safe. When you meet Martha, tell her everything. Ask for Sandra, she'll inform Zamyr. Don't let him do anything stupid that may result in war. I'll be fine.”
“I don't want to leave you two.”
“Mom, you have to. They can kill you and we don't want that. I'd rather be separated from you for decades or centuries than you being dead.”
“I just got you back and now we have to separate again. Fine, I'll go. I want to see you after all this ends.”
Saying goodbye to my mom was the hardest thing I've ever done, but it was necessary. I couldn't just send her away shouting ‘See you soon!’ I gave some privacy to my parents. Not saying anything to Maddie and Zamyr was eating me alive. They deserved to hear at least a ‘bye’, but I couldn't risk involving them in this shit. In the end my feelings won. I wrote the text, but haven't sent it yet. Not until it was absolutely necessary. By then they won't be able to do anything. This was our fight, not theirs. Maddie was human and Zamyr had to think of his people.
“They're near. We have to prepare.”
“Okay, let's kick their asses back to where they belong.”