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“I think it’s best if we talk about this in private,” he said, ignoring my introductions.
“They know everything,” I reassured him. “There’s no need to hide anything from them.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow, almost looking imperious. “Still. I don’t know them, which means I don’t trust them.” He gave them a sidelong look. “No offense.”
“You don’t know us either,” Simon countered with a scowl. “And I trust them a hell of a lot more than I trust you.”
“We have as much at stake in this as you do,” Grant added. “Sarah’s life is in danger, and we have a right to know what’s happening.”
I sighed inwardly at the inauspicious start of the meeting, but I was relieved when Ryan seemed to accept the situation with a reluctant nod before speaking again.
“I’ve been tracking your father, since he seems to be the leader in this mess,” he said. “Marie thought it would le
ad me to you, but instead he’s headed south. I lost track of him after Delaware. He must be moving too fast.”
“How are you able to track vardogers?” I asked, trying to hide my awe. “I didn’t realize that was something seers could even do.”
“It’s a rare trait, but it happens. It’s almost like I can feel individual energies and can pinpoint where they’re coming from. Unfortunately, I can only track the energies of vardogers that have overtaken their people. I can’t sense vardogers that are still just bodiless shadows. It’s not an exact science but I’ve honed it throughout the years and I’m pretty accurate.”
“Pretty accurate,” Simon repeated doubtfully. “So that means you’re not always accurate.”
Ryan’s expression tightened, his hazel eyes looking stormy. “It’s a hell of a lot better than nothing. What exactly can you do besides overtake humans and destroy their souls?”
I felt Simon tense beside me but I spoke up before he could answer.
“We need to work together. Fighting amongst ourselves isn’t going to help anybody. I appreciate you coming here to help, Ryan, but you have to accept Simon as an ally.” I glanced up at Simon’s implacable face. “And he needs to do the same with you.”
Ryan’s lips thinned but he nodded. “I’ll try my best, but you need to understand that this goes against everything I believe in, everything I’ve been taught. Vardogers don’t help humans. Every seer knows that.”
I took a deep breath, hearing the implied criticism in Ryan’s words. Even though I was a seer, I had put my trust in a vardoger. That either make me crazy or stupid. Or both.
I was relieved when Simon didn’t react to Ryan’s words, so I took the opportunity to ask more questions.
“So you’ll be able to know when my father is close? You’ll be able to feel his energy?”
“Yes, I’ve got a good read on his energy from tracking him. I’ll be able to sense him before we’re in danger.”
“From how far can you feel a vardoger’s energy?” Sarah had a look of awe on her face as she asked the question.
“It differs from vardoger to vardoger, depending on the strength of their energy.” Ryan turned to me. “Your father’s energy is particularly strong, so I’ll be able to sense him in time to prepare for his attack.”
The tension that had wracked my body dissipated at the thought of not having to live in constant fear of my father jumping out from every corner to attack. It made me almost weak with relief.
Simon didn’t seem equally assuaged by Ryan’s reassurances. “But what if you’re wrong? We could be lulled into a false sense of safety by believing you’ll be able to sense when Caitlin’s father is near, only to be taken by surprise if you’re wrong.”
Ryan studied Simon with narrowed eyes for a few moments before responding. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. I know what I’m doing and I’m rarely wrong.”
I interrupted their staring match, trying to get the conversation back on track. “Do you feel any other vardogers nearby?”
Ryan didn’t answer right away as he continued to glare at Simon, who was returning the look with the same ferocity. The tension in the room was so thick that it was almost stifling, but Ryan finally broke the gaze as his eyes flicked back to me.
“No, at least not any vardogers that have overtaken bodies. Have you had any visions recently?”
I shook my head. “No, and it’s frustrating me. I’ve been completely blank since we left Connecticut. No visions, no dreams. That’s why I think I should try to be hypnotized.”
“Caitlin, I already said that was too dangerous. You’ve already been put under hypnosis more times than any other seer I’ve ever heard of. Your body can’t handle the kind of stress that comes along with it.” Simon was frowning as he spoke, but before I could object Ryan chimed in.
“He’s right. Marie told me about the number of times you’ve been put under. It’s too dangerous, at least for now. It takes a serious toll on your body and you need time to recuperate. Besides, it usually takes at least three seers to be able to put someone under hypnosis.”
